SLIDE INTO FUN
SLICK CITY ACTION PARK BRINGS FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT TO BROWNSBURG
FIGHTING CANCER WITH EXTRAORDINARY STRENGTH
It starts with a name, handshake or a tearful conversation. Because it’s not just about treating cancer – we’re caring for the person behind the diagnosis. Every appointment is an opportunity for us to listen, connect and encourage you during the fight. And every milestone is celebrated together.
BOSTON darren@townepost.com (317) 716-8812
tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599
jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011
Purdue University, College of Pharmacy is seeking people living with atrial fibrillation/flutter who are planning to have or recently have had a electric cardioversion or ablation to treat atrial fibrillation or flutter. In order to qualify you must be taking anticoagulation (a blood thinner such as coumadin, Eliquis, Xarelto).
If you qualify for the study:
• You will be asked to take a medicine called Zofran (ondansetron) or a placebo (sugar pill) twice a day for 4 weeks
• You will be asked to wear a Ziopatch on your chest which monitors your heart beats for 4 weeks and keep a log of any symptoms that you have related to the medicine and atrial fibrillation.
• You will complete 5 visits lasting about 30 minutes (1 visit at the start of the study and then a visit each week). The visits can be completed at your home or in the clinical reearch center located on the IU Indianapolis campus
• You will receive up to $350 after completing all study visits.
SLIDE INTO FUN
SLICK CITY ACTION PARK BRINGS FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT TO BROWNSBURG
Writer / Ashley Watters Photographer / Sarah Lutomski
If you’re looking for a new take on family entertainment, you may want to check out Slick City. A large warehouse brimming with fun for everyone, Slick City Action Park offers an exhilarating approach to quality time with the whole family. If places such as Sky Zone or Activate catch your eye, you’re sure to love Slick City.
Owners Marissa and John Lassaux both come from backgrounds in commercial real estate. Slick City wasn’t originally part of their personal or professional plans, but a 2022 skiing vacation to Denver left Marissa sitting on the sidelines due to a recent hip surgery that prevented her from joining her family on the slopes. As a result, she wanted to find something active and fun she could do with her family during their visit to Colorado. They found Slick City in Denver and gushed about it for months after returning home to Brownsburg.
“When we came home, we couldn’t stop talking about the fun we’d had at Slick City and couldn’t wait to go again, telling our friends about it,” Lassaux says. “We contacted Slick City and persisted until we became the first franchisees for the company.”
Slick City opened in Brownsburg on April 1, 2025. Located at 4430 N. County Road 1000 E, Suite 100, Slick City offers a wide variety of entertainment that appeals to all ages.
The massive building houses 13 slides, two air courts, a trapeze, zip line, a junior jungle climbing area, webcrawler, arcade games and a full-service café. Lassaux has focused her efforts on providing a fun, inviting space in Brownsburg that is active and welcoming
for all. In fact, the one-of-a-kind park even draws people from surrounding states.
“Slick City brings a brand-new experience to the town,” Lassaux adds. “We have had guests come from all over the country and many who visit while in Indiana for other events. We very often have guests from Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan.”
In addition to 90-minute and 120-minute timed-entry tickets available during normal business hours, Slick City also offers dedicated programs for a slightly different experience. Options include adults-only nights, sensory hours for those with sensitivities, after-hours sessions that transform the park into a glow-in-thedark hangout, homeschool socials geared toward home-based learners and family
We create the techniques, teach other surgeons and make sure
days, allowing families to slide together at a discounted rate.
Slick City is also ideal for large groups, offering birthday party packages, private events, full-facility rental options, field trips and even fundraisers.
Lassaux stresses that Slick City has something for everyone and encourages visitors to try a variety of options, perhaps starting within their comfort zone or working up to a slide outside of it. Mostly, she just wants guests to have fun.
“Our slides range in difficulty levels, and if you’re at all nervous or scared, we can help you pick out the slowest slides to start so you can work your way up to the iconic launch slides by the end of your visit,” she says.
And parents, she knows you’re going to have a blast, too. Even if you aren’t adventurous, this is a great way to spend time doing something your kids will love.
“It’s not unusual to have parents check in planning to watch and then come back to buy a wristband because they want to join in. We have grandparents slide all of the time,” she says.
Junior tickets are also available to get the littles, ages 3 and younger, out of the house at a discounted rate.
If you’re looking for an unforgettable day and memory-making thrills, check out Slick City at slickcity.com.
FEBRUARY AROUND THE COMMUNITY, 2026
Submit Your Events!
1
INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA: HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERERS STONE IN CONCERT
Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle.
2 p.m.
MONSTER JAM
Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 South Capitol Ave.
3 p.m.
Nothing compares to the one and only Monster Jam®. With awesome trucks, amazing stunts, big air and actionpacked excitement, it?s the definition of fun for everyone!
4
CLUE: THE MOVIE WITH LESLEY ANN WARREN
Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University, 4602 Sunset Ave.
6–7
BLUE MAN GROUP
Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St.
7:30 p.m. (Feb. 6); 2 p.m. (Feb. 7); 7:30 p.m. (Feb. 7)
Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
Doors: 6:30 pm Show: 7:30 pm
Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
Doors: 1:00 pm Show: 2:00 pm
Murat Theatre at Old National Centre
Doors: 6:30 pm Show: 7:30 pm
6–7
INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA: JACK EVERLYTROUPE VERTIGO
Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle.
11 a.m. (Feb. 6); 7:30 p.m. (Feb. 6–7)
6
WINTER JAM TOUR 2026
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. 7–10 p.m.
The Winter Jam 2026 Tour, returns to arenas nationwide this winter with an all-star lineup and a renewed mission to unite fans through powerful music.
11–15
GRAND KYIV BALLET: THE SNOW QUEEN
Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University, Sunset Ave.
13, 15
HENDRICKS SYMPHONY - MUSIC OF THE SILVER SCREEN
Hendricks Live, 206 W Main St.
7:30 p.m. (Feb. 13); 3 p.m. (Feb. 15)
15
DEON COLE
Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. 7:30 p.m.
Murat Theatre at Old National Centre Ages 18+
Doors: 6:30 pm Show: 7:30 pm
21–22
SHEN YUN
Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University, Sunset Avenue.
2 p.m. (Feb. 21–22); 7 p.m. (Feb. 21)
Shen Yun is a brilliant artistic revival and celebration of China?s rich cultural heritage. But after decades of communist rule, much of this divinely inspired culture has been lost.
22
LABOR OF LOVE” TOUR
The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N College Ave. 6:30 p.m.
Atlanta-based musician Tinsley Ellis—known for decades as one of the greatest electric blues-rock guitarists of his generation.
MOVING FORWARD
PLAINFIELD FRESHMAN PUSHES PAST VISION LOSS
Writer / Ashley Watters
If there was ever a kid who was born to run, it’s Plainfield freshman Andrew Gray. Andrew’s first exposure to running came in September 2020, when he joined his family on a three-kilometer course at Swinford Park.
At the young age of 9, Andrew wasn’t initially enamored with running, but he spent many years watching his older brother, Isaiah, take part in cross country. When he came in as a sixth grader, Andrew joined the cross country team. Initially ranking just outside the top seven runners, he qualified as an alternate runner for championship races, as only the top seven runners can contribute to the team score. But he never missed a chance to watch the eighth graders at important meets, and he was determined to come into seventh grade with a renewed sense of purpose to become a top runner.
The cross country season in 2023 gave Andrew his first real taste of success. Spending the majority of the season as one of the top runners, he eventually competed in the state championship, where he first broke through the 11-minute barrier with a finishing time of 10:49. After the school season finished, he also ran the USATF Hoosier Grand Prix, NXR Midwest and the USATF Indiana Association Junior Olympic Championship, where he finished ninth and qualified for the USATF Region 7 championship.
With an invigorated passion for running, Andrew began training regularly in both the on- and off-season, averaging nearly 30 miles per week between November and January. In 2024, Andrew really took off competitively, joining the MSP Speed Run Club out of Avon after the track and field season ended. He finished second in the 1500-meter race and won the 3,000-meter race and 4x800 relay at the USATF Indiana Association Junior Olympic Championship.
He continued on to the USATF Region 7 Junior Olympic Championship, where he finished third in the 1,500-meter race with a personal-best 4:44 and once again won the 3,000-meter race with a 10:15. Afterward, Andrew and his dad traveled to Texas A&M in College Station for the USATF National Junior Olympic Championship. There, Andrew finished 32nd in the 1,500-meter race with a 4:47 and 19th in the 3,000-meter race with a personal best of 10:12.46.
Andrew went on to win most of his eighth-grade races, even taking the top spot at the Junior Mid State Conference Championship at Franklin Community. After a series of successes that included finishing eighth at the Middle School State Championship and joining the Brownsburg Distance Run Club, Andrew competed in the USATF National Junior Olympic Championship, where he was hopeful for an All-American placement. Despite his previous successes, he burned out quickly, earning one of the worst scores of his life, running 94 seconds slower than he had run on the same course only two months earlier. This disappointment came because he was unable to see the starting official.
Shortly thereafter, Andrew’s parents noticed a shift in his vision and figured the downslide was normal vision loss that could be easily corrected with glasses. However, a trip to the optometrist soon turned into a series of MRIs, a five-day stay at Riley and a genetics
Andrew’s love of running began in middle school
test. The diagnosis: an inherited mutation on his mitochondrial DNA known as Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, or LHON. The condition most often presents with sudden vision loss in young adults, something that Andrew was now facing himself.
“With his diagnosis, his weekly mileage dropped as we tried to adjust. His vision loss at the time was roughly equivalent to 20/600 in his central vision, a condition that worsened to 20/1600 but improved to 20/1200. He has thankfully retained peripheral vision so far. Because of this, he can navigate fairly well as long as there are no sudden changes in front of him. LHON’s appearance also came with a fairly large systemwide metabolic crash, meaning he lost quite a bit of what might be called fitness, which he is still working to reclaim today,” says Adam Gray, Andrew’s father.
Although Andrew still retains an elite aerobic system, his mutation makes it so the first stage of his energy production is affected. Unfortunately, this results in his body producing lactate sooner than normal, causing heavy legs and slowing him down even though his aerobic system remains uncompromised.
When he returned for his eighth-grade track season, Andrew participated in the Indiana Distance Showcase Meet but reported seeing “dots” everywhere and complained of dizziness throughout the race. He spent most of the spring season sick or injured as he wrestled to return to his normal physical capacity.
For the most part, he was able to run with the team and compete
in races. However, a collision with a female teammate on the homestretch of a 2,400-meter race raised the question of accommodations, and his family began investigating ways to best support his future in running.
It was decided Andrew would try a new approach in collaboration with coaches, administrators and athletic directors. Wearing his phone on a belt and connected to open-ear, bone-conduction Bluetooth headphones, he could hear instructions from coaches alerting him to upcoming obstacles and the need for lane changes. Although this was a successful method initially, he came under scrutiny at the USATF Nationals and was nearly disqualified for wearing headphones during the race.
“It was so hot that day that there was a water table set up for the 3,000, but Andrew could not see the cups well enough to grab one cleanly. It wasn’t until lap six, after several failed attempts, that a volunteer matched his pace to hand him a cup of water to cool down. After returning to our hotel room after the race, we were laughing so hard at the commentary for that race, as all eyes were on Andrew and whether or not he’d finally get a cup. It was hysterical,” Adam says.
Finally, Andrew moved into high school cross country, something he had long looked forward to. He had a rough start and ran a 12:18 two-mile time after having accomplished a 13:13 four-kilometer time the year before. He also suffered a concussion attempting to cross the exchange zone during the Plainfield Relays. It was obvious he would need a guide runner. Avon alumnus and avid runner Cole Rightley volunteered for the job.
“Their first race together was a learning experience for both of them at the Brownsburg Invite. The course is flat and fast, but many sections are somewhat narrow for the number of runners in that particular race. It’s very different racing with someone attached to your side. Even small moves and passes must be planned and communicated to be effective,” Adam says.
Andrew continues to show improvement with the use of a guide runner, and he is still actively running in winter meets and looking forward to IHSAA track in the spring.
Although the diagnosis came with its setbacks, Andrew has continued to run as much as possible and has been a source of inspiration to his family and teammates. He is always looking for ways to improve and never misses a chance to lift up his fellow teammates and celebrate their successes.
“Andrew is a kind and compassionate kid who loves to run and is driven to keep pushing himself. He has met and befriended runners from all over Indiana and the Midwest and enjoys giving encouragement to those he’s competing with. He has a great sense of humor and is always joking around. Blind jokes at his own expense are his favorite at the moment,” Adam says.
The Grays are hopeful that Andrew will continue his path to improvement in the spring season, and they remain dedicated to supporting him in every way possible as he pursues his dreams.
CRUMBELIEVABLE TALES
LOCAL ILLUSTRATOR BRINGS GRAPHIC NOVEL TO LIFE
Writer / Ashley Watters
Many readers find themselves in the pages of the stories they read. Kids learn to work through problems and face fears through the eyes of their favorite characters. Local Avon resident David Perry feels lucky to have found his place as a storyteller. His newest project, illustrating the graphic novel Aw, Nuts!, a multiyear passion project in the making, is now officially available for young readers.
The road to this release was long and winding for Perry. His childhood was marked by
frequent moves and financial struggles, and his family of eight often shuffled between multiple residences and motel rooms. Without much space and little room for toys, Perry often found himself watching beloved cartoons such as Dragon Ball Z, Rugrats and The Simpsons. During these formative moments, Perry would sketch images as he laughed along with his favorite characters.
After some adult growing pains, Perry landed back in central Indiana at Butler University.
With hopes of becoming an animator, he majored in broadcasting, the closest path he could find to pursuing his dream. It was his minor in creative writing, however, that ignited a true love of storytelling.
“I thought I wanted to animate for a living, but what I learned after taking poetry courses was that I started drawing not because I loved drawing, but because I loved storytelling,” Perry says. “I wanted to tell stories, and poetry showed me how to craft meaning artfully, how
to distill into the smallest, most impactful space parts of the human condition that are impossible to communicate in direct language. I loved it, and it revealed to me my love of language.”
Shortly thereafter, Perry transferred to IUPUI to take advantage of the school’s 2D animation courses. He fell in love with the media arts department and graduated with honors four years later. During his tenure, Perry undertook his first major project, an animated series called Mallory Bash. That series garnered him the attention of Aw, Nuts! author Max Beaudry. Together, the two developed The Crumbelievable Adventures of Peanut and Jelly.
Beaudry originally approached Perry with the goal of developing a 22-minute pilot script as pitch material. Perry readily agreed, and the two began work,
developing a close working partnership and friendship. What Perry initially thought would be a quick-turnaround script morphed into a two-year project in the making.
“This was a throwback to classic middlegrade cartoons, the kind I grew up with,” Perry says. “I wanted to work on these kinds of shows all my life, and now I had an opportunity to help create one. I thought, yeah, sure, this ought to be relatively easy. Just illustrating a comic from a 22-minute pilot script. How hard could it be? Well, as it turns out, a lot of stuff happens in 22 minutes. By the time I finished the book — two years later, between other projects and being the sole artist on the job — we had an 88-page graphic novel.”
The book is intended for a young audience, ages 6-11. Young readers
will be delighted by the story of Peanut and Jelly, who are “best food dudes.” The two friends dream of climbing the social hierarchy in Foodtopia, a structure loosely based on the food pyramid. Peanut and Jelly work menial jobs at the Crumb Dump. The Toppings reign supreme, the Average Dough perform mind-numbing work in slavish cubicles, while the Crumbs straggle at the bottom.
The two friends horse around, resulting in Peanut’s work hat being lost in the forbidden crumb wasteland. An attempt to retrieve it leads to the accidental release of a sandwormish beast, and antics ensue. Peanut and Jelly hilariously attempt to return the beast, leaving Foodtopia in shambles, scattered in leftovers. Along the way, the friends learn a valuable lesson about the importance of friendship over the draw and glitz of the higher food groups.
“My favorite thing about working on projects with Max is that he lets me creep in my own little jokes,” Perry says. “While all the writing humor is his, all the background jokes are pure Perry. I grew up on The Simpsons, so there are a lot of sign gags all over Foodtopia.”
After an initial stint as a self-published book, the graphic novel series was picked up by Papercutz and officially released in November 2025. Perry and Beaudry are now hard at work on promotional tours for Aw, Nuts!, and the two are gearing up for a follow-up book with more antics from Peanut and Jelly.
Perry also hopes Peanut and Jelly will eventually be picked up for an animated series, joining the ranks of SpongeBob and Patrick.
Until then, Perry is hard at work as a lecturer of character design, 2D animation and comics at IU Indianapolis, while also freelancing as a series development artist, screenwriter, comic artist and fiction writer.
Aw, Nuts! is available through Papercutz at papercutz.com.
FEBRUARY CROSSWORD PUZZLE
1. Black caller
Knave 28. Chem class
31. Ready for shipping
33. Academic’s achievement
35. Any boat
36. Celebrity, briefly
38. Alphabetizes, e.g. 39. Fragrant wood
41. Grant
42. Loser to Lewis
45. Domestic
47. Foreign dignitary
48. Medal contender
52. Adolescent development
53. Cartoonist’s supplies 54. Pro
55. ___ to riches 56. Function
57. Hardly extroverted
DOWN
1. Pricing word
2. What borrowers do
3. Gymnastics ideal
4. Hopper
5. Takes in
6. Sour
7. Danger signal
8. Drive forward
9. Keynoter’s spot
10. It’s picked from pockets
11. Lodge fellows
16. Live in the past?
19. Wears out
20. Yen
21. Miffed
22. Make-up artist?
24. Emulated Jack Horner
26. Evening hour
28. Angler’s attachment
29. Liberal pursuits
30. Top
32. “___ not!”
34. Romance, e.g.
37. Copper finish
39. Hearts
40. Military standings
42. Eye drop?
43. Pantomimed disco title
44. Do a number
46. Halloween purchase
48. In shape
49. Possibilities
50. Mi, fah, ___, lah
51. Really test
Thursday | 6:30 pm
Sunday | 7:45*, 9, and 11 am
*Hymn Service
