That building clearly visible from I-69, north of 96th Street in Fishers, has been the home of electronics for many years.  It was originally constructed for a national electronics chain that didn’t last long and went out of business.  Later, Fry’s took over the structure, remodeled it, and became a mecca for people all around Central Indiana to browse and buy electronics.

I had a job that required a long daily commute and some other vehicle travel.  That led me to buy a satellite radio when the technology was still fairly new.  My first unit was installed at Fry’s, where the staff was top-notch in completing the installation job.

I have bought computers, televisions and tons of computer software at Fry’s through the years.  That time has come to an end.

Wednesday morning the news came down from Fry’s California headquarters that the company would begin shutting down all stores nation-wide.  This is no surprise to anyone visiting Fry’s lately.  The shelves have been largely bare in recent months.

This will present yet another challenge for the City of Fishers.  The economic development team for the city will now have yet another big box vacancy to fill.

Let’s hope the former Fry’s location gets the attention of another retail occupant soon.

Streets around City Hall and a number of Fishers neighborhoods will be resurfaced and paved after the city awarded a $2.36 million bid to E&B Paving.

Neighborhoods that will see the work include sections of:

–Northfield Estates

–Fishers Center Drive

–Municipal Drive

–Britton Ridge

–Woodberry

–Cumberland Place

–Sand Creek Woods

–Saxony

–Brooks School Rd.

–Brookfield and Waterway Blvd.

E&B submitted the winning bid, among a total of 7 firms vying for this contract.

In one other item passed by the Board of Works and Public Safety, the city renewed its contract with the firm IPEP for Worker’s Compensation.  The contract covers a one-year period beginning March 1.  The annual premium will be $344,851, compared to the previous year’s premium cost of $352,887.

When the United States surpassed a half-million COVID deaths, I struggled to put that number into some sort of perspective.  Just how large is a number like 500,000?

It is larger than the population of Kansas City Missouri, and nearly as much as the city of Atlanta, Georgia.  If you have ever visited those two cities (I have) you can envision just how gigantic that death toll is.

But the impact of those deaths adds millions more for those left behind.  The family members, close friends and communities changed forever by these untimely coronavirus deaths are grieving the losses.

Reading of this gruesome milestone hit me particularly hard.  In late October I tested positive for COVID.  To this day, I do not not how I contracted the virus.  I was as careful as possible, but it happened to me anyway.

In early November, I began to go from feeling like I had been hit with a bad case of the flu to something much worse.  All the energy essentially had been sucked out of my body.  I could sense severe congestion in my upper chest.  The good news was I could still breath.

I realized that if the symptoms worsened and breathing became a problem, I would end up in the hospital.  I was very fortunate.  I improved and never needed hospitalization.

I count myself as one of the lucky few in my age range to suffer some fairly tough symptoms, but never needed to enter the hospital.  I thank God for every day as I rise from bed each morning.  I must assume I remain on this earth for a reason.

So, if you know a family struggling to cope with the loss of a loved one, do what you can to help.  Sometimes, little things can mean a lot.

But do not forget that number – 500,000.  It is large, very large.  We all must use that as a reason for following the masking and distancing advice health professionals are providing.  Take a vaccination when you are eligible.  Do everything you can do to be safe!

The Hamilton County Health Department has named its new administrator, and the man acting as the interim administrator will lead the department.

Below is the news release announcing the appointment of Jason LeMaster:

============

The Hamilton County Health Board has selected Jason LeMaster as the Health Department’s new administrator. LeMaster replaces Barry McNulty who passed away in December.

LeMaster has been in public health for 27 years. He has served as the Director of Environmental Health for the past 24 years. In that capacity, he has overseen restaurant inspections, water quality, on-site sewage disposal and mosquito control. His department is also responsible for testing public swimming pools and private wells. LeMaster has served as the department’s Interim administrator for the past several months.

“In addition to his skills and experience, Jason also has a passion for the health and safety of the residents of Hamilton County,” says Charlotte Boden, Health Board President.

“I am humbled and honored to continue my career with the Hamilton County Health Department,” LeMaster adds. “I know I am filling big shoes; but look forward to the challenges ahead. I’m proud of our department and our commitment to making public health a priority for the residents of Hamilton County.”

My journey in education has been marked attending both public and parochial schools.  My kindergarten was in public school only because the Catholic schools at that time did not offer kindergarten, which in those days consisted mostly of painting and taking naps.

Grades 1-9 were spent in the Catholic school system of Indianapolis, St. Andrew grade school to start.  The first 8 years of primary schooling was taught mostly by the Sisters of Providence.  I recall a lay teacher for first and third grade, but if my memory serves my correctly that far back, I only had 2 lay teachers in grades 1-8.

So, my first 9 years of school were in the Catholic school system, including my Freshman year at Chatard High School.  I never quite fit in there.  It was mostly for financial reasons my parents decided Arlington High School was to be my destination for the sophomore year and ended up graduating there.

Why do I go through all that?  Because I have experienced education in the public and religious school systems.  I see value in both.

That is why moves by our Indiana state lawmakers have me concerned.  Public education is taking a back seat in our state and I find that a troubling development.

I was never totally happy with the fact that all the kids in my neighborhood went to the same public school and I went to a different (Catholic) school.  It just didn’t feel right.

I understand some people want a private education for their children for religious or other reasons.  But the public school system is one that is supported by all of us through our tax dollars.  It is an institution where the entire community has an interest in the system of public education succeeding.

That is why recent moves by the general assembly are, in my view, a step backward for our state.

Robert Stwalley is President of the Lafayette School Board and also serves as the President of the Indiana School Boards Association.  In a recent op-ed piece published in the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, here is his opening sentence.

“The Republican supermajority in the Indiana General Assembly is attempting to quietly gut public education and hope no one notices.”

Those are strong words from a man in Mr. Stwalley’s position.  He strongly argues that a particular interest group from outside the state has poured money into members of our General Assembly supporting private education vouchers over public school funding.

A February 11 story posted on Chalkbeat Indiana, by reporter Stephanie Wang, says the early draft of the state budget “would increase state funding for K-12 education by $378 million over the next two years — a 3.8% boost from this school year. The state would spread that increase across all Indiana public schools and a host of contentious education priorities while limiting funding to districts where poverty surges because of the pandemic.”

Those making the laws and fashioning our state budget should consider the importance of strong public school systems in every community throughout Indiana.  The latest increase in education funding will shift a large portion of the extra funds to vouchers supporting non-public schools.

I have seen the value of public and private education and both play a role.  However, it is the first responsibility of the state to ensure our public institutions are properly funded and I can think of only a few such institutions as important to our communities in this state than public schools.

Our legislators are in the early stages of putting together the 2-year state spending plan.  I would suggest you keep an eye on how our lawmakers treat public education during the most important exercise in decision making about priorities – the state budget.

Adam Aasen, Alec Toombs & Larry Lannan again get together on Zoom for the latest film reviews in the latest edition of the Grade A Movies Podcast

When I think of nomads, I do not normally think of most Americans.  But there are more nomads in America than you may think.  It is a hard life, but also a sort of freedom as well.

The film Nomadland is based on a nonfiction book about how the American economy has created this new group of nomads.  This fiction film incorporates stories told in the nonfiction book.

So, did Director Choe Zhao succeed in capturing the life of the new American nomad?  Here is my review.

Hamilton County, along with the cities of Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, and Westfield, will pay its respects to those who have lost their lives this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic at a vigil on Saturday, March 13th.

Dubbed a “Night of Reflection,” city and county officials will meet on the steps of the Old Courthouse in downtown Noblesville to pay their respects for and light a luminaria in honor of every Hamilton County resident who has passed away from the virus since its arrival last year. That total now stands at 375.

Fire, police, and EMS vehicles from around the county will also line the square downtown for a ceremonial lighting of the lights to honor all the healthcare professionals and first responders who have fought a valiant fight on the frontlines of the virus.

The ceremony can be viewed live on Hamilton County Television. The public is strongly discouraged from attending. Instead, organizers are asking residents to place candles in their windows at 7:00 p.m. that evening to show their support. Free battery-operated candles will be available for residents to pick up the week of the event.

Be on the lookout for lane restrictions at 106th Street and Hague Road beginning Monday.  that is one of the road construction project listings in the latest update from the city.

Here is the listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Fishers is continuing a tradition of honoring volunteers and those contributing to the local community.  There will be a virtual City of Service Awards this year during the month of April.  There will be an expansion of the program in 2021.  New award categories and a month-long celebration during National Volunteer Month will replace the one-night event.

This year, the City of Service Awards will feature three community-nominated awards:

Community Servant of the Year: The purpose of this award is to honor a Fishers resident who may not be affiliated with a group or organizations, but regularly conducted acts of kindness to serve their community and neighbors during the year of 2020.

Non-Profit Staffer of the Year: The purpose of this award is to honor a local non-profit staff member who went above and beyond his/her non-profit staff duties and has had a significant impact on community at large in the year 2020.

Essential Worker of the Year: Awarded to individuals, deemed as Essential Workers, that have performed exceptional service to the Fishers community during the COVID-19 crisis in the year 2020.

Nominations are now open through March 8 at www.ThisIsFishers.com/CityofService. Winners will be selected by the Fishers City Council through a blind process and will be recognized during the April celebration.