NEW YEAR - NEW YOU!
SHARE YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS WITH US!
As 2024 draws to a close, we want to hear about your goals for 2025! Follow the Geist Magazine Facebook page and share your New Year’s Resolutions the week of November 18th.
Submit your answers online by November 25 and you may see them featured in our January print edition.
Let’s kick off 2025 with some inspiration!
496-3599
JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011
(317) 810-0011
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ASK THE GEIST DECK AND DOCK EXPERTS
Chris Reed is the owner of Creed improvements specializing in building decks, pergolas, porches and more for Hamilton County families for over a decade. He enjoys building unique backyard spaces for his clients to create family memories of a lifetime. Chris has lived in Indy for over 30 years.
Each month Chris will be highlighting products and solutions for decks and docks. His major supplier is “Decks and Docks of Indianapolis”. His goal is to inform, educate and inspire renovations for the readers.
Santa Chris can be booked for your holiday party, fundraiser or to surprise your grandkids this holiday season.
ELEVATE PRIVACY AND STYLE INDOORS AND OUTDOORS
Content Provided by Creed Improvements
Privacy screens are a way to create an oasis away from the rest of the world.
In today’s fast-paced world, finding moments of tranquility and relaxation are increasingly valuable. Having a private space to relax in can be extremely beneficial. It can make a significant impact on your overall well-being. This is true whether you are spending time with loved ones or simply trying to unwind after a hectic day.
Decorative screen panels offer a unique and attractive way to customize an outdoor or indoor setting. Allowing for creativity with privacy screening, decorative panels are a stylish solution for the rail of your deck, or under a deck, and provide the perfect enhancement to a patio or garden area. They can also be an interior accent when used as home decor within a room. Panels are extra thick, water resistant, paintable, available in various styles and colors, and most come with a limited lifetime warranty. These decorative screen panels can also be installed up to three high, creating a divider screen for increased privacy wherever needed.
As always, at Creed Improvements, we’re here to bring your vision to life. Whether you’re dreaming of a serene backyard oasis or looking to modernize an outdated interior space, our team is ready to make it happen. Let us transform your home into the perfect reflection of your style and needs. Reach out today, and let’s get started on your next project!
Move. Laugh.
Play. Move. Laugh.
Writer / Renee Larr
Lawrence North High School senior Ava Cousin is not just an impressive athlete and a stellar student, but also a passionate lover of basketball. Her journey with the sport began at the age of 7 at her church. This love for the game has been a driving force in her life, leading her to continue playing through middle and high school.
“My first coach was my dad, and he taught me that playing basketball should be fun,” says Ava.
Cousin currently plays guard for the Lawrence North girls basketball team and the newly added girls flag football team. She says she got involved with flag football because many of her friends were participating in it and she thought it sounded fun.
“Ava Cousin is an exemplary studentathlete, and we are immensely proud of all that she has accomplished both on and off the court,” says Stephen Thomas, girls basketball head coach. “ Her strong character, leadership and dedication serve as an inspiration to everyone around her. Ava consistently demonstrates what it means to be prepared and committed, reminding our Lawrence North girls basketball team that when you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready. Congratulations Ava. We are confident that your best is yet to come.”
Cousin’s academic prowess is equally impressive, with a 4.25 GPA and
AVA COUSIN
membership in the National Honor Society. Her dedication to her studies is evident in her academic achievements. She has also volunteered around the school in many capacities throughout the years, through the Lawrence North Athletic Council. She has also attended the IHSAA Student Leadership Summit. She also gives back to the community by volunteering at New Direction Church. In the fall of 2025 Cousin plans to attend college and is currently still deciding where she’ll attend. She says she’s deciding between Marquette University and a historically black college/ university. She wants to major in biology and then pursue a career in dentistry.
Looking towards the future, Ava has clear aspirations. “I like the idea of becoming a dentist because it allows me to be my own boss,” Ava says. “Basically I’m able to have a successful career but also have a personal life. I can also have my own practice. I also like that
I’m able to transform someone’s life by helping them achieve their best smile.” Her vision for her future is not just ambitious, but also inspiring.
Cousin’s parents, Patrick and Meredith, are exceptionally proud of their daughter for her athletic and academic achievements. They say they can’t wait to see what she accomplishes in the future.
“We can still remember the first time our daughter played a basketball game,” says Meredith. “She was so good. I couldn’t believe how good she was. She was always so energetic and smiling. We were extremely proud of her. That sense of pride has only grown with each of her achievements, not just in sports, but in all things, including school and church, big and small. Seeing her succeed fills us with so much joy, and each one of her achievements inspires us more and more.”
A Game Plan for Getting You Back to Doing What You Love
Central Indiana Orthopedics is proud to be part of the Fishers community. We are committed to providing expert, personalized care to all our patients. We offer comprehensive services all under one roof, including a Walk-In Clinic, sports medicine, outpatient surgery, physical therapy and more.
Visit ciocenter.com/Fishers for a complete list of services and find the hours of our Walk-In Clinc for sudden injuries. Or call 800-622-6575 to schedule an appointment.
ciocenter.com/Fishers
800-622-6575
COCA-COLA CONSOLIDATED
IS INVESTED IN RECYCLING FOR THE PLANET
Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing
Coca-Cola Consolidated is invested in the planet. With a focus on sustainability, the company is aligned to three pillars: Water Leadership, Climate Protection and Package Recycling.
With water as the main ingredient in all the beverages they bottle, they aim to protect every drop. Coca-Cola Consolidated implements water efficiency measures at their manufacturing and distribution facilities. They partner with community organizations by providing upcycled syrup drums that can be converted to rain collection barrels to organizations in the area like Keep Indy Beautiful and the White River Alliance, to help maintain clean
waterways in central Indiana and beyond.
By focusing on climate protection, they work to protect the communities they refresh by reducing emissions and energy use within their facilities.
“Our goal is to lower manufacturing energy by 20% by 2028 through innovative bottling, warehouse automation and LED lighting upgrades,” says Todd Marty, sustainability director with Coca-Cola Consolidated. “We’re also light-weighting our plastic bottles and caps, and converting waste to energy to help minimize landfill usage.”
Coca-Cola Consolidated creates and implements innovative ways to recover what they produce to support a circular economy through their Refresh, Recycle and Renew Program. That’s why package recycling is so important to Coca-Cola Consolidated. Their products are packaged in a way that’s made to be remade. Their plastic is PET (polyethylene terephthalate), one of the easiest and most versatile to recycle.
They also know they can’t do it alone. That’s why they seek partnerships in their community to help divert recyclable waste from the landfill.
“As an industry, we strive to get bottles
and cans back so we can make them into new packaging,” says Marty. “There is opportunity to see more products get recycled instead of being sent to the landfill. The challenge is getting all stakeholders to facilitate that circular economy.”
One example of partnering right here in the Indy market is an alliance with Republic Services, which operates a recycling center based on the north side of Indy.
“When consumers recycle material, Republic and other haulers bring it to their recycling center where it goes through an automated system, and recyclable materials are separated then baled to be resold as a commodity that will be made into something again,” explains Marty.
Coca-Cola Consolidated is partnering with
several other organizations throughout Indy to help with grassroots infrastructure and education. For example, at the Colts home game on November 10, Marty and his team will engage with fans.
“We’ll communicate and reward tailgaters in the parking lot and fans in the stadium as we collect recyclables to go to Republic,” Marty says.
If you’ve been to Lucas Oil Stadium for a football game or concert, you may have noticed Coca-Cola Consolidated’s repurposed empty syrup barrels that have been upcycled into recycling bins with wraps and lids that clearly communicate where bottles and cans should go.
In addition, Coca-Cola Consolidated works with employers like Recycle Force
and Interstate Business Solutions. Both are committed to employing and developing people who have recently been released from correctional institutions, or are current or former unsheltered individuals. These businesses are committed to upcycling lives through employment and job training, while improving the environment through litter removal and recycling efforts.
Marty notes that Coca-Cola Consolidated also works with Osprey Initiatives, the River Network and Keep Indy Beautiful to place a “Litter Gitter” in Indy. It’s more than a catchy name; it’s a floating contraption that’s installed into smaller creeks and waterways that feed into larger rivers and lakes. These trash traps don’t interfere with wildlife, and boats and kayaks can easily navigate around them. When it rains, stormwater runoff flows into drains and pipes that feed into our creeks, carrying with it litter and other types of pollution. The waste that’s captured is sorted and logged by material type and recycled.
November 15 is America Recycles Day, and an important day for CocaCola Consolidated. The company has participated in recycling improvement initiatives in central Indiana at local events such as Carmel’s Block Party on Main Street and Porchfest, at the Town of Speedway during the Indy 500 weekend, and on various college campuses to help enhance recycling initiatives.
Coca-Cola Consolidated works with partners across their 14-state footprint to help build circular economies. “Since 2018 we’ve really been working hard to encourage recycling,” Marty says. “It’s the investment we’re making as an organization at Coca-Cola Consolidated; we truly care about our communities as we strive to make meaningful change.”
UNMATCHED SERVICE FROM OUR EXPERTS
When it comes to your business, we take a comprehensive approach toward meeting your goals. Our cross-functional team works together to provide innovative solutions, personal service and local decision making that exceeds expectations. With Commercial Banking at The National Bank of Indianapolis, you are supported by experts in their field, so you can succeed in yours.
Colin Fahey Vice President, Commercial Banking
Carole Veatch Vice President, Treasury Management
Scott McDermott Vice President, Private Banking
NEW DIGS
FISHERS EVENT CENTER OPENS THIS MONTH
Writer / Devon Dean
A new entertainment venue is opening its doors in Fishers later this month.
Fishers Event Center, located near 106th Street and Cumberland Road, will be home to three professional sports teams: the Indy Fuel hockey club, the Indy Ignite professional volleyball team, and the Fishers Freight indoor football team.
After being announced in September of 2022, groundbreaking on the new Fishers Event Center took place on the $170 million facility in March of 2023. This is part of a $550 million expansion of the popular Fishers District.
Officials from ASM Global, the company
managing Fishers Event Center, have announced an exciting lineup of events kicking off in late November, including:
NOV. 22
Turnpike Troubadours
NOV. 29
Violinist Lindsey Stirling
NOV. 30
Comedian Leanne Morgan
DEC. 1
Nitro Circus
DEC. 4
AEW professional wrestling
DEC. 6-7
Indy Fuel hockey opening weekend
DEC. 9
Alabama
DEC. 20
The annual Mudsock rivalry basketball game between the Fishers Tigers and the Hamilton Southeastern Royals
JAN. 23-26
Cirque du Soleil’s acrobatic ice experience, “CRYSTAL”
FEBRUARY 28
Comedian Tom Segura
MARCH 29
Superstar entertainer Blake Shelton
The Fishers Event Center opening marks a new chapter for the Indy Fuel. As the minor league hockey affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, the Fuel has played its previous home seasons at Pepsi Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
The Indy Ignite will begin its first home season in January 2025, with the Indy Freight kicking off its inaugural season in March.
Beyond its already packed schedule, the Fishers Event Center aims to make an impact through sustainable practices and partnerships with local producers.
Fishers Event Center Director of Marketing
Anne Clendenin says the 7,500-seat capacity arena has a variety of sustainability initiatives in place already. “The building design results in a total energy cost savings of 27.2% when compared to energy code minimums,” she explained. “Energy conservation measures include increased roof and wall insulation, high-efficiency
interior lighting, and chilled water air handling units with variable-speed fans that only function based on the venue’s needs.”
Clendenin says the space also features cutting-edge reverse osmosis technology on the venue’s ice floor to enhance the water quality, creating a harder, faster surface with less snow buildup. The result is reduced maintenance and energy savings due to higher ice surface temperatures.
The arena will also use Zamboni’s FastICE and Level-Ice technologies. FastICE improves ice quality by eliminating trapped gases, allowing faster ice creation at higher temperatures, saving time and resources. Level-Ice creates a more level ice surface, which extends blade life, minimizes wear, and dramatically cuts water and energy usage.
As the Fishers Event Center prepares to open its doors, officials are not only focused on delivering world-class entertainment, but also providing premium food and beverage
options that cater to diverse dietary preferences.
The venue will offer gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan menu selections, with additional details on their full culinary offerings to be unveiled in the next few months.
Part of the Fishers Event Center’s allure is its partnerships with Indiana-based food producers. The Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) is a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing the viability of Indiana soybean farmers. The ISA will supply high-oleic soybean oil for French fries and chicken tenders. This oil is low in saturated fat, contains no trans fats, and has a longer shelf life than traditional oils.
Indiana soybean farmers are leaders in growing this premium variety, and their commitment to sustainability ensures they use fewer resources while growing more food for their communities.
Local meat producer Fischer Farms will
contribute to the center’s concession offerings. Known for its innovative regenerative agricultural practices, Fischer Farms has been recognized by the USDA’s Climate Smart-Commodities program for its efforts to raise livestock consciously.
In keeping with the arena’s eco-friendly initiatives, 90% of concession containers will be biodegradable and made from ecofriendly materials, while the remaining 10% will come from recycled plastics. Napkins and other paper products will be sourced from recycled materials, and even the packaging for Coca-Cola beverages will be made from recycled plastics.
ASM Global is committed to sustainability, diversity and the local community through a program called ASM Global Acts. The broad
goals and commitments for ASM Global Acts are:
• Protecting the environment - reducing waste from the guest experience across venues, enhancing facility efficiency through capital investments, and protecting and preserving resources in and around communities.
• Investing in people - creating an environment of inclusion and gender equity across the organization, growing the diversity of business partners around the world, and enabling opportunities for the current and future workforce.
• Strengthening communities - engaging in improving the vitality of communities, increasing philanthropic support through meaningful efforts, and enhancing the
health and well-being of coworkers, clients and guests.
ASM Global Acts will establish annual targets measuring the impact and progress in achieving these commitments. The ASM Global Acts Foundation will support philanthropic and community-based endeavors, guided by its sustainability and diversity pillars.
City officials say the Fishers Event Center will also serve as a community venue for local athletics, school functions like graduation ceremonies, and private events.
For more information, visit fisherseventcenter.com.
NOT SO SILENT NIGHT
ANNUAL HOLIDAY EVENT RAISES FUNDS FOR FAMILIES IN NEED
Writer / Renee Larr
Giving back to others during the holidays not only strengthens community bonds and teaches empathy, but also brings immense joy and spreads positivity. One local nonprofit, led by Christmas-loving Founder and President Scotty Randolph, is dedicated to bringing this joy to local, in-need families through the gift of Christmas presents.
“In 2015 I would ‘adopt’ a family through a large nationwide charity to provide Christmas gifts and assistance to families in Indianapolis,” Randolph says. “After a few years the charity changed its rules about what we could buy and how to assist families. I wasn’t excited about the change, so I decided to branch out and do it alone.”
Randolph is a singer-songwriter and says
FoxGardin Kitchen & Ale restaurant in Fortville has always been one of his favorite performing spots. He partnered with Spencer Foster, the director of operations at Burgess Restaurant Group, to combine an open mic night for various musicians to play while raising funds for local families identified through local schools. That first year, the group raised around $2,000 to help two local families.
Randolph says each year he got a little more help from various people, and was able to raise a little more money and provide more gifts. FoxGardin partnered with Randolph to host the open mic night, provide meeting space, host an intimate fundraising dinner and donate items. Additional FoxGardin customers got involved and wanted to join
Scan to Purchase Tickets or Donate
forces to help even more families. Each year the funds raised grew, so that Randolph eventually knew he had to create a 501(c) (3) nonprofit. That’s when the Not So Silent Night (NSSN) foundation was officially created. The foundation hosts an annual fundraiser called Not So Silent Night, a tongue-in-cheek reference to music.
Foster now serves as vice president of the foundation. She got involved with the organization through FoxGardin, but has always been the go-to person in charge of “adopting” families during the holidays at every job she’s had since high school.
“I can remember collecting change in elementary school to help families at Christmas, and I’ve supported several
nonprofits over the years, but it’s been an even more rewarding experience to partner with a friend to create our own,” Foster says. “My favorite thing about NSSN is having gotten to know the families we assist over the last several years. We have many that we help year after year, and it’s always amazing to catch up with the parents and see what the kids are into as they grow. One grandma has even met my baby, and we talk often throughout the year.”
This year’s event is on December 6 at The Hawthorns Golf and Country Club, with music by DJ Gee6ix, a silent auction, live auction, raffle items, food, cash bar, games and prizes. Randolph says the event is decorated to the nines with holiday decor galore, and cheer abounding. Tickets are $70 to attend, and a portion of each cocktail purchased goes towards buying local families Christmas gifts. Attendees can also simply scan a QR code to see each local family’s wish list to make giving even more accessible.
“Last year we helped over 20 families and raised just over $50,000,” Randolph says. “This year’s goal is $75,000, and we’ve found more avenues to connect with families locally who need assistance with more than just holiday gifts. We’ve helped with everything from purchasing work boots for someone, to paying a months’s rent and providing new living room furniture after a family’s was damaged.”
Randolph says he likes to hold the event early in the holiday season for two reasons. First, logistically, it allows more time for volunteers to purchase, wrap and deliver the presents for those in need. Secondly, he wants to encourage everyone to continue giving well into and beyond the holiday season. He hopes this event will kick off a season of giving back and inspire others to get involved. While his goal is to raise $75,000 to cover each family’s holiday gifts, he’s aiming for more…to involve the community in supporting each other during Christmas and throughout the year.
For more information and to get involved, visit notsosilent.home.qtego.us.
GIVING IS THE GOAL
THE SHARING PLACE FOOD PANTRY ASSISTS THOSE IN NEED THROUGHOUT MARION AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
In the late 1880s, a group of church leaders in Indianapolis got together to discuss a plan to care for the growing number of orphans in the area.
What began as a mission to help youth continued to expand, creating residential programs and community programs such as case management services, 24/7 crisis intervention and family preservation services.
They’ve changed and adjusted over the years, but one of the long-standing ministries remains.
Back in the 1970s, Lutheran Child and Family Services (LCFS) began serving food to those in need under a the name The Sharing Place. They’ve always served numbers into the tens of thousands, but in recent years the volunteers are seeing an increase they would have never expected.
Writer / Melissa Gibson
The Sharing Place served 55,149 people in 2023, and this year the food pantry has served 49,553 people so far - on track to serve more in 2024 than ever before.
The post-pandemic world has created hardships for families across the globe. Jobs were lost, prices increased, and it’s harder to make ends meet.
“I think it’s the inflation we’ve seen,” said Public Relations and Communications Coordinator Kristen Livingstone. “When we look at 2021, we served just under 28,000 people, and watching that number double in two years is the result. The numbers just continue to climb.”
They operate out of the Lawrence Township School Foundation building and serve zip codes in Marion and Hancock counties. Partnering with local grocery stores and Gleaners Food Bank, which makes regular deliveries, they’ve been able to keep up
with demand for food, but they can always use donations from volunteers in the community.
Consistent needs include pasta, rice, peanut butter, toilet paper, toothpaste and laundry detergent. These can be dropped off between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on most weekdays.
Perhaps more importantly, The Sharing Place is in desperate need of volunteers. Without people, it’s difficult to serve those in need.
“Individuals can come twice per month and they don’t need a referral - just proof of residency at each visit,” Livingstone said. “We do the client choice method, which means it’s set up like a grocery store and you shop with points, based on the number of people in your household. Each person is assigned a volunteer and that person shops along with them, guiding the process.”
Clients can choose among canned food, fresh produce, breads and meat. There are free items too - those that don’t require a point to place in the cart.
They’ve made it easier for volunteers to sign up through an online scheduling program. Those interested can simply click on the pantry and see where the gaps are in volunteer needs.
Though some might find it intimidating to volunteer when you don’t have prior experience, Livingstone said it’s easier than one might think.
“We’ve definitely seen a decrease in volunteers, and the bulk of the work is helping clients shop and pick things out,” Livingstone said. “If you’re not a big people person, there are opportunities throughout the week to stock shelves or clean and organize the pantry. There is a wide variety of things volunteers can do.”
Despite a lower number of volunteers to get the work done, The Sharing Place isn’t stopping. They are still partnering with organizations in the community and finding other ways to help. Most recently, they’ve expanded offerings through the Silver Box program, delivering pre-made boxes of food to clients’ homes. “This is in partnership with King of Glory Lutheran Church,” Livingstone said. “It’s for people with transportation issues. We deliver on the third Friday and Saturday of every month, and right now we’re putting clients on a wait list, but the more volunteers we have, the more we can serve.”
The Sharing Place team is hopeful the new program continues to expand by fostering partnerships with additional local churches and gaining volunteer delivery drivers.
Delivering to a homebound person or to someone with no transportation often sparks long-lasting friendships and community bonding.
HANCOCK HEALTH 2024 TOP DOCTORS
Gastroenterology
13. Bilal Gondal, M.D.
14. Syed Rizvi, M.D. General Surgery
15. Jeff Heisse, M.D., FACS
16. Manuel Lozano, M.D.
17. Thomas Meads, M.D. Breast Surgery
18. Monet Bowling, M.D.
19. Anne Mattingly, M.D. Geriatric Medicine
M.D.
8. Kristin Bagley, M.D.
9. Elizabeth Blachly, M.D.
10. Brad Hirsch, M.D.
11. Shawn Moore, D.O.
12. Margaret Fitzsimmons, M.D.
20. Amy R. Wooldridge, M.D. Hematology
21. Namrata Shah, M.D. Infectious Disease
22. Francisco Delgado, M.D.
23. Markian Bochan, M.D.
In addition, the Emergency Diaper Dispensary is available for those individuals referred through caseworkers. If eligible, clients can submit a request and pick up the diapers a few days later. Diaper and wipe donations are welcome, and should be delivered to: 1525 North Ritter Avenue, Indianapolis IN 46219.
The Sharing Place operates out of 6501 Sunnyside Road, Door 5 in Indianapolis. Visit lutheranfamily.org for more information.
WE’D LIKE TO THANK OUR PEERS FOR CONFIRMING WHAT OUR PATIENTS HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN.
Learn more about our physicians at HancockHealth.org/Find-A-Doctor
Internal Medicine
24. Kristen Irwin, M.D.
25. Suresh Seshan, M.D. Medical Oncology
26. Stephen Schultz, M.D.
27. Madelaine Sgroi, D.O. Nephrology
28. Mirza Baig, M.D., MBA, FACP, FASN Neurology
29. Joshua East, M.D.
30. James Zhang, M.D., Ph.D. Obstetrics & Gynecology
31. Molly Strong, M.D.
32. Raquel Ton, M.D. Pain Medicine
33. Aaron Nelson, D.O. Pediatrics
34. Paul Halter, M.D.
35. Lori Wean, M.D.
36. Allison Wiesman, M.D. Pediatric Psychiatry
37. DeLynn Williams, M.D. Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
38. Sewit Amde, M.D. Psychiatry
39. Melinda Cobb, M.D.
40. Ben McAllister, D.O. Radiation Oncology
41. Julia Compton, M.D.
42. Priscilla Stumpf, M.D. Sports Medicine
43. Andrew Schroeder, D.O. Cardiology
44. Thomas Falinger, M.D.
45. Jason Jayore, M.D.
Now accepting new patients!
Holt Dental: 96th Street Family Dentistry
Dr. Marie Holt & Dr. Anya Chowdhary 7862 E 96th Street • Fishers, IN 46037 holtdentalindy.com • 317-576-9393 smile@holtdentalindy.com
RESEARCH STUDY SEEKING
Men 65 or Older or Women 50 or Older
Purdue University, College of Pharmacy is seeking healthy volunteers who are at least 65 years old (men) or 50 years old (women) to participate in a study to determine if a hormone called testosterone or progesterone can reduce the risk of a heart rhythm abnormality.
If you qualify for the study:
• You will complete one 2-hour visit and two 10- hour visits at the Indiana Clinical Research Center (ICRC) located on the IUPUI campus in downtown Indianapolis
• Prior to the 2nd and 3rd visit, you will apply testosterone or a placebo for 3 days and during the 2nd and 3rd visits, you will receive a medication called Ibutilide (Covert) by IV, have your blood taken and ECGs performed throughout the day.
• You will receive up to $500 after completing all study visits. Parking and meals during the study are included.
If you are interested in participating, please call or text 317-847-2094 or email: hwroblew@iu.edu
