You may have noticed construction activity next to the Forum Credit Union headquarters, just a short distance from the Fishers Event Center. That site is the future home of The Union, a major new development by Thompson Thrift. On Wednesday morning, city officials, Thompson Thrift representatives, and other stakeholders gathered for a ceremonial groundbreaking.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness addressed the crowd, expressing his enthusiasm for what this development represents. He pointed to the growing synergy among The Union, the neighboring Fishers District, and the new Event Center as a sign of the city’s unique momentum.

“This is going to be a place like no other in the state of Indiana,” Fadness said. He praised Thompson Thrift Managing Partner Ashlee Boyd for his vision and collaboration in bringing both Fishers District and The Union to life.

Boyd spoke about the decade-long process to get the project underway, which included early negotiations with residents of the longtime Springdale Estates neighborhood. He also thanked city officials for their continued support in making The Union a reality.

Representatives from two restaurants slated to open in The Union—Everbowl and Oakmont—also offered brief remarks.

The Union will feature:

• 57,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and entertainment space

• 70,000 square feet of Class A office space

• A 135-room AC Hotel

• A central event plaza designed as a gathering space for both residents and visitors

Confirmed tenants so far include:

• Everbowl (superfood bowls and smoothies)

• Oakmont (modern American cuisine)

• Piedra, an upscale Mexican restaurant

• Niku Sushi.Kitchen.Bar, offering contemporary Japanese cuisine

• Kitchen Social, an internationally inspired polished-casual concept

• Racha Thai, a Thai dining experience

• Renova Aesthetics, a medical spa

• Sweathouz, a wellness facility focused on health and recovery treatments

The Union is scheduled to open in 2026.

Financing for the Fishers Community Center took a step forward Monday as the Fishers Redevelopment Commission held a legally required public hearing on bonds for the under-construction facility, which is expected to open later this year. No members of the public offered comments during the hearing.

State law mandates one additional public hearing, which is scheduled for the Commission’s next meeting on June 9.

City Controller Lisa Bradford informed Commission members that the $65 million bond issue is being pursued now to get ahead of changes to Indiana’s property tax laws, set to take effect July 1. The project is being developed through a “build-operate-transfer” (BOT) agreement, a public-private partnership model.

When asked about the potential impact on local property tax rates, Bradford said the city’s portion of the rate would remain unchanged. As older debt is retired, the new bonds will take its place, keeping the overall rate steady.

Trey Williams, now charged as an adult in connection with the traffic accident that took the life of former HSE High School football player Mason Alexander, has entered a not guilty plea and the judge has set his bond at $50,000.

For more on the story, read this from Current Publishing at this link.

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.

Watch for a 10-day closure of 136th Street and Prairie Baptist Road starting on or eafter June 2, allowing for a major reconstruction at that location.

The roundabout construction has begun as school is out for summer, at 121st & Hoosier Road, along with 131st and Howe Road.  Both closures are projected to last 60 days.

There is much more in the listing of Fishers area road construction,  Here is the official list, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Here is the Fishers area road construction report for the week of June 2 →

The Fishers Freight made several roster moves ahead of their road trip to Green Bay, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win. The Freight fell to the Blizzard Friday night, 55-39.

Costly mistakes plagued Fishers throughout the game. Critical penalties, mishandled snaps, an interception, and multiple failed fourth-down conversions proved too much to overcome.

Despite the final score, the Freight were competitive early on. They led 9-7 at the end of the first quarter, and the game remained close at halftime, with Green Bay holding a slim 24-23 lead.

Fishers opened the second half with possession but were quickly backed up to their own 10-yard line due to a penalty. A fumbled pitchout on the same drive gave Green Bay a short field, and the Blizzard capitalized with a quick touchdown to go up 31-23.

Shortly after, quarterback Carlos Davis was intercepted, and the Blizzard needed only two plays to find the end zone again, extending their lead to 37-23.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Freight turned the ball over on downs, and Green Bay responded with another touchdown, pushing the score to 45-23. From there, the game slipped further out of reach, despite Fishers’ efforts to rally.

The Freight return home to the Fishers Event Center on Saturday, June 7, where they’ll take on the Massachusetts Pirates at 7 p.m.