Category Archives: LarryInFishers.com

Fuel Shut Out by Kalamazoo in Final Home Game, Playoff Race Tightens

LarryInFishers.com
Fuel are introduced at last regular season home game

There are many ways to lose a hockey game, but this was a very tough way to lose. The Indy Fuel dropped their final home game of the season Saturday night at the Fishers Event Center, falling 2-0 to the Kalamazoo Wings and tightening the race for the final playoff spots in the ECHL’s Central Division.

Despite a dominant performance in shots on goal, the Fuel could not break through. Indy outshot Kalamazoo 42-16, but Wings goaltender Aku Koskenvuo turned aside every attempt to keep the game scoreless through two periods.

The contest featured fast-paced, physical play early, with the Fuel generating several quality scoring chances. Indy had multiple power-play opportunities—especially in the second period—but was unable to capitalize.

Kalamazoo broke the deadlock late in the third period, scoring twice to secure the win.

Play was briefly halted midway through the third period after a Fuel scoring attempt knocked the goal off its moorings. Event Center staff made the necessary repairs before play resumed.

With the loss, the Fuel face a challenging road ahead. Indy will play its final five regular-season games away from home while battling to hold onto a playoff position. Toledo and Fort Wayne appear secure in the standings, while Kalamazoo, Bloomington and Cincinnati remain within striking distance in a tightly contested race.

The loss also came on Fan Appreciation Night, sending the home crowd away disappointed but still hopeful the Fuel can secure a postseason berth.

Tiny Art, Big Creativity at Fishers City Hall

LarryInFishers.com
Artwork by Regina Bunting

The Fishers Arts Council has installed a new exhibit in the City Hall art gallery featuring “tiny art” paired with poetry, offering visitors a unique blend of visual and literary storytelling.

The exhibit, which opened March 30 and runs through April 17, was designed with accessibility in mind—both in size and price. Pieces range from as small as one inch up to 8 inches, with prices starting at $10 and most works available for $30 to $50.

“We received the challenge from the City of Fishers early last year, asking for an exhibit with affordable prices to help folks who may have never bought original art before feel empowered to do so,” said Les Reinhardt, executive director of the Fishers Arts Council. “The idea of a ‘tiny art’ show was brought up, and so I ran with it.”

Reinhardt said the addition of poetry helped expand participation and deepen the experience for visitors, pairing written works with visual pieces to tell a shared story.

The exhibit features a wide range of mediums, from traditional forms such as watercolor, oil, acrylic, woodworking and ceramics to more unexpected materials including pyrography, fused glass, polymer clay, fiber, wool and copper.

Artists and poets from across central Indiana and beyond are represented, including communities such as Fishers, Noblesville, Carmel, Indianapolis, Westfield and Muncie.

Early response to the exhibit has been strong.

“The exhibit has only been up for a few days and we’ve already received several positive comments as well as sales,” Reinhardt said. “The florals are delicate, the animals adorable, abstracts are luscious, the poetry is thought-provoking—this exhibit truly warms my heart.”

The exhibit is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Fishers City Hall, 1 Municipal Drive.

A free public reception is scheduled for Friday, April 10 from 6 to 8 p.m., featuring live music by Brandon Meeks, refreshments and a “Focus on the Artist” program at 6:45 p.m. in the theater. An American Sign Language interpreter will be available.

Questions about the exhibit can be directed to info@FisherArtsCouncil.org or call/text us at 317-537-1670. An online gallery of art for sale can be found at at this link.

Ocre Weenie with Cactus Vase by Avizia Long
Amethyst in Shade by Denese Stack

Weekly road construction report – week starting Monday, April 6

LarryInFishers.com

Drivers in Fishers should expect ongoing lane restrictions, construction activity and periodic delays across several major corridors, according to the city’s latest weekly road update.  It is also spring break week for Hamilton Southeastern Schools, so you may find traffic somewhat lighter at times.

Here is the full report, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Weekly road construction report – week starting Monday, April 6 →

Special Teams Cost Fuel in 4-3 Loss to Bloomington After Weather Delay

LarryInFishers.com

A 15-minute tornado warning delay set the stage for a key late-season matchup, but special teams proved costly for the Indy Fuel in a 4-3 loss to the Bloomington Bison.

Bloomington converted three power-play opportunities, while Indy went 0-for-4 with the man advantage despite outshooting the Bison 37-23.

The Bison struck first in the opening period, with Riku Ishida scoring his 10th goal of the season shortly after an early Fuel power play expired. Ishida added a second goal later in the period on a power play, giving Bloomington a 2-0 lead. The Fuel were limited to just six shots in the opening frame and trailed despite killing off one penalty.

Indy responded in the second period, controlling play and outshooting Bloomington 15-4. Jesse Tucker put the Fuel on the board less than five minutes into the period, finishing a sequence set up by Tyler Weiss and Eric Martin to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Momentum shifted again early in the third period. Bloomington capitalized quickly on another power play, as Chongmin Lee scored just seconds into the advantage to restore a two-goal lead.

The Fuel answered less than two minutes later when Ryan Gaginer scored to make it 3-2. However, another Bloomington power play proved decisive. Lou-Félix Denis netted the Bison’s third power-play goal of the night, extending the lead to 4-2.

Indy continued to push late. Gaginer added his second goal of the game, and the Fuel pulled goaltender Owen Flores for an extra attacker in the final minutes. A brief late power play gave Indy a final chance, but the Fuel could not convert.

Despite the strong shot advantage and a dominant second period, the special teams disparity ultimately determined the outcome.

The Fuel return home for Fan Appreciation Night against the Kalamazoo Wings Saturday at 4pm.

HEPL expands Local Author Fair into weekend of workshops, community event

LarryInFishers.com

The Hamilton East Public Library is expanding its annual Local Author Fair into a full weekend of events this spring, offering opportunities for writers and readers to connect, learn and celebrate storytelling.

The two-day event will begin Saturday, April 18, with writing workshops at the Hamilton East Public Library Noblesville Branch. Library officials say the sessions are designed for writers of all experience levels, from beginners to more seasoned authors. Topics will include creative storytelling, self-publishing and common writing challenges. Participants are encouraged to register in advance through the library’s online calendar.

The weekend continues Sunday, April 19, with the return of the Local Author Fair from 1 to 4 p.m. at a new location, the Hamilton County Fairgrounds Exhibition Center. The free, open house-style event will feature nearly 70 authors and literary organizations from across central Indiana.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet local writers, purchase books and have them signed, while exploring a wide range of genres including children’s books, mystery, romance, science fiction, biography, local history and self-help.

Library officials say the expanded format is intended to broaden community engagement and provide more resources for aspiring writers.

“We’re excited for the return of this annual event showcasing the talent of local authors,” said Allison Kartman, HEPL’s systemwide program coordinator. “This is a unique opportunity to engage directly with authors, learn about their writing process and support local storytelling.”

In addition to meeting authors, visitors can participate in giveaways, including book bundles and other prizes throughout Sunday’s event.

HEPL serves residents in Fishers and Noblesville with programs, services and events aimed at promoting lifelong learning and community connection.

More information about the workshops and author fair, including registration details, is available on the library’s website.

HSE Schools Looks to Expand Use of Cooperative Purchasing

LarryInFishers.com

Hamilton Southeastern Schools administrators are preparing to ask the school board to broaden the district’s use of cooperative purchasing, a procurement method they say could stretch district dollars further on major purchases.

HSE Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown told LarryInFishers the district has used purchasing cooperatives in the past, but administrators now want the board to approve a wider use of what school officials describ as a “special purchase process.” During Thursday morning’s meeting of the board’s Finance and Facilities Committee, Brown cited technology equipment as one example of a purchase that could be made through a cooperative, sometimes referred to in Indiana law and practice as a purchasing agent arrangement.

Under Indiana’s public purchasing law, governmental bodies generally must use a formal bidding process for supplies unless another purchasing method is specifically authorized. State guidance also recognizes that a purchasing cooperative may handle the competitive steps a public agency would otherwise have to perform on its own, including advertising, receiving bids, obtaining quotes and securing contracts.

The pitch from administrators is straightforward: if several school districts combine their buying power through a cooperative, they may be able to obtain lower prices than a single district could secure on its own. Indiana law allows special purchases in certain circumstances, including when doing so offers efficiency and economic advantages or when purchases can be made through contracts already available to governmental units.

The matter is expected to come before the full board at its April meeting.

The committee also reviewed other district business items Thursday.

Administrators said the February student count submitted to the state showed HSE Schools enrolling 40 fewer students compared to the February count. Because state tuition support is tied directly to student enrollment, that decline will reduce state support by about $141,000.

Committee members also received an update on construction of a new bus parking lot at Hamilton Southeastern High School. During the work, staff members will need to use alternate parking locations. Access from Olio Road to the parking area will be closed during the summer, with the project expected to be completed in September.

In addition, school officials said they are developing plans for future renovations at Hamilton Southeastern High School. Those plans are expected to include Career and Technical Education, commonly known as CTE, as part of the broader building proposal.

Podcast – Fridays With Larry April 3, 2026

LarryInFishers.com

A major shakeup in Indianapolis television news leads this week’s edition of Fridays with Larry.

In the April 3 podcast, I discuss the firing of nearly the entire news staff at WRTV on the same day new ownership took control of the station. The move has raised questions about the future of local journalism in the Indianapolis market and what viewers can expect going forward.

My guest this week is Chip Graeter, a fourth-generation member of the family behind Graeter’s Ice Cream. The company traces its roots back more than 150 years, and Graeter discusses the history of the business and how its signature ice cream is still made today.

I also offer a thumbs up for the new Museum Experience at Conner Prairie in Fishers, which recently opened as part of a major expansion of the popular local attraction.

The podcast wraps up with a lighter note — an unusual story out of Bolivia, where a proposal to add school days sparked a protest led by clowns.

Fridays With Larry is sponsored by Citizens State Bank.

You can watch the video version of the April 3 edition of Fridays with Larry at this link, just listen at this link, or use a link below.

 

Hamilton East Library to Upgrade Catalog System; Temporary Service Changes Set for Early May

LarryInFishers.com

The Hamilton East Public Library (HEPL) will begin transitioning to a new catalog system in early May, a move aimed at improving how patrons search for and access materials.

Library officials say the upgrade is designed to make browsing easier for users while also enhancing staff efficiency. However, the transition will bring several temporary service disruptions between April 30 and May 5.

During that period, patrons will not be able to log in to their “My Account” feature, meaning holds cannot be placed, bills cannot be paid, and purchase or interlibrary loan requests will be unavailable.

Despite the outage, library services will continue in a limited capacity. Patrons will still be able to check out physical materials, but they must bring their library card, as staff will not be able to look up accounts in the system.

HEPL will also pause check-ins and renewals during the transition week. To accommodate this, all due dates will be extended until at least May 13. Library officials ask patrons to hold on to borrowed materials until normal operations resume.

Card renewals will also be temporarily unavailable, though any cards set to expire during that week will automatically be extended.

Digital services will remain fully accessible throughout the transition. Patrons can continue to use platforms such as Libby and Hoopla, along with the library’s online databases, without interruption.

When the new system goes live on May 6, patrons will notice one immediate change: account PINs will reset to the four-digit birth year associated with their account, part of an updated security protocol.

Library officials note that transferring user accounts and catalog data is a complex process requiring a temporary pause in some services to ensure accuracy. They also acknowledge there may be a learning curve for both staff and patrons as the new system is rolled out.

HEPL encourages patrons to plan ahead for the brief disruption and says staff will be available to answer questions during and after the transition.

After WRTV shakeup, promises of more local news raise questions

LarryInFishers.com

In the wake of the sudden and sweeping changes at WRTV, the new ownership is now offering its first public explanation—and its first set of promises.

DuJuan McCoy, owner of Circle City Broadcasting and WISH-TV, says the transition of WRTV into his company “will take several months to complete.” In a written statement, McCoy says his company plans to expand local news on WRTV, particularly in morning and weekend time slots he says were “underserved” under the previous ownership.

He also points to the scale of WISH-TV’s current operation—more than 90 hours of live local programming each week—and says WRTV will grow from roughly 23 hours of weekly news to more than 30 hours in the months ahead. That programming, he says, will be “distinct and separate” from WISH-TV content.

On paper, that sounds like an expansion of local news.

But what has unfolded over the past 24 hours raises serious questions about how that goal will be achieved.

As first reported by the Indianapolis Business Journal and supported by numerous public statements from former staff, nearly all of WRTV’s newsroom appears to have been dismissed the day the sale closed. At the same time, WRTV newscasts immediately began airing with on-air personnel from WISH-TV.

That is not a gradual transition. That is a hard reset.

Circle City Broadcasting says more local programming is coming. The key question is whether more programming will actually translate into more journalism.

There is a difference.

Local news programming can be expanded in a number of ways—longer shows, more hours, shared content, or simulcasts with slight variations. But local journalism—the kind that requires reporters in the field, cultivating sources, attending public meetings, and holding institutions accountable—depends on people. It depends on staffing.

And by all appearances, WRTV now has far fewer of those people than it did just days ago.

To be fair, McCoy says the transition will take months. It is possible that new hiring will follow, that a new newsroom will be built, and that WRTV will ultimately emerge with a stronger or at least different local news operation.

That is something worth watching.

But it is also fair to note that WISH-TV—now effectively carrying the load for two stations—has historically operated with a smaller newsroom than some of its competitors in the Indianapolis market. Expanding output while maintaining depth of coverage is a significant challenge even under stable conditions.

Right now, the visible reality is this: a legacy newsroom has been largely wiped out, experienced journalists are suddenly out of work, and one newsroom is supplying content for multiple stations.

Whether that leads to more local journalism—or simply more hours of locally branded programming—remains to be seen.

Circle City Broadcasting says it is committed to “delivering high-quality local news programming.” That commitment will be tested not by the number of hours on the schedule, but by the depth, originality, and independence of the reporting that fills those hours.

For now, this is a story still unfolding.

I will be watching.