Aspire Johnson County, a non-profit civic organization, is hosting a Community Conversation on managing growth along the State Road 37 Corridor in Johnson County. Even if I-69 follows another route, traffic will double on SR 37. How can you help shape the future of our community? Attend the meeting on April 23. Read the story or RSVP here: http://bit.ly/AspireGrowth

1. MARCH 2015
ASPIRE JOHNSON COUNTY TO HOST
“COMMUNITY CONVERSATION”
ON MANAGED DEVELOPMENT

2. 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?

3. atCenterGrove.com / MARCH 2015 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER / 5
32STATE ROAD 37 OR INTERSTATE 69 PREPARING FOR GROWTH
Writer / Kristen Parker
Cover Photo / Forrest Mellott
PUBLISHER
Dann Veldkamp
dann@atCenterGrove.com / 317-345-9510
VP OF SALES
Jody Veldkamp
jody@atCenterGrove.com / 317-507-4334
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Pat Enochs / 317-528-9380
TOWNEPOST PUBLISHER
Tom Britt
tom@TownePost.com / 317-288-7101
BUSINESS MANAGER
Jeanne Britt
jeanne@TownePost.com / 317-288-7101
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION
Toni Folzenlogel
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Alyssa Sander
ADVERTISING DESIGNER
Austin Vance
EDITORS
Allie 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
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MAILING ADDRESS
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Phone: 317-288-7101 / Fax: 317-536-3030
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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

4. 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 ASPIRE
Aspire 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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
CONVERSATIONS
Planning 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 DESIGNS
2 Center Grove Locations
Center Grove Community Newsletter
½ page island • 4-Color Ad • 4.75”w x 7.125”h
Run Date: March 2015 issue
©2015 Fischer Homes, Inc.
fischerhomes.com/indianapolis
317.348.2500
THE RESERVE at SOMERSET* from the $220’s
SHADOWOOD 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

8. 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 CONVERSATIONS
The 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

9. atCenterGrove.com / MARCH 2015 / CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER / 37
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Center Grove
APRIL 23 MEETING AGENDA
ACOMMUNITYCONVERSATION:
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 GROWTH
Greg 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 GROWTH
Larry 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 INFORMATION
Sarah 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 Church
5800 West Smith Valley Road, Greenwood
317-736-4300
AspireJohnsonCounty.org
RSVP online (“Community Conversation” link) or by phone
OfficialfuturelanduseplanforareaaroundSR37
144fromtownofBargersvilleComprehensivePlan,
February2013
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