It has been a long time since I studied International Politics as a college course, the mid-1970s to be more precise.  I had the same professor for Political Theory and International Relations.  He was a very good prof and I learned a lot in his classes.

One important concept embedded in me by those classes had to do with how one deals with an adversary.  To start, you must understand the other side.  What are their interests and what do they want?

Looking at today’s Russia, and the history of Russia that goes back hundreds of years, Russia feels surrounded.  The Russians were double-crossed by the Nazis in World War II and have had this paranoia about being attacked again.

It appears Russian autocratic leader Vladimir Putin is using that feeling of paranoia to invade Ukraine with the goal of occupying and ruling that democratic nation.  Ukraine became independent following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.  Ukraine was a part of Soviet Russia until the Soviet empire ended.

I recall an interesting television interview between an American journalist and an editor of a major newspaper in Ukraine a few weeks ago.  The Ukraine journalist said if you took a poll in his country before 2014, residents would have said they felt closer to Russia than the West.  After Russia’s occupation of Crimea, public opinion has shifted, the newspaper editor in Ukraine said.

So, Putin is partly responsible for the people of Ukraine moving away from Russia in general.  But a major reason Russia is making this radical move is tied to fears about Russia’s own security.

Public opinion in Ukraine favors membership in NATO.  Ukraine is not yet eligible for NATO membership and would not likely have that opportunity for several years.  But the mere possibility of that happening, and the general public support in Ukraine to join NATO, has triggered alarm bells for Putin and his small circle of advisors.

I am making no excuses for Putin and what he has done, but the West does need to find a way to deal with Russia’s security concerns.  But, Putin will soon see his concerns will not be addressed by an invasion of a European country for the first time since World War II.

The people of Ukraine have shown amazing grit and courage.  They face one of the largest, best-equipped armies in the world.  Yet, it is clear that most Ukrainians do not want to be ruled by Vladimir Putin.  They are willing to fight a much superior military power in order to prevent that.

We do not fully understand why Russia chose this invasion of Ukraine.  But the world needs to send a clear message to Vladimir Putin that invading a free, democratic nation will not achieve his goal of  Russian security.

The book “Let’s talk About It” has been moved from the teen section of the Hamilton East Library to the general nonfiction book collection.  The library board voted unanimously to reorganize the Teen Zone book collection.

At the February 4th board meeting, library staff was directed to review the “Let’s Talk About It” book due to its sexual content.  Library Director Edra Waterman recommended that the reorganization of the Teen Zone be conducted in response.  “Let’s Talk About It’ has been moved out of the Teen Zone to the general nonfiction book shelves.

13 people spoke at the Thursday afternoon board session, most wanting “Let’s Talk About It” to be moved out of the Teen Zone, with three saying the book should remain in the Teen Zone.

Waterman said the Teen Zone reorganization project will require  her librarian staff to review 12, 600 book titles by the end of June this year.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and his appointees on the Board of Public Works and Safety continue to deny Verizon 5G towers, using criteria established by state law and city policies, where the towers obstruct views from homes in that neighborhood.

One tower in Sunblest Farms drew 4 speakers from the neighborhood in opposition to the tower, including an attorney representing the Home Owners Association (HOA).  An attorney from Verizon spoke, explaining why the tower could not be moved for technical reasons.

“I don’t view (the Sunblest Farms 5G tower) as an appropriate location for a 5G cell tower,” said Fadness.  “It’s smack-dab in the middle of what I can see as, at least four homes, that would be looking directly at that the tower.”

The board denied the request for the one Sunblest Farms tower up for consideration at the Thursday morning meeting.  The board went on the approve several towers in the Sunblest neighborhood while denying two additional 5G towers.

Here is the video version of my podcast with county officials about 146th Street & Allisonville Road.

The traffic congestion at 146th Street and Allisonville Road has been getting worse, and Hamilton County Commissioner said he and his fellow commissioners, Steve Dillinger and Christine Altman, have been working on funding an upgrade to the intersection.  County officials are preparing to construct major changes there.

I was not able to attend a recent public meetings on plans for the intersection, so 3 county officials were kind enough to join me for a podcast, discussing that project and a few other issues.  Here is the podcast with Commissioner Heirbrandt, County Highway Director Brad Davis and County Highway Engineer Jim Neal.

Kelly Hartman was so emotional it was difficult to speak before the Fishers City Council Monday night.  She, along with Councilor Cecilia Coble and many others, have been involved in working on assisting people in Fishers dealing with disabilities.

The City Council had before it a proposal for an ordinance officially establishing the advisory panel.  It was technically first reading, which would require another vote to formally approve the advisory body.

But the council can give final approval to an ordinance by suspending the rules with a unanimous vote.  That was done, with all council members voting together, providing the final approval to the Advisory Committee on Disabilities.

The city is now preparing for Disability Awareness Month in March with a number of events planned.

In other City Council news from Monday night:

–City employees Mike Cranfill and Wanda Crouch were honored for 20 years of service.

–Boy Scout Troop 109 was recognized for attending the council session as part of a badge-earning program.

A housing development rezoning on the northeast side of Fishers was given final approval Monday night by the Fishers City Council, after a spirited discussion, on a vote of 6-3.

The Courtyards of Fishers will consist of 50 single-family homes near the northwest corner of the intersection at 113th Street and Southeastern Parkway.

Councilor Brad DeReamer said the $650,000 estimated cost of each home will be $240 per square foot, which he considers high and not consistent with seniors looking to downsize.  He argued that developments presented to him in his 6 years on the council do not come under regular zoning rules, but are Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) which utilize their own zoning rules worked out with city planning staff.

DeReamer repeated an assertion he has made at previous public meetings.  “Developers are running Fishers,” DeReamer told the council.

Councilor Pete Peterson responded, saying PUDs are a good for Fishers.  He says developers and the city have worked well together, with staff pushing back with developers where needed.  “Our housing stock, it has sold so quickly that people can’t wait to move in here,” Peterson said.  “It’s just another affirmation of the things we do correctly.”

Councilor Jocelyn Vare voiced concerns about the timing of this particular development.

Councilors voting no on the rezone were DeReamer, Vare and Crystal Neumann.

The Fishers City Council voted unanimously for a project agreement with CRG Development to construct an ambitious mixed use project at 96th Street and Allisonville Road, near the White River, which includes a roundabout at the intersection of 96th Street and Allisonville Road.  In April of 2013, that intersection was converted to a “Michigan Left.”

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness tells LarryInFishers that his goal is to have the roundabout completed by the end of 2023.  There is still no design available for that roundabout.

When asked how long the intersection will be closed to traffic during construction, the mayor indicated he is looking at the possibility of at least keeping part of the intersection open during the construction period, but nothing has been decided yet.  According to Fadness, the roundabout design was the only option available to reconfigure that intersection.

The vote to approve the CRG project was 8-0 with Council President Todd Zimmerman abstaining.

Fishers Economic Development Director Megan Baumgartner detailed the plans for council members Monday night.

Mayor Fadness emphasized that the CRG deal will allow the city to pursue a vision for public space along the White River.  He also said the state READI grant can be used to develop the White River public space, but now new rules are being attached to the money Fishers will receive. The amount of the Fishers READI grant money is still not known.

Yes, I know there are a number of issues in and around Fishers worth writing about on this winter Sunday night.  I know the situation in Ukraine is tense and dangerous for the world.

But please excuse me if I take this time and space to write about something completely different.  The question is this – will the Major League Baseball regular season get underway on time in 2022?

I am no expert on labor relations in baseball, so I try to read people with some knowledge in this field.  Here is what I know so far.

The owners invoked a lockout.  That is a tactic employers use when they believe their employees may strike at an inopportune time, allowing the employer to stop operations on the employer’s timeline.

So, at a time when spring training should be well underway with spring training games set to begin, the camps in Florida and Arizona are quiet in 2022.  So, where does the dispute stand now?

The Major League Baseball owners and the Major League Baseball Players Association have exchanged some proposed contract language, but reporters with good sources covering this story are writing and saying that the two sides are so far apart, an outside mediator is likely not going to be called in to help.

Why do I write about this?  There was so much we missed during the early days of the pandemic, sporting events in-person and on television was something I missed.  Whatever might be happening everywhere else, I could always enjoy watching a baseball game.

If the owners and the players are unable to reach agreement, literally in the next few days, regular season opening day will be postponed.  As a long-time fan of the Cincinnati Reds, opening day in the Queen City is a huge celebration, with schools closed and a big celebration, including a big parade downtown.  As the first professional baseball team, Cincinnati is awarded a home game to open the season each year.

Losing Opening Day to a labor dispute could be a slide downward for a sport that has not been growing in recent years.  I find that sad, but all the data points to just that.

Owners and players, do not kill the goose that laid the golden egg.  Baseball fans have been patient and have always come back to the game (eventually).

As one long-time baseball fan, speaking for myself only, if baseball cannot solve this labor dispute, getting fans interested in the game again will not be easy.  Please, no more self-inflicted wounds.  Get an agreement.  Play ball on time in 2022.

The construction along State Road 37 in Fishers continues unchanged in the coming week.  Also, the closure of North Street downtown between Municipal Drive & Maple Street continues, along with the lane restrictions on Technology Drive in Northeast Commerce Park.

There are two lane restrictions scheduled this coming week.  Wednesday, look for work at Hague Road, and another project is set for Thursday between Regency Drive and Holland Drive.  Each project is scheduled for 9am-3pm.

Here is the full road construction listing, as provided by the City of Fishers: