The Mudsock Football game pitting our two local high schools, Fishers and HSE, against each other always draws a sellout crowd and lots of energy during the regular season. This season, there will be a second contest between these two rivals. Friday night, Fishers defeated Noblesville 31-21. HSE beat Homestead 20-14. That means the Tigers and Royals play each other to decide which squad moves ahead in state 6A competition
The state tournament game is this Friday at HSE. I expect another sellout crowd for this contest.
In a hard-fought defensive showdown, the Indy Fuel came up short against the Kalamazoo Wings, falling 2-0 in their first matchup of the season at Wings Event Center on Friday night. Despite outshooting the K-Wings 29-26, the Fuel couldn’t capitalize on key chances, ultimately succumbing to two goals from Kalamazoo.
The game started with a fast-paced first period, as both teams focused on defense and goaltending. Indy’s Peyton Jones and Kalamazoo’s Jonathan Lemieux traded saves, keeping the scoreboard empty through 20 minutes. Indy applied early pressure, outshooting Kalamazoo 11-6, but the first period ended scoreless.
The second period opened with a series of penalties on both sides, giving each team a chance to break the deadlock on special teams. After killing off an early penalty for too many men on the ice, Indy looked poised to strike when former K-Wing Darby Llewellyn had a near-goal on a shorthanded breakaway. Despite the promising attempt, a Kalamazoo defenseman managed a last-second save, and the officials determined after review that the puck hadn’t crossed the line. Shortly after, Kalamazoo’s Ayden MacDonald found the back of the net on a power play at 15:15, giving the K-Wings a 1-0 lead heading into the final period.
In the third period, Indy came out strong, quickly drawing two penalties for a 5-on-3 power-play advantage just a minute in. Kalamazoo’s defense, however, held steady. Even with a rare 6-on-3 opportunity, the Fuel were unable to convert, and Kalamazoo’s Josh Bloom scored a critical shorthanded goal at 3:02 to double the lead, making it 2-0.
The Fuel battled through the remaining minutes, trying to spark a comeback with several more power-play opportunities. Despite a high shot count, they struggled to break down the K-Wings’ solid defense and Lemieux’s impressive goaltending. Kalamazoo’s penalty kill continued to frustrate Indy, ultimately sealing their 2-0 victory as time expired.
Indy will look to bounce back in the second game of the series on Saturday night, aiming to turn their strong shot output into goals.
Hamilton East Public Library (HEPL) is diving into the world of fandom with its first-ever LibraryCon! this fall, bringing an action-packed event to fans of all ages and interests. The convention will be held on Saturday, November 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fishers Library, inviting fans of fantasy, sci-fi, and everything in between to dress as their favorite characters and enjoy a day of interactive fun. The event is designed to celebrate a wide array of fandoms with activities that will appeal to everyone, from hardcore fans to curious newcomers.
LibraryCon! offers something for everyone. Wizards, Jedi, superheroes, Pokémon trainers, and other enthusiasts can look forward to highlight events, including a Trivia Showdown, hands-on Craft Activities, an Artist and Vendor Marketplace, and an exciting Cosplay Contest and Parade.
The Trivia Showdown will let attendees test their knowledge across a spectrum of popular themes, from Pokémon and Harry Potter to Star Wars, with prizes for the top three teams. For those feeling crafty, activities include making a dice bracelet, crafting a no-sew cape, or designing a manga-themed button or magnet.
Visitors to the Artist and Vendor Marketplace will find artwork, games, memorabilia, and other fandom treasures available for purchase. The event will also feature the “Random Fandom” art exhibit, showcasing fan art by over 15 local artists. To add to the excitement, Friends of the Library Book Shop is offering a LibraryCon! sale with 50% off select items.
There will be plenty of photo opportunities throughout the library, including a 360° photobooth and selfie stations where cosplayers and attendees can capture their favorite looks. The Cosplay Contest and Parade will spotlight participants of all skill levels, with prizes for standout costumes and bragging rights for the winners.
Erin Weir, Teen Program Coordinator, shared her enthusiasm: “We are excited to give people a way to connect through their favorite fandoms. Fandoms are communities that share their love of stories and characters in books, media, and art. This event will let fans of all kinds meet, celebrate, and learn from each other in a fun, welcoming space for all.”
Admission to LibraryCon! is free, and all activities are open to the public. Attendees can register for select workshops and activities on-site, available on a first-come, first-served basis. Families and fans of all ages are encouraged to attend this vibrant celebration.
Sometimes people ask me how I decide what to ask Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness when he appears as a guest on one of my podcasts. The more important question is, what do I leave out? There is so much going on in and around Fishers I can aske a very long list of questions.
But, keeping the podcast to around 30 minutes, you can listen to the pod I recorded with the mayor Friday morning. We discussed the local school board election, the Event Center opening this month, road construction, a proposed noise ordinance and much more. Listen at the link below.
The Fishers Freight Indoor Football League franchise will begin its very first season on the road in Northern Arizona March 29. The first home game at the Fishers Event Center will be against Tulsa April 4.
You can find a more detailed 2025 schedule at this link.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness announced Wednesday that Mike Lindbloom will be the director of the city’s first-ever community center, slated to open in the fall of next year. Lindbloom, a longtime Fishers resident, brings over 15 years of leadership experience in the health and fitness industry to the role.
“I’m excited as we take the next step toward opening the Fishers Community Center with a solid leader who embodies our Culture of Health initiative and embraces our vision for Fishers’ next chapter,” said Mayor Fadness. “Mike brings years of experience in leadership and supporting others in achieving their health and fitness goals. I can’t wait to see him bring our vision to life and help us unveil this major new community amenity next fall.”
Located at Hoosier Road and 121st Street, the 105,000-square-foot community center will feature a wide range of amenities designed to support the Fishers Culture of Health initiative, which aims to foster a healthier community for residents of all ages. The facility will include an aquatics center, gymnasium with courts for basketball, pickleball, and volleyball, an indoor walking track, indoor playground, and a three-acre dog park. It will also house a fitness and wellness center, Sahm’s Community Café, Fishers Health Department clinic and offices, and the Outside the Box adult day program, among other amenities.
Lindbloom’s background includes roles as executive director at the Shelby County YMCA and MHP Community Wellness Center, where he managed daily operations and community health programs. He also held leadership positions at the Fishers YMCA and Ransburg YMCA and served as a wellness director. Prior to his YMCA career, Lindbloom worked at the Indiana State Department of Health, focusing on community health and obesity reduction. He holds a master’s degree in exercise science from Miami University and a bachelor’s degree in recreation from Truman State University.
“I am extremely excited to see the Fishers Community Center taking shape,” Lindbloom said. “The Fishers Community Center will be a tremendous community asset that provides an inclusive space that promotes health, community, and wellness for both residents and non-residents. I feel now, more than ever, that providing high-quality recreational experiences plays a major role in helping our community continue to thrive.”
One of Lindbloom’s first tasks as director will be to hire a Membership Manager, who will focus on membership acquisition and retention. Memberships, available to both residents and non-residents, will go on sale in early 2025.
Jason Urban has been the principal at Fishers High School for 17 years, but has now been moved to a new job in the school district’s central office – Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education.
Jason Urban talks about his years at Fishers High School and what he will be doing in his new job in this podcast conversation with Larry.
The City of Fishers and the Fishers Armed Services Commission will host their annual Veterans Day Ceremony Monday, November 11, at 11 a.m. The event will take place in the Fishers City Hall Theater (1 Municipal Drive) and aims to honor local veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice.
The ceremony is free and open to the public, though advance registration is required due to limited seating. For those unable to attend in person, a live stream will be available on the City of Fishers Facebook page.
This year’s guest speaker, Doug Melville, is an accomplished author, Forbes contributor, TEDx speaker, and a prominent voice in international equity and inclusion. His recent book, Invisible Generals: Rediscovering Family Legacy and a Quest to Honor America’s First Black Generals, debuted as a #1 Best-Selling New Release on Amazon and was recently featured in a PBS NewsHour Classroom Daily News Lesson. Melville’s speech is anticipated to highlight the importance of legacy, diversity, and remembrance within the military community.
The event will feature performances by the Fishers Community Chorus and the White River Brass Troupe, adding musical tributes to the proceedings. Veterans in attendance will also have the opportunity to participate in a special pinning ceremony as a token of appreciation for their service.
Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to join a book signing with Melville in the theater. This segment is hosted by the Hamilton County Community Foundation, giving veterans, families, and community members a chance to connect with the author and gain insight into his work and perspectives on honoring history.
Residents are encouraged to register early to secure their seats.
The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools and the Hamilton Southeastern Educations Association (HSEA) have been in contract negotiations the past couple of weeks. HSEA has updated its membership during gatherings before school board meetings, the last held October 23. Wednesday afternoon, HSE Schools issued a statement about the talks as they stand now.
The HSE statement, from Superintendent Patrick Mapes, expresses a willingness by the school district to consider union proposals, listen to teachers’ concerns, and work toward solutions that benefit both sides.
Mapes points to the funding mechanism for public schools, largely tied to the number of students. The HSE student population has been slowly declining recently. “We currently are using cash balances to operate the district,” the statement said, “but it would be irresponsible to rely heavily on these funds for a contract agreement.”
Mapes argues the administration contract proposal offers teachers more than additional funding coming from the state. “In hard financial times, we remain committed to providing base salary increases that have a lasting impact for teachers,” said the district.
Mapes points out that the bargaining deadline is November 15 and says HSE is available almost daily to continue the talks. If no agreement is reached by November 15, both sides enter into a fact finding process with the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board.
In updating teachers October 23, the HSEA bargaining team said they had made major concessions in their latest proposal at that time. The most recent social media post from HSEA says, “Due to mediation of the ULP and needing for our attorney to be present, we will be rescheduling bargaining. The district has agreed to provide new dates to the Association in order for us to settle our contract.”
The ULP appears to be unrelated to the contract talks.
Below is the full statement from Superintendent Mapes, posted on the HSE School District’s Web site:
Mayor Fadness posted this pic on his Facebook account showing the open roundabout
The traffic restrictions due to the roundabout construction at 96th Street and Allisonville Road has resulted in traffic backups in the area, but that comes to a halt today. The long-awaited project is now complete and traffic at the roundabout is open in all directions.
The roundabout replaces a Michigan Left configuration, which was not popular with many area motorists.
However, be aware that more construction on Allisonville Road in Fishers will be coming next year, with a new roundabout scheduled to begin construction at 116th Street. More details about that construction project are expected later.
