The Central Indiana Regional Development Authority announced Wednesday the start of a comprehensive economic planning initiative aimed at unifying the region’s 31 member communities under a shared development strategy.

The “Catalyze Central Indiana: Strategic Alignment to Ignite Growth” planning process will develop a long-term economic strategy designed to establish a clear economic identity for the region and coordinate resources across public, private, and philanthropic sectors.

“This plan is really going to help solidify Central Indiana as the economic powerhouse of the Midwest that we’ve already known ourselves to be,” said Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen, co-chair of CIRDA. “Central Indiana, an area that has 40% of the state’s GDP, needs to be at the table and also be a major part of the conversation for Indiana’s future when it comes to economic growth and job creation.”

The planning effort will focus exclusively on economic development and positioning the region for global competitiveness. The strategy will be built on an assessment of Central Indiana’s existing assets, including industry sectors, physical infrastructure, and workforce capabilities.

CIRDA has enlisted several organizations to support the planning process, including the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, Ginovus, Policy Analytics, the Indiana Business Research Center at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, and Barnes & Thornburg. Local chambers of commerce and regional philanthropic organizations will also participate.

“This collaboration and vision reflects Central Indiana’s focus on creating a unified strategy that builds on its strengths for future growth,” said Jennifer Messer, executive director of CIRDA.

CIRDA was established through bipartisan state legislation to create greater strategic alignment among the region’s 31 cities, towns, and counties. The authority serves as a unified voice for Central Indiana on regional economic development initiatives.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness is one of the founders of CIRDA.

A charity golf tournament honoring the late Tom Greiwe will tee off Monday morning to raise funds for homeless animals in Hamilton County.

The 2nd Annual Tom Greiwe Fall Classic Charity Golf Scramble begins at 9:30 a.m. Monday, October 6, at a local course. Registration for the event has closed, and organizers expect record attendance for the second consecutive year.

The tournament honors Greiwe, who died in July 2023 after battling cancer. Known for his love of family, dogs, and golf, Greiwe’s memory is being preserved through the annual fundraiser that benefits the Humane Society for Hamilton County.

Last year’s inaugural event raised thousands of dollars for the organization. Event organizer Ed Ferris has worked to expand the tournament’s reach since its inception.

“To know that so many animals will be helped in the memory of Tom. We couldn’t be more grateful for the support and for this opportunity to continue Tom’s legacy,” said Emma Nobbe, community engagement manager for the Humane Society for Hamilton County.

The Humane Society for Hamilton County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as both the county’s animal control facility and humane society. The organization receives approximately 15% of its funding from Hamilton County, which covers the first seven days of basic care for animals. Individual donations fund the majority of its annual operating budget.

The organization operates as an open-admission, no-kill shelter, meaning it does not euthanize animals due to time or space constraints, treatable medical conditions, or  behavior issues that can be rehabilitated.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District is facing what Superintendent Patrick Mapes has called “a perfect storm of financial challenges,” as contract negotiations with the district’s teachers remain unsettled.

In a statement released this week, Mapes outlined a series of pressures on the district’s budget, including declining student enrollment, rising insurance premiums, and legislative changes projected to reduce revenue in coming years.

According to Mapes, enrollment declines have already cost HSE more than $172,000 in state tuition support this year, with greater losses possible if the trend continues. Rising healthcare costs are also straining the budget, with insurance premiums expected to increase between 10.5% and 16.8% in 2026.

The superintendent pointed to steps the district has already taken to manage finances, including saving $1.5 million through health insurance reforms, $1.35 million through bond refinancing, and more than $200,000 by tightening audits. But he acknowledged that the district continues to face significant obstacles, including a $9.5 million shortfall that carried over from 2023, new state property tax caps that will cost HSE more than $4.5 million annually starting in 2026, and projected declines in referendum revenue beginning in 2027.

“Even with these efforts, we are still facing mounting pressures,” Mapes said. “This is not a message of despair, but of transparency. We will continue to advocate for funding that reflects the value of your work while making smart financial decisions.”

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA), the union representing district teachers, said the administration’s current contract proposal would leave educators with less take-home pay.

Union leaders say the offer would eliminate step increases tied to years of service, provide no increase in base pay, end additional pay for master’s degrees, and impose what they describe as “a huge increase” in health insurance premiums. Taken together, the union argues, the changes would amount to less take-home pay for teachers.

Under Indiana law, teacher contract negotiations follow a set timeline each fall. Bargaining officially begins in September and must conclude by November 15. If no agreement is reached, the process can move into mediation and then fact-finding, where a neutral party reviews both sides’ financial claims and issues a report. A contract may then be imposed if the two sides remain at an impasse.

HSE is not alone in facing financial stress. School districts across the state are working to balance budgets amid rising costs and legislative changes that affect local revenue. Mapes emphasized that HSE will continue advocating for state funding that better supports teacher compensation.

For now, based on public statements, the union and administration remain far apart.

The City of Fishers will partner with Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity to host the Fishers Community Panel Build on Friday, October 3, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Holland Park, 1 Park Drive.

Nearly 100 volunteers and local partners are expected to take part in constructing exterior and interior wall panels for a future Habitat for Humanity home. Once completed, the home will provide safe and stable housing for a family in the Greater Indianapolis area.

“This event embodies the spirit of Fishers—community, partnership, and collaboration,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. “By partnering with Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity and with the support of local businesses and volunteers, we’re doing more than building walls for a house; we’re coming together as a community to strengthen connections and work toward a shared purpose.”

A board-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., featuring remarks from Mayor Fadness and community partners.

Jim Morris, President and CEO of Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity, emphasized the importance of events like the Panel Build. “Affordable homeownership is essential to the health, stability, and economic prosperity of both individual families and entire communities,” Morris said. “We applaud the Fishers community for coming together to build the walls of a future home for a first-time buyer. As the path to homeownership becomes increasingly difficult for many families, the support from the City of Fishers and its sponsors not only raises awareness of the growing need—it helps make homeownership a reality for families.”

This year’s event is supported by sponsors including Meyer Najem, RQAW, OfficeWorks, Republic Services, Indy Fuel, Indy Ignite, Fishers Freight, Inherent Commercial, Main Event Merchandise Group, and BJ’s Wholesale, who are contributing both funding and volunteers.

More information about the project can be found at FishersIN.gov/HabitatForHumanity.

The Fishers Police Department’s annual Open House has traditionally been part of the National Night Out celebration. But with that date often coinciding with the start of the school year, many families have been unable to attend.

This year, the department tried something new. By moving the event to a later date, police officials saw a noticeable difference — families were everywhere at Tuesday evening’s Open House.

Sponsored by Ascension St. Vincent Fishers, the event enjoyed perfect weather and a strong community response. Visitors experienced forensic demonstrations, hands-on training through VR headsets, and a closer look at the wide range of work Fishers officers perform every day.

Here are more photos from the 2025 Fishers Police Department Open House:

Continue reading Families Turn Out for Fishers Police Department Open House →

The first impression visitors have when approaching the new Fishers Community Center is its sheer size. The building is striking from the outside, and once inside, the open spaces make an even bigger impact.

Mayor Scott Fadness, City Councilor Todd Zimmerman, and the city’s Director of Recreation and Wellness, Jake Reardon-McSoley, welcomed members of the media Tuesday morning for a preview tour of the facility. The center officially opens to the public on November 1.

Fadness called the center “extraordinary, a vibrant place,” and credited Zimmerman and Reardon-McSoley for helping bring the project to life.

“For a community that is hyper-fixated on families and a culture of health, this place was the epicenter of those activities,” Fadness said.

Zimmerman recalled meeting with the mayor after the COVID-19 pandemic to consider how best to respond to changing community needs. The two agreed a community center should be the priority, leading to a public survey that drew 3,500 responses. Those results helped shape not only the Community Center, located at 121st Street and Hoosier Road, but also the recently completed Arts Center at the City Hall complex.

Following remarks, McSoley led a tour of the facility, which is designed to serve residents and nonresidents alike. Fishers residents will receive discounted membership rates, but many parts of the center—including the indoor playground and walking track—will be free for anyone with a community pass.

Here’s a breakdown of what’s free with a community pass (available to all, regardless of residency) and what requires a membership:

Free with Community Pass:

• Fishers Health Department HQ & Clinic

• Sahm’s Community Café

• Public meeting spaces

• Indoor Playground: 5,300 sq. ft. of interactive play space for kids and families (reservations required)

• Indoor Walking/Running Track

Membership Benefits:

• Indoor Aquatics Center with 25-yard lap pool, AquaClimb wall, NinjaCross System, and enclosed water slide

• 11,000 sq. ft. Fitness Center with EGYM Strength Circuit, group exercise studios, cycle studio, and turf area

• Sauna

• Universal locker rooms

• Indoor courts with three full-size basketball courts (convertible into six cross courts), three volleyball courts, and up to nine pickleball courts

• Action Zone Childcare (free for Charter members with family memberships; additional fees apply after November 1)

The Fishers Community Center opens its doors November 1, offering families, fitness enthusiasts, and residents of all ages a new hub for recreation and wellness.

For more details on the Fishers Community Center, and membership details, use this link.

Below are photos snapped during the tour of the Center.

Continue reading Fishers Community Center Set to Open November 1 →

You haven’t heard much about the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools redistricting process in recent weeks because most of the work since mid-August has taken place behind the scenes. The district hired Woolpert, a consulting firm it has worked with before, to guide the process.

According to the timeline presented to the school board in August, focus groups met throughout September with Woolpert, which has been developing potential boundary line options.

As October begins, community meetings will be held to present those options and gather public input. Later in October and into early November, Woolpert will review feedback from those sessions and refine its proposals.

The firm is expected to prepare a final recommendation by December, giving the school board a plan to consider before the end of the year.

I have covered many redistricting decisions made by many HSE school boards over the past 13 years. Redistricting decisions are often emotional for families, as they can mean students moving to new school buildings, working with different teachers and administrators, and adjusting to changes in social circles.

Superintendent Patrick Mapes also emphasized at a recent board meeting that redistricting carries financial implications. With major changes to Indiana’s school funding formula enacted by the General Assembly, he said the process will play a key role in ensuring HSE uses its facilities efficiently.

The most difficult part of the process lies ahead, with the board’s decision likely coming in December. By the end of 2025, parents should know which school buildings their children will attend for the 2026–2027 school year.

HSE Schools has a Web site devoted to this redistricting process and it can be accessed using this link.

I’m now in my 13th year of writing this local Fishers news blog, a project that has always been mostly volunteer work for me. While I’ve experimented with a small amount of advertising in recent years, it never generated much revenue.

Running a site like this does come with some costs, even when it’s managed by just one person. Until now, I’ve simply covered those expenses myself as part of my commitment to providing this community resource.

You may have noticed more ads appearing on the site lately. If you find them intrusive, I apologize. But I’ve reached a point where I need a modest revenue stream to help cover the basics and hopefully make improvements in the future.

That’s why you’ll now see ads throughout LarryInFishers.com. My goal is simple: to sustain this service so I can continue keeping you informed. And someday, if there’s support for it, perhaps someone else will carry it forward when I step aside.

Thank you for being a reader and for supporting local news. If the ads bother you, feel free to scroll past them. But if you choose to click, know that it helps keep this blog going.

Today, Saturday, September 27, is Recycling Day.  Details below.  Plenty of details on road construction in and around Fishers on this update.

Here is the listing, for the work week beginning Monday, September 29, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Road construction and other updates →

The City of Fishers and Fishers Parks are rolling out a packed calendar of fall events for all ages, featuring seasonal favorites alongside new attractions and community traditions.

Returning events include Glow in the Park, Boo Bash, and the annual Fall Festival at the Fishers AgriPark, Strengthened by IU Health. Conner Prairie’s Headless Horseman also makes its return throughout October.

New this year are expanded trail connections across the city, the debut of the Fishers Community Center, and special events such as Indy Fuel Opening Night at the Fishers Event Center.

Highlights of the 2025 fall lineup include:

• Final Day of the Fishers Farmers Market: Saturday, Sept. 27, 8 a.m.–noon, NPD AMP.

• Glow in the Park: Sept. 26 (21+ Night) and Sept. 27 (Family Night), NPD AMP.

• City Recycling Day: Saturday, Sept. 27, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., Billericay Park.

• Fishers Police Department Open House: Tuesday, Sept. 30, 5–7 p.m.

• Conner Prairie’s Headless Horseman: Oct. 2–26, Thursdays through Sundays.

• Fishers AgriPark Fall Festival: Oct. 4–5.

• Fishers AgriPark Campouts: Oct. 10–12.

• Fall Break Camp: Oct. 13–17, Holland Park.

• Indy Fuel Opening Night: Friday, Oct. 17, Fishers Event Center.

• Boo Bash: Saturday, Oct. 25, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., NPD AMP.

• Official Trick-or-Treating Hours: Friday, Oct. 31, 5:30–8 p.m.

• Fishers Community Center Grand Opening: Saturday, Nov. 1, 10 a.m.–noon.

• Veterans Day Ceremony: Tuesday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m., Fishers Municipal Center.

The season also includes art classes at the Fishers Art Center, continued access to Geist Waterfront Park during non-swim months, and volunteer opportunities through the city’s Waterway Steward program.

For more details and registration links, visit FishersParks.com or FishersIN.gov.