Whenever you start a major endeavor it’s important to evaluate how things are going along the way. That’s what I do on a regular basis.
The good news is that this blog and my new LarryInFishers Podcasts are doing very well. People are reading listening. They are both in good shape.
However, my experiment with a Monday-Friday daily tax podcast has not been going as well. I appreciate the loyal following that podcast has built, but there just are not enough people listening to these podcasts to continue. The final tax podcast was posted on March 7th. I will continue to have the links to past segments, but there will be no new podcasts on taxes from me. Again, thanks to those that were listening…there just weren’t enough of you.
But I do plan to replace the tax podcast with a new series, this one centered on the arts. There is so much going on there should be no shortage of material. I did spend a short time in my long broadcasting career as a film reviewer. I plan to return to reviewing performances. I’ll be attending local events. I plan to also review movies, TV shows and live theater. After all, people in Fishers go to the movies and watch TV like most of America. I’m still developing the final plans for this podcast series, but I hope to start soon. Stay tuned.
Board Member Michele Fullhart talks about her experience as a teacher in the 2nd Grade iPad pilot program
The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School administration will be fashioning a rollout plan recommendation for the grades K-4 rollout of iPads in 2-3 weeks. The school board will make the final decision.
A group of HSE parents recently started a petition to delay the iPad rollout, which is scheduled for August of 2016. The organizers say they have 492 names on that petition.
School Superintendent Allen Bourff arranged for Indiana University Professor Dr. Anne Ottenbreit-Leftwich to speak to the board and answer questions. Dr. Leftwich told board members the American Association of Pediatricians (AAP) had a standard of no more than 2 hours of screen time for young children, but has recently “softened” that guideline. AAP is now saying no more than 2 hours of “passive time,” such as watching TV or online videos, but that interactive and educational programs at a computer screen should not be considered the same as “passive” activities and are not subject to that limitation guideline.
Six parents spoke before the board at the Wednesday night session, each asking that the iPad rollout to grades K-4 be delayed. One parent said she was “shocked” when learning of the plan to provide iPads to children in grades K-4. One father of a middle school student said taking home the iPad for homework was creating “home life challenges” in his household.
The board then posed a number of questions to Dr. Leftwich.
“I do think there (are) a lot of positives in the direction we are going,” Board President Karen Harmer said. “But, we certainly heard the concerns tonight, and I know that we’re not bringing a recommendation forward this evening (3.9).”
“We are going to be working on a resolution to this in the short term,” said Dr. Bourff. “In the next 2 weeks, 3 weeks, we will have some processing taking place. We will be bringing a recommendation for how the rollout will be processed. I encourage the parents we have already heard from…I encourage them to watch and monitor us…we may even have some further opportunities to engage with parents who have some concerns.”
Dr. Bourff said the concerns brought forth by parents are “greatly appreciated.”
The board decided 2 years ago on an iPad rollout schedule which called for grades K-4 to begin using the devices in the coming school year, beginning in August, 2016.
Bourff told the board administrators will look back at how the past iPad rollouts have been handled and evaluated by staff and parents. “If there are some adjustments to be made, we’re open to it,” Bourff said.
No board member indicated support for delaying the K-4 iPad rollout.
Indiana University Professor Anne T Ottenbreit-Leftwich talks to the board about iPad use issues in grades K-4
A proposed subdivision along Howe Road, just north of 131st Street, asked for a waiver of city cul-de sac standards, and the request was denied by the Fishers Plan Commission. Long-time residents in that area have been fighting the proposal since it first appeared on the commission agenda. The request was continued at the January meeting after a lengthy discussion. The item was continued again and not considered at the February plan commission session.
The Long Grove proposal was to construct homes on 20 lots over 12 acres on the east side of Howe Road, about 1/3 of a mile north of 131st Street.
The commission vote to deny the waiver was unanimous.
Starbucks fans on the east end of Fishers are a step closer to a new coffee shop in the southwest area of 116th Street and Olio Road, near the Walgreen Drug Store. The Fishers Plan Commission voted unanimously Tuesday night for a favorable recommendation on the plan.
The issue will now go to the Fishers City Council for final approval.
The plan commission added some technical language to the proposal, mostly dealing with use rules for other properties in that commercial complex.
A panel of mental health experts, answering questions from the audience
You would think that a program about depression and anxiety disorders would leave you with a down feeling. I did not experience that Monday night after attending the session on mental health awareness at Fishers High School.
Don’t get me wrong. This is a tough issue. Mental health continues to have an unfair stigma attached to it. People are still hurt and and sometimes die when struggling with these diseases.
But the Peyton Riekoff Foundation for Youth Hope provided lessons on how to help those suffering from mental health diseases, such as depression. Mike Riekoff spoke to the crowd, saying depression was responsible for taking the life of his daughter Peyton.
Riekoff talked about “immediate detentions” in Fishers, where police must detain individuals because those persons are deemed a threat to themselves and/or others around them. Since 2012, there have been 808 such detentions in Fishers. There were 212 in 2015 alone. In 2016, a little over 2 months old, Fishers Police have carried out 34 immediate detentions.
The message from this program was clear…..get help. Go to your family, and if that doesn’t work, reach out to a doctor or counselor at school, or maybe even the parent of a close friend. The bottom line message is – there is help.
Students are encouraged to watch their friends and tell others if there are signs of depression or anxiety disorder. These are illnesses, not character flaws.
The foundation has a list of resources you can access at this link.
It is estimated 20% of our young people in Fishers suffer from depression. The important message to tell those suffering is – you are not alone – you can get help.
There is hope.
Mike Reikoff speaks to those assembled at the Mental Health Awareness program
With winter on its way out and spring on the way, it’s a good time to get an update on what’s happening with the Fishers Parks and Recreation Department.
I talked with Director Tony Elliot and Dan Domsic (Fishers Dan) about what is coming up.
Coworking space with chairs & whiteboards,. the office suites are placed around the comment areas.
Construction crews continue to put the finishing touches on the new Launch Fishers building
As I drove into the parking lot of the new Launch Fishers building, I could see the structure was still under construction. There were work crews everywhere, inside and outside the building. The large auditorium was off limits to visitors as a construction site.
That didn’t deter Launch Fishers founder John Wechsler from inviting reporters in to take a look at the impressive facility. I was the first journalist to arrive, and John was busy installing infrastructure.
He did take time out to give me a brief tour of some of the new Launch building. Below is the video of the live Periscope broadcast during the afternoon of March 7th.
When you write a local news blog like mine, sometimes a story takes off when you least expect it. In my case, it was an underestimation on my part about the popularity of Starbucks coffee shops.
I’ll admit, I have enjoyed a coffee or two there, but I am not a regular Starbucks customer.
Apparently, the area around 116th Street and Olio Road is more than ready for a new Starbucks store.
The Fishers City Council heard a first reading summary of a proposed new Starbucks close to the Walgreen’s store, near that busy intersection. It only takes one council vote to send the proposal to the Fishers Plan Commission, where it is vetted by the staff, the subject of a public hearing where anyone is allowed to speak for or against the idea, then the commission votes. I wrote a brief piece on this blog about it February 15th.
The staff report recommends Plan Commission members approve a favorable recommendation for the proposed Starbucks near 116th Street & Olio Road, but does mention in the report that the drive-up window needs to be looked at…staff calls for further study to “review the ability for cars to stack safely on-site, during the construction plan review process….” The commission would then put the matter back into the hands of the Fishers City Council.
The Fishers Plan Commission is a totally advisory body, but City Council members have historically relied a great deal on that advice.
Based on the amount of readers on the story I posted February 15th, there is a lot of interest about this plan. Many are in favor, others question whether that location will work in tandem with the other stores in that area.
If you have any thoughts on the matter, the Plan Commission Meets Tuesday, March 8th, 6:30pm, at Fishers City Hall.
If you want to find my podcasts, you can now get them all on the iTunes app.
Just go to the app, type “Podcasts by Larry Lannan” in the search box, and you will find them all listed there.
My podcasts are getting out to a good start. In the first month, I’ve had over 580 accesses. My thanks to all of my listeners. I will do my best to present programs you will find interesting.
