Zionsville MONTHLY March 2021

MONTHLY

LOGAN WAGNER

COLLECTIVE PUBLISHING PUBLICATION

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Zionsville’s First State Wrestling Champion

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For those with a vision.

Only Pemberton of Zionsville offers the unique quiet and privacy of a historic country estate and is still positioned just minutes from some of Zionsville’s best eateries, galleries, and activities. More than half of the homesites in Phase One of this community have sold and demand is high for the remaining lots. If you are seeking a home tucked away from the din of the day to day, contact us now. We’d be delighted to share with you the incredible opportunity available inside Pemberton of Zionsville.

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MONTHLY

27 COVER STORY

Logan Wagner: Zionsville’s First State Wrestling Champion We are pleased to feature another outstanding student-athlete this month, Zionsville Community High School’s (ZCHS) first ever state wrestling champion Logan Wagner. The Wagner name is no stranger to IHSAA wrestling championships, but Logan Wagner is the first in his family to win the title. Wagner was down 5-1 in the state finals and miraculously came back from the large deficit to become the Champion. Wagner’s is a story of hard work, humility, and the importance of family.

Writer // Janelle Morrison

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Honor Yoga Is More Than a Place to Practice Yoga

ZIONSVILLE MONTHLY

A Home Fit For A King

PUBLISHER / Neil Lucas neil@collectivepub.com / 317-460-0803 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / Neil Lucas neil@collectivepub.com / 317-460-0803

The Center Presents: KAR Front Seat With Adam Ollendorff: Country Music Musician and Composer

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Paige Oliver: Zionsville Resident Leads Food Security Efforts at Home and Abroad

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20 Paul Estridge Jr.: On a New Chapter

HEAD WRITER / Janelle Morrison janelle@collectivepub.com / 317-250-7298

in the Estridge Legacy

25 Take a Walk Into a Storybook Spring 30 An Update From Dr. Scott Robison on Wrapping Up

MARCH WRITERS / Janelle Morrison

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Honor Yoga Is Mo r e Than a Pl ace t o P rac t ic e Yoga Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // John Cinnamon

Honor Yoga Zionsville just recently opened its doors and is excited to offer the Zionsville and Whitestown communities not just a yoga studio but a place in which providing a safe environment to build sense of community, connections and acceptance is prioritized.

O

wner Anne “Annie” Wolka is creating more than a place to practice yoga—she and her fellow instructors are building a place for all who are interested in finding community and a place to discover or further explore the physical and mental benefits of yoga.

Honor Yoga in Zionsville offers conventional, hot and aerial yoga options and classes ranging from beginner to advanced.

A YOGI’S JOURNEY TO FINDING HER PURPOSE Wolka is excited to begin the next chapter of her life. After a year of planning and pushing through the pandemic, she opened Honor Yoga in Zionsville on March 15. Wolka’s yoga story begins nearly a decade ago when she was employed by Eli Lilly and Company.

“I had a corporate job [at Eli Lilly], and I was really stressed out, which probably sounds familiar to a lot of people,” Wolka said. “Eli Lilly has a gym on their campus, and they offer different yoga classes.

One day, I decided to try [yoga] as it was

supposed to be good for stress. And that’s how it all started.”

Wolka quickly discovered the mental and physical effects of yoga and shared that it did help her reduce her stress.

“I loved it so much, and I realized there is more to [yoga] than just the physical practice,” Wolka stated. “There’s the breathing practices, mediation and yoga philosophies, such as self-compassion, truthfulness and things that you can practice in your daily life. The more I learned about it, the more interested I became.”

Wolka enrolled in yoga teacher training classes while she was working her corporate job, and teaching yoga became her side gig for a while. But after the sudden loss of her beloved husband, Wolka decided it was time to make some major changes in her life.

“Sadly, my husband died—unexpectedly—a little over three years ago,” Wolka shared. “It was a life-transforming moment that made me stop and think to myself, ‘What am I doing with my life?’ and ‘Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life?’ And the answer was no.”

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TAKING THE LEAP Wolka took a couple of years to grieve and discover what her next steps would be.

“I discovered Honor Yoga and found that I clicked with all of their values and philosophies,” Wolka expressed. “Honor Yoga incorporates ALL of the different parts about yoga that I love, and not just the physical practice but the breathing, meditating and philosophies.”

After signing her franchise agreement, Wolka began to seek out locations for her new studio.

“I signed my [franchise] agreement in November 2019, and then the pandemic began in March 2020,” Wolka said. “I kept looking for a location, working with my Realtor, and I successfully leased this location, which was my first choice when looking at available spaces in the Zionsville area. The space is really amazing, and before we opened, there wasn’t any yoga in this area apart from some classes in an area gym—but that’s a completely different environment from Honor Yoga.”

Honor Yoga in Zionsville offers 3,100 square feet of space and two separate practice rooms for conventional, hot yoga, aerial yoga and yoga barre.

THE HONOR YOGA EXPERIENCE Anyone looking for a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment to explore yoga will find that and more at Honor Yoga.

“When people walk in, I want them to feel welcomed and not intimidated,” Wolka emphasized. “I really want to show people that there are many ways to practice yoga, and it doesn’t matter your age, experience or body shape—there’s a yoga practice for everyone.”

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“People are required to wear masks in the common spaces,” Wolka explained.

“Once they’re on their [yoga] mats and are socially distanced from others, they can remove their masks if they choose. I have masks on hand if they forget their masks, and we have hand sanitizer around the studio. I’ve also installed an ionizing air cleaner in our HVAC units so that it cleans the air and eliminates viruses, bacteria, mold, dust, etc. And we keep the fans running for better air circulation.”

HOW TO ENROLL AND BEGIN YOUR PERSONAL YOGA JOURNEY Exploring yoga at Honor Yoga in Zionsville, people will find the benefits, at all levels, it has on their mental and physical well-being. Good mental health plays a significant role in the body’s overall health.

PRACTICING SAFE PROTOCOLS Currently, the class sizes are reduced so that people can safely spread out 6 feet apart on their yoga mats.

Honor Yoga offers classes seven days a week—both in person and streamed are available. The classes are posted on the Honor Yoga in Zionsville website. Wolka shared that there’s also an Honor Yoga app.

“I really like the app. It’s really simple to use,” Wolka expressed. “People can create an account on there and search for Honor Yoga Zionsville for our schedule.

Right now, we have a pretty special sale

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going on! It will be available for a little while longer. We are offering 30 days of UNLIMITED yoga for only $30! If you’ve taken yoga, you know it is usually $20 to $25 for one class. So, we’re offering a whole month for $30, and you can take as many classes as you want. It’s a great way to experience different class styles and different teachers. It’s an offer that doesn’t come along very often.”

Wolka invites anyone who is interested in learning more about Honor Yoga’s classes and philosophies to come in and experience yoga in a safe and inviting atmosphere.

Don’t miss out on Honor Yoga in Zionsville’s incredible, limited-time offer!

Register through the Honor Yoga app or online at zionsville.honoryoga.com.

Be sure to follow Honor Yoga in Zionsville on social media for updates on classes and the grand opening celebration, slated for this summer, on Facebook at Honor Yoga Zionsville and on Instagram at honor.yoga.zionsville.

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THE KING’S CASTLE Many of you probably know Stephen King as the owner of the King’s Image men’s store which has been in the Castleton area for many years providing custom men’s clothing. King, who has an immense love of art, built a unique home located near 161st and Gray Road 28 years ago, which at the time King claims was the hinterland of north Carmel. According to King, when he designed and built the house there was little development around his property. Now a development with million-dollar homes sits just to the north of his property. Moreover, there certainly were few, if any, homes with such a modern design in the Carmel area to look to for inspiration and design ideas. King actually toured a home in Florida and got some of the design ideas he incorporated into this home. Designed as a work of art itself, the home over the years has become for King and Melonee Merann, his wife who is an interior designer, their own

personal Museum of Modern Art. The design is not the only thing unique about this house. Amazingly, this house provides a level of privacy not found in many homes in Carmel today. The home sits on 4 acres of land and has a 1/8 of a mile private drive directly off Gray Road.

As you can see from the photos, the design is open and filled with light. King’s design at the time the home was built may have been a bit unconventional, but now it’s just spectacular. In addition to the acreage and privacy, the home is also large enough for a family with its nearly 6,000 sq. feet and a car collector’s dream with a 6-car attached garage.

King intends to place the home on the market in the very near future with a close friend as their agent. A unique property like this does not hit the market in Carmel very often. If you want to reach out to the King’s to inquire about the property call 317 629 5358.

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THE PALLADIUM PRESENTS

Virtua

lly

KAR FRONT SEAT WITH ADAM OLLENDORFF:

COUNTRY MUSIC MUSICIAN AND COMPOSER Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Courtesy of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

KAR FRONT SEAT GOES VIRTUAL AS STUDENTS CHAT WITH INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS. INTERESTED IN TUNING IN? REGISTER FOR FREE AT THECENTERPRESENTS.ORG AND YOU WILL RECEIVE A ZOOM LINK PRIOR TO MARCH 29.

About the Presenter Adam Ollendorff is a Nashville-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has toured and recorded with Kacey Musgraves, Will Hoge and John Oates and appeared on recordings by J.D. McPherson and Carrie Underwood. Playing guitar, Dobro and pedal steel guitar, he has shared stages with Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson and Katy Perry and appeared on the CMA Awards, the Grammy Awards, “Late Show with David Letterman” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” As a songwriter, he has collaborated with Natalie Hemby, Jim Lauderdale and Maren Morris and co-wrote the title cut of Keb’ Mo’s 2019 holiday album “Moonlight, Mistletoe & You,” which spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard blues chart. Ollendorff also serves as community outreach and music programs manager at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. For more information on the programs available visit countrymusichalloffame.org. extension of the museum’s Janelle Morrison: The Center flagship music education profor the Performing Arts gram, Words & Music. There are is a special place for me PERFORMER resources located where families personally, and it’s important SPOTLIGHT can learn how to write their own to me to advocate for its original song lyrics and get tips performances and outreach on putting those ideas to music. programs. The fact that And we started doing things you’re willing to take time for like KAR Front Seat with the Center for the this upcoming presentation is incredible.

Performing Arts and a lot of Songwriting 101— These programs make a huge impact on virtually. Whereas before [COVID-19], it had the youth in our Hoosier community, so been in person at the Taylor Swift Education thank you.

Center on Saturday mornings. There was defiAdam: Oh, it’s my pleasure. Julia [Shildmynitely a learning curve for all of us, but I feel we er-Heighway] invited us to do a “Songwriting got there pretty quickly.

101” program last year, and that was a blast. We had a great time and wrote a great song. One JM: What has been the most important of the nice things about this moment [in time] outcome of going virtual with the has been getting to connect with and make museum’s youth outreach programs? some new friends in other places and doing Adam: I think we figured out how to more virtual programs/virtual songwriting engage people—virtually—and encourage with groups. I get a lot out of it too. them. There was a lot to write about during COVID-19, and everybody’s going through JM: How big of a challenge has it been something. Kids, as you know, couldn’t go not being able to experience the into school and couldn’t hang out with their person collaboration and instruction? friends. They were feeling really isolated, And have you been able to work around stressed out, sad and scared. I think the need that and make it happen regardless of for self-expression shot through the roof. the pandemic?

They were looking for a way to connect and to Adam: I think so. Early on in the pandemic continue making music, which I’m really proud we started this program called Words & Music that the museum has been able to offer that. at Home. Words & Music at Home is an online

THE PALLADIUM

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JM: Taking a step back, when did your personal journey in the music industry begin?

Adam: I remember being very little and being very moved by music. I remember being in a carpool with some friends, and one of my friend’s mom had some Beatles tapes. She had “Rubber Soul” and “Revolver,” and we would request songs. I remember being very excited about music, and as much as I loved hearing music, I used to wish that I would be the person making the music and being up on the stage. But I really didn’t know how exactly to get up there [on stage] for a long time.

JM: When did you realize that a career in music was what you wanted to dedicate your life to pursuing?

Adam: I didn’t realize until I was older that I really wanted to play music. I was 16 when I got into playing the guitar. My parents wanted me to pursue a more “traditional” career like law or medicine. I went to Princeton for undergrad and ended up getting a degree in literature, which I realize now has served me well in songwriting.

I was off and on with [playing] guitar through my early 20s. But, when I was 25, I was living in Chicago and was working in politics for the Illinois Attorney General in communications. I had started playing the pedal steel guitar, and that’s when I really wanted to pursue music professionally. I figured this was my last shot and left a really good gig as a communications coordinator for the Illinois AG to go to Berklee College of Music in Boston.

big and find mentors, including their peers, JM: Has there been a moment in this role from whom they can learn and grow. During as the museum’s community outreach the KAR Front Seat, I’m going to play a song for and music programs manager that has them so they can get a sense of what I sound impacted you the most? like as a songwriter, but I want to talk with Adam: One of our students, who started them about the importance of dreaming big with us at 10 and is now 13, has been coming and to follow their dreams. I was to our Summer Songwriting told frequently as a kid that a caCamp. We couldn’t offer it last reer in the arts was not available. year because of the pandemic, That you have to be “so lucky” or but she continues to work with “so talented” or have to be born us and has participated in our MARCH 29 into it. If you have a dream of Songwriting Tune Up program, working in the arts—I’m here to 7 P.M. virtually. I’ve seen her mature tell you that it IS available. and grow as a musician, and I want to encourage the kids she’s taking lessons from a to express themselves and to communicate. I prominent bass player here in town—doing it feel that communication is just a key to life in all virtually from the East Coast. relationships, work, being on stage or in the She came in a few weeks ago and said that recording studio. We’re all trying to communiher mother’s best friend’s husband had been cate with each other, and being vulnerable and killed in a car accident and that she had writbeing ourselves is another important message ten a song for the couple’s 2-year-old daughter that I intend to share. Be yourself and be open about all these milestones in this little girl’s to others as well. life that have yet to occur. And how the little girl’s father will be present and absent from all these important moments in her life. She had processed this tragedy and written about it so poignantly in this really beautiful, artistic way. It was kind of gobsmacking to me, and I realized that the museum creates these opportunities for kids to deal with life’s issues and gives them the tools to express themselves whenever they need to.

ONLINE

MONDAY

JM: What is your best advice to young people exploring the idea of becoming a musician and/or songwriter?

Adam: I want to encourage kids to dream

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TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT

Z i o n s v i l l e

R e s i d e n t

Leads Food Security Efforts at Home and Abroad Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Submitted

Last summer, Zionsville resident M. Paige Oliver, her husband and two sons repatriated from Singapore and have been reacclimating to their Zionsville community. Oliver is the integrated field science innovation and operations global leader at Corteva Agriscience. She has been with the company for 20 years in multiple roles across R&D, including discovery chemistry, formulation chemistry and integrated field science.

I

spoke with Oliver about her work in China and Asia-Pacific (APAC) and asked what knowledge and insights has she brought back to implement in her work in the U.S. as well as her Hoosier community as it relates to food security and sustainability.

HELPING TO LEAD EFFORTS TO SUPPORT FOOD SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES In her role, Oliver partners with teams within Corteva and external collaborators across the globe to advance agricultural research with a focus on sustainable practices, partnering with farmers and under-

standing their needs. Oliver shared that there is a particular interest in supporting the small landholder and women farmers.

Oliver is a passionate advocate for the development and advancement of business scientists and actively leads efforts to support food security in local communities. With Corteva’s support, Oliver shared that she has initiated food security efforts in China and APAC while in her regional role. She is currently serving as the Indy Global Business Center food security lead.

A recipient of the 2005 Dow AgroSciences Young Scientist of the Year Award, Oliver’s background also includes a master’s degree in organic chemistry at

Purdue University, a Six Sigma Green Belt and being honored as the 2015 Women’s Innovation Network Champion.

“My husband is a professional chef, so from a food perspective—it’s personal to us,” Oliver shared. “I work on one side with the farmers, and he’s working on the other side with the consumers. So, our discussions around the dinner table are usually pretty interesting. With my background in chemistry, I’ve seen how we are inventing crop protection products to help enable their crops and improve productivity. And through formulations, understanding how we’re partnering with farmers from an application perspective so that it’s easy

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TECHNOLOGY SPOTLIGHT

and safe for them to do. Then, from the field science or field biology, really seeing how those products are being used in a way that is beneficial for the environment but also for the people using that technology and, eventually, for the people eating the food.”

Oliver added, “From a global perspective, I would say not everywhere are they caring so much about the land, and in some cases, they don’t own the land. So, what drives their decisions is their own profitability. Typically, you have passionate farmers who are passing it on to their kids and their grandchildren, so it’s extremely personal to them. From a company perspective, we try to partner with them, and no matter what context they are using, we also care deeply about the environment and about people. So, whatever we’re going to produce, whether it’s the seed, crop protection or digital solutions, how we bring that all together, we’re going to be fanatically focused on the farmer to ensure that their operation is as effective and profitable as we can help enable it to be. We’re also ensuring that any of those products are going to help them from a sustainability aspect.”

THE IMPACT OF SMALL LANDHOLDER FARMERS— GLOBALLY AND LOCALLY

Over the next nine years, Oliver shared that as part of their 2030 goals, they are looking at how they provide training to 25 million farmers.

“There is a specific emphasis on our small landholder farmers because there’s about 500 million small landholder farmers in Asia, Africa and South America,” Oliver stated. “And they are producing about 80% of the food in those areas. The impact that has here [in the U.S.] is huge when you think about the exports. When we think about rice, the U.S. does produce rice, but the majority of our rice is coming from Asia. The average size of a farm in China is about the size of a conference room, and how they farm is so different then we commercialize farming in other areas and for other crops.”

INNOVATIVE IDEAS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS Corteva puts a strong emphasis on developing and implementing farming practices that benefit not only the farmers and the end-users but the environment as well.

“When looking at cropping systems, for example, in the U.S. when you’ve harvested corn or soybeans, you can plant peas—yellow peas, for instance—as a winter cover crop,” Oliver said. “It is a legume, and it does nitrogen fixation in

the soil, which helps anchor that soil, so you won’t have as much erosion. Another benefit is that it can be harvested. It’s one of the fastest-growing plant proteins right now, and it creates another revenue stream for the farmers.”

Oliver further explained that nitrogen fixation allows more nitrogen in the soil, which means you don’t need as much fertilizer. The effects of climate change are evident in the areas the Oliver and her team had been working in, especially in parts of India.

“Globally, we have another situation where climate change is happening,” Oliver said. “In India, the water table is starting to go down in certain regions. A flooded rice paddy is very common for weed control. So, without enough water, the farmers have to switch to dry direct seeded rice, and they are hand planting.

They’ve never planted this way before, and they are using a different hybrid [of rice] that doesn’t need as much water.

We’re supporting them and have done testing to see what the hybrids are for this situation. We can provide mechanization that allows them to plant without having to do it by hand, and we looked at different herbicides that are needed because [absent water] they have different weeds. We keep the farmer in the center of all that we do, and we feel that it’s good businesses to do good.”

ARE SUSTAINABLE AND RESPONSIBLE FOOD PRACTICES TRENDING? I asked Oliver if she is seeing these practices trending throughout the U.S. now that she’s returned to her country of origin.

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We keep the farmer in the center of all that we do, and we feel that it’s good businesses to do good”

“Maybe because I’m just re-entering the U.S., I feel it was really encouraging to see ‘Imperfect Foods,’” Oliver stated. “I like to people watch in the grocery store and see them ‘hunt’ through the apples to find the most appealing ones. I’ll tell you that other countries aren’t going to focus on that so much. It’s almost presence absence—they just go into the grocery and grab what they need. They’re not hunting through the stack. I think when you have an upper class and a significant middle class, people get choosey. When you’re looking for sustenance, you’re just looking for ‘healthy.’”

pounds of produce to different food security networks within the Indianapolis area. We partner with Meals on Wheels, Gleaners, The Hunger Solutions Network and different local area organizations.”

When asked how it felt to be back in Zionsville—back in the home they had rented out while they were abroad—Oliver replied, “We had originally moved to Zionsville a year after I started with Corteva. We are so grateful to be back in the community and thankful for the small-town life.”

BACK HOME AND PURPOSE-DRIVEN Having extensively traveled throughout China and APAC, Oliver has brought with her countless experiences and a depth of knowledge that continues to fuel her sense of purpose both professionally and personally.

“We have a ‘Hunger Garden’ on site at Corteva,” Oliver said. “We are producing vegetables and have donated over 20,000

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2020-10-21 6:24 PM

Paul Estridge Jr.:

On a New Chapter in the Estridge Legacy Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Dauss Miller and submitted

As one drives around the city of Carmel and the surrounding communities in Hamilton County, one would be hard-pressed not to see some of the definitive influences that the Estridge family has made on several of the area’s neighborhood developments. As the area’s “Hometown Builder” of more than 50 years, Estridge companies have built 8,000-plus homes and developed more than 30 neighborhoods in central Indiana—including Harmony and Serenade.

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Paul Estridge Sr.

HOMEBUILDING—IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR

Paul Estridge Jr.

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recent announcement from Estridge Homes LLC details the passing of the reigns of the Carmel-based homebuilding company from Paul Estridge Jr. to his leadership team. Estridge will remain an owner and emphasized that he is not “retiring” but will be stepping away from the day-to-day operations of Carmel-based Estridge Homes LLC. He will continue to assist the leadership team with strategic planning on current and future projects.

Estridge, 63, received a single-lung transplant earlier this year to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and looks at his experience like an “extension of life.”

“I’m going to live a very active life, and I’m not retiring—I’m rewiring,” Estridge expressed. “I’m stepping back out of the day-to-day operations, and that’s going to enable me to focus on my health and fitness, and there’s some other things that I’d like to do.”

Stepping up as CEO is Carmel resident Clint Mitchell. Mitchell joined Estridge Homes in 2015, and Westfield resident and COO Rob McGraw has been with the company since 1995.

Estridge Jr. shared that he was only a kid—10 years old—when his late father, Paul Estridge Sr., established Paul E. Estridge Homes.

“In the early days, I was 10 years old when Dad [Paul Estridge Sr.] decided to open up his own homebuilding company,” Estridge shared. “I started with him holding the tape measure, sweeping and scrapping out drywall. It is difficult working for your parents—my mother was every bit as involved with bookkeeping and design, but it was what it was. There was a family work ethic—you worked when you weren’t doing something else you had to do.”

Estridge recalled the endless hours in which he would sit listening to his father’s phone conversations and meetings and sitting in homes on the weekends holding open houses, trying to emulate what his father did when he greeted and spoke with potential clients. Estridge shared that his father was the first homebuilder to introduce zero-lot-line products and communities to the Indianapolis area.

In 1983, Estridge started his own company, The Estridge Group, and he bought out his father’s business in 1992.

“Building whole neighborhoods of homes became our passion and what we really focused on over the years,” Estridge said. “What we find when we build the entire neighborhood is that we’re able to create an experience and lifestyle for people that goes beyond just the house.

Otherwise, we’d just be building a subdivision with houses.”

Clint Mitchell

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE OF ESTRIDGE HOMES When asked how much Mitchell and McGraw will be relying on the sage wisdom and experience of Estridge, Mitchell replied, “Very much—Paul certainly has a lot of wisdom and knows this area as well as anyone and has much experience as a builder in the Indianapolis market.

As we look at growth, we’re looking for Paul’s insight. We’d like to look outside of the Carmel and Westfield areas where we can make some pretty big investments with a community and create the kind of neighborhood design that brings in the home design to complement the neighborhood layouts, amenities and landscaping.”

Mitchell added that in many of their communities, they appeal to multiple demographics and often to multigenerational buyers.

“We look at who our buyer is, and we look at multiple demographics,” Mitchell said. “We are not just focusing on one type of buyer and have different price points and different sizes of homes within the same neighborhood. For example, within Harmony, we have young couples, singles,

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families and empty nesters and sometimes within the same family. We have people with parents and kids living in the same community, and it’s pretty cool.”

Mitchell shared that by the end of this year, Estridge Homes expects to begin construction of a new 550-home development in Westfield—name to be announced—and the company’s first luxury townhome developments, Park West in Westfield and 16 Gateway in downtown Indianapolis, will be additional projects with the new CEO and COO at the helm.

Estridge added, “What is true of everything that I’ve ever started is that it’s always been about getting the right people together and the right team of people.”

Monterey Coastal Cuisine, co-owned by Estridge and Thomas, is expected to open on April 3 and will feature a selection of sushi, seafood and steaks in a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere at 110 West Main Street, just east of the Monon Greenway. Visit montereycuisine.com for updates and more information.

ANNOUNCING MONTEREY COASTAL CUISINE!

When asked out of all the projects and businesses that Estridge has built and had interest in, which one has meant the most to him and had the biggest impact on his career, he replied, “For sure it’s Centennial.

And Harmony is a very close second. All the things we learned with Centennial, we’ve built them into Harmony. We were able to do some really big ideas like the sledding hill. I think it’s the most used sledding hill in the county. People send me pictures of the kids when it snows, and there’s like 100 kids on top of that hill.”

In addition to his favorite project, Estridge was gracious enough to share a favored moment related to Centennial.

“As far as special moments, I love the wintertime—driving into Centennial,” Es-

Estridge shared that he had always been interested in the restaurant industry but that it was never the right time or fit for him.

“I had never had time for it, nor did I have what I thought was the knowledge and expertise to get involved in it,” Estridge stated. “Then the moons aligned about a year and half ago when I approached Chris Thomas, who was the general manager at Kona Grill. He had approached me about doing something together about 15 years ago, but when we spoke again a year and a half ago, it seemed like an interesting time to do it. He’s a tremendous operator, and I wouldn’t be doing this without him.”

MOST IMPACTFUL PROJECT

We’re designing homes that emphasize more of the front porch, where people can live and sit out there, waving at their neighbors, as opposed to everybody being in the backyard”

-Paul Estridge Jr.

tridge expressed. “Seeing the church lit up and the trees along the street all lit up—if I could be buried there, that’s where I would be buried.”

Estridge believes that one of the responsibilities of builders is to create spaces for people to connect and to build memories.

“We’re designing homes that emphasize more of the front porch, where people can live and sit out there, waving at their neighbors, as opposed to everybody being in the backyard,” Estridge said. “It’s those little things that really have an impact on people’s connectivity with their neighbors and how well they know them.”

For more information on Estridge Homes and its communities, visit estridge.com.

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Take a Walk Into a

Storybook Spring Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Submitted

In the words of Gustav Mahler, “Spring won’t let me stay in this house any longer! I must get out and breathe the air deeply again.” In that spirit, I plan on wandering about right here in the town of Zionsville—along the trail in Elm Street Green—to experience the new StoryWalk project for myself.

Zionsville’s Newest Attraction

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he StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vermont, and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition (VBPC) and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.

Zionsville’s StoryWalk project is a collaboration between the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library (HMMPL), the HMMPL Foundation and Zionsville Parks and Recreation. The permanent installation is located along the half-mile paved loop in Elm Street Green and officially opened to the public on March 20, 2021. It is a free, multistation exhibit in the prairie meadows section of the park.

The Zionsville Parks and Rec Department recently installed permanent structures allowing the HMMPL to share

a book, page by page, throughout this self-guided story tour. It allows visitors of all ages an opportunity to enjoy reading and the great outdoors at the same time.

“The new feature at Elm Street Green supports our mission to provide unique and accessible services that inspire people to learn, play and engage,” said Mindy Murdock, director of recreation services. “The Zionsville Parks Department has enjoyed years of partnership with the library. This collaboration allows us to continue to develop exciting recreational opportunities and reach new community members.”

HMMPL and the Parks Department have offered at least 10 joint programs annually for several years. The success of these programs helped set the stage for HMMPL’s most recent Parks Department collaboration. The StoryWalk will incorporate monthly events with both

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HMMPL’s and Zionsville Nature Center’s participation.

Youth librarian Laura Gangstad expressed that she received a lot of support from Murdock when the two discussed the prospect of having a permanent StoryWalk feature at Elm Street Green.

“Mindy was so supportive,” Gangstad said. “She said if I got the grant together, then we would propose [the project] to the Parks Department and to the Library Foundation. I got the bid for the $9,000 to get the [20] posts and enough money to purchase books for two, maybe three years. We will have a different book— from well-respected authors—at the beginning of each month and will have a story time [event] or something associated with the new book and the StoryWalk.”

Gangstad said that the StoryWalk and related programs tie into the national program Every Child Ready to Read that encourages parents to interact with their children using the five practices of early literacy: singing, talking, reading, writing and playing.

“Every Child Ready to Read will be highlighted somewhere along the trail,” Gangstad shared. “The more that kids read, write, talk, sing and play together, the more they’ll be ready for school.”

The Inaugural Feature Story Search for signs of spring along the StoryWalk path and read “Bloom Boom!”

by April Pulley Sayre throughout the end of March and all of April.

“The photography in this first [featured] book is beautiful,” Gangstad stated. “April [Pulley Sayre] focuses on things in nature to look at. It will appeal to adults as well as children.”

The author of “Bloom Boom!” shared with me what she hopes people will take

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ic, really anytime, books and outdoor time help rekindle our joy. One study showed that even five minutes in a green growing outdoor space—especially one with views of water—can help lift people’s spirits and improve mental health. That’s important for young children, our elders and all of us in the middle as well. I hope that after reading ‘Bloom Boom!’ our youngest strollers will have a few more science words tucked in their minds for asking questions and learning more.” away from her book as well as the experience of the StoryWalk as a whole.

‘I am thrilled about HMMPL’s StoryWalk installation,” Pulley Sayre said.

“My books reflect the joy of nature and scientific inquiry. I hope they send readers back out into nature with refreshed eyes.

‘Bloom Boom!’ celebrates the blooming of flowers in gardens and in the wild. Its refrain, BLOOM, BOOM!, is made to be said together, out loud, with whatever level of quiet or grand gusto you like. So, I can’t think of a better place to do that than outdoors on HMMPL’s StoryWalk!”

Pulley Sayre continued, “Post-pandem-

Join the StoryWalkers Club

and register to be a part of the StoryWalkers Club.

“If people join the [StoryWalkers] Club through Beanstack—there’s a link on our website—they can give feedback directly to me that I can pass on to Mindy and the library foundation,” Gangstad said. “I will list all of the books on there, and people can check it off as having went and seen it and give us a little feedback.”

So, grab your strollers or wagons and head on over to Elm Street Green to enjoy this month’s book selection and a taste of a much-needed spring season outdoors.

The library needs your feedback on your StoryWalk experiences! Simply go to zionsvillelibrary.beanstack.org/reader365

For more information about HMMPL programs and/or the HMMPL Foundation, visit zionsvillelibrary.org.

STORYWALK TITLES PLANNED THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2021: TITLE

AUTHOR

DISPLAY DATE/LOCATION

Bloom Boom!

One Small Place in a Tree Ice Cream Summer Summer Song Magnificent Monarchs Count Down to Fall

April Pulley Sayre Barbara Brenner Peter Sis Kevin Henkes Linda Glacer Frank Hawk

April 2021 Elm Street May 2021 Elm Street June 2021 Elm Street July 2021 Elm Street August 2021 Elm Street September 2021 Elm Street

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Logan Wagner: Zionsville’s First State Wrestling Champion

Writer // Janelle Morrison Photography // Faith Huff/DutchessJax Photography, Tom Marron Photography, staff

WRESTLING IS IN THE WAGNER BLOOD Ever since he could walk, Wagner has been in a wrestling room alongside his family. His father, Robert, has been a wrestling assistant coach for 24 years.

Wagner’s uncles Shane and Ryan Wagner are former ZCS Eagles who finished

We are pleased to feature Zionsville Community High School’s (ZCHS) first ever state wrestling champion Logan Wagner on our cover this month. The Wagner name is no stranger to IHSAA wrestling championships, but Logan Wagner is the first in his family to win the title.

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mid the pandemic, Wagner navigated through the obstacles while keeping his goals in focus—to win the state championship his senior year. Along with his remarkable work ethic and support from both family, coaches and fellow wrestlers, Wagner succeeded in his mission and will graduate from ZCHS with a title he humbly and happily wears and the championship medal that will remind him of his journey to the top of his high school athletic career.

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at the state championship—ZCHS’s first championship title.

“Logan is very humble and very hungry,” Welch said. “He is self-motivated and comes from a great family. Not a lot fazes him when it comes to adversity. He was down 5-1 in the finals, and a deficit that large in the state finals is hard to come back from. He is mentally tough, and he battled back and found himself victorious in that finals match. He’s a four-time state placer who continues to get better each and every day. It was a special journey to watch him and to be a part of—it’s one I won’t forget.”

PERSEVERING THROUGH PANDEMIC

second (Shane) and third (Ryan) at state in 1997 and 2002, respectively.

Wagner’s brother, Kody, finished fourth in state in 2018. The match on Feb. 20 was Wagner’s fourth appearance in the state finals. He placed eighth as a freshman in 2018, sixth as a sophomore in 2019 and third in 2020. He won the 145-pound state title at the IHSAA state finals at Bankers Life Fieldhouse after rallying from a 5-1 deficit and beat Center Grove’s Hayden Watson 9-5 with his father looking on.

Afterward, father and son were captured by photographers in a victorious embrace that visually describes the Wagner family pride and commitment to excellence.

“My family connection had a huge influence on me,” Wagner shared. “I’ve grown up in the wrestling room and have been a part of this program ever since I was a toddler. My freshman year was pretty special for me because I got to wrestle the whole season with my older brother, Kody. I think that did a lot for us, and it made our bond tighter. My goal [then] was to follow in his footsteps, and we kept moving on together. The further we got, the more I wanted it [the championship].”

Wagner shared that the Wagner family as a whole is invested in wrestling and is

a core part of Wagner’s support team. Another unique aspect of Wagner’s championship journey is having his uncle Shane coach him in middle school and having the support and guidance from his father as assistant coach in high school.

“I think my favorite part about this whole [championship] journey is getting to do it with my dad,” Wagner shared.

“That’s one of the things I’m most grateful for, that he was able to be there for my last run.”

ZCHS Wrestling head coach Doug Welch weighed in on Wagner’s victory

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We asked Wagner how the pandemic affected his last two wrestling seasons, in particular his training regimen.

“Getting through the pandemic wasn’t that hard for me,” Wagner stated. “We’re a very tight-knit family, and we like to spend time with each other, so it wasn’t a big deal to be ‘trapped’ in the same house. We ended up building some of the American Ninja Warrior obstacles in our backyard, and we got pretty good at those.

It helped to improve our strength and balance. I guess I enjoyed the training more than anything because it was different, and I got think outside of the box and do some different kinds of training.”

When it became evident that there would be wrestling season—that hinged upon athletes and staff following strict

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protocols and contact-tracing rituals— the coaches and athletes from Zionsville decided to focus on their core mission and push through the challenges. Their perseverance and discipline paid off.

SUCCESS ACHIEVED AND ON TO THE NEXT When asked what was going on in Wagner’s head leading up to the very

moment that he walked onto the mat, he replied, “A big part of our training is visualization. One of the things our coaches have us do is imagine ourselves waking up, going about our morning business, packing our cooler for the day, driving to the school, getting on the bus to the events and checking weights, warming up and just running through all the steps of the day until the end of the last whistle.” Wagner continued, “I had wrestled that state finals match probably 20,000 times in my head this whole season. I didn’t expect to feel like I was at home, but I felt like I had been there before.”

After being declared the winner, father and son embraced one another.

“We really didn’t say any words,” Wagner recalled. “We just gave each other a hug, and I couldn’t help but smile.

I didn’t know what else to do—I was just exploding with energy. Honestly, I’ve been thinking about how to describe it,

and even now I still don’t know how to explain it. It’s one of those things you have to experience for yourself because I just can’t put it into words.” Wagner has committed to Marian University, where he will spend the next four years “climbing to the top of that podium.”

We asked Wagner what he will take with him from his coaches and the ZCHS Wrestling program, to which he responded, “My coaches have been a really special part of my journey. I look at all of them like they are my family now. They’ve made a big impact on my wrestling career and in my life in general. They’ve been great role models, and I hope that one day, I can be like them. How they [the coaches] carry themselves as individuals, always challenging themselves and making sure they are the best version of themselves in wrestling, work or life in general. They make sure that they’re giving 100% in every aspect of life, and I think that’s really cool.”

Spring is Approaching.

As the days become longer and weather warms, many of us begin to consider what comes next. For some, it may mean a new home with more outdoor space to enjoy this summer or a larger home to begin to host friends and family gatherings. If this is true for you, please contact me. I would be happy to help you find the home that best suits your needs now.

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A n U p d a t e F r o m D r . S c o t t R o b i s o n

o n

Wrapping Up the School Year and More!

Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // ZCS

A year after the COVID-19 pandemic struck our community and dramatically impacted the learning environment for our children, I spoke with Zionsville Community Schools (ZCS) Superintendent Dr. Scott Robison on the current status of the schools, including the renovations and expansion projects that were approved by the voters in the 2019 referendum.

PROCEEDING WITH GUARDED OPTIMISM

T

he ZCS administration has been working closely with and relying on the guidance provided by the Boone County Health Department (BCHD) since the pandemic first hit our county. ZCS made the decision to bring grades 5–12 back to in-person learning, four days per week on March 9, 2021.

“It has been an interesting dance, that is for sure,” Robison stated. “We’ve been so blessed with BCHD being constantly accessible and very reasonable about things like prom and graduation, which are on the books, and those decisions are based on how good things look now, and we hope that the numbers continue to look favorable as we continue to move forward with eyes wide-open, knowing that this pandemic is still going on. I’ve worked in

TAKING A MOMENT TO GIVE THANKS TO TEACHERS

five Indiana counties, and this [county] is far and away the best for those communications and just wanting to get it right for all of our constituents.”

The same guarded optimism has gone into the planning of this year’s commenceZIONSVILLE MONTHLY

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ment ceremony. According to Robison, officials from all three high schools in Boone County met with BCHD to discuss the county’s most recent COVID-19 metrics and the preliminary plans for proms and graduation ceremonies. ZCS’s plans are pending final approval from BCHD. If approved by BCHD, Zionsville Community High School (ZCHS) is planning on hosting its prom at the Indianapolis Executive Airport on April 24. Robison shared that it will be held in an open airplane hanger and that only ZCHS students will be allowed to attend. Robison cautioned that parents and students should be aware that weather conditions could be a factor and that additional restrictions or possible cancellations could be implemented in the event of inclement weather.

Additionally, weather permitting and pending the approval of BCHD, ZCHS’s Class of 2021 is scheduled to graduate on June 6 at 2 p.m. in the St. Vincent Health Stadium—social distancing will be exercised.

“The entire event hangs in the balance with what happens with COVID-19,” Robison emphasized. “And if there is a rainout on June 6 at 2 p.m., the time will be moved to 7 p.m. that same Sunday evening. And if that Sunday is a complete wash, we will make a go of it on Monday, June 7 at 7 p.m.

We have all the tricks up our sleeves based on what happens with the weather.”

Robison also shared that if the positive trajectory continues with regard to the county’s COVID-19 metrics, and if the BCHD approves the plan presented by ZCS at that time, the administration’s goal is to have all students back in school this coming fall, in person, five days per week— presenting the best version of Zionsville Community Schools.

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Across the nation, communities will celebrate teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 3–-7), and Robison and the ZCS administrative staff is already working on their own campaign to show all ZCS teachers their heartfelt appreciation for a job well done in the most challenging of times.

“We’ve recently been offered the opportunity to name four teachers for Teacher of the Year recognition at the state level—

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2021-03-18 2:09 PM

issues that negatively impact the current student body.

First, a second east-west corridor will be created for students to get from one end of the building to the other. Second, a new dining commons area will be created to improve efficiency to the way in which meals are provided to the school’s population.

And third, the biggest item on the plans is switching the high school’s main entrance from the north side (Mulberry Street side) to the south side facing the ball fields. An additional 35 classrooms will be created out of new and existing spaces in the high school, and the building’s capacity will be expanded from 2,450 to 3,050 students once the construction is completed.

“Big changes are coming, and people are going to notice,” Robison said. “There is an entire tour [of the project] on our website.

The new main entrance will be open by fall of 2022, and it’s going to be about a year and a half to two years to have all the pieces and parts buttoned up.”

ZCHS RENOVATIONS

usually it’s just one teacher—but I couldn’t fathom just mentioning four of them. So, we’re mounting a campaign for May 3–7 during Teacher Appreciation Week, and what we want to say to ALL of our teachers is that they are ALL teachers of the year at Zionsville. I really do feel that way.”

Robison continued, “These frontline people—our teachers—have been delivering the core mission [of ZCS] in very challenging times and with almost constant changes. They deserve all the recognition— every one of them. I can’t thank them enough, and I know from talking with my colleagues throughout the state, it hasn’t been the case everywhere. We’ve been really blessed.”

Amid the pandemic and everything that has gone along with it, Robison is pleased to announce that the renovations and expansion to ZCHS are on schedule.

“We’re perfectly on schedule, and the school board recently adopted the bids,” Robison shared. “We will see some work within March with most of the early work on the south area where there is no construction right now, so it won’t impede any of the traffic flow.”

The lead architect, Chuck Tyler, with Fanning Howey shared in a video presentation (available on the ZCS website) that the renovations and expansion to the existing structure will address three key

For more information on the renovation/expansion project on ZCHS, visit zcs.k12.in.us.

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