It was called a Revved-Up Rally and it happened last Saturday afternoon at the St. Vincent Hospital Campus in Fishers.  I was unable to attend, but a St. Vincent news release says hundreds of people attended the carnival-like event, featuring Indiana Pacer star Myles Turner.

Mr. Turner and Pacer mascot Boomer surprised Heidi Smith, RN, with a custom Pacers jersey. It bears the number 25 due to her 25-year career at Ascension St. Vincent as a Labor & Delivery nurse.

I should note that St. Vincent Hospital in Fishers will always have a special meaning to me.  I was hospitalized there with a serious illness about 3 years ago.  The physicians and nurses brought me out of a bad health situation.  They are the only reason I am able to sit down and write this blog post.

When four new Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) school board members assumed office at the start of 2023, it was assumed there would be changes.  That has been the case, particularly in school administrators.

Many will remember the September 2023 resignation of Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Stokes with the board agreeing to pay the remainder of her contract (several months).  Other central office administrators have also chosen to leave.  They include: Kim Lippe, now principal at Brownsburg High School….Nataki Pettigrew left as Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Director at HSE to assume the same position with Washington Township Schools in Marion County (the new HSE superintendent says the DEI position will be eliminated here)…Michelle Brittain-Watts left HSE to take the job of President and CEO of Edison School of the Arts in Indianapolis.

At a recent HSE Board meeting, approval was given to the resignations of Katy Dowling as Chief Financial Officer and Jimmy Lake as Chief Operations Officer.  The board document attached to the meeting agenda indicated the remainder of their contracts will be paid in full.

With the exception of Dr. Brittain-Watts, I came to know each of those administrators and admired each for their professionalism and dedication to their duties as HSE Schools.  I wish them all well in their future endeavors.

There was one resignation that did not come from the HSE Central Office but will have a major impact on students attending Fishers Junior High School.  Dr. Crystal Thorpe has left her position as principal at FJHS to accept a central office position with Washington Township.  I was very impressed with Dr. Thorpe after recording a podcast with her about 3 years ago (listen here).  A significant measure of a building principal’s effectiveness comes from the teaching staff, and the feedback from the FJHS teachers tells me they are all very sorry to see Dr. Thorpe go.

With the new majority on the HSE School Board in office just over a year, one should expect more changes to come.

It is no surprise that Scott Fadness is supporting Brad Chambers in the crowded Indiana Republican primary gubernatorial field.  After all, our Fishers mayor has been hosting fund-raising events for candidate Chambers.

Fadness has authored an Op-Ed piece for the Indianapolis Star published online March 28.  He argues that Chambers is the person needed to lead the Hoosier state as our next governor.  Read the opinion piece at this link.

Fadness lists what he describes as “significant challenges” our state must overcome:

–A failing education system

–Slow wage growth

–An antiquated economy

–High health care costs

–An ever-growing inclination to settle for the status quo

and

–A resignation that things won’t change for the better.

Chambers’ credentials as an entrepreneur are cited in the piece, and we know Fadness is drawn to those of the entrepreneurial class.  Launch Fishers is an excellent example.  Our mayor has a record of being a risk-taker and he sees Chambers as one willing to take risks.

Fadness has attracted firms from around the world to locate in Fishers, with the Italian company Stevanato Group recently constructing a large facility in the city.  Fadness argues that Indiana must be competitive not just nationally, but world-wide.

Chambers’ record during his tenure as Indiana secretary of commerce is cited by Fadness as a major reason to support his campaign for governor.  Fadness seems to argue that Chambers possesses conservative values but will do what’s best for Indiana aside from political ideology.

Having covered Scott Fadness since his days as Fishers Town Manager, there is no question he and Brad Chambers share a number of key approaches to governance.  But our mayor, as a risk-taker, is taking a very big risk by backing one candidate for governor at this stage of the campaign.

If Brad Chambers is elected governor, Scott Fadness will have an important seat at the table when decisions are made at the state level.  That would be a plus for Fishers as a city.

But the risk is this – what if Chambers is not elected?  If that happens, Fadness will not have that important seat at the table.  After all, there are 5 other candidates for the Republican nomination with at least 3 of them as well-funded as Chambers.

Another risk is listing what Fadness believes are challenges in Indiana, as I noted above.  The Republican Party in Indiana has controlled state government for at least 20 years.  Other Republicans may take issue with that stance.

I have no problem with a mayor willing to take calculated risks.  Fishers is full of developments because Mayor Fadness has been been willing to take risks.

It will be interesting to watch the risk Mayor Fadness has made in the Republican primary for governor once the election results of the May 7 primary election are known.

One can sense a different vibe around the Fishers area when spring break arrives.  Traffic congestion is a little less, restaurants are less busy and it is just a more laid-back atmosphere.  Not all families in the area leave town for spring break, but many do.

For families with students attending Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools, spring break had an early start with a flex day away from classes March 29.  There will be another day tacked onto spring break Monday, April 8, as Fishers will be in the “Path of Totality” for the solar eclipse.

One thing public safety agencies throughout the area are saying is this…if you plan to return home from spring break on Monday, April 8, brace yourself for lots of traffic congestion, which has been the experience of other communities within the solar eclipse Path of Totality.

All-in-all, enjoy spring break.  It is a good time of the year.

Saturday, March 30th is Pacers Day at the St. Vincent’s Hospital in Fishers.

You can meet Pacers center Myles Turner, the Pacemates, and Boomer. The event also features an afternoon of family fun including prize wheels, face painters, balloon artists, inflatable games, a caricature artist, food, and more, weather permitting. Ascension St. Vincent staff will also walk visitors through our new Surgical Robot, enabling surgeons to perform more precise and less invasive general and gynecologic surgeries. Visitors can “try out” the robot as well.

This all happens Saturday, March 30, 2-4pm, Ascension St. Vincent Fishers, Door #1, 13861 Olio Road, Fishers, IN 46037.  All are welcome.

As the weather warms, the road construction listing grows larger for the Fishers area.  Note that the roundabout construction at 96th Street & Allisonville Road is added to this week’s report.

Here is the weekly update, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Road Construction update for the work week starting April 1 →

The Michigan Left will soon be no more, replaced by a roundabout at 96th Street & Allisonville Road.  In a social media post, Fishers officials say the work will begin April 1, with the west side of 96th Street to be closed on or after April 9.

The new roundabout will be 2 lanes, adjacent to the new River Place Development.  The roundabout construction is anticipated to be complete by the end of this year.

If you pay attention to neighborhood social media posts in and around Fishers, there are many instances documented where “Porch Pirates” are active.

According to the Fishers Police Department, Porch Pirates prey on homes after packages are dropped at your door while residents are away.

FPD offers some tips to keep your family from being victimized by these “Pirates:”

The City of Fishers is a Commemorative Partner of the Vietnam War Commemoration, and the city’s Armed Services Commission will sponsor a recognition of National Vietnam War Veterans Day.  The free event is set for Friday, March 29, 10am.  The ceremony will be held at Knowledge Services, 9800 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis.

The commemoration is free & open to everyone.

The program honors veterans and their families who served during the Vietnam War period and includes an address by guest speaker Brigadier General Kenneth Hubbard (Ret.).  A Vietnam Veteran lapel pin presentation is a part of the March 29 program.

In a fusion of athleticism and artistry, Fishers native and Orlando Magic professional basketball player Gary Harris has joined forces with local artist Koda Witsken to unveil two basketball court murals at Brooks School Park. The collaboration aims to inspire the next generation of Indiana basketball talent while adding a vibrant splash of creativity to the community.

The design concept for the murals incorporates vibrant colors, cosmic elements, and Harris’ iconic “GH” brand symbol. These elements, coupled with symbolic out-of-this-world imagery, are intended to ignite the imagination of young athletes and encourage them to strive for greatness.

Harris, a standout player at Hamilton Southeastern High School, expressed his enthusiasm for giving back to his hometown. “My love for basketball began right here in Fishers, in the heart of Indiana. Basketball has given me so much, and I wanted to pay homage to that by bringing these statement-making courts to the community,” said Harris. “Partnering with Koda and the City on this project is a dream come true, and I can’t wait to see the impact it has on future generations.”

Koda Witsken, also a Fishers native, shared her excitement about the project, emphasizing its significance in honoring Harris’ legacy and providing a space for youth players to gather and dream. “This project represents the intersection of sports, art, and culture, where magic truly happens. I’m honored to be a part of it and grateful to Gary and his family for this opportunity,” Witsken said.

The installation of the court murals is scheduled to commence on April 5th and is expected to be completed by May 1st, 2024. To commemorate the mural’s completion, Fishers Parks will host an outdoor 3×3 basketball tournament for ages 16 and older, along with a 3-point competition for ages eight and older, on Saturday, May 18th at Brooks School Park. Registration details will be available soon on the Fishers Parks website.

Marissa Deckert, Director of Fishers Parks, expressed her enthusiasm for the project and its potential to enhance community engagement. “This collaboration between Gary Harris, Koda Witsken, and the City of Fishers embodies the spirit of creativity and inclusivity that we strive for in our parks,” said Deckert. “We’re thrilled to bring this vibrant addition to Brooks School Park and look forward to celebrating with the entire community.”

This project follows the unveiling of a new Art Wall at Brooks School Park in the summer of 2020, which features rotating murals by local artists and students.

For updates and registration information for the upcoming basketball tournament and 3-point competition, interested individuals are encouraged to visit FishersParks.com/BrooksSchoolCourts.