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This year at Avon Orthodontics we are celebrating Dr. Gregory Johnson’s 30th year of service to the Hendricks County community.
Over the last 30 years, Dr. Johnson has helped over ten thousand patients achieve the smile of their dreams. Our office is full of friendly smiles from our team members, including the occasional tail wag from our office dog, Karma. Some of our employees here at Avon Orthodontics have been working for Dr. Johnson for over 20 years!
Our practice has a fun, easy-going atmosphere to welcome patients. Whether it is your first appointment with us, or you are a current patient, we will make it our priority to ensure you are comfortable during your visit.
Avon Orthodontics welcomed another doctor into the practice, Dr. Lauren Wright. Both Dr. Johnson and Dr. Lauren trained and graduated from the Mayo Clinic, so their practice philosophy and approach to patient care is very similar. As our practice continues to grow, we are blessed to have Dr. Lauren as a part of our team.
Our Avon Orthodontics Team looks forward to serving the Hendricks County community for years to come!
Dr. Johnson & Dr. Lauren
6 HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING Veteran-Owned Business Offers Reliable Services for Homeowners and Contractors
10 NATIONAL NIGHT OUT Avon Police Gear Up for Ninth Annual Community Event July 24
13 A NEW VISION Easton Grey Development Brings Riverwalk District to Avon
18 EXPANDING SUPPORT Summer Fundraisers Are On Deck to Aid Family Promise
22 JULY EVENTS
DARREN BOSTON darren@townepost.com (317) 716-8812
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25 MIGHT AS WELL JUMP Avon Teens to Compete in World Jump Rope Championship CONTACT THE PUBLISHER Have a story idea or suggestion for the magazine?
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HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING
VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS OFFERS RELIABLE SERVICES FOR HOMEOWNERS AND CONTRACTORS
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Photographer / Amy Payne
Jacob Mann has always been a hard worker and, like many, has aimed to build a successful career. He grew up working summers at his father’s roofing company, Rick’s Roofing in Avon, Indiana. This is where he started developing a variety of skills in the construction industry and then, after graduating high school, he joined the Army as an artilleryman.
After his experience in the Army, Jacob completed the five-year apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. After completion, he obtained his journeyman ticket with the electrical union.
While the electrician education is valuable, that’s not the primary direction Jacob is taking for his career. In January 2025, he made the move from Tennessee to Indiana with his wife, Shay, to launch their first business, Mann Hauling, with big plans for the future.
When asked about why he wanted to start the business, he said, “I’ve always known I wanted to own my own business at some point, so when my family moved back to Hendricks County, I decided this would be a good time.” Jacob’s interest in heavy machinery and large vehicles was sparked during his time in the Army, where he often drove large vehicles. He is using this experience and the relationships formed through his work in construction to provide hauling services for homeowners and commercial businesses.
Mann Hauling began taking customers in late May.
“I’m hauling gravel, stone, mulch, sand and dirt,” Jacob said. “I can contract with a company, but my main focus is on homeowners.”
Often, when preparing the yard for spring, homeowners want to level their property, spread mulch or regravel their driveway. For many, we don’t know there is any other option than purchasing the materials through a large company. However, at Mann Hauling, Jacob can potentially get what you need for a better price and faster turnaround for delivery.
In fact, when you think about contractors, everyone from the team pouring concrete to the company building home additions is in need of a hauler to bring the supplies to the job site.
Mann Hauling can accept orders from the homeowner in need of stone, gravel, sand, mulch or dirt directly, and it’s likely to save a bit in your budget. When you call Mann Hauling, Jacob will try to find the gravel pit with the best price and haul it to your location as soon as possible. Most deliveries will be same-day delivery.
It may also come as a surprise to learn just how much demand there is for hauling business these days.
“If you sit out on U.S. 36 for 20 minutes, you’ll see 15 to 30 dump trucks go by,” Jacob said. “They are in high demand, and there’s a constant need, particularly with the new home developments in the area.”
Stone, dirt and other materials are needed for all of the jobs related
to the contractors’ work, and Mann Hauling is ready to provide the service so desperately needed in Hendricks County and surrounding areas.
He’s a one-man operation now with a single-axle truck and a tri-axle truck, but Jacob said he hopes to have a small fleet in the future.
When asked about his plans for the next 10 years, Jacob replied, “In the next 10 years, I hope to have expanded the operation and offer more services for homeowners.”
It’s all about connections. The construction world, from roofing to landscaping, is all interconnected. He is eager to build more relationships within the community, including homeowners and contractors spanning the industry.
Not only are contractors in need of those with a CDL license, but they also need those who can operate tri-axle dump trucks paired with the professionalism to work with homeowners and corporations.
Mann Hauling has a strong foundation based on honesty, integrity, and dependability. Jacob Mann stands firm in his statement that, “this company comes from a veteran-owned, God-centered family and I look forward to growing and making connections within the community.”
For more information, call 317-206-0414 or email MannHauling25@gmail.com. You can also contact Mann Hauling via Facebook.
It’s an annual community event that promotes law enforcement, community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie since the early 1980s, and the Avon Police Department will host one of the most popular National Night Out events in the county this summer.
Returning for its ninth year, National Night Out will be held at Avon High School from 5 to 9 p.m. July 24.
Though many of its popular events will return, the hours have changed — for good reason.
“For the last few years, we’ve had a sensory block hour. We don’t have the loud music, no flashing lights and it’s just not an overstimulating environment,” said Avon Assistant Chief of Police Brian Nugent. “It was very popular, but the feedback we got
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
AVON POLICE GEAR UP FOR NINTH ANNUAL COMMUNITY EVENT JULY 24
Writer / Melissa Gibson
when we started it at 4 p.m. was it was too early for a lot of people to get home from work and make it over, so this year, from 5 to 6 p.m. will be our sensory hour and we’ll end the event at 9 p.m.”
Everything is free to participants, making it difficult to gauge how many people attend, but Nugent said it’s safe to say at least 4,500 community members come out to celebrate.
“We know we do thousands of hot dogs, corn dogs and funnel cakes. We do take waivers for some of the attractions like the rock wall, gyroscope and the inflatables, so that gives us a ballpark number,” Nugent said.
Those popular attractions are expected to return, including a zipline, K-9 demonstrations and first responder
vehicles and equipment displays. With so many corporate and individual supporters, organizers have been able to add more to the event each year.
“It happens organically. Through donations from Hendricks County Bank, Walmart, Meijer, Target and many, many others, we’ve been able to buy a funnel cake machine, for example, and then with the cash donations, we get funnel cake mix. Pepsi and Coca-Cola donate pallets of drinks and Home City Ice supplies all the ice for our sno cones,” Nugent said. “So many different components and so many small businesses and large corporations get involved.”
Nugent said one of the crowd favorites is the five-gallon buckets donated by Lowe’s each year. They’re used like an Easter egg basket or Halloween bag to collect free gifts,
water bottles and other items throughout the evening.
“People ask for the buckets. It’s not uncommon for the pictures to have a little one holding a Lowe’s bucket with a bag of cotton candy sticking out of it along with all the things he’s collected,” Nugent said. “This support is very meaningful to us.”
There will also be vendors promoting various nonprofits, community resources and more.
“Those vendors are there because they want a healthier, safer and supportive community. So, you’ll see mental health counselors, veterans support, adoption animals and other resources,” Nugent said. “We want to help connect people with the services we have available in Hendricks County.”
It’s not all fun and games.
For those planning the event, it’s a lot of
hard work. So much so, they’ve formed a committee with members from the Avon Police Department and the Town of Avon to create an event that is memorable and fulfills the purpose behind National Night Out.
“This only happens because of the ridiculous number of volunteers that make this a success. It’s not easy to ask someone to spend four hours in 90-degree weather making hot funnel cakes, but again, we’re grateful for the support and we receive overwhelming good feedback from the sponsors to the high school and everyone involved,” Nugent said.
Perhaps the most meaningful part of the evening is the moment of silence — a recognition of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty and the presentation of the freedom bell by a family with strong military ties.
“It’s complete silence throughout the venue.
That’s very meaningful to us. I’ve had friends who have lost their lives in the line of duty, so we want to take time to recognize these men and women,” Nugent said.
Ultimately, the purpose of National Night Out is to make connections.
Police officers and other volunteers serve food, engage with children and families and make positive memories.
“We want people to see the human side of our officers. These are people who live in your community and care deeply about your community. It takes the formality out of our roles, and we can connect with those who care about what is happening in public safety and support what we do,” Nugent said. “A lot of our officers talk about how much they enjoy the event. Even some, after moving on to another agency, will come back and talk about it being their favorite memory in Avon.”
Happy of
4TH JULY
A t T h e V i l l a g e o f A v o n , w e b e l i e v e i n d e p e n d e n c e s h o u l d b e
c e l e b r a t e d e v e r y d a y. O u r s e n i o r l i v i n g c o m m u n i t y o f f e r s t h e
p e r f e c t b l e n d o f s u p p o r t a n d a u t o n o m y w h e r e n e i g h b o r s b e c o m e
f r i e n d s , a n d e v e r y d a y b r i n g s n e w o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o t h r i v e
T h i s s u m m e r, t a k e t h e n e x t s t e p t o w a r d c a r e f r e e l i v i n g . We ’ r e
e x c i t e d t o o f f e r a s p a c i o u s I n d e p
A NEW VISION
EASTON GREY DEVELOPMENT BRINGS RIVERWALK DISTRICT TO AVON
Writer / Melissa Gibson
It’s been a dream of leadership and many residents in the town of Avon for quite some time. In fact, Town Manager Ryan Cannon can recall discussions about a community gathering place prior to 2018, but it wasn’t until 2020 that they began making plans with a developer and Easton Grey officially became a focus on the Town Council’s agenda.
Last summer, they broke ground on the property, and while portions of it are currently under construction and there’s still a long way to go, residents of Avon and beyond will soon see the unique development come to fruition.
The 500-acre mixed-use development is
situated off U.S. Highway 36, on the north side of the road, directly across from the Washington Township Park entrance and along White Lick Creek.
There are three different projects on the property.
“We have approximately 500 units for our 55 and over development. Those homes are already being built, and I believe they’ve already sold two dozen of them,” Cannon said. “The other residential section is single-family homes. The first section of that development is now underway.”
The third project sits on 65 acres and will
be called the Riverwalk District.
“The Riverwalk District is the town center concept. There will be a new civic center as the focal point of the district with staff from the town administration, school administration and possibly the township and chamber there,” Cannon said. “There will be a community room and a plaza in the front for events and community gatherings.”
The area will also include shopping, restaurants and other activities on the lower level and flats available on the two floors above them.
Economically, the development will serve as a benefit to the town as well.
It’s expected to generate $500 million in assessed value with new infrastructure and, overall, a positive addition to the town.
All residents in the Easton Grey development will have access to the Riverwalk District and the special activities and amenities offered there.
As seen in communities across the country, individuals and families are gravitating toward a development that includes walkability, activity, green space and more.
“There’s definitely been a shift in the desire for these types of developments with both the younger generation and the older generation. That’s why this works so well,” Cannon said. “People often come to Avon for the great schools, but for those who haven’t started a family yet or for those nearing retirement, they don’t need a 3,000 or 4,000 square foot home, and Avon is in need of that diversity of housing.”
Cannon said he has been working for the town since 1999, and one thing he has repeatedly heard from residents is their desire or need for a community space.
The town of Avon was missing that special destination.
“We want to create a vibrant place where people want to come and hang out. In order for the retail and restaurants to be successful, we need to attract and create energy in this space, so it may be a concert, a magic show or a movie night, but we want the community to have a place they can gather,” Cannon said.
Many Main Streets rely on the traffic to attract visitors; however, it doesn’t leave much room for walkability.
Unique to the Riverwalk District is perhaps its location and connection to plenty of pedestrian-friendly trails and greenspace.
“The town has purchased a park on County Road 625 between the Town Hall Park and the Riverwalk District. We’ll build a pedestrian connection there, along
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the White Lick Creek Trail, and you’ll be able to take it all the way to Town Hall Park or to Washington Township Park. It’s creating a greenway park system of sorts surrounding the creek,” Cannon said.
The entire project will take eight to 10 years before completion, with Riverwalk opening in the fall of 2026 or spring of 2027, but in the big picture, Easton Grey and the Riverwalk District will soon be a place everyone wants to spend the day.
“In just a year or two, we’ll have that center of Avon, and that’s a huge deal. This is a great project, and we’re excited to be a part of the process,” Cannon said.
Abigail H. Mitchell, DDS
EXPANDING SUPPORT
SUMMER FUNDRAISERS ARE ON DECK TO AID FAMILY PROMISE
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Chances are, you’ve heard of Family Promise of Hendricks County. The organization has been part of the community for years, working to prevent homelessness and provide resources for those experiencing hardship.
But did you know they host two fundraising events at the Hendricks County 4-H Fair?
The Chopped Challenge returns for its fourth year on July 13.
It’s your favorite team cooking show with a twist.
“We have 20 teams of four that compete in different rounds. Participants get a mystery basket of items, generally found in a food pantry. Winners present the best dish they can, and if selected, move on to the finale,” said Heather Heikkila, fundraising event coordinator.
Families, co-workers, nonprofits and civic groups gather to compete in the unique competition that educates others on the challenges of creating a meal solely from items you might receive at a food pantry — and they have a ton of fun in the process.
With extra donations and support, competitors might get a chance to shop for additional ingredients at the “marketplace,” and three local judges will decide who moves on to the final round.
Funds raised from Chopped Challenge will be split between Family Promise and the Hendricks County Food Pantry Coalition.
Later that week, on July 19, the fifth annual Livestock Stampede will return for a familyfriendly 5K run/walk through the 4-H animal barns.
“Afterward, we’ll have milkshakes and cinnamon rolls in the dairy barn and a raffle for special prizes,” Heikkila said. “Funds raised from the Livestock Stampede go toward our Stability Builders Network. These are the funds we use when assisting with rent, car repairs, utilities and other things.”
If you miss the fair events, there are
still plenty of other ways to participate throughout the year.
On July 27, Calvary United Methodist Church in Brownsburg will host a pancake breakfast to raise funds for Family Promise, and organizers hope others follow suit.
“The church raised $2,000 for us last time, and they’re doing it again this summer. Now, we’re seeing other churches follow their model,” Heikkila said. “This has happened organically. You pick the time, date and location, and we’ll show up with informational packets and introduce ourselves to the guests at the breakfast.”
They’re also partnering with Feed the Children and Niagara Water for a massive drive-through food pantry. If you have a voucher from Family Promise or one of their partners, stop by Plainfield Christian Church from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 13 to receive a 25-pound box of nonperishables, a case of water, a box of hygiene supplies and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Family Promise recently welcomed their new
DR. VICKI CRUM
chief operating officer, Jennifer Crooks, who has joined at an exciting time of growth.
Crooks began six months ago after working in the mental health field. She said it was frustrating to see a need and feel unable to meet it.
“What drew me here was how Family Promise bridges the gap. They’re helping at the point that’s most crucial. We used to refer people to Family Promise all the time because we weren’t able to take the next step with them,” Crooks said. “It’s amazing to see the transformation and the impact we can make on people’s lives.”
Affordable housing is a major piece of the puzzle and something Family Promise has been working on with local municipalities for years. Many of those plans are now coming to fruition.
What began as a shelter house on Scanell Lane in Plainfield has grown into a neighborhood with one shelter home, one transitional home for single moms with children and five rented duplexes.
The shelter house still welcomes up to six families, and Family Promise continues to partner with churches to provide meals or groceries.
“We also have homes in Brownsburg and Danville, 22 townhomes under construction in Plainfield and plans for another seven townhomes in Avon,” Crooks said. “We’ve partnered with the Town of Plainfield and Helix 33. The town has approved 109 apartment units, and Helix 33 is giving us two acres to build a childcare center for 100 children. Connected to that building will be a new immigration center for working families.”
Heikkila said 30 percent of Hendricks County residents are just one paycheck away from financial crisis. Twelve percent currently experience food insecurity or some version of homelessness.
It only takes one broken-down car, one medical incident or one death in the family to send a household into crisis.
“By the time we finish all of our projects, Hendricks County will lead the state in affordable housing,” Heikkila said.
In the meantime, Family Promise hopes the community continues to support its work through events like the Chopped Challenge and Livestock Stampede.
Visit familypromisehendrickscounty.org for more information.
Hendricks
Fees
2
WICKED
7 p.m., Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St.
WILD WEDNESDAYS
Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, 10267 U.S. Highway 136
4
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS VS. LOUISVILLE BATS
6:35 p.m., Victory Field, 501 W. Maryland St.
JULY 4TH PARADE
10 a.m., parade route TBD, Brownsburg
JULY 4TH CONCERT PRESENTED BY CENTIER BANK
7:30 p.m., Town Hall Green, 61 N. Green St.
JULY 4TH FIREWORKS
10 p.m.–midnight, Town Hall Green, 61 N. Green St.
5
INDIANA FEVER VS. LOS ANGELES SPARKS
7 p.m., Gainbridge Fieldhouse
9
TEDDY SWIMS (RESCHEDULED FROM JUNE 9, 2025)
8 p.m., Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St.
11
CARLY PEARCE: HUMMINGBIRD WORLD TOUR
PRESENTED BY CONUNDRUM WINES
8 p.m., Egyptian Room, Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St.
IU HEALTH MOMENTUM INDY
4:30–10 p.m., University Park, 307 N. Meridian St.
12
INDY ELEVEN STAR WARS NIGHT
7 p.m., IU Michael A. Carroll Track & Soccer Stadium, 1001 W. New York St.
16
OPEN MIC
Helium Comedy Club, 10 W. Georgia St.
17
POP 2000 TOUR WITH CHRIS KIRKPATRICK OF *NSYNC
7:30 p.m., Deluxe, Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
RODEO
7:30 p.m., Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds, 1900 E. Main St. Join us for the rodeo July 17 and 18!
19
DEMOLITION DERBY
7 p.m., Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds, 1900 E. Main St.
WNBA ALL-STAR GAME
Gainbridge Fieldhouse
20
BARENAKED LADIES: LAST SUMMER ON EARTH TOUR 2025
7 p.m., Everwise
Amphitheater at White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St.
23
EARTH, WIND & FIRE
7:30 p.m., Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St.
26
BEN RECTOR – THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD TOUR
7:30 p.m., Everwise
Amphitheater at White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St.
27
BRICKYARD 400 –NASCAR CUP SERIES
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 4790 W. 16th St.
Dr. Valencia & Dr. Velez
MIGHT AS WELL JUMP
AVON TEENS TO COMPETE IN WORLD JUMP ROPE CHAMPIONSHIP
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Most of us remember jumping rope in grade school. We played at home or during recess, creating silly chants and challenging ourselves with a variety of skips and moves.
This summer, two students from the Avon Aerial Orioles jump rope team have qualified for the World Championship competition in Japan, and they’re making our idea of jumping rope look like child’s play.
They’re tested on two different categories: speed and freestyle, or standard tricks.
Think of it like gymnastics with a jump rope.
Anna Koehlinger will be a freshman this fall and has been jumping rope competitively since fourth grade. She saw a team performing in grade school and attended a spring workshop to get involved.
“There’s a lot of flipping and power-type skills with rope manipulation. We have group relays, doubles, and similar to track or swimming there’s a scoring system, but instead of distance, it’s in time,” Koehlinger said.
Norah Halon will be a sophomore this fall and has participated for 10 years. Her older sister was on the team and inspired her to join.
“I was so little when I started, I don’t remember a lot of it, but I remember older teammates that I looked up to. It’s a lot of hard work, but if you put in the effort, it eventually comes naturally,” Halon said.
The team practices three to four days per week together, trying new tricks or working on speed, but most on the team would say they practice every day — simply because it’s what they love to do.
“Some of my best friends are on the jump rope team,” Halon said. “It’s a stress reliever and has been a great experience, so really, if you’re bored, you just go out and jump rope in the driveway.”
In addition to the occasional community performance, there are only two main competitions, along with workshops and a U.S. Nationals event. The two main competitions are considered regional — typically five larger teams from the Midwest and several smaller teams.
The top jumpers of each team are invited to the U.S. Nationals event and eventually, the World Championships. But the way the competitions are designed doesn’t give the teams and individuals much room for error.
“I’m super competitive, and the way the competitions are set up really only gives you one shot to get it right. In some sports, there are 20 games in a season and you win some and lose some, but it really pushes
me to prepare and train when there are so few events,” Koehlinger said.
At the most recent U.S. Nationals, Koehlinger and Halon made the team to compete in the World Championship.
From July 27 through Aug. 3, the two will head to the event in Kawasaki, Japan, hosted by the International Jump Rope Union.
For Halon, learning that she made the list was an extra special accomplishment.
“I had a high fever the day of competition. I wasn’t at 100 percent. Trials didn’t go too well, and my wrist was injured,” Halon said. “Anna called me at school and told me I made it, and I thought that was a really mean prank. I couldn’t believe it. Of all the times to be sick, this was the worst — but it turned out okay.”
More than okay. They’re looking forward
to competing, and neither has ever stepped foot in Japan.
“Regardless of the competition aspect of it, just getting to go to Japan is crazy,” Koehlinger said. “It’s a new environment, and we get to compete against the best of the best in our sport.”
They even get to make connections with those they’ve befriended over the years but have never met.
“We’re friends with jumpers from across the country and know people in Germany and Japan and elsewhere, so I’m really excited to meet all the jumpers from across the world,” Halon said. “Even though we’re competing against each other, everyone supports everyone. It’s a really positive environment.”
Jump roping is becoming more popular across the globe. Both athletes plan to continue the sport as far as they’re able.
“I see this as part of my life for a long time, and I’m not stopping anytime soon,” Koehlinger said. “We know it won’t be in the Olympics in 2028 because those new sports have already been announced, but we’re hopeful it will be added in 2032. That would be the dream for me, but I’d also love to coach in the future.”
Halon agreed.
“I want to continue jumping in college. I’ve always been interested in coaching. I used to be the little kid who started out at a young age, and I know what it’s like to be them, so I want to be that mentor for the new members of our team and into the future,” Halon said.
Regardless of their placement at the World Championship, their success and this experience is one they’ll never forget.
For more information, visit ijru. sport/2025-world-championships.
