Plainfield Magazine November 2025

Gobble Gallop

Annual Event Brings Community Together for Thanksgiving Tradition

Creative Chaos

Local Artist Brings Color, Joy & Stress Relief to Hendricks County

UNBREAKABLE SPIRIT

PLAINFIELD GYM OWNER TAKES ON NAVY SEAL

CHALLENGE TO HONOR HEROES & INSPIRE OTHERS

15 CREATIVE CHAOS Local Artist Brings Color, Joy & Stress Relief to Hendricks County

18 NOVEMBER EVENTS

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

CONTRIBUTORS DEVON DEAN VINCENT DUKE

BAZZ J. HOLMES MELISSA GIBSON JESS STEWART

FÜR DAS HUFEISEN (FOR THE HORSESHOE) The Indianapolis Colts Return to the World Stage This Month 14 NOVEMBER CROSSWORD

20 GOBBLE GALLOP

Avon’s Annual Event Brings Community Together for Thanksgiving Tradition

CONTACT THE PUBLISHER Have a story idea or suggestion for the magazine? 7 UNBREAKABLE SPIRIT Plainfield Gym Owner Takes on Navy SEAL Challenge to Honor Heroes & Inspire Others

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UNBREAKABLE SPIRIT

PLAINFIELD GYM OWNER TAKES ON NAVY SEAL CHALLENGE TO HONOR HEROES & INSPIRE OTHERS

In his youth, Jim Beebe, owner of Unbreakable Athletics Academy in Plainfield, loved working out and living a healthy lifestyle.

But like many, when he went to college, the “freshman 15” became a reality — with weight gain, bad food and beer.

However, once Beebe became a father, he changed his personal goals and was eventually offered the experience of a lifetime.

“I had become really unhealthy, but when my son was seven or eight, he said he wanted to be an athlete, and that was sort of a bottoming-out moment for me,” Beebe says. “I needed to get myself in shape, lead by example and show my kids how to live a healthy lifestyle.”

After 15 years in the finance industry, Beebe switched gears in 2013 and became owner and head coach at Unbreakable Athletics. It led to publishing a book, “Athlete Builder: The Blueprint to Build Champion Athletes,” and launching his “Athlete Builder” podcast.

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographer / Bazz J. Holmes & Vincent Duke

The weekly podcast is what led Beebe to a unique challenge.

“I interview a lot of people in Special Forces, Navy SEAL veterans and others,” he says. “Kenny Bigbee, a retired Navy SEAL and owner of DragonFly Martial Arts Academy in Plainfield, was on the podcast, and he introduced me to Bill Brown, also a Navy SEAL who runs the New York City SEAL Swim each year.”

The NYC SEAL Swim is an all-day event starting in Liberty State Park in New

Jersey, where participants jump into the Hudson River and swim to the Statue of Liberty. There, they do 100 honor pushups and 22 pull-ups — symbolizing the average number of veterans who die by suicide every day.

The athletes then swim from the Statue of Liberty to Ellis Island, where they do another 100 honor pushups and 22 pull-ups. From there, they swim across the Hudson River to Battery Park in Manhattan. They pick up an American

flag and run to the World Trade Center, completing another 100 honor pushups and 22 pull-ups. The event concludes with guest speakers and benefits the Navy SEAL Foundation.

The foundation supports wellness programs, higher education and other needs — addressing gaps found in Department of Defense and Veterans Administration programs.

Approximately 350 participants raise a minimum of $2,000 each, often collectively generating more than $800,000 for the Navy SEAL Foundation.

Brown invited Beebe to participate, but at first, Beebe said he wasn’t prepared.

He had just turned 50 and was primarily a strength trainer without endurance swimming experience.

Though it would be a challenge, he chose to accept it anyway.

“I trained for a year,” he says. “I had to learn how to swim, and that first day, I did 10 lengths in the pool and had to rest after each length. Fast forward one year, and I’m swimming three miles without stopping.”

On Aug. 16, 2025, Beebe joined hundreds of others for the annual event.

The group ran into some challenges this year that were not typical in the past.

Due to recent tropical storms on the East Coast, the Hudson River current was severe.

“It’s normally a 30-minute swim to the Statue of Liberty, and 45 minutes in, we weren’t getting there,” Beebe says. “Some of the guys were saying we should call this event. I felt like on a good day, this was going to be hard for me, and I think with the current challenges, the event was beyond me.”

As they moved into the second swim toward Ellis Island, Beebe and one other participant chose to sit it out.

“I felt confident about my decision but felt horrible emotionally,” Beebe says.

WE

“The next leg of the swim was supposed to be about 30 minutes, and the current was so strong, guys were finishing in 10 minutes. You had 350 people trying to climb up to the barge, and they were smashing into it. Several got sucked up under the barge, and one guy got a broken hand.”

Beebe says it was the first year the current caused major issues and the first time the Navy SEAL Foundation called off the final swim portion of the event.

“In the end, everyone was fine,” Beebe says. “There were a lot of safety precautions, and no one was seriously hurt, but I think I made the right choice for myself.”

With the challenge behind them, participants resumed the day. They grabbed their flags and began the run to the World Trade Center.

“Overall, the day was awesome,” Beebe says. “Running through the streets of Manhattan, the bagpipes are playing, the weather was perfect, and I met so many new people. Everyone was positive and willing to help each other. We heard from 9/11 survivors, a Navy SEAL Team Six member and veterans coming back together. It was super moving, and I was so happy to be a part of it.”

Would he do it again?

“Never say never, but I think I need a couple of things,” he says. “I need to train in open-water swimming. A lot of these guys live on the coast and are trained for that type of swimming. I don’t want to be a liability. Secondly, I’d like to have a teammate. Many of them showed up in a group of two or four.”

More importantly, he’s proud of his accomplishment and the example he’s set

for his training facility and his family. “It feels cliché to say it was about the journey and not the destination, but really, all the fears and insecurities I had had to be broken up and smashed through,” Beebe says. “It’s a huge feeling of confidence I’ve gained. I’m healthier, I can swim two to three miles, and when your family wants to do things like this, there’s nothing better than that. My daughter has been training and practicing

and just made the rowing team at her university. My son plays football for Ball State. It’s a blessing.”

Navy SEAL Foundation donations are accepted all year. Find Beebe’s page at impact.navysealfoundation.org/ fundraiser/6145281. Hear Beebe’s full account of the 2025 NYC SEAL Swim on his Athlete Builder podcast, Episodes 101 and 102.

•

With the NFL’s continued commitment to expanding its global footprint, several teams will once again play overseas this season— including the Indianapolis Colts. On Nov. 9, the Colts will host the Atlanta Falcons at the historic Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany.

For offensive tackle Bernard Raimann, the trip will be something of a homecoming. Born in Steinbrunn, a small town just outside Vienna, Austria, Raimann is only a short flight or train ride from Berlin. “About 20 members of my family will be at the game,” he says. “Half are taking the 4- to 5-hour train ride, and the rest are flying— it’s only about 90 minutes.”

FÜR DAS HUFEISEN

(FOR THE HORSESHOE)

THE INDIANAPOLIS COLTS RETURN TO THE WORLD STAGE THIS MONTH

Writer / Devon Dean

This won’t be Raimann’s first time playing abroad. He was also part of the Colts’ roster in 2023 when they played the New England Patriots in Frankfurt. “I’m over-the-moon excited to go back,” he says.

Raimann grew up playing soccer but switched to American football at age 14, drawn to the physicality of the game. “What I love about American football is how much we have to rely on one another as teammates,” he says. “You have to be able to trust the person next to you.”

He went on to play college football at Central Michigan and was drafted by the Colts in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the 77th overall pick.

The Colts take careful steps to help players manage jet lag on international trips. Berlin is six hours ahead of Indianapolis, and anyone who has flown across several time zones knows how disorienting it can be. “The staff forces us to sleep on the flight to help,” Raimann says. “It makes a big difference.”

While Raimann and his teammates are excited for the trip, it will be all business once they land. “We’ll practice on Thursday, then fly overnight to Germany on Friday,” he says. “Once we arrive, we’ll check into the hotel and head straight to the walkthrough.”

Raimann hopes to squeeze in time for

dinner with his family—and to introduce them to his infant daughter, who will be taking her first-ever flight.

“We’re going to experience the whole ‘flying with a baby’ thing,” he jokes.

One thing he’s certain about? Enjoying some comfort food from home. “I’m looking forward to goulash, bread dumplings, and sausage,” he says. “All of the offensive line loved the food last time around.”

Berlin’s Olympiastadion has previously hosted NFL exhibition games from 1990 to 1994. Built for the 1936 Summer Olympics, the stadium is best known for American track star Jesse Owens’ legendary performance, making it a fitting venue for another historic sporting event.

This will be the third international matchup for the Colts. They previously played the Patriots in Frankfurt in 2023 and faced

Colts-Falcons game will be the firstever regular-season NFL game played at Olympiastadion.

Notably, the Berlin game marks the first time the Colts will serve as the designated “home” team abroad.

The 2024 NFL International Series will feature up to eight regular-season games, with matchups in São Paulo, Dublin, London, Madrid—and now Berlin. The

erings!

And one final note: the Colts beat the Patriots the last time they played in Germany.

Kickoff for Colts vs. Falcons is set for 9:30 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, Nov. 9.

ACROSS

1. Performed

7. Clamber

8. Either yes or no

10. Strolling

12. Put at risk

14. Leer

16. Loading wharf

17. Decreed 20. Came (from) 23. Nude

24. Furthest limits 25. Malice

Solutions

DOWN

1. Respect

Flows away

Computer symbol

Palm fruits

Condensing

Jamaican music

Deserves

Perfectionists

13. Misjudge

15. Sanctuary

16. Speech extracts

18. Absent-minded scribble

19. Bee homes

21. Discontinued (project)

22. Moist

CREATIVE CHAOS

LOCAL ARTIST BRINGS COLOR, JOY & STRESS RELIEF TO HENDRICKS COUNTY

Writer / Melissa Gibson

Photographer / Jess Stewart

More than a decade ago, Melissa Cain of Avon was told by doctors to find a hobby to help relieve stress. She had developed epilepsy as an adult, and stress triggered and increased her seizures.

She leaned into her artistic strengths, looking back to her grade school days when she enjoyed drawing, crafting and creating. Even as an adult, Cain loved doing art projects with her children — and “making a mess” was never off the table. That same year, Cain’s daughter turned seven and requested a painting party, which became the perfect segue into exploring her love for art.

“We had a painting party for her, and it was a hit,” Cain says. “I started out just asking the kids what they wanted to paint. I’d sketch it out, and they would fill in the lines. Friends started asking me to schedule a party for their children, and then adults started suggesting a paint and sip night.”

She hosted parties and other events from her home until opening a retail space in Danville 13 years ago. The Danville location eventually closed, but the hiatus didn’t last long — Cain is back with her new studio, Cain’s Creative Chaos, on the east side of the

county. The space hosts birthday parties, workshops, paint and sip nights and more.

Visitors can schedule private events or stop in several days a week for the activity of the day.

“My workshops include all different mediums,” Cain says. “We paint on canvas, glass, pottery, woodwork, epoxy resin and UV resin projects. There’s a wide variety to choose from, and I offer one at least once per week. Sometimes I do an à la carte workshop where guests can do any of those, but it’s always something they can bring home with them.”

Cain’s Creative Chaos also offers fundraising opportunities. Hosts can organize a painting or craft fundraiser and receive 40% of the sales toward their organization’s cause.

She also offers at-home kits for those who live farther away or simply want a creative family night at home. Customers can order a variety of kits, pick them up or have them shipped. Each kit includes everything needed to complete the project, plus a step-bystep video to guide participants to the finished product. Perhaps most popular, however, is the Chaos Room.

“Think of it like a rage room, but instead of breaking things, you’re throwing paint on a canvas,” Cain says. “It’s really fun with a group or on a date night. You wear a hazmat suit, we close the door, and you’re just flinging paint. We actually have people come from far away to do it, and what’s funny is, they’re often surprised that they can take the canvas home with them. They’d be happy to just throw the paint around the room and call it a day.”

With her love for art, Cain also supports other artists and their pursuits.

The building she’s in features around 25 local artists’ works for sale in her gift shop — from paintings to sculpture, mixed media to

photography. The featured artists also offer their own workshops at Cain’s Creative Chaos on a regular basis.

She does everything she can to invite people in to enjoy the arts while supporting those who spend their days creating and honing their skills.

“We do pop-up markets in front of the store,” Cain adds. “During the warmer months, we have First Fridays with food trucks, live music and vendors with a variety of handmade goods and artwork.”

For the ultimate relaxing art venture, Cain offers art retreats several times a year in spots across the country. She may participate in an

art show while there, but she also plans art-related field trips and daily creative projects for the group.

Each five- to seven-day trip includes time to visit destinations like Panama City Beach, Colorado Springs or Southern California, depending on the season.

In the future, Cain hopes to move to a location that would allow her to bring in permanent vendor booths and studio space for fellow artists. Until then, she continues sharing her passion with others who can relate.

It’s a dream come true for Cain. From being a little girl making crafts to creating with her own children, she’s always cherished the gift of art and the joy of sharing it.

“I would have never thought I’d teach others how to paint. If it wasn’t for my children asking for painting parties, I don’t know if I would have given it a shot,” she says. “I think it was easier to start with young people and grow from there as my confidence grew. That opportunity, plus my experience in graphic design and marketing, has made this business a success.”

For more information or to reserve your spot at a workshop or in the Chaos Room, visit cainscreativechaos.com.

AROUND THE COMMUNITY,

NOVEMBER

Submit Your Events!

3

INDIANA PACERS VS. MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. 7 p.m.

4-9

LES MISÉRABLES

Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University, 4602 Sunset Ave.

7 p.m., Nov. 8 - 2 p.m., Nov. 9 - 1 p.m.

11

SWAN LAKE: INTERNATIONAL

BALLET STARS IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. 7 p.m.

Indianapolis — witness the most beloved ballet of all time, live on stage! One night only. One unforgettable performance. One chance to be swept away by beauty, grace, and emotion.

12-16

CHRISTMAS GIFT + HOBBY SHOW

Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 East 38th Street.

10 a.m.-7 p.m. (12-13), 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (14-15), 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (16)

It’s the most wonderful time of year –the Christmas Gift + Hobby Show!

12

CLUE - THE MOVIE

Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University, 4602 Sunset Ave. 7:30 p.m.

A SCREENING TO DIE FOR Join the original ‘MISS SCARLET’ - LESLEY ANN WARREN - as she hosts a screening of the cult cinema hit CLUE.

15, 22, 28-30

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Indiana Repertory Theatre, 140 W. Washington St.

2 p.m. (15, 29, 30), 5 p.m. (28, 22)

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

16

AZIZ ANSARI: HYPOTHETICAL TOUR

Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University, 4602 Sunset Ave.

7 p.m.

Tickets will be available two weeks prior to the event. Aziz Ansari is an award-winning actor, director, writer and comedian.

20

MOLLY TUTTLE

The Vogue Theatre, 6259 N College Ave. 7:30 p.m.

22

JERRY SEINFELD

Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St. 5 p.m., 8 p.m.

Murat Theatre at Old National Centre Doors: 4:00 p.m. Show: 5:00 p.m.; All Ages Doors: 7:00 p.m. Show: 8:00 p.m.

28-30

SPECIAL EVENT: DREW LYNCH

Helium Comedy Club, 10 W Georgia St. 7 p.m.

GOBBLE GALLOP

AVON’S ANNUAL EVENT BRINGS COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR THANKSGIVING TRADITION

Writer / Melissa Gibson

he Hendricks Regional Health YMCA in Avon has hosted its Thanksgiving morning fundraiser, Gobble Gallop, since 2016. This year, organizers introduced a new Wobble to the Gobble training program eight weeks prior to the event on Nov. 27.

They’ll also hold their annual National Anthem competition to find a local performer or choir to sing before the race begins. You may have even spotted Chase the Turkey around Avon in the weeks leading up to the Gobble Gallop. The YMCA releases videos and clues to help residents track him down — all in good fun leading up to the big day.

Most of all, the goal is to bring the community together while raising funds for a good cause.

“Hendricks County is a close-knit community, and the YMCA in Avon is right in the middle of things,” says Roland

Smith, Hendricks Regional Health YMCA executive director. “This event brings everyone together in the heart of the community, and it continues to grow year after year. We invite families to come out and burn some calories before they eat Thanksgiving afternoon and have a great time.”

Avon resident Mandy Evans and her family have made Gobble Gallop a Thanksgiving tradition. Mandy, her husband Patrick, and their two daughters, Olivia and Amelia, are a running family who enjoy staying active and giving back.

“We moved to Avon in February of 2018, and we looked for good schools and a nice gym in the area,” Evans says. “That nice gym happened to be the YMCA, and it was our first stop. We got a gym membership right away, and there has been this overall welcoming feeling from day one. Everyone was so receptive and happy to have us.”

When the Evans family moved across the country, their Thanksgiving traditions changed. Mandy suddenly found herself in

charge of preparing the entire meal rather than going to a grandparent’s house or sharing the work with extended family.

“It made sense to start the day out right and give back to a community that has given so much to us,” she says. “You go for a run, get cleaned up and start cooking the meal. Last year, I thought ahead and made pumpkin pies the night before. Things changed when I was solely responsible for the meal, but it worked out because the race is at 8 a.m. You get that done and move on to what you were going to do.”

Evans has run the Gobble Gallop every year since 2018, and her oldest daughter, Olivia, will participate in her fourth race this November.

“She runs cross-country for her middle school,” Evans says. “The first year she asked to get involved, she was eight years old, and it was the day before the race.

So that was a little late, but when she was nine, she ran it and really enjoyed it.”

Many appreciate the Gobble Gallop for its inclusivity. Families can bring strollers and wagons with children in tow, and walking or running the 5K is encouraged. Evans says she even had a friend walk it last year with a boot on her foot.

For Olivia, the event has become a bit more competitive. At 12 years old, she now runs in the 14-and-under category.

“I always tell them that no one can take away the feeling of how well you ran a race,” Evans adds. “Anything can happen, and she’s potentially running with high school teens. But what’s most important is not winning — it’s that we’re doing this for a good cause. We want to give back and have fun. I think she also really wants to win that pie.”

The prize for winners in a variety of age brackets — starting at 6 years old up to 56 and above — is a pie to bring home to the Thanksgiving table, a fun and fitting incentive for those needing a little extra motivation.

According to Evans, the event is a win-win for everyone.

“You get out and get your exercise,” she says. “It’s amazing to join more than 1,000 other participants during this busy season, but for us, we’re also giving back to this gym we stepped foot in several years ago when we moved across the country. My first 5K in Avon was at Gobble Gallop, and I hope I’m instilling a tradition in my girls — maybe not to run, but to always give back.”

In 2024, the Hendricks Regional Health YMCA’s largest fundraiser of the year raised more than $400,000 to support

financial scholarships for community members who qualify.

These scholarships help children take swimming lessons, join youth sports leagues and attend preschool at discounted rates.

Gobble Gallop takes place from 8-10 a.m. Nov. 27. Participants can register for the 5K at runsignup.com/Race/IN/Avon/ GobbleGallop5k. There is also a virtual 5K and a Leftover 10K virtual option.

Those who register before Nov. 11 will receive a long-sleeved T-shirt with the Gobble Gallop logo, with the option to upgrade to a hoodie or beanie, and a custom finisher or completion medal.

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AS SEEN IN Architectural Digest

EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN | INDIANAPOLIS RENOVATION EDUCATION

Once educators, the BGW Construction team keeps the spirit of education alive while working with clients to create their dream properties

For 18 years, Bobby Williams was a teacher and football coach who worked contracting jobs on the side. In 2015, Williams’ company, BGW Construction, went from side hustle to fullfledged contracting firm when he realized his worklife balance was suffering.

Despite now working as a custom renovation contractor, Williams and his team still abide by their ethos of education and balance. Prior to joining BGW Jason Schoeff, general manager, was a history teacher and Kevin Slone, project coordinator, was an accountant. Alongside Williams, both coached the varsity football team at the local 5A high school.

“We take a teaching and coaching philosophy in how we approach our jobs,” says Williams, owner. “We want to educate our customers on the modern-day technologies and codes that

come with oldhome renovations.”

Williams hopes that even those who aren’t currently clients can learn something from his team. But for BGW clients, the results are breathtaking.

In a recent renovation of an 1800s home, BGW added almost 1,000 square feet of living space, which included a new primary bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room. Having been previously turned down by four other contractorsT, the renovation came with its share of problems to solve. The BGW team was quick to put on their old educator caps and get to work.

Because of the home’s age, the team had to match the style and materials of the existing building. The home’s existing cedar siding was custom recreated by a local craftsman. Updated features like a large island and shaker-style cabinets grace the kitchen but still hold a timeless charm.

True jacks of all trades, the team can work across any style or period. From old Victorians to modern builds, there isn’t a mountain BGW can’t conquer.

“We put a value on education, but we also put a value on expertise, and that’s what we sell,” concludes Williams. “We’re selling quality, communication, and professionalism.”