Plainfield Magazine June 2024

Colorful Occasion

Hendricks County Fairgrounds Welcomes Indy Tattoo Expo

Taking Care

FIND END-OF-LIFE COMPASSION AND SUPPORT AT THE GATHERING TOGETHER

Men’s Health Month

Understanding Prostate Cancer

DARREN BOSTON darren@townepost.com (317) 716-8812

BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011

COLORFUL OCCASION

HENDRICKS COUNTY

FAIRGROUNDS WELCOMES

INDY TATTOO EXPO

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photography Provided

The Indy Tattoo Expo is returning for its fourth year, and this time it’ll be at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex, bringing more than 200 tattoo artists to showcase their talent.

The family-friendly expo is the result of the passion that Chris Taylor, owner of Ink Therapy Tattoo and Piercing studio in Plainfield, and others at the shop have for their craft.

“I’ve been tattooing in Indy for 30 years now and it’s just a representation of my life’s work,” Taylor said. “Hopefully people see tattooing at a high level. All of the artists were preselected, and we want to show people what it is and what it has to offer.”

Thirty years ago Taylor had a chance to learn from his mentor, James “Rabbit” Sanders, one of the tattooing pioneers in central Indiana. Through conversations with Sanders’ daughter, Trina, the two devised a plan to bring tattoo artists together under one roof.

Expos are often held in major cities and continue to pop up across the country, but Taylor said as a young artist, he couldn’t afford to travel to the tattoo shows in New York City or San Francisco. Bringing something similar to the local Indianapolis area is an opportunity for artists and customers alike.

Like any other artistic outlet, education and inspiration allows for growth, and the Indy Tattoo Expo supports both. They’re able to promote themselves and learn from each other. Creating an artist network allows younger people in the business to find mentors and resources they might not have been able to receive otherwise.

“It’s a chance to go out and be inspired, and be around other artists,” Taylor said. “We compete and we learn about other styles. You can make good connections, connect with new clients and compete with fellow artists.”

Across the country styles differ, meaning the color palette and tattoo style one would get in California might be completely different than the options you’d see in Florida. Customers looking for the perfect tattoo might have to travel a large distance to find just what they are looking for. However, an expo brings artists from across the country to the customer.

“You can get that right here under one roof, instead of flying to California,” Taylor said. “It’s good for everyone.”

Perhaps at one time tattoo artists had a negative reputation, and perhaps the art form didn’t bring the kind of appreciation other forms of art have enjoyed. However, Taylor said this perception is changing. Television shows premiered, tattoo artists became influencers, and some have year-long waitlists for their work.

“There has been a stigma but I’ve seen it improve over the past 30 years,” Taylor said. “The expo allows people to come in who aren’t sure what this is about, and they get to see the great smiles and happy people. These artists are finding joy in their work, and you’ll see young kids and families; it’s not a bunch of rough guys. The kids in particular are fascinated with it, because who has a better imagination than kids?”

Taylor said what used to be a name or initials has become a blank canvas with colorful, detailed designs, similar to what one would find in an art gallery.

Throughout the three-day event, the main attraction will be live tattoo artists working on their craft, amidst decor with a “Great Gatsby” theme. However, they haven’t forgotten about the entire family. Entertainment includes the Peru Circus, featuring acrobats and other performers with unique and special talents.

All ages can enjoy laser tag, face painting, balloon artists, belly dancing, and also get their energy out in the numerous bounce houses. A+ Barber School will be taking appointments for haircuts, and art and jewelry vendors will be on hand.

Each evening there will be tattoo competitions for best style, design and work. Don’t forget to see the 1920s-themed display, sharing 100 years of tattoo history.

Much of the live tattooing has been pre-scheduled (something to remember for the 2025 expo). However, some artists will be taking customers on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the day.

Not only are they getting rid of the stigma that might be associated with tattooing, but Taylor said there’s an education element too. Think of the body as a canvas. Some tattoos are for the artistic outlet and others are very personal.

“I think it’s good for mental health,” Taylor said. “No one cares what you look like. You’re doing something just for you, and there’s

something about the endorphin rush or release. There are groups that pay for soldiers with PTSD to get a tattoo. I’ve worked with women who have overcome breast cancer. It’s just that powerful.”

For others, it’s simply marking the occasion - their story in an art form.

“Maybe it’s Florida spring break with the girls or a portrait of your grandmother,” Taylor said. “There’s a story, a timeline, a history behind each one.”

It’s the first time the Indy Tattoo Expo will be held at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex. As the City of Indianapolis is taking notice and they outgrew their previous venue, Taylor was glad to find the perfect fit.

“We’re able to add an additional 40 booths at this location,” he said. “I was sort of worried about moving my event but they were so helpful at the fairgrounds. It was a great experience and I think for the price and wanting to help the community, it’s going to be great. We’re bringing close to a half a million people into Hendricks County.”

In addition, visitors are supporting more than 200 local businesses.

“Each booth is a separate business - a separate artist making a life and career out of their work,” Taylor said. “I don’t have big corporate businesses sponsoring this event. It’s out of my own pocket, but I think elevating people is where real success is measured. Putting all of these artists under one roof is elevating our art and each person.”

Ink Therapy is the largest known shop in the area for piercings. They’re heavily involved in the community, sponsoring organizations like Sheltering Wings, Susie’s Place and others.

The Indy Tattoo Expo will be held from noon to midnight on June 14, 11 a.m. to midnight on June 15, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 16. Visit indytattooexpo.com for tickets and more information.

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ALL’S FAIR

STEVE PATTERSON TALKS 10 YEARS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HENDRICKS COUNTY 4-H FAIRGROUNDS AND CONFERENCE COMPLEX

Writer / Melissa Gibson

Photographer / Amy Payne & Provided

Anyone who has hosted an event at the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex has likely had the opportunity to meet Steve Patterson.

He loves meeting and working with people, serving others, and multitasking. In 2024 he’ll celebrate 10 years as the

executive director of the fairgrounds.

For those who haven’t hosted an event, Patterson’s the one we don’t often see, balancing and organizing the year-round conferences, festivals, events and more at the fairgrounds.

He has had 4-H in his life for decades.

“I was in 4-H for 10 years and when I was in college at Ball State in the mid to late 1980s, I worked in the Extension office as a summer assistant,” Patterson said. “I put together the 4-H fair during the summers and then I started working at the Indiana State Fair too. Fairs and events have been in my blood for many years.”

Steve Patterson

In 1992 Patterson joined the Hendricks County 4-H Fair board. He served in all of the roles: treasurer, secretary, vice president and president.

Then, in 2014 the executive director position opened up, and after much discussion the board voted to hire Patterson to lead the way.

It’s safe to say the decision paid off. The position isn’t an easy one, and requires someone who can juggle multiple tasks simultaneously.

It’s a 110-acre facility with outdoor, indoor and campground accommodations, and it welcomes everything from small conferences to large festivals and events.

“When you look at my job, there are four pillars,” Patterson said. “I do rentals, financial management, board governance and their committees, and the county fair. The county fair is a whole different thing outside of renting the grounds for an event.”

The reputation of Patterson and the 4-H Fairgrounds speaks for itself. In fact, they consistently book out up to several years at a time. After one positive experience,

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guests will schedule their annual event as far out as possible.

He isn’t searching for them either. The majority of the events come to Hendricks County through word of mouth.

The fairgrounds hosts the Purdue Small Farm conference, Indiana Vegetables Growers Association conference, and the Indiana Fire Investigation Conference to name a few. It’s home to the Indy Tattoo Expo, the Indiana Junior Rodeo Association and international events like the National Powwow.

Patterson is behind it all, helping guests create the best experience possible. Anyone who has hosted a barbecue or birthday party knows not everything goes smoothly. Just imagine that with tens of thousands of people in attendance.

“I love working with people and seeing their event be a success,” Patterson said. “It’s not always rose-colored glasses. Sometimes there’s issues but people don’t realize it. There might be some tweaking of schedules or changing layouts, but the bottom line is, the event is an overall success.”

It’s what Patterson does best.

“When I came in it was all white walls, so one of the first things I did was buy some piping and drapes to create the look and feel we’re going for,” Patterson said. “We want to be able to utilize the space and create a cozy space for those events.”

Fairgrounds Staff

It’s these special accommodations and the extra effort that cause some groups to return after they’ve left for a few years for a different venue. They know that Patterson and the fairgrounds team will do their best to meet their needs.

Of course, most anticipated is the annual county fair.

Patterson said planning for next year’s fair begins the day after the current year’s fair ends.

“We’re already looking at 2025 and the entertainment we need,” he said. “We have to think about that about a year and a half in advance because it’s so competitive out there. When I walked in, we didn’t have committees and we’ve created those to run the fair and operations. They meet throughout the year and give us feedback, and we have a lot of talks and discussion.”

He’s even got what he calls the Fair Bible.

“It’s a living document that we keep updated,” he said. “My goal is, by the time the fair starts in July, we have all of Is dotted and Ts crossed. If I’m not

there, it still runs smoothly. We have a great full- and part-time staff that understand the overall vision. It’s sort of a joke to follow ‘Steve’s fair template.’”

As requests for accommodation continue to pour in and the calendar routinely gets

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booked years in advance, Patterson knows it’s time to look at growth.

“The discussion is always, ‘Are we a fairground or a conference center?’ and I say we’re both,” he said. “For the conference center, however, we need to take it up to the next level. The board and operations committee are aware and we’re currently working on a feasibility study and developing a master plan.”

Patterson said they’ll be looking forward to the next 20 years for the 4-H Fairgrounds and identifying needs in further development.

“There’s plans underway to see what we need to do,” he said. “We’re looking at improving parking, accessibility, traffic flow, etcetera. We really haven’t done anything since we moved in, in 2006.”

He’s even thinking about the next person who will take his role - not that

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retirement is coming anytime soon.

“It’s a lot of multitasking and customer service,” he said. “You can’t just walk into it and be able to pick it up. We’re a pretty lean staff right now and we could expand it. I’d love to have the next person in line within the next few years.”

For now, frequent visitors to the fairgrounds know that when the red truck is parked outside, Patterson is there and ready to help in any way he can.

“I’m there a lot but I love my job,” he said. “It’s fun to see these events come together and see the parking lot full. When we started, we had hopes it would be successful. You have goals and dreams, and I’ve enjoyed it and it was fun and it’s still fun.”

For more info, go to 4hcomplex.org.

UNDERSTANDING PROSTATE CANCER

June is National Men’s Health Month, a time to encourage men to be proactive when it comes to their health. Prostate cancer is a significant health concern for men that affects the prostate gland, a part of the male reproductive system. Being educated about this condition is vital for early detection and effective management.

WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER?

Prostate cancer develops when cells in the prostate gland mutate and grow uncontrollably. It is one of the most common cancers in men but often progresses slowly, with many cases remaining asymptomatic for years.

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS?

Several factors contribute to the risk of developing prostate cancer. Risk increases with age, particularly after 50. Most cases are diagnosed in men over 65. A family history of prostate cancer or certain genetic mutations can elevate the risk. Poor diet, lack of exercise, obesity, and smoking may contribute to an increased risk.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS?

In its early stages, prostate cancer often presents with no symptoms. However, as the cancer progresses, men might experience:

Urinary changes: This includes difficulty starting or stopping urination, weak or interrupted flow, frequent urination or

blood in the urine.

Erectile dysfunction: Prostate cancer can cause difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection.

Discomfort or pain: Pain in the back, hips or pelvis can indicate advanced stages.

HOW IS PROSTATE CANCER DIAGNOSED AND TREATED?

Early detection significantly improves outcomes. Screening for prostate cancer usually includes a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, a blood test that measures a marker specific to the prostate. An elevated PSA can be caused by cancer or noncancerous changes, and further testing is needed for a conclusive diagnosis. It is important to talk with your primary care doctor about the pros and cons of screening for prostate cancer with a PSA test.

TREATMENT

FOR PROSTATE CANCER DEPENDS ON THE STAGE, AGGRESSIVENESS, AND INDIVIDUAL HEALTH FACTORS. OPTIONS INCLUDE:

Active surveillance: For earlystage disease, this includes closely monitoring for changes in the cancer without immediate treatment.

Radiation therapy: This is a noninvasive, painless treatment that uses pinpointed high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells.

Surgery: Removal of the prostate gland may be recommended for localized cancer.

Hormone therapy: Injections or pills can be used to lower testosterone levels and slow cancer growth.

CAN YOU REDUCE YOUR RISK?

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking, may reduce the risk. Discussing screening options with your physician, especially for those at higher risk, is essential.

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Taking Care

FIND END-OF-LIFE COMPASSION AND SUPPORT AT THE GATHERING TOGETHER

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographer / Amy Payne

In the early 2000s, Rita Fiorentino opened The Gathering Together in Plainfield. As a hospice-trained nurse, she saw many families who wanted more personalized care, someone to talk to, and knowledge of how to best care for their loved one.

Her solution was to open her own home to guests and families in need. She may not have been able to help all patients in hospice, but she’s touched numerous lives.

The Gathering Together is a place where families say goodbye to their loved one in the last days or weeks of their life.

It’s not a nursing home and it’s not a hospice facility. The home at 147 Center Street is simply a nonprofit, charitable organization making it easier for families to manage through this tough moment in life.

After more than 20 years serving families in her home, Fiorentino retired and passed the executive director role on to Kimberli Linneman, a 15-year veteran of hospice care, in January.

“I sort of fell upon my first hospice job by chance and fell in love with it,” Linneman said.

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Surprising? Those who have experienced the loss of a parent or grandparent might think the last few days of that person’s life were not filled with peace, but staff at The Gathering Together hope to change that perception.

“I love helping people in their most vulnerable time,” Linneman said. “It’s a hard time for families and I really enjoy helping them. We are the last people someone sees before they meet their maker and I think that’s such a special time to be with them.”

Linneman worked for a hospice company that cared for patients at Fiorentino’s residence for six years, and fell in love with her mission. She then served on the board for nearly two years before being named executive director.

It’s a dream job for her and she has plenty of plans and goals for the future of the nonprofit.

“This is the exact position I’ve prayed for, for years,” Linneman said. “I didn’t know

Dr. Vicki Crum

Gathering Together Team

if it was possible, but Rita made it work and it is possible. It’s so needed in our community and the sky is the limit.” Walking into the home, guests can’t help but sense the peaceful and calm nature of the space. It was important to Fiorentino, and is now important to Linneman, that the furniture is comfortable, the kitchen is stocked with snacks and, as often as possible, a large pot of soup is simmering on the stove.

Families can make this space home for the short time they stay.

They can cook in the kitchen, visit in the living room and, of course, spend time with their loved one.

“I don’t ever tell a family they need to leave,” Linneman said. “Some people want to stay around the clock and others allow us to care for their loved one at night so they can go home and get some rest. We want to allow the family to be family members and not have the burden of caregiving. Let us take care of that and you can focus on loving on mom or dad,

and experiencing this time with them.”

The average guest is there for a few days to a few weeks.

Hospice providers come in and provide medications and physician oversight. It’s similar to bringing a loved one home, with the exception of not becoming the caregiver.

“We’re not state or federally funded,” Linneman said. “We are literally inviting people into our home to be loved on. We’re like a stand-in family member.”

By mid-April they had accepted their 11th guest of the year already, and on average they have seen around 24 guests per year. Since Linneman was named executive director, she’s been working on improving and growing the service too.

“When I started in October, we took a pause to make some repairs to the home and give it a fresh coat of paint,” Linneman said. “We’ve brought in some new furniture, and brought in some new positions like house manager and office manager. They are keeping things organized and scheduling volunteers. We want to help twice as many guests as we’ve had in the past.”

What began as Fiorentino doing the majority of the caregiving has grown to a large network of caregivers and volunteers. Linneman hopes others will come forward to allow them to continue to grow in their mission.

More guests and more employees equals the need for more volunteers and more funds raised.

“This isn’t just about one person,” Linneman said. “It’s about everyone coming together. It’s each person individually helping that makes a difference.”

Others in the community are hosting laundry detergent drives or paper good collections, bringing in homemade cookies or meals, or simply donating monthly funds toward the cause.

The Gathering Together has an Amazon Wish List and hosts several events throughout the year to raise funds for their operation.

“We have Gathering in the Gardens coming up in early June and we have a fall event, Soup’s On, where the community can come together, have a free cup of soup and fellowship with us,” Linneman

said. “We’re hoping to bring back our Christmas Open House in 2024 as well.”

The Gathering Together name was derived from a Bible verse - Matthew 18:20.

It was Fiorentino’s goal, and is now Linneman’s goal, for families to feel togetherness and support when they are going through one of the most difficult times of their lives.

“Death hits home,” Linneman said. “Everyone has experienced loss and when you have the loss on top of caring for your loved one, it can be tough. Our mission is to serve those that God places before us, and I think the lord places the right people before us so we can help them.”

Linneman welcomes visitors and those interested in understanding more about what they do. Visit thegatheringtogether. org or call 317-766-0532.

DARREN

BOSTON

DARREN@TOWNEPOST.COM

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