Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development (HAND) has launched a year-end campaign aimed at raising awareness about the growing need for stable and attainable housing across Hamilton, Boone, and Tipton counties.

The initiative, called One Door Away, draws on the image of a single door as a reminder that many residents in Central Indiana are just one step away from housing stability. HAND leaders say rising housing costs continue to outpace wages, creating increasing pressure on workers, seniors, and families who want to remain in their communities.

“Behind every door is a story,” said Andrea Davis, HAND’s executive director. “A retired teacher who wants to stay close to the community she served. A healthcare worker raising a child. A senior hoping to age safely in place. When neighbors support HAND’s mission, they open the next door for someone working hard to build stability.”

Board President Jordyn Gladis said the campaign also aims to reinforce the role of housing in community well-being.

“Every strong community begins with stability,” Gladis said. “One Door Away is an invitation for residents, partners, and leaders to recognize how essential housing is to community vitality. When we open doors for our neighbors, the entire region benefits.”

HAND currently owns and manages 157 rental homes across 11 communities, serving seniors on fixed incomes, workers essential to local businesses and services, and families seeking reliable housing close to schools, jobs, and support networks. Additional developments are underway, but the organization says demand continues to grow as limited rental options in the northern suburbs force many residents to make difficult choices.

“In times when so many are facing instability or rising housing costs, even one open door can change the course of a life,” Davis said. “We hope this campaign helps our community see the human stories behind the need — and the collective impact we can make.”

More information about the One Door Away campaign is available on HAND’s website.

Ever since launching this local news website in 2012 — and later the podcast series in 2016 — I’ve been continually amazed by the messages I receive from people I’ve never met.

Back in 2014, the Indianapolis Business Journal asked me to write an op-ed on Fishers’ first mayoral election. I was later invited to contribute to the publication’s online opinion site, which has since been discontinued.

Over the years, media outlets outside Fishers have contacted me for commentary on what’s happening in our community. I’m still surprised by how many people beyond Fishers find this site and reach out.

That happened again a few months ago. I was contacted by someone representing Cyndee Woolley, owner of a communications firm in Orlando, Florida. She had come across this site and invited me to appear on her podcast, Cutting Through the Clutter.

When I mentioned the invitation to my wife, her first reaction was: “If she wants you to cut through the clutter, has she ever seen your office?” I’ll admit it — my office isn’t always the most organized.

Eventually, we set a date and time to record the episode. After speaking with Ms. Woolley, it was clear why she has built a successful communications business. She’s an excellent communicator. Our discussion felt less like an interview and more like a genuine conversation, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

We recorded the episode in September, and it has now been posted online.

I think you’ll enjoy our conversation.

You can listen to me as a guest on the Cutting Through The Clutter Podcast at this link.

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The City of Fishers is taking new steps to manage traffic around the Fishers Event Center, approving both a comprehensive corridor analysis and a professional services agreement tied to future road improvements in the area.

Corridor Study to Assess Traffic After First Year of Event Center Operations

With a full year of traffic data available since the Fishers Event Center opened, the Board of Works and Public Safety has authorized a detailed analysis of how current and future development will affect nearby roads.

According to the city’s filing, the study will measure existing traffic volumes, estimate future traffic from proposed land uses, and calculate total long-term volumes for the area. The goal is to produce a report documenting data collection, findings, and recommendations to ensure safe and efficient travel as the district continues to grow.

The study area includes:

• 116th Street & USA Parkway

• 116th Street & Ikea Way

• 106th Street & Lantern Road

• USA Parkway & Ikea Way

• USA Parkway & the roundabout near the Event Center

• Lantern Road & USA Drive

Fishers officials say the Event Center’s inaugural year—which included concerts, Indy Fuel hockey games, and community events—has generated valuable information about traffic patterns, but continued development makes forward-looking planning essential.

City Approves Design Agreement for Road Widening, Targeted for Spring 2026

In a related action, the Board of Works also approved a professional services agreement for design work on a street-widening project in the same general district. The widening is expected to be constructed in the spring of 2026.

The agreement authorizes engineering services needed to prepare the project for bidding and construction, including surveys, design documents, and coordination with utilities. According to the city’s submission, the widening is intended to accommodate anticipated growth tied to the Event Center, nearby commercial development, and increased traffic volumes projected in the corridor study.

City staff noted that beginning design work now ensures the project remains on schedule for 2026, aligning with expected development timelines and providing additional roadway capacity before congestion increases.

Both the corridor traffic study and the widening project are part of Fishers’ broader strategy to manage infrastructure needs in the fast-growing Event Center district, where new traffic patterns continue to emerge as the area builds out.

The Humane Society for Hamilton County (HSHC) is turning Black Friday into an opportunity for families to grow, announcing a special adoption event as the shelter continues to struggle with severe capacity issues. More than 500 animals currently housed at the facility will spend the holidays without a permanent home unless adopters step forward.

The event will take place Friday, November 28, from noon to 5 p.m. at HSHC’s location off Hague Road in Fishers. Adoption fees for all eligible pets will be reduced to $10.

“Our most urgent animals have waited several months, and in some cases over a year, for an adopter to come,” said Emma Nobbe, HSHC’s community engagement manager. “This holiday season, we ask the community to open their hearts and homes to the hundreds of animals waiting for their second chance.”

Animals adopted from HSHC are spayed or neutered, microchipped, have at least one round of age-appropriate vaccinations, and leave with a starter bag of food and a complimentary wellness exam from participating veterinarians.

The shelter hopes the event, themed “fill their hearts, not their carts,” will encourage residents to prioritize adoption during one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

HSHC reminds potential adopters of several guidelines for Friday’s event:

• All members of the household—both human and canine—must meet any dog being considered for adoption.

• Those interested in adopting are encouraged to complete an application in advance at hshcadoptions.com.

• Only human family members are required to meet potential cats.

• Adopters must present a government-issued ID.

• Renters should bring a copy of their pet policy, as landlords may be difficult to reach over the holiday weekend.

HSHC hopes strong community participation will help many of the animals in its care find a home in time for the holidays.

As the Fishers Community Center prepared for its official opening, one question repeatedly surfaced among prospective users: Will Silver Sneakers memberships be accepted?

Silver Sneakers, a popular insurance-based program that provides free access to participating fitness facilities for eligible seniors, is one of several similar benefits offered through Medicare plans and large employer insurance programs.

Fishers officials now have a clear answer. Following action Tuesday morning by the Board of Public Works and Safety, the Community Center has been granted the authority to accept Silver Sneakers and comparable programs, allowing qualifying residents to receive free memberships.

“This is an opportunity particularly for seniors…to get a free membership to the Community Center and access all the health and wellness opportunities and social opportunities we have there,” said Jake Reardon-McSoley, the city’s director of Recreation and Wellness.

Reardon-McSoley told the board the city has negotiated reimbursement agreements with three companies that collectively “cover every potential large insurance-based membership on the market.”

Mayor Scott Fadness said demand for such programs has been strong from the start. “I think the number one question we receive at the Community Center, at least our membership people, has been ‘Are we going to have any of these programs available?’”

The city expects it will take time to complete the needed technology upgrades and staff training before the programs are fully implemented. Reardon-McSoley said he is confident the center will be ready to roll out the insurance-based memberships by January 1, 2026.

OfficeWorks, a Fishers-based company, is partnering with MillerKnoll to host the 29th Annual We Care event on December 4 at the Lilly Boys & Girls Club of Indianapolis.

The long-running holiday tradition brings together children, volunteers, and members of Central Indiana’s architecture and design community for an afternoon of hands-on creativity and celebration. Participants from OfficeWorks and area A&D firms will guide craft stations where Boys & Girls Club members can make ornaments, cards, picture frames, and other handmade gifts.

“This event is a meaningful example of how a community can come together to uplift and inspire,” said Larry Martin, president of OfficeWorks. “For nearly 30 years, We Care has brought designers, volunteers, and families together to create something bigger than any one of us. Watching the kids light up with excitement reminds us why this tradition matters.”

The effort continues on December 10, when OfficeWorks staff will visit the Keenan-Stahl Boys & Girls Club to deliver handcrafted gifts and activity kits assembled by employees and volunteers. Each kit includes art supplies and seasonal projects intended to give more children an opportunity to create their own holiday keepsakes.

When the restaurant and recreation chain Chicken N Pickle announced plans in March 2023 to open a Fishers location, the news generated plenty of excitement. The project was slated for the plaza area adjacent to the Fishers Event Center and was expected to bring a unique mix of dining and indoor-outdoor entertainment to the community.

However, the project will not be moving forward.

Fishers Economic Development Director Megan Baumgartner tells LarryInFishers that the company failed to meet required development deadlines, leading the city to step in. Fishers is now purchasing the parcel originally reserved for Chicken N Pickle for about $1 million.

The property will be held for future redevelopment through the city’s Town Hall Building Corporation and Redevelopment Commission.

Chicken N Pickle had planned to build a facility featuring a restaurant, sports bar, pickleball courts and yard games—an attraction that drew significant interest when first announced.

The Fishers Event Center is marking its one-year anniversary this week, capping a fast-paced inaugural year since opening on November 22, 2024.

The 7,500-seat venue quickly established itself as a regional entertainment draw, hosting national touring acts including Alabama, Cirque du Soleil, comedians Jeff Foxworthy and Leanne Morgan, country artists Megan Moroney and Blake Shelton, and Nathaniel Rateliff. The arena also welcomed John Legend’s 20th anniversary tour and became home to several sports teams, including the Indy Fuel of the ECHL, Indy Ignite of Major League Volleyball, and the Fishers Freight of the Indoor Football League.

Beyond ticketed events, the center served as a community gathering space for graduations, private events, and charitable initiatives.

“Community is at the heart of what we do and why we’re here,” General Manager Mitch List said in a statement. “We are continually focused on uplifting and supporting our community… These are just a few of the ways we support the community who has supported us.”

According to the facility, more than 1,000 donated items and over $5,000 in contributions were collected through partnerships with area organizations. Efforts included:

• Indy Humane: Staff and attendees contributed 837 items ranging from blankets and towels to toys, leashes, collars, and dog beds.

• Kids Coats of Hamilton County: The center collected 228 winter clothing items for local families.

• The Marigold Project: In connection with a sold-out Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats performance, the venue distributed marigold seed packets in exchange for donations, raising $5,445 for the foundation supporting economic, racial, and social justice initiatives.

The Fishers Event Center also hosted graduation ceremonies for 2,055 students from Hamilton Southeastern High School, Fishers High School, and Cathedral High School.

Local artists and musicians were featured throughout the year. The venue’s Summer Elevation Series, a rooftop recording project, showcased eight Indiana bands to an audience the center says reached more than 200,000 listeners online. In addition, 12 commissioned creators produced 80 pieces of artwork now displayed throughout the building.

The center reported partnering with 14 nonprofit organizations to staff concessions, keeping funds within the community, and working with 25 local farmers and businesses to supply food and ingredients for events.

I recently recorded a podcast with General Manager Mitch List about the Center’s first year in Fishers.  Listen to the pod at this link.

A major issue now before the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board is redistricting, driven by shifting enrollment patterns across the district. The number of school-age children is increasing in HSE’s eastern neighborhoods and declining in the west, prompting the need to redraw district boundaries to balance enrollment.

District officials say redistricting is necessary to maintain reasonable class sizes, use school facilities efficiently, and manage the budget responsibly. Superintendent Patrick Mapes has noted that updated boundaries will help control costs and generate savings in the years ahead.

To guide the process, the board hired Woolpert, a national consulting firm. The firm launched its work with online surveys and focus groups, then partnered with district administrators to host two public meetings where residents could review draft maps and provide input.

Woolpert has now delivered its final recommendations for new elementary, intermediate, and junior high boundaries. The two high school attendance zones will remain unchanged.

As with previous redistricting efforts in HSE, the public response has been mixed. Many families are comfortable with the proposed maps, while some neighborhoods have expressed concerns about how their students may be affected.

Making last-minute changes can be challenging, as adjustments in one area often ripple into others. However, Woolpert indicated it may consider limited revisions that do not impact surrounding neighborhoods—provided there is adequate space in the affected school.

HSE Schools will continue accepting survey feedback through midnight on November 30. Details on the redistricting process, including a link to the survey, are available on the HSE Schools website.

If the timeline holds, the HSE School Board is expected to vote on the final redistricting plan at its meeting on Wednesday, December 10, at 7 p.m. at the district administration building on Cumberland Road.

A scoreless battle stretched through three periods and a seven-minute overtime Saturday night at the Fishers Event Center, but the Indy Fuel came up just short, falling 1-0 to the Adirondack Thunder in a shootout.

Despite the loss, the Fuel secured one point in the ECHL standings. The lone tally of the night came in the shootout’s third round, when Adirondack’s Brannon McManus slipped the puck into the net. Indy was unable to convert on any of its three attempts.

Defense dominated from start to finish, with both teams unable to capitalize on several power-play opportunities in regulation or the 3-on-3 overtime session.

Goaltending was the story on both ends of the ice. Fuel netminder Owen Flores delivered another strong performance for the second straight night, while Adirondack’s Jeremy Brodeur matched him save for save to preserve the shutout.

Adding to the atmosphere, the Fuel took the ice in retro Indianapolis Racers jerseys for Racer Night, drawing an energetic crowd.

The Fuel now hit the road for a Wednesday matchup in Wheeling. They return home after Thanksgiving, hosting in-state rival Fort Wayne on Friday before welcoming Cincinnati on Saturday.