The name Kincaid is synonymous with Fishers.  Many are familiar with Kincaid’s Meat Market locally and the historic Kincaid House.   As part of the Sesquicentennial Series in conjunction with the City of Fishers, Fishers PR Director Ashley Elrod joins me in a discussion with Gail and Randy Kincaid.  We talk about the Kincaid House and the importance of agriculture to Fishers before it was a large suburb of Indy.  Listen to the podcast at the link below.

Holland Park will soon have 6 new pickleball courts, following action Tuesday morning by the Fishers Board of Public Works & Safety.  Parks and Recreation Department Director Sarah Sandquist says the courts should be ready by the end of October.  Charles C. Brandt Construction will build the project for $395,000, with the funds coming from the 2022 budget.  The courts will be located south of the soccer fields.

In other matters before the board:

–Tabatha Miller of the city Fleet Management department received approval to spend up to $811,000 on up to 20 Police Interceptor SUV vehicles.  Miller told the board her department missed vehicles available in January because they sold quickly and does not want that to happen again.

–A professional service agreement totaling $349,930.00 was given board approval to construct a roundabout at 96th Street and Cyntheanne Road.  Construction on that project is scheduled for summer of 2025.

–Fishers Police Sergeant Eric Patton is retiring, and the board voted to allow him to keep his firearm, as has been the tradition.

–The board approved an agreement with the Fishers YMCA establishing a trail connection with the Nickel Plate Trail.

–The board declared as surplus office furniture as City Hall prepared to be demolished.  These items will be donated to Office Works.  Some examples include cubicles, bookshelves, conference tables and even the podium used in City Council chambers.

–This was the first Board of Works meeting held outside City Hall in many years.  The meetings are being conducted in the City Courtroom at the City Services Building.

It appears Metazoa Brewing will not be building a new facility at 116th Street and Allisonville Road as previously announced, citing rising costs of construction.

John Tuohy of the Indianapolis Star, in a piece posted on the IndyStar Web site early August 9th, reports that both Metazoa and the City of Fishers are starting from scratch on where they go from here.

You can read the story at this link. (Note: Your access to IndyStar stories may be limited if you are not a subscriber.  Let me repeat once again, local reporting needs financial support….subscribe to your local media)

Fishers Arts Council, in concert with Hamilton County Community Foundation, an affiliate of CICF, and The Fishers Historical Society, are joining forces, kicking off their celebration of the Fishers Sesquicentennial this August at the Collaboration Hub at Hamilton County Community Foundation (11810 Technology Drive, Fishers) this month. The exhibit – Fishers & Hamilton County: An Historical Perspective – is open through August 29th from 9am-5pm Monday-Thursday and from 9am-12pm on Fridays.

There will be a free public reception on August 12. Nicknamed “Second Friday”, the reception is open from 6-8 pm at the Gallery at the Collaboration Hub. As an added feature only at our “Second Friday” reception on August 12th, author Larry Reynolds will be offering copies of his new book, Widelands, and reprints of The Mudsock Chronicles for book signings. Wicked Fishers author Robert Bowling will also join us for book signings and sales. The incredible musical duo of David and Pamela Ackerman will be performing, and snacks, water, beer and wine will be available.

Eight award-winning local artists will be on display along with photographic works by The Fishers Historical Society. The artists are Linda Cantwell, Brinton Farrand, Karen Fehr, Brad Fields, Tim Lewis, Rodney Reveal, Mark Rouse, and Walt Thacker. Many of the more than 50 pieces on exhibit will be for sale. The exhibit details the history of Fishers and Hamilton County along with life in small town Indiana.

Jeena Siela, Senior Community Leadership Officer said, “We are excited to have the Fishers Arts Council share this pictorial history of Fishers and Hamilton County to begin our celebration of the Fishers Sesquicentennial! It’s incredibly important to the Foundation to understand how Hamilton County has evolved over the years to support its residents and celebrate the role of local artists in capturing and showcasing this history.”

“Last year when Fishers artist Mark Rouse came to us with his idea for this exhibit, we could not wait to see where it would take us. With Mark as a member of The Fishers Historical Society board, the partnership for this exhibit made perfect sense. We’re proud to partner with the historical society for this exhibit, along with eight award-winning local artists, and two local authors. It’s a great way to celebrate Fishers’ Sesquicentennial in the Collaboration Hub,” said Fishers Arts Council Executive Director, Les Reinhardt.

I had scheduled a podcast recording session with Jake Reardon McSoley and Mayor Scott Fadness Friday, in advance of the announcement of a major mixed-use development project along 116th Street in downtown Fishers, just west of the Nickel Plate Trail.

The eye-popping part of this new development, REV, will be condos selling for between $600,000 and $1 million. There have been apartments and some single family homes in the downtown Fishers area, but condos with a price tag of as much as $1 million is something new for the downtown housing stock.

I told Mayor Fadness, as someone living in Fishers for more than 30 years, I never expected to see downtown housing with that high an asking price.  Fadness told me this will create a variety of housing in that part of the city.

“For each person, they have a different life style, different desire to live in a different type of environment and this creates yet another option for folks,” the mayor said in our podcast conversation.

Fadness described how the Alboher family, owner of the property, and developer Tony Birkla, presented the idea of the development, and the mayor considered this “an extraordinary site.”  The mayor says he mulled this proposal over in his mind.

“It’s in the heart of downtown.  It’ll face our brand new City Hall and Arts Center,” said Fadness. “One side will parallel the Nickel Plate Trail and the Nickel Plate Hotel that will break ground here shortly.  I think that location warrants kind of that caliber of development.”

However, the reaction I have seen on my blog post once this project was announced has been interesting.  Some have criticized this as us trying to be Carmel.  Some are supportive.  Others have asked what will become of the businesses currently located on that site, such as Burn Boot Camp and Thai Sushi House.

I followed up with the city on the current businesses at that location and was told the Alboher family, the owners of the property, is working with the business owners on possible relocations.  What is next for those businesses will be announced by the businesses themselves, according to Fishers city officials.

At the end of the podcast Friday, Mayor Fadness teased that much more is coming before the next City Council meeting August 15th.  The REV development is an investment of about $35 million.  Fadness says there will be more projects announced in the coming days and, all told, will be an investment of roughly one-quarter of a billion dollars within the City of Fishers.  He described one upcoming announcement as “downright cool.”

So, we will be watching for more announcements in the coming week.  And, at the council meeting, the incentive packages being offered by the city (and possibly others) will be revealed and subject to council approval.

I decided to wait until Officer Noah Shahnavaz was laid to rest before writing this.  He was given full honors provided to any law enforcement officer that died in the line of duty.  The local media covered his funeral and burial professionally and thoroughly, which they should.

Officer Shahnavaz has many Fishers connections.  He is a graduate of Fishers High School.  His parents live in Fishers.  His funeral was held in Fishers.

I did not know Officer Shahnavaz, nor do I know any member of his family.  But I have followed the excellent news coverage by the local media and feel I know him just a bit.  He volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces, and once the tour with the military was over, he graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.  He was about a month short of his first year with the Elwood Police Department when a man opened fire on the officer before there was any chance for Officer Shahnavaz to defend himself.

His story says one thing to me – he cared about his country and community.  He served both well.

This is a terrible tragedy for Elwood, Fishers and Officer Shahnavaz’s family.

Much has been said and written about the man charged in Officer Shahnavaz’s death.  I know we have serious problems in our criminal justice system and do not pretend to have the answers.  I would hope those expert in criminal justice continue to study the issues and offer solutions.

There is another aspect of this I want to express, as a Fishers resident for over 30 years.  We saw the professionalism and courage of our local police officers.

As the suspect in Officer Shahnavaz’s shooting was being pursued, his vehicle was stopped in Fishers.  I won’t get into the details I have heard, let’s just say this was not an easy maneuver.

Then think about what was going through the minds of the Fishers officers as they moved-in to apprehend the suspect.  This man allegedly killed one police officer with a powerful firearm.  I have no doubt Fishers police personnel were as well-protected as possible, but that must have been the thought they all had approaching this suspect.

Yet, Fishers Police apprehended the suspect, alive, without injury.  That took some professional police work.

Officer Shanavaz’s grandmother, in speaking at his funeral, asked something important of us all.  She does not want his memory to fade.

I do know there are people in high places around Fishers working on a way to properly remember Officer Shahnavaz.  I do believe it will be done, I am just not certain how.  I suspect those in Elwood and others in Indiana are thinking the same thing.

When a man such as Noah Shahnavaz is lost in the line of duty, the pain and hurt are real.  Keeping his memory with us in a respectful way just might be the best thing to do.

The Indiana General Assembly gave final approval Friday to abortion legislation that Indianapolis Star reporter Arika Herron described as a “near-total ban on abortion.”  Governor Holcomb signed the measure into law hours after final passage.  The new law is effective September 15th.

There has been much speculation among the political chattering class in Indiana about what impact this abortion law will have on legislative elections in 2022.  In Indiana Senate District 31, the candidates do not have much disagreement.

The current District 31 Senator, Kyle Walker, issued a statement following the Senate action explaining his “no” vote on the abortion bill that became law.  Walker says this legislation “does not strike the right balance for women to make their own health decisions while also protecting the life of the unborn. Further, the time allowed for the exceptions for rape or incest victims and for fatal fetal anomalies is far less than I believe is appropriate.”

Walker went against the Republican caucus, which mostly voted in favor of the abortion bill that became law Friday night.

Democrat Jocelyn Vare is running for that same District 31 Senate seat Walker now holds.  In a Facebook video message posted Saturday morning, Vare addresses “Hoosier women” in response to the enactment of the abortion measure.

“We wake up to a state that has changed dramatically from the day before,” says Vare.  She goes on to say “this is an important, meaningful, change to women’s autonomy, health and even dignity.”

Vare cites the Republican super-majority and the governor as the people responsible for enacting this new abortion law.

There will be many legislative contests in the 2022 general election where abortion will be an issue.  Ms. Vare was very emotional in her appeal to voters in supporting herself and other Democrats following .  But Senator Walker did vote ‘no” on the abortion bill.

Jocelyn Vare is in her first term on the Fishers City Council as an a-large member.  Kyle Walker was elected by a Republican caucus of precinct officials to complete this Senate term.

Indiana Senate District 31 encompasses part of Lawrence and most of Fishers.

Election day is Tuesday, November 8.

Parts of Olio Road and 116th Street will see some lane restrictions.

See more details on that and other projects in the weekly Fishers City road construction update:

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STATE ROAD 37 AND 146TH STREET
All left-turn lanes are currently restricted on SR 37 and on 146th Street with traffic moved to the interior lanes. Thru traffic and right turns on SR 37 and 146th Street will remain open. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes for all left turn access. View an alternate route map here.  

STATE ROAD 37 AND 131ST/135TH STREET
135th Street, west of SR 37, is currently closed as work progresses on the project. SR 37 will remain open both northbound and southbound and allow right in/right out access at 131st Street. View the detour map here.  

Please drive with caution through this area. To learn more about the State Road 37 Improvement Project and sign up to receive text updates, visit 37Thrives.com.

The inside lane of the Technology Drive is currently closed to traffic to allow for construction of new pavement in the inside lane.  One-way traffic will be in place in the outside lane as shown here.  Access to all businesses will be maintained during the construction.

Olio Road between Geist Reservoir and Haven Cove Lane, the first road south of the Geist Reservoir Bridge, may have daily lane restrictions for the reconfiguration and installation of access to Geist Waterfront Park and the Marina. These lane restrictions will occur between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday thru Friday.

Comcast will have daily lane restrictions in place on westbound 116th Street between Cameron Drive and Allisonville Road and northbound Allisonville Road between 116th Street to the Kroger signal for overhead work. Restrictions will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

ADA ramp and curb reconstruction has started taking place in Eller Commons and Overlook at Beaver Ridge as part of the 2022 Resurfacing Project. Homeowners will be notified via door hangers prior to any curb reconstruction near their home. After ADA ramp and curb reconstruction is completed, those areas will be restored with topsoil and seed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to water the seed for the seed to germinate. Prior to road resurfacing, residents will be notified via street signage for street parking restrictions.

Base repair, milling and road resurfacing has started taking place on 116th Street between Olio Road and Ringer Road, 136th Street between Cyntheanne Road and Atlantic Road and Florida Road between 104th Street and Martha Street. Flaggers will be in place to direct traffic.

The Fishers Fire Department announced two promotions Friday.

First, Lieutenant/paramedic Adam Lee has been promoted to the rank of Captain.   Lee is a paramedic, Public Safety Diver, member of the Fishers Technical Rescue Team, Rescue Specialist with Indiana Task Force, sworn Tactical EMS officer in a partnership with Fishers Police Department, and co-manages the City of Fishers High Threat Response Program.  His initial assignment will be at the station on 104th Street, on the city’s east end.

Second, firefighter/paramedic Leann Foster has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant as the EMS Duty Officer.  Foster is a paramedic, apparatus engineer, acting officer, hazmat tech, rope rescue tech, peer fitness trainer, and yoga instructor.  She leads shift personnel and recruits in physical conditioning. In addition, Leann is CIT trained and part of the departments peer support team.  Her assignment is at the fire station located at 116th Street and Brooks School Road.  In addition to all major fire and rescue incidents, she will respond to mental emotional, cardiac arrests, and other serious medical runs.  This position also acts as shift coordinator for EMS training and responsibilities in managing on duty injuries, and command functions.

Chief Orusa with new Lt. Leann Foster

Jake Reardon McSoley is best known as the man running the Fishers YMCA the past 17 years.  Mr. McSoley has joined the City of Fishers staff as Director of Recreation & Wellness.  Mayor Scott Fadness joined the podcast along with Mr. McSoley.

The mayor also commented on the move out of City Hall for the construction of the Arts & Municipal Complex for his workers, the latest economic development news, the budget process for 2023 and much more.

You can listen to the podcast at the link below.