Imagine for a moment you receive a phone call from the number of a loved one you see on caller ID.  You are told that loved one has been kidnapped.  You hear horrible noises in the background like screaming and yelling.  You are told that any attempt to contact law enforcement will result in the immediate death of the person held at gunpoint.  You are not allowed to speak with your loved one, but are instructed to use a service like Zelle or PayPal to make an immediate payment to save the life of your loved one.

Fishers Police say this is a scam, using spoofing or mirroring methods to make it look like the phone call is from the cell phone of your loved one.

If you receive such a call, here is what local law enforcement recommends:

–Immediately hang up and call 911. Police will perform a welfare check to ensure your loved one’s safety.

–Never pay any ransom and immediately report suspicious activity.

Police are also offering the following safety tips to help avoid becoming a victim:

–Make certain the security settings on your social media accounts, are set to the highest security level locking accounts from be viewable by non-approved friends.

–Suspects are using social media to conduct research.

For example, a Fishers resident who was a recent victim had their Facebook account unlocked and viewable to the general public.  That allowed the suspects to identify friends and family.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District has two new administrators coming on board after school board approval Wednesday night.

Michelle Brittain-Watts will be the new Executive Director of Secondary Education.  She replaces Matt Kegley, who moved up to the position of Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning.  Ms. Brittain-Watts comes to HSE after a stint as principal of Bloomington North High School.  She also has worked in Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and Pike Township.

HSE has a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).  Katie Dowling has served as CFO in East Chicago Schools, Griffith and Crown Point.  Dr. Matt Kegley told the board Ms. Dowling has extensive experience in school referendums.  HSE is expected to have a referendum on the ballot in about 2 years as the current referendum expires.

Cecilie Nunn currently serves as the CFO for HSE Schools, but according to a spokesperson for the local school district, Ms. Nunn is stepping down from that position for personal reasons and will be taking a job with HSE Schools in Accounts Payable.

What will your student pay in fees for the coming Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) school year?  The answer to that question is complicated.  It all depends on the grade level and what books, online materials and equipment the student requires for the courses taken.

The HSE School Board passed the fee schedule for the 2021-2022 academic year at Wednesday night’s session.  Board member Michelle Fullhart reminded everyone that Indiana is one of only 8 states that charge families these fees.

For more detail on what was approved by the board, see the information below:

Continue reading HSE Schools student fees – it’s complicated →

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board has decided how to begin the 2021-2022 school year, with in-person classes and mask wearing optional.  That was the 6-1 vote by board members.

The lone no vote came from Sarah Parks-Reese.  She expressed concern students in the lower grades are not yet eligible to receive a COVID vaccination and that mask requirements might be advisable for that age group.

The school district took comments before writing the plan, which allows the district to qualify for a $2.9 million federal grant for COVID-related expenses.

You can view the document approved Wednesday night at this link.

Several people signed-up to comment, most supportive of optional mask-wearing.  A mother and her daughter complained to the board about the daughter’s experience in the local schools and said the daughter would not be returning to HSE Schools in the fall semester.

Quantigen is preparing to move from its current home near Allisonville Road & 116th Street to new quarters in the remodeled Round Room building, north of 116th Street along I-69.  The firm, specializing in medical diagnostics and device development through pharmaceutical and biotech industry partnership, will occupy 40,000 square feet in the new location.

The company plans to add 30 new, high-wage jobs in the areas of quality & regulatory compliance and research by the end of 2023 and will invest $2.5 million into new lab and office space.  Quantigen will essentially be doubling its work force.

“The Fishers community has been home to Quantigen since our founding, so we are thrilled to have been able to find a facility that can support our expansion and allow us to continue operations in the city where we have been welcomed and supported,” said Quantigen CEO Jami Elliott in  a city news release. “Mayor Fadness and his team have been incredibly supportive throughout our relocation search process. We are bullish for Quantigen’s future, as we are for the biotech prospects for our city and the region as a whole”

According to the release, the firm will be increasing activity in three areas:

• Increased demand from pharma and biotech companies to develop new diagnostic tests and platform technologies.
• Support for grant sponsored research through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in the areas of high throughput test development for soil transmitted helminths, COVID-19 and Tuberculosis.
• A recent U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services MolDx coverage decision award for a novel genetic test that is used to aid health care providers in medication selection and to improve medication safety.

“Jami and his team at Quantigen are working on next-generation technology for the life science industry right here in Fishers,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. “Quantigen’s commitment to staying and investing in this community is exciting as we continue to see catalytic growth in this cluster that’s ripe for Fishers.”

The State of Indiana is offering up to $350,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s plans to create up to 23 new jobs by the end of 2023. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once employees are hired at the Fishers location.

The City of Fishers is providing Quantigen with a $50,000 grant toward its buildout and moving expenses. The Redevelopment Commission approved the Economic Development Agreement at the February 2 meeting with the abatement approval being presented to City Council at the July meeting.

This is part of a strategy by the City of Fishers and Mayor Fadness to grow the life science industry here.  Italian company Stevanato already announced plans for a new facility near 126th Street and Cumberland Road.

Our next Fishers municipal election is not until 2023, but if you ask me whether Scott Fadness will run for another term as mayor, on balance, I suspect he will seek reelection.  But if the mayor ever decides to leave politics, he may have another career ahead of him as host of a podcast.

I saw that illustrated Tuesday night when the mayor hosted a live Zoom session on Facebook with new Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Superintendent Yvonne Stokes.  He was not afraid to bring up issues on the minds of local families.

Fadness asked about critical race theory, the difference between equality and equity and her views on the importance of academic achievement.  He also explored how to measure success and how to put into context the many ways school district performance is evaluated.

Dr. Stokes has completed her work as an assistant superintendent in the Lake County School District of Munster and is now in Fishers preparing to take the reins on July 1.  The retiring superintendent, Allen Bourff, leaves at the end of this month.

You may view the entire, nearly hour-long, Zoom discussion on Facebook at this link. (Note…the Zoom session was a bit late starting, you need to move forward to about 6 minutes into the recording before it starts)

The Spin Doctors concert was unexpectedly postponed at the last minute by the band, but with no Spark Fishers Festival last year, let’s not allow that to dampen our spirits as an expanded celebration gets underway tonight, Tuesday, June 22nd.

The Tuesday concert features The Midtown Madmen, showcasing music from the ’50s and ’60s, at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater.  This is a free concert.

Wednesday features the 5K run.  Use this link for more details.

Thursday is the  Car & Art Show, featuring vintage and modern cars alongside 30 local artists and artisans. This event is free, 6-9pm, at the Municipal Complex.

The festival gets into full gear Saturday with the street fair, 3pm-10pm, at the Municipal Complex.  Here is what to expect:

• Local food and drink, retail vendors, artisans, and more, along with the Dining Tent sponsored by Four Day Ray Brewing.
• Three entertainment stages featuring live performances throughout the day, including the main NPD AMP stage sponsored by Ed Martin Nissan and Ed Martin Toyota, the Community Stage sponsored by Aspen Creek Grill, and the Platform Stage.
• A Kids Zone with bounce houses, games, face painters, and more kid-friendly fun sponsored by DMC Insurance.
• Roots at Spark!Fishers, a teen zone featuring a mobile skate park and dance battles with 31Svn Street Dance Academy.
• Fishers Arts Council presents a new experience, Spark of Creativity. Find your creative Spark and try out introductory experiences in movement, music, fiber arts, and acrylic painting.
• Cool down at Heroes Hall in the City Hall Auditorium, presented by Folds of Honor, where we will honor our hometown heroes who have served our country and our community. Prepare a care package for a local hero, watch a video highlighting these hometown heroes, and check out special demonstrations from the Fishers Police

The Spark Festival Parade is back this year.  It begins Saturday at 6pm, starting on Lantern Road north to Municipal Drive then south to 116th Street.  The parade then veers west on 116th and makes a north turn on Holland Drive to Ellipse Parkway at Holland Park and ends.

If you want public address commentary with your parade, there will be two locations.  The first will be provided by my friend & local publisher Tom Britt at Municipal Drive and 116th Street.  I will be handling the PA duties for the crowd gathered at Holland Drive and Ellipse Parkway, near the entrance to Holland Park.

Finally, the fireworks display starts at 10pm.  They will launch at Holland Park, but it is recommended you view the show near City Hall at the Municipal Complex.  Holland Park itself will be closed to the public for safety reasons during the fireworks.

For suggestions on parking during the festival, use this link.

Now that the pandemic has lowered the threat level and allowed us to have our Fishers summer festival once again, let’s all make the best of it!

The Fishers City Council issued a statement Monday night on June as Pride Month.  Councilwoman Crystal Newmann read the proclamation on behalf of the council.

“In 2016, we (the Fishers City Council) acted by claiming Fishers as a community that would not stand for discrimination of any kind, stemming from a person’s sex, race, color, nationality, origin, religion, disability, age or gender identity,” the statement says in part.  “That dedication continues today from standing alongside students and parents to advocate for comprehensive anti-discrimination policies within our school system to instilling these policies into city’s operations.”

In other items from the Monday Fishers City Council meeting:

–Retiring HSE School Superintendent Allen Bourff thanked the city for the many partnerships with the school corporation.  Dr. Bourff retires at the end of June.

–The council recognized the Unified Track Team.

–Fishers Police issued service awards to the following officers:

Dan Tucker – 30 years
James Alvis – 20 years
Samuel Ralph – 20 years
Charles Yeager – 20 years
Ryan Pack – 20 years

–Council gave final approval to a new building  setback standard, from 25 feet to 50 feet.

–The city’s comprehensive plan, named the 2040 Plan, was recently updated and all the changes were given final approval

The Fishers City Council has only one standing committee that meets regularly, and that is the Finance Committee.  The Non Profit committee meets a few times during budget consideration to decide which tax exempt groups will receive funding from the city.  There have been other committees formed on an ad hoc basis in the past.

The council voted Monday to form a task force charged with studying the current committee system and how it might be changed.  The group will meet with City Attorney Chris Greisl to come up with recommendations for full council consideration in August.

The task force will consist of council members John Weingardt, Selina Stoller, Cecilia Coble and Crystal Neumann.

This discussion started at a recent council retreat when a proposal was raised to create a city council rules committee.

It was about one month ago, in a podcast interview, when I asked Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness about what may be going into the former Fry’s Electronics building just north of 96th Street, along I-69.  It was yet another “big box” chain that went out of business nationally.

Let’s say the mayor was concerned about what type of tenant might be leasing that structure.

“There’s a lot of interest in the (Fry’s) building and that’s got me concerned about finding the right use that sets the tone,” the mayor said.  “That’s the gateway to Fishers, so what kind of use makes sense in that building is important.”

The mayor added he will be “having conversations” with the city council about the issue.  That conversation, and action, began at the Monday night council session.

Council members began a process, at the request of Mayor Fadness, to enact a change in the city’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) requiring more scrutiny and review of tenant changes in these “big box” vacant spaces.  This new standard would give City Council the authority to approve and add conditions to changes in tenants, providing the  city with criteria for reviewing these tenant changes.  This would impact structures  with a floor area of 25,000 square feet or greater, but would not apply to facilities with medical, office, and industrial/manufacturing use.

The proposal received first reading Monday night, where only one vote is required to move forward.  The Fishers Plan Commission will hold a public hearing on July 7, vote a recommendation, then the City Council will take a final vote on the measure July 19.

You can read the entire text of the proposed text amendment to the UDO at this link.