Broad Ripple Magazine October 2015

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OCTOBER 2015 MAGAZINE

Living LegendDICK PASSWATER

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25LIVING LEGEND: DICK PASSWATERWriter / Kara Reibel

Broad Ripple native and NASCAR Living Legend Dick Passwater leaves legacy of personal auto service on the Broad Ripple strip.

PUBLISHERTom Garriott

[email protected] / 317-797-8135

TOWNEPOST PUBLISHERTom Britt


BUSINESS MANAGER Jeanne Britt


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CREATIVE DIRECTOR Alyssa Sander

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EDITORKatelyn Bausman

OCT. WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORSDan Wakefield / Janet C. Striebel /

Jennifer Lear / Joshua Deisler / Kara Reibel / Mary Ryan

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COVER STORY

DEPARTMENTS 6 The Lost Art of Letter Writing

10 The Rotary Club of Indianapolis Inspires a Call to Action

13 Open Society Pop Up Dinner

14 Urban Farming with Backyard Chickens

18 "Three Jews Walked Into A Shopping Center..."

22 Hunting Pumpkins

28 WriteStuff Writers Presents "Across the Arts" Conference at Crosspoint

32 It Began With Family

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MAGAZINE


COMINGHOMEDAN WAKEFIELD

THE LOST ART OF LETTER WRITING

Who would have dreamed that one of the brightest lights of Southern literature and a California writer of hard-boiled detective novels would become fast friends and establish a loving relationship for the rest of their lives?

That’s what happened when Eudora Welty, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and Ross Macdonald, winner of multiple Edgar awards for best mystery novel and a Grand Master of Mystery Writing, accidentally met at The Algonquin Hotel after exchanging fan letters for their books. They regretted they lived so far apart – she in Jackson, Mississippi, and he in Santa Barbara, California. Macdonald wrote her in consolation, “Meanwhile, there are letters.”

Without this marvelous book of letters (“Meanwhile There Are Letters: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and Ross Macdonald,” edited by Suzanne Marrs and Tom Nolan), readers and admirers of those two fine writers and their loving friendship would never be fully known.

I can’t help thinking there will soon be very few books of letters. Can you imagine rushing out to read a book called ’Meanwhile There Are Emails"? (Or better still, “Meanwhile There Are Tweets”?) The only such book I can imagine might be published would be “The Deleted Emails of Hillary Clinton” from her time as Secretary of State.

No matter how talented the writer, an email is just not the format

for developing complex moods, landscapes and the insights that grow from meditative writing. One of the most beautiful and profound passages in Welty’s letters develops from her thoughts while going north on the train past Cairo, Illinois, and seeing from the high railroad bridge the place where the Ohio and Mississippi and a small local river come together.

In the sky, a long ragged V of birds flies south with the river: “I kept hearing in my head all the way that beautiful word ‘confluence’ – ‘the confluence of the waters’ – everything the eyes could see was like the world happening. . .It may not be so rare, but I thought so then and I think so now – it’s all so rarely the blessing falls.”

What a wonderful concept – those rare times when “the blessing falls,” when we sense a kind of beauty and harmony in life. I doubt that such “blessing falls” in emails, much less Tweets or Instagram posts. We now live in a constant state of Twitter, our attention attacked at every point, fragmented by instant messages, images, apps and Tweets, leaving no space for contemplation, or even at times, it seems, for breathing.

As I lament the loss of letter writing, I confess to my own guilt. I haven’t written what I think of as “a real letter” – words on paper, folded into an envelope, affixed with a stamp and put in a mailbox or taken to the post office – in more than a year. That last letter went to my old minister and friend in Boston, one of the few of even my own lofty age who still writes letters. He even writes them with a pen with his own hand. I haven’t even been able to bring myself to answer by tapping the keys of my computer and printing out a page or two of personal news and thoughts.

A few years ago, a friend from my time in “New York in the Fifties” sent me a packet of letters I had written to him and his wife in the ‘50s and ‘60s. His wife had recently died, and she had saved those letters. My old friend was thoughtful enough to send them to me in a package – the kind of gesture that was made by people who had the time and made the effort to give something of personal value to someone who they knew would appreciate it.

I was amazed when I read the letters I wrote – they were like personal essays, full of news, humor, opinions, questions – nor were mine all that unique. Everyone I knew wrote letters like that. It was an art that seems to be lost. The letters in the marvelous Welty-Macdonald book are letters written in the ‘70s – before the advent of email.

Photo: Tim Halcomb/The Star 1993 file



Seven years ago, I was honored to be given the job of finding, assembling and introducing a book of Kurt Vonnegut letters. To tell the truth, I thought it would be pretty easy. All you had to do was go to the archives and track down Vonnegut’s letters and put them in order and write an introductory essay.

Not so fast! Vonnegut didn’t keep copies of any of the letters he wrote. (I knew that firsthand as I once asked him for a copy of a letter of recommendation he had written for me, and essentially he said too bad, that one I sent you is all there is.)After I tracked down a major batch of letters, which came from a wide variety of archives, writers, friends and family, I had to make choices from more than 500 plus letters to retain the ones that maintained the flow of his life and seemed most relevant to his life and work. After that, more were cut by the publisher.

After writing my personal/professional introduction, I still felt something was missing from the book. I have always been frustrated with books of letters that leave you in the middle feeling lost – where was the writer of the letters at the time he was writing and what was going on in his or her life in the context of any particular letter I was reading?

For the sake of the reader, I wrote an introduction to each decade – from the ‘40s when he wrote his first letter home after being a P.O.W. in World War II to the last decade of his life, “The Two Thousands.”

That decade began with a letter to his daughter Edie, a painter. (Her painting of “Adam and Eve” has been hanging in all of my many living rooms since 1971, from Boston and Los Angeles to Miami and Indianapolis.)

In that letter Kurt wrote to Edie on January 1, 2000, he told about someone sending him a picture of his father, the architect, and noted that “Father, like you, was a good citizen, a founder, among other virtuous activities, of the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, one of the best in the world, and designer of a landmark clock at the corner of Washington and Meridian Streets, in the precise

corner of town, which intersection was and may still be called ‘The Crossroads of America.’”

He went on to tell Edie that he had been in Indianapolis that past June, “and I walked under that clock, and I looked up at it, and I said out loud ‘Hi, Dad.’”

His last letter in my book was written to a Cornell professor, saying he was unable to come and give a talk at the university. He ended it “But God bless you for being a teacher. . .”

Much of the spirit of the man is in those few lines to his daughter and to the Cornell professor. You can get a deeper and more accurate picture of Vonnegut’s life from reading his letters than from any biography. The letters portray his triumphs and tragedies, his deep loyalties and friendships, from high school pals and sons and daughters to famous writers, and his passionate causes, from defending freedom of speech to pleas for saving the planet, all in his own inimitable voice and style.

Letters say who we are, an identity that can’t be summed up in a Tweet. Try writing a letter today to someone you love! Write it on paper, put it in an envelope, put a stamp on it and drop it in a mailbox. You’ll be doing yourself and your friend a favor. I promise to do it myself.

Dan Wakefield’s books include “Going All The Way” and “Under The Apple Tree: A World War II Home Front Novel.”

DAN’S UPCOMING APPEARANCESOCTOBER 3 [SATURDAY]2 p.m. Knox County Public Library507 N. 7th St.Vincennes

OCTOBER 10 [SATURDAY]11 a.m.-12 p.m.Fisher’s Booktober FestFishers City Complex

5 Municipal Drive

OCTOBER 21 [WEDNESDAY]6 p.m.Dallas World War II Round TableDallas, TX

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Dan Wakefield moved back to Indianapolis four years ago. The Broad Ripple native is a celebrated author, journalist, screenwriter, teacher and friend. Follow him on Facebook and visit DanWakefield.com for his blog and additional information. His book, “Under the Apple Tree,” was just re-released.


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THE ROTARY CLUB OF INDIANAPOLIS INSPIRES A CALL TO ACTION

Ramona Adams, account executive with RJE Business Interiors, VP of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis and Indy Do Day co-chair with Matt Burnett, VP of City Securities and past President of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis.

atBrip.com / OCTOBER 2015 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / 1110 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2015 / atBRip.com

Writer / Kara Reibel Photos / Photographer Brian Brosmer; Provided

Rotary International’s motto is “Service Above Self.” Nowhere is this more evident than with their ultimate service project, Indy Do Day.

“Joining Rotary is one of the best decisions I ever made,” shares Ramona Adams, account executive with RJE Business Interiors and VP of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis as well as Indy Do Day co-chair. "Rotary has made me a better person, and Indy Do Day is our signature event that we facilitate for the city. Indy Do Day enables organizations to work together, building better relationships and has a positive impact in our city.”

Indy Do Day is a community partnership October 1-3 led by the Rotary Club of Indianapolis and involves any and every organization and individual who wishes to enroll.

“Indianapolis is one of the most civically minded cities in the United States,” states Matt Burnett, VP of City Securities and past President of the Rotary Club of Indianapolis.

Eli Lilly’s Global Day of Service falls on Indy Do Day. Several years ago, Lilly’s concentrated efforts for beautification along I-70 were well-publicized. Since then, Indy Do Day has evolved to encompass countless organizations, encouraging grassroots efforts to help our neighborhoods across the city of Indianapolis and beyond.

It all began when a dozen community leaders determined the best way to create awareness of building strong communities from the inside out was to create a day where residents care for their communities. A few years ago when the Rotary Club turned 100, they were looking for a signature project and now coordinate Indy Do Day for Indianapolis and surrounding areas.

“Rotary fits the classic ‘you get more than you give’ rule,” says Burnett. “The networking and volunteer opportunities create a great experience.”

There are 35,000 Rotary clubs worldwide in over 200 countries. The Indianapolis club is one of the 15th largest in the world. There are countless volunteer opportunities annually, including direct involvement with projects in Haiti and Zimbabwe where Rotarians are building clean water purifications systems.

“It starts locally, and we ask questions such as ‘Will it build goodwill and better friendships?’ and ‘Will it be beneficial to all concerned?’” says Burnett.

The spirit of Indy Do Day is contagious. With many different projects to chose from on their website and the opportunity to create your own, the options to get involved are endless. The goal is to Do something good for our community.

Sigma Theta Tau International participating in Indy Do Day


For schools and smaller organizations, Indy Do Day is a wonderful opportunity for community outreach and experience with project management.

“An individual, a group of friends or an organization can participate in a variety of ways,” says Adams. “Services or supplies for a project can be donated, so no one has to feel they cannot participate if there is a physical reason or time element. And you don’t have to be a member of the Rotary to participate.”

What will you Do on October 1-3?

The Rotary Club of Indianapolis meets for lunch every Tuesday at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. With weekly meetings, everyone does not attend each week but when their schedules allow. Past speakers have included NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Calvin Klein, Andrew Luck and Tom Linebarger, CEO of Cummins.

For more information, please visit indydoday.org. and indyrotary.com.

“INDY DO DAY IS A PEOPLE-POWERED COMMUNITY DAY OF SERVICE WHEN THE RESIDENTS OF INDIANAPOLIS TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR NEIGHBORS.” – INDYDODAY.ORG

Damar at 2014's Indy Do Day

Damar at 2014's Indy Do Day


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The Open Society team came together to host a pre-opening tasting menu to showcase the style and culture of their concept over the weekend of September 11-12. Both evenings were filled with cocktails, Champagne toasts, a five course menu with wine pairings and coffee.

The weekend was conceptualized by Brian Baker (Open Society Founder) to start the momentum for The Open Society Public House as they begin construction for the permanent location at 4850 N. College Ave.

Rachel Kim (Open Society Bar Director) flew in from New York City to run the bar, Natalie Roth (Open Society Coffee Bar Director) was slinging coffee, Conrad Riser (Maître d’ and Brian’s business partner) ran service while Chef Timmy Brater conquered the kitchen.

Open Society will host these dinners repetitively until they are open at 49th and College at the beginning of 2016.

OPEN SOCIETY POP UP DINNER

Sally (left) and daughter Sophie are seen with 2 of the 3 factory rescues that had been debeaked prior to their family getting them.



URBAN FARMING WITH BACKYARD CHICKENSWriter / Janet C. Striebel

As you’ve seen in the grocery store, there are many labels appearing on eggs these days, such as cage-free, free-range and humanely-raised. These alternative methods have come about ever since people started becoming aware of the treatment of egg-laying hens, like how they’re confined to battery cages without room to spread their wings.

According to humanesociety.org, on average, each egg-laying hen is confined to only 67 square inches of cage space, less than the size of a letterhead piece of paper, in which she’s expected to live her whole life. Sadly, caged hens are among the most confined animals in agribusiness and are also denied their most natural behaviors such as perching, nesting and dust bathing.

Some people have decided to raise chickens in their own backyards not only to guarantee healthy eggs but also to feel comfort in knowing they’re helping egg-laying hens lead happier lives.

“One of the biggest misconceptions is that you need a rooster to help a hen lay eggs,” says Sally Summitt, owner of five backyard chickens in a neighborhood near Speedway. “You only need a rooster if you want baby chicks. A hen will automatically lay eggs for food, and each hen will produce about 200-250 eggs per year.”

Sally became interested in raising chickens when she learned about the treatment of chickens and how they can peck themselves to death when living in tight quarters. She is an animal lover as she also grooms dogs in Fishers at Bridgeview Grooming.

“Many may not know that the eggs at the grocery store may be up to six months old," she says. "I felt that I could do a little bit by having our own fresh eggs and teaching my children that we can feel proud to know we’re allowing chickens to free range and live happier lives.”

Sally pulls the eggs before 6 p.m., rinses them and lays them on the counter. She claims that they’re good for 3-6 weeks without refrigeration. As a test for freshness. she recommends the “float

test” where eggs are submerged in water. If the egg floats, then it is bad. If it sinks to the bottom, then it is fresh.

“My hens don’t make much noise except when they are actually laying an egg,” says Sally. “It reminds me of a kitchen timer as if they’re saying, ‘Dinner’s ready!’”

Two of the five hens that Sally owns are Easter Eggers (type of breed) while the other three are Rhode Island Reds and are rescues from a factory. Unfortunately, the three Reds have damaged beaks. She and her daughter, Sophie, take extra care in feeding these three by providing softer foods that don’t require pecking such as corn cut from the cob and scrambled eggs, believe it or not.

Typical hens without injured beaks will eat vegetables, some fruits, layered, crumbled feed and scrambled eggs. Sally says that chickens

need some grass for consumption and in order to get the bugs. Also they need some type of grit like oyster shells available all the time to help with digestion.

“The interesting thing to me about raising chickens for eggs is that this is how people did it forever until about 50 years ago,” says Cindy Baney, owner of 30 chickens who lives on the unincorporated east side of Fishers near Fortville. “Most folks had a family garden, and many of our parents grew up with chickens.”

Cindy and her family decided they wanted to get the most out of their nutrition after her husband, Steve Baney, was diagnosed with cancer four years ago.

“We chose to begin living a healthier lifestyle. We began looking at our carbon footprints and decided it was time to quit using pesticides, change our ways and become more connected to health,” she says.

Her 16-year-old daughter, Claire, was the motivating force behind their move from a suburban neighborhood to the 3.6 acre farm. Since Claire was active in FFA and 4H, she urged her parents to move so they could have more animals. Now they not only have chickens, but ducks, goats, sheep and a pig. Incidentally, they also have two roosters, so they are raising chicks as well.

“Raising chickens is easy,” says Cindy who provides her chickens with quality feed from Hoosier Heritage Farm (hoosierheritagefarm.com).

Steve built a chicken coop with perches at various levels where the chickens retire for the night.Like clockwork, they seem to know that it’s bedtime as they waddle into their coop each evening at dusk. The coop is where the hens lay their eggs.

“MANY MAY NOT KNOW THAT THE

EGGS AT THE GROCERY STORE MAY BE UP TO SIX

MONTHS OLD. I FELT THAT I COULD DO A

LITTLE BIT BY HAVING OUR OWN FRESH

EGGS AND TEACHING MY CHILDREN THAT

WE CAN FEEL PROUD TO KNOW WE’RE

ALLOWING CHICKENS TO FREE RANGE AND LIVE HAPPIER LIVES.”



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“Our chickens have a great life on a green pasture where they free range,” says Cindy. “They pick out leftover crops from our garden like the tomatoes and help fertilize for our next season.”

Cindy and Steve are both teachers in Hamilton County. Cindy is among one of three teachers out of 30 that raise chickens at Carmel Elementary, where she teaches music.

Another family wanting to raise chickens also lives in the unincorporated Fishers area. “We knew we wanted to raise chickens from the start,” says Shannon Vierling, who owns 12 chickens on four acres near 126th and Cyntheanne. The Vierling family has provided two acres for their chickens to free range.

“I wanted our kids to see the cycle of where our food comes from and how we take care of the animals in order to get our food in return,” she says.

Shannon and her family have raised their chickens from baby chicks and are now reaping the rewards of healthy eggs. She appreciates how Tractor Supply Co. in Noblesville provides the starter kits for raising chickens (tractorsupply.com).

“The chickens are more social and interactive than we thought," says

Shannon. “They are pet-like and follow our son, Luke, around the yard. When he sits upon the swing, the chickens will jump up and sit next to him,” she adds with a laugh.

When asked if she thinks it has been worth it to raise chickens so far, she has no doubt.

“The kids get so excited to bring me the eggs from the coop. It means so much more to them than going to Kroger and grabbing a carton from the shelf…Also they benefit from seeing the care we put into the animals and what we get back in return,” she says.

If you’re interested in raising chickens, check first with your homeowners association and/or your residential regulations and ordinances for raising livestock. Go to backyardchickens.com for more information. This website is helpful to guide beginners on everything from inquiring your local laws to designing your personalized chicken coop.

Janet C. Striebel is a Fishers resident and freelance writer. She and her husband, Doug, have three children: Ryan, Jessica and Justin. She has been writing for atGeist.com for more than seven years and claims that the best part is meeting all the interesting people in her community.

TOWNEPOST NETWORK / OCTOBER 2015 / TownePost.com

A MEMOIR BY ELIZABETH KRAFT TAYLOR

Writer & Photographer / Kara Reibel

Elizabeth Kraft Taylor, known to friends as “Eliz” (Liz), is an indelible mix of grit and elegance. “Three Jews Walked Into A Shopping Center…” is Taylor’s new memoir, recounting amazing life stories that only she could share.

Featured on the back cover of her memoir is a “want ad” she saw in the Chicago Tribune: “Wanted: Creative Director; wild, undisciplined, sometimes rebellious, raw talent seeks leadership.” She says, “I knew it was written for me.”

After working in retail in Chicago, Taylor

was ready for her next challenge. Not surprisingly, she got the job and moved to Indianapolis, starting a career with Melvin Simon & Associates.

“I’d met Melvin, Herb, and Fred 12 years prior to accepting the job at Simon when they visited a grand reopening for Madigan’s, the most successful store in any of their malls, which was the store where I was the Marketing Director in Chicago,” recalls Taylor. “These three Jews walked into the store and became my three wise men.”

Taylor would work for Simon during the golden age of retail during the ’80s and early ’90s. She would be actively involved

with the opening of the Mall of America as well as Circle Centre Mall, the Indiana Roof Ballroom, Embassy Suites Hotel, the Indiana Pacers and many other tremendous marketing events that she staged, raising the bar and attracting retailers such as Nordstrom to Indianapolis.

Taylor has shared so many of her stories over the years, inevitably eliciting the response from her listeners, “Eliz, you should write a book.”

Taylor dedicates the memoir to her three wise men and to Gerald Paul (Paul Harris, where she served on the Board of Directors), Jerry Gershman and to “Jewish men

“THREE JEWS WALKED INTO A SHOPPING CENTER...”

TOWNEPOST NETWORK / OCTOBER 2015 / TownePost.com TownePost.com / OCTOBER 2015 / TOWNEPOST NETWORK

everywhere who give a shiksa a chance.”

Taylor steps further with her prologue, stating the reasons she wrote the book. The first is to honor and remember Melvin Simon because just attending a synagogue to hear his name read aloud once a year was not enough for her. Her second reason was to show the honesty and ethical values that serve as the foundation for the incredible success of the Simon organization.

Lastly, she writes to share her personal story of determination and hopes to make the point that “we are all born with handicaps and blessings, and it’s our job in life to figure out which is which.”

The delightfully creative copy for the want ad that drew Taylor to Indianapolis was written by then senior copywriter, Teri Moore. “Eliz was, of course, the ideal candidate! She brought structure and just enough organization, but never let that flame of creative freedom burn low,” shares Moore. “It was a madhouse most of the time – creativity, originality, lots of hard work, and above all, the license to thrive in a very loving and supportive environment.”

The marketing events were nonstop with the number of malls across the country, and with the special events held at each, there was never a dull moment. Taylor shares one story about an event held at a mall in Idaho where the Lone Ranger was to make a celebrity appearance.

“You never knew what was going on,” shares Taylor with a smile and a laugh. “I sent a girl to pick up the Lone Ranger, and he came to his hotel room door naked wearing only the mask.”

It’s far more than a fun memoir; it’s a living historical account of the rise of the shopping mall and the evolution of retail marketing. It’s funny, insightful and inspiring. Taylor had a tough start with an abusive drug-addicted mother who died prematurely, leaving Taylor with three younger sisters who she worked hard to raise after the death of their mother.

“Eliz’s book is a great read for anyone from Indiana, anyone in retail and anyone who comes from less than ideal beginnings,” shares Inside INdiana Business Host Gerry Dick.

Taylor is still close to many of her employees and co-workers including Business Development Entrepreneur Jim Austin, who says of Taylor, “Eliz led the industry by leading Simon marketing. She has a brilliant marketing mind and provided me with great guidance throughout our work together which allowed me to hone my own marketing skills early in my career,” shares Austin. “It was a very special time to be a part of the Simon marketing department.”

Taylor praises the Simon brothers for empowering her, and she believes that their religion helped shape the company in very positive ways. “Whenever we opened a new mall which was three or four a year in those days, we would always be involved in that local community in a philanthropic way,” shares Taylor. “And Melvin would say ‘do more.’ I grew up Catholic and were always told to give to the church. The Simon brothers, through their belief of ‘our job is to heal the world,’ gave me a new perspective, and that became an integral part of my life and continues today.”

The inner strength and grace that emit from Taylor come from a special place. She found a path enabling her to thrive which is nothing short of a miracle given her upbringing, an important and compelling story by itself.

After experiencing a childhood of abuse, Taylor felt there wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle. Her strength of character and perseverance served her well, weathering tough circumstances and

“WE ARE ALL BORN WITH HANDICAPS AND BLESSINGS, AND IT’S OUR JOB IN LIFE TO FIGURE OUT WHICH IS WHICH.”

Eliz, Vic Ruthig and Jim Austin. Photo provided.


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IMS_back_cover_Mar_2015_ver4.indd 1 4/8/2015 5:18:27 PM

guiding her to becoming a successful Senior Marketing VP at Simon. Later, Taylor continued her career as President and CEO of the 500 Festival.

“Eliz Kraft Taylor had a significant impact on my career,” shares National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Executive Director Mi’Chelle Bettner. “When I worked with her at the 500 Festival, her creative vision was inspiring and a model for me moving forward. Eliz was a mentor to me, and I am blessed to have worked with her.”

Today Taylor is dedicated to serving not just the community but friends who may be dealing with their own challenges.

“I am very happy that she got the opportunity to write this book,” shares Eliz’s husband Stephen Taylor of Stephen Taylor Design Residential Interiors. “Expressing her appreciation to Melvin and Herb was a cathartic experience and the

fact that this gave her a chance to come to terms with her childhood. I believe Eliz to be a superb example to people who’ve dealt with adversity.”

“I have been blessed in so many ways and feel that I am called to devote my time to people in need,” shares Taylor. “I realized that there are people out there that are too shy to ask for help. People just need to love each other.”

Whether it’s a phone call or a note of encouragement, Taylor is dedicated to spreading compassion and love.

“I am happy to share my stories,” says Taylor. “It was a great release for me and a cathartic healing experience.”

“My first goal with my memoir is to bring back conversation about Melvin Simon,” states Taylor. “He was so important to shaping this city, and his impact nationwide cannot be overstated. My three wise men

were wonderful, kind people.”If gold is to be purified, it has to pass through fire. That’s what Eliz is – gold.

To purchase a copy of “Three Jews Walked Into a Shopping Center…,” please visit threejews.org.


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(317) 972-9669 • (800) 400-XRAY (9729)

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IMS_back_cover_Mar_2015_ver4.indd 1 4/8/2015 5:18:27 PM


HUNTING PUMPKINSWriter / Jennifer Lear

As the days grow cooler and the leaves change to brilliant reds and golds, it’s time for autumn fun in Indy and surrounding! That means picking pumpkins, navigating corn mazes, sipping apple cider and enjoying local farms throughout Central Indiana. Here are our top seven picks for fabulous fall family fun.

1) Noblesville – Stony Creek Farm’s annual Pumpkin Harvest Festival runs September 26-October 31. Pumpkins, kid’s area, hoop house maze, sling shot, hayrides, pumpkin train, jumping pillow, farm animals and more. There is a charge for parking in addition to admission and attraction fees. (stonycreekfarm.net)

2) Fortville – Piney Acres Farm’s annual Autumn Celebration begins September 26 and runs through October 31. You can find pumpkins, corn mazes, barnyard animals, hayrides, fall treats, and for an additional cost, an expanded kid’s play zone. (pineyacresfarm.com)

3) McCordsville – Tuttle Orchard’s fall activities begin September 12 and run through October 31. Activities include u-pick apples, pumpkins and sunflowers. For an additional cost, a kid’s farm play area also is available with a miniature maze, miniature riding tractors and more. Famous Tuttle caramel apples, hot cider and pumpkin donuts are available for purchase as well. (indianapolisorchard.com)

4) Danville – Beasley’s Orchard and Gardens is open every weekend in October, but the first and second weekends feature their Heartland Apple Festival with live entertainment, puppet shows, a giant jumping pillow, face painting, hayrides, pumpkin patch, corn maze and more. (beasleys-orchard.com)

5) Whiteland – Kelsay Farms is the ultimate fall fun experience from October 2 through November 1. Tons of family fun around every corner including a children’s play area, daily planned activities, live music, hayrides, pumpkins and dairy farm tours (a calf is born almost every day). You also can enjoy yummy dairy snacks like grilled cheese and

milkshakes as well. (kelsayfarms.com)

6) Greenwood – Waterman’s Family Farms has two locations – Raymond Street and Greenwood – open daily throughout the month of October for fall family fun. Both locations include hayrides to the pumpkin patch, farm animals, kid’s areas and photo ops. The Raymond Street location features a pumpkin-eating dinosaur, and for an additional cost, pony rides, rock wall and train rides. (watermansfamilyfarm.com)

7) Pendleton – Smith Family Farms has pumpkins and more. Weekends throughout the month of October, you can find pumpkins, a full playground, petting zoo, pony rides, hayrides, corn maze, caramel apples and more. (smithfamilyfarms.com)

Disclaimer: We do our best to gather relevant and timely information for our readers. However, information is subject to change after the time of print. Make sure to check your fall pick’s website or call ahead for specific open dates, hours, pricing and activities before heading out for fall family fun.

TOWNEPOST NETWORK / OCTOBER 2015 / TownePost.com TownePost.com / OCTOBER 2015 / TOWNEPOST NETWORK

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10/16/15

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11/4/15

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12/31/15

1/1/16

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1/8/16

1/9/16

OPPONENT

TOLEDO

@ Evansville

@ Ft. Wayne

@ Ft. Wayne

@ Kalamazoo

FT. WAYNE

@ Evansville

@ Evansville

QUAD CITY

ALASKA

ALASKA

@ Cincinnati

QUAD CITY

@ Quad City

@ Wichita

@ Missouri

@ Missouri

@ Quad City

TOLEDO

TOLEDO

S. CAROLINA

WHEELING

@ Ft. Wayne

FT. WAYNE

@ Toledo

@ Evansville

@ Evansville

TOLEDO

@ Quad City

QUAD CITY

@ Cincinnati

@ Ft. Wayne

FT. WAYNE

WICHITA

EVANSVILLE

EVANSVILLE

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@ Wheeling

RAPID CITY

ORLANDO

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QUAD CITY

FT. WAYNE

@ Cincinnati

EVANSVILLE

EVANSVILLE

@ Cincinnati

CINCINNATI

@ Missouri

@ Missouri

@ Missouri

@ Orlando

@ Orlando

@ Orlando

MISSOURI

@ Cincinnati

@ Toledo

UTAH

CINCINNATI

EVANSVILLE

@ Evansville

CINCINNATI

TOLEDO

BRAMPTON

@ Quad City

CINCINNATI

CINCINNATI

@ Cincinnati

@ Ft. Wayne

@ Quad City

FT. WAYNE

@ Ft. Wayne

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All dates, times and opponents subject to change. Times listed are for the time zone in which the game will be played.

All home games, listed in red, are played at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

Visit INDYFUELHOCKEY.com for more information.


Living LegendDICK PASSWATER


Writer / Kara Reibel . Photos Provided


Passwater’s Auto Specialists’ namesake Dick Passwater is quite the character. Even at age 90, he’s still as feisty as ever.

His father was a Ford man. His dad worked at Ford Motor Company for 25 years until they converted to building war machines during WWII. About that time, Dick enlisted in the Navy, serving in the European theater with the Fleet Air Wing 7.

“I lost my hearing in the war,” says Passwater, who spent time in the Southampton, England, hospital before being transferred to Chelsea hospital in Boston. “Never saw so many guys so butchered up, it was pitiful.”

Passwater earned a medical discharge from the Navy. With his hearing loss, he strategically learned to lip read in addition to wearing a hearing aide.

Moving back to Indianapolis after the war, Passwater naturally gravitated towards a job with cars after having grown up around it.

While his day job may have been in a body shop, Passwater earned his extra cash and showed off his swagger by racing stock cars. Officially Passwater is part of the NASCAR Living Legends.

He raced the circuit from 1948-1953.

“I’ve been part of the Living Legends for 37 years,” says Passwater, who was second in the points standings one year of his racing career. “Most of my fellow racers were bootleggers, and they were tough on me since I was a Yankee.”

Ever the showman, Passwater was known for being driven to the races in a limo wearing a tuxedo. He would exit the limo with pomp and circumstance and proceed to climb into his stock car.

“We’d race for a dollar,” confesses Passwater who just loved racing. "I beat Bill Holland once.”


Passwater ended his racing career when his sponsor died. He created a reputation for himself working in body shops and hauling in wrecked cars to auto dealers around the city.

While working for a Ford dealership, Passwater realized he could do body work on his own. “If I could do it for him, I could do it for myself.” He opened his own garage and body shop called Passwater’s Auto Specialists.

“I worked the wrecker. You’d have to hoist the car up, sweep the street, and 70% of the cars we towed in, we worked on,” says Passwater.

Located in the same spot since 1963 along the Broad Ripple Avenue, the current owner Bruce Kelley has known Passwater his entire life. “My parents were great friends of Dick and his wife,” shares Kelley. “We are proud to cater to the Broad Ripple area and keep the tradition alive.”

Photos of Passwater’s stock car adventures and his Auburn and kit car models grace the walls at the shop.

Kelley lives in the area and is a Board member of the Broad Ripple Village Association. “Dick is an interesting person. He has had an interesting life,” laughs Kelley.

“He either makes you laugh or gets you in trouble. Back then with his slicked back hair and tattoos, he reminded me of Johnny Cash.”

Passwater’s Auto Specialists829 Broad Ripple Ave.317-255-4166

Kara Reibel is the Content Manager for the Broad Ripple Community Magazine. Follow her at karareibel.blogspot.com. She can also be found on Facebook and Twitter: @karareibel.


Q&A with the audience

"Wait! Wait! Do Tell Me" game show with emcee and writer Dick Wolfsie at 2013's event

2015 host Debby Knox withAmy Pauszek and Andy Murphy

This year's moderators Kelly Vaughn, Amy Pauszek and Andy Murphy

Master of Ceremony and Gold Sponsor, Michael Lawson with Andy Murphy and Amy Pauszek


Writer / Janet C. Striebel

The WriteStuff Writers will host its 2015 “Across the Arts” Conference with a spectacular all-inclusive program featuring New York Times bestselling authors, filmmakers, talent agents, representatives from Indiana Film Festivals, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, the IMAX Theater and the Cincinnati Film Festival; artists, musicians, book editors and more.

This second annual “Across the Arts” sensation will be held on Saturday, October 3 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the “Venue Theatre” within the Fishers Crosspoint Community Church located off Olio Road.

You can expect plenty of free parking, a top-notch theatre with state-of-the-art facilities, exceptional entertainment, a sampling of creative and literary expertise at your command, and of course unlimited complimentary coffee.

“We’re excited about how this program will connect with the citizens in our community who are hungry for more arts,” says Andy Murphy, author, Founder of WriteStuff Writers Conferences and Workshops and co-partner and founder of Ever Film Productions, LLC. “It’s interesting to learn how all these successful guests have excelled in their careers as they share their life stories with us.”

Murphy invites members of book clubs to join in on this exceptional day.

“It’s a perfect opportunity to meet authors and filmmakers, and it inspires us to add their works to our list of books to read upon hearing about their personal lives,” says Murphy who happens to be the mother to

Ryan Murphy, famous writer, producer and co-creator of “Nip/Tuck,” “Glee,” “American Horror Story” and soon-to-come “Scream Queens.”

You won’t want to miss a special interview session with Angelo Pizzo, writer, director and filmmaker conducted by fellow Indiana filmmaker, Dan Hall (Vizmo Films). Angelo will share clips from his soon-to-be-released November 13 film, “My All American,” based on a true story.

“This is just a sampling of the talent at this upcoming conference,” says Amy Pauszek, producer, event coordinator and marketing director of WriteStuff Writers Conferences and Workshops and co-partner of Ever Film Productions, LLC. “We are very proud to have so many talented professionals who are donating their time to give back to the community.”

Brought back by popular demand will be the audience game show, “Wait! Wait! Do Tell Me” with game show host Tom Britt, founder of TownePost Network (a sponsor of this event).

“We have many wonderful gifts that have been donated by corporate companies as celebrities compete to win prizes for our ticket holders,” says Pauszek.

The Master of Ceremonies will be Michael Lawson, grandson of the late Mac and Arline Reynolds, founders of Reynolds Farm Equipment Inc.

“Just about everyone living in Fishers has driven through the Reynolds holiday light display at one time. This festive light display off 37 and 126th now exceeds over one million lights,” says Murphy.

“The Reynolds family has a huge love for arts and community. They always step up to the plate so generously with their time and support for so many wonderful causes.”

Incidentally, Murphy and her business partner, Pauszek, with Ever Film Productions, LLC (everfilmproductions.com) are working on a documentary about Arline Reynolds, “On a Starry Night,” paying tribute to the woman who started the idea of illuminating the Holiday spirit back in the 1950s.

Also, they are producing another documentary about the sisters of St. Francis called, “A Sign of the Cross.”

“Our mission is to find women and focus on their untold accomplishments and real life stories that might otherwise disappear from the fabric of our lives,” says Pauszek.

WRITESTUFF WRITERS PRESENTS

“ACROSS THE ARTS”CONFERENCE AT CROSSPOINT

FANTASTIC AUTHORS• Michael Shelden (Simon & Schuster/

Publisher) to be interviewed by his wife, Susan Shelden

• Julie Timmer (Penguin Publisher)• Ray Boomhower (Indiana University Press)• Rebecca K. Dotlich (Henry Holt; Random

House)• Laura Smith (Amali/Brzamo Publishing, LLC)• Ann Cinnamon (Dog Ear Publishing)

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Both Murphy and Pauszek will serve as moderators for “Across the Arts” conference in addition to host, CBS4-TV news anchor and Emmy winner Debbie Knox who will conduct one-on-one interviews in the Writer’s Studio and lead panels with selected guests of the arts.

Also Kelly Vaughn, well-known radio and

TV personality, with her weekly show “Inside Indy” on WHMB-TV channel 40 will serve as a moderator.

A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to Crosspoint Church to fund holiday food and care baskets for the needy.

Visit writestuffwriters.com for complete program information and to see the fabulous celebrities attending. Buy your tickets at bit.ly/1FmUOOC. Use promo code “crosspointVIP” to receive $10 off through October 1. VIP Experience tickets include your conference admission. Don’t wait as seats are filling up!

2013's inaugural with guest speakers including Geist Magazine publisher Tom Britt, Amanda Heckard and moderator Andy Murphy.

Other names (emailed to Andy)

Janet C. Striebel is a Fishers resident and freelance writer. She and her husband, Doug, have three children: Ryan, Jessica and Justin. She has been writing for atGeist.com for more than seven years and claims that

the best part is meeting all the interesting people in her community.

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Mama Carole and Son Justin Invite You Back to Old Italy

It BeganWith Family

atBrip.com / OCTOBER 2015 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / 3332 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / OCTOBER 2015 / atBRip.com



Writer & Photographer / Joshua Deisler

A s she neared the intersection of College Avenue and 54th Street, Carole Leuer eyed the “For Sale” sign in the front of an old stucco house. She remembered her home in

Omaha, and she missed the family food and old music of her childhood. Upon her return home, she described the house to her husband and how it would make an “awfully cute Italian restaurant.”

To Carole, owner of Mama Carolla’s Old Italian Restaurant, the roots of her story begin in Omaha, Nebraska. “Families had their own restaurants,” she says. “Next to New Orleans, I always thought that Omaha had the best food in the country.”

As a young adult, Carole moved to New York City. After marrying, Carole and her husband moved to Indianapolis, thinking they would settle here for a short time. But as Carole says, “We never got out of here. We’ve been here for 42 years.”

After her son Justin was born, Carole vacationed back to Omaha to see friends and relatives. She visited a place called WC Franks, a family restaurant serving hot dogs. When she returned home, she announced her wish to open a hot dog restaurant. After renting out a building on 52nd Street, Carole and her husband planned a menu of hot dogs, sausage and nachos. On opening day, a line stretched out the door. “I had never poured a Coke in my life,” says Carole, remembering her first taste of the restaurant business.

Along with hot dogs, Carole also ran Yogurt Crossing, serving frozen yogurt and sandwiches. “Much to my surprise, we realized all of a sudden we were in the food business,” she says.

Years later, the discovery of the old stucco house would propel Carole into her next adventure. She knew exactly what she wanted: “If I was going to do a restaurant, it was going to be Italian,” says Carole. “My best friends were Italians. My boyfriends were Italians.” She wanted people to feel like they had experienced a little place in Italy, and that meant keeping everything, even the music, looking and sounding old.


After buying the house, her family built an addition onto the back to accommodate a bar. As she began to decorate the interior, Carole attended auctions to buy old paintings for the walls, and she purchased pillars to place over metal pipes. She kept most of the light fixtures and bought more from local vendors. She even made the curtains and the tablecloths: “They probably all need to be replaced, so don’t look too close,” she laughs.

Carole traveled back to Omaha, tasting different dishes and deciding what to put on the menu. She even hired a chef to help her experiment with different recipes. And when it came time for a name, she recalled her favorite place back in New York City called “Mama Leona’s,” changing the Leona to her Spanish name of Carolla.

Soon it was time for the restaurant to open. “We were so over our heads,” says Carole, reminiscing on opening night in ‘97. “I’d never been in the food business like that before.” With very few other restaurants nearby, many neighbors doubted the place would ever survive.

Little by little, the business grew, and Carole continued to improve her recipes: “Every time you get a new chef, you learn something different,” she says. Soon, more and more family members came to work for them. During his later years at Ball State, Carole’s son Justin often trekked home to serve in the restaurant on the weekends.

Things finally seemed steady for Mama Carolla’s, but after losing their head chef, Carole found herself working night and day. One evening, she turned to son Justin and said, “Learn how to cook!”

Justin quickly switched from cooking Ramen noodles to experimenting with different recipes for sauces, ziti and lasagna. “He has the gift of taste,” says Carole as she remembers the day Justin told her he wanted to run the place. “It was the best decision I ever made.”

Justin has now managed the restaurant for over a decade. He enjoys doing a little bit of everything: training the servers, running the kitchen and coordinating the wine lists. He especially appreciates planning new specials for the weekend and notes that oftentimes it’s the basic twists on old, traditional dishes that make the best specials, like a recent dish of meatballs stuffed with mozzarella.

“Since we don’t have a chef, the cooks are more involved,” says Justin, who often brings ideas to the cooks to experiment with.

Justin also enjoys meeting the guests. “It’s fun seeing everybody happy when they leave. I’m tired, but it’s exciting,” he says. He plans to enclose the east patio by this holiday season to accommodate larger parties, so more people can enjoy the restaurant.

Carole holds up her cocktail. “This is what I enjoy the most,” she says, laughing. She is pleasantly surprised that NUVO named Mama Carolla’s “Best Local Italian Restaurant” in 2014.

“Neither one of us ever went to culinary school. Neither one of us are trained chefs or business people. For us to get these kind of awards really makes you feel humble and really makes you appreciate that it’s happening to you,” she says. “How can I be this lucky?”

But both mother and son are quick to solve this riddle.


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“It’s a lot of hard work,” says Carole. “I appreciate that people like us and that they come back, and we will do anything to keep them coming back.”

Justin and Carole both agree that their greatest joy over the years is being successful and taking pride in their restaurant. “Our philosophy from the minute we opened the restaurant was good food for a reasonable price,” says Carole.

“People can come in and have wine and dinner without breaking the bank,” agrees Justin. And for Justin, his greatest challenge over the years is keeping things new and keeping the food quality the same as when Carole opened the place.

Carole agrees with Justin. “We like people to find us,” she adds.

“It’s a nice hidden place,” says Justin. He remembers the families who drove hours just to dine at the restaurant or the Florida snowbirds who discovered the place as they drove north. He recalls stories of people’s first dates and of marriage proposals all happening at Mama Carolla’s.

“We are a family restaurant. We’re not a chain,” says Carole. “The truth of the matter is you’ve gotta have family in a restaurant.”

Carole smiles when she mentions her husband who spends every Friday and Saturday night at the restaurant, opening the door and kissing all the girls when they leave. Justin counts the employees still here who are just part of the family. “You spend time with them, then they have kids, and our kids play with their kids,” he says.

Carole points out her grandson as he passes by. She waves to another employee who graduated with her daughter. She greets the cooks and servers as one of the family. Soon, Mama Carole is relaxing at the bar with customers, thanking the bartender — another family friend — for the cocktail. Son Justin is checking on the kitchen and then heading to his kids’ soccer games.

But it all began way before Carole spotted that old stucco house. Before New York City and Mama Leona’s. Before frozen yogurt and hotdogs. Before her children and even before her move to Indy. Mama Carolla’s truly began in Omaha with evenings of local Italian food and old music. Above all, it began with family.

Joshua Deisler lives with his family in Broad Ripple. He teaches 7th grade language arts and enjoys running and writing stories.


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