In honor of Disability Awareness Month, the Fishers Arts Council, in collaboration with the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability and Ignite Studio at the Hamilton East Public Library, will host a special art exhibit featuring works by artists with developmental or intellectual disabilities. The exhibit, themed “Connected Through Language,” will be on display throughout March at the Art Gallery at City Hall in Fishers Municipal Center and Ignite Studio.

Call for Artists

The Fishers Arts Council is inviting artists with developmental or intellectual disabilities to participate in the exhibit. To be considered, artists must submit their application by 3 p.m. on January 24, 2025.

Submissions should include the artist’s name, mailing address, phone number, email address, and two to three samples of artwork in JPEG or PDF format. Artists can apply via email at info@fishersartscouncil.org (subject line: “March Awareness”) or through the online form at Fishers Arts Council’s website, selecting the option for the March Disabilities Awareness exhibit.

Eligibility Criteria

Artists must meet the following requirements:

• Have a developmental or intellectual disability
• Be a 2D or 3D visual artist
• Provide two to six family-friendly pieces for display
• Agree to modifications for proper installation, if necessary

Artists can also be represented by organizations serving individuals with disabilities.

Important Dates

• Application Deadline: January 24, 2025, by 3 p.m.
• Notification of Acceptance: February 3, 2025
• Artwork Delivery: February 28 (3-5 p.m.) or March 1 (11 a.m.-2 p.m.) at Fishers Municipal Center, with potential additional drop-off dates for selected artists.

For questions or additional information, contact info@fishersartscouncil.org.

This March, the City of Fishers invites residents and visitors alike to experience the transformative power of art and join in celebrating the talents and stories of these exceptional artists.

When Sabrina Alberty was called to the principal’s office at Fishers High School, she expected the usual chat about academics or school events. Instead, she walked into a life-changing moment.

Surrounded by smiling staff and supporters, Sabrina learned she had been named a 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholar, a prestigious honor awarded to just 147 Indiana students each year. The scholarship covers full tuition, required fees, and a stipend for books at any accredited public or private four-year college or university in Indiana.

“It was crazy. I walked in, and all these people were there. I was definitely surprised, but it felt amazing,” Sabrina recalled.

Sabrina’s success reflects a dedication to academics, the arts, and community service—qualities the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship aims to celebrate and support in future leaders. At Fishers High School, Sabrina has fully embraced a diverse range of opportunities, balancing rigorous coursework with her passion for the arts.

As a member of the school choir and theater programs, Sabrina has performed in numerous productions, most recently stepping into the colorful role of Flounder in Fishers High School’s fall presentation of The Little Mermaid.

“Fishers does such a good job of letting you explore extracurriculars like the arts while still taking challenging classes,” Sabrina said. “I’m so grateful for those opportunities.”

Her hard work and positive attitude have not gone unnoticed.

“Sabrina has been a role model for our students, demonstrating a remarkable balance of academic rigor, artistic passion, and service to others,” said Interim Principal Kyle Goodwin. “She is incredibly deserving of this scholarship.”

With the scholarship in hand, Sabrina plans to attend Purdue University to study civil or environmental engineering.

For Sabrina, the journey to this achievement has been fueled by embracing her passions. She hopes other students will follow her example.

“Do as much as you can and pursue what you’re passionate about,” she advised. “Passion leads to great opportunities and amazing experiences.”

Pete Peterson will once again take the gavel and preside over the Fishers City Council in 2025.  The current Council President, Cecilia Coble, offered a motion at Monday night’s council session asking councilors to name Peterson as president and John DeLucia as vice president in 2025.

The motion passed unanimously.

Peterson has served previously as council president.

The Fishers City Council appeared more receptive to a proposed city noise ordinance Monday night, clearing the item in first reading.  During October, the noise ordinance proposal failed to reach the 5 votes needed for passage.

The new ordinance lays out when there is noncompliance with the measure.  Some require a meter measuring the decibel level of sound, in other situations the standard is “Plainly Audible.”  The concerns raised by Councilors Cecilia Coble and Bill Stuart were not raised on Monday’s session.

For more details on the proposed ordinance, use this link.

The ordinance must now pass second and third reading to become law.  First reading passage requires only one vote.

State Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers), representing the western area of Fishers, has been appointed to three House committees for the upcoming 2025 legislative session: Employment, Labor and Pensions; Judiciary; and Public Health. Garcia Wilburn will serve as the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee.

“I’m honored to return to the Judiciary Committee this year, this time in a new leadership role,” said Garcia Wilburn. “As ranking member, I look forward to working with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to make our legal system more efficient for Hoosiers.”

In addition to her Judiciary Committee leadership, Garcia Wilburn will continue her service on the Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee, where she aims to advocate for Indiana workers and retirees.

“Workers deserve living wages and safe working conditions,” she said. “Our public retirees, including law enforcement officers and teachers, deserve the peace of mind that a pension provides after a lifetime of contributing to our state. I will be serving this committee with these Hoosiers in mind.”

Garcia Wilburn will also join the Public Health Committee, reflecting her ongoing commitment to addressing health disparities and improving wellness across Indiana.

“As a new member of the Public Health Committee, I hope to highlight the great work Hamilton County is already doing to prioritize public health and help incorporate some of these strategies statewide,” she said. “Even though Indiana has made progress on issues like overdose rates, Hoosiers remain more likely than the average American to face challenges like heart disease and diabetes. It doesn’t have to be this way.”

The 2025 legislative session is set to convene on January 8, with key issues like public health, labor rights, and judicial reform expected to be central to the agenda. Garcia Wilburn’s leadership and committee roles position her to play a critical part in shaping policies that impact Hoosiers across the state.

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston represents the eastern side of Fishers.

The Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF) has unveiled plans for its inaugural All-Star Match, a marquee event set to showcase the league’s top talent on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the Fishers Event Center, home of the newly established Indy Ignite. Marking a major milestone for professional volleyball in the United States, the match will air nationally on CBS Television Network, the first time an All-Star volleyball match will be broadcast on such a platform.

“This will be a defining moment for our league and the sport of volleyball,” said PVF CEO Jen Spicher. “Partnering with CBS to bring the All-Star Match to a national audience underscores our commitment to growing visibility for our athletes and providing unparalleled access to volleyball fans everywhere.”

The Fishers Event Center, which opened in November 2024, is already becoming a focal point for sports and entertainment in Central Indiana. In addition to hosting the Indy Ignite’s inaugural season starting January 11, 2025, the facility is also home to the Indy Fuel (ECHL) and the Fishers Freight (IFL). Tickets to Indy Ignite matches begin at $30 and are available at indyignitevb.com.

Mary Kay Huse, president and general manager of the Indy Ignite, expressed enthusiasm for hosting the All-Star event. “This is nothing short of epic,” she said. “We’re grateful for the support of the Indiana Sports Corp, Hamilton County Sports Authority, and the City of Fishers. Hosting this event during our inaugural season is a testament to the incredible momentum for women’s professional volleyball in our community.”

The PVF All-Star Match is the third major All-Star event announced for Central Indiana in 18 months. The NBA All-Star Game took place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in February 2024, and the WNBA All-Star Game is slated for the same venue in July 2025. This influx of high-profile events solidifies Indiana’s growing reputation as a hub for professional sports, particularly women’s athletics.

“Indianapolis and Indiana continue to elevate women’s sports,” said Sarah Myer, Chief of Staff and Strategy for Indiana Sports Corp. “To host three All-Star events within 18 months underscores the state’s ability to bring communities together and crown champions.”

The Hamilton County Sports Authority will lead the All-Star Host Committee, comprising regional leaders dedicated to promoting premier events. “Thanks to the region’s devoted sports expertise and fandom, the PVF All-Star Game exemplifies a world-class event choosing Indiana as its host,” said Carl Daniels, director of the authority.

Details on the All-Star match selection process, coaches, and format will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for the game will also be available soon, promising volleyball fans an unforgettable experience as the PVF’s best players take the court.

For more information, visit pvfvolleyball.com.

The Indy Fuel capped off their weekend with a dominant defensive performance, shutting out the Kalamazoo Wings 2-0 on the road Sunday. Goaltender Joe Vrbetic was the star of the game, delivering his second consecutive shutout to secure the victory.

Coming off a taxing overtime loss the previous night, the Fuel showed signs of fatigue early on, managing just four shots on goal in the first 14 minutes of the opening period. Despite the slow start, Indy found their rhythm while keeping Kalamazoo in check. The Wings managed only one shot on goal in the first period, compared to nine from the Fuel.

Kalamazoo’s Travis Broughman was sent to the penalty box for hooking at 7:59 of the first period. Just 25 seconds into the ensuing power play, Ethan Manderville capitalized with his first professional goal, giving the Fuel a 1-0 lead they would never relinquish.

Tensions flared in the second period, highlighted by a physical exchange at 12:21. Multiple roughing penalties were assessed, including a double minor on Kalamazoo’s Ayden MacDonald, and a fight broke out between Indy’s Nathan Noel and Kalamazoo’s Ted Nichol. The Wings successfully killed off the Fuel’s subsequent power play, but the momentum remained with Indy. The Fuel outshot the Wings 9-5 in the period, carrying their 1-0 lead into the final frame.

The third period was a quieter affair, with limited chances for both teams. Kalamazoo’s only penalty came at 7:52 for delay of game after the puck was shot out of play. Indy’s defense remained impenetrable, and Vrbetic continued to frustrate the Wings’ attackers. With time winding down, Kevin Lombardi sealed the victory for Indy, scoring an empty-net goal at 19:06 to make it 2-0.

Indy’s dominance was reflected in the shot totals, as they outshot Kalamazoo 28-14 over the course of the game. The Fuel’s disciplined defensive effort and Vrbetic’s stellar goaltending proved to be the difference in a weekend that showcased the team’s resilience and grit.

The Fuel will look to build on this momentum as they return home for their next matchup, Wednesday against the Bloomington Bison at the Fishers Event Center, 7pm.

In front of a sold-out crowd of 6,610 fans at the Fishers Event Center, the Indy Fuel hosted their annual Teddy Bear Toss game, a heartwarming tradition that saw a franchise-record 6,852 stuffed animals collected for charity. Despite the charitable success, the night ended with a narrow 4-3 overtime loss to the Kalamazoo Wings.

The evening kicked off with the K-Wings striking early as Travis Broughman found the back of the net just 2:04 into the game. Despite the early setback, the Fuel dominated possession for much of the opening period, peppering Kalamazoo goaltender Hunter Vorva with 12 shots compared to the K-Wings’ 8.

Kalamazoo doubled their lead late in the first period when Lee Lapid scored at 18:38, giving the visitors a 2-0 advantage heading into intermission.

The second period brought a turning point for the Fuel. At 6:41, Ryan Gagnier netted a goal off assists from Colin Bilek and Bryan Lemos, igniting the Teddy Bear Toss. Fans showered the ice with thousands of stuffed animals in support of local charities, creating a pause in play for cleanup.

Shortly after, Jordan Martin added a shorthanded goal at 15:06 to tie the game 2-2, assisted by Darby Llewellyn. The Fuel’s penalty kill unit shone again, keeping Kalamazoo scoreless on the power play and building momentum heading into the third period.

In the final frame, Kalamazoo regained the lead with a goal by Ryan Cox at 2:56. However, the Fuel responded with a game-tying goal from Colin Bilek at 14:26, assisted by Ty Farmer and Thomas Farrell. Regulation ended in a 3-3 deadlock, with Indy holding a slight edge in shots, 26-22.

The overtime period proved decisive. At 2:32, Zach Okabe capitalized on a chance for the K-Wings, scoring on their second shot of the extra frame to secure a 4-3 victory.

Despite the loss, the Fuel’s effort and the community’s generosity marked a memorable evening. Fans can expect an intense rematch as these two teams face off again Sunday night in Kalamazoo.

Game Notes

• Teddy Bear Toss Success: 6,852 stuffed animals collected for charity, a franchise record.
• Indy Shorthanded Success: Jordan Martin’s goal marked the Fuel’s second shorthanded tally this season.
• Looking Ahead: The teams will meet again in Kalamazoo for the second game of the back-to-back series.

The road construction report is getting shorter, but there are the usual updates on ongoing projects.  Looks for sidewalk work in the coming week in the Avalon and Meadow Brook neighborhoods.

Here is the update, for the work week starting Monday, December 9:

============ Continue reading Road construction update for the week ahead →

It took 3 games to get it done, but the Indy Fuel notched their very first win at their new Fishers Event Center home, 6-0 over the visitors, the Americans from Allen, Texas.    The Fuel now have 9 wins on the young ECHL season.

It is not often the shots on goal are this lopsided….the Fuel had 33, the Allen Americans only 6.

The Fuel dominated the contest, but didn’t score until there was 1:53 left in Period 1, Colin Bilek putting the puck in the net.  Andrew Bellant scored early in Period 2 and Bilek picked up his second goal of the game with seconds remaining.

Matus Spodniak and Thomas Farrell each tallied goals in Period 3 to put the win away for the home team.

Joe Vrbetic pitched a shutout in goal Friday night.

The crowd wasn’t quite the size of the first home weekend, but the crowd was good and boisterous as usual.

Their were two fights Friday night, but neither resulted in power play goals.

The Fuel are back in action at the Events Center Saturday night, facing the Wings from Kalamazoo