In the area around Promise Road, 141st Street is the border between Noblesville and Fishers.  A major new development is planned on the Noblesville side that has some Fishers residents concerned, but a story posted Wednesday on the IndyStar Web site indicates the Bastian Solutions project is on track to be approved by the Noblesville City Council.

According to the story written by Star reporter John Tuohy, people living in the Fishers neighborhoods of Sedona Woods, Westminster of Fishers and Canyon Ridge have voiced their concerns about the Bastian plans.  However, reporter Tuohy writes the Noblesville Plan Commission approved the zoning changes.

The Bastian campus will be a large one, spanning 162 acres.

Read the entire IndyStar story at this link.

I do my best to attend every Fishers event tied to military veterans, but missed one this week due to family events.  March 29 is designated as National Vietnam War Veterans Day.  Fishers, as a Commemorative Partner of the Vietnam War Commemoration, had what is now an annual observance in honor of those that served in Vietnam March 29th.

The Fishers Armed Services Commission, under the leadership of El Ahlwardt, planned the event at the Knowledge Services auditorium.  The featured speaker was Retired Lieutenant General Richard Y. Newton III.  He talked about how Vietnam returning prisoners of war were treated with respect upon their return, but most returning from the war were not treated with such respect.  Newton believes America has many challenges ahead, but the military veterans allowed those coming next to make their own decisions about the path forward.

Mayor Scott Fadness cited a recent poll showing a decline in patriotism over the past 25 years but expressed his belief that patriotism is alive and well in places like Fishers.

The ceremony ended with the presentation of lapel pins to Vietnam veterans in attendance.

I was not drafted into the military during Vietnam, but knew a number of Vietnam veterans.  I worked with many in the broadcasting business that had served, and a number of my college classmates had just returned from Southeast Asia and were using the GI Bill to advance their education.

Like most Americans, they had varying views of their time in the war.  But none of them had anything to do with decisions about waging the war, they were soldiers following orders, doing the best job they could.  They were all good people and did not deserve the treatment most received when returning from military service during the Vietnam era.

There are 6 million Vietnam veterans now, making up about 30% of the entire American veteran population.

America has only started coming to terms with the treatment of our Vietnam Vets.  The Fishers annual event is a step in the right direction.

When Mayor Scott Fadness was asked what people in Fishers told him they wanted the most, he said the most common request was creation of a “restaurant culture.”  When Thompson Thrift developed the Fishers District, it made a large leap toward creating that local restaurant culture.

Thompson Thrift developed the original Fishers District, and is embarking on expanding the concept further south, in conjunction with the city’s new Events Center, now under construction.

The expanded Fishers District has a new name.  Thompson Thrift announced Wednesday that the expanded Fishers District will be given the moniker of – “The Crossing at Fishers District.”

“Anytime there’s a name for a development, it helps build energy and creates a buzz for the community,” said Ashlee Boyd, managing partner, Thompson Thrift Commercial, in a company news release. “The Crossing at Fishers District has the added benefit of being a name that pays homage to Fishers history as a railroad community.”

Located near Interstate 69 and 116^th Street, The Crossing at Fishers District is within walking distance from Fishers Depot, the historic Fishers train station that opened in 1849.

Once completed, the $750 million development will span 123 acres and will be comprised of five distinct developments offering a mix of multifamily, townhome, hotel, dining, shopping and entertainment options. The developments will be connected by walking paths.

The Senior Showcase exhibit is back, with the Fishers Arts Council bring the work of local high school seniors on display.

For more details, see the news release below from the Arts Council:

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Visual Arts teachers from both high HSE & Fishers schools–Jasmine Osborne, Danielle Ontiveros Goodwin, Lisa Brown, and Erin Warner (Fishers) along with Angela Fritz, Julie Strawhacker, Daniel Moosbrugger, Craig Helming and Lauren Reed (Hamilton Southeastern)–have been working with their students all year to help them hone their skills, create new projects, and learn and appreciate more about the arts.

The exhibit is open to the public from Thursday, March 30 through Thursday, April 27, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays by appointment. To make an appointment, contact Fishers Arts Council directly. The exhibit includes 110 pieces of artwork which include photography, drawing, painting, digital art, mixed media, ceramic, textiles, and more!

A free public reception will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 14, which includes the Scholarship Awards Ceremony at 6:45 p.m. Both events will take place at the Collaboration Hub at the Hamilton County Community Foundation, 11810 Technology Drive in Fishers.

These Hamilton Southeastern School District visual arts teachers are proud of the work of their students. Angela Fritz, the Visual Arts Department Chair at Hamilton Southeastern says the following about the student artists: “I am constantly impressed by my students. Every year I think the work the next year won’t be as strong, and every year the students rise to the challenge. The work we are seeing at the top level in our high schools isn’t just college level–it is strong advanced college level work. These kids are invested; they are engaged; they are interesting, and they are focused. Some of them have been accepted at top art schools around the country, and some won’t pursue art professionally–but what we all can be sure of is that they are patient, they are detail oriented, and they think outside of the box. These are the creative leaders of our future, and I couldn’t be more pleased!”

The Corporate Sponsor for the 14th annual Senior Showcase is STAR Financial Bank.

For a number of years, the City of Fishers has been struggling with how to keep private roads maintained, largely in commercial areas.  The city is attempting to use the “Barrett Law” to have these streets brought up to minimum standards with the businesses owning the roadway paying the cost over time and the city taking over the maintenance of the road once brought up to a minimum standard.

The Fishers Board of Works and Safety, consisting of Mayor Scott Fadness and his two appointees, called for a brief delay to the first use of the Barrett Law in Fishers for areas east and west of State Road 37 on the north end of the city.  Mayor Fadness described this as a delay, “but not a long delay.”

The mayor made clear the City of Fishers approaches the private road issues with a sense of urgency.  “The city does want to solve this problem,” Fadness said. “It doesn’t bode well for our residents or your business or your customers to have to deal with this issue.  These roads have been in neglect for a long time and it doesn’t bode well for our community.”

During a public hearing on the Barrett Law for those two commercial areas of Fishers, it was unclear who spoke for the business community.  An attorney from the Taft Law firm says she represented property owners in those areas, but several business owners in the same areas say they had nothing to do with hiring a law firm.  The Taft attorney told the board her clients are not opposed to this plan, but there is concern about the cost.

Fadness said the cost estimates cited by engineers reflect a “worst case scenario” number and could come in much less, but there is no certainty until bids are received.  Cost estimates are for $2.7 million for one project and $1.8 million for the other.

City staff plans to “sharpen our pencil,” according to the mayor, and provide the best, most realistic cost estimate for both projects.  Fadness also urged the property owners and businesses in the area to get together and attempt to reach a consensus on their views concerning fixing the roads in their respective commercial areas utilizing the Barrett Law.  He wants the businesses impacted to end the confusion about exactly who represents them.

The mayor expects to have the latest cost numbers in about two weeks.

The old Fishers City Hall has been demolished, the new City Hall & Arts Center is under construction on the site of the old structure and you can be a part of Fishers history just by signing your name!

City officials announced Monday that starting March 29, at 1pm, for about one week, you have a chance to sign a steel beam that is part of the new building.  The beam will be located just north of the construction site at 1 Municipal Drive.

Once complete, the three-story Fishers City Hall & Art Center will dedicate its first floor to the Fishers Art Center, a dynamic arts education facility and theatre in partnership with the Indianapolis Art Center. The second and third floors of the building will hold municipal offices.  It is expected to be complete in 2024.

For more on the plans for the new City Hall and Arts Center, use this link.

It was May, 1991.  Jane and I were newly married and I moved to Fishers, a town of 7,500, based on the 1990 census.

I remember asking Jane, why did you build your home in Fishers?  Her answer was simple and direct – it may be a small town now, but it will grow and you will like what you see.

As usual, my wife was right.  The town of Fishers grew and the city that followed continued that growth.  The Hamilton Southeastern Schools  provided my twin daughters with a first class education,  They are 29, college graduates and first-class adults.  They have done their parents proud and Fishers was a perfect place for them to grow-up.

I will admit that the commutes from downtown Indianapolis during my work years were not always pleasant, but in the end worth it to have my family live in a first-class community.  We have all made life-long friends here and Jane & I continue to reside in Fishers.

I began to think about all this while attending the ground-breaking ceremony for what is now being called the “Events Center.”  I presume that is a place-holder until a naming sponsor is found for the building.

It is part of an expansion of Fishers District, a retail center near Ikea and I-69 with a heavy dose of culinary choices.  Mayor Scott Fadness told me years ago the one thing local residents told him the city needed was a  “restaurant culture.”  The first Fishers District did that.  Now expect more of the same in the expanded District, adjacent to the new Events Center.

Fishers attempted something like this many years ago but, like many big plans, just could not make it to the finish line.  This time, the construction has started.  The Indy Fuel minor league hockey team cannot wait to have their 39 regular season home games in the new Events Center.  It is expected many other big bookings will come the way of the new structure.

The two local high schools will now have a local place to host graduation ceremonies.  The Mudsock basketball games, with HSE and Fishers High Schools playing each other (boys & girls) will likely be at the new Center.  Expect HSE Schools to apply with the IHSAA to at least host the Sectional tournaments for boys & girls at this new facility.

I just could not imagine all this happening when first moving to the Fishers of 1991.  It took visionary thinking and much action by public and private leaders to fashion the Fishers of today.

Now, I must confess, this growth has not come without some pain and opposition.  Many people I know long for the small town feel of the old Fishers.

I once asked Mayor Fadness how he responds to comments like that.  He was clear  – in his view, a city is either moving forward or backward – there is no choice of staying the same.  In other words, the world around us is changing whether we like it our not, and a city must adapt to that change or fall behind.

Nothing exemplified that debate more than the decision by Fishers and other local government entities to abandon the Nickel Plate Rail Line and convert it into a trail.  In the end, the trail won out.  That trail opened in a large part of Fishers and it is very popular.

The local HSE School District has been a major driver of the population explosion.  Young families have flocked to Fishers and some of the surrounding area because of the reputation HSE Schools has built over the years.  Keeping that reputation will be a challenge moving forward.

As someone that has lived in Fishers since 1991, written a local news blog for 11 years and produced local podcasts for over 7 years. I have had a perspective to share.  I do not pretend to be an expert, just someone with the life experience that brings.

For me, Fishers has been a special place to live because so many special people live here.  Don’t get me wrong, we are not perfect, just human.  But we do care about the community in which we live and all want to make it the best place for ourselves, our families and our neighbors.

That’s why Jane and I are in our third home in Fishers with no plans to live anywhere else.  Fishers continues to be a dynamic place to reside…not perfect, but a good place to live.  We should all appreciate that.

I cover lots of news stories that often highlight conflict and that is sadly the nature of news.  But every now and then, it is good to write about the place you cover as a blogger and podcaster and reflect on what is good about my local community.

So, there it is.  I like living in Fishers.  Thanks for reading this blog and listening to my podcasts.

Another week is coming and more road work is planned in and around the Fishers area.

Here is the road construction listing for the work week beginning March 27, as provided by the City of Fishers:

STATE ROAD 37 IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 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.
		CLEAR PATH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 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.
PROJECTS NORTH OF 116TH STREET   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 and is estimated to reopen by Friday, March 24.   126TH STREET On Wednesday, March 29, storm structure repairs will be taking place on the roundabout at 126th Street and Lantern Road. All lanes will remain open. Use caution driving through this area.   131ST STREET Comcast is currently doing utility work on 131st Street from Howe Road to Promise Road then north on Promise Road to 141st Street. Lane restrictions will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. PROJECTS SOUTH OF 116TH STREET   106TH STREET & HOOSIER ROAD Utility relocation is currently taking place at 106th Street and Hoosier Road as part of the roundabout project. For additional project information, view the Capital Project Dashboard here.  CUMBERLAND ROAD There will be daily lane restrictions between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Cumberland Road between 106th Street and 116th Street for tree clearing as part of the Cumberland Road Reconstruction project. There may be  times when a short-term full road closure will be needed. Finding an alternate route is recommended during this time. For additional project information, view the Capital Project Dashboard here.  FALL CREEK ROAD Citizens Energy Group is mobilizing the lift station on Fall Creek Road near Geist Woods Way, resulting in the closure of Fall Creek Trail in the area until the project is complete in August. GEIST GREENWAY Construction of the boardwalk is currently taking place as part of the Geist Greenway Project. When material is brought in for fill sections, there will be an increase in construction traffic on Valley Crossing Drive. Traffic will be briefly stopped as trucks are entering and exiting the road. For general project information, please visit https://playfishers.com/299/Geist-Greenway 2023 RESURFACING PROJECT Beginning on Monday, March 27, ADA ramp and curb reconstruction will be taking place in Rolling Knoll 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.

The dreary, rainy 41 degree March day did not dampen the spirits of Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness.  He was smiling ear-to-ear as he looked over a tent full of people involved in the new Events Center that will begin construction near the Navient building, close to I-69 .  He used words like “exciting” and “momentous” to describe the new center projected to open in November of 2024.

He had members of the City Council on the stage with him.  After all, they approved the financing package for the center, including a Food & Beverage Tax.  He went down the line thanking those on his staff and other stakeholders that brought the city to the Friday ground breaking ceremony.

The Events Center, which will hold as many as 8,500 people, is expected to host the graduation ceremonies for both local high schools.  The Mudsock basketball games, where boys and girls teams from HSE and Fishers High Schools square off, will be played in a venue large enough to hold fans from both schools in this new venue.  School officials have told me there are plans to petition the IHSAA, asking to host the Sectional basketball tournament there.

But the biggest tenant for the Events Center will be the Indy Fuel minor league hockey team.  Owner Jim Hallett said 36 regular season games will be played at the center, with playoff games always a possibility.

It is also expected that there will be musical acts and other performances booked into the Events Center by ASM Global, which does this work around the world.

This is part of an expansion of the Fishers District, with Thompson Thrift as the developer.

It may have been cold, rainy and crowded in that tent where the ground breaking ceremony was held.  Despite all that, I suspect Mayor Fadness is still smiling.

There has been a long discussion about the future of Fishers Elementary School.  With the smallest land footprint among all elementary buildings in the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) and no place to grow at that location, school officials have been looking into all options.

The HSE School Board took a major step in keeping Fishers Elementary School at the same location on Lantern Road Wednesday night.  After considering 8 proposals to be the construction manager for this renovation project, Wurster Construction was awarded the contract.

The preconstruction phase of this plan will begin immediately.  The entire renovation project is expected to be complete by December of 2024.

The staff at Fishers Elementary asked school officials just one thing as options for their school were considered…please keep the staff together.  With this renovation, it appears they will get their wish.