Plainfield Magazine December 2021 by Towne Post Network, Inc.

DECEMBER 2021

MAGAZINE

Taste the Difference IT’S ABOUT MORE THAN FLAVOR AT SCHAKOLAD CHOCOLATE FACTORY

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Sycamore Services Participant is Dishing Up Good Eats in Hendricks County STAY ACTIVE DURING COLD WEATHER

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THE REASON FOR THE SEASON At Franciscan Health, we believe in joy, hope and the gift of life. This Christmas, we celebrate the miracles, moments and traditions that bring Christ’s light and love into our lives. From all of us at Franciscan Health, may this season be filled with inspiration for you, your family and loved ones, and may God’s peace be with you in the coming year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS

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Sycamore Services Participant is Dishing Up Good Eats in Hendricks County

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TASTE THE DIFFERENCE

BREATHING LIFE INTO THEATER

It’s About More Than Flavor at Schakolad Chocolate Factory

The Melanie and Rosalie Albright Foundation Supports Youth Participation in Theater

KEY CONTRIBUTORS AMY PAYNE / CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING / DR. EMILY CHA JOSH DUKE / JAMIE HERGOTT / MATTHEW KENT / TOPP LEVEL PHOTO

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Sycamore Services Participant is Dishing Up Good Eats in Hendricks County Writer / Matthew Kent Photography Provided

he works as a cook making pizzas and cookies during the week.

A Sycamore Services participant working toward his dream of becoming a chef is sharing his passion in Hendricks County.

Luecht has worked closely with his employment consultant Clay Cramer, who provided support for four job interviews Luecht had in Danville, Avon, Brownsburg and Plainfield for food service positions.

Danville resident John Luecht pursued his career in the food industry in 2014 at McDonald’s in Plainfield, where he cleaned tables and dishes for nearly six years. He decided to attend Erskine Green Training Institute in Muncie, which provides postsecondary vocational training for adults with disabilities. It also offers training programs in food service, health-care support and hospitality.

“John was offered jobs from all four locations,” Cramer says. “John had the luxury of choosing where he wanted to work.” Luecht and his family ultimately determined that Plainfield was the best choice for him, and he began working for the Plainfield Community School Corporation on September 9.

Luecht received an industry-recognized certification as a kitchen cook through the institute one year ago.

“John has made an outstanding impression on his managers and co-workers,” Cramer says. “John has already established himself as an important member of the food service team at Plainfield Middle If you’ve attended Charbonos in Avon for an evening meal, it’s likely School.” that Luecht helped to prepare your appetizer, pizza or dessert in the six months he was employed there until this past May. This summer Mission Statement: he served as a cook at Camp Tannadoonah in Vandalia, Michigan, Sycamore Services, Inc. makes a difference where he also put his culinary skills to good use, in addition to in the lives of individuals with disabilities cleaning and sanitizing as needed. and others experiencing daily challenges He is also playing a role this year in feeding more than 1,000 children enrolled at Plainfield Community Middle School, where

by providing individualized training and services to increase independence and enhance their quality of life.

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Visit Hendricks County Helps to Navigate Wintertime Shopping and Entertainment Writer / Josh Duke Photography Provided

We’ve done it - we’ve reached that time of year that might as well be called shopping season. But don’t fret. We are here to help at Visit Hendricks County, where we encourage limiting your online and bigbox retail purchases to support some of our locally-owned, small businesses here in Hendricks County. You might just be surprised by the unique gifts you’ll find.

As you hopefully know, our organization also helps support our local attractions, and has become known for our popular events calendar and providing local options. So, let’s get to all the great places to shop and fun activities for this winter.

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE Yes, our Holiday Gift Guide is back, for which we highlight the best 20 gifts unique to Hendricks County for the year, after scouring our locally-owned and -operated

DECEMBER 2021

businesses. Please help support these businesses if you can. They really need our help now more than ever. I really don’t want to give too much away here, because you can learn much more about each specific gift and where to find them at visithendrickscounty.com/gift. You will find food, fashion, experiences, home decor and much more, but what this Gift Guide truly intends to do is give you a sneak peek of what you can find in our locally-owned stores. Once you walk into the doors of these businesses, I promise you will find much more for those special people

on your holiday shopping list.

INDOOR WINTER ATTRACTIONS I’m limited on space so I will keep this section to just three recommendations, one for each of our larger towns, but there is so much more to do than what I will cover below. You can check out all the options at visithendrickscounty.com/ winter.

PRESS PLAY GAMING LOUNGE, BROWNSBURG Press Play quite literally has something for every member of the family. This large indoor facility in a former grocery store has tons of room to spread out, including family pods with televisions equipped with gaming systems and streamable channels. This indoor experience also has eight virtual reality stations with numerous games, a foam war area, a three-point shootout and a BEAM system for young visitors, as well as

DECEMBER 2021

food, a bar and much more.

THE TIE DYE LAB, AVON Offering a fun, all-inclusive, do-it-yourself experience for individuals or groups, The Tie Dye Lab helps participants color T-shirts, hats, socks, bandanas and other attire. You choose your design and colors, and the experts there guide you through the process. The tiedye process is both easy and mess-free, and within an hour you get to leave with your creation.

SKY ZONE INDOOR TRAMPOLINE PARK, PLAINFIELD Dubbed the ‘ultimate 3D play experience for almost any age, shape or ability,’ Sky Zone boasts wall-to-wall trampoline fun. You can play Sky Zone dodgeball, dunk a basketball at SkySlam, show off your moves in their open trampoline area, leap over winding poles, test your ninja skills, or even perfect your craft as you practice flips in the foam pit area.

OUTDOOR WINTER ACTIVITIES Again, we have many options that I could highlight here, but I will limit it to just a couple of our top recommendations, and you can find more at visithendrickscounty.com/ winter.

PENGUIN PARK, AVON Head out to Washington Township Park in Avon and check out Penguin Park, where you can go ice skating on a synthetic rink, rent an igloo with a small bonfire for a gathering or birthday party, or even try curling at the skating rink. Park officials are also planning special public events there throughout the season. Natural Valley Ranch, Brownsburg Natural Valley Ranch offers guided horseback rides year round, weather permitting, but there is just something fun about bundling up and going out in the fresh, crisp air for a horseback ride. Those interested need to contact the ranch in advance to make a reservation before arriving.

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BREATHING LIFE INTO THEATER The Melanie and Rosalie Albright Foundation Supports Youth Participation in Theater

“We didn’t have time to think about it,” Aimee Albright says. “We were dumped in the deep end first.” Four and a half years later, Rosalie was their surprise baby who unfortunately arrived with a surprise of her own. She also had CF. There is no cure for the chronic disease, and while advances are being made to improve the lives of those who have it, according to Cystic Fibrosis News Today, the average life expectancy of a person with CF in the U.S. is approximately 37.5 years.

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

When Aimee Albright and her husband Robert (aka R.D.) started a family, they knew there was a one-in-four chance for their children to be born with cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disorder that affects the lungs, pancreas and other organs. Both Aimee and R.D. carry one copy of the genetic defect, but since no previous family members had ever been diagnosed with CF, the couple wasn’t overly concerned, especially after their firstborn son, Adam, was born perfectly healthy. Two years later, they were pregnant again. When their daughter, Melanie, only gained 10 ounces in her first four months of life, alarm bells sounded. Upon examination, Aimee and R.D. were told that their daughter had CF and pneumonia, and admitted her to the hospital on the spot.

Facing the fact that two of their three children would likely have their lives cut short was traumatic, but the couple’s strong Christian faith helped them process the news. “Having that faith in God and trusting him, knowing that this is his plan and I don’t have to like it but that he knows more than I do, that is what got us through,” Albright says. When Rosalie was diagnosed, they already knew what to do and what to expect. “CF was already a part of our lives - everything was now times two,” says Albright, who homeschooled her kids in order to better take care of their needs.

DECEMBER 2021

This was important, given that every time one of the girls got sick with a cold, they were in the hospital for two to three weeks on intravenous antibiotics. This typically happened three to four times per year. When they weren’t sick, however, they were happy and busy. When they were young, they both gravitated towards the arts and loved participating in Christmas pageants and other church programs. While Rosalie delighted in performing on stage, Melanie preferred the behind-the-scenes action like painting, set building and applying makeup. In 2012, the sisters got involved with the Hendricks Civic Theater’s (HCT) production of “Aladdin Jr.” Shortly after that, the Biz Academy of Musical Theatre opened and the girls did “Beauty and the Beast.” Melanie painted sets and helped with props. Rosalie was cast as the Enchantress, Marie, and was in the ensemble. Albright volunteered to be stage manager. By this point, the family was officially captivated by community theater. In 2012 Melanie got extremely sick. Her lung function was at about 25% and she needed to be on oxygen all the time. She waited for double lung transplant that never came.

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to to apply apply forfor allall locations. locations. Call/Text Call/Text (317) (317) 754-MATH 754-MATH (6284) (6284) “There were too many people listed ahead of her and not enough registered organ donors,” Albright says. Melanie passed away on January 14, 2014, at the tender age of 18. A month after Melanie passed away, Rosalie caught respiratory syncytial virus, which caused a great deal of damage to her lungs. That virus eventually led to the need for a double lung transplant. Despite her circumstance, Rosalie insisted on not giving up theater. While rehearsing for the show “Shrek,” she had oxygen waiting in each of the wings of the stage. “She would go on stage, do her scene, then come into the wings for oxygen, maybe throw up, then go back on stage,” Albright recalls.

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The theater kids - her “tribe” as Albright calls them - visited Rosalie in the hospital, sent constant texts, FaceTimed with her, and prayed. Six months to the day after Melanie’s passing, she received a double lung transplant.

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Her first day back at rehearsal, the director told Rosalie to take it easy, but she didn’t know how to do that. Her energy had returned, and she was ready to expend it. The following year, she landed her first lead - Margo in “Legally Blonde.”

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Rosalie did well for a year before her body began to reject the lungs. Rosalie was in a hospital in St. Louis when the family received the devastating news that her donor lungs were failing. Rosalie, 15 at the time, opted not to have a second lung transplant, and her parents respected her choice.

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She went back on oxygen, continuing to perform in shows and take her dance classes and vocal lessons. In the spring of 2016, the Biz put on “The Lion King” and she was cast in the ensemble. Again, there was oxygen on both sides of the stage, and she wouldn’t let her condition stop her from doing what she loved. When she was off stage, friends sat with her as she got her oxygen. Rosalie passed away on May 4, 2016, a month before her 16th birthday. She requested no funeral service and asked that friends share stories instead. One boy spoke about walking into rehearsals on the first day as the brand-new kid. He saw a circle of kids on the floor, one of whom was Rosalie. She invited him to join them. “That’s who she was - always very inclusive,” Albright says. After her second daughter died of CF, Albright wondered what to do with her life at that point. The family discussed ways they could honor the girls and keep their memories alive. They didn’t want to create another community theater because between the Biz, HCT, and local schools, that was covered. “I said, ‘What if we created a nonprofit to support youth participation in all aspects of theatre?’” says Albright, who is currently a student at IUPUI earning a degree in philanthropic studies. “Everyone loved the idea.” In 2018 they created The Melanie and Rosalie Albright Foundation, with the tagline “Breathing life into theatre.”

They found that what kids need most is help paying for artistic endeavors, including production fees, vocal lessons, dance classes, art lessons and theater workshops. Albright had heard kids say they could only afford to pursue one interest. The foundation’s needs-based and enrichment-based scholarships, however, can help students’ families afford additional opportunities. “We want to make sure that anybody who wants to try anything that’s performing arts related can do so,” says Albright, noting that when it comes to theater, it takes a village to create the magic. People are needed to build sets, take care of props and costumes, do hair and makeup, provide lighting and sound, handle audio-visual elements, play music in the pit orchestra, and more. From its founding until 2020, The Melanie and Rosalie Albright Foundation awarded $750 in scholarships. In 2021 they have awarded $1,400 in scholarships. “Kids can come here, trusting that they have somebody in their corner,” Albright says. “We want to provide a safe place for these kids to be who they are.” For more information about The Melanie and Rosalie Albright Foundation, visit themrafoundation.org, or facebook.com/ MRAFoundation. To register to become an organ donor, visit unos.org.

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HEAR THEM ROAR INDIANA LYONS UNDERTAKE FOURTH SEASON

Owners, Tyrone & Deborah Brown

of all, patrons continued to support them.

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided by TOPPLevel Photo

As the saying goes, “What’s old becomes new again,” and such is the case for the resurrected American Basketball Association (ABA), a men’s professional basketball league that existed from 1967 to 1976 until the ABA merged with the National Basketball Association (NBA). The ABA relaunched in 2000 and now has 150 teams across the United States, Mexico, Australia and the Bahamas. In 2018, local business owners Tyrone and Deborah Brown started a franchise in Hendricks County when they launched the Indiana Lyons. Little did they know that a global pandemic would surface in two years. Nevertheless, they didn’t let that or any other hurdle deter them.

“It was a challenge but also an opportunity for us to have a season with no setbacks,” Tyrone Brown says. They currently have no restrictions or mandates, though that is subject to change at any time.

Last year they followed the guidance of the Hendricks County Health Department and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which included reducing crowd size by twothirds, requiring masks, doing temperature checks, and distancing everyone by 6’. They never did have to cancel a game. Best DECEMBER 2021

Navigating the unknown has been the most challenging part of growing this ball club. “We haven’t had a road to follow, but that just means we’ve been able to create our own road,” Brown says. “I think we’ve done a good job, but we can do better. We always try to set a tone of excellence.” The Indiana Lyons are the 2021 ABA North Central Region champions, having ended their regular season last year at 20-4. “It was our first divisional championship,” Brown says. “That’s an accomplishment. That win made us feel like our work was not in vain.” Though a lot of people still aren’t aware that the Lyons exist, as word has spread, community support has swelled, leading to more fans. The Browns know each face that comes through the doors because they engage with fans at every game. “My wife is at the door 99% of the time taking tickets,” Brown says. “We go into the crowd and introduce ourselves and say hello, especially if you’re new. We make sure someone from our organization comes over and speaks to you. We recognize that people can be anywhere on a Saturday at 5 p.m., so for them to come visit us, we think that’s special. We want to make sure they feel special when they come into the Lyons’ den.”

They have a motto: “Once you enter the Lyons’ den, you’re part of the family.” Their top priority is ensuring that it remain a safe, fun, friendly environment. If there is an issue or concern, fans know who to go to. “If we had to stop a basketball game to address a major issue, we would do that,” Brown says. “We are responsible for the Lyons, for what comes in and goes out.” Last season they offered reduced rates for season ticket pricing and created more group tickets, simply because they knew economic times have been tough for many. “We worked hard to make sure we included our seasoned and new fans,” Brown says. “We’re a giving organization and will not turn anyone away. If someone is struggling and wants to get a ticket to a game, reach out to us and we will make sure to accommodate you.” This season the Lyons appointed Indianapolis native Jamarr Kegler

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as the new head coach. Due to COVID-19, this year the team did not hold typical tryouts, as they didn’t want to bring 200 to 300 men together into one space. This year’s team will consist of both returning and new players, ranging in age from 18 to 36.

The goal is to get them noticed by scouts so they may be recruited by other professional leagues. For instance, hometown hero Dillon Ware graduated from Danville High School two years ago and has a great shot of going pro.

Seeing their vision for the team come to fruition has been a blessing for the Browns. They have especially enjoyed witnessing the growth of the players, both on and off the court.

“We play with the 24-second shot clock, 12-minute quarters and 48-minute games,” Brown says. “Playing in an NBA fashion allows scouts to see that talent.”

“I like to see them grow into entrepreneurs and businessmen,” Brown says. “I like to see them embrace adversity.”

The Browns also enjoy watching the camaraderie that develops amongst the players, a few of whom have been with the team since its inception such as Mike Pugh, Mike Carter, Preston

DECEMBER 2021

Case, and Kendric Lee. “Those four guys are fan favorites,” says Brown, noting that spectators travel from Illinois and Kentucky to watch them play. Since they began streaming games, people have watched from Florida, Georgia, Texas and elsewhere. The organization’s leaders decided to stream games in order to give people an opportunity to see the action if they can’t make it to the games in person. It also helps to attract sponsorships. Every dollar earned goes back into player development as there are travel, lodging and equipment expenses. “Streaming gives us a chance to advertise our products and be seen by a larger audience, and to also be taken seriously that this is a semi-pro team in Hendricks County,” Brown says. “We can’t go into every restaurant and store and hand out a business card, but through our streaming we might be able to reach more people.” Of course, they prefer in-person fans because players can get a boost in performance with people there cheering for them. Fans can also interact with the players as they take time after games to take pictures and sign autographs. Sometimes they even allow fans into the locker room for the pregame speech. In

DECEMBER 2021

addition they have ball boys, who engage in pregame activities. “Going forward, we would like to get more young folks involved, from concession to greeters,” Brown says. “We’d like to get them off their tablets and cell phones and involved in the games.” In the off-season, the Lyons host various youth sports camps where registrants are taught life, sporting and mentorship skills. “We want to be humble servants, serving the community in every facet of what we do on a daily basis,” Brown says. The Indiana Lyons play at the historic Bosstick Gym, located at 49 North Wayne Street in Danville. The facility seats 1,000 people, and the Browns would like to see it at full capacity. “When players go into a gym and see that many people supporting them, that makes them feel like there’s nothing they

can’t accomplish,” Brown says. “It also sends a signal to our opponent that this community is behind this team.” If you’re looking for a fun way to spend a few hours on the weekend, come check out the Lyons. Parking is free. Concessions and merchandise are affordable. Fans can have a lot of fun for under $20. “We make sure everyone has a good time, win or lose, from the initial inception into the arena until the time they leave,” Brown says. “I think people will be surprised at the skill level and talent that’s associated with the Indiana Lyons.” This year the team will play a total of 25 games (14 at home and 11 on the road). For information about community programs, sponsorships, special nights, alumni games, internships and gameday opportunities, contact Tyrone Brown at tyronebrown@ indianalyons.com, and visit indianalyons.com.

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Struggling to stay active this winter? Doctors recommend that adults get 150 minutes of activity per week - a goal that can be hard to meet when the weather gets dreary. Staying active is important for your overall health, and can lower your blood pressure, improve your circulation, boost levels of good cholesterol and much more. These four tips will help you prepare for the cold days ahead.

Make a plan.

Establish a schedule to set yourself up for success. Many prefer to work out right before or after work or school, but decide what feels right for you. Start by thinking about activities you like to do, and see which can be modified to be done indoors or in cold weather. Then, create a routine that outlines what you’ll do on each day and for how long. Making a plan before working out often helps to keep you on track and focused on the activity you’re completing.

Make the small things count.

Whether its opting for the stairs instead of the elevator or parking farther than normal from a store’s entrance, it’s important to make the small things count during the winter months. If your day ends after the sun sets, taking a short walk outside during your lunch break may be the best opportunity to get your daily dose of vitamin D. Make sure to bundle up and dress in layers to stay dry and warm.

Check out online resources.

Today we have a world of resources at our fingertips. See what exercise videos can be found online, and get moving. You can even search for specific workouts like pilates, cycling and yoga. Many studios offer virtual training sessions that can be done from the comfort of your home with little to no equipment. Find what works best for you and you’ll be working out at home in no time.

Join a local gym or recreation center.

Joining a gym or recreation center gives you access to hundreds of training options. From free weights to treadmills and sometimes a pool, these centers give you the freedom of variety to work on all parts of your physical health. Many gyms offer a robust schedule of fitness classes for their patrons to sample. A quick search online will reveal what options are available in your area.

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Taste the Difference IT’S ABOUT MORE THAN FLAVOR AT SCHAKOLAD CHOCOLATE FACTORY Writer / Jamie Hergott Photographer / Amy Payne

26 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

he team at Schakolad Chocolate Factory in Plainfield will celebrate their fourth anniversary in December. Owner Ali Dixon says the shop began as a way to make her dream come to life, and to cover college costs. However, her journey and focus has changed as a result of a cancer diagnosis and the COVID pandemic. But she wouldn’t trade her journey for anything. “I got this little chocolate store for a reason,” Dixon says. “Now I know why.” Schakolad Chocolate Factory is a custom retail chocolate boutique that carries an array of chocolate novelties, assorted chocolates, and gelato. They even have chocolate-covered strawberries and caramel apples year round. Dixon originally wanted to have her own sweets shop because of her family’s history with candy and chocolate. All the women in her family have been creative, making everything from crafts to hard candy to chocolates, molds and cordials. Dixon has a distinctly fond memory of when she was about 8 years old. Her family was in the kitchen making naughty molds, and chocolate truffles with alcohol. Dixon was shooed out at her young age to prevent her from seeing or trying them, but she laughs at the memory. Dixon’s husband is a race-car driver, and they settled in Avon after they got married to start their family. After their children grew, Dixon began the search for something she could pour her time and energy into. She started exploring sweet-shop options, and she landed on the Schakolad franchise because she knew they would allow her to be creative and make her own items along with the signature Schakolad items. After attending chocolate school in Florida with her son, they opened Schakolad four years ago at the Shops at Perry Crossing. Dixon loves what she does because of the people she gets to meet, the stories she gets to hear, and the confections she gets to dream up. “People come in, we meet and talk, and they share their stories,” Dixon says. “Even when my cancer ordeal came up, it continued through emails and cards in the mail from customers.” Dixon became more aware of others’ stories when her own took a drastic turn in January of 2020. That month, Dixon found a lump in her breast. She didn’t think much of it, and she put off getting it checked out because of the holidays and the COVID-19 pandemic. “I don’t recommend putting things like this off to anyone,” Dixon says.

When COVID hit that March, any thoughts of doctor’s appointments fell by the wayside as Dixon and her family worked to keep Schakolad afloat. Even when the world was shut down, chocolate was deemed essential by the local health department, so Dixon kept her shop open, working around the clock offering curbside service and making free deliveries all over Indianapolis. As hard as it was, she has fond memories of working those long hours with her teenage daughter Alanna. Mother’s Day, Easter and graduations kept her busy through the spring, but Dixon finally went to get checked out in July, and she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was immediately put on a plan of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Every time she underwent chemotherapy, she told herself that it wasn’t trying to kill her - it was trying to save her. “I met so many women in this process who helped me,” Dixon says. “They told me to drink a gallon of water a day, and to use mouthwash to prevent the sores in my mouth from chemo. I did all the things these women told me to do, and it lessened the effects. I didn’t feel too bad through it.”

Soon, however, her levels dropped and her doctor told her she couldn’t be around anyone. Her body would struggle to fight off even the common cold. She took the midnight shift at Schakolad with her mother Brenda and her sister Andrea. Together they restocked the shelves each night in time for the store to open in the morning, and Dixon’s husband Larry did full-time delivery for her. “We’d mask up, and we’d be there remaking everything through the night, even during chemo,” Dixon says. “I’d drive home at 6:50, grab my son, drive him to school, and sleep all day like most people with chemo do. We really had fun. It’s such a good memory. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” A local woman posted on county social media pages about Dixon’s condition, and local people turned out to support Schakolad during the last months of 2020. The shelves were empty each night. She was incredibly grateful for how the community came together to support her and her business during a dark time.

28 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

Her daughter’s Brownsburg soccer team made Dixon a shirt to wear while their crosstown rival team, Avon, wore shirts with her name on them just before the playoffs.

“I THINK THAT’S WHY PEOPLE LIKE OUR STORE. WE MAKE 90% OF WHAT’S IN HERE. WE COME UP WITH IT, WE TRY IT AND WE GET CREATIVE.”

With an exploding customer base and stellar staff, Dixon credits others with helping her business and life thrive.

- ALI DIXON -

“I’ve heard people say teens are lazy and entitled today,” Dixon says. “My kids in my store hit home run after home run after home run. They did the shopping, the organizing, and their work ethic is so good. My team is fantastic.” One of the biggest parts of her team is her family. Her husband and dad work behind the scenes to get the store up and running, taking care of handyman items, and both her parents are full-time taste testers. Dixon’s oldest son Donovan helps to cover shifts, do the store’s grocery shopping, and handle bank deposits. “I’m just sitting here and smiling about it all,” Dixon says. “I have so much to be thankful for.” She says her cancer journey has changed her focus and trajectory completely. She was very hands-on during her first two years, and as such wasn’t able to seize the opportunities she’s seeing now to serve her community and give back. One of her big dreams is to create a Hendricks County women’s Facebook page to support women with breast cancer. She also has a vision to do monthly breakfasts for families affected by a cancer diagnoses. She’s passionate about bringing the community together to give the support and love she has felt so strongly in her cancer journey. “I want to give hope to people,” Dixon Plainneld

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Now she views her shop as more than TownePost.com / DECEMBER 2021 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 29

a business. It’s a place to bring people together and give back. The shop itself is different than other businesses because, as Dixon puts it, it’s a happy place.

“I think that’s why people like our store,” Dixon says. “We make 90% of what’s in here. We come up with it, we try it and we get creative.”

“My parents ran a health club when I was growing up,” Dixon says. “People would walk in there thinking, ‘Now I have to work out,’ but they walk in here and they come in happy.”

One staff member who is allergic to pecans began making turtles with cashews. Now they’re sold regularly in the case along with other gluten- and dairy-free items.

It’s a family affair, as all of Dixon’s children have worked in the store as well as her mother and sister. Her family and staff all help come up with ideas for new products. She describes a recent afternoon when her 15-year-old son Luke asked her for peanut butter fudge. As most moms do, she obliged, and as she was making it, Luke said, “I wonder what it would taste like if you used brown sugar.” She did, and the final product was so delicious, she texted him at school to tell him it tasted just like caramel fudge.

“I’m a yes girl,” Dixon says. “I’ve had people ask me to dip pickles in chocolate, and jalapeños. We try a lot of things.” Her kettles are constantly tempering chocolate so it’s at the perfect temperature for dipping and creating. This means that it’s heated to a very hot temperature, then chilled to shock it so the fats separate from the cocoa, then returned to a normal temperature. Others have tried unsuccessfully to recreate her chocolate.

30 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

“That chocolate is tempered every day to keep it happy,” Dixon says. Currently, Dixon is giving away chocolate suckers for every donation to breast cancer research. She’s close to $2,000 and still going strong, with plans to continue her philanthropic endeavors and branch out in supporting different types of cancer research each year. “It was fun and I was looking forward to a paycheck, but that’s not the goal anymore,” Dixon says. “Cancer has totally changed my path, and I’m lucky enough to have been shown why I’m on it and what I need to do. What a gift that is.” Schakolad Chocolate Factory is located at 351 Marketplace Mile, Unit 160 in Plainfield. For more info, call 317-838-0830 or visit schakolad.com.

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