September 1, 2020
A Town of Zionsville Publication
In This Issue • New Little Free Library at Town Hall • Zionsville’s School Resource Officers • Holliday Farms Plant Rescue
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September 1, 2020
ZIONSVILLE LIONS CLUB Celebrating 90 Years of History Last month the Zionsville Lions Club celebrated its 90th anniversary. The celebration included remarks from Zionsville Lions Club President Jeff Papa, Zionsville Lions Club past presidents John Wilkins and Ralph Stacy, Mayor Emily Styron and others. On May 16, 1930 the Zionsville Lions Club was chartered by Lions Clubs International. There were 24 original members. In February of 1932, it was proposed that a flower show be held in the fall. Dahlias were popular at that time and the town had two dahlia gardens, one owned by Fred Gersh and the other owned by the Tudor sisters. The Lions Flower Show is the origin of the town’s designation as the Dahlia City today. The Zionsville Lions continue to make their impact locally and beyond. Today members offer service activities at both a local and international level. As part of the eyeglass program, the Lions Club provides eyeglasses to students and adults with financial need. The organization’s school vision screening is perhaps their largest initiative. Last year, Lions were involved in the vision acuity screening of 15,000 students in Boone, Hamilton, Montgomery and Cass counties. The Zionsville Lions Club also provides scholarships to Zionsville Community High School students. Of course, many in the community know and love the annual Lions Park events such as the Fourth of July Celebration, Fall Festival and others. Immediate past president John Wilkins said, “The Zionsville Lions Club has come a long way in these past ninety years. There is no more Essex-Hudson dealership, the stores have gone or changed names and I am proud to say that one-third of our membership is now women. Through all of these changes, the legacy of the original 24 men devoted to serving the citizens of Zionsville remains in our 147 members as we pursue our motto ‘We Serve.’” Congratulations to Zionsville Lions Club on 90 years in Zionsville!
Zionsville Lions Club Summer Concert Series in the Park
Ruth Kelly, Mayor Emily Styron, Jeff Papa and John Wilkins accepting a proclamation from the Town of Zionsville
Lions Park
September 1, 2020
Take a Book, Return a Book: Little Free Library Arrives to Zionsville Town Hall Big-4 Rail Trail users may notice a new feature at the Zionsville Town Hall outdoor plaza. The Town of Zionsville recently installed a train-themed Little Free Library. Local residents Terry McCain and Mike Howenstein built the library in their home workshop. This Library is part of their Reading Railroad collection of Little Free Libraries that they have built and installed in local communities around Boone County. This newest library, a Zionsville Interurban train car Little Free Library, is a nod to Zionsville’s past Interurban Railroad. Other Little Free Libraries in the Reading Railroad collection consist of a Boilermaker Special train engine located at a preschool in Lebanon, two box cars located at The Caring Center in Lebanon, a Polar Express passenger car located in Zionsville, a red caboose located in Zionsville and a Kings Cross/ Platform 9 and 3/4 train station located in Thorntown, with more Reading Railroad Little Free Libraries planned. “Building and installing Little Free Libraries is a small way to make a big impact,” said Mayor Emily Styron. “Free, accessible books is key to an engaged community and the Town of Zionsville is excited to support this effort here at Town Hall.” Town Hall’s Zionsville Interurban Little Free Library is the largest McCain and Howenstein have built so far and is stocked with a variety of books for children and adults. “We love designing and building the Reading Railroad themed Little Free Libraries and we hope that the Zionsville Interurban Little Free Library will help foster sharing books in our Zionsville community,” said Terry McCain and Mike Howenstein.
Little Free Library located in the outdoor plaza at Zionsville Town Hall
In the Know North-South Connector As part of the North-South Connector project, the intersection of Whitestown Road and CR 875 East is closed to traffic through Sept. 14, weather dependent. This extended closure date is due to delays caused by utility companies. This project involves a new roadway segment that will connect the intersection of CR 850 East/Cooper Road with CR 875 East to the north. The design includes a roundabout at the intersection of CR 850 East/Cooper Road and Oak Street and a roundabout at the intersection of CR 875 East and Whitestown Road. There are no planned closures of Oak Street for the south roundabout at CR 850 East/Cooper Road and Oak Street. This roundabout is planned to be constructed while maintaining east-west traffic on Oak Street. However, CR 850 East/Cooper Road will close periodically south of Oak Street during certain phases of construction.
CR 400 South Widening, Repair and Resurfacing Due to delays by utilities to remove their facilities, their relocation work will not be completed until the end of September. As this work is expected to take six weeks, actual road reconstruction is likely delayed until the spring of 2021. If favorable weather is experienced in November and December, this work could still occur this year. This project involves the widening, repair and resurfacing of CR 400 South.
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September 1, 2020
Meet Zionsville Police Department’s School Resource Officers
Zionsville Police Department Lieutenant Adrian Martin
Zionsville Police Department Sergeant Joe Robinson
Zionsville Police Department Officer Austin Holtz With the start of the 2020-2021 school year for Zionsville Community Schools, Zionsville Police Department introduces our School Resource Officers (SROs). The Zionsville Police Department has an officer assigned to each school in the district. SROs are not only responsible for the safety of school children and ensuring a safe environment, they also assist with mentoring, public education, traffic and foot patrols and assisting in school events. This year there are a few new faces: • Lieutenant Adrian Martin – Zionsville Community High School • Sergeant Sam Dennemann – Pleasant View Elementary • Sergeant Joe Robinson – Union Elementary • Officer Austin Holtz – Eagle Elementary • Officer James Stiles – Zionsville Middle School “Zionville’s school are second to none,” said Zionsville Police Chief Spears. “The Zionsville Police Department is extremely proud to partner with our schools to help ensure the highest levels of safety and security for our scholars, their teachers and staff. The care and protection of our schools is among our highest priorities. The police officers assigned to Zionsville schools are committed to providing an environment of care that allows students to learn and participate in all educational, extracurricular and athletic activities. We enjoy helping prepare the leaders of tomorrow and being a part of their success in the future.”
Zionsville Police Department Officer James Stiles
Zionsville Police Department Sergeant Sam Dennemann
September 1, 2020
MEET THE MERCHANT Q&A with Jessica Snodgrass, Marketing Manager Moving Water Outfitters
675 S Main Street, #100 317-733-3014 Hours: Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. https://www.mwoutfitters.com Facebook: MWOFishing Instagram: @movingwateroutfitters
For someone unfamiliar with Moving Water Outfitters, tell me about what you offer. We are a full-service fly fishing shop and a kayak outfitter. Our store carries a great selection of rods, reel and lines for any skill level, budget and presentation required. We also have one of the largest fly tying material selections around. We sell kayaks along with paddles, life jackets, and paddlesport accessories. The shop provides educational opportunities through guest speakers, fly casting lessons and fly tying classes. We support the local community through sponsoring fishing and outdoor clubs, hosting and attending events, promoting conservation of our resources and providing hosted travel to desired destinations.
Kayak Demo Day with Moving Water Outfitters
If someone is interested in learning how to fly fish, what can they do?
We offer free beginner classes and private lessons. Our beginner classes meet at our shop and include classroom time and detailed casting lessons from a certified instructor. Group beginner classes are free and we provide all necessary gear so there is zero commitment to give it a try. One of the pillars of our business is being a resource for the community. Helping people enjoy the outdoors in a new way, along with removing barriers and stigmas around fly fishing, is what we’re all about.
What should Zionsville residents know before they take up fly fishing?
To start fly fishing, all you need is a minimal amount of gear, some basic knowledge and a good attitude. There are a lot of great opportunities to fly fish locally. Eagle Creek is a beautiful, year-round fishery that’s easy to access through the Zionsville park system. We also have the White River and Sugar Creek nearby. When fishing these locations, be sure to stay within public property. There are easy to use resources through the DNR, Friends of the White River and Friends of Sugar Creek to determine public
Full selection of fly fishing gear and fly tying material at Moving Water Outfitters access. Anyone is also welcome to stop in our shop for advice on where to go.
What is the fly fishing community like in Zionsville?
Zionsville has a longstanding fly fishing community that continues to grow. People are learning this sport is more accessible than they thought. With the recent social distancing requirements, folks are returning to the outdoors and learning new or restoring old passions.
A rainbow trout caught out of Eagle Creek
What is the benefit of being located in Zionsville?
Both the Town of Zionville and the local community are very supportive of small businesses. The Town also supports the trout stocking in Eagle Creek, which supports the local and regional fly fishing communities and brings patrons to other businesses in town.
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September 1, 2020
Zionsville Residents Participate in Holliday Farms Plant Rescue Drive on US 421 and just southwest of County Road 300 South and north of Willow Road you will see a new development underway. Holliday Farms, a 597acre development, broke ground earlier this year and will include a variety of residential options, trails, parks and a championship golf course. The property features a mesic forest with native plant species which presented a unique concern for one local group – the Indiana Native Plant Society (INPS). Earlier this year, Zionsville resident and INPS member Ingrid Bagge Wiebke contacted Henke Development Group, the developer behind Holliday Farms, about the possibility of rescuing native plants from the areas that were being cleared for development. With the help of Mayor Emily Styron, Bagge Wiebke joined Judith Lieberman and Dee Ann Peine, INPS Native Plant Rescue leaders, to coordinate with the developers and assemble the INPS Native Plant Rescue Volunteer Team. “Native plant rescue” refers to an organized volunteer event that digs and removes native plants from natural areas that are slated to be destroyed. While a rescue is an opportunity to save native plants from destruction, there are also risks involved. INPS has developed protocols to assure that rescues are done in a legal, ethical and successful way. To save the native plants on the Holliday Farms property, the developers allowed INPS access to all available plots in the development and also sought permission from owners of the sold plots. The team, comprised of up to 16 volunteers and members of INPS, visited the property over the course of several days to perform the rescue.
INPS Native Plant Rescue Committee Leaders Judith Lieberman and Dee Ann Peine with Ben Engle from Henke Development Group
INPS Member and Zionsville resident Ingrid Bagge Wiebke
The team found a diverse range of plants, many of which were woodland spring ephemeral species. All plants will be re-homed by the volunteer team, as well as shared for use in public spaces and for demonstrations or educational opportunities. “The rescue team works hard to make sure that the plants are carefully replanted in suitable conditions so that they will hopefully thrive,” said INPS member Coralie Palmer. According to Palmer, the goal of INPS is to conserve and protect natural ecosystems and native plant communities. When this is not possible, a native plant rescue can save individual plants. In this particular property, the INPS volunteer team found a large area of mesic forest. Such relatively pristine native plant
Wild Hyacinth (Camassia scilloides), Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) and Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
September 1, 2020
Plant Rescue continued communities with low incidence of invasive species are quite unusual and are ecologically valuable. “The developers have expressed an interest in trying to reduce the ecological footprint of the development and one key way of doing this is to protect areas of native plant habitat and to use native plants in landscaping,” said Palmer. “While we do our best to carefully re-home the plants that are rescued, it is extremely difficult to recreate a complex ecosystem. We are very hopeful that the developers and new owners of the Holliday Farms properties consider leaving as much as possible of this fragile habitat undisturbed.”
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Happening Around Town Tails on the Trails The Zionsville Parks & Recreation annual Tails on the Trails is an opportunity for you and your dog to get out and explore the Zionsville Parks this fall. From September 1 – October 31, complete your own walk or join one of the group walks. Each walk you and your dog complete earns a chance to win weekly wag bag drawings. Complete six of the eight walks to finish the spree and win a prize. Human participants are asked to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines. For more information, including the group dog walk schedule, visit: www.zionsville-in.gov/tailsontrails.
To learn more about the INPS, visit: https:// indiananativeplants.org. For those interested in volunteering with INPS, email landscape@ indiananativeplants.org.
Holliday Farms Plant Rescue:
What Was Found
• Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) • Sessile Trillium (Toadshade) (Trillium sessile) • Drooping Trillium (Trillium flexipes) Sessile Trillium (Toadshade) • Purple Trillium (Trillium sessile) (Trillium recurvatum) • Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) • Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) • Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans) • Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) • Wild Hyacinth (Camassia scilloides) • Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) • Ramps (Wild Leeks) (Allium tricoccum) • Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) • Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) • Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) • Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra) • Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) • Large-flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)… and more!
State of the Schools The Zionsville Chamber of Commerce and Zionsville Education Foundation are hosting the State of the Schools on Tuesday, September 15 at 8:30 a.m. This event will be held virtually on YouTube. Dr. Scott Robison, Superintendent of Zionsville Community Schools, and school administration will share a presentation about the state of the schools and take questions. For more information, visit the Zionsville Chamber of Commerce website: www.zionsvillechamber.org.
Fall Brush and Limb Collection The Town of Zionsville’s Street & Stormwater Department will be providing curbside Brush and Limb Collection beginning Monday, September 28. This service provides Zionsville residents in the Urban Service District a means to dispose of certain pruning and yard debris. All items must be placed curbside by 7:30 a.m. on the Monday of your designated week. Crews will work to collect all properly placed material no later than the following Friday but may complete this task earlier. To view the schedule for your neighborhood, visit: www.zionsville-in.gov/151/Brush-Limb-Collection.
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September 1, 2020
The Placement of Sidewalks and Pathways in Zionsville By Lance Lantz, Zionsville Street & Stormwater Superintendent Residents often inquire about Zionsville’s overall sidewalks and pathways plan and the process of adding sidewalks. The best source of information on priority pathway corridors is the Zionsville Strategic Trails Implementation Plan (viewable here: www.zionsville-in.gov/Parks). This document is the basis for developing future pathway projects to be undertaken by the Town as well as design standards for development occurring along these routes. Private development occurring within an area is another factor. Developers are required to install pathways along the frontages of their projects and when enough of these occur within a confined geographic area, the Town will develop a project to fill in the gaps that exist. The major impediment to overcome when considering a pathway project is the lack of right-of-way or public property along a road. No municipality can use private property for any reason without purchasing it from a property owner. When considering appropriate pathway projects, the return on investment is considered, specifically the number of residents a facility would serve. These networks tend to develop concentrically – projects are developed and constructed in an outward-type scenario as population centers emerge providing the most opportunity and most cost-effective projects. A pathway can be a very expensive project due to the high amount of private land that must be purchased from many property owners. While the buildout of a community pathway network is complex, it is important to provide a walkable community. The Town constantly seeks to capitalize on opportunities for cost-effective pedestrian facilities that will serve the most residents.
BE CAREFUL AT CROSSWALKS DURING BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIME AND ALL THE TIME Safety is a shared responsibility, whether you’re driving or on foot or bike. Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or entering a crosswalk.
Look out for bikers and skateboarders crossing the street faster than others.
Wait until people have crossed at least one lane past yours before going.
Drivers yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Be aware of each other.
Never pass vehicles stopped or slowing down at a crosswalk.
Use extra caution when traveling at night or in poor weather.
More on crosswalk safety: IC 9-21-8-36, “Traffic control signals not in operation”
LET’S ALL LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER