As the Indiana Pacers clinched the Eastern Conference title Saturday night, much was said and written about how this marked the team’s biggest moment since reaching the NBA Finals in 2000, when Coach Larry Bird and Reggie Miller led the charge. That recognition was well-deserved.

But as I watched the Pacers triumph on Saturday, my mind drifted further back than 2000. I thought of 1983.

At the time, I was working as a reporter for Network Indiana radio. The Pacers were at a crossroads, and the buzz around town wasn’t good. There was real concern that Indiana might lose its NBA team.

In 2018, I recorded a podcast with longtime sports journalist Mark Montieth about his book Reborn: The Pacers and the Return of Pro Basketball to Indianapolis. In both the book and our conversation, Mark recounted the behind-the-scenes turmoil of 1983. The team had a nominal owner who was actually fronting for someone already tied to another NBA franchise—something the league prohibits. That group had plans to relocate the Pacers, possibly to California.

Indianapolis officials scrambled to find a local buyer. Several wealthy families, including the Hulmans—owners of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway—declined. But one family said yes: the Simons. Brothers Herb and Mel Simon stepped forward and bought the Pacers, keeping the team in Indianapolis.

I remember being assigned to join a group of reporters meeting then-Mayor Bill Hudnut as he returned from New York after a critical meeting with NBA Commissioner David Stern. We had no idea what he would announce.

Hudnut approached the assembled press and confirmed there was a buyer lined up, with the NBA’s blessing. He wouldn’t yet reveal who it was. Within days, it leaked: the Simons had stepped in. Their motivation wasn’t personal glory—it was civic duty.

That’s why seeing Herb Simon receive the Bob Cousy Trophy on Saturday night meant so much. He earned that moment. It’s bittersweet, of course, that his late brother Mel couldn’t be there to share it.

Without Herb and Mel Simon, the Pacers likely would have left Indiana in 1983. And one can’t help but wonder: would Bob Irsay have moved the Colts to Indianapolis if the city had just lost its NBA team?

I wish the Pacers the best as they head into the NBA Finals against Oklahoma City. They may be underdogs—but that’s a role this franchise and this city understand well. And this team has what it takes to rise to the challenge.

I have always enjoyed visiting the Fishers Farmers Market on Saturday mornings when the weather begins to warm.  The downtown event draws bigger crowds each year, at least in my estimation.

I decided to shoot some video, concentrating on the people at the market.  You can view the video below.  Note that the musical duo on the Amphitheater stage had some issues with the wind

The Fishers Arts Council is preparing for two of its signature juried arts events this September, celebrating regional creativity and community involvement.

Harvest Fest, a family-friendly art fair and nonprofit fundraiser, returns for its sixth year on Sunday, September 7, at the Fishers Municipal Complex. Sponsored by Hamilton County Tourism, the free event will feature local and regional artists, live music, hands-on art activities, Indiana authors, and nonprofit organizations serving the Fishers community. Organizers are still accepting applications for participating artists, authors, and nonprofits, with a final deadline of July 7. Early applicants who submit by June 13 receive a discounted entry fee.

Also returning for its sixth year is the Juried Exhibit of Hamilton County Artists, sponsored by Jiffy Lube of Indiana. The exhibit will be on display from September 2–27 at both the Art Gallery at City Hall and the Fishers Art Center, located within the Fishers Municipal Complex. An awards reception is scheduled for Friday, September 12.

The exhibit is open to current and former Hamilton County artists working in any two- or three-dimensional media. The submission deadline is July 25. Entry guidelines and details for both events are available at fishersartscouncil.org/blog.

Past “Best in Show” winners include Stephanie Spay of Noblesville (2020), Margot Bogue of Fishers (2021), Jerry Mannell of Carmel (2022 and 2024), and Mark Rouse of Fishers (2023). This year’s top artist will earn a solo exhibit at the Fishers Art Center in January 2026.

The 2025 juried show will be judged by Carl Schafer of Muncie, co-owner of Gordy Fine Art and Framing Company and an experienced art historian and museum professional. Schafer has spent more than 25 years designing exhibitions and preserving art from global cultures. He also plays an active role in promoting the arts in Muncie, where he chairs the city’s Mayor’s Arts Awards Steering Committee.

For more information, contact the Fishers Arts Council at info@fishersartscouncil.org or call 317-537-1670.