A labor dispute between the ECHL (formerly known at the East Coast Hockey League) and its players is disrupting the league’s schedule and could affect upcoming home games for the Indy Fuel at the Fishers Event Center, beginning with Sunday’s scheduled 4pm matchup against the Toledo Walleye.

The Fishers Event Center opened with the Indy Fuel as its primary tenant. The team typically plays 36 regular-season home games at the venue each season, not including potential playoff games.

As of December 27, 2025, the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) has officially begun a midseason strike against the ECHL following months of unsuccessful negotiations over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The work stoppage began Friday afternoon and resulted in the postponement of 13 league games scheduled for Friday, December 26.

According to the PHPA, several key issues remain unresolved. The union is seeking a weekly team salary cap of $19,500 for the 2025–26 season, which would average roughly $975 per player per week. Players are also calling for changes related to travel and safety, including a league-wide holiday break from December 24 through 26 and limits on travel for back-to-back games. In addition, the PHPA is seeking guaranteed contracts and offseason health benefits.

The ECHL has disputed the union’s position, stating it issued what it called a “last, best, and final offer” on December 25. The league says that proposal includes a 19.8 percent increase in the salary cap. League officials have also warned that revenue lost from postponed or canceled games could negatively affect future proposals.

While games involving the Fuel and other ECHL teams remain uncertain, some league owners are exploring the use of replacement players to keep the season moving.

Fort Wayne Komets management has confirmed the team is already contacting and evaluating potential replacement players, likely from the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) or the Federal Prospects Hockey League. Some teams are reportedly hoping to ice replacement rosters as early as New Year’s Eve in an effort to minimize financial losses.

League rules require teams to dress a minimum of 13 skaters and two goaltenders to play a scheduled game. If either team in a matchup cannot meet that threshold, the game will be postponed.

Team owners have acknowledged that the use of replacement players could cause long-term damage to relationships with current PHPA-contracted players.

As of this writing Saturday, the ECHL has not announced whether Saturday’s game at Wheeling or Sunday’s Indy Fuel home game in Fishers will be played as scheduled or postponed.

This is the weekend between Christmas and the New Year holiday, so local road construction is not so robust this time of year.  But the weekly update does keep us in touch with ongoing projects, such as the resurfacing happening in the Plantana neighborhood, very dependent on the weather this time of year, of course.

Here is the weekly report on Fishers area road construction, as provided by the City of Fishers, for the work week starting Monday, December 29:

Continue reading Final Fishers Area road construction report for 2025 →

I remember the first time I was not with my immediate family on Christmas morning. It was the late 1960s, and I had just started working for radio station WFMS, the first FM station to go on the air in Indianapolis. The station was owned by a well-known local broadcast engineer, Martin Williams.

Mr. Williams was an interesting man. Early in his engineering career, he told me stories about installing two-way radio communications in commercial airplanes. He later became chief engineer at WFBM radio. After 1940, he worked as a consulting engineer and, in 1957, put the first FM radio station on the air in Indianapolis.

Let’s just say he loved old big band music, particularly performers like Guy Lombardo and Wayne King. He also featured classical music in the evenings and operated the only station in town providing programming for the city’s many ethnic communities, including German, Irish, and Latvian audiences.

Another fascinating note about Mr. Williams: as a young engineering student in the early 20th century, he met the man credited with inventing wireless communications—Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi.

Martin Williams had a large collection of Christmas music, and that Christmas morning we played nothing but holiday favorites. What impressed me most were the number of people who called the station to thank me for giving up my Christmas morning to provide the sounds of the season. That meant a great deal to me.

As we celebrate Christmas Day with our families, it’s worth remembering that countless people are working today—police officers, firefighters, emergency responders, and yes, the people who keep broadcasting up and running.

Think about those people this Christmas Day. And if you happen to cross paths with someone working today, take a moment to offer a simple thank-you. It will mean more than you may realize.

Now that Fishers has one trash collection contract, the holiday trash collection schedule is now the same for all city residents.  Here is the schedule for Christmas and New Year’s weeks:

• Monday, Dec. 22: Normal collection.
• Tuesday, Dec. 23: Normal collection.
• Wednesday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve): Normal collection.
• Thursday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day): No collection.
• Friday, Dec. 26: Thursday’s routes will be collected.
• Saturday, Dec. 27: Friday’s routes will be collected. 

I cannot count how many fiction writers I have known that have written a book but cannot find a publisher to take the book on.  Daniel P McCallister had an idea to write a book set in the Roman Empire about a young man on the lower rung of the social order who found a way to elevate himself in a tough, brutal society.

This author found a publisher and you can now buy his book.

You can order the book Flight of a Prodigy, at this link.

I recorded a podcast with the author on December 23, which you can listen to at the link below.

A Fishers woman is facing a stiff sentence following a guilty plea in an embezzlement charge involving her employer, a nonprofit group.

To read the story from WTHR, use this link.

As the calendar fills with parties around our wonderful community of Fishers, shopping trips and family obligations can bring as much stress as it does joy. Local health professionals say a few simple steps can help us enjoy the season while keeping stress in check.

One of the biggest sources of holiday anxiety is unrealistic expectations. Whether it is hosting the “perfect” gathering or finding the ideal gift, pressure can build quickly. Mental health experts recommend setting realistic goals and remembering that time spent together often matters more than decorations or presents.

Managing time is another key factor. With school events, work deadlines and social commitments competing for attention, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Creating a schedule and prioritizing the most meaningful activities can help prevent burnout.It is a good idea to say no when their calendars become too full.

Physical activity remains a proven stress reliever, even during the colder months. A walk through a neighborhood decorated with holiday lights, a visit to a local park, or a quick workout at home can boost mood and reduce tension. Maintaining regular sleep and healthy eating habits also plays an important role in managing stress levels.

Financial stress can also increase during the holidays. Setting a clear budget for gifts, travel and entertainment can help avoid anxiety and regret later. Some families are choosing alternatives such as gift exchanges, homemade items or experiences instead of expensive presents.

Staying connected is equally important, especially for those who may feel isolated during the season. Reaching out to friends, neighbors or community groups can provide support and a sense of belonging. For those dealing with grief or loss, acknowledging difficult emotions and seeking support from trusted individuals or professionals can make a meaningful difference.

As Fishers prepares for the holidays, experts emphasize that taking care of mental and physical health should be part of the celebration. By slowing down, focusing on what matters most and giving themselves permission to take breaks, residents can reduce stress and make room for the moments of joy the season is meant to bring.