CONTACT THE PUBLISHER Have a story idea or suggestion for the magazine?
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
4
COBBLESTONE GRILL LIVE MUSIC: BRETT WISCONS
6:30–9:30 p.m.
Cobblestone Grill, 160 S. Main St.
PAINT THE WAVE SUMMER CAMP
1–2:30 p.m.
uPaint Pottery Studio, 643 E. State Road 32
5, 12, 19, 26
LIVE MUSIC EVERY THURSDAY
Urban Apples Cidery
18326 Spring Mill Rd.
5
COBBLESTONE GRILL LIVE MUSIC: JON SHOULDERS
AROUND THE COMMUNITY, 2025
JUNE
6:30–9:30 p.m.
Cobblestone Grill
160 S. Main St.
All ages/smoke-free
6, 13, 20, 27
LIVE MUSIC EVERY FRIDAY
Urban Apples Cidery
18326 Spring Mill Rd.
6
COBBLESTONE GRILL LIVE MUSIC: SCOTT & ANDRA
7–10 p.m.
Cobblestone Grill
160 S. Main St.
All ages/smoke-free
DONUT YOU LOVE PAINTING SUMMER CAMP
1–2:30 p.m.
uPaint Pottery Studio
643 E. State Road 32
In this deliciously fun camp, you’ll paint your very own donut box! Use any colors and designs to paint a cute box to store your treats, treasures, or maybe even donut holes.
INDY ELEVEN - WOMEN’S TEAM VS. LEXINGTON SC
7 p.m.
Grand Park Sports Campus 19000 Grand Park Blvd.
JAMS AT THE JUNCTION FT. DOOGIE HAZZARD
7 p.m.
Grand Junction Plaza
221 S. Union St.
Doogie Hazzard is the selfproclaimed most epic-est party band ever!
7, 14, 21, 27
LIVE MUSIC EVERY SATURDAY Urban Apples Cidery 18326 Spring Mill Rd.
8
PAINT AND SIP: SUMMER LOVE
(Buy 2 tickets, get 3 free)
4:30–7 p.m.
Grand Junction Brewing Co. 1189 E. 181st St.
11
POP ART: SODA CAN EDITION SUMMER CAMP
1–2:30 p.m.
uPaint Pottery Studio
643 E. State Road 32
Get ready to pop open your imagination at Pop Art: Soda Can Edition, the most refreshing art camp of the summer! Choose your favorite soda: Diet Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, Crush, and more.
13
COBBLESTONE GRILL LIVE MUSIC: JON ENGLAND
7–10 p.m.
Cobblestone Grill 160 S. Main St.
All ages/smoke-free
17
KIDS SUMMER SERIES (MR. DAN THE MUSIC MAN)
10–11:30 a.m.
Grand Junction Plaza
221 S. Union St.
Join us at Grand Junction Plaza this summer for entertainment, programming, and fun that’s just for kids!
19
JAMBALAYA AT URBAN VINES
6–9 p.m.
Urban Vines Winery & Brewery, 303 E. 161st St.
Join us June 19 for a live Jambalaya Cooking Show and dinner!
21
LADIES’ NIGHT SERIES
6:30–8:30 p.m.
Conner Prairie 13400 Allisonville Rd.
Gather your friends and escape to Ladies’ Nights at Conner Prairie — a series of unique, adults-only experiences designed for relaxation, creativity, and connection.
24
INDY ELEVENWOMEN’S TEAM VS. RACING LOUISVILLE FC
7 p.m.
Grand Park Sports Campus
19000 Grand Park Blvd.
KIDS SUMMER SERIES (T.A.G. ART DINOSAURS) 10–11:30 a.m.
Grand Junction Plaza
221 S. Union St.
Join us at Grand Junction Plaza this summer for entertainment, programming, and fun that’s just for kids!
25
MOVIES IN THE PLAZA: MOANA 2
7:30 p.m.
Grand Junction Plaza
221 S. Union St.
Come out to the Plaza with your family and friends to enjoy a free evening of entertainment on the Great Lawn. We encourage you to bring blankets and chairs to cozy up and enjoy the movie!
27
INDY ELEVENWOMEN’S TEAM
7 p.m.
Grand Park Sports Campus 19000 Grand Park Blvd.
JAMS AT THE JUNCTION FT. THE 1985 7 p.m.
Grand Junction Plaza
221 S. Union St.
The 1985 is the Midwest’s raddest tribute to the 1980s with their Totally 80’s Mixtape LIVE! Experience that features the best of the 1980s rock, pop, new wave, metal, and club.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE CHAMBER & DWA
8th Annual Dinner Party on Union
Westfield Chamber 22nd Annual Golf Outing
On Monday, May 12, our annual Golf Outing commenced at The Bridgewater Club! We were fortunate to host a sold out event with 144 golfers. This event was such a memorable day for making long-lasting connections and sharing our collective support for the exciting things happening in the Westfield business community! We are grateful to be able to continue our beloved tradition year after year.
Thank you to our Title Sponsors Abbott, Bondry Consulting, City of Westfield, Community First Bank of Indiana, and Community Health Network and to all of our event sponsors for making this all happen. Our team already looks forward to next year’s outing and what we can do to make it even bigger and better!
Congratulations to the Gaylor Electric team for coming in first place and to Lake City Bank for winning Best Hole Sponsor!
Join Downtown Westfield Association in our mission to endow, enhance, and enrich Westfield! Dinner Party on Union returns on September 13 from 611pm. Seated throughout the length of Union Street in Westfield, guests will enjoy an entertaining evening filled with gourmet eats, live music, and a silent auction! If you are interested in attending or learning more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact dwa@westfieldchamberindy.com.
About the Chamber
Westfield is a rapidly expanding community, and we want to see every business succeed. Joining the Westfield Chamber helps you to gain key relationships, an awareness of new opportunities, and access to valuable resources. If you are new to the city or interested in what the Chamber can do for you, please visit our website to learn how to get more involved!
CASTING CREATIVITY
THE INDIANA FLYBRARY PROJECT CONNECTS ART, CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY
Writer / Alli Donovan Photographer / Tom Klubens
When Noblesville resident Jeff Pass first picked up a fly rod, he didn’t realize it would lead to a statewide art and conservation movement. But just months after brainstorming his initial ideas, Pass is building a network of communal fly-fishing art installations, known as Flybraries, with a mission to connect Hoosiers to their parks, waterways and each other.
Launched in late 2024, the Indiana Flybrary Project is the brainchild of Pass’s own journey
through healing, creativity and a lifelong connection to the outdoors. After serving 17 years in the military and facing mental health challenges following his medical retirement, he turned to fishing as a form of therapy. Weekly trips to the water became a grounding routine - one that soon intersected with his other passion: making art.
“I was dealing with a lot of mental health issues, so I started prioritizing my mental health by fishing at least once a week,” Pass
shares. “It gave me clarity, and it gave me a new way to think about how we connect with each other.”
Inspired by the original Flybrary Project created by Tailer Trash Fishing in Florida, Pass began crafting a localized version for Indiana in November 2024. By December he had already started prototyping the first box. Fast-forward to this spring, and his first community fundraiser is now behind him, with a long list of cities and parks lined up to
Jeff Pass with on of his prototype "Flybrary" painted by Noblesville artist Liz Hamstra
bring Flybraries to life - including right here in Hamilton County.
At its core, the Flybrary Project is simple but powerful: small wooden boxes placed in public parks, each stocked with handcrafted fishing flies and designed as communal “Take-A-Fly, Leave-A-Fly” hubs. But these aren’t just tackle stations; they’re public art pieces, designed and built by local woodworkers, decorated by Indiana artists, and engraved with messages about conservation, licensing and how to get involved in the local arts scene.
Pass envisions each Flybrary as a permanent fixture in its park - a way to highlight local talent, promote sustainable outdoor recreation and remind visitors that conservation is a shared responsibility. “I would really like to see people continue getting involved in our local conservation,” he says. “Flybraries are a creative and community-driven way to do that.”
The project is already in motion with confirmed and potential locations across Indiana, including Noblesville, Bloomington, Marion, Brookville, Monroe Tailwaters and Fairfax Beach. Pass is especially excited about collaborating with Indy’s creative community to bring ecofriendly woodworking and artistic design to future boxes.
Each Flybrary will serve as a collaborative community hub, spotlighting the contributions of local artists, guides and conservation groups to inspire deeper connection and involvement. As new Flybraries are completed, they’ll be added to a national registry, drawing fly-fishing enthusiasts and curious travelers who often go out of their way to visit these unique community landmarks. Ongoing fundraising efforts will support the longterm maintenance and restocking of each installation.
Pass’s vision goes far beyond the act of
casting a line. It’s about building something lasting and inclusive, something that invites people to connect with nature, creativity and one another.
Pass is actively seeking artists, woodworkers, donors and community partners to continue bringing the Flybrary Project to life across Indiana. To learn more or get involved, visit jeffpassdesigns.com/ indiana-flybrary.
WESTFIELD WASHINGTON SCHOOLS APPOINTS NEW SUPERINTENDENT
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Earlier this year, with the announcement of Westfield Washington Schools Superintendent Paul Kaiser’s retirement, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. John Atha was appointed to the position, officially starting July 1, 2025.
Atha has been an educator for more than three decades, serving as a teacher, coach, principal and assistant superintendent in Noblesville Schools, Bishop Chatard High School, Avon Community School Corporation, St. Theodore Guerin High School and, for the past four years, with Westfield Washington Schools.
He hopes to continue some of the momentum already in progress at Westfield and plans for the future success of the
district, too.
“We want to continue to focus on our core mission, which is learning, but we’ve also recently completed what we call the Life Ready Shamrock Academy. It focuses on three areas: academics, careers and wellness. An educated workforce is the best workforce, so we not only want to prepare our students academically but with employability skills and the soft skills they will need in the future,” Atha said.
As the fastest-growing city in the state, Atha said that also makes them the fastestgrowing school district, and they will continue building a master strategic plan for the projected growth.
Currently, the district welcomes more than
10,000 students. In the past four years, it has grown by more than 1,700 students and, with the new neighborhoods coming in, they expect to serve 16,000 to 18,000 students in the next 20 to 25 years.
“We need to make sure we have the facilities, but that’s probably the easy part. The difficult part is to ensure that we continue to hire the best. We believe we have some of the best educators in the state, if not the country, and as you grow, you need to continue to attract the best and retain the best, so that will be another focus of ours,” Atha said.
As a coach and the assistant superintendent overseeing professional learning communities and collaborative team leaders, Atha knows the importance of
supporting teachers and offering continued professional development to create an atmosphere welcoming to both teachers and students.
His father was also a coach and school administrator. It provided Atha with a unique way of looking at leadership.
“My dad raised me to be a great teammate, and he taught me that everybody needs a coach, so we try to provide our teachers in each school with a coach that supports them and helps them get better each day,” Atha said. “I think that’s what I was meant to do. Instead of coaching athletic teams now, I coach principals and help coach teachers so they can be the best version of themselves.”
He said teaching is a profession that doesn’t often provide immediate feedback, recalling a young student delivering his valedictorian speech several years ago.
“I taught advanced algebra at the middle
school, and five years later, one of my students graduated valedictorian. He mentioned me in his speech, and I happened to be at the commencement,” Atha said. “It took five years to hear that feedback, so there’s definitely a joy in seeing former students and where they are today. There’s a retired superintendent that said, ‘You don’t get to choose what students remember,’ so the goal is to stay focused on the positive and create memories that send them in a positive direction.”
Most of all, Atha is looking forward to collaborating and partnering with leadership in the community, staff at the Westfield Washington Schools and those at home, too.
“We know parents and caregivers are the first educators of their kids, and it’s our job to partner with them in that endeavor to provide support, especially in those academic areas,” Atha said. “We want to create a strong community with a sense
of belonging for all of our families to feel welcomed, and the key to that is building successful relationships and preparing our students for the future.”
ARTISTIC EVOLUTION
NOBLESVILLE CREATES A VIBRANT ARTS SCENE IN HAMILTON COUNTY
Writer / Melissa Gibson
There’s no question that art in public spaces is desired by many communities across the country. It defines cultural districts and recognizes what local artists bring to their communities.
Leaders in Hamilton County have set out to make a difference in the artistic arena.
Founded by Hamilton County Tourism in 2012 as a way to support art organizations, Nickel Plate Arts was rebranded in 2024 as Noblesville Creates, signaling the belief that Noblesville is set to be the next creative environment where artists thrive.
“We have two historic buildings in Noblesville with two gallery spaces and seven artist studios between the two buildings,” said Executive Director Ailithir McGill. “We hold events, classes and workshops on campus, and in addition, we run two gallery spaces in
Fishers and assist with their Art in City Hall program.”
Their passion and partnerships with the Indiana Arts Commission and artists across the state prompted a regional aim to influence conversations throughout Indiana.
“We offer a service to cities to help them develop an art plan, like a master plan for your community,” McGill said. “We want to look at how to engage and find ways to put public art into your long-range comprehensive plan.”
According to McGill, studies show large areas of growth in the creative middle class and a generation of young professionals will be looking to launch creative businesses. In turn, they’ll be looking for the right location to do so.
“Indiana wants to position themselves to be competitive in that market,” McGill said. “Carmel, for example, is internationally known for being a growing suburban community and the arts have been used effectively there. Big companies no longer see outdoor spaces, trails and art opportunities as amenities. They see it as necessities.”
Closer to home, the City of Noblesville recently asked Noblesville Creates to update the Master Arts Plan. The last time they did so was to develop the cultural district downtown. This time they’re looking at other districts to discover what is still missing.
“It’s a good time to take stock of what’s next, and look at how can we use a new vibe or the arts in different ways so we can build in other areas of town,” McGill said. “It’s really exciting that our elected officials and city staff recognize how important this is going to be for our future.”
The writing is on the wall. McGill said every single day, Noblesville Creates receives a phone call from a local artist, asking how he or she can get plugged in to all the creative things happening in the area.
“They are going to be seen as culture drivers - really valuable assets,” McGill said. “They are going to define what it means to be from Westfield or Noblesville, and it’s going to be so cool to watch the next five to 10 years as it transforms.”
OPEN DOORS OF WESTFIELD
Writer / Stephanie Duncan
Food insecurity affects everyone, and Open Doors of Westfield has a mission to provide resources to families in need, especially as we head into the summer months. Open Doors is a nonprofit clothes and food pantry that helps clients residing in the Washington Township of Westfield by providing food and clothing. It is entirely run by volunteers.
Food pantries like Open Doors usually receive most donations during the fall and winter holidays. Still, for the summer, they need to restock food to support families with children who rely on breakfast and lunch programs during the school year.
Ann Godby is a volunteer coordinator at Open Doors and has been volunteering her time since it started 35 years ago. She explained the importance of the food pantry during the summer. Open Doors provides food bags for weekend meals to 175 school kids from food-insecure families in the community.
“We do extra kids’ bags filled with lunch
items, cereal and milk. It just depends on what we have, but we try to keep those pretty full,” Godby said.
Open Doors also relies on community partners and businesses to donate food, and it organizes events like food drives to engage the community. In May, volunteers folded 90,000 Meijer bags that were delivered by mail and then picked up by postal workers.
“Last year, we received over 36,000 pounds of food,” Godby explained.
Founded by Joe and Alice Trentman in 1990 with the help of eight community churches, it now has 15 member churches, community support from local organizations, and donations and match programs from local grocery stores like Kroger and Meijer.
Families who qualify for assistance fill out a monthly shopping list that provides them with 1-2 weeks of food staples. Families get four additional opportunities each month to shop in the lobby area, which has fresh produce, deli items, and a variety of other
packaged food. A clothing pantry is also open during any visit.
They have different programs throughout the year to keep families supported. Currently, they are prepping for a backto-school event, providing participating families with school supplies, backpacks, school T-shirts for spirit days, socks and underwear. Open Doors will host the backpack giveaway on Aug. 2.
With over 130 volunteers, Godby is proud of Open Doors’ impact on the community.
“There’s always challenges, but I know that we are helping people,” Godby says. “All of our volunteers that come in are so great and everybody works well together. The community is very supportive.”
In 2015, the school corporation donated a 5,000-square-foot building next to Monon Trail Elementary School. The space includes a lobby, meeting rooms, a food pantry and a warehouse.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Open Doors is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers year-round. A list of current volunteer openings can be found online at opendoorswestfield.org/ programs/pantry-positions-descriptions.
Looking for a way to help by donating? Non-perishable food items are always welcome, and Open Doors keeps an updated list of current and timely supply
needs on its website. If you’re looking for an item that is always needed, Godby emphasizes the ongoing need for toilet paper or paper towels since those aren’t common items that get donated but are needed by food pantries.
Washington Township residents can find the application form and more information about the requirements at opendoorswestfield.org/our-clients.
Once approved, they can begin receiving assistance free of charge.
Open Doors is located at 19360 Tomlinson Rd. and is now open Monday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. To volunteer at the pantry or donate, visit opendoorswestfield.org or call 317-867-8670.
SWITCH-RITE SIMPLIFIES LIGHTING
INDIANA FATHER-SON DUO REDESIGNS LIGHT SWITCH PLATES FOR FUNCTION AND STYLE
Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographer / Robert Jones
If you’ve ever stayed in an Airbnb or VRBO rental, you’ve likely spent several minutes figuring out the lights — which switch goes to which room or lighting source.
In homes with open floor plans, it’s not uncommon to see four or five switches to control three connecting rooms. In the past, we’d break out the masking tape and mark which switch worked for what, right?
Tom Cox and his son, Chris, have an alternative for this.
“I’ve been a home builder since 1999 and a carpenter before that, and I’ve always had an interest in mechanical things. It’s a rewarding process to put together a project with all of the trades involved,” Tom Cox said. “One of the silly little problems we’d encounter was when a customer has meticulously labeled all the switches, and one time, I was asked if there was any better method. To be quite honest, the answer was ‘no.’ Even the best labeling attempt looks a little goofy compared to this nice, new home you’ve built.”
Cox was convinced there must be a way to create a switch plate that included an identifier, and seven years ago, he started the tedious process of drawing, sketching and brainstorming.
“My son was exiting the service and getting married. He moved back to Indiana and wanted to work with me, so I thought, maybe now is the time,” Cox said. “We started with the patent attorney, then the engineering process and met with mold manufacturers. We were able to utilize
resources right here in Indiana from design, engineering, mold production, testing and adjustments.”
Switch-Rite provides light switches with a label or plastic insert flush with the plate, identifying what room or device the switch operates.
Customers have the option of choosing inserts like “Living Room” and “Office,” but also “Fireplace,” “Ceiling Fan” and “Stairs.”
They even improved the classic light switch plate to solve more problems than just the
labeling itself.
“When I would turn over a new home to the customer, I’d walk through it with a very detailed list of things, and you want to provide something that’s new and aesthetically pleasing,” Cox said. “We made these switch plates slightly deeper than what you normally find because a conventional plate is about 30/100 of an inch from meeting the wall. It used to drive me nuts. The solution to that was to caulk, but when we developed this, we also made sure we had plenty of room for our label and everything to fit properly.”
As of August 2024, the Switch-Rite product has been made available to homeowners, but they’re concentrating on new builders, hotels and rental companies too.
“Our main goal is to create awareness. I think a lot of people simply don’t realize this is available yet. It’s something that’s always intrigued me. If we turned this or moved this over a little, it would look so much nicer, so we’re just tweaking things to make it a little better,” Cox said.
Visit lightswitchlabels.com to order or for more information.
Custom Closets, Garage Cabinets, Home Offices, Laundries, Pantries, Wall Beds, and more!
POOLWERX EXPANDS TO WESTFIELD
NEW LOCATION OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE POOL SERVICES
Writer / Natalie Platt
Poolwerx, the globally recognized pool service and retail franchise, has recently expanded its footprint to Westfield, marking a significant milestone in its strategic growth beyond traditional Sun Belt markets. The largest pool service franchise in the world, with a vast network of franchise partners and mobile techs, has now added a retail location at 222 W. 161st Street in Westfield.
The newest Midwest location offers a comprehensive suite of services, including in-store water testing, weekly maintenance, equipment repair and replacement, liner installations, leak detection and hot tub services. The move into Westfield addresses a growing need for reliable pool maintenance solutions in the Midwest, as the original Poolwerx store in the greater Indianapolis area was started in Noblesville by a local native.
Jessica Thomas, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran and Indiana native, leads the new Westfield franchise, along with the Noblesville franchise that opened in 2024. Born and raised here, Thomas moved back to the area
over a decade ago after serving in the U.S. Coast Guard.
“I have wanted to own a business for years,” Thomas says. “I just did not know what I was good at that was worth turning into a business. I initially looked into opening a franchise coffee shop, but when those plans fell through, I was connected with a franchise consultant who helped me find Poolwerx.”
Thomas was immediately impressed by the Poolwerx brand, its proven track record and the promise of support. Within a week of visiting the support center in Dallas, she was already reviewing the agreement to start the Noblesville location. Now, as the franchise partner and owner of Poolwerx Noblesville and Poolwerx Westfield, Thomas finds fulfillment in providing a positive experience for all her clients.
For residents in Westfield and surrounding areas, Poolwerx offers a trusted solution for maintaining healthy, sparkling pools and spas. As the brand continues to grow,
its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction remains at the forefront of its operations. Known for their friendly customer service, Thomas emphasizes employee training with a focus on customer satisfaction.
“We really try our best to focus on customer satisfaction and have been able to hire some great people with good communication skills who understand the importance of customer service,” Thomas says. “Those are things you can’t train—I can teach you how to clean a pool, I’m proof of that. But the other things, you just can’t—and we really want our customer service to shine.”
Poolwerx goes beyond servicing pools or selling chemicals; the team is available to offer advice and support to ensure customers have a healthy pool to enjoy. After all, a pool is an investment and deserves the utmost attention. Poolwerx clients don’t just value clean water, they value clean, healthy water.
“Caring for your pool is our passion,”
Thomas says. “You can trust the team at Poolwerx for quality service and products, so you can experience the healthy pool lifestyle you love with family and friends all year long.”
“It has been rewarding to open a business in the town where I grew up, and a town I didn’t know had so many pools,” she says. “It is fun to feel like we are making a difference where we live. My parents both live close and help out, as well as my kids. My fiancé, Jason, is my business partner and my biggest supporter in and out of work.”
The Poolwerx Westfield grand opening party last month had close to 100 friends
and family members in attendance, a testament to Thomas’ hard work and the Poolwerx brand.
“Coffee and my family keep me going day in and day out,” Thomas says. “I really want to build a business here that has a great reputation and serves the residents of Noblesville and Westfield well.”
The newest Poolwerx is located in Spring Mill Commons at 222 W. 161st St., Westfield, IN 46074. You can learn more at poolwerx.com/locations/indiana/ poolwerx-westfield or by calling the store at (317) 376-3428.
Jason Bunker and Jessica Thomas
EXPANDING ROOTS
WESTFIELD PLANT SHOP BLENDS NATURE AND COMMUNITY IN NEW SIX-ACRE SPACE
Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographers / Robert Jones
Angela Gapinski is a fourth-generation gardener. She grew up in the greenhouse industry, and her family owns Heartland Growers in Westfield. It’s safe to say tending to plants is in her blood but has always been her passion, too.
As an adult, Gapinski opened two stores: Root 31, a plant shop, and Remedy, a gift shop.
Though both have been open for business for six years, last summer Gapinski snagged her dream location and recently moved.
“I grew up right around the corner from this house that belonged to a gentleman who was a scientist at Eli Lilly. He was also a hobby gardener and designed and built this home for his love of plants. It’s got tons of windows facing south and west, and it was just the coolest,” Gapinski said. “My dad used to slow down the vehicle as we drove by just so I could look at this cool house.”
When her mom saw the listing for the house, she raced to the open house, knowing it was the perfect spot to put both stores under one roof.
The home, built in 1970, required necessary updates, but Gapinski and her husband wanted to pay homage to the era. They kept the blueprint of the home nearly identical, only adding accessible entrances and widening doorways for customers.
“This is seven times larger than the place we were previously,” Gapinski said. “It’s on six acres that we hope to grow into in the future. We keep joking that we’ll unlock a new level every so often as we fix things up and work on the property. It’ll be little by little but fun to watch as it evolves and changes over the years.”
For now, when you walk into Root 31, the variety of plants — from the tried-and-true house plants to the more rare and unique — will satisfy beginners and experienced gardeners alike. There are cut flowers and a stem bar where customers can buy flowers by the stem and build their own bouquets or ask the staff for assistance.
The gift store side offers rocks, crystals, candles, incense and handmade items from local businesses, including honey, tea, ceramic mugs and pottery.
An entire wall at the store displays artwork, blending together to create an environment that is peaceful and healing for many.
“Our old gift store was called Remedy because it’s just that — things we want to pick up when we’re looking for respite or to brighten our day. I’ve collected my favorite things over the years,” Gapinski said. “For example, my husband and I stayed at an Airbnb in Joshua Tree National Park, and there was a beautiful candle there. I had to hunt down that local candle maker, and it’s one of our best-selling candles here at Root 31.”
The new location at 17808 Grassy Branch Road in Westfield is truly a game changer, according to Gapinski.
Not only have regular customers followed Gapinski to her new spot, but new customers are also discovering it every day. The vibe has changed naturally.
“Now, they come and hang out. They sit on the couch and talk for a bit. It feels different than the typical shopping experience,” Gapinski said.
They plan to develop the property and offer space and opportunities to the community moving forward.
“We want this to be a space for the community to come together, maybe take a class or a workshop. We want a space that feels like we’re welcoming you into our home — not just a store environment,” Gapinski said. “I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to do so far and look forward to what’s to come.” Visit shoproot31.com for more information.
SMILO TOOTHBRUSH DESIGN
WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
Writer / Renée Larr
While most high school sophomores are juggling schoolwork and extracurriculars, Westfield High School students Rayan Elbanhawy and Ritvik Bhatia are doing all that while simultaneously launching an oral health care tech startup.
Their company, Smilo, is the result of a semester-long entrepreneurship class that challenges students to design and build a business from scratch. After early ideas fell flat for each, the duo joined forces and brainstormed a list of everyday problems. One that stood out to them was oral health.
“Instead of just coming up with random ideas, we made a list of things that bother us,” Elbanhawy says. “Oral health was at the top, and we realized there was a real opportunity there.”
From that insight came Smilo, a smart toothbrush concept with one major innovation: an oral scanner. Smilo actively creates a 3D model of the user’s teeth using infrared scanning and a small camera, setting it apart from other smart brushes that only monitor brushing habits or time spent brushing. The companion app would then analyze this model to detect signs of plaque buildup, inflammation and potentially even early-stage cavities.
The team’s goal goes beyond just detection — they want to create an app experience that empowers users to understand and improve their oral health. Using AI, the Smilo app would interpret scan results, provide feedback and suggest treatments or next steps. A special feature for families is also in the works: a kids’ program that allows parents to monitor their children’s brushing habits and reward consistency with a points-based system.
“We think this could really change the game,” Bhatia says. “There are smart toothbrushes out there, but none that give you actual diagnostic insight into your oral health. This could help catch problems before they become expensive or painful.”
Their idea has already generated buzz. After placing in the top 15 of Westfield High School’s innovation competition, Smilo advanced to the semifinal round hosted by the Westfield Chamber of Commerce, where they were selected as one of the top five teams. That recognition came with more than bragging rights. It also included funding to build a prototype and valuable mentorship from local business leaders.
“One of the judges approached us after the presentation and offered to connect us with someone in the toothpaste industry,” Elbanhawy says. “The support from the community has been amazing.”
The final round is on May 15 and is a “Shark Tank”-style pitch event at the Westfield High School auditorium. While they hope to win, the pair says they plan to pursue Smilo no matter the outcome.
“We’ve talked to dentists, teachers and others in health care, and the feedback has been really positive,” Bhatia says. “We believe in this, and we’re going to keep going.”
Smilo is still in early development. The pair is refining the prototype and building out the app experience. For now, those interested can follow their progress on Instagram at @smilo_offical.
As their classmates prepare for summer break, Elbanhawy and Bhatia dive headfirst into startup life, proving that innovation can happen at any age — and that sometimes all it takes is the spark of a good idea and the willingness to create it.
CarDon
Cares Homes Heart with
When Dr. Randy Schroeder arrived at CarDon & Associates’ senior living community in Pendleton, Rawlins House, he was in a rough patch. Severely weak from fighting the lifethreatening condition of bacterial meningitis, he needed maximum assistance with basic movements and daily tasks.
Thanks to the community’s dedicated team of rehab therapists, Randy can now walk up to 200 feet with supervision, climb stairs with minimal help, and manage daily activities on his own. Upon graduating from rehab, he called the community “a gift from God,” praising the staff across all departments.
While Rawlins House helped Randy return home, other CarDon communities have become home to seniors because of the skilled, compassionate care they provide.
STRENGTH & COMFORT IN CARE
Like many seniors, Donald Wilson was initially hesitant to enter senior living and accept assistance. Now, he’s been living at CarDon’s Altenheim community for more than six months and feeling right at home.
“My dad is an old-fashioned, do-it-himself kind of man, so he sometimes has a hard time asking for help or embracing it,” Robert said. “But the nurses here make him feel comfortable with that. I trust that he’s in good hands when I’m not here, and that’s the best feeling for a family member to have.”
As with the majority of CarDon’s communities, Altenheim provides independent and assisted living as well as rehab, memory support, on-site dialysis and 24/7 long-term care that not only fulfills residents’ daily needs with dignity but keeps them active and engaged. For example, Donald loves building puzzles and attending the community’s music therapy classes, which CarDon offers on the basis that music is scientifically proven to improve memory and overall cognition in seniors. During these classes, the instructor encourages residents to sing and dance to favorite tunes from their past.
Of course, CarDon’s rehab programs keep residents spry as well. With state-of-the-art gyms and highly trained physical, occupational and speech therapists equipped to guide residents through recovery, CarDon’s communities see daily success stories.
Delivering rehab therapy and long term care is more than a job for CarDon team members — it’s their passion.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PLACE
Mary Delaney also spoke of the relief she felt knowing that staff would always be around to assist her mother at CarDon’s Carmel Health & Living.
From the nurses safely positioning her mother’s wheelchair to a cafeteria employee always being ready to serve her decaf coffee, Mary said every member of the community’s staff made a positive impact every day.
From the moment Mary stepped into Carmel Health & Living, she was welcomed with open arms, which she didn’t expect when she spontaneously decided to schedule a tour of the community on a Sunday afternoon. From that first moment, she knew her mother would be in good hands.
Mary elaborated: “Other senior communities are appealing on a surface level. They have the gourmet meals, the nice tile, the flowers on the tables. But they don’t have the level of care that CarDon has.”
The people here make all the difference.
(317) 514-9522 When you’re having a baby, highly skilled care you can trust changes everything. In Indiana, more moms trust Indiana University Health to deliver their babies than anyone else in the state. We give moms-to-be our unwavering commitment to compassionate, safe and quality care. Moms give our highly skilled OB/GYNs 4.8 out of 5 stars. Moms know best. Find your highly skilled OB/GYN at iuhealth.org/moms.
