Plainfield Magazine October 2019

OCTOBER 2019

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ADVANCING THE TOWN: MEET THE TOWN OF PLAINFIELD STAFF LEADERS

A community known for its diverse tax-base and quality of life, the Town of Plainfield has long benefited from council and staff continuity. Much of Plainfield’s success is attributed directly to the consistent and steady leadership from familiar faces of Town staff and leadership.

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EDITOR

Samantha Kupiainen

OCTOBER WRITERS

Christy Heitger-Ewing / Jamie Hergott Stephanie Singh / Demi Lawrence

OCTOBER PHOTOGRAPHERS Amy Payne

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS ARE SPONSORED CONTENT

6 Advancing The Town: Meet The

Town Of Plainfield Staff Leaders

9 Drawing Outside the Lines:

Longtime Editorial Cartoonist Gary Varvel Recalls the Journey to a Dream Job

14 The Best Medicine: The American

Cancer Society Supports Others

With Resources, Partnerships & Programs

19 Beasley’s Orchard Celebrates

Three Generations of Food, Fun & Family Festivals

24 Breast Cancer Diagnosis,

Then What?

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The Plainfield Magazine is published by the Towne Post Network and is written for and by local Plainfield area residents. Magazines are direct mailed to homes and businesses and are also available in racks throughout the community each month.

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MEET THE TOWN OF PLAINFIELD STAFF LEADERS Writer / Stephanie Singh Photographer / Amy Payne

to the good planning on many people’s part over the years.”

A community known for its diverse tax-base and quality of life, the Town of Plainfield has long benefited from council and staff continuity. Much of Plainfield’s success is attributed directly to the consistent and steady leadership from familiar faces of Town staff and leadership.

Robin Brandgard, Plainfield Town Council President, is the clear example of this steady guidance. Brandgard has been on the council for 40 years this coming January.

He has seen Plainfield grow from a “sleepy bedroom community” to the thriving and growing “big” Town we have today.

In addition to Brandgard’s tenure, the Town of Plainfield also benefited from the vision and execution from former Town Manager, Richard A. Carlucci. Carlucci served as the Town Manager for 27 years.

With his retirement in 2015, the Town Council realized the need to ensure the continued success of the past. A new Town Manager would need to maintain the same commitment to long-term loyalty to the Town and be in a position to take Plainfield through the next 27 years.

Plainfield has transitioned from a small town under Carlucci to what is coined by Brandgard as a “big town” today and our administration must be equipped with the appropriate resources and staff to deliver the services our residents demand.

“Over the past 40 years, the Town has grown in an orderly fashion,” Brandgard says. “I believe we have been able to maintain the small town feel — despite being a community approaching 35,000 residents— by keeping the industrial separate from the residential. This is thanks

To meet these challenges, the Plainfield Town Council appointed Andrew Klinger as Town Manager in September 6 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2019 / PlainfieldMag.com

of 2015. Klinger has more than 20 years of service in local and state government having previously worked in economic development and most recently the Town Manager for Cumberland, Indiana. Andrew has spent a great deal of his time, since his hiring in 2015, building the leadership staff to meet the needs of a growing community.

“When we hired Andrew he was given the charge to reorganize how the town does business and look how we’re staffed,” Brandgard says. “In addition, myself and the rest of the Town Council challenged him to put processes in place that will help our community continue to thrive for the next 40-45 years of growth. Andrew has been in his position for more than four years now, and I am happy that he has created a good staff to carry this community through its growth.”

Retirements and the steady growth of the community have caused Klinger to be very deliberate in the selection process. Klinger has been able to successfully build a team of

experts and public management generalists to lead the Town.

“When I look at the credentials of our directors and department heads, it settles me knowing we have people who are committed to not only this Town but growing as professionals,” Klinger says.

“Plainfield is also my home, so I take pride in everything we do here and I am excited to have such a powerhouse of professionals

alongside me.”

This team—made up of 12 directors, in which eight have changed roles or have joined the team since Klinger’s hiring — is dedicated to being deliberate in the management of Town growth. Plainfield has been fortunate to avoid a lot of the pitfalls that other communities are challenged by with the uncontrolled growth. Town leaders continue to be very intentional about the planning process as well as preserving our history. The team of leaders

that has been assembled is an example of this effort on a staff level as there are both very familiar faces with lengthy history working for the Town and new faces alike.

“Plainfield is entering an exciting time, as we continue to diversify our economy and I am confident this team will continue to work together to be servants to the community,” Klinger adds.

Andrew Klinger

Tim Belcher

Scott Singleton

Town Manager, Chief Administrative Officer, J.D., M.A. in Public Affairs and B.A. in Political Science, 4 years with the Town, Former Town Manager and Economic Development Specialist

Executive Director Development Services, Town Engineer, B.S. in Civil Engineering, 30 years with Town, Former Engineer with the US Army Corp of Engineers

Director of Transportation, Town Representative on the Technical Committee of the Indiana Regional Transportation Council (IRTC), B.S. in Civil Engineering, 4 years with the Town, Former Experience in Roadway Design Management, Project Development and Construction Management

Nate Thorne

Stephanie Singh

Steve Dyson

Assistant Town Manager, Chief of Staff to Town Manager, M.A. in Public Management, B.S. in Business Management and Human Resources, 15 years with the Town, Former Deputy Director of the Parks Department

Director of Communications and Marketing, Town Public Information Officer, M.P.S. in Strategic Public Relations, B.A. in Communications, 1.5 years with the Town, Former Television Reporter

Budget Director, M.B.A. in Finance, M.P.A. in Policy Analysis, 1.5 years with the Town, 20 years in Public Finance and Budgeting and is an Adjunct College Professor

PlainfieldMag.com / OCTOBER 2019 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 7

Brent Bangel Director of Parks and Recreation, B.S. in Sports Management, 14 years with the Town, Former General Manager of the Richard A. Carlucci Recreation & Aquatic Center

Jason Castetter Director of Public Works, A.S. in Science A&P, 28 years with Town, in addition to the Street Department also is directly responsible for Town Utilities including Water, Wastewater and Stormwater operations.

Todd Cook

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Y O U ’ R E L O O K I N ’ AT I T Y O U ’ R E L O O K I N ’ AT I T

Director of Economic Development, B.S. in Public Affairs with concentrations in Urban Planning and Regional Economic Development, 1.5 years with the Town, Former Land Development Director at the Indianapolis Airport Authority

Bill Castetter Director of Information Technology, M.B.A. in Business, B.S. in Business Administration. Hired as the first IT employee for the Town of Plainfield, 16 years with the Town, 37 years of IT experience

Joel Thacker Fire Chief of Plainfield Fire Territory, B.S. in Business Administration, M.A. in Public Safety, four years with the Town, 28 years experience in Public Safety

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Longtime Editorial Cartoonist Gary Varvel Recalls the Journey to a Dream Job Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Amy Payne

Gary Varvel will never forget the day he walked down the magazine aisle of Danner’s 5&10 and spotted the face of gap-toothed, frecklefaced Alfred E. Neuman. When he picked up a copy of MAD Magazine, something shifted inside him. Twelve years old at the time, Varvel describes the humor magazine as “mesmerizing.” On rainy days, he sketched characters he saw within its pages.

“Oh, it’s terrible,” says Varvel, a Brownsburg resident with his wife, Carol, for 20 years.

He might not have had the guts to pursue such a dream were it not for his Danville Community High School journalism teacher, Nancy Sutton.

One day she invited Anne Ely from The Indianapolis Star to be a guest speaker. When Ely saw Varvel’s cartoons, she suggested he contact Jerry Barnett, the editorial cartoonist at The Indianapolis News.

“That’s how I learned to draw caricatures,” Varvel says. “I was fortunate in that I wasn’t really gifted to do anything else.”

“I went to a payphone and called him right away, not realizing that the call would change the course of my life,” says Varvel, who later met with Barnett.

He jokes about his talent, though the truth of the matter is that pursuing a career in cartooning isn’t easy.

Though Barnett believed in Varvel’s talent, he warned his protégé that OCTOBER 2019

the editorial cartoonist business was a tough one to crack.

For two years, Varvel attended the John Herron School of Art before landing a job at a local newspaper in Brownsburg in 1977. Don Richer, the publisher of the County Courier, hired Varvel to work as the production manager.

“Don told me, ‘If you draw a cartoon that’s good enough, I’ll put it in the paper,’ but he taught me how to lay out ads and operate the copy camera,” Varvel says. “That job is how I learned the business.”

When the County Courier folded a year later, he struggled to find work. He was at the unemployment office when he was paged by Barnett, letting him know that he was recommending Varvel for an artist position in the newsroom.

“I went from being unemployed on Monday to Tuesday morning having my cartoon on the front page of The Indianapolis News,” says Varvel, who remained with the paper for 16 years doing maps, charts and story illustrations. Throughout that time, Varvel steadily applied to any opening he found for cartoonist positions.

“I was rejected by every single one,” says Varvel, who kept all the rejection letters, an act that not only kept him humble but also offered a healthy perspective.

“I learned that losing doesn’t make you a loser,” he says.

“Quitting makes you a loser.”

In 1994 when Charlie Werner retired from The Indianapolis Star as an editorial cartoonist, Varvel applied for the job. A month passed before his phone rang with news that after two decades in the business, he’d finally landed his dream job.

“I about dropped the phone,” says Varvel, who was 37 years old at the time — the youngest in the department. Everyone else was 10 or 20 years his senior, which he relished. “I loved soaking in knowledge from the others who had been around the block a few times.”

Later, those people retired, Gannett bought them out and slowly things started changing.

“One thing I learned in journalism is that you have to adapt,” Varvel says. “If you don’t change, you die.”

He saw many cartoonists lose their jobs because they refused to do color. He found that color was a good thing because it was more adaptable for the Internet.

Like all editorial cartoonists, Varvel has been criticized for being biased.

OCTOBER 2019

“My world view doesn’t match everyone else’s and that’s okay,” he says. “We can all have different points of view and not throw a fit about it.”

He rolled with the punches. He once received an e-mail from a reader who wrote, “You obviously don’t know what you’re doing because this cartoon was the worst.” Varvel wrote back, “You obviously aren’t paying attention because I’ve done much worse than this.”

The man immediately fired back, “Okay, that’s hilarious.”

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But there were definitely tough times. Following the 9/11 attacks, Varvel drew a cartoon that encapsulated the honor, pride, sadness and sacrifice that all tied into the tragedy that rocked our nation. It was the image of Uncle Sam carrying a firefighter through the debris. The comic was inspired by a photograph Varvel had seen after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing where a child was being carried by a firefighter.

“I thought, ‘How ironic that the firefighters became the victims this time,” says Varvel, noting that 343 firefighters died in the towers that day. He was reminded of John 15:13 about there being no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

“That’s what these people did — especially when the first tower went down,” he says. “They had to know their time was limited when they went in.”

Varvel’s editor Andrea Neal was so moved by Varvel’s work that she suggested making the comic into a poster that they could sell to help with the relief efforts in NYC. They printed up 1,000 and booked Varvel to appear on Channel 13 to promote it. When he arrived at work, there was a line around the block with people coming from Kokomo, Richmond and surrounding areas to buy a signed poster. They raised $130,000.

Over the course of Varvel’s 24-year career at The Indianapolis Star, he drew nearly 8,000 cartoons. When he began his career in 1974, Varvel estimates there were 200 full-time salaried editorial cartoonist positions in America. Today, he guesses that number has dropped to 20.

In 2000, Varvel wrote the book Varvelous. For years, fans have inquired when he would pen a second. Finally, the timing seemed right so just last month Varvel released Drawing the Right Way: A Conservative Cartoonist’s View of the World. It’s a compilation of the last decade, focusing on the Obama and Trump years.

Varvel includes a chapter on Mike Pence and another on Hoosier politics. Though he plans to schedule some local signings, fans may purchase copies at Garyvarvel.com.

Since retiring from The Indianapolis Star in January, Varvel has been busier than ever. He illustrated a graphic novel called The Birth of the First Amendment and collaborated on a junior high book called Old Whiskers Escapes. He’s been commissioned by people, near and far, to draw for them, including the Bob and Tom staff to create a poster of their crew. Plus, he still draws four cartoons a week for Creators Syndicate.

Earlier this year when MAD Magazine announced that they were ceasing publication after 67 years, Varvel was disappointed.

“It’s like losing a friend,” says Varvel, who was sad yet not shocked because he feels the magazine hasn’t been able to reach the next generation of cartoonists.

“Honestly, I came along in this business at just the right time,” says Varvel, who feels blessed that he got to live this life. “For me, it was the best job in the world.”

Now, however, he looks forward to tackling his next dream, which is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others by using his talents. In 2014, he co-wrote and produced a movie with his oldest son, Brett, called “The War Within.”

“I’ve had people say they came to know Jesus because of the film,” Varvel says. “That’s better than making people laugh.

Changing someone’s life for eternity — there’s nothing better.”

OCTOBER 2019

Varvel’s new book, “Drawing the Right Way”, will be available October 11th at garyvarvel.com

Varvel’s Awards & Accolades • 2018: Advancing American Democracy Award, sharing the award with 2 two-time Pulitzer-Prize winners • 2015: Inducted into Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame • 2012: National Headliners Award for editorial cartooning • 2011: Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for Cartooning • 2010: National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award for Best Editorial Cartoonist Division • 2010: Grambs Aronson Award for Cartooning with a Conscience for his Path to Hope series on Child poverty • 2006: H. Dean Evans Legacy Award for community service • 15-time 1st place winner of the Indiana Society of Professional Journalists' Award for Best Editorial Cartoon • 13-time 1st place winner of the Best Editorial Cartoonist in the Hoosier State Press Association Contest

OCTOBER 2019

The American Cancer Society Supports Others With Resources, Partnerships & Programs Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography / Amy Payne & Provided

whole town banded together for whatever philanthropic event there was.”

When cancer strikes, it’s often a life-changing event for the entire family. Such was the case for Tatijana Marsee, who was in fifth grade when her mother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Her mom immediately went on the defensive and empowered herself through advocacy work with the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Watching her mother be a champion for her community lit a fire within Marsee, and by middle school, she, too, was volunteering with ACS.

“She started our first school Relay for Life team,” Marsee says. She also became the point of contact for anyone in the vicinity who received a cancer diagnosis.

“If anyone in our town was diagnosed with cancer, they would contact my mom and she would go to their house and talk with them about what ACS had to offer and who they could partner with to get the best treatment,” Marsee says. “Mom was such a great inspiration in our town.”

That town, by the way, was Milan, Indiana, made famous in the basketball film “Hoosiers.”

“Milan is really small with no stoplights,” Marsee says. “Pretty much the

During college, Mwwarsee studied communications and public relations. After graduating, she became the marketing manager for a printing and mailing company. Though she loved her clients, she missed the philanthropy. Then one day while attending the Indy Hub Community Involvement Fair, she was offered the position of Community Development Manager for ACS. “The number one thing most people don’t usually know about ACS is that they are a national nonprofit that helps on a local level,” Marsee says. “We basically take all the resources and connections we’ve made across the nation and bring that to the local level.”

Though through the decades their hands have been in every major cancer research investment, they’ve always been behind the scenes funding doctors, conducting their own research or providing grants and foundational money to hospitals such as Riley or IU West.

OCTOBER 2019

“Our college students and our doctors right here in our home town are actually funding the cancer research, which is really cool,” Marsee says.

Though the American Cancer Society has been around for more than 110 years, their programs have evolved through the years. For instance, they had a “look good, feel better” program that helped people working through cancer treatments make sure they felt good about the aesthetic side of things.

“This is important because we never want somebody to not finish their treatment because they’re self-conscience about losing their hair,” Marsee says.

Now the ACS is more focused on access to care programs. For instance, Hope Lodge is for cancer patients who have to travel for treatments and need somewhere safe and clean to stay for free or at a discounted rate.

“Here in Indiana we partner with local hotels who supply us with rooms for the patient and their caregiver so they don’t have to suffer that financial burden,” Marsee adds.

ACS Community Development Manager, Tatijana Marsee

The idea behind the free or discounted lodging is that they want patients to be able to go to whatever location offers the best treatment for their particular type of cancer.

ACS has other programs and partnerships that also offer a personal touch. For instance, one partners a current breast cancer patient with someone who has walked that road before.

OCTOBER 2019

“Someone who has been through it themselves knows the ins and outs,” Marsee says. “They can offer tips or suggestions for what to ask the doctor.”

In addition, they have a 24/7 hotline that patients can call for support.

Their newest program, called Road to Recovery, is where local residents donate their passenger seat and their time to transport patients to and from their treatments.

“We have quite a few Hendricks County residents who are Road to Recovery drivers,” Marsee says. “Some are retired. Some have battled cancer themselves.”

Robert Sexton maintains that volunteering as a Road to Recovery driver has been the most rewarding thing he’s ever done. He notes that assisting patients when they are enduring a difficult time requires understanding and patience but is so worth the reward.

“It’s not a stretch to imagine a friend or family member or even yourself being in this situation,” says Sexton. “So, give the good people at the ACS a call and inquire about the Road to Recovery program. You’ll love it and patients will love you.”

The big fundraising events typically take place in the spring and summer, though they fundraise all year long. According to Marsee, Brownsburg is ranked fourth in the state for top fundraising.

“We blew our goal out of the water this year by $15,000,” Marsee adds.

“Brownsburg and surrounding communities raised $135,000. Greater Hendricks Relay has done great at fundraising.”

Sharon Hammer, a member of the Relay for Life Event Planning Team for the past 13 years, is dedicated to ACS’ mission of raising funding and awareness for cancer research.

“Relay for Life allows us to celebrate caregivers and survivors, honors those who have lost their battle, brings awareness to children and adults alike, and provides financial support to help find a cure,” says Hammer, who is grateful for Marsee’s fierce devotion to ACS. “Tatijana has been a huge support to each of us providing her expertise, guidance, support and encouragement throughout the months leading up to our relay. We would never be able to host such an amazing relay without her support and the support of the rest of the ACS staff.”

ACS’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Hendricks County will take place on October 5 as October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The funds raised for this event go specifically to breast cancer research. Other fundraising platforms, such as Relay for Life, is all-encompassing for all cancers. The event, which will take place at Washington Township Park, is a noncompetitive walk designed to honor those who have battled breast cancer. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the walk will begin at 10.

“This day is meant to be a celebration,” says Marsee, noting that 90% of their events are volunteer-led.

“Volunteers lead these missions throughout the community,” Marsee says. “We’ve had Brownsburg, Avon and Plainfield schools get involved as well.”

For instance, Cardinal Elementary in Brownsburg has a Relay Kids Club where the students host their own fundraisers such as Muffins with Moms, Doughnuts with Dads and Breakfast with Santa.

“At these events, the kids serve the breakfast and run the activities,” Marsee says.

Community members and cancer survivors are grateful for the support they’ve received through the ACS. Hammer says the programs ACS provides for cancer victims, survivors, caregivers and families continues to be a huge source of support for all those touched by cancer.

“Everyone knows someone affected by cancer,” Hammer says.

Andra Ignas, a 15-year Relay for Life captain, is currently battling the insidious disease for the third time.

“ACS has provided me with so much emotional and physical support and resources,” says Ignas, who calls herself a “survivor and thriver.”

“It’s wonderful for a community to come together and support one another,” she says. “Tatijana is so passionate about ACS. She makes me want to work harder to continue to raise money and help.”

For more information, visit cancer.org, call 317-344-7858, or email Tatijana.marsee@cancer.org.

OCTOBER 2019

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Monday, Sept. 30 “Shine the Light ”Annual Vigil 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Sheltering Wings

Sunday, Oct. 13 “Purple in the Pews” Wear purple to church, share it with us on social media #PurpleInThePews

Tuesday, Oct. 8 “Men IN Action” Annual Breakfast 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Washington Township Park Pavilion, Avon

Thursday, Oct. 24 “Dine Out Against Domestic Violence” All day at Boulder Creek in Brownsburg, Charbonos in Avon, Stone Creek and Bru Burger in Plainfield

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Like a lot of people who grow up around a family business, after living and breathing life at Beasley’s Orchard since he was a tot, Calvin Beasley was eager to get away from it for a bit. Absence made the heart grow fonder, as the saying goes, and while studying economics at IU, he had a revelation.

“It dawned on me that most people go to work, watch the clock and bolt at the end of the day, but that wasn’t how I felt,” Calvin says. “I saw the farm as this incredible opportunity to do something that was not only meaningful to me but also to my family.”

He appreciated how hard his parents worked to build up the business because he

witnessed it firsthand.

“When they first started, it was nothing like you see today,” he says.

His grandparents, Milton and Irene, actually purchased the original 80 acres of Beasley’s Orchard in 1946. At the time, it was used as a hog farm. Early on, Calvin’s grandparents ran what would now be considered a garden center located in the metal building right off the road.

When his grandparents bought the property, the barn, which is estimated to have been erected around the time of the Civil War, was on the verge of collapse. In the mid-70s, Calvin’s dad and his friends renovated the dilapidated structure.

In the late 60, early 70s, Calvin’s father, OCTOBER 2019

John, got heavily involved in the family business, and he planted the first orchard.

He grew cantaloupe, tomatoes and sweet corn (now Beasley’s also grows strawberries, apples, pumpkins, cucumbers, okra, green beans and asparagus).

John met Debbie, and the pair married in the 80s.

“My mom brought in retail experience and that’s when the market grew a lot,” says Calvin, noting that around that time Beasley’s started carrying other things besides produce such as jams, jellies and mixes.

According to Calvin, the small to mid-sized farms that used to sell to local grocers was no longer profitable when corporate farming took over.

“A lot of the family farms were left wondering what to do,” Calvin says.

“Agritourism was an opportunity to keep the farm going.”

The Heartland Apple Festival began in 1986 and as the years progressed, priorities continued to shift more heavily towards agritourism.

“It became less about having a produce market and more about giving people a destination,” Calvin says. “We’re focused on making ourselves a place where people want to come and spend a whole day and do that multiple times a year.”

This fall marks the 33rd Annual Heartland Apple Festival where folks can pick a pumpkin, navigate the corn maze, take a hayride, listen to live music, shop from local food and craft vendors, and play in the barnyard bonanza, which includes a giant jumping pillow, ball zone, and apple cannon. Guests can also indulge in tasty caramel apples and the best apple cider in the state.

In the winter, Beasley’s devotes two consecutive weekends to Christmas at the Orchard where kids can get pictures with Santa and parents can purchase gift boxes that include cheeses, jams, jellies, salsas, syrups and honey.

Even though they have events scheduled throughout the year, fall remains the cherished season when they host things like Hometown Heroes, Dog Daze at the Maze and Halloweekend.

“For the most part, everything we do is building up to fall,” says Calvin, who OCTOBER 2019

Upcoming Fun at Beasley’s Heartland Apple Festival: October 5-6 & Oct. 12-13 Dog Daze at the Maze: October 19-20 Halloweekend: October 26-27 Christmas at the Orchard: November 23-24 & November 30-December 1

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Plus, it’s a great educational opportunity to show kids how fruit is grown and picked.

Calvin thinks there is a huge need in today’s world for people of all ages to learn about where food comes from and how it’s grown.

“There’s so much false information about what agriculture looks like and what we do that’s far off base,” Calvin says. “We provide an up-close chance for the public to talk to the actual people who are growing it.

Building that trust between consumer and farmer is really important.”

That’s why Beasley’s Orchard hosts a ton of field trips. Last year, they had roughly 8,000 kids come through from all over central Indiana. They also host Future Farmers of America (FFA) for their national convention that’s held the last week of October in Indianapolis annually.

“These are the students who are likely going to seek careers in agriculture so they really want to learn,” says Calvin.

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Though he adores his job, he also faces challenges — most notably, Mother Nature.

“This is one of the few careers where you can plan diligently, be completely ready to execute your plan, and bad weather can take

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it all away from you,” Calvin says.

“Take apple trees, for instance. You can have a great growing season the year before.

You can keep the crop load at a manageable level so you get good bud development in the summer for the following crop. You can prune perfectly all winter long. They can be coming into bloom and look absolutely wonderful. And then you can get a late frost and lose all of them just like that.”

And yet he wouldn’t trade this life for the world. His father, who battled Parkinson’s disease, passed away in June 2017.

“I’m making my family proud,” Calvin says.

“I also know that I’m building something for the next generation to come.”

Though he doesn’t have children yet, he tied the knot last spring to his lovely wife Brittany.

“This was the best place to grow up. I can’t imagine a better childhood,” says Calvin, who would join the picking crews when they harvested sweet corn. He also vividly recalls riding on the tractor with his dad as he brought in bins of apples from the orchard. And his mom’s presence on the farm made an indelible impression as well.

“Watching Mom manage all of the employees and take care of the customers was a real learning experience,” says Calvin.

“Even at a young age, seeing them work so hard instilled in me a great work ethic.”

Calvin, a third-generation owner, now has the pleasure of serving third-generation customers.

“We see people come out with their kids and grandkids for apples in September and hayrides and pumpkin picking in October,” Calvin says. “To see folks committed to these fall traditions tells me we’re growing in the right way.”

Beasley’s Orchard is located at 2304 East Main Street in Danville. For more information, call 317-745-4876 or visit beasleys-orchard.com.

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Whether you or a friend have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, knowing the next steps and understanding the process is essential in the coping process. Meghan McWhirter, RN and patient navigator in the breast clinic at IU Health West Hospital, shares what to expect after receiving a diagnosis.

Staging Once the diagnosis has been made, your doctor works to determine the extent or stage of the breast cancer. This stage helps establish the best treatment options available. Although you have a diagnosis, some information may not be available until after surgery. Tests used to determine the stage of breast cancer include bone scans, CT scans, PET scans, MRIs, mammograms and blood tests.

Breast cancer stages range from stage zero to stage four. Stage zero indicates that the cancer is noninvasive or within the milk ducts, while stage four shows that it has spread to other parts of the body.

Knowing the stage of cancer and what the oncologist recommends, treatment may include surgery, proton beam radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy drugs or immunotherapy.

Support A new cancer diagnosis can change your life and the lives of those around you. To help patients and loved ones feel in control, McWhirter recommends patients gather information about the diagnosis from their care team and credible websites, such as the American Cancer Society.

“Write questions down in advance of appointments and bring someone with you so that someone else can help you listen to and digest information,” she says.

Lastly, McWhirter advises patients to assemble a solid support team and to ask for help when needed. Anxiety and depression are not uncommon when dealing with cancer, and a solid support system is critical and will help with finding an outlet for stress.

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Local Dairy Queen GM Talks Success & Community Focus of Hendricks County Locations Writer / Jamie Hergott Photographer / Amy Payne

end of the year reporting, taxes, grocery shopping, hiring, and marketing.”

both men are very different, they each bring their unique giftings to their individual stores.

Dairy Queen is a staple in any Midwest town, and Jill Choate is proud to be the General Manager of three of them: Avon, Clermont and Plainfield.

She tries hard to hit every single store at least every other day, and sometimes daily, to keep up with her staff and work.

Acton joined the Dairy Queen crew in Plainfield in 2010 and has since worked his way up to manager.

She’ll say she can’t do it without good help though, and her store managers at Avon and Plainfield are about as friendly and hardworking as they come.

“Everyone loves working with him,” Choate says. “He is so laid back, so easygoing. When he came to us, he was so shy. Now he’ll do anything for anyone.”

Her background hasn’t always been in the sweets business. She worked in accounting for more than 30 years. When the payroll company she was working for closed, Mick Linn approached her about working for him. Linn owns three westside stores.

“I have been so blessed in that category,” Choate says. “We love to hire and promote That was over 13 years ago and Choate plans from within. That’s really big for us. We really like giving people chances and opportunities to sit it through to retirement. to be great.”

“I do it all,” Choate says. “I do payroll, scheduling, maintenance, accounting,

David Lucas manages the Avon location, and Paul Acton manages the Plainfield. While

With Plainfield being a treat store, meaning it only serves sweet treats and a limited food menu, the blessing of a good manager means the store can manage and crank out one of its biggest specialties: ice cream cakes.

“We average 280 cakes a month in Plainfield,” Choate says. “Sometimes we’ll even do that

26 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2019 / PlainfieldMag.com

many in one day for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Christmas. Plainfield has some very good workers who are excellent cake decorators.”

The Avon location is also a treat store, and Lucas loves managing there. At 74 years young, he has a food industry background and doesn’t mind the 45-minute commute from the southeast side.

“I don’t mind the drive for three reasons,” Lucas says. “One, I love my job. Two, I love my customers. And three, I love working with young kids.”

Choate adds that they hire mostly teenagers for their staff. Lucas enjoys filling the role of job mentor to the kids.

“Working here in a fast-food environment is the best experience for a child,” Lucas says.

“It teaches social skills and work skills. It’s a challenge to get young kids to learn to pay attention to details and duties.”

Choate vouches for Lucas, saying he often will recognize regulars when he sees their car pull in and have their order ready before they even get to the window.

“He really is what makes this particular store so great,” Choate says. “Customers come first with David. He wants to make people happy.”

Lucas’s attention to staff and detail have paid off in recent years. The Avon store received the PRIDE (Personal Responsibility in Delivering Excellence) award two years in a row from Dairy Queen’s corporate office.

This award signifies that the Avon store has achieved a high level of cleanliness and food safety. Once a year, there is a PRIDE assessment that occurs on an unannounced day and time, which includes a surprise inspection.

“We take great pride in that,” Choate says. “I really think it’s because of our management and staff. They really go above and beyond to do everything they need to do to keep the store clean.”

Lucas agrees. His system is to give each kid a certain responsibility within the store. One might be in charge of keeping the ceilings PlainfieldMag.com / OCTOBER 2019 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 27

clean and the lights working, for example.

“It’s really a combination of working together and being a good team,” Lucas says. “I think if you give every employee a little bit of responsibility, then they take more pride in their work.”

The store employs mostly teens from Avon, Danville, Plainfield and Clayton. They all get along together, and having students from different districts helps to space out times they ask off, such as prom and graduation.

“I love being able to interact with the community,” Choate says. “I am from the east side of Indianapolis, and I love meeting the regulars here.”

Ironically enough, she doesn’t have a favorite treat to enjoy because she’s lactose intolerant, though she’ll sometimes indulge in a cherry

freeze. Even Lucas doesn’t indulge much in the frozen treats.

“I bet I haven’t even had a full blizzard since I’ve worked here,” Lucas says, laughing.

Choate is also proud of the impact Dairy Queen has on the local community. In addition to regular spirit nights that benefit different groups and schools, Dairy Queen regularly donates to many charities in Hendricks County, including Plainfield Chamber of Commerce, Gathering Together, and all the local schools.

While the store contributes plenty to the community, it’s also a kind of local watering hole for families, who swing in for dessert after sports practices, back-to-school nights, or just to be with friends and family. Most summer evenings, the patio is filled with patrons lining up for their favorite frozen

treat.

Choate wants the community to know that new fall blizzard lineup will be revealed soon. She also emphasizes the Avon location does do ice cream cakes, even though it’s just a drive-up store. Cakes can be ordered online.

She prides herself in providing a place people come to socialize and be happy.

“We’re very fortunate in this store,” Choate says. “We rarely have upset customers. Most of them know if they have a problem, they can come talk to us and we’ll fix it.”

Dairy Queen is located at 325 W Main St in Plainfield.

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HUNTING PUMPKINS Writer / Demi Lawrence

With Halloween fast approaching and our beloved summer months dwindling down, the time is near to curl up with some hot cider, munch on some candy corn and carve plump pumpkins.

Even if you prefer not to mess with pumpkin “guts” or don’t care for the brisk autumn air, this time of year is definitely one full of opportunities for family fun. Here are some great places to go if you and your family want to make the most out of this colorful fall!

1. Beasley’s Orchard and Gardens – Beasley’s has been providing fresh produce and family fun since 1946, making 2019 their 53rd anniversary. To celebrate, Beasley’s will be hosting it’s 33rd annual

Heartland Apple Festival Oct. 5-6 & Oct. 12-13 as well as Dog Daze at the Maze Oct. 19-20. These are only two of the exciting activities the orchard has to offer, so head to beasleys-orchard.com for more information on the great things Beasley’s has to offer.

2. Hogan Farms – Just off East County Road in Brownsburg is Hogan Farms. Exclusively open for the fall months, this farm offers pumpkin patches, hayrides, a corn maze and even a petting zoo on the weekends. While the pumpkin patch is open throughout the week, the hayrides and corn maze are only open on certain days.

You can visit brownsburgcornmaze.com to check out the dates and times for each event and to discover more of the fun fall festivities that Hogan Farms has to offer.

30 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2019 / PlainfieldMag.com

4. Adrian Orchards – Currently in its third generation of family ownership, Adrian Orchards just so happens to be where the world record was set for the fastest apple picker back in 1980 with 365.5 bushels of apples in eight hours. Aside from this fun fact, the orchard offers fresh apple cider as well as fresh picked apples throughout the fall season. To learn more about Adrian Orchards and what they have to offer, visit adrianorchards.com.

3. Anderson Orchard – Anderson Orchard is open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., giving you and your family plenty of time to go out and experience the fun activities they have to offer revolving around fall. With weekend hayrides across the orchard’s 100+ acres and u-pick pumpkins, apples and more, Anderson Orchard offers loads of fun options for the autumn season. Visit andersonorchard. com for more information.

5. Stuckey Farm – Whether you’re looking for Indiana’s best apples and cider or simply a quiet place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Stuckey Farms is the place for you.

Located off Hamilton Boone Road, Stuckey Farms offers Harvest Festivals every weekend until October 27. These festivals offer corn mazes, hayrides and many more family-friendly adventures. For more on the Harvest Festivals and the other activities that Stuckey Farm has to offer, visit stuckeyfarm.com.

PlainfieldMag.com / OCTOBER 2019 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 31

When should I start getting screening mammograms?

It’s an age-old question, and we’re here to help.

The expert team at Indiana University Health recommends that at the age of 40, women at average risk should talk to their primary care provider to determine when they should begin scheduling screening mammograms.

Call 317.217.3272 for an appointment or visit iuhealth.org/mammo for more information.

32 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2019 / PlainfieldMag.com