June 8, 2011
Gifted education, middle-school sports
School board reinstates programs By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
The Hilliard City Schools Board of Education approved the reinstatement of gifted education and middle-school sports in the district at a special meeting on June 6. Board members voted 4-1 to reinstate gifted education pro-
gramming in winter athletic failed. Lisa Whitin favor of grades K-5 for season. “I have a ing voted in both proschool year Some spoke problem with favor of reingrams. 2011-12, but against the both of these,” stating the Prior to cuts for stumoves, noting said board gifted educathose votes, dents in grades that in the president Doug tion program, the board 6-12 will not spring primary, Maggied, beand against unanimously voters were Paul Lambert fore he cast his Dave Lundregan middle-school Andy Teater approved colDoug Maggied be restored. Lisa Whiting The board also told those prono votes. sports. Board lective barvoted 3-2 to delay the elimination grams would be eliminated if the “When I was growing up, when members Paul Lambert, Dave of middle-school sports until the 6.9-mill levy on the May ballot my dad said no, it meant no.” Lundregan and Andy Teater voted See BOARD, page A2
Parade funding approved by trustees By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Photos by Chris Parker/ThisWeek
(Above) Hilliard Horizon Elementary School fifth-graders Alexis Perez Rodriguez, William Jones and Jhonny Cruz show their work to Nancy Hodosko, manager of the McDonald’s at 5410 Renner Road, and Jeff Grabill, manager of the Wendy’s at 4989 Renner Road. The students created “The Food Fight,” a movie about a fight between Ronald McDonald, Wendy and Burger King as part of a creative-writing project. (Below) Fifthgraders watch the movie created by the students.
Boys build book, film out of burger battle By GARY BUDZAK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
What happens when the Burger King and Wendy batter Ronald McDonald with hamburgers in a fight for fast food supremacy? For three Hilliard boys, it marks the end of a year-long project that taught them old-fashioned writing and new technology skills. Jhonny Cruz, William Jones and Alexis Perez Rodriguez, three fifth-graders at Hilliard Horizon Elementary, preTo watch “The Food Fight,” their click on the link at thisweek- sented short story, “The news.com. Food Fight,” to Joan Cruickshank’s class last week. The story was among those created by Cruickshank’s students as part of a decade-long creative writing project called Writer’s Inc. “We did our book about Burger King, McDonald’s and Wendy’s,” said Cruz, who likes Burger King’s burgers and fries. “We did it about fast food wars because they’re the most popular, and we wanted to see who would win.” “Ronald was the villain because he’s the most popular one out of the three restaurants,” said Jones, who prefers McDonald’s for its burgers, fries and sundaes. “Everybody always likes to
The Norwich Township trustees approved Hilliard Fourth of July parade coordinator Jerry Baum’s funding request by a 2-1 vote at their June 6 meeting. Trustees Chuck Buck and Larry Earman voted in favor of giving Baum $1,500 for the parade, and Mike Cope voted no. “I’m here, to use your word, to ‘request’funds for our Fourth of July parade, as you’ve done Chuck Buck in past years, and we appreciate it very much,” Baum said prior to the vote. “That’s what I’m here begging for.” Baum has been coordinator of Hilliard’s Fourth of July parade for 49 years. “I get a retirement, don’t I?” he said, and Larry Earman the trustees laughed. “I’d just like to thank Jerry for all the effort he’s See NORWICH TOWNSHIP, page A8
Destination Hilliard working with veteran July 4 parade planner By JESSICA WHITE ThisWeek Community Newspapers
see the most popular one defeated.” The trio took the book a couple of steps fur“We three worked together because we’re friends ther by illustrating it themselves, and then made and we respect each other,” said Perez Rodriguez, it into a 12.5-minute iMovie, even providing the who favors Wendy’s for its sea salt fries. “Every- voices of the burger chains’ mascots. body did a little bit. It’s not like someone was lazy and the other two people were working.” See BATTLE, page A2
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1950’s
Marley is a five-yearold mixed breed dog currently up for adoption at Citizens For Human Action. For information on adopting Marley, visit CHA’s website: chaanimalshelter.org. Watch a video of Marley at ThisWeek NEWS.com.
Unsung Heroes
Friday, June 17, 2011• 6:00-8:00 pm
Members of Destination Hilliard said they are excited to be more involved in one of Hilliard’s favorite events: the Fourth of July parade. In a survey conducted by the organization, 36 percent of the voters said Hilliard’s Fourth of July Celebration is the No. 1 event. Other favorites included Old Hilliardfest and the Franklin County Fair. “(The parade) is a family thing here,” said Destination Hilliard steering committee member Don Parker said. “It gives everybody the opportunity to celebrate the Fourth of July, and that’s what it’s all about.” Destination Hilliard invited Jerry Baum, who has coordinated the parade for 49 years, to collaborate at its recent meeting. With this year’s celebration See JULY 4 PARADE, page A3
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