HAND, a local nonprofit headquartered in Noblesville, specializes in affordable housing in Hamilton County and some surrounding areas.  HAND’s first Fishers project is realizing the same inflation we all see, but the organization is working to find a solution.

Andrea Davis, HAND’s Executive Director, talked about the status of Cumberland Cottages during a September 2nd podcast recording session.  According to Davis, the cost of Cumberland Cottages has risen 30% since receiving a $1.5 million government grant.  Since that grant, the estimated cost of the project has risen by $1 million.

HAND has been in “problem-solving mode” ever since, trying to identify some additional funding, and also looking at tweaks to design lowering construction and development costs.

“We’re getting close, we hope to have (a) solution in the next couple of weeks,” Davis said in the LarryInFishers.com Podcast.

Davis says if everything is “buttoned-up” in the next two weeks, Cumberland Cottages could be under construction during the spring of 2023.

Cumberland Cottages is planned for an area along Cumberland Road, just south of 141st Street.

A Fishers man faces felony charges after police say a handgun discharged during a family dispute.

Just after 4:00pm Thursday, police were called to the 13400 block of Lantern Road. The 911 call center received a report that a man had discharged a handgun in a residence, the son of the caller.  The son could not be found when police arrived at the scene.  After establishing a perimeter, officers found Darion J. Murray, 18, from Fishers.

Murray surrendered to officers and was transported to the Hamilton County Jail.

No one was injured.

Murray faces charges of criminal recklessness, intimidation and pointing a firearm, all felony counts.

There have been a number of media reports on the rising cost of housing, particularly a spike in rents.  To talk about how Hamilton County is impacted by all this, I spoke with two local nonprofit leaders familiar with housing, Andrea Davis from HAND & Nancy Ramsey from Family Promise of Hamilton County.  Listen to the podcast discussion at the link below:

Kyle Walker’s campaign recently touted an endorsement by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, now the Indiana AFL-CIO has endorsed Walker’s campaign, along with the State Pipe Trades Association.  Walker, a Republican, faces Democrat Jocelyn Vare in the November general election.

“Senator Walker has been a champion for working families in his district and across the state,” said Brett Voorhies, President of the Indiana State AFL-CIO in a Walker campaign news release. “We thank him for his efforts to bolster our economy as well as his support for issues including workplace safety, retirement security and efforts to buy and build in Indiana.”

Only one early poll has been released on this Indiana Senate District 31 race.  It showed a statistical dead heat between the two candidates, but also registered 19% as undecided.

Every year the major fund raising event for the Youth Mentoring Initiative (YMI) is the Mayor’s Breakfast.  The 2022 breakfast was one of the largest gatherings of the year featuring the movers and shakers of the Fishers Community.

Since the breakfast was moved outdoors several years ago, YMI has been blessed with very good weather.  The tent featuring the breakfast had very few empty seats.

YMI Board President Matt Kegley, Assistant Superintendent at Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools, emphasized the central part adult mentoring can have on a young person’s life.

That was also the theme of the panel discussion led by Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness.

Master Chef Kelsey Murphy talked about her young elementary school age child that clearly seems to feel the pressure of school even at that early age.

Noah Malone, HSE High School grad and Paralympic sprinter for Team USA, pointed out the extra difficulties of traversing high school with a disability.

Ronald Nored, Assistant Coach of the Indiana Pacers and former team member of the famous Butler basketball team coached by Brad Stevens, spoke of the value an adult mentor provided him at a key, young age.

The Heritage Park setting, next to the Historic Ambassador House, provided the background for this special event Fishers experiences every year.

YMI provides adult mentors to students in the HSE School District.  If you wish to donate, or explore the possibility of being a mentor yourself, use this link.

Here are some photos from the 2022 Mayor’s Breakfast:

Continue reading Annual YMI Mayor’s Breakfast draws a good crowd →

The Fishers Blues Fest is 10 years old in 2022 and the city Parks & Recreation Department is once again offering the annual music celebration.  Marissa Deckert, Assistant Director of the city department, talks about Blues Fest and much more in this podcast, linked below

There are two Democrats on the Fishers City Council, Jocelyn Vare and Crystal Neumann, and they are sponsoring a Chat with the Chief, featuring Police Chief Ed Gebhart.  The event is described as a town hall where residents may ask questions of the Chief.

It is set for Friday, September 9, 6pm, at the Delaware Township Community Center (9094 E. 131st). 

Summer is closing as we enter the month of September.  The busy schedule for the Fishers Parks & Recreation Department starts with the annual tradition of the Blues Fest, September 2-3.  But there is a long list of activities on the fall agenda.

The city released a listing of all the events which you may see here:

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Fishers Police are investigating the deaths of a man and woman.  Their bodies were found at a home on Forsythia Lane, near 141st and Cumberland Road.

Police received a phone call Wednesday morning from a person threatening suicide.  When officers arrived at the home, there was no response.  Police then entered into the residence and discovered the bodies of two adults.

Police detectives, after conducting interviews and collecting evidence, say they believe the man and woman found dead are the only individuals directly involved in this incident and there is no threat to the community.

Authorities ask anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective/Sergeant Robbie Ruble at 317-595-3319.

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has weighed-in on the Indiana Senate District 31 race and is endorsing Republican Kyle Walker.  Democrat Jocelyn Vare is Walker’s opponent in the November 8 general election.

The Chamber cites Walker’s positions that dovetail the business organization’s views, including economic development, jobs, cutting taxes and what the chamber describes as  “improving the quality of life metrics”

“Senator Walker has led on key issues to fuel economic development and support job growth, accelerate entrepreneurial activity, strengthen public safety and improve quality of life,” said Indiana Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kevin Brinegar in a Walker campaign news release. “He is an innovative, pro-jobs leader that’s making an impact to grow the Indiana economy and his district.”

Both Walker and Vare have been busy on the campaign trail, raising money, canvassing door-to-door and meeting with voters.

Vare cited a recent Change Research poll of likely voters in District 31 that showed a statistical tie, within the margin of error, but also said 19% of respondents are undecided.