Cover photo by Wade Carignan
In Honor of Hailey Buzbee
HIGHER STANDARDS
SINGLE FAMILY HOMES & TOWNHOMES IN NOBLESVILLE
A NEW Beginning Starts Today
Branson Reserve offers ranch and two-story single-family homes from the mid $300s with open-concept designs and quality craftsmanship. Enjoy community amenities including a playground and picnic shelter, all conveniently located near 191st St & Promise Rd with access to A+ rated schools and local attractions.
Montelena features low-maintenance two- and three-story townhomes from the mid $300s with open-concept layouts designed for everyday living. Located near Greenfield Ave. and Promise Rd. each home includes a modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances, ample cabinetry, and a spacious island perfect for gathering.
A+ rated schools at both communities. Low HOA fees. Convenient locations in Noblesville.
PUBLISHER
ALISON GATZ alison@townepost.com (317) 829-6670
KEY CONTRIBUTORS
LARRY LANNAN RENÉE LARR
COVER PHOTO BY WADE CARIGNAN OF SQUARE MOUTH STUDIOS
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC.
FOUNDER, CEO
TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599
PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
ERIN TURK EDITOR
JOSH BROWN CREATIVE DIRECTORS
VAL AUSTIN
TONI EADS
DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER
ERIC NEER
TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC.
8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038
Phone/Text: (317) 810-0011
CONTACT THE PUBLISHER Have a story idea or suggestion for the magazine?
THE LATEST HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS AROUND FISHERS
Writer / Larry Lannan
SCHOOL BOARD DIVISIONS SURFACE OVER FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
Hamilton Southeastern School Board member Suzanne Thomas said at the board’s Jan. 28 meeting that she and other board members are not receiving financial information in a timely manner. Superintendent Patrick Mapes strongly disputed that claim, saying the district is more transparent now than it was under the previous administration. The exchange highlighted ongoing divisions among board members on several key issues.
RENTAL REGISTRATION COMPLIANCE HIGH AS ENFORCEMENT BEGINS
When the City of Fishers adopted
an ordinance limiting rental homes to 10 percent of residences within a neighborhood—while allowing for exemptions and grandfathering—it also required rental properties to be registered with the city. Community Development and Economic Development Director Megan Baumgartner told the Fishers City Council that compliance has been strong. Only 137 homes citywide are believed to be unregistered, meaning roughly 95 percent of rental properties have complied. With the registration period largely complete, the city will now move into the enforcement phase of the ordinance.
NEW LEADERSHIP CHOSEN FOR HAMILTON COUNTY GOVERNING BODIES
Hamilton County’s two governing bodies
selected new leadership during their annual reorganization meetings. The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners elected Christine Altman as its new president, replacing Steve Dillinger, with Mark Heirbrandt chosen as vice president. The Hamilton County Council also named new leaders, electing Brad Beaver as council president and Steve Nation as vice president. Beaver, who was first elected to the council in 1994 and serves as an at-large member, thanked his colleagues for their support in a statement.
COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK TO END SCHOOLBASED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
Community Health Network will not
continue providing school-based behavioral health services to Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools after the current school year. HSE spokesperson Emily Abbotts said the decision reflects a broader shift by Community Health Network and is not specific to the district. “Community Health is ending all its school-based behavioral health contracts,” Abbotts told LarryInFishers. District officials are reviewing alternative options and will provide updates once next steps are finalized. Abbotts emphasized that other partnerships with Community Health Network—including school nursing, sports medicine, and clinic services—will remain in place.
ANDREW BRADFORD NAMED DEAN OF HCLA CLASS OF 202
Hamilton County Leadership Academy has named Andrew Bradford as dean for its Class of 2027. Bradford is the founder and managing partner of Bradford Consulting Group and a graduate of the HCLA Class of 2019. He has remained actively involved with the organization, serving on its board of directors, including a term as chairman, and currently on the Curriculum Committee. Applications for HCLA’s 36th cohort will open Friday, Feb. 27, and close April 1, 2026. The Class of 2027 will be announced in June.
TWO LONGTIME HSE EDUCATORS ANNOUNCE RETIREMENT
Two long-time and well-known Hamilton Southeastern Schools staff members will retire at the end of the 2025–26 school year. The HSE School Board formally approved the retirements of Fishers High School Athletic Director James “Jim” Brown and longtime teacher and former local teachers union president Janet Chandler. Both are concluding careers that had a lasting impact on students, colleagues, and the broader HSE community.
CHASE RICE TO HEADLINE
“EVENING OF INSPIRATION” AT FISHERS EVENT CENTER
Country music artist Chase Rice will headline the 17th annual “Evening of Inspiration: Chasing A Cure” on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Fishers Event Center. Indiana native Clayton Anderson will join Rice as a special guest. Presented by the Bev Hartig Huntington’s Disease Foundation, the annual concert and gala benefits Huntington’s disease research. Since its founding, the nonprofit has donated more than $3.6 million to support research
aimed at finding a cure for the hereditary neurodegenerative disorder.
NEW PODCAST:
‘FRIDAYS WITH LARRY’
Be sure to check out my new weekly podcast series, “Fridays With Larry.” Episodes are available at LarryInFishers.com, or simply search “podcasts by Larry Lannan” on your favorite platform.
celebrations taste better at
LIVING LEGACY
HOW THE BE FOUNDATION TURNS GRIEF INTO GOOD
Writer / Renée Larr
In the aftermath of unimaginable loss, some people retreat inward. Others find a way, slowly and painfully, to turn grief into something that serves others. For The BE Foundation founder Amie Drudge, that transformation came after the tragic death of her twin daughters, Elleana and Isabella Gaddis, in a car accident nearly five years ago.
“They just weren’t done yet,” Drudge says. “They had so much more to give.”
That belief became the heart of The BE Foundation, a nonprofit created to carry forward the goodness, kindness and love her daughters embodied so naturally. The foundation’s guiding mission — Be good. Be kind. Be love. — is not just a slogan, but a reflection of who Elleana and Isabella were in everyday life.
“They were teenage girls, so they had
their moments,” Drudge says. “But they were incredibly kind.”
She recalls Elleana insisting on spending all her own money to buy artwork from a classmate, determined that the girl know her talent mattered. Both twins worked at a preschool, where their patience and warmth were evident in everything from teaching children to walk — albeit sometimes in high heels — to comforting kids who needed extra care.
Those moments, Drudge says, shaped the foundation’s earliest purpose: to put back into the world what it had lost when her daughters were gone.
Launched initially at the urging of her husband, Cori, the foundation began during the rawest stages of grief.
“I was so new to it all,” Drudge says. “It felt heavy. Some days, just existing felt heavy.” Even early fundraising events, like a 5K held on the girls’ birthday, were emotionally taxing and overwhelming. “I didn’t enjoy them at first,” she says. “I dreaded them, even though I was extremely grateful.”
Over time, that heaviness has shifted. Today, Drudge feels more grounded and more ready to grow the foundation with intention.
The BE Foundation has supported a wide range of immediate needs in the community, from helping families cover
utility bills and rehabilitation costs to providing Christmas gifts for children and assistance for single parents. While the mission has intentionally remained broad to meet urgent needs as they arise, Drudge says the foundation is now beginning to narrow its focus.
Literacy has emerged as a central priority, an evolution that feels deeply personal. “My girls worked at a preschool,” she says. “In my mind, they would have become teachers.”
That belief has guided new initiatives, including scholarships for local students and a partnership with Ball State University to sponsor English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for families in Hamilton County.
“We’re a wealthy county, but that doesn’t mean needs don’t exist,” Drudge says. “Sometimes people just need access — access to language, to opportunity, to being seen.”
What has surprised her most is the community’s generosity.
“People believe in us,” she says. “And that’s a big responsibility. When people trust you with their money, you want to honor that trust in every decision.”
On the hardest days, Drudge leans on that same community, and on quiet reminders of her daughters.
“Grief never really goes away,” she says.
“You just carry it. But I believe the girls nudge me sometimes, reminding me that someone needs a little kindness.”
In those moments, the mission becomes clear again. Through small acts of goodness and deliberate acts of love, The BE Foundation continues — not as a solution to grief, but as a living legacy of two young lives that continue to matter.
For more information or to get involved, visit befoundation.info.
SPONSORED BY
Carmel | Greenwood | Ironworks | Zionsville | Fishers
VICIOUS BISCUIT
NEW EATERY BRINGS SOUTHERN BRUNCH TO FISHERS
Writer / Renée Larr
Fishers has a new go-to destination for breakfast, brunch and adventurous Southern flavor. Vicious Biscuit recently opened its doors, bringing scratch-made comfort food, creative menu names and a hospitality-first mindset that’s already drawing crowds, even in subzero temperatures.
For franchise partner David Dessner, the journey to Fishers began far from Indiana. The idea took shape during a 2019 trip to Ireland with friends and fellow food lovers, including Steve Wise, a longtime Indiana resident who now serves as the group’s local “boots on the ground.”
Conversations turned to Vicious Biscuit,
a Charleston-born concept known for its hearty biscuits and Southern flair that opened in 2017, and the possibility of opening a location together. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, slowing plans but not dampening enthusiasm. Years later, the right spot emerged in Fishers, surrounded by new apartments and supported by a city eager to welcome the brand.
What sets Vicious Biscuit apart in a crowded brunch scene is its commitment to quality and variety. Everything is made from scratch, from rich gravies to crispy fried chicken, with menu standouts like shrimp and grits, crab Benedict and hot chicken biscuits. There’s also a lighter side: eggwhite omelets, fruit, build-your-own bowls,
keto-friendly options and even a glutenfree biscuit — proof that indulgence and inclusivity can share the same table. Add in playful names like “Silence of the Hams,” “The SEC” and “Sea Biscuit,” and the menu feels as fun as it is filling.
At the center of the experience is the brand’s signature jam bar, stocked with house-made jams and butters that guests can sample and slather to their heart’s content. Jams include apple pie, blackberry, strawberry and wild berry, paired with house-made butters including honey, maple bourbon and sweet potato. It’s interactive, a little indulgent and symbolic of what the team wants diners to feel: welcome, relaxed and happy.
“The experience for the customer is of the utmost importance,” Dessner says. “Whether it’s being greeted when you walk in, serving the highest-quality food or taking time to listen to our customers, the customer’s experience comes first.”
That emphasis on experience explains the name. “Vicious” isn’t about attitude; it’s about taking food, service and the guest journey seriously. From the moment customers walk in, they’re greeted warmly and checked on often. Though the restaurant operates in a fast-casual format, the service leans decidedly Southern.
The Fishers community has responded with enthusiasm.
“During the grand opening, guests lined up outside in frigid weather, some even chanting ‘risk it for the biscuit,’” Dessner says. “We offered special events including free entrees for first responders, giveaways of our coveted ‘black cards’ and a free mimosa day. The events drew an overwhelming turnout. One fan even camped out overnight to be first in line.”
Community involvement is a cornerstone of the brand’s local strategy. Vicious Biscuit has partnered with Mudsock Youth Athletics, hosting monthly giveback days on the third Tuesday of each month, with a portion of proceeds supporting the organization. The restaurant also offers a year-round 20% discount to active military members and veterans.
With fresh-squeezed mimosa service, a growing cocktail program and plans to refine future locations based on Fishers’ success, Vicious Biscuit is already thinking ahead. For now, though, the focus is simple — delivering great food, genuine hospitality and a little Southern comfort, one biscuit at a time.
Vicious Biscuit is located at 8711 106th St., Ste. 110. For more information, visit viciousbiscuit.com.
TRANSITIONING TO SENIOR LIVING?
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT.
Our life paths are lined with many milestones — from saying our first words to being called “Grandma” and “Grandpa.” While some life changes are exciting, they can also be hard. Moving into senior living can be particularly daunting to older loved ones, as it can bring up a myriad of emotions.
The smoothness of this transition often lies in the initial approach to it. Here are some tips on how to broach the sensitive subject of senior living.
Start the conversation early: Of course, it’s helpful to stay mindful of age-related changes, such as home isolation, memory issues, injuries, etc. Ideally, though, moving into a senior living community should be an act of prevention rather than an emergency response. So, talk to your loved ones sooner rather than later — preferably in person for a more comforting discussion than digital communication can provide.
Bring up the topic organically: Gently plant seeds so the idea of senior living grows positively in their mind. If they’re cooking dinner, for example, mention the dining room and socialization they could enjoy at the nearby senior living community. Talking over time will make the conversation feel less like an intervention and more like a natural, supportive dialogue.
Lead with empathy: If we’re not careful, talking to loved ones about moving may make them feel like we’re judging their current lifestyle. Remind them that you understand their needs and concerns. While moving can be overwhelming, you can help them realize the worries they’ll be able to let go of in the process.
Listen in a loving manner: This helps your loved one feel like they’re not just following you but walking hand in hand with you toward a new way of life. You’re a team.
Reframe senior living as alternative independence: It’s important to emphasize that this move isn’t a matter of closing one door but rather opening another one. For instance, instead of doing household chores, your loved one could devote more time to a hobby. Instead of driving across town for a hair appointment, they could find a salon just down the hall. Remind them how their choices are expanding and their level of independence is increasing.
For more information, check out the CarDon Senior Resource Hub at www.CarDon.us or scan the QR code, where you will find in-depth video discussions featuring industry experts speaking on a variety of age-related topics, including senior living options, financial aid, memory care and more.
Advanced cancer care focused on you.
After a cancer diagnosis, you want to know your care team is following the right treatment plan for you. That’s why we’ve partnered with Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center. Together, we’re bringing a new level of cancer care to Indiana. So you can simply focus on getting better.
eCommunity.com/cancer
Byron H., patient
THIS IS FISHERS HAPPENINGS FROM THE CITY OF FISHERS
2026 FISHERS UTILITIES UPDATE
Fishers has combined sewer/trash and stormwater accounts into one monthly utility bill for residential and condo customers The annual stormwater fee is now billed monthly to simplify payments Customers will see the change on this month’s ( February 2026) bill Learn more at FishersIN.gov/Utilities.
March Disability Awareness Month
The annual celebration of Disability Awareness Month, presented by Old National Bank, returns to bring awareness of what life is like for those with physical and intellectual disabilities The celebration, hosted by the Fishers Advisory Committee on Disability, features a variety of events throughout the month Learn more at FishersIN.gov/DisabilityAwareness.
Don’t miss the free March Disability Awareness Month Kickoff event on Monday, March 2 from 8:3010 a m at the Theater at Fishers Municipal Center (1 Municipal Drive), featuring guest speaker Jessica Minor of the accessABILITY Center for Independent Living and recognizing this year’s Disability and Inclusion Award winners
NEW: Insurance Based Memberships at Fishers Community Center
The Fishers Community Center, Strengthened by IU Health, now offers Insurance-Based Memberships through SilverSneakers, Renew Active, Silver&Fit, Prime, and Active&Fit Enterprise. Members receive full access to fitness, classes, aquatics, and more, with fees processed through insurance Learn more at FishersCommunityCenter.com/Insurance
Report a Pothole
Fishers Department of Public Works is hitting the streets to tackle sidewalks, street trees, and potholes. Report potholes around Fishers so that our team can get them fixed at FishersIN.gov/FishersConnect
Fol low Us on Nextdoor
Follow the City of Fishers on Nextdoor for local updates, city news, events, and important community information, right in your neighborhood feed Visit Nextdoor.com/Agency/City-of-Fishers to learn more
Now Launching: Mayor’s Service Awards
The Mayor’s Service Awards recognize ages 13-18 for their commitment to community service and leadership. Participants can track volunteer hours throughout the year and earn official City recognition at multiple award levels Learn more and apply FishersIN.gov/MSA.
Enrollment Now Open for the 2026-2027 School Year
Families across Central Indiana are discovering what our community already knows: Hamilton Southeastern Schools is a place where students are challenged, supported, and inspired at every stage of their academic journey.
With open enrollment now available to families living outside the district’s boundaries, more students can access the award-winning programs, innovative teaching, and a wholechild approach that define HSE. Serving more than 20,600 students in grades PreK–12, HSE Schools blends high academic expectations with real-world learning, preparing graduates for college, career, and beyond.
SUCCESSFUL SCHOOLS—TALENTED TEACHERS—REAL RESULTS
From the earliest learning years through graduation, HSE students are encouraged to explore interests, expand their thinking, and discover their strengths while guided by caring, highly skilled educators.
The results speak for themselves:
96% IREAD-3 pass rate, the highest in five years, with 10 elementary schools meeting or exceeding Indiana’s literacy benchmark
Increased ILEARN scores across nearly all grade levels and student groups
98.8% graduation rate, with nearly 96% average daily attendance
961 AP Scholars in the Class of 2025 and the highest AP pass rates in five years at both high schools
HSE classrooms are supported by 1:1 technology, low student-teacher ratios, and learning environments that emphasize collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving.
Students benefit from:
Robust arts, music, P.E., STEM, and a wide range of extracurricular programs
Guaranteed experiential learning in grades K–6, with immersive, community-based experiences that connect classroom learning to the real world
Career and Technical Education pathways and early exposure to careers through initiatives like Journey of a Student and High School Networks, connecting students with business and industry partners
State and national award-winning athletic teams, performing arts, and student clubs
A DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE, AND CONNECTED COMMUNITY
With students speaking more than 143 languages, Hamilton Southeastern Schools reflects the diversity of the Fishers community while providing the support every student needs to thrive. At Hamilton Southeastern Schools, excellence starts here.
Learn more and begin the enrollment process at hseschools.org/ enrollment.
