Plainfield Magazine October 2023

Leaders in the community have been working on emergency preparedness, particularly since September 11, 2001.

According to Jeff Corder, emergency preparedness coordinator for Hendricks County, when volunteers showed up in New York City on September 11 and the days after, there wasn’t an established way to organize them or utilize their various services.

Volunteers: Joanne Scoot & Gail Douglas

In 2002, former President George W. Bush approved a national Citizen Corps, with several different arms or departments under the main umbrella. One of the groups under that umbrella was the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), in which Corder also serves as coordinator for the county.

“The MRC is an emergency response team that supplements for medical first responders, but the name actually misleads people,” Corder says. “You don’t have to be trained in the medical field. Think about the pandemic. We needed people helping with registration, people greeting, organizing, etcetera. We’re volunteers that supplement the health department staff so they can give vaccinations or dispense medication.”

The MRC was formed in Hendricks County in 2007, and just prior to COVID, the group belonged to a list of 75 volunteers. After COVID, that list grew to 215.

“Over two and a half years, [during the

pandemic] we volunteered at clinics,” Corder says. “We have a lot of retired nurses and doctors, and veterans trained in the military, and COVID showed what we could do beststaff the clinics or points of dispensing.”

As the pandemic waned, members of the MRC began looking for other ways to volunteer on a regular basis.

Educational and training opportunities are offered throughout the year and range from STOP THE BLEED programs, CPR, psychological first aid and more.

Corder plans to host a training in 2024 for creating a family assistance center or shelter. During a mass emergency, family members are transported to hospitals, pets are lost and located in another area, and there may even be fatalities. The assistance or command center would be a central place where residents could gather to locate and receive information about their loved one. All of that takes volunteers, and a lot of them.

Through a Leadership Hendricks County Capstone Project, the Crisis Response Team (CRT) was formed as a subgroup under the MRC.

Bridgette Collins-George is the executive director of Hendricks County Community Corrections. She’s also a member of the MRC and CRT.

“CRT is a group of trained volunteers in the National Organization for Victim Assistance model,” Collins-George says. “We’re like a second layer of first responders.”

The group’s goal is to meet the basic needs of individuals who have experienced a traumatic situation. For example, when an employer or superintendent says additional support has been brought in for those who need to talk about a recent suicide or drug overdose, the CRT could be one of those additional support units.

“We’re really there to bridge the gap, not

only to give people a voice and chance to speak, but also to connect them to resources,” Collins-George says. “When you have a traumatic event, you can have trouble focusing and finding the right place to connect.”

The goal for Corder is to continue to add to the list of those he can call on in an emergency. However, there are many ways the MRC and CRT can help all year long. In the fall, Hendricks County Health Department representatives travel to schools and nursing homes to administer vaccines. Businesses request free training for employees yearround, and there is a constant need to train new individuals as CRT or STOP THE BLEED instructors.

Volunteers can remain on the list in the event of a large emergency, or choose to attend the many opportunities in training and serving smaller but important needs in the community.

“It’s important that we have an organized

system for our volunteers,” Corder says. “If there’s ever a large-scale event, we want to have a way to operate a reception center and shelter to check people in, park cars, serve as translators and organize information.”

For anyone who feels like they aren’t a people person, Corder is also working with a local animal shelter to create plans to care for pets during a large-scale event.

“There isn’t a specific time commitment,” Corder says. “Volunteers have to have a background check every two years. The most common question we receive is, ‘I don’t have a medical background. What can I do?’ While there are a lot of untapped medical professionals out there, like dentists and veterinarians whose expertise could be utilized, we are really in need of just about anything people want to do that doesn’t involve a medical procedure.”

Anne Archer, community outreach coordinator for the Hendricks County Health Department, says staff relies on services

provided by the MRC and CRT.

“I think a lot of people aren’t aware of all the things we do at the Health Department,” Archer says. “For example, we offer vaccine clinics, monitor communicable diseases and strive to keep our communities healthy.” When it comes to large crises, volunteers make a huge difference.

“Our COVID vaccine clinic response would not have been the same without them,” Archer says.

For more information, visit hendrickscountymrc.org.

Hendricks County

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Make Your Autumn Awesome

VISIT HENDRICKS COUNTY HAS PLENTY OF IDEAS FOR YOUR FALL TO-DO LIST

Writer / Josh Duke Photography Provided

I love the fall season in Hendricks County. The weather is a little cooler, the leaves begin to change and the events pick up.

We’ve created an online tool exclusive to our website at visithendrickscounty.com to help you find your perfect, personalized fall trip ideas. By answering four simple questions, the system will search for and display your perfect fall adventure. We’ve also put together some preplanned, two-day itineraries featuring our most popular things to do for specific groups of people. Either way, you should find the exact fall adventure you’re looking for right here in Hendricks County.

Narrowing down all the festivals, activities and other fall attractions in Hendricks County can prove to be a daunting task because of the sheer number of fun things to see and do. We are here to help, both through our online resources at visithendrickscounty. com, and with the following info.

BEASLEY’S ORCHARD AND HEARTLAND APPLE FESTIVAL

This must-see autumn attraction in Danville also boasts our number-one fall event, the annual Heartland Apple Festival. Always held during the first two weekends in October, visitors can tour the orchard, take a hayride

to the pumpkin patch, pick apples from the U-pick area, enjoy live entertainment, buy fresh produce and other goods in a Civil Warera barn converted to a rustic market, or wind their way through a huge corn maze.

Your children will love hay mountain, the apple cannons and Barnyard Bonanza, which features ball throws, a spider web, a huge jumping pillow and more.

You don’t have to visit Beasley’s during those two weekends to enjoy the fun, as the orchard remains open every day during the fall season with many of the above activities available. If you go during the week, you will usually find fewer people there.

ADDITIONAL FALL EVENTS

Five other events are highlighted in this article, but I would highly recommend visiting our website for many more activities, recommendations and tips.

Harvest Moon Festival

(October 7) - A collaboration for the first time last year between the Town of Avon and Washington Township Parks and Recreation replaced the Avon Heritage Festival, and this second-year event will occur at Avon Town Hall Park with pumpkin carvings, wagon rides, apple launchings, food trucks and much more.

Hendricks County International Festival

(October 7) - In its fourth year, the International Festival moves to a new location in Plainfield to The Shops at Perry Crossing. This free, cultural immersion experience provides fun for the entire family. Enjoy food, dancing and musical performances from various nationalities. Make sure to check out the interactive booths to learn more about other cultures and parts of the world such as India, Pakistan, Poland, Russia and Japan.

Dog Daze at the Maze

(October 14-15) - Beasley’s Orchard turns its popular corn maze over to the dogs, with a weekend dedicated to our four-legged friends.

Fall Colors Festival & Run

(October 21) - Enjoy the best public place to see fall foliage in Hendricks County - McCloud Nature

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Park in North Salem. This event boasts lots of fun activities including 5K and 10K runs in the morning, archery, tree climbing, exploring their squirrel-themed prairie maze, using an atlatl, hayrides and more.

Doctoberfest (October 21) - This is a must for any fan of the TV show “Doctor Who” as it features a costume competition, custom action figure contest, games, merchandise, a visit from an actress from the show, and much more, at the Courtyard by Marriott in Plainfield and presented by Who North America in Camby.

MORE FALL ATTRACTIONS

In addition to all the events, a couple of fall attractions in Brownsburg that I highly recommend include Hogan Farms and Natural Valley Ranch.

Hogan Farms has become a popular spot each fall, with activities during the month of October that include a huge corn maze, a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo and hayrides.

If you’re into horseback riding, there truly is no better season to experience a ride through the scenic woods at Natural Valley Ranch than the fall. The Brownsburg ranch spans 70 scenic acres, and offers guided trail rides along the banks of White Lick Creek.

I briefly mentioned Who North America in the events above. Did you know that it is the only retail store and museum dedicated to the TV show “Doctor Who” in North America? If you love the show, venturing to this attraction in Camby should be on your bucket list.

For more information about any of these attractions, events or other things to do in Hendricks County, or to take our fall quiz, go to visithendrickscounty.com.

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Crafting a Purpose

STUMPF HAUS ARTS & CRAFTS REPRESENTS A LOCAL FAMILY’S BRAVE JOURNEY

Writer / Jamie Hergott Photographer / Amy Payne

ornhole is a great American pastime at many summer cookouts, but for Carolyn Stumpf and her family, it’s so much more than a game. It has provided purpose and healing for her family in recent years, as her veteran husband continues to deal with the aftermath of serving in the Army years ago.

Stumpf, her husband, and their son, Ben, work together to create homemade, regulation-size cornhole sets. Many are custom made, showcasing favorite sports

teams, bands and mascots. The boards are hand cut and sanded out of real pine plywood, and the designs are custom made by Stumpf herself. One of her favorite parts of the job is delivering the boards to customers.

“When I deliver boards and see people’s faces, that speaks volumes to me for what my family did and what my business did to make someone excited,” Stumpf says.

Their business, Stumpf Haus Arts & Crafts, was never on their radar. In fact,

Stumpf worked in sales and customer service for 32 years. Her husband served as a combat engineer in the Army, where he traveled all over Europe building prisons, housing and other structures. He was heavily involved in construction.

Stumpf’s husband was deployed to Afghanistan in March 2004, where he was injured during a mortar attack that summer. He was sent home to heal and was ordered back into the combat zone in November of 2004. During that trip he was detained at the Pakistan airport

by the police and then turned over to the Taliban. During this time he was beaten and tortured for three days. He escaped with the help of a Pakistani taxi driver. He spent the next year and a half in medical hold at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He suffers from physical and psychological injuries from that experience.

He retired from the military in 2006, but the reality of what happened during that time is still a daily challenge, as he deals with health issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and a traumatic brain injury.

“It was scary,” Stumpf says. “He didn’t even know himself. Every day he wakes up with all this stuff inside him. Any little thing will trigger him back to those days. But you learn to adapt. You learn that your life is completely different. It’s not like normal people’s life.”

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Once her husband returned home, Stumpf decided it was time to make his lifelong dream of owning a restaurant come true. He received culinary training from the military upon his retirement and they opened Stumpf is Trumpf, a food cart with a menu full of food made from scratch including homemade German bratwursts, sauerkraut, onion jam and spicy mustard. The food cart operated for a couple years until they decided to open a full restaurant on West Washington Street.

“So much was taken away from him due to his injuries in the military that I wanted to fulfill his dreams for him,” Stumpf says. “I can’t take back what happened, but I can move forward. What’s happened is done and over, but we can work on moving forward in a positive direction. I keep that as my focus and goal.”

The pandemic-related shutdowns hit and weren’t kind to their business, so they closed their doors. Right around this time their oldest son called to ask a life-changing question - “Would you

guys be able to make a cornhole set for me?”

“I had never even heard the word in my life,” Stumpf says. “Neither had my husband. We told him we’d do some research.”

After looking into it, they decided it was an easy enough task. In 2020 they made their first set of boards featuring the St. Louis Cardinals.

“He took them to one event and that’s when people started contacting me,” Stumpf says. “It just blew up from there.”

Her husband is incredibly precise, and he does all the measuring, but he also does the painting because he has an art degree. “All the measuring and painting keeps his brain working and intact,” she says.

Her son loves working with his hands. After years of watching his dad do construction and handyman work, helping to build the cornhole set was a natural job. Stumpf does the designing of the boards, working with customers to create a design they love.

“This is our third year making boards,” Stumpf says. “I have been busier this year than the first two years combined. We’ve made around 1,500 sets, which is 3,000 boards. In fact, in just the past two months we’ve made 30 to 40 sets a week.”

This family business has breathed new life not only into her husband, but also into her family. It’s not only provided them purpose, but it has also given them a way to give back to the community.

“It has improved my husband’s mindset,” Stumpf says. “Sometimes he’ll say it’s his saving grace. People like him need to feel worthy and purposeful, or they give up and shut down. I’ve seen it happen.”

Her husband continues to struggle with his health. He was diagnosed with dementia two years ago and cancer in 2017. But he presses on.

Many community members are thrilled to support a veteran-owned business. One customer recently was able to meet Stumpf’s husband, and expressed how meaningful it was to support their business.

“He told me, ‘Your husband is the reason I can go to dinner tonight with my daughter,’” Stumpf says. “People are put in your life for a reason, and comments like that show us we have a purpose.”

Not only do community members feel good about their purchase, but her husband also finds joy in his work.

“I have, in a way, fulfilled my business dream,” Stumpf says. “Every day is a new day for him. It’s so worth it. To see the smile on his face when we’ve accomplished a set of boards and did something unique is priceless.”

Stumpf says they continue to grow their business. She’s deeply proud to be a veteran’s wife, and she uses her business and platforms to encourage others to keep moving forward when life gets hard.

“I want others to know there is help and support,” Stumpf says. “Don’t give up. Fight the battle. Find your purpose. Is it easy? No. Is life easy? No. There’s a story to everyone’s life. No one’s life is perfect. Take all the negatives, find a positive in the situation, learn from it and keep moving forward. If I can help one veteran, by this story, to know they do have a purpose, they can get help and they can live a somewhat normal life, then I’ve accomplished something huge.”

Visit Stumpf Haus Arts & Crafts on Facebook @stumpfistrumpf, by calling (765) 271-4100 or email at carolynstumpf1966@yahoo.com.

SUPPORT IS VITAL

Writer / LaDonna Wattley, Medical Oncology Social Worker at IU Health West Hospital

Photography Provided

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death for women in the United States. There are several forms of breast cancer and symptoms vary greatly. While it does occur in males, most newly diagnosed patients are female with a close biological relative who has also battled cancer.

DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT MAY TAKE A TOLL.

Though it is imperative to focus on the physical manifestations of cancer, a patient’s mental and emotional health are equally important. Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be incredibly upsetting, and you may not know where to turn for support. This distress may continue from the time of initial diagnosis throughout treatment, which can be a

lengthy process. Consequently, patients discover that their relationships, energy levels and overall mental well-being are negatively impacted.

These factors can lead to chronic stress, anxiety and depression. You should seek help if you experience sleep disturbances, changes in overall mood, lack of joy or interest in activities you usually enjoy, changes in appetite that result in weight gain or loss, difficulty concentrating, or using alcohol or drugs to reduce stress. Taking care of your mental well-being after diagnosis and during treatment can improve your quality of life and help you get through the difficult road ahead.

RETURNING TO “NORMAL” CAN BE DIFFICULT.

Cancer treatment can be stressful, but life after cancer is often tough to manage as well. Post-treatment, many patients struggle to resume pre-cancer life and activities. Ongoing fatigue, fear

of recurrence, relationship changes and uncertainty about the future make it challenging to return to life as usual. These struggles are normal and those dealing with them are not alone. Don’t expect everything to be as it was before diagnosis. Patients should give themselves time to adjust.

THERE ARE OPTIONS FOR SUPPORT.

Though breast cancer can be a frightening experience, you do not have to face it alone. There are oncology social workers on staff at most hospitals and cancer treatment facilities. These professionals provide emotional support, resources and mental health counseling to cancer patients and their caregivers. Additionally, support groups are an emotional lifeline for many breast cancer patients. Though everyone’s journey is unique, connecting with others going through a similar experience can ease feelings of isolation and fear.

The Biz Academy of Musical Theatre and The Biz Theatrical Productions gives youth in the area the opportunity to gain confidence, learn time management, meet new friends, and build singing, acting, and dancing skills; all while sharing their joy of performing with others. The Biz Theatrical Productions is a not-forprofit organization.

Our mission since 1961 is to provide the highest quality Eye Care. As a Woman-Owned Business, we look forward to being a practice that assists in creating happy and healthy patients, in a friendly environment using the latest technology.

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Solutions

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Crowning Moment

HALEY JORDAN IS EMBRACING HER ROLE AS MISS INDIANA USA 2023

Writer / Melissa Gibson

Photographer / Amy Payne & Provided

Haley Jordan has been in pageants she was 12 years old, and through every one of them, her mother was by her side.

“I love pageants,” says Jordan, who was Miss Indiana for the Miss America organization. “My mom, Susan, loved to help. She was there in 2017 when I was at Miss America. She wrote me supportive notes for every area of competition.”

In December of 2020, Jordan’s mom passed away from cancer and the young contestant’s pageant reign came to a halt. Despite her loss, Jordan went on to graduate from Indiana University, having studied broadcast journalism and Spanish.

After moving back home, she landed a job at Sports Illustrated and began covering the NBA and Indiana Hoosiers. Today Jordan works seasonally as a sportscaster for various teams like the Indianapolis Indians and Indy Eleven.

She’s the host of the upcoming Indy Eleven docuseries “Undrafted,” and is a Division I volleyball and men’s and women’s basketball analyst for ESPN+.

It’s rare to see a woman in the sports broadcasting field. In fact, Jordan recalls being the only female in the classroom more often than not, but she knew that news wasn’t her cup of tea.

“I can get depressed by news,” she says. “It

Haley enjoying her role at PHS

can be so sad in the climate we’re in. I was always an athlete. I played soccer and volleyball. I’m a chatter box, I love to write and I love to be on camera, so sports broadcasting was a good fit for me.”

She recently accepted a full-time position at Plainfield High School as a media broadcasting teacher, inspiring future media stars in their passion for the field. It doesn’t hurt that students simply see her as Ms. Jordan, and not as any of the many other roles she plays in life. Jordan says her bond with the students allows her to inspire and educate in a unique way.

With plenty of freelance and part-time work, she’s able to include her industry experience in the classroom as well.

“I still work for the Indians, and will interview baseball players and bring that footage back to my students to work with the same material,” Jordan says. “I see it as a challenge, to recruit other young women to the sports world and to give back to a younger generation.”

Despite her bubbly personality, standing in front of the camera and leading the way in sportscast journalism over the past few years, few would know that deep down, Jordan is still struggling with grief.

“I never thought at 22 years old I would lose my mom,” she says. “I wasn’t prepared for the grief and it affects my health, my brain, my body. My mom was my everything and she had stage 4 glioblastoma brain cancer. She was in remission for three years and it felt like that chapter was over, but it came back.”

She says the process of grief is nonlinear, can be incredibly frustrating and looks different for everyone, yet there are ways to help each other on the journey. For Jordan, one of the challenges was getting back into pageants.

she’ll be invited to over the next year. She’ll go to Colts training camps and community service events, and hopes to make an impact in every situation.

“I will try my best to go to every event someone requests,” she says. “They can book me at missindianateenusa.com for an appearance.”

While the proud Native American loves to share her unique qualities, she’s quick to explain the benefits of pageants and the fact that the competitions are much more than just pretty faces.

“The community of women is phenomenal,” Jordan says. “We have a group text message where we can share information and it’s like automatically having 50 new friends. It’s true that you have to look polished and present yourself well, but the woman who wins isn’t the one who looks good in a bathing suit and gown. It’s the one that communicates the best in the interview.”

Communication, it’s safe to say, is one of Jordan’s strong suits. She attributes much of her success to the experiences and education she’s received from participating in various pageants over the years.

“I think if it wasn’t for pageants, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she says. “I wouldn’t be a good sports broadcaster. I think my confidence would be lower. Because of these competitions, I’m never nervous to speak in front of a crowd, and it’s provided amazing opportunities for me.”

Regardless of any pageant results, Jordan has already been victorious in many areas of her life.

“This year has been completely different,” she says. “I feel like I’m really on the path to healing, and I can’t wait to continue spreading that joy and encouraging others in every aspect.”

Visit missusa.com for the most up-todate Miss USA results.

Halloween Safety Tips for Trick-or-Treating

Writer / Abigail Hake

Photography Provided

Kids (and parents) love the magic of Halloween. Walking around at night, in costume, collecting candy, what’s not to love? But there’s many aspects of the evening that get parents feeling nervous, which is why safety for the evening is especially important.

Did you know only about one-third of parents discuss Halloween safety with their kids? But keeping Halloween safe is very important, not only for the safety of the kids, but also to keep the magical feeling of the night. Here are a few tips to help keep your little ones safe while trick or treating this year:

CHECK THE WEATHER AND BE PREPARED

Chances are it’ll be chilly, and if it isn’t when you head out, it will be by the time you head back as most fall nights are. Make sure to layer up if it’s going to be cold because you don’t want to be frozen in the middle of your trick or treating route!

STAY WITH YOUR CHILDREN

Join in on the fun and walk with them, even dress up if you like! At our house we take turns, one person hands out candy for an hour while the other takes the kids out and then we swap. If that’s not an option, maybe try to connect with a group of friends to trickor-treat together. You might also try to plan to have your kids go out with your neighbors, girl scout or cub scout troop, or even cousins. Always make sure there is some sort of adult supervision.

In case you do get separated from your kids, make sure to review phone numbers, addresses and how to contact 911 in case of an emergency with your kids. Children can easily become lost on a dark Halloween night and these are small and easy reminders to practice and are important things to know for every day too.

TRICK-OR-TREATING ETIQUETTE

Make sure to only visit homes with a porch light on and only approach doors that are well lit. This one can be tricky these days with automatic lights and decor. Use your best judgment and always remind the kids to never enter a home or car for a treat!

STAY VISIBLE

If your kids are going to be out after dark then blinking LED safety lights are a great addition to the back of their costume or candy bag! Pick them up at any sporting goods store or order from Amazon. Not only will they stand out for you to see, but they’ll also attract the attention of others, keeping them extra safe. Reflective tape is another option that will make your child more visible when added to the back of their costumes or all sides of their candy bag.

BE COMFORTABLE

While we know some costumes require the right shoe (hello Cinderella), let’s be real on Halloween night while trick-or-treating, no one wants their feet to be uncomfortable. Most costumes can handle rain boots or tennis shoes depending on the weather. Remember, the longer your feet feel good, the more candy you can get!

Also, try to keep props to a minimum. If it’s part of the costume, make sure they are easily carried and it doesn’t have sharp edges or points. Try adding a strap to a sword, shield or really anything, so they can be thrown over the shoulder or held on your child’s back while walking from house to house.

ADVANCE PLANNING

Decide what streets you want to hit and which you’ll skip before you head out. There’s nothing like walking a route that’s too far for a little and getting stuck carrying them home. Make sure the route you pick is manageable for whatever ages are heading out the door.

And don’t forget to always use the sidewalk and walk don’t run. Most injuries on Halloween are pedestrian injuries, so make sure to review routes, use flashlights and take your time!

CANDY CHECK

We have all heard the horror stories of the candy that’s made kids sick and had harmful things in it. Maybe they were true, maybe they weren’t, but it’s still a good idea to check your kids’ candy for safety purposes and maybe pick out some of your favorites while you are doing it. Look for partially opened pieces, ones that look questionable or types the kids might be allergic to. There’s most likely going to be plenty, so pulling out one or two because they don’t seem like great quality will be fine.

By keeping these ways to stay safe, you are sure to have a fun and happy Halloween with family and friends.

V O T E D B E S T N U R S I N G H O M E V O T E D B E S T N U R S I N G H O M E

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C O N

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