Plainfield Magazine November 2022

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MAKIN’ DOUGH

LOCAL TEEN ENJOYS OWNING AND OPERATING GREEK’S PIZZERIA FRANCHISE

Writer / Jamie Hergott Photography Provided

At 17, most teenagers are juniors in high school, maybe working part time, deep in extracurriculars, and perhaps starting to think about which college they want to attend. Nate Sims is unique in the fact that at 17, he was getting ready for his senior year of high school while also preparing to enter into a partnership as co-owner of the Plainfield Greek’s Pizzeria.

Sims had to wait until after his 18th birthday to sign the official

paperwork because legal business entities cannot be owned by anyone younger than that.

“It was four days after my birthday, technically,” he says, laughing.

Sims is a quiet, humble, confident young man whose warmth and smile draw people in. At 19, he is now the sole owner of Greek’s Pizzeria in Plainfield, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s a really fun job,” Sims says. “I’ve loved trying something new, learning a lot about it and perfecting it.”

Greek’s offers pizza, breadsticks, salads, wings and calzones, all handmade right in the kitchen.

While owning a pizza joint wasn’t something he wanted to do his whole life, it fits his ambitions, which are to work hard and connect with people. Growing up, Sims didn’t know what he wanted to do. He decided he didn’t want to go to college.

Sims attended Avon schools through eighth grade, and attended a traditional high school for a year before switching to online schooling due to the pandemic. He began working at the Avon Greek’s in his extra time. He did play some sports, but he spent most of his time working. After a year, he worked at the Carmel location as a manager. He realized he loved learning about the business and slowly moving up.

The Avon owner contacted him about partnering on a new location in Plainfield when Sims was still 17.

“It was a great opportunity that was presented to me,” Sims says. “I started taking it more seriously. It became more than just a job.”

Upon his 18th birthday in the summer of 2021, he signed on to officially co-own the store and graduated from high school early, the following fall. He then bought out his partner in the spring of 2022 and is now the sole owner of Greek’s in Plainfield.

His parents and older sister are all supportive, pitching in when they can to cover shifts or help with social media.

While there are a lot of pizza places on the west side, Sims is confident that the quality of Greek’s can’t be topped. “We put a lot more effort into our pizza,” Sims says. “We don’t get our dough and sauce shipped in pre-made. We make it fresh. We have our own sweeter sauce that people love. That’s where our slogan comes from - ‘It’s our taste.’”

A typical day for Sims starts around 1 p.m. He arrives at the store

and sometimes he has help from another employee. They handmake the fresh pizza dough, chop veggies and prepare toppings, for about three to four hours. The doors open at 3 p.m., and most nights there is a steady stream of customers. Sims says carry-out is the most popular, but on weekend evenings the cafe is usually packed.

Sims loves being in the center of Plainfield because of the downtown feel. Greek’s has a large parking lot, and members of the community tend to wander in after walking downtown or on the trails. Connecting with people is one of his favorite parts of the job.

“I love talking to people and having conversations with customers,” Sims says.

He has learned that running a business can be grueling, and he has to be flexible and adapt when necessary. “I’m very hard-working,” Sims says. “It’s tough nowadays, finding enough employees, so I love it when I see people who are just like me and want to work. All my staff are very hard-working.”

Hiring, training and scheduling an entire staff can be challenging, especially at his young age.

“They don’t always take me seriously, but they usually find out when to take me seriously,” Sims says, laughing.

Sims looks forward to getting even more involved in the community by participating in festivals and parades. He’d also love to open another store on the west side. He encourages other young people to chase after what they love and not give up.

“It’s definitely not the easiest thing in the world, running a business, but if it’s what you love, you should chase it and work as hard as you can for it,” he says.

Penola

Advisor

Spirit

INDIANA BLUE STAR SALUTE HONORS AND SUPPORTS MILITARY FAMILIES

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

For years, Ralph “Zoc” Zoccolillo, an Army veteran, has been a member of the Avon American Legion Post 145. One day the post commander told Zoccolillo about a national program called Blue Star Salute, designed to honor military families. Nobody had initiated any such program in Avon, so he asked if Zoccolillo would be willing to do so. He was all about it.

“I’ve volunteered for the last 50 years with various organizations that help those in need -

places like the United Way and the Red Cross,” he says. “Volunteering is the highlight of my life. I love every minute of it.”

Zoccolillo held the first Avon Blue Star Salute in 2006. Though the mission was to honor military and veteran families, organizers recognized that they had military and veteran families that extended beyond Avon, so the following year they changed the name to Hendricks County Blue Star Salute. Zoccolillo created an executive board, and the program was so well-received that they expanded to cover the entire state. That’s when the name

transitioned to Indiana Blue Star Salute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Though the majority of members are from central Indiana, they have families from as far as Evansville and Fort Wayne.

Every year on the second Saturday in December, the Indiana Blue Star Salute leaders set aside a day to honor, support and celebrate military families at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds. At first the idea was simply to salute the families, but as Zoccolillo and others got to talking to these families, they realized many of them were struggling financially.

They changed the format to focus on helping to make the holidays brighter for 16 to 20 families. Known as the Indiana Blue Star Spirit of Christmas, the event is not open to the public because organizers want to keep the atmosphere intimate and special.

Two months prior to the event, Zoccolillo and the board collect names and contact information from the VFW, the American Legion and different branches of military service, to identify families who could use a dose of help and cheer. The children from each family fill out a wish list that includes three items they would like to get from Santa.

“We always get them number one on their list, and depending on funding, may also get numbers two and three,” Zoccolillo says. “We purchase something for the parents too. That might be a dishwasher, a range, an oven or refrigerator.”

One year they gave a combat veteran a used vehicle because he had no transportation to get to work.

Each family gets their own table, each containing their gifts.

“There are tables upon tables upon tables of wrapped gifts,” Zoccolillo says. “The kids get so fidgety because they can’t wait to unwrap those presents. When I give the go-ahead to unwrap, all hell breaks loose.”

Initially the Spirit of Christmas event was held outdoors at the fairgrounds, but after encountering some bad weather one year, in 2017 Zoccolillo asked Steve Patterson, executive director of the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds, to move the event inside. Patterson was happy to help, offering them the Expo Hall.

“I have to say that if it were not for Steve, I don’t know how far the program would have gotten,” Zoccolillo says. “The kind of support he’s provided us all these years has been amazing. Steve provides us the room and anything else we could ever need. He even helps us set up. He’s an incredible person.”

Through the years the Spirit of Christmas has gained a number of loyal sponsorships and

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partners, enabling the Indiana Blue Star Salute to provide for veterans’ and their families’ needs, year round.

“We get a lot done because of the respect we have developed over the years through our organization,” Zoccolillo says.

They limit the event to 20 families because they convert the Expo Hall into an extravagant winter wonderland, by hanging countless red and green lights, decorating multiple Christmas trees and building a beautiful, ornate stage. They also hire face painters for the kids, and have games and videos. What’s most entertaining for children,

however, are the musical performances by Elsa and Anna from “Frozen.” Blue, the mascot for the Indianapolis Colts, also makes an appearance, as does Rowdie from the Indianapolis Indians and Freddy Fever from the Indiana Fever.

“It’s essentially a Christmas carnival for the children,” Zoccolillo says. “We want to make it a festive, incredible Christmas for these families.”

One of the event highlights is made possible thanks to Charlie Walker, who owns Indiana Air Search and Rescue. Walker delivers Mr. and Mrs. Claus via a Huey military helicopter.

They land at the fairgrounds, which is exciting for attendees.

“The younger children start hearing that sound of a helicopter and look up at the sky,” Zoccolillo says.

Margaret Amos, 181st Airman, has more than 15 years of experience working with the Indiana Air National Guard, and serves as family readiness program manager. She says it’s a blessing to have a program such as Indiana Blue Star Salute to support service members and their families, because while many agencies and programs help the activeduty bases, Indiana doesn’t have a significant visual military presence.

“Indiana has community armories with those members who volunteer to be a part of an Army unit or Air Wing that is state and federally tasked,” says Amos, who is also a mother of a service member. “The two Wings in Indiana are appreciative of the support we receive through their programs offered.”

Zoccolillo, 74, has been

blessed to be able to continue

He has lived in Hendricks County for more than two decades, and is happy to have been in the area long enough to have established

network of like-minded, patriotic souls.

matter what a

for,”

says. “I

up the phone

call someone

family,

can

us get whatever it is that

more about Indiana Blue Star Salute, visit

make a monetary donation to Indiana Blue Star Salute, send a check to: 8103 East U.S. Highway 36, Suite 176, Avon, IN 46123.

Zoccolillo would like to personally thank all of the American Legions and VFWs who continue to support the Indiana Blue Star.

Angie Mercer

Matthew Kubal Matthew Mundy

THE FLU: HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

common in children than adults.

Every year, millions of people miss work or school because they have the flu. The flu is a very contagious, respiratory viral illness that affects the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. It causes mild to severe illness, hospitalization and sometimes death. The flu occurs mostly during the colder months but can occur at other times. You can get the flu multiple times each year.

KNOW THE COMMON FLU SYMPTOMS.

Common symptoms of the flu include fever, feeling feverish/chills, coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. Not everyone with the flu has a fever, and some people have vomiting and diarrhea, which is more

THERE ARE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE COMMON COLD AND THE FLU.

The common cold and the flu share many of the same symptoms. The flu is typically worse than the common cold and symptoms appear more abruptly. You should seek medical attention for high fevers, or if you have other medical conditions that put you at increased risk for serious complications, including diabetes, asthma or congestive heart failure.

TAKE STEPS TOWARDS FLU PREVENTION.

Each year, scientists develop a new flu shot to cover the most common strains of the flu. The first step in preventing the flu is to get the most current flu vaccine. Getting a flu

shot may not make you completely immune from getting sick, but it can significantly lessen the severity of your symptoms. You can also take everyday measures to limit the spread of germs. Stay out of close contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, limit contact with others, especially those at increased risk of severe illness. Remember to always wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, cover your coughs and sneezes, and do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. If you do get sick with the flu, antiviral medications prescribed by your health care provider may help reduce the time you are sick and may also help prevent serious flu complications.

If you are feeling any flu-like symptoms, make sure you discuss them with your health care provider immediately.

Writer / Jane Forni, MSN, RN, CIC, Infection Preventionist at IU Health West Hospital

Photography Provided

FIREFLY CHILDREN AND FAMILY ALLIANCE

PROGRAMS AND

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

Firefly Children and Family Alliance is the largest child-abuse prevention provider in central Indiana. Through one of their many programs, called Community Partners for Child Safety (CPCS), they offer safe-sleep workshops and car-seat

safety programs. They also help people locate transportation services, find employment and access community resources. Plus, they can help individuals learn how to set a budget, seek mentalhealth services and increase their knowledge of parenting skills.

“It’s all about keeping children safe,” says

Ben Abels, a director at Firefly.

One major misconception about Firefly is that the CPCS program does what the Department of Child Services does. “Actually, it’s exactly the opposite,” Abels says. “We do everything we can to keep kids safe and in the home.”

Community Liaisons, Natalie Philips & Sarah Orosco

Firefly (formerly Children’s Bureau) merged about a year ago with a company called Families First, based out of Indy. Through the years, Children’s Bureau and Families First helped shape human

in central Indiana, as they were two of Indiana’s most established nonprofits, with roots dating back more than 185 years.

Uniting as one organization enables the entities

resources

thereby creating a greater impact in order to better

community. It’s divided into seven regions that serve

Indiana counties. Abels is the director of Region 9, which covers Hendricks, Boone, Montgomery, Putnam, Morgan and Henry counties.

The organization works with almost anyone. The only two factors that exclude participation are if someone has no child in their home from 0 to 17 years of age, or if someone has a child on probation.

“I’ve never known any program like this,” Abels says. “There’s not a lot that we can’t do.”

For instance, they have paid for kids’ summer camps. They have also helped to find tutoring for students. It depends on the family’s needs.

“If we have a family who is struggling with paying their utility bill or has some kind of need, we will ask our community partners like Family Promise, Hendricks County Community Foundation, or area churches to help,” Abels says. “Our partners are a big help. We have really relied on them.”

Firefly deals with a lot of guardianship cases in which a parent gets arrested, and goes to jail or rehab. Rather than letting a child get thrown into the legal system, Firefly’s CPCS program members step in to petition the court for guardianship, so the grandparents can care for their grandchildren.

“We’ve had some really successful guardianship cases,” Abels says. “We have also had a lot of success stories that have to do with helping people establish housing after leaving a domestic-violence

Danville

shelter.”

Currently, Firefly offers several classes touching on topics including parenting (kinship) and domestic violence. In the future they may offer some tutoring options as well.

“The kinship classes are so great because we have a lot of grandparents raising grandkids right now,” Abels says. “Many struggle with how to safely navigate the internet. They also aren’t up to date on the lingo in social media, so we talk about trends.”

In December Firefly organizes Hope for the Holidays, which involves a virtual Christmas tree. Liaisons meet with their client families to learn what their children are interested in with regard to books, clothes and games. Immediately following Black Friday, Hope for the Holidays goes live and people can click on a tree and sponsor a family.

“Folks can buy gifts for the family and drop them off at our office during the first two weeks in December,” Abels says. “Everything is bagged up and delivered the week before Christmas.”

Firefly gets referrals from schools, community centers, hospitals, doctors, churches and other organizations. Once Abels receives a referral, he assigns a case manager who will then come out and meet one-on-one with the person to create goals. Those goals can be expansive. Sometimes referrals are given for people who are facing an eviction and need to find housing.

Someone may need to find employment, get food stamps, figure out Medicaid or seek mental-health counseling. This voluntary case counseling lasts between one and three months, but in some cases, only one meeting may occur.

Statistics tell the story, as 99% of families who have received services within the CPCS program have no reports of abuse or neglect for 12 months following the close of service.

“There really is no reason not to sign up because the program is totally free, regardless of how much money you make,” Abels says. “We just care about keeping kids safe.”

If you would like to donate items to Firefly, feel free to drop off new or gently used clothing, winter coats, diapers, toys, baby wipes, and other baby safety items. To make a monetary donation, and for more information, visit fireflyin.org.

Director, Ben Abels, with Natalie & Sarah