Franklin Magazine October 2025

SEVENTY YEARS STRONG EARL GRAY & SONS CELEBRATES DECADES OF SERVICE & COMMUNITY COMMITMENT

Mayfield Chiropractic OCTOBER 2025

Haunting History

Franklin Couple Restores Candlelight House While Preserving Its Ghostly Lore

Experience AT the Farm Sept. 26 - Oct. 26, 2025 Fridays 6-9 PM | Saturdays Noon-9 PM | Sundays Noon-6 PM Open daily the weeks of Oct. 6 and 13 from Noon-6 PM for Fall Breaks!

General Admission is $14/person and includes ALL activities on the farm!

Excludes food, pumpkins, and gift shop items. (Discounts available for groups of 25 or more. Private group bookings are also available.)

es

Activiti

NEW Corn Maze Scavenger Hunt game, Kid’s Corn Maze Story Book, Photo Opps AND New Products in the Store!

Farm Animals • 7-Acre Corn Maze Pedal Tractor Track • Straw Bale Mountain Baby Barnyard • Corn Crib Play Area • Hayrides Hoppy Cows • Funky Pumpkin Human Moosball-Foosball • Jump Pad the Moo Choo Express • pumpkins!

$2 OFF

Enjoy delicious snacks including vanilla & chocolate milkshakes, grilled cheese sandwiches, apple cider slushies, caramel apples, and more!

Shop at our Country Store, featuring Kelsay Farms merchandise, Indiana items, and other local products!

ur Mark Yo rs Calenda

Admission (up to 6 people)

One coupon per family. Valid for up to 6 people. Must present this coupon in person or use coupon code online.

Not valid with any other coupon or discount. Expires 10/26/25.

THE HOLIDAY STROLL

Open weekends Nov. 28 - Dec. 23. Stroll through

the farm with larger-than-life decorations, hundreds of lit trees, magical displays, over 60 different photo opportunities, live nativity, campfires and hot cocoa, Christmas cookies, and plenty of Christmas Cheer!

Coupon Code:

cgmag25

NEED A NEW HIP?

JMH offers new, less invasive hip replacement surgery

Say goodbye to hip pain with Anterior Hip Replacement surgery at Johnson Memorial Health Are you struggling with hip pain that’s preventing you from living your best life? Johnson Memorial Health is proud to offer anterior hip replacement surgery, a cutting-edge procedure designed to get you back on your feet faster and with less post-operative pain.

Here’s why patients choose JMH for anterior hip replacement surgery: •

Minimally Invasive Approach: smaller incision, less muscle disruption, quicker recovery.

•

Greater Precision: Dr. St. Germain, fellowship-trained in total join replacement surgery, utilizes OrthoGrid AI-assisted technology.

•

Personalized Care: our compassionate team is focused on your unique needs, from consultation to recovery.

•

Close to Home: world-class care, conveniently located here in Franklin.

®

JMH Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine

317.346.3100

Nicholas St. Germain, MD

Great care starts here.

PUBLISHER AMY SKIRVIN amy@townepost.com (317) 412-4652 KEY CONTRIBUTORS TEENA CATT CHRISTINA COCHRAN KATIE HOSEA JOHN WALES

Proud member of the Franklin Chamber of Commerce

7

16

8

Earl Gray & Sons Celebrates Decades Of Service & Community Commitment

MAYFIELD CHIROPRACTIC

CRUISIN’ FRANKLIN

The 1970 AMC Gremlin

10 OCTOBER 2025

HAUNTING HISTORY

Franklin Couple Restores Candlelight House While Preserving Its Ghostly Lore

13

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

SEVENTY YEARS STRONG

20

DRIVEN BY DEDICATION Franklin Bus Driver Reflects on 49 Years Behind the Wheel

22

OCTOBER CROSSWORD

23

OCTOBER EVENTS

/FRANKLINMAGAZINE 4 | October 2025 | TownePost.com

/FRANKLINMAGAZINE

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. FOUNDER, CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599 PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ERIN TURK CREATIVE DIRECTORS VAL AUSTIN TONI EADS EDITOR JOSH BROWN TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. 8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: (317) 810-0011 FOR FRANCHISE INFORMATION, VISIT FRANCHISING.TOWNEPOST.COM

CONTACT THE PUBLISHER Have a story idea or suggestion for the magazine?

JOHNSON

Call or Text

Jen Weiberg 317-414-2865 BrookshireRealtyGroup.com

This is not intended to solicit property currently listed for sale

Your Franklin home care partner.

Services include:

• Personal Care • Companion Care

• Family Respite • Meal Preparation

Call us today for a free consultation.

• Light Housekeeping • Medication Reminders

317-664-5136 ComForCare.com/South-Indy

©2024 ComForCare Franchise Systems, LLC Each office is independently owned and operated and are equal opportunity employers.

Life Vantage Farms & McQualla Carriages Carriage Rides • Weddings • Proms Birthdays • Anniversaries Horses: Pony Parties, Unicorn Parties, Photo Shoots Mini-Horses: Horse experience Senior Enrichment (even inside!)

We make wishes come true and parties more fun!

Call to book (317) 438-9576 6 | October 2025 | TownePost.com

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

MAYFIELD CHIROPRACTIC Writer & Photographer / Christina Cochran

For Dr. Kelsey Everley, finding her calling in chiropractic care was a journey of discovery.

“When I first started in college, I wanted to be an athletic trainer due to my love for sports, then I switched to PT,” she says. “It wasn’t until I was doing an internship with a physical therapist that I realized it wasn’t the field for me. Luckily, I had a neighbor who was a chiropractor. It took only a few minutes in his office to realize that chiropractic was the field for me.”

That decision eventually brought her to Franklin, a place she quickly grew to love.

“I was transferred here while working with a different company, and honestly, my first day on the job was the first time I’d ever set foot in Franklin,” she recalls. “I grew up in rural southern Indiana and have always preferred small-town life. Franklin turned out to be the perfect fit. I might not have chosen Franklin at first, but I truly do love it and the community surrounding it. I hope we can stay here for many years to come.”

At Mayfield Chiropractic, Dr. Everley is passionate about showing patients the full scope of what chiropractic care can do.

“Chiropractic is so much more than ‘back cracking,’” she says. “I treat lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, TMJ disorders, shoulder pain, knee pain and sports injuries.

I also do a wide range of soft tissue work, including Graston therapy, cupping, taping and now I offer laser therapy. On top of that, I help patients with posture exercises, sleeping positions and work ergonomics.”

Chiropractic care, she says, is safe and effective for all ages.

“I’ve adjusted babies as young as two to three weeks old — my daughter was adjusted at one day old,” she says. “On the

other end of the spectrum, I’ve seen patients in their 90s.

It really can help everyone.”

What makes Mayfield stand out, according to Dr. Everley, is the personal touch.

“What truly sets us apart is the way we treat our patients — like family,” she says. “We take the time to listen, understand your needs and tailor treatments that support your overall wellness.”

Looking ahead, she hopes Mayfield Chiropractic continues to grow alongside Franklin.

“We want to be more than just a chiropractic office — we want to be a hub for whole-body health, healing and support,” she says. “I’ve been so grateful for the support I’ve received during my first year here, and I hope the community continues to trust me with their health.”

CONNECT 701 W Madison Street Suite A Franklin, IN 317-868-8000 mayfield-chiropractic.com TownePost.com | October 2025 | 7

original Hialeah Yellow paint with black interior, Kinslow’s beauty looks like it just rolled off the Kenosha Wisconsin plant assembly line. The odometer displays its 6,400 original miles.

THE 1970 AMC GREMLIN Writer / John Wales

October is a month filled with spooky sights leading up to Halloween where the streets of Franklin will be filled with ghosts and goblins going door to door for candy. For car enthusiasts, October signals the coming end to the car cruising season, so their treat is taking those final cruises as the weather still allows.

Aside from those ghosts and goblins, one other sight you might see prowling the town is a Gremlin.

In 1970 American Motors Corporation (AMC) introduced a brand new model they named the Gremlin. Marketed as “the first American made import” as it directly competed with the surge of low cost imports starting to flood the roadways of America such as the Toyota Celica and Volkswagon Beetle. Of course, its contemporary competition came from the Ford Pinto and Chevrolet Vega.

“more with less.” This often meant designing creative alterations to current models to create new models that shared certain features and parts.

On an airline flight Teague sketched out an idea of truncating the tail of the AMC Javelin model on an air-sickness bag. His design created a sub-compact economy car to compete with the growing import class. This initial concept became known as the AMX-GT that was first displayed at the New York International Auto Show in 1968.

While the concept never made it into production, the name AMX was transferred to another new two seater sports car for AMC and the controversial styling would be adapted to a shortened AMC Hornet chassis.

Marketed as “cute and different” the Gremlin featured a cartoonish mascot designed to differentiate it from the more seriously named competitors in the subThe Gremlin was the brainchild of compact class. Like many AMC models, legendary designer Dick Teague. A Teague’s styling cues drew fans but also stalwart of automotive design, Teague had drew criticism. The steep sloped rear end already designed cars for General Motors, of the car has since become a common Packard and Chrysler before he took over trend on small compact hatchback models the design reins at AMC. The pocket made by many modern car manufacturers. book at AMC was much smaller than the Big Three (GM, Ford and Chrysler) Tim Kinslow is the owner of this absolute so Teague gained a reputation of doing time capsule 1970 Gremlin. Bathed in its

8 | October 2025 | TownePost.com

True to its “economy car” purpose the Gremlin is equipped with the base 199 cubic inch inline 6 cylinder cranking out a dismal 128 horsepower. AMC claimed that it was the most fuel efficient American made car of the time, while Consumer Guide magazine opined that it was a well appointed compact car that offered options rarely seen in the compact class.

Many Hot Rodders took to modifying the little Gremlins and they could be found on race tracks all across the country. In 1972 AMC even started offering the Gremlin with a 304 V8 making the nimble Gremlin into a miniature muscle car.

Kinslow purchased the car in 2024 and is the fourth owner. His plans are to show the car at local shows and cruise-ins and just enjoy the many looks his little Gremlin generates.

“The car really belongs in a museum” Kinslow says. “Perhaps one day it will.”

While this Gremlin won’t scare too many cars on the road, it still makes a nice Halloween treat. Until next time — keep cruising!

FULLY INSURED • 24/7 AVAILABILITY • BBB A+ • SENIOR AND MILITARY DISCOUNT 10% OFF

FREE

Affordable Tree Service You Can Depend On!

Stump Grinding with Any Tree Removal

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED WITH 10 YEARS EXPERIENCE

With coupon only. Not valid with any other offer.

Expires 10/31/25

$

200 OFF

Any Service More Than $500-$999 With coupon only. Not valid with any other offer.

Expires 10/31/25

$

300 OFF

Any Service More Than $2,000-$4,900 With coupon only. Not valid with any other offer.

Expires 10/31/25

400 OFF

$ • Tree Removal • Stump Grinding • Land Clearing • Selective Pruning • Tree Trimming • Tree Topping

Call for a FREE ESTIMATE

Any Service More Than $5,000+ With coupon only. Not valid with any other offer.

Expires 10/31/25

317-675-6003 • prtreeservice.llc • prtreeserviceweb@gmail.com

Designed to fit your budget!

Custom Closets, Garage Cabinets, Home Offices, Laundries, Pantries, Wall Beds, and more!

40% Off

Free Installation 15% Off Plus

PLUS TAKE AN EXTRA

2023© All Rights Reserved. Closets by Design, Inc.

Terms and Conditions: 40% off a ny o rder o f $980 o r m ore o r 30% off a ny o rder o f $ 680 or more o n a ny complete c u stom closet, garage, or home office unit. Take an additional 15% off on any complete system order. Not valid with any other offer. Free installation with any complete unit order of $850 or more. With incoming order, at time of purchase only.Offer not valid in all regions. Exp. 11/15/25.

18 MONTH

SPECIAL FINANCING!

With approved credit. Call or ask your Designer for details.

Not available in all areas.

Call for a free in home design consultation and estimate

317-779-3212

Before

After

www.closetsbydesign.com

TP

Locally Owned and Operated TownePost.com | October 2025 | 9

Haunting historY FRANKLIN COUPLE RESTORES CANDLELIGHT HOUSE WHILE PRESERVING ITS GHOSTLY LORE Writer & Photographer / Christina Cochran

Every town has a ghost story. In Franklin, it lingers at the edge of 17 acres, beside an old family cemetery, inside a weathered brick home built in 1868. Locals call it the Candlelight House — a place where generations have whispered of flickering lights in the windows, rocking chairs that move on their own, and shadows that seem to linger long after dark.

It’s their project, their passion — and, perhaps, a little bit of their haunting, too.

“We found the Candlelight House in 2014,” Ella recalls. “My husband and I were looking for land to build a pole barn dream home and to get back to country living.

When I saw the ‘for sale’ sign, I had no idea it came with 17 acres, the Owens family cemetery, and this historic house. The But for Ella Casper and her husband, Adam moment I stepped inside — even though Eichhorn, the house is more than a legend. it was boarded up, dark and dusty — I 10 | October 2025 | TownePost.com

smelled that old musty scent of history. If you’ve been in a historic home, you know the smell. It instantly felt like home, and I wanted to save it.”

For Adam, the pitch was a little more practical.

“What I told him,” Ella laughs, “was: I found land. Now, there’s an old house on the land that can be my lifelong project to restore — we can’t live in it. But if we can

purchase the property, we can build your pole barn shop for all your hobbies. He was sold and said yes — sight unseen.”

They closed on the house on Ella’s birthday in January 2015.

“It was meant to be,” she says. “Though we had no idea what we were getting into.”

At first, the couple didn’t realize they’d bought one of Franklin’s most infamous landmarks.

“Adam’s boss told him that only out-oftowners would buy ‘Franklin’s haunted house,’” Ella recalls. “We had no idea it came with that kind of folklore. But the more we talked to people, the more we learned — stories of lights in the windows, eyes in the basement, knocks and noises, even a rocking chair moving on its own. It TownePost.com | October 2025 | 11

was fascinating to us. Not only did we get a beautiful historic home to restore — we get to preserve the stories people share with us.”

One of their own eerie encounters happened while preparing for the 2018 Historic Home Tour. The couple had spent a long Saturday installing plexiglass in the windows. Exhausted, Ella dropped a drill bit that rolled down the back porch roof and disappeared into the grass.

“We looked everywhere for it,” she says.

“Adam finally got another bit so we could finish. The next morning, I opened the window sash in that same east bedroom, and there was a drill bit sitting right on the sill — inside the house. I screamed. I ran to Adam and said, ‘Look, they found it and gave it back to me!’ He checked — he still had his bit. To this day, we’ve never found another one under that porch. I can’t explain it any more than someone helped us out. And I think it means the Owens ghosts are okay with what we’re doing.”

That mix of spooky and sweet seems to define the Candlelight House. A local medium once visited and told the couple, “This home was a safe space for Otho Henry Pritchard (1909–1995). He is the only spirit who resides here, but other family members come and go to check on him. The house is filled with love.”

Ella believes that, too.

“I have a hard time deciding how to finish some projects because I want the Owens to like what we do,” she says. “I talk through my ideas with the house every time I’m over there. It feels like respect.”

Slowly but surely, the restoration continues. The house remains entirely original — wood floors, shutters, doors, even the hand-pump well and outhouse.

“Every time we spend time over there, it feels like we’re transported back to 1868,” Ella says. “Our goal is to be part of Franklin’s living history and storytelling tradition. We want to open it up for tours so people can see how simple and 12 | October 2025 | TownePost.com

untouched life was — and of course, hear the ghost stories, too.”

In the glow of October, the Candlelight House feels like something out of a Gothic novel — its brick walls weathered, its windows dark but watchful. For Ella and Adam, it is not just Franklin’s haunted house but a vessel of memory, mystery and enduring love.

“Four generations of Owens lived in

this home,” Ella reflects. “We’re the first non-family members to own it. Our job is to honor that — to keep it original, to preserve every story, and to fill it with love. Haunted or not, that’s what makes it special.”

You can follow their progress and stories on their Facebook page: The Candlelight House.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY AUTO

Brad’s Car Wash 2190 N Morton St Franklin,IN 317-868-8842 Unlimited Washes $28/month Franklin Muffler, Brakes & More 99 S Morton St Franklin, IN 317-736-8282 Your Hometown car care center Franklin Car Spa Inc. 575 Lemley St Franklin, IN 317-474-0616 Repair, Maintenance, Custom work KC Karz Auto Spa Complete Detailing Services www.kckarzautospa.com 317-412-3185

BAKERY

1823 Bakehouse 25 E Court St Franklin, IN 317-739-0800 Breakfast, lunch and gluten-free baked goods *Coupon on the back page Top Tier Cakes Custom wedding and specialty cakes and cookies 225 N US 31 New Whiteland, IN 317-449-3902 order@toptierindy.com

BEAUTY

Crop Shop 136 E Jefferson St Franklin, IN 317-313-0308 Emerald Collective location #1 1061 W Jefferson St Franklin, IN location #2 2625 Hurricane Rd. Unit B Franklin, IN 317-584-6000 www.emeralcollectiveco.com The Salon 190 Commerce Dr Unit 2 Franklin, IN 317-727-2921 www.thesalon1.co Cut, color, blowouts & head spa

Essential Aesthetics, Wellness & Body 197 E Jefferson St. Suite C Franklin, IN 317-374-9034 Facials, laser treatments, micro-needling, health coaching

DENTAL/ORTHODONTICS Cedar Lane Family Dentistry 850 Cedar Lane Franklin, IN 317-736-7476 Accepting new patients!

Dr. Daniel S. Martin, DDS Orthodontist 1000 W Jefferson St Franklin, IN 317-736-0607 Complimentary consultation

DUMPSTER RENTAL

TNT Rolloffs 317-496-3435 www.tntrolloffs.com Residential, Commercial and Industrial

EVENT SPACES/SERVICES

Church on Jefferson 201 E Jefferson St. Franklin, IN www.churchonjefferson.com Weddings, social events, corporate events Barn at Bay Horse Inn 1468 W Stones Crossing Rd Greenwood, IN 317-760-8778 Over 30 acres of outdoor space and large barn Folktale Event Center 243 S Madison Ave Greenwood, IN 317-300-9967 Charming home rich in history for weddings and social gatherings Grafton Peek Social Hall 171 S Madison St. Greenwood, IN 317-502-8895 Seats up to 150 guests

MASSAGE

The Elevator Franklin 26 E Jefferson St Franklin, IN 317-738-4663 Perfect for small parties!

Healing Soul Massage 2625 Hurricane RD Suite A Franklin,IN HealingSoulMassage.com Massage, Thai Yoga Massage, Yomassage, Kids Yoga, Corporate Chair Massage

Tipsy Trailer of Indy 8851 S Peoga Rd Trafalgar, IN 317-965-0560 Mobile Bar

PLUMBING/HEATING & COOLING

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Dolce Bella Aesthetics 600 Ironwood Dr Suite M Franklin, IN 317-526-8576 Book online dolcebellaaethetics.com Weight loss management, hair regrowth treatment, laser hair removal, hormone replacement therapy Falling Feathers Healing 251 E Jefferson St Franklin, IN 805-952-3355 Reiki and Sound Healing www.fallingfeathershealing.com

Estes Brothers Plumbing Affordable and Trustworthy Call Zack 317-474-0239 More than 250 5 STAR Reviews on Google!

Marshall Mechanical 3604 US-31 S Franklin, IN| 317-738-5940 Rooted in hard work and family values www.marshallhvac.com

REALTOR

Katie Dailey Apple Realty Group Sell homes at 4% 317-445-3355 teamapple.katiedailey@gmail.com

Mayfield Chiropractic 701 W Madison St Ste A Franklin, IN 317-868-8000 www.mayfield-chiropractic.com Now accepting new patients Affordable, natural pain relief Sweat Shop Women’s Fitness Classes & Events 197 E Jefferson St Franklin, IN 317-412-4652 www.sweatshop.fit Zumba, Strength Training, Pilates, Country Line Dancing Follow us on Facebook!

Anne Copple Local experience and crazy good service!

Keller Williams Realty 317-714-8352 26 E Jefferson St Franklin, IN Lucy Endris Realty KW Indy Metro South 26 E Jefferson St Franklin, IN 317-459-5364 13 years experience

TREE SERVICES

Brown’s Tree Service 201 S Morton St Franklin, IN 317-608-3078 24/7 Emergency Service

Le Rose Dance Academy BALLET JAZZ TAP LYRICAL TUMBLING HIP HOP ADAPTIVE DANCE MOMMY & ME COMBO CLASSES PRESCHOOL-3RD GRADE

LE ROSE

WWW. L E R O S E D A N C E . C O M LEROSEDANCEOFFICE@GMAIL.COM (317)738-2188 717CommerceDriveFranklin,IN46131

14 | October 2025 | TownePost.com

30 YEARS OF LRDA

•AGES:WALKERS-18+ •RECREATIONAL, PRE-COMPETITIVE, & COMPETITIVE •BEGINNER THROUGH PRE-PROFESSIONAL •CELEBRATING OUR 30TH SEASON TEACHING DANCE IN JOHNSON COUNTY!

Contact Amy Skirvin at Amy@TownePost. com for information on how to be included in the Business & Services Directory.

CALL US FOR A FREE ESTIMATE

(317) 738-0627

TownePost.com | October 2025 | 15

SEVENTY YEARS STRONG EARL GRAY & SONS CELEBRATES DECADES OF SERVICE & COMMUNITY COMMITMENT Writer & Photographer / Christina Cochran

This year marks a milestone for one of Johnson County’s most enduring businesses. Earl Gray & Sons, a plumbing and mechanical company based in Franklin, Indiana, is celebrating 70 years of service. From its humble beginnings inside a small family home to its reputation today as a trusted community partner, the company’s story is one of hard work, strong values, and a commitment to people above all else.

“It all started in my parents’ home on 3rd Street in Beech Grove,” recalls Mike Gray, owner and head of service, and son of founders Earl and Sylvia Gray. “The home became too small for four kids and a business. They then moved it to Southport.

The business was still run from the home with a small rented building on Gray Road for storage.”

of grit required of young entrepreneurs.

“They then moved because the business was growing, and they were now up to three employees,” Gray explains. “In 1968 they moved to Johnson County. They remodeled an old farmhouse and built a new building for materials and equipment. They also raised beef cattle and boarded horses at this location. The business was continuing to grow. Now six employees. It was time to move the business out of the home.”

The move to Johnson County marked a turning point. With property purchased in Bargersville, Earl and Sylvia built a larger building to meet the demands of their growing customer base. But success seemed to chase them at every step.

“In a few short years that building became too small as well,” Gray says. “In 1983 That spirit of blending family and business another larger warehouse was built next to was the company’s foundation. In the early the original building. During this time Earl years, it was more than just about plumbing — it was about survival, growth, and the kind and Sylvia opened up the service department 16 | October 2025 | TownePost.com

in Martinsville. The service department moved to Franklin in 2005 where it is today.”

Building on Values The company’s growth has always been guided by a clear set of values — principles that Earl and Sylvia instilled in their children and employees.

“The key to the longevity and success of the company stems from the values that it was founded on,” Gray says. “The only thing that you can provide to your customers is service.

The next is treat everyone with respect.

When our parents sold us the company in 1997, they left us with a lasting message: To be successful you pay your bills and pay your employees before you pay yourself.”

That philosophy has become more than just advice — it’s the cultural DNA of Earl Gray & Sons. And employees, some of whom have been with the company for decades, feel it every day.

Kregg Fisher, who has been part of the service department for nearly 15 years, echoes the same sentiment.

“I think the key then is the same as the key now,” he says. “Everything is customerfocused. From the top down, everyone knows we have nothing if we don’t have the customers’ trust. When you have customers that have been with us for more than 20 years, you know you are doing something right.”

For Fisher, it’s about a mindset that every team member carries.

“Anytime you can alleviate someone’s misfortune and come to their rescue it’s a good day,” he explains. “But the stories I hear from the ‘old timers’ that knew Earl and Sylvia and how they helped them out — you didn’t have to be present in those times to feel the impact today.”

A Legacy of Giving Back Beyond plumbing, Earl Gray & Sons has built a reputation as a community partner, deeply invested in the people around them.

“We have always been supportive of the communities around us,” Gray shares.

“We have supported the area schools with donations for projects and also support for local charities. We have a couple charities we have supported for 25-plus years.”

Bridget Duffer hard a work on a water leak repair

“The future of this business lies with the employees,” he says. “We have several employees that run the business day to day.

They know the history and philosophy behind its success.”

Pride in a Family Business Like many family-owned businesses, the proudest moments are not just measured in profits or buildings but in the lives touched along the way. For Gray, that pride comes in reflecting on the legacy of his parents.

That dedication has remained consistent, even through hardship.

“We had a time of two years where we could not donate during the downturn in the economy,” Gray says. “That was upsetting that we were not able to. We have been blessed to get past that time. Now through the dedication of the four owners, they will always be supported.”

Today, the business is guided by four family owners who each carry an essential role in its operations: Mike Gray, Mark Gray, Kathi Gray, and Jeri Mitchell. Together, they keep their parents’ values at the center of every decision while ensuring the business grows with the needs of the community.

For Fisher, the community commitment is one of the company’s most admirable traits.

“I’ve seen just in my short time here, giving back to local schools via dropping off teacher wish list supplies, supporting school sports with donations, donating plumbing services for those in need,” he says. “This company does a great job of creating that family vibe that takes care of each other and those in our community.”

That sense of family extends to employees, too. Many of them have stayed with the company for years, building careers and friendships that last a lifetime.

18 | October 2025 | TownePost.com

“The proudest moments were during the passing of our parents,” he says. “They taught us to love and to give back. This was greatly shown when people whom we have known for many years would come up to us and tell us that our parents helped them start their businesses. This was done by giving advice and monetary support to them. Some were even our personal friends that we had no clue.”

Fisher agrees that the company’s impact is felt in ways that transcend plumbing.

“The stories I hear from customers and older employees are what makes me proud to work here,” he says. “You don’t have to have known Earl and Sylvia personally to understand how much they meant to people. The values they set are still alive here today.”

Looking Ahead Seventy years in business is both a celebration of the past and a look to the future. While technology and the industry have changed, Earl Gray & Sons has remained committed to adapting without losing sight of its roots.

“The amount of technology coming into play within the plumbing industry is staggering,” Fisher explains. “Being able to mix what the newest and greatest products are while maintaining that long-lost art of repair when you can, replacement when you must — it’s the perfect balance of new and old.”

Gray sees the future in the people who carry the company forward.

“Work hard, it will be rewarding,” he says.

“That’s what we were taught, and that’s what

we continue to believe.”

With four owners at the helm and a dedicated team of employees, Earl Gray & Sons is poised to carry its legacy into the next generation, blending tradition with innovation.

A Legacy of Trust At its heart, Earl Gray & Sons’ story is one of trust — trust built between a family and its employees, and between a business and its community. That trust is what has carried them through expansions, recessions and the passing of generations.

“When you have customers that have been with us for decades, it says everything,” Fisher says. “It means they know who we are, and they believe in us. That’s not something you buy. That’s something you earn.”

For the Gray family, the celebration of 70 years is not just about a business anniversary.

It’s about honoring Earl and Sylvia, who started with little more than determination and a belief that service and respect matter.

It’s about acknowledging the employees who have carried that vision forward. And it’s about a community that has supported them every step of the way.

“We have been blessed,” Gray reflects.

“Blessed to work with great people, blessed to serve this community, and blessed to keep building on what mom and dad started. That’s what makes 70 years so meaningful.”

Circle of confidence.

Byron H., patient

Advanced cancer care focused on you.

After a cancer diagnosis, you want to know your care team is following the right treatment plan for you. That’s why we’ve partnered with Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Together, we’re bringing a new level of cancer care to Indiana.

So you can simply focus on getting better. eCommunity.com/cancer TownePost.com | October 2025 | 19

HOMETOWN HERO Franklin Bus Driver Reflects on 49 Years Behind the Wheel Writer / Teena Catt

Forty-nine years is a long time to drive a school bus. According to Franklin resident Jim Myrick, he has no plans to quit any time soon either.

Until two years ago, Myrick, along with his wife, Jacky, owned and operated Franklin’s Bud and Bloom Florist. They moved to Franklin in 1975 and started the store in Northwood Plaza, later relocating to a custom-built location on U.S. 31 and Banta Street. Retiring from the floral business did not mean total retirement for Myrick. He kept his part-time job.

Myrick grew up in the Mooresville area, where the floral business was a family trade.

He started driving a school bus at age 21 for Mooresville Schools, working at his parents’ shop and driving the bus so he could have health insurance. For one year, in 1975, he stopped driving the bus as he and his wife opened the shop in Franklin.

Today, his routine includes a checklist before every trip to make sure the bus is in working order. Through the years, Myrick has driven many different routes, but he still enjoys his Needham Elementary School kids best. He picks up and takes home Needham students daily. In addition, he drives a morning route of high schoolers to Central Nine Career Center.

He has been doing that route for 30 years now. For Myrick, the second job provided hours that easily adapted to his flower shop business schedule. He said that flexibility is why many drivers are retirees, farmers and police officers.

FCSC does an excellent job equipping its staff with the appropriate skills and tools to face any challenges that may arise.

Myrick recalls that when he started driving a school bus in 1973, the requirements included a public passenger chauffeur’s license and a physical. He said he drove around the block on a bus with the assistant principal and was hired. Today the process is more involved.

Drivers must participate in testing and driver training for several weeks. The State of Indiana now has more guidelines for drivers than when he began. Myrick said Franklin Community School Corporation holds an annual summer safety meeting, and he feels

When asked if he feels he has made an impact on any student in a particular way, Myrick says, “In my 49 years of driving, I feel I have made an impact on many students, too many to tell. Quite often when Jacky and I are out to dinner in Franklin, someone will come up and remind me that I was once their driver or drove their children to school.”

Myrick says that as a driver, he recognizes he may be the first person a student interacts with before they arrive at school. His “good morning” or “have a good day” greeting is a vital connection for those children who may have gotten themselves up and ready that morning. His hope is that each child exits his bus in the morning excited and looking forward to learning as they enter the school building.

Myrick says he has a great memory, so often they are surprised he remembers them as well.

When asked if he could recall a funny or memorable story from his years driving, Myrick told of a time when he was on a route of middle school students on the north side of Franklin, when a girl tried to set a boy’s hair on fire with a cigarette lighter. Luckily, a coat smothered out the flame. To this day, if he runs into that girl in public, she recalls the story. “Not a funny story, but definitely memorable,” Myrick says.

“Driving a school bus has without a doubt been a blessing for me in a great deal of ways,” Myrick says. “Over the 49 years of driving with FCSC, the various superintendents, transportation directors and support staff I have worked with have been a strong motivation to continue driving due to the numerous ways in which they seek to champion what is best for our children.”

He feels that being around the children has certainly been the greatest blessing. Seeing their smiling faces, hearing their wonderful stories and simply interacting with them has made his job something he looks forward to 180 days of the year.

Welcome GET READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

DJ MAHLER CFP®, CEPA, AAMS™, CRPC® Financial Advisor

LIFE WELL PLANNED 317-474-4053 cleaning@priprity1cs.com priority1cs.com

1530 AMERICAN WAY SUITE 230 GREENWOOD, IN 46143 DIRECT: 317-859-6115 TEXT: 317-830-5990 DJ.MAHLER@RAYMONDJAMES.COM TownePost.com | October 2025 | 21

SOLUTIONS

A

P

E R

E

T

A

P

H

B O A S

U

S

A

D

R

G E M

E

I

S

L

S

R D

I

N

E H

D O C

Z

O D N O N

A M A

S

H

A

T

T A

S P

H O

I S I

R C O N E L I F

O O D A

E C

T A T

55

H O N

A

54

E

R O S

53

P

52

P

51

A

50

S

49

P

48

E

47

D G E

T S

46

1. Elmer, to Bugs 4. Millinery 8. Almanac tidbit 12. Combustion product 13. Alternative to a mouse 14. Cartoon bulb 15. Milk, in a way 16. Boy, to his madre 17. Heist haul 18. College entrance exams 20. Dedicated lines 22. Ernie and Bert, usually 23. Matura diamond, actually 27. Cry of accomplishment 29. Crown twinkler 30. ___ polloi 31. Perfect 32. Steno’s need 33. Criticizes 34. Oktoberfest drink 35. Infant fare 36. Physicist Bruno 37. Pie slices 39. Bog composition 40. Colony member 41. Grandparents, e.g.

44. Takes steps 47. It parallels a radius 49. “___ bad!”

50. Anything but that?

51. Like some romance novels 52. Capt.’s announcement 53. Street for the wealthy?

54. Divorcees 55. Flatfish

L

R

41

A

E

40

W E

D

39

L

38

E

45

36

T

A

44

43

33

35

37

42

30

32

34

26

N

N O

29

31

25

A

A

28

24

N

27

23

L

B

22

21

U

T

20

S

A

19

T

E

18

C

D

Y

17

A

S

16

E

15

C

14

11

A

13

10

X

12

9

E

8

R

7

S

6

Y

5

I

4

S

3

A

2

H

1

T

OCTOBER CROSSWORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

E

SPONSORED BY

DOWN

1. Slap on 2. ___ buco 3. Belittled 4. Dagger part 5. Out of whack 6. Summer shade 7. Drifted off 8. Secretary, at times 9. Goings-on 10. Firm head 11. Tit for ___ 19. Exceptional 21. Not brilliant 24. Took to task 25. Error message?

26. Pending, as a legal decree 27. Ease, as hostilities 28. Argument’s weakness 29. Generational divide 32. Stock holder?

33. Way to go 35. Signature piece?

36. Track events 38. Like a windbag 39. Dickensian denomination 42. Staff roster 43. Stick with a toothpick 44. Polished off 45. Chinese brew 46. “Deck the Halls” contraction 48. Calif. airport

JOIN THE CLUB! MARSHALL SERVICE MECHANICAL 317-738-5940 CallTheMarshallNow.com 22 | October 2025 | TownePost.com

OCTOBER

AROUND THE COMMUNITY, 2025

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Submit Your Events!

3, 10, 17, 18-19 HOOSIER FALL 24, 31 FESTIVAL FREE FRIDAY STORY TIME

Toodleydoo Toys, 1 W Jefferson St. 11 a.m.

Join Toodleydoo Toys every Friday (April-October) as they welcome community readers for a FREE story time at 11 a.m. on the courthouse lawn.

3-5, 24-26

Johnson County Fair Grounds, 250 Fairgrounds St. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Enjoy kids activities, food trucks, music, and more than 200 vendors during this twoday festival.

19

LINVILLE’S ANTIQUE FARM COLLECTION 7

OUR TOWN PLAYERS - AN EVENING OF SHORTS AND ONE ACTS

Active Adult Center, 160 E. Adams St. 2-9 p.m.; also 9 p.m. on select dates

Enjoy an entertaining production

by Our Town Players.

6-12

FRANKLIN COLLEGE HOMECOMING WEEKEND

101 Branigin Blv., 12-9 p.m.

Franklin College’s annual Homecoming Alumni Weekend features a full lineup of activities like a virtual 5K, alumni awards, a golf tournament, tailgating and more.

1992 N. Graham Rd. 12-3 p.m.

Linville’s Antique Farm Collection opens for public viewing on select open house days.

23-26

TROPE OR TREAT WEEKEND 40 E Madison St. 2-9 p.m.

Enjoy a murder mystery party at Wild Geese Bookshop, storytelling at Coffeehouse Five, a paranormal author panel at The Artcraft Theatre and more.

24-25

6TH ANNUAL RAISING SPIRITS BOURBON BENEFIT

Garment Factory, 101 Wayne St. 6-10 p.m.

Raising Spirits, Inc is excited to present the 6th Annual Bourbon Benefit. The exclusive event will take place on Friday, October 24th, 2025.

25

FRANKLIN HALLOWEEN TOWN Downtown Franklin, 66 S. Water St. All-day event Enjoy a whole day of fun, starting with the Rock the Block walk at 9 a.m. and the Halloween Hustle 5K run/walk and 1-mile family walk at 10 a.m. Costumes encouraged.

HALLOWEEN HUSTLE 5K DriveHubler.com Amphitheater at Young’s Creek Park, 237 W Monroe St. 9-11:30 a.m.

Join Parks & Rec for a Halloween Hustle 5K!

TRICK-YOUR-TRUNK

DriveHubler.com Amphitheater at Young’s Creek Park, 237 W Monroe St. 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Join Franklin Parks & Rec for Trick-Your-Trunk from 5:307:30 p.m.

Bring in This Coupon

$2 OFF ANY SANDWICH TUES - SAT 9AM - 6PM 25 E COURT ST FRANKLIN | OPEN SUNDAY 9AM - 4 PM TownePost.com | October 2025 | 23

PRSRT STD

For Advertising Information, Contact:

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

Permit No.144 Berne, IN 46711

AMY SKIRVIN

amy@townepost.com (317) 412-4652

Women’s Women’sOnly OnlyFitness Fitness Studio Studio Join Joinfor for$29! $29!

TryTry allall the classes you the classes youwant wantfor for33weeks weeks

Scan Here!

Scan Here!

Now Bigger & Better Now Bigger & Better located at located at 190 Commerce Dr Suite 3 190 Commerce Dr Suite 3 Text:(317)412-4652 Text:(317)412-4652