Smile

What makes Sara Ballew smile? “My kids, my family, my dogs, customers,” said the 44-year-old Noblesville resident.  The 1997 Hamilton Heights graduate and former Cicero resident has been working at Discount Copies, her family’s business, since 1998, two years after the copy business opened. “Mom and I have worked together since I was 14. We work together pretty well.” She likes working with all of the customers. I kind of feel like we’re the ‘Cheers’ of copy shops.” Today’s feature is a look back at one of The Times’ previous Faces of Hamilton County. Sara likes working with her whole family; even her kids work there. The shop is open for contactless curbside service with a service window with a Ring doorbell and is open for inside business, as well, with remodeled front counter areas. She is married to Christopher Ballew and has three sons, Justin, Kyle and Nick; and three stepchildren, Natalie, Raygan, and Cooper. Best thing she’s done in her life? “Being a mom. That was what I wanted to do since I could remember. I always wanted  kids. It’s been great that they get to come to work with me.” She and her mom, Teresa Peil, who are both Tri Kappa sorority members, live across the street from each other in Old Town Noblesville. When Sara’s not at work? “I like to watch movies, play games, do puzzles and read.” Noblesville artist Lesley Haflich in 2018 painted Sara and her mom together in one portrait as part of the “30 Women of Noblesville” portrait painting exhibit at Nickel Plate Arts Campus in Noblesville. “It was a privilege. I really liked that,” she said of the painting that’s on display when customers walk in the front door of Discount Copies. “It made me feel special.” Sometimes, she helps her mom, a Belfry Theatre board member, check in patrons for Belfry shows. The next Belfry show, “The Great Gatsby,” directed by Andrea Odle, runs today through Sunday, with four more performances, at Arts for Lawrence’s Theater at the Fort.