⛵️ A burning ring of fire

Good Friday morning. This is Fishers Digest. The local newsletter that’s like a toothpaste tube. Once you reach the bottom — you’ll do anything for a little more.

⛅️ Today's weather: Cloudy, with a high near 78°.

In today’s digest:

• Neighborhood grants

• Eclipse time 🕶️ 

• Weekend Preview

• The 317 hotbed

Shoutout to one of our newest Super Fans, Dan Hollis! Have you ever been to Cyntheanne Park to play pickleball and heard some greatest hits playing on the radio? That’s Dan. Appreciate you 🤝 

This issue is 1,030 words, a 4-minute read.

The Digest

City Council approves 2024 budget

The 2024 budget was approved. Over the next few weeks, I’ll break down some actionable (or good-to-know) things about the budget and how it will impact living in Fishers!

Neighborhood Grants 🏘️ 

One big thing: Start talking with your local neighborhood HOAs on how you can use the city’s new $750k matching grant to improve your neighborhood.

Every neighborhood has the opportunity to apply for a grant from the city for up to $15,000. Here’s a few ideas that have been approved in the past to build off of:

• Replace old trees with native trees (looking at you, Bradford Pears)

• Replace/upgrade fountain ponds

• Improve walking paths/trails

• New street lights/signs

This year’s grant program is 7.5x more than 2023 and will cover 30% more than they did last year 🤑 Learn more and apply for the grants here.

Solar Eclipse 🕶️ 

A solar eclipse is coming this weekend. Indiana is not in a prime position to see it (that’s next year). But with some lucky weather, we might be able to see some of it. IndyStar will be updating their article here with updates on the weather.

You can view the path provided by NASA here, and stream it here if the weather is bad in Fishers!

What do you consider affordable housing?

One big thing: City Council approved Ryan Homes to build 225 new homes in the 96th Street/Georgia Road area.

Why it matters: The unused lots are prime for development. There is a need for more ranch homes in Fishers.

Yes, but: These homes aren’t exactly affordable. During their pitch, the legal team described the west-end housing as "step-down" housing. “Perhaps an empty nester..” looking to downsize.

If you hate math don’t read on 😂 Conventional wisdom says 28% of your income should go to a mortgage payment.

• The cost of the west-end homes will be $450-550k. At $500k ,that’s ~$187k/year.

• Fishers census data shows that the median income for a household in Fishers is $117k/year.

That's a sizable gap. Here’s what that mortgage payment would look like:

But you tell me! What do you think is affordable? Answer below 👇️ 

The Happenings

Weekend Preview

🖼️ If you are a fan of history, art, wine, music, or social gatherings then you must make it out to the Fishers Art Council event. Tonight from 6-8 pm, there will be all of the above and more on display. Learn more here.

Have you ever wanted to re-live those moments as a kid. Like the field trips you took to learn how to make biscuits from flour, water, salt, and baking soda? I can’t let you borrow my time machine but I can offer this — Conner Prairie’s historical brewing event. For 7 hours on Saturday, you can learn all about beer and make your own.

Movies at the Yard are coming to an end. The finale? Hocus Pocus. An absolute classic. Details.

🎶 Live Music

Friday
Tyler Poe | Britton Tavern | 10 pm
Scotty Randolph Duo | Parks Place Pub | 6 pm
Mike & The Boys | Ale Emporium | 11:30 pm
Touch of Grass | Wolfies

Saturday
Why Store | King Jugg | 6:30 pm
Jambox | Britton Tavern | 10 pm
Brothers Footman | Ale Emporium | 8:30 pm

Sunday 
The 78s | Daniel’s Vineyard | 1 - 4 pm

➡️ Have an event, live music, or similar coming up? Email us to get featured here. ⬅️ 

Game Corner 🎰 

Weekly recap

Here’s what readers clicked the most this week:

• Monkey running around an east Indy neighborhood

• Savannah Bananas tickets

• Public Access Counselor’s opinion

• Best/worst cities to live in

• Indiana DNR exotic animal list

Quiz time!

Another week, another quiz! Answer the questions to see how well you’ve retained Fishers Digest this week.

1. When did the Fishers Agripark Fall Festival start?

2. How many flyers were expected on Monday at the Indianapolis Airport?

3. True or False: According to exotic animal law in Indiana, can I own a crocodile?

4. What is the name of the monkey who escaped last week?

5. Which donut store just opened up a second franchise in Florida?

Answers at the bottom. Leave feedback if you got them all right (no cheating)!

Quick Hits

317 is a high school hotbed when it comes to sports. MaxPreps is a data source for all things high school sports. A recent report shows HSE and Fishers ranked 8 and 9 out of 13 schools. Here’s what’s most interesting: The 317 area code ranks 6/10 for the strongest high school football teams in the US 💪 

Safe haven boxes in Carmel are the busiest in the nation. The boxes allow any new parent to surrender an infant up to 30 days old, no questions asked. It’s completely anonymous. Indiana is leading the nation in the number of safe haven boxes available. Learn more about Fishers Safe Haven boxes here.

The UAW fight with automotive companies is getting heated. Almost 9,000 UAW workers went on strike at Ford’s most profitable plant — where the expedition, Lincoln Navigator, Super Dutys, etc are made.

Thanks!

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If you found something useful, please share this with someone you’re going out with this weekend.

Answer key

1. When did the Fishers Agripark Fall Festival start? Tuesday

2. How many flyers were expected on Monday at the Indianapolis Airport? 19,000

3. True or False: According to exotic animal law in Indiana, can I own a crocodile? True

4. What is the name of the monkey who escaped last week? Momo

5. Which donut store just opened up a second franchise in Florida? Jack’s Donuts