The announcement of the NCAA basketball tournament brackets is always exciting and anticipated – so, how did CBS manage to make a mess of the broadcast?

My wife Jane makes her podcasting debut by giving her thoughts on the film 10 Cloverfield Lane

I wrote previously on this blog that my daily Monday-Friday tax podcasts had fallen well short of my expectations in drawing an audience.  Therefore, I’ve replaced tax with the arts.

The Fishers arts scene is growing.  Plus, I plan to review lots of other arts-related items, such as movies, live theater and other events.  After all, people in Fishers do watch television and got to the movies.  So, my arts reviews will not be limited just to local events.

My first podcast is a review of An Evening of Jazz with Jamey Aebersold.

Here’s what a credit card skimmer looks like

Fishers Police issued a release Friday, March 11th, letting us all know a credit card skimmer was found at the Shell gas station on 96th Street, near I-69.  If you’ve bought gas there lately, watch your credit card account.

Below is the text of the release from Fishers Police….

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An employee of the Shell gas station, located at 96th Street and North by Northeast Boulevard, contacted the Fishers Police Department after locating a credit card skimming device hidden inside one of their gas pumps. Chief of Police George Kehl is reminding residents to pay extra attention when using their credit card at the pump. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:

1. The safest way to pay is by going inside the gas station.
2. Look at the exterior of the pump before inserting your card. Contact the cashier immediately if anything looks out of the ordinary.
3. Pay attention to your surroundings. Immediately report suspicious activity by calling 911. It appears the criminals may be sitting in a car nearby using a Bluetooth device to receive the information. If you see a person that appears to be just parked in the area please report it.
4. Monitor your credit/debit card accounts to ensure there are no unauthorized purchases.
5. As always SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!  

As state lawmakers wrap up the 2016 short session, provisions in the final version of the road measure will mean $9 million for the City of Fishers.  This is not new money, it will come from funds the state has been holding for local governments, and will begin disbursing this year.

Mayor Scott Fadness says the final version of the legislation has only limited restrictions on how local governments may spend the $9 million.

How does the City of Fishers plan to spend the money?  The mayor said he will begin the process of making those decisions soon, but nothing has been decided at this point.

“Indiana took a giant step forward with this legislation,” Fadness said about the road funding provisions.  “The state needs to act on moving forward with the long-term infrastructure issues.”

The final version of the bill contained no tax increase.  Some lawmakers wanted an increase in the cigarette and gas taxes as a longer-term solution to funding Indiana’s roads.  The governor and Senate leaders had opposed that idea.

Mayor Fadness lauded new software from the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) which will help cities in pavement management.  He also cited a new matching grant program from the state.

On the road measure, Fadness generally praised the legislation, but added, “We have a long way to go.”

Another provision in the final bill allows local governments to enact wheel taxes funding local road projects.  The mayor wouldn’t comment on whether he would favor Fishers passing this additional tax, saying it is “another tool in the toolbox.”  Fadness said he would need to look at the city’s entire tax situation to determine whether such a move makes sense.

Whenever you start a major endeavor it’s important to evaluate how things are going along the way.  That’s what I do on a regular basis.

The good news is that this blog and my new LarryInFishers Podcasts are doing very well.  People are reading listening.  They are both in good shape.

However, my experiment with a Monday-Friday daily tax podcast has not been going as well.  I appreciate the loyal following that podcast has built, but there just are not enough people listening to these podcasts to continue.  The final tax podcast was posted on March 7th.  I will continue to have the links to past segments, but there will be no new podcasts on taxes from me.  Again, thanks to those that were listening…there just weren’t enough of you.

But I do plan to replace the tax podcast with a new series, this one centered on the arts. There is so much going on there should be no shortage of material.  I did spend a short time in my long broadcasting career as a film reviewer.  I plan to return to reviewing performances.  I’ll be attending local events.  I plan to also review movies, TV shows and live theater.  After all, people in Fishers go to the movies and watch TV like most of America.  I’m still developing the final plans for this podcast series, but I hope to start soon.  Stay tuned.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School administration will be fashioning a rollout plan recommendation for the grades K-4 rollout of iPads in 2-3 weeks.  The school board will make the final decision.

A group of HSE parents recently started a petition to delay the iPad rollout, which is scheduled for August of 2016.  The organizers say they have 492 names on that petition.

School Superintendent Allen Bourff arranged for Indiana University Professor Dr. Anne Ottenbreit-Leftwich to speak to the board and answer questions.  Dr. Leftwich told board members the American Association of Pediatricians (AAP) had a standard of no more than 2 hours of screen time for young children, but has recently “softened” that guideline.  AAP is now saying no more than 2 hours of “passive time,” such as watching TV or online videos, but that interactive and educational programs at a computer screen should not be considered the same as “passive” activities and are not subject to that limitation guideline.

Six parents spoke before the board at the Wednesday night session, each asking that the iPad rollout to grades K-4 be delayed.  One parent said she was “shocked” when learning of the plan to provide iPads to children in grades K-4.  One  father of a middle school student said taking home the iPad for homework was creating “home life challenges” in his household.

The board then posed a number of questions to Dr. Leftwich.

“I do think there (are) a lot of positives in the direction we are going,” Board President Karen Harmer said.  “But, we certainly heard the concerns tonight, and I know that we’re not bringing a recommendation forward this evening (3.9).”

“We are going to be working on a resolution to this in the short term,” said Dr. Bourff.  “In the next 2 weeks, 3 weeks, we will have some processing taking place.  We will be bringing a recommendation for how the rollout will be processed.  I encourage the parents we have already heard from…I encourage them to watch and monitor us…we may even have some further opportunities to engage with parents who have some concerns.”

Dr. Bourff said the concerns brought forth by parents are “greatly appreciated.”

The board decided 2 years ago on an iPad rollout schedule which called for grades K-4 to begin using the devices in the coming school year, beginning in August, 2016.

Bourff told the board administrators will look back at how the past iPad rollouts have been handled and evaluated by staff and parents.  “If there are some adjustments to be made, we’re open to it,” Bourff said.

No board member indicated support for delaying the K-4 iPad rollout.

A proposed subdivision along Howe Road, just north of 131st Street, asked for a waiver of city cul-de sac standards, and the request was denied by the Fishers Plan Commission. Long-time residents in that area have been fighting the proposal since it first appeared on the commission agenda.  The request was continued at the January meeting after a lengthy discussion.  The item was continued again and not considered at the February plan commission session.

The Long Grove proposal was to construct homes on 20 lots over 12 acres on the east side of Howe Road, about 1/3 of a mile north of 131st Street.

The commission vote to deny the waiver was unanimous.

Starbucks fans on the east end of Fishers are a step closer to a new coffee shop in the southwest area of 116th Street and Olio Road, near the Walgreen Drug Store.  The Fishers Plan Commission voted unanimously Tuesday night for a favorable recommendation on the plan.

The issue will now go to the Fishers City Council for final approval.

The plan commission added some technical language to the proposal, mostly dealing with use rules for other properties in that commercial complex.

You would think that a program about depression and anxiety disorders would leave you with a down feeling.  I did not experience that Monday night after attending the session on mental health awareness at Fishers High School.

Don’t get me wrong.  This is a tough issue.  Mental health continues to have an unfair stigma attached to it.  People are still hurt and and sometimes die when struggling with these diseases.

But the Peyton Riekoff Foundation for Youth Hope provided lessons on how to help those suffering from mental health diseases, such as depression.  Mike Riekoff spoke to the crowd, saying depression was responsible for taking the life of his daughter Peyton.

Riekoff talked about “immediate detentions” in Fishers, where police must detain individuals because those persons are deemed a threat to themselves and/or others around them.  Since 2012, there have been 808 such detentions in Fishers.  There were 212 in 2015 alone.  In 2016, a little over 2 months old, Fishers Police have carried out 34 immediate detentions.

The message from this program was clear…..get help.  Go to your family, and if that doesn’t work, reach out to a doctor or counselor at school, or maybe even the parent of a close friend.  The bottom line message is – there is help.

Students are encouraged to watch their friends and tell others if there are signs of depression or anxiety disorder.  These are illnesses, not character flaws.

The foundation has a list of resources you can access at this link.

It is estimated 20% of our young people in Fishers suffer from depression.  The important message to tell those suffering is – you are not alone – you can get help.

There is hope.