Plainfield Magazine November 20202

NOVEMBER 2020

MAGAZINE

Brent Anderson Takes Over as New Plainfield Fire Territory Chief STUFFED! Unique Recipes For Classic Thanksgiving Dishes

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THE FLU

PlainfieldMag.com

INSPIRED BY HAPPIER, HEALTHIER HOOSIER FAMILIES. We are proud to have earned Indiana’s new Perinatal Level III designation.

Always inspired to deliver the most comprehensive services, we offer specialty treatment in both Obstetrics and Neonatal Intensive Care. Our team includes advanced practice providers, 24/7 anesthesiologists, maternal-fetal medicine physicians and neonatologists from Riley Children’s Health.

New families will appreciate rooms that allow for privacy and space and help promote bonding.

As the only hospital in south Indianapolis to obtain this certification, we’re providing moms and babies all the care they need under our roof.

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UNIQUE RECIPES FOR CLASSIC THANKSGIVING DISHES Writer / Abigail Hake Photography Provided

bean casserole or their aunt’s secret recipe pecan pie? But a good mix of old and new is sure to satisfy most of your guests. If you are ready to try something different, here is a stuffing recipe sure to please. It typically entices wanting seconds from non-stuffing lovers and is sure to satisfy your tastes.

Thanksgiving is such a great time to be with family, watch some football and stuff your face full of some of the best comfort food out there. But cooking a Thanksgiving Feast can be daunting, unless you do it year after year. It takes strategic planning, off DRIED CHERRY & the charts time management skills and the energy of a 6-year old — which is probably SAUSAGE STUFFING: why most people leave it to their in-laws or Ingredients friends.

-½ cup butter (1 stick) -6 celery stalks, finely diced Those who take on this beast of a feast -2 medium onions, finely diced year after year after year really revel in the chaos and strategy of it. It’s a full day in the -1 loaf French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes and toasted (10 cups) kitchen, staying up late the night before -1 cup dried cherries and getting up early to get that turkey -¾ pound Italian sausage, casings removed, started on the big day. And it’s always cooked, and crumbled helpful to have tried and true recipes to -¾ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped round out the menu! “Vintage” recipes -1 teaspoon kosher salt tend to be some of the best. I mean who -1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper doesn’t love their great grandma’s green -2 14.5oz cans of chicken broth

Directions (1) Melt the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the celery and onions and cook until they are translucent, about 5-7 minutes.

(2) In a large bowl or pan, combine the celery and onions with the bread, cherries, sausage, parsley, salt, and pepper. Add the broth and stir until well combined.

(3) If you want some inside your turkey, use a spoon to loosely stuff the mixture into the turkey just before roasting.

(4) If not, pour the rest of the into a baking dish, cover and bake in a 325° oven for one hour; uncover and bake for another 15 minutes. Serve warm.

After you’ve had your fill ( I hope you wore your stretchy pants), watched your team win, and then napped for a bit, it’s time for dessert.

Holiday desserts are seriously the best.

6 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2020 / PlainfieldMag.com

There’s just something special that makes a pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving taste way better than one on any other normal day.

Fall recipes are always delicious, but some of the best and favorite out there tend to be pumpkin related. If you haven’t tried a pumpkin roll before, you might want to.

They aren’t really that hard to make and it might quickly become a Thanksgiving dessert table staple.

-2 cups powdered sugar -8 oz cream cheese -¼ cup butter -½ tsp vanilla

PUMPKIN ROLL

(2) Pour and smooth evenly into a cookie sheet you have lined with parchment paper.

Here’s what you’ll need: -3 eggs -1 cup sugar -⅔ cup pumpkin -¾ cup flour -1 tsp baking powder -1 tsp ginger -½ tsp cloves -½ tsp salt -2 tsp cinnamon Cream Cheese Filling:

Sponge Cake: (1) Sift flour, spices, and baking powder in a large bowl. Add eggs and pumpkin. Mix until combined.

(3)Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes.

(4) While the cake is still warm, sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar, invert onto a clean tea towel and roll up. Let cool until room temperature or in the refrigerator. *You’ll want to roll while still warm to reduce cracks. And use powdered sugar on the towel to prevent sticking!

(5) Once cooled, unroll and spread evenly

with cream cheese filling. Gently roll back up.

(6) Place on a platter, sprinkle with powdered sugar and refrigerate. Serve Chilled.

Filling: (1) Mix together room temperature cream cheese and butter, add vanilla and powdered sugar. Beat ingredients until creamy and smooth.

And now that you’ve eaten your way through the table a few times, splurged on desserts and shared all the things you are grateful for, it’s about time for bed.

Being around friends and family makes for some great memories, but all that turkey will probably have you ready to hit the pillow. May your day be filled with joy and laughter, and the best stuffing and pumpkin rolls you’ve ever had!

We love the community we live in. Let us bring that love to you.

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GIFT KINDNESS

LOCAL NONPROFIT PROVIDES MEALS AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING Writer / Jamie Hergott Photography Provided

When Andy Danforth went to Kosovo last year on a mission trip, he didn’t realize how much the experience would affect the next year of his life. The trip involved running sports camps for Muslim children in an underserved area.

Danforth enjoyed the sports camps he ran there, and was impressed by how much the kids loved and needed the leadership and interactions. Upon his return home, he got to work on implementing the ideas behind his sports camp right here in Hendricks County.

That’s when Gift Kindness was born.

says.

Gift Kindness is a local nonprofit that provides humanitarian relief in Hendricks County, and sometimes beyond. Danforth registered Gift Kindness as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in August, and the entity has taken on several forms throughout the past year.

Danforth was planning to build a gym when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and derailed his plans. Still eager to help the community, he shifted gears to provide food relief.

The original idea was based on sports and physical movement, giving kids something to do besides video games to develop leadership skills and teamwork.

“If we could teach Christ’s principles to kids with a different language in a Muslim country, then I figured we could do that here,” Danforth NOVEMBER 2020

“We paused sports and focused on food,” Danforth says. “Gift Kindness was born right in the middle of all of that.”

Danforth was surprised by the amount of need in Hendricks County, and arranged for food to be donated and delivered using his company’s vehicles.

Over time, it became clear that the two main

components of Gift Kindness would be food relief and youth sports, with a dash of humanitarian aid thrown in.

“We do have a minor disaster relief segment,” Danforth says. “We did recently go down to Ragley, Louisiana, to help with hurricane relief.”

He and other volunteers were able to pack a truck and an 18-foot trailer with water and other nonperishables for delivery to those in need.

PA I D A D V E R T I S E M E N T

“That place is destroyed,” Danforth says of Ragley. “Nobody is talking about it. The news cycles lost interest.”

ENJOYING RETIREMENT

Gift Kindness volunteers deliver food to local residents on Fridays and Saturdays. Any given volunteer spends approximately one hour dropping off food for three to six families. The organization’s goal is to hit 50,000 meals served locally. They serve 50 to 75 families per week right now, delivering enough food to make 10 meals per week to each family.

after surgery for back pain

“We don’t ask questions,” Danforth says.

“There are lots of people on the fringe without cars, or not wanting to show up at a pantry. There’s a lot of guilt and shame around that. All we ask is what we can be praying for them about. We aren’t walking up to their houses with Bibles.”

While food is a constant focus, Danforth is still ramping up the sports side of his nonprofit. COVID-19 forced him to shift gears, but he has plans to utilize a gymnasium on the campus of Camp Camby, which provides addiction services, training for job skills, and support for homeless residents of Hendricks County.

Danforth says Gift Kindness is not solely his, and does not operate without an outpouring of love and support from the community. Eric Prichard is the driving force of the food initiative. Amanda Hauskins is vice president and volunteer organizer.

Much of the work would not happen

George Frampton recalls when his back pain started affecting his everyday life. He said he would often walk around with his coworkers during lunch but struggled to keep up. And George Frampton and his wife, Chris at his daughter’s wedding, he said he had trouble standing while his family including injections, physical therapy posed for photos. and bracing, it may be the right time “I was very debilitated,” said George. to have a discussion with your doctor about surgery,” said John DePowell, George underwent spinal reconMD, a neurosurgeon specializing in the struction surgery at Ascension treatment of complex spinal disorders.

St. Vincent Hospital and was extremely pleased with the If you are experiencing back or neck personalized care he received. pain that prevents you from doing the things you enjoy, now is the time to “I was very well cared for,” he said. have a discussion with your doctor. If “The nurses and doctors interacted you have met your deductible or have so well with both me and my wife, unused HSA or FSA dollars, you can and [they] included her in all get the most of your benefits before conversations.”

Dec. 31.

George said he is now able to stand Ascension St. Vincent is open for apupright and is enjoying retirement pointments, and their doctors, nurses with his wife, Chris. and care teams are fully prepared for “When patients have gotten to the your safety in their care. Take the next point where nothing else is cutting it, step to living with less pain.

If you are experiencing back pain, visit ascension.org/StVincentBrainandSpine and talk to your doctor at Ascension St. Vincent. Register for a back pain seminar at ascension.org/indianaortho © Ascension 2020. All rights reserved.

NOVEMBER 2020

without Ryan Chapman, who runs Active Grace out of Camp Camby, and Randy Ebert, who owns Camp Camby.

Ebert is passionate about empowering the missions of others for the benefit of the county. The gym is already being remodeled to include a full basketball court designed for diverse uses such as pickleball, tennis or volleyball, as well as a weight room and a full commercial kitchen.

The approach to sports used by the Gift Kindness team will be based on Athletes

in Action, a sports ministry focused on teaching values and leadership through athletics. He plans to enforce a C.L.A.S.S. basketball training program.

The concept is to communicate, love, acknowledge, sacrifice and serve teammates. Danforth’s friend and employee John Francis helped develop and will coach the C.L.A.S.S. basketball system.

“Developing these kids as leaders and functional people in society is more important than anything,” Danforth says.

NOVEMBER 2020

He would love to have kids come from suburban areas to play with kids from inner-city areas, fostering relationships and lifting each other up.

As Danforth plans to conduct more sports camps and programs, he is committed to keeping the dinner table important and keeping Sundays sacred.

As a kid growing up, he was heavily involved in sports, which meant he was never at the dinner table. He firmly believes that the dinner table is one of the best

places for families to connect, and that Sundays should remain a day to rest and unwind.

The Gift Kindness pilot basketball program ran in October, and Danforth plans to start a basketball team for ages nine and under. A subsequent phase will include indoor pickleball. There will be Saturday classes for kids ages five to 10, and additional sports classes depending on the types of volunteers Danforth is able to find. The goal is to reduce video game time for kids and increase physical activity.

“We could really use any type of help,” Danforth says. “We’ll need people to organize and run classes, and we’ll need coaches.”

Volunteers can deliver meals, participate in a monthly workday at the gym, or create other ways to help. Danforth’s niece enjoys

baking, and bakes items for each week’s deliveries.

“There are so many people we can reach if we all help,” Danforth says. “There are so many people who want to do good. Our

NOVEMBER 2020

mission statement is ‘Love thy neighbor’ like it says in Matthew. It’s that easy. That’s what we’re doing.”

For more info, visit giftkindness.org.

NAVIGATING FLU SEASON DURING A PANDEMIC Writer / Michael Aviah Photography Provided

2020 has introduced many new elements into the world that have changed people’s lives globally. Amidst the continuous changes to daily life, it can be easy to forget the normal, annual routines we have grown accustomed to - one of which is preparing for flu season.

As we reach fall and winter during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is expected that the viruses that cause the flu and COVID-19 will both spread more than usual, making it important to take proper precautions this year throughout flu season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is possible to have the flu and COVID-19 at the same time. The following steps can help you prepare for flu season, and protect yourself and others.

1. Get your flu vaccination at the right time: One of the most effective means of preventing the flu is to receive a flu vaccination at the right time. The CDC recommends making plans to get vaccinated early in the fall before flu season begins, to give antibodies enough time to become effective. This allows for your body to be protected and ready before the virus begins spreading. However, if that time

frame is not possible, individuals should strive to receive their flu vaccine by the end of October.

According to the Indiana State Department of Health’s monthly surveillance data, as of May 2020, Indiana has experienced 132 influenza related deaths this season, with 41 outbreaks in long-term care facilities. This makes getting a flu vaccine during 2020-2021 more important than ever. While the flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, there are many important benefits to receiving one, such as reducing the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death, while also saving health care resources for COVID-19 patients.

Flu vaccinations can be received from many locations, and knowing where to get one can make a difference in receiving one at the ideal time. They can typically be received from one’s primary care physician and employer. However, those who do not have those options can typically receive a vaccination from their local health department. To find specific information on local vaccination clinics, VaccineFinder.org is a great CDCrecommended tool that will show nearby vaccination clinics and what types of vaccinations can be obtained at those locations.

2. Recognize symptoms and respond accordingly: Symptoms of the flu and COVID-19 both include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and/or fatigue. Emergency warning signs include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, severe muscle pain, seizures and others. Should you experience these symptoms, it is best to contact your primary care physician immediately.

3. Understand how the flu and COVID-19 spread, and take action to protect yourself: Another great way to prepare for this year’s flu season is to understand how the flu and COVID-19 spread, and take action to reduce the risk of being exposed. COVID-19 and the flu are both viruses that are spread through respiratory droplets produced when a person coughs, sneezes, breathes or talks.

NOVEMBER 2020

State Department of Health heavily recommend the use of facial coverings or masks when in public spaces. The mask is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.

Infected droplets that are expelled through someone’s mouth are often breathed in by another person, thus exposing them to the virus. One of the best methods to protect yourself this flu season from both the flu and COVID-19 is to avoid exposure to the viruses. The best way to do this is by practicing everyday preventive measures and by properly social distancing.

What are preventive measures?

Everyday preventive measures include washing your hands with warm water for 20 seconds - especially after visiting public spaces, blowing your nose and caring for someone sick, and also before eating, preparing food or touching your face. If you are not able to wash your hands properly in a certain setting, the CDC recommends the use of hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. It is also important to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily, to kill any bacteria that might be lurking on them.

By following these steps, we can all do our part to keep our communities and families safe and healthy this flu season.

For any questions regarding flu vaccinations, COVID-19 information, or other relevant information, contact the Hendricks County Health Department at 317-745-9618.

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Adoptions were halted, but thankfully individuals interesting in fostering stepped up.

“We had several fosters come to our aid, which meant the world to us,” King says.

“In fact, most of them secured holds while being fostered, through friends or acquaintances of their foster families, and were adopted immediately upon reopening.”

My family was among those who chose to expand our litter by adopting brother and sister tabby kittens, Aspen and Luna. In the past we only added one pet at a time, but this is 2020 where nothing makes sense, so instead of overanalyzing our decision, we went for it. Now each person in our fourmember family has a cat to call their own, as we already had two rescued felines. After the pain of online learning and rarely venturing outside the house throughout the past six months, it felt good to experience joy again by way of a cuddly kitty.

Billie Jo Weatherford, who has been fostering animals for 15 years, currently fosters for Creekside Animal Rescue, Inc., an entirely foster-based rescue organization made up of a team that not only helps healthy, adoptable pets, but also rescues elder, hospice, and special-needs animals.

Snowball, a beautiful, loving American Eskimo dog, was rescued in February from a Northern Indiana puppy mill.

Animal Adoptions Increase in the Wake of COVID-19 Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

When the country began systematically shutting down last spring, life for many of us felt surreal. None of us knew exactly what was happening or what was to come.

As plans got cancelled, hugging became prohibited, and many people shifted to working and learning from home, one thing

“I fell in love with her early on,” Weatherford says.

Those at the puppy mill informed her that the dog was probably pregnant. The plan was to obtain an ultrasound in mid-March, but the pandemic forced many vet offices to became clear - many of us with extra love in close. Snowball was indeed pregnant, and our hearts and time on our hands were eager on a stormy night in April, Weatherford to fill the void with something furry. helped Snowball deliver what Weatherford affectionately calls “eight snowflakes.”

“We were so worried about the animals once the shelter closed on March 20 due “All the snowflakes were so special, and to COVID-19,” says Tanya F. King, who stayed with me in foster care until they were volunteers at the Hendricks County Animal old enough for vetting, and finally their Shelter. adoption,” Weatherford says.

NOVEMBER 2020

The runt of the litter, Pearl, was born blind, so Weatherford took Pearl for one-on-one training with Becky Davis at Speck’s Pet Supplies in Avon to determine the extent of her limitations. Muffin’s Halo, a company that makes halos to help guide blind dogs, graciously donated a halo so Pearl could run, jump and play without bumping into dangerous objects. Pearl learned to map a room and follow her owner through the house.

“While she’ll have challenges in life, I believe she will easily overcome most obstacles and will be forever loved as God created her - perfect,” says Weatherford, noting that the dog’s hearing and sense of smell are remarkable. “Pearl [renamed Chilly by her owner] is doing great. Chilly’s owner says she’s an amazing dog.”

Weatherford, who currently sits on the board of the Hendricks County Humane Society where the primary focus is on spaying and neutering, maintains that she didn’t save Snowball and her puppies - she says it’s the other way around.

“She saved me throughout this terrible pandemic,” says Weatherford, who finds fostering to be extremely rewarding. “It’s an amazing feeling to help these innocent little creatures learn to trust and love in preparation for their forever homes. It’s also amazing to see the families embrace adopting a pet.”

King recalls the whirlwind of adoptions the week after the shelter reopened in May. “People said they were working from home and home schooling, and found it the perfect time to add a new family member because they could be home with them during those critical adjustment times,” King says.

Ayesha Ali Khan normally volunteers at the local hospital’s front desk area, but she has not worked since the pandemic began. Her family felt it was time to adopt again, and when they came across a tiny calico cat, they fell in love.

“Being the tiniest and the neediest one NOVEMBER 2020

seemed the right choice, and of course she stole my heart,” Khan says.

like the fact that kittens tend to be adopted before adult cats do,” she adds.

Katie McLaughlin, a Petco employee, is thrilled that so many cats fostered in-store are finding good homes.

If you are looking to welcome a new furry addition into your home, visit the Hendricks County Animal Shelter’s Facebook page to view the “Adoptable Dog” and “Adoptable Cats” albums.

“Some things are still the same though,

Hendricks County Animal Shelter is located at 250 East Campus Boulevard in Danville. For more information, call 317745-9250.

Learn more about Creekside Animal Rescue at creeksiderescue.org.

Forever-Home Success Stories Dallas was surrendered, adopted, and surrendered again for being too clingy. He was depressed at the shelter and was shutting down. As the shelter was closed due to COVID-19, he was placed in a foster home for a few weeks until he was adopted. He’s flourishing in his foster home, and is happy and well loved.

Georgia had been surrendered a few months before the shelter closed. She was timid at first but quickly attached herself to people when they paid attention to her. She was also becoming depressed in the shelter, and went to a foster home during the shutdown as well. When the shelter reopened, her foster home returned her to the shelter, and she became even more depressed.

Lucci’s House Bully Rescue pulled Georgia, placed her in a foster home, and she was adopted. Her new family calls her a blessing, and the sweetest girl.

Shadow has adapted well to his new feline siblings. “Giving a homeless animal a forever loving place to live is a wonderful thing to do,” his owner says. “This is my fourth cat from a shelter over the past several years.”

Otis loves long walks, bacon treats and naps, according to his family. We feel you, Otis!

NOVEMBER 2020

Executive Director, Chase Cotton

THE WILLOW CENTER

“Ashley wanted to create a place that would inspire people to evaluate and transform their lives by guiding them through their journey of growth, healing and sustainability,” says Chase Cotten, executive director. “We meet them where they are are, and help them take the next step towards a sober or recovered lifestyle.”

The staff of 11 stays true to their values by practicing what they call the Willow Way. One of those values is providing clients with a dignified, encouraging, human-centric experience.

“Often [those seeking treatment] will tell you that they are treated more like a number than a human with a story,” Cotten says. “We believe the humanity needs to be the central focus.”

LOCAL FACILITY HELPS THOSE WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS OR MENTAL ILLNESS Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided by The Willow Center

After several years of working in the field of substance abuse and recovery, Ashley English had witnessed a number of limitations people faced when trying to enter recovery or get mental health assistance. She longed to create a safe space where folks could overcome those barriers and limitations. In 2012 she founded The Willow Treatment and Recovery Center, a certified outpatient counseling facility.

The Willow Center is built around compassion and respect.

“We understand what our clients are going through, and we offer them empathy,” Cotten says. “We all need accountability, and we have accountability measures built into our programs. However, we are treating human beings.”

Historically, mental health and addiction have been shrouded in shame, which can prevent individuals from seeking treatment. The counselors at The Willow Center want to change that.

“We want people to feel welcome, human and normal,” Cotten says.

“There’s nothing to be ashamed of. We want to reduce the barriers that people feel in making that first phone call.”

NOVEMBER 2020

The Willow Center serves a variety of individuals - usually between 275 and 300 clients at any given time. Half of these people are selfreferred or referred by doctors. At least one-third are court ordered, and under some kind of legal supervision.

“Something we are proud of is that when you’re sitting in an outpatient or recovery management group, you don’t know who is court ordered or who is self-referred,” Cotten says. “We try to encourage a non-judgmental attitude so everybody feels welcome.

We want to create community and connection.”

Since there is no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health counseling or addiction treatments, therapists at the facility develop individualized treatment plans. They assess a client, pair them with the counselor that best suits their needs, and build a treatment plan around those needs.

Though The Willow Center’s primary group of clients is involved with outpatient support services for substance use disorders, the facility also has counselors who work exclusively with those coming in with mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Since the start of the pandemic, they have seen an uptick in interest in mental health services.

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“Many people are grieving the loss of loved ones, the loss of normalcy, the loss of routine and the loss of jobs,” Cotten says.

“There’s a tremendous amount of hardship right now in the U.S. and in central Indiana. We want to do whatever we can to help meet those needs.”

Cotten has coined the term “ambient anxiety” to describe the fact that since mid-March, anxiety has almost become the air we breathe.

“The conversations we are having are tinged with anxiety and tension,” Cotten says. “We are all unilaterally experiencing chronic stress. As a result, it gets stored like trauma memory.”

That, in turn, can cause a host of health problems, including digestive issues, heart disease, isolation, and poor eating or exercise habits. According to Cotten, there was a 1,000% statewide increase

in the number of calls to suicide hotlines from April through July.

“When an entire world is going through chronic stress, the result of that is not going to be a pretty one unless there’s some sort of both personal and communal intervention,” says Cotten, who recommends that people engage in mindfulness practices such as meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and prayer to try and calm the mind and body.

A brisk walk in the sunshine is also a good way to release endorphins that will serve to counteract stress hormones.

Connecting with people is also crucial.

“I’ll admit that I have a love-hate relationship with Zoom at this point, but studies have come out saying that even face-toface video calls is better than nothing,” Cotten says. “Taking

NOVEMBER 2020

30-minute lunch breaks or eating dinner together virtually can do tremendous things for us.”

Cotten calls human connection the greatest tool we can give ourselves in preventing symptoms of mental illness.

“The opposite of addiction is connection,” he says. “That’s what counseling is - a professional connection.”

The Willow Center accepts all major insurance types, including Medicaid. For those who are not insured, they will occasionally offer a sliding-scale fee, depending on the situation. They will also work with clients individually, as well as those who are currently incarcerated or under legal supervision.

“There are options,” Cotten says. “Seeking mental health treatment is not as cost prohibitive as you may think it is. We are always accepting new clients. We will never turn anyone away.”

The Willow Treatment and Recovery Center is located at 515 North Green Street, Suite 402 in Brownsburg. For more information, call 317-852-3690 or visit thewillowcenter.com.

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When someone you know is sick, avoid close contact. Being close to someone increases the likelihood of touching or ingesting respiratory droplets. If you are sick, stay home and keep your distance from others to protect them.

Writer / Jane Forni, RN and Infection Preventionist at IU Health West Hospital Photography Provided

A little case of the flu can be a big deal as you get older, or if you are at high risk for serious complications. The body’s ability to fight infection weakens with age. Plus, older adults often have longterm health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. These conditions also increase the risk of developing serious flu complications.

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Getting your flu shot every year is the best way to protect yourself from the flu and its consequences. You need a flu

Wear a mask so that your mouth and nose are covered when you cough and sneeze.

Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, because germs are often spread shot each year partly because the effects when a person touches something that is start to wane as the months go by. Also, the flu virus comes in different types and contaminated and then touches their eyes, subtypes. The vaccine is updated every flu nose or mouth without washing their hands first. season to better match the viruses going around.

Practice good health habits by washing your hands thoroughly and often, and by PREVENT THE disinfecting frequently touched surfaces SPREAD OF THE FLU at your house or workplace - especially when someone is sick. Surfaces include The flu spreads through respiratory doorknobs, keys and phones. In general, droplets that come from coughing, make sure to get plenty of sleep, be sneezing or even talking. These droplets active, manage your stress and eat are then transferred through in-person nutritious food. contact, or by touching unclean surfaces and then touching the eyes, nose or mouth.

NOVEMBER 2020

10 ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR HOSTING THANKSGIVING 3. WRITE OUT A SCHEDULE

Writer / Abigail Hake Photography Provided

Can you smell the turkey and stuffing already? Thanksgiving dinners are not something that happens without preparation and strategy. If the day doesn’t flow just right, you could be in for disaster. But here are a few helpful tips for hosting your big dinner with ease of execution.

1. BAKE DESSERTS EARLY Or buy them pre-made. Honestly, this is one thing that you don’t NEED to worry about if you don’t want to. If there’s that one pie that you make every year, then make it, but make it early. Make it a day (or two) before and it will still taste just as good, if not better!

2. SET THE TABLE PRIOR If you can, set the table at least the day before, do it. Gather your florals, your plates, your flatware and arrange them how you like.

Not only will you be able to enjoy the table setting for a day or two longer, you will have taken one more thing off your plate for the big day and given yourself more time!

The key to hosting Thanksgiving like a boss is execution. So the best way to execute flawlessly is to know how you want the day to go down. Write out a schedule showing the order you’ll be putting things in the oven and include how long and what temperature.

Leave spaces in between where you can add in what you’ll be doing on the stove during those cooking times. A schedule will really help the day go much smoother and prevent forgetting things.

4. EMPTY EVERYTHING Trashes, Dishwasher, Fridge. Lots of things are going to be happening in the kitchen and you don’t want to have the extra stress of needing to unload the dishwasher and shove things in the fridge when you should be checking the turkey. Remember, there will be LOTS of dirty dishes and LOTS of leftovers so make sure there is room for both before you even start the day. This is a perfect task to do the night before.

5. MAKE BREAKFAST EASY With all the food that’s going to be available in just a few short hours, don’t worry too much about preparing breakfast for everyone. Grab store bought muffins, donuts, or cinnamon rolls to set out early in the morning that the kids and husband can grab

PlainfieldMag.com / NOVEMBER 2020 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 25

as they like. Or, if you have houseguests who prefer a warm breakfast, have the rest of the family take them to the best local cafe. This will give you a nice, quiet time before the other guests arrive.

6. DON’T DENY HELP It can be hard to open up your kitchen and allow others in, especially when you have a plan or idea of how everything is going to go. But if you’ve written it all down, don’t deny someone asking to help. Take all the help you can get! This might even allow you to sneak in a shower which you probably haven’t taken yet. With the morning schedule being written out, others can see your plan and can help without hindering. If you don’t have it all written out, make sure when you accept the help from others that you give specific tasks so no one is feeling in the way.

7. DON’T FRET OVER THE APPETIZERS Look, there’s going to be a lot of food, so don’t fret the small stuff. Appetizers can be kept to easy charcuterie boards, fruits and veggies. If you are famous for certain appetizers, feel free to still make them, but try to make them ahead of time so all you have to worry about on the big day is setting them out.

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No matter what time you set the start of dinner, people will arrive earlier than you expect. Make sure you are ready. Have football on in one room and Thanksgiving parades in another.

This is also where pre-made appetizers are perfect! Just pull them out as the doorbell rings and you are sure to be on the top hostess list.

10. EXPRESS YOUR GRATEFULNESS No matter how you spend your day, be sure to share how grateful you are for the amazing gifts you are all sharing. Whether everyone writes something down or you go around the table and share what you are grateful for out loud, make sure you do this.

It’s always great to come together and share the good things we are blessed to have.

Whether it is your first time hosting or you are a seasoned pro, with all these tips, you are sure to be the hostess with the most-ess and sparkle throughout the day! Just remember not to sweat the small stuff and enjoy the little things, after all, we are celebrating all the things we are thankful for and there’s no reason to stress if something doesn’t go just the way you planned. Give yourself grace and you are sure to have the best Thanksgiving yet.

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2/5/18 11:46 AM

Brent Anderson Takes Over as New Plainfield Fire Territory Chief Writer / Jamie Hergott Photographer / Amy Payne

Writer / Abigail Hake PlainfieldMag.com / NOVEMBER 2020 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / 27

rent Anderson, Plainfield Fire Territory’s new chief, knew he wanted a career in firefighting when he was only 15 years old.

Between hanging out with his brother, who volunteered at the local fire department, and chasing fire trucks with his dad as a hobby, his interest was piqued early and he was hooked.

Anderson’s career has been a consistent progression since he was a teenager. He started by volunteering at the Liberty Township Fire Department in Clayton, then worked part time at the Danville Fire Department, and finally landed at Plainfield, where he’s been for 18 years. He progressed from firefighter to lieutenant to assistant chief, and finally to fire chief in June of this year.

However, at that time no one could work as a career firefighter until the age of 21, so he took some business classes after high school.

Anderson grew up in Hendricks County, graduating from Cascade High School in Clayton in 1998. He’s never left, and doesn’t intend to.

That only lasted one semester.

“There are a lot of good people here wanting to do good things,” Anderson says.

“I’m the 11th fire chief in 100 years here.

I’d say I have at least another 15 years here myself.”

“I thought it would be something to fall back on, but I kept thinking, ‘Why am I here?’” Anderson says. “Then I tried a fire science program at Ivy Tech, but since I already knew so much from being a volunteer firefighter, I again sat there thinking, ‘Why am I here?’ I took odd jobs until I got hired at the age of 22 here in Plainfield. It’s the only career fire department job I’ve ever had.”

Anderson’s top priorities as fire chief are community outreach, communication and budget management. He handles much of the communication between the fire department staff, the town leadership, the Town Council and the public.

One of Anderson’s favorite parts about his job is education. While the fire department does a lot to educate children in the community about fire and safety, Anderson has also found it truly rewarding to educate adults on what the fire department does.

“I get excited when I talk to adults because you see their wheels turning and you get questions back,” Anderson says. “It’s better to educate the public on what we do, how much water the fire truck carries, what different things cost and things like that.”

Anderson emphasizes that while many who join the ranks of firefighting want to simply fight fires, there is often an overwhelming amount of work firefighters do that has nothing to do with fires.

“We are a jack of all trades,” Anderson says of the fire department. “We get 6,000 calls a year, and 65 to 70% of them are EMS. When you call 911 and they don’t know what to do, they’ll send us. We keep up on fire stuff, EMS stuff, rope rescues, confinedspace rescues, water rescues and trench rescues. We get ducks out of storm drains and yes, we do get cats out of trees a couple

28 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2020 / PlainfieldMag.com

times a year. I’d like to think we make things better.”

Anderson says one of the most unusual calls he ever received was from a father who was playing hide-and-seek with his children.

The father squeezed himself into a narrow cabinet above his microwave and got stuck.

The fire department had to cut up the cabinets to get the man get out.

“We have some funny stories and also some really disgusting stories,” Anderson says.

“We’ve seen it all.”

Anderson also devotes time and energy toward other avenues of work, such as Indiana Task Force One, where he’s been a member for more than 10 years. The group is comprised of emergency responders from Indiana and is part of FEMA, trained to respond to local and national emergencies including natural disasters and terrorist attacks.

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Anderson’s last deployment with Indiana Task Force One was for Hurricane Florence in September of 2018. He was deployed to Wilmington, North Carolina, to help with evacuation. He says the experience was one of the most intense nights of his life.

“We performed 25 water rescues in one night,” Anderson says.

There were 80 emergency responders broken up into squads of 12, and Anderson’s squad performed water rescues, evacuating families from their homes in flood conditions during the night.

“There were whole families, moving water, complete darkness, and tornadoes not too far off,” Anderson says. “It was the most stressful thing I’ve ever experienced.”

Anderson’s leadership training in emergencies and crises is coming in handy as he leads his firefighters through the current global pandemic. He has always accepted that life brings many challenges, and COVID-19 is no different.

“It definitely slowed everything down,” Anderson says. “We are very purpose and safety driven now, more than ever.

Communication is also a challenge now that everything is virtual or by email. It takes that personal interaction out of it.”

Anderson says it’s tough to teach firefighting skills while wearing a mask or social distancing, but the department is getting it done.

“We are planning for the future,” Anderson says. “We are well prepared for a second wave of COVID. We learned everything the first time around.”

30 / PLAINFIELD MAGAZINE / NOVEMBER 2020 / PlainfieldMag.com

Anderson is married with a 13-year-old son and an 11-year-old daughter. He coaches his daughter’s travel softball team, which keeps him very busy outside of the fire station. His family loves sports, and they are fans of the Indiana Pacers and the New York Yankees.

The pandemic has derailed some of their plans to attend games, but it has afforded them a lot of time together at home.

Anderson is also a licensed Indiana High School Athletic Association basketball official, and can be found in a local gym on weekends during basketball season officiating a youth game. He has participated as an official for more than 20 years and enjoys it immensely.

A graduate of the 2013 Leadership Hendricks County class, Anderson still gives time and energy to the program. Every year he leads a presentation on fire service in Hendricks County. He also currently serves with the Danville Fire Department as a paid, on-call member.

“I just want to help my community in any aspect that I can,” Anderson says.

As Plainfield grows and changes, Anderson is committed to keeping his finger on the pulse of the community’s needs.

“Society and everything else changes so fast,” Anderson says. “We are constantly trying to keep up with what might come next, whether that’s adding more residential neighborhoods or considering more development in the town. We are keeping up with how fast the environment is changing here in Plainfield.”

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