Currently Zionsville — October 6, 2020

October 6, 2020

A Town of Zionsville Publication

In This Issue • Zionsville Police Department Prioritizes School Safety • Going Solar in Zionsville • Meet Zionsville’s Superintendent of Parks and Recreation

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October 6, 2020

Community Conversations Series Launching in October This month, the Town of Zionsville invites you to participate in the Community Conversations series.

This series aims to bring the community together to examine and discuss the topics of implicit bias, systematic racism and racial justice.

Conversations will begin on October 8 and include five virtual sessions on Thursday evenings from 7 – 8:30 p.m. (no meeting on October 15 due to Zionsville Community Schools Fall Break). Topics planned for conversation include: • • • • •

Thursday, October 8: The Origin of Implicit Bias Thursday, October 22: The Impact of Implicit Bias on Individuals, Organizations and Society Thursday, October. 29: Managing the Influence of Implicit Bias Thursday, November 5: Systematic Racism: What is the Definition and Who Does it Impact?

Thursday, November 12: How Can We Improve Racial Justice?

Dr. Abbie Robinson-Armstrong, Ph.D. will facilitate the discussions. Robinson-Armstrong is a Zionsville resident and former Vice President for Intercultural Affairs and Professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA. During her 18 years at LMU, Robinson-Armstrong designed and implemented an internationally renowned evidence-based program on identifying and mitigating implicit bias.

Mayor Emily Styron and Zionsville Police Chief Spears will join Robinson-Armstrong during the conversations.

“This effort is a response to a collective call for action to help our community become more inclusive and equitable toward all people,” said Mayor Emily Styron.

“We are committing to action and are inviting the community with us as we learn, grow and change.”

Participants in the Community Conversations series will be invited to join the discussions virtually. If you’re interested in participating, please email Amanda at avela@zionsville-in.gov.

Let’s Talk About It: Mayor Emily Styron Launches Creekside Chats Are you part of a local group, organization, business or HOA and would like to have an informal discussion with Mayor Emily Styron?

Or are you a resident and have feedback, topics of interest or ideas to share? Let’s talk about it! Mayor Emily wants to chat with you… social distance style. Face coverings are required.

Where: Creekside Corporate Park Shelter (10855 Creek Way) When: Every Thursday at 4 p.m. To ensure every individual and group has a scheduled time, please book your chat in advance by emailing Carol Johnson at cjohnson@ zionsville-in.gov.

Other: If a different date and time works better, or if you prefer to meet virtually, please make arrangements with Carol Johnson.

Boy Scout Troop 358 meets Mayor Emily at Creekside Corporate Park

October 6, 2020

Zionsville Police Department Prioritizes Back to School Safety

Zionsville Police Department Officer James Stiles directs students to and from school This fall Zionsville Police Department (ZPD) is working to maintain the safety of students as they get on and off the bus. Officers are positioned along bus stops and routes looking for stop-arm violations and motorists driving dangerously. If someone attempts to pass a stopped school bus, enforcement can result in immediate consequences.

The overtime patrols are part of Indiana’s Stop Arm Violation Enforcement (SAVE) program. This program was developed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The goal of SAVE is to support and provide safe transportation routes to and from school for school children of all ages in Indiana.

In addition, at school arrival and departure times, ZPD officers have been deployed to several crosswalks and roundabouts and along other routes to schools to direct traffic and assist children.

“The Town of Zionsville is serious about pedestrian and bus stop safety,” said Mayor Emily Styron. “Since the start of this school year, record numbers of children are walking and biking to school. This is a healthy and terrific choice.”

ZIonsville Police Department officers watch for motorist violations along bus routes Police Chief Spears added, “There is nothing more important than the safety of our children. The Zionsville Police Department and I are committed to ensuring the highest levels of protection for our students as they travel to and from school. We work diligently to monitor school bus safety and ticket motorists who do not stop for school

buses pursuant to state law. Officers are assigned within the schools throughout the day to provide security for our young scholars, their teachers and staff. Please let us know of any suggestions you have to help us maintain a safe environment for all.”

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October 6, 2020

MEET THE MERCHANT Q&A with David Brown, Brown’s Antiques & The Lampshade Store Brown Antiques & The Lampshade Store

315 North 5th Street Hours: Monday – Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 pm. www.brownsantiques.com

Dave Brown with his Parents Marshall and Mary Jane Brown

This month Brown’s Antiques is celebrating 75 years in Zionsville. Tell me about the history of your shop.

As far as we know our shop is Indiana’s oldest antique shop. My mother and father moved to Zionsville as newlyweds in 1940 and our red house was the only home they ever lived in the rest of their lives. My dad had always wanted to start an antique shop, so they built a little building behind the red house and started Brown’s Antiques on Oct 31, 1945.

Within four years of opening, my father was making enough money in the antique shop to quit his job and run the shop for the next 60 years. It has now supported two generations of Browns with my 48 years in business.

What type of products can visitors expect to find in your shop?

First of all, we are Central Indiana’s largest retailer for replacement lampshades. Not one store in Indianapolis, believe it or not, has more lampshades than I do. We also offer lamp repair, which is a huge part of our business. And of course, we sell antiques, vintage merchandise and a wide variety of neat old stuff. There is a little bit of something for everybody.

You sell antiques but your specialty is lampshades. What are some tips people should know when picking out a lampshade?

One thing I say to people is that buying one new lampshade for a room can completely change the look of that room, and you really don’t necessarily have to use the same style of shade that you already had. My specialty is trying to help people figure out the right shade to create not only a brighter room, but a room with a completely updated look. Many people don’t know what type of shade to put on a lamp, but I am really good at helping people come up with something new. It’s a lot less expensive to buy a new lampshade or two than to completely redecorate.

What is something people may not realize about Brown’s?

That our shop includes three entire buildings, not just the small building that is easily seen from the street. Most people often think that since we are an antique shop, all of our shades are old fashioned.

They’re not! We specialize in more contemporary shades. If someone wants to make their home ultramodern, we have all sorts of shades. Also, we are a consignment shop. If you have something to sell, we would be glad to put it in our shop.

How has being located in Zionsville affected the way you do business?

Right now, our business from the Zionsville community is better than it’s ever been. When my parents moved here it was a small farming town and they liked the quiet, quaint feel. My parents were very involved their entire lives in making Zionsville

the town it is today. In 1962, they helped stop an effort to turn Lincoln Park into a parking lot and it remains a gem of our community to this day. I went on and became involved as a member of the Town Council and the Park Board. I’ve spent my life trying to come up with neat things to help to improve Zionsville and still do to this day.

The location of Brown’s Antique’s is tucked away in the Village off of 5th Street. How do people find you?

We’ve become a destination over the years. Some of the most interesting shops are off the beaten path.

People come here just to walk around the gardens.

My dad traveled to England many times over his lifetime and his goal was to make this setting look like an English garden, which he succeeded in doing.

I hope to be here as long as I live and keep living the good life here in the village of Zionsville.

October 6, 2020

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT 120Water Here in Zionsville we have a company that’s making waves in the water industry.

120Water started in 2016 when resident Megan Glover, compelled by the water crisis in Flint, Mich., set out to ensure her family’s drinking water was safe (it was!).

The only way for her to check herself was to buy a tap water test kit that came with a price tag that was out of reach for most homeowners.

120Water employees Lowell Huffman and Amy Morrison pack personal protective equipment (PPE) to distribute to essential water workers in rural communities

This sparked the idea for a company that would offer affordable, lab-certified tap water test kits for consumers, and 120Water was born.

It didn’t take long for Glover, a veteran of the area’s tech scene, to visualize an even greater opportunity: providing digital water solutions to help utilities, government organizations and facilities like schools and hospitals manage their drinking water programs.

Today, 120Water is the only digital water platform that consists of cloud-based software, testing kits and services to simplify the management of drinking water programs.

In the midst of the pandemic this summer, the company was tapped for an initiative to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to essential water workers in rural communities across the country. Xylem Watermark, the corporate citizenship program of the global water technology company Xylem Inc., sourced and donated 40,000 N95 masks that 120Water distributed to utility workers, leveraging the same fulfillment expertise that 120Water employs to deliver testing kits to customers.

The Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), a national nonprofit network that provides resources and support to rural communities across the United States, coordinated with rural communities to determine the greatest need.

“Water utilities provide an essential service, making it critical for these front line workers to have the PPE they need in order to stay safe delivering clean drinking water and uninterrupted waste water services during the pandemic,” said Glover, CEO of 120Water. “We were honored to help these small communities.”

120Water also has been instrumental in ensuring that

drinking water is safe in Indiana’s public schools.

Working with the Indiana Finance Authority and Indiana Department of Environmental Management, 120Water’s solution was used to manage the state’s complex lead testing program, collecting 57,000 samples in 915 buildings. 120Water then tracked and communicated results to schools, along with plans to remediate fixtures that tested above the EPA Action Level for lead.

Although the company has only been around for four years, already its solutions have been implemented at more than 180,000 taps across the nation, and have impacted more than 5 million lives in cities like Denver, Pittsburgh and Newark, N.J.

Megan Glover, CEO and Co-founder of 120Water, with an armful of kits used to sample and monitor drinking water

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October 6, 2020

GOING SOLAR IN ZIONSVILLE Boone County Solar Co-op Grows in Numbers Earlier this year the first ever Boone County Solar Co-op launched thanks to national nonprofit Solar United Neighbors and local resident Eliana Armstrong. The co-op now has 30 members and the deadline to sign up is approaching on October 31.

A local resident had solar panels installed on her home after joining the Boone County Solar Co-op.

Photo credit - Jefferson Electric

After a competitive bidding process, the coop members selected Indianapolis-based Jefferson Electric to install solar panels at a group rate. Members selected Jefferson Electric for their high-quality equipment and warrantee offerings.

There is no cost to join the solar co-op and no commitment to go solar. By signing up for free, members get a free roof review and access to Solar United Neighbor’s vendor-neutral resources about how solar works.

“I joined the solar co-op to learn more about the process for installing solar at my house and to also get a better idea of what it would cost,” said co-op member and Zionsville resident Eliana Armstrong. “The solar co-op has been very helpful by providing webinars and other resources to make the whole process easy.”

Armstrong served on the committee of co-op members that volunteered to review bids and choose an installer for the group. “I found that our discussion during the selection process was extremely helpful in better understanding the features offered by the different vendors as well as the different costs and options that are available,” she said.

Homeowners and small businesses living in and around Boone and Hamilton counties can sign up to join the group on the Solar United Neighbors website. Jefferson Electric will provide each co-op member with an individualized proposal based on the group rate. By going solar as a group and choosing a single installer, members can save on the cost of going solar and have the support of fellow group members and solar experts at Solar United Neighbors.

Interested community members may attend a free webinar or visit: www. solarunitedneighbors.org/boonecounty.

Upcoming Webinar

Solar panels being installed.

Photo credit - Jefferson Electric

Indiana Solar 101 – Information Session Wednesday, October 27 at 6 p.m.

Learn about solar energy and how the co-op model simplifies the process of going solar on your home or small business. This will be a live presentation so participants will be able to ask questions. To register, visit www. solarunitedneighbors.org/boonecounty and click on “Events.”

October 6, 2020

Meet Zionsville’s New Superintendent of Parks and Recreation The Town of Zionsville is excited to welcome Jarod Logsdon as the new superintendent for the Parks and Recreation Department. Logsdon’s first day is October 12.

Logsdon brings more than eight years of experience in conservation and the park and recreation field.

He previously worked as the Parks and Work Crew Division Manager for Yamhill County in Oregon. In this role, he managed the operations for 17 county parks and over 200 acres of parkland. He helped connect rural and urban communities through parks and championed the development of a 17-mile regional trail system for hikers, bikers and horse riders through the heart of Oregon’s wine country.

In addition to working for Yamhill County, Logsdon worked at an alligator sanctuary in southeast Texas.

He then traveled to the mountains of Oregon and established his career in nearly every facet of the park and recreation industry by working with an array of government agencies. Logsdon has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Zoology and Wildlife Biology from Ball State University and a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership and Public Administration from Northcentral University.

Mayor Emily Styron welcomes Logsdon to the Town of Zionsville.

“During the interview process I was impressed with Jarod’s experience in parks and recreation and in serving government agencies,” said Mayor Emily Styron. “I am excited for the strong skills and leadership Jarod will bring to our Parks and Recreation Department and the community as a whole. I want to thank Mindy Murdock for stepping into the role of Interim Superintendent of Parks and Recreation during this process and for her outstanding commitment to the Town’s parks, trails and natural habitats.”

“As an ambassador for adaptive and inclusive park design, I will promote connectivity and community throughout Zionsville’s green spaces,” said Logsdon.

“I am looking forward to leading the department as a national example and continuing Zionsville’s legacy as a ‘town within a park.’”

Welcome to Zionsville, Jarod!

Rapid Fire Questions with Jarod Logsdon Amount of time it takes you to get ready in the morning? Depends how strong the coffee is.

Number of books you have read this year? 3, unless audio books count.

Biggest addiction? Coffee, let’s grab a cup.

Describe yourself in 3 words. Optimistic, Adventurer, Nerd.

If you could buy any type of food right now, what would it be? Pizza. It’s always going to be pizza.

Morning or night person? Morning, even if I stay up too late.

Coffee or tea? Coffee, every day every way.

Favorite season? Autumn. I am so excited for fall in the Midwest.

What is something on your bucket list? Meet a Hellbender. Not sure what that is? You can find them in Indiana.

Texting or talking? Can it be both?

Favorite TV channel? Food Network. They make food even more exciting.

Best advice you have been given? “Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind rather than on outward circumstance,” -Ben Franklin. He didn’t tell me that directly, but I’ve always admired it.

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October 6, 2020

2020 VOTING DATES + INFO BECOME A REGISTERED VOTER BY OCTOBER 5 (WELCOME, FIRST-TIME VOTERS!)

YOUR VOTE S T COUN

In person: Go to the Boone County Clerk’s Office or your BMV (see locations at in.gov/bmv) Or online: Visit indianavoters.in.gov (you can also check your status there, just in case)

TO VOTE ABSENTEE BY MAIL, YOU MUST FIRST APPLY BY OCTOBER 22 (DO IT NOW) Registered voters use those same locations/website above to get your application. It can then be returned by email, mail, fax, or hand-delivered to the Boone County Clerk’s Office. ! The county must RECEIVE it (not just postmarked) by October 22, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.

ABSENTEE VOTES ARE DUE BY NOON ON NOVEMBER 3 (MAIL IT OR DRIVE IT TO THE CLERK) Ballots will start getting mailed September 19. Return yours immediately to hit November 3.

IF YOU’RE VOTING IN PERSON BY NOVEMBER 3, REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR I.D.

Visit boonecounty.in.gov/Offices/Clerk/Election-Information for locations, dates and times.

QUESTIONS? The Boone County Clerk’s Office is here to help at (765) 482-3510

The Town of Zionsville Unleashes Plans for Dog Park

Mayor Emily Styron and the Zionsville Parks Board have announced exciting news – plans are underway for a future dog park at Heritage Trail Park (4050 S. 875 E.).

Future dog park facts: • Constructed by the end of 2020 • Approximately 3.5 acres • Separate areas for small and large dogs • Potential amenities: benches, shade areas, pet waste stations, water fountain with a dog bowl attachment, dog agility equipment, native plantings • Future plans for Heritage Trail Park include additional parking and a playground for older kids