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.

The debate over how, and to what extent, to change the property tax system in Indiana has sparked quite a debate, in the General Assembly and among cities in Hamilton County.

Daniel Bradley of the Indianapolis Business Journal wrote a story posted Tuesday, quoting city officials from Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield and Greenwood (in Johnson County) on how much money the initial proposal from Governor Mike Braun would cost their respective cities (read the story at this link. but will likely need a subscription to access the story).

Carmel says it is holding off on hiring employees until state lawmakers settle the matter.  Noblesville says the original Braun plan would cost that city $30 million in revenue over 3 years.  Westfield says the financial hit would be significant.  Greenwood is putting hiring and other spending on hold.

After the City Council Finance Committee meeting Wednesday evening, I asked John Weingardt, Chairman of the panel, about the Braun property tax plan.  He did not offer up any numbers, but voiced his concern.

“We want to keep taxes low, but we also have to look out for our city and pay our employees,” Weingardt told LarryInFishers.  He believes the state would need to find a way to replace the lost revenue to Fishers.

“The city of Fishers does a whole lot with a whole lot less than other communities around us,” said Weingardt.  “We provide great service.”

The legislative session is just a bit over halfway-done, assuming the governor does not call a special session.  State lawmakers still have a lot of work to do before any decisions are made on Indiana property taxes.

After a period of time serving as the interim Principal at Fishers High School, Kyle Goodwin was recently named as the permanent Principal.  I spoke with Kyle Goodwin at his office, about what he learned during his time in interim status, his decision making process and much more in the podcast linked below.

There are a handful of people I have known in Fishers government since starting this local news blog in January of 2012.  One of them was Eric Pethtel, long-time leader of the Fishers Department of Public Works (DPW).

He died February 16 after a long bout with cancer at the age of 60.  Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, at his recent State of the City Address, announced Mr. Pethtel’s retirement and the city’s action to name the DPW facility after him

Fishers has been known as a place, as a town and later a city, that always took good care of local streets, clearing the snow in the winter and filling potholes in spring.  Eric Pethtel led the staff that handled those situations so well for so many years.

I had the pleasure of knowing Eric, recording two podcasts with him and found him to be a top-notch professional in his field, but at the same time down-to-earth and easy to talk with.

Visitation will be at the Hamilton Hills Church, 10293 East 126th Street, Wednesday, February 26, 1:30-3:30, with a celebration of life to begin at the church at 3:30.  Burial will follow at Oaklawn Cemetery.  You can see his full obituary at this link.

Eric Pethtel will be missed…by all that knew him well and those that benefited from his long association with Fishers DPW.  It is a personal loss for me.  This was a difficult story to write.

Two prominent organizations dedicated to supporting youth in the Hamilton Southeastern School District have merged to form Fishers Youth Initiative (FYI), a new nonprofit aimed at expanding services and strengthening support for young people in the community.

The merger brings together the Youth Mentoring Initiative (YMI), known for its successful student mentoring programs, and the Fishers Youth Assistance Program (FYAP), which has provided early intervention referral services to connect youth and families with essential resources. By combining their efforts, FYI aims to increase its impact and create a more comprehensive network of programs and services.

“Our shared mission has always been to support young people in our community,” said Matt Schlueter, co-chair of the new FYI Board. “After closely partnering on various initiatives in recent years, we saw an opportunity to partner more formally through this new nonprofit organization. We are so excited about the prospects of reaching more youth in our community.”

FYI is set to enhance youth services by expanding existing programs, streamlining access to resources, and fostering collaboration among organizations and individuals committed to supporting children and families. The new nonprofit will continue offering programs previously run by YMI and FYAP, including YMI’s student mentoring program, the Snack Attack initiative, and the Summer Meals Program. Additionally, FYI will maintain its partnership with Early Intervention Advocates from the Hamilton County Youth Assistance Program.

FYI Board co-chair Anderson Schoenrock expressed gratitude for the volunteers, donors, and community partners who have supported both YMI and FYAP over the years. “We look forward to building on our past successes with an eye toward supporting Fishers youth for years to come.”

In the coming weeks, FYI will unveil a new brand and website that will provide details on joint programs and fundraising opportunities. Until then, community members can continue to access resources through the existing YMI and FYAP websites.

To celebrate the launch of Fishers Youth Initiative, a special reception will be held on Monday, March 17, at 8 a.m. at the Fishers Municipal Center Theater. Community members and supporters are invited to attend, with registration requested in advance at this link.

For more information, visit www.ymionline.org or www.fishersyap.org.

The Andretti racing headquarters under construction in Fishers is adding Formula 1 to the list of racing series where the operation will be competing.  Andretti’s F1 team will be known as Cadillac when it enters the grid for the 2026 season.

Monday afternoon, the Fishers Economic Development Commission voted in favor of allowing the bond closing date for the Andretti project to be extended to August 1 of this year to allow for the addition of Formula 1 to the local headquarters facility.

The Commission also voted for officers to serve in 2025.  Maggie Sadler will be Commission President, Jamie Nieves Vice President and Mandy Leverenz will be the Commission Secretary.