March 2, 2021
A Town of Zionsville Publication
In This Issue • Winter Escapes in Zionsville • Composting with Earth Mama Compost • Heritage Trail Dog Park Update
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March 2, 2021
Five Winter Escapes in Zionsville
Lincoln Park
Starkey Nature Park By Mindy Murdock, Director of Recreation Services Here in Zionsville, we all benefit from having nearby parks and play spaces. Parks provide us with safe gathering places to connect with family and friends. They promote wellness and healthy lifestyles for our communities. And they’re places to explore, run, play, use our imagination and watch the beauty of the seasons change in our natural habitats. Here is a short list of five places to explore within Zionsville parks this winter.
Big-4 Rail Trail
The Big-4 Rail Trail is named for the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway Corridor. However, when the trail is finished it will also connect the four communities of Zionsville, Whitestown, Lebanon and Thorntown. The trail is plowed during the winter season and forms a spine connecting many of our Zionsville parks. Don’t forget to check out scenic views of Eagle Creek on
Big-4 Rail Trail its southern end, and when complete, will connect to the mountain bike trails at Overley-Worman Park (opening 2022).
Starkey Nature Park
If you’re looking for a park where you can enjoy the beauty of nature, explore this 75-acre nature park. Rustic dirt trails weave themselves down into the Eagle Creek flood plain so we recommend you wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots. Bring along your binoculars as well – Starkey Park is a known birding hotspot. It’s also the perfect spot to seek out the first of our spring wildflowers. Note: It’s called Harbinger of Spring.
Mulberry Fields Park
Mulberry fields is one of my favorite parks yearround. It’s the perfect park to spend a summer day, but it’s also a great park for some winter recreation. Grab your sled and check out Zionsville’s bestknown sledding hill. Or if speed isn’t your style the
flat fields and trail is great for cross country skiing or making epic snow angels.
Lincoln Park
Maybe your idea of a good winter escape is a place where you can catch up with a friend. Grab a cup of coffee or hot cocoa from the nearby coffee shop, Roasted in the Village, and seclude yourself in the gazebo at Lincoln Park. Afterwards, take a stroll downtown and visit all the local shops and restaurants.
Zion Nature Sanctuary
Winter isn’t complete without an escape into the Zion Nature Sanctuary. Tucked behind Eagle Elementary, this little park is a favorite of our Park Naturalists. The wooded park is a great location to discover woodpeckers as well as barred owls. The outdoor classroom is the perfect spot on warm sunny days to bring a lunch and a good book and relax.
March 2, 2021
Zionsville Police Department Installs License Plate Reader Cameras Zionsville Police Department (ZPD) recently installed 10 new Flock Safety license plate reader cameras throughout Zionsville. This system securely captures images by using Vehicle Fingerprint technology to identify the license plate and vehicle make, type and color. The images captured are automatically downloaded and stored into a securely encrypted cloud server. This data is stored on the cloud for 30 days, after which all data is wiped from the cloud completely. Flock Safety also offers a camera system that homeowner’s associations (HOAs) and businesses can purchase and share to ZPD’s network for instant alerts to law enforcement and evidence-based documentation. Adding the camera is entirely voluntary for neighborhoods and businesses. What your neighborhood or business should know: • The cameras are 100% wire-free. They run on solar and battery power so no power source is necessary. This means neighborhoods can put the cameras nearly anywhere without the burden of costly infrastructure or the destruction of landscaping. • The HOA or business owns 100% of their data and, if it chooses, can share footage with ZPD. ZPD has strict guidelines about when and how they search and use the data. • All costs for the camera(s) fall upon the HOA or business. For questions, please contact Captain Marius Klykken at mklykken@ zionsville-in.gov or (317) 873-5967. HOAs and businesses interested can contact Flock Safety directly at (866) 831-5326 or visit flocksafety.com.
FAQ About Zionsville’s License Plate Reader System Can the cameras capture a vehicle’s speed? Flock Safety license plate readers capture the rear of the vehicle and do not measure speed. How long is information stored in the camera system? Data is stored for 30 days and there is no retention past that. Who has access to the stored information? Cameras are only accessible by law enforcement (not HOAs, businesses or Flock Safety employees). HOA cameras are private, and the HOA camera administrator has access to their camera(s) only. What are the circumstances under
which that information can be accessed by police? Law enforcement can access data when they have “reasonable suspicion.” There are strict guidelines on how and why officers can access data. Flock Safety will proactively scan the data for stolen vehicle searches and alert law enforcement if a positive ID is made. How will these cameras better help police officers investigate criminal activity? Flock Safety will alert police through a “Hot List” if a stolen vehicle, missing persons vehicle or any vehicle that was used in a crime is detected on the camera. By alerting officers of stolen vehicles and wanted persons, officers may be able to prevent a stop crime before it occurs.
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March 2, 2021
The People Behind Zionsville’s Boards, Commissions and Councils The individuals who serve on the Town of Zionsville boards and commissions play a vital role in town government. These individuals give their time and expertise for the benefit of the community.
Photo credit: Suzy Grifa
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Meet Suzy Nagy
Meet Chris Lake
Suzy was appointed to the Board of Police Commissioners in 2009 when it was formed. She enjoys being a part of the community through this service. “This position has allowed me to stay connected with the community in Zionsville and has given me the opportunity to be a part of many changes that have taken place over my time here. I am quite proud of our Zionsville Police Department and their ongoing efforts to improve,” Suzy said.
My goal as a member of these committees is to leverage my background as an architect to help solve problems and bring clarity to submissions and evaluations before both Plan Commission and BZA. I love our Town, and it is clear the other members of the committee do as well.
Vice President of the Board of Police Commissioners
Suzy has lived in Zionsville for nearly 21 years with her husband and three children. She has volunteered for Ronald McDonald House, the Junior Achievement Exchange City Program and Habitat for Humanity and served as a Brebeuf Bowling team parent and at the Brebeuf reception desk. She currently volunteers with her recently retired husband at the Boone County Fairgrounds assisting with the COVID-19 vaccine clinic. She enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Community Garden Plots Calling all gardeners! Garden plot sign-ups begin Thursday, March 11 at 8 a.m. Sign-up can be completed on the Zionsville Parks website (www. zionsville-in.gov/parks) or in person by making an appointment with the Zionsville Parks and Recreation Department at (317) 733-2273. Garden plots are available at Heritage Trail Park (4050 South 875 East) or Elm Street Green Park (165 North Elm Street). The tentative target date to begin planting is Thursday, April 1 (weather permitting).
Member of the Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA)
I moved to Zionsville with my family in December of 2011. We chose to build in Zionsville because of the strong community and the amazing school system. Since moving into Stonegate, I have served on the neighborhood POA, of which I was President in 2019. This was a unique opportunity to give back to my neighborhood and in particular, due to the needs of the neighborhood at the time, leverage my architectural and planning knowledge. I have also been engaged with ZYSA as a rec soccer coach for the past eight years and an Assistant Scout Master in Troop 358, where my son is an Eagle Scout, since 2018. Before these activities kept me so busy, I was a Board Member and Board President for the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana (now the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Indiana). I continue to serve the charity though as the Chair of the Program Committee, and my family and I serve Thanksgiving breakfast to the residents each year. Speaking of family, I have a 15-year-old son at Zionsville Community High School and a 13-year-old daughter at Zionsville West Middle School. My wife Shawna recently started an HR consulting business (Deep End Talent Strategies). In our free time, pre-COVID, we enjoyed traveling. We also like to hike, camp, ride bike and attend community events. During COVID-19, we managed to fill the first 72 evenings of quarantine with a family game night – 72 unique board or card games. At least something good came out the pandemic – more time as a family.
March 2, 2021
MEET THE MERCHANT Q&A with Kelsey Strohmeyer, Hotel Tango Director of Marketing Hotel Tango
10615 Zionsville Road hoteltangodistillery.com Hours: Monday – Thursday from 4 – 9 p.m. Friday from 4 – 11 p.m. Saturday from noon – 11 p.m. Sunday from noon – 9 p.m.
How did Hotel Tango get it’s start?
Our founder, Travis, joined the US Marine Corps shortly after the events of September 11 and he served three combat tours in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon his return from Iraq, he went to law school at IUPUI and met his wife Hilary. Travis decided law wasn’t for him and began distilling. At that time, in 2013, Indiana opened up for artisan distilling and offered licenses for the first time since prohibition. Hotel Tango was established as a company in 2013 and the doors of Hotel Tango in Fletcher Place opened in September 2014.
Why the name Hotel Tango?
The name pays homage to Travis’ military background. Using the NATO phonetic alphabet, H for Hotel translates to Hilary and T for Tango translates to Travis.
Tell me about the type of spirits you offer.
We have a diverse portfolio of nine spirits: three brown spirits, three clear spirits and three liqueurs. In our brown spirits category, we have a rye whiskey, our flagship bourbon and a reserve bourbon. Our clear spirits are rum, gin and vodka. Our liqueurs are cherry liqueur made with Michigan cherries and a touch of our bourbon, lemoncello and orangecello. The orangecello is one of my favorites – it’s very versatile and can be used as a substitute for triple sec.
What menu items do you offer to pair with your spirits?
At Zionsville, we have our largest food menu made up of elevated bar snacks like pretzel bites, cheeses and pizza. The food on the menu has elements of our spirits – the cheese on our pretzels is a gin cheese and our brie and pizza feature a cherry glaze made with our cherry liqueur. In the long run, we want to pull produce off our farm, which is
located on the south side of Indianapolis, to create a more sustainable food and drink menu.
What are you doing to follow COVID-19 safety guidelines?
All tables are six feet apart and there is a six person per table limit. If a guest is not at their table, they must wear face masks while walking in the common area or restrooms. All staff must wear masks at all times. We clean and sanitize thoroughly in between guests and at the end of shifts.
What are some plans in the works?
The one part of the tasting room that is unfinished is the patio. It’s a large patio that will be dog-friendly and there is a fireplace. By next winter the vinyl paneling will be up and we will close it in for a yearround patio with heaters.
You have two other locations – downtown Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Why Zionsville? We started in Fletcher Place and that was the distillery. As we have grown throughout years, we
have moved production into a different facility. We have our second tasting room in Ft. Wayne, near where Travis was born and raised. We’re in Zionsville because we have so many fans on the north side. We had a lot of people asking for it. It made sense and we wanted to be more involved in the northside community. Everyone has been so welcoming. Our operations team had a great experience working with the Town of Zionsville to get our building up and running. The Boone County Chamber and the Zionsville Chamber have been so welcoming.
How is this location different than the other locations?
Hotel Tango as a company that has its own culture with a lot of military touches that pay homage to Travis’ time in the service. In the Zionsville tasting room we have a wall of honor to highlight local community members that have also served, but we want each location has its own vibe. Compared to the Fletcher Place tasting room, Zionsville has a more industrial style. The Zionsville location also has the largest food menu right now.
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March 2, 2021
Meet Your Local Compost Hauler – Earth Mama Compost
the methane and carbon that our scraps could be putting off in the landfill. We are further reducing this pollution when the compost is used. Healthy soil is one of the carbon traps that we can build in our own backyards. At Earth Mama we make sure that the compost gets used by giving back each year. This year we distributed three cubic yards of compost. The first yard went back to our clients as a thank you. The other two yards were donated in our community to help the food insecure. KayLeo Urban Farms (kayleourbanfarm.org) was recommended by one of my clients. As a new farm they gave 700 pounds of fresh food to food pantries in their first year.
By Heather Maybury, Owner I started Curbside Compostables in 2013 with a few hundred dollars and a Honda Civic. One year into my endeavor I was approached by my only known competitor, who was needing to leave the business but wanted it to stay in good hands. I purchased what is now “Earth Mama Compost” in 2014. I dropped the former name, Curbside Compostables, and have been working to build Earth Mama since. We are here because food waste doesn’t break down when it is in the landfill. Food can sit for decades releasing methane and carbon into the atmosphere. According to the E.P.A., between 20 to 50% of our food waste breaks down in the first 15 years. Nearly 50% of the 36 million tons of food waste in the US comes from homes. This means that we have the power to make a difference. As the owner of a green company, it is my passion to empower people to make the little changes that can change the world. When we compost we are reducing
Heather Maybury
Earth Mama Compost started a pilot in Zionsville in May of 2019. I have been so heartened by the response. We have been steadily adding clients since. I was approached by the Mayor’s office and asked if it is feasible to have an opt-in composting program in Zionsville. My answer, “of course!” In January of 2021, we will be launching a curbside composting program for all of Zionsville. You can sign up at earthmamacompost.com.
March 2, 2021
Zionsville’s Compost Program As part of the Climate Action Plan, the Town of Zionsville has partnered with Earth Mama Compost to offer residents special pricing for curbside compost pickup. Zionsville residents can sign up for this service for $10/month, a discount of 50%. Sign up is available through the Earth Mama website (earthmamacompost.com). Since launching late January, more than 100 Zionsville households have signed up for curbside compost pickup. If 300 households participate and compost just 25% of their solid waste weekly, we will divert 86 tons of waste from landfills annually. Those who sign up will receive a starter kit from Earth Mama Compost that includes: • Compost bucket • 8-gallon compostable liner • Small countertop bin to keep in the kitchen • Roll of 3-gallon liners Earth Mama will replace the compostable liner and provide a complimentary bucket of compost in the spring. All compostable kitchen scraps are picked up by Earth Mama Compost every other week (contactless pickup) and dropped off at GreenCycle where they are transformed into soil-enriching compost. “The Town has created this opportunity for a discounted curbside composting service to provide an easy and affordable way for our residents to reduce waste,” said Mayor Emily Styron. “By partnering with Earth Mama Compost, we’re taking an important step to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, reducing landfill waste, improving our soil and reducing our impact on the environment.”
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March 2, 2021
Heritage Trail Dog Park Update
Heritage Trail Dog Park overhead view The first 200 memberships for the Heritage Trail Dog Park sold out in one day! We have an update on the next 100 memberships.
waiting list by visiting the Heritage Trail Dog Park website at www.zionsville-in.gov/dogpark. Then, beginning on Monday, March 15, names will be randomly selected from this waiting list via a lottery system. If your name is selected, you will be notified and can complete your application to begin utilizing the dog park on Thursday, April 1.
Drainage improvements on the eastern portion of the Heritage Trail Dog Park will be completed soon and we have some fur-tastic news: both the large and small dog sides will open for dog permit holders beginning April 1. At that time, we will open up the dog park for an additional 100 permits.
• Starting March 15 - names randomly selected via a lottery system • April 1 - eastern portion opens and selected 100 applicants can use the dog park
Interested Zionsville residents can sign up for the
These next 100 memberships are available to Zionsville residents only and are $75. A second and third dog is $50 for each additional dog.
Heritage Trail Dog Park 4050 South 875 East Open dawn to dusk, 365 days/year www.zionsville-in.gov/dogpark
Enjoying a snow day at the dog park
The Zionsville Parks and Recreation Department is monitoring dog park usage patterns to better understand our “pup carrying capacity.” We hope to continue to offer more permits in the future.