Plainfield Magazine December 2018 by Towne Post Network, Inc.

DECEMBER 2018

MAGAZINE

PHS Life Skills Program Creates Amazing Opportunities for Students With Disabilities

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DECEMBER WRITERS

Christy Heitger-Ewing / Connie Sieferman Julie Young

DECEMBER PHOTOGRAPHERS

AKING MEMORIES: PHS LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM CREATES M AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Darnell Scott / Bradley Kercheval

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6 Plainfield Tri Kappa

Celebrates 80th Anniversary

10 Laugh it Up: America’s Got Talent Fan Favorite Drew Lynch Blends Authentic Comedy with HomeGrown Humor

15 Active Grace: Local Couple Creates

Organization To Combat Poverty & Homelessness

21 An Honorable End: Hendricks

County Honor Guard Recognizes Local Veterans Who Have Passed On

25 Business Spotlight: Orange Theory Fitness

26 Pet Photo Contest Winners 29 Reaching the Peak: Local Man

Climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro to Raise Money for Lifewater

35 The Maestro: Hendricks Symphony Conductor Benjamin Del Vecchio Talks Passion, People & His Path to Music

38 Tis the Season for Safety 41 Plainfield Creates 13-Acre Park Out of Former Shouse Landfill

43 Making Memories PHS Life

Skills Program Creates Amazing Opportunities for Students With Disabilities

4 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2018 / PlainfieldMag.com

The Plainfield Magazine is published by the Towne Post Network and is written for and by local Plainfield area residents. Magazines are distributed to more than 11,000 Plainfield area homeowners and businesses each month.

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Writer / Connie Sieferman Photography provided by / Tri Kappa

Doing for others – and thus the world – is a hallmark of Tri Kappa, a philanthropic sorority formed uniquely to Indiana in 1901. There are 146 active chapters in communities throughout the state focusing on the promotion of charity, culture and education. The Delta Pi Chapter of Tri Kappa in Plainfield is one of the largest of its kind in the state and currently numbers about 80 members. They formed in 1938, making this their 80th anniversary year. Their celebration of that milestone will include the donation of more than

$30,000 to over 30 different projects and organizations within the Plainfield area. These funds are primarily available through proceeds from admissions and booth rental fees of their major fundraising endeavor, Gingerbread Christmas craft and fine arts show. Delta Pi is also the recipient of corporate and personal donations throughout the year.

“Each of these outstanding young people demonstrated, through their actions and achievements, their personal commitment to the sorority’s ideals of charity, culture and education,” she says.

She explains the process, in which “applicants for the scholarship funds were asked to complete an extensive application process and exhibit a personal history A highlight of the sorority’s charitable giving of engagement in volunteer service, extracurricular activities and classroom in 2018 includes $6,000 in scholarships diligence.” to six Plainfield High School seniors. Tina Hayes is Delta Pi’s First Vice President and the 2018 Scholarship Chairperson. The 20 applicants from this year’s senior class of 350 were an impressive mix of 6 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2018 / PlainfieldMag.com

students and range of career goals. The six seniors who ultimately received the chapter’s scholarships were selected based on their academic achievements, clearlydefined career goals and their involvement at PHS and within the community. “Each application was also accompanied by outstanding personal recommendations,” Hayes says. Seven members of Delta Pi served on a committee to review the applications and select the final recipients. The scholarships were publicly acknowledged at Plainfield High School’s “Evening of Distinction” in May. The following seniors each received a $1,000 award for their future educational endeavors: •

Lauren Joseph: University of Indianapolis for Elementary Education

•

Sierra Lee: IUPUI for Physical Therapy

•

Dylan Miller: Northeastern University for Chemical Engineering

•

Samantha Olinger: Indiana University for Finance & Management

•

Anna Restivo: Butler University for Chemistry

•

Sondra Vernengo: Georgetown College for Media Communication & Film Production PlainfieldMag.com / DECEMBER 2018 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 7

A number of community organizations are the recipients of Delta Pi’s additional philanthropic generosity throughout the year. In keeping with their commitment to a triad of charity, culture and education, the sorority is engaged in a broad variety of projects and funds. Active Grace, Fairhaven Foundation, Family Promise of Hendricks County, Gathering Together (Plainfield Hospice Care), Meals on Wheels, Sheltering Wings, Summertime Lunch Bunch and Susie’s Place are among those that reflect the charitable extension of the group’s resources. Gifts to cultural endeavors are represented by Friends of the Library, Hendricks Civic Theater, the County Arts Council, the Symphonic Society and the Indy Honor Flights, among others. Rounding out the sorority’s promotion of education-related projects are recipients that include Sycamore Center Special Ed, Weekday Religious Education within the Plainfield Community School Corporation, Survivor Skills for Women and substantial

support for scholarships like those awarded in May. Hayes loves to “showcase how the community supports us by attending our fundraiser each December and then it comes back full circle when we award these scholarships to deserving students.” She

encourages women in Plainfield to consider Tri Kappa/Delta Pi when seeking a place to find service opportunities and community involvement for themselves. For more information, interested parties can reach out to the chapter president, Whitney Kern at president@plainfieldtrikappa.org. That’s Tri Kappa, doing for others and for the world.

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very parent cringes when their son or daughter declares, “I want to be a professional actor!” Drew Lynch’s parents were no different. Though they fully supported their son’s vision, they also encouraged him to develop a Plan B. Raised on the west side of Indianapolis, Lynch’s only aspiration was to act, and he was phenomenal at it, as evidenced by the 24 college scholarships he’d been offered by his senior year of high school. The plan was to perfect his craft in college and then head to Hollywood. Two weeks before classes were to begin, however, Lynch, 19 at the time, announced to his mom and dad that instead of pursuing a degree, he was moving to Los Angeles because, with his baby face and small stature, he could pass for 15, which meant that he could audition for child roles as an adult. Though his folks were anxious about his choice, they couldn’t argue with his reasoning. “It was unnerving to move our firstborn to a city of 12.9 million people when he didn’t know a soul,” says his mom Chris, an Avon resident. “It was sink or swim.” Though he tread water for a bit, ultimately he began landing small roles and auditions for Disney shows and Pixar movies. To make ends meet, he worked nights taking tickets at a comedy club. Still, living in L.A. was brutal. His rent was $750, and he earned roughly $830 a month—“and that’s if I really saved,” says Drew, who sustained himself on oatmeal, orange juice and a can of tuna daily. DECEMBER 2018 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

“I had the starving artist thing down,” says Lynch, who refused to create a Plan B for his life because he didn’t want anything to derail him from Plan A— his only plan. After a year of living in L.A., momentum for his career began building. It was the night before he was to audition for a role on the successful television show “How I Met Your Mother” when a freak accident changed the trajectory of his life. He got hit in the throat with a softball, an injury that caused an incurable stutter. Lynch’s agent and manager promptly dropped him. “Nobody wants to represent an actor who doesn’t have control over his motor skills,” he says. While he was still recovering from the accident, Lynch scribbled down some thoughts on hospital napkins. “I needed to decide whether I was going to embrace this new me — this guy with a speech issue — or if was I going to settle into being a failed actor who took tickets,” Lynch says. “I decided I wanted to reprove myself in a whole other light.” Two months later, Lynch performed standup comedy at an open mic night. Ultimately, his stutter proved to be his niche for his act. Not only that but joking about his situation proved therapeutic. “It was such a human moment in my life,” he says. “And that’s critical in standup because if you’re not being honest with yourself, the audience picks up on that.” Prior to his accident, Lynch used comedy to belittle others so as to not shed light on his own insecurities. “I was trying to protect my ego, but really that was a form of bullying,” says Lynch, now 27. The accident, however, changed his perspective. “Now I use comedy to empower myself and show others that they can do the same,” says Lynch, the oldest of four children.

The public identified with Lynch, viewing him as a source of inspiration. As for Lynch, he set lofty goals, making a promise to himself to perform on 101 different stages in one year. “I went to the Mongolian Grill, the Korean BBQ, Whole Foods, women’s book clubs, senior centers, the chemo unit at the hospital. I performed anywhere for anyone,” Lynch says. “I’ve done shows with just one or two people in the audience.” Regardless of crowd size, every show taught him something. Mostly, he learned to feel comfortable performing in any environment. He sprinkled in some gigs at college campuses and clubs and met his “101 goal.” Then he upped it, over threefold, vowing to do 500 sets in 2014, which breaks down to performing at least once a night, often twice. “I ended up doing 592 that year,” Lynch says. Two months later, in February 2015, he auditioned for America’s Got Talent (AGT) where he won over the judges, particularly Howie Mandel, who hit the Golden Buzzer, sending Lynch straight through to the live show at Radio City Music Hall. Lynch appreciated how Mandel addressed him on such a human level. “He wasn’t just speaking to me as a comedian,” Lynch says. “He understood what I was going through because of his own mental barriers, neuroses and anxieties.” Following the show, Mandel became Lynch’s mentor, encouraging him to “just do it” whenever he was offered an opportunity rather than allowing mental anguish to rationalize why not to do it. Ultimately, Lynch was the runner-up on AGT, a loss which he admits stung. “I wanted so badly to be the first comedian to win the show,” Lynch says. DECEMBER 2018 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

Once again, he put his ego in check and counted his blessings. “Comedy has taught me that failures shape us and make us better,” says Lynch, who did several impromptu performances last spring when he was back in town at Avon’s Red Curb Improv Comedy Club. He enjoyed the intimate experience of just having 50 people in the audience, though honestly, he likes mixing it up.

Drew’s Favorites Favorite comedy club: The Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, CA Favorite comedian: Dave Attell Favorite charity: Any organization that helps animals Favorite way to handle a heckler: Address the person with humor and do it in a way that doesn’t make them feel awful.

Following AGT, Lynch went on to book roles in movies and other standup specials. Last year he also appeared on Conan O’Brien, which he found far more nerve-wracking since he was performing in front of his comedic peers. Lynch also has an impressive YouTube following with 80,000 subscribers who watch Lynch with his 5-year-old Vizsla named Stella. In his hilarious “Dog Vlogs,” Lynch recounts silly stories while Stella sits beside him, donning a deadpan expression as funny captions float above her head. “It’s a simple format, but people like it,” Lynch says. And they like Stella. In fact, when Lynch does “meet & greets” following shows, fans are often just as excited to pet his pooch as they are to shake his hand. Some wait in line for several hours to do so. Though his agent has encouraged him to charge for these interactions, Lynch refuses. “I want to give everyone the same opportunity, regardless of their financial situation,” says Lynch, who is currently on a 150-city tour.

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The Chapman Family

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Thanks to one resourceful couple and their sincere commitment to the underserved, the homeless of Hendricks County have a compassionate place to turn for help. Ryan Chapman first felt the tug to minister to those experiencing a residential crisis when he observed homeless military veterans living in their vehicles in Plainfield’s Walmart parking lot. It is a credit to that company that they make space on their property for this community concern, but Ryan longed to do more. He understood the homeless condition all too well, having experienced it twice during

his own lifetime — once due to a fire and on another occasion when his father lost his job. “Neither situation was something we contributed to as a result of poor choices or lifestyle mistakes,” he says. “We simply had some difficult experiences come our way.” Ryan is quick to add that “our church family helped us. But not everyone has that advantage or those resources at their disposal.”

a former campground and conference center originally owned and operated by the Indianapolis District Church of the Nazarene. The property is a 56-acre complex of wooded grounds, residential cottages and cabins and large-scale meeting and dining facilities. And it happened to be for sale. A donor stepped forward to assist with the financial obligations, and Ryan’s ministry vision took one giant step forward.

“In 2012, my wife Amber and I dove right in. We sold our house and moved our young family to the camp. We live right there,” He had a vision for a ministry that would Ryan says, pointing to a red brick home on help homeless veterans, families in need and the edge of the property. single mothers with emergency, transitional and long-term housing. Enter Camp Camby, He left a position on staff at Plainfield DECEMBER 2018 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

Christian Church to take on his new role as director of the organization he soon named Active Grace, with a heart for tackling poverty and drug addiction and homelessness in a different way. “We believe in a hand up, not a handout,” he says. “We offer food, clothing and sanitation pantries. The camp’s dormitories and cabins fill a need for transitional housing. There are opportunities for medical care and addiction recovery. We serve community meals in the main dining hall four evenings a week. But ultimately, our goal is to provide life skill classes and job training programs that will enable individuals and families to transition to a productive and independent lifestyle.” Ryan pauses, and then summarizes the process. “They’ve had a bad break,” he adds. “Let’s give them the skills they need to live on their own.” Faith-based initiatives are a significant part of the Active Grace spiritual philosophy. Stillwaters Church conducts a worship service at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday nights. Amber leads a Bible study for women and girls on Tuesday evenings. The organization’s mission statement says that “Active Grace helps people see the life Christ can bring by meeting spiritual and physical needs of people in the local community and beyond.” Shannon Sturgeon has been a Camp Camby resident since November of 2017. She is a single mom to a 12-year-old daughter, who spends part of each week with her mother on the premises. “This is a really good place to be,” says Shannon, who offers her volunteer services to Active Grace in a variety of different ways like cleaning living quarters between residents, operating a flea market on occasion and providing general housekeeping duties on the property as needed. “I’m in treatment four days a week, but I look for ways to be busy and productive

Ryan & Amber Chapman DECEMBER 2018 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

when and where I can,” Shannon says. “Recovery is a long process. Giving back is the biggest aspect of this journey for me right now.”

to residents,” Shannon says. “Just as Ryan Chapman has so clearly supported and encouraged me, I want to support and encourage others.”

Gunny Clark is a Marine Corps veteran and past employee in the food service industry. Earlier this year, he suddenly found himself living in his vehicle on the Walmart property in Plainfield. A bad breakup following a difficult relationship left him “I like to say that the first thing in recovery is without a home and no place to turn for HOPE,” she says. “The letters stand for Hold help. Or so he thought. On, Pain Ends.” “I had my eight-year-old daughter with me She emphasizes the importance of learning part of the time and occasionally I would take her to Hummel Park to play during forgiveness as she tries to “understand the day,” he says. “I met a gentleman, Matt life backward, but live life forward.” She Nysewander, who was often there with his is working hard to teach her daughter the own family. We got to talking and I shared importance of gratitude. my story with him. Wouldn’t you know? He’s on the board of directors for Active “One year from now, I hope to be Grace. He made the arrangements for me productive, independent and returning to to come to Camp Camby, and I was royally Camp Camby as a counselor and mentor Shannon’s ambition is to become a Certified Recovery Specialist and be able to help others find their way back to wholeness, just as she is doing through the programs and life skill classes of Active Grace.

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welcomed at the front gate. I was given a good meal, a place to sleep, a shower, towels and blankets. This place is marvelous and caring.”

looking for ways to give back.

The needs at a facility like Camp Camby are great. Of the 24 cabins on the grounds, at least 19 or 20 are in irreparable Gunny’s young daughter now has a condition and ought to come down. They permanent home with a grandparent, need to be replaced with new cottages that but he gets to see her from time to time. will meet the ever-increasing demands Meanwhile, his previous skills in the kitchen of a homeless population throughout have made him a perfect fit in the dining Hendricks County and Central Indiana. hall at Camp Camby. He oversees many of the meal preparations and is especially “We have the capacity for 30 families,” Ryan helpful when large events take place, such as says. “There are 29 in residence right now.” a banquet for 200 supporters of the Active Grace ministry. His single greatest need? He had help from some fellow Camp Camby military veterans, one of whom is Master Sergeant Jan Buse — recipient of a Purple Heart, two silver and one bronze stars.

“The next big hurdle, I believe, is the mentoring and counseling piece,” he says. “Families need personal guidance with life skills, financial management, spiritual

“Jan deserves a mention,” Gunny says. “He’s a special friend and a great American who’s come upon some hard times.” National statistics indicate that an average of 22 homeless and despairing veterans take their own lives each day. Active Grace works to stem that tide here in Hendricks County by providing a smoke-free, drug-free and alcohol-free solace to the hurting, helping them to transition into a new and positive chapter of their lives. Gunny is taking advantage of those life skill classes that offer job training, particularly in the areas of cooking and food service. He is looking to add credentials to his resume that will position him well in the job market as he moves toward an independent life once again. “I would love to train someone else to take over my responsibilities in the kitchen here at Camp Camby,” he says. “But this place will always be a part of my life.” He was in the military from 1977 to 1993 and has a huge heart for homeless veterans. “I would like to one day be a counselor and an advocate for them,” he adds. Like Shannon Sturgeon, he is already DECEMBER 2018 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

accountability. Retired pastors and counselors would be especially helpful in this area.” Among other needs are food pantry workers, technology volunteers to help with social media and individuals to pick up donations and assist families with residential moves. To offer your help or to find out more about the myriad of ways you can walk alongside Active Grace in their mission, visit activegrace.info. “We’re all just one emergency away from being homeless,” Ryan says. “You can be the support and encouragement someone needs. It takes just one act of kindness to change somebody’s life.”

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AN HONORABLE END Hendricks County Honor Guard Recognizes Local Veterans Who Have Passed On Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Darnell Scott

The Hendricks County Honor Guard started in 1999 with a purpose of honoring soldiers by performing primarily graveside military functions as rifleman, blowing Taps and folding and presenting the American flag to the next of kin.

has done 895 funerals in Hendricks County. Though the majority of the funerals take place here in the county, they do go to surrounding counties as long as the deceased is a resident of Hendricks County.

“I’ve stood in line many times and watched grown men cry after we fire and blow Taps,” says Robert Schmidt, Commander of the Hendricks County (HC) Honor Guard since 2001. “It’s very emotional.”

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, they operate independent of the American Legion or VFW. They currently have 19 people who serve as volunteers, though they are always in search of more help. Anyone 18 years or older can get involved, and one doesn’t have to be in the service or have served in the military.

Since its inception, the HC Honor Guard

“Some people volunteer because their dad DECEMBER 2018 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

was in the service or they want to honor someone they love,” Schmidt says. “We welcome and train anybody who is of age.” They average about one funeral a week, though at times they have done two or three in one day. They work with the funeral directors in the county, who call with details of the deceased, including their age, the time and place of the funeral as well as the branch the deceased has served in. Schmidt notes that the law says that two people from the deceased’s branch (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines) must be there. That’s not true of the HC Honor Guard.

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“We’re the icing on top of the cake,” Schmidt says. “It’s your right to have the two people from your branch of service there. It’s a rite that we are there.” In addition to providing these services at funerals, the HC Honor Guard also participates in color guard once or twice a month. They also occasionally speak to children at schools or Boy Scout club meetings. For example, they might explain to students why the American flag gets folded into a triangle. In case you’re curious about the answer, Schmidt says that during the Revolutionary War, the hat the soldiers wore was called a tri-cap. “It was three-part cap, had three-quarters to it, and that’s why we fold the flag into a three-quarter fold,” Schmidt says. “It has to be just exactly perfect.”

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Following the funeral, next of kin also receives an envelope, the contents of which holds the 21 shells from the firing. Also included in the envelope is a paper with the HC Honor Guard’s logo and an explanation of their purpose. Family members or others who have attended the funeral often make a donation, which is always appreciated because the HC Honor Guard never charges for their services — “and we never will,” insists Schmidt. “We stay afloat simply on the generosity of the people that we serve,” Schmidt says. The money goes towards things like clothing as each volunteer is supplied with four shirts, two pairs of pants, a heavy-duty all-weather coat, a lightweight jacket and a coat that looks like a trooper’s jacket — all of which totals $1,000. “We completely outfit the person from your shoes to your cover — that’s your hat,” Schmidt adds. “All you have to do is provide a pair of skivvies and a pair of socks.” Though every funeral is poignant in its own way, last year Schmidt and his colleagues helped bury two members of their group who had passed. “We stood coffin detail at the viewings for them, flanking the coffin on both sides like the military does,” says Schmidt, who escorted the widows to the tent at the burial site. “We also brought the color guard with full regalia and full firing squad to show our appreciation for them.” Michael Letourneau, Vice Commander with the Hendricks County Honor Guard appreciates the thank-you letters the group receives from family members who appreciate the Honor Guard’s presence. “They tell us what a great experience it was for their grandchildren to see and learn what we do,” Letourneau says. “The gratitude comes from every which way.” To make a donation to the HC Honor Guard, send it to P.O. Box 112, Pittsboro, IN 46167. DECEMBER 2018 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

Central Indiana Orangetheory Owners: Carolyn and Shaun McDonald (Carmel, Fishers-Geist, West Carmel-Zionsville and the future Fishers-Nickel Plate), Katie Douglas (Greenwood and Downtown Indy), Lyle Feigenbaum (Avon) and Jennifer Haas (Ironworks and the future Broad Ripple).

Writer / Julie Young Photographer / Bradley Kercheval

Looking for a total body workout that adheres to your schedule, offers guidance not guesswork and helps you continue your path to progress long after the workout is over? Then Orangetheory Fitness may be the perfect fitness solution for you. “We have classes scheduled throughout the day with nationally certified coaches who monitor your progress and make sure you are not over or under training,” says Carolyn McDonald, owner of Orangetheory studios in Carmel, FishersGeist and West Carmel-Zionsville. The newest studio, Fishers-Nickel Plate, is set to open in January 2019 directly across from Fishers City Hall. Shortly after, a Broad Ripple/Butler area studio will open at the intersection of Kessler and College in Indianapolis. Developed by former Pilates instructor, Ellen Latham, Orangetheory is a sciencebased workout that gets results. It is centered on the principle of EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption) that suggests if one challenges their body at the correct intensity, they will experience an effect that keeps them burning calories even after the workout is over.

“If you spend 12 or more minutes of the hour-long workout in the ‘Orange Zone,’ which is at 84 percent or more of your maximum heart rate, you will experience the afterburn,” says Katie Douglas, owner of Orangetheory studios in Greenwood and downtown Indianapolis. “You don’t have to work out every day because your body will be burning calories even as it recovers.” With 1,000 locations throughout the US (and seven here in Central Indiana), Orangetheory is designed for all fitness levels and they boast a diverse community of clients with a variety of fitness goals. Staff members and coaches take the time to get to know each member, build a rapport and assure them that they will get the maximum benefit from the Orangetheory workout. McDonald says each member wears a heart rate monitor that tracks their progress in real time throughout the class and gives them (and their coach) insight into their performance. Orangetheory takes the guesswork out of your fitness regimen and creates a reciprocal relationship between you, your coach and other Orangetheory members. Plus, the workout changes every day and that variety keeps members engaged. “The level of community created in each studio is one of my favorite aspects about the Orangetheory program,” McDonald DECEMBER 2018 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

says. “The coaches work hard to ensure that every member is comfortable and they are wonderful about offering modifications as needed to ensure everyone feels successful in their workout.” Everyone on staff is trained to offer a welcoming, energetic environment and each location offers a robust schedule of between 60-70 hours of training each week, so Orangetheory is ready whenever you are. “Members schedule classes during the times most convenient for them either in person or with our app,” Douglas says. “In addition, because all Orangetheory memberships are reciprocal, members are welcome to take classes at any studio in the country.” McDonald believes Orangetheory is the future of fitness and she is proud to be part of it. “We have grown so quickly over the past four years here in Central Indiana and our members are constantly building on this incredible TEAM OTF community and culture,” she says. “For local residents, your first class is free, so why not come by and see what we are all about?”

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Local Man Climbs Mt. Kilimanjaro to Raise Money for Lifewater Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

Lifewater International is an organization that is all about providing sustainable water sources for people who don’t have clean, disease-free water sources — places like Africa, Cambodia and Mexico. In the past 35 years, Lifewater has served roughly 2.5 million people. Bill Macgregor, an electrical technician at Bio-Response Solutions and Captain of Decatur Township Fire Department, first learned about Lifewater’s mission several years ago and was pleased to learn that they don’t raise money to simply drill a well and walk away. Instead, they find a community

or village, determine those people’s needs and educate them on how to prevent and eliminate disease transmission by teaching proper hygiene and sanitation practices. Once Lifewater helps provide that water source, they teach a committee to maintain that sustainable water source, showing them how to maintain, repair and clean it.

For several years in a row, his buddy Daren Wendell had invited MacGregor to join him on the expedition, but it was never the right time. This year, however, MacGregor’s heart had softened to the idea and he agreed. They started by traveling to Tanzania, Africa (30 hours of flying). He spent a day getting to know the 22-member group that was going to participate in the climb — demographics ranging from males and females 16 to 75 years old (the median age was mid-30s Bill is 56).

Though MacGregor became a regular supporter of Lifewater, it wasn’t until this year that he stepped it up a notch — or, more specifically — climbed it up 19,000plus notches when he committed to raising $6,000 to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest The next day they hopped on a bus with volcano outside of South America and their gear and headed towards the entry gate Africa’s tallest mountain. to Kilimanjaro National Park, starting their trek at around 4,500 ft. above sea level and DECEMBER 2018 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

gradually climbing for six days until they reached the 19,345 ft. summit. “It was six days of hard climbing — not rock climbing,” says MacGregor, who trained for the grueling endeavor by running with his wife Millicent as she prepared for the Indy Mini Marathon. “It was very rugged terrain with lots of loose, sandy gravel and huge boulders sticking out of the ground from where the volcano erupted.

of oxygen in the air. Since MacGregor is a paramedic, he monitored himself as well as his group members. As everyone adjusted to the altitude, the guides kept repeating, “polepole,” a Swahili phrase that translates to “slow, slow.”

There were a couple of teens on the hike, whose dads brought them along. They experienced some nausea and headaches because they were hyperventilating and not getting carbon dioxide out of their bodies. “I’m an avid backpacker and also a firefighter Therefore, MacGregor coached the teens on so I was already in pretty good shape,” he how to employ proper breathing techniques. adds. “Basically, when you stop, you should take The biggest thing was getting adjusted to in some slow deep breaths and when you the change in the altitude and the amount exhale, let that air out as much as you can,”

DECEMBER 2018 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

MacGregor says. “Do that five times and then go back to a normal breathing cycle.” The trek is no joke. One woman suffered severe altitude sickness and had to be taken off the mountain. “On day three, my heart rate was 120 when I was moving, which is double my resting heart rate,” MacGregor says. Each day was different. Some they hiked for five or six hours. Other days they went longer. The fifth day, which also included the summit day, was the longest (10.5-11 hours of climbing). “Everyone was pretty exhausted,”

MacGregor says. “We got to base camp at 2 p.m., rested, ate dinner, rested again, then rose at 11:30 p.m. to climb in the dark up the side of the mountain. We’re already in the arctic zone by then so there was snow all around us.” On summit day, once the group got to the

highest point, MacGregor kept stopping every 10 feet or so because his heart was beating irregularly. He never did have chest pains, however. Ultimately, 17 members of the group finished the 19,345 ft. climb to the very top of the summit. Three made it to the crest

of the mountain but could not make it any further to the summit. As for MacGregor, though he sustained no serious injuries during the climb, he did fall and dislocate his thumb. “As soon as I took my weight off of it, I popped it back into place,” MacGregor says.

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“My whole hand swelled up and bruised, but I’m not complaining.” The oldest gentleman, Neal, who did the trek with his son, didn’t fare so well. At 75, his knees were worn out, but he powered through. “He was a trooper,” says MacGregor, who adds he would do the climb again at some point in the future.

On top of the $6,000 MacGregor raised that went directly to Lifewater, he also had to come up with an additional $6,000 to cover his own expenses. “I was blessed because within eight months I was able to raise all that money,” MacGregor says. Friends, businesses and total strangers all donated to the cause. His employer, BioResponse Solutions, contributed $1,000. In

DECEMBER 2018 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

addition, the owner of Los Patios Mexican Restaurant in Danville offered to contribute 10 percent of their sales for an entire day to Lifewater. McAlister’s Deli in Brownsburg also held a fundraising evening. “I love giving money to various charities and organizations, but I don’t like asking people for money,” MacGregor says. “My lovely wife says all you have to do is ask, and she was right.”

The total amount raised for Lifewater International from their entire group was $167,000, which will serve more than 4,100 people in Ethiopia and Uganda with sustainable water, hygiene and sanitation education. “I’m proud of myself for having climbed one of the seven top peaks in the world, but ultimately that’s not what this was about,” MacGregor says. “Here in America, we don’t have to walk five feet for fresh clean drinking water, but over there people have to walk miles with a 5-gallon canister to collect swamp or pond water, which is highly contaminated.” MacGregor notes that all of the 40 villages that Lifewater is working within Kaliro, Uganda have now been verified Open Defecation Free (ODF) by the national government’s Ministry of Health. This means that thousands of people have a safe, sanitary place to use the restroom. “The ripple effects of safe restrooms are enormous, making kids more confident, increasing class attendance and giving every family member a sense of pride in the health of their community,” MacGregor says. For more information, visit lifewater.org. A $40 donation will provide sustainable water to one person for life.

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Hendricks Symphony Conductor Benjamin Del Vecchio Talks Passion, People & His Path to Music

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

Though the director of the Hendricks Symphony, Benjamin Del Vecchio, learned to play piano in second grade, he had no aspirations to turn music making into a career. In fact, he wanted to become a priest.

Vecchio says. He soon realized that his calling was to be a conductor because he couldn’t stand looking at just one part of a piece of music. He was compelled to see or hear the whole picture.

Kokomo Symphony Orchestra as well as the Kokomo Symphony Youth Orchestra, both of which are still going strong today.

In 2006, the Hendricks Symphony was born with Del Vecchio at the helm, baton in hand. “It’s like asking me to paint a beautiful picture He and his wife, Joyce, lovebirds who have and only giving me the color red,” Del Vecchio been married for 42 years, moved to Avon in 2012 from the western part of the state says. “I need all of the colors.” “I think my idea of a priest was Friar Tuck from because they needed more room for their Robin Hood,” Del Vecchio says. Del Vecchio’s parents hoped he would become “symphony stuff.” The home in Avon has two garages to hold all of the equipment, which a business major. By his early teen years, however, he decided is far better than the set-up they had before priesthood wasn’t in the cards. But he didn’t “They weren’t overjoyed that I chose the path where the family room was piled high with know what was. boxes. Though they had considered moving of musician and that’s putting it mildly,” says Del Vecchio, who studied at the New England into the country, he likes the convenience of “I panicked that I didn’t know what I wanted being in town as he often invites musicians Conservatory of Music and was the first to do with my life at age 14,” he recalls. undergraduate orchestra conducting major in to come to the house for rehearsals and performances. the school’s history. In 1968, he received an Determined to figure it out, he made a list of offer from Indiana University to teach and do possible options. Nothing resonated. So he “We’ve given fundraising concerts in our doctoral work. came at his issue in another way. living room,” Del Vecchio says. “We can fit 23 After leaving IU, Del Vecchio taught at Taylor people, plus the piano.” “I asked myself what I would miss if it were no University for five years. He also started the longer in my life. That was easy — music,” Del DECEMBER 2018 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

Del Vecchio, 76, lauds the entire orchestra, which consists of close to 100 individuals. The chorus makes up 35-40 people and the instrumentalists around 65. “Here at the Hendricks Symphony, we have the greatest group of musicians I’ve ever worked with,” Del Vecchio says. “Not only are they good musicians, but they are also nice people.” The orchestra includes housewives, professional musicians, music teachers and music students. Some have a doctorate in music, others have no degree at all. Del Vecchio treats them all the same. “There is no rank order,” Del Vecchio says. “There are no stars.” More than half of Del Vecchio’s instrumentalists come from outside of Hendricks County, many of whom once lived here and didn’t want to quit the symphony when they moved. “I have a violinist who drives from Evansville and a cellist who comes from Franklin,” Del Vecchio says. “I have others drive from Muncie and Lafayette. It’s because they love the camaraderie of the group and the fact that it feels like family.” One thing is certain: musicians are notoriously dependable and rarely miss a performance. This holds true of Del Vecchio himself, who has missed but one rehearsal in a 40-year span. “There’s the old saying, ‘The audience doesn’t care how you feel. They care how they feel,’” says Del Vecchio, who bonked his head hard just prior to a concert last year. Despite a whopping headache, he persevered. The show must go on and it did. The Hendricks Symphony performs 23 concerts a year. Only 10 of them charge. The rest are free, including the annual Fourth of July concert in Hummel Park. Though Del Vecchio enjoys performance dates, his favorite times of the week are Mondays and Tuesdays because those are rehearsal nights. “I love walking into rehearsal at this level,” he says, placing his hand chest-high. “And when we leave, it’s at this level.” He moves his hand above his forehead. “That’s what it’s all about.” Though practice is obviously key to improvement, Del Vecchio recognizes that an artist can never be perfect 36 / AVON MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2018 / AvonMagazine.com

because music is something that happens in the moment. “It’s not like building a table where there’s something tangible,” Del Vecchio says. “You could have the greatest orchestra in the world and still have a terrible performance. But you always get better, and that’s the fun part.” Speaking of perfect, interestingly, despite having perfect pitch, Del Vecchio describes himself as a terrible singer.

And so it went with all other ingredients. “If eggs are on sale, put in five or six,” she instructed. “But if they’re expensive, just put in one.”

“I sniff things out,” he says. “The same goes in rehearsal, only it’s by ear. By listening, I can tell that I need a little more of this, a little less of that.”

Thanks to his grandmother’s ad lib directions in the kitchen, for 62 years Del Vecchio has made spaghetti sauce (or what his family calls “gravy”) not by measurement or even by heart but by nose.

The Hendricks Symphony Sounds of the Season performs on December 14. Santa Claus will even be there. For more information or to make a donation to the Hendricks Symphony, visit hendrickssymphony.org.

“That’s the ultimate criticism at rehearsal — for someone to say, ‘I’d rather hear Del Vecchio sing than you play it that way again,” he says with a chuckle. Clearly, Del Vecchio adores what he does. The only frustrating aspect of the job is the finances. “There are other orchestras in the state that are doing less than we do with budgets four, five and six times as big as ours,” Del Vecchio says. “We’re operating on a razor-thin budget.”

That was one of your best decisions.

Despite the economic hardships, those affiliated with the program pour their hearts and souls into it because they recognize the joy music brings to humanity.

This is too.

“It’s literally a gift to the community,” says Del Vecchio, noting what a rare treasure the Hendricks Symphony truly is. “Find me another county in Indiana that puts on 23 concerts a year. You won’t find it.”

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To ease the monetary pangs, Del Vecchio turns to the comfort food he learned to make from his Italian grandmother whose lessons were, unique. “You take some flour,” she said. “How much?” Del Vecchio asked. “Enough,” his grandma replied. “And then you pour in some water.” “How much?” Del Vecchio asked.

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“Enough,” she answered. AvonMagazine.com / DECEMBER 2018 / AVON MAGAZINE / 37

The holidays are full of joy and excitement, especially for children, but this time of year, parents should be extra cautious about home safety. With the holidays, a variety of seasonal toys, decorations and other items enter the home and may present hazards to your family. Dr. Amanda Gripe, pediatric hospitalist at Indiana University Health West Hospital, offers some ways to keep your family safe. Toying With Toys Make sure toys are safe for little ones. •

• •

need an outlet. Only adults or older children should replace light bulbs in toys to ensure proper wattage. Teach older kids to keep their toys away from little siblings.

Decorations Decorating the house can be a fun family activity, but don’t let it become a potential danger. •

Avoid choosing toys with sharp edges, cords or small parts. If a toy is tiny enough to fit through a toilet paper roll, • it can cause choking. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before you give them to little ones to prevent strangulation. For kids under 10, choose battery• operated toys, rather than toys that

If you set up a Christmas tree, position it away from fireplaces and radiators. Keep live trees well-watered so they don’t become a fire hazard. Artificial trees should be fire resistant. Avoid ornaments and decorations that resemble food or are breakable. To hang decorations, use step stools, rather than chairs or other furniture. String outdoor lights using hooks or insulated staples, not nails.

DECEMBER 2018 / AVON/PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE

•

Clean up all used gift wrap soon after opening presents — it may pose a choking or fire hazard. Don’t burn wrapping paper in the fireplace. Lock matches and lighters in a high cabinet.

Entertaining, Made Safer During cooking and mealtime, keep hot foods away from the edges of tables to avoid burns. Clean up food and drinks immediately after a party, and when making the rounds to holiday gatherings be sure everyone is buckled. Kids ages 12 and younger should ride in the back seat. Regular Risks While you keep an eye out for holiday hazards, don’t forget about the usual suspects. For instance, don’t let your kids run on hardwood floors with stockings on their feet and don’t leave plastic bags where children can reach them.

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PLAINFIELD CREATES 13-ACRE PARK OUT OF Former Shouse LANDFILL has now concluded with the placement of shade structures and park benches.

Writer / Stephanie Singh Photography Provided

The Town of Plainfield recently opened Talon Stream Park in Plainfield. The Talon Stream Park Master Project began in 2008 after the Town of Plainfield recognized a need to redevelop the Shouse Landfill, also known as the Shouse Dump. A 10-year project partially funded by the Indiana Brownfields Program Grant of $400,000

“When we started this project, I thought this would be a neat attribute for the town considering we thrive on our parks and trails system,” says Town Council President, Robin Brandgard. “It was a plan to bring another amenity to the Plainfield Parks Department, but it turned into something greater than I ever

imagined. Being able to take something that was somewhat of a detriment and going through the process of reclaiming it as a park for the citizens took a lot of forethought and I am proud of all of those involved.” Located just north of the Richard A. Carlucci Recreation and Aquatic Center and adjacent to White Lick Creek, an important waterway in Plainfield, the

PlainfieldMag.com / DECEMBER 2018 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 41

Shouse property was not only an eyesore but a liability to the environment. The large field had become an unrestricted dumping ground for all kinds of trash and chemicals. By working with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), the banks were re-enforced, hazardous materials cleared, the dumpsite was capped and topsoil was hauled to the site to make it environmentally safe to be used for a park. Talon Stream Park includes a trail, a shelter house and restful, shaded areas with spectacular views of White Lick Creek. “This was such a remarkable project for our community, turning something that seemed to be useable land into an incredible park,” says Director of Plainfield Parks and Recreation, Clay Chafin. “It says a lot about the staff, council and partners we had on this plan. We look forward to the future use of this park and thank those who had the vision to turn this into a grand amenity.”=

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PHS Life Skills Program Creates Amazing Opportunities for Students With Disabilities Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

disabilities — communication, language and cognitive — of varying levels.

And unlike students in traditional classrooms who sometimes whine about having to learn, these kiddos genuinely want to be at school.

It really is one, big, happy family. That’s how it feels to both the teachers and the students at Plainfield High School’s Life Skills program. The program is for students who are developmentally considered the most severe. They struggle with a variety of issues, including Down Syndrome, seizures and autism. Most of them show some sort of communications disorder, whether that’s a language or a speech issue. A few are completely non-verbal. Many have multiple

Though students are between 14 and 22 years old, cognitively they range from infantile to early adolescent in age. The thing “We have one girl whom every day we they all have in common, however, is how have to tell, ‘You need to go home and go much they love life, learning and laughter. to bed so you can come back tomorrow,’” Breidinger says. “These students are the most loving and polite individuals I’ve ever known,” says Life skills classes teach academics such as reading, math, history, science and current Jessica Breidinger, PHS Life Skills’ head events, but it also includes vocational tasks teacher. to help prepare students for the next step

PlainfieldMag.com / DECEMBER 2018 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 43

following graduation. Therefore, they do odd jobs around the school like delivering mail to teachers, shredding papers, recycling materials and clearing tables in the cafeteria. “These jobs work on fine and gross motor skills as well as communications skills, counting and following directions,” Breidinger says. “If you could see what we get done in a day, it’s no wonder we’re all exhausted by day’s end.” “We get to see them experience and learn things,” adds Erika Bever, PHS Life Skills Instructional Assistant. “I love to see the joy on their faces when they figure out how to do something like tie their own shoes or read more independently.” The 15-member class, along with their teachers ( Jessica Breidinger, Erika Bever, Ashley Fife and Mary O’Connor), participate in various community outings to places like the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, the Indianapolis Zoo, the Rhythm! Discovery Center, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and the WonderLab Museum of Science, Health & Technology. They’ve also traveled to honey farms, apple orchards and the federal courthouse in downtown Indy.

Life Skills Team Leaders

The community outings are an extension of their classroom studies and help students work on safety skills, communication 44 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2018 / PlainfieldMag.com

with their siblings and peers.”

“In the winter, in particular, when we’re cooped up, it’s good to get them moving,” Bever says.

skills and social skills in other settings. For instance, they take the students to Walmart every month to buy food for their cooking lab and to the bank so students can learn how to sign a paycheck and deposit money. These outings are not only educational, but they also give students a chance to practice using their manners in public.

Speaking of peers, the student body at PHS is wildly supportive of this endeavor. Last year, members of the student government, as well as the majority of the football team, attended the event.

To raise funds for these outings, four years ago, the school began hosting the annual Trike-A-Thon, always held in December.

“We’ve been asked back to every restaurant we’ve gone to,” Breidinger says. “People always comment on how well-behaved, polite and interactive our kids are.” The teachers tie their lessons into what they’re reading so that students grasp it better. For example, when the class was learning about growing things, they planted watermelon seeds. When they were studying history, they went to Connor Prairie. They also squeeze in some outings that are all about fun and fitness. Favorites include the bowling alley and gymnastics arenas.

“We use the Trike-A-Thon to provide backup funds to give us more freedom with our choices and experiences,” Breidinger says. They also started a scholarship fund for their club “Just Friends” to ensure that every student can participate in the community outings, regardless of their financial situation.

“Sometimes you don’t see that crossover from athletics to special education,” Breidinger says. “I think that’s pretty amazing.”

The Trike-A-Thon includes a silent auction (32auctions.com/phstrikeathon2018) with handmade crafts, quilts and gift cards. The staff also creates a fun yet underwhelming During the Trike-A-Thon, students who atmosphere for the children by hiring a have never before ridden a bike get to zoom around the fieldhouse on a trike, regardless of deejay who spins music at a lower decibel. In addition, they provide a “Sensory Santa” their age or size. played by Jay Jones, Bever’s fiancé. He’s a youth pastor who formally worked at Clark’s “We have a 6'3" student who rides an adult Creek. Jones sits in a quiet hallway that is bike with training wheels,” Breidinger says. transformed into a peaceful but festive “We want all of our students to participate

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PHS Principal Siefert takes a spin.

sanctuary by way of mini twinkle lights as opposed to bright fluorescent lighting. Bever has three boys (11, 9 & 5). The two oldest are on the autism spectrum and, as a result, have never been to the mall to see Santa. “It was just too much for them,” Bever says. “Think about how loud and chaotic the mall Santa experience is, with the intense lights, music and hustle & bustle. Here we do our best to

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eliminate all of that.” Last year an 8-year-old boy came to the Trike-A-Thon and, for the first time ever, sat on Santa’s lap. “The parents are so grateful we do this for the community,” Breidinger says. “So while we like raising money for our program, it’s about more than that, clearly.” Jones, who grew up with two autistic brothers, understands the troubles these children experience. That’s why he sits in a chair just adjacent to a separate bench. That way if a child is not comfortable sitting on top of Santa, they can sit beside him. Bever pursued a degree in special education so that she could be a “good mommy advocate.” Breidinger, whose entire teaching career has been at PHS, started volunteering in special education classrooms when she was in high school and realized she had found her calling. “We love our job and our kids,” Breidinger says. They’re not the only ones. The administration at PHS is highly involved in the lives of their Life Skills students. “We receive amazing support from our administration,” Bever says. “For example, every day our principal comes to speak with our students in the cafeteria.” And the students are out and about in the school all the time. “Our kids are not shut off in a room where no one sees them,” she says. “They’re out interacting with their peers every day, high-fiving, fist-bumping, saying ‘hi.’ There’s a good bit of camaraderie.” This year’s Trike-A-Thon, open to the public, will take place from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 15 at Plainfield High School.

46 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2018 / PlainfieldMag.com

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PlainfieldMag.com / DECEMBER 2018 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 47

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