Hendricks County Trails Worth Exploring This Spring
PUBLISHER DARREN BOSTON darren@townepost.com (317) 716-8812
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC.
FOUNDER, CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599 PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ERIN TURK CREATIVE DIRECTORS
DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER ERIC NEER
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. 8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: (317) 810-0011
Writer / Melissa Gibson
Photographer / Amy Payne
Brad Persic and Jack Hope worked at an Indianapolis plumbing company through college, always talking about going out on their own and starting their own business.
In 2007, Hope says, they decided to give it a shot and got started with just Brad, Jack and a truck.
“We started walking through Broad Ripple, passing out business cards, and my mom and Brad’s brother-in-law were passing out door hangers,” Hope says.
“Over the course of two or three years, we had become really busy and were able to hire two or three people.”
At just 26 and 27 years old, Persic and Hope decided Hope Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling was the real deal.
“We saw it was a real business and decided to pursue it as a career, not just a way to pay the bills,” Hope says.
“That’s when we began treating it as a real opportunity.”
The company became known as the go-to for plumbing and HVAC (heating and cooling) needs serving Indianapolis and surrounding areas. Today, they’re home to more than 200 employees and are always hiring.
They specialize in old and new residential homes for everything from leak repairs to sump pumps on the plumbing side and indoor air quality to smart thermostats in HVAC.
In the winter of 2025, Hope Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling added to its repertoire.
As the clientele grew, so did the company. Most recently, Hope Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling merged with Avon-based Frye Electric, bringing both teams under one roof.
Hal Frye has a similar story to Persic and Hope. He too started Frye Electric by himself and, over the course of more than four decades, built a well-respected electrical company.
In early December, Frye Electric posted a message for customers.
“As [Hal] steps into retirement, joining forces with Hope ensures that the integrity, quality and community-first mindset he created will continue for generations,” the message says in part.
Hope and Persic hadn’t necessarily planned a merger, but knowing the benefit it would be to customers and being in the right place at the right time worked out for both parties.
“Hal and I have a mutual friend, and he was beginning to consider retirement,” Hope says. “We talked over the course of a year. When he was ready, we were in a position to move forward. It was perfect timing, and we began discussing how everything would come together.” Hope says.
Having electric services under the same roof as plumbing and HVAC truly allows the customer to make one call and get their home-service needs met.
While homeowners often think of the systems as two distinct structures, many of the systems are intertwined more than most of us realize.
The water heater is one example of how plumbing and electrical systems work together. In bathrooms and kitchens, many jobs require both a plumber and an electrician to ensure safety and efficiency.
“The big impetus is providing better customer service, so you don’t have to have three different companies come out. Reasonably speaking, we’re able to take care of as much of your house as possible,” Hope says.
It was important to Frye that his team was taken care of, and inviting Frye’s knowledgeable and experienced staff to join them put Hope Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling in a great position.
“They all work for us now. We’ve provided assurances and made sure everyone felt
welcome,” Hope says. “The transition has been great so far. Frye has run a strong business for more than 40 years with experienced managers and staff. Fundamentally, we’re aligned. We’re just working through the process of making sure everyone operates on the same page.”
Caring for their employees is nothing new.
As a company, Hope says, they work hard to provide a good culture for the people working at Hope Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling, focusing on everything from compensation to holiday parties and team events.
“We support a proper work-life balance, and that doesn’t always happen in this field,” Hope says. “We also support the community through the activities our employees are engaged in.”
Hope has built a reputation for investing in both its workforce and the communities they call home. The company regularly sponsors youth sports teams and school programs across Hendricks County.
That includes Hendricks Community Soccer, intramural basketball leagues, the Avon
High School Marching Band and school fundraisers. Many of these efforts are tied directly to employees’ families, reflecting the commitment from company leadership to stand behind its team both on and off the job.
Share upcoming sponsorship opportunities with Persic and Hope, and you’ll likely see the Hope Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling name on a banner at your child’s next championship game.
They’ll also continue supporting commitments that Frye has always supported, such as the Hendricks County Rib-Fest and other large events. This year, look for Hope Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling’s logo as the Kids’ Zone sponsor.
Soon, the Frye Electric trucks and brand will fade as the merger is completed, but it’s safe to say customers now have access to an all-encompassing company that has the right person for the job regardless of the home-service need.
Visit hopeplumbing.com for more information.
Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographer / Curious Courtney
Ale Emporium has just opened its fourth location in Avon, and fans of the pizza-and-wings sports bar in Hendricks County are thrilled to have their favorite spot closer to home.
Similar to its Fishers and Greenwood locations, the Avon restaurant includes both family dining areas, a 21-and-over bar, and a covered patio.
There are 34 beer taps featuring local, domestic and imported options, a stage to host live music, and more than 100 televisions throughout the restaurant.
Ale Emporium first opened in Castleton in 1982 and is known for its Hermanaki wings and Honest Pizza.
“We just celebrated our 44th anniversary
in Castleton, and it’s still a family-owned business,” says Brett Glaze, marketing representative for Ale Emporium. “Marc Luros grew up in Indiana, went to Indiana University in Bloomington, and he and partners established Ale Emporium. In the 1990s, Marc’s daughter Shannon and his son-in-law Scott Baun came on board, and most recently, Scott and Shannon’s son Michael has expressed interest and will soon be the next owner.”
Tony Kwiatkowski is also a partner in the Avon location.
Glaze says with restaurants on the north, east and south sides of Indianapolis, when the Avon location became available, there was no hesitation.
“Avon is a great area. It’s central to Brownsburg, Plainfield and Danville, and we’ve been so blessed by a strong following and loyal customer base. We heard it all the time at our other locations;
people were driving 45 minutes from the west side to have our pizza and wings. That’s a great compliment, and we’re excited to be here,” Glaze says.
Though he refers to the restaurant as a pizza-and-wings sports bar, Glaze knows these aren’t just any pizza and wings. There’s a history and following for their particular specialties.
“Hermanaki wings is what we’re known for. It’s a secret recipe created by Herman Perryman. He is a longtime employee; started off as a busboy and dishwasher and worked his way up to being a kitchen manager,” Glaze says. “He came up with the sauce recipe on his own in the mid1990s, and it took off.”
Perryman shared his special sauce with a few people, and before they knew it, customers were asking for Herman’s sauce when he wasn’t there to make it because he had the day off.
“Eventually, Marc went to Herman and said, ‘You’ve got to write this recipe down so we can make it on our own.’ It has now been trademarked and patented. Very few people have the recipe,” Glaze says.
Customers will still see Perryman at the Avon location from time to time, and in addition to the Hermanaki sauce, they also offer Hermazian and Hermaican sauces, as well as traditional barbecue, teriyaki and others.
The pizza at Ale Emporium got its name honestly, too.
“Let’s say we put 8 ounces of sausage on a
large pizza. When you come in and order a half-and-half pizza, you’re still going to get 8 ounces of sausage on half of the pizza and 8 ounces of pepperoni or the topping of your choice on the other half,” Glaze says. “Honest Pizza is just our way of saying we don’t cut your portions.”
There are other popular items on the menu, too.
The Buffalo Chicken Dip and Homemade Pretzel-Crusted Pickles are favorites on the appetizer menu. There’s a large variety of salad options, and sandwiches range from tenderloin to stromboli.
If burgers and chicken are more your thing, there’s a variety of flavorings and options available, including the Black Jack Burger with Cajun spices and pepper jack cheese, and the Buffalo Chicken Wrap.
“Everything is made in-house. We are a scratch kitchen, so all of our dough, dressings and soups — it’s all made fresh and in-house,” Glaze says.
It has become the local hangout spot for residents near other locations, and Glaze looks forward to the same camaraderie and unity in Hendricks County.
With live music every weekend and summer music on the patio, sports playing on nearby televisions, and an atmosphere that invites neighbors to dine with neighbors, Glaze says he’s seen people embrace Ale Emporium over and over again.
“After you’ve been around for 44 years, you’ve witnessed first dates, engagement
parties, and the crowd enjoying IU’s national championship together. We’re creating memories here, and we feel very lucky,” Glaze says.
Ale Emporium has only been open since early March, but they’re looking forward to becoming a community partner
like they have at other locations.
Glaze says giving back is in their DNA.
“Whether it’s sponsoring local sports teams or dineand-donate events, we very much like to get involved with our local charities, schools
and nonprofits,” Glaze says. “The community has embraced us with open arms. Their reaction has just been overwhelming, and customers have been nothing but generous and complimentary. We’re very blessed.”
Webster Technique Certified
Visit aleemporium.securetree.com/ Locations/Avon/Menu/ for a full menu and more information.
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AROUND THE COMMUNITY, 2026
Submit Your Events!
The Vogue Theatre, 6259 N College Ave.
6:30 p.m.
Buckethead at The Vogue in Indianapolis on Monday, May 4, 2026! Buckethead Listen | Watch Buckethead is a virtuoso guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who performs within many genres of music.
Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St.
7 p.m. (5-8), 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (9), 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (10)
2hrs, 30 mins with 1 intermission. Please Note: Everyone, regardless of age, must have a ticket for admission.
Celebration Plaza Amphitheater, 801 W Washington St.
6 p.m.-12 a.m.
MORGAN WALLEN: STILL THE PROBLEM TOUR
Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 South Capitol Avenue. 5:30 p.m.
Includes Two Consecutive Nights In Indianapolis At Lucas Oil Stadium May 8 & 9 With Support From Brooks & Dunn, Ella Langley, Hudson Westbrook, Flatland Cavalry, Zach John King*
*Supporting acts
Monument Circle Indianapolis, 55 Monument Circle.
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Mark your calendars! The 2025 500 Festival Kids’ Day is set to take place on Saturday, May 9, from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Monument Circle!
Celebration Plaza Amphitheater, 801 W Washington St. 7-9 p.m.
Get ready for an surprising showcase of six-string wizardry as the important SatchVai Band takes over the Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park.
Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University, 4602 Sunset Avenue. 7 p.m.
Since breaking out on America’s Got Talent and Penn & Teller: Fool Us, viral sensation Piff the Magic Dragon has won the heart of America with his network television appearances, non-stop touring.
ROBERT HAYS!
Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St..
7 p.m.
Murat Theatre at Old National Centre Doors: 6:00 pm Show: 7:00 pm
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 4790 W 16th St.
4 p.m.-12 a.m.
Counting Crows became popular in 1993 following the release of their debut album August and Everything After; featuring the hit song Mr. Jones.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 4790 W 16th St.
6 a.m.-4 p.m., 11:47 a.m.
It’s the buzz of energy in the Indiana air. It’s the sense of pride racing through your heart.
People living with Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter
Purdue University, College of Pharmacy is seeking people living with atrial fibrillation/flutter who are planning to have or recently have had a electric cardioversion or ablation to treat atrial fibrillation or flutter. In order to qualify you must be taking anticoagulation (a blood thinner such as coumadin, Eliquis, Xarelto).
If you qualify for the study:
• You will be asked to take a medicine called Zofran (ondansetron) or a placebo (sugar pill) twice a day for 4 weeks
• You will be asked to wear a Ziopatch on your chest which monitors your heart beats for 4 weeks and keep a log of any symptoms that you have related to the medicine and atrial fibrillation.
• You will complete 5 visits lasting about 30 minutes (1 visit at the start of the study and then a visit each week). The visits can be completed at your home or in the clinical reearch center located on the IU Indianapolis campus
• You will receive up to $350 after completing all study visits.
If you are interested in participating, please call or text 317-847-2094 or email: hwroblew@iu.edu
www.kimmorgan.net
Writer / Melissa Gibson
For over a decade, Family Promise of Hendricks County (FPHC) has provided services aimed at assisting homeless families and preventing homelessness across the county.
The program has changed and evolved over the years; however, some things have remained the same. They offer wraparound services Jennifer Crago, chief executive officer at FPHC, calls a one-stop shop.
At the Plainfield Resource Center, families can come in and make a meal, get some rest in one of the respite rooms, do their laundry, take showers, access the food pantry and sit down at a computer to apply for jobs.
They can also receive assistance in training, education, budgeting, transportation needs and more through the Stability Builders Network.
“When a family first contacts us, they meet with an advocate and we look at the barriers: financial, employment, education, housing, etc.,” Crago says. “Our goal is to help families get from crisis to stability, and we’re focused heavily on prevention versus after the fact. So, we can help with late fees, rent, medical bills, transportation, child care and barriers like that to prevent a family from becoming homeless in the first place.”
In 2025, through FPHC, homelessness ended for 67 families and was prevented for 725 families in Hendricks County. More than 3,000 households received stability services through the nonprofit.
“Realistically, based on our monthly budget and what we’ve received through grant funds and our fundraising efforts, that’s how much we are able to help, and the issue becomes, just like all nonprofits, the need is so great,” Crago says. “One of the unique things about Family Promise is all of the funds stay here in Hendricks County. It’s really the community helping its own neighbors.”
Crisis calls average around $300 per month, and they currently maintain their “Almost Home” family shelter for up to six families at a time and six transition homes in Plainfield.
Crago says the financial picture for the nonprofit has changed drastically in the past several years. Grant support and federal funding have changed, child care vouchers have been cut until at least 2027, and they’re constantly looking for ways to garner local support for the many services offered.
At Pediatric Associates of Avon, we’re proud to care for your loved ones — and support parents every step of the way.
That’s where the Rise500 campaign comes in.
“It costs at least $500 per day for Family Promise to operate its services and resources, so we’re asking community members and businesses to sponsor an entire day of operations and programs,” Crago says. “We value our community members and our partnerships, and we respect and appreciate the help. Whether it’s $5 or $500, we appreciate any level of support and partnership.”
Those who donate will receive recognition on the organization’s website and weekly newsletter during their day of sponsorship.
“Hendricks County is one of the fastestgrowing counties in Indiana — a place where businesses thrive, families put down roots and community pride runs deep. But behind that success, our neighbors are struggling in ways most of us never see. Homelessness is hidden — families living in cars, cramped hotels and emergency shelters — but it’s very real,” Jeff Lee, president of the board of directors for FPHC, says. “Investing in FPHC restores stability to the family of someone who works beside you, shops in your store and sends their kids to the same school as yours.”
Corporations and civic organizations will receive letters in the mail, and individuals can visit the website to donate too.
Crago says the need is only growing as the economy has shifted and more families are finding the cost of living more and more difficult as the years go by.
“The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,700. Many of them are around $2,000 or $2,200 per month. The average job is $21 per hour, and child care is an average of $300 per week. Families can’t survive off of these numbers,” Crago says. “They have to choose between paying rent or making the car payment, and too many families are just trying to figure out how to survive.”
Slowly but surely, FPHC continues to combat some of the issues within the county with affordable housing and living-wage jobs.
They’ve partnered with other organizations to create an affordable housing complex, Winding Way, in Plainfield — set to open in the summer of 2026. Other potential sites are in the works but have yet to break ground.
Most importantly, they’re making a difference in lives every day. Crago says at FPHC, the work is fulfilling but heavy as well.
“You wear a lot of the burdens of the clients you meet. It can be difficult to carry it every day and emotionally taxing. There are so many burdens people in our own community are facing that we know nothing about, and it’s heartbreaking,” Crago says. “But when you help someone that has nobody else in their life; these clients don’t want to come to us, but there’s no other choice, and we’re walking beside them to support them. It feels like we’re doing the Lord’s work. We’re being kind to others in our community, and it’s important.”
Visit familypromisehendrickscounty. org to learn more about the organization and how each individual and business can help.
Writer / Melissa Gibson
COUNTY RECYCLING DISTRICT HELPS REDUCE LANDFILL WASTE
Back in the mid-1990s, the state of Indiana created solid waste districts in every county as an answer to the fear that we, as a country, would soon run out of landfill space.
Lenn Detwiler, executive director of the Hendricks County Recycling District, recalls national news stories about a trash barge floating out in the ocean, looking for a place to offload. People began getting nervous and looking for solutions.
Indiana’s answer to the problem was to create a local unit of government to help divert waste from the landfills, and Hendricks County joined forces with Morgan, Putnam, Montgomery and Parke counties to form the West Central Indiana Solid Waste District.
Legislation also stipulated that solid waste districts could levy a property tax to fund themselves or charge a final disposal fee at the landfill, and the multi-county organization chose the latter.
“We were funded through a fee assessed at the Twin Bridges Landfill in Hendricks County, and that was all fine and good for about 10 years,” Detwiler says. “Over time, however, there were disagreements on how the money would be spent and who got what. Hendricks County decided to pull out of the multi-county district and create their own, essentially taking the funding source with it. You had Hendricks County leaders, locally
elected folks, taking care of their own local population.”
In 2005, the Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District was formed.
In 2020, the name changed again to the Hendricks County Recycling District to better reflect what the organization does and to separate themselves from the Waste
Management-owned landfill.
“In Hendricks County, 98% of waste is hauled by your trash company, and there are still some homeowners that haul it themselves, but 70% of the waste that comes to Twin Bridges is still from outside the county. The landfill doesn’t care where it’s coming from,” Detwiler says. “People don’t necessarily want a landfill in their community, but if you have one, you want it to run well, and WM does that. They are a solid company in that regard, and the community is reaping the benefit — and should — because it’s their landfill.”
Trash collections, landfills and financial benefits aside, the Hendricks County Recycling District exists for another purpose — to divert waste from the landfill entirely.
“We focus on the residential homeowner and waste-reduction choices. Use and wash your dishes versus using paper plates, refill your water bottle versus buying plastic water bottles, etc. It’s not always feasible to choose
to avoid waste, but when not possible, then let’s recycle what we can,” Detwiler says.
If curbside recycling services are available, Detwiler recommends that process as the most efficient, but the Hendricks County Recycling District also offers three recycling centers in Lizton, Coatesville and North Salem.
The newest development at the recycling centers came in 2023, when the Lizton center reopened with a new attendant-operated center with limited days and hours. Since then, residents in the area have responded well to the new process, and more than 80,000 visits each year speak for themselves. The organization also operates two yard-waste recycling centers: one in Brownsburg and one
in Plainfield, open April through November.
Homeowners that have natural waste, which is banned from the landfill, can bring their bags of leaves, twigs, mulch and more to the yard-waste center, and the number of users continues to grow.
“Between 2005 and 2022, there was one month where we had more than 900 visitors to our yardwaste recycling centers. Since 2023, we’ve had 10 such months, four of those months welcoming more than 1,000 people,” Detwiler says.
He attributes some of the increase to the educational programs the recycling district hosts throughout the year, but also the stipulations WM has put on their waste pickup.
year throughout the county. We typically have more than 4,000 people come through these events each year. Since 2005, we’ve seen 69,000 people and 6.5 million pounds of material, including batteries, medications, appliances and other items,” Detwiler says.
They were using disposable plates and silverware for the meals they offer, and they applied for a grant for durable plates, bowls, mugs and silverware they could wash and reuse,” Detwiler says. “It’s a better experience for the people eating their meal, and it’s not generating all of that waste. Since 2006, we’ve awarded more than $370,000 across the county.”
“WM does things differently. They’re concerned about what you’re setting out at the curb. They switched to the automatedarm trucks to protect employees from getting injured by sharp objects in the trash, they don’t pick up bags of yard waste, and I think they appreciate what we’re doing too,” Detwiler says.
Companies across Indiana appreciate it for sure. The materials collected from the three recycling centers head to neighboring counties: a company that recycles cardboard, another that recycles glass, and it’s being used in furniture manufacturing, carpet manufacturing and more.
The Hendricks County Recycling District offers other programs to help residents get rid of unwanted waste. They regularly field calls from residents who have that milk crate in the garage filled with chemicals or an old set of tires, appliance or mattress and don’t know what to do with it.
“We can refer you to the proper company that accepts those items for recycling, and we also offer five Tox-Away Days per
There are unwanted medicine disposal boxes placed across the county at the Avon, Brownsburg and Danville police stations and the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Office. Not only does the medication not get flushed down the toilet, contaminating waterways, it also cuts down on abuse of prescription medications.
The recycling district also offers grants for organizations across the county interested in adding a water-bottle refill station, recycling bins or other ways to support the recycling efforts.
“One of my favorite examples of this is at the Hendricks County Senior Center.
There are two grant rounds: one in the spring and one in the fall, with $10,000 earmarked for similar projects each year.
Most importantly, the Hendricks County Recycling District simply wants to educate others in best recycling practices. They do that through various programs such as their youth education program in the local school system and even in their newsletter.
“When in doubt, call us. That’s what we’re here for, and sometimes the answer is that needs to go in your normal trash, but if not, we can dispose of it properly,” Detwiler says.
Subscribe to the newsletter and follow the Hendricks County Recycling District’s Facebook page for additional information.
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experienced hikers. You can enjoy tranquil and relaxing views of White Lick Creek, wildlife, or even take in a little mushroom hunting.
surfaces, so you’ll want to wear boots or shoes you don’t mind getting muddy or dirty.
northern section.
The newest trail at this beautiful park in Plainfield might be the most scenic and is definitely the most accessible. The Lake Loop Trail, which opened last November, encircles Sodalis Lake with a boardwalk, offering visitors a continuous scenic route around the picturesque body of water.
That trail, along with other future pathways, will eventually make Echo Hollow’s 1,800 acres of parkland accessible. Town leaders envision this park eventually rivaling some of Indiana’s state parks.
One of the most scenic of all the parks in Hendricks County, McCloud, located near North Salem, is worth the trip as it has so
much to offer. Talking to local park naturalists, Red-Tailed Ridge Trail offers hikers the most spectacular views as it passes over the centerpiece of the park, its historic iron truss bridge over Big Walnut Creek.
The trail then traverses mature woodlands and crosses through grasslands and prairie, providing a varied hiking experience that can be enjoyed by hikers of all abilities.
