Sometimes people ask me how I decide what to ask Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness when he appears as a guest on one of my podcasts.  The more important question is, what do I leave out?  There is so much going on in and around Fishers I can aske a very long list of questions.

But, keeping the podcast to around 30 minutes, you can listen to the pod I recorded with the mayor Friday morning.  We discussed the local school board election, the Event Center opening this month, road construction, a proposed noise ordinance and much more.  Listen at the link below.

The Fishers Freight Indoor Football League franchise will begin its very first season on the road in Northern Arizona March 29.  The first home game at the Fishers Event Center will be against Tulsa April 4.

You can find a more detailed 2025 schedule at this link.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness announced Wednesday that Mike Lindbloom will be the director of the city’s first-ever community center, slated to open in the fall of next year. Lindbloom, a longtime Fishers resident, brings over 15 years of leadership experience in the health and fitness industry to the role.

“I’m excited as we take the next step toward opening the Fishers Community Center with a solid leader who embodies our Culture of Health initiative and embraces our vision for Fishers’ next chapter,” said Mayor Fadness. “Mike brings years of experience in leadership and supporting others in achieving their health and fitness goals. I can’t wait to see him bring our vision to life and help us unveil this major new community amenity next fall.”

Located at Hoosier Road and 121st Street, the 105,000-square-foot community center will feature a wide range of amenities designed to support the Fishers Culture of Health initiative, which aims to foster a healthier community for residents of all ages. The facility will include an aquatics center, gymnasium with courts for basketball, pickleball, and volleyball, an indoor walking track, indoor playground, and a three-acre dog park. It will also house a fitness and wellness center, Sahm’s Community Café, Fishers Health Department clinic and offices, and the Outside the Box adult day program, among other amenities.

Lindbloom’s background includes roles as executive director at the Shelby County YMCA and MHP Community Wellness Center, where he managed daily operations and community health programs. He also held leadership positions at the Fishers YMCA and Ransburg YMCA and served as a wellness director. Prior to his YMCA career, Lindbloom worked at the Indiana State Department of Health, focusing on community health and obesity reduction. He holds a master’s degree in exercise science from Miami University and a bachelor’s degree in recreation from Truman State University.

“I am extremely excited to see the Fishers Community Center taking shape,” Lindbloom said. “The Fishers Community Center will be a tremendous community asset that provides an inclusive space that promotes health, community, and wellness for both residents and non-residents. I feel now, more than ever, that providing high-quality recreational experiences plays a major role in helping our community continue to thrive.”

One of Lindbloom’s first tasks as director will be to hire a Membership Manager, who will focus on membership acquisition and retention. Memberships, available to both residents and non-residents, will go on sale in early 2025.

For more details on the Fishers Community Center, visit FishersIN.gov/CommunityCenter, or for information on the Membership Manager position, see FishersIN.gov/Jobs.

Jason Urban has been the principal at Fishers High School for 17 years, but has now been moved to a new job in the school district’s central office – Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education.

Jason Urban talks about his years at Fishers High School and what he will be doing in his new job in this podcast conversation with Larry.

The City of Fishers and the Fishers Armed Services Commission will host their annual Veterans Day Ceremony Monday, November 11, at 11 a.m. The event will take place in the Fishers City Hall Theater (1 Municipal Drive) and aims to honor local veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice.

The ceremony is free and open to the public, though advance registration is required due to limited seating. For those unable to attend in person, a live stream will be available on the City of Fishers Facebook page.

This year’s guest speaker, Doug Melville, is an accomplished author, Forbes contributor, TEDx speaker, and a prominent voice in international equity and inclusion. His recent book, Invisible Generals: Rediscovering Family Legacy and a Quest to Honor America’s First Black Generals, debuted as a #1 Best-Selling New Release on Amazon and was recently featured in a PBS NewsHour Classroom Daily News Lesson. Melville’s speech is anticipated to highlight the importance of legacy, diversity, and remembrance within the military community.

The event will feature performances by the Fishers Community Chorus and the White River Brass Troupe, adding musical tributes to the proceedings. Veterans in attendance will also have the opportunity to participate in a special pinning ceremony as a token of appreciation for their service.

Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to join a book signing with Melville in the theater. This segment is hosted by the Hamilton County Community Foundation, giving veterans, families, and community members a chance to connect with the author and gain insight into his work and perspectives on honoring history.

Residents are encouraged to register early to secure their seats.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools and the Hamilton Southeastern Educations Association (HSEA) have been in contract negotiations the past couple of weeks.  HSEA has updated its membership during gatherings before school board meetings, the last held October 23.  Wednesday afternoon, HSE Schools issued a statement about the talks as they stand now.

The HSE statement, from Superintendent Patrick Mapes, expresses a willingness by the school district to consider union proposals, listen to teachers’ concerns, and work toward solutions that benefit both sides.

Mapes points to the funding mechanism for public schools, largely tied to the number of students.  The HSE student population has been slowly declining recently.  “We currently are using cash balances to operate the district,” the statement said, “but it would be irresponsible to rely heavily on these funds for a contract agreement.”

Mapes argues the administration contract proposal offers teachers more than additional funding coming from the state.  “In hard financial times, we remain committed to providing base salary increases that have a lasting impact for teachers,” said the district.

Mapes points out that the bargaining deadline is November 15 and says HSE is available almost daily to continue the talks.  If no agreement is reached by November 15, both sides enter into a fact finding process with the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board.

In updating teachers October 23, the HSEA bargaining team said they had made major concessions in their latest proposal at that time.  The most recent social media post from HSEA says, “Due to mediation of the ULP and needing for our attorney to be present, we will be rescheduling bargaining.  The district has agreed to provide new dates to the Association in order for us to settle our contract.”

The ULP appears to be unrelated to the contract talks.

Below is the full statement from Superintendent Mapes, posted on the HSE School District’s Web site:

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Continue reading HSE Supt. issues statement on the state of bargaining with local teachers →

The traffic restrictions due to the roundabout construction at 96th Street and Allisonville Road has resulted in traffic backups in the area, but that comes to a halt today.  The long-awaited project is now complete and traffic at the roundabout is open in all directions.

The roundabout replaces a Michigan Left configuration, which was not popular with many area motorists.

However, be aware that more construction on Allisonville Road in Fishers will be coming next year, with a new roundabout scheduled to begin construction at 116th Street.  More details about that construction project are expected later.

Art enthusiasts across Hamilton County can look forward to an immersive evening of creativity, as the second Fishers Gallery Hop takes place on Friday, November 8, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Hosted by the Fishers Arts Council (FAC), Noblesville Creates, and the Fishers Art Center, the event will feature four unique gallery locations, each spotlighting a different artistic experience.

The evening kicks off at 5 p.m. at Meyer Najem’s 2nd Floor Gallery, located at 11787 Lantern Road. Here, the photography of Fishers-based artist Michael Jack will be on display. Jack’s exhibit, titled “Stories from the Coast,” focuses on the landscapes and history of Washington State’s Palouse region—a place of both beauty and loss, due in part to agricultural consolidation. Known for his storytelling through images, Jack’s work at Meyer Najem will be available for viewing until December 27, with a reception lasting until 8 p.m.

At 6 p.m., art lovers can head to the FAC Hub Gallery inside the Hamilton County Community Foundation at 11810 Technology Drive. The “Aspiring Artists” exhibit showcases the work of budding artists aged 6 to 60+ from five Hamilton County art schools, in mediums including painting, photography, and collage. This gallery is a great chance to connect with local art educators from Fishers, Carmel, and Noblesville.

Simultaneously, at 6 p.m., the Art Gallery at City Hall at 1 Municipal Drive will unveil “Small Treasures” by artist Jeremy Mallov. Through small paintings that capture fleeting moments of inspiration, Mallov reveals the beauty he finds in limited time and small spaces. Visitors can then explore the nearby Fishers Art Center’s “Interwoven” exhibit, which showcases sculptural works by Detroit-based Austen Brantley and Indianapolis-based Susan Tennant. Together, Brantley’s culturally rich sculptures and Tennant’s dynamic fiberglass weavings offer a new perspective on human interconnectedness.

The evening’s programming will include live music, refreshments, and opportunities to meet the artists. The JBJ Collective will perform jazz at City Hall, while the guitar duo Maruchan will bring neo-soul vibes to the FAC Hub Gallery. Additionally, at 6:45 p.m., FAC board member Pat Grabill will interview Jeremy Mallov at the Fishers Municipal Center Theater in a “Focus on the Artist” session.

For those eager to make the most of the Gallery Hop, FAC has introduced an added incentive: the first five attendees to visit all four galleries will receive $25 off artwork purchased that night. Gallery Hop cards will be available at each location for participants to track their journey.

This engaging art-filled evening promises to highlight Hamilton County’s creative talent and connect community members through art, music, and conversation. The FAC encourages driving to the furthest gallery to ensure attendees have ample time to enjoy each exhibit. For more information, contact the Fishers Arts Council.