Pike Fire Safety Festival Finds New Home

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Dustin Williams and Kyle Hale with Sparky the Fire Dog.

Photo by Linda Karn
(posted Oct 1)

Guion Elementary School served as the new location for this year's Pike Fire Safety Festival. Township Trustee Lula Patton said the reason for the move from Intech Park to the elementary school was to have a better connection to the schools and neighborhoods.

The four hour event provided the public with opportunities to see helicopters, dental service, the Indianapolis Marion County Library's bookmobile, and other services.

Maggie Wagoner, IMCPL outreach services, said the bookmobile serves pre-school and day-care centers. The program served about 7,000 this summer, including a visit to the Phoenix Apartments to serve the at-risk kids. She said the plan now is to include licensed home day-care centers on the route.

Cherrish Pryor, running for State Representative in district 94, said she has been listening to people's concerns while out campaigning. The most common concern is the mortgage crisis. Homeowners are concerned about the growing number of vacant homes in their neighborhoods, driving their home values down. As far as solutions, Pryor explained the Indiana General Assembly would have to wait to see the federal government's bailout plan. State legislators could fill in the areas that were left out in the federal plan.

Kathy Tonetti of Grooming to Go said she is just starting her pet grooming business after making a career switch from the embroidery business. Tonetti said she went to Marian College to obtain her Bachelor of Science Degree, and one of her courses required her to develop a business plan.

She said one of the benefits of having a business plan is keeping her more focused. She said starting the mobile grooming business was a "no brainer" because there is huge demand for the service. There is no state licensing required to be a pet groomer, but she is taking a three-month course to become certified.

The day also offered kids the opportunity to have their picture taken with Sparky, the fire dog. Sparky has been around for about 40 years, teaching fire safety to children.

Students enrolled in the Everett J. Light Career Center Emergency Services programs were also onhand. Instructor Jeffrey Hayes said the program serves high school students from eleven school corporations in northern Marion, Boone, and Hamilton counties. There are about 300 students enrolled in the emergency services classes that includes EMT training.