Westfield Magazine December 2019

DECEMBER 2019

MAGAZINE

BIG HOFFA’S BIG CHANGES POPUL AR WESTFIELD BAR BECUE R E STAURANT IS EXPANDING ITS DINING SPACE, M ENU & MORE

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DECEMBER WRITERS

Braden Ochs / Christy Heitger-Ewing Jon Shoulders / Josh Brown / Julie Yates

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Amy Payne / Ellie Sophia Photography Kerch Creative

SHOP LOCAL!

BIG HOFFA’S BIG CHANGES: POPULAR WESTFIELD BARBECUE RESTAURANT IS EXPANDING ITS DINING SPACE, MENU & MORE Adam Hoffman’s decision to expand the dining space, menu and drink selection of Big Hoffa’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, his Westfield-based eatery, is the result of 13 years of steady growth and city-wide customer dedication to his concept.

4 Grand Junction Parks & Plaza Breaks Ground in Westfield

9 Magnifying the Magic: Local Mom Pens Elf Book to Help Families Make the Holiday Season More Fun

13 A Merry Prairie Holiday: Conner

16 Big Hoffa’s Big Changes: Popular

Westfield Barbecue Restaurant Is Expanding Its Dining Space, Menu & More

20 Student Spotlight: Jacob Roberts 22 Westfield Events

Prairie’s Inaugural Event Is the New Home of the Reynolds Farm Christmas Lights

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Westfield Mayor Andy Cook

GRAND JUNCTION PARKS & PLAZA BREAKS GROUND IN WESTFIELD Writer / Braden Ochs Photography / Kerch Creative

After 12 years of planning, hard work and dedication, the City of Westfield is ready to catapult its downtown project into motion.

The community behind the Grand Junction Park and Plaza hope to see downtown Westfield flourish after breaking ground on the project.

Westfield Mayor Andy Cook is a huge advocate for Grand Junction. He believes Grand Junction will be able to attract people from all over and connect locals and visitors alike.

“Westfield wants to make a place where people want to be,” Cook says.

The planning for the project started 12 years ago when they wanted to improve downtown. Much of the downtown part of Westfield was built in the 1800s. Parts of it burned down since then, not making it an attractive place to visit and hang out. In addition, many of the core buildings moved away from downtown, such as the police station, fire station and the post office.

Reasons to visit downtown Westfield were becoming few and far between.

With the residents and visitors in mind,

the city of Westfield wanted to create a place that would attract people and make it a fun, beautiful place to work and live.

According to Cook, the plan desired a vibrant destination for downtown Westfield. They decided to achieve this plan by starting the Grand Junction project. A group of citizen volunteers called the Grand Junction Task Group works tirelessly on the plans for this project and what it would look like for the town.

Teresa Skelton, member of the board of directors for the Downtown Westfield Association, works in close liaison with the

4 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2019 / WestfieldMag.com

Grand Junction Task Group. Being a lifelong resident of Westfield and supporter of the Grand Junction project, she is excited to see where it takes the city. Grand Junction is something that residents are excited for, especially the local business owners.

“It will be uniquely vibrant,” Skelton says.

“It will be a place where friends meet, it will be a place where business connections can be made. That area is already developing in a small way with the great restaurants we have. But [Grand Junction] will be where you can actually go see a symphony or whatever is in the amphitheater or the kids can ice skate.”

According to Westfield’s website, Grand Junction Park and Plaza is a redevelopment of the historic district of Westfield which includes multiple different projects to improve the downtown area and community. Grand Junction will eventually include a park, five different trails, an amphitheater, an ice rink and many more

projects connecting the Grand Junction and the town together.

The City of Westfield has commissioned Land Collective, an Indianapolis based landscape architect, to lead the design of Grand Junction. According to their website, Land Collective is known for bringing their designs to life with Newfields, Cummins Corporate Headquarters, and many more buildings around the Indiana area. They

have worked with the people of Westfield to make this project a reality.

“We want our downtown to have a unique flavor to it,” Cook says.

Cook wants to connect the old buildings with new ones. With the renewal of downtown, he hopes to encourage small businesses to continue opening up in the old buildings to tie downtown together. He

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hopes that through it, the residents and visitors will be able to enjoy Westfield together.

Grand Park, another Westfield project, is a successful addition to the downtown area. Grand Park is a planned youth and adult recreational sports village. The 400-acre sports campus hosts athletes and sports teams from all over. Their outdoor facilities are for baseball, softball and field sports including soccer, football, field hockey, lacrosse, and two planned indoor sports facilities designed for yearround play. This completed project has brought many visitors to Westfield and they have seen growth in downtown including restaurants, retail and other entertainment venues.

Skelton is happy to see the success in Grand Park and she hopes Grand Junction will also see that success and continue in the growth of Westfield.

“We didn’t just want a park,” Skelton says. “We have parks and they’re wonderful. We wanted a ‘wow factor.’”

The Grand Junction project is estimated to be completed in two years.

They broke ground officially on Nov. 4.

For more information about the Grand Junction project, what’s included and a timeline, visit westfield.in.gov. To learn more about the landscape architect company Land Collective and the projects they are working on, visit landcollective.com. To learn more about Grand Park and their facility, visit grandpark.org.

WestfieldMag.com / DECEMBER 2019 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / 7

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MAGNIFYING THE MAGIC LOCAL MOM PENS ELF BOOK TO HELP FAMILIES MAKE THE HOLIDAY SEASON MORE FUN Fifteen years ago, Hauser and her husband, Joshua, introduced a mischievous elf into their family who wrapped and distributed There’s something magical about the holiday gifts for Santa, placing them beneath season—the music, decorations, food, the tree with no names of the recipients. and festivities. One local mother, however, When the children awake in the morning, found a way to magnify the magic through a they run down to the tree and see all the little elf named Impish. goodies that were left but have no idea what gift belongs to whom.

“My firm belief is that the most exciting thing about parenting is keeping magic “The only way to figure that out is to go to alive in childhood,” says Westfield resident their stockings and look for the clues that Amanda McIlwain Hauser. “Recreating Impish the Elf has left for them,” Hauser those special moments for your kids where says. Each year as the family has grown, so, you can just see the elation and wonder too, has the tradition. “It’s become more in their eyes—those are the most exciting elaborate every year.” moments for a parent.”

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

Not only are there clues but that clue centers around a theme of some sort, which changes annually. The whole experience creates a huge sense of anticipation and excitement.

“My little ones started saying in October, ‘I wonder what Impish’s theme will be this year! What clues will she leave us?’”

Hauser says.

Last year’s theme was “world travel,” so when Hauser’s children looked in their stockings, they found miniature suitcases with fake passports in them. Inside the passports were various countries stamped, which correlated to countries stamped on

WestfieldMag.com / DECEMBER 2019 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / 9

gifts underneath the tree. The year before the theme was Candyland and the kids had to match candies in their stockings to those taped on presents.

This year, she finally did and in August the book Impish: the Christmas Elf was released. Eager to share Impish with the world, Hauser says this is the first in a series. She plans to release a new book every August.

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“I have a backlog of different adventures Impish can have because I’ve been doing this for 15 years already!� says Hauser, who notes that since this is the first book in the series, she’s learning all about the process of publication, marketing, and distribution. Her author website includes a blog that gives parents hints on how to do this in their own home. “I share the tricks of the trade—the places I go to get the stuff and all the little quirky things I’ve been working on for years, honing the craft,� Hauser says, whose ultimate goal is to sell all-inclusive kits that will enable parents to replicate the experience for their child without having to go to all the hassle of running around to various stores. She recognizes that there are working caregivers who are eager to create magic for their children but simply don’t have the time or energy to do so. “It’s a ton of work. I start in August, getting all the pieces together and ordering everything I need, but not everyone has that luxury or that creative fiber,� Hauser says. “If I can make this a user-friendly idea that parents can embrace, I want to share the magic with everybody!�

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Through the years, Hauser has shared this fun tradition with family and friends, all of who inevitably ask, “When are you going to write about this?�

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Author Amanda McIlwain Hauser AMANDA MCILWAIN HAUSER

Impish Impish the Christmas Elf is tired of the long, dark winters that overwhelm the North Pole. In an attempt to lighten both her mood and dreary days as a gift-wrapping elf, she develops a ploy to make Christmas gift-giving even more fun for good boys and girls. What does Impish have up her tricky elf sleeve? ... And, will she pull off one of her famously impish tricks on you this Christmas?

Hauser maintains that Christmas has been the single biggest event in her house for as long as she can remember. “My trees are always up by Veterans Day,� she says with a chuckle, adding, “We 10 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2019 / WestfieldMag.com

Impish

The Christmas Elf

THEY ALWAYS SAY TO WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW BEST, AND MY PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO DO MAGICAL CREATIVE THINGS FOR CHILDREN. THAT’S WHERE MY PASSION LIES. - AMANDA MCILWAIN HAUSER embrace the reason for the season and love that experience as Christians, but it’s been so much fun creating the magic and all it entails as we focus on spending time together as a family.”

A former professional educator, Hauser worked for 14 years as an elementary school teacher, most recently in the Westfield School Corporation. In 2012, she became a stay-at-home mom.

“I wish I could still be in the classroom, but in this season of my life, I’m unable to balance the eight kids and the profession,” Hauser says, who is potty training one while helping another get through college. Koby (20) is a cadet in the Air Force academy and plays football there, Brenna (19) is a gymnast at Central Michigan University, Micah (16) is a sophomore and football player at Westfield High School, Lucy (14) is an eighth-grader/ diver/pole vaulter at Westfield Middle School, Tatum (9) is a soccer-playing third-grader at Maple Glen Elementary, Chatham (7) is a first-grader at Maple Glen, and Eedyth (4) & Remi (2) are home with Hauser.

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Now that Hauser has written this book, she has the confidence to circle back to some other Christmas-themed stories she’s written for fun in the past.

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A MERRY PRAIRIE HOLIDAY CONNER PRAIRIE’S INAUGURAL EVENT IS THE NEW HOME OF THE REYNOLDS FARM CHRISTMAS LIGHTS Writer / Josh Brown Photography provided by Conner Prairie & Amy Payne

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and Conner Prairie hopes to make this Christmas season even more wonderful for families across Hamilton County. The inaugural “A Merry Prairie Holiday” event officially started on November 29 and will continue through December 31.

The new holiday festival has something for everyone, but perhaps the biggest news of the event is the inclusion of the popular Reynolds Farm Christmas Lights display.

Back in July, it was announced that the iconic light display was gifted to Conner Prairie for its new winter experience.

“Our Christmas light display was born

out my father’s love for Christmas and our community,” said Gary Reynolds, owner and chairman of Reynolds Farm Equipment, in a July statement.

“Transitioning our Christmas lights display to Conner Prairie ensures this tradition of celebrating Christmas with lights continues as part of Conner Prairie’s new A Merry Prairie Holiday festival.”

Norman Burns, President and CEO at Conner Prairie, is excited to include the light display and bring a new tradition to Hamilton County.

“Winter is always a special time at Conner Prairie thanks to our 40-year plus tradition of holiday festivities,” Burns says. “This year, it will be even more so as we bring new experiences to the holiday season and

carry on a time-honored family tradition by displaying the Reynolds Christmas lights, donated by Gary Reynolds and his family, across the grounds as part of the new A Merry Prairie Holiday Festival.”

In the past, it wasn’t uncommon to see cars lined up all the way back onto State Road 37 for the drive-thru light display. This year, the display is set up across Conner Prairie’s grounds for visitors to walk through and experience.

“We are incredibly excited to have the Reynolds Christmas lights this year,” says Chris Petrelli, Senior Director of Museum Experiences at Conner Prairie. “They were extremely generous in donating that incredible display. It is a major tradition for everyone in Hamilton County. We are

WestfieldMag.com / DECEMBER 2019 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / 13

humbled and honored to take the baton and keep this beloved tradition going.

We spent a lot of time running extension cords and placing the lights. People will be able to get a new perspective on the display. It’s going to be great to see the lights spread out across our grounds.”

A Merry Prairie Holiday will include much more than just the Reynolds Christmas Lights. The festival is jam-packed with family-friendly events like the North Pole Village — complete with a toy workshop to make holiday gifts, a Polar Bear Plunge dry snow tubing hill, Reindeer Games Midway, Claus’ Cabin, where kids can meet Mrs. Claus and drop their letters off to Santa, and the Kringle’s Carousel ride.

Local entertainers and musicians will perform throughout each night on the “Blitzen’s Bandstand,” too.

History buffs will appreciate a walk through Prairietown, which includes the 1860s Hoosier Homefront and Soldiers Camp to learn how the season was celebrated during the time of the Civil War. The classic Conner Prairie by Candlelight favorites, like Dr. Campbell’s Soiree, is included as well as a live reading from Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol” with the sounds of Christmas carolers.

“The great thing about this festival is we have planned it to be a two-hour experience,” Petrelli says. “Not only do you get to experience the Christmas lights but all of these events, too. It really has a variety of experiences that the entire family will enjoy.”

The festival will also include a Winterland Wagon Ride. The ride will take guests across the historic grounds and through thousands of the Christmas lights.

“I have an 11-year-old and an 8-year-old, and I’m excited about the wagon ride and the Prairietown experience,” Petrelli adds.

“I think the tubing hill and the carousel will also be big crowd-pleasers.”

Unlike the popular Headless Horseman Halloween event, A Merry Prairie Holiday

will not have any time ticketed rides or events. Instead, all of the events, like the Winterland Wagon Ride, the Kringle’s Carousel and the Polar Bear Plunge, will all be first come, first served.

Petrelli stresses that there shouldn’t be much of a need for families and visitors to show up extremely early before gates open for the event.

A Merry Prairie Holiday is an outdoor festival. Even though the colder weather is upon us, Petrelli urges families not to be deterred from visiting, even on some of the more chilly evenings.

“Obviously, people should bundle up, but I want to reassure people that we have opportunities for you to stay warm, too,” he says. “Our welcome center, store and more will be open for people to come inside if they get too cold. We will also have several fire pits going and plenty of hot-chocolate stands throughout the grounds. So, don’t fear the cold too much.”

A Merry Prairie Holiday will be held Friday through Sunday evenings from 6 to 10 p.m. Advance tickets are $16 per guest and $8 per member.

Tickets purchased at the gate will be $20 per guest or $10 per member. For more information and to purchase advance tickets, visit them online at connerprairie.org.

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The festival will wrap up on Dec. 31 with a special early fireworks display at 9 p.m. to celebrate the New Year.

Conner Prairie is located at 13400 Allisonville Road in Fishers. You can give them a call at 317-776-6000.

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Owner Adam Hoffman, wife Jamie and son Jaxon.

BIG HOFFA’S BIG CHANGES P OP UL A R WEST FIELD BAR BECU E R E STAU R AN T IS EX PA N DING IT S DINING SPACE, M E N U & MOR E Writer / Jon Shoulders Photographer / Ellie Sophia Photography

path that aligned with one of his personal passions — food.

Adam Hoffman’s decision to expand the dining space, menu and drink selection of Big Hoffa’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, his Westfield-based eatery, is the result of 13 years of steady growth and city-wide customer dedication to his concept.

“I was tired of L.A. and the hustle and bustle,” he says. “I was making good money at my job “It’s funny that I almost opened the but I wasn’t really going anywhere. I decided restaurant here in Westfield out of necessity to move to Indiana and I’m glad I did.” because I was kicked out of Anderson since they didn’t allow food trucks back then and Back in California, Hoffman had become then moved to Noblesville where I worked known amongst friends and family for at a custard stand for three years and had making tasty ribs and barbecue sauce, and, zoning issues there too,” Hoffman says with upon moving to the Hoosier state, he began a laugh. “So, by 2007, I realized I needed a operating a food truck in Anderson. He place to stay put.”

Hoffman’s culinary journey began back in 2003, when he decided to relocate from his native Los Angeles to set out on a career

soon ran into zoning issues with the city, which, unbeknownst to him, prohibited food trucks.

16 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2019 / WestfieldMag.com

That year, Hoffman wandered into Main Street Shoppes, a Westfield antiques and collectibles spot that closed in late January, and eventually asked the property owner about taking over a former coffee shop space in the building to operate his own restaurant. Since then, Big Hoffa’s (Hoffman’s nickname among friends) has been offering an extensive and ever-evolving food and drink menu for all ages.

In addition to classic barbecue fare — namely ribs, brisket and pulled pork — Big Hoffa’s offers specialty dishes like the Davey Jones (mac and cheese topped with pulled chicken and ranch dressing) and the Barbecue Sundae (brown sugar baked beans topped with choice of meat and barbecue sauce), as well as sides like potato salad, seasoned fries, slaw and more. There are also family-sized meals on offer, and a “Little Hoffa” menu for youngsters that includes mini sandwiches, mac and cheese, ribs and applesauce.

“We have a lot of specialty items on our menu with different ingredients like pickled veggies and Vietnamese-based sandwiches,” Hoffman says, adding that everything on his menu including dressings and sauces is made from scratch. “Since early on we’ve made some pretty bold moves like that, and we weren’t sure when we opened that the area was ready for it, but once we opened we were glad to find that it was.”

Last year Hoffman purchased the entire two-level, 16,000-square-foot building on Main Street where Big Hoffa’s is located, and he’s currently in the process of expanding both his dine-in and kitchen spaces.

“We started with about 1,200 square feet, and increased to 1,500 and then 2,000 a few years later, and now we’re at 3,000,” Hoffman says. “It was pretty much a decision whether to buy the building we’re in or find another spot, so we bought it. We’ve grown so much with our customers and our following that it was the right time to go for it.”

Since the purchase, Big Hoffa’s has been under construction for the past year, and the restaurant itself will occupy 7,000 of the 8,000 square feet on the building’s lower level. Hoffman is constructing a scratch kitchen where menu items will be produced fresh on a daily basis, and he’s tripling both his refrigeration capacity and storage space.

“Everything’s being upgraded tremendously, and it’s good timing because we’ve grown so much over the years and our catering side with weddings and those kinds of things is extremely busy,” says Hoffman, who plans to complete the expansion by the end of 2019. “We needed a bigger production kitchen. We’re going to create new menu items and add to our local craft drink menu.”

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Hoffman says it’s his genuine love of the food industry and willingness to adapt his menu to remain both unique and classically barbecue-centric, that have kept his Central Indiana customers coming back.

“People get into the restaurant business for many reasons, whether it’s to make a lot of money or for the glamour of it, but I did it because I enjoy making people happy and bringing them together through creating food,” he says. “I think that attitude has, more than anything, contributed to our success.”

Big Hoffa’s is located at 800 East Main Street in Westfield. For more information, including hours of operation, catering details and a full menu, visit bbqindianapolis.com or call 317-867-0077.

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The Cabin helps transform lives through compassionate and professional counseling and education We provide traditional counseling, Adventure Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, EMDR, and yoga for children, teens and adults.

Addressing the following issues and more: • Anxiety & Depression • School Performance • Pre-marital Preparation • Parenting & Grandparenting • Couple’s and Family Conflict • Life Transitions • Blended Family Issues • Self-esteem Building • Infertility & Adoption • Anger Management • Postpartum Depression • Sexual Abuse Recovery • Grief & Bereavement • Physical Health Issues • Trauma • Gallup Strengths Coaching • Addictions • Communication Enhancement

For information and appointments call 317-804-3697 or visit our website at www.thecabin.org Located at 121 S. Walnut Street in Westfield and 220 S. Elm Street in Zionsville WestfieldMag.com / DECEMBER 2019 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / 19

JACOB ROBERTS SHEA EGGLESTON SPONSORED BY:

Writer / Matt Keating Photographer / Amy Payne

Shea Eggleston, a senior at Westfield High School, is being recognized for her outstanding work at Student Impact of Westfield.

hang out and get mentorships and guidance. and extracurriculars, to be where I am today, but it has been more than worth it. With all Eggleston says she is excited to be the hard work, receiving this award is even recognized by Student Impact of Westfield. more special.”

favorite teacher, is Erin McKinney, a math teacher at Westfield High School. Not only was she an amazing teacher, and helped me find a new passion in math, but she also was, and still is, an amazing friend and mentor,” Eggleston says.

“Mrs. McKinney has helped me through some of the hardest times in my life,” she adds. “To this day, I try and see her at least once a week just to say hello or have a conversation. It is not only Mrs. McKinney at Westfield, but there are so many teachers like her. I know so many students that have a relationship similar to mine with a teacher and those relationships will stick with the students for the rest of their lives.”

Eggleston says Student Impact of Westfield has also helped her tremendously.

“I attend Student Impact every Monday and Friday and volunteer as an intern/ student leader every Tuesday and Thursday,” Eggleston says. “I love everything about this organization. I love the people who run it and attend it, what they stand for, what they do for Westfield, and everything in between.

part of Student Impact since the fifth grade and will be a member until the moment she graduates high school.

“I started volunteering at student impact my sophomore year, but it wasn’t until my junior year that I was volunteering on a constant basis. As of right now, I volunteer nine or more hours a week, and love every minute.”

Eggleston also says she loves living in Westfield.

“I have always felt safe and secure while being in Westfield,” she says. “I love the amenities and opportunities available. I love that Westfield has fun things to do with friends, and also fun things to do with family.” She believes Student Impact is a big part of that.

Danyele Easterhaus, executive director of Student Impact of Westfield, says says she is thrilled Eggleston has been recognized.

WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR ENCOURAGES CLASSMATES TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE “I feel extremely humbled and honored to win,” Eggleston says. “My high school journey has been far from easy. During Student Impact, 536 North Union Street, my freshman year, I was diagnosed with Zionsville, is a safe place where students Crohn’s Disease, and missed a lot of school from grades 5-12 can build relationships because of it. I get sick easily and miss more that bring hope and healing. It was started in school than most people. It has taken a 1999 to be an environment where kids can lot of hard work and dedication to school

Writer / Julie Yates Photography provided

When Westfield High School senior Jacob Roberts joined the Best Buddies club in middle school, he had a very personal motive for doing so. At that time, he had no idea that five years later, he would be the club’s president. The self-proclaimed shy and quiet student has become a champion for promoting inclusion and recently led a convocation to encourage his peers to respect people of all different ability levels.

Eggleston plans to study zoology in college.

“Ever since I can remember, my favorite thing has always been animals, particularly of the mammal species, but still animals in general,” Eggleston says. “My dream job has always been something to do with animals, whether that was a veterinarian or a zoo keeper, I did not really know, but I knew it had to be with animals.

Eggleston is proud to say she have been a

“Shea is just an amazing young woman,” Easterhaus says. “She leads with a quiet, yet strong sense about her, despite all the issues she faces each and every day. She puts others first and displays leadership not in

“Once I started trying to narrow down my dream job, I knew I did not want to be a veterinarian, but that is about all I could figure out. I hope one day I can figure out what career I want, but for now, I know it must be working with animals.”

Eggleston noted that Westfield has some of the best teachers.

“Almost every single teacher I have had since first grade I have really liked. With Westfield teachers you can tell they want every single one of their students to succeed, and they try to make that happen. I have had so many teachers inspire me, and make me want to be a better person and student.”

Eggleston has a favorite teacher.

“One teacher that will forever have a place in my heart and will forever be my absolute

“I originally joined Best Buddies in eighth grade at the middle school. I had just gotten news that my brother was going to be born with Down Syndrome,” Roberts says. “So, I really joined just to figure out how to treat him since he would be different. Throughout that year and my freshman year, I learned so much more about Best Buddies.”

Roberts continues, “I learned that my original thinking was completely wrong and I believed the wrong mission. The mission of Best Buddies is to end the social, physical, and economic discrimination of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

intellectual and developmental disabilities are paired with a regular education peer.

The club typically meets on Fridays during the CORE Advisory period. Activities are Westfield High School is among organized and foster growing friendships many schools both nationwide and between each buddy pair. On Oct. 29, internationally that offer the Best Buddies program as a student activity. Students with Roberts organized and led a special We include and accept people for who they are and simply just be friends.”

20 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2019 / WestfieldMag.com

an aggressive ma everyday ways o

For more inform Westfield visit th 317-414-6456.

Best Buddies presentation in the school auditorium that was attended by more than 300 students.

“Finn McKenna is a senior buddy who moved to Westfield from California last year,” Roberts says. “Being like every new student that moves, he didn’t have many friends at first. He would sit through lunch without saying a single word. Then he decided to join Best Buddies after someone came into his class and talked to them about the club.

“He got to meet so many people that truly cared for him and they gave him the confidence to be social and go make more friends. They even gave him the confidence to go up on stage and speak in front of the 300 plus people that showed up to the convocation. Now Finn has so many friends including ones from Best Buddies.

Finn is the man, and everyone knows and loves him.”

Besides his involvement with Best Buddies, Roberts participates in several other activities. He is a swimmer on the high school team and volunteers, especially at the Grace Care Center. He is also on the Unified Track team, which consists of an equal number of athletes with intellectual disabilities and athletes without intellectual disabilities.

Roberts has suggestions for others who want to make a difference, “Just stand up.

At first, you’re not going to feel entirely comfortable and it will feel awkward. Try to be as involved as you can and live every day working toward your goal. This is going to sound cliché but lead by example. There is nothing you can do better than to care about someone and show that you do.”

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WestfieldMag.com / DECEMBER 2019 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / 21

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WESTFIELD DECEMBER EVENTS 1-31

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Sparkling lights. Breathtaking rides. Enchanting performances.

They’re all part of A Merry Prairie Holiday Festival at Conner Prairie, and they’re sure to be among your cherished winter memories for years to come. Enjoy the Conner Prairie holiday family fun you already love and a host of new features you won’t want to miss. All under the shimmering backdrop of a local, time-honored favorite moving to a new home at Conner Prairie: the Reynolds Farm Equipment Christmas Lights.

Conner Prairie 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.

Santa Claus is coming to town! Join us for a waffle bar brunch with Santa! All children and adult children are welcome to join us for this fun event. Kids can meet with Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas from 11 am - 1 pm. Brunch will also be available during this time. Don’t forget to register for Santa’s workshop directly following so the children can make some presents for family members.

Blackhawk Winery & Vineyard 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

A MERRY PRAIRIE HOLIDAY

1-31

BRUNCH WITH SANTA

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BRUNCH WITH SANTA

IGLOO RENTALS

Come out and enjoy and evening in one of our igloos! Starts in November and runs through March! Reservations can be made online!

Urban Vines Winery & Brewery All Day

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Santa will be at Urban Vines on Sunday, December 8th from 1p-4p. Cookies and milk for the kiddos. Please bring a camera to take photos!

Urban Vines Winery & Brewery 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

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CHRISTMAS TRIVIA EXTRAVAGANZA AT URBAN VINES

WESTFIELD IN LIGHTS

Join us for a fun Holiday Celebration Downtown! FREE activities for the whole family include Pictures with Santa, Train Rides, Pictures with Frosty the Snowman, a Gingerbread House Display, Live Reindeer Petting and Show, Live Musical Entertainment, Food & Retail Vendors, and the Annual Tree Lighting Celebration! Don’t miss all the fun! You’ll find us at City Hall (130 Penn Street) and Christ United Methodist Church (318 N. Union Street).

City Hall & Christ United Methodist Church 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE EVENT NOTIFICATIONS IN YOUR AREA AT TOWNEPOST.COM

Christmas Trivia extravaganza with Bison. Cost is $5 per person. This event is kid-friendly!

Urban Vines Winery & Brewery 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

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REINDEER RIDE EXPRESS 2019

Your favorite holiday tradition is back! Book your seats for a Christmas adventure before they sell out! Take an hour and 15-minute ride through Central Indiana while singing Christmas carols and sipping hot chocolate. Ride includes a cookie, visit with Santa and commemorative craft. Adult beverages available for purchase on board.

Nickel Plate express 3:00 to 8:00 p.m.

22 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2019 / WestfieldMag.com

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FITNESS Lindy Fischer is a busy woman.

She’s a wife, mother and owns her own business. Fischer says having a place like Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation’s Monon Community Center (MCC) has given her everything she needs for her workout routine — all under one roof.

Great news for a busy woman!

“The Monon Community Center and all it has to offer has literally changed my life,” shares Fischer. “I’ve never felt better in my life both from a physical and mental standpoint.”

Fischer’s commitment to getting stronger and healthier began when she and her husband Marcus moved back to Westfield just over two years ago. She had just given birth to her third daughter and was searching for a place to get back into shape and lose the 50-plus pounds she had gained during her pregnancy. The family was used to a recreation center atmosphere

and she had heard that the MCC was the perfect place for all of their workout needs.

So, she decided to check it out.

“The MCC was exactly the type of place we were looking for that offered group fitness classes, 30-minute express classes, free weight and cardio workout areas, personal trainers, free childcare, and so much more,” says Fischer.

Beyond a fabulous place to work out and stay fit, Fischer says the KidZone (childcare area) may have been the biggest selling point to making the MCC their family fitness home. “For me to have the time to work out, I needed a place for my youngest daughter to go. She absolutely loves KidZone MONON COMMUNITY CENTER

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and I knew that she was safe and happy and that allowed me to feel comfortable leaving her there while I focused on my workout.”

Fischer’s individual workout includes everything from group fitness classes to a new hybrid power lifting program created by her personal trainer. She shares that when she first started working out at the MCC, she had reached a plateau but knew she wanted to incorporate new challenges and goals into her workout routines.

And she thinks you should too.

“All I can say is ‘do it’ and do it for yourself. It is so convenient.

I can take my kids with me and know they are safe, and I’ve never felt better in my entire life,” says Fischer. “It doesn’t matter what shape you are in today, your age or your own personal goals. Take that first step to getting stronger. It’s all in one place just waiting for you.”

Monon Community Center 1195 Central Park Dr West Carmel, IN 46032

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