I have never visited Australia but have known many people that have spent time there. To a person, each enjoyed the land down under.

Australia is a democracy, but they do things differently.  For example, if you are eligible to vote, the law says you must vote.  If you choose not to cast a ballot, you must pay a fine.

Australia is now making world-wide news for a very different reason.  Both houses of  parliament have passed a measure New York Times reporter Victoria Kim describes as “a sweeping ban on social media for children under 16, one of the world’s most comprehensive measures aimed at safeguarding young people from potential hazards online.”

I have read a number of articles and other missives, many from well-credentialed academics, providing data that clearly show social media is harming the youth in America.  On that point, most everyone agrees.

Where academics have not done so well is provide a solution to the problem.  There is no consensus on what the solution, or solutions, might be.

So, is Australia’s solution one the rest of the world should follow?  Time will tell, and the world will be watching closely.

One question I had when reading the headline was how this will work.  How will Australia enforce and police this ban?  After all, young people, in my experience, are normally very good at getting around any roadblocks to technology they want to access.

Based on Times reporter Kim’s story, Australia will not be policing those under 16 or their parents.  Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his government will be looking to enforcement of this law at the level of the social media companies.

According to the Times, failure by those firms to take “reasonable steps” at preventing the under-16 crowd access could be fined up to 49.5 million Australian dollars (about $32 million in U.S. currency) for “systemic failures to implement age requirements.”

The details of how this will all work should be interesting.  Reporter Kim describes the Australian system as a form of “digital carding.”  It is still unclear exactly which social media sites will be covered by this new law.

The whole world will be watching, including America.  If the Aussies have success with this system, will we be next?  We shall see.

This is the 13th time I have written about Thanksgiving Day since starting this volunteer Fishers local news blog in 2012.  Giving thanks is something I attempt to do in my own mind each and every day.  At my age, I am mostly thankful each morning I awaken to another day.

My wife Jane, daughters Allison & Mary, my siblings and many in-laws are all special people and worthy of thanks for being in my life.  I value my many friendships.  But being grandpa to Dakota, Callie and Maya is such a joy, it is carved-out for special thanks.

I sometimes reflect on the time I started this blog in January, 2012.  There wasn’t much media covering the (then) Town of Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools at that time.  Having spent many years in the 1970s & early 1980s as a local news reporter, I decided my volunteer activity as a retiree would be writing a news blog with original reporting, based on attending local meetings and speaking with local people.  In early 2016, I started the podcast series featuring local people.

At the outset, my goals were modest.  If I could get just a few hundred readers for this endeavor, I would call it a success.  I greatly underestimated the demand for local news in Fishers.  My audience grew over the years.

In my view, the most accurate measure of a blog audience is unique visitors, measuring how many people access the Web site at least once during a calendar year.  I went from hoping to get an audience of a few hundred, to the thousands, to the tens of thousands.  With one month to go in 2024, I have already exceeded last year’s record-setting number for unique visitors.  If the trend continues, I could reach 100,000 unique visitors in 2024.

That incredible number tells me you, the readers of this blog, find what I write of value to you.  For that, I am just so thankful.

I have tried to quit this blog twice, because it is a lot of work.  But each time, the outcry from you, the readers, convinced me to stay with this.  I will admit, at age 73, there are days I wonder how much longer I can continue this project as a one-man-band.  But I think of you reading this and realize my work is important.  For that, I am thankful.

I wish everyone reading this has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  I plan to stay home and away from all shopping areas on Black Friday.

Thanks for reading!

The Indy Fuel hit the road to West Valley City, Utah, for their first matchup against the Utah Grizzlies in six years,  emerging victorious with a 4-2 win. Showing scoring depth and resilience, the Fuel outshot the Grizzlies 32-24 and overcame a season-high 42 penalty minutes to secure the win.

First Period: Hausinger Strikes First

The game started on a tense note as Indy’s Chris Cameron was penalized for interference just 45 seconds in. However, the Fuel’s penalty kill proved solid, not allowing Utah a single shot during the power play.

At 12:51, Cam Hausinger opened the scoring with his third goal of the season, assisted by Brandon Saigeon and Darby Llewellyn. The Fuel dominated the period, outshooting the Grizzlies 11-2 while successfully killing another penalty late in the frame.

Second Period: Burke’s Revenge

The second period showcased Nathan Burke’s determination against his former team. At 3:26, Burke netted a goal with assists from Bryan Lemos and Andrew Bellant, extending his goal streak to two games. Utah responded at 8:13 with a goal from Gianni Fairbrother, but the Fuel quickly regained control.

Burke struck again at 15:30, assisted by Lemos and Cameron, to make it 3-1. A heated moment followed when Hausinger dropped gloves with Fairbrother, who incurred an additional penalty for removing his jersey pads during the fight. The Fuel capitalized on the power play, with Colin Bilek scoring to extend the lead to 4-1. Lemos tallied his third assist of the night, and Burke tallied his third point.

Third Period: Record-Breaking Drama

The final period saw heightened physicality. Just minutes in, Hausinger cemented his place in the Fuel’s record books by accumulating 32 penalty minutes in a single game, surpassing the previous franchise record of 28. The Grizzlies attempted to claw back, with Tyson Upper scoring his first professional goal at 15:27, narrowing the deficit to 4-2.

Despite pulling their goalie late in the game, Utah could not close the gap. The Fuel’s defense and goaltender Luke Gaudreau held firm, killing off another penalty in the final seconds.

Looking Ahead

The win not only highlighted the Fuel’s offensive firepower but also their ability to handle adversity in a penalty-heavy contest. Indy will look to carry this momentum into their next two games against Utah on Friday and Saturday before returning home.

Game Stats
Shots on Goal: Indy 32, Utah 24
Power Play Goals: Indy 1, Utah 0
Penalty Minutes: Indy 42, Utah 25

The City of Fishers issued its weekly road construction report a few days early due to the Thanksgiving holiday.  The biggest item confirms the roundabout at 141st Street and Prairie Lakes, just east of State Road 37, is schedule to open for traffic on Wednesday afternoon, November 27.

Here is the full report for the work week starting December 2, but includes road closures for Thanksgiving events:

Continue reading Fishers area road construction report →

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board voted 6-1 Tuesday evening, approving the contract with the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) for the 2024-2025 school year.  District teachers ratified the contract with 96% of teachers voting in favor of the pact.

In explaining her no vote, board member Tiffany Pascoe was critical of behavior by some in the audience at past school board meetings.  She also criticized HSEA for supporting some school board candidates in the last election through a political action committee (PAC).  In addition, Pascoe cited an Unfair Labor Practice filing by HSEA as criticism of the local teachers’ union.

On the other hand, board member Sarah Donsbach commended the work by the teachers’ association and district administrators in hammering out a collective bargaining agreement by the state deadline, avoiding mediation.

The board also approved insurance rates for health, dental and vision plans.  Extra incentives are provided to allow employees to choose a high-deductible health insurance plan with a Health Savings Account.  Employees can choose their plans during an open enrollment period, December 4-11.

The Humane Society for Hamilton County (HSHC) is calling on animal lovers to open their homes and hearts this Black Friday. The shelter will hold a special adoption event on November 29 from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m., offering discounted adoption fees of just $10.00 for all eligible pets. The fee includes a free one-month supply of heartworm, flea, and tick preventatives, as well as a 10% discount on pet insurance.

Adoptable pets from HSHC come fully vetted, including spay/neuter surgery, microchipping, at least one round of age-appropriate vaccinations, a starter bag of food, and a complimentary wellness exam with a participating veterinarian.

The event, themed “Fill Your Hearts, Not Your Carts,” is aimed at easing the shelter’s overcrowding crisis. Currently housing over 400 animals, HSHC is operating well beyond capacity, with daily arrivals of owner-surrendered and stray animals outpacing adoptions.

“As the shelter continues operating beyond its intended capacity, and pet adoptions are outnumbered every day by new arrivals, the emotional well-being of these animals is declining rapidly,” said Rebecca Stevens, President and CEO of HSHC. “Only those willing to adopt a shelter animal, or add another one to their packs, can save these animals now.”

HSHC is particularly concerned for six animals who are at risk of irreversible emotional decline if they are not adopted soon. These pets, along with hundreds of others of various breeds, ages, and sizes, are waiting for loving homes.

“We need the community to understand that only a steady and continued stream of pet adoptions can help HSHC sustain the number of owner-surrendered and stray animals arriving each day,” Stevens explained. “The shelter is not a forever home, but so many are waiting to the point their health declines—forcing us to consider unthinkable alternatives.”

For those planning to attend the event, HSHC recommends bringing the following items:

• A completed application available at hshcadoptions.com.
• All family members.
• Any current dogs for meet-and-greets.
• Proof of your landlord’s pet policy (if applicable).
• A government-issued ID.

The Humane Society hopes this Black Friday initiative will inspire community members to prioritize giving a home to a pet in need over retail shopping. For more details on the event and adoptable animals, visit HSHC’s website.

Here is the link to the video version of my conversation with WFYI’s Rachel Fradette.

Indiana lawmakers will gather in Downtown Indianapolis in early 2025 for a budget session of the General Assembly.  I talked with Rachel Fradette, education reporter for public radio station WFYI in Indianapolis, about how education may be impacted by legislators as tey fashion the state’s 2-year spending plan.

The Fishers AgriPark, a 33-acre urban farm and popular community destination, is set to expand with the addition of new facilities following an $800,000 investment. The upgrades include indoor restrooms, classroom and programming space, and a country store to enrich the visitor experience.

The new multi-purpose building will be constructed near the property’s entrance, west of the existing barn, and is scheduled for completion by May 2025. While operational by then, certain features, including the country store, will open later in the year.

“This addition reflects our commitment to making the Fishers AgriPark a premier destination for education, engagement, and enjoyment,” said Marissa Deckert, Director of Fishers Parks. “The new amenities will not only enhance convenience but also provide more opportunities for interactive programming and hands-on experiences for visitors of all ages.”

The expansion will enhance the AgriPark’s offerings with space for workshops, school programs, and community events. The country store and a coffee shop will provide specialty and seasonal products from local vendors, with the store projected to open in 2026.

This announcement follows a record-breaking year for the AgriPark, which welcomed over 35,000 visitors, 30% of whom were first-time guests. Participants harvested more than 150,000 pounds of produce, including sweet corn and vegetable plants, while thousands engaged in educational activities like the U-pick program and animal encounters.

Owned and operated by Fishers Parks, the AgriPark connects visitors to the city’s agricultural heritage. It offers attractions such as fields, gardens, animal encounters, and a sensory nature play area, creating a unique combination of farming, education, and entertainment. The site also collaborates with Hamilton Southeastern Schools to deliver agricultural and sustainability programs for students.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness emphasized the significance of the project. “The addition of the new building is part of Fishers Parks’ ongoing efforts to enhance the AgriPark’s role as a community resource,” he said. “With upgraded facilities and new features, the AgriPark will continue to connect residents and visitors to the land, the food they eat, and the importance of sustainable agriculture.”

For project updates and upcoming events, visit FishersParks.com/AgriPark or follow the AgriPark on Facebook and Instagram.