This is a trying time for all nonprofit organizations.  Their funding is uncertain under the current financial conditions and they are struggling to meet the needs of those they serve.

One excellent example is the Youth Mentoring Initiative (YMI).  Although school buildings in the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District have been shuttered by the coronvirus, YMI is working to use technology and keep their adult mentors and student mentees in contact with each other.

Learn more about YMI by accessing their Web site at this link.

Here is my podcast conversation with YMI Executive Director Alison Gatz

I have ended my regular local Fishers news blog, but one of the most popular postings each week was the road construction, so I have decided, at least for now, to continue posting that listing each Friday.

The latest update is posted below:

=====================

ROAD NOTICE UPDATES FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 13
		STATE ROAD 37  126th Street west of SR 37 is currently closed and is anticipated to reopen in July. During this time, cross access and all left turns will be restricted, with only right in and right out until this phase ends. Traffic on Southbound SR 37 will shift to the Northbound lanes and two lanes will remain in each direction. Local access to businesses will remain open via Lantern Road. The official detour route will direct drivers to use 116th Street or 131st Street to Allisonville Road. Detour route markers and advance warning signs will be in place prior to the closure.   For a map of the detours, click here.  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.
STAY-AT-HOME ORDER DUE TO COVID-19 Governor Holcomb has extended the Stay-At-Home Order for Indiana residents through Monday, April 20 at 11:59 p.m. The Stay-At-Home Order applies to the entire state of Indiana and states that unless you work at an essential business or are doing an essential activity, you must stay at home. An FAQ on the order is available here.Residents are not restricted from walking, jogging, biking, or outdoor activities, including driving to local parks. We encourage you to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air. 96TH STREET 96th Street between Sargent Road and Cumberland Road is currently closed. During this time, the Sargent Road roundabout will be constructed, the bridge over Mud Creek will be replaced with a widened structure and additional travel lanes will be added. Local access will remain open from Lantern Road to the River Life Church. The Sargent Road roundabout is anticipated to reopen in mid-June. 96th Street east of Sargent Road to Cumberland Road will remain closed and is anticipated to reopen in early November. The official detour route will direct drivers to use Lantern Road or Cumberland Road to 106th Street. View the detour map here. 116TH STREET The northernmost westbound lane of 116th Street between Lantern Road and Municipal Drive is currently restricted day and night for approximately 45 days. Access remains open to local businesses along the route. Currently, westbound 116th Street between Municipal Drive and Post Office Road has lane restrictions in place for water main relocation. SPYGLASS FALLS SUBDIVISION Beginning the week of April 13, asphalt milling will begin with surface being placed shortly after. MUNICIPAL DRIVE Currently, there are lane restrictions on Municipal Drive behind the Hamilton East Public Library in order to construct on-street parking and is anticipated to be completed by the end of June. NORTH STREET North Street is currently closed between Maple Street and Municipal Drive and is anticipated to reopen by Friday, April 17. Local access to businesses will remain open. SOUTH STREET Beginning on Monday, April 13, South Street will be closed between the railroad tracks and Moore Street for approximately two weeks. FISHERS POINTE BLVD. Currently, there are daytime lane restrictions on Fishers Pointe Blvd. between 116th Street and Fishers Center Drive. LANTERN ROAD  Lantern Road is currently closed to through traffic, beginning south of 116th Street to Fishers Pointe Boulevard, as part of the Downtown Infrastructure Improvement Project to improve the sanitary sewer underneath Lantern Road. Access to Fishers Elementary is available from 106th Street. Check out the project Fact Sheet to learn more. KEEP FISHERS DPW SAFE Road construction continues around Fishers, so please remember to slow down and drive carefully around road workers. Watch here to see our DPW crew talk about worker safety.
While this list encompasses numerous project updates, it does not list all DPW projects throughout the city. The most recent projects are detailed, however please keep in mind that all construction activities are weather permitting. We appreciate motorists’ patience and caution while driving through construction sites.

I don’t have much to say about today’s Larry’s Log…..it’s just about life and death in today’s world

The nation is facing an economic challenge likely not see in our lifetimes.  Large segments of society are essentially closing down and far too many people are losing their livelihood.  Many view Fishers as a wealthy community, and generally we are.  That doesn’t mean Fishers and the surrounding area lacks families with challenges.

So, where do families suddenly finding themselves in need turn for help?  For any family with students attending the Hamilton Southeastern Schools, which encompasses more than the City of Fishers, the Hamilton County Youth Assistance Program (YAP) is there to help.

I spoke with Trisha Straus, an Early Intervention Advocate for YAP in Fishers, and she talked with me about what her organization and others are doing locally for families that are finding themselves in hard times very suddenly.  Here is my podcast talk with Trisha.

Fishers endured its first big spring thunderstorm, so a take a moment to explain the difference between a weather watch and warning.

I also take a few moments to remember an important mentor from my career as a radio broadcaster, Dave Keister.

I heard the news from the Indiana RadioWatch newsletter from Blaine Thompson.  Dave Keister, radio station owner in Martinsville, Indiana, has died.

I thought back to an evening in the early 1970s, which Dave was putting on a Christmas party for his staff and asked me to work that evening.  That was the first time I earned a paycheck from Dave Keister, but it was not the last.

I worked for his Martinsville radio station, WCBK, while going to college at IUPUI.  The staff at the time was a great group and I loved working with all of them.  I learned a great deal about the business of radio from Dave Keister.

He once told me the story of how he and his family had an AM radio transmitter in the back of a pickup truck, drove from MIchigan to Martinsville, and built a tower.  It was a daytime only station and he added WCBK-FM a few years later.

What I always admired about Dave was his perfect business sense on how to make money in small-town radio.  He had worked as an announcer and knew his way around a microphone as well.

Dave was such a success financially with his operation in Martinsville, his financial adviser pushed Dave to invest his money.  He knew nothing other than radio, so he started buying radio stations and had 30 stations in four states at the time of his death.

I was programming a station in Central Indiana during the late 1970s when it became clear that the station was up for sale and there would likely be no place for me when the new owner took control.  I went back and worked for Dave for about a year in the late 1970s.  One of the hardest things I ever had to do was tell Dave I was leaving to be the morning news anchor in Columbus, Indiana.  Dave and I hadn’t seen eye-to-eye on everything, but overall Mr. Keister treated me very well.

I sent Dave a congratulatory letter when he was honored by the Indiana Broadcasters Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor he richly deserved.

My heart goes out to Dave’s family.  Normally, I wouldn’t miss his funeral, but in the circumstances in which we live today, there likely will not be a traditional service for him.

When I think back to my 15-year career in radio broadcasting, Dave Keister was one of the biggest personalities I had to pleasure to work under.  I hope the City of Martinsville finds a special way to honor the memory of Dave Keister.

Since a number of us are staying-in-place at home, here are a couple of coronavirus items with a local slant.

First, there has been an ongoing back and forth between the Hamilton County Health Department and the publisher of the Hamilton County Reporter, Jeff Jellison.

It all started with Jellison writing a commentary in his newspaper, urging the Hamilton County Health Department to be more specific about where coronavirus positive tests and deaths are happening within the county.  He offered the front page of his paper for health officials to make their case.

The Health Department released a statement that Jellison published on the front page of the Reporter, arguing that health privacy laws would prevent such a disclosure, and could expose the county to litigation if such information was released.

On the front page of the Reporter’s April 7th edition, Jellison openly questioned whether the law is the reason for the lack of transparency or is the Hamilton County Health Department “hiding behind the law” to keep this information private.

I would suspect this discussion is not over.

On another matter, the Hamilton East Library may be physically closed, but both the Noblesville and Fishers Library parking lots will have hotspot WiFi available to anyone needing it.  For a map of the spots, use this link.

For more on the online offerings from the Hamilton East Libraries, use this link.

Allow me one piece of good news non-coronavirus related.  Congratulations to HSE High School’s Mabor Majak for being named to the Indiana High School All-Star basketball team.  A well-deserved honor!

Social media around Fishers has had a number of people wanting to support local businesses, particularly restaurants offering delivery or carry-out service.

The City of Fishers has put together such a listing, and it is available online at this link.

The COVID-19 virus is resulting in more local cancellations.  This time, it is the Spark Fishers Festival scheduled for late June that will not be held this year.  Also, in this podcast, I talk about how so many of us need sports at this time but it is also canceled for who knows how long.  Finally, a look at keeping our local Hamilton County news sources viable through these tough economic times.

Health experts and government leaders, all the way from the White House down to City Hall, have been clear about the need to practice social distancing.  How are people doing in Fishers?

I’ve been watching, and have a few thoughts on the matter.