Hendricks County Icon - 06.30.23

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Brownsburg High School 4x100 Relay Team Breaks State Record, place third in Nationals

This has been a magical year for the Brownsburg high school 4x100 relay team. They blazed through all 7 invitationals this season, placing first in each event. They also set new meet records in each of these events as well. Teammates DeAndre Cooper, Josh Handy, Caleb Heldman, and Dominic Calhoun worked masterfully together as they made their run for the state championship. At the state meet, they finished strong

with their best performance, dethroning the previous state record-holders with a time of 40.70 seconds. The previous record at 41.02 seconds had been held by Gary Roosevelt high school since 1982. On June 18, the Bulldogs went on to Nationals in Philadelphia, where they brought home the bronze medal with a time of 41.45 seconds. Winning a medal in this event also gave the four runners All-American status.

Academy Sports + Outdoors expands into Avon

Academy Sports and Outdoors, Inc.

(Nasdaq: ASO), a full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer, will open a location in Avon this fall. The approximately 60,000-square-foot Avon store will be Academy’s sixth in the state. Academy opened a new location in Lafayette, Ind. earlier this year and plans to continue its expansion efforts with the goal of opening 13 to 15 stores this year, and a total of 120 to 140 new stores by the end of 2027. To help kickstart the fun in Indianapolis, Academy

has signed a multi-year deal to serve as a Proud Partner of the Indianapolis Colts. With the partnership, Academy and the Colts will collaborate on fun community events, social media, digital content, and more to enhance both the fan and customer experience. The locations will carry a wide assortment of sports and outdoors products for customers to have fun out there. For more information, visit academy.com. Customers can also stay up to date on their local new store updates by texting”Avon” to 22369.

Don’t miss Hendricks County news

Don’t wait until the next issue of the Hendricks County ICON hits your mailbox to catch up on local happenings in your town. Make sure to visit myhcicon.com and follow the ICON Facebook page facebook.com/HendricksCountyICON for stories and photos that feature and affect you and your community.

Hendricks County ICON reaches a vast segment of our community. For information about reaching our readers, call Kate Anderson at (317) 451-4088 or email her at kate@icontimes.com.

Have any news tips? Want to submit a calendar event? Have a photograph to share? Call Todd Travis at (317) 451-4088 or email him at todd@icontimes.com. com. Remember, our news deadlines are several days prior to print.

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Teammates DeAndre Cooper, Josh Handy, Caleb Heldman, and Dominic Calhoun (Submitted photo)

Plainfield town council sets public hearing date for two annexations

Summary from the June 12 meeting.

Compiled by Nicole Davis

The Plainfield Town Council met June 12 for a regular council meeting. The meeting was live streamed for members of the public who could not attend. The council meets at 6 p.m. for a work session and 7 p.m. for a council meeting on the second and fourth Mondays each month, at 591 Moon Road. Agendas and meeting minutes can be found at townofplainfield.com. The next meeting is scheduled for June 26.

WHAT HAPPENED: The council passed Resolution No. 2023-26, setting the date for a public hearing regarding annexation of 6371 S. County Road 600 E., 6391 S. County Road 600 E. and 6025 Bree Lane. It also passed Resolution No. 2023-27, setting the date for a public hearing regarding annexation of 2862 S. State Road 267.

WHAT IT MEANS: The town council shall hold both public hearings on July 10, 7 p.m. at the Plainfield Fire Territory Headquarters. The plot of land for resolution 26 contains approximately 8.147 acres. Resolution 27 is referenced as Lot 7 in the Jessup Meadow Subdivision.

Tox-Away Day

Saturday, July 15th | 8 am-1 pm Hickory Elementary School (907 Avon Ave., Avon)

Hendricks County households are encouraged to use ToxAway Days to recycle and dispose of household hazardous wastes, tires, electronics, and appliances.

Household Hazardous Waste - Accepted for Free -

O i l - b a s e d P a i n t s / S t a i n s

- W a t e r - b a s e d p a i n t s h o u l d b e

d r i e d o u t & t h r o w n a w a y P l e a s

P e s t i c i d e s / H e r b i c i d e s

F l u o r e s c e n t L i g h t B u l b s

M e r c u r y - c o n t a i n i n g i t e m s

U n w a n t e d M e d i c i n e s

M e d i c a l S h a r p s

-

Problem Wastes Accepted - Fees May Apply -

r e s i s t a n t c o n t a i n e r E l e c t r o n i c s - C o m p

P

Regulations prohibit waste from businesses, churches, or

No document shredding will

Paving of areas in and around townhall park was approved

Compiled by Peg McRoy

The Avon Town Council met June 22. Meetings can be viewed on the town’s social media accounts. The council meets at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of the month at the Avon Town Hall, 6570 E. U.S. 36. The next scheduled meeting is July 13.

WHAT HAPPENED: The police department was given approval to purchase a 2023 Tahoe police pursuit vehicle for $42,400 from Kelly Chevrolet located in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

WHAT IT MEANS: This is a replacement vehicle for the police department for a vehicle that was deemed a total loss due to a collision it was involved in about a month ago. Whenever a vehicle is purchased for the department, police equipment must be installed. The department is awaiting a report from The Waymire Group on what or if any of the equipment from the totaled vehicle can be salvaged and installed within the new one.

WHAT HAPPENED: A $29,500 quote from Samcro Roofing Asphalt Cement Service for the paving of the gravel areas in and around townhall park was approved. Samcro is located in Plainfield.

WHAT IT MEANS: There are three locations in the park that the parks department would like to pave. One is the connection between Avon United Methodist Church over to the town. The second area is from Parkside Church over to the town trail. The third one is from the trail over to the amphitheater. Samco will remove the gravel, put down three inches of stone base, pave these areas with 2.5 inches of asphalt, and roll and compact the asphalt to harden it. Weather permitting, the work will be completed in seven days.

WHAT HAPPENED: A proposal from Signal Construction Incorporated was approved for the construction of a pedestrian crosswalk signal at CR 200 North and Bicentennial Trail. The cost of the project is $26,934.

WHAT IT MEANS: Town Manager Ryan Cannon reported that the township has had some issues with pedestrians crossing CR 625 and were having difficulty getting quotes. Avon offered to assist the township in obtaining quotes. During that process it became apparent that one is also needed at CR 200 North and Bicentennial Trail due to high foot traffic at that location. The township is pursuing the installation at CR625 near Murphy Aquatic Park. One of the unique features of this pedestrian signal is that an overhead lighting fixture will illuminate the entire crosswalk area when the system is activated.

WHAT HAPPENED: A letter of intent (LOI) between Pasare, LLC and the town was approved by the council for the infrastructure installation for the planned Avon Riverwalk District and the Easton Grey over 55 housing development. This area is west of White Lick Creek.

WHAT IT MEANS: Pasare wants to develop a commercial, civic, residential, and agerestricted community on approximately 500 acres. This LOI is non-binding for both parties. An LOI is simply a document that ensures all parties are interested in going forward with the project. A final contract agreement will be presented to the council at a later date.

WHAT HAPPENED: An LOI between Blue Peninsula Real Estate and the town was rejected by the council. Blue Peninsula made an offer to purchase approximately a half-acre of land on the southeast corner of CR 100 and Dan Jones Road for $75,000.

WHAT IT MEANS: The town purchased this property for the building of the roundabout at that corner. The half-acre of land that Peninsula offered to purchase is considered a remnant of the roundabout project. The council had the option to accept or reject the LOI and voted to reject it.

Brownsburg Lions Club thanks Brownsburg Police Department for their partnership

By Melissa Gibson

The Brownsburg Town Council met June 22 for a regular meeting at the Brownsburg Town Hall. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 13 at 61 N. Green St., Brownsburg.

WHAT HAPPENED: Kathy Dillon, Water Utilities Director presented a bid project to remove a sewer force main in conflict with a current INDOT project at I-74 and 56th street.

WHAT IT MEANS: The project is fully reimbursable and the lowest bid was awarded to TSW Utility Solutions in the amount of $280,708.00. The council approved unanimously.

WHAT HAPPENED: A public hearing was held regarding a declaratory resolution to grant a vacant building tax deduction to 842 Land Holdings, LLC (Samp’s Hack Shack).

WHAT IT MEANS: The building at 10440 E. U.S. Highway 36 is the former Hoosier Athletic Center and the petitioner plans to invest approximately $200,000 to renovate the existing facility as well as add a new indoor training facility and additional baseball/softball fields. The Council approved a five year vacant building tax deduction unanimously.

WHAT HAPPENED: Town Manager Debbie Cook brought an ordinance to the council to approve a lease between The Brownsburg Redevelopment Authority and The Brownsburg Redevelopment Commission.

WHAT IT MEANS: The Town identified opportunities for a bond refunding project, allowing the Town to refinance and reduce overall cost to the Town. The first reading of the ordinance was approved 4 – 1 with Councilman Mark Tieken opposed.

WHAT HAPPENED: The Brownsburg Lions Club awarded the Community Volunteer Award to the Brownsburg Police Department.

WHAT IT MEANS: The Lions Club thanked the police department for their outstanding devotion to the community, particularly in light of their current work and partnership as they plan the Brownsburg Lions Fourth of July Extravaganza.

*In Regards to the Brownsburg Park Board, the item was removed from the agenda.

Library Events 7/1–7/7

will feature 12 live animals for children to learn about and interact with.

The Avon-Washington Township Public Library will be hosting a Chalk Walk on July 5 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Children and their guardians can let their imaginations run wild in their chalk creations on the library’s sidewalk. The Friends of the Library will be hosting another book sale on July 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Brownsburg

It’s an animal filled week at the Brownsburg Public Library. Join Hendricks County Park Naturalists on July 5 from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. for Animal Tales. Preschool through elementary children and their guardians will read stories about native animals and receive an animal themed craft to take home. For this event, pre-registration is required. On July 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the library will host Hedgehog Hannah’s Animal Show. The show

Danville

The Danville-Center Township Public Library will host their own version of Animal Tales. This event, hosted by the Hendricks County Parks and Recreation department, will take place on July 7 from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The library will also host their monthly event Genealogy Nuts: Treasures from the Archives on July 10 at 1 p.m. This event will include a presentation on the Danville Christian Church, Canterbury College, Hendricks County photography and Hendricks County high schools.

Plainfield

The Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library is throwing it back to the 90s with their nostalgic themed events. Join them July 1 at 11 a.m. to create 90s Shrinky Dinks.

Avon

“Paul, from Hedgehog Hannah, talks about and displays a sulcata tortoise. Kids later had the chance to touch the tortoise’s shell as part of Hedgehog Hannah’s handson animal program. (Photo by Jesse Lewis)

THE QUEEN HAS BEEN CROWNED

Kate Alsdorf crowned 2023 4H Queen

By Peg McRoy

Miss Kate Asldorf was crowned the 2023 Hendricks County 4-H Queen on the evening of June 25 at the Hendricks County Convention Center where a total of 17 beautiful young hopefuls vied for the crown.

She beamed with joy as Cameryn Rector, the 2022 4-H Queen, gently placed the crown upon her head. Immediately after, she was presented with a bouquet of red roses and adorned with the queen’s sash. Alford then made her first official steps as queen when she gracefully walked the runway to the cheers of the audience and the other contestants.

“When I was a little girl and before I was old enough to be in 4-H, I was exposed to 4-H because my brother participated.,” said Alsdorf. “I always thought the queen was so kind and beautiful. I am excited to show that same kindness.”

Mollie Dial was honored as Miss Congeniality, a title that is given through the votes of all the contestants. The young ladies go through six weeks of training and information gathering in preparation for pageant night. The day of the pageant begins early so they spend a lot of time together that day in close-quarters.

Voting for Miss Congeniality happens just prior to the start of the pageant. Winning the title of Miss Congeniality speaks to the easy-to-get-along-with personality and supportive nature of the winner. The humility that Dial demonstrated as her name was announced provided a glimpse into why she was chosen.

The first award given the night of the pageant was the Carol Hitch Memorial Award presented to Melayna Bavetz. It is an award that was created in 1995 to recognize the contestant who demonstrates the most improvement during the contest.

The Queen’s court is comprised of four other young ladies. First Runner-Up is Sadie Mercurio. She will assume the duties of the queen if the queen is unable. The other three are Amanda Fulcher, Megan Thompson, and Mary Van Ness. The queen’s court will accompany her throughout her appearances during the Hendricks County 4-H Fair. The contestants go through a judging process that includes four segments. During the week prior to the pageant, they have an interview with the pageant committee that carries

a hefty 50% of the final outcome. They are judged by a separate panel of the three the night of the pageant on their professional attire, formal wear, and stage presence. “I found the interview segment of the process the most important,” said Alsdorf. “I have done this contest a few times before and the interview skills helped me in college to get internships and jobs. It is important to have those skills and confidence when you walk into an interview. I love the interview process.”

In addition to tiaras, sashes, bouquets, gift cards and free goods and services from local business donors, scholarships are given to the queen and her court. The queen gets a $1,000 scholarship, the runner-up a $500 scholarship, queen’s court $200, and miss congeniality $100.

The pageant committee did an excellent job of making the event very memorable and a bit magical. Soft lighting, gold draping around the runway, and low background music gave the convention hall a more delicate atmosphere. Providing a strong opening to the pageant, 2003 Miss Hendricks County, Beth Gentry Knapp, beautifully sang “The Star Spangled Banner” acapella. She was followed by 2022 Miss Hendricks County Cameryn Rector leading the “Pledge of Allegiance” and the “4-H Pledge.”

The audience was then treated to individual greetings from every contestant. Each young lady dressed in professional attire, took center stage, introduced themselves, and told a little snippet of a story about themselves, giving the evening a personal touch before final judging commenced. The judging of formal wear is always a walk of beauty down the runway, and this pageant didn’t disappoint. Every formal-length dress that each contestant donned was beautiful and flowed with them down the runway. Before the naming of the queen’s court, the judges had the difficult task of whittling down the contestant pool to ten. Ariane Sims, Kelly Wagner, Keira Rodgers, Melayna Bavetz, and Tessa Maar were the other five.

The Hendricks County 4-H Fair runs from July 16-22 at the fairgrounds located at 1900 E. Main St., Danville, Indiana. A complete schedule of events can be found on the fairground’s website at 4hcomplex.org.

“It is going to be a very busy next few weeks for me and my court,” said Alsdorf. “We are ready. Bring it on.”

What does it take to be a Hendricks County 4-H Queen Contestant?

The basics: Each contestant must be at least 16 years of age but not have turned 20 by June 1, be enrolled in 4-H in Hendricks County, and have participated in Hendricks County 4-H their sophomore through senior years in high school. Judges who serve on the panel must live outside Hendricks County.

How the contestants are judged: They are judged on ability to converse, personality, poise, posture, and stage presence. They go through three divisions before finalists are announced.

Division One is Professional Wear—They must adhere to a professional dress code and are judged on posture, poise, and overall impression.

Division Two is a Three-Five Minute Interview—They must adhere to the same professional dress code as Division One and are judged on poise, personality, and their ability to converse.

Division Three is Formal Wear—This is the longevening gown segment where the contestants are judged on stage presence and overall impression. Miss Congeniality is voted on by the other contestants.

The Queen and her court (L-R) Megan Thompson, Mary Van Ness, First Runner-Up Sadie Mercurio, Queen Kate Alsdorf, Miss Congeniality Mollie Dial, and Amanda Fulcher. (Photo by Catherine Myers)

2023 4-H Queesn, Miss Kate Asldorf (Photo by Catherine Myers)

Assistant Town Manager Will Lacey presented the council with a three-year employment contract for the town’s new fire chief, Richard T. Duncan

Compiled by Peg McRoy

The Danville Town Council met June 21. These meetings can be viewed on the town’s YouTube channel after the meeting. The council meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays of each month at Danville Town Hall, 49 N. Wayne St. The next scheduled meeting is July 5.

WHAT HAPPENED: Four bids were opened and presented to the council for the town’s 2023 Community Crossing Grant paving and asphalt projects. The council voted to hand over the review of these bids to the staff and requested they present a recommendation at the council’s next meeting on July 5.

WHAT IT MEANS: The four companies that submitted bids are Reith-Riley Construction Company, DC Construction Services, Milestone Contractors, and Howard Companies. Town staff will make their recommendation based on the lowest most responsive bid. A Community Crossing Grant is a matching grant awarded by the State of Indiana for road and bridge repairs.

WHAT HAPPENED: Banning Engineering was awarded two contracts with the town. One is for the town’s drinking water and the other for wastewater. Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds are earmarked for this project. The approval of these contracts is the next step in bringing these projects to fruition.

WHAT IT MEANS: The council approved the use of ARPA fund for both projects at their last meeting on June 7. These funds are awarded by the State to municipalities to be used for non-recurring infrastructure expenditures. The drinking water project is at 10th Street and CR 300 East. The wastewater project is the construction of a new gravity sanitary sewer for the wastewater collection system located at U.S. 36 and CR 200 East. Both projects are part of the water and wastewater master plan that was developed in 2020.

WHAT HAPPENED: Assistant Town Manager Will Lacey presented the council with a three-year employment contract for the town’s new fire chief, Richard T. Duncan.

WHAT IT MEANS: Chief Duncan was aware during the interview process that if hired he would be presented with an employment contract. The five-page document covers the chief’s duties, salary, hours of work, terms of employment, outside employment, causes for termination, voluntary resignation, professional development, fringe benefits, performance evaluation, and various other facets of employment.

WHAT HAPPENED: AThe water department was given approval to purchase an enclosed cargo trailer for $9,300.

WHAT IT MEANS: The cargo trailer will be used as a portable workshop for off-site projects. The trailer will contain tools, equipment, and supplies needed to complete infrastructure maintenance and repair work. The white cargo express trailer will be purchased from Donato and Sons Motors in Logansport, Indiana.

MONDAY - JULY 3RD - 10:00

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Something for Everyone Join in on the fun at the Hendricks County Fair

ICONIC brief

Extension of the B&O Trail opens in Hendricks County

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the B&O Trail Association (BOTA) opened the recently completed B&O Trail extension in Hendricks County on June 16. The first of two phases for BOTA’s project, the new 2.1-mile asphalt multi-use rail trail was constructed with help from a $4.58 million Next Level Trails (NLT) grant. The award was announced by Gov. Eric J. Holcomb in March 2021 as part of the second grant round of NLT. Key local partners include the Central Indiana Community Foundation, IU West Hospital, Hendricks Regional Health, Indy Gateway, Hendricks County Community Foundation, Hendricks Power Cooperative, and numerous individual contributors. The project extends the existing B&O Trail in Hendricks County 2.1 miles west from the Tilden Trailhead at County Road 500 East to County Road 250 East. Combined with the existing B&O Trail in Brownsburg and Hendricks County, the extension creates a contiguous trail of more than 8.3 miles. For more information, visit on.IN.gov/NextLevelTrails.

By: Jackson Luce

The county fair is a magical experience. Whether it’s the sweet aroma of deliciously flaky elephant ears, or the whirring of colorful lights overhead, the fair can offer moments that will be remembered forever.

The Hendricks County Fair has something to offer everyone. That means everyone, because not only does it include carnival rides and animal showcases, but it also includes live music, artwork showcases, and terrific stunts.

Missing the excitement of fall semester football games? Throughout the week you can visit the unforgettable shows that will be taking place in the grandstands. These

include off-road vehicle races, rodeo events, and to end the week, a demolition derby. These spectacles in the grandstands will also provide the perfect setting to reconnect with local friends you’ve been missing this summer.

If you and your group are seeking more of a thrill, check out the human cannonball show, or watch a daring jump off of a massive high dive. And then, go sing and dance at the live music stage to keep the good vibes flowing.

And of course, there’s all of the rides at the carnival. Some people would consider this the apex of the fair experience. Not only

is it vital to the fairgrounds, it is one of those quintessential moments that can define life as a teenager. Looking back and thinking about the “good ol’ days,” the fun of the county fair is sure to be a highlight every time.

With all the fun that’s awaiting, all that’s left to do now is head on over and enjoy the rides. From July 16th through the 22nd, head down to the Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds. Admission is available for $5, a small price to pay for a summer-defining event.

For more information visit: 4hcomplex.org

(Photos ubmitted by Visit Hendricks County)

By April Bordeau

It’s been over two years since Trisha summoned up the courage to walk away from a toxic relationship. Her friends mean well, but the constant questions about whether she has starting dating again (or why in God’s name not) are a major source of anxiety for her. Even her bestie, Claire, lost her temper yesterday. “Why can’t you just get over it?” she snapped before walking away.

Nobody wants Trisha to “get over it” more than Trisha. She really wants to move forward. Even downloaded a couple of the dating apps everyone recommends. But then there was yesterday in the checkout line when that guy started getting a little flirty. Her heart skipped a beat in a good way, but instantly she felt herself tense up and her pulse sped up. It was like she felt when she knew Jerry had a bad day at work and would arrive in a couple minutes. She doesn’t even know this guy’s name or anything about him, so how could she feel this way?

There are things about our behavior we struggle to understand. We find ourselves in situations and react in ways we just can’t explain. We talk about our gut feelings, but we’re not sure where they come from. Actually, they don’t come from the gut. What you’re feeling is the effect of some complex chemistry triggered by your brain. Our brain’s first job is ensuring our survival. It remembers situations we were in and how it responded. That way, it will know what to do when it sees us encountering similar situations.

We attribute our moods to what we experience in life. The boss snaps at us, and we’re tense the rest of the day. Someone says something nice about the way we look, and we feel like we’re walking a little lighter. A couple starts arguing at the next table, and our heart quickens. Yet how we feel is less about those specific situations, and more about the way our brain instantly generates chemicals in response.

For example, when we’re in an uncomfortable situation -- such as when Trisha made eye contact with the guy in the checkout line -- our brain senses a threat to our well-being. It reacts the same way it would to a hungry grizzly bear moving toward us. Our brain wants to make sure we escape, so it starts to pump chemicals called adrenaline and cortisol through our bodies. They increase the flow of blood to our extremities so we can run away and sharpen our senses so we can ignore everything other than the perceived threat.

We like to think we’re in control of our emotions, but most of our reactions are

completely instinctual. When the boss gives you bad news, you don’t choose to feel that sick sensation in your stomach. The brain reaches and immediate decisions and its chemicals go to work before you have a chance to contemplate the most appropriate way to respond.

What’s important to understand is those chemicals don’t exist to make us react in uncontrollable ways. Instead, they make it possible for the brain to regulate emotions. From the moment we wake up in the morning until we fall asleep that night, our brain is working to adjust the mix of chemicals to protect us and help us remain at ease. When something gets out of whack, we may feel anxious or depressed. Most often, our brains try to help us feel better by changing the mix of chemicals.

Sometimes, though, the brain becomes so overwhelmed by what we encounter that we don’t bounce back as quickly as we should. That’s when we may find ourselves feeling anxious or depressed for extended periods. We may be experiencing so much stress that our brains find it difficult to moderate our emotions. At times like this, we may need some help to get us through the rough spots. For many people, counseling can help. Others may also need medication to help them smooth out changes in their moods.

The point is what you’ve been feeling probably isn’t completely within your control, and that’s not your fault. A great way to determine whether your moods are an ordinary reaction or something more is to talk with one of our counselors. When you describe how you’re feeling, a counselor can dig deeper to discover the source and help you come up with strategies for dealing with the situations that trigger bad feelings. We all feel anxious or depressed sometimes. When those feelings become overwhelming, interfere with day to day life, or you’re not sure you can control them, reach out for help from a professional who can help you understand what’s going on and what to do about it.

Reach out to us, and we can help. Take just one step today by calling 317-790-9396 or emailing help@caretochange.org.

April Bordeau is the managing director at Care to Change.The professional counseling center has offices in Avon, North Indy and Prestwick. Contact: (317) 431-9979, help@caretochange.org or visit caretochange.org.

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Notables

Compiled by Mike Beas

The Tri-West softball squad dropped a 4-2 decision to New Prairie in the Class 3A state championship game at Purdue’s Bittinger Stadium, capping a 27-6 season for the Bruins. The score was tied, 2-2, through six innings, but New Prairie tallied two runs in the top of the sixth inning for what was the difference. Senior third baseman Ava Sullivan produced two of Tri-West’s six hits, and drove in a run. Also singling were leadoff hitter Nicole Mathews, catcher Kendall Williams, pitcher Audrey Lowry and leftfielder Lainey Price. Lowry, a junior left-hander, pitched a complete game for the Bruins, allowing three hits, issuing two walks and striking out nine batters. After capturing its first Class 4A regional championship since 2005, Brownsburg baseball had its season come to an end with a 6-0 loss to eventual state runner-up Center Grove in the afternoon semifinal of the Plainfield Semistate. The Bulldogs finished with a 16-13 record, receiving hits in its finale from junior leadoff hitter Caden Dougherty, senior pitcher Mason Tibbs and sophomore third baseman Colin McNeer.

The Hoosier Crossroads Conference held its annual spring athletic banquet with Hendricks County earning its share of honors. Harley Sinders (Avon) won HCC coach of the year for softball, as did Brownsburg boys track and field coach Casey Popenfoose and BHS girls track coach Julie Waggoner. The final HCC all-sports standings showed Brownsburg fifth and Avon seventh in both boys and girls sports in the eight-team league for the 2022-2023 school year. Brownsburg High School has named John Latta as its new boys cross country coach. Latta had previous served as a Bulldogs assistant coach since 2017.

Hendricks County ICONIC Athlete WINNING WAYS

By Mike Beas

Williams played important role in Tri-West softball success

An assortment of common threads were woven into the 82-13 record compiled by Tri-West softball over the last three seasons.

Rest assured, Kendall Williams is one of them.

“She brought life,” said Bruins coach Mike Miller. “Kendall is the one who always had a smile on her face, and was always the one to pump everyone up. It’s huge to have someone who is always upbeat.

“And, obviously, she’s a pretty good softball player, too. We’re going to miss her.”

A recent Tri-West graduate, Williams’ adaptability benefitted the Bruins, who achieved a gaudy 40-2 mark against Sagamore Conference opponents during her time in the program.

Oh, and there were those consecutive state runner-up finishes.

Williams, the team’s starting catcher, helped lead Tri-West to the Class 3A state championship game at Purdue’s Bittinger Stadium on June 9, finishing the season with a .388 batting average, four home runs, three triples and 27 runs batted in.

She had one of her team’s six hits in a 4-2 loss to New Prairie in the title contest.

As a junior, Williams played first base during the program’s 29-3 run to West Lafayette, a season that concluded with a raindelayed 1-0 loss in nine innings to South Bend St. Joseph in the 3A championship game.

Tri-West’s 2022 postseason journey included Williams delivering home runs in consecutive 3-0 semi-state victories over Pike Central and Corydon Central. It was here, at Brown County, where Williams completed her day with four hits in six at-bats.

An excellent student, as well (3.9 grade-point average at Tri-West), Williams did a Q&A with ICON:

Q: Not many high school athletes can say they played in two straight state championship games. Looking back, what was that experience like?

A: It was really fun to get to go on a run like that and get to play teams we normally don’t get to play. Having been there (in 2022) and knowing what to expect, it took a lot of pressure off of us this season.

Q: Have you always been a catcher, and how did that happen?

A: I would say I’ve been catching since I was 7. I’ve played corner infield, and played a lot of first base last season, but it’s mostly been catcher this season. I would say catcher is my favorite position because I’ve just been there the most.

Q: Did you play any other sports in your time at Tri-West?

A: I played soccer my junior and senior years as a goalkeeper. You would be surprised how much soccer and softball overlap in terms of the skills you need.

Q: Now that you’ve graduated from TriWest High School, what are your plans?

A I’m going to Ball State University, and

I’m going to major in criminal justice. I want to be a lawyer. I’ve always liked crime TV, and I think this would be a good way to help people. I think it’s time for me to take a step back from softball.

Kendall Williams (Submitted photo)

Tri-West senior softball player takes home Mental Attitude Award

By Mike Beas

Tri-West senior softball player Ava Sullivan took home the prestigious Mental Attitude Award following the Bruins’ 4-2 loss to New Prairie in the Class 3A state championship game at Purdue’s Bittinger Stadium.

The award is annually presented to a senior participant in the state finals best demonstrating mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability and is nominated by her principal and coach.

Sullivan, Tri-West’s starting third baseman, ranked ninth academically in a class of 128 students. She will attend Purdue Fort Wayne where she will play softball and study to become a teacher.

Fourth of July Celebrations

Avon

Avon Night at the Park

• When: July 1 at 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

• Where: Avon Town Hall Park

6570 E. U.S. Highway 36, Avon

• Cost: Free except for food trucks

• Fireworks at dark

• Live music, food trucks, animal show, pony rides, face painting

Brownsburg

Brownsburg Lions Club

4th of July Extravaganza

• When: Nightly June 29-July 4

5 p.m to 11 p.m

• Where: Arbuckle Acres Park

200 N. Green St., Brownsburg.

• Cost: $25 Wristbands for rides

• Parade on the 4th at 10 a.m.

• Fireworks at dusk to 10 p.m.

• Indianapolis Jazz Orchestra Concert

• 7 p.m.

• Brownsburg Town Hall

61 N. Green St., Brownsburg

• Yard games and food trucks live animals for children to learn about and interact with.

Danville

Food Trucks and Fireworks in Danville

• When: July 4 at 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

• Where: Danville Community High School,100 Warrior Way, Danville

Pittsboro

Pittsboro Freedom Celebration

• When: July 4 at 2 p.m.

• Where: Parade along Main Street, Pittsboro

• Festival at Scamahorn Park

• 52 E. Main St., Pittsboro

• Food trucks, vendor booths, magic show, live music

Plainfield

Fourth of July Fireworks Extravaganza at Hummel Park

• When: July 4 at 5 p.m.

• Where: Hummel Park

1500 S. Center St., Plainfield

• Bounce houses, live music, food trucks

• Fireworks start at 9:55 p.m.

Ava Sullivan (Submitted photo)

North Salem State Bank Celebrates 100 Years

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS

Clients tell us why they trust North Salem State Bank with all of their banking needs and why they appreciate what this bank does for their community.

“We were looking for a bank where we weren’t just a number. When we chose North Salem State Bank, it was more than anything because they were also a partner in the same community that we’re in. They do a lot of community-focused projects to develop and promote the area that we all serve. Because we’re a member-owned cooperative, Hendricks Power does the same thing. It just felt like we aligned with them.”

- Greg Ternet, CEO, Hendricks Power

“We looked at all the bigger banks and went through a long process only to end up not getting what we needed. When we came to North Salem, we had lunch with President and CEO Matt Howrey- how often do you have the president of a bank sit down with you for lunch? Next thing you know, they had made everything easy for us. We didn’t feel it was just a transactional relationship, but also a personal relationship that we were able to establish. Things went so smoothly and they’ve been going smoothly ever since.”

-Jim Sorgi, former Colts player and co-founder, Pro Team Tactical Performance

“We felt comfortable at North Salem State Bank and it felt like the place for us. From the president to the tellers, they all make you feel welcome and valued. It’s little things like getting personal phone calls and knowing the people who work there that make it special. Most of the staff and leadership have been people who live, work, and retire within the community. While they’ve had amazing growth and success over the years, they’ve still managed to maintain local control, which means they can respond to local needs.”

-Janie Hardin, Hardin Farms

“North Salem gave us our first operating loan when we were working out of my garage. As we’ve grown, we look at bigger jobs, and bigger jobs have slower pay sometimes and you have bigger payroll to cover. North Salem has always been there to help us and coach us through that. They’ve been a good partner to help us grow the right way. I always tell people to stick with a local bank, because they’re good partners, they listen to you and they care about you.”

-Tim Whicker, President, Electric Plus

“Matt, the president, is a tremendous leader and he attracts great talent. They have a spectacular culture within the bank. He hires right, and they take really good care of their clients. That’s a tribute to the leadership from Matt and the executive team, they just do a great job. They take care of their clientele and more importantly, they know who their clientele is and who it isn’t. Once I became a customer, they have given me zero reason to go anywhere else for my banking needs.”

-Brad Whicker, Whicker Construction

I always tell people to stick with a local bank, because they’re good partners, they listen to you and they care about you.”

-Tim Whicker, President, Electric Plus

“We had been with other banks for a long time and hadn’t seen any reason to leave, because we felt happy with them at the time. About 5 years ago something triggered and we decided to give them a shot. After that we never looked back. In fact, we wish we would have switched over to them a long time ago. The service is impeccable. We have different companies and industries that we’re in and they’re good with handling all of it. They take care of all our needs, and quickly.”

-John Hall, John Hall Construction and John Hall Farms

“I used North Salem State Bank for two major transactions in my life- buying my first home with my husband and buying my first commercial building, which is now the home of my real estate office. So they’ve been a part of two huge emotional transactions and they’ve just been the best to work with. I refer them to everybody and I attend all their customer appreciation events. They do so much with the community which I appreciate as well.”

-Megan Howard, Priority Realty Group

“Matt Howrey and John Colvin, the president before Matt, have been so involved with the community. From the youth leagues, to the charitable foundations, to the parks department, they really care and they really give back. We initially got involved with them when we were in a jam and the big bank wasn’t really working with us- North Salem came in and offered help without us even having to ask.”

- TJ Freije, Freije and Freije Auctioneers

“I was banking with one of the big banks and had made an early application for a loan with them several years ago. When we called in for an update they hadn’t done anything on it and it seemed they were prioritizing larger customers, and I had been with them for years. Stan Bassett recommended that I try North Salem and that’s what I did. They immediately got the loan taken care of for me and gave me exceptional service along the way. I learned my lesson through that experience that you’re much better off with a local bank for more reasons than one.”

- Dan Whipple, MD, Whipple Eye Center

“During my time working there, we always tried to reach out and help people who might not be able to get their accounts and loans elsewhere. John had the philosophy that a small loan today could turn into deposit accounts and larger loans later, if you treat people right. I joined the fire department as a volunteer in 1990 and the bank was very supportive of that. If my pager went off for runs there was very seldom that I wasn’t able to take off and go and be a part of that. The bank was very supportive in letting me participate in that activity, which was oftentimes critical, because it wasn’t just fire, it was rescue response as well.”

- Gary Owens, Former Senior Vice President and Trust officer at North Salem State Bank

NORTH SALEM STATE BANK (NSSB) WAS FOUNDED.

SECOND LOCATION OPENED IN DANVILLE

THIRD LOCATION OPENED IN DANVILLE KROGER

SECOND SUPERMARKET FACILITY OPENED IN GREENCASTLE

NEW BRANCH OPENED IN WAVELAND

NEW FULL-SERVICE BRANCH OPENED IN GREENCASTLE

SECOND FULL-SERVICE BRANCH OPENED IN DANVILLE

NEW BRANCH OPENED IN LEBANON

OPENED OUR FIRST DEPOSIT TAKING ATM IN DANVILLE

SECOND BRANCH OPENED IN GREENCASTLE.

NEW BRANCH OPENED IN PLAINFIELD

NEW BRANCH OPENED IN CLAYTON

NEW BRANCH OPENED IN JAMESTOWN

Almost 40 years of service to the North Salem community

Long-time

employee Kathy Walton shares her experience with North Salem

State Bank

Just under 40 years ago, Kathy Walton was hired by former North Salem State Bank President John Colvin-- she was his first hire. While she felt very excited for the opportunity, she was also filled with nervousness at the thought of standing behind the teller window, talking with customers all day. She considered herself a bit of an introvert and that kind of interaction was a bit intimidating to her.

“I was a very shy person, so to work faceto-face with customers, that took me a while to get used to. After seeing people week after week, I started to get to know the customers and I really started to enjoy the work. It really gave me a chance to get to know people in the community,” Walton shared.

Working at NSSB was attractive to Walton because being able to live and work in the same community was important to her. She knew a lot of the people who came into the bank, and as she stretched her social inclinations, she was able to meet a lot of people she didn’t know as well. She felt fortunate of the fact that she was close to home, to family, and to the schools her children attended.

“The best way that I can describe it is that it felt like home,” Walton explained.

At one point in time, Walton remembers having a situation where an account was out of balance due to an unintentional error that was made. It was quickly corrected and she remembers the customer being completely on her side after the error. It was at moments like this where she was so grateful for the community aspect of the

100YEARS

bank. No one pointed fingers and no one got upset.

The issue was resolved and everyone moved on.

“You just don’t forget how people treat you. I still have conversations with that customer even to this day, despite the fact that I’m not working as a teller any longer,” Walton said. Forty years is a long time to stick with a company. Walton attributes her long-time tenure to a feeling of belonging. She grew up and lived in North Salem and was grateful to have been able to work there too.

Kathy Walton is approaching her 40th year with NSSB in January. (Submitted photo)

Revisiting 4 years ago

By Stephanie Dolan

While some people crave the bright lights of the big city, those who don’t understand the draw of small-town living. Typically, you’re surrounded by friends, neighbors are always ready to jump in and help out in a pinch and strangers smile and look you in the eye. Sometimes, when it’s a tight-knit community, people just care more, and that’s conveyed in the ways that they both make friends and do business.

Such is the case for North Salem State Bank’s president and CEO, Matthew Howrey.

“I’ve been president and CEO of North Salem State Bank for almost 13 years,” he said.

Howrey, 43, is a Coatesville resident. He grew up in Plainfield, but now he lives and works in two of the more well-known small towns of Hendricks County. That’s not to say Howrey is relegated only to his office in North Salem. He travels all across Hendricks County, visiting each of the nine bank branches on a regular basis.

“I spend a lot of time in the car traveling from branch to branch,” he said. “And a lot

North Salem State Bank Celebrates 100 Years

Living big in a small town

Howrey Continues to Lead North Salem to Success

of time with charitable and civic organizations. North Salem State Bank gave close to half million dollars last year to close to 130 different organizations. It’s very important to our bank. We try to give back as much as we can. Last year, we also had nearly 5,000 volunteer hours in the county.”

Howrey attended Indiana University, earning an undergraduate degree in business before going on to earn an MBA.

“I came to the bank in 2008 as chief financial officer,” he said. “For seven years before that I was a bank examiner with the Department of Financial Institutions. That’s how I got to know this bank. I used to regulate it.”

And Howrey liked what he saw.

“Our people are great,” he said. “We’re a lot more down to earth than what you see at other banks. You don’t see suits and ties here. We handle farmers and working class. Almost everyone here coaches their kids in something. It’s a much different family environment than anyplace else I’ve ever seen.”

Howrey also said that the bank has little

ON THE RECORD WITH MATTHEW HOWREY

Who or what inspires you?

My kids. Everyday I’m trying to make the right decisions for them.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

I think the best advice was from our chairman of the board. He said put everyone else’s advice to the side and trust your gut. Just be ready to take responsibility if it doesn’t turn out.

What’s the best business decision you ever made?

Following my heart and coming to North Salem. I was traveling a lot and I wanted to be in one place for the

kids. I’d had enough. Coming here worked out well in the end. Great family and friends here at the bank that I can’t imagine not having.

What is your secret to success?

Surround yourself with people who are better and brighter than you. Let them do your job and don’t micromanage them. It’s works out really well. We have about 80 people here smarter than me.

Name a book that has impacted you. As I get older the Bible becomes more important – just learning how to live your life.

to no turnover, and that the aforementioned family environment has trickled down to affect his own kids.

“My kids love banking,” he said. “Especially my oldest. He’s already told my CFO that when she retires he’s taking over her job. He’s really into it.”

Both Delton, 14, and Trevor, 12, have their own bank accounts. Something that their dad likely considered when he was their age.

“I never thought about being a banker,” Howrey said. “But when I was 10, I wrote something to my grandmother about my dad going into the bank and how badly he was treated. I don’t remember it now, but I wish I still had the letter. My parents were building a house, and my dad only needed a loan for 10 percent so he could make a down payment. When he went in they were just rude to him. My dad had never borrowed money before. He’d grown up old school and had never used a bank before.”

Howrey said that when he witnessed how his father was treated, he told his grandmother that someday he’d be a banker so that people like his dad could be dealt with fairly.

“We would welcome people like my dad with open arms at North Salem State Bank,” he said. “Somebody conservative like that… those are our best customers – people who don’t need a whole lot and who put a value on the dollar. There are a lot of people like that out here in North Salem. It’s a lot more old school.”

Howrey also said that he and his family are fortunate to live in the greatest county in the state.

“It’s a mix of agriculture and consumers,” he said. “We live with awesome people. We don’t have to worry about the things that other counties worry about. This county is the best I’ve been around as far as supporting one another and making everyone in

the community feel like they’re a part of it.” And helping everyone to feel as though they belong also means educating customers as they come in with questions. Often, those questions have to do with saving for the future.

“Start in small increments and increase from there,” Howrey said. “By the time you’re 30 or 35 you’re not even going to miss that money. In 20 years, they’ll be grateful we talked about it. We also do a lot of auto loans for younger people who get turned down by other banks. We try to work with them to make them customers of the future.”

When Howrey isn’t working, he’s spending time with his sons, coaching baseball or basketball. The family also enjoys fishing, and the three men just returned from an adventurous shark fishing expedition. In the meantime, Howrey will continue to enjoy his small-town life and plan for the future.

Matt Howery, North Salem State Bank President (Submitted photo)

EVENTScalendar

JUNE - JULY

1 Saturday Fitness in the Park

8:30 - 9:30 a.m., W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park, 4521 Gibbs Road, Danville. Try a different fitness class on the first Saturday of each month with this free one-hour introduction to a varying style of fitness. facebook.com/HCPandR

1 Saturday Night at the Park

6 - 10 p.m., Avon Town Hall Park, 6570 E. U.S. Highway 36, Avon. The Town of Avon and the Avon Parks and Recreation Department will celebrate an early 4th of July with free fireworks, face painting, pony rides, animal show, music entertainment and food trucks on site. avonindiana.gov/ nightatthepark

2 Sunday Summer Concert Series

7 - 9 p.m., Murphy Aquatic Park, 753 S. County Road 625 E., Avon. Gates open at 6 p.m., so arrive early to secure a spot. Pool chairs will be available, but bringing your own is suggested. washingtontwpparks.org/programs.html

3 Monday Full Moon Hike

10 p.m., Pecar Park, Campsite #9, 5203 E. County Road 150 N., Avon. Cost: $4 per person. See the Buck Moon during this hike. washingtontwpparks.org

3 - 7 Monday -Friday Camp Duck Chase

Avon-Washington Township Public Library, 498 N. Avon Ave., Avon. The ducks have got out of the pond; can you track one down? Find a picture of a rubber ducky to take a camp duck home with you! Limit one per child per day. avonlibrary.net

4 Tuesday Food Trucks & Fireworks

6 - 10 p.m., Danville High School, 100 Warrior Way, Danville. Join 8 food Truckin’ Friend for Food Trucks and Fireworks brought to you by the Danville Chamber of Commerce & Friend of Fred. Free admission and parking. Family Fun zone that includes bounce houses, giant jenga, giant connect 4, corn hole, football toss, and more! danvillechamber.org/ family-4th-fest1

5 Wednesday

Chalk Walk

10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Avon-Washington Township Public Library, 498 N. Avon Ave., Avon. Walk - Create a masterpiece with chalk on the library sidewalk! Stop by any time between 10 and 12 - the library will supply the chalk. No

registration required! Parents must stay with children at all times. avonlibrary.net

6 Thursday

Summer Movie Series: DC League of Super-Pets

8 p.m. movie starts, The Shops at Perry Crossing, Town Square, 2499 Perry Crossing Way, Plainfield. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and enjoy a free family-friendly movie under the stars. Pre-show activities start at 6 p.m. perrycrossing.com/events/movie-series

6 - 9 Thursday - Sunday

National Powwow

All day, Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds, 1900 E. Main St., Danville. Native American Powwow and cultural celebration including four days of inter-tribal dancing and singing, educational workshops, craft and food vendors, craft contest, tipi village, parade, princess contest and a kids’ powwow. nationalpowwow.com

7 Friday

Hedgehog Hannah

10 - 11 a.m., Avon-Washington Township Public Library, 498 N. Avon Ave., Avon. Join Hedgehog Hannah and meet her friends, including an arctic fox, chinchilla, prairie dog, skunk, alligator, snake, chameleon, and more! For families - children 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is available at https://avonlibrary. assabetinteractive.com/calendar/hedgehog-hannah/.

7 Friday

Animal Tales: Lousy, Rotten, Stinkin’ Grapes

2 to 2:30 p.m., Avon-Washington Township Public Library, 498 N. Avon Ave., Avon. Enjoy a 30-minute program featuring an animal native to Indiana and a craft or activity. July’s book is “Lousy, Rotten, Stinkin’ Grapes” by Margie Palatini. For ages 4-10. Registration is available at https:// avonlibrary.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/animal-taleslousy-rotten-stinkin-grapes/.

8 Saturday

Pittsboro Parks Department Bluegrass Festival

2 - 7 p.m., Scamahorn Park, 100 Legion Dr., Pittsboro. The second annual Pittsboro Parks Department Bluegrass Festival takes place at Scamahorn Park and will feature three of the finest Bluegrass bands in the Midwest. townofpittsboro.org/pittsboro-parks

14 Friday

Evenings in Ellis: The Rigbys

7 - 10 p.m., Ellis Park Ampitheater, 2 Danbridge Dr., Danville. “The Rigbys” is a Beatles Tribute Band. Bring your chairs and blankets and come watch the first installation f our Evenings in Ellis Free concert series! Food vendors will be on-site at each of the concerts. Indy Beer Taps will be on-site for the concerts and will have beer and wine available for purchase. facebook.com/eveningsinellis/

15 Saturday

Coatsville Car Show

8 a.m. - 2 p.m., downtown streets of historic Coatsville. This show caters to the true car enthusiast that enjoy going to the local shows on the weekends. This show is designed to be a fun day for the whole family. There will be raffles, music, game booths, and a 50/50 raffle! coatesvilleindiana. org/CarShow2023.html

15 Saturday

Heritage Hilly

11 a.m. - 12 p.m. check-in, Heritage Lake Clubhouse, 1000 Clubhouse Dr., Coatesville. The race starts at 1 p.m. at Lincoln Hill Beach. Participants will be shuttled via boat ride or golf cart to the starting point. Fee: $30 per person. RaceEntry.com/heritage-hilly-5k-run-and-walk/raceinformation, HeritageHilly@gmail.com

15 Saturday

Hoedown at the Ranch

4 - 10 p.m., Natural Valley Ranch, 6310 E. County Road 350 N., Brownsburg. $30 at the door, $20 for ages 2 - 12 at the door and ages 2 and under are free. Join for an evening of fun for the entire family. Portion of the proceeds will benefit Oinking Acres Farm. Activities include: lawn games, catch & release fishing, arena horse rides, animal interactive area, live music and more. facebook.com/NaturalValleyRanch

16 Friday

Movies in the Park: Luca

6 p.m. Movies in the park are the perfect way to relax at the park with a great film! Movies begin at 7:30 p.m. brownsburg.org/561/Movies-in-the-Park

16 - 22 Sunday - Saturday

Hendricks County 4-H Fair

Daily, Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds, 1900 E. Main St., Danville. Sports fan, animal lover, or just a kid at heart? The Hendricks County 4-H Fair has you covered! 4hcomplex.org

19 Wednesday

Summer Splash

1 - 3 p.m., The Shops at Perry Crossing, Town Square, 2499 Perry Crossing Way, Plainfield. Kids are free to cool off and play in the pop-jet fountain this summer! Guests can enjoy music, win prizes and indulge in delicious, cool treats perfect for a hot summer day from tenants such as Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt and Rocket Fizz. Perry-crossing.com

Continued on Page 17

Continued from Page 16

20 Thursday

Summer Movie Series: Strange World

8 p.m. movie starts, The Shops at Perry Crossing, Town Square, 2499 Perry Crossing Way, Plainfield. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and enjoy a free family-friendly movie under the stars. Pre-show activities start at 6 p.m. perry-crossing.com/events/movie-series

21- 30 Friday - Sunday Sunflower Festival

9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m.9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 12- 6 p.m. Sunday, Beasley’s Orchard, 2304 E. Main St., Danville. Spend the day exploring our 4 acres of sunflowers while also picking your own stems! Admission includes one stem, but you can choose to pick a few more stems or an entire bucket of blossoms! Don’t miss out on sunset photos! beasleysorchard.com/sunflower-festival

21 Friday

12th Annual Reflected Light 2023

5 - 9 p.m., The Gallery of Bread of Life Ministries, 7510 E. County Road 100, Avon. This is an open house event featuring

painting of all kinds and genre’s from professional and semi professional artists all over Indiana. Free beautifully crafted hors d’oeuvres will be served.

22 Saturday

Felted Soap-Making Class

1 - 3 p.m., Montrose Farms Alpaca Ranch, 3750 N. County Road 950 E., Brownsburg. Price: $25. Students will learn to wet-felt carded fleece from the alpacas at Montrose Farms onto a 3-5 oz. bar of goat milk soap. Montrosefarms.com

22 Saturday

Hummel Park Concert Series: Twisted Gold 7 p.m., Hummel Park, 5373 S. County Road 700 E., Plainfield. Bring the family, blankets, lawn chairs and picnic to this free concert at the Hummel Park Performing Arts Center! guilfordtownship.com/uncategorized/freesummer-concert-series

22 Saturday

July Painting in the Park

2 - 4 p.m., McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem. Instructor Sherri Weir provides instructions and lots of encouragement. Amateur artists, and more experienced ones, will be sure to take away

a beautiful painting. Registration required. $25 per person. facebook.com/HCPandR

25 - Aug. 6

Tuesday - Sunday

The Drowsy Chaperone Times vary, Longstreet Playhouse, 4998 N. County Road 100 E., Danville. “The Drowsy Chaperone” is a rabid musical theatre maven who retells the story of his favorite musical, 1928’s fictive obscurity The Drowsy Chaperone. broadwayworld.com/chicago/ regional/The-Drowsy-Chaperone-Danville

27 Saturday

Outdoor Summer Concert Series

5 - 7 p.m., Town Hall Green, 61 N. Green St., Brownsburg. Families are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets. Yard games will be available for kids. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. brownsburg.org

Brownsburg names Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshall

By Nichole Meloche

The Brownsburg Lions Club has selected David Galloway as this year’s Fourth of July Parade Grand Marshall. Galloway, a Brownsburg resident since 1972, served in the military for 21 years. He served in the Cold War, the Vietnam War and Desert Shield/Storm Operation. After his retirement from the military, he served the Brownsburg Police Department from 1972 to his retirement in 2006 as Chief of Police. Galloway went on to serve as Hendricks County Sheriff from 2007 to 2014. Join Galloway, his family and the community at Arbuckle Acres on July 4 at 10 a.m. to kick off the celebration.

HENDRICKS REGIONAL HEALTH CELEBRATES THE UNSTOPPABLE SPIRIT OF TOMORROW’S LEADERS

A feature in the Hendricks County ICON

GETTING A HEAD START ON HIGH SCHOOL

DELANEY QUINN ENTERS HER FRESHMAN YEAR WITH MOMENTUM ALREADY BUILT

By Todd Travis

Before even stepping foot into the halls of Cascade high school, Delaney Quinn has begun to make strides toward success as a high school student and cheerleader. Her hard work and dedication in middle school has ensured that. Academically, she maintained straight A’s throughout the year while taking advanced classes. As a result, she earned her membership to the National Junior Honor Society and acquired 7 high school credits. Students, like Quinn, who acquire those credits are awarded with the Magnificent 7 award, meaning they earned 7 or more high school credits. Magnificent indeed.

As an athlete, Quinn has already earned her spot on the Varsity cheer squad. She will be the only freshman on Varsity. With her experience in competitive cheer and travel cheer, she earned the UCA All-American award two years in a row (2022-2023). This year, she helped her all-star team place third in nationals at the D2 summit in Greenwood.

It’s safe to say that Quinn has set herself up pretty nicely for her freshman year of high school. Still, there are some unknowns she is looking to explore as she enters this new stage in life.

“One of my goals in high school is to figure out what I want to do for a career. I like math a lot, so that is something I’m considering going into. I also want to make it a goal to put myself out there a little more when it comes to meeting new people and making new friends,” Quinn mentioned.

Quinn considers herself to be introverted, although that might be hard to imagine considering her competitive nature and her involvement in competitive cheerleading. But after the highly social, highly energetic cheerleading competitions, she usually needs some time to be alone and decompress from all the social stimulation. She also has a solid friend group as it is, so even though she might not feel she is putting herself out there, she has a natural ease of making friends.

Outside of school, there is not a lot of free time for Quinn because of traveling cheer, but one thing she enjoys doing is heading to Chicago with her family to enjoy a country concert or to watch a Cubs game at Wrigley Field.

Even though she is just entering high school, Quinn already knows she wants to cheer when she gets to college as well. That’s not to say she is going to put academics on the back-burner, quite the contrary, actually.

“I know that I need to have good grades to accomplish this goal. When I first started cheer, I didn’t really care all that much about it, but when I got to fifth grade, I really started to enjoy it. If I want to do it in college, I have to stay focused academically as well,” Quinn shared. Her competitiveness is another characteristic that keeps her focused both in school and in cheer. She doesn’t want to get beaten and she’s willing to work hard to be the best. No matter what path Quinn decides to take over the next four years of high school, she is primed to succeed.

PAUL Clinical Manager

Quinn with her dad Scott and mom Samantha at the National Junior Honor Society ceremony. (Submitted photo)

Delaney Quinn, incoming freshman at Cascade high school (Submitted photo)

TsT Construction, LLC Tip of the Month

By Tom S. Truesdale

Window and Door Replacement

This month I wanted to provide some thoughts and ideas regarding window and door replacement.

A significant amount of energy can be lost though old or leaking windows and doors. Here are some examples to look for to determine if a window or door replacement is needed:

• Seals and swing function should be checked for proper operation.

• Does the door or window close and seal tightly?

• If window glass is fogged this generally means the seal between the glass has failed.

• Rotted wood around the frame and trim is a sign of failed weather protection.

• Condensation on the glass is a sign that the glass insulation value has failed.

• Drafty areas in a home can usually be traced to window or door failures.

• Light infiltration anywhere around the edge of a door or window, if light can get in so can air.

There are many options on the market when it comes to window and door replacement, many styles from simple to decorative, vinyl, wood, metal and composite, but as with most products you get what you pay for. A lesser priced window or door generally will not have the insulation and performance characteristics as a higher quality product. Qualified installation, warranty and service are also important things to consider. I recommend choosing a product that has a product and installation warranty. Finally, make sure that the installers are certified and trained to install the brand of product you choose. Different products do have different installation requirements.

As always choosing a contractor that will stand behind his product and installation is critical. If you have any concerns or questions do not hesitate to contact TsT Construction for help and guidance. Hope this months tips are helpful, TsT

Artificially UN-intelligence

By Dick Wolfsie

What was I thinking? I’ve been so happy lately, retired and enjoying my free time, pleased with the fun I’ve had over the years in the media. And then I went and did the dumbest thing. I experimented with an Artificial Intelligence app on my phone. I began with a few pressing questions in my life like how do I get rid of the racoon that is destroying our deck? And will the trash people take my old lawnmower? Can Donald Trump be president while in the slammer?

Here’s where it all went horribly wrong. I had been told that AI could create a story if you simply prompt the app with an idea or question. Just for fun, here is what I requested. WRITE AN ESSAY ON WHY DICK WOLFSIE IS NOT FUNNY. What you are about to read is exactly what I received. I am not making this up. It began to scroll on my phone within 10 seconds…

“Dick Wolfsie is a TV personality and writer who has been in the media for many years. He claims to have a unique brand of wit, but we beg to differ. Here are some reasons Dick is not funny.

First, he has a weird name. Sounds like a cross between a detective and a werewolf. For 30 years he has been telling stories about quirky people he met, but all the stories were boring. His jokes fell flat and he never tackled anything serious. He never challenges himself, his viewers or his readers. He plays it safe and boring. Everything is a cliché and totally predictable. He did bring his dog Barney on TV for many years. That’s what saved his career. People watched Dick on TV because of the dog. His writing often depends on horrible puns and weak punchlines. Where is the sarcasm and irony that good writing demands? Wolfsie just sticks to the same old formula.

In conclusion, Dick Wolfsie never makes people think. He just makes them yawn, turn off the TV or go to the next page of the newspaper.”

Yes, that’s what Artificial Intelligence wrote about me. For this column, I deleted anything that made me look bad. Apparently, AI scans the web and incorporates all the information they can find to create the story. My first reaction was they must have confused me with a different Dick Wolfsie. You know, another guy who was on the news with his dog and now writes a humor column.

I asked my wife to read the essay.

“Dick this is outrageous; it’s full of inaccuracies. You didn’t bore people for thirty years on TV”

“Thank you, Mary Ellen.”

“Wasn’t it closer to 40? And they said you end every column with a dreadful pun.”

“But I don’t, do I?”

“Of course not, you sprinkle them endlessly throughout the column. Along with the cliches.

“But I do tackle serious topics.”

“Without question. Who could forget your story about the guy who collects manhole covers; your column about Miracle Whip versus mayonnaise and my favorite: Why men who drink beer attract mosquitoes.”

Now, I was totally depressed. But I had an idea. My original request set me up for witty insults and criticism. This time, I’d phrase it more positively: WRITE AN ESSAY ON WHY DICK WOFSIE IS A COMEDY GENIUS!

The original request only required 10 seconds to get a response. It’s been two days now and so far I’ve seen nothing on my smart phone. AI must be still working on it.

“Great opportunities never have ‘great opportunity’ in the subject line.”

— Scott Belsky

Dick Wolfsie lives in Indianapolis with his wife of 43 years. Dick is usually in the basement trying to think up something funny to write. He can be reached at: wolfsie@aol.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE

What is Community?

At the heart of this publication, you will find a collective dedication to the community of Hendricks County. Each issue is a reflection of this community and the values held by its collective members. So what does the word community really even mean? Here are a few definitions:

• a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common

• a group of people living together in one place, especially one practicing common ownership

• a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals

• a group of interdependent organisms of different species growing or living together in a specified habitat

The fourth definition sounds like it might be talking about bugs, but it provides important insight. The first definition is probably the bare minimum of what would be considered community.

The truth is, while there are many benefits to living in a community, it’s not always a pretty picture. To be in a true community, it’s inevitable that there is going to be conflict. People are going to see each other at their best and at their worst. Some may be unwilling to deal with that, and may shut themselves inside to avoid the messiness of relationships, but they won’t experience what true community is.

While this country has moved more and more toward and individualistic society, people are still “interdependent organisms” who often practice “common ownership” (to borrow from the above definitions). That means, whether people like it or not, they need each other and they need to find a way to work together. Try to think of it this way- someone needs you.

This is where true community can be seen. When people are willing to step out of their comfort zones and help someone else. Don’t underestimate the impact of helping just one person. It won’t always be sunshine and roses, but if the bad isn’t taken with the good, it’s just not real community.

The Humility Of Letting Go

By Pastor Rashad Cunningham

Have you ever thought to yourself that it is prideful to try to “fix” or handle the things that cause you stress, worry, doubt and anxiety? In the apostle Peter’s first letter, he instructs the recipients, exiles scattered throughout the Roman Empire, and even those of us who believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior today to “clothe ourselves with humility toward one another” because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Because of this fact, Peter then instructs us to “Humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God…” But how do we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of our Father and Creator in Heaven? Some would think it would be thinking lower of ourselves. Others may say it would be us “sucking it up” in the hard times and figuring out solutions to our problems.

However, Peter states that humbling ourselves under God’s mighty hand is casting , or transferring, all of our stress, worries, doubts and anxieties over to God.

Think about that for a second. God is against the proud, but gives grace to those who take all of the worries of the world and transfer them to Him. What is currently stressing you the most? What situation is keeping you awake causing you to lose your appetite? Whatever that is, God wants you, in true humility, to come to the conclusion that it is too heavy for you to carry and trust the weight of

those burdens with Him.

Why would God want you to do this?

“Because He cares for you.” It really is THAT simple. God cares about you so much that He wants you to take anything that would divide your attention away from Him… and give it to Him, so that your eyes remain on Him and not the “worry”!

If you are pridefully trying to fix all of their problems and perhaps the problems of those around you, humble yourself and believe that the only one who can fix whatever is broken is God!

Jesus said it like this “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”

I pray we all humble ourselves and come to HIM!

LOVING YOU and FULLY DEPENDENT on HIM,

Pastor Rashad Cunningham

Want to link up? Connect with me by scheduling at https://calendly.com/ pastorrashad/meetingwithrashad

Thank you for your 20 years of service in the Navy Reserves and your continued service to the Brownsburg community as a Corporal in the Brownsburg Police Department. We are so proud of you! Love, your family.

You Dustin for your commitment to the fire service, your willingness to protect and serve our community is appreciated.

Our nation has all sorts of arcane, nonsensical laws on the books. Each issue, we’ll share one with you … A pickle is not a pickle unless it bounces in Connecticut.. Source: stupidlaws.com

for

NAVAL RESERVES Jason McCoy

Different Types of Exercise and Their Benefits

Camille Gillespie, RD, LD, CPT

All exercise is good for you, whether you’re on a stroll around the neighborhood or an Olympic athlete. But did you know that different types of exercise benefit your body in different ways?

Physical activity falls into two general categories: Muscle-Strengthening and Aerobic or “Cardio.” Muscle-strengthening exercise improves strength, balance, and flexibility! It also helps maintain weight loss. Muscle-strengthening activity has been shown to be the most effective way to keep weight off after a loss. Examples of musclestrengthening activities include climbing stairs, weightlifting, carrying groceries, using resistance bands, digging, lifting, and body-weight exercises like squats, lunges, push-ups and sit-ups.

The main benefit of aerobic exercise, more commonly known as “cardio,” is it

reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. This is because aerobic exercise strengthens your heart and cardiovascular system and helps reduce fatty deposits in blood vessels. Cardio also increases your endurance and burns calories. There are many forms of cardio; some popular ones include walking, hiking, swimming, water or step aerobics, biking, dancing, jogging/running, and using the elliptical.

Exercise can even help our bones! A subcategory of both muscle-strengthening and aerobic exercise is called weight-bearing activity. This is any type of activity that involves impact on the ground or moving against gravity (e.g., walking, jogging, running, climbing stairs, step aerobics, dancing, hiking, weight training, etc.) Weight-bearing exercise protects our bones from osteoporosis—a crippling disease in which bones

Out and About in Hendricks County

Farmers Market helps re-charge a town hit hard by the pandemic

On Thursday night, June 22, the air was buzzing In North Salem during their “Cruise-in” farmers market. Classic cars were lined up and down the road for everyone to admire, a live band called The Strays was grooving along, and local business owners and artisans were happily chatting with visitors and townspeople. Around town, you could find a decorated barrel train carrying kids for a fun ride.

Behind all the smiling faces and welcoming nods is actually a story of fighting through adversity. The town of just 500 people, which is largely made up of small businesses, was facing extreme stress following the pandemic.

become thin and porous with age, viable to easy breakage.

So, throw on your tennis shoes and get moving! Remember, any exercise is better than none. While there are specific recommendations for exercise (150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio per week and 2 days of muscle-strengthening activity per week), all exercise is good for you and helps improve your health. Start small, do what you can, and do something you enjoy!

Camille Gillespie, RD, LD, CPT, is a registered dietician and personal trainer at Hendricks Regional Health.

“Covid not only almost broke this town, it gave it the biggest heart-break you can imagine. Small businesses didn’t have the capacity to do what some of the larger businesses did, so they suffered the most. Then you add inflation and that amplified everything. The farmers market has brought so much foot-traffic, conversation, and attention to this town,” Shared Kristi Vaughn, one of the six coordinators of the farmers market.

The market started in 2018 when the simple question was asked, “why don’t we have a farmers market?” The lucky person who asked that question, Vaughn, was the one who was placed with the responsibility to start the market herself. It began with just four vendors. A unique thing about this market is that while vendors set up to participate in the event, the small businesses along the strip also participate.

Steve Miller is one of the small business owners who is a huge supporter of the farmers market, and who opens the doors of his antique store, North Salem Antiques and Sundries, to visitors during the event.

Just a stone’s throw away from some of the larger towns in Hendricks County, the North Salem Farmers Market is a must visit this summer. Come check it out every Thursday, now through August from 5pm-7:30pm. Special Cruise-in nights are the fourth Thursday each month with a $50 prize for the best car.

ICONIC briefs

Answers to HOOSIER HODGEPODGE:

Clothing: BLOUSE, COAT, JACKET, PANTS, SHIRT, SLACKS; Capitals: ATHENS, BERLIN, OSLO, PARIS, ROME; Peppers: BELL, CAYENNE, JALAPENO, SERRANO; Reservoirs EAGLE CREEK, GEIST, MORSE; Area Codes: FOUR SIX THREE, THREE ONE SEVEN; County Seat: AUBURN

Matt Harloff chosen to lead the Avon High School marching band

Avon Community School Corporation (ACSC) has hired long-time Assistant Band Director Matt Harloff as the new director of bands at Avon High School (AHS). He has been a fixture at AHS and in the Avon Band community since he joined the staff in 1996. His sweeping expertise and active involvement in multiple marching band organizations have garnered Harloff national respect. Harloff takes the baton of one of the most successful high school band programs in the US. The Avon Marching Black and Gold and related winter ensembles have amassed well over 50 State Championships and nearly 20 World and National Championships over the last three decades. Harloff earned his Master of Arts in education from the University of Indianapolis and his Bachelor of Arts in music education at Indiana University, Bloomington. In addition to his role at AHS, Harloff has extensive leadership experience as an instructor with the Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps, a member of the World Guard International Steering Committee, a guest conductor with organizations like Bands of America, and a music arranger for multiple marching bands.

(Above) Jim Inman in his 1930 Model A Ford Roadster. (Below) Steve Miller in North Salem Antiques and Sundries (Photos by Todd Travis))

HISTORY finds

Creative Space

By Marty Carter

Fitting a large family into a small home is a situation that has existed for centuries and has led to various creative solutions. This table in the parlor of the Hendricks County Museum is one of those attempts to use space wisely. It is a gateleg table, a style that originated in 16th century England and came to America in the 1700’s. The drop leaves of the table can be supported by legs that swing out when a larger table is needed. Some thought the legs looked like a gate. They were also called swing tables.

This table, like most items in the museum, came with a Hendricks County connection. It was built by Lawrence and

Arthur Thompson, the two oldest sons of Danville residents Jesse and Rebecca Thompson. Lawrence and Arthur were carpenters with a furniture business in Marion County, and the table was their present to their younger brother William and his bride Hattie Bell for their 1892 wedding. The table had remained in the family for three generations and is still in its original condition.

The most famous member of the family was probably brother Sam, known as “Big Sam Thompson”, a major league baseball player with a place in the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Hendricks County Museum is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 170 S. Washington St., Danville. Built in 1866, it was the home for Hendricks County sheriffs and their families with the county jail on the lower level until 1974. Groups can schedule tours at hendrickscountymuseum.org or leave a message at (317) 718-6158.

“HCCF

has become an integral piece in the fabric of Hendricks County. Being a part of this organization and helping to bring lasting impacts to the citizens of Hendricks County is a truly fulfilling experience.”

- Tim Whicker

Table built by Lawrence and Arthur Thompson (Submitted photos)

FORtheRECORD - HC OBITUARIES

AVON

Jason W. Howrey

Jason W. Howrey, age 45, of Avon passed away on June 9, 2023 at IU West Hospital. He was born in Indianapolis on September 28, 1977 to William “Bill” and Sherry Fassold Howrey. Jason graduated from Plainfield High School in 1995 and attended Indiana State University. He started his career at UPS where he worked for fifteen years, then went to work at CSX in the maintenance division for the past nine years. His passion was fishing, and he was a proud member of several Bass clubs, enjoyed hunting, and spending time outdoors with friends and family. Survivors include his parents: Bill and Sherry Howrey, brother: Matt Howrey and his beloved nephews: Delton and Trevor Howrey. Private graveside services will be held in Maple Hill Cemetery in Plainfield. Hall-Baker Funeral Home, Plainfield is handling the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Indian Creek Anglers, Inc. youth fishing club. A celebration of life will be held at a later date this summer for friends and family. Please visit www.bakerfuneralservice.com to leave the family a condolence.

Veronda Tevebaugh

Veronda Tevebaugh, 71, passed away June 16, 2023. Services were held June 23. Hampton-Gentry Funeral Home, Plainfield, was entrusted with the arrangements.

BROWNSBURG

Kenneth

S. Butler

Kenneth S. Butler, 36, passed away June 17, 2023. He was born March 14, 1987. Services were held June 27. Matthews Mortuary, Brownsburg, was entrusted with the arrangements.

Katherine A. Danda

Katherine A. Danda, 67, passed away June 20, 2023. She was born June 16, 1956. Services were held June 26 at Matthews Mortuary, Brownsburg. Contributions may be made to SOLT Sisters.

Shirley J. Gates

Shirley J. Gates, 85, passed away June 17, 2023. She was born July 17, 1937. Services were held July 17. Matthews Mortuary, Brownsburg, was entrusted with the arrangements.

Junior “Buddy” Lynn II

Junior “Buddy” Lynn II, 66, passed away June 18, 2023. He was born Jan. 6, 1957. Services were held June 23 at Matthews Mortuary, Brownsburg.

David A. Pyle

David A. Pyle, 56, passed away June 12, 2023. He was born Aug. 6, 1966. Services were held June 20 at Carlisle-Branson Funeral Home, Mooresville.

Antonia H. Ricol

Antonia H. Ricol, 92, passed away June 3, 2023. She was born Feb. 13, 1931. Services were held June 15 at Matthews Mortuary, Brownsburg.

CLAYTON

John O. Marlowe

John O. Marlowe, 65, passed away June 13, 2023. He was born July 8, 1957. Services were held June 22. Baker Funeral home, Danville, was entrusted with the arrangements. Contributions may be made to the Hendricks County Humane Society.

COATESVILLE

Dallas Summerlot

Dallas Summerlot, 83, passed away June 19, 2023. He was born April 26, 1940. Services were held June 24 at Bousley Funeral Home, Coatesville.

DANVILLE

Charles L. Adkins

Charles L. Adkins, 70, passed away June 9, 2023. He was born Feb. 23, 1953. Services were held June 12 at Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Pittsboro.

William “Steve” Bryant

William “Steve” Bryant, 79, passed away June 14, 2023. He was born Nov. 16, 1943. Private services were held. Hampton-Gentry Funeral Home, Plainfield, was entrusted with the arrangements.

Jimmie

Clark

Jimmie Clark, 80, passed away June 12, 2023. He was born Dec. 29, 1942. Services were held June 17. Helton and Harris Funeral Home, Danville, was entrusted with the arrangements.

Jim

McClain

Jim McClain, 58, passed away June 20, 2023. He was born Aug. 11, 1964. Services were held June 28. Helton and Harris Funeral Home, Danville, was entrusted with the arrangements.

Keith R. Wagner

Keith R. Wagner, 47, passed away June 18, 2023. He was born April 15, 1976. Services were held June 24. Baker Funeral Home, Danville, was entrusted with the arrangements. Contributions may be made to the Hendricks County Humane Society.

Donna J. Wright

Donna J. Wright, 79, passed away June 8, 2023. She was born Nov. 2, 1943. Services were held June 13. Baker Funeral Home, Danville, was entrusted with the arrangements.

JAMESTOWN

Doris P. Purichia

Doris P. Purichia, 89, passed away June 19, 2023. She was born Jan. 16, 1934. Services were held June 26 at Stevens Mortuary, Indianapolis.

LIZTON

Mary A. Burgan

Mary A. Burgan, 79, passed away June 21, 2023. She was born April 2, 1944. Private services were held. Eric. M.D. Bell Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Pittsboro, was entrusted with the arrangements. Contributions may be made to the Hendricks County Senior Services.

NEW WINCHESTER

Beverly J. Eubank

Beverly J. Eubank, 92, passed away June 19, 2023. She was born July 3, 1930. Services were held June 23. Helton and Harris Funeral Home, Danville, was entrusted with the arrangements.

PLAINFIELD

Leon Hamilton

Leon Hamilton, 59, passed away June 13, 2023. He was born June 15, 1963. Services were held June 20 at Helton and Harris Funeral Home, Danville.

Stephen E. Jones

Stephen E. Jones, 79, passed away June 15, 2023. He was born Aug. 18, 1944. Services were held June 21 at Hall-Baker Funeral Home, Plainfield. Contributions may be made to the FOE 3207 Charity Fund or the Hendricks County Animal Shelter.

Roy T. Perry

Roy T. Perry, 46, passed away June 6, 2023. He was born March 18, 1977. Services were held June 22. Baker Funeral Home, Danville, was entrusted with the arrangements.

Sarah “Sally” Roche

Sarah “Sally” Roche, 91 passed away June 13, 2023. She was born Oct. 3, 1931. No services will be held at this time.

Patricia E. Williams

Patricia E. Williams, 76, passed away June 16, 2023. She was born Nov. 17, 1946. Services were held June 21. HamptonGentry Funeral Home, Plainfield, was entrusted with the arrangements. Contributions may be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Food Pantry.

What’s the right amount of leaning in?

By Curtis Honeycutt

The phrase “lean in” may be a corporate buzzword, but it’s worth discussing. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg immortalized the phrase when she wrote a best-selling book entitled “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.” What does “lean in” actually mean? It’s all about posture. If you’re slumped down in your chair at work, whiling away until the five o’clock whistle blows, you’re not leaning in. Not only are you physically disengaged, but your attitude also suggests that you don’t care. However, when you lean forward in your chair, you’re more alert and likely to be listening with rapt attention and prepared to insert your own great ideas. That’s what leaning in is all about—you’re ready to interject your awesomeness into your organization.

Italicized words are the “leaning in” of language. When it comes to fonts (or typefaces, if we’re being fancy), “Roman” letters refer to the default, upright letters we type into our emails and word processing software, while “Italic” letters are slanted to the right. When you put certain phrases in italics, it draws attention to them as key words you want to set apart for emphasis.

These words are literally leaning in. What happens when you lean in too much? You fall on your pants pockets (which is a diplomatic way of saying you bruise your derrière—pardon my French). I’m suggesting that if you constantly give 110%, you’ll likely experience burnout. In the same way, if you put your entire email in italics, your reader will have trouble discerning what’s important from what’s ordinary. I highly recommend healthy margins—on paper and in your work/life balance. Aside from emphasis, when should you use italics in your writing? Surprisingly, AP style suggests that you don’t use italics in titles of magazines or newspapers; instead, simply capitalize them (e.g., Sports Illustrated). The AP dictates that books, films, TV shows, songs, albums, speeches, works of art, etc. don’t get italicized, either; instead, surround them with a warm pair of quotation mark hugs (e.g., “To Kill a Mockingbird”). Sacred books, including the Bible or the Koran, do not get italics or quotation marks. So, what gets italicized in AP style? Nothing. Just the facts, ma’am. The Chicago Manual of Style and the MLA Handbook suggest that you italicize major works instead of using quotation marks. I have a hard time with the AP’s italics

rules. Because my column appears in newspapers, I abide by the quotationsaround-titles rule. However, I prefer to italicize words for emphasis, as well as non-English words (like derrière), words reproduced as sounds (e.g., Bees go bzzzzz.), or words as words (e.g., I challenge you to use the word indefatigable in a sentence.). AP style dictates that we should put quotations around words as words, but I prefer to put them in italics. If you want to make a big splash at your company, lean in at the right time on the right project. If you want to emphasize certain words in your writing, lean in by italicizing key phrases.

ICONIC briefs

Plainfield Lions club celebrates success of eyeglass collection

Curtis Honeycutt is an award-winning syndicated humor columnist. Connect with him on Twitter (@ curtishoneycutt) or at curtishoneycutt.com.

Plainfield Lions Club collected, cleaned and sorted more than 1,700 pairs of eyeglasses since April. These eye glasses will eventually make their way to Mexico and be given to those in need after receiving a free eye exam and matched to the eye glasses. It costs Lions less than eight cents to provide a pair of recycled eyeglasses and change someone’s life, says Lion Sandy Rutter. Old eyeglasses can be dropped off throughout Hendricks County in collection boxes at https:// tinyurl.com/Eyeglass-Boxes.

RAAYS RECYCLING

More Foolproof Hydrangeas

GARDENING

By John Chapin

Many great new varieties have been developed from ‘Annabelle’, the very popular natural cultivar of our native Hydrangea arborescence. In addition to ‘Incrediball’ with its strong stems to eliminate flopping, there are lovely pink-flowering varieties. All Hydrangea arborescence varieties will do fine in full sun, but I’ve found that the flowers last longer with afternoon shade. So, planting with an eastern exposure or any exposure that gets afternoon tree shade is ideal.

The very first variety with pink blooms was ‘Invincibelle Spirit’, introduced about 20 years ago, with a dollar donated to breast cancer research for every plant sold. ‘Invincibelle Spirit II’ improved on the original, with darker foliage, stronger stems, and larger flowers of a deeper, truer pink. To date, many millions of dollars have been donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. This variety grows to 4’ tall and wide.

‘Incrediball Blush’ is a natural sport of the white-blooming ‘Incrediball’ hydrangea, with strong stems and huge blooms of light pink. It’s the largest-growing of the pink varieties, reaching 5’ tall and wide.

‘Invincibelle Ruby’ features dark, nearred flower buds that open to a two-toned combination of bright ruby and silvery pink. It has deep green foliage, strong stems, and usually re-blooms all summer. This variety grows to 4’ tall and wide.

‘Invincibelle Mini Mauvette’ is smaller, maturing at just 3’ tall and wide. The mophead flowers of mauve-purple stand out against the very dark green leaves on strong stems.

In contrast to the finicky big-leaf “Endless Bummer’ hydrangeas, all of these smoothleaf hydrangeas reliably bloom on new growth, and are pink regardless of soil pH. They do appreciate humus-rich soil, regular watering, and mulch. There is a variety for every garden!

Happy Gardening!

John Chapin is a retired school teacher and sole proprietor of Chapin Landscaping in Danville. He has over 30 years’ experience in the landscaping business. Contact him at jchapinlandscaping@gmail.com

Visiting the City of David

By Don Knebel

In our continuing tour of Israel and the Palestinian Territories, we come to Jerusalem, an ancient city important to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Today we will visit a site that some archaeologists believe goes back to the time of Biblical King David.

According to the Bible, David captured Jerusalem from the Jebusites in the tenth century B.C. and made it the capital of a kingdom uniting the twelve tribes of Israel. People today probably imagine Jerusalem at the time as a great city, reflecting their view of David’s United Monarchy. However, most scholars believe that David’s Jerusalem occupied a narrow hilltop strip comprising no more than ten acres, with a population of perhaps two thousand. This area, now called the “City of David,” was southeast of Mount Moriah, where King Solomon later built the first Jewish Temple across the Kidron Valley from the Mount of Olives. Excavations in the City of David area began in the nineteenth century. In the 1920s, archaeologists discovered a sixty-foot high terraced structure made of stone along the eastern side of the hill, overlooking the Kidron Valley. The purpose of this structure,

labeled the “Stepped Stone Structure,” has long been a mystery. In 2005, Dr. Eliat Mazar, an Israeli archaeologist, reported that she had found another stone structure, just as unimaginatively called the “Large Stone Structure,” supported by the Stepped Stone Structure. With great fanfare, she said had found King David’s palace. Other archaeologists quickly disagreed, saying that there would not be a palace in such a small “hillcountry village” at the time of David.

The site of Dr. Mazar’s excavations has become a popular tourist destination in Jerusalem. Guides point out that whatever the purpose of the Stepped Stone Structure, the square stone found at its lower right-hand corner, with a hole in the center, is undoubtedly a latrine.

Don Knebel is a local resident who works for Barnes & Thornburg LLP. For the full column visit donknebel.com. You may contact him at editorial@youarecurrent.com.

The 33,000 sq. ft. Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds and Conference Complex is designed to meet any of your social meeting needs: banquets, meetings, seminars or wedding events - we can do it all! Our friendly and knowledgable staff are ready to make your event worry-free and memorable!

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Rental of $150 or more

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• Nine conference classrooms and boardrooms

• Complete commercial kitchen

• Demonstration kitchen

• 12,000 sq. ft. multi-purpose auditorium

• 24’ x 36’ stage

• Easy load-in areas with overhead door

• High ceilings

• Epoxy covered flooring

• ADA accessibility

Scenes from the City of David (Photo by Don Knebel)