Fishers Magazine September 2023

The Only Name You Need To Know

13 BRANDS 10 LOCATIONS

All within 1/2 Hour Or Less from Geist!

Proud supporter of Lawrence Township, Hamilton Southeaster n Schools, Indy SurviveOars and the Hamilton County Humane Society

Writer / Renee Larr Photographer / Brian Brosmer

Lori Allbright witnessed firsthand the benefits cryotherapy provided for an injury her son, Evan, sustained in 2014 while playing baseball. She was looking for alternative therapies rather than drugs for his pain relief. During this time, Allbright developed compartment syndrome from long-distance running. After having multiple surgeries on both legs and taking a variety of medications for pain including Gabapentin, her husband suggested cryotherapy as an effective treatment for her ailments.

“About a month into my treatments, I could walk my dogs without pain,” Allbright says. “My migraines went away. I saw a decrease in inflammation. It just changed my life in so many ways. I became so passionate about it that my husband, Brad, and I decided to open our own location. We wanted to bring it closer to home and make it more affordable for others in our community. We are dedicated to adding new equipment. We want to provide the best and most effective modalities.”

Cryotherapy temporarily exposes the body to frigid temperatures, reducing inflammation, pain and swelling. With her knowledge of

how effective cryotherapy can be, Allbright, a Fishers resident, opened Fishers Cryotherapy in 2019. Since then, the business has become the premier cryotherapy facility in the area. Services include wholebody cryotherapy, red light therapy, cryo slimming, Frotox, cryo facials, localized cryotherapy, infrared sauna, compression therapy, LED therapy and Cocoon Fitness Pod.

“The first time a client comes in, we want to discuss with them what they have going on with their body,” Allbright says. “Are they experiencing pain from an injury? Are they looking to recover after workouts, or are they living with an autoimmune disorder? We’re able to point them in the direction of what to do. Sometimes that involves multiple modalities - cryotherapy, red light therapy or the infrared sauna.”

Red light therapy exposes the body to low-level wavelengths of red light and near infrared to energize the mitochondria in cells. Allbright says cryo slimming and Frotox are popular treatments that take a short period of time, to help with weight loss, skin tightening, collagen production and skin hydration.

“Compression therapy squeezes out lactic acid buildup, edema and inflammation,” Allbright says. “It can help strengthen the veins and arteries, and get the lymphatic system moving. It also decreases muscle soreness, expedites recovery and promotes flexibility.”

Allbright says as community members themselves, the Fishers Cryotherapy team must serve and give back to the local community. For the last four years they have provided services to Fishers Fire Department recruits, to provide relief after extensive training. Allbright says they love to donate to various organizations. Customers can purchase individual sessions or monthly memberships with zero commitment, and cancel at any time with a five-day notice. In this economy, that is important.

“We offer adult and student pricing,” Allbright says. “We honor military discounts and first-responder discounts to give back. We know one person might not respond to one specific service, so it is important to me to provide many different types of services. We do see clients come in and end up wanting to try it all.”

11789 Commercial Drive Fishers, IN 317-943-3000 fisherscryo.com

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT™ Fishers Cryotherapy

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THE LATEST HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS AROUND FISHERS

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NONPROFIT OF THE MONTH Mudsock Youth Athletics

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MOJO UP The Go-To Diverse + Talented Marketing Agency

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HARVEST FEST RETURNS SEPTEMBER 10TH

The Event Connects Residents to Local Groups Who Make a Daily Difference in the Community

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A SMASH HIT Experience the Pure Pleasure of Pickleball

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT™ Easy Street Insurance

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TAKE TO THE ICE Indy Fuel Owner Jim Hallett Talks New Event Center 18 GEIST HALF MARATHON 25

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT™ GuidePoint Security

FISHERS HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND TO PERFORM IN THE 2023 MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE

The Trip Marks a First for Fishers High School Marching Tiger Band

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STEP INTO THE STORY “Promised Land as Proving Ground” Is Conner Prairie’s Newest Permanent Exhibition

KEY CONTRIBUTORS

BRIAN BROSMER / CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING / ERIN GOODWIN / JULIE YATES LARRY LANNAN / MICAHEL DURR / RENÉE LARR / RYAN KENNEDY SARAH BROWNING / WALKER PHOTOGRAPHY

The July Hamilton East Public Library board meeting ended shortly after a member of the public spoke at the meeting sharply criticizing the board. The board president later said the man was being disruptive. Police asked him politely to leave, and he politely replied that he would not leave. Several officers ended up taking the man from the library.

A school funding referendum will appear on the November ballot for all voters residing within the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) school district. This will renew the current referendum at a slightly lower rate. Mayor Scott Fadness and the City Council attended the school board meeting and voiced strong support for passage of the referendum.

The HSE school board voted to change the student dress code, particularly concerning hats and hoodies. Several speakers from the public criticized the board for not following the advice from a committee of stakeholders not to make that change. The committee was made up of students, staff, parents

LarryInFishers

THE LATEST HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS AROUND FISHERS

and teachers.

An act of the Indiana General Assembly eliminated most book costs and other fees families must pay to attend public schools. However, the state’s financial support of that decision will mean HSE schools will likely pick up the tab for the state funding shortfall, which is just under $1 million, per the school district staff.

The school board announced three new assistant principals. Michael Perry is hired at Harrison Parkway Elementary, replacing Rebekah Landez. Kayla Rego will take over as assistant principal at Thorpe Creek Elementary, replacing Jana Allen. Allison Rogowski is taking over the assistant principal spot at Fishers Elementary, replacing Quentin Hunter. In addition, the board approved hiring Tim Mankin as interim principal at Fall Creek Junior High School. Mankin has been retired from HSE schools, and fills in after Stacey Swan resigned from the principal post. Mankin’s appointment is not to exceed 12 weeks.

The HSE schools administration will continue to discuss issues with the local teachers union, the Hamilton Southeastern

Education Association. Superintendent Yvonne Stokes says she plans to have the same discussions, despite a new state law that makes those talks optional for school districts.

The new Fishers Event Center is on track for a November-December 2024 opening date, based on comments from Fishers Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren at a recent Board of Public Works and Safety meeting. The board approved $36 million in bids, moving the project forward. According to Hultgren, one more set of Event Center bids will be presented to the board for its consideration.

The Event Center will be the home for the Indy Fuel minor league hockey team, and is expected to host a number of local events such as high school graduations and FishersHSE high school basketball games.

Carmel and Fishers will be connected by a $5 million pedestrian bridge, based on an agreement involving Fishers, Delaware Township, Clay Township and Carmel. The Fishers end of the bridge is planned to land near the Ambassador House, just north of the planned White River Park.

Writer / Larry Lannan Photography Provided

Larry Lannan

NONPROFIT OF THE MONTH

MUDSOCK YOUTH ATHLETICS

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

Mudsock Youth Athletics, founded in 1987, is a nonprofit that provides children in Hamilton Southeastern and Fishers school districts the opportunity to play recreational and competitive team sports. Leaders seek to promote character development, leadership and physical fitness through programming.

“We want our kids to become better humans through sports,” says Scott Spillman, executive director. “We’re always happy when an athlete plays on a varsity team or plays collegiately or even professionally, but our focus is on the 99% of kids who are making new friends and learning life lessons through sports.”

They offer baseball, basketball, cheer, field hockey, football, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, softball, track, cross-country, volleyball, and, new this year, intramural high school flag football. In 2024

they’re adding pickleball and esports.

In the 1980s Fishers was a town of fewer than 20,000. Now it has more than 100,000 residents, and Mudsock Youth Athletics has more than 10,000 kids playing each year. With 2,000 volunteers who help run the leagues, they’re one of the largest volunteer-led organizations in the state.

“Where we differentiate ourselves is by providing toolkits and practice plans to our volunteers,” Spillman says.

Since the pandemic, they’ve made a big push to keep kids active. “During COVID we learned that free play went by the wayside,” Spillman says. “Children stopped going out in backyards or down the street to play with neighborhood kids.” Therefore, they installed free play boxes at various Fishers parks, which are full of sports equipment.

“Think of the Little Free Library concept,” Spillman says. “If you go to a green space, you can open one of those up and have a ball or a Frisbee to throw around.”

They’ve also partnered with the Fishers Youth Assistance Program to provide activity kits to children who receive the summer meal program. It’s a drawstring bag with a jump rope, chalk and an inflatable ball.

“Data shows that come middle school, kids who aren’t playing at a competitive or elite level stop playing entirely,” Spillman says. “We want to change that.”

Mudsock Youth Athletics is located at 12690 Promise Road in Fishers. For more information, call 317-845-5582 or visit myathletics.com.

SPONSORED BY

MOJO UP

Travis Brown founded Mojo Up Marketing + Media agency in July of 2019 after an extensive career in motivational public speaking. Brown says during his time in public speaking, he learned how to create a brand for himself and other speakers. He said he used those skills to transition into a marketing job and later starting the agency.

“One thing about Mojo Up that is different than other agencies is that we’re diverse and talented,” Brown says. “A lot of people can produce videos or build websites. We bring a different level of thought, experience, and ideas to help represent their brand.”

Brown says his team of 14 employees builds it like it’s their own. He says Mojo Up is personally invested in how they create a brand. The team looks at each project as if the client company is their own. He says a mantra for the team is ‘we work until you love it.’

The Fishers-based marketing agency offers

various marketing services, including brand refresh, brand campaigns, brand activation, individual services, and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion). Brown says the Brand Blueprint is a signature product.

“Most people are posting on social media or making some videos without a strategy

marketing strategy, creativity, and execution. Brown says a brand blueprint is offered for clients looking to refresh their brand or create a brand campaign. Mojo Up also offers copy, graphic design and video production, ad buy, Google search, social media campaigns and display ads.

“It was important to me to build a company in the city where I live,” Brown says. “My wife and I have been Fishers’ residents for over ten years. My oldest daughter graduated from Hamilton Southeastern High School. My two younger kids are in HSE schools, so we wanted to create something local and build upon it for years to come.”

behind it,” Brown says. “We all know you would never build your dream home without a blueprint, plans or specs. So, we don’t want to try to build your dream business or dream campaign without that, either. We always start with a blueprint.”

Brown says the blueprint contains four major parts—brand messaging, overall

Brown knows his experience in motivational speaking helped build Mojo Up but says he has a team of supremely, talented people producing high-level results for clients every day. He says his group is not only racially diverse but also in age, background, and gender. Mojo Up is a black-owned, minority-operated company.

Aszure Gray serves as Chief Growth Officer

“ONE THING ABOUT MOJO UP THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER AGENCIES IS THAT WE’RE DIVERSE AND TALENTED.”

—TRAVIS BROWN

for Mojo Up. She left her previous position and was looking to engage Mojo Up for her personal branding for her new venture as a business owner and entrepreneur. During those conversations with Brown, Gray learned Brown wanted to recruit her to work for him.

“I’ve never worked for an MBE (minority business enterprise) before working at Mojo Up…so I can’t say that it was important to me before working here, but it was quite an exciting opportunity,” Gray says. “I love it here. It’s been a wonderful experience, and not necessarily that it’s an MBE, as much as

team of people who are not only diverse but talented. The amount of diversity that we have is astounding. It gives us the ability to represent our clients, their customer base, and their audiences, whether that is groups they are trying to recruit or clients they’re hoping to acquire. Mojo Up is uniquely positioned to understand and actually embody your target audience. We look like them. We shop like them. We work like them. We worship like them. We are them.”

“Mojo Up Marketing + Media is where things are headed next,” Gray says. “So many organizations are tired of the status quo. So many in their customer base, their talent base, and even their existing employees want to be represented. They want to be heard and seen. They want to be understood when it comes to marketing. Mojo Up Marketing + Media can do just that, and we are uniquely positioned to

“MOJO UP IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO UNDERSTAND AND ACTUALLY EMBODY YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE. WE LOOK LIKE THEM. WE SHOP LIKE THEM. WE WORK LIKE THEM. WE WORSHIP LIKE THEM. WE ARE THEM.”

—ASZURE GRAY

Brown says even as a smaller agency, Mojo Up has been able to go toe-to-toe with larger firms in the state of Indiana and be competitive. Their clients include local businesses alongside significant brands such as Lilly, AES, RE/MAX and Southwest Airlines.

“We won a three-year contract with Girl Coalition of Indiana to be their agency of record,” Brown says. “We beat out all the other top, large agencies in Indiana to win that business. We’ve also gone from a small personal brand company to working with major companies.”

do so. We do that because we are diverse and talented. Our diversity whether it be age, socioeconomic, gender, or cultural background; we have a lot to offer. But make no mistake. We are differentiated by our talent, capabilities, and excellence. Our diversity provides us a unique perspective in terms of understanding your entire audience and improving your ability to reach, relate and understand them.”

Mojo Up is located at 8626 E. 116th St., Suite 200, in Fishers. For more information, visit mojoup.com or check out their podcast Mojo Up Live – Diverse + Talented.

Aszure Gray, Chief Growth Officer

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TAKE TO THE ICE

INDY FUEL OWNER JIM HALLETT TALKS NEW EVENT CENTER

Writer / Ryan Kennedy Photographer / Walker Photography

Professional hockey is coming to Fishers.

The event center is part of the $550 million Fishers District being built just east of Interstate 69, between 106th and 116th streets. It’s the culmination of a dream Indy Fuel Owner Jim Hallett has been chasing for decades.

Hallett moved to Indianapolis from Ottawa, Canada, in 1996. Not long after, Hallett’s business partner approached him with two questions - did Hallett love hockey, and if so, would he be interested in investing in a hockey team? The answer was yes. In 1999 the pair bought the Indianapolis Ice. “Had them for two years and it was just costprohibitive,” Hallett says. “The economics didn’t work. Our closest road game was an 8.5-hour bus trip. So we eventually sold the team.”

It’s not that hockey couldn’t thrive in central

Indiana. The timing just wasn’t right.

In 2013 Hallett got a call from Indiana Farmers Coliseum at the fairgrounds. They’d just completed a $65 million renovation and were looking to bring a professional hockey team back to Indianapolis. They asked if he’d be interested and he said yes.

The Indy Fuel, which competes in the ECHL and is an affiliate of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks, similar to how the Indianapolis Indians team is an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, just completed their ninth season.

Hallett successfully returned professional hockey to Indianapolis, but he had bigger plans, and he wanted to grow.

“I had this vision of being in a part of town

where there were going to be restaurants and there were going to be bars and there were going to be hotels, and there were going to be activities that you could come to for a weekend that you could go to before the game with your friends, whether it be for dinner or whether it be to socialize, or you could go there after the game to socialize,” Hallett says.

Twenty years ago Hallett commissioned a study to look into hockey and its potential for growth in central Indiana. Where was the best place to grow the game? Even two decades ago all that data pointed overwhelmingly to one place - Fishers.

Hallett’s vision grew. This project needed to be more than just a place to play hockey. It needed to be something for the whole community.

“We need to create an event center, not a hockey arena, but an event center and an event center that could host all kinds of sports, all kinds of concerts, all kinds of conventions and whatever you can put in the event center,” he says. “You should build this event center and have it be a place for what I call everyone - something for everyone from mothers and tots right up to seniors.”

He reached out to architects who worked on projects all over the world, and worked closely with the mayor of Fishers, then a town of just 37,000 people. Things started getting serous in 2018. Hallett’s work with the consultants and architects intensified. They managed to put a building design together just in time for the world to shut down in March of 2020.

With the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic in the rearview mirror, Hallett says he believes the new facility will open its doors in late fall of 2024.

The Fuel will be the anchor of the event center. The team will play 36 home games and any additional playoff games at the yet-to-be-named arena. The building will also host a number of other events.

“One of the things that we did with the architects, and it was just while we’re having coffee one day, I said, ‘Let’s list how many events we could hold here,’” Hallett says. “Without working very hard we listed 56 events.”

The facility will offer 7,000 seats for fans as well as suites. There will also be standing areas where fans can eat and drink around standing bar tables while they watch.

Current season ticket holders will have priority for ticket renewals when the facility opens. Advertisers will get a few days of advance notice to recommit to their sponsorships.

The arena is still looking for a namingrights sponsor.

Outside of the arena, Hallett says they plan to build housing, luxury apartments, restaurants and more, all towards the goal of developing a fun, easily accessible place for all kinds of people to spend their time.

What started as a mission to bring professional hockey back to Indiana became a massive investment in the city of Fishers.

“By all metrics, the City of Fishers is continuously recognized as one of the best places to live in America,” Hallett says. “I came here in 1996 and I love this place. When I’m talking about this place, I’m talking about all of greater Indianapolis. I love living here. My wife and kids and grandchildren are here. This is home.”

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In January 2023, Ben McDaniel and his wife, Valerie, attended the Indianapolis Home Show because they were looking to replace all of the windows, as well as their front door and six sliding doors of their 18-year-old home. Ideally, they were hoping to work with a smaller community-focused window and door company.

“At the Home Show, we talked with Lyndsey Brown [product sales specialist] with Hometown Window and Door Company. We also talked to quite a few other manufacturers, and Lyndsey was the one who really stood out to us,” McDaniel says.

The couple set up an appointment to have Brown and Scott Dorrell, sales manager with Hometown Window and Door, come out to their house for a consultation.

“We knew the [Andersen] product was good, but their customer service was top-notch. The relationship they built with me and my wife as we sat around the kitchen table—for quite a long time, I might add—was amazing,” McDaniel says. “They explained who they are and what they are about. As a business owner myself, I knew it was a good fit.”

When shopping for new windows, clients must choose from replacement window inserts and full-frame window replacement. While there are certainly instances where inserts are the right option, typically full-frame installation is the way to go. It involves the removal and complete replacement of the entire window and window frame, plus all the casing on the interior so it allows a homeowner to refresh and do everything brand new. Not only is a full-frame replacement a more extensive fix but it’s also a customized full-service application.

The McDaniels’ opted to go with the Andersen A-Series, which has several options from which to choose, including double hung windows, awning windows, and specialty windows. This series has the highest-performing, most energy-efficient windows of all Andersen series, providing optimal energy savings as well as gorgeous architectural stylings.

“The A-Series windows stood out to us the most,” McDaniel says. “When we were looking not just at Andersen but all of the windows of which there were quite a few, we were drawn to the quality of the A-Series.”

Plus, one of the most important factors in the couple’s selection process was to get black on both the exterior and interior.

“The A-Series was one of the few products we were able to get black windows, and once we understood all of the great benefits of the A-Series, it was a no-brainer,” McDaniel says. “It started as a look type of thing we were going for [with the black windows] and transitioned to choosing the best product. We figured that if we were going to be spending this amount of money, let’s be sure we’re putting the best product in that we can.”

Not everyone can afford top-of-the-line, however. Hometown has a less messy version of installation called the insert application.

“Inserts are utilized in a way that allows us to keep everything inside the home intact— all the casing, trim work, etcetera,” Brown says.

It’s a composite product line they utilize called the 100 Series. This composite product that’s proprietary to Andersen called Fibrex is better than vinyl. It’s extremely strong, efficient, and perfect for those who do not want to invest a lot (e.g., perhaps they are flipping a house or are only planning to stay for a few years).

It’s worth noting that insert applications versus full-frame applications do not change the value of a property.

“It’s purely aesthetic,” Brown says. “It doesn’t modify anything in relationship to

the value of the home itself.”

Often people with higher-end homes will use full-frame applications because they want a wood interior that can be painted or stained.

“It’s cool how custom full frame can be,” Brown says. “Even the stains can be custom! We’ll mix a stain to match your interior. It’s a level of customization other places don’t offer.”

Although Hometown Window and Door does both insert and full-frame, their breadand-butter is full- frame installation.

“We are truly a small business with fewer than 20 employees,” Brown says. “We’re here to hold your hand through the entire process.”

That’s certainly the type of special treatment the McDaniels received. The assurance that they picked the right company to work with continued throughout installation.

“The crew they sent was absolutely phenomenal and completely professional,” McDaniel says, who stayed in his house and out of the way while watching them work. “This was a major structural change for our house, so I was nervous when they were doing it, but the young man they had leading the crew was so special.”

The crew worked from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, determined to get all the windows and doors installed in one week. The crew returned the following week to complete the interior trim work.

“The entire process was such a great experience,” McDaniel says. “We couldn’t be more pleased.”

If you’re starting a window or door project in your home, contact Hometown Window and Door Company. During the month of September, they’re running a 29% off Labor Day special. Their main showroom is located at 240 West Carmel Drive in Carmel. For more information, call 317-688-8100 or visit hometownwindowteam.com.

GUIDEPOINT SECURITY

GuidePoint Security provides clients with cybersecurity solutions and services to help minimize risk. The company was founded in 2011 and is based in Herndon, Virginia, but is now opening a new regional headquarters in Fishers.

Brian Brush is the GuidePoint partner with responsibility for Indiana and several surrounding states. He moved to Indiana in 2010 for a job at Sallie Mae, and then joined GuidePoint Security in 2016 with his business partner, Scott Rachford, to open the Midwest market.

In 2022, as part of their expansion plans in the Midwest, Brush hired Fishers resident Brad Smith to manage the Indiana and Kentucky markets for GuidePoint Security. The two have known each other for 15 years and met through Brush’s previous role at Sallie Mae, when he was Smith’s client.

“The opportunity for the two of us to finally work together and build a team is something we have both been trying to do over the last 15 years ” Smith says. “We kept in touch over the years, and it’s a big deal that we’re now able to build the business we talked about so long ago. With the team that is now in place, we expect our business in Indiana and Kentucky to grow rapidly. As part of that strategy, we needed a regional headquarters and Fishers had everything our team wanted. With the convenience of the restaurants, hotels and transportation here, it is the perfect place for us to host both our in-town and out-of-town clients and business partners.

The duo recently hired another Fishers resident, Brad Rochford, to focus on business development for central Indiana clients. “With the large number of our clients and business partners that live in Fishers and the surrounding areas, we believe our Fishers office will become the hub for cybersecurity in Indiana,” Smith says.

Smith says the downtown Fishers location is excellent for business meetings and entertainment, and will host several industry trade group monthly meetings. The GuidePoint team officially opened the new space on May 24 with a rooftop party that was attended by more than 300 people.

“We are excited about opening this office in Fishers because coming out of COVID, we saw a great benefit from our office in Chicago,” Brush says. “Our employees, clients and business partners all still want a place where they can work together. We just needed to reimagine what that space should be. Our Fishers office is designed to accommodate multiple groups at a time, can serve as a venue for industry trade groups and events, and will allow us to really focus on expanding the security community in Indianapolis. This location was perfect for us due to the convenience of everything that is available within walking distance, and the long-term plan that the city has developed. As a nationwide company, we needed to be set up to host our own larger internal groups, and once the hotel next door opens, people will be able to fly into town and do everything without needing to rent a car.”

Writer / Renee Larr

Photographer / Brian Brosmer

Brad Rochford, Account Executive

Brian Brush, Partner

Anne Marie Kappus, Sales Operations Specialist

Brad Smith, Sales Director

Heather Neeson, Sales Operations Specialist Lead

Victor Wieczorek Vice President, Application Security and Threat & Attack Simulation

HARVEST FEST

THE EVENT CONNECTS RESIDENTS TO LOCAL GROUPS WHO MAKE A DAILY DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY

Writer / Renée Larr

Photography Provided

Plato is credited with the proverb ‘necessity is the mother of invention.’ In 2019, the city of Fishers received a request to place an Angel of Hope memorial in a Fishers park, honoring families who have tragically lost children. The Fishers Parks and Recreation Foundation Parks took on the project and started building the memorial at Fishers Heritage Park at White River in Dec. 2019. Then, in March, the project was halted by COVID.

“We have half of the memorial completed without the full amount of funding needed to complete it,” Lisa Knowles says, President of the Fishers Parks & Recreation Foundation. “In the meantime, I knew Les Reinhardt and Tom Rich from the Fishers Arts Council. Many of their events were struggling and their artists couldn’t participate. So, as a group, we brainstormed a way for people to see what was going on with the memorial, continue fundraising and where the artists could get exposure while helping local nonprofits.”

During that brainstorming session, Knowles and Rich devised the idea for Harvest Fest. The event is held at Fishers Heritage Park at White River each fall. This year’s event, sponsored by Sun King Brewing, is on Sept. 10 from 12 to 5 p.m. More than 40 artists and artisans participate-- offering fine art, high-quality crafts, decor, jewelry, personal care items, candles, toys, and clothing.

Participating nonprofits will be offering items for sale to raise funds for their causes. Other interesting offerings include interactive takehome craft activities, women’s history card reading with Mad’m Leah and face

great way to be exposed to so many of the Hamilton County assets.”

Harvest Fest includes three bands playing throughout the day: Sweet Tunes, The Klezmets, and Remington Hill. Food trucks will line the park, including Kona Ice & Chef TLC with Faith the Food Bus. Confirmed nonprofit participants include the Fishers Arts Council, The Forgiving Sea Project, Janus, the Fishers Historical Society, Gal’s Guide Library, Delaware Township Trustee and Hoosier Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation.

“The park itself is such a hidden gem,” Knowles says. “We have the run of the whole park, and it’s just beautiful. The path is paved the whole way, so it’s very family and dog friendly. Each year we grow, and it’s just a great day to come out and enjoy the weather, the park, and the memorial, all while supporting local artists, artisans and nonprofits.”

For more information, you can visit fishersartscouncil.org.

“This free event is the easiest way to have an impact locally and to connect residents with groups who make a difference in our community daily,” Reinhardt says. “It’s a

A SMASH HIT

EXPERIENCE THE PURE PLEASURE OF PICKLEBALL

Several years ago Topgolf clubs, with climate-controlled hitting bays, became all the rage. Since the pandemic, however, a new sport has taken center stage, one that interests all generations: pickleball. In this sport, which combines tennis, badminton and ping-pong, players stand on opposite sides of a three-foothigh net, and use paddles to return a plastic ball back and forth until it’s either hit out of bounds, hit illegally, or bounces twice.

Although it’s been around for 60 years, recently pickleball has become the fastest-growing game in America. Starting in 2024, Mudsock Youth Athletics is rolling out a pickleball league for kids. In addition, Circle City Athletics, Indy’s premier organizer of adult sports leagues, coordinates pickleball leagues.

Because the game is less complex than tennis and requires a smaller court (a net standing at 34 inches high on a 20- by 40-foot court), it’s an excellent sport not only for beginners, but also for older people who want to remain active while still preserving their joints. We all know that staying active is key to healthy living, and if you can have fun doing it, all the better.

Pickleball is accessible to everyone, regardless of age or athleticism. Grandparents can set aside the checkerboard and play pickleball with their grandkids instead. Furthermore, the sport provides a chance to socialize. At the beginning of the summer, Fishers resident Jeremy Ash and his wife, Aimee, put up a pickleball court in their cul-de-sac, in hopes of pulling their teenagers off their phones and luring their younger kids away from their video games. As it turns out, they lured out more than their children.

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Michael Durr

“We’ve lived in our cul-de-sac for 15 years and many of our neighbors have been here that long,” says Jeremy Ash, who hosted a tournament during a summer weekend. “They always jump in on my crazy plans. We had 12 people participate in a bracket-style tourney. People came out to watch and cheer on their favorite teams. We had a blast.”

On top of the fun and the physical exercise, the sport also offers mental health benefits. According to clinical psychologist Dr. Paula Freedman, founder of HumanKind Psychological Services, pickleball can reduce stress, boost mood, improve sleep, increase self-esteem and enhance cognitive function. This last one is critical as we age. Sure, crossword puzzles and Scrabble can help to improve mental acuity, but sharpening your mind while moving your body is twice as nice.

“[Pickleball] boosts cognitive functions such as attention, focus and quick decision making, making it a great option for tapping into and using different parts of your brain,” says Freedman.

Getting started is easy. A quick search on YouTube will provide a tutorial. If you’re more of a hands-on, in-person kind of learner, however, check out local clinics. For instance, Fishers Parks partners with a tennis and pickleball instructor, Team Witsken, to offer private and semiprivate lessons to beginners.

Fishers offers free public courts at Cyntheanne Park and Roy G. Holland Memorial Park. They started out with just four courts at Cyntheanne Park, but those were always busy.

“We put in two more and the community was like, ‘While you’re at it, why don’t you add four instead of two?’” says Andrew Myers, Fishers Parks operations manager. Ultimately, the Fishers Parks and Recreation

Foundation raised $20,000 in additional funds during its pickleball court fundraising campaign.

After seeing the high demand at Cyntheanne Park, in the fall of 2022, Fishers Parks elected to build five courts at Holland Park to provide the same opportunity for people to play on the other side of town.

“Both courts get a lot of heavy use,” says Myers.

For the most part, courts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There are a few exceptions to that. For instance, in the event of a tournament, courts may be reserved. In addition, a few parks department vendors teach lessons on the courts. At Cyntheanne Park, paddle outlines are painted on the ground so people can lay their paddles down to claim the next game.

If you’ve not yet tried this fun fitness craze, there’s no time like the present to discover the pure pleasure of pickleball.

For more on Mudsock Youth Athletics, visit myathletics.com. For more on Circle City Athletics, visit ccasports.com.

julie@easystreetins.com

ARE YOU MEDICARE READY? EASY STREET INSURANCE

Writer / Julie Yates Photography Provided

Talking about Medicare is usually not at the top of anyone’s list. It can be confusing, complicated and time consuming, with all the commercials, billboards and mail that seniors are bombarded with regarding their many choices.

Fishers Office: 14074 Trade Center Dr., Ste. 118 Fishers, IN 317-439-4537

Greenwood Office: 8000 S. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN 317-882-9602

(ask for Julie) easystreetins.com

This is when working with an insurance agent who specializes in Medicare can be worth your time. Julie Corcoran, an agent who focuses on Medicare and a longtime Fishers resident, is an integral part in opening a second location in Fishers for Easy Street Insurance. The company’s proven reputation for knowledge and service over the last 25 years comes at a perfect time, as Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 through December 7) is right around the corner.

Now is the perfect time to call and schedule your no-cost appointment to meet with Corcoran. Whether an individual is turning 65, or just wants to review their current coverage and understand new plan options for 2024, she is happy to help.

Every year Medicare options and plans change for the coming year. The carriers that offer these plans are extremely competitive and creative in their plan offerings. It is important to understand those changes and how they will affect you.

“My favorite part of the client meeting is helping to bring clarity to an individual as they evaluate their plan options,” says Corcoran. “There is no advantage or cost savings by going online and spending hours doing your own research.”

Corcoran enjoys learning about the new benefits and plan offerings each year so she can help convey any complexities in easy-to-understand terms for

Julie Corcoran

her clients. In the process, they gain an advocate to answer questions now and in years to come as their needs change. She carefully listens to how a client uses medical services, considering physician and hospital preferences as well as medications they take, and then suggests plans that fit their needs.

Corcoran stays current on ever-changing Medicare requirements by maintaining her Indiana state insurance license, and becoming annually certified with dozens of Medicare plans offered around Indiana. She takes her responsibility as an agent seriously, as she knows her clients trust her to help them find the right information to make good decisions. As an agent, Corcoran is not in favor of a one-size-fitsall approach, but instead offers a variety of Medicare options including Medicare supplement insurance, prescription drug plans, and Medicare Advantage plans.

Corcoran is a graduate of Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis and Hanover College in southern Indiana. She and her husband of over 35 years, Dan, selected Fishers as the place to raise their three children.

“We found Fishers offered us a great selection of schools, affordable living, and all within the feeling of a close-knit community,” she says. “We love watching it grow.”

Whether you are new to Medicare or just need to review your plan for the coming year, schedule an appointment and see why Easy Street’s promise of “No Cost. No Pressure. Just Sound Advice.” can benefit you.

The new office is located at 14074 Trade Center Drive in Fishers.

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact medicare.gov or 1-800-Medicare to get information on all your options.

“I LOVE WHEN CLIENTS TELL ME HOW MUCH I HELPED CLEAR UP CONFUSION SURROUNDING MEDICARE. AS THE NAME IMPLIES, WE MAKE MEDICARE EASY.”

FISHERS HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND TO PERFORM IN THE 2023 MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE

THE TRIP MARKS A FIRST FOR FISHERS HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING TIGER BAND

The holidays are full of traditions, and one time-honored tradition around Thanksgiving is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The annual event in New York City has brought together balloons, floats, performers, and marching bands that have delighted crowds of people watching live and at home since 1924. The Fishers High School Marching Tiger Band is delighted to be ‘Marching to Manhattan’ in the 2023 parade.

The band learned they were selected in January of 2022. Chad Kohler, Director of Bands at Fishers High School, says the band was planning on a big trip this year and was encouraged to apply

for the selection process to participate. He says out of thousands of applicants, their marching band was one of five selected nationwide.

The band departs on Nov. 19 and returns on Nov. 24, with 268 participants and over 500 family and friends traveling to New York City to witness the historic event. Preparations for the one-minute and 15-second performance are long underway. Kohler says this performance is very different from the band’s typical competitive performance.

“This performance is specifically geared to a live TV audience

Writer / Renée Larr Photographer / Doodleboxart/ Erin Goodwin

produced in the heart of New York City,” Kohler says. “Some of our musical selections will be extracted from our fall competitive show; therefore, we are able to work on the music simultaneously; however, we will have to learn a new visual production near the end of our competitive season.”

The trip marks a first for the Fishers High School Marching Tiger Band. Previously they have marched for the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade and the Walt Disney World Main Street Parade.

“The students are pumped and excited to bring the city of Fishers in Hamilton Southeastern schools to the ‘Big Apple’ and in front of hundreds of millions of TV viewers,” Kohler says.

The excitement is building, and Kohler says the community can support the band by donating to the Macy’s Scholarship Fund. All money donated and raised for the Macy’s scholarship fund will be returned directly to the students.

The 97th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs on NBC on Nov. 23 starting at 9 a.m. More than 3.5 million people travel to NYC each year to experience the holiday magic and more than 50 million people watch from their homes.

For more information or to donate, visit fishersband.org/macys.

THIS IS FISHERS HAPPENINGS

FROM THE CITY OF FISHERS

MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS

2024 City of Fishers Budget

Mayor Scott Fadness presented a fiscally conservative, balanced budget to City Council Budget highlights include:

Lowest tax rate among cities in Hamilton County

3rd straight year of tax rate decreases

Increased investments in neighborhood vibrancy, including sidewalk repair and trail connectivity

Continuing to invest in public safety and critical services

See the proposed budget and City Council dates at fishers in us/Budget

HSE Referendum

Hamilton Southeastern Schools (HSE) and the Fishers City Council approved joint resolutions in support of a proposed November school district operating referendum expected to reduce the cost of the referendum for homeowners by nearly 20% in 2024 By supporting this referendum, community members will help safeguard teacher salaries, student safety measures, and course offerings that contribute to the exceptional education provided by HSE Details at advanceHSEschools com

Food Inspection Grading System

Fishers Health Department recently launched a Retail Food Inspection Grading System for Fishers restaurants Restaurants receive a letter grade based on the results of annual food inspections, and grades are available to the public through an interactive dashboard at fishers in us/FoodGrade Letter grades will also be displayed on restaurant doors beginning in September

Geist Half Marathon & 5K

This community event features a half marathon with stunning views of Geist Reservoir and a family-friendly 5K through the new Geist Waterfront Park Volunteer opportunities are available. Register at geisthalf.com.

STORMWATER & SEWER LATE FEES

Beginning in October, sewer and stormwater accounts with past due balances will have late fees applied to accounts For more information, visit fishers.in.us/Utilities.

GET INVOLVED

Fishers Club

Hub

Fishers Club Hub is a new initiative to connect local businesses with social clubs, civic groups, and nonprofits Clubs and groups can find free meeting space at local businesses on the Club Hub Meeting Space Directory, and Fishers businesses can join the list by offering a free, welcoming place for clubs to host their meetings. Details at ThisIsFishers.com/ClubHub.

Rain Garden Steward Program

The Fishers Rain Garden Steward program allows the community to get involved in caring for Fishers parks and greenways and ensure the sustainability of our natural resources Rain Garden Stewards help maintain an adopted rain garden by removing trash, pulling invasive species, and reporting damage or vandalism Learn more at fishers.in.us/Sustainability.

THIS IS FISHERS

SAVE THE DATE

Fishers Farmers Market

Market at NPD AMP: Saturdays, now - September 30

8 a.m. – noon | NPD AMP (6 Municipal Drive) | Free

The Fishers Farmers Market presented by IU Health showcases vendors offering fresh produce, baked goods, specialty food items, meats, coffee, honey, plants, and more Details at playfishers com/FarmersMarket

Fishers Blues Fest

Friday, September 1 & Saturday, September 2

NPD AMP | Free

The two-night event includes performances by renowned local and national blues artists. Learn more at npdamp com

Ticketed Concerts at the NPD AMP

Various Dates | NPD AMP | Prices vary

Ticketed shows are on sale now in partnership with Fishers Parks and MOKB Presents. Get tickets at npdamp.com.

September 8: Snarky Puppy

September 10: Russell Dickerson

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!

Give back to your community with volunteer opportunities at:

Geist Half Marathon Glow in the Park Fishers Maker Playground and more!

Sign up at VolunteerFishers com

CONNECT WITH US

Safety Day

Saturday, September 9 | 8 a.m. - noon

NPD AMP | Free

Safety Day presented by Fishers Fire & Emergency Services returns alongside the Fishers Farmers Market for a free, family-friendly event featuring live entertainment and demonstrations, local food, and opportunities to connect with local organizations. Learn more at fishers in us/SafetyDay

Glow in the Park

Friday, September 22 (ages 21+ only) | 8 – 10 p m

Saturday, September 23 (family night) | 8 – 10 p m

NPD AMP | Prices vary, registration required Black lights, fog machines, and lasers light up the night as you enjoy glow-in-the-dark fun in at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater Enjoy live DJs, neon splash zones, face painting, a graffiti wall, food trucks, and more presented by Centier Bank and Fishers Parks Get tickets at playfishers.com/GlowinthePark.

City Recycling Day

Saturday, September 23 | 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Billericay Park (12690 Promise Road) | Free

Residents can recycle electronics, household items, hazardous wastes, and more at this free recycling event. Paper recycling and off-site confidential document shredding is also available Learn more and find a list of accepted items at fishers.in.us/Recycling.

STEP INTO THE STORY

Several years ago, staff members at Conner Prairie began doing some research around black settlements and storytelling. In doing so, they decided that they wanted to introduce an exhibition that would tell a holistic experience of the African American story - one that was not just a program that you could buy a ticket to, but rather a chance for it to be integrated throughout the grounds. They started the project with funding through a Lilly Endowment grant and began to look at the role religion played in

African American history. It then began to develop further as they dove deeper. That’s how “Promised Land as Proving Ground,” Conner Prairie’s newest permanent exhibition, came to be.

“This story, viewed mostly through the lens of religion, begins in precolonial Africa and spans all the way to the 21st century,” says Jesse Kramer, director of exhibits.

Kramer and Dr. Rich Cooper, Conner Prairie’s vice president and chief programs

officer, worked with Board Member Dr. Clarence Newsome, a religion historian, and Dr. Charlene Fletcher, the curator of the experience.

“Dr. Fletcher took what was a largely Christian story that Dr. Newsome had put together and expanded out to all different types of religion, including Christianity, Islam, Ifa-Orisha, and Judaism,” Cooper says.

“Every material, every color, every moment

“PROMISED LAND AS PROVING GROUND”

IS CONNER PRAIRIE’S NEWEST PERMANENT EXHIBITION

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Sarah Browning

of this exhibit is intentional,” Kramer says. The exhibit, which has many symbolic “Easter eggs,” showcases how African Americans expressed spirituality through music, dance, activities and food.

“Africans who were being kidnapped into slavery would often braid seeds into their hair so that they would have the crops they needed to grow,” Kramer says. “We have okra, watermelon and black-eyed peas in the United States as a result.”

Conner Prairie is constructing a new, climate-controlled building to showcase artifacts and objects that otherwise couldn’t be shown on Conner Prairie’s grounds. Within that space, they’ve made a secondary space to house an artist-in-residence. Visual artist Israel Solomon was selected to be the artist-in-residence. Solomon, who uses the human figure in the majority of his pieces, creates representational paintings that are geometric in nature, and selects colors that are vibrant and rhythmic.

Although creating art came naturally to Solomon ever since he was young, he didn’t think it was a practical field to pursue. Still, in his late 20s he started focusing on improving as an artist, and over time he became a professional.

During his yearlong residency, Solomon will

produce a body of work that coincides with “Promised Land as Proving Ground.”

“I’m taking the stories that come from the exhibit and creating a reflection of that story through my art,” Solomon says.

History can be dark, uncomfortable and difficult to digest, but Solomon’s artwork helps bridge a conversation.

“As an artist I’m sometimes able to create imagery that will pull at an individual and spark conversation,” Solomon says.

The artist-in-residence building will be a flexible space used to bring in the community, celebrate different artists or hold performances.

Even though the exhibit’s grand opening isn’t until March of 2024, the public is already buzzing with excitement.

“People want to see how the story is going to be told,” says Cooper, who notes that a recent study by the American Alliance of Museums shows that many people trust museums more than libraries or universities.

“As we move forward to combat historic erasure of things that have happened in the past, ceding the microphone and ceding your voice to the communities

whose stories are being told is incredibly important because these stories have often been hidden or buried, pushed away, and not been viewed as worthy of telling,” Kramer says. “As the field moves forward, a lot of these stories are finally coming to the surface.”

This new exhibit tackles some of the large stories that have shaped the human experience here in the U.S. and in the Midwest, making it an exciting time at Conner Prairie.

“Museums have a responsibility to tell the full truth of history,” Kramer says. “If we aren’t doing that, then what are we?”

For more information about Israel Solomon, visit israelsolomonart.com or find him on Instagram @israelesoloart.

CONNER PRAIRIE

13400 Allisonville Road Fishers, IN 317-776-6000

connerprairie.org

“I’M THINKING OF THE HISTORY IN TERMS OF GROWTH, BEAUTY AND RESILIENCY. BLACK PEOPLE HAVE HAD A TRYING AND TROUBLESOME HISTORY HERE IN THE U.S. SO I WANT TO ASK HOW WE CAN MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR OUR CHILDREN.”

— ISRAEL SOLOMON

Oct. 10–31