Brady Fischer and his assistant Isabella sold 118 glasses of lemonade two years ago placing 3rd in the "best business' contest of Lemondade Day of Greater Indianapolis.

The annual and much anticipated Lemonade Day of Greater Indianapolis is scheduled for Saturday, May 19. So if you haven’t already, get signed up, get your Lemonade Day backpack and start building your lemonade stand! For one local youth, Brady Fischer, 8, of Carmel, it was a no-brainer – he’s all signed up and ready to pour!

Two years ago, Brady came in 3rd place for ‘best business’ with a total profit of about $250 (after he paid back his loan and paid for all supplies). “It was a fun experience,” explained his father Brandon. “He figured out all the aspects of running a business, including business expenses, materials and paying his employee, Isabella, to help.” Brandon is an entrepreneur himself; he owns a business called Anacore, a custom software development company. So like father like son, Brady created a job for himself. Selling 118 glasses of lemonade that day kept the kids busy and happy! Brady, being the good business man that he is, split the tips (which were half of the profit) with his assistant, Isabella.

Brady’s dad loaned him around 50 dollars to start the process and buy supplies. He also paid a store owner (a family friend) twenty dollars to ‘rent’ the store front for his lemonade stand. “That first year Brady had to understand how important location was,” said his dad. “Traffic was a big part of our success.” Unfortunately they do not have access to a store front this year. “Our primary goal is to find a creative way to generate traffic and find a good location,” said Brandon.

The core concept of Lemonade Day is for kids to spend some, save some and share some. “Brady donated 100% of his profits to the USO,” said his dad. “He actually picked that charity himself. My son said ‘I’d like to help out the Army’ – well, that translated to the USO. Then half of Brady’s share of the tips went to his savings account and the other half he was able to spend.” This year Brady will donate his profits to Peyton Manning’s Children’s Hospital, once again – this was all Brady’s idea!

Lemonade Day is about creating and running your own business as well as learning daily business operations and fundamental philanthropy. It is open to kids of all ages and it’s FREE to sign up! 2010 was the first year of Lemonade Day of Greater Indianapolis in which over 7,400 kids participated. In 2011, the number rose to over 10,000 participants! This year, they are shooting for 15-20,000 eager entrepreneurs. To find out more about Lemonade Day, visit their website at indianapolis.lemonadeday.org.

Brothers Steve and Dave Buckner have owned Sundaes Homemade Ice Cream & Java now for 15 years.

It’s a family owned and operated business. It’s no secret they produce the most delicious homemade ice cream and yogurt found anywhere. But there are a few things that might surprise you about Sundaes.

First Secret: Dave Buckner is known in the industry as a master ice cream flavor-mixer. If you have a taste for chocolate raisins or as the owner of Sweetie’s in Broadripple requested, a special Red Velvet ice cream to match their wildly popular cake, Master Dave can produce it right down to the “Yummy, this is good” taste bud delight.

Dave’s freshly home-made ice cream mix is created in the secret mixing room beyond the ice cream counter, and Sundaes has a propriety mixed recipe that is part of the success and separates their ice-cream from others.

They use all natural products such as in their bourbon-vanilla, which comes from Madagascar. Vanilla can cost a lot of money, about $90 a gallon. Imitation vanilla runs about $17 per gallon. “We buy the best we can and then worry about the cost later. It’s all about producing a super flavor that brings your customers back for more,” Dave says.

Recently, when creating a brand new banana/graham cracker flavor, Dave peeled about 50 pounds of bananas before he got it right. I tasted it and it was amazing! It was like eating a fresh banana cream pie.

Throughout the day, Dave whips up about 10 gallons of ice cream every 15 minutes. It’s immediately transferred to a freezer that’s kept at 30 degrees below zero. It’s flash frozen to prevent ice crystals from forming.

Second Secret: Sundaes sells to restaurants, ice cream dip-shops, country clubs, hotels and caters. “Actually, we sell ice cream to anyone who wants ice cream,” said Miera (Dave’s lovely wife) with a contagious laugh that would brighten anyone’s day.

So the next time you order ice cream out, you might very well be eating Sundaes special brand. And, if the ice cream is not-so-good, go ahead and tell them about Sundaes.

Third Secret: Frozen yogurt. Sundaes was making frozen yogurt before all the other yogurt stores popped up. Currently, they offer multiple flavors, 6 to 10 popular ones and new recipes are always in development in this genre of deliciousness.

Fourth Secret: They import green coffe beans from all over the world and roast and flavor their own coffee (again in the secret area out back of the store, which is in operation all year long).

Steve Buckner, Dave’s brother and co-owner of Sundaes, stated they made the decision to roast their own so they could once again sell the highest quality of coffee.

You need to roast it fresh from the green beans. And let me tell you, green coffee beans look like peas used to make pea soup. The roasting process turns the beans a rich brown color. They buy their beans from Africa, Hawaii, Brazil, Kenya, Guatemala. Anywhere that grows beans around the equator might very well in end up in your coffee cup!

Sundaes also sells whole roasted beans to the public if you want to brew your own at home. They also flavor the beans; blueberry, hazelnut, cookie doodle and so it goes up to 20 different flavors that are within their speciality. You can buy the roasted coffee by the pound or the ounce.

In the store, they can make you a cup of coffer from a wonderful menu of specially brewed roasted beans and whip up favorites such as: Cappucino/Latte, flavored Lattee Mocha White Mocha, Espresso shake, Hot chocolate or Hot caramel in a jiffy.

Fifth Not-So-Much-A-Secret: Sundaes is very community involved. They are sponsors of charities, churches, schools, neighborhood festivals and the Indianapolis Sailing Club Annual fundraiser to name just a few.

When asked what they liked most about operating a neigborhood ice cream business, Dave, Miera and Steve all agreed: “It is a happy place to be. Our customers love our product and when they come in to the store they are smiling because ice cream is the topping on the cake. It’s a great business and we’ve made lots of friends. We have families who when they were younger came in for ice cream treats with their parents and now they are bringing in their own kids!”

P.S. Some secrets are too good not to share!

Sundaes Homemade Ice Cream & Java
9922 E. 79th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46256
(317) 570-0533
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m – 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. – 11 pm.
Sunday Noon to 10 pm.
www.sundaeshomemade.com

Chef Suzanne Rockwell makes the move to Indian Lakes Country Club.

The well-known Geist area cook and caterer, Chef Suzanne, has a new gig in town!

Chef Suzanne Rockwell has taken on another role in her quest to help hungry Hoosiers find delicious healthy cuisine. She is the new chef at Indian Lake Country Club.

“I’m very excited” says Chef Suzanne.” “I’m moving the kitchen around the way I want it, and I have some exciting new dishes to introduce to my new friends.”

The kitchen was a big part of Suzanne’s new deal. Her lease was up for the kitchen at the Sterrett Center in Lawrence where she prepared her catering menu and corporate lunches for several years. At about the same time, the Indian Lake Country Club Chef resigned and they were looking for a new Chef.

After a conversation with her neighbor, an Indian Lake Club member, Chef Suzanne met with club officers and they came up with a recipe for success. Chef Suzanne will take over the kitchen at Indian Lake with her catering team working in the morning for corporate lunches and other parties, then concentrating on lunches and dinners for club members during golf outings.

“It is a win, win for all,” says Club President Todd Bullerdick. “We get the fresh, delicious cuisine of Chef Suzanne while she continues to conduct her catering business from the kitchen. She has a lot of freedom here with the menu and rearranging the kitchen so it works for her.”

So how will the once Executive Chef of the Fox Pub & Grill and former Frazier’s Gourmet Food instructor fit into one of the oldest private clubs in the Indianapolis area at Geist?
Very carefully! Some members wasted no time asking her if she is taking their favorites off the menu.

“There were comfort foods such as fried chicken, meatloaf and a favorite pasta with alfredo sauce,” says Suzanne. “I know they want to keep those items. I will “tweak” them a little just enough to make them a litte healthier.”

Her savory scallop appetizer on a bed of greens has already been a big hit! Does all of the this mean double-duty for the already busy Chef on the go?

“No, I just have to be more organized,” laughs Suzanne. “However, it does make for a great excuse to put my feet up when I get home, and let my husband do the cooking!

You can reach Chef Suzanne for any of your culinary needs at 317-823-5908 or email her at Suzanne@chefsuzanne.com or get more information online at www.ChefSuzanne.com.

Lindner Learning’s Karen Lindner Moriarty (left) struggled with dyslexia and A.D.H.D. throughout her childhood. She has turned her passion for helping others into a successful family-owned business in Fishers, Indiana, with her daughter Erin Lindner Uber (right).

Lindner Learning Center has served the community for over 20 years as a 1-to-1 ratio learning center and school for non-traditional learners. The students at the learning center span from elementary school age to adults in need of study skills, academic support, and specific strategic intervention for dyslexia, A.D.D., NVLD, comprehension weaknesses, Asperger’s syndrome, and other learning differences.

What makes Lindner Learning Center methods successful?

Assistant Director, Erin Lindner Uber, explains the formula: “We are fueled by the longevity of superbly trained, degreed teachers carefully chosen for their experience and expertise in learning interventions. I feel that we have the best teaching team in the county. In addition, we select only proven methodologies for our instruction. We understand the importance of each student’s time and each family’s investment. For this reason, we have multiple levels of cross-checking for each tutorial session and willingly collaborate with the student’s home, school, mental health advisor, or physician to ensure the best outcome possible.”

Additionally, Lindner Learning Center offers the Hands on External Learning Program (H.E.L.P), a highly individualized school program designed to serve various school needs of adolescent learners.

We have students who thrive at LLC for their entire junior high or high school programming, but we also have students enrolled in one or two accredited classes for course recovery, public school enrichment, or simply individualized instruction in a difficult course.”

How is Lindner Learning Center different from other learning companies in the Indianapolis area?

Executive Director and owner, Karen Lindner Moriarity, explains: “We are a locally owned and operated company, and we share a life and community with the students we serve. We have a highly individualized, methodologically sound program to offer. Our experience has shown us that each student is perfect in their essence and brings with them a unique set of issues. We know that there is no such thing as a miracle fix for our students. It is a step-by-step process through meticulously planned, executed, and documented sessions that result in an excellent intervention.”

How do families seek out services at Lindner Learning Center?

“Lindner Learning Center is predominately a referral-based business by the psychological, medical, and educational community. Many of our students bring with them expensive and extensive testing, said Lindner Moriarity. At Lindner Learning Center, we are able to review a student’s evaluation, develop a custom intervention for each student, implement it, and then send our student back to our referral source for post evaluation.”

Karen continues to survive, accept, and thrive as she lives her own life as an adult dyslexic with A.D.D. She reflects, “In the beginning, before our company had a name or was, for that matter, a company, I tutored two students out of my laundry room. I know the heartache that formal education can hold for a student like me.

This is the reason for Lindner Learning Center’s strong mission statement to better the lives of every individual that enters the center. We understand that families are entrusting us with developing the potential of their student and we are honored to be invited to be part of that child’s success.”

Lindner Learning Center
10305 Allisonville Road
Fishers, IN 46038
317-842-8628
www.LindnerLearning.com

Gary Harris is the youngest Indiana Mr. Basketball to wear the #1 jersey and the fourth from Hamilton County. (Photos by Steve Risley)

Hamilton Southeastern High School’s Gary Harris, the fourth student-athlete to represent Hamilton County as the recipient of Indiana’s Mr. Basketball award, the state’s highest individual basketball honor, is believed to be the youngest ever to don that No. 1 jersey.

He’s only 17 years old. And he’s already an All-American.

“Yeah, I was really surprised when he told me how young he was. I can’t imagine anyone who was any younger than he is,’’ said Charlie Hall, Game Director for the Indiana All-Stars.

But age aside, wow . . . what a talent. What a force at both ends of the floor. What a warrior.

The 6-foot-5 Harris is younger than 6-7 Zak Irwin, the school’s other basketball superstar who could — and arguably — should be the front-runner for Mr. Basketball in 2013.

Make that 8 days younger than Irwin, a Michigan recruit who averaged 17-plus points this past season. Gary’s birthday is in September. He will turn 18 as he starts his collegiate career at Michigan State in East Lansing.

Gary Harris (left) and teammate Zak Irwin wearing medals after named to the all-tourney team at the Hall of Fame Classic last December.

“Yes, Gary is young for his grade. When he started school, we lived in Nashville, Tenn. The cutoff there was you had to be 5 by the end of September. His birthday is September 14 (1994). So he was 4 years old when he started school,’’ said his mother, Joy (Holmes) Harris, a first-team Kodak All-American when she played basketball at Purdue. “We moved to Fishers when he was going into the 2nd grade. We briefly thought about having him repeat the 1st grade again here in Indiana, but his Tennessee teacher was highly against it because he was doing so well academically.”

Then she said with a chuckle: “Then of course . . . there were thoughts of holding him back (on my part only) just before senior night this year.”

Harris, who is a McDonald’s All-American, and the Indiana Gatorade High School Player of the Year for the 2011-12 season, ranked No. 11 nationally by Scout.com in the 2012 class. He also was a member of the USA Junior Select Team that recently played the World Team in Portland, Oregon.

He ended his high school career as Southeastern’s all-time scoring leader. He scored 612 points (25.4 points per game) this past season, finishing with 1,552 career points. That total puts him No. 7 on the all-time County scoring list.

When reflecting back on Harris, coach Brian Satterfield touched on the age factor . . . “Just imagine if we had him back next year . . .’’

Yeah, one can only imagine how good Southeastern would be if Harris was back in those Royals colors, alongside Irwin.

Harris with his father Gary Sr. and mother, Joy.

The Royals were pretty good this past season, winning a school record 22 games, and they ranked No. 1 in the final Class 4A state polls, before falling to eventual Class 4A state champion Carmel in the sectional final.

Satterfield, who marveled over his star’s unselfishness and his team-first approach, will certainly miss the presence of Gary Harris as the extraordinary athlete he is, and more importantly as the way he undoubtedly developed as a person through his high school years.

So will the younger kids who’ve been seen constantly seeking autographs from their “rock star’’ after basketball games.

There have been many Gary Harris moments throughout his career in both football and basketball.

But some of his best moments stemmed from the way he mingled with the HSE youth and others in the Fishers community.

After one game in particular, the 2011 sectional champion game at The Mill in Noblesville, a youngster asked if he could have Harris’ shoes. Harris just looked down and smiled, as he autographed a score sheet.

After the Fishers game, a fierce rivalry where both teams left it all on the floor, in a game HSE won by 3 points, two young boys waited in line to get Gary’s autograph.

They were wearing “Red” Fishers Tigers shirts.

That says a lot about the impression Gary Harris left on so many kids. So maybe he is a “rock star” — and his music is dribbling basketballs.

Harris was asked by a media member how many autographs he had signed. “Oh, I don’t know, a few, I guess,” he said, smiling while coming across as being a little bashful.

“You’ve been out here signing autographs for quite a while now, don’t you get tired?” he was asked.

“Nah,” he said. “. . . It’s fun. I like talking to the kids . . . I really do. We’re having a good time.”

His mother, for one, isn’t surprised about the way he is with young kids.

“When Gary attended daycare in Nashville, the (NFL) Titans practice facility was directly behind the playground. The Titan players would come up to the fence and give the kids footballs, wrist bands and talk to the kids.” she said. “Gary loved every moment of it. Those football players would make those kids day anytime they came up to that fence. Gary is still a diehard Titans fan to this day. I think he remembers how that made him feel and the impact it had, so that’s why I think it’s so easy for him to embrace the kids and take time out for them.”

Her son is humble, soft-spoken, respects adults, loves his teammates, and obviously relates well to kids.

That’s Gary Harris, a mild-mannered Superman on the football field and on the basketball court, where he was first-team all-state in both sports, and a giant in the hearts of those who know him best. If he doesn’t take Michigan State by storm, it won’t be from lack of trying.

But experiencing his gentle side, and how he conducted himself with the kids was really cool, something special. It was extremely extraordinary for someone so young. He genuinely enjoyed taking time for them all.

But hey, what would you expect? He’s pretty much still just a kid himself.

Mark Morrow owns and operates Hamilton County Sports Daily (www.hcsportsdaily.com), the only all-sports website in Hamilton County.

Megan Darnell with Owner Pamela Portee (L to R) next to Pamela's late mother's favorite red suit at Francina's boutique in Geist.

Francina – the inspiration behind the name of a new boutique in town – was a woman who never got to work a day in the shop she knew she would adore. Nor, did she have the opportunity to see the Grand Opening of the shop that bears her name. Francina died after a three year battle with bladder cancer –two months shy of the opening of her daughter’s boutique in the Kroger complex at 116th & Olio roads.

“She was so excited about the shop,” says daughter and owner Pamela Portee. “Clothes brought her a lot of joy and I hope this boutique will do the same for many other women.”

Portee –who actually is a cancer survivor herself—picked up the fashion bug from her mother and studied fashion merchandising in school. She and her family moved to the Geist area over ten years ago and brought her mother here to care for while she was sick. They began talking about a store and putting all their years of shopping department stores, boutiques and consignment shops into one unique idea for a shop – a boutique style shop with new and used under one roof!

“I want women to experience shopping in a nice boutique for the clothing that makes them feel good, all at a price they can afford,” says Pamela. “I think that is what makes women smile.”
Shoppers may smile over some of the labels found in Francina’s too; Prada, Missook, Gucci and True Religion jeans, all in the new clothing section at the front of the store.

The consignment section carries a variety of labels including Ellen Tracy, Nine West, Moschino, Michael Kors and Coach, all in a wide variety of prices.
Pamela says the consignment bags are a bit hit, too. “A Burberry bag and a Louis Vuitton bag sold the day I got them in the store!” say Pamela.

The Portees say they will also donate unwanted items that don’t sell in a certain period of time. “The community has been overwhelming to us in their support” says Pamela. “We want to give back in any way we can.”

Francina’s is open seven days a week. If you would like to learn more about Francina’s or how you can bring your items for consignment, give them a call at 317-288-5467 or look them up on line at www.facebook.com/FrancinasFashionsAtGeist.

Approximately 400' of sidewalk and bridges could be constructed if a grant request is fulfilled by the Indiana Department of Tourism.

Residents living in Admirals Bay, Treasure Pointe, and Cardinal Woods know the dangers of trying to walk, bike, or run along Carroll Road just south of 96th Street. A sidewalk from the Hamptons at Geist dead ends just across from Cardinal Drive, leaving pedestrians to fend for themselves for approximately 400’ of curved, heavily wooded, shoulderless roadway until they reach Treasure Pointe.

Several residents have sent emails or stopped me at Mama Bears to see what can be done about this stretch of road. Putting in a sidewalk couldn’t be that hard. However, after some research, I found out that this small stretch of road is actually in Hancock County and falls under the jurisdiction of the the Town of McCordsville. In addition, the terrain is not flat, has at least a 12’ change in elevation, and will require two and possibly as many as four bridges to span ravines and ditches.

A sidewalk in front of the Hampton Cove near the Indianapolis Yacht Club dead ends onto Carroll Road, leaving pedestrians to fend for themselves along a curvy, shoulderless Carroll Road.

Last spring, I attended a Town of McCordsville Public Works Committee meeting to talk about this project. The board was very receptive to the idea of building a sidewalk, unfortunately their budget for such projects was already spoken for. A few weeks later, Mark Witsman and Ron Crider from the committee followed up with an on-site visit to survey the situation. Based on the elevation change and complexity of the terrain, they recommended getting an engineering design study completed. This blueprint would give contractors, and the Town of McCordsville, a better idea of the design and costs to build this sidewalk.

Geist Harbours Property Owners Association (“GHPOA”), the homeowners association that encompasses Treasure Pointe, Admirals Bay, and 11 other neighborhoods around the south end of the reservoir, has wanted to get behind this project for a long time. Their 2,380 homes would all benefit from this sidewalk, creating a trail system that would connect over 95% of the circumference of Geist Reservoir.

Last spring, the GHPOA board earmarked $10,000 to be used on this sidewalk project. Bids were solicited for the engineering design study and the average price tag came in around $20,000. I for one did not want the GHPOA to go into this project alone. The project has been at a stalemate since last spring, until I got a phone call from McCordsville’s Town Manager, Tonya Galbraith.

In fear of being struck by oncoming traffic, pedestrians have cut a path down to Treasure Point Drive. To the right you can see the old guardrail that is inches away from the road.

“We’re looking for a partner organization to apply for a Place Based Investment Fund grant to get that Carroll Road sidewalk built,” she said.

At stake is a matching grant from the Indiana Department of Tourism for up to $50,000 to fund “efforts by Indiana communities to become even greater places to visit, live and work.” The Town of McCordsville and GHPOA will commit $50,000 towards the project, the Indiana Department of Tourism matches that $50,000 to give the project $100,000 for completion.

GHPOA voted to commit their $10,000, the Town of McCordsville committed $40,000, and the application was submitted on April 13. The Indiana Department of Tourism will be making their decisions on April 23, so keep your fingers crossed!

A big “thank you” to Tonya Galbraith who sought this grant out and pulled all the necessary paperwork together to make the application. At the end of the day, all Geist residents around the reservoir will benefit by having a safe sidewalk connecting the Fall Creek Road bridge to the neighborhoods to the south and east.

The family business of the Fort Grille in Fortville, owned by the Dowless family (left to right) Michele, Rachel, James, Cameron and Caleb.

In a small, simple building on the outskirts of Fortville is perhaps one of the finest restaurant destinations in the Geist area. The Fort Grille, the last stop on your left as you leave Fortville headed towards Pendleton, has quickly become a favorite of locals and the word is spreading.

“I grew up working in Baltimore in our family’s 250-seat supper club,” said head chef and owner James Dowless. “I was only 14 when I started as a busboy in the back, learning the kitchen from the ground up. My uncle always wanted me to be a bartender or work the front of the house, but I fell in love with cooking and wanted to stay in the kitchen.”

Fried green tomatoes, a yummy appetizer.

While in college, Dowless met his now wife Michele, a salad station employee at an O’Toole’s restaurant. He continued his culinary career and Michele began working for Eli Lilly & Company as a cancer researcher which landed them in Durham, North Carolina.

Life was going along great in 2004, the Dowlesses were finishing up the bulding of their dream home and Michele had just given birth to their third child, Rachel. Then, a chain of events occurred that brought the Dowlesses to Indianapolis. Within a few weeks of Michele learning that Eli Lilly was closing the Research Triangle Park, James began having severe headaches.

“I could have taken a severance package, but we weren’t sure what was wrong with James,” explained Michele. They soon found out that the headaches were from a brain tumor and would be removed at Duke University Hospital. After the surgery, Michele accepted a transfer to the Eli Lilly campus in downtown Indianapolis and the family moved to the northeast end of Geist Reservoir.

The special of the night: Baked campanelle.

A few years later, another brain tumor surfaced and James again faced a tricky surgery to have it removed. After he recovered, his itch to get back into the kitchen resulted in the purchase of a struggling restaurant called Robbie’s in Fortville which the Dowlesses reopened in May 2011 as the Fort Grille.

“I just decided I’m not going to live in fear,” said James about his recurrent brain tumors. “I want to do what I love to do.”

The Fort Grille is a true family restaurant. While James runs the kitchen in the back, Michele works the front in the evenings and prepares most of the homemade desserts. Occasionally you’ll see one of them leave out the back door to pick up their sons Caleb and Cameron from lacrosse practice or you’ll spot their youngest, Rachel, waiting tables.

Walking into the Fort Grille, I felt like I was walking into a diner along Route 66 somewhere in Missouri. Two waist-high counters with bar stools on the right, a row of newly upholstered booths on the left. In the rear of the restaurant, a large open room with more free-standing tables for seating. The restaurant is decorated very simply with nods to the local railroad history and works by a local artist. Nothing out of the ordinary.

However, when our teenaged waitress handed us our menu, we realized this was no ordinary diner.

The Fort Grille’s “eclectic” menu features entrees like the Veal Saltimbocca, Chicken Marsala, and a family favorite of Shrimp ‘n Grits. To round out the menu, they also carry a broad range of moderately priced sandwiches, salads, soups, and a $.99 kids menu.

For our visit, Jeanne and I sampled the Fried Green Tomatoes, Broccoli Cheddar soup, and then shared the daily special, Baked Campanelle. Neither of us have ever tried fried green tomatoes and we were both impressed with not only the taste, but the presentation, served on greens with a balsamic vinaigrette, pesto and goat cheese drizzle. The baked campanelle was amazing, made very rich and creamy with gorgonzola cheese. I thought I could eat it all but realized quickly a take home box was in order.

The unassuming Fort Grille appears like any other roadside diner.

Michele wouldn’t let us leave without a dessert, so we tried the mint chocolate cheesecake which featured small bits of York Peppermint Patties on top. Simply amazing.

“We make everything homemade,” says James as he points back to the bustling kitchen. “Even the bread we serve is homemade. We take the crumbs from the bread and use it for breading on our fried green tomatoes. You can taste the difference.”

The Fort Grille closes each night at 9:00 pm and is open for lunch at 11:00 am Monday through Saturday, serving brunch only on Saturday mornings starting at 10:00 am. My recommendation is to pay a visit for dinner so you can have the full experience with appetizers, entree, and a homemade dessert. To see their full menu, visit www.FortGrille.com.

If you are looking for a true family restaurant with gourmet food, take the 10 minute drive east to Fortville and pay the Dowlesses a visit. You’ll quickly become part of their growing fan base of loyal customers.

Todd Hollowell pro bass fisherman

According to the American Sportfishing Association, more people fish in the U.S. than play golf or tennis combined. Many people like to fish as a sport, a hobby, even as a profession. You’ve probably seen lots of anglers fishing at Geist.

“Geist is one of the best bass fishing lakes in Indiana,” says Todd Hollowell, local professional bass fisherman. “Geist is attractive to many organizations, such as the Indiana Bass Federation, because it’s such a great fishery.” Thanks to strict conservation and “catch and release” practices, the Geist eco-system stays in balance.

As a fishing fanatic, it’s seems appropriate that Todd has made Fishers his home of eight years. Besides working as an insurance agent for Ray Insurance Group (near Scotty’s Lakehouse) he recently signed with Red Gold Tomatoes (Elwood, IN) to represent them on the FLW Tour in 2012, the highest level of the sport with FLW Outdoors. (www.flwoutdoors.com) If you’re not familiar with professional bass fishing, this is the equivalent to a stock car driver racing in NASCAR.

“Since bass fishing is a visibly growing sport, many companies are choosing to get involved as a way to market and expose their brands to a huge demographic that fishing offers,” says Todd. “I’m proud to be associated with Red Gold, who provides thousands of jobs for Hoosiers in Central Indiana and produces premium tomatoes grown in the Midwest.”

FROM BASEBALL TO BASS FISHING

Todd played baseball professionally, for the Indy Frontier League on the Richmond Roosters. He played for two years as a pitcher before facing a shoulder injury that forced him to change directions in his life. He then coached baseball at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. Eventually, he realized however, that his focus had changed from competing on the mound of a baseball field to the seat in a bass boat. In 2002, Todd began fishing competitively for the Walmart Bass Fishing League.

BASS FISHING: “CATCHING ON” IN OUR COMMUNITY

Starting in April, the Tuesday Night Bass Club meets from 5-9pm at the Olio Road ramp. These events have grown in popularity, with this club and with other anglers who visit Geist. Todd says, “There is such a positive economic benefit with people coming here to fish Geist who are buying gas, eating at restaurants, and staying in hotels. Geist is a valuable resource not only for boating, swimming, and skiing, but also for fishing.”

One of Todd’s friends is Derick “Dizzy”Grant, guard for the Harlem Globetrotters, who is also a Fishers resident. They spend time together in the summer and share a common bond with bass fishing. In fact, they took 2nd place in a benefit tournament last summer. Also, they are both passionate about taking children fishing to introduce them to the outdoors.

MENTORING AT MARION UNIVERSITY

Bass fishing is also growing as a collegiate sport. Many universities have bass fishing team such as Indiana, Purdue, and Ball State. Todd mentors the Marian University Bass Fishing Team, which has just started competing in 2012. He has assisted with obtaining sponsors, ordering jerseys, and scheduling tournaments. Todd claims, “College fishing is really taking off and is grooming the next generation of college-educated men and women that will continue to grow this sport.”

FOLLOWING TODD ON TOUR

By the time you read this, Todd will be competing in the first of seven 2012 FLW Tour events, which span across the country, including: South Carolina, Missouri, Arkansas, Washington D.C., Kentucky, New York and Georgia.

Todd’s wife and two sons (ages 7 and 4) will join him for a few trips. The boys, who attend HSE schools, will use their summer and spring breaks to travel with and support their dad. “Without the support of my family and friends, there’s no way I could do this. It’s something they have made possible for me, and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to do something I love,” says Todd.

If you would like to follow Todd, go to www.bigindianabass.com and look for the feature titled, “On Tour with Todd.”

FUN FISHING FACTS

• Most bass fishing tournaments are judged by the highest weight with each angler allowed five bass measuring at least 14 inches in length.
• FLW stands for “Forest L. Wood” who founded Ranger Boats.
• The Forest Wood Cup along with the Bassmaster’s Classic, are the most prestigious tournaments of the year with a $500,000 first-place prize.
• FLW Fantasy Fishing grants the largest prizes in fantasy sports history including $100,000 awarded at the end of the season. You can go to www.fantasyfishing.com and play for free.
• Todd has been fishing since age 4. Like his sons, he learned how to cast a rod and reel before riding a bike.
• Todd fished his first bass tournament with his dad in 1988 at the age of 12, at Geist with the Tuesday Night Bass Club.

Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce board members (left to right) Andrew Lee, Jana Karrmann, and Mike Peck have reason to be optimistic. With 30% growth in the last 12 months, a new Executive Director (Jessica Tower), and rave reviews from new members, the value proposition is better than ever.

Since 1984, the Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce has grown significantly in size and in its scope of mission. The mission of the Chamber is to be a resource to businesses providing information, connections, advocacy, and opportunities. This non-profit organization provides services for its members not only to help businesses prosper but also to strengthen and support the Lawrence community. Although there have been some stagnant periods along the way, the chamber has taken root and is sprouting new life among the Lawrence business sector.

“We’re in a period of reestablishing and regrowing,” says Andrew Lee, the current President. “The way we’ve approached it is to go back to our roots and figure out who we are what we do and just try to better that and build our growth accordingly.” With the help of new board members, Lee and his team, aim to not only establish progression, but also add significance to what they do amid their mission.

Delineating and Preserving “The Feel” of the Chamber

Recently, I had the privilege of meeting with a few representatives of the Chamber’s board of directors. I found it refreshing to absorb the excitement and motivation in their presence and to grasp their intentions as they volunteer their time to make a positive difference.

Before becoming President of the Chamber, Lee worked in government for six years. He came to the U.S. in 1999 from Bristol, England. After earning his MBA, he started focusing on organizational development of non-profits. Incidentally, besides volunteering his time at the Chamber, Lee is also Executive Director of Art with a Heart—which promotes hands-on creative expression to help educate and inspire Indianapolis children who are at risk. (www.artwithaheart.us)

Lee and his team, reflect back on the rudimentary stages of their plans to improve the chamber. With his crisp British accent, Lee declares, “Every chamber is the same. And every chamber is different…Eighty percent of members in almost all chambers say that they’re for networking. But every chamber has a different feel to it. For us, the idea was to figure out what the members think the feel is…what do we need to do to keep that going? When people tell you that the feel of the chamber is small, that everyone knows everybody and there is a lot of comfort, our job is to focus on how to keep this same sense despite the fact that the chamber is on a growth path.”

Establishing Goals, Enveloping Member Value

“We want to add meaning so that it’s not just another breakfast, or just another lunch, or another networking event, but to make sure that what we’re offering is meaningful for our members,” says Jana Karrmann, First Vice President.

After many conversations about “member value,” the board has focused on making the chamber attractive to new members and increasing retention rates. One major priority has been to make sure the goals of the members align with the goals of the chamber board.

“We’ve created our goals based on the feedback of our members,” says Mike Peck, Marketing Committee Chair. “We conducted a survey and found that the members are finding value in the programming and services we provide. So, we’ve made steps in the right direction and continue to set goals that support what members value. Ultimately, what we want a chamber member to say is, ‘Connecting with community business leaders is an important part of what I do every day because it helps my business.’” The research from the survey also concluded that when members attend events, the chamber environment felt approachable, comfortable and welcoming.

In addition to serving as Vice President, Karrmann also chairs the membership committee, and elaborates, “When the renewal comes twelve months later and they’re looking at the cost, we want members to instinctively take out the checkbook and rewrite the check because there’s no question in their mind that it was money well spent and a good return on their investment.” Collectively, the board plans each event in the hopes that all members will leave with new ideas, connections, resources, concepts, and energy that germinates continuous inspiration.

Active Executive Committees: Engaging Members and Merit

Last March, the board hired a new executive director, Jessica Tower. Lee adds, “Since its relocation to Lawrence, the Monarch Beverage Company has played a pivotal role in the chamber. Their support has helped us land a first class Executive Director.”

Since Tower has come into light and sprinkled the seeds, a new full executive board of directors has emerged and begun to till the land of Lawrence into a fertile field of crops. As a result, this fervent team has implemented active committees that meet every month in order to build and enhance the chamber’s mission. These committees are as follows:

• Membership (Jana Karrmann) coordinating and enticing new members into the organization
• Finance (Jason Kieninger) overseeing all financial transactions
• Marketing (Mike Peck) managing marketing and communications
• Ambassadors (Scott Maskel) facilitating businesses to know how to engage their members beyond basic membership
• Young Professionals (Jake Rhodes) connecting with young people in organizations to help them realize the power of networking and value of connecting to the community

Living Our Brand Promise

So far, within the last year, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce must be doing something right. The membership enrollment has climbed steadily and keeps growing. Within a year of having the Executive Director (Jessica Tower) in control, the assets are up 30% for the organization. Lee asserts, “In seeing this increase in just nine months, we’re extremely optimistic about achieving that goal of great member value.”

Furthermore, with respect to the survey, the board learned a very promising detail—over 85% of members who have been active for six years or less said that they were finding value with the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and they were getting the resources they need. Peck, who was instrumental in the conduction of this survey, affirms, “If our members are saying that their participation is of value, then we’re living our brand promise and we’re going to continue to do that.”

Amid the enthusiastic vibes in the air, Karrmann chimes in, “Everybody wants to be a part of something that’s growing…If a company’s doing well, people buy its stock. We may not have stock to offer but we do have many beneficial opportunities.”

The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce hosts many networking events such as the “Breakfast Before Hours” held on the first Thursday of the month and “Business After Hours” held on the third Thursday of each month.

Go to www.lawrencechamberofcommerce.org for more information and to view the calendar of upcoming events.