Columbus Magazine Spring 2024

Meet the mayor

Mary Ferdon is eager to serve the community

InsIde

Meatless options

Local eateries offer alternative meals

Historic roadway

Road’s name honors war hero

Lend a helping paw

Local shelters help animals find homes

ALso

SAVE THE DATE

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and gratitude at our annual Salute! concert, as we honor the brave men and women who selflessly defended our freedoms. Don’t miss this extraordinary event on May 24th, starting at 7:30 pm.

See us at the Columbus Municipal Airport!

Live the Life You’ve Imagined.

Live the Life You’ve Imagined.

Live the Life You’ve Imagined.

Live the Life You’ve Imagined.

Our attractive amenities and relaxed lifestyle at Four Seasons unmatched in the Columbus area. We are

Our attractive amenities and relaxed lifestyle at Four Seasons are unmatched in the Columbus area. We are proud to be the only life plan community in the area to provide health care that includes assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services.

Our attractive amenities and relaxed lifestyle at Four Seasons are unmatched in the Columbus area. We are proud to be the only life plan community in the area to provide health care that includes assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services.

Four

Our attractive amenities and relaxed lifestyle at Four Seasons are unmatched in the Columbus area. We are proud to be the only life plan community in the area to provide health care that includes assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services.

Live the Life You’ve Imagined.

Four Seasons offers the maintenance-free living and features you’ve dreamt of, along with the security of over 50 years of quality care.

Our attractive amenities and relaxed lifestyle at Four Seasons are unmatched in the Columbus area. We are proud to be the only life plan community in the area to provide health care that includes assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services.

Our attractive amenities and relaxed lifestyle at Four Seasons are unmatched in the Columbus area. We are proud to be the only life plan community in the area to provide health care that includes assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services.

Four Seasons offers the maintenance-free living and features you’ve dreamt of, along with the security of over 50 years of quality care.

Our attractive amenities and relaxed lifestyle at Four Seasons are unmatched in the Columbus area. We are proud to be the only life plan community in the area to provide health care that includes assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services.

Start living the life you always imagined. Come take a tour for our waiting list today!

Four Seasons offers the maintenance-free living and features you’ve dreamt of, along with the security of over 50 years of quality care.

Our attractive amenities and relaxed lifestyle at Four Seasons are unmatched in the Columbus area. We are proud to be the only life plan community in the area to provide health care that includes assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services.

Four Seasons offers the maintenance-free living and features you’ve dreamt of, along with the security of over 50 years of quality care.

Start living the life you always imagined. Come take a tour and sign up for our waiting list today!

Four Seasons offers the maintenance-free living and features you’ve dreamt of, along with the security of over 50 years of quality care.

Start living the life you always imagined. Come take a tour and sign up for our waiting list today!

Start living the life you always imagined. Come take a tour and sign up for our waiting list today!

Four Seasons offers the maintenance-free living and features you’ve dreamt of, along with the security of over 50 years of quality care.

Start living the life you always imagined. Come take a tour and sign up for our waiting list today!

For more information, call 812-372-8481

Start living the life you always imagined. Come take a tour and sign up for our waiting list today!

Four Seasons offers the maintenance-free living and features you’ve dreamt of, along with the security of over 50 years of quality care.

For more information, call 812-372-8481

For more information, call 812-372-8481

For more information, call 812-372-8481

Start living the life you always imagined. Come take a tour and sign up for our waiting list today!

For more information, call 812-372-8481

Start living the life you always imagined. Come take a tour and sign up for our waiting list today!

812-372-8481

1901 Taylor Road • Columbus, IN 47203

For more information, call 812-372-8481

812-372-8481

812-372-8481

812-372-8481

www.fourseasonsretirement.com

1901 Taylor Road • Columbus, IN 47203

1901 Taylor Road • Columbus, IN 47203

1901 Taylor Road • Columbus, IN 47203

812-372-8481

www.fourseasonsretirement.com

www.fourseasonsretirement.com

www.fourseasonsretirement.com

1901 Taylor Road • Columbus, IN 47203 www.fourseasonsretirement.com

812-372-8481

Hi, Columbus!

It’s been awhile — welcome to our spring issue!

As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, we are looking forward to this season and kicking it off with some inspiring and uplifting stories.

This issue of Columbus Magazine will explore meatless food options throughout the community, what our new mayor Mary Ferdon’s plans for the city, the history of Jonathan Moore Pike and the new ways the Bartholomew County Humane Society and Columbus Animal Care Services are helping animals.

Here’s to a season filled with community, connection and positive vibes!

Until next time!

rhensley@aimmediaindiana.com

Rachel Hensley

PublisH er AIM Media Indiana

editorial

Editor

Rachel Hensley

Senior Graphic Designer

Keely Spitler

Special Projects Assistant

Michael Donohue

Writers

Rebecca Berfanger, Barney Quick, Glenda Winders

Photographers

Carla Clark, Angela Jackson, Ali Kiel, Melissa VanDePutte, Tony Vasquez

March 30, 2024

a dvertising

Art Director

Amanda Waltz

Advertising Design

Erin Caplinger

Mar Carson

Katelin Gephart

Rebecca Lecher

Josh Meyer

Wesley Rowles

Robert Wilson

Advertising Operations Manager

Stacy Doub

Account Executives

Rhonda Day

Christy Hubbard

Tessa Wetherald

r eader serviC es Mailing Address P.O. Box 3011, Columbus, IN 47202

Advertising Inquiries

812-379-5655

Back Issues

To order back issues of Columbus magazine, please send $5 per issue (includes S&H) to the mailing address above or call 800-435-5601. Please include the address to which your copies should be sent. PDF files are available for a fee of $20 per page and are permitted for personal use only.

All content ©2024 The Republic. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

in each issue of Columbus, we ask people for their opinions on a variety of topics. this month’s question:

If you could tell your past self one thing, what would it be?

“in a word, confidence. i spent a lot of time as a younger man trying to figure out where i fit in. trying to live up to others’ expectations. grinding down my self worth because i didn’t measure up to someone’s idea of what i should be. What an idiot! there were many times that i’ve made mistakes because i didn’t trust my instincts or simply didn’t have the confidence to stand up for myself. now, i understand that i am my happiest, strongest self when i am confident in who i am and what i can accomplish.”

— Dave Miller

“Cut yourself some slack … most people feel just as awkward as you do.”

— Tony London

“to not sweat the little things.”

— Loren Adkins

“i would tell my younger self that the life you’ve been given is not a dress rehearsal, so live life to its fullest. Most people regret the things they did not do, so stretch yourself and step outside your comfort zone to try new things, face new challenges, travel to new places, make new friends. Savor life and the experiences you create; respect, cherish, and nurture the relationships you make; and express love and gratitude to the folks with whom you get to share life.”

— Connie Kiviniemi-Baylor

WHAt do you tHink?

“i would tell my younger self to keep trusting your gut and just do it! Whatever life throws at you, good or bad, is a lesson to learn from. Without these lessons i would not be the woman i am today! it has worked for me so far, and i will keep on doing just this.”

— Michelle Bishop

“don’t compare yourself to anyone. it cripples you and cripples your growth because everybody is so unique.”

— Kathy Baumgart

“listen for the lie”

By Amy Tintera

“north Woods”

By Daniel Mason

i raced through this fun whodunit that follows Lucy, who may or may not have killed her best friend, Savvy, not that anyone else cares about facts. immediately presumed guilty after a variety of missteps, Lucy flees her small, texas town for L.A.

years later, a podcaster resurrects the case — which in recent years often happens — and goes back to the scene of the crime to reinterview witnesses and piece together what happened to Savvy.

With witty and fast-paced writing, interspersed with podcast manuscripts, readers get a then-and-now look at the events surrounding the murder. the characters are flawed but relatable, and the ending has a bit of a twist, but it was so much fun getting there that i didn’t care. Barely into 2024, this is already one of my favorite books!

Available March 5 from Celadon $26.99.

— Angie Revell

i simply can’t praise daniel Mason, author of “north Woods,” enough. His writing is the most beautiful, versatile and compelling that i’ve ever encountered.

the motivation of “north Woods” is ambitious — illustrate the interplay between nature, place and person across time and explore the deep interconnectedness of all things living and beyond. don’t be scared away. the prose is eloquent, but approachable and clever in format. Mason gives each inhabitant of a wooded plot in new england their own unique voice.

the book achieves a timeless state. How does something like this conclude? Beautifully. Hopefully. perfectly.

random House $28.00.

— Polly Verbanic

“a short Walk through a Wide World”

By Douglas Westerbeke

in 1885, a nine-year-old parisian girl, Aubry tourvel, picks up a wooden-puzzle ball in front of the home of a recently deceased man. even after discarding it, the ball mysteriously appears in her backpack the next day. When she is engulfed in pain and begins to bleed to death a few days later, her frantic parents try to cure her with conventional medicine, but it only seems to make her worse.

Fleeing from invasive procedures, Aubry discovers, to her surprise, that moving to a place she’d never been before in paris causes her pain to stop. days later, when she begins to bleed again, she starts a decades-long journey to fight for survival that takes her all over the globe, learning about people, places and the meaning of life.

Available April 2 from Avid reader press $28.99.

— April Ginnings

“Funny story”

By Emily Henry

do you love emily Henry’s smart, “romantic-ish” — my term for swoon-worthy, slightly spicy, thoughtful, and well-written — books? our bestseller list says you do! in “Funny Story,” daphne moves to the town of Warning Bay, Michigan, with her fiancé, peter, only to be dumped days before their wedding after peter realizes he is in love with his best friend, petra.

So, of course, daphne has no choice but to move in with petra’s ex, Miles, who sets out to get daphne to appreciate his hometown. the pair then decide to embark on a “harmless” fake dating scheme on social media to make their exes jealous.

Henry’s latest novel is a super fun take on the fake relationship trope, but it is also a heartfelt love letter to small towns and the big lives lived within them.

Available April 23 from Berkley Books $29.00.

— Nanne Cutler

“table for two: Fictions”

By Amor Towles

don’t hesitate to accept Amor towles’ invitation to share a “table for two.” Settle into your seat with brilliant companions, gorgeous surroundings and a dazzling serving of delectable words. Savor every morsel and relish every moment, then eagerly send your compliments to the chef. if we all do that, perhaps towles will honor us with another impeccable enticement soon!

Available April 2 from Viking $32.00.

— Beth Stroh

“the Fury”

By Alex Michaelides

Fans of the “Silent patient” by Alex Michaelides better get ready for his new twisty tale, “the Fury.”

the narrator, elliot Chase, tells the story of Lana Farrar (Hollywood’s it girl) and her friends who meet for a weekend on her private island. tensions rise and dangerous weather ensues, ending with one being murdered.

“the Fury” is a great “whodunit” with elliot casting suspicion on everyone. So as elliot says, “pull up a barstool, pour yourself a drink and settle in!”

Celadon Books $28.99.

— Celia Allman Watts

By BAR ney QUICk // photog RA phy By Me LI ssA vA n d e pU tte

Meatless MenuS

restaraunts embrace vegetarian trend

one of the most notable cultural changes that have come down the pike in recent times is the choice to eschew meat in our diets. restaurants have noticed this trend and redesigned their menus to reflect that. Here in our city, it’s fired the imaginations of a lot of chefs, who have come up with creative ways to provide satisfying fare to diners without involving meat. in some cases, they’ve eclectically borrowed from various cuisines. traditional cuisines themselves offer meatless alternatives, and that is reflected in local establishments, as well. So let’s get into a wide-possibilities mindset and head out to see what Columbus kitchens are serving.

Olesya’s Kitchen

908 25tH Street | 812-433-6333

It’s such a delight to be able to stop at a little strip mall in midtown and enter the world of Ukrainian fare. That’s especially so, given that it’s family-run by people with direct connections to Ukraine.

Cabbage is found in many Ukrainian dishes.

“Certain recipes are found in certain regions,” said head chef and owner Oksana Bondar, “but signature cabbage salad is pretty universal.”

The signature salad at Olesya’s Kitchen is finely shredded. Bondar uses young heads of cabbage to ensure juiciness. The dill flavor comes through loud and clear.

“Dill is even more popular in Ukraine than cabbage,” she noted. “They don’t even have to farm it. It’s everywhere.”

The salad accompanies several lunch options and is also in the salad section of the dinner menu. As for the obvious vinegar-based dressing — sorry, that’s proprietary.

Upland Brewing Company

The “Nashville hot seitan” at this historic riverfront brewpub brings together the vibes of the American South and Japan.

The Nashville hot approach to frying seems to have begun with a man about town in the 1930s stepping out on his girl. As revenge, she served him a plate of chicken drenched with cayenne. It turned out he loved it and started a Nashville restaurant specializing in it.

Seitan is wheat flour dough that has been repeatedly washed.

“It’s a process of soaking and kneading,” said Upland chef Taylor Hoover. “You’ll always get clean water over it. Repeat the process until you reach the desired outcome.”

Her team shapes it into patties that are breaded, coated with seasonings and deep fried. The result is served on a vegan bun with house horseradish pickles.

“It has some kick to it,” said Hoover. “She’s a spicy lady.”

4th Street Bar & Grill

433 FourtH Street | 812-376-7063

The grilled hummus wrap is a true fusion offering. It brings together elements of the Middle East, Italy and Mexico.

Red bell pepper hummus is spread on a flour tortilla, sprinkled with mozzarella cheese, topped with cut, in-house napa cabbage and a house-made red bell pepper and onion relish. It’s rolled up and grilled and served with in-house tortilla chips and salsa.

“A lot of vegetarians like to add mushrooms or other vegetables,” said general manager Travis Kesler.

It’s been on the menu for two years, and

Kesler said it’s become a fan favorite. “There’s a prominent vegetarian component of our clientele, and we can’t ignore them.”

The Garage Pub and Grill

308 FourtH Street | 812-418-8918

The centerpiece patty of the black bean burger sandwich at this gathering spot in the heart of downtown’s entertainment corridor is seasoned with chipotle and chopped vegetables. It’s seared on a flat-top grill for crispy surfaces, just long enough to ensure that the inside still has a burger texture.

It’s topped with Pepper Jack cheese and a scoop of in-house made chipotle coleslaw and served on a brioche bun. The standard side is french fries, but customers can swap those out for sweet potato fries or steamed vegetables.

“A lot of people get the patty cut into strips on top of a salad,” said Travis Gates.

a revolutionary road

By gLendA wIndeRs // photogRAphy By CARLA CLARk

Section of Highway 46 is named after war hero

C

Chances are you’ve driven on Jonathan Moore Pike hundreds of times. That’s the strip of Highway 46 that takes you past a myriad of businesses and restaurants on the west side of town and leads to Interstate 65. But you may not have given the name of the street any more thought than you would Sycamore or Hillcrest or Fairview. The fact is, though, this ribbon of road is freighted with history and meaning.

Prior to June 21, 1976, it was called White River Road, but locals wanted to celebrate the nation’s 200th birthday by giving the street a patriotic name. The Columbus/Bartholomew Bicentennial Commission put forth “Bicentennial Parkway,” but the Joseph Hart Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution lobbied to honor a Revolutionary War hero with connections to Bartholomew County. That person was Jonathan Moore, whose remains lie with those of his wife and other family members at the Sharon Cemetery,

A strip of Highway 46 named after Jonathon Moore.

located between Petersville and Hope.

“It’s easy for our shared history to feel disconnected from life today — especially events that occurred as long ago as the American Revolution,” said Tami Stone Iorio, Bartholomew County’s historian. “Recognizing Revolutionary War patriots helps us remember their sacrifices and the contribution they made to the development of the United States and the freedoms we take for granted. Learning that they lived where we live hopefully helps us make a deeper connection, and naming a road or place in someone’s honor reminds people who see or visit those places that there are important stories from the past hidden all around us.”

Moore was born in New York in 1754 and joined the Revolutionary War effort when he was 20. He was discharged from the 1st New York Regiment six months later but re-enlisted with the 3rd New Jersey Regiment. In March 1778, he became a member of Gen. George Washington’s elite Life Guards.

The Life Guards were a group of 180 soldiers who were chosen because they met Washington’s strict parameters. They had to be at least 5 feet 9 inches tall and no taller than 5 feet 10 inches. He specified that they had to be sober, young, intelligent,

active, good-looking and “well-made.” He wanted them to be clean, of good character and soldierlike, and he insisted they be native-born to ensure their fidelity. He made sure that each regiment and all 13 Colonies were represented. These are the snappylooking young men who turn up in historic paintings flanking Washington in their blue coats faced with buff, white waistcoats, buckskin breeches, white body belts and

black, felt-cocked hats bound with white tape. They carried a new carbine complete, a large pouch and bayonet belt fastened with white 3-inch bindings. The white, silk banner they carried featured an image of one of them receiving the flag of the Colonies from Lady Liberty and their motto, “Conquer or Die.”

Officially called the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard and more informally

Jonathan Moore’s grave rests at at the Sharon Cemetery.

Washington’s Life Guard, their priority was to guard Washington, along with baggage, money and documents belonging to the Continental Army. But that wasn’t all they did. They were often required to fight in battle, and it was also their job to stock provisions for Washington’s headquarters. Still, it was an honor to be asked to join this elite squad. Pay varied, depending on one’s duties, such as drummer, drum major, corporal and others, with Moore earning $6.60 per month as a private.

In the winter of 177980, when Washington was headquartered near the British at Morristown, New

Jersey, the ranks of the guard swelled to 250, with some mounted as cavalry. In the spring of 1780, however, they were back at 180, and by 1783, only 64 remained. Moore was one of the last 64, discharged only when the guard was disbanded in November of that year.

During his service, Moore fought at the Battle of Monmouth and the Battle of Connecticut Farms (both in New Jersey) and the skirmish of King’s Bridge in New York. He was also present at Yorktown, Virginia, site of the last battle of the war and the surrender of British Gen. Charles Cornwallis. He was furloughed after that June 1783 event until the Treaty

of Paris, which guaranteed the independence of the United States, was signed in November on 1783.

“Jonathan Moore’s name was not a great one during the struggle for independence,” wrote DAR member Betty Thralls Randall in 1976.

“Jonathan Moore represents the common person, the thousands of men who entered the fight for liberty. But Jonathan had the great honor to often walk beside and serve the greatest of them all.”

After the war, Moore lived in Virginia, where he married his German-born wife, Elizabeth Long, in 1790. The couple’s family consisted of three sons — Hugh, Hosea (who died at the Battle of

A marker to honor Jonathan Moore was installed by the Joseph hart Chapter of the daughters of the American Revolution.

the Alamo) and Jonathan Jr. — as well as two daughters, Hannah and Margaret.

During the westward expansion between 1810 and 1820, Moore and his wife moved their family to Ohio, where he worked as a tailor. In 1818, when the first of four Revolutionary War pension acts was passed, he applied for and was granted $8 per month for the rest of his life. He owned 20 acres of land and some livestock, but he told the awarding court that he was old (64) and had failing eyesight. He claimed that his wife was also old and infirm, and he couldn’t afford education for the child who still lived with them — Jonathan Jr., 11, who was too young to add to the family’s income.

When Indiana opened for settlement, Moore, his wife, son, and daughter Hannah — who had married Thomas Rogers — moved to Bartholomew County. They lived in a log cabin on 100 acres of land he had been awarded by the government. He died in 1853 at age 99, and Elizabeth, at age 95, subsequently applied for more land to which she was entitled by the Bounty Act of 1855, which gave benefits to widows of Revolutionary War veterans. She died that same year.

Moore’s grave is marked by a weatherbeaten marble marker with an inscription that commemorates his eight years of service and ending with “… he now sleeps in peace in the land he fought to defend.”

Years later a prominent Columbus citizen offered to fund a new stone, but members of Moore’s family resisted.

They remembered that Elizabeth had saved pennies to buy the original one, and they said it had too much significance to be replaced. Today, a flat, modern stone with the same inscription sits beside its precursor, and the Joseph Hart Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution installed a marker of their own to indicate that he served in the Revolutionary War. His descendants care for the grave and place an American flag there each year on Memorial Day.

The only remaining artifact from his life as one of Washington’s protectors is a strop he used when he shaved the general, now in the possession of a Seymour descendant. A plaque displayed in the shadowbox

with the strop reads, “This strop was used by General George Washington and has been passed down in the family of Jonathan Moore, who was one of General Washington’s Life Guards.” The razor that went with it was lost when it was given to a family member charged with taking it to a museum.

So there you have it — the story of a boy who served as one of Washington’s most trusted corpsmen who eventually found his way to Bartholomew County and made a better life for his family. Now, when you’re giving someone directions to Nashville or jotting down the address of a business on the west side of town or just driving along Jonathan Moore Pike, maybe he’ll cross your mind.

A marker installed by the Joseph Hart Chapter of the daughters of the American revolution lists revolutionary War soldiers who are buried in Bartholomew County.

there is a new

M mayor

in town

Mary Ferdon is ready to lead Columbus

By gLendA wIndeRs // photogRAphy By AngeLA JACkson

Mary Ferdon is having quite a year. Already, 2024 has given her a new grandnephew and a new daughter-in-law, and May will herald the arrival of her first grandchild. And not so incidentally, she was sworn in as the 38th mayor of Columbus on Jan. 1.

This latest in a long series of accomplishments is the logical outcome of a life dedicated to service and leadership.

“By the time I was 11 or 12, I was fascinated by politics,” Ferdon said. “I grew up listening to the Vietnam War

and what was happening in politics at that time.”

Ferdon counts herself lucky to have grown up in northern Indiana on one of the Purdue University research farms. It was normal working on a farm that raised corn and soybeans, she said. Three or four families lived there and did typical farming jobs. She had a front-row seat to agricultural research with animals, flowers, vegetables, fruit and weather that made her upbringing “very interesting.”

Mary Ferdon

It comes as no surprise, then, that she went to Purdue to major in political science. She met her husband, Steve, there at an officer’s retreat when she was a sophomore, and he was a junior. It is also no surprise that they both served in student government — he as dorm president and she as social director.

“I was organizing some kind of idea exchange, and people were pairing up into small groups,” Steve recalled. “I was so busy lining people up that I didn’t line-up anyone for myself. Mary saw me from across the room and came over to be my partner for the exercise. You don’t forget something like that. The most beautiful girl in the room was coming over to talk to me.”

A native of Fort Wayne, he graduated with a degree in what at the time was called metallurgical engineering, now known as material science engineering. He married Mary more than 40 years ago, and they moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he took a job with Duke Power — the precursor to today’s Duke Energy — working in nuclear power.

Meanwhile, Mary finished

her bachelor’s degree and went on to earn a master’s in public administration, both from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. When Steve changed jobs to a defense aerospace position in the Detroit area, she was ready to start her career.

Her first job was working in local government in Ann Arbor, doing budget and finance. That was followed by a local government position in Howell, Michigan, where they lived for six years.

With the fall of the Berlin Wall, work in the defense industry became less demanding and less interesting, so Steve started looking for a different job. An opportunity at Cummins Inc. opened in 1992, and he remains there today as director of material science engineering.

“I didn’t imagine I would stay that long,” he said, “but we were closer to our families, and Indiana was where both of our roots were.”

When they moved to Columbus, they already had one son, Andrew, so Mary stopped working full time and taught at IUPUC for the next

decade. After that, she did a four-year stint at the Heritage Fund, working on data analysis. Next on her resume is the executive director of Volunteers in Medicine in conjunction with Columbus Regional Health, a position she held for four years. Her introduction to Columbus government came during the 10 months she was director of community development for Mayor Kristen Brown.

“I was fortunate because I got to work for IUPUC, CRH, Heritage Fund and the city, so I’ve had great experience with great employers,” she said.

In 2016, Ferdon worked for Mayor Jim Lienhoop as executive director of administration and community development, which involved overseeing city operations.

“Community development is really a catchall department within the city of Columbus,” she said. “It oversees the economic development piece through tax abatement, code enforcement, streetscape, Ethnic Expo and special projects, as well as assisting the mayor’s office in whatever role is needed. But the bulk of my job was city operations.”

“running for office was never on my bucket list, but many people encouraged me to run, and i realized i had a lot of great experience, and i had the background. i had worked with Mayor Lienhoop for eight years and put a lot of projects in motion. i knew the city players and other community leaders that i had partnered with over the years. it seemed like a normal progression.”

— Mary Ferdon

She was working in community development when Lienhoop told her he wasn’t going to run again and asked whom she thought would be the next logical candidate.

“Running for office was never on my bucket list,” she said, “but many people encouraged me to run, and I realized I had a lot of great experience, and I had the background. I had worked with Mayor Lienhoop for eight years and put a lot of projects in motion. I knew the city players and other community leaders that I had partnered with over the years. It seemed like a normal progression.”

One of her biggest cheerleaders was her dad, who encouraged her to run and promised to campaign with her. Unfortunately, he died in 2020, so he didn’t live to see that wish come true.

Another advocate was Lienhoop.

“Mary and I worked together at City Hall throughout my eight years as mayor,” Lienhoop said. “It was a joy to get to know her and Steve. They are a bright, well-grounded pair with servants’ hearts. They have a keen understanding of the big and small pictures — what it takes for a city or business to succeed, as well as how individual citizens are affected on a daily basis.”

The servants’ hearts he mentioned have been used in the disaster response work the couple led over the years with groups from the Asbury United Methodist Church. They have taken more than a dozen trips to sites, such as Gulfport, Mississippi, following the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, and to cities in Texas, Tennes-

see, Alabama and Iowa to assist with flood relief. So when the 2008 flood engulfed Columbus, they knew what to do. While they no longer travel to distant places, they do a great deal of relief work here in town, especially with the homeless shelter on the north side.

“Our disaster response work is based on our faith and on our

skill set,” Mary said. “Neither one of us is an artist or an athlete, but you do what you’re good at, what you can.”

The mayor said that campaigning was hard, but she was glad for the experience because she got to meet so many people whom she wouldn’t have otherwise. She and Steve knocked on more than 1,000 doors, asking

Mary and Steve Ferdon

people what was important to them, and they said the responses were never angry and always thoughtful.

Steve worked hard alongside his wife, and the mayor also credits campaign managers Jo Ellen Watanabe and Marsha Sunkel for her success.

“I had a great campaign team, and that’s critical,” she said. “You’ve got to have people around you who support you and are willing to just jump in and do whatever needs doing, to give you honest feedback and be with you to the end. It was tiring, a lot of work, but it was a good experience.”

Ferdon said the issues on residents’ minds are public safety, housing and amenities — places to go, things to do, a good park system, restaurants and

retail establishments. And she is putting plans into action to help in all those areas.

“It’s all tied to economic development,” she said, “It’s very important that we have jobs here that fit people’s levels of education and training. We know that a community that has the right kind of jobs is one that attracts other people and is the kind of community people want to live in. We need housing people can afford and that attracts seniors, young couples and families.”

Last year, she initiated a housing study that is currently underway because it showed up in so many conversations. It has been more than a decade since the last housing study, she said, and since then, the demographics of the city have

changed, and so have the ways people work post-COVID with remote options.

“Affordable housing is tied to the economy through jobs because we all understand that no one can support a family working at a fast-food establishment,” she said. “So we need to have the kinds of jobs that people can do even if they don’t have formal education. These people need training, so they can have jobs that enable them to earn a livable wage so they can afford better housing. They are intrinsically tied. And creating new employers in town is a way of addressing the housing situation.”

Another item that is high on her list is community health. She said a good start has been made with ASAP and Mental Health Matters.

“Community health is something that ties to our workforce, ties to our housing, ties to the amenities we want to offer,” she said. “Over the next couple of years, I really want to work with our local health care system to see what we can do to improve that.”

Completing Nexus Park is also a priority. With the interior spaces already open, next will come the external campus — parking lots, landscaping, a 2.5-acre park and a milelong walking path that will eventually connect with the People Trail.

But Ferdon realizes that unexpected issues will come up, and she wants to be prepared for those, too.

“A lot of what was accomplished during the Lienhoop administration was never on the horizon when he started,” she said, pointing to the overpass, COVID and Nexus Park. “I never know what opportunities and challenges will come up along the way.”

Busy as she is going to be, however, Ferdon finds time to pursue leisure activities, such as baking bread and reading. She is also devoted to her family. Andrew now lives in Kansas City and is a civil engineer, working on building bridges. He and his wife are the ones expecting the new baby. Their other son, Sam, lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, working as an aerospace engineer and was married last month. When the family is all together, they like to hike and ski. Three cats — Lewis, Calvin and Hobbes — complete the local household.

Most of all, Ferdon said, she feels fortunate to live in this community.

“We talk about the architectural design and the diversity, which is all great,”

she said, “but after Steve and I moved here, the reason we stayed was all about the people. Not only are they friendly and warm, but people choose to work together to solve problems. They take care of each other. They show up when help is needed, and they truly want the community to be a better place where people can easily raise their families and make a difference in the world. I recognize what a valuable city we have, and we need to make sure we continue all these values for the next generation.”

Steve said he especially

appreciates living in such an international city.

“You feel like you’re a citizen of the world, not just of the United States or Indiana or Columbus,” he said. “We’ve got so many people from so many different cultures here.”

The first gentleman said whatever comes up during his wife’s time in office, he will be right there to help her.

“My job is to help her be herself,” he said. “I’ll take care of her routine life so that she can be the city’s leader. It’s going to be an interesting four years — correction, make that eight.”

A dog ready to go to a new home plays outside at the Bartholomew County humane society.

Happy

tails

Local animal shelters connect people and pets

By ReBeCCA BeRFAngeR // photogRAphy By ALI kIeL

Amelia kiel plays with cats at Columbus Animal Care services.

aAs the months get warmer and the days grow longer, maybe consider helping pets by engaging with local animal shelters in the Columbus area.

Even if you can’t adopt or foster an animal, shelters are always looking for volunteers to walk dogs, spend quality time with and socialize adoptable cats, clean the facilities and help with yard work, sort and organize storage areas, engage with local shelters’ ongoing educational efforts or promote shelters helping local animals via social networks.

Speaking with both Bartholomew County Humane Society (BCHS) and Columbus Animal Care Services (CACS), the two major shelters in Columbus and Bartholomew County, the needs for both organizations are relatively similar because the two have similar goals.

BCHS, established in 1966 and located at 4415 E. 200 S. in Columbus, focuses on the “Five freedoms” that many humane societies around the country follow: “Freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain, injury or disease; freedom to express normal behavior; and freedom from fear and distress.”

While not a “humane society,” CACS, a city department located at 2730 Arnold St., Columbus, does “utilize humane ideals and objectives in our operation and adhere to many of the guidelines set forth by nationally recognized Humane Organizations,” according to their website. However, CACS only serves Columbus residents, while BCHS is a resource for those who live throughout Bartholomew County.

Adopt or foster

“‘Rescue’ really is the best breed,” said Heather SchuhOgle, a member of the BCHS board of directors. “There is a large misconception that animals who end up in our shelter are ‘broken’ or ‘dangerous,’ and that just is not correct. We also regularly hear from the public that they want a ‘purebred’ dog, and we oftentimes see those in our shelter, as well — contrary to general opinion.

… The community should know that the work our shelter does is more frequently intertwined with human issues in our community than people realize. If you want to help humans and animals alike, a good place to start is with your local shelter.”

Before anyone can take home a spayed or neutered and

vaccinated animal from BCHS and CACS — depending on the pet’s age — you must fill out an application asking the ages and number of household members, including other pets, if household members have allergies and your plans for veterinary care and other expenses, to name a few. The application is then reviewed by the shelters’ respective intake staff for approval.

Kirsten VantWoud, executive director of BCHS, and Nicohl Birdwell-Goodin, general manager of CACS, agreed that before adopting a pet, consider how that pet will fit into your home.

“I think border collies are awesome, but I am a couch potato, so I know that might not be the right dog for me,” VantWoud said. “Do you want

Cats ready for adoption play together at Bartholomew County Humane Society.

a dog you can go jogging with, or an old lady cat to keep you company while you work from home?”

The next step is to see what animals are available, as that also varies with shelters.

“Set up an appointment to meet some animals, and we can come up with a process to see who is a good fit,” VantWoud said. She added that just looking at animals in their stressful shelter environment might not be the best indicator of how the animal will act in a home environment after they’ve had time to adjust.

This is also where fostering pets is helpful to shelters.

“We’ve been offering a foster-to-adopt program for cats and dogs,” said VantWoud. “We call it the dress rehearsal.”

Families sign-up to have the pet in their home for two or three weeks. If it doesn’t work out, due to unknown allergies or another reason, the family may return the animal to the shelter.

“Even if that wasn’t the best fit, we still get a ton of information about the animal to help them get adopted,” VantWoud said.

Birdwell-Goodin said that CACS also encourages fostering and will try to find fosters as much as possible to make room in the shelter, both through BCHS and other programs that place foster pets in homes.

volunteer opportunities

Both shelters have a need for volunteers to help directly with the animals. Dog walkers are always needed, especially during the day, as are friends of felines to help socialize shelter cats.

Kathy Bealmear, a “cat socialization volunteer” for

BCHS, has three cats and two dogs of her own. After she retired, she began volunteering at BCHS. She is committed to spending every Wednesday in the cat room.

“Cats, by their nature, can be a little standoffish. That doesn’t make them someone you’d want to adopt,” she said. “A lot of what we do is socialization, helping them get used to being around people, getting them used to being petted.”

She added that with kitten season expected to start in April, there will be a need for help with kittens and cats.

At CACS, Birdwell-Goodin said there are 50 volunteers, including shelter volunteers, food pantry volunteers, spay/neuter volunteers and they are always looking for more volunteers,

especially daytime dog walkers. Many opportunities are also available for families. Some children may need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian, depending on the shelter’s age requirements for volunteers.

“We have a new volunteer coordinator, Julie Daiker, who works diligently to work with the community to encourage both regular shelter volunteers and volunteers for all of our programs and fundraising events,” Birdwell-Goodin said. “Apply at www.columbus. in.gov/animal-care-services/ volunteer/”

VantWoud estimated that a couple of hundred volunteers work with BCHS throughout the year, in various capacities. She suggested anyone interested to apply on their website,

Volunteer, Ally Leinart, plays with a dog at Columbus Animal Care Services.

bartholomewhumane.org, and click the “Get Involved” tab. She added that new volunteers are paired with more seasoned volunteers for training. Both organizations have also had small groups do projects around the shelters, including United Way’s Day of Service and Day of Caring and student groups who need a project for their community service requirements. Cleaning, sorting, organizing and even gardening and yardwork — especially in the spring and summer — are more ways to support animal shelters.

Animals out of shelters

In addition to seeking fosters and other animal advocacy organizations who can place animals in homes, Birdwell-Goodin added that they have been making efforts to try to help families from having to surrender their pets in the first place.

One of their “alternatives to intake” initiatives is Furry Friends Food Bank, conducted on the third Thursday of the month at the Columbus Municipal Airport. BCHS has a similar program, Thor’s Pantry, operating on Wednesday afternoons and the last Saturday of each month. Check each shelter’s website for more details.

Both Birdwell-Goodin and VantWoud emphasized the need for community education about animals in general, including the benefits of spaying/ neuter for house pets and community cats. Both animal advocates also noted that these procedures can come with barriers for families, including cost and transportation, but they both want the community to understand how this helps the shelters in the long run.

VantWoud added that she has seen a shift in attitudes among the community over the years and hopes in the future they can provide more options for local pet owners in terms of high-volume, low-cost, spay-neuter veterinary facilities. BCHS currently will take pets outside of Columbus for these procedures before people adopt any dogs or cats.

support welcome

Like all organizations, both BCHS and CACS will graciously accept financial and in-kind donations. And even though city funds support CACS, they heavily rely on outside donations for medical care, including spay/neuter costs.

Both list their current needs on their respective websites. Cat litter, food and clean blankets and towels are always in need, as well as cleaning supplies, such as Dawn dishwashing soap and large bottles of hand sanitizer. CACS’ website includes a link to order pet beds for shelter animals, while

BCHS has an Amazon wish list they update regulary.

To raise awareness and funds, BCHS recently hired Resource Development Manager Sarah Ruf. BCHS hosted the first “Crappy Ex Fundraiser” in February that asked for a donation of $14 before Valentine’s Day, a donor could have an ex’s name written on the bottom of a litterbox for kitties to “do what they do best” over that name. This summer, they are planning a “Christmas in July” pet photo shoot with Santa. Their website lists several other ways to support: bartholomewhumane. org/ways-to-give

CACS’s fundraisers include an annual “Moonlight Loop” nighttime bike ride in July. Last summer, 235 riders biked 19 miles around the city to support the medical fund and other needs.

To adopt, foster, volunteer or support, contact each shelter through their websites: BCHS: bartholomewhumane.org; or CACS: columbus.in.gov/animal-care-services

kylie Lopez takes a dog for a walk at Bartholomew County Humane Society.

Katelyn Hanloh & Taylor Hughes

Ceremony at Ellettsville First Baptist Church and reception Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor

Dec. 31, 2023

Katelyn Hanloh moved to Columbus when she was in sixth grade, after her father accepted a job at Columbus Regional Health. At first, like most children moving to a new city or town, she and her brother hated the transition. However, that was before they visited Zaharakos Ice Cream Parlor.

“I fell in love with the restaurant,” Katelyn said.

Katelyn and Taylor met on a dating site in March 2020, right at the start of the pandemic. Katelyn said he had months to plan our first date and over text, it sounded like the dream first date.

“He was going to pick me up and we were supposed to go do all these things, then end the night at the most romantic restaurant in all of Indianapolis,” she recalled. “Since the pandemic kept growing longer, businesses were shut down, and all we ended up doing on our first date was driving around Indiana for four hours. During those four hours, we didn’t talk or do much of anything until “Party in the U.S.A.” came on the radio, and we belted it to the max.”

After that, the night was history. There wasn’t an awkward moment of silence. Everything was perfect, according to Katelyn.

Taylor proposed to Katelyn on Valentine’s Day 2021 by the Tulip Viaduct in Bloomfield, Indiana, but like their first date, things didn’t go as smoothly as he planned.

“He didn’t tell me where he was taking me for our first Valentine’s Day,” she said. “We get down to the Viaduct, and he asks if we can get out and take some photos. I decline because there’s a couple in the middle of taking some photos so say that we should wait. I think he was super nervous, which led to him reaching into his pocket and popping the question right there in the car.”

Katelyn obviously said yes, which is most important to any marriage proposal, but before she got the chance to respond, she said Taylor busted out in tears, apologizing that he didn’t get down on one knee to pop the question. So now, if there’s ever a time Taylor is holding her ring, he gets down on one knee before placing it back on her finger.

“The wedding was held on New Year’s Eve and had a Christmas theme. There’s so much more behind that,” Katelyn said. “The colors were red and green, so very Christmassy, then, as time grew closer to midnight, it was more New Year’s Eve driven with midnight kisses, a big dance party and then even a sparkler exit.”

Katelyn and Taylor decided not to have a honeymoon because they want to move as soon as possible.

“So we had our honeymoon as a staycation, a week or so later,” she said.

our side of town

kidscommons Carnivale Caddy Shack

The Commons

Feb. 9

1. people mingle and practice their putting during kidscommons Carnivale Caddy Shack.

2. Hutch Schumaker, center, is dressed for the event.

3. Alan trisler, master of ceremonies and owner of Audio Magic entertainment, sports his themed outfit.

4. Bruna Marastoni plays whack a mole.

5. From left, patrick Main, ian Mcgriff, Megan Mcgriff and Annie Main.

6. tyler purtlebaugh shows his prizes, a trophy and a bottle of vodka after winning the putting contest.

7. people mingle as they wait for the next live auction item.

8. Jeff nolting is dressed for the event.

9. From left, Andrew Weisheit, Chase elwood and Bryce turner.

10. From left, david Bush, katy Bush, Lonnie Fischer and kessha Fischer.

pHotogrApHy By CArLA CLArk

3

Nocuturnal Luminosity

Lights illuminate Columbus East High School on a foggy night.

PHOTO BY TONY VASqUEZ