Plainfield Magazine August 2023

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Ashlee Craiger

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Ashlee Craiger

Ashlee Craiger Financial Advisor

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234 E Main St 111 Plainfield, IN 46168-1115 317-839-4919

234 E Main St 111 Plainfield, IN 46168-1115 317-839-4919

234 E Main St 111 Plainfield, IN 46168-1115 317-839-4919

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* Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 07/03/2023. CDs offered by Edward Jones are bank-issued and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal

* Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 07/03/2023. CDs offered by Edward Jones are bank-issued and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category. Please visit www.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availability and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices of CDs can decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can lose principal value. FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC).

* Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 07/03/2023. CDs offered by Edward Jones are bank-issued and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category. Please visit www.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availability and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices of CDs can decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can lose principal value. FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC).

to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC).

* Annual Percentage Yield (APY) effective 07/03/2023. CDs offered by Edward Jones are bank-issued and FDIC-insured up to $250,000 (principal and interest accrued but not yet paid) per depositor, per insured depository institution, for each account ownership category. Please visit www.fdic.gov or contact your financial advisor for additional information. Subject to availability and price change. CD values are subject to interest rate risk such that when interest rates rise, the prices of CDs can decrease. If CDs are sold prior to maturity, the investor can lose principal value. FDIC insurance does not cover losses in market value. Early withdrawal may not be permitted. Yields quoted are net of all commissions. CDs require the distribution of interest and do not allow interest to compound. CDs offered through Edward Jones are issued by banks and thrifts nationwide. All CDs sold by Edward Jones are registered with the Depository Trust Corp. (DTC).

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STACKS OF HISTORY

CARNEGIE LIBRARY’S RICH LEGACY IN PLAINFIELD

The Carnegie Library in Plainfield is part of a group of 2,509 libraries built around the world with money donated by American industrialist Andrew Carnegie. A great majority of those were built in Indiana, with Plainfield’s Carnegie Library opening in 1913 at 120 South Center Street, according to “50 Historic Buildings of Plainfield, Indiana: The Places and People” by Sarah Wright.

Before the gray brick library was built, the lot was home to John Hanna’s livery stable, where horses were stabled. For 50 years before the library opened, this location served as a central point for daily life, work and commerce in Plainfield.

By 1910 the Plainfield library was already in its second location at 130 North Vine Street. Bursting at the seams, the library board looked for a new location. There were eight other locations considered, but the board finally settled on the lot where the livery stood, as its location would serve a town growing to the east and south. The Andrew Carnegie Library Fund notified

them of a grant opportunity in 1911, and they applied.

Reann Poray, manager of the Indiana Room at the Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library, is impressed to this day

The Carnegie Library was designed by Indianapolis architect Wilson B. Parker and built by Charles F. Duncan, a contractor from Morgan County. The livery stable was demolished and its materials were sold. The library was then built with $225 worth of gray brick.

That December, in 1912, the Vine Street Library was closed so books could be packed, transferred and re-shelved in the brand-new library.

by the importance the board placed on preserving and growing the library services back in the early 1900s.

“They were willing to collaborate with the foundation to improve the library for the town of Plainfield,” Poray says. “They knew that education, books and library services were important. They didn’t want to keep the status quo, and they didn’t want to stay in a small library. They knew that when the community grows, the facility needs to grow with it.”

The Carnegie Library opened on January 27, 1913. There was a children’s reading room, an adult reading room, a reference area and a checkout desk, with an assembly room and kitchen in the basement. During that year Indiana sculptor James Paxton Voorhees displayed two of his bust designs in the library. These busts, one of Napoleon and one of Thomas Jefferson, were commissioned by the government for the St. Louis World Fair. The Thomas Jefferson bust is still on display today in the Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library’s Indiana Room.

It wasn’t long before the library underwent renovations, overseen in large part by Mayme Snipes, who became librarian in 1909. Ahead of her time, she introduced a

Writer / Jamie Hergott Photographer / Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library

children’s story hour and began cataloging photos and newspaper articles. If that wasn’t enough, she was also very focused on growing the impact of the library in the community.

She wanted to make books and resources accessible, so the library packed up books on various topics like economics and agriculture, along with beloved fiction books, for schools and homes throughout the township. Many cumbersome boxes led to the design of Indiana’s first bookmobile, which had space for 200 books inside. While this bookmobile no longer exists, a book bike, a book van and other outreach programs do exist at the library.

“I love that they were progressive for 1912 in rural Indiana,” Poray says. “They were really forward-thinking, and realized that education and library services were important for the entire community.”

In an eerie foreshadowing of 2020, the library rooms were closed for a couple weeks due to the flu epidemic in 1919. After this, however, the library continued to grow into one of the town’s most popular and beloved buildings. Its collection reached more than 10,200 volumes in 1963, and circulation reached 35,000 per year.

That board was forced to find another location to build a new library, and the

Carnegie building was sold to a business owner who renovated the building into a home and business office. After going through several owners, the building is now home to the national headquarters for the Triangle Fraternity, a fraternity of engineers, architects and scientists. A decorative plaza adorns the front of the building, with locals passing by and learning about one of Plainfield’s beloved, historic treasures.

Have Plainfield photos to share? The Indiana Room is always looking for pictures to add to their physical and digital collection. Contact the Indiana Room at askindiana@plainfieldlibrary. net to donate or scan/return your piece of Plainfield’s history.

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SENSATIONAL SOUNDS

LOUDER THAN LIFE AND BOURBON & BEYOND FESTS ARE BACK

Writer / Gavin LaPaille Photography Provided

Eight big days of music are coming to Louisville this summer. Outdoor festivals Louder Than Life and Bourbon & Beyond are back on the Highland Festival Grounds at the Kentucky Exposition Center this September, showcasing some of today’s top artists from a range of genres.

“We are really excited this year because both of our lineups are spectacular,” says Chamie McCurry, chief marketing officer for Danny Wimmer Presents, the producer of both fests. “They are the biggest lineups we’ve ever had for each festival. It truly is the eight biggest days of music in the United States. You will not find eight bigger days

back to back with this kind of fire power and affordability.”

Known as a “love letter” to Louisville, Bourbon & Beyond is September 14 through 17 and features more than 65 musical acts across rock, pop, folk, blues and country. Each day has different headliners while emphasizing the Kentucky bourbon and culinary scene throughout the festival.

After receiving high praise for her performance last year, Brandi Carlile returns to Bourbon & Beyond on opening day, joining Billy Strings and Train. The Killers, Duran Duran and Hozier take over for the

second day, while the Black Keys, the Black Crowes and the Avett Brothers follow on day three. Fifteen-time Grammy Award winner Bruno Mars will help close out Bourbon & Beyond, along with Blondie, Jon Batiste and Ryan Bingham.

“We are excited to end the weekend with Bruno Mars,” McCurry says. “He’s one of the best live performers of the last 20 years. This is one of the only places outside Las Vegas that fans are able to see him in the United States. We know he will put on an unbelievable show, to put a cap on a magical weekend.”

Living up to its name as the world’s biggest bourbon and music festival, Bourbon & Beyond will host daily workshops and demonstrations at the Team Kentucky Bourbon Stage Presented by Kentucky Proud, and the Kentucky Venue Culinary Stage Presented by GE Appliances. Amanda Freitag, Chris Santos, Ed Lee and Chris Blandford will lead the programming featuring world-renowned master distillers and celebrity chefs, including Blind Bourbon Live with Fred Minnick. The Kroger Big Bourbon Bar returns with bluegrass music, line dancing and a menu of the nation’s top whiskey, while fans can stop by a number of other experiences that feature cocktails curated specifically for the event.

“Beyond the music, the festival has so many great experiences,” McCurry says. “There is something for everyone there. We will have some special programming and great partnership activations throughout the event. It’s an amazing festival experience from beginning to end.”

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Louder Than Life, a hard rock and metal festival, follows with more than 100 acts on five stages, and Louisville’s finest spirits and cuisine, from September 21 through 24. Foo Fighters, Weezer and Rancid open the festival, with Tool, Godsmack and Limp Bizkit headlining the following day. The weekend lineup sees Avenged Sevenfold, Pantera and Falling in Reverse on Saturday, with the final day featuring Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age and Turnstile.

Last year, Louder Than Life set the record as the biggest rock festival in the U.S. with more than 170,000 in attendance over the four-day event. McCurry says this year should be even bigger.

“We’re going to beat that record,” McCurry says. “Everything points to this remaining the biggest rock festival in the United States

and then some. It’s such a great festival experience with so many things to do. It’s a wonderful weekend.”

Tickets for both festivals can be purchased online, including a specially priced Exacta

offer unique experiences.

“They’re very different, genre-wise,” McCurry says. “Both festivals are uniquely curated to that festival’s brand. Bourbon & Beyond is rooted in the bourbon and local Kentucky scene. Louder Than Life has several more stages and is very musically driven with multiple performers playing at the same time. The layout is the same but we customize each within the grounds to be unique for each festival.”

Pass package that includes all eight days. While the layout is similar, McCurry says Louder Than Life and Bourbon & Beyond

They are two of eight music festivals produced by Los Angeles-based Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP) this year. With a history in Louisville dating back to 2014, both festivals have seen rapid growth and continue to attract some of the biggest acts in music. The festivals moved to the Exposition Center in 2019 after initially taking place

in Champions Park.

“We have a great partnership with Kentucky venues,” McCurry says. “They have allowed us to find a long-term home that isn’t quite as vulnerable to weather. That has also given us the ability to grow the festival’s footprint. As these festivals have brought in fans from all over the country, the grounds have allowed us to scale the experience. They have amazing infrastructure that lets us have camping right there. There are a lot of hotels and the site is airport adjacent. Without the great support we have gotten, this would be a much different festival.”

Fans have come to expect Louder Than Life and Bourbon & Beyond on back-to-back weekends. The condensed schedule reduces the costs of putting on the events, resulting in lower ticket prices. Many attendees stay for both, generating an estimated $43 million in economic impact for the city in 2022.

“Ever since Bourbon joined Louder they

have been on consecutive weekends,” McCurry says. “What that allows us to do is reduce the very real costs of producing live events. We’re able to keep our tickets affordable for fans. Producing eight days of music in 11 isn’t easy, but with the infrastructure already being there, it makes it much more accommodating.”

Already, DWP is working on finding the right mix of talent for 2024. McCurry says while pausing the festivals during the COVID pandemic was difficult, the group was able to better understand their fans and what they value.

“Our talent team prides itself on putting out the best lineup every year and being better than the year before,” McCurry says. “They have a lot of pride in curating that lineup specifically for the fans. We want to provide something new and something they love so people want to come back and experience it again.”

Fans shouldn’t expect these festivals to leave the local community any time soon. McCurry says DWP sees Louisville as a second home and hopes to continue putting on great events that highlight the city.

“People are discovering Louisville for the first time and falling in love with it, like we did back in 2012 when we first started scouting,” McCurry says. “Louisville has been an amazing host city, which makes it easier for people to come back when they have a good experience. People feel at home there. That’s a true testament to what we love about Louisville, which is the people and the community. That’s what makes us the proudest, when people come from all over the country and see Louisville the way we see it. Our long-term goal is to continue that and showcase the people, and put Louisville on the national spotlight for having great entertainment and festivals.”

For more info, go to dannywimmerpresents.com.

Film Is Forever

LUKE HELMER TAKES HIS FILMMAKING TALENTS IN A UNIQUE DIRECTION

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photography Provided

Luke Helmer has always loved the art of storytelling.

Before YouTube and TikTok were even a thing, Helmer was making videos with his LEGOs in his youth, joining friends in World War II films in the garage, and eventually creating counseling instructional videos for his father’s work at a counseling center.

“I was the one asking the teacher if I could make a movie instead of doing the book report,” Helmer says. “After watching ‘Star Wars’ for the first time, my mind was blown. This is something I can do?”

After graduating from the University of North

Carolina School of the Arts in the early 2000s, Helmer began making movies and working to find his niche in the film industry.

Fairly early on, he experienced some success and interest.

“In 2014 I made a movie, ‘Terrible Love,’” he says. “It won some significant film festivals and it was one of three finalists for a San Francisco Film Society grant. The other two were selected for the grant and one was picked up by Spike Lee, and the other was directed by Ryan Coogler. We were so close.”

Helmer says failure is a necessary part of the

life of any artist. We all hear a lot of “no’s” and have to get knocked down in order to learn how to pick ourselves up again. He was able to find the silver lining in his disappointment, and his story wasn’t over.

“I look at that moment as a person of faith,” he says. “I’ve done this for so many years and I thought God wanted me to do this, and I just came to the conclusion that God says he is good and this must be happening for a good reason.”

Not only did Helmer choose a life in Hendricks County with his wife and four children instead of the Hollywood lifestyle,

but he’s also touching others in a new ventureFilm Is Forever.

The legacy film company interviews the elderly to capture their life stories - a gift to their families and the community.

“Both my grandfather and grandmother are in their mid-80s,” Helmer says. “I decided to sit down and interview them with my nice cameras and make a documentary of their life. I was amazed by the experience. It was so neat to hear their stories and know what they have been through.”

He can’t find anyone else in the state who makes legacy videos, but knew others would be impacted by a documentary of their own loved one.

Dave Beck had the opportunity to hire Helmer to interview his father, Floyd Beck, when he was in his early 90s.

Once Helmer began working with him to

create the film, it turned out to be so much more than Beck imagined.

“Dad was a WWII veteran and flew 50 missions over Europe,” Beck says. “What started out as my plan to create a 15-minute video turned out to be an hour-long film.”

Helmer put Beck in touch with a gentleman who specialized in World War II history, providing him with specific questions to ask his father, and as it turns out, it was worth it. “Dad never brought up the war but didn’t mind telling you what he knew either,” Beck says. “If I hadn’t reached out to the man Luke suggested, it would not have been near the quality it is. It was like telling a story.

Luke asked me to get pictures over to him and the film starts with where my father’s parents were born, his siblings and growing up, through getting married, the war and having his own children.”

Beck’s father passed away three years ago at 98 years old, and now, children and grandchildren have a special way to remember him.

“It’s a way to honor my dad and pass his story on to the younger generations,” Beck says. “I’ve seen it encourage others with similar stories too. When strangers see it, it drums up memories for their family. For the grandkids to see and listen to his stories, it’s priceless.”

For the Film Is Forever founder, he’s found a special way to create the portrait of a person.

“What happens is a lot bigger than a video,” Helmer says. “It’s how they fidget in their chair, their laugh, their cry. People are blown away when they see it and it’s really an emotional experience.”

In a world where video capturing on iPhones and filming every mundane

experience is the norm, the films that Helmer creates are set apart.

He uses cutting-edge equipment with the same cameras used to film “Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning,” Hollywoodquality microphones, and other top-notch equipment.

Customers receive a digital download in 4K when the project is completed.

“This won’t look like your VHS tapes in 20 years,” Helmer says. “It will look good forever, and the difference between recording on your iPhone and this is that it’s not a movie yet. Recordings are great to

could watch it and enjoy it,” Helmer says. In fact, Helmer’s wife serves as his quality control.

If she can watch a film featuring a complete stranger and be touched, he knows he’s on the right track.

He’s sat down with those who have a love for poetry and can recite it by memory, play an instrument, bake and so much more, with the goal of capturing the tiny details of the individual.

“It’s really humbling - a great honor,” he says. “I think family is the foundation of civilization and we’re losing track of that. It helps put every day into perspective and you’re connected to this huge thing. It makes you feel small in a good way. We can make it through because these people made it through.”

Helmer does two different types of videos, including one for an individual and another for a couple. The couples are interviewed separately and then together.

have and when it comes to loved ones, it’s better than nothing, but I’m looking at what it feels like to be with your grandparents again. Who are they as people?”

The magic, Helmer says, is in the editing room.

He’s able to cut out any distracting or unnecessary portions of the film, music fills the background, and photos pull the stories and information together.

When the credits start rolling, it’s a genealogy list of all those who appear on the loved one’s family tree.

“My goal is to make your loved one’s story so interesting and engaging that a stranger

The individual films are approximately 45 minutes long, while the films featuring couples are much longer.

It’s been a long road with many successes and failures, but Helmer has found the niche that works for him and touches others in the process.

“The work I’m doing now is so good in terms of the world,” Helmer says. “Making movies about people’s parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, it feels genuinely profound. When we lose a loved one, having something like this is important. In a way, you get to be with that person again and I take that very seriously.”

For pricing and more information, visit film-is-forever.com.

Sources & Solutions

CHILD CARE ANSWERS SUPPORTS FAMILIES, EMPLOYERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photography Provided

Child care can be a tricky subject. We all have different opinions and needs for our family, but safety, location and finances usually top the list.

When you’re on the search for child care in your area and aren’t sure where to turn, Child Care Answers exists to help families locate resources that fit the need.

There’s a similar program in every Indiana county, but Child Care Answers specifically serves Marion, Hendricks and Hamilton counties.

“Back in the 1980s, a group of people who realized that families needed child care formed a long list via paper of all the child care resources in the area,” says Executive Director Mollie Smith. “Families could call in and ask for information and they’d help locate what the family was looking for.”

Today Child Care Answers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and they hold a state contract through the Family and Social Services Administration to support families with child care, education and best practices in the industry.

The process has become increasingly difficult over the years, as Smith says there are not enough high-quality seats available and so many day cares are experiencing staffing shortages.

“COVID exposed the gaping hole we have,” she says. “We’re not where we were during the pandemic, but we’re not fully recovered either.

Many programs have closed. Many are not operating at full capacity due to staffing issues and it’s a cycle.”

The cycle Smith refers to is most clearly seen in infant care. It costs more to provide care for infants, and families are already

overhead costs can be challenging. Even those who want to open an in-home child care find challenges with HOA rules in their neighborhood and upgrades needed in the home.”

Given the current and ongoing circumstances,

the stress of searching and selecting the right location.

First, plan ahead.

“There won’t be a spot open tomorrow,” Smith says. “This causes a lot of panic when someone starts looking late into their pregnancy or after the baby is born. They are afraid of losing their job if they don’t find care.”

Second, get educated.

Child Care Answers can provide checklists to ask a potential child care provider, based on each family’s priorities.

The checklist includes questions such as: What is the policy if you are sick, or if my child is sick? How do you handle discipline? How often do you check the playground equipment?

“We want to empower families,” Smith says. “Sometimes you’re in such a frazzled state, you can forget to ask the important questions. Depending on the age of the child, those questions may change. People are so desperate for care that they are just looking for anyone, but if the provider is licensed, then you know there are certain requirements they have to meet.”

Smith says when someone calls them, they are often in a crisis situation - not just with child care, but with transportation, immunizations and other family issues that need to be addressed.

“We try to focus on two-generational support,” Smith says. “If a family has other needs, we can find those organizations that will support them. We might not be the resource that handles all of those situations, but we can find out who does.”

The organization even works with businesses to help find solutions for these challenges.

“We do surveys of employees for employers to identify a need,” Smith says. “We can often find out what’s needed in an anonymous survey, rather than a person going directly to

their boss to discuss. If you have more than 5,000 employees, would you consider opening a child care at the workplace? We want to help both the family and the business find a solution.”

Child Care Answers sends out regular newsletters with updated information, and they host a resource fair for child care providers that includes CPR instructors and state partners.

“If you’re looking to further your education as a child care provider, or if you’re not licensed and interested in learning more about that, I’d encourage anyone to call us and look at the options that may be available to you,” Smith says. “These children are our future. Our little ones should have the best start possible and we want to work with you.”

Child Care Answers is located at 1776 North Meridian Street, Suite 101 in Indianapolis. For more information, call 317-636-5727 or visit childcareanswers.org.

FOLLOWING THE THREAD

OWNERS OF LOVE IT SEW ARE SPREADING THEIR PASSION AND SERVING OTHERS IN THE PROCESS

Writer / Jamie Hergott

Photography Provided

Last fall, a passionate mother-daughter duo opened Love it Sew, a unique quilt shop, right in the center of Hendricks County on U.S. Highway 36 in Avon. The shop serves many capacities, including teaching the community to sew, bringing quilters together, and using the gift of quilting to serve others.

Love it Sew is a space designed to help people learn to create quilts by offering classes, tools, fabrics, threads and services to support the creative process. Classes range from beginner

courses to special-project classes on how to use a serger sewing machine.

Darlene Phillips and her daughter, Katie Dynes, have been sewing quilts for years. Phillips’ interest started when her thirdgrade teacher taught her how to sew. She made her very first baby blanket by hand at the tender age of 8 for her new cousin. Through the years she continued to learn, and eventually passed on that passion to her daughter. One of their first joint ventures was attending a quilt show together when Dynes was in college.

“We really are passionate about helping other people learn

how to sew because it is very relaxing once you understand it,” Phillips says.

One aspect Phillips loves about sewing is how it guides people into the creative process.

“Quilts are very artistic,” she says. “You can get a pattern and follow it. You don’t have to do all the creativity yourself.”

Dynes also loves the uniqueness of a handmade quilt.

“It’s not something you can just go grab at a store,” she says. “Every quilt is unique and one of a kind. Everybody can express themselves however they want with each quilt they make.”

One significant way these ladies use Love it Sew to bless the community is by working with local nonprofits that offer blankets to comfort those in need.

One of these nonprofits is Project Linus, a national organization with a two-fold mission. They want to provide love and a sense of security and comfort to ill, traumatized or needy children through handmade quilts lovingly made by volunteer “blanketeers.” The Project Linus team also wants to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for individuals who want to make those blankets. Phillips and Dynes asked their friend, Lisa Ramey, if she’d be interested in heading up the Hendricks County chapter, and it turned out to be the perfect fit.

Love it Sew scheduled their first Project Linus sew day in February of 2023. Many people came to help complete or donate quilts. Since then, Love it Sew has donated 52 quilts to Project Linus.

Phillips will never forget one little boy who received a blanket recently. When his blanket was handed to him, his eyes got very big and he said, “Did somebody make this for me?” The presenter was able to tell him, “Yes, honey, they did.” It was a handmade gift for him that he could keep for his very own, and it made an obvious impact on him.

Love it Sew also donated 10 quilts through Project Linus to Avon High School this past May. The school has a stocked cabinet for students who may be in need. Several of the blankets were quickly given to students in need of a comforting quilt, so that they know people care about them and their future.

Blankets provided by Project Linus are also delivered to local emergency rooms, homeless shelters or any other place where a need exists.

Love it Sew also works with Quilts of Valor, a national nonprofit organization that strives to provide comfort and healing to deserving service members and veterans touched by the war. Phillips says the woman who started Quilts of Valor had a son

Presenting quilts to Avon High School Assistant Principal, Emily Garrett

in the service, and had a dream about a soldier coming back from the war distraught. In the dream, someone wrapped a quilt around the soldier to give him comfort. Phillips herself works with many former veterans at her day job at Rolls-Royce.

“They’ve experienced so much, and knowing the product we put out helps men and women in the armed services is our way to somehow give back,” Phillips says. “I am very proud of the quality products provided to military men and women to help them protect our country and the freedoms we enjoy. Many of my coworkers have served in the military. They personally know and understand the pride as well as the struggles that come along with service life. It is in their honor, as well as the members of my family that served our country, that I feel so strongly about providing comfort to active as well as retired service members through the Quilts of Valor Foundation.”

Phillips loves that sewing is a stress reliever that also benefits the community. It’s another reason she loves teaching her passion to others.

“When I’ve had a stressful day, running the fabric under that needle helps me not think about anything,” Phillips says. “When you have someone there to guide you and give you tips, it’s so much easier to get the hang of it. We love teaching people how to make their own quilts.”

One of their most popular classes is a homeschool sewing class for students. Many home-economics subjects have been taken out of public school curriculums, so the need is great.

“Quilts are a special thing,” Phillips says. “They are pretty and works of art, but they also provide comfort. It’s a way to tell someone, ‘I made this for you.’ I want to help people learn how to sew, and create and develop their passion for it.”

Love it Sew is a drop-off point for both Project Linus and Quilts of Valor. Fabrics donated should be high-quality, 100% quiltweight cotton fabric that is new or like new. It should be free of odors and stains, and unused.

There are several free patterns available for individuals to complete quilts. Patterns are available for single blocks that can be made, collected at the shop and then assembled to make a complete quilt.

Love it Sew schedules workdays for Project Linus and Quilts of Valor throughout the year. To participate in the sew days, sewing skills are not required. Activities include cutting, sewing and ironing. Check loveitsewshop.com for upcoming sew days. The shop is located at 7270 East U.S. Highway 36, Suite 104 in Avon. Also call 463-202-6750 for additional info.

SHOULDER ISSUES |

Writer / Dr. Ripley Worman, Orthopedic Surgeon at IU Health West Hospital

Photography Provided

People tend to be more active during the summer months. If you enjoy outdoor activities or play sports, have fallen, or tend to overuse your shoulder, you may suffer from shoulder pain or even a new shoulder injury. Shoulder pain can affect people of all ages. It’s important to know what to expect when you see your orthopedic care team.

SHOULDER INSTABILITY

You can have shoulder instability from an injury or due to weak structures around the shoulder. A resulting dislocation may tear or weaken ligaments, tendons or muscles, and make the shoulder vulnerable to repeated instability events.

Nonsurgical treatments for shoulder instability (such as activity modification, anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy) can take several months to show results. In cases where physical

therapy doesn’t show sufficient results, or in more severe cases of shoulder instability, minimally invasive surgery can repair torn or stretched structures. Following surgery, physical therapy can help you return to normal activity as quickly as possible.

ROTATOR CUFF INJURIES

The rotator cuff consists of a group of four tendons that work together to stabilize the shoulder. These tendons attach muscles to the bones of the shoulder. When you injure or overuse the tendons or muscles of the rotator cuff, the cuff can be strained, inflamed or torn, causing pain and dysfunction in the shoulder.

Treatment of rotator cuff pain may simply require modifying your activities to reduce strain on it. In addition, physical therapy or steroid injections may be recommended. If severe, your physician may suggest surgery. As with other surgical interventions, your physicians will order physical therapy after surgery to speed your healing so you can return to normal activity.

CAUSES AND TREATMENT OPTIONS

ARTHRITIS

Shoulder arthritis is the breakdown of cartilage in the shoulder that can lead to significant pain and loss of motion of the shoulder. Physical therapy and steroid injections along with anti-inflammatory medication may provide pain relief and improved shoulder function. With intolerable pain, your expert surgeons may offer joint replacement surgery. Shoulder joint replacement alleviates pain and improves the function of your shoulder.

TREATMENT

On your visit, you can expect a full evaluation and explanation of your diagnosis. You will also receive your physician’s treatment recommendations. Your team will work with you to design a treatment plan that fits your individual needs. Treatments may include nonoperative management including antiinflammatory medication, injections and physical therapy as well as possible surgical intervention.

INEXTINGUISHABLE SERVICE

PLAINFIELD FIRE TERRITORY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS

buckets, a couple of ladders and a 1912 water system with little pressure.

The Plainfield Fire Territory celebrates a momentous occasion this year - 100 years of service.

While many fire and police departments have a vague idea of when they formed, for Plainfield, the department was formed after a tragic and serious incident.

Plainfield Fire Chief Brent Anderson says fires were handled by “neighbors helping neighbors” prior to 1923.

A group of men would gather and work to extinguish any fire in the community out of their own care and concern for the town. They were equipped with a wagon, metal

On May 7, 1923, tragedy struck as a fire erupted, destroying 10 buildings and damaging two more.

With a lack of equipment and even water pressure, the Plainfield volunteer department had difficulty extinguishing the flames. They called for Danville and the town didn’t think their equipment would make the trip.

The Indianapolis Fire Department soon sent several trucks to Plainfield and provided the assistance that finally put the fire out. If not for them, the damage would have been far worse.

The tragedy prompted the same men who had volunteered their services to officially form the fire department for the Town of Plainfield, naming Edgar Milam the first fire chief.

Though the story of what happened on that fateful May day in 1923 has been told among the fire department and community for years, the history of how the department has grown and flourished isn’t as well-known.

Jim Tharp, a local historian regarding the Plainfield Fire Territory, was able to fill in many of the gaps as he worked on the 2023 book, “History of the Plainfield Fire Territory: Then and Now.”

Tharp’s father helped form the volunteer

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographers / Amy Payne and Town of Plainfield

fire department in Cartersburg in 1954, instilling a lifelong love for the fire department and its history.

“My dad would go down to the fire station, get the truck and bring it home on a Sunday afternoon to wash it, and I’d ride back with him,” Tharp says.

Tharp worked for the department as a reserve beginning in 1982 for decades, before retiring and putting his efforts toward detailing the history of the department.

As a young man, he purchased a 1935 fire truck, made necessary repairs and shared it with many in the community. The truck was featured in the 1986 film “Hoosiers” during the parade scene as part of the fictional Hickory Volunteer Fire Department.

Over the years Tharp has collected a large array of antique fire department memorabilia, including metal, rounded-bottom buckets firemen would use to pass water down the line, and brass tools used to open the fire hydrant and on the firehose. He’s collected antique fire extinguishers and, of course, his 1935 fire truck.

Tharp displayed some of his collection at the 100th anniversary celebration over the summer, and will bring them to the Plainfield National Night Out event in October, giving the public one more chance to enjoy.

Even through the 1960s much of the department was formed with volunteer men.

Tharp was one of them.

“We didn’t have that many full-time people or people on staff at all,” Tharp says. “One

night all of the ambulances were out. I was the only one at the station and a call came in about a residence fire.”

Heading out alone, Tharp made sure the Mooresville Fire Department was en route and happened to pass one of the Plainfield ambulances, making the crew three-strong without assistance.

“Even throughout the 1950s and ’60s the department operated this way,” Tharp says.

“The full-time people drove the fire engine and the volunteers supplied the manpower. When I came on in 1982 I was cleared to drive the fire engine, a 1961 truck. They were still using these old engines and equipment.”

With a love for the fire department and its history, Tharp makes it clear that his research and subsequent book belongs to the community.

“It’s not ‘me,’ it’s ‘us’” he says. “This is our history. These are my brothers and sisters. The book is for the public to use as they’d like.”

Today there are 88 full-time employees at the Plainfield Fire Territory and as one might imagine, their experience is quite different from 1923 and even the 1960s.

There are currently three fire stations and a fire headquarters for the Town of Plainfield. There are three engine companies, one ladder company, three transporting paramedic units and one command vehicle staffed 24 hours per day.

The Plainfield Fire Territory also has a support truck to pull a rescue boat, and a specially equipped all-terrain vehicle to assist with emergencies.

FROM DESIGN TO BUILD

WE’VE GOT YOUR REMODEL COVERED

Anderson came to the Plainfield Fire Territory in 2002 and was promoted to lieutenant in 2008. In 2012 he was promoted to assistant chief and accepted the position of fire chief in 2020.

Anderson has been following a dream since childhood, and is proud of all he and his staff have accomplished.

“For me personally, when I was a kid my dad was into chasing firetrucks,” Anderson says. “My brother joined the volunteer fire department, and when I was 15 I was a cadet at Clayton. Back then the volunteer department was short on manpower and I got my training when I was 16. I was allowed to go on calls and could do everything but drive a truck and actually go inside the fire.”

The Plainfield Fire Territory answered 8,500 calls in 2022, and 70% of those were emergency medical service calls.

With close proximity to Indianapolis

International Airport and Marion County, the Plainfield Fire Territory is the busiest fire department in Hendricks County.

“Firefighting is really a small part of what we do,” Anderson says. “You have to know a lot about life and a lot about general stuff, and typically someone on the truck has had a similar experience.”

In addition to quality apparatus and equipment, the high emphasis on multimodal training ensures that the department can handle all hazards.

They participate in the Hendricks County Rescue Task Force through the Hendricks County Fire Chiefs Association, created to enhance response among all fire departments across the county.

The staff is trained in all disciplines but takes the county leadership role in water and ice, rope, confined space, as well as vehicle and machinery extrication.

“We do everything from cats in trees to water leaks to suspicious odors,” Anderson says. “We can’t show up and say, ‘We can’t handle that.’”

It’s one of the biggest benefits of a diverse and educated team.

All staff members are trained in firefighting and emergency medial technician duties. Ten percent of their team is female, and in late February it was announced that Station 123 was staffed by all females, led by Captain Kathy Pennington - a first in the department’s 100-year history.

Perhaps it’s the teamwork and family atmosphere that Anderson enjoys the most.

“I compare it to sports,” he says. “I’ve always been a big sports fan and this is the closest you’ll ever come to teamwork and camaraderie without playing a sport. Our staff is dedicated, passionate and always ready to serve.”

For more information, visit townofplainfield.com/156/fire-territory.

DOWN

1. Benchley classic

2. “Could I interrupt?”

3. Figure of interest?

4. Long Island university

5. Bro’s sibling, maybe

6. Mandela’s org.

7. Child’s ammo

8. Certain helicopter

9. Filming locale

10. It tests the water

11. Worn out

17. Court call

19. Take a bough?

28. Dieter’s measure

29. Heat, at times

30. In the center of 31. A deadly sin

35. Military trench diggers 38. You can count on them 40. Baby syllable 42. Make known 45. Golden ___ Bridge 47. A bit cracked

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