Scott & Symba can still be found running the Plainfield location.
Scott & Steve Mason - 1970’s
Steve & daughter, Becky, who will continue running the Greencastle location
PUBLISHER
DARREN BOSTON darren@townepost.com (317) 716-8812
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
JOSH DUKE
MELISSA GIBSON AMY PAYNE
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. FOUNDER, CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599
PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR ERIN TURK
CREATIVE DIRECTORS VAL AUSTIN TONI EADS
MANAGING EDITOR DEVON DEAN COPY EDITOR JON SHOULDERS
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. 8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: (317) 810-0011
ONE PLAINFIELD WOMAN’S MISSION TO FUND BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Photographer / Amy Payne
Erika Fite-Fraits’ mother, Lisa Fite, fought breast cancer twice, passing away in 2021. Despite the pain and loss for the family, it was also the beginning of a new chapter for Erika - something she would have never seen coming.
“When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time, we also found out she was a carrier for the mutated gene PALB2,” Fite-Fraits said. “It greatly increased her risk and was likely why she had a reoccurrence.”
Many have probably heard of the BRCA gene. It’s received a lot of attention lately and can warn physicians of increased risk for certain types of cancers. The PALB2 gene is similar. Both can show an increased risk for breast and ovarian cancers.
The family met with a genetic counselor and found Erika and her brothers were all carriers of the gene.
“Following her passing and receiving information from my genetic counselor, I started on my own journey of being an advocate for myself and trying to encourage others,” she said. “I’ve seen what breast cancer can do from several different angles.”
As president of Fite Plumbing in Plainfield, she’s using the business to create awareness around breast cancer and proactive care.
“I think there’s a general distaste for giving money for cancer research
because it’s hard to see the advancement in medicine,” she said.
“This takes a lot of time and a lot of money, and unfortunately people have to die to get more research going. It’s a very humbling experience.”
After everything she’s experienced, Fite-Fraits began a campaign with the hashtag #FiteCancer.
“The biggest thing is education, and with our position in the construction industry, we want to help get the word out there,” FiteFraits said.
They’ve hosted Lunch and Learn events with representatives from the Susan G. Komen Foundation. They participate in a 5K walk, and employees are wearing Fite Cancer hats and T-shirts.
They also collect donations throughout the year for breast cancer research.
Fite-Fraits was surprised by the continually updated information she was receiving.
“When we first found out about this gene the risk was around 50/50 for me, but by the time of my mother’s passing, my specialist called with new research and said my risk was greatly increased,”
We meet to improve the world one child & one community at a time. Have lunch with other professionals - 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 11:30 at Bru Burger Plainfield. kiwanis@plainfieldkiwanis.org
she said. “She recommended a double mastectomy.”
That decision alone can be a difficult one. Paired with the passing of her mother and all of the emotions she was feeling, FiteFraits began thinking of other people in similar situations.
She underwent the surgery and reconstruction for herself and her family, and said there were plenty of ups and downs. It gave her the urge to share with others, encourage others and make others aware of the risks.
“I’ve done a lot of things with Arbonne beauty and health care,” she said. “I was
always pro finding confidence in your skin, and it’s almost gone full circle, to trying to be confident in my own skin after the surgery. It just made me think, ‘How can I help others with this?’ I don’t want these experiences to go unused if they can benefit someone else.”
She also realized she had to be proactive.
“I had to make the calls,” she said. “If I didn’t follow up, I might not have had this done. You have to advocate for your own body. You’re the one living it so if a doctor doesn’t listen, get a second opinion. Sometimes people make you feel like you’re just being paranoid, but you need to listen to your instinct.”
After her own proactive journey, Fite-Fraits recommends talking to your gynecologist and bringing a family history with you.
“Not everyone has their family history, but it’s a huge key factor,” she said. “We had a very strong trend on my mom’s side. Make sure to have your mammograms, and with all of those things put together, in my case, my GYN referred me to a specialist.”
Fite-Fraits enjoys talking to people, hearing their stories and sharing her own. In fact, the T-shirt she wears around the community has often led to conversations with strangers.
“I think people are kind of embarrassed
or assume you don’t want to talk about it, but once you’ve experienced it, you know how to ask questions to make others feel more comfortable,” she said. “It’s allowed me to build connections and see different perspectives.”
When her mother was fighting cancer for the second time during the pandemic, FiteFraits’ family moved in to help care for her.
“I thought the grandkids would be good for her, and we just hibernated together and got through this together,” she said. “It was an emotional roller coaster but I think so many people may be not have that kind of support. When your husband has passed away and the kids live out of town, who do you talk to?”
Fite-Fraits hopes to continue building momentum on her social media campaign and educational offerings. She wants to provide new outlets for those who have been diagnosed or have a loved one who has been diagnosed.
“Some of our hospitals have networks or classes, but I’ve always thought everything else is done in the hospital, and the last place you want to go to hang out and be comfortable is the place everything else is happening. I’d love to create a network in the community and provide meetings away from the hospital. I don’t want people to feel like they are alone in this.”
In the meantime, Fite-Fraits will continue to spread awareness in every way she knows how.
All events are posted on the Fite Plumbing Facebook page, and this year, look for a sublink on the page to show how much has been raised in the campaign.
“I just want to continue the conversation,” Fite-Fraits said. “I want people to talk about this and we’re going to use our platform at Fite Plumbing to do that.”
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Dr. Johnson & Dr. Lauren
5
PAWS TO READ
11 AM – 12 PM
Plainfield-Guilford Township Public Library, 1120 Stafford Rd.
Practice your reading with a trained therapy dog! Please register for this event online. plainfieldlibrary.libnet.info
THE PHIL COLLINS EXPERIENCE
The Vogue Theatre, 6259 N College Ave. thevogue.com
8 BEETLEJUICE (TOURING)
7 - 8:30 PM
Clowes Memorial Hall, 4602 Sunset Ave.
He earned his stripes on Broadway… now the ghost with the most is coming to your city. It’s showtime!
9
DISTURBED: THE SICKNESS 25TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
6:30 PM
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 N. Pennsylvania St..
10 STEVE TREVIÑO: THE GOOD LIFE TOUR
8 PM
Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St..
Egyptian Room at Old National Centre. Riser seats include wait staff Doors: 7:00 PM Show: 8:00 PM Ages 12+
11 CARLY PEARCE: HUMMINGBIRD WORLD TOUR PRESENTED BY CONUNDRUM WINES
8 PM
Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St..
Egyptian Room at Old National Centre. General admission is standing-room only. Doors: 7:00 PM Show: 8:00 PM All Age
LOVE THE GAME?
Every play, every moment, every moveyou love being in the game! But when an injury puts you on the bench, it’s time to call the experts. Our sports medicine specialists can help you heal, prevent future setbacks and get you back out there–faster and stronger. DON’T SIT THIS ONE OUT! FIND A SPORTS MEDICINE SPECIALIST
SPRING INTO FUN
FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS IN HENDRICKS COUNTY, INDIANA
Writer / Josh Duke
Winter is finally over, and it’s time to step out and create lasting memories with your loved ones. Fortunately, Hendricks County offers a range of family-friendly entertainment options that are not only closer to home but also more affordable than faraway destinations. Let’s take a closer look at these newer attractions and an older favorite with a fresh twist.
URBAN AIR ADVENTURE PARK
If you haven’t yet experienced this exc iting family entertainment destination in Plainfield, you’re truly missing out. The gigantic playland offers thrilling activities suitable for all ages, including trampoline zones, an indoor zipline experience, and a Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course. Additionally, guests can enjoy suspended ropes courses, climbing walls, a challenging Wipeout game, a tubes playground catering to younger guests, fog-filled laser tag arenas, and twisty Spin Zone Bumper Cars.
PINHEADS
An established name in Fishers, Pinheads Entertainment has recently made its mark in Brownsburg, captivating visitors with its array of attractions and activities. The venue boasts a luxury arcade, state-of-the-art bowling lanes, a social area featuring duckpin bowling, and a private event suite with a speakeasy vibe. Moreover, Pinheads offers an on-site full-service restaurant called Alley’s Alehouse, complete with outdoor seating
during warmer months. Plans are also in place to expand the fun outdoors by adding miniature golf to their offerings.
TIE DYE LAB MOVE & EXPANSION
Since its establishment in Avon in 2017 , The Tie Dye Lab has been enchanting families with its DIY tie-dye experience. In a recent move to a new location in the Beechwood Centre strip mall, the lab now offers private rental bounce house parties and occasional bounce house open play alongside its popular tie-dye birthday parties, private events, and walk-in hours. It’s also transitioning to appointment-only hours from Monday to Thursday, managed through its Facebook page.
STAY UPDATED
For those eagerly seeking more entertainment, Brownsburg is set to welcome Slick City Action Park, its first venture into Indiana. Boasting enormous indoor slides and air courts, this indoor adventure park promises giant dry slides and a host of exciting activities upon its scheduled opening this spring. As Hendricks County continues to expand its offerings, Visit Hendricks County commits to delivering the latest news and information to residents and visitors through the Weekly Insider blog, Monthly Planner newsletters, and its various social media channels.
Stay ahead of the curve by subscribing to the Visit Hendricks County blog and newsletter at VisitHendricksCounty.com.
EASTER DIRT CAKE
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 package (14 oz) Oreo cookies, crushed
• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 package (3.4 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2 cups cold milk
• 1 container (8 oz) whipped topping, thawed
TOPPINGS:
• 1 cup pastel-colored candy-coated chocolates
• ½ cup mini Oreo cookies (for topping)
• Optional:
• Sprinkles
• Mini chocolate chips
• Jelly Beans
• Reese’s Pieces
DIRECTIONS:
1. Crush the Oreo cookies in a plastic bag or using a food processor until they are finely crushed.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar to the cream cheese mixture and beat until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the instant vanilla pudding mix and cold milk until thickened.
4. Fold the whipped topping into the pudding mixture until smooth and creamy. In a 9×13-inch baking dish, spread half of the crushed Oreo cookies as the base layer. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the cookie layer.
5. Pour the pudding mixture on top of the cream cheese layer, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the remaining crushed Oreo cookies over the pudding layer. Top with pastel-colored candy-coated chocolates and mini Oreo cookies for decoration. Cover the casserole with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight to set. Cut & Enjoy!
ACROSS
1. Opposite of rural
7. Daughter’s child
8. Common
10. Juveniles
12. Complete disorder
14. Rushed
16. Glass pots
17. Looking very undernourished
20. Significant
23. Brought under control
24. Most fortunate
25. Sense of the absurd
DOWN 1. Dethrones 2. Not here 3. Wide smile
4. Grind (teeth) together 5. Bone specialist 6. Unexpended
9. Hotel foyer
11. Male family head
13. Large deer
15. Disobey (rules)
16. Mixture
18. Indecently
19. Inflexible
21. Deep wound
22. Den
Answer: friendship Solutions
Jeremy VanDevender
OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
HOW THE GRIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS GIVING BACK
Writer / Melissa Gibson
It’s always an honor to receive a scholarship. Students may be athletic, showcase academic excellence or participate in programs that award financial assistance, but not everyone has the same opportunities.
What about the students who have experienced significant challenges in life and continue to push, to strive, to be resilient?
Jeremy VanDevender was one of those students.
The 1994 Plainfield High School graduate knows his involvement in basketball saved him from bad choices and destructive behaviors.
“I was a troubled kid,” he said. “Thirty years ago, you didn’t talk about your problems. People just thought I was a jerk. The truth is I was wild and rebellious, but in reality I was fragile, sad and scared.”
He recalls a moment on the high school basketball court when he was able to score 27 points in 14 minutes, winning the game and hearing the crowd roar.
“It was one of the greatest moments of my life,” he said. “It made me feel whole and I knew what accomplishment was really like.”
He went to college, graduated as a physical therapist, and helped found one of the
largest physical therapy companies in the country with more than 700 locations.
He was working at the World Financial Center in New York City on September 11, 2001.
“I was inside when the first plane hit,” he said. “I had walked outside to get breakfast at 8:48 a.m. and the south tower was hit right above me. My office was destroyed and it was terribly traumatic, but it was also one of the first times in my life where I was able to draw upon that resiliency and get through the trauma. It’s that resiliency that has allowed me to be successful.”
VanDevender sold his company and began re-evaluating the way he gives back.
“When I was in the position to do substantial gift giving, it led me back to Plainfield High School and I began thinking about what would have mattered to me at that age,” he said.
In 2023 he donated a recovery room for athletes at the high school, fashioned after professional recovery rooms across the country.
“It mimics what the University of Alabama and the University of Florida have,” he said. “It’s a lounge for athletes to do focused recovery on their bodies and their minds in the school environment. It’s a first of its kind for high school athletes and I’ve heard great things so far.”
Then he thought of another idea that, if available in 1994, could have changed everything for VanDevender.
“It’s easy to give a scholarship to the
Jeremy playing for PHS.
valedictorian or the best athlete,” he said. “That wasn’t my story. I was very average with a 3.0 GPA and I had so many things pulling me down, but with a little bit of help, it could change the trajectory.”
He calls it a Grit Scholarship.
Students must be seniors in high school with intent to attend a four-year university in the fall of the same year as graduation, have a minimum GPA of 3.3, write a personal essay sharing their story and rationale for the scholarship, and also include three letters of recommendation regarding their character.
Administration, including Principal Pat Cooney, selects a pool of students who they know have overcome challenges, and pass the list on to VanDevender.
“Pat Cooney is incredible,” VanDevender said. “He’s kind and cares tremendously about his student body. He walks the halls and creates an environment at Plainfield High School that is caring, loving and supportive.”
For the first two years, one student was awarded the scholarship for $10,000: Kadence Roehm (2023) and Matthew Raubuck (2024).
In 2025, one student will receive $10,000, one student will receive $5,000 and two students will receive $2,500.
Winners in 2025 are Danielle Mansfield, Sofia Reyes, Katelyn Sanchez and Eleanor Pies.
Unlike the “put your head down and push through” kind of environment VanDevender recalls from his high school days, many students now aren’t afraid to share what they’re going through.
“The students have been stunningly open and more accepting of each other than I imagined kids being today,” VanDevender said. “They are accepting each other and their challenges with no judgement.”
After receiving a potential candidate
RENOVATION EDUCATION
Once educators, the BGW Construction team keeps the spirit of education alive while working with clients to create their dream properties
For 18 years, Bobby Williams was a teacher and football coach who worked contracting jobs on the side. In 2015, Williams’ company, BGW Construction, went from side hustle to full-fledged contracting firm when he realized his worklife balance was suffering.
Despite now working as a custom renovation contractor, Williams and his team still abide by their ethos of education and balance. Prior to joining BGW Jason Schoeff, general manager, was a history teacher and Kevin Slone, project coordinator, was an accountant. Alongside Williams, both coached the varsity football team at the local 5A high school.
“We take a teaching and coaching philosophy in how we approach our jobs,” says Williams, owner. “We want to educate our customers on the modern-day technologies and codes that come with oldhome renovations.”
Williams hopes that even those who aren’t currently clients can learn something from his team. But for BGW clients, the results are breathtaking.
In a recent renovation of an 1800s home, BGW added almost 1,000 square feet of living space, which included a new primary bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. Having been previously turned down by four other contractors, the renovation came with its share of problems to solve. The BGW team was quick to put on their old educator caps and get to work.
Because of the home’s age, the team had to match the style and materials of the existing building. The home’s existing cedar siding was custom recreated by a local craftsman. Updated features like a large island and shaker-style cabinets grace the kitchen but still hold a timeless charm.
True jacks of all trades, the team can work across any style or period. From old Victorians to modern builds, there isn’t a mountain BGW can’t conquer.
“We put a value on education, but we also put a value on expertise, and that’s what we sell,” concludes Williams. “We’re selling quality, communication, and professionalism.”
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: This refurbished vintage kitchen includes a custom reclaimed-wood hood and expansive island. This studio apartment boasts a large stone-blue kitchen within its upscale barn aesthetic. Not your average galley kitchen, this space provides ample room for cooking. Stunning bespoke tile work graces the floor and seamless shower surfaces.
list from the school, he interviews each one and selects the scholarship winner. This year there were too many to choose from, so doubling the amount
awarded was the only option as far as VanDevender could see.
“In years prior, I had four or five finalists
to interview, and this year I had 15,” he said. “That was great because it means there’s a lot of kids who fit the bill. It’s a really diverse group and it shows kids are not immune to challenges based on socioeconomics, gender, family dynamics, etcetera.”
He wanted to reconnect with the teen basketball player who found accomplishment in an encouraging coach, a successful game or the little moments of achievement, and he found many students are going through similar struggles to what he experienced as a teen.
The scholarship is meant to give students choices. Perhaps they never dreamed of attending a specific school due to tuition costs, or perhaps they just need someone in their corner, rooting them on to do bigger and better things.
“This really impacts their life,”
VanDevender said. “To receive $2,500 as a high school senior with virtually no support is a really big deal. My hope is to transform their journey, open doors to schools they never thought they could go to, and to inspire them to look beyond what they thought was possible.”
In addition, he hopes to take what he’s doing at Plainfield High School and expand the scholarship program across Hendricks County.
“This is shining a light of resiliency in the face of adversity,” he said. “I want to raise awareness and celebrate these kids who have overcome challenging circumstances. It’s important our communities are aware and support them. I was one of those kids 30 years ago, and literally by the grace of God, I didn’t end up in a bad situation. Life is hard. It’s humbling and inspiring to see what these kids are doing. It gives you a better view of the world.” xzdgvfaszdvg
IU Health Medical Center, the academic medical center of Indiana University Health, is ranked #1 in Indiana and recognized as highperforming in cancer care by U.S. News & World Report
