AUGUST 2020
MAGAZINE
True to the Town
Robin Brandgard Exemplifies Community Service
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TRUE TO THE TOWN: ROBIN BRANDGARD EXEMPLIFIES COMMUNITY SERVICE
It was the year Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington State, the Pac-Man video game was released, and the year John Lennon was shot and killed in New York. It was also the year Robin Brandgard would sit on the Town of Plainfield Town Council for the first time. In 1980, the Town of Plainfield population was recorded at 9,191 according to the United States Census Bureau. Today, the population is around 32,000 people.
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AUGUST WRITERS
Christy Heitger-Ewing Jamie Hergott / Josh Duke Dr. Robert Huff / Stephanie Singh
AUGUST PHOTOGRAPHERS Amy Payne / KP Photography Stephanie Singh
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Daily Devotion: Lori Lee Makes Community Service Her Full-Time Job
9 A Special Bond: How a Cop and
Reformed Inmate Are Spreading Hope Together
14 Visit Hendricks County Launches
New Website For Residents
17 Miracle Man: How Family, Friends &
Faith Helped a Local Man Recover from a Devastating Stroke
22 Navigating Anxiety 24 Skin Cancer: Signs, Risk Factors,
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Exemplifies Community Service
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PLAINFIELD
Daily Devotion Lori Lee Makes Community Service Her Full-Time Job
Writer / Jamie Hergott Photography Provided
Lori Lee’s earliest memories of community service are with her father, who was involved in every community club in her hometown of Logansport. He would take Lee and her sister along with him, and they’d watch and help as he built, gave, and worked to improve the town he lived in. Lee is a woman of many talents and gifts, not the least of which is a passion to share those gifts with her community. She was a medical assistant for Hendricks Regional Health for 27 years, and has been retired for two years. Now that her three kids are grown, she fills her time with as much community service as possible. Giving is just as much a part of who she is as her welcoming smile and her bubbly energy. Adopted from South Korea as an infant, Lee grew up in Logansport and was as involved and devoted to school then as she is now in Hendricks County. A member of her high school band, choir, speech team, debate team and school musicals, she was a busy student who carried her musical talents into adulthood.
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A lesser-known fact about Lee is that she would have tried out for “American Idol” not long ago if she had been allowed. Unfortunately, the show requires participants to be under 28 years old to audition. “I make my husband Rick watch it with me,” Lee says. “I sing throughout the whole thing.” Lee always wanted to work in the medical field. She grew up working at a local hospital as a nursing aide, and the medical assistant role was a natural fit. She raised three kids in Avon, and as they became older and more independent, Lee looked for ways to continue giving back. She started her extensive community service resume by joining the Plainfield Chamber of Commerce in 2013. “My kids were raised, and I wanted to be out in the community,” Lee says. “I wanted to meet people and serve others.” She joined the Chamber board of directors, and currently serves on the executive board. While the Chamber has undertaken many projects and programs for the community, one highlight for Lee has been the Welcome Bags program, which was her idea. The program, as she describes it, is like the Welcome Wagon business concept reinvented. She partners with Alex Hershey, pastor at The Branches Community Church in Plainfield, to put together gift bags to welcome new members of the Plainfield community, and they’ve done it now for five years. The bags include promotional pamphlets, samples, and coupons to restaurants and other businesses, to help folks get acclimated to the community. “We take these bags to anyone who builds a new home or moves into a home or apartment,” Lee says. “It’s a way to welcome them to Plainfield.” Lee has helped with the Quaker Day Parade as a co-chairman for the past three years, serving with Rick Shaw and Kevin Ponto. The parade has been one of the most beloved and anticipated events of the year in Plainfield since 1974. Lee is also very active in the Plainfield Kiwanis, a club that focuses on community outreach and has grown from seven to
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more than sixty members since Lee became involved three years ago. She has served as the club president for the past two years. The Plainfield International Festival, which was held for the first time last year, was also Lee’s idea. Her method of getting it off the ground was simple. “I went to the International Festival in Indianapolis, and I thought Hendricks County should do one,” she says. “I went before the Town Council, got a group of volunteers, and we did it. We had over 1,700 people come.” The festival features food, dance performances, products and booths representing a number of countries. Lee’s involvement with both the Hendricks County Community Foundation and the Plainfield library keeps her busy, and she usually maxes out at five meetings per week between all of her various commitments. Rick is her biggest fan and supporter. He accompanies her at many meetings and has made many friends thanks to his wife. The recent coronavirus-related quarantine and business shutdowns have given Lee some time to focus on another big project she started just before the quarantine - her own business. Lee started LJ Philanthropy as a way to use her endless community connections to connect donors to those in need. Her biggest goal is giving back to the community wherever needed. “I started it two years ago as a way to connect people to businesses in a lot of different ways,” Lee says. “I’ve helped people find jobs. I’ve helped them find nonprofits to volunteer for. Now I’m branching out into helping people find places to do charitable giving. I do that in conjunction with the Hendricks County Community Foundation.” Recently, a former patient Lee worked with was looking for a charity to which he and his wife could donate. The couple never had children and wanted to give their extra money to a charitable cause. “I meet this guy once a month for lunch,” says Lee, who has stayed in touch with former patients simply out of love and the desire to stay connected.. “He is so sweet. He’s in his mid-80s, and I take
him and his wife cookies and bread sometimes. They just wanted to make a difference in their community, and I was happy to make that connection for them.” Even though Lee has slowed down due to the pandemic and the resulting shutdowns, she most definitely has not stopped. Her commitment to community traditions, as well as her innovative ideas, make her a gem in the Plainfield community. “My business connections have grown because of the relationships that have been made in the Plainfield area with the police department, the fire department, the Town of Plainfield, the library, and small business owners I network with,” Lee says. “I credit Joe Aldridge, deputy assistant police chief, and Brad DuBois, Chamber director, among other strong leaders who have helped me.” Lee also humbly credits her father for setting a powerful example in his work, taking her along, and showing her how rewarding community service can be. Lee and her husband have ten grandchildren ranging from one to 16 years old. “They are all getting going on volunteering in the community too,” Lee says. “My dad would be so proud of me now. He passed away ten years ago. He was always out in the community doing things. I know that’s where I get my love for doing it.”
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HOW A COP AND REFORMED INMATE ARE SPREADING HOPE TOGETHER Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Amy Payne
Don’t let your past define you. Those are words that Rameil Pitamber, 25, lives by. It’s a mantra he has practiced since he was 17 and made a terrible, life-changing decision that could have cost him his entire future. He was a junior in high school in 2013 when he robbed a Little Caesars restaurant at gunpoint and was taken to county jail. “I was depressed, angry and numb,” Pitamber says. “I wanted to fit in and be
tough so I hung out with the wrong crowd.” As Pitamber sat in jail awaiting his fate, he hoped for the best - house arrest. However, that’s not what happened. “When I called my mom, she broke down crying and said, ‘You’re not coming home,’” recalls Pitamber, who was convicted of felony armed robbery and criminal confinement, and ultimately sentenced to 11 years in prison. Hearing his mom’s sobs as she heard his sentence was a sobering moment he’ll never AUGUST 2020
forget. That’s when he vowed never to put her in that position again. “I made the decision in that cell that I would never come back to prison again,” he says. “I would make better choices.” Brian Nugent, deputy chief of investigations with the Avon Police Department, was Pitamber’s arresting officer. Nugent, now in his seventeenth year with the department, was intrigued by law enforcement when he was a little boy growing up in Tell City, Indiana.
“My dad was trying to teach my mom how to drive a stick shift and they got pulled over,” Nugent says. “I remember the officer’s kind engagement. I never felt fear.” Later in life, he became friends with the town’s police chief. Their positive interaction caused Nugent to pursue a career in law enforcement.
“If you don’t own your own choices and experiences, how do you learn your lessons? How do you grow?” - Rameil Pitamber
Pitamber was released early for good behavior, but after living for four years in a segregated prison, he was highly uncomfortable around white people. There was one white man, however, that he felt he could trust, and as fate would have it, he ran into that man at a Goodwill store in 2017, soon after he was released. “Rameil asked if I remembered him, which I definitely did, because to see a teen take responsibility seems to be more of a rare occasion these days,” Nugent says. Pitamber thanked Nugent for how he treated him, then leaned in and gave his arresting officer a hug. “I was overwhelmed with emotion and usually I’m not that emotional,” Nugent says. Soon the two met up for dinner. At that meal, Nugent brought along the booking photo he had taken of Pitamber the night he was arrested. “I asked him, ‘What do you see when you look at that young man?’” Nugent says. “A lost kid,” Pitamber replied. While in prison, Pitamber did a good deal of reading, praying and soul searching. He decided the best way to move forward was to take full responsibility for his actions and make a concerted effort to do better going forward. Nevertheless, postprison life was still a challenge for him. “I was broken and my self-esteem was shot,” Pitamber says. “I was extremely insecure about being an ex-felon and how the world would view me.”
Rameil Pitamber AUGUST 2020
At their dinner, Pitamber asked Nugent to mentor him. Nugent was humbled by the request. “Deep down, Rameil has a real endearing perspective,” Nugent says. “I just had to teach him to get out of his own way and let people see how genuine he is.” The two began meeting once every month or two to discuss business struggles or personal development issues. Nugent talked about everything from the importance of matching one’s belt and shoes, to parallel parking tips. Nugent makes it clear, however, that their friendship is not a one-way street. “It isn’t just an outward mentorship where I was helping a young man get back on track,” Nugent says. “Rameil has poured back into my life in many ways.” Though Pitamber is close with his mother, he had a difficult childhood riddled with sexual abuse, alcoholism and drugs, which led to many poor decisions as he internalized negative emotions. He could have easily let the hurt consume him, but instead he chose to forgive the person who molested him. He also chose to take responsibility for his actions, turn his life around and share his message of hope with those who will listen. The two men have participated in a number of public speaking engagements. When people hear Pitamber talk, they are often overcome with emotion, which indicates that they are connecting with his story. “I think people appreciate his courage, because to sit on a stage and talk about what is arguably the worst decision he’s ever made in his entire life, and then to go on to share the trauma he experienced as a young child - that takes guts,” Nugent says. “A lot of us would fear judgment. I admire Rameil’s courage to be a voice for others.”
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AUGUST 2020
In June of 2019, Pitamber was asked to speak in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He talked about how it is possible to move past pain, and go on to live a productive life.
He also said that it’s healthier not to live like a victim, but rather to adopt a sense of ownership. “If you don’t own your own choices and experiences, how do you learn your lessons?” Pitamber says. “How do you grow?”
Deputy Chief of Police, Brian Nugent
Nugent recalls watching Pitamber talk openly and honestly, knowing that others in the room likely lived through similar traumas but didn’t have the comfort or confidence to talk about their own issues. “You grow the most when you’re vulnerable,” Nugent says. “That’s when you’re most open-minded. What better platform to learn from than at your weakest moment? Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength.” Pitamber studied heating, ventilation and air conditioning skills at Ivy Tech Community College, and is now building his own business, Midwest Air Heating & Cooling, LLC. He hopes to expand the business, earn his real estate license and continue to book speaking engagements. “I want to speak to the youth at every school in Indiana to talk about stereotypes and racial relationships,” Pitamber says. He’s also considering running for a City Council seat in Indianapolis. “In the middle of all that, I’d like to find love,” he says with a chuckle. For now, Pitamber’s top priority is helping people. If you ask Nugent, he’s doing a splendid job, and he speaks from personal experience. “Rameil has made me a better man, a better cop, a better person and a better leader,” Nugent says.
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LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE FOR RESIDENTS Writer / Josh Duke Photography Provided
Sometimes it takes a major life event to look at things through a different lens. We’ve all had that opportunity in 2020. For reasons I will get to in a minute, I want to unveil something we at Visit Hendricks County have discussed and been working on since the pandemic began back in March - a new community website, geared specifically for our residents, which we are calling the Hendricks County Locals Guide. You can find it right now online at AllinHendricksCounty.com. Back in March, with everyone staying at home to flatten the curve throughout the country, it became obvious that until visitors began to return we needed to support our locals, highlighting the “good stuff ” in our community through a new initiative we call “All In, Hendricks County”. We anticipated adding this approach to our agency’s role in the county in the near future, but with the coronavirus pandemic as the catalyst, we were able to pivot quickly to provide a resource to our residents to help them during the
early days of the pandemic. All of our messaging, partnerships, promotions, website content, social media channels and attention focused on our locals. We shined the spotlight on local individuals and businesses making a difference in the community when they couldn’t directly serve visitors and residents. We also provided resources for our locals including information on where to find jobs, where to get more information about local health and safety, where to learn what restaurants were offering, where to find ideas for things to do at home and much more. We quickly realized the same information we share with visitors could be repackaged and promoted to residents. They, too, can benefit from our staff ’s 60-plus years of expertise and knowledge about this community.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
For those who have seen and used the “Community” portion of our Visit Hendricks County site in recent months, information on the new site will be similar. We want to stick to what we know and what we’re good at. AUGUST 2020
We plan to provide insider information and inspiration, both within Hendricks County and surrounding areas within an hour’s drive, at AllinHendricksCounty.com. We will focus on things to do, events, and all the latest news, as well as updates, openings and closings involving local attractions such as our restaurants, shops, parks and other amenities. It won’t be the place to go to learn when the latest road project will be completed, what houses are for sale in the area, or what local ordinance governs whether you can add a shed to your backyard. There are places where you can find that information in our county. We plan to have our site direct you there, but just know that will not be what this site is about. Our popular Hendricks County Insider blog will supply the new site with content we think our residents will find useful, such as recent popular stories we’ve already posted
including "Top Parks & Trails Within an Hour of Hendricks County","Top Outdoor Dining Options in Hendricks County", and our “Going Above and Beyond” series highlighting local people and businesses making a difference in our towns. We will also answer frequently asked questions about our community. We plan to have sections of the site geared toward specific towns, and to the different segments of our local population including families, seniors, newcomers and more. With your help, we even hope to show pictures of you and your neighbors enjoying our amenities. But that’s not all. Our organization also specializes in helping to plan weddings, and helping event organizers find the perfect venues in our county for special occasions. So, if you are or ever will be planning a wedding, or need to find the perfect venue for an event such as a reunion, birthday party, corporate retreat or anything else, this new website will be the place to go to find it in your own backyard. We also regularly produce printed pieces like our Wedding Guide and Visitor Guide that you can request through the new site for free, and we will mail them directly to your home so you can learn even more about the hidden gems and resources we have right here in Hendricks County.
WE WELCOME YOUR INPUT
While we try to fulfill what we believe is an unmet need in our community, we realize we don’t have all the answers. We hope you can help us by providing feedback on how we can make this site even better so that it truly feels like the community’s website. We value input and would love for you to peruse the new site, and share with us what is missing or what you would like to see. You can share your thoughts and recommendations for the site through the “Contact Us” form on the website, via email at Info@VisitHendricksCounty.com, or by calling us at 317-718-8750. So, let’s do this together. Are you ready for an online resource dedicated solely to the Hendricks County community? Are you ready to be All In, Hendricks County? Check it out at AllinHendricksCounty.com.
AUGUST 2020
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“I was told Eric would never get out of bed again,” Vicki recalls. “That was a very dark day for our family.” In that instant, life seemed surreal. Her mind was spinning as she asked herself, “How can this be happening?” Five years earlier, Eric had been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, a disease of the heart characterized by an irregular heartbeat. Though the couple was warned that the condition increased his chance of having a stroke, they never expected to have to brace for such a tragedy. Initially, Vicki told her sons Ryan and Paul little about their dad’s condition - only that he was sick and in the hospital. “A stroke is difficult to explain even to an adult, but after several weeks I knew it was time for the boys to see their dad,” says Vicki, who vividly recalls the poignant reunion. “It was a beautiful moment. I remember the look of love on their faces overjoyed to see their dad, regardless of his condition.”
How Family, Friends & Faith Helped a Local Man Recover from a Devastating Stroke Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided by KP Photography
One’s perspective on life can change in the blink of an eye. That’s precisely what happened to Vicki Arthur seven summers ago when she and her two young sons were at their family’s cottage in Michigan, having celebrated her husband Eric’s 45th birthday just a few days earlier. Eric had returned to their home in Hendricks County, and Vicki and the boys stayed behind to enjoy an extended stay at the lake. On July 18, 2012, Vicki’s biggest concern was the bad haircuts her sons had
received at a barbershop that day. Then the phone rang with news that brought her to her knees. Eric had suffered a devastating stroke and was not expected to live through the night. Thankfully he did make it, but the following morning, Eric’s neurologist told Vicki that the stroke hit his brain stem the worst possible place, since the brain stem controls so many of the body’s vital functions including breathing. Throughout the following 72 hours, Vicki stood by her unconscious husband while doctors painted a bleak future. AUGUST 2020
Eric spent a month at St. Vincent Hospital before being moved to the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana (RHI) as an inpatient. When he arrived at RHI, Eric couldn’t move a muscle. He had a feeding tube and underwent a tracheotomy. He could only respond to people by squeezing their hands. He could only stand with the help of two or three therapists and a metal assistance mechanism. This new way of living forced the Arthurs to view the world in hourly increments, as long-term planning was no longer relevant. As a result, Vicki says she put “radical trust in God.” “We had no idea what the future looked like,” she says. Within weeks at RHI Eric took his first steps, and before long he was walking hundred-foot stretches with a walker. He also relearned how to eat and speak. Time and again Eric defied the odds, prompting nurses to refer to him as the Miracle Man.
“No one could believe that someone with such a horrific brain injury could make such amazing strides so rapidly,” says Vicki, who is eternally thankful to the staff at RHI including Eric’s physical therapist, occupational therapist and speech therapist.. “Truly, every day it was like watching a miracle unfold. The staff at St. Vincent Hospital saved Eric’s life, but the nurses at RHI brought him back to life.” Vicki will never forget the day the speech therapist told her that Eric had a surprise for her. “Eric said the words, ‘I love you,’” Vicki says. “They were the first words he had spoken in two months.” On Ryan’s 10th birthday, he and Paul played a game of cornhole with their dad in the RHI lobby. Considering the circumstances, the moment was monumental, memorable - even magical. Eric prior to his stroke with son, Paul
“It was the most beautiful thing,” Vicki says. When Eric finally returned home, adjusting to the family’s new normal was not easy. “Eric was completely dependent on others and couldn’t be left alone for any period of time,” Vicki says. “He didn’t have any sense of danger, and so he would get up and if we weren’t watching him he could fall.” With so much going on at the time including Paul starting kindergarten, Eric’s parents were instrumental in helping to keep the family’s wheels moving. Friends, neighbors, church members and the school community also stepped up by providing meals, rides to school and countless prayers. “There’s no way we could have gotten through this experience without all those people,” Vicki says. Back at home, Esther Stien, Eric’s AUGUST 2020
personal fitness trainer, began working out with Eric at least twice a week at her gym, Notch 8 Athletics. She has continued to do so for the past six years. “When we started, his hand was tucked under my arm the whole time, and we were navigating and orienting ourselves together,” Stien says. “Now he picks the moves that he likes, cleans up his stuff, and navigates 100% independently.”
Eric's recovery training at Notch 8 Athletics in Avon.
Prior to his stroke, Eric enjoyed coaching his children in soccer. In fact, it was one of his greatest passions. Three years ago, after Vicki had noticed significant improvement in her husband, she wondered if there might be a way to lead him back to his passion. She reached out to Dave Romie, founder of the Hendricks Community Soccer STAR program, to see if he might be interested in having Eric coach, especially since the program is for children with special needs. Romie loved the idea
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and welcomed Eric with open arms. “It felt good to be back on the field,” Eric says. Vicki and Eric have been married for 21 years, and Vicki says an experience like theirs truly tests one’s wedding vows. “Couples stand at the alter and promise ‘for better or worse, in sickness and in health’ without really thinking about what that actually means,” Vicki says. “No one ever thinks that a catastrophic medical event is going to occur in what should be their prime of life.” But Vicki adhered to those vows, as well as the vow that pledges to love, honor and cherish, because following Eric’s stroke, she cherished life on a whole other level. “The fact that Eric is still here is a miracle - I relish every second with him,” says Vicki, who no longer sweats the small stuff. Now she appreciates the little things, like a good cup of coffee, a phone call with a friend, dinner out with her boys, and her favorite watching her sons play with their dad. Ryan, 17, and Paul, 13, both of whom Vicki calls Eric’s number-one fans, have grown a great deal throughout the past seven years as a result of their father’s experience. “There are always silver linings in any situation, and I do believe the boys are more sensitive to other people’s feelings,” Vicki says. “They’ve witnessed and experienced things that a lot of kids their age have not.” Though he has made significant strides in recovery since the stroke, Eric still struggles with speech, balance and vision issues. Despite having four surgeries for his eye muscles, he still suffers from double vision, which prohibits him from driving a car or riding a bike. Nevertheless, no one in the Arthur family is complaining. Instead, they are celebrating their good fortune. “Life is different now,” Vicki says. “But it’s still good, and we feel so very blessed.”
AUGUST 2020
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Writer / Jamie Hergott
W
e all have routines and rhythms that work well for us. Maybe yours is morning coffee before the family gets up. Maybe it’s a long walk in the evenings. One of my own routines is to rest on Sunday from my workouts and runs. I try to walk, do yoga and, in general, relax and let my body recover from a week of tough workouts and parenting full time. However, I have struggled with anxiety for many years, and in recent weeks it has been a bigger struggle than normal. What does that mean for me? It means my guilt over every little thing I spend time on, or don’t have time for, is in overdrive. It means I struggle to make simple decisions, let alone big ones. It means I stress over that thing I said or did weeks ago that I shouldn’t have said or done. It means constantly feeling like my chest is heavy
and forcing myself to take deep breaths. Usually I can stay on top of this anxiety, but lately it’s been tough. I sense I’m not alone in this. We could blame the oppressive summer heat or the full moon, but in reality it’s clear that heightened political awareness, a global pandemic, as well as impossible decisions like whether we should send our kids back to school, are looming and cannot be avoided. If I had a dollar for every time my husband and I wondered, “Can we just ignore everything going on?” we’d be packing for Belize. Recently, I spent a Sunday during which I simply could not rest. The jittery anxiety was at a fever pitch, and I needed to ditch it somewhere. Walking, yoga and relaxing were just not options, so I laced up my shoes for a run, even in the heat of the Indiana sun. It was a long, hard, sweaty six-mile run. My music was blaring, my feet were pounding, and for the first time in a while, I felt like I could
AUGUST 2020
leave my cares at home, even if it was just for an hour. While the rhythm of rest works for me, so does the rhythm of movement. When you see people post their workouts, a run they completed or a project they accomplished, remember that many of them are doing it for their mental health. Many are doing it because it’s the one thing they can control. Many are doing it because the roads or the gym are their safe place, where they can just be themselves. Many are doing it for the release of stress and for the endorphins that keep them afloat. Many have a tough time taking a day off because it feels like skipping their anti-anxiety meds. Many are doing it for bigger reasons than you might think. We post our workouts for the same reasons any of us post anything - we feel proud. We want to inspire others. We want to share a big moment. We want to put a stone down in the sand to remind ourselves that we can do this, one day at a time. So can you. We are all in this together. We have tools - movement, sunshine, gratitude, community, service to others, and even a simple cup of coffee. Use them, and reach out for help if you need it.
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Signs of Skin Cancer
Signs, Risk Factors, Prevention and Screenings Writer / Dr. Robert Huff, Dermatologist at IU Health West Hospital Photography Provided
Oftentimes skin cancer develops on areas frequently exposed to the sun, such as the face, chest, arms and legs. However, skin cancer can also develop in areas that rarely see the sun, such as the palms. Remember the ABCDE rule: Asymmetry (one half of the mole doesn’t match the other), Border irregularity, Color that is not uniform, Diameter greater than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser), and Evolving size, shape or color.
Along with the warm weather, summertime brings shorts, swimwear and more time spent outside under the sun. While the sun feels nice on our skin, every time we are in the sun, our skin is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, damaging our skin cells. Dr. Robert Huff, dermatologist at IU Health West Hospital, shares signs and risks of skin cancer, and tips for prevention.
Some skin cancers are more common than others. Basal cell carcinoma is recognizable by a waxy bump, or a bleeding or scabbing sore that heals and returns. Squamous cell carcinoma is often noticed as a scaly or crusty red patch, and a firm red nodule. Melanoma, which is often the most serious, is recognizable by changes in size or color of a mole, or large brown spots with dark specks and an unusual border.
Risks of Skin Cancer
■ Avoid indoor tanning. Tanning beds expose your body to 12 times more UV radiation. ■ Use sunscreen and reapply. Even on cloudy days, UV rays still penetrate the clouds. Always use a water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or greater. ■ Wear a hat and sunglasses. This will keep the sun off your face and help prevent sun damage to your eyes. ■ Schedule a skin cancer screening. Visiting your primary care doctor or dermatologist once per year not only helps to prevent skin cancer, but also allows for early detection and treatment. It’s also beneficial to screen yourself at home and keep an eye on freckles or moles that are unusual.
Skin cancer can happen to anyone, but certain characteristics may put a person at a greater risk, such as if your skin easily burns, if you have freckles, if you have blonde or red hair, or if you have a personal or family history of skin cancer.
Prevention Your risk for skin cancer lowers if you’re proactive about prevention: ■ Limit sun exposure, especially during the peak hours of 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
AUGUST 2020
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True to the Town
Robin Brandgard Exemplifies Community Service
Council president. “I played an active role in their life, and seldom missed their sports or school events. I also knew I wanted to play an active role in my community. I expressed my interest in being on the council, and one day someone called and asked me to run.” For 40 years, Brandgard has played an integral role in the development of Plainfield. In 11 elections, he has pulled in the highest numbers of votes against opponents - but he says that is not his greatest accomplishment.
“Helping to create the industrial park here in Plainfield has to be my greatest Writer and Photographer / Stephanie Singh Plainfield population was recorded at 9,191 accomplishment from my tenure on the Town Council,” Brandgard says. “The according to the United States Census industrial park laid the foundation for the It was the year Mount St. Helens erupted Bureau. Today, the population is around tax base here in Plainfield. It helped keep in Washington State, the Pac-Man video 32,000 people. taxes down, and allowed us to bring assets game was released, and the year John to this community that truly makes it the Lennon was shot and killed in New York. It “In 1980 my sons were five and two years was also the year Robin Brandgard would old, and being involved with them was very best place to live, work and play.” sit on the Town of Plainfield Town Council important to me,” says Brandgard, who The industrial park began to come to for the first time. In 1980, the Town of serves as the Town of Plainfield’s Town fruition in the 1990s - the same decade PlainfieldMag.com / AUGUST 2020 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 27
in which Brandgard was named Town Council president. It is a title he holds to this day. “The Town of Plainfield is lucky to have Robin as the leader of this community,” says Kent McPhail, a Town Council member since 1998. For 22 years, McPhail and Brandgard have sat together on the second and third Monday of every month. The rapport Brandgard has built with McPhail reflects the one he’s built with much of the community. It all starts at Starbucks on Main Street. Every day of the week, Brandgard holds office hours at the first table of the coffee shop. “When I retired, I made a vow to myself to never change my schedule,” Brandgard says. “I may wake up a little bit later than I used to, but I still get to Starbucks early, grab the newspaper and invite all kinds 28 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2020 / PlainfieldMag.com
of conversation.” He encourages anyone who has concerns with town policies, projects or plans to grab a cup of coffee and talk with him. “Good mornings quickly became good friendships,” Brandgard says. The boards on which Brandgard serves have kept him youthful and witty. He has been a member of the Plainfield Plan Commission since 1980, and he is also a member of the Plainfield Lions Club, Hendricks County Economic Development Partnership, Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, Plainfield Masonic Lodge #653, and Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis. Brandgard has a passion for community, and his calendar remains booked despite being retired. He retired from Allison Transmission in 2000. He attributes his professional success to his successful
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tenure on the council. In his job he worked alongside people every day and helped to manage projects - a process that is similar to his role on the Plainfield Town Council. He says the people he gets to work with are what makes year 41 as exciting as year one. The Town of Plainfield has Brandgard’s fingerprints all over it. “Robin is a visionary and loves to plan,” says Bill Kirchoff, the Town of Plainfield’s Town Council vice president. “I have worked with Robin on council for 20 years and I think having the continuity and the tenure from Robin has elevated Plainfield to where it is today. You have someone who creates a vision for the town and sees it through, instead of having someone new come in and shake up the plan.” Brandgard’s passion and vision for the town are evident in his council goals, which include the following: 30 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2020 / PlainfieldMag.com
“When people thank me for the work done in Plainfield, I remind them I am just one of five,” Brandgard says. “I am proud of where Plainfield is today, and proud of the opportunity to make it what it is today.”
he will remain on the Town Council, he says he still loves what he does, and the community in which he serves. This chapter in Brandgard’s life, though one of the longest in the state, is not finished yet.
A 1961 Plainfield High School grad, Brandgard is Plainfield through and through. While he is not sure how long
“This has been a very pleasant part of my life, being a town councilman,” he says.
• Grow the tax base in order to keep taxes low and still provide the services required. • Keep business, commercial and industrial areas separate from residential areas. • Keep improving quality-of-life programs within the town, such as the park system, the path and greenways system, the recreation center and Splash Island. • Keep politics and special interests out of decision-making for the town. • Provide a proactive atmosphere for those having to do business with the town. • Keep the small-town atmosphere, with citizens involved.
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