The City of Fishers announced that 141st Street would be a right-in right-out configuration, on an interim basis, allowing only right turns and preventing motorists from crossing State Road 37 using 141st.  The city provided an update Friday, saying the transition to the right-in right-out on 141st Street would begin Wednesday, January 11, as long as weather does not get in the way.

Below is the full statement from the City of Fishers:

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A pre-construction phase at SR 37 & 141st Street is anticipated to begin on Wednesday, January 11, weather permitting. During this phase, 141st Street will be transitioned to a Right-In-Right-Out (RIRO) traffic configuration. This is not the permanent configuration. This will allow for traffic to flow more freely along SR 37 until the next phases of construction can be activated. This will eliminate all backups along SR 37 that have caused dangerous stops to the free flow traffic and backups on the 146th Street interchange. Again, this is not the permanent configuration for 141st Street. The full timeline for the 141st Street interchange will be provided after project bids are accepted in the Fall of 2023. View detour routes here.

John DeLucia is a Navy veteran, served 8 years on the Hamilton Southeastern School Board, and now wants to serve on the Fishers City Council.

DeLucia announced his candidacy Friday for the North Central District council seat, currently held by Democrat Crystal Neumann.  DeLucia will be running as a Republican in the May 2nd primary election.

“I have long recognized Fishers as a great place to live and work” said DeLucia in a campaign news release. “I chose to settle here with my family and I want to bring that experience to the city council, as well as a vision for the future to encourage others to join our community. I try to serve others in all that I do, and that is just the type of attitude I will carry with me to the Fishers City Council.”

DeLucia says he is running as another way to serve his community.  “I previously served on the school board, and now my goal is to help grow Fishers, while fostering our important existing relationships with our small and medium sized businesses,”  DeLucia said.

Local charitable work and volunteering as a mentor are examples of Mr. Delucia’s local community involvement.

Fishers has had only one mayor since becoming a city in 2015, Scott Fadness.  Thursday, the mayor made it official – he plans to run for another term as mayor.

“Over the last several years, Fishers has experienced transformative growth and investment, and we’ve built a community that is vibrant, thriving, and entrepreneurial all while maintaining best-in-class city services and a solid financial foundation,” Fadness said in a news release from his campaign. “To build on this momentum and accelerate Fishers further into the future, I will continue to embrace innovation, seize opportunities, and lead with bold vision for our city.”

The statement from the Fadness campaign talks about his focus on “growing a sustainable and vibrant economy while building a desirable community with unique and modern amenities.”  The campaign also highlights the city’s accomplishments under his leadership in the areas of public safety, quality of life and fiscal responsibility.

No other candidate has announced an intention to run for Mayor of Fishers, in the Republican or Democratic primary election, set for May 2nd.

Ken Alexander was elected to the Hamilton County council in 2018, and in 2023 he will serve as Council President.  Amy Massillamany will serve as Vice President.

Election of officers is a matter before the council as the calendar year begins.

The Council added two new members following the 2022 election…Mark Hall and Tim Griffin.

Candidates have begun to officially file for the May 2nd Fishers city primary elections.  Wednesday was the first day to file.  Here are the filings as of close of business Wednesday, the first day to file, all in the Republican primary:

–Selina Stoller, the incumbent city council member from the northwest district, filed her paperwork to run for another term

–David Giffel was elected by a party caucus to fill the remainder of David George’s term on the council when Mr. George resigned his seat.  Giffel a officially filed as a candidate in the southwest district.

–Tiffanie Ditlevson has filed for an at-large council seat.  She holds a number of appointed positions, including a seat the Hamilton East Library Board.

–Daniel Henke, the incumbent city judge, has filed to run for another term in that office.

Several other candidates have announced their intention to run, but have until the deadline of February 3rd to make that official.

I receive many news releases, and try to re-write them when I am able.  But this release from the Fishers Arts Council tells the story of artist Annette Pomeroy Parssi so well, I decided the share the release in its entirety, below.

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Some years ago, after the birth of her first daughter, Jeannette was visiting her mother in Cincinnati. Prior to that visit, Jeannette had never done any painting. Her mother, however, was taking an oil painting class, and she suggested that Jeannette try oil painting using her mother’s easel, canvas, and paints while Jeannette’s baby took a nap. Jeannette recalls that the next time she looked up from the easel and paints, it was 3:00 A.M.–and she was forever hooked on painting. She still keeps that first painting in her studio, “as a reminder that everyone has to start with a first mark.”

Her current series, “Impressions,” will be on display at the Art Gallery at the Collaboration Hub

in January and consists of paintings finished in 2022 and inspired by her visit to the Loire Valley in France in May and to the American Southwest in August. In fact, she loved her experience so much that she is preparing to lead a group of people on a creative trip back to the Loire Valley.

Jeannette says that creativity runs in her family. Her mother began painting when she was in her 60’s. Jeannette’s grandfather was a trained concert pianist. Her father was a ceramicist. Her oldest daughter is a professional photographer and music director, and her youngest daughter is a dancer and musical performer.

In addition to creating her own works of art, Jeannette works as a drawing and painting instructor at Nickel Plate Arts and continues to lead workshops at Ignite Studios. She also teaches painting and drawing–in person and online–at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan and teaches privately in her own home studio.

Join the party at our Second Friday reception on January 13 from 6-8pm at the Collaboration Hub at 11810 Technology Drive in Fishers and meet Jeannette, enjoy her wonderful art, relax to jazz guitar by Steve Newby, and take part in our refreshments and cash bar. This event is welcome to all ages – plus we’ll hold a special interview segment with Jeannette at 6:45pm. We’ll see you on Second Friday.

It was nearly two years ago that Fishers City Councilor Jocelyn Vare made a statement at a City Council meeting about the lack of diversity among the council’s appointments to boards and commissions.  Councilor Vare has issued a statement Tuesday saying 47 Fishers residents applied for appointments to local boards and commissions, but none were appointed by the Council.  The City Council President has a different view.

Vare points to the minutes of the only City Council Rules Committee meeting that has been held since that body was created, listing recommended appointments.  The vote to approve the list of appointments was unanimous among the Rules Committee members  The full Council will vote on the appointments at the January 17 meeting.

Councilor Vare pulled no punches in expressing her views on the current state of appointments.

“It is clear from this two-year-long journey that the current city administration and majority of the city council do not take the responsibility (of) board and commission appointments seriously,” wrote Vare in her statement. “The Republican majority is determined to control these appointments and (has) no concern about a lack of transparency. They are not serving the entire community. They are serving themselves and hope you don’t notice.”

City Council President John Weingardt responded that the appointment listing approved by the Rules Committee re-appointed people he and the Council majority believe are doing a good job in their appointed roles.  If there are openings on these boards and commissions, Weingardt says the 47 people with applications on file will be considered.

When asked how the Council majority evaluates the job each appointee is doing in their respective duties, Weingardt said that evaluation is an ongoing process throughout the year.  The council members receive feedback on the way each appointee handles the duties assigned, according to Weingardt.

The job the appointees are doing is reflected in how the city is doing, according to the Council President, which Weingardt describes as good work based on the progress the city has made in the past year

The Martin Luther King holiday is January 16, and there is a new push to collect food for local food banks in honor of that holiday in 2023.  Amy Crell and Stephanie Perry from the City of Fishers talk about that and more in this podcast.

The City of Fishers issued another reminder about what is to come soon on 141st Street at State Road 37.  Beginning soon, although a specific date in January has not been provided, motorists will no longer be allowed to cross State Road 37 at 141st.  141st Street will be a right-in right-out only configureation at that location.

Below is the latest city missive, issued Friday:

A pre-construction phase at SR 37 & 141st Street will begin in January. During this phase, 141st Street will be transitioned to a Right-In-Right-Out (RIRO) traffic configuration. This is not the permanent configuration. This will allow for traffic to flow more freely along SR 37 until the next phases of construction can be activated. This will eliminate all backups along SR 37 that have caused dangerous stops to the free flow traffic and backups on the 146th Street interchange. Again, this is not the permanent configuration for 141st Street. The full timeline for the 141st Street interchange will be provided after project bids are accepted in the Fall of 2023. View detour routes here. 

As 2022 draws to a close, it is once again time for me to list the top 15 Fishers news stories of the year.  As I write every year, this is my list and my list alone.  Most news organizations have endless, stormy meetings about a list like this.  Since I write this blog alone, the list is mine alone.

I do  not present myself as the expert on this and realize many of you will disagree with some of what I listed and what is not included here, and that is fine.  Something like this normally provokes discussion and, yes, sometimes, arguments.

So, feel free to react in any way you wish, but here we go, my top 15 Fishers news stories for 2022:

15.  Geist Waterfront Park unveiled  The city completed this new park on Geist Reservoir just in time for winter.  So, the Parks & Recreation Department allowed people to walk around the new facility, even if the weather may not be the best.  So, on a cold, windy November Saturday, more than 500 people braved the conditions to have a look at the latest local park.  The ribbon-cutting for Geist Waterfront Park is expected in March of 2023.

14.  John Wechsler moves on  John Wechsler founded Launch Fishers, a very successful co-working space.  John has moved on from day-to-day work at Launch to join a startup firm “spokenote,” a company that adds a video touch to almost any product.  Mayor Scott Fadness awarded the Key to the City to Wechsler during 2022.

13.  HSE Schools lose case at Indiana Supreme Court  Fishers High School Varsity Football Coach Rick Wimmer was suspended more than 6 years ago, and Television Station WTHR’s investigative unit in the news department took HSE Schools to court when the TV station did not believe it received a response consistent with law, revealing the factual basis for Mr. Wimmer’s suspension.  The Indiana Supreme Court Justices ruled unanimously that the HSE Schools must disclose more facts about that suspension.

12.  Verizon 5G towers  Fishers was chosen to be one of the first communities in the state to begin the move toward very fast 5G wireless Internet connections through towers placed in neighborhoods.  As the requests were filed with the city, most were approved but some were not if the placement would, for example, ruin a homeowner’s view out a large window.  Many neighborhoods and individual residents complained about the placement of many 5G towers, but state & federal law limited the city’s ability to deny a tower request.     In April, Verizon stopped filing requests for 5G towers in Fishers with no explanation.

11.  Fishers Marching Tiger Band going to the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade  It was a big day for the Fishers High School marching band when it was announced the Tigers would participate in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

10.  State Road 37 construction progress   Interchanges along State Road 37 at 131st & 146th Streets were opened in 2022, which was a relief to local motorists.  However, there is one point along that highway in Fishers yet to be completed.  High inflation, supply chain issues and a worker shortage led to bids for the roundabout on 141st Street to be far above any estimate.  City officials described the bids as “not serious.”  With underpasses at State Road 37 at 126th, 131st & 146th Streets, drivers were not expecting the stop light at 141st Street, leading to a number of accidents in that area.  Fishers plans to convert 141st Street to a right-in right-out as an a “interim” measure.  A new round of bidding is expected for the 141st Street interchange roundabout in August of 2023.

9.  City Council approves Food & Beverage Tax  Fishers plans to construct an Events Center (see #4) and to make the financing package work, Mayor Scott Fadness proposed a Food & Beverage Tax to partially handle the bond payments on the new facility.  All municipalities around Fishers already charge this 1% tax on restaurant meals.  The City Council enacted the tax in 2022.

8.  Nickel Plate Trail tunnel opens underneath 116th Street  One major component of opening the Nickel Plate Trail in Fishers was how to handle 116th Street, one of the busiest roadways in the city.  Fishers completed construction of the tunnel allowing those using the trail to travel underneath 116th Street.  The trail has been a busy place ever since.

7.  $98 million development northwest of 96th Street & Allisonville Road  Big changes are coming to that area.  A roundabout will replace the “Michigan Left” at 96th Street an Allisonville Road.  A new city park and a large commercial development area are planned along the White River in that far south part of Fishers.  The commercial development is expected to total about $98 million.

6.  Police officer Noah Shahnavaz dies in the line of duty  Officer Shahnavaz was a Fishers High School graduate and was serving as a police officer in Elwood when he was shot and killed in the line of duty.  The suspect in his murder was stopped and arrested in Fishers.

5.  Fishers kicks off Sesquicentennial celebration   Fishers began as a community when a man named Salathial Fisher began developing the area 150 years ago.  2022 started the celebration and it will continue into 2023.

4.  Fishers announces over $1 billion in new developments  Although the work had been months in the making, the City of Fishers announced a list of developments totaling more than $1 billion.  This includes an expansion of the Fishers District development by Thompson Thrift, a new Events Center next door to be constructed by the city, a major expansion for the Italian the life-science firm Stevanato, and a new headquarters for Andretti Motorsports at the airport next to Ritchey Woods.  In addition, during 2022, the city announced a new condo development on 116th Street next to the Nickel Plate Trail, with some units priced at $1 million.

3.  Fishers announced a new City Hall with a major Arts Center  IN 2022, Fishers announced a complex to be constructed as a major Arts Center and a new City Hall wrapped into one new structure.  The old City Hall was demolished and ground was broken for the new facility.  The new Arts Center/City Hall is projected to be finished in the spring of 2024.

2.  COVID  The novel coronavirus has been with us for more than 2 years.  As 2022 began, COVID was continuing to spread with more mutations.  As the year continued, the vaccine was improved to include the latest variant and treatments also became more effective.  COVID is still around, but less a part of our lives as 2022 draws to a close.

And, now the Number 1 news story for 2022 was..

The November Election  Many will argue – why choose this as the biggest story of the year?  Locally, the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District is a key component in the fabric of the local community.  The 4 new school board members elected in 2022 will consist of the majority on the 7-member board.  This is an election that will have a major impact on our local school corporation for the next four years.  For that reason, I have chosen the school board election as the number one story of 2022.

So, there you have it.  My top 15 Fishers news stories for 2022.  Plenty of news stories could not be included just because I had to limit the list to 15.  And, if you do not agree with this listing, either what’s on the list or the order in which they are listed, feel free to comment.

2023 will be a very busy year, with the new majority on the school board and all the projects under construction in 2023, it will be worth keeping an eye on the local news scene.  And, health permitting, I will be there to cover it.