Hamilton Southeastern High School student and Gatorade Indiana Volleyball Player of the Year, Lauren Harden, awarded Mudsock Youth Athletics with a $1,000 grant to support its mission of helping youth in Fishers and the Hamilton Southeastern School district stay physically and mentally healthy by giving them an active outlet to play recreational and competitive team sports. For over 35 years, Mudsock Youth Athletics has strived to promote character development, leadership, and physical fitness through its programming.

Sports have seen a double-digit decline over the past decade, largely due to tighter budgets in communities, but young people that participate in sports are found to be happier, healthier, and better students. As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner.

“The Gatorade Player of the Year award highlights student-athletes who set an example both on and off the field,” said Kara Darling, Assistant Marketing Manager for Gatorade Player of the Year. “The grants give these athletes a chance to donate to organizations like, Mudsock Youth Athletics, that positively impacts the youth in their own communities.”

All 610 Gatorade State Player of the Year recipients are awarded a grant to donate to a social impact partner of their choosing. To date, Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $4.9 million across more than 1,900 organizations.

“We have enjoyed watching Lauren’s development as a volleyball player and as a leader in the high school sports community over the past four years,” said Scott Spillman, Executive Director of Mudsock Youth Athletics. “We couldn’t be prouder of Lauren’s award as Gatorade Indiana Volleyball Player of the Year nor can we think of someone more deserving. Her donation will allow us to continue to support and cultivate the children in community by providing physically active outlets including sports like volleyball.”

Harden shared, “without the city of Fishers and organizations such as the Mudsock Youth Athletics, children wouldn’t be able to find their love for sports while also growing as people and learning important skills like leadership, teamwork, and more. I chose Mudsock Youth Athletics as my grant recipient because I know and believe the impact they have on the youth in Fishers and in the Hamilton Southeastern School district is priceless. I know they will use this grant to continue to bring positive change to the community and lead in the youth sports industry. I am proud to say I chose Mudsock Youth Athletics to receive this donation from Gatorade.”

Gatorade has a longstanding history of serving athlete communities and its ambition is to continue doing more to create positive change.

“I am filled with gratitude and blessed to receive such a high honor as being named Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year and even more grateful that with this award, I was able to give back to my community that has given me so much,” said Harden. “I am extremely grateful my parents were so flexible and patient with helping find the right sport for me and always supporting me. Volleyball has taught me leadership, compassion, grit, humility, and so much more.”

To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow the conversation on Twitter #GatoradePOY. For more on Gatorade Player of the Year Community Grants, the Gatorade Player of the Year, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit this link.

The Hamilton East Public Library announces the 2024 HEPL Seed Library will open on Monday, March 4 at the Fishers Library! The Noblesville Library Seed Library will open on Tuesday, March 5.

The Seed Library is open to all Hamilton County residents, who may visit the library to get a maximum of 20 seed packets per library cardholder for the 2024 growing season. The honor system is followed, so there is no need to check in with a staff member unless there are questions. Seeds are not required to be returned, but HEPL does welcome most varieties of harvested seeds to share again with the community.

Seeds are also available for schools, community groups, and nonprofits, whom HEPL loves working with to beautify Fishers and Noblesville! If you’d like to partner with HEPL, please reach out at seedlibrary@hepl.lib.in.us.

“We love hearing about our community’s gardens every year, and we know the Seed Library is very important to library users,” said Julia Welzen, Community Engagement Coordinator at Hamilton East Public Library. “Our hope is that with the HEPL Seed Library, our community will explore how wonderful gardening can be, no matter where they are in their gardening journey.”

There are 145 seed varieties in HEPL’s collection this year, including vegetables, fruits, herbs, flowers, and even a native grass. The seeds are non-GMO and open-pollinated. Hybrid plants are not included in the collection since the seeds from these plants will not breed true. You’ll find old favorites as well as fresh varieties each year. Plants are labeled by difficulty level so patrons can choose plants that they’ll find the most success with.

New varieties this year include: Homemade Pickles cucumbers, Red Malabar spinach, Anaheim peppers, Greek oregano, summer savory, Long Island Cheese pumpkins, salsify, Amana Orange tomatoes, ageratum (floss flower), annual candytuft, Ohio spiderwort, common ironweed, and much more!

You’ll also see the return of many of your favorites, including zinnias, Suyo Long cucumbers, Moon & Stars watermelons, shishito peppers, Munstead lavender, Genovese basil, Pacific Beauty calendula, Nigella, and Blue False indigo.

HEPL welcomes donated seeds, although is unable to accept varieties like squash and pumpkins that cross-pollinate easily. Visit the Seed Library webpage for a complete list of seeds and growing guides.

Patrick Mapes is now officially the Superintendent of Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools following a unanimous board vote approving his employment contract Wednesday evening.  Also, Board President Juanita Albright announced that Dr. Matt Kegley, who served as interim superintendent since September, will be promoted to the position of Deputy Superintendent.  Dr. Kegley said at the time of Dr. Yvonne Stokes’ resignation that he would apply for the superintendent position, but was not hired by the board.

After the vote, Mapes spoke before the board and described his visits to 16 HSE District buildings the past few days, saying he was “amazed at the instruction that’s taking place.”  He described the teaching staff as very welcoming, and said interactions with students have been “fabulous.”

“I just appreciate the opportunity,” Mapes told the board.  “I see a very strong team of teachers and administrators in the district that I have met so far.”

Mapes served 7 years as superintendent at Perry Township Schools in Marion County.

Before his hiring as HSE Superintendent, Mapes was Vice President of School Academic Operations for Stride Incorporated.

A report of shots fired Friday at Top Golf in Fishers resulted in the arrest of an Indianapolis man.  Anthony Hurd Jr. was arrested by Fishers Police on charges of being a serious violent felon in possession of a firearm and criminal recklessness.

Authorities received a report of possible shots fired at Top Golf Friday.  When officers arrived, most of the group had dispersed and fled the area. Through investigation and witness interviews, FPD investigators identified Anthony Hurd Jr. as the suspect.

In an update late Wednesday afternoon, Angela Ellison, Public Information Officer for Fishers Police, says –  “…after the video review, this is not believed to be intentional.”

Ellsion adds that Hurd is “a serious violent felon who had a gun, and he is a prohibited person, per Indiana Law, from possessing a firearm. We are glad to say another unlawful gun is off the street, and Fishers remains a safe place to live, work, and visit.”

Officers served a warrant Tuesday and took Hurd into custody.

This was a news conference with Scott Fadness weather.  The mayor is known to have grown-up on a North Dakota farm and almost never dons a winter coat in any weather.

When the Indy Ignite professional women’s volleyball team (the first in Indiana) announced formally Wednesday they will play their home games in the new Fishers Events Center, the temperature was 29 degrees, with a wind of 25-30 miles an hour.  I cannot remember when I have been that cold.

The news conference was held near the entrance of the under-construction Events Center,  slated for a November opening this year.  The wind was cold and there were times speakers had trouble getting their words out in the conditions.

But the aim of the event was to announce the third professional sports tenant for the Fishers Events Center, the Indy Ignite women’s volleyball squad.  They join the Indy Fuel hockey and Fishers Freight indoor football teams calling the new center home.  The three teams will keep the center busy more than 100 times each year.

Joining Mayor Fadness on the speaker’s platform were Pro Volleyball Federation CEO Jen Spicher, Indy Ignite Co-Owner Jim Schumacher, Former Husker Volleyball Player Kenzie Knuckles, and Indy Ignite General Manager Mary Kay Huse.  Also in attendance was the HSE High School girls’ volleyball squad, consecutive state champs and undefeated in their last season.

All I can say is this….it’s a good thing women’s volleyball is played indoors!

An Indianapolis man is under arrest after Fishers Police received a phone call from the YMCA on 126th Street about a peeping tom in the women’s locker room.

According to a police Facebook post Tuesday afternoon, Fishers officers were following up at the YMCA this morning, when police received another call that a male was looking in the showers. Police quickly entered the facility and arrested John Deramus II, from Indianapolis, who, according to Fishers Police, confessed to being in the women’s locker room.

Any decisions on charges will be made by the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s office.

The Fishers Board of Works and Public Safety took the first action toward a possible city-wide trash collection service Tuesday morning by adopting a proposed Request for Proposals (RFP) to be used in taking bids from trash collection firms interested in contracting with Fishers.  Residents and Homeowners Associations (HOAs) have seen increased fees in recent years and many have been lobbying the City of Fishers to explore such a pact..

Nearby cities such as Westfield, Carmel, Noblesville and Lawrence all have city-wide trash collection arrangements.  Fishers has never had such an arrangement.  When one was proposed by the Town of Fishers more than 10 years ago, the idea was scuttled due to widespread public opposition at that time.

As things stand now, Waste Management and Republic are the main two companies providing trash collection services in Fishers, with individuals and HOAs negotiating their own contracts.

Jordin Alexander, Chief of Staff for Mayor Scott Fadness, tells LarryInFishers she has received interest in submitting a bid from both Republic and Waste Management, but she has also received interest from other firms, such as Priority, which holds contracts with Zionsville and Lawrence.

To view the preliminary 72-page Request for Proposals and Qualifications, use this link.

Here is the expected timeline for the process of accepting and evaluating bids for a city-wide Fishers trash collection services, provided to the Board of Works:

Board of Works (“BPW”) Adopts Proposed RFP—-Feb 27, 2024

City Publishes Notice of Intent to Issue RFP——— March 4, 2024

Deadline to Submit Comments on Proposed RFP—-April 3, 2024

BPW Adopts Final RFP——————————— April 9, 2024

City Publishes Notice of RFP————————— April 15, 2024

Deadline to Submit Proposals————————– June 1, 2024 (Due by 10:00 AM)

Negotiations With Offerors (if any) ——————- June-July 2024

BPW Public Hearing on Contract & Resolution—– July 9 or 23, 2024

Common Council Rate Ordinance & Public Hearing —–Aug-Oct 2024

Services to Begin—————————————– January 1, 2025

There has been a long line of editors for the weekly publication Current in Fishers.  The current editor has been there about 1 year.  I invited Leila Kheiry to sit down with me and talk about her time covering Fishers.

March is Disability Awareness Month and Fishers is once again planning a busy month of activities.  The Fishers Advisory Committee on Disabilities is a big part of the March events.

I spoke with 2 key members of that committee, Stacey Oldham and Cecilia Coble, on this podcast to talk about plans for the 2024 Disability Awareness Month plans in Fishers.

For more details, use this link.

Listen to the podcast at the link below.