the next generation of artists and poets from Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern high schools took center stage Friday, April 18, during the 16th Annual Fishers Arts Council Senior Showcase, held at the Art Gallery at City Hall. Sponsored by STAR Bank, this annual event highlighted the exceptional talents of graduating seniors while awarding over $4,800 in scholarships to 22 students.

“The 16th Annual Senior Showcase once again highlighted the impressive artistic talents coming out of the Fishers and HSE School programs,” said Les Reinhardt, Executive Director of Fishers Arts Council. “This year’s expanded gallery space at the Fishers Art Center allowed us to better celebrate the creative achievements of our graduating seniors.”

The exhibit featured a vibrant collection of 125 two-dimensional artworks, 30 three-dimensional pieces, and seven poetry submissions. Ninety-five students participated in the showcase, which continues on display through April 28 at both the Art Gallery at City Hall and the Fishers Art Center, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This year’s Best in Show honor went to Oliver Miles of Hamilton Southeastern High School for his striking painting titled “Sil3nce.” The Jordan D. Snider Award for Best Representation of the Written Word was awarded to Alexander Kairi Walton of Fishers High School for their powerful poem, “As Strong as the Beginning,” which they read aloud during the evening reception.

The awards ceremony, held during the city’s Third Friday celebration, was presented by Chris Hayes, President of Fishers Arts Council, joined by City Councilor At-Large Cecilia Coble and STAR Bank’s Karissa Shaffer. Catherine Snider presented the award named in memory of her daughter, Jordan D. Snider, celebrating excellence in poetry.

Continue reading Student Talent Shines Bright at 16th Annual Fishers Arts Council Senior Showcase →

Mark your calendars for an afternoon of high-energy fun and community spirit as the Fishers High School Auditorium transforms into a game show arena on Sunday, May 4 for the Game Show Battle Room Roadshow — an interactive fundraiser in support of the Fishers Marching Tiger Band.

From 2:00 to 4:00 PM (with doors opening at 1:30 PM), attendees will be treated to a fast-paced, laugh-filled experience inspired by classic game shows. Expect all the excitement of your favorite TV competitions—complete with friendly rivalries, hilarious challenges, and plenty of crowd participation.

There are three ticket options to choose from, ensuring everyone can join in the fun at their own comfort level:

• Top Fan Ticket: Guaranteed to take the stage in one of the games, these guests enjoy the full VIP experience with reserved seating and parking, plus complimentary snacks.

• Participant Ticket: For those who want a shot at the spotlight, this option includes a chance to be randomly selected to compete in one of the games.

• Observer Ticket: Prefer to cheer from the sidelines? This ticket lets you enjoy the show from the audience while still supporting the band.

The event promises something for everyone—whether you’re ready to play or just want to enjoy the spectacle. Most importantly, all proceeds benefit the hardworking students of the Fishers Marching Tiger Band, helping fund equipment, travel, and future performances.

So, gather your family and friends, bring your sense of humor, and prepare to make some unforgettable memories—all while supporting an incredible cause in our local community.

For tickets, use this link.

This 2024-2025 hockey season did not start easily for the Indy Fuel.  The first 15 games of the season had them on road ice, waiting for their new venue’s construction to be completed.

The Fuel ended the season at their new home, the Fishers Event Center, Tuesday night, losing to the Toledo Walleye 4-2.  Toledo swept the Fuel 4 games to none in this playoff series.

The Fuel fought valiantly to make the playoffs, but came up short as the 4th seed in the Central Division facing the number one seed, Toledo.

The Fuel struggled in the first two periods, constantly killing off the penalties which just kept coming from this officiating staff.  The Fuel trailed 3-0 in the third period when Ethan Manderville and Kevin Lombardi found the back of the net, putting Indy back into the game, trailing 3-2.

With goaltender Ben Gaudreau pulled with less than 2 minutes remaining, Toledo’s Sam Cragg registered an open net goal to seal the victory for Toledo.

It is sad to see the season end, but the Fuel staff should be proud of the large crowds that filed into the Fishers Event Center this season.  Next time, the Fuel will  not have 15 consecutive road games to start the season.

I have learned one thing covering as many Fuel home games I could attend this season – Fuel fans are a special group.  I will look forward to seeing them again in the fall of 2025.

It appears leaders in the Indiana House and Senate have stripped language that would have limited cities like Fishers and Carmel from enacting caps on home rentals.

John Tuohy of the Indianapolis Star updated a story late Tuesday morning about the rental cap issue, saying the legislator that placed the language in a conference committee report has agreed to remove it.  This is from reporter Tuohy’s story:

“…bill author Rep. Jim Pressel said Tuesday morning the attachment had been removed from the larger bill and had been floated only as a trial balloon.  ‘So as quickly as it went in, it came out just as quickly, yeah, but I was able to get testimony on it,’ he told IndyStar at the Statehouse. ‘So sometimes you’re testing the water just a little bit, figure out what may be good policy, what’s not so good policy, and how do you make things better?'”

The Fishers City Council unanimously approved the Fishers rental cap ordinance Monday night.

John Tuohy’s full story is available at this link.  (There appears to be no paywall on this story)

While Monday night’s Fishers City Council meeting made headlines for the approval of home rental caps, several other noteworthy developments also took place.

Mayor Scott Fadness and the Council took time to honor three local academic teams for their recent state championship wins. The recognized teams included the Fishers High School Classic Quiz Bowl team, the Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate and Junior High Science Bowl team, and the Southeastern Elementary Science Bowl team. Mayor Fadness noted a personal connection to Southeastern Elementary through his family, adding a special touch to the recognition.

In other actions from Monday’s meeting, the City Council:

• Approved changes to the Andretti project’s economic development bonds and project agreement, reflecting updates tied to the Cadillac Formula One operation now slated to occupy the entire complex.

• Made modifications to the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) arrangement for The Union, a mixed-use development adjacent to the Fishers Event Center.

• Approved adjustments to the I-69 Economic Development Area.

• Passed the first reading of several voluntary property annexations into the city.

• Authorized the Fishers Health Department to begin charging a $350 fee for certified pool operator license training.

The Fishers City Council has unanimously approved a first-of-its-kind ordinance in Indiana, placing a 10% cap on rental homes per subdivision for single-family residences. While the Council stood united in the vote, public opinion during the meeting was clearly split.

Despite the division among speakers, councilors said their decision was driven by overwhelming feedback from constituents, with many reporting that 70% to 90% of public input supporting the cap.

Two major questions now loom following the vote: Will the ordinance withstand the legal challenges that are expected to follow, and will state lawmakers intervene?

During the public hearing, one speaker cited two sections of the Indiana Code she believes conflict with the new ordinance. With strong opposition from major real estate associations, a court battle seems likely.

At the state level, efforts have already been made to override local control on this issue. A provision was quietly added to a conference committee report at the Indiana General Assembly that would ban municipalities from enacting rental caps. However, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness informed City Council members—via a message obtained by LarryInFishers—that legislative leaders have assured him the language restricting local rental limits has been, or will be, removed from the pending bill.

Defending the ordinance before the Council, Mayor Fadness argued the measure is essential for the long-term sustainability of Fishers. He characterized the opposition as being driven by “special interest groups.”

During the public comment period, 14 residents spoke within the 30-minute time limit set by Council President Pete Peterson. Opinions were evenly divided, and audience reactions—gauged by applause—reflected the same split.

While expressing confidence in the ordinance, Council members also acknowledged the need for vigilance. Several stated the city must be ready to address any unforeseen consequences, especially since Fishers is the first municipality in Indiana to implement such a policy.

The Fishers City Council will hold a public hearing tonight (April 21) on Mayor Scott Fadness’ proposal to enact a 10% cap on single-family homes within Fishers subdivisions.  In a message to City Council members obtained by LarryInFishers, the mayor blames “special interest groups” for attempting to attach to state law a measure that would “preempt our local ability to regulate rentals.”

According to the mayor, this language was placed in conference committee language at the Statehouse.  Conference committees are formed to iron out differences in language between House and Senate bills near the end of a legislative session.

Fadness says he has spoken with House Speaker Todd Huston, from Fishers, and the Speaker “has assured me that the language (limiting local rental ordinances)  is coming out.”

The rental cap ordinance is set for a public hearing at tonight’s Fishers City Council meeting, which starts at 7pm.  The Council could choose to take a final vote on the measure if the body so chooses.

The proposal by Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness to cap single-family home rentals at 10% per subdivision is drawing increased media attention—and now, there is a potentially game-changing twist at the Statehouse that may or may not happen.

Indiana’s largest newspaper, The Indianapolis Star, posted a story Monday morning diving into the controversy, highlighting both the political stakes and the pushback from real estate interests. Reporter John Tuohy explores how much effort—and money—the industry is pouring into stopping the measure.

It appears the IndyStar story does not have a pay wall and is available at this link.

Meanwhile, a surprising development has emerged in the legislature.

Niki Kelly, editor of Capitol Chronicle, a nonprofit news outlet focused on the Indiana Statehouse, posted Monday morning on social media:

“I read a column this morning about Fishers putting in a rental cap. And just like that they are adding language preempting rental caps to HB1389.”

It’s still unclear exactly how this language would be added or when such a change would take effect, but the move appears to have caught the City of Fishers by surprise.

An update I received from a reliable source late this morning says House leadership has removed the measure on preventing local governments form enacting rental caps.  I have no confirmation on that at this time.

Initially, it seemed that the Fishers City Council would need a unanimous vote to suspend the rules in order to pass the rental cap ordinance at tonight’s meeting (April 21). However, it now appears that only a simple majority may be required to approve the measure on second reading.

With the legislature possibly stepping in to override local control, pressure is mounting on Fishers council members to act quickly following tonight’s public hearing. Still, there’s also the chance that the ordinance could be pulled from the agenda altogether.

In short: don’t assume anything. The political landscape surrounding this proposal is shifting rapidly, and tonight’s meeting could be pivotal.

In my years of covering news in Fishers and sharing it on this blog, only a handful of issues have generated as much buzz—both inside and outside the city—as the one coming before the City Council Monday night. The Council is set to hold a public hearing on what’s quickly becoming Fishers’ latest controversy. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall, though the public hearing is scheduled near the end of the agenda.

Mayor Scott Fadness is proposing an ordinance that would cap the number of single-family rental homes at 10% within each subdivision. The mayor believes the public—and most Homeowners Associations (HOAs)—are on board with the idea.

However, the real estate industry across the Indianapolis metro area and the state of Indiana strongly oppose the measure. MIBOR (Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors) and IAR (Indiana Association of Realtors) have issued clear statements against the proposal, arguing it infringes on property rights. They also cite data suggesting there’s no significant issue with institutional investors buying up homes in Fishers for rentals.

One of the most pointed criticisms of the rental cap comes from James Briggs, opinion editor at The Indianapolis Star. In a March 5th column, Briggs argues the ordinance could push young families out of the market. He notes that as lending standards tighten, the average age of a homebuyer has risen from 49 in 2023 to 56, citing numbers from the National Association of Realtors.

Briggs also points to what he calls the NIMBY factor—Not In My Back Yard—arguing that the ordinance serves existing homeowners at the expense of future buyers. In his words:

“The Fishers 10% rental cap would do two things: eliminate potentially affordable homes and suppress the demand for construction of new homes, leading to reduced housing inventory, because this policy restricts the market for people who can live in them. Existing homeowners might say, ‘Yep, sounds great to us.’ That’s the heart of NIMBYism—getting into your own home and locking the gates behind you. But those homeowners should consider that they’re going to have to sell someday. When they do, the de facto investor ban will have reduced the pool of prospective buyers.”

You can read Briggs’ full column at this link (an IndyStar subscription may be required).

Mayor Fadness remains confident his proposed ordinance would strengthen Fishers neighborhoods. Opponents, meanwhile, say it would limit opportunities for young families to buy homes and infringe on property rights.

The real estate industry is putting significant resources into fighting the measure—sending out text blasts and taking out full-page ads in local print publications like Current in Fishers. The city, for its part, is making its case on its official Web site at this link.

Local opponents—led by former City Councilor Jocelyn Vare and real estate professional Steve Ladig—have compiled resources and arguments against the cap, available at this link.

The Hamilton County Reporter has also featured commentaries from both sides. Steve Ladig penned an opinion piece opposing the ordinance, while At-Large City Councilor Todd Zimmerman wrote in support of it.

I’ve recorded two podcasts diving into this issue. The first features Mayor Fadness and his Chief of Staff Jordin Alexander—listen here.  The second features Jocelyn Vare and Steve Ladig—available here.

Notably, the mayor acknowledged during the podcast that if this ordinance passes, the city could be defending it in court. Based on what I’ve heard, this would be the first ordinance of its kind in Indiana—and possibly the entire country.

Following Monday’s public hearing, the City Council could move the ordinance to a second reading, with a final vote likely in May. However, there is the option to suspend the rules and take a final vote that same night. Doing so would require a unanimous vote—something I’d consider unlikely. Still, in my 13 years covering Fishers news, I’ve learned to never say never.