MARCH 2015

ASPIRE JOHNSON COUNTY TO HOST “COMMUNITY CONVERSATION”

ON MANAGED DEVELOPMENT

atCenterGrove.com / MARCH 2015 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER / 3

Growth May Come, but the Sky Is Not Falling

Yes, I’m on the cover of this month's issue, along with Aspire Johnson County’s Dana Monson. As a publisher of a magazine, you try not to make yourself the story so the decision to include me in the cover photo was not an easy one. The decision came down to this publishing a community magazine doesn’t mean you hide the fact that you are involved in the community.

I’m there because I am co-captain of the Infrastructure and Corridor Team for Aspire Johnson County. Dana, whose full-time position is Director of Business Development for Johnson County Development Corporation, is there because she wrote the grant application that funds four “Community Conversations” in Johnson County. Each “Community Conversation” will focus on a different topic, such as quality of life and improving our workforce. Without her work, there wouldn’t be any “Community Conversations.”

The first meeting deals with infrastructure, roads and growth.

Something I have been learning about for two years as part of Aspire. The meeting, set for April in Center Grove, focuses on “Preparing for Growth.” Growth, both residential and commercial, is going to happen. How we plan for and manage that growth determines the benefits of and the impact on residents. State Road 37 will serve as an example of how to manage growth opportunities. Regardless of the final route of I-69, once completed to Bloomington and Martinsville, traffic on State Road 37 will double: With more traffic comes development.

If you are concerned about our communities, I urge you to attend. What do you want to see developed, office parks, a hotel, truck stops, warehouses, medical facilities or retail shopping? We don’t have to settle for whatever happens. You do need to be informed and involved. Without your input, developers and elected public servants will do what they think is best, and you may not like the result. It is time to dream big, step up, get involved and help make our community more than good enough!

PUBLISHER’S WELCOME

Jody Veldkamp, Publisher

www.jljohnsons.com

Tying The Knot?

atCenterGrove.com / MARCH 2015 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER / 5

32STATE ROAD 37 OR INTERSTATE 69 PREPARING FOR GROWTHWriter / Kristen Parker

Cover Photo / Forrest Mellott

PUBLISHERDann Veldkamp

dann@atCenterGrove.com / 317-345-9510

VP OF SALESJody Veldkamp

jody@atCenterGrove.com / 317-507-4334

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVEPat Enochs / 317-528-9380

TOWNEPOST PUBLISHERTom Britt

tom@TownePost.com / 317-288-7101

BUSINESS MANAGER Jeanne Britt

jeanne@TownePost.com / 317-288-7101

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION Toni Folzenlogel

CREATIVE DIRECTORAlyssa Sander

ADVERTISING DESIGNER Austin Vance

EDITORSAllie Nash / Katelyn Bausman

MARCH WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS

Alaina Sullivan / Dann Veldkamp / Frieda Dowler / Julie Yates / Kara Reibel /

Kristen Parker / Kristen Sexton / Leigh Lawson / Nancy Craig / Tom Britt

SHOP LOCAL!Help our local economy by shopping local. Advertising supporters of the Center Grove Community Newsletter

offset the costs of publication and mailing, keeping this publication FREE. Show your appreciation by

thanking them with your business.

STORY SUBMISSIONSPost your stories to TownePost.com or email to PR@atCenterGrove.com.

MAILING ADDRESSP.O. Box 36097 / Indianapolis, IN 46236

Phone: 317-288-7101 / Fax: 317-536-3030

The Center Grove Community Newsletter is published by Chilly Panda Media, Center Grove, under license

from TownePost Network, and is written for and by local Center Grove residents.

atCenterGrove.com Business Spotlights are sponsored content.

March 2015 / Vol. 4 / No. 3

COVER STORY

The initial Community Conversation will look at how communities promote and control development along major corridors. The meeting will use the State Road 37 corridor as an example of best practices to use to develop any corridor or area that is poised for growth. Even if I-69 doesn’t follow State Road 37 through the county, we will see a dramatic increase in traffic.

6 Gardening Nana

58 Event Calendar

60 CGHS Front Row

61 Word Search

62 Kate in the Middle

COLUMNS

11 Fashion Forward

18 Immersed with Scott Jones

22 The Venture of a Lifetime

25 Metronet: Faster Internet Coming to Our Area

30 Center Grove Mom of the Year Candidates

32 State Road 37 or Interstate 69 Preparing for Growth

38 25th Annual Greenwood Mayor's Prayer Breakfast

40 Methodist Sports Medicine Moves to Greenwood

41 Campaign Against Cancer

49 A Look at the New ISTEP Test

52 Franklin to Host Google Summi

55 Salsa Me Krazy Mompreneur Recognized for Special Salsa

FEATURED 8 Two Worlds Unite

14 Searching for March Happiness

27 Quilting Together A Community

For years residents of Johnson County have been wondering if and/or when I-69 may be coming through the county. In September 2005, INDOT held a public meeting on Section 6, the final section to complete the interstate from Martinsville to Indianapolis. The tentative route at that time was to follow State Road 37, upgrading it to an interstate highway and connecting to I-465 with a new interchange about a mile west of the current State Road 37 and I-465 interchange.

This past October INDOT announced the “resumption of the Section 6 study” and “will identify additional alternatives for completing Section 6.” It doesn’t mean that the 2005 proposed route will be abandoned; it also does not mean that State Road 37 will become I-69. The only sure thing for Bargersville and Center Grove residents is that traffic on State Road 37 will increase dramatically once Section 5 to Martinsville is complete. INDOT estimates I-69 will complete to Bloomington this December and completed to Martinsville by the end of 2016.

Aspire Johnson County will hold the first of four Community Conversations; these meetings are designed to give Johnson County residents the opportunity to become involved in the direction and future of our communities and county. The first meeting “Preparing for Growth: State Road 37: Maximizing Benefits, Minimizing

Impact on Residents” will be held April 23 at Southland Community Church.

A WORD ABOUT ASPIREAspire Johnson County is a countywide initiative with the broad goal of making the county a better place to live, work and play. It is a program of Johnson County Development Corporation, consisting of more than 60 volunteers representing various areas of the community. The group has created four teams focusing on different areas. The Talent team focuses on developing, retaining and attracting a quality workforce. The Quality of Life team works on enhancing amenities, recreational opportunities and other issues that affect the quality of life in the county. The Branding team looks to establish an image for the county and help promote it. The fourth group is the Infrastructure and Corridor Team.

“Aspire Johnson County established our team to look at the issues of roads, transportation, infrastructure and land use planning. We look at issues countywide, in both communities and the unincorporated areas of the county. Our knowledge of these subjects allows us to serve as a resource to raise awareness of opportunities and issues with residents. Providing residents the information they need allows them to get involved,” said Jody Veldkamp, team co-captain.

Writer / Kristen Parker . Photographer / Forrest Mellott

ASPIRE JOHNSON COUNTY TO HOST “COMMUNITY CONVERSATION” ON MANAGED DEVELOPMENT

atCenterGrove.com / MARCH 2015 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER / 33

Center Grove resident Eric Vermilion, Co-captain of the Aspire Johnson County

Infrastructure & Corridor Team ,listens to a presentation from Hoosier Voices for I-69.

Mike Crumbo, a SCORE Certified Mentor and a member of the Aspire Johnson County Infrastructure and Corridor Team, listens

to a presentation on the progress of I-69 across the country and in Indiana.

Liz Irwin, executive director of Hoosier Voices for I-69, shares information with the Aspire team on how Bloomington's advance planning minimized the impact and improved the benefits of I-69.

A mile for State Road 37 at corner of Stones Crossing Road and Mullinix

atCenterGrove.com / MARCH 2015 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER / 35

Because of Aspire’s work in this area, the initial Community Conversation will look at how communities promote and control development along major corridors. “The meeting will use the State Road 37 corridor as an example of best practices to use to develop any corridor or area that is poised for growth. Even if I-69 doesn’t follow State Road 37 through the county, we will see a dramatic increase in traffic. How we plan for and handle that growth impacts not just Bargersville and Center Grove but our entire county,” Veldkamp said.

INCENTIVE TO ATTEND THE CONVERSATIONSPlanning for and handling growth is one of the areas covered at the upcoming meeting. Liz Irwin, executive director of Hoosier Voices for I-69, points out this particular project along State Road 37 will have ramifications in Johnson County and throughout the country. Citizens here should be aware of potential effects so the community can appropriately plan for it.

“Looking at the big picture, I-69 is a federally designated corridor of the future with national implications for international trade," said Irwin. "Although it is not yet complete in Indiana or in all of the other states along the route, there has been continued progress with each of the states between Mexico and Canada. Currently, the six ports of entry in Texas that connect to I-69 account for 50 percent of all U.S. southern border truck crossings. Port Huron and Detroit at the northern end of I-69 account for 40 percent of all U.S. northern border crossings. Once the interstate is complete in all states, its significance in terms of international trade will be even greater. Understanding this national perspective is important to keep in mind when having community conversations, just to give us context on what this interstate means in broad terms. Locally, communities [ Johnson County] want to examine the benefits, impacts and a variety of other considerations.”

Aspire’s goal is for the community to be involved beyond their interest in the State Road 37 area. “When you look

at good examples of land use planning and development, they involve the opportunity for residents to listen and learn about all options,” said Center Grove area resident Eric Vermilion, co-captain of Aspire’s Infrastructure and Corridor Team.

Dana Monson, director of business

development for Johnson County Development Corporation, went on to further the point. “Controlled growth and planning is important; it is necessary for everyone to know the facts. There are all sorts of rumors out there about what’s being done, but this meeting is a great opportunity to hear the facts and find out exactly what is happening,” she said.

DISCOVER NEW DESIGNS2 Center Grove Locations

CLIENT: Fischer HomesFILE NAME: 721515_Fischr_CenterGrvCmnty_Ad.pdf

APPLICATION: .Ai -and/or- Hi-res PDFART RELEASED: 2.16.15DESIGNDESIGN

PROJECT DETAILS: PROGRAM:

REP: Pat Enochs: pat@atgreenwood.com

Questions about file provided contact Nikki: Nikki@MeisterDesignGroup.com - 513.284.8243.

Center Grove Community Newsletter½ page island • 4-Color Ad • 4.75” w x 7.125” hRun Date: March 2015 issue

©2015 Fischer Homes, Inc.

fischerhomes.com/indianapolis317.348.2500

THE RESERVE at SOMERSET* from the $220’sSHADOWOOD from the $310's

• Center Grove Community Schools• Short drive from I-65, easy commute to downtown Indianapolis• Conveniently located near Greenwood Park Mall

* Decorated Model Location

36 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2015 / atCenterGrove.com

CONVERSATION FUNDING“The goal of Aspire is to improve the quality of life for county residents now and in the future. As residents, we need to be involved in the process. This ‘Community Conversation’ is a great way for residents to learn how to be involved in impacting our community,” Vermilion added.

As Aspire considered the work to be done in Johnson County, they knew that community involvement was essential; however, Aspire was also aware that there would be a challenge in making the public aware of the information.

Aspire applied to the Indiana Humanities “Community Conversations Program”

to receive assistance with the task of area involvement. “The Community Conversations program is now in its sixth year and we’ve had a variety of communities apply – big, small, urban, rural, suburban. Each applicant has its own challenges and we’re always eager to meet with the leadership and plan a true community dialogue about those challenges and possible

solutions,” said Keira Amstutz, president and CEO of the Indiana Humanities. “Typically, a community chooses to have one conversation – this particular program in Johnson County is different alone just in scope. The Johnson County Community Conversation team is quite ambitious and planned four sessions to be sure to include as many members of the community as possible in the dialogue.”

Amstutz went on to explain why Aspire was chosen from among many other applicants. “What made Johnson County stand out was its impressive start and broad based community involvement – the Aspire Johnson County initiative was well thought out and well on its way to making a difference in your community. The structure for the conversations was already there; they just needed a little extra support.”

FUTURE CONVERSATIONSThe April 23 meeting is the first of four Conversations. Subsequent meetings will include discussion on the following:

• Talent Retention and Talent Attraction: “Cradle to Career” May 7, 2015, Greenwood High School

• Quality of Life: Round table discussions on several quality of life topics. June 4, 2015, Indiana Armory, Franklin

• “Our Story”: Johnson County’s image. June 23, 2015, Johnson County Museum, Franklin

Details on these meeting will be posted on the Aspire Johnson County website, AspireJohnsonCounty.org, as they become available.

3100 W. Stones Crossing Rd. (just west of S.R. 135) Greenwood 317-535-8555 www.mtauburnumc.org

Easter Worship Services Sunday, April 5

6:30am Sunrise 9:00am Traditional 10:30am Contemporary

Maundy Thursday Service Thursday, April 2 7pm

Good Friday Service Friday, April 3 7pm

Join us for Holy Week at Mt. Auburn

Palm Sunday Services Sunday, March 29

9am & 10:30am Palm Parade in each service

36 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2015 / atCenterGrove.com atCenterGrove.com / MARCH 2015 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER / 37

Center Grove's Premier 24 Hour Fitness Facility

Accepting Prime & Silver Sneaker Members

Zero Enrollment and 20% Off

Personal & Group Training Packages(3-5 people/group)

Anytimefitness.com ◆ 317. 893. 2226 CenterGroveIN@anytimefitness.com

owners: Craig & Steffanie Brown, Center grove residents

1642 Olive Branch Parke Lane, Corner of Olive Branch Rd & State Road 135

/AnytimeFitnessCenterGrove

Center Grove

APRIL 23 MEETING AGENDA

A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: PREPARING FOR GROWTH

The meeting is open to all Johnson County residents. There will be three presentations, each addressing a different aspect of managing growth. Attendees will be able to submit questions via their smartphone, tablet or in writing during the meeting. Aspire Johnson County will answer all questions on their website.Following the meeting, residents will have an opportunity to view current land use planning maps for the area and interact with local elected officials who have attended the meeting.

Presentations:MANAGING GROWTHGreg Goodnight – Kokomo Mayor, 2008 to present • How Kokomo is managing new development along major

roads • Examples of best practices for development • Infrastructure requirements

PAYING FOR GROWTHLarry DeBoer – Purdue University professor focusing on state and local government public policy and the fiscal impact of economic development • How a community funds development

I-69 INFORMATIONSarah Rubin – INDOT Section 6 Project Manager • I-69: current status • Options for I-69 Section 6 • How INDOT gathers public comments

6:30 – 7:45 p.m.Southland Community Church5800 West Smith Valley Road, Greenwood317-736-4300AspireJohnsonCounty.orgRSVP online (“Community Conversation” link) or by phone

Offi

cial

futu

re la

nd u

se p

lan

for a

rea

arou

nd S

R 37

&

144

from

tow

n of

Bar

gers

ville

Com

preh

ensiv

e Pl

an,

Febr

uary

201

3

A lifetime resident of the Center Grove area, Kristen Parker graduated from IU Bloomington with a degree in Journalism. She is the blessed mother of two active, home-schooled boys and is passionate about her faith, family and making her budget stretch.

Rural Residential Suburban Residential Mixed-Use Highway Commercial

Mixed-Use Neighborhood/Community Commercial

Light Industrial/Business Park

Recreation / Conservation

Wooded Land Agricultural

Source: Base Mapping - Johnson County GIS data