Plainfield Magazine February 2022

MAGAZINE

FEBRUARY 2022

THE POWER OF POSITIVITY

KATIE FARRELL MAKES THE WORLD A BIT BRIGHTER 7 DATE IDEAS FOR A MEMORABLE VALENTINE’S DAY STEPS TO HELP PREVENT HEART DISEASE

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AWARENESS MAKES A DIFFERENCE

STEPS TO HELP PREVENT HEART DISEASE

THE POWER OF POSITIVITY

AWARE Campaign Puts Focus on Cognitive Disabilities for First Responders

Katie Farrell Makes the World a Bit Brighter

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READY TO SERVE

The Hendricks County Medical Reserve Corps Helps in Times of Crisis KEY CONTRIBUTORS AMY PAYNE / ABIGAIL HAKE / CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING DR. KATSIARYNA TSAROVA

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PLAINFIELD

7 DATE IDEAS FOR A MEMORABLE VALENTINE’S DAY

V 1. GO SKATING

Writer / Abigail Hake Photography Provided

alentine’s Day is coming up, which means it’s time to start planning the perfect date for you and your special someone. Do you prefer a typical dinner with your loved one or would you rather enjoy a Valentine’s Day that’s a little more memorable? Whatever you like, here are a few ideas that you may or may not have thought of before.

Lots of outdoor ice rinks are still open through the end of February so check out your options. Skating under the stars can be very romantic. If outdoor skating isn’t an option, look into skating times at your local indoor rink or even roller rink.

Gliding around together and holding hands is always a good time. If you aren’t comfortable with skating, grab some hot chocolates and go watch others do it. This can actually be quite entertaining and definitely leave you with something to talk (or laugh) about!

6 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2022 / TownePost.com

2. RECREATE A FAVORITE MEMORY

Whether it’s your first or 15th Valentine’s Day together, there’s probably a memorable moment between the two of you that stands out. Do your best to recreate that special moment. Go back to where you met or

where your first date was, and take a walk down memory lane - it’s sure to give you all the feels.

forget the popcorn.

3. PLAN A PICNIC

Getting away is always refreshing for those involved. Whether it’s an evening at the local boutique hotel or a cabin in the woods a couple hours away, enjoy the uninterrupted time together. You might even seek out a treehouse to rent as those have a truly magical and romantic feel, which is sure to make for a memorable Valentine’s date.

While you might not be able to do this outside, there are plenty of indoor-friendly ways to have a picnic. Set up in the living room in front of the fire, crack open a bottle of wine, and enjoy some light snacks and appetizers while getting to know each other a little better - or, if you’ve been together a while, getting to know each other again.

4. DO A DRIVE-IN DATE

Load up the car with some folding chairs, cozy blankets and lots of snacks, and head to your closest drive-in theater for an evening with a throwback feel. Depending on the weather, you could set this up in your backyard, at the park or even in the basement if the weather won’t cooperate. If you plan to do it at home, string some bistro lights for a little extra magic, and don’t

5. ENJOY A QUICK GETAWAY

6. GET ACTIVE TOGETHER

If you don’t regularly work out together, this might be a fun one to try. Set up a personal training session, go for a run together or plan a hike with a special surprise at the top. Getting the endorphins going together could really help get the sparks going. Plus, it’s always fun to cheer each other on when doing hard things.

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7. CREATE A BUCKET LIST

Bucket lists are always fun to come up with and even more fun to complete. Why not make one just for the two of you?

Come up with all the things you can do without the kids, or maybe before you have kids, depending on where you are in the relationship. Make sure to include all kinds of ideas - fun, silly, extreme, romantic, easy and hard. Start by checking one of the items off the list THIS Valentine’s Day. Remember, just because it’s Valentine’s Day, that doesn’t mean it has to be a two-person event. No matter where you are on the relationship spectrum, we’ve all had a crazy past couple of years and we all deserve a little treat. If there’s not a significant other in the picture, or maybe you just can’t be with the one you love so dear, spoil yourself and indulge a bit. Grab some chocolates, treat yourself to a nice dinner, or just take some time for yourself - because you deserve it!

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Deputy Chief Joe Aldridge (Plainfield) Major Andy Watts (Brownsburg) Captain Jack Sadler (HCSD) Deputy Chief Brian Nugent (Avon) Sergeant Chase Wilson (Danville PD)

AWARENESS MAKES A DIFFERENCE AWARE CAMPAIGN PUTS FOCUS ON COGNITIVE DISABILITIES FOR FIRST RESPONDERS Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

For years Officer Brian Nugent, deputy chief of the Avon Police Department, has acted as the Hendricks County law enforcement liaison to Project Lifesaver, which is a proactive response to identifying individuals who tend to wander away from their caretakers. As the program’s liaison, Nugent regularly fields questions from families who inquire as to whether they qualify for the program. Though a number of these individuals have cognitive

disabilities, they do not meet the criteria for “We have no way of knowing if somebody in needing a 24/7 caretaker for their loved one. that vehicle may have a cognitive disorder,” Nugent says. “We have no clue what that “I saw that as a gap,” says Nugent. diagnosis could be, what the limitations are, or the best practice for engaging that Though the police department has been particular individual that may have a mental integrating mental health awareness into disability and cognitive disorder.” trainings for years, there is always room for improvement and growth. However, Even if officers approach a vehicle or there are multiple variables at play. Nugent residence with a toolbox full of resources, explains that when officers stop a vehicle or there is no way to immediately know which respond to an emergency call, they are up tool or resource to apply first. against the unknown.

“I realized that we needed a simple, FEBRUARY 2022

meaningful, identifiable way to be armed with information, and a sticker on the back of a vehicle seemed like a good way to do that,” Nugent says.

Since police officers put about 30’ of distance between their cruiser and the vehicle they are stopping, the emblem needed to be large enough for officers to see when getting out of their car. Hence, Nugent created the AWARE emblem, a 4” circular sticker that adheres to cars (and doors of homes) to let police, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel know that someone inside is likely to have a cognitive disability.

The sticker provides information before any words are even exchanged, and that’s key. In an emergency situation, an officer or EMS worker may show up to a serious accident and find the caregiver incapacitated. If an individual in the car is acting irrational, the AWARE sticker can empower first responders to assess the matter with more information.

That’s important because irrational behavior is often correlated with criminal behavior or perhaps substancerelated impairment when, in these instances, that’s not the case.

“We are branding this AWARE emblem to be a de-escalation and a mental health awareness platform for law enforcement,” Nugent says.

There are programs within the dispatching center that allow one to enter what is called a premise hazard.

This is data the public can enter that may state, for example, “I live at 123 Main Street. If you respond to this residence, please know I have an

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elderly male with dementia.” This lets law enforcement officers and first responders know, while en route to a residence, what they will encounter upon arrival. Creating a program that transcends those limitations to provide visual recognition upon arrival on the scene can be tremendously helpful.

Nugent feels confident that such a tool will make a difference. He recently got a call from Arin Sparger, a local mother whose 8-year-old daughter Emma is part of Project Lifesaver.

She shared with Nugent that she was recently involved in a car accident in which she was rear-ended. Though it wasn’t a serious collision, her kids were shaken - particularly Emma, who is hearing impaired and has Down syndrome.

“I was concerned about my daughter’s safety and what was going on with her physically, but unless you understood her health history, there was no way to identify our situation,” Sparger says. “I felt like if there was some way to convey what was going on without having to explain it, on top of all that I was processing with the accident itself, there would have been tremendous value in that.”

Sparger mentioned to Nugent that she wished the AWARE program had been in place when she had her accident, as she knows it would have made a traumatic situation much better.

Sparger also has a father with Alzheimer’s, and she’s thrilled this program will benefit so many different demographics.

A critical piece to this program is figuring

out how to get the AWARE stickers into the hands of those who need them, so the Avon Police Department has created a physician referral form.

“Anyone who thinks they qualify to get this emblem for their vehicle or residence can ask their physician, counselor or therapist for a referral form,” Nugent says. “They would then bring us that form and we would give them the emblem.”

The physician referral forms can be found on the program website at awareprogram.info.

This program is free to the public and free for agencies to join. Agencies just have to make the decision to support it, and designate someone to accept physician referral forms to obtain the emblems.

Part of the Central Indiana Police Foundation’s mission is to support law enforcement officers, both personally and professionally. Therefore, according to Executive Director Lisa Rollings, any time they can help create a positive experience between citizens and officers, they want to do so.

“Backing this program was a no-brainer,” Rollings says. “By supporting and promoting this program, we hope to influence positive interactions between officers and folks who have cognitive disabilities.”

The Central Indiana Police Foundation initially funded the program to help it gain FEBRUARY 2022

traction in the state of Indiana. The initial rollout began in November. In addition to the Avon Police Department, all law enforcement agencies in Hendricks County are participating in the rollout of this pilot program. Ultimately, as the program garners support over time, Nugent hopes to make it a statewide and nationwide campaign. So far he has reached out to Hendricks County physicians as well as Indiana Disability Rights, Mental Health America of Hendricks County, accessABILITY, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, to spread the word.

“This is an opportunity for us to lead the way in Hendricks County, in the state and perhaps across the nation, to show people that we have to make intentional efforts in terms of our training and being proactive,” Nugent says. “It is incumbent upon us to find higher levels of accountability for ourselves and for this profession.”

For more information, visit awareprogram. info.

THE HENDRICKS COUNTY MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS HELPS IN TIMES OF CRISIS Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) was created to organize and train groups of volunteers to aid existing community response teams in the event of national, regional or local emergencies.

Needless to say, they have kept busy during the COVID-19 pandemic running vaccination clinics and testing sites.

Since its inception in 2007, the Hendricks County MRC has seen an ebb and flow to their volunteer pool. When COVID-19 vaccination clinics were ramping up, they put out a call-out, requesting volunteers since, at the time, they had just 75 members.

“We expected maybe 30 people to respond, but we added 500 members,” says Jeff Corder, public health preparedness coordinator and MRC coordinator.

On December 19, 2020, Hendricks Regional Health set up their first clinic, which utilized MRC volunteers. The MRC held their first vaccine clinic on February 1, 2021, and have been running weekly vaccination clinics ever since. MRC and hospital volunteers put in nearly 24,000 volunteer hours at clinics and related activities between December 2020 and December 2021.

Due to the enormous time commitment by so many Hendricks

County residents, the MRC recently held a recognition ceremony to present those who put in more than 100 hours with a presidential volunteer service award. Those who worked 10 to 99 hours received a special coin. In addition, they gave an award to Gail Douglas, a retired registered nurse, who in 2021 logged more than 500 hours with the MRC. Douglas, a nine-year MRC volunteer veteran, enjoys the camaraderie of working alongside like-minded people.

“I had a great role model in my mother, who demonstrated a love of community service,” Douglas says. “She never stopped volunteering until dementia took over. In her 80s she still wrote letters and painted fingernails on nursing home ladies’ hands.”

Response following a disaster situation is critical. It’s not a matter of hopping in a car and taking off. To be helpful, coordination, communication and an action plan are needed. For instance, in a disaster situation, Dawn Mason, the emergency management director for Hendricks County, would reach out to Corder, letting him know that she’s setting up a shelter with a volunteer reception center. Then Corder would deploy his volunteers, telling them where to go and what to do.

“Following the tornadoes that devastated Kentucky in December, a bunch of people self-deployed and drove down there on their own,”

FEBRUARY 2022

Corder says. “Though it’s a good thing that people want to help, it’s not good when you can’t organize those volunteer efforts.”

supplies, then call the Red Cross to request one person to oversee the shelter.

By setting up a volunteer reception center, however, volunteers know precisely where to go to get checked in. Plus, there’s a system in place to scan driver’s licenses for a quick sex-offender registry check.

“We contact them because they have the experience and knowledge that goes along with setting up shelters,” Corder says.

Some people don’t understand the difference between the MRC and the Red Cross. The Red Cross provides the sheltering aspect, but since there isn’t a Red Cross presence in Hendricks County, in an emergency situation the MRC may set up a shelter with cots and

Under the umbrella of the MRC is the Crisis Response Team (CRT), which is deployed in the aftermath of a traumatic event like the death of a student at a school.

“Our volunteers aren’t counselors but they’re there to listen,” Corder says. “If we think a student needs additional resources, we

FEBRUARY 2022

can point them in the right direction.”

Their CRT trainings were going strong, but the pandemic caused them to put their training plans on the back-burner. They have, however, resumed some classes. For example, they’ve offered Stop the Bleed trainings, Safe Worship trainings, and Animal Issues in Disaster courses, to name a few. For the latter course, sponsored in conjunction with the Board of Animal Health, they partnered with Misty Eyes Animal Shelter.

“If there was a flood or tornado in the county, we would assist in setting up a human shelter and Misty Eyes would handle the animal portion of it,” Corder says.

Though Misty Eyes can provide refuge for small animals following a disaster, Corder recognizes the portion of Hendricks County that’s rural and has horses, cows and pigs. Therefore, they’re in need of farmers who are experienced in large-animal rescue.

“We’re trying to be a resource in all different areas in the county,” Corder says.

Even though the MRC has grown in the past two years, they would like to continue to add volunteers. They especially have a need for

translators who are fluent in non-English languages. They’re also interested in recruiting veterans who are likely to be equipped with helpful knowledge and skills. They welcome anybody.

“We can use people at any time,” Corder says. “While the vaccine clinics have been the big focus recently, down the road we’ll need volunteers for other things. We hope people will volunteer even if they can only commit to a few hours.”

“In the MRC everyone can find a niche to serve,” Douglas adds.

The Hendricks County Medical Reserve Corps is located at 355 South Washington Street, #G30 in Danville. For more info and to apply to be a volunteer, visit hendrickscountymrc. org or call 317-745-9214.

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Closing costs and fees are not included in prices shown. Prices, plans, availability, features, terms and options are subject to change without notice or obligation. Measurements and dimensions are approximate.

Photographs and renderings are for illustration purposes only and are not part of a legal contract. Please contact a neighborhood sales manager for additional details. Arbor Homes is an equal opportunity home builder.

FEBRUARY 2022

STEPS TO HELP PREVENT HEART DISEASE LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CAN DECREASE YOUR RISK. By living a healthy lifestyle, patients can help improve their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. This lowers the risk of heart attack and stroke. Manageable habits include consuming healthy foods and drinks, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular physical activity and refraining from smoking.

Writer / Dr. Katsiaryna Tsarova, Cardiologist at IU Health West Hospital Photography Provided

Heart disease is the number-one cause of death in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About 659,000 people in the country die from heart disease each year. Certain health conditions, your lifestyle, age, and family history can increase your risk for heart disease. Patients should not wait to schedule an appointment TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR MEDICAL CONDITIONS. with a cardiologist. IU Health is one of the highest-volume heart If you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes, you and vascular programs in the country. can take steps to lower your risk for heart disease. Patients should get their cholesterol checked at least once every four to six years.

Heart disease can affect anyone.

If they have already been diagnosed with high cholesterol or have Heart disease is the number-one killer of both men and women. a family history of the condition, it may need to be checked more It can happen at any age, but the risk goes up as a person grows often. Patients should also have their blood pressure measured older. It is important to take steps earlier in life to prevent yearly after the age of 40, and every three to five years if they are irreversible heart damage that can accumulate over years. younger than 40.

KNOW YOUR FAMILY HISTORY. The CDC states that genetic factors play some role in heart disease and other related conditions. The risk increases when traits passed from one generation to another through genes combine with unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking and poor diet.

WORK WITH A HEALTH-CARE TEAM. Patients should work with a health-care team to prevent and treat medical conditions that could lead to heart disease. Those who have been told they are at risk should not wait to see a cardiologist to get ahead of any potential symptoms. For those who have already had a heart attack, health-care team members will work to help prevent another one. Treatment plans may include medicines, surgery or lifestyle changes.

FEBRUARY 2022

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THE POWER OF POSITIVITY

KATIE FARRELL MAKES THE WORLD A BIT BRIGHTER Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Amy Payne

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M

eeting Katie Farrell was truly a treat. When I rang her doorbell, Katie, 34, greeted me with a bright, beaming, beautiful smile that I must admit I appreciated more after enduring a year and a half with masks covering our expressions.

Through the years I’ve had the privilege of knowing a number of people with Down syndrome and am always impressed by their zest for life. They emanate goodness from the inside out, are gracious, kind and gentle, and genuinely want to do their part to make those around them happy.

As if that’s not enough, they often leave you chuckling with their wit and wisdom. Katie is no different. Soon after I sat down with Katie and her parents, Ross and Judy, to learn more about her, Ross noted that the family has lived in Hendricks County since 1985.

“But 1987, now that was a good year,” Katie

declared, referring to the year she made her debut into the world.

Endlessly energetic, Katie has a number of hobbies including sewing, swimming, bowling, golfing, cooking, horseback riding and reading. She especially enjoys reading books on ancient history including Egyptian and Greek.

“The Plainfield schools were good for her,” Judy says. “They didn’t just classify her as disabled and throw her in a classroom. They worked with her all the way through school with peer tutors and inclusion classrooms.”

She took cooking classes through Sycamore Services to learn skills like cooking safety.

While at Plainfield High School, Sycamore Services helped Katie secure a job with Applebee’s. When she graduated from high school in 2007, she asked the manager if she could continue her employment. This June will mark 14 years at Applebee’s for Katie.

She logs about 12 hours per week, usually working the lunch shift on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and the dinner shift on Fridays and Saturdays. Her duties include greeting people, rolling silverware and taking ice to the bar.

Rachel Gonzales, general manager at Applebee’s, has worked with Katie for seven years and is pleased by the way she executes everything expected of her.

“When guests enter the building, Katie is the first to greet them at the door with a smile and a ‘How are you?’” Gonzales says.

“Katie has never come into a shift negatively.

Every day is a positive attitude, regardless of what’s going on outside of work. She’s fun to work with and a great asset to our team.”

Katie enjoys her shifts because she’s a social butterfly.

“I mingle with most every employee,

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whether they are younger or older,” Katie says.

Though employee turnover is fast, especially in today’s market, she remains loyal to her employer and looks forward to each shift.

Last year Katie contracted COVID-19 and was sick for several weeks. Once she recovered, however, she was one of the first employees called back to work.

When she’s not at Applebee’s, Katie keeps busy. One day per week, a caregiver takes her out for several hours to engage in community activities. They might go shopping or bowling, take in a museum or a play, or go out to lunch. She also attends a special Bible study at Messiah Lutheran Church in Brownsburg for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, where they participate in songs, prayer, interactive Bible study, crafts and games.

In addition, she attends weekly church services, which she thoroughly enjoys as her faith is important to her. When asked

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to share something or someone that makes her the happiest, her face brightens and she answers joyfully, “God!” Once per week Katie goes to the National Institute for Fitness and Sport gym, as part of a program through IUPUI recreational therapy designed to help students learn how to adapt their educational programs for special-needs individuals.

“Katie meets up with an IUPUI student to do their lesson plans,” Ross says. “It’s good for the student who is learning to be a physical education teacher or physical therapist, and it’s good for Katie too.”

In the past she has participated in The Biz Academy of Musical Theatre’s My Time to Shine program, which is an acting class that invites those with special needs to be paired with mentors to help them during a show. She has performed in “Cinderella” and “Shrek the Musical.”

Not only is the experience good for growing self-confidence, but it also helps performers work on their articulation and memorization skills.

“I like so many things,” Katie says. “I’m pretty much open to anything.”

Every Thursday Katie helps her mom deliver food for the Meals on Wheels program. Judy also taught her daughter looming, which is a kind of knitting. Katie makes hats and scarves, and donates them to homeless organizations Family Promise and Sheltering Wings.

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“We try to keep her busy, occupied in many different activities,” Ross says.

breakfast

One night per week she and her mom also go to Hazelwood Christian Church to volunteer with the homeless kitchen.

“It helps her to know she’s doing something for others,” Judy says.

She swam with Special Olympics when she was 10 years old. That was when her parents first learned of her competitive spirit.

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“She was competing in the state meet with TownePost.com / FEBRUARY 2022 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 21

all these athletes who had come to Indiana to compete” Ross says. “She was in the meet with four other guys. She was going along in the 25-meter breaststroke and was about three-fourths of the way down, and she saw that one of the boys was a bit ahead of her. She put her head down, kicked it into another gear and won the race.”

She’s not just fierce in the water but on land as well, especially during family game night - a tradition that began during the pandemic when they would play a game every evening after dinner. Though they switch up the games, sometimes playing “Crazy Eights” and other times “Sorry!” or “Yahtzee,” they do have a favorite. “‘Monopoly’ Monday has kind of stuck,” Judy says.

The family can’t play as often now that regular activities have resumed.

“It was tough,” Ross says, referring to

COVID-related shutdowns. “Some people with disabilities didn’t have as many activities in their lives to begin with, and were really lost. We’re thrilled that Katie has her life back now.”

The family loves to travel and hopes to take a Norwegian cruise later this year. Past trips have included the Caribbean, Alaska and a Disney cruise. They also took the Queen Mary 2 ship across the ocean and visited

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London, England and Ireland. Though they love seeing the world, they couldn’t be happier calling Hendricks County home.

“Plainfield has been a great place for Katie to grow up,” Ross says. “The academic part of growing up is important, but not as important as being able to socialize with her world. She’s been such a blessing to our family.”

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