In January of 2023, I will have completed 11 years of writing this local Fishers news blog.  It started out fairly simple and straight-forward:  I would show up at local meetings and write about what happened.

It has morphed into much more than that.  I started producing podcasts over 6 years ago.  Most focus on Fishers, some on entertainment.  It has been quite a journey.

I tried to quit the blog twice and circumstances have brought me back.  I wish I had a nickel for every instance when a local person comes up to me and thanks me for doing what I do.  That’s the reason I couldn’t quit and why the blog continues.

But I have a confession to make.  I am not getting any younger.  I turned 71 years of age about a month ago and see signs of slowing down a bit.  I experienced 2 health scares in the last 2 years, but can honestly say my health is not bad right now for a guy my age.

I started thinking a day or so ago that I am not covering everything I once made a point of covering.  Here are just a few examples.

When Governor Eric Holcomb chooses to attend an event in Fishers, that is always worth covering.  I had even signed-up to be part of the media scrum covering the governor for the ribbon cutting at Genezen, a tech firm expanding in Fishers.  I was busy with other things and could not make it.

The Fishers Police Department sponsors a Night Out each year and invites the community to be part of it.  I had another meeting to cover and knew I could not do both, so I missed an event I almost always find a way to attend.

Then there was the Keep Fishers Beautiful day October 1st.  Normally, I take some photos and publicize the event.  This year, I had too many other things to do and could not cover it.

You get the picture.  An aging guy trying to cover a growing city and a large school district as one person on a volunteer news blog.

I am not complaining, just explaining that one person cannot cover what’s happening in a place like Fishers these days, particularly someone like me, about 11 years older from the time the blog started.

But let’s look at this another way.  Living in a city that is moving forward all the time is a good thing, even if it keeps the senior citizen blogger busier than ever.

The local school district also provides plenty to cover, including a school board election that will elect 4 of the 7 members of the board.  Fishers city elections will be on the ballot in 2023.

My point is this – I may not be able to cover everything.  There are other local news sources you can turn to if there are stories I don’t get to, but this blog will keep going.  Saying the blog will end has not turned out to be correct in the past, so why do it now.

The only reason this blog continues is because of the many comments I receive from you, the readers and the listeners of my podcasts.  The number of people reading and listening is amazing to me.  Thank you.  Let’s see what comes next in Fishers.  As long as my health holds out, I expect to cover it right here.

It is once again school board election time for HSE Schools.  This time around, I invited all three candidates in District 1 to appear on a podcast.  So far, two have accepted.

I asked two students, Kate Lantzer, a senior from HSE High School…and Casey Alexander, a junior from Fishers High School, to do most of the questioning of the candidates.  Both were recommended by their respective principals.

Below you will find links to candidate podcasts with Jackie Howell and Brad Boyer.  There will be more candidate podcasts coming, from the candidates choosing to accept the invitation.

The weather may be cooling but road construction continues in and around the Fishers area.

Here is the latest listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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Cole Starnes is a senior at HSE High School and has a golfing story to tell.  He recently competed in the U.S. Amateur Championship conducted by the USGA. Starnes was one of a few high school-age players competing in that tournament.

He was honored by the Hamilton Southeastern School Board Thursday night as a Snapshot of Success.

Below is the link to a video shown at the board session.

The number of students attending Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools is just under the demographic study projection for this school year.  HSE Schools Chief Financial Officer, Katy Dowling, told school board members Thursday night that the official count is 21,149, 78 fewer than Dr. Jerry McKibben’s forecast.  Most such projections are expected to be within a 2% margin, and McKibben’s number was less then 1% off.  Dowling said the student number is about flat compared to one year ago.

In other items from the school board meeting Thursday:

–The Lantern Road Elementary School renovation will move forward as planned.  In a previous board session, school officials told the board increased costs could impact he extent of the work.  CFO Dowling says the district’s bond attorneys have found a way to manage the debt, based on a 17% increase in assessed property valuations in the district, which will not impact the school district’s share of the property tax rate.

–The board voted 4-3 tabling a proposal to join other area school districts by joining the  Hamilton County Pursuit Institute.  Board member Suzanne Thomas said she did not have time to review the proposal because material was provided shortly before the meeting.  A majority of board members voted to delay action to the next board meeting October 12.

–The board unanimously voted to advertise the proposed 2023 budget.  A public hearing is set for October 12.

–School administrators and the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) complimented each other for the work that went into the new contract for district teachers.  The board unanimously approved the agreement, the last action required for the pact to be put into effect.

–The board voted to seek bids for an expansion of the district’s Transportation Center.  The number of buses has grown to the point that all vehicles cannot fit into the current building.

–Brad Boyer talked about a recent meeting of the Fishers Redevelopment Commission.  Although most development in the city is in TIF Districts that do not generate property tax revenue for local government for several years, HSE Schools will receive property tax funds generated by the district’s referendum rate of as much as $500,000 per year once all the development is completed.

–Sarah Parks-Reese attended a similar session in Noblesville, and she says that city has plans to expand economic development into Wayne Township, which is part of the HSE School District.

When Brian Meyers resigned his seat on the Hamilton East Public Library Board, the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board needed to appoint someone to fill the remainder of Mr. Meyers’ term.

Thursday night, HSE Board President Julie Chambers announced Andre Miksha will fill the current term on the board, through August, 2025.  Mr. Miksha is Chief Deputy Prosecutor for Hamilton County.

“I think we are at a point where boards like this, whether it’s school board or a public library board, are having challenges from a variety of different angles,” Miksha told the school board after his appointment was announced.  “We need people who have experience dealing with difficult situations.”

Mr. Miksha’s wife is a teacher in the HSE School District and he is the father of two students in the HSE Schools.

“In selecting the appointee, my main goal was to find someone that would support the mission of both Hamilton Southeastern Schools (HSE) and the Hamilton East Public Library. Andre Miksha’s dedication to public service, his experience within our school district and his commitment to ensuring that our public library system is supported, all contributed to his selection,” said Board President Julie Chambers in an HSE School District news release.

The statutes call for the HSE School Board President to make the appointment, and board members voiced their support for Mr. Miksha’s selection.  There were more than 50 applicants for this library board seat.

The Fishers Board of Zoning Appeals failed to approve or deny a request from a local church, essentially keeping the church from adding temporary classrooms.

The Legacy Bible Church, located on Howe Road, between 141st & 131st Streets, asked the board to allow two temporary classrooms, essentially the same type of trailers used by overcrowded public schools, providing more space for adult and student Sunday school classes.  The church indicated the temporary classrooms would also be needed one week per year for vacation bible school.

Church officials told the board this would be a temporary arrangement and asked for permission to utilize the trailers for no more than five years, providing time for the church to decide how to deal with a growing congregation.

Four neighbors of the church spoke during the public hearing, all against the zoning variance, citing lighting, landscaping issues and an open issue with the city on the church’s landscaping.  One neighbor said she would see those trailers from her porch.

Board President Steve Ferrucci recused himself from the vote because he works for a law firm that has represented the church.  That left four board members eligible to vote, with three votes required to pass a motion.

The first vote was to deny the variance, which resulted in a 2-2 tie, meaning no action was taken.  Another motion was made to approve the variance with a four-year span, instead of five years, and that motion failed on a 2-2 vote.

The result is no approval of the variance.  Church officials were informed that the board would consider a different proposal, but essentially the same measure would likely have the same result.

In one other item, the board unanimously approved a drive-through at the Starbucks coming to 96th Street, east of Lantern Road.  A pizza restaurant previously at that location had a drive-through operation, but board approval was required for the new Starbucks at that location.

The third time was the charm for Joe Nixon Properties and Custom Container Builders Wednesday evening as the Nickel Plate Review Committee approved plans for a residential home on Lantern Road.  The vote was 5-0 in favor.

Fishers City Councilor Selina Stoller pointed out that the first time this home design was before the committee, the staff did not approve of the plans.  The second time the committee reviewed the proposal, it still did not pass muster with committee members.  On this third attempt, there were enough changes to allow approval.

Committee Member Rich Block said he is giving the home a “hesitant yes.” saying he has some reservations but will support the agenda item.

All committee members agreed in the final vote to move the home forward.

The Nickel Plate Review Committee looks at plans in the Nickel Plater District, part of downtown Fishers, looking at whether the plans meet a certain threshold for size, intensity or density as detailed by the Nickel Plate Code Code. The Committee reviews the proposal’s design, architecture, materials, compatibility with surrounding development, and pedestrian and vehicular circulation. The Committee also has the ability to review and approve waivers from the standards of the Nickel Plate District Code.

I also recorded by conversation with Jamie Ford on video and posted on my YouTube channel.  You can watch it at the link below.

Jamie Ford came on the literary scene with his first book, “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet,” and has a new book with has created quite a buzz, “The Many Daughters of Afong Moy.”  He will be speaking at the Hamilton East Public Library Saturday, October 1, at 1pm and 4pm (registration is highly recommended).

Jamie Ford was very kind to give me some of his time September 28 to talk about his books and his writing style.