You may have noticed that I have not posted a story on this blog for several days.  Let’s just say I have some personal reasons.

First, my granddaughter was born in South Dakota during the last few days of March.  Jane and I were very happy to be there for that special event.

Also, both Jane & I are dealing with some health issues as well.

The one story that has been all over the news the past few days is the tragic death of four people, two from Fishers and two from Noblesville, in a small plane crash near Venice, Florida.  Jeff and Patty Lumpkin from Fishers and Rick and Bethe Beaver from Noblesville all died in the Wednesday evening crash.

Bethe Beaver was best known as the owner of Indiana Elite Cheer and Tumbling in Noblesville.

My sincere sympathies go out to both families after this tragic event.

So, I am back, slowly recovering from a nagging health issue that should be gone in a day or two.

Hamilton County is preparing to conduct a primary election May 2nd and a November general election, but in order to do so, election workers are needed.

Here is a news release from Hamilton County asking for people to come forward and work in the upcoming elections:

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The Hamilton County Election Office is in need of poll workers for the Primary Election on May 2 – namely, inspectors, clerks, and judges.

“You must be a registered voter in Hamilton County to volunteer,” says County Clerk Kathy Williams. “The jobs do require some training, but they are paid, as are meals. Plus, it’s a great way to learn more about our democratic system and give something back to your community.”

Hamilton County is still looking for Republican Inspectors. These people are in charge of the precinct and must attend a training session on one of the following days: April 25 at 6:00 p.m., April 27 at 6:00 p.m., or April 29 at 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. Other obligations include picking up supplies on April 29, setting up the polling place on May 1, and working on Election Day. The job pays $200, plus $25 for training and $20 for meals.

The county is also in need of Republican and Democrat judges. This position requires online training. These individuals will help set up the polling place on May 1 and run the polling place on May 2. These jobs pay $105, plus $15 for training, and $20 for meals. The Democratic judge will be paid an extra $15 to return election results to the Judicial Center in Noblesville with the Republican Inspector after the polls close.

And finally, the county is in need of Republican and Democratic Clerks to run the electronic polling pads. This position requires online training. The job pays $105, plus $15 for training and $20 for meals.

If you’re interested in learning more, or would like to apply for a position, please fill out and return this form. https://www.hamiltoncounty.in.gov/1351/Poll-Worker-Form

One of the big events of the Fishers summer is Symphony on the Prairie at Conner Prairie.  The lineup for 2023 was announced Tuesday.

For the details, use this link.

Every spring around this time it happens.  Check the local Fishers government calendar and there is little, if any activity.  Why?

The answer is simple.  The local school district, Hamilton Southeastern, is on spring break this week and it seems half the town is away.

With so many young families populating out fair city, it is no surprise that it is easier this week to get a restaurant reservation this week.  Check Facebook and other social media.  You will find families on beaches and plenty of other destinations.

So, enjoy spring break week!  Next week, it’s down to business again.

There are a number of contested primary elections in and around Hamilton County, but in Fishers we have only one, for Fishers City Clerk on the Republican ticket.  If you wish to vote in that local election, the deadline for submitting your absentee ballot is April 20th.

According to the Hamilton County Elections Office, the absentee form can be submitted electronically at www.indianavoters.com. You can also call 317-776-8476 and make a request for an application over the phone.

Once you have received your ballot and completed it as directed, you can submit your ballot by mail or return it in person. All mailed-in and dropped-off ballots must be received by the Elections Office in Noblesville on or before 6:00 p.m. on Election Day.

For more information on absentee ballots, and who qualifies to vote absentee in Indiana, use this link.

Early voting is also getting underway locally.  The following Noblesville locations are open as of April 4th:

Noblesville 
Judicial Center, One Hamilton County Square, Noblesville 
April 4-6 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
April 10-14 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
April 17-21 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
April 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
April 24-28 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
April 29 from 9:00 to 4:00 p.m.
May 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Hamilton County Fairgrounds, 2003 Pleasant Street, Noblesville
April 4-6 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
April 10-14 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
April 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
April 24-29 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
May 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Two early voting centers will be available in Fishers as of April 19th:

Roy G Holland Memorial Park Building, 1 Park Drive, Fishers
Billericay Park Building, 12690 Promise Road, Fishers 
April 19-20 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
April 21-22 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
April 26-27 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
April 28-29 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The only primary election contested in the City of Fishers is the Republican race for City Clerk.  Incumbent Jennifer Kehl seeks another term, and is challenged by Rachel Segars.  Ms. Segars is the wife of Fishers City Council Member Pete Peterson.

Primary election day is Tuesday, May 2nd.

The economics of sports has changed dramatically since my early days of watching the product in the 1960s.  Baseball, in particular, is a game I like to watch on the home screen.

The cycles of watching local sports teams, or just teams in your area, have gone back and forth.  Sometimes it is difficult, or virtually impossible, to watch your favorite Major League Baseball team.  Other times, it’s easy.

I happen to be a fan of the Cincinnati Reds.  I had a cable package at one time that gave me nearly all Reds games.  I had to cancel that provider because the cost was just way too high.  But that meant I lost my Reds games.

Now, I can use streaming to watch my Reds (even if they are rebuilding and not likely to contend this year).  Bally Sports has a streaming service.  It offers both Indiana Pacer NBA games and the Reds.  The cost is about $20 a month, a bit steep but worth it for fans of both teams.

So, I was looking forward to watching the Reds this season.  But wait, we have a new complication.

The parent company of Bally, Diamond Sports Group, has filed bankruptcy in an attempt to restructure its debt.  Cable TV cord-cutting, coupled with a weak advertising market, has hit regional sports networks like Diamond Sports Group hard.

There are lots of online journalists writing about this regional sports network economic model.  Based on that reporting, some are doing well, but firms like Diamond Sports are obviously struggling.

Diamond owns rights to a number of teams through its regional networks…14 Major League Baseball teams, 16 in the NBA and 12 National Hockey League clubs.  The NBA and NHL are nearing the end of their seasons, but what about baseball?

As the season starts, Diamond and Bally are broadcasting all their regional sports network games.  But one wonders how long that will last.

Diamond has said it may keep some baseball contracts and cancel others.  For example, deciding to keep the Arizona team but dropping the Cincinnati Reds.  Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has said the contract language with these regional sports networks says if you cancel one team’s pact, you have cancelled them all.

I have not read these contracts and am no lawyer myself.  But even if the contracts say what Commissioner Manfred says, it will ultimately be up to the bankruptcy judge to make final decisions on these matters.

So, I start the season able to watch my Cincinnati Reds.  It is sad that future access to my favorite MLB team may not be in the hands of the teams or the TV execs, but a bankruptcy judge.  So is the state of sports economics today.

The Geist Waterfront Park is something people in and around Fishers have been anticipating for some time.  The park itself was finished just in time for winter to set-in, so this spring will see the first use of this local amenity.

When the city opened the park for a few hours on a cold, windy November day last year, hundreds of people were there.  Clad in winter coats, youngsters were enjoying the playground with their parents.

Daniel Bradley of the Indianapolis Business Journal wrote a lengthy piece in this week’s IBJ print edition, also available online.  In addition, IBJ wrote an editorial lauding Fishers for having the vision to acquire the land and build this park, the only public space on Geist Lake.

You can read Daniel Bradley’s story at this link.   The IBJ editorial is available at this link.

NOTE:  The links above may not be available if you are not a subscriber.  I have written this before and will do so again…Subscribe to your local media!  Otherwise, it may not be there tomorrow.

The weekly Fishers road construction update has some new features this week.  You will find the latest on the Clear Path project at I-69 & I-465 in Marion County, as well as more on the Nickel Plate Trail.  Also, the usual road construction project listing is getting longer.

Here is the full report, as provided by the City of Fishers, for the work week starting April 3rd:

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To learn more about the State Road 37 Improvement Project and sign up to receive text updates, visit 37Thrives.com. 

STATE ROAD 37 AND 141ST STREET
A pre-construction phase at SR 37 & 141st Street is currently in place. During this phase, 141st Street will be a Right-In-Right-Out (RIRO) traffic configuration. 
This is not the permanent configuration. This will allow for traffic to flow more freely along SR 37 until the next phases of construction can be activated. This will eliminate backups along SR 37 that have caused dangerous stops to the free flow traffic and backups on the 146th Street interchange. Again, this is not the permanent configuration for 141st Street. The full timeline for the 141st Street interchange will be provided after project bids are accepted in the Summer of 2023. View detour routes here.

To learn more about the Clear Path Improvement Project and sign up to receive text and email updates, visit clearpath465.com 

I-465 & I-69
Drivers will see an increase in construction along the I-69 corridor in the coming months. This work will focus on reconfiguring the interchange at I-465 and I-69. New ramps will provide direct movements from eastbound I-465 and northbound I-465 to northbound I-69. Binford Blvd. will also be reconstructed to separate local traffic from traffic entering and exiting I-69 and I-465. Access to I-69 from Binford Blvd. will remain open. Drivers can expect to see significant activity on I-69 at the 82nd Street interchange.

To learn more about the Nickel Plate Trail, view the Capital Project Dashboard here.

NICKEL PLATE TRAIL
The City of Fishers is working on the completion of the Fishers portion of the Nickel Plate Trail. The remaining paving work from 96th Street to 106th Street is underway, and construction crews are currently working to clear and prep the area for paving. In the coming weeks, construction crews will begin the paving process.

ADA ramp and curb reconstruction is currently taking place in Rolling Knoll and will then begin in Spyglass Hills as part of the 2023 Resurfacing Project. Homeowners will be notified via door hangers prior to any curb restoration near their home. After ADA ramp and curb reconstruction is completed, those areas will be restored with topsoil and seed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to water the seed for the seed to germinate. Prior to road resurfacing, residents will be notified via street signage for street parking restrictions. For additional project information, view the Capital Project Dashboard here. 

CUMBERLAND ROAD
There are daily lane closures currently on Cumberland Road, just south of 126th Street for sanitary and water line work. The northbound right turn lane and the southbound passing blister will be closed.

Fishers is known to be a busy place, and the spring of 2023 is no exception.  The city has released a long list of activities.  Take special note of the May 27th opening for Geist Waterfront Park.

Here is the entire list, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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Be part of Fishers’ next chapter and sign your name on a beam for the new Fishers City Hall & Arts Center, opening next year! The beam will be available to sign beginning today after 1 p.m., just north of the construction site at 1 Municipal Drive. Stop by anytime to sign the beam, but it will only be out for a week or so before it will need to be installed, so act fast and don’t miss your chance to be part of Fishers’ next chapter!

Ongoing | Citywide
The City continues its 150^th birthday celebration this spring with a self-guided tour of Fishers’ history, culture, and community favorites on the Fishers Sesquicentennial Trail. During your Spring Break staycation, pick up a trail passport from various locations around the city and begin checking off destinations as you explore. Enjoy the spring flowers at Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve, soak up the sunshine with a stroll along the Nickel Plate Trail, and cap off your adventure with a sweet treat at Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream. The first 150 finishers receive a gift card to a local business and a trail finisher t-shirt. Learn more at thisisfishers.com/Fishers150Trail.

Join the community during Mental Health Awareness Month in creating a Stigma Free Fishers through events, community stories, and educational opportunities all month long. The City of Fishers and Fishers Health Department will host the annual Hope for Happiness event at the Fishers Farmers Market on Saturday, May 13 from 8 a.m. to noon in partnership with Fishers High School and Hamilton Southeastern High School’s Bring Change to Mind student clubs to raise awareness about mental health and the city’s Stigma Free initiative. The Forgiving Sea Project, a nonprofit multi-media collaboration from Indianapolis artist Carolyn Springer and composer Joseph Lamm funded by the Fishers Arts & Culture Commission, will provide an interactive art installation at Hamilton County Community Foundation Collaboration Hub and four public events throughout the month. Learn more about Mental Health Awareness Month at thisisfishers.com/MentalHealthMonth.

Opening Day: Saturday, May 27
Open Daily | 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
The free splash pads at Holland Park (1 Park Drive) and Billericay Park (12690 Promise Road) and the fountain at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater Pavilion (10 Municipal Drive) will open daily beginning Saturday, May 27 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (weather permitting) through Labor Day. Learn more at playfishers.com/WaterAmenities.

The Nickel Plate District Amphitheater’s annual Free Tuesdays series, presented by IU Health, offers free, weekly shows every Tuesday evening in June and July. The Free Tuesdays lineup is as follows:

• June 6 – Six Foot Blonde
• June 13 – DUDE!
• June 20 – Jukebox Luke
• June 27 – My Yellow Rickshaw
• July 4 – Karma (Show begins at 8 p.m. with fireworks following at 10 p.m.
• July 11 – Street Pennies
• July 18 – GrooveSmash
• July 25 – Hank Ruff

Get Involved
Looking for ways to make an impact in the community? Whether you’re volunteering solo or as a group, there are ways to get involved for all ages, interests, and abilities. See current volunteer opportunities for Spark!Fishers, the Geist Half Marathon & 5K, Fishers Farmers Market, Fishers AgriPark and more at volunteerfishers.com .

The Neighborhood Vibrancy Grants have been a long standing City of Fishers program, dating back to 2000, when Fishers was a town.  Since its inception, it has paid-out over $1 million.

The matching grant program provides funding for creative and innovative ideas , sprucing-up local neighborhoods.

$87,519 in grants have been announced for 2023.  Recipients of the 2023 Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant Program include:

• Avalon ($2,632.54) to install park benches along a walking trail.
• Berkley Grove ($5,000) for conversion of lawn space into a community rain garden and outdoor art gallery.
• Britton Ridge ($1,662.50) to enhance the appearance of wall signs at the entrance of the community.
• Brookston Place ($4,028.52) to enhance the entrance landscaping.
• Charleston Crossing ($5,000) to replace and upgrade two pond fountains.
• Cottonwood Creek at Gray Eagle ($5,000) to repair neighborhood tennis courts and fill in cracks and tripping hazards.
• Covington Estates ($3,444.19) to add trees along 96th Street for beauty and privacy.
• Cumberland Place ($3,000) to convert a large piece of common area from turf grass to native grasses and plants.
• Eller Commons ($5,000) to landscape in front of the neighborhood entrance and replace lighting with LEDs.
• Fox Hollow at Geist ($5,000) to replace and repair custom street signs and stop signs.
• Geist Overlook ($5,000) to construct an additional wall adjacent to the main entrance wall.
• Heritage Meadows ($3,014) to add landscaping around neighborhood signage.
• Prescott ($5,000) to extend the irrigation system to help keep the trees and grass watered.
• Ravinia ($4,986.32) to add a flower bed and entrance sign to the rear entrance and place a park bench near the walking path.
• Rolling Knoll ($5,000) to remove and replace invasive Bradford pear street trees with native species.
• Sail Place ($5,000) to replace the wood fence on the perimeter of the Sail Place property line.
• Sand Creek Woods ($5,000) to improve walking paths within the neighborhood.
• Sutton Place ($4,986) to remove willow trees around the pond and replace them with new, healthy trees.
• Sweet Briar ($5,000) to improve walking paths within the neighborhood.
• Timberstone ($3,210) to retrofit five streetlights to LED and replace five Acorn Globe fixtures that have discolored and make repairs on the entrance monuments.
• Timberstone Villas ($5,000) to improve trails in the existing common area.

“We are thrilled that this year’s Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant program marks over $1 million in funds invested back into the beautification of the Fishers community,” said Megan Vukusich, Director of Planning & Zoning for the City of Fishers, in a city news release. “Over the past 23 years, we have seen this program grow and offer neighborhoods the opportunity to add new, innovative, and sustainable projects where they live and play.”

2024 Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant applications will open November 1. Residents can watch a pre-recorded webinar to learn more about the application process and find additional information at fishers.in.us/grants.