Muncie Magazine April 2023

Craig Robbins

PRODUCTION

TONI

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IN 47303

SIGHTS TO SEE

BRIAN STATZ TAKES ON CEO ROLE AT MINNETRISTA MUSEUM AND GARDENS

and was also vice president of operations,” he says. “That vice president role I think helped train me for what I’m doing now.”

museums to his new role, as well as new information he has gathered.

Brian Statz is the new chief executive officer of Minnetrista Museum and Gardens as of January, and he is working hard to make sure the museum reaches its full potential for the City of Muncie.

“I used to work for the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, and I was on general council

Coming from Fishers, Statz has been living in the Indy area for 40 years. Before moving to Fishers, Statz studied at Indiana University Bloomington before going to the University of Michigan to study in law school. Statz is applying some of his previous knowledge from working in

“I think I do a decent job communicating with the community, other business partners, staff and our visitors,” he says. “Part of that communication is listeningnot saying, ‘This is my idea, let’s go with it,’ but saying, ‘Here’s some things I think we ought to consider. What do you think or what would you prefer? What would you

Writer / Kylee White Photography Provided

like?’ Then trying to build some consensus as to a direction that we ought to go as an organization.”

“I think also coming from a children’s museum, where we focused on arts and science and the humanities, but we also focused on big things, shiny things, pretty things, kind of a ‘wow’ experience, I think we could do a little bit of that at Minnetrista without Minnetrista losing its culture and its flavor,” Statz adds.

Statz is working hard at engaging the museum with Muncie’s community, to connect more people through the work Minnetrista does.

“I’ve been spending my time learning Muncie, learning Minnetrista, and getting out into the community to talk to as many people as I can,” he says. “That’ll be going on for a while, but I think I’ve gotten a pretty good start just meeting people for coffee or lunch, finding out more about them, their organizations and how they fit in Muncie. I want to meet as many people as I can, just to really weave myself into the community.”

Moving forward, Statz is positive about the future of Minnetrista, and is excited to see how far the museum can grow for not only the City of Muncie, but also for the general area as a whole.

“I am inheriting an organization that has been built up by several outstanding people, including the current staff, to get it to where it is now,” he says. “I would like to be the person that takes Minnetrista out more into the community to reach audiences that maybe we’re not reaching now, to bring some of our exhibits and programs out into Muncie in the county.”

Minnetrista is located at 1200 North Minnetrista Parkway in Muncie. To learn more about Statz and Minnetrista, call 765-282-4848 or visit minnetrista.net. Also visit their Facebook and Instagram pages @ minnetrista.

THE STATE OF THE CITY

WITH MAYOR DAN RIDENOUR

W h e r e W e S t a r t e d : J a n u a r y , 2 0 2 0

Public Safety

18 Negative Accounts

-3,310,929

16 Accounts: Procedural Errors

-250,000 in EDIT funds

Roads and Streets: Debt

I n 2 0 2 0 , t h e P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t w a s s h o r t b y 2 0 o f f i c e r s , a n d c o u l d n ' t p r o v i d e a d e q u a t e s a l a r y r a i s e s . T h e F i r e D e p a r t m e n t w a s i n d e s p e r a t e n e e d o f u p d a t e d e q u i p m e n t a n d b e t t e r c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e f i r e s t a t i o n s .

Finances Streets

-1,937,869.66

T h e s t r e e t s w e r e o v e r d u e f o r a t h i r d p a r t y , n o n - p o l i t i c a l i n s p e c t i o n t o k e e p u s e l i g i b l e f o r S t a t e a n d F e d e r a l g r a n t s . T h e i n s p e c t o r f o u n d t h a t o u r a v e r a g e r o a d g r a d e w a s 5 2 . 8 p e r c e n t . M a n y r o a d s h a d b e e n r e s u r f a c e d

i n s t e a d o f r e p a i r e d , a n d w e h a d t o p a y b a c k o u r d e b t b e f o r e a n y w o r k c o u l d b e d o n e .

Nominations Now Open!

TOP LOCAL

NOMINATE YOUR TOP LOCAL BUSINESSES

We are looking for your favorite local businesses to feature in our Towne Post Network magazines, website, and social media. Each month, we will acknowledge Townies’ Top Local Award recipients and list them in our monthly print publications. There is no cost to be recognized, we’re just looking for the businesses that locals feel are the best!

HOW TO QUALIFY

To be considered, your business must be nominated by someone other than the owner(s) of the business. Those with the most nominations will be considered before others, so make sure you get your most loyal local fans to nominate your business. When being considered, Towne Post Network editorial staff will review the following criteria to insure these qualifications are met:

Online Ranking 4.5 Stars or Higher

Listing on TownePost.com

Supports Local Charities

Locally Owned

First Dance

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INSURANCE

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WINDOWS & DOORS

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M u n c i e

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C o w i n g

R i v e r v i e w

C h a m b e r s

T u h e y

R i v e r b e n d

W h i t e R i v e r

G i l b e r t

C l i f t o n - W a l l a c e

C a n a n C o m m o n s

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0 .

M u n c i e F i r e m a n ' s

J e r r y L . T h o r n b u r g

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M e m o r i a l

R o s e

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H e e k i n

T h o m a s

C o o l e y

G u t h r i e

W e s t s i d e

RIALZO RETURNS

MERIDIAN HEALTH SERVICES ANNUAL CHARITY GALA IS BACK FOR YEAR 12

Story and Photos Provided by Meridian Health Services

Travel through the rabbit hole to a world of wonderment and surprise at Meridian Health Services’ Rialzo XII - Wonderland, where “Nothing’s Impossible!” This year’s “Alice in Wonderland”-themed charity gala will be held on Saturday, May 6 and will return to the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie where Rialzo was hosted for its first 10 years.

Meridian Health Services and presenting sponsor, Pridemark Construction, invite you to enjoy an evening of dinner,

dancing and fundraising games that will leave you “mad” with excitement. Attendees will enjoy spectacular entertainment by Rialzo arts partners Muncie Civic Theatre, Orchestra Indiana, Cornerstone Center for the Arts, and the national party band Universal Crush.

Additionally, Hank Milius, Meridian Health Services’ president and CEO, will receive the Rialzo XII Spirit of Meridian award during the Rialzo program. The award recognizes and pays tribute to an individual who demonstrates proactive actions in promoting healthier

communities. Milius is retiring from Meridian at the end of 2023 after 21 years of service. Milius’ visionary leadership led to Meridian becoming the whole-person health home it is today.

Additionally, Milius created Rialzo, which has raised more than $1 million for Meridian’s broad suite of health care programming.

Rialzo is a purpose with a party. Rialzo, Italian for “elevate” or “rise,” represents Meridian’s mission to improve lives and make communities healthier through an

emphasis on whole-person health. Since the first Rialzo in 2010, the annual charity gala has raised funds to support Meridian Health Services’ programs and services, and has benefited thousands of people in need throughout Indiana.

Funds raised at Rialzo will help youth mental and physical health through Meridian’s partnership with local community schools, to provide and expand services for children and adolescents in need through Meridian’s school-based health clinics. This comes at a time when children need us most as the nation faces a youth mental health crisis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that not only is suicide the third-leading cause of death for youth aged 15 to 19, but one in four adolescents aged 12 to 17 have also had a substance use disorder or a major depressive episode. Moreover, according to Mental Health America, 56% of Indiana’s youth with a major depressive episode did not receive mental health services in the past year. Mental health has a complex, integrated relationship with a child’s physical health and their ability to succeed in school, work and society. Poor mental health is a risk factor for chronic

physical health conditions, highlighting the importance of providing integrated physical and mental health services.

“Alice in Wonderland” is symbolic of the many changes and trials children face. Often, growing up feels like you are traveling down a rabbit hole that is dark and filled with mystery at every corner as you navigate life. For some, the rabbit hole may include issues at home, bullies, inadequate access to health care and more, all of which can leave a child

desperately seeking Wonderland. Luckily, just like Alice had the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter, Meridian Health is there to help navigate children to a place where “Nothing’s Impossible!” by offering physical, behavioral and social services.

Feel the energy and see the impact that is only Rialzo. Learn more and purchase tickets, tables and sponsorships at rialzo. meridianhs.org.

Presenting Sponsor