The OneZone Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has voted to endorse school referendum proposals for five Hamilton County school districts, including Hamilton Southeastern Schools, according to a chamber news release.

The endorsement also covers proposals for Carmel Clay Schools, Noblesville Schools, Sheridan Community Schools and Westfield Washington Schools.

Jack Russell, OneZone’s president and CEO, said the chamber’s support reflects its view that school funding has implications for employers, workforce development and the county’s ability to attract and retain residents.

“Strong schools and a strong business community are deeply connected,” Russell said in the release. “These five referendums have significant implications not only for students and educators, but for the future of Hamilton County.”

Russell said employers depend on local schools to help develop future workers and on communities that attract people looking to build careers and raise families. The chamber identified workforce development, economic vitality and talent retention as reasons for its endorsement.

“Each school district is unique, and each referendum addresses the specific needs of that community,” Russell said.

The 2026 general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to the Hamilton County election office.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness has endorsed Josh Perry, a longtime Fishers resident and Hamilton Southeastern Schools graduate, in Perry’s campaign for the Hamilton Southeastern School Board District 2 seat.

Perry is running as a nonpartisan candidate. According to his campaign, his platform centers on steady, balanced leadership through collaborative problem solving, teacher retention, fiscal responsibility, and making sure students in all pathways are prepared for life after graduation, including continued support for the HSE Network Model.

“As Mayor of Fishers and father of three HSE students, I value a school board representative who brings collaborative, straightforward solutions to ensuring our students have a top-tier education. Josh Perry offers exactly that,” Fadness said in a statement released by the campaign. “I support Josh for HSE School Board because we can count on him to support the policies that will continue to lead our community toward excellence.”

Perry said he was grateful for the mayor’s backing.

“I’ve seen our community thrive under his leadership and transform into one of the best places to live in America,” Perry said. “I’m so proud to call Fishers home and would be honored to serve this community. I want to serve quietly, without the political grandstanding, and focus on doing what’s right for our students, teachers, and families.”

Perry and his wife, Stephanie, both grew up in Fishers. They attended New Britton Elementary School together before graduating from Hamilton Southeastern High School. The couple has two children at Harrison Parkway Elementary School and is expecting a third child in January.

Perry graduated from Purdue University in 2011 with a degree in agricultural education, planning to teach high school agriculture and science. He worked as an instructional assistant in the emotional and behavioral disabilities program at Carmel Clay Schools before moving into the insurance industry. He is now commercial underwriting manager at Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, overseeing commercial property and casualty underwriting statewide.

Perry is a member of the 2026-2027 cohort of HSEngaged, a Hamilton Southeastern Schools program that gives community members a behind-the-scenes look at district operations. His campaign said he is using the program and other conversations to learn more about the challenges facing the district while he campaigns.

Perry said he decided to run to help ensure his children and the next generation have access to the same education and opportunities he had in Fishers schools.

The Fishers Pride Festival is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Billericay Park in Fishers. Admission is free, according to a news release from organizers.

This year’s theme is “Every Family Matters.” Organizers say the event welcomes LGBTQ+ individuals, families, friends and allies of all ages, with a focus on recognizing different family structures and the connections that support them.

Plans include live entertainment provided by Rock Garage, food, local artists, a silent auction and a family activity area with arts and crafts. Local organizations, businesses and vendors also are expected to participate.

“Every Family Matters is more than a theme—it’s a reminder that family can look different for everyone, and every family deserves to be respected and celebrated,” board president Cathi White said in the release.

Fishers Pride describes the annual festival as a celebration of LGBTQ+ visibility, inclusion, equality and belonging.

The date, time and location also are listed on the Fishers Pride website. Organizers direct residents to FISHERSPRIDE on Facebook and Instagram for additional information and event updates.

Today is National Voter Registration Day, and for Hamilton County residents it carries a deadline attached: Hoosiers who want a say in the Nov. 3 general election must be registered by Monday, Oct. 5.

That is not a suggestion or a soft target. Indiana closes its rolls 29 days before Election Day — one of the earliest cutoffs in the country. Miss it, and no amount of enthusiasm on Election Day will put a ballot in your hands.

Registering takes a few minutes at indianavoters.in.gov, where you can also confirm an existing registration, check your polling place and preview your ballot. Anyone who has moved, married, changed a name or turned 18 since the last election should check. Early in-person voting opens Oct. 6, the day after the deadline.

Indiana has long needed the reminder. The state ranked 41st in the nation for voter turnout in the 2025 Indiana Civic Health Index, published by the Indiana Bar Foundation — an improvement from 50th, dead last, a few years earlier, but hardly a record to celebrate. In the most recent presidential election, only about 59% of Indiana’s registered voters cast a ballot, while states such as Wisconsin and Minnesota topped 75% of eligible voters.

The gap widens as the races get closer to home. Presidential contests draw crowds. School board and county races, the ones that actually determine what your property taxes pay for and what happens in your child’s classroom, are frequently decided by a sliver of the electorate.

That is worth remembering this fall, because the local ballot is unusually consequential.

Four of the seven seats on the Hamilton Southeastern Schools board are up, and not one incumbent is seeking reelection. Nine candidates are competing for those seats. Whoever wins will shape district policy, hire and evaluate the superintendent and set a budget for one of Indiana’s largest school corporations — decisions that reach into every HSE household.

Voters will also fill an open Indiana Senate District 31 seat, choose a Hamilton County sheriff and decide the 5th Congressional District race. Indiana House and township offices round out the ballot.

A congressional vote is one of hundreds of thousands. A school board vote in a district race can be one of a few thousand. The math alone should tell you where an individual ballot carries the most weight.

Voting is often described as a civic duty, and it is. But it is also the most practical tool a resident has. Attending a public meeting, sending an email to an elected official, complaining to a neighbor — all of it matters more when the person on the receiving end knows you vote.

The first step is registration, and the window closes Oct. 5. Take five minutes today.

The Fishers Health Department has launched a free service to help people find mental health providers, connect with community resources and decide where to turn for support.

Appointments for the mental health navigation service are available beginning Tuesday, Sept. 15, according to the department.

The service provides one-on-one help from the department’s Mental Health Support Specialist for people seeking assistance for themselves, a child or another loved one. Concerns may include stress, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed or low mood.

“Finding the right mental health support can be overwhelming, especially when you’re not sure where to start,” said Monica Heltz, the department’s director and health officer, in a news release. “This service gives people a place to begin and someone who can help them understand their options and move forward.”

The department said the service responds to findings in Fishers’ Community Health Assessment, released last week. The assessment identified mental health as one of the community’s top health priorities and highlighted difficulties accessing services and knowing where to seek help.

The specialist can talk through concerns, identify possible next steps, help locate providers and make referrals. Parents and caregivers can also seek guidance about resources for children, spouses, aging parents or other loved ones.

People do not need a diagnosis to use the service, and it is available to everyone, including people who live outside Fishers, according to the department’s service page.

The navigation service does not provide therapy or replace clinical treatment or emergency care.

“Support does not have to start at a crisis point,” Heltz said. “This service can help people address concerns earlier, understand what options are available and connect with the level of support that makes sense for them.”

To learn more or schedule a free appointment, visit the Fishers Health Department’s mental health navigation page.

For mental health crisis support, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. Anyone in immediate danger or experiencing a medical emergency should call 911.

The Indy Fuel have added three forwards over the past two weeks, bringing back two familiar faces and signing one newcomer as the ECHL club builds its roster for a season that opens in October at Fishers Event Center.

Returning are forwards Jesse Tucker and Dustin Manz. New to the organization is forward Dean Loukus.

Tucker, 26, comes back to Indy after appearing in all 72 regular-season games in 2025-26, recording 12 goals and 26 assists for 38 points. He was one of two Fuel players to dress for every regular-season game.

A native of Longlac, Ontario, Tucker originally joined the Fuel in March 2025 after finishing his college career. He played 135 NCAA games between Michigan State, Clarkson and Northern Michigan, totaling 15 goals and 41 assists. Before college, he spent three seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League, where he recorded 129 points in 158 games and served as team captain in 2020-21.

Manz, also 26, returns for his third full ECHL season and his second with the Fuel. He played 71 games for Indy last season and recorded 44 points. He finished the year with the Bloomington Bison, playing 19 games and scoring three points, and also spent 20 games with the Rapid City Rush and 11 games with the Wheeling Nailers.

The 5-foot-10 forward, a Michigan native, played two seasons at American International College, posting 10 goals and 14 assists in 2022-23, and two seasons at Lake Superior State, where he served as an alternate captain. He also spent two seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League with the Prince George Spruce Kings, leading that team in scoring in 2018-19 with 33 goals and 37 assists in 58 games. He added 10 points in 17 playoff games as the Spruce Kings won a BCHL championship.

Loukus, 23, joins the Fuel after spending the first two seasons of his professional career with the South Carolina Stingrays. The Calumet, Michigan, native appeared in 67 games in 2025-26, recording nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points, and added two points in 11 Kelly Cup playoff games. He played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Saginaw Spirit and Mississauga Steelheads, recording 155 points in 194 games.

The Fuel are the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks and the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs. The team returns to Fishers Event Center in October 2026 for its 13th season.

Hamilton County marked the completion of the 146th Street and Allisonville Road interchange Monday, Sept. 14, while awarding a $39.9 million construction contract for the next interchange along the corridor at Hazel Dell Parkway.

County commissioners awarded the Hazel Dell contract to Carmel-based Gradex, according to a county news release. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and continue into 2029.

The Allisonville interchange has been open to traffic for several months. Crews spent the summer completing paving, landscaping and other finishing work before Monday morning’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The project replaced a traffic signal with an interchange that carries 146th Street over a roundabout on Allisonville Road. The county’s project page identifies reducing congestion as the reason for the work.

“This intersection looks and functions completely differently than it did just a few years ago,” Hamilton County Commissioners President Christine Altman said in the release. “We appreciate everyone who endured the construction to get us here. This is an investment that will serve our residents and businesses for decades to come.”

County officials say the Hazel Dell project is intended to improve safety and traffic flow along 146th Street by separating the intersecting roads onto different levels.

“The Allisonville Road interchange gives people a good idea of what we’re working toward at Hazel Dell,” Hamilton County Highway Director Brad Davis said in the release. “These are major projects, but they allow us to address congestion in a way that will serve this corridor for decades.”

The Fishers Century Club will focus its quarterly giving on local charities that helped Hamilton County residents affected by recent flooding when it meets Tuesday, Sept. 15.

The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at The Club Coworking, 9800 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis. Organizers encourage attendees to nominate and bring information about a local charity that assisted flood victims.

“We saw our community come together over the past month to help flood victims and assist with the community cleanup,” said Adam Kallick of the Fishers Century Club in a news release. “This meeting will be another opportunity for our attendees to identify, select and support meaningful local organizations that stepped up to help our community.”

The club pools individual donations to support local organizations. According to its website, participants hear presentations about nominated charities, vote on a recipient and each contribute $100 to the selected organization.

At its June meeting, the club selected Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana as its quarterly award recipient, according to the release. The organization works with residents and law enforcement to help fight crime.

People unable to attend can contribute through the club’s online giving option. More information, previous recipients and a link to give through Grapevine are available on the Fishers Century Club website.

A volunteer visit to The Milk Bank inspired Purdue University nursing graduate Larissa Velasquez to turn her love of matcha into a fundraising effort for infants in need of donor milk.

Velasquez launched Matcha for a Greater Love in March 2026. By August, the nonprofit had raised $8,200 through eight pop-up events, according to a Sept. 14 news release. The Milk Bank estimates the donation will provide up to 4,920 feedings of donor human milk.

The idea began with an October 2025 visit to The Milk Bank during a public health clinical experience with fellow Purdue nursing students. The students attended a presentation and volunteered with the organization.

“As soon as I stepped foot into The Milk Bank, I knew I wanted to help,” Velasquez said in the release. “I knew I wanted to make a difference. I saw not just the love that’s here, but the passion and dedication from all the volunteers and workers here.”

She combined that interest with her love of matcha to create a pop-up matcha and green tea stand. According to the release, Matcha for a Greater Love donates 100% of purchases to The Milk Bank.

“We are incredibly grateful to Larissa, Matcha for a Greater Love, its volunteers, and customers for making this donation possible,” said Freedom Kolb, The Milk Bank’s CEO.

Velasquez plans to continue the pop-ups in 2027, adding handcrafted cinnamon rolls to the menu alongside matcha and green tea.

The Milk Bank, founded in 2005, is a nonprofit tissue bank that supplies pasteurized donor human milk to hospitals and families throughout the region. The organization says it distributes more than 700,000 ounces annually and has provided more than 17.9 million feedings since its founding.

While Westfield built its identity around drawing visitors to Grand Park, Fishers is spending millions on youth sports with a different target in mind — the families already living here.

That’s the message Mayor Scott Fadness delivered in an IndyStar story published Monday, in which reporter Jake Allen examined how suburban Central Indiana cities are pouring tax dollars into youth athletics.

“Our strategy was born not out of trying to create a tourism play necessarily, but instead it was, how do we continue to double down and create really great experiences for our kids that live here and are involved in youth sports?” Fadness told the newspaper.

The second priority, the mayor said, is attracting new residents.

“It’s just like investing in your schools,” Fadness said. “Having these facilities keep your home values up.”

Fishers has moved on several fronts this year. The city has invested more than $3 million in athletic field improvements at its high schools, created and filled a new position to coordinate youth athletics, and announced a $65 million facility — the Fishers Fieldhouse — that will host large-scale youth basketball and volleyball tournaments.

The IndyStar piece devotes much of its length to Westfield’s Droplight Grand Park Sports Campus, which opened in 2014 at a cost of $49 million and now draws 5.5 million visits a year. Hotels, restaurants and retail followed. Noblesville, Lebanon and Greenwood have since built their own city-financed facilities.

Local parents quoted in the story described benefits that don’t show up on a balance sheet.

Matt Benson, watching his 9-year-old daughter practice field hockey behind New Britton Elementary School, told the newspaper his three children have leaned more toward arts and theater than athletics — but he still sees the value.

“It’s what attracts people to a community like this,” Benson said. “These investments can lead to sparking different interests for children.”

Jen Westerman, a 15-year Fishers resident who coaches her daughter’s Mudsock Youth Athletics softball team, said the payoff has been friendships.

“My kids’ friends have come from playing in sports and some of mine and my husband’s best friends have come from meeting other parents at sport events,” Westerman said. “Investing in this stuff is not only good for the health and socialization of kids here, but I think it’s great for building community.”

The story also includes a caution. Michael Edwards, a sport management professor at North Carolina State University, told IndyStar that publicly funded sports complexes can end up serving tournaments more than taxpayers.

“We have seen situations where the county or the city built these facilities, and they’re essentially padlocked when there’s not an organized event happening,” Edwards said. “In some ways, they can be very exclusionary.”

Edwards added that with so many facilities going up across the region, some will prosper and others will fail — making it critical that cities avoid duplicating what neighbors already offer.

My compliments to reporter Allen and his editors for doing a deep dive into an important issue for families in suburban areas of Indy.

The full story is available at this link.  NOTE:  Most IndyStar stories are behind a paywall.  Online subscriptions to the IndyStar are reasonably priced.  Once again, I encourage you to subscribe to your local media!