City officials, developers and community members gathered Friday to mark the grand opening of District South Apartments, a $33 million mixed-use development in the Nickel Plate District.

Located a block south of 116th Street on South Street, the five-building complex combines modern apartment living with new commercial space. The project, led by Rebar Development, broke ground in February 2024 and now features 84 apartment homes and five commercial suites designed for small businesses.

“I’m excited to see the Nickel Plate District vision continue to come to life thanks to the leadership of Rebar Development with the addition of District South,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. “Today’s ceremony marks a milestone for the south side of 116th Street that will spur more vibrancy and opportunities to live, work, and play in downtown Fishers.”

District South is designed as a walkable, bike-friendly, pet-friendly community with direct access to the Cheeney Creek and Nickel Plate trails. Shared amenities include a rooftop patio, cafe, co-working lounge, fitness center, civic plaza, courtyard with grilling stations and fire pits, and water features.

The largest structure in the development, Building Three, houses the new headquarters of The Annex Group on its first floor, with 42 one-bedroom loft apartments above. The remaining buildings feature a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments and retail or office spaces.

Businesses already open in the development include Osborn Insurance Agency, Mac Experience, Sam Shaw Salon, CrossCountry Mortgage, and The Annex Group.

“With direct access to both trails, Farmer’s Market, concerts, and great restaurants and shops, this is going to be a fun place to live and work,” said Shelby Bowen, founder of Rebar Development. “We are grateful to be part of another successful public-private partnership with the City.”

District South is now leasing apartments and commercial spaces. More information is available at www.DistrictSouthApartments.com.

Marian University’s Leighton School of Nursing and Ascension St. Vincent are inviting future nurses to learn about career opportunities in the growing healthcare field at a free event on Aug. 27.

The ninth annual Come Explore Nursing program will run from 4–7 p.m. in the main lobby of Ascension St. Vincent Women and Infants Hospital, 2001 W. 86th St., Door 4A, in Indianapolis. The event is open to anyone considering a nursing career — from high school students to professionals seeking a career change.

Attendees will meet Marian University faculty, admissions staff, current students and Ascension St. Vincent nursing leaders. Information will be available on Marian’s traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, the 16-month Accelerated BSN program, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, which offers Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist tracks.

“This event is a chance for participants to learn about the rewards of becoming a nurse,” said Angela Bailey, site director of Marian’s Accelerated BSN Program. “Marian University is uniquely positioned to provide a much-needed answer to the growing nursing shortage in Indiana while putting nurses to work in careers they love.”

The demand for nurses remains high. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6% increase in nursing jobs nationally through 2033, faster than the average for all occupations. In Indiana, the Hospital Association estimates the state will be short 5,000 nurses by 2031, a concern heightened by the state’s aging population.

“Nursing is more than a career — it’s a calling to serve, heal, and lead with compassion,” said Jill Payne, chief nursing officer at Ascension St. Vincent. “Events like this provide a window into what’s possible.”

Registration is available online at cloud.email.mariannursing.com/082725CEN.

Four NCAA Division I volleyball programs will compete in Hamilton County this fall when Butler University hosts the 2025 Butler Invitational at the Fishers Event Center, home of Major League Volleyball’s Indy Ignite. The tournament is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 19, and Saturday, Sept. 20.

Joining the Bulldogs in the field are IU Indianapolis, Oakland and Eastern Michigan. The two-day event opens Friday at 4 p.m. with Oakland facing Eastern Michigan, followed by Butler taking on IU Indianapolis at 7 p.m. Saturday’s schedule features Butler against Oakland at 2 p.m. and Butler versus Eastern Michigan at 5 p.m. IU Indianapolis will also host Eastern Michigan on Thursday, Sept. 18, at its downtown campus.

Tickets go on sale Monday, Aug. 18, at noon at FishersEventCenter.com.

“We’re thrilled to host the Butler Invitational here at the Fishers Event Center,” said Mitch List, the venue’s general manager. “As the home of Indy Ignite, the Fishers Event Center has become the place to experience premier volleyball in the Midwest, and the enthusiasm is only growing.”

Butler head coach Kyle Shondell said the move from campus to Fishers creates a new opportunity to connect with the local volleyball community. “The excitement around volleyball within this community has never been greater,” Shondell said. “Our hope is that an event like this can become an annual tradition.”

The change in venue comes as Butler’s Hinkle Fieldhouse undergoes a major renovation in September, including the installation of more than 2,700 square feet of new LED video display technology. The Bulldogs will host Purdue on Tuesday, Sept. 9, before work begins, with the project expected to be completed in time for Butler’s next home match Oct. 10 against Providence.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools is accepting applications to fill an upcoming appointment to the Hamilton East Public Library (HEPL) Board of Trustees.

The position is open to residents who live within the HSE Schools boundaries and are interested in community service. The role is unpaid and requires a minimum four-year commitment, with the term running through August 2029.

The HEPL Board of Trustees is responsible for ensuring the library remains a welcoming and valuable resource for the community. The board typically meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:15 p.m., alternating between the Fishers Library’s Center Meeting Room and the Large Meeting Room at the Noblesville Library.

Applications are due by noon on August 27. The president of the HSE Board of School Trustees will appoint the new member, as outlined in Indiana Code 36-12-2-19.

Andre Miksha is the current HSE School appointee to the library board, and it is his term that is expiring.

More information about the position and the application process is available on the Hamilton East Public Library website.

HSE Board, meeting Wednesday evening

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board has approved a resolution designating the district as a Purple Star School district. The move allows individual school buildings to apply for the Purple Star designation, a recognition aimed at supporting military families whose children often change schools due to parental reassignment.

In other business from Wednesday’s meeting:

• Roofing Project Approved: The board awarded a $1.8 million contract to replace 87,000 square feet of roofing at Fishers High School.

• Social Media Lawsuit Participation: HSE will join 80 Indiana districts and 1,800 nationwide in litigation against social media companies, seeking to recover costs tied to the negative effects of social media on students. The district will not incur legal fees unless a settlement or judgment is reached.

• Positive Start to School Year: Superintendent Patrick Mapes described the opening week of school as a “great start,” noting progress in navigating road construction and ensuring students arrived safely at their schools.

• HSEngaged Program Enrollment: Thirty-nine local residents will participate in HSEngaged this year, a program designed to give community members an inside look at district operations.

• District’s First Therapy Dog: Hamilton Southeastern introduced Reggie, a seven-year-old poo-ton and the district’s first certified therapy dog. Accompanied by his handler, Lantern Road Elementary resource teacher Jill Early, Reggie visits each Friday to greet students, sit with them as they read aloud, and provide emotional support. Trained and certified through First Friend K-9, Reggie has prior experience working in hospitals and nursing homes. Superintendent Mapes supported bringing the program to the district, which aims to enhance students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being.

Residents of the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District have long known redistricting was on the horizon. That process is now officially underway.

By December, the HSE School Board is expected to receive a recommended redistricting plan for consideration. The district has hired the consulting firm Woolpert to lead the effort, with representative Andrew Bishop outlining the process at Wednesday’s board meeting. The plan will redraw boundaries for the district’s elementary, intermediate, and junior high schools.

Bishop began his presentation by reviewing current and projected enrollment figures for each school, including building capacity and anticipated changes based on birth rates and future housing developments. He also discussed the possibility of creating a “feeder system” linking specific elementary schools to intermediate and junior high schools—a change that would depend on both enrollment data and community feedback.

Bishop’s full presentation is available at this link.

The district is seeking public input in two ways:

• Survey: Residents can complete an online survey through midnight, August 31, using this link.

• Focus Groups: The district will select participants for 10 focus groups, each with 10–20 members. Interested residents can apply through midnight,  August 31 at this link.

An HSE redistricting website, updated weekly, is available at this link.

In the coming weeks, Woolpert will review public comments, develop preliminary boundary options, and convene the focus groups. Bishop said his goal is to deliver a plan that will remain in place for at least five to seven years—and ideally up to a decade—before another redistricting process is needed.

The process will remain active through December. Updates will be provided here at LarryInFishers.com as new information becomes available, including podcasts with HSE Schools officials explaining key developments.

My compliments to Current In Fishers Editor Leila Kheiry for digging up the facts on an arrest made related to charges of sexual battery in the Gary Eagle neighborhood.

Reporter Kheiry saw a social media post describing a woman being groped and a suspect’s quick arrest once the incident was reported to police.  She found an arrest listed in county  records.

For more details, read Leila Kheiry’s story at the link below.

Fishers man allegedly assaulted woman walking near her home

Many of you may know, and have seen the construction, of a pedestrian bridge over the Nickel Plate Trail over 96th Street.  The City of Fishers has announced some overnight closures of 96th Street to allow for the construction of this bridge.

Below is the full statement from Fishers, issued on social media Wednesday: