Plainfield Magazine December 2025

Stage Side Sips

New Plainfield Café Blends Coffee, Cocktails & Community

ACROSS

1. Act the mendicant

4. Boys, to Burns

8. A bit loopy

12. Questionnaire datum

13. “American ___”

14. Sole

15. Also

16. Whirling water

17. Desist

18. Dug up

20. Hose hue

21. Particular, for short

23. “Concentration” puzzle

25. Modify

27. Toupee, informally

28. ___ now or never

31. Passage preventer

33. Van Morrison classic

35. Snoop

36. Dash

38. London’s ___ Court

39. Kathmandu country

41. Friends and neighbors

42. Extinct flock

45. Celebrity ribfest

47. Superior to

48. Deck

49. Chalet site, perhaps

52. Club

53. “Take this!”

54. Born in France?

55. Bounds

56. “Paradise Lost” setting

57. Bonus for waiting

DOWN

1. Cavern sight 2. I problem?

3. High school subject 4. Bank loan security

5. Calculator, at times

6. Go unsteadily

7. Full of guile

8. Doctor’s orders

9. Beginning to freeze?

10. Aggressively publicize

11. Blood category

19. Coffee preference

20. Base caller 21. Pouches

22. Leaky faucet sound 24. Software error

26. Wanders

28. Annoyance

29. List

30. Dress-uniform part

32. Frost’s bite?

34. Thousand ___, Calif.

37. Ruined

39. Expected outcomes

40. River through Tours

42. Spoil, with “on”

43. It’s within your range

44. Word with heat or meat

46. Biblical conclusion

48. French beverage

50. Haole’s souvenir

51. Cheerleader’s asset

7 STAGE SIDE SIPS

New Plainfield Café Blends Coffee, Cocktails & Community

10 RAISING THE BAR Plainfield Educator Honored As 2026 Indiana Teacher Of The Year 14

DECEMBER EVENTS 17 PRIDE IN PLAY Plainfield Athletes Continue Building a Strong Winning Legacy

DARREN BOSTON darren@townepost.com (317) 716-8812 KEY CONTRIBUTORS

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TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC.

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PRESIDENT

JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ERIN TURK

CREATIVE DIRECTORS VAL AUSTIN TONI EADS

EDITOR

JOSH BROWN

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CONTACT THE PUBLISHER Have a story idea or suggestion for the magazine?

LOVE YOUR extraordinary LIFE

Owners, Lynn & Aubrey

STAGE SIDE SIPS

NEW PLAINFIELD CAFÉ BLENDS COFFEE, COCKTAILS & COMMUNITY

Writer / Melissa Gibson

The town of Plainfield has a new coffeeto-cocktails café in the space attached to Plainfield’s performing arts center, Hendricks Live! It’s based on the vision the Lema family has had for several years now.

“My in-laws, Mike and Lynn Lema, have talked about opening a coffee shop for a long time, but it didn’t happen for them early on,” says Aubrey Lema. “Lynn’s career took her through HR, retail and then events and catering. I have a background in working with coffee. I’ve always loved the atmosphere, so it kind of

ended up being a family thing. We would all joke about when we would eventually open our own coffee shop.”

In October 2022, they decided to make the leap, and it just so happened the Civic Center was under construction, Hendricks Live! was underway, and the town was looking for a food and beverage business to complete the space.

The Green Room Café officially opened in June 2025. The name is a nod to the performing arts center.

A green room is the space in the theater to prepare for a performance or to relax afterward. The Lemas hope to be that

third space for people outside of home and work.

There is a separate door open to guests when the Civic Center is closed, but they can also open a door that leads to the lobby of Hendricks Live! They’ll be open for breakfast for those coming into the office in the morning and for the show you’ll be attending at the theater Friday or Saturday evening.

“We like to tell people it’s a coffee shop by day and cocktail lounge by night,” Lema says. “We have a full coffee and espresso menu available all day, but in the evening, we also open a cocktail bar and

bring in seasonal cocktails as well.”

The coffee menu includes double espressos, cortados, lattes, cold brew and more, and it’s brought in from Generous Coffee Co., a specialty-grade, craft-roasted, ethically sourced clean coffee. In addition, Generous Coffee Co. donates 100% of its profits to nonprofit organizations.

It’s another way for the Lemas to give back while providing a morning brew that keeps customers coming back for more. A small but varied menu offers muffins, croissants and breakfast sandwiches in the morning.

Appetizers include potato skins, meatballs, a meat and cheese board and more, and desserts are classic with brownies, cheesecake and chocolate chip cookies.

However, it’s the four different flavor profiles offered to lunch and evening guests that really provide the variety of possibilities.

Choose between Korean BBQ, Pesto Chicken, Buffalo Chicken and Apple

with Brie & Fig and put them in a salad, sandwich or flatbread.

“The ingredients are limited, but there are a lot of options we can do with them,” Lema says. “The intent is that everyone can find a combination that works for them, whether they are vegetarian or prefer sandwiches over flatbread.”

So far, Lema says the response from the community has been positive, though they are still working to get the word out about the new option in downtown Plainfield.

“The community has been so supportive,” Lema says. “Being in the same building as the people who work in the town has been great. People are loving it and we have amazing staff. We’re excited to see what the next season brings.”

Lema says evenings at Hendricks Live! can become quite busy and a sign of what

is yet to come in Plainfield.

“This whole area is up and coming and it’s bringing new faces to the westside of Indy,” Lema says. “We wanted to bring an elevated experience to Plainfield with good quality and affordable product,

time together.”

IN

Sec or Education, Dr. Katie Jenner announcing to Megan & her family that she was IN State Teacher of the Year.

RAISING THE BAR

PLAINFIELD EDUCATOR HONORED AS 2026 INDIANA TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Writer / Melissa Gibson

Central Elementary School’s fourth grade teacher, Megan Johnson, has been named the 2026 Indiana Teacher of the Year.

Though she always knew she wanted to be a teacher, she never dreamed she would be recognized in this way.

“I didn’t even question another field. I never had to figure out what I wanted to do,” Johnson says. “I had such a positive experience in school and I was always involved in church with children, I babysat and was a cadet teacher. I’ve always worked with kids and I think it was just something I was meant to do.”

Johnson is a Greenwood High School grad, received her education degree at Ball State University and then earned a master’s from Indiana Wesleyan.

She’s taught for 19 years at Plainfield Community School Corporation (PCSC) in third and fourth grades.

In the spring of 2025, Johnson was named Central Elementary’s Teacher of the Year. That made her one of the finalists for Plainfield’s Teacher of the Year, and she earned one of two district titles (elementary and secondary) just a few weeks later.

From there, if PCSC wished to support Johnson as a candidate in the state running, they could do so, and Johnson says Plainfield always does.

The state process includes a new application. There were essays, letters of recommendation from the superintendent, principal, families and others. Johnson

turned in a portfolio, and the running for Indiana Teacher of the Year began in July.

“I honestly never thought I’d hear back from them,” she says. “There are more than 65,000 teachers in Indiana. I was already so honored to be a district Teacher of the Year and I knew the talent that was around me in Plainfield. Knowing the finalists just at the district level, I just didn’t see myself going any further because there was so much talent there.”

New this year, the Indiana Secretary of Education, Dr. Katie Jenner, added some steps to the Teacher of the Year process. The state named the Top 7 teachers and then made surprise visits to each of their classrooms to narrow it down to three. Those Top 3 candidates, including Johnson, had the opportunity to visit Dr.

Jenner at the Statehouse to interview and discuss current education policies and best practices. While she awaited the results, a school fundraiser led to a convocation to announce fundraising numbers and to celebrate the students’ success, however, it was all a guise to get Johnson in the room.

“I noticed there seemed to be more cameras in there,” she says. “It was a school ‘Dress Your Best Day’ so everyone was in suits and dresses. Our principal [Ryan Setterlof] began talking and was immediately interrupted by Dr. Jenner, followed by so many people from the Department of Education, my family and others, and she made the announcement. It was just surreal. I was blown away.”

In fact, Setterlof, Johnson’s husband Mike and Brooke Orner, director of communications for PCSC, had known her good news a month prior and had planned to make the day as special as possible. “I’ve known my husband since I was 7. He’s never kept anything from me in my life, but it was just a top-notch secret for a month,” Johnson says. “I lost my mom a couple of

Let

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years ago and they even had it down to her favorite flowers there to represent her. My sons (Luke and Caden) were there. Even the high school was working to get my oldest son over to Central and made sure he wasn’t marked absent so I wouldn’t get a notification.”

Looking forward, Johnson’s goal is to bring her family, students and community along with her on the journey.

Her youngest son, Caden, attends Central Elementary and is experiencing it with her. Luke is getting high-fived at the high school by former students of Johnson’s. Setterlof, teachers, parents and so many others have reached out to celebrate and offer their support.

“I want my family to be involved as much as possible,” she says. “We get to go to the College Football Playoff National Championship and my son will go with me to that. We are in the Indy 500 Parade and have pit passes. The Indiana teacher program is very family-involved and structured so they can really be a part of it.”

She also has a close relationship with her students and wants to bring them along for the fun.

“I’m very relationship-driven with my students,” she adds. “I know their families. I don’t like to miss school. I always tell them, I’m your school mama and you’re my school babies. So this recognition is really a reflection of all of us as a class. I tell them everywhere I’m going and everything I’m doing.”

She recently spoke at a “Be a Teacher Day” at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and shared a video of her students giving their advice to future teachers. At a recent college fair, she walked around to each booth and collected swag for her students.

“We have a permanent sub for my classroom so we can have consistency for the students,” she says. “The expectations and routines stay the same. I tell them their pictures are everywhere and they all

think they’re famous.”

She’s also found a new cohort, or family, of Indiana Teachers of the Year who have surrounded her with support, advice and friendship.

“They have been an incredible support

system. We talk frequently and it’s really a package deal,” Johnson says. “Indiana has worked hard to keep the cohort for Indiana Teacher of the Year together. I’ve truly been surrounded by so many wonderful people. This is going to be a whirlwind journey.”

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DECEMBER

Submit Your Events!

2-7, 9-14, 16-18, 23-28

THE LUME INDIANAPOLIS FEATURING CONNECTION

Newfields, 4000 N Michigan Rd.

10 a.m.

Be transported to the other side of the world at THE LUME Indianapolis featuring Connection: Land, Water, Sky – Art & Music from Indigenous Australians in this stunning exhibition.

5-6, 12-14, 16-21, 23-24

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Indiana Repertory Theatre,

140 W. Washington Street

2 p.m., 7 p.m., 12 p.m. (Dec. 24 only)

Indy’s holiday tradition Banish your bah humbugs and celebrate the season at the Indiana Repertory Theatre!

5-7, 9-14, 16-21, 23

INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - YULETIDE CELEBRATION

Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle

2 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. (evening variations noted per day)

6, 13, 20

REINDEER DAY AT PERRY CROSSING

The Shops at Perry Crossing, 2499 Perry Crossing Way

1 - 3 p.m.

Free photo opportunity with a living reindeer and her festive helper in front of our 54ft holiday tree!

5-7, 12, 14 TREES OF PLAINFIELD

Al and Jan Barker Sports Complex

6 - 9 p.m.

Step into a winter wonderland and get ready for some holiday fun! Admission is free for the entire community!

16

NUTCRACKER! MAGICAL CHRISTMAS BALLET

Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. 7 p.m.

Murat Theatre at Old National Centre Doors: 6:30 p.m. Show: 7:00 p.m.

19, 20

HENDRICKS COUNTY HOLIDAY MARKET & FOOD FESTIVAL

Hendricks County Fairgrounds, 1900 E Main St.

4 p.m., 5 p.m. (Dec. 19 only)

Family Fun, Door Prizes, 100+

Vendors, Arts & Crafts, Jewelry. Home Remodeling Ideas, Food Trucks, Santa, and Much More!

• Nine conference classrooms and

• Complete commercial kitchen

• Demonstation kitchen

• 12,000 sq. ft. multi-purpose auditorium

• 24’ x 36’ stage

• Easy load-in areas with overhead door

• High ceilings

• Epoxy covered flooring

• ADA accessibility

PRIDE IN PLAY

PLAINFIELD ATHLETES CONTINUE BUILDING A STRONG WINNING LEGACY

Writer / Melissa Gibson

According to the National Academy of Athletics (NAofA), athletics at the high school level have been known to improve physical health and wellness, develop teamwork and other social skills, and enhance academic performance.

If you’ve ever been involved on a high school sports team, club or other extracurricular, you likely have memories that have lasted a lifetime of hard work —

but a ton of fun too.

Those are some of the many reasons high schools across the country participate in a variety of team sports, and in the past several years at Plainfield High School, they have been excelling across the board.

Plainfield School Corporation offers 22 sports at the high school level.

Students can choose cross country,

tennis, football, volleyball, girls golf, boys tennis and soccer in the fall. The winter brings wrestling, swimming and diving, cheerleading and basketball, and in the spring, they offer baseball, softball, boys golf, track and field and girls tennis.

In 2024, the football team, boys cross country, girls soccer and varsity cheerleading were all Mid-State Conference champions. By the spring of 2025, another list of accomplishments

was added, as the girls basketball team won the Mid-State Conference and the 2025 Hendricks County Tournament.

The boys basketball, boys track and field and softball teams were Mid-State Conference champions, and the boys and girls swimming and diving teams were 2025 IHSAA sectional champions.

Torrey Rodkey, athletic director for Plainfield High School, says even more importantly, the teams are competitive season after season.

“You rarely find a Plainfield team finishing outside of the top three. We’ve been very consistent as far as success goes,” Rodkey says.

Achieving this level, according to Rodkey, depends on everyone working together.

“It’s a testament to our athletes and the amount of time and consistency they are putting in,” Rodkey says. “High school sports have become a year-round endeavor, and we have a lot of veteran coaches putting in that time and effort for training and getting our athletes in the position to succeed.”

Though Rodkey is proud of the coaches and athletes, he knows they aren’t doing it alone. He looks back at the Optimist leagues, local travel teams and Plainfield Middle School — all contributing to their success.

“By the time these athletes get to middle school, they’ve already put in a lot of time and effort,” Rodkey says. “Most athletes don’t get started in middle school or high

school. They’ve been doing this for years, so by the time they get to us, it’s just our job to keep that training and development rolling.”

He credits the community for its united effort and says it makes the high school athlete experience that much better. It’s not something to take for granted.

“Not every community has that,” Rodkey says. “Some communities have great systems in place for young athletes, but not every community has it and not every school system has the support. One of the things we really take pride in with our coaching staff is making sure high school is a positive experience, so we’re building the overall student-athlete. We want to win, but at the end of the day, we want them to learn hard work, dedication, loyalty and teamwork.”

The losses are just as important as the wins in their overall development.

Rodkey says not everyone gets a trophy. Not everyone gets a ring or a big celebration at the end of the year, but those moments matter too.

“Being able to fight through tough times and persevere as a team and as a school is important,” he says. “Sometimes our athletes learn more from losing than we do winning. It’s about keeping your head up and moving forward. On the other side of that is not getting too full of yourself when you’re winning. We want to stay grounded, not get too high or too low.”

In his 17th year at Plainfield High School, Rodkey has seen the results of the department’s work.

New sports have been added, athletes have graduated and moved on to careers and other life goals — but they often come back.

“A lot of them come back to see us,” he says. “They had a good experience and they miss it, and this is something they’ll take with them for the rest of their lives. We have a number of dads who are former Pride football players now coaching at the youth level. A number of athletes have come back to coach for us at Plainfield High School. I think part of it is the positive impact we’ve made on

during their time here.”

The 2025-26 school year has begun, and fall and winter sports are concluding. Plainfield High School will likely add more accolades to their list.

In fact, as of our publication date this fall, the girls volleyball team has already won Mid-State Conference and IHSAA regionals, and the boys and girls cross country team has two athletes headed to state.

Most of all, they’ll be making memories, developing new skills and creating

something they’ll take with them when they leave.

“We have so much support, and everyone from myself, our principal and our staff — we are exceptionally proud of our coaches and our athletes for all the hard work they put into making Plainfield athletics a positive experience and the opportunities they’ve created to compete