The conditions were not particularly warm, not as cold as recent days but still wind chills were in the 30s.  Despite that, around 25 people were on hand outside the Holy Family Episcopal Church Sunday afternoon for a Stand Up For Public Education rally.

Over 90 per cent of K-12 students in the state of Indiana attend public schools.  The rally was an effort to support public education at a point in time where state lawmakers are looking to shift more public money away from public education to private and charter schools.

Indiana State Senator Fady Qaddoura told the crowd that schools should not be a political punching bag for disputes between Democrats and Republicans.  “That’s how we destroy our educational system,” the senator said.

Quaddoura urged the public to become involved in their local schools.  “We need to be engaged as informed, educated citizens, who deeply care about our kids,” said Qaddoura.  “Our public schools are institutions of democracy.”

The rally featured a number of speakers, including parents and educators with ties to local schools.

The Indiana General Assembly is in the process of fashioning a two-year budget, which will have a major impact on how public schools are funded.

You will find all the usual suspects still under road construction in and around the Fishers area based on the latest construction update.

Be aware of some lane restrictions likely on 96th Street at the Nickel Plate Trail.

The full road construction listing for the week beginning Monday, February 24, is below, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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Continue reading Fishers area road construction update for the work week starting Monday, February 24 →

The Fishers Event Center, which has already hosted major acts like Turnpike Troubadours, Alabama, and Cirque du Soleil, is making strides in ensuring an inclusive experience for all guests. In addition to an impressive lineup of events, including the upcoming Pro Volleyball Federation All-Star Match, the 7,500-seat venue has introduced several accessibility initiatives to accommodate individuals with diverse needs.

Continue reading Fishers Event Center Expands Accessibility with Inclusive Initiatives →

For a nonprofit organization, the board of directors is a key part of making major decisions impacting that group.  Running those board meetings effectively is an important element in a successful operation.

Boardable is an organization specializing in utilizing technology to improve the work of nonprofit boards.  It cut the ribbon Thursday afternoon at its new headquarters, located in the Switch building, on 116th Street and Municipal Drive.

CEO Jeff Middlesworth says there are about 15 employees in the area that work in their homes and also spend time in the Fishers office.  Another group of Boardable workers are remote in various locations around the nation.

Use the link below for a brief video conversation I had with Middlesworth about what Boardable does and why it chose downtown Fishers as the headquarters location.

The City of Fishers, in collaboration with the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability, is set to host its annual celebration of National Disability Awareness Month in March. This year’s month-long series of events, presented by Old National Bank, will spotlight the experiences of individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities, fostering a more inclusive and understanding community.

Under the theme Connected Through Language, the celebration will emphasize the significance of language in shaping identity and building connections. A particular focus will be placed on the perspectives of residents who are Deaf or hard of hearing. A highlight of this year’s initiative is the launch of a county-wide closed captioning effort led by Hamilton County Tourism, with support from the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability. This initiative aims to encourage businesses to implement closed captioning in public spaces, ensuring accessibility for all members of the community.

“Since establishing the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability in 2017, our group has been committed to working with the City of Fishers to ensure that those with disabilities have the necessary accommodations, support, and opportunities to thrive in our community,” said Cecilia Coble, co-chair of the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability and a Fishers City Councilor. “Our committee looks forward to March as a time to elevate the stories, accomplishments, and challenges of the local disability community and encourage residents, businesses, and community leaders to rally behind this important cause.”

The annual celebration will also mark the return of the popular Ally campaign, an initiative designed to engage residents in advocacy for disability inclusion. Community members can pick up free Ally toolkits at the March Disability Awareness Month Kickoff event on March 3 at Fishers City Hall Theater. These kits, which include a t-shirt, yard sign, stickers, and other materials, aim to promote awareness and support for disability inclusion. Additionally, a virtual toolkit featuring a language guide, social media graphics, an Ally pledge, and other resources is available for download at this link.

“The Ally campaign is a great way to engage residents who don’t have a direct tie with the disability community in the celebration and build a support network to rally for inclusivity and accessibility,” said Kelly Hartman, committee co-chair and president and CEO of KQuad Consulting. “I love seeing residents with their t-shirts and yard signs, showcasing their allyship with pride.”

The 2025 event lineup will feature a variety of programs and activities hosted by community partners such as the Fishers Arts Council, OneZone, and Hamilton East Public Library. These collaborative efforts reinforce Fishers’ commitment to ensuring an inclusive environment where all residents can thrive.

Here is a listing of events:

Continue reading Fishers to Celebrate National Disability Awareness Month with Community-Wide Events →

Fishers will field an expansion team in the Indoor Football League in 2025, the Fishers Freight.  Dixie Wooten is the Head Coach and General Manager for the newly-formed club.

The Freight open their first season Saturday, March 29, traveling to Northern Arizona.  The home opener at the Fishers Event Center will be Friday, April 4.  It is a 16 game schedule with 8 home contests.

Dixie Wooten is the Head Coach and General Manager of the new Freight squad.  He sat down for a podcast with me to talk about the team’s inaugural season, which you can access at the link below.

In a fast-paced and physical matchup, the Indy Fuel fell to the Fort Wayne Komets 4-3 in overtime on Wednesday night at the Fishers Event Center. Despite a strong start from the Fuel, the Komets stormed back to claim the victory, with Ethan Keppen netting the game-winning goal in the extra frame.

The Fuel wasted no time getting on the board, as Cam Hausinger found the net just 1:03 into the game with assists from Chris Cameron and Nathan Burke. However, Fort Wayne responded quickly, with Nolan Volcan tying the game at 3:09.

Indy regained the lead at 6:30 when Ethan Manderville scored his second goal of the season, assisted by Cameron—his second helper of the night—and Matus Spodniak. Ty Farmer extended the Fuel’s lead to 3-1 at 9:22, with Colin Bilek and Lucas Brenton picking up assists.

Fort Wayne struck back late in the period, as Brandon McManus scored with just over a minute remaining to cut the Fuel’s lead to 3-2. By the end of the first period, Indy led on the scoreboard but was outshot 8-5.

Both teams clamped down defensively in the second period, with limited scoring chances. The Fuel successfully killed off a tripping penalty by Spodniak at 15:21, but the Komets kept pressing. Their persistence paid off at 18:26, when Keppen netted his first goal of the night, tying the game at 3-3. Fort Wayne outshot Indy 13-11 through two periods.

As the intensity increased, both teams played a more disciplined game, avoiding the penalty box in a chippy third period. However, neither squad could find the back of the net. Fort Wayne controlled play, outshooting Indy 9-3 in the frame and carrying the momentum into overtime.

Goaltender Cam Gray led the Fuel into overtime for the second consecutive game. However, a hooking penalty on Bryan Lemos at 2:01 gave the Komets a crucial 4-on-3 power play. The Fuel’s penalty kill unit held strong, but just moments after the penalty expired, Keppen capitalized on a breakaway opportunity at 5:18 to secure the 4-3 win for Fort Wayne.

With the victory, the Komets outshot the Fuel 25-16 and handed Indy a tough overtime loss. The Fuel will look to bounce back as they head to Bloomington to take on the Bison for a Friday and Saturday set of contests.