Rita Moreno has had a long career in show business and has a whole room full of statuettes honoring her work. But there is much more to her story. She overcame so many personal and professional barriers in her career, and at age 87 continues to work. So, is this documentary film about her worth seeing? Here is my review.
Plenty of road construction work continues in and around the Fishers area.
Here is the latest, as provided by the City of Fishers:
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STATE ROAD 37 AND 146TH STREET
All left-turn lanes are currently restricted on SR 37 and on 146th Street with traffic moved to the interior lanes. Thru traffic and right turns on SR 37 and 146th Street will remain open. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes for all left turn access. View an alternate route map here.
Northbound and Southbound SR 37 is currently restricted to one lane in each direction, North of 146th Street. This restriction will be in place for approximately 2-3 weeks, as work progresses at this interchange.
There is currently a single lane closure for Northbound Herriman Blvd. between 146th Street and the Circle K/Shell gas station driveway and is anticipated to reopen in June.
STATE ROAD 37 AND 131ST / 135TH STREETS
The westside of 131st Street at SR 37 is currently closed as work progresses on the interchange. SR 37 will remain open both north and southbound. SR 37 southbound left and right turns onto 131st Street will be restricted. Westbound left turns onto SR 37 will also be restricted on 131st Street. View the detour map here.
The Northbound SR 37 right turn lane onto 135th Street is currently closed from 131st Street to approximately halfway to 135th Street for Phase 1 construction. This portion of the dedicated turn lane will not reopen to regular capacity until the interchange is complete.
Please drive with caution through this area. To learn more about the State Road 37 Improvement Project and sign up to receive text updates, visit 37Thrives.com.
The City of Fishers started construction on the Nickel Plate Trail pedestrian tunnel beneath 116th Street on Tuesday, June 1. The closure is anticipated to last 60 days. During the construction, 116th Street will be closed from east of Municipal Drive to west of Maple Street. All local business and public parking access will remain open.
106th Street will serve as the detour route, with the detour beginning at Hague Road for eastbound thru traffic and Lantern Road for the westbound thru traffic.
Portions of the Nickel Plate Trail are now open, including the paved portion from 131st Street to North Street, and from South Street to 106th Street. The 116th Street tunnel will complete the trail connection through downtown Fishers, joining South Street and North Street, and establishing a full connection from 131st Street to 106th Street. While the tunnel is under construction, a pedestrian detour route will provide access through downtown between the north and south sections of the trail. View the pedestrian detour map here.
To learn more about the project, view construction images and project renderings, and find detour maps, visit https://www.playfishers.com/284/Nickel-Plate-Trail
The annual Spark! Fishers festivel returns with a weeklong celebration June 22-26 in the downtown Nickel Plate District. Road closures and parking restrictions will be in effect around the District beginning the evening of Wednesday, June 23. Get the full lineup at https://sparkfishers.com/road-closures/
Beginning on Tuesday, June 22 at 6 a.m., Westbound 116th Street between Hoosier Road and Cumberland Road will be closed as DPW performs joint repairs and is anticipated to reopen on Wednesday, June 23 by 6 a.m. The official detour route will direct drivers to sue Hoosier Road to 126th Street to Cumberland Road to 116th Street. View the detour map here.
Indianapolis DPW currently has Admirals Pointe Drive closed through midsummer 2021 to replace the timber bridge over Geist and the north fork of Dry Branch. The detour will consist of Old Stone Dr. East to Carroll Rd. / 700 W., South to E. 79th St., West to Oaklandon Rd.
ADA ramp and curb reconstruction has started as part of the 2021 Resurfacing Project. 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.
Over the next two weeks, as weather allows, DPW will be crack sealing in the following areas: Hamilton Pass, Mollenkopf Road, 97th and 98th Streets, 96th Street east of Olio Road, 113th Street, USA Parkway, 106th Street (Eller Road to Lantern Road) and Eller Road (106th Street to Allisonville Road).Lane restrictions and flaggers will be in place.
Fishers has tried to work with private sector partners twice to create a community center for the city, but both failed in the end. Mayor Scott Fadness appointed At-Large City Councilman Todd Zimmerman to lead a local group of people in proposing a center for the city. So, where is the group in their work? Todd sat down with me to update us on his group’s progress.
Rita Moreno sparked controversy with some comments she made and later offered a Twitter apology about the film In The Heights. That’s our lead story this time in the Grade A Movies podcast. Adam Aasen reviews the latest Pixar animated offering that is not available in theaters. Alec reviews the comedy sequel The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. I look at t reboot of the HBO series In Treatment.
As I have reported here previously, Fishers will not receive the roughly $19 million initially expected from the American Rescue Plan (ARP). The city is now projected to receive $6.9 million. How did this happen?
City Controller Lisa Bradford told the Fishers City Council Finance Committee Wednesday that the answer lies in the details of regulations issued May 10th by the United States Department of Treasury. It boils down to whether Fishers is an entitlement city or a non-entitlement city.
The difference between the two can be very technical, but Bradford told the Finance Committee that Fishers, Carmel and Noblesville saw a big reduction in the ARP money allocation. That’s why the amount of ARP cash coming to Fishers is $6.9 million, not the roughly $19 million that was expected earlier.
Bradford said 142 cities nation-wide were reclassified from entitlement to non-entitlement cities, based on Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines, which factor-in income and poverty levels to the determination. That’s why Fishers, Carmel and Noblesville were reclassified and will receive millions less than originally projected last March.
As to what Fishers can do about this, the city controller says not much.
“We beat down a lot of doors, explored a lot of avenues,” said Bradford. “Unfortunately, there’s not a lot you can do within the authority contained in the guidance.” The city does plan on submitting comments to federal authorities about this decision.
According to Bradford, the city is disappointed that the number was unexpectedly reduced, but reminded the Finance Committee members that, on the bright side, Fishers will receive nearly $7 million that was not anticipated before ARP was signed into law.
A city that continues to grow, like Fishers, normally has a very busy Planning & Zoning Department. Based on my reporting, the Fishers operation has been busy for a number of years.
Megan Schafer was named Director of Fishers City Planning and Zoning just a few weeks ago. Ross Hilleary is her assistant director.
Here is a podcast with Megan and Ross where we talk about many aspects of the local planning and zoning operation.
The Stevanato Group, an Italian firm, has decided to setup operations in the United States and has decided it is coming to Fishers. According to a Thursday morning news release from The Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the company plans on hiring 230 people by the end of 2025.
“Central Indiana is well positioned to support exponential growth in the life science and advanced manufacturing industries,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. “As we continue to see an emerging life science cluster here in Fishers, we believe that Stevanato Group’s decision to invest in Fishers underscores the opportunity for growth. We are looking forward to welcoming Stevanato Group to our community.”
Stevanto started in 1949 and provides drug containment products, analytical services and tests to support the drug development process, plastic components for diagnostics and medical devices, as well as contract manufacturing services for drug delivery systems, according to the news release.
This package will include both state and city economic incentives. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Stevanato Group up to $2.9 million in conditional tax credits and up to $500,000 in conditional training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning the company is eligible to claim incentives once Hoosiers are hired and trained. The city of Fishers will consider additional incentives up to $1.2 million.
“We are excited to locate our new U.S. hub in Fishers, Indiana, which will enable us to better serve our North America pharmaceutical customers,” said Howard Drake, Stevanato Group vice president, U.S. business development. “We are looking forward to joining the Fishers community, which shares our commitment to the pharma and health care industries, and to being a part of the new pharmaceutical and life sciences park the city is developing.”
Stevanato Group employs more than 4,300 around the globe. The new Fishers location will offer a variety of employment opportunities in production, engineering, maintenance and other corporate support positions. Information on open positions will be made available online.
“Indiana continues to secure extraordinary growth in life sciences throughout the state, and we’re thrilled to add Stevanato Group to our list of innovative life sciences companies,” said Governor Eric J. Holcomb. “The life sciences industry contributes roughly $80 billion to the state’s economy, and we are committed to ensuring a thriving business climate that allows these firms to continue to grow and provide quality Hoosier careers.”
Stevanato expects to invest up to $145 million to build and equip a manufacturing facility of up to 370,000-square-foot to support the expansion and production of its EZ-Fill® products. Plant construction is expected to begin later in 2021 with production commencing in 2023.
The state news release does not specify where in Fishers this facility is to be located.
The Hamilton Southeastern School Board approved the property transfer, the Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety has approved their part of the property transfer and the city has contracted for design and construction management services to construct a new fire station at 136th Street and Prairie Baptist Road. Fire Chief Steve Orusa says the new station should be in service by late 2022.
Mayor Scott Fadness says the original plan was to take possession of land belonging to IU Health, but legal complications scuttled that idea. The city will fund teachers for “experiential learning” for two years as part of the land acquisition deal with the local school district.
In other actions from the Board of Works meeting Tuesday afternoon:
–The board voted to opt-out of any opioid litigation settlements, at the recommendation of City Attorney Chris Greisl. The state legislature has enacted a law encouraging Indiana local governments to opt-out of their local lawsuits and join the state litigation. Greisl added that the state statute penalizes political subdivisions that choose not to choose this option of joining the state. “This is an unusual set of circumstances but there really aren’t too many choices in front of us,” said Mayor Scott Fadness.
–The board formally awarded a contract for Meyer Najem to handle Phase 1B construction and operation for the new Geist Waterfront Park.
–A supplemental agreement was approved with with Butler, Fariman and Seufert
(BF&S) for Geist Greenway professional services aimed at realigning a sharp S-curve on Florida Road.
— The board said yes to a request for 16 Fishers Police Department Ford Explorer SUVs. The Explorers will replace currently owned vehicles that are past their life expectancy. Pearson Ford’s bid was the lowest, most responsive bid, according to city officials.
Stretching from Indianapolis north to Anderson, cities and counties along the White River are joining forces to apply for Governor Eric Holcomb’s Indiana Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) planning grant and funding.
A joint news release for all the governmental entities, including Fishers, says they “have begun identifying key programs, initiatives, and projects that will accelerate local, neighborhood economies, quality of place experiences, innovation, and develop, attract, and retain talent.”
The White River Vision Plan was a collaboration, starting in 2019, of communities along the waterway. The regional group will focus on many areas, possibly including trails, transportation, infrastructure, environmental and green economy jobs, workforce and employment centers and water availability & quality.
This regional effort intends to formalize its partnership and submit a proposal for the planning grant by the July 1 deadline.
More information about the White River Vision plan and the communities in the White River region can be found at mywhiteriver.com.
Victims of domestic violence and other violent acts have an advocate in Hamilton County. Prevail, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Noblesville, provides a wide variety of services to these victims.
I spoke with Prevail’s Executive Director, Susan Ferguson, and Primary Prevention Specialist Sara Roorbach, during the afternoon of Monday, June 14th.