Students who spelled their nine words perfectly were Yaniv Smukler and Erin Van Wesenbeeck.  Raleigh Daniel, James Knight, Melissa Riggio, Sam Smith and Zeke Willey were near perfect spellers, missing only one word.  The other members of the team were Kelaiah Awoyemi, Varu Musunuri, Serena Nayee, McKenzie Records, Dan Spall and Lily Wolf.

FHS Spell Bowl Team – (Front row) Lily Wolf, Raleigh Daniel, Melissa Riggio, McKenzie Records, James Knight, Serena Nayee, Varu Musunuri, (Row 2) Yaniv Shumkler, Sam Smith, Zeke Willey, Kelaiah Awoyemi and Erin Van Wesenbeeck.

The team is coached by Deborah Hejl and John Drozd, with much appreciated assistance from parents Mary Willey and Ellen Spall. “Since more than half of these students are underclassmen, we expect to be very competitive next year,” said Coach Hejl. FHS is undefeated in Conference or Area competition for the past four years.  “Congratulations to these fine students, who put in many long hours to study the 2,700+ difficult words on the list.” For more information, contact Hejl at (317) 915-4290 or email her at dhejl@hse.k12.in.us

“Look what I found” signals Scott Loller while taking part in an archeological dig activity.

Durbin hosted a Family Fun Night with a “discovering Egypt” theme. Students heard a read-aloud, made cartouches, constructed stained glass windows and went on an archeological dig for bones and jewels. While the students had an adventure, parents worked on reading strategies to help their children with reading at home.

Jeremiah Best, Alex Aldridge, Kyle Gabbard, Collin Denham, and James Castro.

On September 18, Harrison Parkway second graders boarded the train on 141st St. near school and rode it to Fishers’ Town Center. There they discussed the purpose of each of the community buildings including town hall, police department, fire department, license branch, post office, library and train station. Conductor Ralph Bell explained how Fishers’ name had changed over the years. He said it was originally called Mudsock, later Fishers Switch and finally Fishers.

Teacher Susan Tysen said the trip supported state standards where children are asked to ‘differentiate between events that happened in the past and recently, recognize examples of continuity and change in local and regional communities and consider ways that people and events of the past and present influence their lives.” As the train passed through Noblesville, they also talked about the town buildings, the county buildings and purposes that they serve.

Students visited The Indiana Transportation Museum in Forest Park in Noblesville. There they learned that refrigeration cars were once cooled by ice chopped out of and transported from northern lakes. They also talked about related modes of transportation such as a trolley car and mule pulled cars. Conductor Bell made sure that the students understood how and why the modes of transportation have changed over the years to best serve the needs of the people in the area. For more information, contact Tysen at (317) 915-4210 or email her at stysen@hse.k12.in.us

“The children in our community are very important to us and with the success of Teen Academy, we are excited to work with the kids again this year.” said Chief George Kehl.

The purpose of the academy is to allow teens to better understand police officers and to strengthen the relationship between the police department and the community. Officers will teach blocks of instruction on various topics such as emergency vehicle operations, building searches, drug investigations and domestic violence. Students will have classroom instruction as well as practical “role play” training each day.

For more information or to enroll in the Teen Academy, contact Sergeant Ed Gebhart at the Fishers Police Department at 317-595-3372.

Deta Lasley is a very responsible and dependable volunteer for the Fishers Police Department’s “Victim Advocate Call Program” which involves calling every victim of crime on a weekly basis for support. She was the first volunteer to sign up, initiated expanding the program up to five additional volunteers and has personally contacted over 300 victims.

Selected by a panel of judges who reviewed all nominations, Lasley displayed exceptional dedication and commitment towards helping Fishers residents. All award recipients are Fishers residents that have made a positive impact on the community by helping individuals, organizations or the Town of Fishers. These winners have gone above and beyond to help or support others while being wonderful role-models.

Past recipients of this award were Dub and Jeanne Clark in 2007 and Mary Pat McKee in 2008. This award was named in loving memory of William D. Kehl Jr. whose life was tragically cut short and who dedicated many years to the Fishers Freedom Festival and the Town of Fishers. He was an intricate part of our community and will always be remembered for his wonderful sense of humor, his drive to be the best at everything, and his absolute dedication to his community.

Back in 1989, the founders of the Fishers Parade and Festival decided to have a community gathering to celebrate Independence Day. With the help of volunteers, the event originated as a one-day community picnic, parade, and a few games for the children. Due to the overwhelming participation by the public, this event grew to a two-day event.

The mission of the Fishers Freedom Festival is to encourage fellowship through civic partnerships and citizen involvement by creating a safe environment, developing needed community services, promoting family integrity and striving to improve the quality of life for every resident by investing in human potential.

The 21st Annual Fishers Freedom Festival was Saturday, June 27 & Sunday, June 28, 2009. The Festival is always in need of volunteers at different levels of participation. For more information on volunteering or about the festival, please visit www.FishersFreedomFestival.org, email freedomfestival@sbcglobal.net, visit 8601 East 116th Street in Fishers or call 317-595-3195.

Even though the event is at no charge, the Festival strongly encourages donations of canned foods, baby food, nonperishable goods, disposable diapers, cleaning supplies, school supplies, and/or toiletries for admittance. These items are forwarded to multiple programs which benefit those in need. Multiple drop-off locations will be located throughout the park and will also be collected by Boy Scouts of America Troops during the Main Parade on Sunday.

Back in 1989, the founders of the Fishers Parade and Festival decided to have a community gathering to celebrate Independence Day. With the help of volunteers, the event originated as a one-day community picnic, parade, and a few games for the children. Due to the overwhelming participation by the public, this event grew to a two-day event.

The mission of the Fishers Freedom Festival is to encourage fellowship through civic partnerships and citizen involvement by creating a safe environment, developing needed community services, promoting family integrity and striving to improve the quality of life for every resident by investing in human potential.

The Festival is always in need of volunteers at different levels of participation. For more information on volunteering or about the festival, please visit www.FishersFreedomFestival.org, email freedomfestival@sbcglobal.net, visit 8601 East 116th Street in Fishers or call 317-595-3195.

It is the goal of the Fishers Police Department to achieve and maintain the highest level of quality service for our residents and visitors.  Input from the citizens of Fishers is essential in the Fishers Police Department’s continued effort to promote effective police services and protection to all members of the community.  Please complete the survey on line at  www.fishers.in.us/pdsurvey.

The FAST Tigers are one one of the fastest growing and most improved swimming teams in the midwest!  In just two short years, the Tigers are the 7th ranked club in Indiana (Age Group State & IMX Rankings).

The FAST Tigers offer a program for all ages and ability levels and the stroke evaluation/group placement nights are simply for evaluation and group placement purposes.  Almost everyone that attends one of the stroke evaluation dates is accepted for membership onto the team provided they can swim 25 yards of freestyle and backstroke.  If you cannot attend one of the stroke evaluation/open house dates, please call or email the office and we would be glad to arrange for a private stroke evaluation at a time that is convenient to your schedule.  Also, swimmers may start at any time during the season. Each child that participates in the stroke evaluation will receive a goody bag with gifts!

For more information, or to arrange a private confidential stroke evaluation, please call or email the FAST Tigers coaching staff (info@fasttigers.com) or 317-570-SWIM (7946).

Judge Nation is ordering mediation to be held on September 11th between the Town of Fishers and representatives from the GUO. An attorney from Carmel will officiate the mediation. Before mediation will occur, the GUO will be hosting meetings with the petitioners to obtain signatures from the residents allowing the GUO to be their agents during the mediation. Non-GUO representatives will not be allowed during the mediation according to court documents.

More to come…