Avon Magazine September 2021 by Towne Post Network, Inc.

SEPTEMBER 2021

MAGAZINE

Simply the Fest AVON COMMUNITY HERITAGE FESTIVAL RETURNS A HEART FOR GIVING

Local Girl Spreads Joy Through Selflessness and Creativity WESTSIDE MUSIC ACADEMY

Music Instruction Facility Celebrates First Anniversary in Avon

TownePost.com

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SEPTEMBER 2021

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CREATIVE DIRECTORS TONI EADS VAL HACKER

Avon Community Heritage Festival Returns

Tips to Ensure Safety During Baby’s First Year

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SIMPLY THE FEST

Local Girl Spreads Joy Through Selflessness and Creativity

The Goddard School of Avon

A HEART FOR GIVING REAL-TIME ANALYTICS Scan the QR code to see this magazine’s real-time reach and distribution numbers.

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Simply the Fest AVON COMMUNITY HERITAGE FESTIVAL RETURNS Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

The past year and a half has prompted patience, perspective and perhaps a newfound appreciation for change. Still, there’s something to be said for nostalgia, which is why it’s nice to be able to welcome back many activities and annual traditions that were put on pause last year. One of those is the Avon Community Heritage Festival, which started in 1998 and is all about celebrating and showcasing the community. “When it first started, there were a

few community members looking for something they could do to bring the community together because we didn’t have any celebrations at the time,” says Tracy Justice, human resources director with Washington Township, Hendricks County, and this year’s festival president. “This festival pretty much pioneered celebration in the community.” It rained during the festival’s first year, but many people came nevertheless - a clear sign that the community was hungry for a gathering. It became a tradition that expanded into the annual TownePost.com / SEPTEMBER 2021 / AVON MAGAZINE / 7

tree lighting to welcome the winter holidays. “The Avon Community Heritage Festival was really about bringing the community together so that local business owners could showcase their products, and then it expanded into the schools getting involved,” Justice says. “Each year we highlight all the great things we have

going on in this community and enjoy it together.”

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The festival returns this year on September 25, and while some things remain the same, other things have changed for this year. COVID-19 affected a lot of sponsorships, which means the event will not include the talent show, local choirs or dance teams. However, each year the board of directors tries to incorporate new ideas into the festival, so this year in lieu of the talent show, parade and bounce houses, they are including a 5K Color Throw and Color Fun Run. Participants can register to run individually or in groups of four or more. “As you run, volunteers will throw color at you, and then at 6 p.m. runners will congregate by the amphitheater for a color splash where people will get their packets together and throw them all up for a color-bomb explosion,” Justice says. “We’re hoping for a beautiful, pictureworthy moment.” Justice says the idea for the 5K was tied into the fact that for many, this year has been all about getting outside and moving, not to mention that Avon has a number of trails. The run will take place on White Lick Creek Trail starting at 4 p.m. “This 5K may draw a new crowd as it appeals to those who love to gather for active events,” Justice says. “Plus, it’s a chance to work towards shedding those COVID-19 pounds while mingling with members of our community.”

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Folks of all ages are welcome to sign up for the run. 8 / AVON MAGAZINE / SEPTEMBER 2021 / TownePost.com

“We thought the run was a fun way to celebrate the return of the Avon Community Heritage Festival,” Justice says. “Plus, there hasn’t ever been a color throw and fun run here in Avon, so we thought we might as well start one.” As always, the event will include nonprofit, craft, and business vendor booths, but instead of being located on the lawn by the playground equipment, everything will be set up in the lower park where Festival After Dark has happened in previous years. The time of the festival is also different this year. In years past, the daytime portion of the festival took place from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. This year, however, festivities begin at 3:30 p.m. Vendors will be set up until 7 p.m. “It’s always fun to see what the vendors have as they pass out a lot of free swag,” Justice says.

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“People are excited that we’re bringing it back,” Justice says. “They are ready to get out of the house and do something fun, and this festival is family friendly.” Justice is thrilled that organizers get to hold the event again, because perhaps this year more than ever, connecting with friends, neighbors and loved ones is important.

how to get started. We’re always looking for new board members who can bring in fresh ideas.” If you love live music, tasty food and creating great memories with your community, come check out the Avon Community Heritage Festival on September 25.

To register for the 5K run, visit avoncommunityheritagefestival.org. To share your interest in becoming a board member, call 317-745-0785 or email avonheritagefestival@gmail.com.

“I love being outdoors and meeting new people, and just seeing the joy on people’s faces,” says Justice, a sixyear Hendricks County resident who decided to get involved with the board of directors after living here for a couple years because she yearned for community connection. “It’s a great opportunity for people to get to know one another,” she adds. “If you’re interested in joining the board, send us an email and we can tell you

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A HEART FOR GIVING LOCAL GIRL SPREADS JOY THROUGH SELFLESSNESS AND CREATIVITY Writer / Jamie Hergott Photography Provided

At the tender age of 11, Ellie Hart has already been through enough medical procedures and doctor’s appointments to rival many adults. However, no one would ever guess it when they witness her sweet smile and joyful countenance. “I’m in sixth grade,” Ellie says. “I like training my cat, playing video games with my brother Corban, and I love doing clay.” Creating clay items, specifically handheld hearts, is a passion and hobby that was born out of her life’s greatest adversity so far. She creates multicolored hearts out of polymer clay and passes them out to anyone she can find, to spread love and kindness. At 6 years old, Ellie was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis ( JRA). She woke up one morning and came into her

parents’ room, unable to walk with a swollen key to finding out Ellie had JRA. As an autoimmune disorder, JRA causes Ellie’s knee. body to attack itself, including her joints and eyes. She began weekly shots right away. “She hadn’t injured it, and it was warm to Her mom had to administer them, and not the touch,” says Ellie’s mom, Mindy Hart. only were they painful, but as a low dose of “We kept an eye on it and eventually she chemotherapy they also made Ellie sick. could bear weight on it. This went on for about two weeks.” Finding out the answer to Ellie’s health issues was both relieving and terrifying to Mindy and her husband finally took Ellie Mindy. to her pediatrician. After X-rays, doctors still couldn’t pinpoint the problem so they assumed Ellie had injured it. Mindy knew “On one hand, it was a relief to know there something wasn’t right. After sitting for long was a reason for her struggles,” Mindy periods of time in school assemblies, Ellie says. “It was also definitely overwhelming. wasn’t able to walk. Finally, an orthopedic Learning to give her those shots, especially doctor suggested they see a rheumatologist when they hurt her and made her sick, was for blood work. so hard. I felt like I was poisoning my child. We got through it with the amazing support At this point, Ellie’s eyes were becoming of friends, family, and church family.” affected with inflammation. This was the SEPTEMBER 2021

Ellie doesn’t remember too much from those early days of her diagnosis, but she does remember the shots. “I remember being scared,” Ellie says. “It was painful, but soon my body knew that I’d also get sick after my shot so it got really hard.” Ellie has always had the support of her older brother Corban. She loves playing video games with him, and he’s always been sympathetic to her health struggles. “Corban has been so understanding,” Mindy says. “Usually in a family, when one

kiddo is sick, the other one can struggle. He never did.” After two years, Ellie’s body began rejecting the chemo, but by that point she was in non-medicated remission. She still enjoys remission now, and is staying busy with her clay project. Her passion for clay came from a general interest in crafting. She could never do a lot of sports because of her health, so Hobby Lobby became a place to find things to do. During the COVID pandemic, Ellie wanted to do something to help others. She knew how it felt to miss out for health reasons,

and her empathy compelled her to act. She discovered that she could flatten polymer clay, use tiny heart-shaped cookie cutters to make little hearts, bake them, and create beautiful handheld creations to pass out. She decided to make a batch of hearts and pass them out at a local nursing home. She passed out 80 hearts that day and knew she was onto something. “It just felt good to make people happy,” Ellie says. “Especially during COVID, when people couldn’t have visitors, I just felt so bad. Some people cry when I give them the hearts. Most are just really appreciative.”

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Since then Ellie has created more than 5,000 hearts, with plans to create even more. Sometimes she creates custom orders with the colors people ask for. Other times, she just passes out what she has. Mindy remembers one specific time when their family was in Nashville, and Ellie spotted a homeless man in a motorized wheelchair. Ellie tugged on her mom’s arm, asking, “Mom, do you have any hearts? Quick!” Ellie grabbed one, jumped out of the car, and gave the man one of her clay hearts.

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“He was so touched by this little girl getting out of a car and giving him a heart,” Mindy says. “He put it in his pocket and said he’d hold onto it forever. She has chased down people in stores before and once people realize she’s just doing it to brighten their day, their countenance changes.” The Hart family is part of several Facebook groups connecting families struggling with JRA. The groups offer community and support, and through those groups, Ellie has been able to make and send hearts to multiple locations across the globe including Europe, South Africa and Australia. Ellie has also made items for Riley Hospital for Children, and hopes to make connections to pass out hearts for Veterans Day at the VA medical center in Indianapolis. She’s created batches for birthdays, holidays and special events. People have even asked her to create and sell batches so that they could pass the hearts out themselves. Armed with business cards, her plan for the near future is to create batches of 20 hearts for $5 to help others spread the same cheer and kindness that she does. “We just love the idea of helping others spread kindness too,” Mindy says.

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Corban is inspired by his little sister’s resilience and mission to spread love. “She just spends hours in her room making them,” Corban says. “Once after only about two days she made 1,000

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hearts. After seeing people’s reactions to her, it’s just nice to know she’s doing something that’s making her and everyone else happier. She’s doing something good and something she enjoys. It’s amazing. She’s going to be a sensation.” Ellie’s mom sees a greater purpose at work in her daughter’s diagnosis and hearts. As Ellie has latched onto her clay heart project, Mindy sees the healing that has come to Ellie by focusing on others in her time of struggling with JRA. “It helped her in her pain,” Mindy says. “It helped her focus on other people instead of focusing on what was going on with her. She has always been really sensitive to other people and their needs, so it’s amazing to see that sensitivity and compassion for others nurtured and heightened.” To stay up to date on Ellie’s clay heart project, visit facebook.com/ ElliesClayCreations.

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7 REASONS TO GET EXCITED FOR FOOTBALL SEASON Writer / Abigail Hake Photography Provided

ootball season is right around the corner and while you may or may not be a diehard fan, lots of people are ready for the season to get started, not only because of the game but because of all that goes along with it! Many Americans would suggest that football is the best sport in the world. Here are seven reasons why fans and non-fans alike are ready for the season to start again.

1. TOGETHERNESS No matter what you think, football brings us together. At all levels of the game, people come together to cheer or boo. You bond with those sitting next to you in the bleachers or standing next to you on the field. You root for your team and hope for a win together with all the rest of the fans around you. You watch together with your family and friends in the comfort of your own home. It’s a common bond between you and those on your favorite team. 2. RIVALRIES Don’t say you like all teams because that’s not true, and you know it. We all know there are teams that just don’t get along and don’t like each other. Like the Packers and Bears, the Cowboys and Eagles, and obviously the Colts and the Patriots. Rivalries bring out the best in athletes and encourage competition, but the most intense rivalries are amongst the National Football League teams. And a good rivalry is not only exciting, but great for ratings!

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3. FOOD Football food is just the best. Dips, pretzels, burgers, nachos, beer. What more could you ask for? The best part of watching a game is lingering around the kitchen island or visiting the concessions during halftime at the stadium. And did you know that more food is consumed on Super Bowl Sunday than at Thanksgiving? 4. TAILGATING When you go to a game, high school, college, or NFL, you don’t show up right at gametime. Like any good fan, you arrive a little early and with a cooler! Hanging outside the venue with friends for hours before the big game is a must-have experience and can be extra special if you are visiting somewhere like Lambeau Field or Notre Dame Stadium. No matter the weather, tailgating is all about having fun and indulging in unhealthy food, drinks and games. Oh, and you

might even make friends with those on the other side! 5. TRADITIONS Football is a tradition most enjoyed on Friday nights while growing up and Sundays with family. If you love the NFL, it’s very likely that you grew up watching with relatives who followed a favorite team or just the sport in general. I mean, what do you think of when Thanksgiving comes around? That’s right, food and football. Families across the country go out to play America’s favorite sport on the front lawns and when they are done, everyone heads back inside to watch the game. It’s almost religious. 6. FANTASY FOOTBALL The return of the NFL also means that fantasy football is upon us. Not only is it a hobby for many, it’s a multi-million dollar industry that paved the way for all other fantasy sports. People

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can compete with friends by picking and following their favorite players to create their fantasy team. It requires a little savvy and strategy, but is fun to follow and also to try to one-up your friends! 7. THE SUPER BOWL Even those who don’t like football love the Super Bowl. Considered a national holiday by many, this is a spectacle enjoyed by all. The rivalries are fierce, the stadiums are packed, the half-time shows are unreal, and obviously the commercials are amazing. The Super Bowl is the culmination of the entire season and watchers

everywhere stay up late and call in sick the next day just to enjoy the entire show. In the end, when fall rolls around, we are totally ready for Fridays to be spent at the local game, Saturdays to be taken over by the best college games, and Sundays to be taken over by pregame shows and commentators. We all feel better when football is back in action and we can enjoy the season for all the right reasons, with family, friends and even those who are cheering for the other side.

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A WEIGHT LIFTED

EMDR THERAPY HELPS TO REPROCESS TRAUMATIC EVENTS Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

It was a sunny August day in 2017, the week following her son Matt’s 23rd birthday, when Teresa Youngen experienced a tragedy that no parent should ever have to endure. She was outside vacuuming her pool, and came inside and knocked on Matt’s bedroom door. When he didn’t answer, she opened the door and was horrified to find that he had taken his life. Anyone who has ever lost someone to suicide can tell you there is no moving past such a catastrophic event. From that moment forward, there is “before” and “after,” but never again “normal.”

“It’s horrifying to walk into a room and realize that the person you love so, so, so much has done this to himself,” Youngen says.

pills to numb herself. “I knew I couldn’t go on living at that level of agitation and horror,” she says.

One day when she was attending a suicide survivor support group at Hendricks Regional Health, someone suggested she try eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. During “It was like I’d been struck by a lightning EMDR the patient thinks about the bolt,” Youngen says. “In my mind’s eye, I’d see Matt in the closet and my blood pressure trauma, while the therapist waves a hand would spike, my throat would go dry, I’d feel or baton in front of them as they follow the sick to my stomach, I’d burst into tears, and movement with their eyes. The therapy, I’d be right there, back in the moment.” which helps the brain process memories and reduce negative feelings about them, It got so bad that Youngen considered taking has been around since the 1980s but has As the weeks and months passed, Youngen was plagued by the terrible vision that was seared into her mind.

SEPTEMBER 2021

grown in popularity in recent years. “With EMDR, we go back,”says Wendy Byrd, president of the EMDR International Association. “We look at how your past may be affecting what’s happening to you currently. It’s changing the way that the experience is stored, and when the brain changes the way it’s stored, you feel differently about it.” Through EMDR, Youngen found that her brain was pulled away from reprocessing certain thoughts. “It’s like being stuck in a rut that you can’t get yourself out of, but with EMDR there is this second thing that’s going on, so now your brain is distracted and is able to reprocess it,” Youngen says. “You’ll never forget it, but you get away from that autonomic response of sky-high blood pressure, anxiety, crying and crashing. The memory is still painful, but EMDR made it so that it’s no longer debilitating.” Emily Koehler, LMHC, lead therapist at the Willow Center in Brownsburg, finds

this therapy to be beneficial for clients who have experienced trauma that is negatively impacting their life. “This could be something that happened last week or several years ago,” says Koehler, noting that the eye movement portion of EMDR helps to stimulate both hemispheres of the brain, assisting with bypassing the part of the brain that has gotten stuck due to the trauma. “I love utilizing EMDR because it empowers clients and helps them build new beliefs around their trauma, promoting inner peace. Each session begins and ends with grounding and stabilization practices, and clients build the inner resources to self-regulate between sessions.”

reprocessing this traumatic image, Youngen decided to use EMDR to help her reprocess other thoughts that trigger her. For instance, the sequence of events that led to finding her son began with entering her house through her back door. As a result, she has refused to use that door ever since. “It’s as if my brain is telling me, ‘If you never go through that back door, that event never happened,’” Youngen says. “My brain processes that door as the portal to hell and that if I go through it, my life will be forever horrible.” She even hung a blanket over the door to avoid seeing it.

Koehler notes that in cases where eye movements are not possible or appropriate for a client, they can offer alternatives for bilateral stimulation.

“It’s been my coping strategy, but the problem with coping strategies is that they get you through the day, not the rest of your life,” Youngen says.

Youngen felt instant relief after just the first session.

In March of 2020, she decided she was ready to tackle this issue so she started EMDR sessions with her therapist.

Because EMDR worked so well with SEPTEMBER 2021

Following her first appointment, she felt so empowered that she drove straight home and removed the blanket from the door. “I was super excited,” she says. “As I looked outside I thought, ‘I can do this. I’m going to reclaim an area of the house that I truly enjoy.’” Unfortunately, soon thereafter, COVID-19 hit and she was unable to see her therapist in person. Without that reinforcement, she found herself draping the blanket over the door again. Now, however, she is once again seeing her therapist and making progress using EMDR. “I needed relief because there were days when I thought I was going to fall off this cliff and be completely unable to function,” says Youngen, who encourages anyone who struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder to consider EMDR. Veterans, survivors of violent crime, those involved in accidents or natural disasters, and emergency responders can find healing in this therapy.

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Youngen has seen others who have benefitted from this type of therapy. For instance her niece, who was an emergency medical technician, witnessed a traffic accident that was burned into her brain, making it difficult for her to eat and sleep. Youngen recommended EMDR. “While it’s not a panacea or a one-sizefits-all kind of thing, it can be so helpful if you’re open to it,” Youngen says. September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. If you are feeling overwhelmed by feelings of depression and anxiety, call 800-273-8255 or text “TALK” to 741741. For more information, contact the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at afsp.org.

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SEPTEMBER 2021

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September is National Baby Safety Month. During a baby’s first year, they develop many skills such as how to focus their vision and explore their environment. It’s important to understand how to keep your baby safe. TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEALTH. One of the best things we can do for our children is take good care of ourselves. Postpartum anxiety and depression are very common. Talk with your doctor if you are feeling down, stressed or having scary thoughts. It’s normal for babies to cry up to three hours per day, and they are often more awake and fussier at night. It’s important to know that it’s OK to lay them down on their back in their crib and take a break nearby. Don’t hesitate to ask for help whenever possible. PROTECT YOUR BABY FROM

SECONDHAND SMOKE. Infants and young children are extremely vulnerable to the poisons in secondhand smoke. Protect your baby from secondhand smoke by not letting anyone smoke near baby. Make sure your home, car and day care are smoke-free. Anyone who smokes should change clothes before holding baby. KNOW YOUR ABCS. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly encourages safe sleep to decrease the chance of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and suffocation. The ABCs of safe sleep are: Alone on their Back in a Crib (or bassinet). Make sure there are no toys, stuffed animals, pillows or loose blankets in the crib. Be very careful not to fall asleep with your baby, especially near cushions, pillows or blankets. OPTIMIZE NUTRITION AND AVOID CHOKING HAZARDS. For the first four to six months, babies should only have breastmilk and/or formula. Drinking water or other fluids can lead to SEPTEMBER 2021

abnormal electrolyte levels and possibly seizures. After four to six months, it’s OK for babies to have soft table foods like avocados, cooked carrots, bananas and pureed baby foods. Babies explore their environment with all senses, including putting anything they can reach in their mouth. Make sure any small toys or objects such as pills, magnets or batteries are stored away securely. It’s important to always follow the age recommendation listed on your child’s toys. STAY UP TO DATE WITH VACCINATIONS. Routine vaccinations are crucial for your child’s health and safety. Delaying your child’s vaccines leaves them vulnerable to diseases and can cause serious complications. Talk with your child’s pediatrician to make sure their vaccinations are up to date. It’s also important to make sure everyone around your baby is vaccinated.

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“Students are playing and learning at the same time,” says Robert Cummins, on-site owner of The Goddard School of Avon.

when, 12 years ago, the opportunity presented itself to open The Goddard School of Avon.

As they go from classroom to classroom, students build upon learning experiences so that by the time they graduate from Goddard, they are prepared for kindergarten and beyond.

Being an on-site owner at Goddard enables him to get to know the families.

“The curriculum is play-based because children learn best when they’re having fun,” Cummins says. Teachers map out the day before students arrive. With Goddard’s flexible curriculum, teachers also build in time for children to explore on their own.

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The Goddard School provides fun learning experiences for students. This means each individual age group meets curricular goals through play-based activities.

“We had a little boy whose mom recently had another baby - he was struggling with not feeling as important, so he came here for extra TLC,” says Cummins, who made the boy his helper for the morning. “We read books, and he pressed the buttons on the copy machine for me. He appreciated that one-on-one attention.”

In addition to teaching math, literacy and handwriting skills, the staff also teaches Spanish, sign language and yoga. The yoga helps with self-control and calmness, and Serving infants through age 6, the school’s teacher-to-infant ratio is 1:4, teacher-tothe sign language helps younger children toddler ratio is 1:5, teacher-to-2.5- to 3-year- who don’t yet have the verbal skills to communicate. At Goddard, the staff also old ratio is 1:7, and teacher-to-preschooler ratio is 1:10. The actual classroom numbers teaches manners. are doubled because the school has two teachers per class. “Social-emotional learning is a main focus of our curriculum,” says Cummins, who loves watching children grow in all stages of Cummins, who has a degree in marine science, was halfway through a graduate development throughout a six-year stretch. program in environmental education when “That’s a special treat to see that happen,” he began working in the business world. He was a plant manager, a project manager Cummins says. “I look forward to another 12 years.” and a corporate quality assurance manager

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Christian Academy, where she also took on many other roles, from choir director to music librarian to harp tuner. When she began teaching music theory, she met Kirchenbauer and they worked together for five years.

MUSIC INSTRUCTION FACILITY CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY IN AVON Ogden’s childhood was adventurous as she learned to hunt and fish with her dad. She began learning piano at the age of 7 and was At 14 years old, Erica Ogden announced to not motivated to practice. However, her skill her parents she was quitting piano lessons. It’s was evident, and as a young adult she opted a good thing they didn’t allow it. Ogden never for a degree in music at Pensacola Christian would have guessed that as an adult, she would College. open Westside Music Academy in Avon along with friends and business partners Saundra “It was my skill that captured me as a Kirchenbauer and Susan Finney. At Westside freshman,” Ogden says. “Once I got to college, Music Academy, students learn musical theory I was around people in the same field and and skills in piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, getting inspiration from teachers. I saw what it guitar, concert percussion and voice, from could be.” skilled, passionate and degreed teachers. Writer / Jamie Hergott Photography Provided

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She began teaching music at Pensacola TownePost.com / SEPTEMBER 2021 / AVON MAGAZINE / 37

When Ogden’s husband took a job in Indiana and they moved, Ogden decided she could teach piano anywhere. She opened Erica’s Piano Studio in 2013, quickly growing her enrollment to 50 students per week. By the time she closed the doors in 2020, she had 40 students on her wait list. She wanted to continue teaching but knew she needed help, and there was only one person she would trust her business with. “Saundra is highly talented, skilled and organized,” Ogden says. “I called her in Florida, and I thought for sure she’d shut me down, but we began talking through what it could look like.” Unbeknownst to Ogden, Kirchenbauer was already contemplating moving back to the Indy area, where her family is from, as was Finney. The opportunity, while out of the blue, turned out to be the perfect solution for all three women.

The three women opened Westside Music Academy in August of 2020, and just celebrated their first anniversary. “We opened right in the middle of a pandemic,” Ogden says. “We took my little studio of almost 50 and we’re knocking on the door of 200 now. That’s my next goal.” The staff has a wide range of skills, and all of them have teaching experience and degrees in music, which is rare in a music studio. Cindy Porzio teaches voice and the Music FunTime program, William Sousa teaches strings and piano, and Ben Edwards teaches guitar. Finney will be teaching bassoon lessons this fall. Kirchenbauer teaches beginning piano, and all woodwind and brass instruments. “There are six of us, and we’re a very diverse group,” Ogden says. “We have a great team, great culture, we have fun, we laugh a lot, but we take great care in staying focused on the same goals.”

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Those goals revolve around instilling a love for music in students and furthering the advancement of music on the west side of Indianapolis. “Music is a very special thing,” Kirchenbauer says. “There really isn’t much you can learn and enjoy like this for your entire life. Our goal isn’t to just teach, but to instill a love of music.” Finney also feels an immense sense of purpose in the work of the academy. While she handles all the finances of the business, she is excited to start teaching bassoon lessons this fall. She started playing piano at 6 years old, and music has always been a constant, calming skill she could turn to in all seasons of life. “Music has always helped me significantly in life,” Finney says. “It’s a crucial tool for a lot of kids in many areas of development. It has a calming effect, helps with mood enhancement, stimulates the brain, and helps with retention.”

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Students’ ages range from toddlers in the Music FunTime program, where students get introduced to different types of instruments, all the way up almost 70 years of age. “We want to encourage creating music, sharing music, and communicating using music,” Ogden says. “It is a language after all, that can be felt across every culture. Kids need caring and skilled teachers who love what they do. The marching bands here are brilliant, and we just want to keep furthering music in Hendricks County and beyond.”

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After increasing enrollment from 50 students to nearly 200 in a short time, Ogden has plans to continue growing. The academy’s first anniversary was in August, and as the staff members focus on current customers, they keep their sights on possible expansion in the future. Westside Music Academy is located at 79 Park Place Boulevard in Avon. For more information, call 317-771-3084 or visit westsidemusicindy.com.

TownePost.com / SEPTEMBER 2021 / AVON MAGAZINE / 39

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