SEPTEMBER 2017
COMMUNITY MAGAZINE
TAKE ROOT GREENWOOD COUNTRY STORE IS A LOCAL FAVORITE
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GREENWOOD COMMUNITY MAGAZINE
PUBLISHER Tom Britt
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EDITORIAL MANAGER Josh Brown
TAKE ROOT: GREENWOOD COUNTRY STORE IS A LOCAL FAVORITE
Scott and Jackie Eanes, entrepreneurs from the west side of Indianapolis, started the business in Greenwood in 1996 called Take Root.
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SEPTEMBER WRITERS
Christy Heitger-Ewing / Michelle Kaufman Jon Shoulders / Matt Roberts Andi Robinson / Hannah Jones
SEPTEMBER PHOTOGRAPHERS
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Brian Brosmer / Hannah Jones
SHOP LOCAL!
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Rita’s Ride: Sixth Annual Event Benefiting Angelcare Will Be Held Sept. 16 Take Root: Greenwood Country Store Is a Local Favorite
17 Hit the Road: New App-Based
Delivery Service Gaining Momentum in Indianapolis & Beyond
20 Meet “Clony” Dungy: Mike Bostic
Franciscan Health Stones Crossing Breaks Ground: The Micro-hospital Will Be a Central Location For Health Services In the Center Grove Area
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The Greenwood Community Magazine is published by Towne Post Network, Inc. and is written for and by local Greenwood residents. Submit story ideas to PR@atGreenwood.com.
Bears a Striking Resemblance to Colts Hall of Fame Coach
25 Styles & Smiles: Sugar Threads
11 What Happened to Good
Sportsmanship? Former High School, College and Pro Refs Say it’s Getting Worse
14 September’s Luckiest Hoosier
Alive: James Thompson
Boutique Is the Newest Shop In Old Town Greenwood
27 What’s The Buzz? Local Beekeepers
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30 Gifting Great Memories: Teresa’s Hallmark Celebrates 28 Years In Greenwood.
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RITA’S RIDE
Sixth annual event benefiting Angelcare will be held Sept. 16 Writer / Matt Roberts Photography provided
On September 16, motorcycle riders, their families and community supporters of Angelcare will meet for the sixth annual “Rita’s Ride”. The ride will begin at Mann’s Harley-Davidson in Edinburgh and end with a family-friendly luncheon at Apple Works in Trafalgar. All proceeds from the event will benefit Angelcare, a faith-based non-profit organization devoted to assisting teenage girls facing a crisis pregnancy. Angelcare President Yadi Garcia hopes to involve all of Johnson County in the ride and increase awareness of the work the organization does. “The idea is that families and supporters can wait for the riders at Apple Works, where they have a petting zoo and playground,” Garcia says. “And then we can all join together for the luncheon (provided by City Barbecue).” The ride started in 2012 with about 10 riders and has grown tenfold since then.
“This is the first year that we’ve partnered with anybody to host the event,” Garcia says. “We’re really trying to promote it to the whole community, not just motorcycle riders.”
Though the babies and their mothers won’t continue to live at the home after the birth, Angelcare will continue to support the families through counseling, mentoring and instruction for up to 15 months.
The entry fee for the ride is $20 for a single rider or $30 for doubles, which includes the price of lunch. Those who wish to join for the lunch only can pay $10 per person or $25 for a family of four.
“The mission of Angelcare is to save two lives — that of both the baby and the mother,” Garcia says.
Angelcare has been working on the issue of teen pregnancy since 2000, but for the last several years the group has focused on creation of a live-in facility for teen mothers in Trafalgar. The structure will provide a home for up to 12 girls during their maternity, with a live-in staff addressing the new mothers’ physical, emotional and spiritual needs. “We were able to purchase four acres with the help of churches, donors and the community, and we hope to have construction completed by the end of this year,” Garcia says. The home will be supervised by two live-in house mothers and an executive director.
The idea for the project came from former President Rita Norwood, who passed away in August of 2016. The fundraiser was formerly known as the “Ride for Angelcare”, but the organization renamed it “Rita’s Ride” in her honor. The event is one of only two fundraisers held annually by Angelcare, with the other being a banquet and silent auction held in the spring. The organization receives monthly support from Johnson County churches and businesses but is soliciting help through the “Friends of Angelcare” program, where individuals can commit to ongoing financial support. Tickets for Rita’s Ride and information on Angelcare are available on their website at Angelcare-inc.org.
4 / GREENWOOD COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / SEPTEMBER 2017 / atGreenwood.com
Jackie Eanes is co-owner of Take Root Country Store in Greenwood.
TAKE ROOT GREENWOOD COUNTRY STORE IS A LOCAL FAVORITE
Writer / Hannah Jones Photographer / Brian Brosmer
Around the corner of Madison and Euclid Avenue stands a brick building surrounded by shining pinwheels, wooden birdhouses and a sign reading, ‘Old Fashioned Candy’. Upon opening the door, you are welcomed by the smell of warm vanilla candles and old wood. “Hello. How are you today?” A bright smile says to the right of you. It is as if you have just stopped by to visit a friend. While walking on the old creaking wooden floor, you enjoy the sights around you. You are transported back in time when the world spun slower and the air smelled sweeter. The shop stretches into many rooms, each containing different items of country goods like home décor, candles, quilts and curtains. You may even run into one of the owners’ sweet pets. Scott and Jackie Eanes, entrepreneurs from the west side of Indianapolis, started the business in Greenwood in 1996 called Take Root. With the support of friends and family, they launched their business by attending crafts shows and later leased a kiosk in the Greenwood Park Mall during the 1997 Mother’s Day season. Their kiosk was successful enough that they could open a store in the mall in 2001. With the extra foot traffic that the mall provided, the Eanes built up a strong customer base. While they enjoyed their shop in the mall, it lacked the homey feel
atGreenwood.com / SEPTEMBER 2017 / GREENWOOD COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / 5
they were looking for and the possibility for growth they wanted to take place.
have to take the good with the bad, otherwise you won’t appreciate the good.”
“When the time was right, we found a location in Old Town Greenwood that was perfect for us,” Jackie says. “It had a homier feel that the mall couldn’t offer. Each step of growing was a little scary, but it almost always paid off. Growing slowly over the years, we believe, is what has kept us in business. We have grown as our customer base has grown, and they are the reason we’re still here after 21 years.”
Creating an atmosphere of peace that their customers could step into to escape the fastpaced world outside, Scott and Jackie finally built the store they dreamed of. Customers often tell them that Take Root brings a little bit of Nashville to Greenwood. They hope that the store gives customers a peace of mind as they shop, and that the customers can take some of Take Root’s peace with them to their homes.
Setting up shop in Old Town Greenwood in 2011, Scott and Jackie started their greatest journey.
Having lived in Greenwood for three years now, Scott and Jackie have fallen in love with the community of customers and neighbors they have acquired.
“Our greatest joy in opening the store was also our greatest trial,” Jackie says. “Becoming your own boss is the dream of every entrepreneur. It has been very rewarding, but taking that leap of faith in the beginning is very scary. There are always unknowns when it comes to things like customer traffic, the economy and even our own choices. No one is perfect, we sometimes make mistakes. But that’s part of owning your own business. There are many lessons to learn from. You
“We were able to get to know our core customer base so much better and on a more personal level,” Jackie says. “They have become our family over the years. We see our neighbors in the shop, and it’s an awesome feeling to know that we’re doing something good for the community.” Striving to grow the Greenwood community, Scott and Jackie make every effort to grow
their customer relations. Take Root is an amazing store to shop at, especially for people who want to shop local. Growing the community is what Take Root is all about. Scott and Jackie continue to deliver quality customer service day after day at Take Root. With the community of friends they have built up in Greenwood, there is no telling how far they will go. “Thank you for supporting us for 21 years, we greatly appreciate it and look forward to growing with you,” Jackie says.
6 / GREENWOOD COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / SEPTEMBER 2017 / atGreenwood.com
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Franciscan Health Stones Crossing Breaks Ground The micro-hospital will be a central location for health services in the Center Grove area
Writer / Andi Robinson
The new Franciscan Health Stones Crossing micro-hospital has been a long-time coming. The hospital system, which has 14 current facilities in Central Indiana, has been looking for a good location in White River Township to build a new medical facility since 2000. The original intent was to build a medical office building to service the rapidly growing Center Grove area. In 2013, it was determined that the State Road 135 corridor was an ideal location due to the surging population in unincorporated White River Township. In 2016, the decision was made to build a micro-hospital with emergency services in addition to a medical complex. The 108,000 square-foot facility will include 10 emergency room beds, 8 in-patient rooms as well as specialty clinics offering orthopedics, orthopedic sports medicine, breast care specialists and dermatology. It will also include a diagnostic imaging center, rehabilitation services, sports medicine, clinical lab services, family medicine and internal medicine physician offices, pediatrics clinic, and OBGYN physician offices.
According to Dr. Tim Nussbaum, a physician with Center Grove Family Medicine, whose offices will be in the new facility, this location is the center of distribution of where their patients are located – from Perry Township down to Trafalgar. “Ninety percent of any time you interact with healthcare, you will be able to do at this building,” he says. “You will be able to see your primary care physician, get labs and x-rays, and specialists will be here at different times of the week so many of your consults will be able to be done here as well.” Franciscan Health Stones Crossing will incorporate the long-standing principals of the Franciscan Health system that include providing a broad, coordinated continuum of health care services with an emphasis on improving the health of persons and communities. While technology has changed, it has been a longtime commitment of Franciscan Health to providing compassionate care to anyone who seeks treatment.
In addition to providing a central location for health services in the Center Grove area, Franciscan Health is hoping to use the micro-hospital as a place where people in the community can come together. There will be a cafeteria that is open to the public as well as a conference room that will be made available for community outreach programs and other outside groups. According to Media Relations Manager Joe Stuteville, an important part of the existence of Franciscan Health facilities is to be a good neighbor and community partner in the communities where they are located. Local resident Tom Pennington is looking forward to the new facility. “It will be nice to have a hospital so close by,” he says. “It kind of reminds me of the hospitals you would have found in a little town years ago that had everything in one place.” Franciscan Health Stones Crossing is expected to open in Winter of 2018. You can keep up with the progress on Facebook by searching for Franciscan Health Stones Crossing.
8 / GREENWOOD COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / SEPTEMBER 2017 / atGreenwood.com
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WHAT HAPPENED TO GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP? FORMER HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND PRO REFS SAY IT’S GETTING WORSE Writer / Matt Roberts Photographer / Brian Brosmer
In 2015, two high school football players in Texas attacked a referee during a game, with one of them knocking him to the ground and the other spearing him in the back with his helmet. A coach later admitted ordering the attack due to “bad calls”. Last year in Beech Grove, a youth football coach was arrested for assaulting a referee during a game between two teams of second-graders. For as long as there have been competitive sports, fans, coaches and players have criticized officials. But there is
a growing sense that anger at bad — or even just adverse — calls has slipped the leash and mutated into abuse and, in some cases, violence. Chris Purvis is a seasoned lacrosse official who sits on the board of the Indiana Lacrosse Officials Association. “Sportsmanship has absolutely gotten worse,” he says. “What’s really alarming to me is the behavior of young players. They’re disrespectful not only to officials, but to their opponents. Kids will make an obvious foul, and they’re throwing up their hands, like ‘Are you kidding me?’ Meanwhile, the TownePost.com / SEPTEMBER 2017 / INDY METRO
coach isn’t reinforcing what they did wrong. He’s saying the official was wrong, so that just perpetuates the behavior.” Purvis says that summer travel league tournaments are even worse. “I worked a summer game this year where parents were literally fighting in the stands, and the police were called,” Purvis says. “For a contest between eight-year-olds. We’ve lost a lot of officials who just say, ‘I don’t need this.’" While participation in youth sports is exploding, the pool of qualified officials is
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decreasing. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) estimates that for every 10 new officials, only two will sign up for a third season. A dwindling roster of officials means a constant struggle to staff games. Mark Baltz has spent the past 50 years officiating at every level, from high school and college basketball and football to 25 years as an NFL head linesman.
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“Youth leagues and their legal people are insisting that the officials be licensed,” Baltz adds. “So, it’s supply and demand. They’re getting young kids licensed, but that doesn’t mean they know what they’re doing. They have no experience, but they’re out there doing youth league games with two officials watching two teams of 11. It’s impossible.”
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“A fight broke out on the floor,” he says. “Parents started jumping in from the stands. Security did a great job, and it could have been a lot worse, but it was a large school sectional between traditional rivals, and some of the officials only had
Former NFL official, Mark Baltz.
three or four years of tournament experience. If you haven’t worked that type of game, you’re going to be overwhelmed.” In April of this year, NFHS embarked on a national recruitment campaign focused on encouraging high school athletes to stay involved in sports by getting their officiating license. But most areas of the country have continued to see a reduction in the number of people willing to put on a striped shirt. More than 20 states have found it necessary to enact criminal penalties against fans who attack referees. In Kentucky, it's now a Class D felony to “intentionally cause or attempt to cause physical injury to a sports official.” Similar legislation was proposed in Indiana but has yet to be passed. Some leagues have addressed the sportsmanship deficit by increasing the severity of penalties for bad behavior. Indianapolis Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) has imposed a policy of disqualification for players or coaches on the first technical foul for high school games. Maybe the problem is rooted in the overall coarsening of public behavior or the general lack of tolerance in society. “I think it’s the pressure,” Purvis says. “Pressure on players and pressure on parents. Everybody wants their kid to be a Division I star.”
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SEPTEMBER'S LUCKIEST ALIVE James Thompson SUBMIT YOUR STORY ONLINE AT TOWNEPOST.COM! If you are chosen, you'll win dinner for two at the Homestretch Steakhouse and $100 each in gambling comps. You must be 21 years of age or older to participate.
BUTTERFLY BLAST Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing
“How did you spot the trap? Thompson asked.
In 1971, Carmel resident James Thompson was in Vietnam where he was assigned as an advisor to the field maintenance unit of the Vietnamese Air Force division. The Chinook helicopter rotor blades were made of a composite sandwich material that was a fiberglass over a honeycomb and it had the bad habit of unbonding. Though they had a test set to check for issues, it often went on the fritz. One day, Thompson was tasked with finding a helicopter pilot to fly the test set from Bien Hoa Air Base to the Army’s depot ship at Vung Tau for repairs.
“It’s an old VC trick in which they set up butterflies,” the pilot explained, using his hands to imitate the broad wings of a butterfly. “They’re the size of two ping-pong paddles and painted to blend in with the grass. When the rotor downwash hits them, they collapse like this.” He moved his palms from a spread-out position to a praying pose. “That sets off Claymore mines all around the landing zone that detonate horizontally, making mincemeat out of a Huey and everyone inside it.”
“I located a seasoned army pilot on his third tour in Vietnam,” Thompson says. On their way back from Vung Tau, they got a radio call asking if they could pick up an American chaplain and drop him at a leper colony to distribute food and clothing. They agreed, so after dropping off cargo for the Vietnam Air Force, they picked up the chaplain and two security guards. “I’d brought along my camera and was snapping photos of the lush, green countryside,” recalls Thompson, who grew suspicious as they approached the leper colony and didn’t see a soul in sight. “It seemed odd since usually a mob of people is waiting to swarm the chopper to receive the precious cargo.”
“You clearly saved our bacon today,” said Thompson, who had a wife and two young daughters back home. It seems it was radio communication that gave the Viet Cong the chance to set the trap. “The VC listened on every frequency, so when they heard that we were going to drop off the test set and pick up the chaplain and his supplies, that gave them plenty of time to set up the mines,” says Thompson, who was in Vietnam for just one year. During that year, he got shot at a handful of times, always when he was in a chopper. “They were lousy shots. They always hit the tail rotor,” Thompson says. “The near-landing at the leper colony was the only time I ever was in real peril over there.”
As they were letting down, suddenly the pilot pulled up on the collective control so violently that it threw the chaplain and his guards to the floor. Thompson reflexively reached to grab one of the Despite the peril, Thompson says he enjoyed his tour in Vietnam. guard’s M-16 rifles from flying out the open side door. “I grew to really like the Vietnamese,” Thompson says. “They’re “What was that about?” Thompson called to the pilot on his headset. clever, wonderful, industrious people.” “The landing zone was mined,” the pilot responded. The close brush with death left Thompson shaky, though even as they returned to Bien Hoa he thought, “Hey, this is a war zone. This kind of thing is expected.”
Thompson, who was raised in Indianapolis, attended Arsenal Tech High School, and received a degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue, served 23 years in the Air Force before retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 1980.
“I’m a very lucky guy to be here,” Thompson says. “Had I used Nevertheless, back at the base, Thompson was eager to learn details. another pilot that day, I would probably not have survived.”
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Invigorate your lawn in the fall with Total Lawn Care. TLC has great season grasses in central Indiana, and the plant naturally develops its root system and stores energy in the fall and early winter. Turf care in the fall sets up the lawn for the next season. Proper fall fertility helps the turf plant recover from the summer stress and store energy in its root system over winter. This allows for a healthier, greener lawn in the spring. We have heavy clay soils throughout central Indiana. Fall is a great time to aerate, over seed or add an organic boost. The aeration allows for soil movement to relieve compaction in your clay soils and to increase macropores in the soil. Fall is also the best time to do any seeding in your lawn and to develop your turf for the coming year. An organic boost can help with building the soil by developing organic matter in the soil. Increased organic matter helps provide the nutrients required by the turf and helps build sustainability of the lawn. A quality weed control in the fall helps reduce the weed population in the spring. Visit Total Lawn Care online at tlcindy.com for additional information.
HIT THE ROAD
NEW APP-BASED DELIVERY SERVICE GAINING MOMENTUM IN INDIANAPOLIS & BEYOND Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing
A new app-based, peer-to-peer delivery service is gaining momentum in Indianapolis. Roadie, a less expensive, more convenient way to ship items of all shapes and sizes, is also a fabulous way for folks looking to make a few extra bucks as it’s designed for those who are already headed in a specific direction to pick up and deliver items along their route. “It’s similar to Uber and Lyft, but it moves things rather than people,” says Kelly Bailey, who has worked as a Roadie drive for about a year. “Let’s say you’re taking a road trip to the Ozarks. Just open up your Roadie app, plug in your destination, and find out if there are any gigs available along the way.”
Marc Gorling, founder and CEO of Roadie, got the idea for his app-based shipping company when he was working on a home renovation project and wanted to find an economical and efficient way to ship boxes of tile to his house from a few hours away. “What if someone was already headed in this direction?” he thought. “If they were coming this way anyway and were willing to transport those tiles for a fee, we would both stand to gain.” A customer who has an item to send simply posts a gig online or on their phone. Then Roadie matches them with a driver who is already going that direction. Senders not only save money on shipping but on not having to box or package their items. Plus, they enjoy personalized pick-up and delivery service. TownePost.com / SEPTEMBER 2017 / INDY METRO
Bailey notes that Roadie is a great way to earn extra cash when you’re going on vacation. It’s also ideal for college students who need extra bucks for books or coffee or retirees who may appreciate making a little extra dough during their post-career travels. “It’s not a full-time job, by any means, but it’s a convenient way to make some extra cash,” says Bailey, noting that thanks to money earned from Roadie, her daughter will graduate from Purdue this year debt-free. “I’m hyped about the service — not just for the company but also for the community. There are many opportunities for residents in Indianapolis to make money driving for Roadie.” For those interested in becoming a driver, all it takes is to sign up, create gig alerts and make offers on gigs you can take. Convenient and easy, drivers set their own schedule and earn rewards such as roadside assistance and free food from Waffle House. Cost for shipping items is calculated based on weight of the item and distance traveled. Most local gigs will cost between $8 and $50, while long-distance gigs with oversized items may cost up to $650. Shipping pets is more but Roadie uses people who are certified to deliver animals cross-country and who make frequent stops along the way to feed, exercise and provide extra TLC to their precious cargo. “Anything that’s hard to ship you can move with Roadie — furniture, televisions, bikes, golf clubs,” Bailey says. “We do everything but haul vehicles.”
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The Roadie app is available for download in the iTunes Store and on Google Play. For more information, visit roadie.com. INDY METRO / SEPTEMBER 2017 / TownePost.com
FALL INTO HOME AND OUTDOOR LIVING NEW SUBURBAN INDY SHOW AT GRAND PARK COMING SEPT. 21-24 Suburban Indy Shows will be opening the doors of Grand Park to the neighborhood for the Suburban Indy Home & Outdoor Living Fall show starting on Sept. 21-24. The event will be located at Grand Park in Westfield. As a brand new venture, the Home and Outdoor Living Fall show will merge interior and exterior design experts into the same venue. Attendees can expect to connect with local, suburban businesses to discuss landscape, home improvements and home building needs, as well as sample and purchase local food, shop local artists, purchase décor from local garden centers and find out what’s “on trend” for the upcoming seasons.
Parking is free, compliments of Central Indiana Chevy Dealers. Suburban Indy Shows believes wholeheartedly in supporting their neighbors. Ten percent of ticket sales will be donated from the Home and Outdoor Living Fall show to the Sunshine Social Club, an organization that is dedicated to serving adults with intellectual disabilities.
For more information on the Suburban Indy Home & Outdoor Living Fall Show, as well as other upcoming 2018 shows, visit suburbanindyshows.com.
Suburban Indy Shows is the creation of north side local, Donell Heberer Walton. She is a 17-year veteran in the production of large-scale consumer shows, having led the Flower and Christmas (among other) shows at the Indiana State fairgrounds for many years.
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MEET "CLONY" DUNGY MIKE BOSTIC BEARS A STRIKING RESEMBLANCE TO COLTS HALL OF FAME COACH
INDY METRO / SEPTEMBER 2017 / TownePost.com
Mike Bostic shows off his "Colts Cave" with his sons Emerson and Michael.
Writer / Jon Shoulders Photographer / Brian Brosmer
The similarities between Mike Bostic and former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy are far from strictly physical. It is the striking physical likeness that initially prompted Bostic to don the guise of what he calls Clony Dungy for Colts home games and special events like the Pro Football Ultimate Fan Association’s (PFUFA) annual four-day summer event in Canton, Ohio. But the coaching philosophies and professionalism Dungy brought to bear as a coach provided the true inspiration for Bostic — not only in assuming the appearance of the beloved football figure, who served as Colts coach from 2002 through 2008, but also in his own 15-year career as a sports coach.
says Bostic, who began his coaching career alongside his former tennis coach at Lawrence North High School before coaching tennis at Carmel High School from 2000 to 2015. “He put the players first, and he put his family first. He based his coaching on principles that I could really relate to. It’s kind of a tribute to him and all he did for Indianapolis.”
he cut up a sweater to resemble a sweater vest and transformed a pair of his wife’s earmuffs into a makeshift headset. “It was hysterical seeing people’s reactions,” Bostic recalls. “A few years later my wife surprised me with Colts season tickets. When we were leaving the first preseason game, some lady that passed me on the street said, ‘Hey, you look like Dungy!’ I wasn’t even dressed like him. I’ve been going to every game since, for the last four seasons, dressed like coach Dungy, and it’s just a blast. I get a lot of double takes.”
Something about Dungy’s successful coaching approach, which led to a Super Bowl championship in 2007, must have rubbed off on Bostic. The northeast Indianapolis native and Ball State University grad won eight state championships as head During Bostic’s first trip to Canton for the annual PFUFA event, Dungy happened to coach during his 15 years coaching tennis be speaking at a local church nearby. Bostic for the Carmel Greyhounds. ended up attending the speaking event, and was afterwards finally able to shake In 2009, Bostic accompanied his sons the hand of the man he admires – and Emerson, 14, and Michael, 12, to the resembles – so much. Indianapolis Zoo’s annual Halloween “It’s more than just a costume for me, ZooBoo event and, on a whim, decided to because when I was coaching I really tried to throw together an impromptu Tony Dungy “Last year I got to meet him again at the emulate how he approached his profession,” costume. To approximate the Dungy look, Steelers game on Thanksgiving,” Bostic says. TownePost.com / SEPTEMBER 2017 / INDY METRO
“He’s been really great. He follows me on social media, and he’s a good sport about it. I told him that it’s fun for me, but it’s also in honor of a great coach and a great person.” This year marks Bostic’s twentieth as a physical education teacher at Forest Dale Elementary School, and in 2015 he decided to retire from coaching tennis to free up time with his family. The Clony Dungy persona isn’t his only family-oriented hobby these days. When his basement flooded last year, Bostic decided to renovate the space into what he calls a Colts Cave, including a painstakingly detailed, smallscale replica of Lucas Oil Stadium. With no woodworking experience, the diehard Colts fan studied countless photos of the stadium, bought the necessary materials and got busy. “There’s still stuff I want to add to it, like figures of the entire Super Bowl roster from the ‘06-‘07 championship team,” he says. “That’ll be a good winter project to go down there and work on that. It’s a nice stress relief.” That’s only one of several ongoing projects that keep Bostic occupied these days. A few years back, he fashioned a Lego figurine to resemble Dungy for he and his kids to play with. They began taking staged photos of what they affectionately called Lego Clony Dungy, and a request from a colleague prompted a huge idea for the tiny figurine. “A coworker of mine at school said she was going to Texas to see her son graduate from the Air Force, and asked to take the
Bostic and his sons got to meet former Colts head coach, Tony Dungy, last year.
Lego Dungy and take pictures around San Antonio,” Bostic says. “From there, I created a Facebook page and got it into my head that I was going to send the figure with family and friends all over the world and set the goal of sending a figurine to every continent.” Bostic then crafted a few more Lego Dungys to send to friends and strangers alike, and since then the figurines have had their pictures taken all over the world including the White House, Italy, Ireland, Jerusalem and even the South Pole. A different kind of creative breakthrough came last Thanksgiving when Bostic was attending the Steelers vs. Colts game in Indianapolis. He noticed scores of fans spinning souvenir towels around the stadium and realized he could create a more unique product fans could spin to create excitement during games. The result is Rally Rings, which Bostic says is a combination of a foam finger, a rally towel
and a fidget spinner. “We decided to patent the spin mechanism and create a product that you can take to high schools, colleges and pro sports,” he says. “It’s gotten to the point now where we can sell them to any high school and they can print the school logo on it and put a corporate sponsor on the back, and do it as a giveaway at a game. So, we’re trying to break into that promotional market now.” Bostic says his seemingly endless energy for all his various hobbies comes from a desire to stay connected with his local community and create unique family memories at the same time. “I like to have goals and be creative,” Bostic says. “My boys have fun with all these projects and things as well. It’s created a lot of cool memories for them. I’m sure they’ll look back and say, ‘Man, my dad was crazy, but it was really a lot of fun.’”
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Styles & Smiles SUGAR THREADS BOUTIQUE IS THE NEWEST SHOP IN OLD TOWN GREENWOOD
Sarah Bennett and Leslie Crump are the owners of Sugar Threads Boutique in Greenwood. atGreenwood.com / SEPTEMBER 2017 / GREENWOOD COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / 25
devoted stay-at-home mom, but she always knew she had a special talent for fashion. Leslie is the owner and a hairstylist at L.A. Design Studio, so she was already living her passion for both beauty and business, although Leslie always dreamed of starting a boutique. When she met Sarah, they both knew that together they could open their own boutique. Starting a business is never easy, but these women were ready for anything and found little restriction when starting up their boutique. “It felt like this was meant to be the way everything came together,” Bennett says. Since Leslie already owned L.A. Design Studio, she was able to make a space for their boutique behind the salon. While Joining the many beautiful shops of Old both Leslie and Sarah live in Center Grove, Town Greenwood, Sugar Threads Boutique they knew that the spot in Greenwood brings an urban, affordable clothing store was perfect. With the help of family and and community care. The boutique carries friends, the two women designed the inside everything from necklaces, dresses, leggings, of their boutique into a bright, chic shop. to candles. The bright interior and friendly They had a space, a name, and now they just employees make it an amazing place to visit. needed merchandise. One of the greatest victories the women encountered was Sugar Threads became a possibility when when the clothing brand Free People gave the two owners, Sarah Bennett and Leslie Leslie and Sarah permission to sell their Crump, met at a basketball game their clothing in Sugar Threads Boutique. After kids were playing in. They began talking all preparation was made, Sarah and Leslie and realized they had the same passion opened the boutique in June. for fashion and community. Sarah was a Writer & Photographer / Hannah Jones
Both women were very excited to open their shop, to honor God and to give back to their community in more ways than one. Both have family members affected by Down syndrome, autism or fragile x. Because of this, both women carry a special love and concern for people with special needs. “Christ has tugged on each of our hearts with the special needs community, so when you shop with us, a portion of our sales go to support local organizations and families with special needs,” Bennett says. While they give to charities, they also hope to give back to women in the Johnson County community through the clothes they sell. They want to spread confidence to women by helping them feel beautiful. One way they plan to give back to women in the Johnson County community is to hold Trunk Sales and Girls Nights Out, where women in the community can host a party at the boutique and shop for clothes at discounted prices. “We want our customers to look and feel beautiful on the inside as well as the out,” Leslie and Sarah say. As you venture through Old Town Greenwood, don’t forget to check out this chic boutique.
26 / GREENWOOD COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / SEPTEMBER 2017 / atGreenwood.com
WHAT’S THE BUZZ? LOCAL BEEKEEPERS RUN HONEY CREEK BEE FARM Writer / Michelle Kaufman Photographer / Brian Brosmer
Since 2015, three Center Grove residents have been learning the process of beekeeping and selling their honey. Susie Simmons, her mom Linda Gibson and family friend Bill Maze operate Honey Creek Bee Farm from their property along State Rd 135. Hundreds of bees live in the farm’s 23 hives. During honey extraction in June, 13 boxes of bees produced more than 300 pounds of honey.
Susie Simmons, her mom Linda Gibson and family friend Bill Maze operate Honey Creek Bee Farm along State Rd 135.
“We understand that bees are needed for pollination and just here in the last few years there have been a lot of issues with different pesticides that are killing off the bees,” Simmons says. “We’re just trying to do our part to help any way that we can.”
atGreenwood.com / SEPTEMBER 2017 / GREENWOOD COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / 27
According to the USDA, honey bees pollinate $15 billion in crops each year. Simmons says when bees first come out of their hive, they have to get their bearings. To do so, they move around the hive and recognize certain features about whichever one they came from. “When they go out for their first flight, when they come back, even though we have all those different hives, they know which hive is theirs. And it’s pretty cool,” Simmons says. Gibson, Simmons and Maze participate in a bee club that meets monthly in Wannamaker that allows them to meet, seek and give advice to other local beekeepers. “People will be coming in with their questions of what’s going on in their hive and is it okay or what should I do, and they’ll also be telling you, ‘okay, this is what you should expect during the next month,’” Gibson says. “You’ve got all these older people that are experienced beekeepers there who are there to help you and answer your questions.” Since every beekeeper could have a different idea or process on how to do something, the
28 / GREENWOOD COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / SEPTEMBER 2017 / atGreenwood.com
club allows beekeepers to learn about methods of honey extraction or swarm capturing that they can take back to their bee farm and try. “We’ve had a lot of people that have been willing to help and mentor us,” Simmons says. “Even though we’re only three years into it, we still feel like we have a lot to learn. New people come on into our group who live here in the vicinity. So, as we’re doing things, they drop by and learn just as we did because they have as many questions as we did.” Honey Creek Bee Farm’s honey is filtered three times and is sold locally in a couple markets and by request. The honey is available in glass or squeeze jars and won’t be harvested again until spring 2018. Honey is available in either an eight or 16 oz. jar. To order, email honeycreekbeefarm@gmail.com.
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One of the most popular items at the bakery is “cake trash” - cutoff from the middle of the cake so that the cake can lay straight. It used to be thrown away, until an employee’s daughter mentioned buying the hump and icing at another bakery. A Piece of Cake sells out of their “cake trash” every day.
After working two jobs for a decade, VanVolkenburgh had a choice: give up the cake shop, or give up working anywhere else. She kept her business, which has moved locations over the years but is currently right next to Walker Eggs in Greenwood, where it has been since 2003.
lot of things that we do come from customer requests. We work on it and experiment a Curd’s favorite is white cake with raspberry little bit.” filling, but she doesn’t have a favorite design. “Cakes are very individual, just like people,” One of the most popular items at the bakery Curd says. “They want cakes to match what is “cake trash” - cutoff from the middle of they’re doing and their personality. It’s a the cake so that the cake can lay straight. It fun business too, because most people that used to be thrown away, until an employee’s are ordering a cake, it’s for a fun occasion. daughter mentioned buying the hump and It’s always nice on weekends to see all the VanVolkenburgh says. icing at another bakery. A Piece of Cake sells beautiful cakes go out. It’s a lot of hard work out of their “cake trash” every day. on everyone’s part from start to finish, but it’s After working two jobs for a decade, teamwork.” VanVolkenburgh had a choice: give up the cake shop, or give up working anywhere else. VanVolkenburgh often works 12-hour days and does everything from decorating cakes VanVolkenburgh’s advice to those aspiring started A Piece of Cake in 1988. She kept her business, which has moved Debbie VanVolkenburgh locations over the years but is currently right to consulting with brides to doing the dishes. to open a bakery is to have a strong support system at home and work because starting a next to Walker Eggs in Greenwood, where it She still enjoys what she does and plans to continue her business, along with her seven business is hard. has been since 2003. other employees. “It takes a lot of hours that you work for free,” A Piece of Cake offers several flavors of cake, “If I enjoy what I do, I’ll just keep on doing she says. “If you don’t really love doing it, you from chocolate and yellow to chocolate have no business thinking that you want do almond raspberry and Italian cream can also it,” she says. “We just like taking care of people, and I think we have the nicest this. You really have to have a passion for it. come with fillings. Pies and tarts are also It’s not something you’re going to get rich available, and pumpkin rolls are made in the customers in the county.” doing.” fall. Everything is baked fresh, and gluten free Tracy Curd has worked at A Piece of Cake options are available. for almost a decade. She takes all orders for A Piece of Cake is located at 1275 W Main St Greenwood, IN 46142. You can give them a “When I started out, I had recipes that I liked the bakery and helps customers decide on cake designs. call at 317-887-2253. and we expanded from there,” she says. “A
A Piece of Cake offers several flavors of cake, from chocolate and yellow to chocolate almond raspberry and Italian cream can also come with fillings. Pies and tarts are also available, and pumpkin rolls are made in the fall. Everything is baked fresh, and gluten free options are available.
“I would get off work, go by the cake shop, bake at night, bake on weekends. A lastminute thing was not a possibility because there was no one there that could do that,”
“When I started out, I had recipes that I liked and we expanded from there,” she says. “A
A Piece
of
Curd’s favorite is white cake with raspberry filling, but she doesn’t have a favorite design. “Cakes are very individual, just like people,” Curd says. “They want cakes to match what they’re doing and their personality. It’s a fun business too, because most people that are ordering a cake, it’s for a fun occasion. It’s always nice on weekends to see all the beautiful cakes go out. It’s a lot of hard work on everyone’s part from start to finish, but it’s teamwork.”
VanVolkenburgh often works 12-hour days and does everything from decorating cakes VanVolkenburgh’s advice to those aspiring to consulting with brides to doing the dishes. to open a bakery is to have a strong support She still enjoys what she does and plans to system at home and work because starting a continue her business, along with her seven business is hard. other employees. “It takes a lot of hours that you work for free,” “If I enjoy what I do, I’ll just keep on doing she says. “If you don’t really love doing it, you it,” she says. “We just like taking care of have no business thinking that you want do people, and I think we have the nicest this. You really have to have a passion for it. customers in the county.” It’s not something you’re going to get rich doing.” Tracy Curd has worked at A Piece of Cake for almost a decade. She takes all orders for A Piece of Cake is located at 1275 W Main St the bakery and helps customers decide on Greenwood, IN 46142. You can give them a cake designs. call at 317-887-2253.
cAke
Family-owned custom cake shop has been in Greenwood for 14 years.
Debbie VanVolkenburgh started A Piece of Cake in 1988.
• Always With You: They stay with you no matter where you go.
lot of things that we do come from customer requests. We work on it and experiment a little bit.”
“I would get off work, go by the cake shop, bake at night, bake on weekends. A lastminute thing was not a possibility because there was no one there that could do that,”
VanVolkenburgh says.
VanVolkenburgh started her business by talking to others and passing out brochures advertising her cake delivery business.
• All Markets: Download every magazine in our newtork.
VanVolkenburgh started her business by talking to others and passing out brochures advertising her cake delivery business.
A Piece of cAke school for their birthdays, but it became a hassle.
For nearly 30 years, Debbie VanVolkenburgh has been baking and delivering cakes.
When her oldest son moved to California, she was surprised to learn that nobody there delivered cakes. VanVolkenburgh started A Piece of Cake in 1988. As her kids grew up, she made cakes at “I couldn’t quite figure that out. It seemed home and would bring them to her children’s like a no brainer to me,” she says. “There
school for their birthdays, but it became a hassle.
For nearly 30 years, Debbie VanVolkenburgh has been baking and delivering cakes.
When her oldest son moved to California, she was surprised to learn that nobody there delivered cakes.
VanVolkenburgh started A Piece of Cake in 1988. As her kids grew up, she made cakes at home and would bring them to her children’s
“I couldn’t quite figure that out. It seemed like a no brainer to me,” she says. “There
surely was a lot of people that their kids lived here, and they would like for them to have a cake. I just thought along those lines for a little bit and then taking cupcakes to school for my younger kids, I thought, ‘man, if someone would do that for me for $25, I would gladly pay it.’” While still working at a full-time job,
4 / GREENWOOD COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2017 / atGreenwood.com
Family-owned custom cake shop has been in Greenwood for 14 years. Writer / Michelle Kaufman Photographer / Brian Brosmer
Writer / Michelle Kaufman Photographer / Brian Brosmer
surely was a lot of people that their kids lived here, and they would like for them to have a cake. I just thought along those lines for a little bit and then taking cupcakes to school for my younger kids, I thought, ‘man, if someone would do that for me for $25, I would gladly pay it.’” While still working at a full-time job,
4 / GREENWOOD COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / AUGUST 2017 / atGreenwood.com
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Gifting Great Memories
TERESA’S HALLMARK CELEBRATES 28 YEARS IN GREENWOOD
Teresa Dillard is the owner of Teresa’s Hallmark in Greenwood. 30 / GREENWOOD COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / SEPTEMBER 2017 / atGreenwood.com
Writer / Michelle Kaufman Photographer / Brian Brosmer
Teresa Dillard prides herself on providing a destination shopping area through her store, Teresa’s Hallmark. Dillard bought her store in 1989 at the corner of 135 and Fairview before moving to the current location across from Meijer in 2000. Dillard’s Hallmark is the only one that she knows of that has two stories. The collectible business kept her store going when she started, but websites like eBay has forced stores like Teresa’s Hallmark to adjust their strategy. “Suddenly there’s this glut on the market of supply of collectibles that wasn’t there when you had to go around and search from store to store to find this special piece you were looking for,” Dillard says. “People got used to buying on internet instead of supporting local stores, that’s where a lot of the business has gone to, which makes it hard for a brick Dillard is currently working on coming up with more ideas for events and promotions. and mortar store to stay in business.” Teresa’s Hallmark’s Facebook page is full of Facebook Live videos and posts detailing Teresa’s Hallmark now has a website where customers can order from an online catalog promotions and new products. Dillard and have their products shipped to the store enjoys being able to implement her ideas in her store and work a variety of roles within if it is not already in Teresa’s inventory. the business. “You can pick up that order in the store without having to take the time to come in and search for items,” she says. “So, you can still do your shopping online and get free shipping if you pick it up. If I have the product in the store, then I can take it from my inventory instead of Hallmark sending it, which helps keep me in business.”
Another unique service that Teresa’s Hallmark offers are products from P. Graham Dunn, such as keychains and plaques, that are laser engraved in the store. A new program was bought for Teresa’s in September that will allow for more creative license. “For the customer that comes in and they want something different than what the current system can offer, we can work with it to create something a little bit more personalized for them,” Dillard says.
“I get to be an accountant, I can be a sales clerk out on the floor, I can go build a display, I can do merchandising, I get to go travel and go to market and pick things out. There’s just so many facets to it that are so much fun,” Dillard says. Five years ago, Dillard’s daughter Sara opened Brianne’s Boutique in the same building. Sara grew her business, and it is now in its own building across the parking lot. Dillard is unsure what she’ll do with Brianne’s old space but is open to having another tenant if they were the right fit and would attract business to Teresa’s and Brianne’s. Dillard is also part of a mastermind group of retailers from across the country. They meet up at market and once a year for a workshop with presentations and guest speakers.
“It’s very difficult to be out there by yourself trying to do a business like this today,” she says. “Basically, part of what helps me be successful is by utilizing their talents and their energy. We’ve gotten so many great ideas from them, and it’s just the power of that energy that keeps us all going.” Teresa’s Hallmark has several customers who have been coming to the store for years, and one employee, Lynn, will celebrate her 20th anniversary with the company in November. One of Dillard’s all-time favorite customers are Melvin and Margaret Vandermeer. Melvin was the former principal of Center Grove High School and would talk to the Teresa’s employees while Margaret shopped for cards. “Margaret would come up to the counter and she’d be checking out,” Dillard says. “He’d make some remark about how wonderful she was and she would just look up at him with just the sweetest look. It’s like the two of them were brand new newlyweds. He was just the nicest guy. I’ve had a lot of great customers over the years, but he was one of my most memorable and one of my favorite. There’s been a lot of customers like that over the years.”
atGreenwood.com / SEPTEMBER 2017 / GREENWOOD COMMUNITY MAGAZINE / 31
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