Westfield Magazine May 2021

MAY 2021

MAGAZINE

Spice is Nice LOS AGAVES GRILL IS OFF TO A ROUSING START IN WESTFIELD

FOR THE PETS

The Humane Society for Hamilton County Moves to a New, Bigger Facility

HIS OWN PACE

Racing Legend Al Unser Jr. Reflects on Career and Faith

TownePost.com

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M AY 2021

More Than Just a Bank, a Community: Westfield’s Community First Bank Puts the Community In Spotlight

7 10 12

Slice It Up: Crafters Pizza and Drafthouse Serves Distinctive Pies and More

13

For the Pets: The Humane Society for Hamilton County Moves to a New, Bigger Facility

16

Northern Hamilton County Chamber Spotlight

18

Tourism Spotlight: Hamilton County

Adkins Draperies & Blinds: Family-Owned Company Celebrates Four Decades in Business Couple Finds Home and Healing at Copper Trace

20

Tote-Tastic: DD Bird Handbags Are Designed With Style and Function in Mind

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His Own Pace: Racing Legend Al Unser Jr. Reflects on Career and Faith

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A Visual Edge: Ares Elite Sports Vision Helps Athletes Perform at Their Best

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Spice is Nice: Los Agaves Grill is Off to a Rousing Start in Westfield

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Student Spotlight: Tech Talent

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In Session: Options Schools Carmel Moving to Westfield Location

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COMMUNITY FIRST BANK 707 East State Road 32 Westfield, IN 46074 (317) 763-5338 CFBindiana.com

MORE THAN JUST A BANK, A COMMUNITY

WESTFIELD’S COMMUNITY FIRST BANK PUTS THE COMMUNITY IN SPOTLIGHT Audrey Wilcoxson and Janelle Campbell

Writer / Megan Arszman Photography Provided

Campbell says. “They want us to be involved in the community and give back.”

When a bank is called Community First Bank (CFB), you might just think it’s a ploy to show local support. But, for the bank and its employees, it really is the main focus of all that they do — putting the community first in every way.

One of CFB’s core values is that all their staff is actively involved in their local communities, Campbell says. “Audrey and I sit on many local boards, so we’re connected to the needs of the community…It’s all about relationships for us.”

Community First Bank of Indiana first opened its doors 18 years ago in Howard County and has since expanded into Hamilton County, bringing its patented “Community First” approach to Westfield in 2019. The bank’s mortgage department is based in Westfield, but it serves all of Hamilton County, and the local mortgage lenders on the team are Janelle Campbell and Audrey Wilcoxson.

Those relationships first start to bloom within the walls of the bank itself. When Wilcoxson started with Community First Bank two years ago, she knew immediately that she had found the best fit with plenty of room to grow, thanks to the support of her co-workers and the bank management. “I really do believe that when a company takes care of their people, they take care of their customers,” she says. “I felt taken care of the day I walked through the door. I don’t feel like an employee number, and our customers don’t feel like an account number.”

Both women are highly active within their communities, serving on boards, celebrating with their churches and giving back in any way possible. Their focus is not only on serving as employees of CFB but serving as citizens.

Campbell and Wilcoxson feel that they are more than just co-workers, but that they are family, and that family tree has many “They named our bank Community First Bank branches within the Westfield banks as well intentionally because our founders want all of as throughout the entire CFB system. “It their employees to focus on their community,” makes your work more meaningful when 6 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / MAY 2021 / TownePost.com

you know you’re going to come to work and have fun and work with people you enjoy,” Campbell says. “Your co-workers are your chosen family.”

“Janelle is the best leader and mentor I could possibly ask for,” Wilcoxson says. “She genuinely wants what is best for me and is constantly pushing me to be the best version of myself. Community First Bank has always been supportive of me as an employee, and I feel that they have set me up for success in my new role.”

“I have always had the philosophy that you should be looking for someone to replace you as you grow and develop, both personally and professionally,” Campbell says. “I knew Audrey would be a strong lender. She not only cares deeply about those she serves, but her community as well, which I too hold as a high priority.”

And it’s a priority of all employees of Community First Bank: the community, and all the people connected to it, comes first.

This is a paid advertorial from Community First Bank.

Learn more at CFBindiana.com. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. NMLS 614034.

SLICE IT UP

CRAFTERS PIZZA AND DRAFTHOUSE SERVES DISTINCTIVE PIES AND MORE Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Amy Payne

When you step inside Crafters Pizza and Drafthouse, you’ll see a huge portrait of Anthony Bourdain with the words, “Explore the world.”

It’s a mantra that owner Brian Hall lives by.

In fact, he and his wife Alexis take foodie trips every chance they get, engaging in a food tour of every city they visit - usually three or four per year.

“You eat the food in the city and talk about it, while also learning about their culture at the same time,” Hall says. “You feel like you leave the city and know the people.”

TownePost.com / MAY 2021 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / 7

The Bourdain portrait is a way of telling his customers to eat, be happy, and talk about food.

“I want to be that place people go to share food with family, friends and neighbors,” Hall says.

Crafters is a family sports bar with casual dining. Hall stresses that it’s not just a pizza place, but rather a scratch kitchen that happens to serve pizza.

“People think ‘pizza place’ and assume everything is in a bag - that we throw it on there and cook it - but that’s not what we do,” Hall says. “We make our own sausage, shred our own cheese, make our own dressings, pickle our own onions, candy our own walnuts, and cut our own veggies.”

Inside there are no neon signs or 32-ounce beer mugs. Hall purposefully stayed away from anything that felt what he describes as “too bar-y.”

“Husbands are easy to attract,” Hall says. “I wanted to be the place where the wife or daughter or lady suggested going because the place is nice and clean.”

Their gourmet salads are served in porcelain bowls rather than cardboard or plastic containers. They have lots of televisions on the walls for game viewing, but the sound is not blaring.

“I didn’t feel there were any classy family sports bars in the area, and I wanted to fill that void,” Hall says.

Crafters sells hand-tossed, tavern-style pizzas with signature fried dough, cauliflower crust or gluten-free crust.

They are also heavy on appetizers like dry-rubbed wings and house-made doubledecker chips.

“Most of our food items are meant to be shared,” Hall says. “In fact, we call our appetizers ‘shares’ and ‘social plates’ as opposed to appetizers.”

This includes dips, breads, and items that come with a spoon for sharing. In addition, they have 24 draft beers on tap, many of 8 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / MAY 2021 / TownePost.com

them local, including their own beer called Craft Draft. Since their concept is from Carmel, they have an extensive bourbon list, including their own bourbon.

dangerous to eat street food in Mexico, but if you put it on a pizza and present it in a comfortable environment in Carmel, they say, ‘Oh, I’ll try anything!’”

Hall and his staff try to push customers outside their comfort zone to try various ethnic foods on their pizza. They recommend ordering a half-and-half pizza, including half with something familiar and half with something new.

Crafters Pizza and Drafthouse is located at 2430 East 146th Street in Carmel. For more information, call 317-798-2056 or visit craftersdrafthouse.com.

“People think pizza is red sauce and pepperonis, but it can be so much more,” Hall says. “Pizza is bread. It’s a blank canvas.”

Crafters offers a program through which customers are invited to take a photo with an empty Crafters pizza box anywhere in the world, and bring it back to get their picture on the establishment’s wall and earn a Crafters gift card.

“The idea is, you tell me about your trip and the food items you loved,” Hall says.

“I look at their menu and am inspired by your travels.”

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Also, if a customer brings a bumper sticker back from a brewery or restaurant and sticks it up in the men’s restroom, Crafters will buy that customer dinner.

“It’s another fun way to talk about food, beer and travel,” Hall says. “We explore the world through food.”

The normal indoor seating capacity is 220. During warm months, customers can also relax on the big outdoor patio where lounge seating is available.

“It’s a chill hangout spot where folks can talk about food, beer, bourbon and their next vacation destination,” Hall says.

Though COVID-19 has affected travel, Hall and his wife look forward to taking more foodie trips in the near future.

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“When I’m on vacation, I’m enjoying myself but am still at work because I’m thinking, ‘This is delicious. How can I get people in Indiana to try this?’” Hall says. “A lot of people in Indiana think it’s TownePost.com / MAY 2021 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / 9

ADKINS DRAPERIES & BLINDS

FAMILY-OWNED COMPANY CELEBRATES FOUR DECADES IN BUSINESS Writer / Julie Yates Photography Provided

Adkins Draperies & Blinds has been designing custom products for four decades. The family-owned business, now in the experienced hands of a second generation, continues to offer a oneon-one experience to meet the needs of loyal customers. From the first free shop-at-home appointment all the way to installation, Catherine Strong and her team work to make sure homeowners are pleased with their new window treatments.

Whether a customer prefers privacy treatments or stationary panels to frame a window, the process is enjoyable and easy.

It all starts with a phone call to the shop.

An appointment is set for an in-home consultation, where clients can view fabric sample books and blind examples. After decisions on the types of treatments and fabric selections have been established, the products are made in the company’s workspace and put in place by an in-house installer.

“We follow COVID social-distancing

practices, and have even had a few virtual appointments,” Strong says. “But there is nothing like actually being in the home seeing the walls, floor colors and the windows. Sometimes customers know exactly what they want and sometimes they have to be coaxed to figure it out. We ask questions and figure out if blinds or fabric is wanted. It matters if the layout is open concept and all rooms can be seen at the same time. It’s all about the lighting. It depends on the client’s personality. Some people can handle big and bold fabrics.”

The company offers a large variety of products, including traditional 3’ and 2’ pleated panels, Roman shades, valances, cushions, bedspreads and table decor. Blind types include Venetian, shutters, roller shades and more.

Adkins offers fabrics from $35 per yard to more than $200 per yard. Costs for blind materials depend on whether wood or faux materials are used. Customers can find coupons in local magazines with promotions for 30% off of materials, and 25% to 30% off of blinds. With coupons, plantation shutters

“ Sometimes customers know exactly what they want and sometimes they have to be coaxed to figure it out. We ask questions and figure out if blinds or fabric is wanted.”

— Catherine Strong 10 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / MAY 2021 / TownePost.com

average $34 per square foot.

“Current trends are neutrals and grays, but some people don’t worry about it they get what they like,” Strong says. “The florals and stripes of the past are no longer popular. People don’t do matchy-matchy any more, like having the same fabric on the couch and windows. While we still do cornice boards, stationary side panels are in high demand. Most of our customers are people who live within an hour of the shop, and many are referrals. We will go farther if a client wants us to help them with a second home such as a lake cottage.

We mostly do residential, but if we have worked in their home, we will do the window treatments for their business.”

Adkins Draperies & Blinds is located at 3162 East State Road 32 in Westfield.

Call them for an appointment at 317-896-3833, and visit their website at AdkinsDraperyShop.com.

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COUPLE FINDS HOME AND HEALING AT COPPER TRACE

Richard and Vivian Dummich have been married since 1953. When they moved to Copper Trace — CarDon & Associates’ senior living community in Westfield — the staff made sure they stayed close, despite living in separate wings. Richard was living in the skilled nursing facility when Vivian moved to the memory support area. That week, the staff orchestrated a meeting between them. They held hands and shared a warm embrace, glowing with love.

Richard and Vivian have been together for 68 years now. Sparks first flew between them during a car ride with mutual friends, and they married in the midst of Richard’s Navy service. After the Korean War, he pursued engineering and started his own drafting service. He went on to work for the electronics company, RCA, as a manager in the information systems and design department. Richard retired in 1987, moving with Vivian to Naples, Florida, where he opened his own golf shop and designed clubs for such prestigious golfers as Gary Player. He was the only Class A club designer for the junior leagues in southern Florida.

“To satisfy the engineer in him, he built a golf green with two tees in our backyard. I got that instead of a pool,” Nanette said with a hearty laugh.

Richard’s drive to pursue his passions rubbed off on Vivian, who went back to school in her 40s to become a nurse. She went on to work as a licensed practical nurse “That was a big moment. It meant the world,” said their daughter, Nanette Sullivan. for a few senior living communities in Indy and a urologist in Florida.

“It gave me peace of mind because being together has always been so important to Now, after just a few months at Copper them.”

Trace, they feel right at home. Richard 12 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / MAY 2021 / TownePost.com

receives 24-hour care from the committed, compassionate nursing staff, and Vivian is getting equally comprehensive support through Copper Trace’s Cherished Memories program. In the memory support area, everyone from the nurses and therapists to the housekeeping and dietary staff is equipped with training in caring for people with memory loss or cognitive impairment. Residents’ rooms are covered with pictures of family members to keep their fondest memories intact. In the memory support area, residents can also make memory boxes and play brain games to keep their minds sharp.

Along with 12 other CarDon communities, Copper Trace was recently named a recipient of Pinnacle Quality Insight’s 2021 Customer Experience Award™. Nanette feels like the recognition is well deserved.

“I’ve had constant phone calls from nursing staff, activity directors, admin people,” Nanette said. “I greatly appreciate how everyone keeps me updated about what’s going on. Copper Trace is a wonderful, healing environment. I can rest easy knowing my parents are there together and receiving the best care.”

NORTHERN

MAGAZINE

FOR THE PETS

THE HUMANE SOCIETY FOR HAMILTON COUNTY MOVES TO A NEW, BIGGER FACILITY

“We accept animals, strays and owner surrenders 365 days a year as an openadmission shelter,” says Megan Davis, marketing communications manager with the Humane Society for Hamilton County.

The Humane Society for Hamilton County launched its Building a Brighter Future for Hamilton County & Hoosier Animals Capital Campaign in November 2018 raising the $12M needed to build the 40,000 square-foot facility in Fishers within one year, thanks to lead gifts from the Steven J. Cage Foundation, Samerian Foundation, the Hamilton County Commissioners & Council, and Dr. Mark and Vanessa Roth.

The facility, which was designed by Curran Architecture with the construction managed

by Meyer Najem, will bear the name of both the Humane Society for Hamilton County and The Steven J. Cage Foundation Animal Wellness Center.

In the past, the organization operated out of an 8,000-square-foot space that they shared with the Low Cost Spay Neuter Clinic. But on April 8, they officially moved into a massive new 40,000-square-foot facility in Fishers.

In the new facility, they will expand from one cattery to four free-roaming cat rooms.

Each of those rooms attach to two patios, so workers will be able to open a door to give felines fresh air and sunshine.

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Amy Payne

The Humane Society for Hamilton County takes in more than 3,100 animals each year.

Through their Survivor Program, they were able to provide second chances to 1,440 animals, 574 of whom were rescued from other Indiana shelters and non-Hamilton County residents.

MAY 2021

donate,” says Davis, noting that she’s often seen children fundraise for animals or donate their birthday money to the Humane Society.

Pets Healing Vets is a program that pairs Hoosier veterans suffering from PTSD or traumatic brain injury with shelter animals.

“We truly believe in the healing power of pets,” Davis says.

Unfortunately, cost is often a large barrier to veterans adopting a dog or cat.

“That’s a huge enrichment piece for the cats “In our (former) building, there were times to keep them in a good head space, while when someone is surrendering a pet and they wait for their forever home,” Davis says. they have to be right next to someone who is going through an adoption,” Davis says.

On the canine side, the outdoor space will “Having that happy feeling next to that sad, increase significantly. Besides the outdoor upset feeling is a weird position to be in. runs, they will have an indoor exercise We’ve separated the two aspects of what area, five indoor meet-and-greet areas, and happens at our front desk to make that 50 kennels (up from 15). Windows in all experience as painless as possible on the kennels will have a front and a back side, admissions side, and as happy as possible on so if an animal has an accident, they don’t the adoption side.” have to sit in it. They will also have three “gray muzzle” kennels, offering senior dogs a The Humane Society is also expanding quiet, stress-free space. many of their community outreach initiatives by adding an education center “I have a soft spot in my heart for senior dogs,” that is set up with a projector, a white board, Davis says. “They need extra love and space.” tables and chairs. Post-pandemic, they’ll be able to host birthday parties, scouting All kennels and catteries are set up with groups and school field trips. Davis says it’s individual, segmented HVAC systems, so if not uncommon for adoptions to rise after an a kitty in one of the catteries gets an upper educational experience. respiratory infection, staff can shut that cattery down, nurse them back to health, “We’ve taken an animal into a classroom and keep the air from circulating through and had kids go home and tell their parents the other catteries. that they met a puppy, and that they’d like to get one,” Davis says. “The next day, the “It’ll make our jobs easier when it comes to parents are here.” containment and treatment, but also keep the animals safer, and that’s our biggest But it’s not just about adoptions. The goal,” Davis says. outreach component is centered around teaching children about bite prevention, An entire half of the building is dedicated responsible pet ownership, and proper ways to intake processes, medical attention, and to treat an animal. isolation. The new location will also separate the admission center from the adoption “It’s also about teaching them about serving center. their community, and when they’re old enough, they can volunteer, foster and MAY 2021

“We wanted to be able to give those veterans a chance to heal with an animal that can become an emotional support as well as a family member, so we pay for all of the pet’s care for the life of the pet,” Davis says.

It’s rough when an animal comes into the Humane Society either injured, malnourished, mistreated or ill. Watching them persevere and work with staff to get better, and eventually adopted into a perfect home, is what makes Davis and her team cry happy tears. Thankfully, there are many success stories. Take Taylor, a pocket pit bull who came to the Humane Society as a puppy with a chronic cold. She kept coming down with pneumonia and getting hospitalized, but after seeing a specialist, they learned she had a severe case of doggie asthma and needed to be treated with a nebulizer twice per day.

“No one wanted to adopt her because of her condition, so she sat here for more than a year, but then it happened - the thing I’ve seen happen many times,” Davis says.

“Someone walked in the door, pointed to Taylor and said, ‘That’s my dog. She’s the one I want.’ ” Taylor’s now living her best life and enjoying what it feels like to live in a home with a loving family.

“That is what it’s all about,” Davis says.

The new address for the Humane Society for Hamilton County will be 10501 Hague Road in Fishers. For more information, visit hamiltonhumane.com. To make a donation, visit Brighterfuturewishlist.com.

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5/1 Ultimate Fan Club 5K Race, Sponsored by T1L1 Arcadia 5/1 Bella Lisse Grand Opening/ Ribbon Cutting 90 N Peru St, Cicero / 10 am 5/13 State of the Town’s Address Arcadia Town Hall, Arcadia, IN / 11:30 a.m.

There has never been a better time to help out our local 5/18 NHCCC Board of Directors Meeting eateries and specialty markets. Northern Hamilton Cicero Town Hall, Cicero / 11:30 a.m.

County offers a little something for every taste and budget. Northern Hamilton County is home to some 40 restaurants, eateries, and markets. It also boasts a handful of specialty locally owned and operated caterers. In preparation for the warmer weather and in anticipation of a downward trend in county COVID-19 metrics in the months ahead, our local eateries and specialty markets are ramping up for an active season. They were among the hardest hit from the impact of the pandemic and have been extremely resilient in surviving a year of trying times. Let’s do our part by being consistent Sheridan High School Class of 2021 Graduation Hamilton Heights patrons they can count on. Dine in, outside, delivery, carry out and via gift cards. Every SaturdaySheridan Jun 5th at 10AM June 5 / 10 am June 5 / 6 pm dollar spent in our communities truly makes a difference!

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TOURISM SPOTLIGHT

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phone to a staff member to redeem the available discount.

As if saving money and adventure aren’t enough, participants will be automatically eligible to receive a branded bike bell after they check in at three of the participating locations, while supplies last.

Download your passport and visit pedalperks.org.

GET REWARDED FOR BIKING WITH PEDAL PERKS Ride, dine shop and save! Hamilton County Tourism’s popular Pedal Perks program returns in 2021 with a brand-new digital passport.

TRAILS IN HAMILTON COUNTY Did you know there are more than 600 miles of trails throughout Hamilton County? It’s true! Here are a few to check out while you’re doing Pedal Perks.

The Monon Trail is perfect for biking, walking and running. At the far north end, the Monon The concept is simple: ride your bike to runs through Sheridan, south through one of the participating businesses, all of Westfield and Carmel before it connects to which are located on or near a trail, and get Indianapolis. Hop off the trail to visit local rewarded for pedaling with special deals and businesses in the Carmel Arts & Design discounts. Bike the trails and downtowns District, Midtown and Carmel City Center. of Hamilton County from May 1 through October 31 and enjoy discounts from local The Midland Trace Trail is a paved trail along shops, eateries and attractions. the abandoned “Midland” Central Indiana Railway corridor. It stretches nearly four miles Ready to start saving money? Sign up for in Westfield with a trailhead at Quaker Park the Pedal Perks Pass, a mobile-exclusive and more than three miles in Noblesville with passport program. Customers must have a a trailhead on Hazel Dell Road. From the smartphone in order to redeem the offers at Midland Trace Trail, it’s easy to explore the participating restaurants. Enter your name businesses in downtown Westfield and the and email address and a link to the mobile future Grand Junction Plaza. passport will be texted to you. Save it to your smartphone home screen or bookmark Work is already underway on the first phase the link for easy access. When you visit a of the Nickel Plate Trail, which officially participating business, simply present your MAY 2021

opens later this year. Hamilton County’s newest trail follows the old railroad line through the heart of downtown Fishers and the Nickel Plate District.

As the name suggests, the White River Greenway Trail is adjacent to the White River in Noblesville. The trail connects to Potter’s Bridge Park and Forest Park and ends on the Historic Noblesville Square, with plenty of shops, boutiques and businesses to check out.

Always remember to practice trail etiquette and stop at street intersections for cross traffic, keep to the right and communicate to others before passing, obey signage and dispose of litter in designated trash and recycling bins.

Check out VisitHamiltonCounty.com for more information on parks, trails and outdoor recreation in Hamilton County, including biking maps. Tag us in your adventures using #VisitHC and #PedalPerks.

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TOTE-TASTIC

DD BIRD HANDBAGS ARE DESIGNED WITH STYLE AND FUNCTION IN MIND

Writer / Julie Yates Photographer / Daren Short

The energetic force behind DD Bird, a company that produces stylish yet functional travel totes, is a mother-daughter team. Donna Sweat and Amanda Mansard love being partners, bring their individual talents and strengths to the business, and seek to empower women by enabling them to feel more organized and confident. After several years of dreaming about working together and many months of planning, the Carmel and Westfield-based enterprise was launched in May of 2020.

Both women had established careers before deciding to start their own business. Sweat graduated from Indiana State University before earning a master of business administration degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. For 15 years she was a hospital administrator and hospital CEO. Mansard graduated from Butler University with a bachelor’s degree in science, technology and society, and received a master’s degree from with Indiana University in 2019. While marketing, working as the executive director of Indiana technology and Women in Need Foundation, she developed building websites. My strengths are custom websites and marketing strategies developing wholesale sales channels, for local female-owned businesses. manufacturing and importing materials.”

“The corporate world has its challenges,” Sweat says. “As a hospital CEO, I was on call all the time. I was sensing that I needed to do something else and Amanda was feeling that way as well. I knew we could mesh our talents together. Amanda has experience

Mansard says she felt the partnership would work well even in the early stages of the business.

“I knew I wanted to work with mom after we drew the first round of sketches until 3 MAY 2021

Donna Sweat and Amanda Mansard

a.m.,” Mansard says. “I felt working with her every day would be a dream come true. We have an unconditional love and respect for each other. It’s wonderful to have a business partner that you trust. Because we have an age difference between us, we have different perspectives and can appeal to a larger demographic.”

DD Bird tote bags have a sunny, southern vibe with plenty of padded pockets for sunglasses, collapsible umbrellas, phones, water bottles and more. Each is lined with color-coordinated gingham, and also includes some unexpected security features.

“When I was traveling, I had times when I put my bag under an airplane seat and things in it would roll down the plane,” Sweat says. “We put a lot of thought into

what would make the totes the most functional. There are two hidden zippered pockets in the lining at the bottom. Each is double stitched, with extra-thick padding to make them sturdier. Often men’s bags have luggage sleeves so they can be put over a suitcase handle, so we made sure we included that feature. I now travel with both our Nash, which has 13 pockets, and the larger Charlotte, which has 15 pockets.”

which feels and looks just like the real thing. We went to great lengths to research what was available and to select the highest quality. We played around with different fabrics and design elements. The Nash can fit files, and a laptop or tablet inside it. The totes are so versatile. They can be used for work, school and travel.”

ceilings, just sky. We call our customers DD Chicks. We hope that our bags help women feel confident and able to accomplish more.

We set the bar high for ourselves, and if we don’t know how to do something, we figure it out.”

Find DD Bird totes at AH Collection in Carmel, and Michelle’s on Main in Zionsville.

New moms have found that the totes help with organization. Stroller straps for $18 For more info and to order online, visit and foldable changing pads for $28 are Both sizes are available in different fabric myddbird.com. available in colors that match the bags. finishes and colors. The pearl-coated nylon Nash is available for $160, and the Charlotte Mama Bird Bundles, which include a tote, straps and a pad, are offered in taupe, black is $170. They are lightweight, water resistant, can be wiped off for easy cleaning, and blush leather, as well as black and navy velvet, for $199. Gift cards starting at $25 and come in metallic gold, red pearl, metallic gray and black pearl. Vegan pebble are also available. leather Nash totes are offered in black, taupe “The company name is from my maiden and pink for $175. Another option is the name, Donna Dee Bird,” Sweat says. $175 black or navy velvet quilt Nash.

“The bird logo represents our belief that all women can accomplish anything. It “Out totes are not only chic, but durable,” Sweat says. “All of the products are made of symbolizes freedom, strength, beauty and cruelty-free materials such as vegan leather, courage. We believe there should be no glass INFANTS • TODDLERS • PRESCHOOL • PRE-K • KINDERGARTEN • BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL • SUMMER CAMP ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙

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CURRICULUM • TECHNOLOGY • HEALTH & FITNESS • CHARACTER

HIS OWN PACE RACING LEGEND AL UNSER JR. REFLECTS ON CAREER AND FAITH Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided by Al Unser Jr. & Amy Payne

three of them, the Unser family has won the Indy 500 a record of nine times.

Additional Photography Provided As a professional race car driver, Al Unser Jr. has truly lived life in the fast lane, and he’s loved every minute of the competitive nature of the sport. But just as there is no such thing as the perfect race, there is also no such thing as the perfect life.

Unser began racing go-karts when he was 9 years old. By 16, he was professionally racing sprint cars.

Through the years, Unser has experienced his share of speed bumps and disappointments along the way - most notably, his battle with alcohol. Though he’s experienced ups and downs, both personally and professionally, it was only when he slowed down, looked up, and connected with Jesus Christ that he found true and lasting peace.

For as far back as he can recall, Unser had a need for speed - something that ran in his family, as both his father, Al Unser Sr., and his uncle, Bobby Unser, were racing legends.

In fact, he, his uncle Bobby, and his dad all won the Indy 500 on May 24. Between the

“At a young age, I thought, ‘I love racing and if I’m successful at it, I’ll keep going,’” says Unser, who hit the ground running early in life and never looked back. “Racing was both physically and mentally demanding, but it was so competitive that when you did win races, it was very gratifying.”

He competed in more than 300 races, winning 34 of them, including two-time victories at both the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500. Unser credits his team for those triumphs.

“You truly had to work at it and even when we were all prepared, you had to have some luck where things just went your way,” Unser says.

As every driver knows, on some days luck MAY 2021

is on your side, and on other days, not so much. For instance, a driver may have a victory in their line of sight, and then in an instant, their engine blows up or an accident occurs. There is also human error.

“In every race mistakes are made, whether it’s the pit crew or the driver,” Unser says.

“The goal is to make fewer mistakes than anybody else.”

Unser retired from racing in 2007 after a career that includes Indy 500 wins in 1992 and 1994. In 2009, Unser was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

Though his first Indy 500 win was nearly three decades ago, he still vividly recalls the feeling of elation that enveloped him.

“It was a dream come true,” he says. “It was life itself.”

More recently, however, Unser has found new life by forging a meaningful relationship with Christ.

Born and raised in Albuquerque, New

“ At a young age, I thought, ‘I love racing and if I’m successful at it, I’ll keep going. Racing was both physically and mentally demanding, but it was so competitive that when you did win races, it was very gratifying.” ­— Al Unser Jr. Mexico, Unser moved back to the Indianapolis area in the fall of 2017, when he joined an Indy car team that was just starting up. His mom, also a Hendricks County resident, invited Unser to join her at her church one Sunday. Initially, he agreed to go because he knew it would make her happy, but he had no real interest in learning about God. “During my life, my conversations with God had always gone something like, ‘Please, let me win today’s race,’” Unser says. “That was the extent.”

As he sat in the church pews week after week listening to the pastor’s messages, however, he had a change of heart. One day, he had a revelation.

“I decided to give my life to Jesus and instantaneously I felt such a good feeling deep down inside me,” Unser says.

worse,” says Unser, who struggled to admit he had a problem.

As the weeks and months passed, he noticed Eventually he did reach out for help and something profound. started improving, but time and again he suffered slip-ups and backslides, which “I didn’t fear death anymore,” Unser says. served to both discourage and humiliate “And what’s more, I didn’t fear life.” him. Once he found Jesus, however, a switch was flipped. He felt that God was always Many people who struggle with substance there for him - he had just never taken the use disorder know what he means. Though time before to be still and listen.

Unser had used alcohol as a teen and into his 20s and 30s, his substance use disorder “That quiet time is so important in grew over time. connecting with God,” Unser says. “He speaks to us when we settle down and are “It’s a subtle disease that progressively got MAY 2021

“I decided to give my life to Jesus and instantaneously I felt such a good feeling deep down inside me.” ­— Al Unser Jr. ages of 14 and 20.

quiet. That can be hard in today’s fast-paced world, when our phones are ringing and binging all the time, but quiet time with Jesus is huge.”

really serve anybody but myself.”

Following Jesus and studying God’s word helped Unser stay sober, and on May 24, 2021, he will celebrate two years of Growing a meaningful relationship with sobriety. Unser, currently single, has four Christ has given him a hope he didn’t know children, Al, Cody, Shannon and Joe, and before. one grandchild. In his free time, he likes to watch TV, play racquetball, and hang out “Being a follower of Jesus and serving others with his two miniature schnauzers, Lola lightens your whole attitude going into the and Larry. He’s also currently working for a Sports Car Club of America Formula 4 race day,” Unser says. “When I was racing and team that runs kids, mainly between the everything was so competitive, I didn’t

Last year Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing Development started a new Formula 4 United States Championship program with Elliot Cox, 13, behind the wheel. Unser was hired as a driver coach to work directly with Cox as well as Chloe Chambers, 16, who is with Future Star Racing. This is a first step for go-kart racers to determine if they truly want to pursue a professional racing career.

“I’m looking forward to a wonderful summer helping out that team as much as I can,” says Unser, who coached last year with a different race team in the same Formula 4 series. “I truly enjoy helping the kids. When they do well out on the racetrack and they come in smiling, that’s a win for me.”

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A VISUAL EDGE

ARES ELITE SPORTS VISION HELPS ATHLETES PERFORM AT THEIR BEST

Sports have always been a huge passion for Dr. Joseph LaPlaca.

suggesting that such an endeavor couldn’t become a full-time business. Following optometry school, LaPlaca joined an optometry practice. Though he enjoyed helping patients, he felt a void.

“You name the sport, and I probably played it,” he says.

“After working as an optometrist for eight years, my soul was struggling,” he says.

When he was in optometry school, he dreamed of one day opening a sportsbased vision service that would help athletes perform at their best. Professors and colleagues, however, dissuaded him,

He circled back to his original dream and in July of 2018, he launched Ares Elite Sports Vision.

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Kerch Creative

“Historically, athletes have great vision, but MAY 2021

I felt there was this space between sports and vision, and how the eyes and the brain processed information, that was not being addressed,” LaPlaca says.

He felt that by addressing those factors, an athlete’s performance could be enhanced.

Each client starts with an in-depth evaluation and sports vision examination, which typically takes about one and a half hours. The evaluation, which takes place at the D1 Training facility located inside of Finch Creek Fieldhouse, combines traditional optometry methods with cutting-edge technology. This full sports vision exam includes concussion baselining, because studies show that between 85 and 90% of concussions have a visual component to them, meaning vision or balance is affected.

“Knowing where they stand with that information before their season starts helps us if they have a head injury, because we then know where the decrease is from where they were before, and can work on cleaning up that spot,” says LaPlaca, who looks at the athlete’s binocular vision. This includes how eyes move, how pupils react to light, and how eyes track and jump from point to point, in addition to how eyes pick up information that is translated through the brain to different regions.

Next, he studies the patient’s neurological standing in terms of how their brain processes information, and how fast.

“It’s a fun exam,” LaPlaca says. “We’re doing virtual-reality stuff, hand-eye coordination stuff, reaction lights, and a reaction board.

There are all sorts of things that give me different information to paint a visual neurological picture.”

The first step is figuring out where the problems lie. If there are no problems, the athlete can do in-office training. If there are issues, they can undertake Ares Academy, an at-home online vision platform LaPlaca created that includes traditional vision therapy, plus neurocognitive or brain processing applications to increase the patient’s capacity to handle drills to improve MAY 2021

their visual system.

The difference between traditional optometry and sports vision training is that traditional optometry has an end point, where it takes a certain amount of days to clean up a problem. That’s not the case in sports vision training, where skills vary depending on the sport and the position being played. For instance, a football offensive lineman will differ from a wide receiver - their visual stance is different, so their visual drills need to be different.

Ares Elite Sports Vision attracts both highfunctioning athletes who want to improve, as well as 12-year-old athletes who are physically sound but might have an issue that their coach can’t identify - this is usually a vision issue.

LaPlaca is always shocked by how many athletes have never had a general eye exam.

Annual school screenings don’t count, as an athlete’s visual system is so much more than how clearly they can see a row of letters.

Take a baseball player, for instance. If you have a right-handed hitter who is right-eye dominant, and he’s facing a right-handed sidearm pitcher, he can’t necessarily view the sidearm well without opening his stance up more, because his right eye is his dominant eye.

“His peripheral vision is being cut off by his nose so he can’t actually see the sidearm coming, so he can’t hit that pitch,” LaPlaca says. “But nobody thinks it’s a vision issue.

They just think that he can’t hit that pitch.”

LaPlaca can help athletes in all sports, though he finds that the athletes who seek him out the most are baseball players, soccer players and race car drivers, as well as referees.

“It makes sense,” LaPlaca says of referees.

“Refs need to see everything as clean and as fast as possible.”

LaPlaca, who was chosen to be the official optometrist for this year’s NCAA Final Four men’s basketball tournament, is also excited to have been selected as an expert for Ezone, an esports academy based in Denmark.

They are creating a wellness platform for esport athletes, to help push their boundaries and challenge their limits.

“It’s a population that’s spending eight to 10 hours a day in front of their computer, probably hasn’t had exams, and likely isn’t doing the right things for their eyes because there’s a lack of education and understanding as to what’s needed in that space,” LaPlaca says. “They’re creating a platform for these gamers to go on and use it as a source so they can be healthier.”

Recently a college soccer goalie texted LaPlaca to thank him for helping him with his vision. He had just experienced his first career shutout as a Division 1 goalie.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without your help,” he wrote.

Such comments mean the world to LaPlaca.

“I love building relationships with my clientele,” LaPlaca says. “In general optometry, you see a patient for 10 or 20 minutes and not again until the following year, so there’s not that connection of what they’re doing in their life. I don’t want to be someone who just cycles through patients. I want to be invested in what they’re doing at school or in their athletic career. Being able to play a small part in how successful they are is super gratifying.”

Ares Elite Sports Vision is located at 16289 Boden Road in Noblesville. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 317-537-7433 or visit areselitesportsvision.com.

MAY 2021

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Spice is Nice LOS AGAVES GRILL IS OFF TO A ROUSING START IN WESTFIELD

Paul Arechiga, Jesse Herrera and Hugo Zavala Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Justin Sicking

After three years of running Los Agaves Grill in McCordsville, Hugo Zavala and his brother-in-law Paul Arechiga decided to open a second location in Westfield.

“Westfield had a lot of fast-food places but not many sit-down ones, so we wanted to bring another option to residents of Hamilton County,” Zavala says.

Of course, when they decided to make that leap, little did they know their grand opening would take place during a global pandemic. They didn’t let that deter them, and they opened their doors in October of 2020.

Despite the difficult year, Zavala says they feel blessed by the community that has wholeheartedly embraced them.

“We expected it to start a bit slow just like TownePost.com / MAY 2021 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / 29

any restaurant, and of course during the pandemic we expected it to be worse,” he says. “Thankfully, we’ve had great support from the community and have stayed pretty busy since we opened in October. We are absolutely grateful by how the community has received us here.”

Customer Jonathan Meléndez calls Los Agaves the perfect addition to Westfield.

“The service is always what you expect when eating out and the food selection is magnificent,” he says. “The Mar y Tierra and the Pineapple Margarita are, by far, my favorites.”

Though there were restrictions on occupancy in restaurants throughout 2020, Los Agaves is now open at 100% capacity.

The 3,900-square-foot restaurant seats

140, with a patio for outdoor dining that has eight tables and a small lounge. They keep diners safely distanced, and each time a customer leaves, they sanitize tables and chairs. They offer direct-order take-out and delivery via their website.

They have a number of popular menu items from land and sea, including Carnitas, which are pork tips sautéed with mushrooms and onion, served with rice, tortillas and a choice of refried or black beans. They also serve Tacos de Carnitas, which are tender pork tips in three soft corn tortillas with onions and cilantro. Served with tomatillo salsa, black beans and pico de gallo on the side, these traditional tacos are special because of the way they are prepared.

“Anyone can cook carnitas, but it’s the way you cook it that makes it so special,” Zavala says. “The meat has to be very tender, and crispy on the outside but tender on the inside. A lot of people don’t know how to cook it properly and it takes away from the taste.”

They make their tomatillo sauce, ranchero sauce and guacamole dip fresh daily.

Customers love the tomatillo sauce so much that some ask for extra sauce to go with their meals, to add flavor and spice.

“The made-from-scratch authentic Mexican cuisine and the upscale atmosphere for an inexpensive price keeps me coming back,” says Derek Manuel, a regular customer.

“Whether I eat at the Westfield location or McCordsville, I know I can plan to have a great experience.”

Besides offering a host of options in nachos, salads, tacos, quesadillas, chimichangas, enchiladas and burritos, they also sell draft beer, margaritas and tequila flights.

Westfield resident Amy Jones quickly became a loyal customer after trying Los Agaves once.

“We noticed the high ratings on Yelp and ordered out for my son’s birthday,” Jones says. “The portions were huge and we all agreed that the food was the best Mexican 30 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / MAY 2021 / TownePost.com

food we’ve had in a very long time - great staff, too. I cannot say enough good things about Los Agaves in Westfield.”

Zavala feels the same way about his customers, and the fact that he is able to make a living in the restaurant industry.

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“I love food,” he says with a chuckle. “I think everybody does. Plus, the people who come in regularly become like family. I can name you 60 to 70% of my customers, and they all know me too, and my family.”

Zavala and his wife Laura have two children, Luis, 11, and Alejandrina, 6.

The family spends free time either at local soccer fields, ballet practice, a local park or a bowling alley.

“A lot of people lost family members to COVID-19, and unfortunately I was one of them,” adds Zavala, whose father succumbed to the virus last fall. “It means so much to get through this pandemic.

Nobody expected it. It caught us all off guard. For a time, people stayed home to take care of their families, but now they are able to go out and meet up with friends and family. It feels good.”

Los Agaves Grill is located at 17471 Wheeler Road in Westfield. For more information, call 317-804-9240 or visit losagavesgrill.com.

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WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS COMPETE IN ENTREPRENEURIAL PITCH COMPETITION Their first stop was the Westfield Chamber of Commerce, where they participated in the city’s first Shark Tank competition on March 18. Three teams presented their ideas, and one took home the top prize. The teams used the competition as a warm-up for the statewide competition.

“This was a great experience because this time we did our pitch in person, and not recorded over Zoom,” says Kyle Emgenbroich, a junior.

Writer / Megan Arszman Photography Provided

While most of their classmates were enjoying time away from school work, five Westfield High School juniors and seniors put in overtime work to prepare for a statewide competition.

The students prepared for Innovate WithIN, an entrepreneurial pitch competition with a $25,000 prize and an opportunity to collaborate with some of the country’s leading innovators to turn their ideas into reality.

Emgenbroich, who has excelled in business classes in school and wants to major in business in college, was approached by teacher John Moore about helping a fellow student prepare his pitch for a smartphone application he created. Sam Huser, also a junior, is a self-proclaimed coder who doesn’t know much about business. It was a perfect partnership.

“Sam needed someone who thinks rationally about certain business aspects that he just isn’t wired to see,” Emgenbroich says.

Huser has been working on an application called PikIt, which he describes as “Tinder for restaurants.” The application allows groups of friends to choose a restaurant by TownePost.com / MAY 2021 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / 35

swiping right or left. An algorithm helps to determine the most common denominator between the group to help choose the restaurant. It works with Google Maps, so any restaurant registered with Google is available on the application. It has been a major project for Huser throughout COVID-related shutdowns, ever since his sister gave him the idea when she needed help choosing a place to eat.

“Kyle is very good at what he does,” Huser says. “I could never do what he has done for PikIt when it comes to making it sound exciting. I’ll just overcomplicate things.”

Seniors Jacob Mills, Max Amenta and Addy Famuyiwa presented the Orbiter.

Inspired by a gift from his boss during an internship, Mills wanted to create a device to make interaction with computers easier than having to use a joystick or a mouse.

The Orbiter allows for digital objects to be held and manipulated, while making movement easier in computer-aided design or computer-generated imagery. His goal leading up to Innovate WithIN was to improve ergonomics, to help alleviate carpal tunnel syndrome.

“I just love making things,” Mills says. “My

dream job would be to work for Tesla.”

The team of three brought home the $1,000 prize from the Westfield Chamber of Commerce, and Mills hopes for a successful run in the statewide competition. He’s also working on obtaining a patent for the Orbiter.

“Jacob is a brilliant mind,” Moore says.

“His Orbiter will be a huge success. It’s a perfect example of him seeing a need in

the engineering community and creating a device to solve the problem.”

Moore explains that Team Mills and Team Huser grew out of Westfield’s Shark Tank club. The club teams up innovative students with business-minded students to bring their ideas into reality. He hopes the club will connect students and their ideas with business owners in Westfield, and set them up with mentors.

“Those partnerships won’t only benefit the students, but will greatly benefit our local businesses as well,” Moore says. “I spent the last 13 years managing a small business in Westfield, and this is my first year as a teacher. I know the importance of these relationships, and I’m really excited to watch these partnerships grow in the future.”

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OPTIONS SCHOOLS 317.773.8659 optionsschools.org

IN SESSION

OPTIONS SCHOOLS CARMEL MOVING TO WESTFIELD LOCATION the area may be overwhelming to them.

The class sizes may be too large. They may need more individualized attention, or they may be struggling socially within the school setting.”

and will serve as a workspace for them.”

The Carmel campus was founded in 2002 in a renovated building.

“We wanted to make ourselves available to potential students and allow families to meet our staff,” Dunagan says. “It’s going to be a beautiful campus, and we’re excited to showcase it.”

“Our team worked hard to make it work,” Dunagan says. “This new location is built to be a school. We’ll have a lot more room to spread out and do things. We will have a big multipurpose room that will serve as a gym and cafe during the day. It’s going to give us a space to hold whole-school gatherings.”

Writer / Renee Larr Photography Provided

Options Schools in Carmel is moving to a new, larger location in Westfield to accommodate a growing student body.

The campus is located at 17721 Gunther Boulevard and will open in June.

Options Schools is a free, public charter school that provides small, personalized learning for students in grades six through 12, in Hamilton County and across the state of Indiana.

“The types of students that come to us are students who aren’t doing well in a traditional school setting,” says Principal Michael Dunagan. “The larger schools in

Besides more space inside, the new location will have more green space for students to get outside.

“We’ll have an entire back area with an outdoor patio,” Dunagan says. “It’s going to be so nice for us to take classes outside to work on nice days, or for the physical education classes to happen outside. We don’t have that in our current space.”

To fully utilize the space, the building was designed with customized specifications.

Options Schools is hosting various events throughout the summer to introduce the school to its new community.

Events are all free and include an open house, open gym, video game night, family trivia night and a summer celebration.

“We want people to know there is another option besides traditional schools,” Dunagan says. “We want the community to know Options Schools is a free, public school with individualized learning.”

Students can attend in person or virtually.

Class sizes are small to help move students toward success.

“Our mission has always been to provide students with something beyond the traditional school environment,” Dunagan says. “We’ve expanded to offer a number of brick-and-mortar options, but also online learning for students throughout the state that may not be able to attend in person.”

“We will have a room for our seniors to utilize as part of their senior institute projects,” Dunagan says. “Seniors participate For more information and to see a calendar in a capstone project where they partner of events, visit optionsschools.org/westfield. with a nonprofit organization. This room will allow us more space to do presentations TownePost.com / MAY 2021 / WESTFIELD MAGAZINE / 37

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