Westfield Magazine November 2022

The Westfield Mayor’s Council on Disabilities (WMCD) was established in 2022. Through education, advocacy, and key expert discussions, the WMCD will raise awareness in the areas of lifecycle planning, inclusion, accessibility, housing, transportation, and workforce development In addition to these short and long term goals, the WMCD will continue to address current challenges people with disabilities in Westfield are facing to uncover quality solutions to break down barriers and enable ALL people to live their best life.

The Westfield Mayor's Council on Disabilities will host an array of events in March for Disability Awareness month, that will include a conversation about transportation and a housing panel in April

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PUBLISHER

BRANDON BALTZ Brandon@townepost.com 317.514.9522

THIS ISSUE

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC.

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TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com 317.496.3599

PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com 317.810.0011

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

ERIN TURK

DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT

JOSH BROWN

CREATIVE DIRECTORS

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COPY EDITOR

SHOULDERS

REAL-TIME ANALYTICS

WHAT A GAS Chariot Automotive Group Is Driven to Satisfy Customers

HEALTH SPOTLIGHT

Cancer Awareness Month

THE VOICE OF THE HOOSIERS

Don Fischer Embarks on 50th Year as Radio Voice of IU

THE CABIN OPENS DOORS IN WESTFIELD Counseling and Resource Center Opens New Location in Westfield

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT™ Hamilton County Tourism

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. 8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: 317-810-0011

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FOR FRANCHISE INFORMATION, VISIT franchising.townepost.com

FIVE TIPS FOR A FUN

WEEKEND

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

O’Neill

GOOD BONES

Opens New Medical Facility

KEY CONTRIBUTORS

AIMEE MACARTHUR / CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING / DR. THOMAS BIRDAS

YATES / MATT KEATING

ARSZMAN / RYAN KENNEDY / SAM ZACHRICH

WHAT A GAS

CHARIOT AUTOMOTIVE GROUP IS DRIVEN TO SATISFY CUSTOMERS

Writer / Julie Yates Photography Provided

Westfield resident Rex Gingerich learned from an early age the importance of developing relationships and providing excellent service. Today, as CEO of Chariot Automotive Group, he holds the same values he saw his father and uncle exhibit when he was a boy. Those lessons have enabled him to lead and grow Chariot Automotive Group, the parent company of McGonigal Buick GMC Cadillac in Kokomo, Button Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Kokomo, Academy Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Tipton, Twin City Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Lafayette, and Chariot Buying Center in Kokomo.

“In the 1950s my dad, Ivan Gingerich, and my uncle, Fenton Gingerich, began working for Harry McGonigal at his Buick Cadillac dealership,” Gingerich says. “Later they became partners in the business. My uncle kept a card on every customer. He wrote down their name, birthday and family members’ birthdays. Then he sent cards to all. By the early ‘60s, he never waited on a

stranger. For the rest of his career, it was all repeat business and referrals.”

While growing up, Gingerich loved hanging out and working at the McGonigal dealership. However, he didn’t get to drive around Kokomo showing off a new car. His grandfather was Amish and his dad brought him up the old-fashioned way. His first car was used.

“I’m thankful for my dad’s old-fashioned ways because it taught me a lot,” he says. “My first job was cleaning and detailing cars, so I took pride in my used one. I worked early to late, six days a week. Later, my uncle talked to my dad on my behalf to help me get a new car. I was touched that my uncle thought enough about me to do that. I definitely had to earn my way. In 1995 I became a partner in the McGonigal dealership by buying a non-family [member] out. I had to go to the bank plus use money I had earned to do it. I was given the opportunity, but I was ready for it. I’ll never forget how hard my dad worked and how he taught me there is nothing like a hard day’s work.”

In 2005, as a result of relationships that had been built through a number of years, Gingerich had the opportunity to become a partner at the Button location. In 2008 the company became a Chrysler dealer, and one year later it began selling Jeep and Ram vehicles. Recently the Button team celebrated its 90th anniversary. The milestone was possible due to the commitment that the leadership has continually sustained to its employees, customers and community.

The newest member of the Chariot family is Academy Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Tipton. The leaders at the location are dedicated to taking excellent care of customers. One example is a concierge car service. The dealership’s close proximity to the north side of Indianapolis makes it attractive to many.

“From Westfield it’s just 14 minutes up U.S. 31, and it’s such an easy drive with very little traffic,” Gingerich says. “Chrysler wanted a dealership in our area and thought Tipton would be a good location. It’s great to drive around Westfield and see

our logo on many cars.”

The logo was designed to reflect strength and confidence in the past, present and future. The word “Chariot” is a nod to Gingerich’s Amish roots. The script font of the Chariot logo is an homage to Ivan and Fenton, and the way they conducted business.

“The retail auto industry has changed a lot over the years,” Gingerich says. “Technology is huge, and you can’t work on a car today until you hook it up to a computer. Social media has changed how people buy cars. Someone can buy a car online by just the push of a button, without ever even seeing the car. But we feel people love relationships. People like to do business with people they like and trust. We put a strong emphasis on a personal touch. Our customers can talk to us in person or call us up. We feel a big value that we bring to our clients is how hard we work for them.”

Academy Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is located at 6002 West Field Drive in Tipton. For more info, call 765-415-4101 or visit academyjeep.com. Learn more about Chariot Automotive Group at drivechariot.com.

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THE VOICE OF THE HOOSIERS

DON FISCHER EMBARKS ON 50TH YEAR AS RADIO VOICE OF IU

Writer / Ryan Kennedy Photography Provided

Legendary radio broadcaster Don Fischer begins his 50th year as the radio voice of Indiana University football and basketball this season, but he almost didn’t make it through his first game.

“To tell you how much of a fool I was the first game that I did for IU, because I was from Illinois and I’d always heard ‘the University of Illinois’ - I wasn’t even thinking about Indiana University, and that would be the only thing you could call it because obviously that’s what Indiana University is,” Fischer says. “They don’t want to be called University of Indiana three times in the first half of the first game that I did for IU. I called them the University of Indiana, and the phones at our radio station lit up like a Christmas tree. It was that bad. I thought, ‘There’s a chance I might get fired

after my first gig here.’”

A native of Rochelle, Illinois, Fischer, by his own admission, wasn’t a great student. It’s not that he wasn’t smart - he just didn’t like school. College was out of the question. After he graduated from high school, Fischer wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life. He had several jobs. In the eight months after graduation, Fischer says he worked five different jobs. Finally, he got a job as a ticket clerk for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in Mendota, Illinois. He worked the night shift.

One night, about seven months into working for the railroad, Fischer was flipping through a Sport magazine during a break at the depot when he saw a full-page ad for a home correspondence course from a broadcast school out of Wisconsin. “I looked at that and I went, ‘You know what?

I may not have been a great athlete, but I got to play a lot of sports from the time I was about 8 years old on up, and I think I can become a sportscaster,’” Fischer says. He signed up. Records of the lessons, a workbook and a tape recorder arrived in the mail, and Fischer’s journey to becoming a legendary play-by-play announcer began.

Fischer got his first job in radio at a small station in Butte, Montana. Fischer heard from a friend who’d already gone out there that the station was hiring. Despite being only halfway through his correspondence course, Fischer sent the station one of his tapes. The station called him a week later. “They said, ‘If you can get to Butte, Montana, for an interview, there’s a good chance we can hire you,’” Fischer says. He took a 48-hour train ride to interview for the position. A week later they hired him.

In Butte, Fischer worked the night shift as both a radio DJ and the station’s janitor. He worked there for about 15 months. Fischer returned to his home state, where he got his first shot at doing play-by-play, calling games for local high schools in Ottawa, Illinois. From there, he got a job at a radio station in Terre Haute, Indiana. Fischer says he called 175 games per year at every level of sport. “We did football, basketball, baseball, Babe Ruth baseball,” he says. “We did softball games. I was doing play-byplay almost every night of the week.” He was even calling junior football games out of the back of a pickup truck, with a blind color analyst. “It got me rolling as far as my play-by-play career was concerned, and I just had a great time with it,” he says.

When Indiana University granted exclusive broadcast rights to WIRE radio station in Indianapolis, Fischer got a call from a friend telling him that the station was looking for someone to call play-by-play for IU football and basketball games. Fischer, along with 270 other hopefuls, sent the station a tape and a resume. A few weeks later he got a call to interview for the job. Soon after, he was named the first official voice of Indiana University football and basketball, a title he still holds five decades later.

Fischer has broadcast more than 2,100 Indiana University games. Included in that number are 12 bowl games, five NCAA basketball Final Fours, four NCAA championship games and two NIT championship games. He’s won Indiana Sportscaster of the Year 27 times by the National Sports Media Association, and four times by the Indiana Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. He was inducted into the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2010. Indiana University awarded him the J.W. Bill Orwig Medal, an award given to non-alumni for distinguished service to the university.

When Fischer started calling IU games, they were broadcast over a telephone line. Now, everything sounds like it’s recorded in a studio. “It’s just a totally different business than when I started out, but the truth of the matter is, the games haven’t changed that much,” he says. “Style plays and things like that change a lot over the years, but the game itself is still football. The game itself is still basketball, and from that perspective, that much has not changed. That’s why I love doing what I do, because I’ve been able to do my style of football and basketball broadcasts for the last 50 years.”

Fischer says he developed his style listening to the likes of the Chicago Cubs’ Harry Caray and the St. Louis Blues’ Dan Kelly. Much like an athlete watching tape of a previous game, Fischer listens to his broadcasts, noting what he did well and what needs improving. He pays special attention to make sure he’s not repeating himself. Play-by-play is spontaneous. Fischer doesn’t think about what he’s saying while he’s saying it, but he takes care to avoid using the same terminology for certain types of plays.

Preparation is key. Fischer reads everything he can get his hands on leading up to a game. He learns about storylines and stats,

as well as stars for opposing teams and how they’re playing. He talks to sports information directors to get the correct pronunciations of players’ names. All of this is in the service of providing the audience with an objective, informative and entertaining listening experience. “It boils down to just knowing your product, being prepared to utilize the experience that you have, and you get into a groove with it,” he says. “Once you get into it, it’s not that difficult at all, but it takes a while.”

Fischer’s voice is the soundtrack to some major moments, not just in Indiana University history, but also in the history of college sports. Fischer says he doesn’t have a favorite call, but the 1976 national championship basketball game, when Indiana University won the title to finish the season undefeated, holds a special place in his heart. “It was emotional for me,” he says. “I was 29 years old at the time, getting the job when I was 26 here. I had tears running down my cheeks. It was so emotional in that sense. I don’t think you could tell that I was bubbling up with tears on the radio, but it was just a fun thing to be a part of. It’s always been a vivid memory for me.”

Fischer claims his memory isn’t as good as it used to be, as he breaks down Keith Smart’s famous game-winning jump shot with six seconds to go in the 1987 NCAA national title basketball game, and recalls the wind changing directions in the third quarter of IU football’s win over the University of Michigan that same year. “I’ve had so many opportunities to call some broadcasts that turned out to be kind of historical performances, so I can’t pick out just one,” he says.

Even after 2,100 games, Fischer says he still gets nervous before the season starts. He compares it to the butterflies athletes get before they play in a game. He says he goes into every season optimistic, even if a team is coming off a disappointing year. “That’s certainly the way I feel this year too,” he says. “So my 50th year doesn’t feel a great deal different than it did back in 1973 when I started in Indiana.”

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TOURISM SPOTLIGHT

HOLIDAY IN HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA

Start planning your holiday experiences at VisitHamiltonCounty.com/holiday.

fourth year, experience a unique holiday event and make new family traditions. Take a winter wonderland stroll from 1836 Prairietown to 1863 Civil War Journey and be dazzled with a new set of holiday lights.

MAGIC OF LIGHTS

CARMEL CHRISTKINDLMARKT

After a year hiatus, the Carmel Christkindlmarkt returns. Do some holiday shopping and check out the authentic products imported from Germany, like wooden toys, nutcrackers, music boxes and ornaments. Don’t miss the collectible items like the boot mug and Bierkrüge for adult beverages.

While you’re shopping, sip a hot mug of Glühwein (mulled wine) or hot cocoa. Come hungry to enjoy a German pretzel, Bratwurst, Lebkuchen (German cookie), Raclette (melted cheese served on bread) and Stollen (dried fruit bread).

Along with vendors to shop, the market will include the Ice at Carter Green skating rink. A Merry Prairie Holiday

Celebrate the season with A Merry Prairie Holiday at Conner Prairie! Back for its

Don’t forget to take a ride on Kringle’s Carousel or get a rush zooming down the 150-foot Polar Bear Plunge tubing hill. See the Conner House transformed into a magical 3D projection capturing the nostalgia of the holidays

Ruoff Music Center will celebrate the holiday season with the return of the popular holiday lights event. “Magic of Lights” is a family-friendly drive-through holiday lights display. This is an experience designed for you to enjoy the lights and displays from the safety and comfort of your car. Nearly a million lights sparkle along the route.

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

Make your list, check it twice and shop local! Mark your calendar for Small Business Saturday Nov. 26. Popular one-stop shopping destinations include Clay Terrace, Carmel City Center, Hamilton Town Center, the Nickel Plate District, Fishers District and the Historic Noblesville Square. Each has free parking nearby and local restaurants to take a break from your shopping adventure.

REINDEER EXPRESS

All aboard the Nickel Plate Express for a fun-filled train excursion! Celebrate the season and help Santa deliver all the presents on time during this festive ride. Sing carols, enjoy a cookie and cocoa, and see Santa himself!

The train is festively decked out in Christmas lights. Adult beverages will be available for purchase on board. Your ticket includes the ride, time with Santa, and a cookie and gift from Santa.

HOLIDAY SHOWS

Live music is back, and there are plenty of toe-tapping shows on the calendar this holiday season. Get your tickets for performances of “A Christmas Story” at Civic Theatre, or concerts like “Festival of Carols” at the Palladium at The Center for the Performing Arts.

For a full list of holiday events and festivities, go to VisitHamiltonCounty.com/holiday and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Five Tips for aFun Thanksgiving Weekend

Writer / Aimee MacArthur Photography Provided

It’s time for turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, and a big slice of pumpkin pie with a dollop of whipped cream. I’m hungry just thinking about all the delicious sides I’m going to put on my plate. Thanksgiving isn’t just about food, however. It is a time to celebrate with friends and family. While it can be a stressful weekend, I am here to help alleviate some of the stress with a few pro tips I’ve learned through the years.

I’ve experienced every kind of Thanksgiving weekend - traveling and visiting more than one Thanksgiving celebration, going out to a restaurant instead of cooking, hosting a large group, and being a guest. Between us, some weekends were more stressful than others. It doesn’t have to be. I learned that I need to squeeze in some fun for myself and family. The weekend should be fun for you. It’s a time to be grateful, but also to take care of yourself. Let’s have the best Thanksgiving weekend ever. Whether you are a host or guest, here are five tips for a fun Thanksgiving weekend.

ESCAPE BRUNCH AND SHOP

It may seem silly to go out to eat when you already have a lot of leftovers and a stocked fridge. My dad says going out to breakfast or brunch reminds him of being on vacation. I agree. It’s relaxing, and you get an early start and have the whole day ahead to do whatever you want. The best part of going out to brunch? That’s easy - no dishes. It is a win for everyone.

After my family goes to brunch on Thanksgiving weekend, we always like to do a little shopping. We make it a point to try and shop at local stores, and use the weekend to support small businesses. Bring a holiday list and use it as a time to grab a few gifts. I find that some small businesses will wrap presents or put them in a fancy bag with tissue paper. I always appreciate the personalized service small businesses provide.

STEP TO IT PARTICIPATE IN A 5K WALK OR RACE

After an entire day of delicious meals and desserts, it’s a good time to work off those calories. Even better, why not participate in a walking or running event during the holiday weekend? There are usually a handful of events happening on Thanksgiving weekend. Recruit your friends and family to participate or to be part of the cheering section along the race course. Many of these events have a small fee to participate, and often money goes to a charity or other worthwhile cause.

If there is no event in your area, visit a local park with friends and family and do some walking. Make it a goal to reach a certain number of steps during your walk.

EXPLORE YOUR HOMETOWN

PLAY TOURIST IN YOUR CITY

Take a break from shopping and play tourist where you live. I have the most fun when I am exploring my city. I love to visit my favorite places and also find new places to try. My family’s tradition is to go to the movies after Thanksgiving dinner. It’s a fun tradition, and a way to relax and be entertained.

If you’re in the mood for some friendly competition, try a few games of bowling, pool, or even a trivia night at a local sports bar.

If you’re looking for something a little calmer, my family enjoys visiting our local art museum. We can spend a few hours looking at the gorgeous works of art and chatting about which is our favorite. We also like to take a few family photos in front of the museum.

Don’t forget the kids. We like to include a kid-friendly outing during Thanksgiving weekend and our go-to place is the local zoo. My nephew loves riding the train and seeing the animals. We like to try to stump each other with trivia about the animals. The zoo is also a good place to take a family holiday photo.

RECHARGE

PAMPER YOURSELF

It is a busy weekend, but don’t forget about yourself. There is no greater priority than you. It’s all about self-care. Do something you really enjoy and find relaxing. Take time to schedule a haircut, manicure-pedicure, massage or other spa treatment. I already scheduled a chair massage and a haircut. I’ve always wanted to try yoga, so I might book a class with a friend.

If you enjoy reading, take some time to sit down and enjoy the latest page-turner. I enjoy a good biography and plan to read one during the holiday weekend. I’m also a fan of listening to podcasts and music. Find the self-care activity that makes you feel renewed and recharged.

DO GOOD

DONATE YOUR TIME

I feel good when I donate my time to my church or other local organization. Ask family and friends if they would like to spend an hour or two at a church or other place of worship, food pantry, or other charitable organization and provide help where it is needed. I’ve spent holidays boxing up food donations, planting trees and tutoring students. I have some family members who volunteer at a shelter every year and help serve Thanksgiving meals. I know other friends who volunteer at a local animal shelter. There are many organizations that need a little extra help this holiday season.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.

HEALTH SPOTLIGHT

LUNG CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

UNDERSTANDING THE ILLNESS

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Association for Cancer Research, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the United States and worldwide. It develops in tissues of the lungs. Treatments for lung cancer may include surgery, radiation, and different types of chemotherapy. The best treatment depends on the specific type of lung cancer, the cancer stage, and the patient’s general medical condition.

WHAT CAUSES LUNG CANCER?

Cells lining the airways of your lungs constantly grow and divide. Throughout your lifetime, they replace cells that are lost. This maintains the right number of living cells in your lungs. Cancer develops when

cells grow without proper regulation and too many cells build up to form a mass or tumor. The most common risk factor for lung cancer is cigarette smoking. Other lung cancer risk factors include secondhand smoke and exposure to radon and asbestos. Not everyone who develops lung cancer has smoked. In fact, about one in 10 lung cancer patients have no smoking history. Some patients with lung cancer do not have any particular risk factor that can be identified.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Many patients with lung cancer do not have any symptoms. Others may have symptoms that are non-specific and develop slowly. These include fatigue, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Some symptoms such as cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, and shortness of breath may also be caused by lung cancer but are experienced less frequently.

SHOULD YOU BE SCREENED FOR LUNG CANCER?

Lung cancer often does not cause any symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage. This can make it more difficult to treat. For this reason, lung cancer screening is recommended for individuals who are at an increased risk. Screening is recommended for individuals between the ages of 50 and 80 who are currently smoking or who quit smoking within the last 15 years and have at least a 20 pack-year smoking history (one pack a day for 20 years or two packs a day for 10 years, etc.). Lung cancer screening saves lives, but the decision for screening is an individual’s choice. If you would like to discuss lung cancer screening, schedule an appointment to discuss your options.

To learn more about lung cancer, screening, and treatment options, visit iuhealth.org and search “lung cancer.”

Writer / Dr. Thomas Birdas, thoracic surgeon at the IU Health Joe & Shelly Schwarz Cancer Center in Carmel

Dr. Thomas Birdas

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THE CABIN OPENS DOORS IN WESTFIELD

COUNSELING AND RESOURCE CENTER OPENS NEW LOCATION IN WESTFIELD

Writer / Megan Arszman Photography Provided

It all started in a cabin in 2010, a place where people looking for help navigating mental issues and life’s obstacles. It has since expanded into a counseling center servicing Indiana, with its Hamilton County location in Westfield.

The Cabin Counseling and Resource Center originally opened its doors on South Walnut Street in 2019 with the mission to provide quality mental health care. The location has served them for three years, but the group found that it needed to find a new location after losing the site on Walnut due to eminent domain.

“The Cabin first opened in Zionsville in August 1999 as part of a church…” says Deirdra Rausch, Ph.D., LMFT, Executive Director of The Cabin. “In an effort to increase access for Hamilton County residents, we made the decision to add space and, subsequently, services in Westfield. The town was very welcoming and excited to have an established counseling center move into the neighborhood.”

The new location at 115 N. Union opens in November, and it allows the opportunity to expand services and offer more available therapists. Overall, the program employs over 22 therapists, a dietician, a life coach

and a psychiatrist. Westfield’s location currently includes License Mental Health Counselors Julie Paavola, Drew Good, Lauren Glanders and Anne Collins, as well as counselor Jess Doan.

The Cabin is a registered nonprofit, which means that it can provide these services to individuals in the county that perhaps cannot afford them. This is very important to the staff of The Cabin.

“Fifty percent of children and teenagers and 60 percent of adults diagnosed with a mental health issue do not pursue care— access to care and the cost are often cited as the primary reasons,” says Dr. Rausch. “The Cabin has responded to both of these issues by adding locations and offering financial assistance through the Samaritan Fund.”

Dr. Rausch goes on to say that approximately 30 percent of those who come to The Cabin qualify for financial assistance. The Samaritan Fund at The Cabin was created to subsidize counseling fees for those who cannot afford services. Qualification for the fund is based on the poverty guidelines updated periodically by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In addition to the traditional therapy (in person or telecommuting), The Cabin offers: • Adventure Therapy – hands-on and

outdoor-based form of therapy that uses active and experimental approaches

• Expressive Arts Therapy – the practice of sing imagery, storytelling, dance, music, drama, poetry, movement, play and visual arts in an integrated way

• Evey Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) – designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories

• Enneagram Assessments

• Gallup Strengths Coaching – the first step in helping people identify their talents

• Sport Psychology

• Infertility Counseling – therapists are specially trained in the physical and emotional aspects of infertility

• Play Therapy – a form of expression for kids who may not have the vocabulary or ability to express their thoughts and feelings

The Cabin also provides wellness programming for businesses and community members as a way of outreach to the community.

To find out more about The Cabin’s new location in Westfield, visit their website http://thecabin.org, or visit the new location at 115 N. Union Street.

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

IKE O’NEILL

Writer / Matt Keating Photography Provided

Ike O’Neill, a Westfield High School senior, is proud that he and his brother, Thadeus, both earned their Eagle Scout badges recently.

O’Neill says earning the badge taught him how to plan projects in advance that involve a lot of hard work, and work with others to achieve a common goal.

O’Neill is the son of two Westfield Washington Schools educators (Sandy O’Neill, a life-skills teacher at Westfield Middle School, and Terry O’Neill, an algebra teacher at Westfield High School), and he says learning from their leadership skills has helped him become a better leader himself.

The brothers earned their Eagle Scout badges last summer.

“In order to earn the badge, I had to complete several different ranks,” O’Neill says.

Each rank has its own set of requirements. O’Neill took on the challenge of the ranks, and learned how to develop and adopt plans that would best suit him in the long run.

“Included in these requirements were campouts I had to go on,” he says. “There were also 21 merit badges that I had to complete, along with other things such as

service projects and learning the basics to many different fields.”

Some of the tasks involved a lot of planning and hard work, but he was up to the challenge.

“The hardest part was a service project that I had to plan, lead and carry out,” O’Neill says. “For this, I chose to help refurbish a

section of the Saint Joseph Retreat Center in Tipton by re-mulching, edging, planting, and fixing the landscape around a grotto.”

The work was hard, but he enjoyed working outdoors in nature.

O’Neill notes that he has enjoyed all of the different projects he has been involved in since he first joined the Boy Scouts. The

projects have taught him how to be a better person, and he says he has profited greatly from the challenges he has taken on.

“I was in the Scouts from the fall of my sixth-grade year until this past summerabout six years,” he says.

The friendships O’Neill has made through the years have been invaluable to him.

“One of the things I liked the best was all of the people I went through it with,” he says.

“I had a group of about 10 buddies and we all did the activities together, which made them a lot more fun.”

O’Neill also found time to get involved in various other activities at Westfield High School.

“I am a runner on the high school crosscountry team, and I am a wrestler for the school,” he says.

/ Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Sam Zachrich

Orthopedics is a branch of medicine that focuses on the care of the musculoskeletal system, which is made up of bones, joints, muscles, ligaments and spine. OrthoIndy, the largest orthopedic practice in the state of Indiana with twelve locations, employs more than 150 healthcare providers, including 51 orthopedic surgeons covering

the entire spectrum of specialties and eight physiatrists for non-operative care.

Several years ago, OrthoIndy opened a small office on State Road 32, just west of U.S. Highway 31, with the intent to offer a facility for urgent care and physical therapy for those in the Hamilton County area.

Orthopedic urgent care is a unique niche that OrthoIndy has developed throughout the past few years because it’s not really an

emergency room. They treat orthopedic bone and joint injuries that don’t require an emergency operation.

Though the location was small, it quickly became quite popular, both with patients and the physicians who served them. Over time, however, the patient load grew so much that they simply didn’t have room to do what they needed to.

This growth is not surprising, given that Westfield has been named the fastestgrowing community in the state.

“The last statistic I saw said it was something like a 7% annual growth,” says Dr. Ed Hellman, president of OrthoIndy. “That’s enormous. You see that growth when you drive around the area and notice the number of apartment complexes and other developments going up. A lot of people are

moving into the community and we want to be able to serve those people close to home.”

Therefore, the OrthoIndy team found a new location a bit farther west on State Road 32, between Dartown Road and Austrian Pine Way, by the post office. There is a traffic light at Dartown Road and State Road 32, allowing for excellent access.

This new, 15,140-square-foot Westfield location, whose official grand opening was

on October 4, is built differently than past offices because these days, post-pandemic, space is used differently. Now, there is very little administrative space because it’s simply not needed. Instead, plenty of clinical space for patient care and physical therapy was built, since many procedures can now be done at outpatient facilities. The facility also has MRI and other imaging equipment.

In addition, this facility, which allows four physicians to work at the same time, has a much larger physical-therapy space featuring large windows that allow abundant natural light to flow in, providing a bright area for patients to exercise. This location includes 12 exam rooms, five physical-therapy exam rooms, one casting room with two beds, one X-ray room, one MRI room and more. The physicians specialize in all aspects of orthopedic care.

“There is no other place that’s similar to OrthoIndy because we control everything that we do, from seeing patients to imaging, from therapy to surgery, in our own facilities and with our own physicians,” Hellman says.

They also have their own anesthesia group, their own nonsurgical spine group that can do interventional pain management, and their own internal medicine group that sees patients before surgery to optimize their medical status, and help care for them when they are in the hospital for surgical procedures.

“All of this really sets us apart from every other group, all of which are dependent on either hospital systems or others for at least some of these services,” Hellman says.

Dr. John Dietz, a spine surgeon at OrthoIndy, is thrilled about the opening of the new facility in Westfield.

“It has been a long-held dream of mine to practice where I live,” Dietz says. While practicing in the urgent-care facility these past few years, he’s seen a broad section of orthopedic injuries because he was supervising urgent care, as well as seeing spine patients.

Dietz is pleased that Westfield’s health care

culture is so patient-centered.

“The health care community here has always been focused on doing the right thing at the right time, for the right reason,” Dietz says. “It makes me proud that OrthoIndy would devote so much thought and so many resources into opening an office here in Westfield.”

He doesn’t view OrthoIndy as being a competitor in the area, but rather a complementary resource service to the existing health care system in Westfield.

Of course, OrthoIndy is much more than just a professional service organization. In 2005, they opened their first orthopedic specialty hospital on the northwest side of town at 86th Street and Interstate 465 with full inpatient capability for orthopedic surgical patients. They also now have inpatient and outpatient services in Greenwood and outpatient surgery in Brownsburg, along with imaging capabilities (MRIs) at those locations and their Fishers location. Their urgent care centers stretch from Westfield to Center Grove and enable patient visits for acute injuries or problems without an appointment.

“We’re excited to be in this community and to expand our services in the Westfield location,” Hellman says. “I think it’s going to be an extremely successful facility for us and a wonderful asset to the community.”

OrthoIndy is located at 288 East 175th Street in Westfield. For more information, call 317-802-2000 or visit orthoindy.com.

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