Tammy Cunningham (right), owner of Cafe Audrey with her son and kitchen manager, Ty.

My husband and I have always enjoyed a relaxing breakfast out – makes us feel like we’re on vacation, I guess, and if it’s a locally-owned place, it seems all that much better! We were delighted to discover Café Audrey tucked so close to home, just down the street from CVS in the Fort Benjamin Harrison area.

Café Audrey opened in October, 2011, in an early 20th century military blacksmith shop, named after owner Tammy Cunningham’s mother. Exposed brick walls, wooden floors, and repurposed antique sideboards and cabinetry give it a homey feel, but the warm colors and stylish light fixtures are definitely HGTV-inspired. Local artists are featured on some walls and historic photos on others.

Cunningham and her husband of 20 years both worked for the federal government, but she yearned to follow her dream of owning a restaurant. Her mother’s death in 2010 nudged her to quit her job with the tax administration and open Café Audrey. She is now assisted by her grown son, Ty, as kitchen manager. Daughter Jadah is still at Lawrence North; and between her many activities, she also occasionally assists as a server.

We enjoy the Café Audrey breakfasts, often choosing the quiche of the day (mushroom, spinach, and feta…mmmm) or homemade French toast. Huevos Rancheros and breakfast burritos are also featured on the menu, plus biscuits and sausage gravy and a breakfast hash concoction of sausage, fried potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and baby spinach.

The menu is made up of family favorites and other mostly-made-from-scratch items, but doesn’t stop at breakfast. Lunchtime is when owner Tammy gets to stretch her foodie creativity, offering things like Jamaican patties, fish tacos, homemade chicken salad, Hoosier tenderloin, BBQ, plus the usual burgers, grilled sandwiches, soups, and salads.

The old Fort Benjamin Harrison mule barn is now the home of Cafe Audrey in Lawrence.

With the Emmett J. Bean Finance Center a 6-minute walk away, there are hundreds of people seeking an inexpensive lunch option; Café Audrey’s entrees top out around $7.49 for the Reuben or turkey club (coupons often found online). The real advantage, however, is the $1 weekday delivery offered to area businesses and Triton Brewing when orders go over $20. So order with a group of co-workers!

Now that the weather has finally warmed up, outside patio seating is available and dog friendly, so you’ll likely find us there on a Saturday morning with one or more big white dogs! (I haven’t heard if there’s a dog-specific menu!) Also, the ice cream parlor is now open until 8:00 p.m., featuring locally-made Sundaes’ ice creams.

Hours: Tuesday–Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Closed Mondays
Ice Cream Parlor open ‘til 8:00 p.m.
www.cafeaudreyatthefort.com

You’ll notice that this issue of the Geist Community Newsletter is a little bigger than normal. Actually, it’s our biggest issue yet. We have taken this idea of local journalism around the perimeter of Indianapolis with the Zionsville, Carmel, Fishers, and Center Grove Newsletters under the umbrella of the TownePost network. As we grow, we want to dedicate more ink and time to our local communities. To this end, we’ve enlisted the help of veteran news guy and friend Neal Moore. He and I have been talking for the past few years about the new age of hyper local news. Who better to tell you all about the future of our newsletters, websites, apps, and video than our newest TownePost team member, Neal Moore.
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Neal Moore is a long-time television news reporter and now works with the TownePost Network of hyperlocal websites and newsletters.

I’m Neal Moore, the new Local Editorial Manager for the TownePost network of community magazines and websites. I’ve spent 40 years in communications including TV news anchoring and reporting, public relations, video production, and in recent years, writing many stories for atGeist.com and atFishers.com. I’m very pleased to join Tom Britt in this new role. I’m going to ask for your involvement with TownePost as we develop new ways and opportunities to tell your stories. But first, here are some reflections on how we got to where we are today.

I was born in 1953, and grew up in the era of three channels on the TV dial (four, if you could watch Popeye and Janie on fuzzy Channel 4), and a handful of newspapers and radio stations providing local news and information. These media platforms enjoyed remarkable popularity and profits using a “one-to-many” business model. It was content of their making; offered on schedules of their choice; delivered on static, non-interactive devices. Such was the mid-century media landscape.

Ironically, during the same years that I delivered newspapers and dreamt of being a radio disk jockey, the U.S. government and academic researchers were noodling with the first iteration of what would become today’s Internet. You might have noticed that the Internet (and the World Wide Web that it spawned) turned the media business on its collective head. Amidst the fallout were the evolution of citizen journalism and the ability to deliver hyper-local content. Such is the media landscape today.

That’s what makes TownePost tick – news, information, storytelling – all of it laser-focused on the communities, neighborhoods, even streets where we live, and much of it generated by local residents. As publisher Tom Britt puts it, “There’s no news that’s too small”, and I agree. We want to know what’s happening in your world, and to understand what your interests are. We encourage you to share your stories, photos, videos, news tips, ideas and suggestions so that we, in turn, can share them with the thousands of readers, web surfers and advertisers in Geist and Fishers.

Finally, I’m looking for skilled writers to join the TownePost team. If you’re interested in researching and writing local stories, and have a flair for great storytelling, contact me by email, neal@atGeist.com. All writing styles and experience levels are welcome. Together, let’s continue sharing stories about Geist and Fishers that reflect just how terrific our communities are, and what great places they are to live.

Griffin Fernandes holds his 7.72 pound bass he caught on April 20th out of Geist Reservoir, winning him the first Indiana Bass Federation Youth Tournament.

When 13-year-old Griffin Fernandes headed out on Geist Reservoir last month for the Indiana Bass Federation Youth Tournament, he had no idea he would be reeling in some big awards!

Griffin – a 7th grader at Hamilton Southeastern Junior High – won the first Indiana Bass Federation Youth Tournament in his age division held on Geist, April 20. He broke a youth record with five qualifying fish weighing in at 23.43 pounds. Then, his big bass weighed in at hefty 7.72 pounds!

“It was exciting!” says Griffin. “When they announced the weight of the fish, I thought I did well but couldn’t believe I won!

The young fisherman has been fishing since he was 3 years old and usually packs a few poles and a variety of lures when he heads out on the water.

Griffin was one of about 40 boys from Fishers and around the state who participated in the tournament. It was a great day on Geist and they want to thank all their volunteer boat captains, as well!

Griffin is now fired up for future fishing events and plans to be at Lake Shafer in June, Lake Tippecanoe in July, and the big “Fish-Off” in September.

Congratulations, Griffin!

One of the Geist Half Marathon founding board members, Vince Auten, talks about the early days of the event.

Vince Auten remembers the sweet sound of the starter’s gun going off to start the first Geist Half Marathon back in 2008. It sent chills down his spine and relief to his shoulders as he watched the 4,500 runners take off. It all started one day when his wife told him about a posting in the Geist Community Newsletter regarding a meeting to start a race in the Geist area.

Vince is a dedicated runner and has raced in many different marathon competitions across the country. In the back of his mind, he always carried the thought that he would love to be involved in starting a half marathon race. The next thing he knew, he was at this “gathering of thoughts” meeting at Burd Ford. Walking out of that meeting left Vince a bit dazed at all the things needed to put together such an effort.

The first planning meetings for this wonderful family day of racing did, in fact, bring a lot of issues to the table for the group to work through: getting sponsors, developing a budget to fund all the expenses, gathering enough volunteers to help with so many assignments during the race, and a host of other issues that all needed to be covered.

“The way the community stepped up to fill the many roles of sponsorship was incredible,” said Auten. “It was, indeed, a unique group of people who live in the area and individuals who put on other races similar to this half marathon, all gathered together with a commitment to make it the best half marathon ever.”

The tone of the meetings also included the goal to benefit the schools and organize as a nonprofit. To date, in five years, the Geist Half Marathon has kept that goal front and center, raising over $225,000 for the Geist-area schools.

“When I walked out of our first meeting, I had no idea I’d be involved in creating the Geist Half Marathon. Six years later, we are going strong and the race has become part of the community fabric.

Vince with his daughter Katie and wife, Ellen. (daughter Rachel not available for photo)

The first registration numbers after the initial announcement on May 1, 2007, were slow coming in. But then the spike hit; and when registrations hit 4,500 racers, the field was closed and signs of relief pumped up this team of committed volunteers. “We surprised people with our outstanding numbers for a first-time event,” Auten said. “Our race is fun, and it was apparent that there were so many runners out there who would show up to take up the challenge to run our select 5K course,” he added.

That first race also held responsibilities on additional issues such as would the buses be able to transport all the people at the pickup sites to the race on time and how to deal with any long lines that might occur due to busing so many people at once. From the outside, you don’t always see all the little things that go into the planning and set the stage for an event that is fun, challenging, and involves a wonderful charitable cause that really does benefit the community schools.

“The Geist Half Marathon provides all this and then some. It’s a great family day and a challenging event for runners who love to compete. It’s unique — the running by water and the beautiful views you have on the course. The hills are a challenge, make no mistake about this, but it’s what calls out to a runner to commit every year,” Auten said, adding, “It’s not our goal to be bigger than the other races. It’s our goal to host the best community race.”

Many thanks for Vince Auten and all the other board members and volunteers who have made the Geist Half Marathon such a successful race. This year, it looks as if the numbers are going to set a record again.

“Who would have thought? Who would have thought?” Auten said with a big smile on his face.

P.S. Thanks, Ellen Auten, for reading the first post for volunteers to start this race! Vince’s driving force and experience as a runner indeed keep the Geist Half Marathon exactly where it needs to be: a community day for runners and walkers!

The Indy 500 Gordon Pipers are celebrating their 50 year anniversary this year performing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Those of us smitten by the Indy 500 have come to expect certain traditions at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) on race day: the singing of Back Home Again in Indiana, the balloon release, and the call to Start Your Engines. There’s another, equally embedded tradition that is celebrating its golden anniversary this year – an organization that traces its roots, not surprisingly, to Tony Hulman: The Gordon Pipers.

In 1962, Indianapolis veterinarian Dr. Wallace Gordon Diehl founded the Scottish-inspired parade unit after a split from the Murat Highlanders pipe band. At the time, the Highlanders required members to be male and more than six-feet-two inches in height. Desiring a more inclusive option, Diehl and four other Highlanders defected to create an opportunity for their daughters and short-of-stature sons to march in a pipe band. Casting about for a moniker, they settled on founder Doc Diehl’s middle name and became the Gordon Pipers.

IMS patriarch Tony Hulman saw them perform at a car show and was impressed by the crowd they’d drawn. “Everybody loved ’em!” according to Doug Hardwick, the current president of the Gordon Pipers. Hulman invited the troupe to perform at the 1963 Indy 500 and at that year’s Victory Banquet, he vowed that as long as his family owned the Speedway, the Gordon Pipers would be a featured attraction. Thus was born the Indianapolis 500 Gordon Pipers.

A not-for-profit organization, the Gordon Pipers have a $40,000 budget funded by performance fees from patrons like IMS, the Indianapolis Colts (as the Horseshoe Pipes and Drums), numerous parades in Indiana, and beyond. “We’re ambassadors for the Indy 500 and the City of Indianapolis,” explained Hardwick. Their reach is international, too, having marched in Scotland and Canada. “Some of us are talking about traveling to Afghanistan to play for the American troops there,” shared Hardwick.

In 1968, Connie Summers began as a Gordon dancer, then added bagpipes to her repertoire the following year. Her daughter, Melissa Whybrew, began performing at age three and a half and is now the dance sergeant and a tenor drummer. “I was born into the band and grew up in it,” said Whybrew. “Now, I have a four-month-old son and he’s destined to be a Piper.” Summers, who once fell during a performance (“I’ve never forgotten that!”), noted there are several children and grandchildren of current members who are Gordon Pipers. “Doug and I grew up together,” reminisced Summers. “The band is very much a close-knit family.”

So you’d like to be a Gordon Piper? Well, first you’ll learn their songs by blowing into a chanter. Resembling a wooden recorder (or the Flutophone you squawked on in elementary school), the chanter has several finger holes and is used to play the melody. Next, you’ll learn to manipulate the air bag for consistent sound, followed by marching lessons. Within a year, you’ll be performing in parades. Outfitting the pipers, drummers, and dancers costs about $2,000 per person. No one is paid to perform – the reward comes with travel opportunities.

The Indianapolis 500 Gordon Pipers are a favorite at parades all over the world, including those closer to home like the CarmelFest Parade.

Band members range in age from 13 to 60 years, and membership hovers around 40 people. “It’s a diverse group including doctors, a retired Marine, police officers – it’s an amazing mix of people,” marveled Hardwick. Extras are necessary because players rotate in and out as their schedules permit. “People have faith, family, and jobs,” said Hardwick, who’s always interested in new members. The band offers instructional classes every three months or so. “Potential pipers have to commit to weekly practices. We like young players, but several recent additions have been age 50 or more. A 72-year-old drummer just retired.”

When the Gordon Pipers perform, Geist is well represented. In addition to Hardwick, Tim Bastion, Sharon Hudgens and her daughters, Jessica and Laura, reside in Geist neighborhoods. “I like the opportunities that being a Gordon Piper has opened up,” said Laura Hudgins. “We just played at the Florida Indycar race, and it was fun seeing the race and being next to the drivers.”

For a 50th consecutive year, you’ll see – and hear – the Gordon Pipers at the Speedway throughout May. And when you do, give a tip of the cap to ol’ Tony for discovering such a marvelous civic treasure.

More information is available at www.500gordonpipers.com. And you can follow them on Twitter (@500GordonPipers).

Action Air owners John and Kandie Dinger with co-owner Gary Sylvester. (Front) Bentley.

When John Dinger got a call to repair a furnace some 35 years ago, little did he know that service call would lead him not only to his future wife, but also his business partner. John and Kandie Dinger started Action Air Heating and Air Conditioning back in 1986 as a two-person company that they operated out of their garage. Today, they are headquartered in Fishers and with 15 employees, they service Indianapolis, Fishers, Geist, Anderson, and the surrounding areas.

About ten years ago, they partnered with Gary Sylvester who helped round out their team by bringing management skills and a business acumen to the company. John is involved in the technical service-call side, and Kandie handles all the office, payroll, human resources, and marketing functions. Having a hands-on woman in charge in what is typically a man’s field, she says, is rare. But she says people realize quickly that she knows her business.

Action Air specializes in the service and replacement of all major brands of furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps. They also handle indoor air-quality issues such as filtration and duct cleaning. One area that they pride themselves in is their low-cost maintenance program which includes two service calls per year: one for furnaces during the heating months and the other for air conditioning during the cooling season. The Action Air Service Club can help save customers money by keeping equipment operating at peak efficiency, extending the life of the system, and troubleshooting potential problems before they happen. Kandie says that the average lifespan of a furnace or air conditioner is 12 to 15 years, and one of the biggest reasons that they don’t last longer is lack of maintenance.

She stresses that unlike many other HVAC firms that are owned by large foreign companies, Action Air is truly a local mom and pop business. ”We’re a local company and live in the area. A lot of the people we do furnace and air conditioning work for are people that we are friends with.” She adds that Action Air takes full responsibility for their work; and if it doesn’t get fixed properly the first time, they will make sure the job gets done right. “We try really hard to take really good care of folks. We’re not just going to do a drive-by, 15-minute tune-up on your air conditioner. They’re usually in your home for an hour to an hour and a half. They’re really thorough,” she says.

One of the challenges to the heating and air conditioning business these days, Kandie says, is all the added regulation and new requirements. The cost of providing freon or coolant for older units is becoming prohibitive, so, as a result, it is often cheaper to replace an older unit with a more modern one. Action Air can help you choose the type of system that is best for your home should you need a new one, and financing options are available.

Action Air has been an Angie’s List Super Service Award winner for eleven years in a row and is highly rated by the Better Business Bureau. And as Kandie says about their Mom and Pop operation, “Mom and Pop go to work every day.” So does their dog, Bentley. It really is a family affair.

Action Air
13284 Britton Park Road
Fishers, IN 46038
317-585-8981/Toll Free 1-866-585-8981
www.ActionAirFishers.com
Kandie@ActionAirFishers.com

(Left to Right) Jorden Mitchell, Rachel Carr, Annie Juarez, Jessie Peszek and Baylee Bell.

DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics in Fishers, Ind., qualified five gymnasts to the 2013 Women’s U.S. Junior Olympic National Championships, which will take place May 10-11 in Minneapolis, Minn.

The gymnasts competed in the Regional Championships, April 12-14 in Lansing, Mich., where they finished in the top seven in order to earn a spot to the Junior Olympic National Championships. The gymnasts in alphabetical order include:

• Baylee Bell, Noblesville, Ind./DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics, Region 5, Senior B
• Rachel Carr, Noblesville, Ind./DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics, Region 5, Senior C
• Annie Juarez, Westfield, Ind./DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics, Region 5, Senior A
• Jorden Mitchell, Indianapolis, Ind./DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics, Region 5, Senior D
• Jessica Peszek, McCordsville, Ind./DeVeau’s School of Gymnastics, Region 5, Senior C

The gymnasts are coached by Tom Strange, Amy Replogle and Don Gibson.

Nearly 450 of the USA’s best Level 10 gymnasts will converge in Minneapolis, to compete in the Junior Olympic National Championships, at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Level 10 is the highest level in the Junior Olympic program, which is just under the elite level.

The Junior Olympic National Championships is the culmination event for the competitive season. The competition features eight age divisions (Junior A, Junior B, Junior C, Junior D, Senior A, Senior B, Senior C and Senior D), which are determined by birth date. These gymnasts are vying to become Junior Olympic national champions in the all-around, as well as in all four events: vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.

The competition schedule is: May 10 – 11:30 a.m., Junior and Senior A, and 5 p.m., Junior and Senior B; and May 11 – 11:30 a.m., Junior and Senior C, and 5 p.m., Junior and Senior D. Champions are determined for each session. For more information on the championships, go to www.usagym.org.

USA Gymnastics has eight regions, and the top seven gymnasts from each region’s Regional Championships advance to nationals. The winning Regions will also be determined at the conclusion
of the competition. The top four all-around athletes in each of the eight age division also qualify to the 2013 Junior Olympic National Team and are invited to attend a National Training Camp, scheduled for September 22-26, at the USA Gymnastics National Team Training Center at the Karolyi Ranch, a U.S. Olympic Training Site, in Huntsville, Texas.

The U.S. Junior Olympic National Championships is one of the national championships of USA Gymnastics, the sport’s national governing body in the United States.

Celebrating the Gift of Mother’s Day

atGeist 2013 Mom of the Year Vicki Andritsch at Bella Vita Lakeside.

This year, 41 magnificent moms were nominated for the 2013 Geist Mom of the Year contest. From this pool, five finalists were chosen and featured online where viewers could vote for their favorite mom via www.atGeist.com. Though all the contestants were worthy of winning, only one mom pulled ahead at the last moment to win this very close race—Vicky Andritsch.

Vicky was nominated twice, once by Dean and Amy Hershman and also by her husband, Todd Andritsch. Together, Todd and Vicky have five children ranging from kindergarten to college age. Their eldest, Jack (18), is studying at Clemson University. Grace (15) is a freshman at HSE High School. Audrey (12) is a sixth grader at FCI. Luke (9) is in third grade at Geist Elementary. Finally, Ava (who just turned 7) is a kindergartner at Geist Elementary. These five siblings are known for having an unusually close relationship with each other. But then again, they do have a special mother who wraps her strength, wisdom, and love into every facet of this familial unit.

“Everyone has a story to tell,” says Vicky as she smiles proudly sporting her athletic apparel (she was up at dawn training for her next triathlon). “I’m just so grateful to have this chance to tell mine.” During our interview, I learned what makes her so remarkable.

Mother’s Day Gone Awry, Two Years in a Row

atGeist 2013 Mom of the Year Vicki Andritsch. Spa Day. Symbolic rock given to Vicki by a dear friend when they found out Eva (sp) was sick. She carries it with her in her front pocket every day.

When Ava, her youngest child, was just four weeks old, she was diagnosed with a level three brain hemorrhage near the core of her brain. On Mother’s Day weekend, Ava underwent surgery to have a shunt inserted which would help drain spinal fluid from the brain to the belly. The doctors warned that she may never be able to walk or talk and that they would have to wait to see the effects of her condition. Vicky explains, “Ava is our test drive on how to handle stress. She’s truly a gift of God and has overcome so many obstacles. She managed to cross every milestone with flying colors.”

One year later, during church service on Mother’s Day, Vicky was holding Ava (now 1 year old) in her arms reminiscing back on her first year with her, watching her defy all odds by sitting up, crawling, talking, and walking. She adds, “The emotions were overwhelming thinking back on what the past year had held and all that we learned about life.” She felt so thankful for her baby’s health and developments. Yet, she felt a wrenching feeling in her stomach for her son, Luke, (3 years) who didn’t attend church that day. He stayed at home with his dad. Luke had been complaining of intense ear pain the day before and was diagnosed with a double ear infection.

Two days later, life would change its course forever for this close-knit family. They learned that Luke had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and that their little boy would have to undergo chemotherapy every day for the next three and one-half years. She recalls, “Luke’s days of digging in the dirt and skinning his knees came to a roaring halt.”

“Our family has been strong from the beginning,” says Vicky. “I can see how families fall apart with this kind of stress. When one member is diagnosed with cancer, it becomes a journey the entire family embarks on.” She recalls embracing her family during this time of crisis, “Guys, we have felt this devastation before with Ava. We made it through, and look at her now. Luke needs us. He can’t do it alone. We have to do this together.”

Flashbacks of Comforting Love

Although Luke was in remission after only five days of intense treatment, he endured the next three years of his life battling the effects of his chemotherapy. He will surely always remember how his family members were there for him when he needed their strength. Vicky proudly describes flashbacks of how Luke’s siblings rose to the occasion. Like the time when it was the last day of Christmas break, she came into the kitchen to get ready to take Luke to Riley for his 6:30 a.m. spinal tap. And there was Jack, all dressed and ready to accompany his little brother without ever being asked to go. Jack chose to go and be with his brother as opposed to sleeping in on his last sacred day of break. Or, the times when Grace would sacrifice playing with her friends to go to the clinic with Luke. Then there was the moment when she put Luke on her back and carried him across the finish line at the Geist Half Marathon & 5K which was the first year this family was able to participate in this event. (www.GeistHalf.com) Then, there were the times when Audrey would wear a mask into the hospital so that Luke would feel more comfortable. She would always play “doctor” with him to prepare him for his next visit. Finally, there was Ava, who literally spent the first three years of her life accompanying Luke to Riley.

“Ava was our sunshine who brought laughter and joy into our world. She was the bright spot in our day. Fortunately, because she was so young, she didn’t understand everything that was going on,” says Vicky. There was a period when Luke had been so sick that he hadn’t raised his head off the pillow for two weeks. Then one day, he finally lifted his head and asked to watch Veggie Tales. Ava was so thrilled to see her older brother show interest in something that she began doing her happy dance, wiggling on the bed. Suddenly, she fell off in slow motion Vicky recalls. “I was praying she wouldn’t hit her head because of her shunt, as I saw her twirling in the air.” Her head was fine but she broke her leg and had to wear a hip-to-toe cast for months. Luke drew pictures for her and was so excited to be in a caretaker position for someone else for once.

“There were countless times during treatment I wondered how much more could come our way. And then I would feel a sense of calm and peace. These were the moments when I knew God had this all under control and we just needed to keep pushing forward, with faith,” Vicky says, with a smile.

Turning the Curve to Make a Difference

Vicky gets the cover girl treatment at Reeda Todd Salon at Geist, complete with a haircut, foot wash, and makeup by Sarah Burke (shown here).

At the conclusion of Luke’s first year of grueling treatment, Vicky and Todd felt so thankful to have their son. They wanted to celebrate, yet make a difference at the same time. As a result, Vicky founded Team Luke Corp, a 501c 3 organization that participates in endurance events such as the Geist Half Marathon and 5K. Team Luke raises money to support blood cancer research as well as Riley Hospital. (www.teamluke.webs.com)

“Cancer is a hard circle to run in,” states Vicky. “It immediately becomes part of your life and affects every waking, breathing moment. We are so fortunate to have a healthy son in the outcome. Not everyone is that lucky. We have had to say goodbye to too many friends.” Though Team Luke addresses the long-term goal of finding a cure for blood cancers, Vicky has created an immediate goal for dealing with cancer now, that is, for families who need coping mechanisms at this moment. She and her family members distribute Rhythm Pax (which in Latin, translates to “healing”) which are musical/percussion instrument packages to Riley patients, allowing them to take their minds off of their sickness and focus on healing and fun. Rhythm Pax was created as a result of Luke’s own experience of discovering happiness through playing an instrument.

When Vicky introduced Luke to bongo drum lessons during his treatment, she and Todd couldn’t believe how “at peace” Luke felt at the end of each lesson. Vicky recalls a time when Luke once said to her, “Mom, you know how lucky I was that I got cancer out in five days? I know others aren’t that lucky, and I want them to feel the way I do when I play music.” The goal for Team Luke is that every child diagnosed with cancer will receive a Rhythm Pax. Vicky is currently in the beginning stages of writing a book with her family which will eventually be included in the Rhythm Pax. Their dream has always been to share their experiences in hopes of helping others. With ongoing fund raising and awareness, they hope to make this dream a reality.

In addition, Vicky is a board member for Vines for Life, an annual wine-tasting event benefiting three charities. This is another avenue that focuses to raise money for Team Luke. Yet, her energy doesn’t stop here. She is a participant of the Indiana chapter of Team In Training, an organization that trains people to participate in marathons, half marathons, and triathlons to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS.) She also supports Pennies for Patients (with the help of her kids), speaks at engagements at Riley and LLS, and organizes blood drives at New Hope Church.

The Motivation behind Her Stamina

“We feel passionate about helping LLS and Riley because of the way they took care of us in our darkest days,” says Vicky, who has raised over $70,000 for Team In Training so far. She has run in races across the country from Disney in Orlando to San Francisco. She admits, “Running became my therapy to get through the tough times. On a good day, I am able to get my workouts done early in the morning before anyone wakes up and see some amazing sunrises while I’m at it. During Luke’s treatment, these sunrises were always reassurance to me that we were not alone in this battle.”

“When I am at that tough point in a race and I start thinking, ‘What am I doing?’ I am always quick to think about all that Luke, our family and others have gone through when dealing with cancer,” says Vicky who began training one year into Luke’s treatment. She has since co-founded Triple Threat Indiana, a group that organizes endurance training for triathletes supporting LLS.

“The best part of any race is the finish line when I get to see my family. I get to see those smiling faces cheering me through. The proudest of all is my husband, Todd. He is my rock.”

Even though Vicky has had some unfortunate Mother’s Days in the past, she still is proud to celebrate this special day with her family. She says, “I’ve had lots of people say to me, ‘Don’t you dread Mother’s Day?’ but actually, I love this day. I look at all the blessings that have come to us through our trials. It will be a gift for Todd and me to watch our kids grow up. They have taught me so much about being a mom. I believe these kids were meant to be mine, and I am lucky to be their mom.”

As we conclude our interview, I say goodbye to this strong woman who exudes an unusual energy about her as she speaks. Her bubbly, upbeat personality represents a most positive inspiration to all who are lucky enough to get to know her. What I admire most about her is that she never once talked about herself but rather her family and her goals for wanting to help ease the pain for others.

Vicky Andritsch
Nominated by her husband Todd
Vicky is a mother of five children ranging from 18 to 6 years old. Other activities include being the Founder/ President of Team Luke Corp, a Board member of Vines for Life, founder of Triple Threat Indiana, member of New Hope Church in Fishers, Team In Training participant, and a committed runner/triathlete. She is a caring, loving mother and wife first and foremost who sets an example for her family and friends. Her kids are proud to call her Mom, and I am proud to call her my wife.

Also nominated by Dean and Amy Hershman
Vicky’s lovely. Her grace is modeled in how she interacts with her family and how they show love and compassion to each other. She knows the heart of a mother whose child suffered and chooses to seek good in each experience. Vicky’s family formed Team Luke to bring hope to families fighting terminal illnesses. Whether delivering Rhythm Paks to Riley, counting pennies for patients at Geist Elementary, or volunteering in the community, she puts the needs of others before herself. I can’t summarize in 100 words other than to say she is a gift to all who know her.

Many of us know Eddy’s as the laid-back neighborhood bar and grill but, to another community, they mean a whole lot more. Each month, Eddy’s plans a feast for a couple hundred people and arranges for food and donated items to be delivered to a downtown church for a community in need.

It may be one of the best-kept secrets around here, but for those at the Emmanual Church of Christ on Prospect Street, it is one of the most popular events throughout the year. It is called “Supper with a Friend” night, designed to help community residents struggling to make ends meet at month’s end. Dave Stringer of Eddy’s grew up in the neighborhood and started the monthly dinner. “I knew the need in this community, and I just wanted to give back,” says Stringer. “As soon as I told Scott (Eddy’s owner Scott Foster), he was in on helping out as well.”

So on the last Wednesday of each month, Dave and others can be seen loading up his car with pans of food and any items that have been collected for donations.
The food is prepared on site in the church kitchen and served up in a community room. “We do a lot of comfort food,” says Dave. “Something that will stay with them for a while.”

On the day I went along to visit “Supper with a Friend” night, more than 200 men, women, and children turned out for the meal. Chef Kyle of Eddy’s was on hand to cook and serve up more than 60 pounds of mashed potatoes, 40 plus pans of chicken and noodles, and even dessert of pudding and pies. It was certainly a feast enjoyed by all. On this night, Pucinni’s also pitched in, donating a giant pan of pasta. Church Pastor John Gannt was also on hand, greeting the guests as they came in.

Many who stopped by that night may never pull up a chair for a meal at Eddy’s in Geist, but they can tell you how much they appreciate the hot meal once a month.

As one gentleman told me on the way out, “It was an awful long walk here tonight, but the food is certainly worth it.”

Congratulations to Eddy’s for a job well done!

Geist breast cancer survivor and florist Julie Hollis looks forward to her June wedding to fiancé Chie Kramer.

Geist resident and breast cancer survivor, Julie Hollis, has a lot to look forward to this Spring! The small business owner (Julie’s Flowers at Geist) who handles custom flower arrangements for weddings, is now – planning a wedding of her own in June!

But for this single mom of two, her future didn’t always look so bright.

About a year ago, Julie was diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a lump during a self exam at the age of 38. “It was horrifying,” says Julie. “One minute you are feeling fine and the next minute, your whole world changes.” Julie’s neighbor, Chie Kramer, — who is now her fiancé — had known Julie for a short time and says the news was a life-changing experience.

“We went from living life, enjoying kids, arguing about normal things – to big changes…something really important arose.” That “important something” was Stage 3 cancer in the breast, and it had spread to other parts of her body. Suddenly, there were biopsies, surgeries, and chemotherapy. She lost her hair and spent days in bed. But Julie decided to stay strong and throw herself into her flower business to keep her mind off things.

Then, the outpouring of support surprised her. “People from all over came to help,” says Julie. “We handled about two dozen weddings during that time, which is just amazing!” says Julie who still gets a tear in her eye just talking about it. “They energized me and my kids. Thirteen-year-old Justin and 15-year-old Heather learned a life lesson of how people pull together in time of need.

Most of Julie’s cancer was surgically removed from her body, but, there’s no guarantee it won’t come back. Julie remains positive about the future and enjoys working with flowers as well as spending time with her family and pets – especially “Jules” – her fiancé’s golden lab who kept a constant vigil by her side when she was bedridden.

Julie served as the ambassador for the Susan G. Komen walk last month and says she continues talking to groups, encouraging women to watch for changes in their bodies and know their risk factors, because early detection is so important.

Today, Julie’s flower business is steadily growing as is her positive outlook for the future as a breast cancer survivor, one day at a time.