Before retiring in 2011, I spent 28 years as a federal civil servant — and during that time, I experienced six government shutdowns. They ranged in length from just one afternoon to the longest shutdown before the Trump administration, which stretched from December 16, 1995, to January 6, 1996.

Once a shutdown begins, an odd and inefficient system kicks into gear. A large number of federal employees are sent home, while others are deemed “essential” and must continue to work without pay. Over the years, the definition of “essential” has changed, but the reality has remained the same: no one gets paid until the shutdown ends.

This situation affects about 1.6 million federal workers nationwide. Without paychecks, many will reduce or halt spending, which can ripple through the economy — especially if the shutdown drags on. In past shutdowns, Congress has always passed legislation to pay federal employees retroactively once the government reopens.

However, former President Trump has suggested he could block back pay (at least for some federal workers) once a shutdown is over. Federal law guarantees that employees eventually receive their pay, but if the president’s stance is pursued, it would almost certainly trigger a swift legal challenge. Members of both political parties in Congress appear to agree that workers should not be punished for circumstances beyond their control, so any final deal is likely to include retroactive pay provisions.

Shutdowns tend to become more painful the longer they last. The record-setting shutdown during Trump’s first term lasted over a month, and it only ended after significant disruptions — including breakdowns in the air traffic control system and widespread flight delays. Early signs of similar disruptions are already appearing, with some airports reporting staff shortages among air traffic controllers.

From my own experience, being furloughed was never something I took lightly. I had work to do, and I wanted to do it. It was deeply frustrating to wait for political leaders to set aside their differences and make a decision.

I feel for today’s federal employees who want nothing more than to return to their jobs serving the public. They work hard — sometimes in the spotlight, often behind the scenes — and their absence is felt when the government grinds to a halt.

I urge everyone to contact their members of Congress and encourage them to reach a bipartisan solution. The American people, and the federal employees who serve them, deserve no less.

The Delaware Township Trustee’s Office is launching a new community food drive called “Trick or Eat,” designed to help restock shelves at local food pantries ahead of the holiday season.

The initiative, developed by Beth Myers, Deputy Delaware Township Trustee and Director of Client Services, will take place in conjunction with the City of Fishers’ annual Boo Bash event later this month. The effort will benefit five local food pantries, including the township’s own pantry, which distributes more than 6,000 pounds of food each month to families in need within the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) school district.

Donations of nonperishable food items will be accepted at designated collection points during Boo Bash. All items collected will be distributed among the participating pantries serving residents of the HSE area.

The Trustee’s Office encourages residents attending Boo Bash to bring a canned good or pantry item to contribute.

For more information about the Trick or Eat drive or to learn how to donate, contact the Delaware Township Trustee’s Office or visit the event’s information booth during Boo Bash.

The Fishers Arts Council is inviting Veterans, Reserves, and Active Service Members to submit original artwork for its upcoming November exhibit, Duty, Honor, Creativity. The show will celebrate the creativity of those who have served in the U.S. military.

The exhibit will feature family-friendly, two-dimensional artwork in any medium. Pieces do not need to be military-themed but must be original and ready to hang with a wire. Works may not exceed 60 inches in any direction or weigh more than 30 pounds.

Submissions are due by October 17, and selected artists will be notified by October 24. Accepted pieces can be dropped off at the Art Gallery at City Hall on November 1 from 2–4 p.m. Artists needing alternate drop-off times may contact the Arts Council in advance.

Duty, Honor, Creativity will be on display November 3–26 in the Art Gallery at Fishers City Hall, open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays.

Additional details and submission guidelines are available at FishersArtsCouncil.org/blog. Questions may be directed to info@fishersartscouncil.org or 317-537-1670 (call or text).

The Fishers Arts Council is a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes visual and performing arts in the community. In addition to its gallery space at City Hall, the council also manages the FAC Hub Gallery at the Collaboration Hub at the Hamilton County Community Foundation.

The Fishers City Council on Monday night formally approved the city’s 2026 budget, totaling $203.6 million across operating, capital, and debt service funds. The spending plan passed unanimously, 7–0, with Councilors Pete Peterson and Cecilia Coble absent.

Mayor Scott Fadness first outlined the details of the proposed budget during the Council’s September session. On Monday, City Controller Lisa Bradford presented the plan for final approval.

Finance Committee Chair John Weingardt described this year’s budget preparation as particularly extensive. “It was a long process. It took months,” he said, adding that “any city in Indiana would love to have our (2026) budget.”

Fishers benefited from recent state legislative changes that allow the city to receive a larger share of revenue from the local option income tax than in prior years. Going forward, cities in Indiana will also have greater authority to set their own local income tax rates within state-established limits.

Other Council Actions

• Lift-Assist Fees for Care Facilities:
  The Council approved an ordinance allowing the Fishers Fire and Emergency Services Department to charge a $1,000 fee to certain care facilities beginning in 2026, after the second non-emergency lift-assist call in a calendar year.
  The department has worked with nursing homes and assisted living facilities to clarify when non-emergency calls should be handled through other means, but the number of such calls has continued to rise. The new fee is intended to help offset the cost of repeated non-emergency responses.

• Car Condominium Definition:
  Council members also held a first reading on proposed amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance. One change would formally define a “Car Condominium” as a facility for long-term vehicle storage, maintenance, and related uses such as workshops or lounges for vehicle enthusiasts. A final vote on the proposal is expected in November.

• Meeting Schedule Adjustment:
  Monday’s meeting was held earlier in the month than usual due to next week’s fall break for Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

The Fishers Police Department is urging parents to talk with their children about safe riding practices following a rise in unsafe and disruptive use of e-bikes, dirt bikes, and motorized scooters by juveniles on city streets and trails.

In a social media m statement released Monday, police said they have received multiple reports of young riders creating safety hazards and disturbances in public spaces. Among the issues reported are kids blocking and riding in traffic, operating on private property, riding recklessly without helmets, damaging property, and showing disrespect toward pedestrians.

Officers have also encountered juveniles riding in large groups that block trails for other users and, in some cases, fleeing from officers attempting to make contact.

Police said that when officers respond to such incidents, parents or guardians will be notified, and in some cases, the bike may be held until an adult retrieves it. The department also announced it is increasing patrols on and around Fishers’ trail network to address the issue.

“We want every child in Fishers to have fun outdoors, but safety must come first,” the department said in its statement. “Unsafe and disorderly behavior will not be tolerated.”

Officials encouraged parents to ensure their children understand safe riding rules and to stay aware of where and how they are using e-bikes and scooters.

“Together, we can keep Fishers safe for everyone,” the statement concluded.

The Indianapolis Recorder is a key part of Indiana history and the story of how African Americans fit into the patchwork we know as Central Indiana. It began as a two-page church directory in 1895. By 1899, the paper had grown to a circulation of more than 20,000 and expanded to eight pages in 1912.

For many years, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s, Indianapolis media didn’t pay much attention to what was happening in Black neighborhoods unless there was a crime story. If you wanted that news, the Recorder was the only place in Indianapolis to find it.

Even with today’s struggles in print newspaper media, the Indianapolis Recorder has remained a solid source of news in the local African American community. The circulation continues to be in the thousands.

I recently found an article online in the Recorder about the completion of a new project from Conner Prairie in Fishers. The exhibit is called “Promised Land as Proving Ground.” Reporter Chloe McGowen does a nice job of describing it all in a well-written piece.

I would encourage anyone with an interest in local history to read this story.  It is available at this link . (It appears there is no paywall)

We may be into the month of October and the fall season is here, but road construction activity in and around Fishers continues to be busy.

Below is the latest update, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Road construction update for the work week starting Monday, October 6 →

The Fishers Event Center is introducing an expanded lineup of food and beverage options this fall as it prepares for the Indy Fuel hockey team’s home opener on October 17.

Venue officials say the new menu emphasizes locally sourced ingredients, a wider variety of choices, and an experience that goes beyond typical arena concessions. Options range from grab-and-go snacks to chef-driven dishes, with vegetarian, vegan, and premium selections available.

Among the highlights are a smoked BBQ pork chop sandwich featuring Fischer Farms pork, hot honey chicken and waffle sandwiches, Philly cheesesteak eggrolls from local vendor It’s Those Eggrolls, and a nacho station with house-made barbacoa beef. Vegetarian and vegan additions include a spiced chickpea Caesar salad from Leo’s Market and a portabella mushroom burger with garlic vegan aioli.

On the premium side, fans will find a ramen action station, a full BBQ platter, buffalo cauliflower, and a trio of hot dips. For dessert, cupcakes from Indianapolis’ The Flying Cupcake will be available in several rotating flavors. Returning favorites such as the FEC Double Smash Burger and the Hoosier Pork Tenderloin will remain on the menu.

The culinary program is led by Director of Food and Beverage Josh Vaught, who has more than 25 years of experience in the Indianapolis food industry, and Executive Chef Casey Thomas, with nearly two decades of work spanning fast food to fine dining.

In addition to its new offerings, the Fishers Event Center says it remains committed to sustainability and supporting Indiana-based vendors. The venue partners with farms and small businesses including Fischer Farms, Old Major Market, Ohanalulu, Scoop Shack, and Do Goodies. Its sustainability measures include the use of aluminum cups, reusable cocktail cups, and compostable serving products made from plant fibers and palm leaves. The arena also uses high-oleic soybean oil supplied by Indiana farmers through the Indiana Soybean Alliance.

The Fishers Event Center opened earlier this year and will host concerts, family shows, and sporting events, with the Indy Fuel set to make their season debut there October 17.

The Hamilton County Highway Department announced Thursday afternoon (10/2) that motorists should be on the lookout for ramp closures at 146th Street & Allisonville Road.  Below is the full statement issued by county officials:

Please be advised, beginning on or after Friday, October 3, 2025, between the hours of 9AM to 3PM, drivers should expect intermittent ramp closures and additional traffic restrictions around the roundabout for concrete wall coating application.

Please use extreme caution and follow the posted work zone speed limit while driving through this construction zone.

Navigating the Storm: Andre Miksha Reflects on Three Turbulent Years on the Hamilton East Public Library Board

After nearly three years of service on the Hamilton East Public Library Board, Andre Miksha is speaking candidly about his experience at the center of one of the most contentious periods in local library history.

Miksha, who was appointed to the library board by a previous HSE School Board president before the board’s majority flipped in the 2022 election, found himself navigating controversies that drew international attention. His tenure was marked by heated debates over book collection policies, particularly regarding which titles belonged in the young adult section versus the adult collection, and ultimately by efforts from the current school board majority to remove him from his position.

In this podcast conversation, Miksha discusses the tumultuous period openly, including the intense scrutiny he faced and the school board’s attempts to remove him—efforts that ceased only when it became clear there were no legal grounds for his removal. He also shares details of a revealing meeting he had with current HSE School Board members Dawn Lang and Ben Orr, in which they discussed his positions on library board issues.

Despite hoping for reappointment, Miksha was not surprised when that opportunity didn’t materialize. His reflections offer a rare insider’s perspective on how local library governance became a flashpoint in broader cultural debates, and what it’s like to serve in an appointed role when the political winds shift dramatically.

Listen as Andre Miksha shares his story of public service during one of the most challenging chapters in Hamilton East Public Library history.

He also touches on other issues, such as the facilities upgrades at both libraries and the possibility of a third library building on Olio Road, near the Noblesville-Fishers city line.