The conclusion of the first semester Dec. 19 will affect the schedule for Carmel Clay’s 15,173 students.

Carmel High School:  On December 18, students will take two tests and leave the building at 11:30 a.m.; Dec. 19, they will complete two final exams and be dismissed at 11:30 a.m.

Carmel, Clay and Creekside middle schools: Students at Carmel, Clay and Creekside middle schools will follow their usual schedule Dec. 18 but will not attend class Dec. 19, which will be a records day for their teachers.

Carmel, Cherry Tree, College Wood, Forest Dale, Mohawk Trails, Orchard Park, Prairie Trace, Smoky Row, Towne Meadow, West Clay and Woodbrook elementary schools: Students in the district’s 11 elementary schools will attend school at the normal times Dec. 18 but will be dismissed at 10:50 a.m. on Dec. 19.

The Carmel Clay Educational Services Center, 5201 E. 131st St., will be closed Dec. 24, Dec. 25, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 but will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the other weekdays during the two-week winter vacation.

School resumes for all students Jan. 5.

Children’s Candy Cane Hunt

A wide variety of candy canes will be scattered throughout Central Park.  Keep your eyes open for those “prize” canes and few extra prizes scattered throughout. A special guest may also make an appearance!  This event will be held rain, snow or shine.  The Children’s Candy Cane Hunt will take place at noon Dec. 13 in Central Park, 1195 Central Park Drive West. This event is free to the public.

Fetch the Fruitcake

Bring your dog to our first Fetch the Fruit Cake!  If you enjoyed the Doggie Easter Egg Hunt, you will get a kick out of this. Dogs will sniff out bone-shaped fruitcakes along with other doggie treats.  There will be prizes awarded for those dogs that sniff out the “prize” cakes and treats! Dogs will be divided based on weight. All dogs are required to be on a leash at all times.  This event will be held outside rain, snow or shine. Fetch the Fruitcake will take place 12:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at Central Park, 1195 Central Park Drive West. This event is free to the public.

Grinch Scramble

Bring your family and join us at West Park for our first ever Grinch Scramble!  While searching for your candy canes keep your eyes peeled for the Grinch! Whoever finds the Grinch will win the grand prize. Make sure you look both high and low while you are hunting for the Grinch.

This is a sure hit for people looking for a challenge or a great family activity. There will be music, games and an area to create your very own coloring book! Do not forget your flashlights and bags to collect your candy canes! Grinch Scramble will take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 in West Park, 2700 W. 116th St. This event is free to the public.

For more information on any of the Candy Cane Hunts, please call (317) 848-7275.

Source:  Indystar.com

Carmel High School Football will play Center Grove for the Class 5A State Championship title.  The game takes place this Saturday, November 29^th at 7:05 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium. 

Their first meeting with Center Grove earlier this year resulted in a 33-32 victory for Carmel in the final minute.  Both teams finished with a 6-1 record in the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference.  Ben Davis was Carmel’s only loss.

For more information, click here.

Fishers and Carmel will have their community tree lightings this Saturday, the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Fishers:  6:30 to 8.p.m. Saturday. Town Hall, 1 Municipal Drive. Includes costumed Dickens carolers, music from the Fishers High School choirs and cookies and punch. Free. (317) 578-0700 or www.fisherschamber.com.

Carmel:  4:30 to 6:30.p.m. Saturday. 1 Civic Square. Lighting of the Giving Tree and holiday lights is at dusk or approximately 5:45 p.m. Jugglers, carolers, balloon artists, reindeer and other North Pole animals. Holiday entertainment provided by Clay Middle School Choir, Carmel Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet and Central Indiana Dance Ensemble. Refreshments provided by the CFD Auxiliary. First 400 children will receive goody bags. In event of rain, held at the Carmel Fire Department Headquarters Fire Bay. Bring unwrapped gifts, no plush toys, for the Gazebo Giving Tree. Free. (317) 571-2400.

Source:  IndyStar.com

Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard spoke to the largest crowd ever gathered for a State of the City address last week.  The speech outlined his vision for the city including a strong infrastructure, walking areas, public transportation, and a community unified with its downtown. 

Brainard, who was recently criticized for budget shortfalls on two major projects, would like to see more people walking instead of driving and would like to give families the option.  He would like to design Old Town in a way where people can walk or make short trips. 

Another initiative involves creating a public transportation system in a couple of years.  The plan outlines using shuttles from area hotels to Old Town and Clay Terrace and back.   He wants to keep drawing new businesses to the city’s center and thinks the added density would speed up the creation of a public transportation system.

For more information, click here. 

The Carmel Redevelopment Commission has leased half of the second floor of the Laurie Building located at 30 W. Main Street in Carmel.  The five-year lease began on October 1^st, but the staff will not move in until December 1^st. 

The Carmel Redevelopment Commission will pay $4983.12 plus a $202.17 maintenance fee per month for the 2622 square feet.     

The city of Carmel spent $1.2 million in cash and backed a $2.9 million loan to construct the Laurie building.  The building which was opened in the fall 2007 was built by Carmel Arts LLC, which is an extension of Indianapolis-based Stenz Construction.

For more information, click here. 

Tonight at 6:00 PM, the Carmel City Council will meet to discuss a $50 million increase in the Keystone Avenue roundabout construction project.  The project was originally supposed to cost $90 million to be fully funded from the state.  Last week, four-term Republican mayor, Jim Brainard, announced that the project will be closer to $132 million -$140 million. 

Some members of the Carmel City Council, who have seldom said no to the Mayor’s multi-million dollar projects, are resisting the proposed additional funding.  Although no vote will take place tonight, Mayor Brainard says he will give a presentation on the Keystone project cost increase. 

For additional information, click here.

Type:  Lake Front

Age:   Built in 1971

Location:   Lamb Lake in Trafalgar, Indiana, a 45 minute drive to downtown Indianapolis

Neighborhood:   Lamb Lake is a 500 acre private lake with access limited to 300 homeowners

Square footage:  4805 including 1435 in the finished basement

 Rooms:  This four-bedroom home has three full baths, views of the lake from nearly every room, two full kitchens with appliances, vaulted great room with a wood-burning fireplace and wall of windows, sun room with gas fireplace, master suite with sitting area open to the back patio, master bath with marble shower and private laundry, oversized 2^nd and 3^rd bedrooms with sitting area and shared Jack-n-Jill bath, walk-out lower level with 4^th bedroom and family room, and over 800 square feet of covered porches. 

Strengths:  Aside from the impressive lake views, this home offers 350 feet of shoreline, 1.42 acres of woods and waterfront, parking to accommodate up to 18 vehicles, an oversized 3-car garage, 200 feet of dock, two covered slips and power lifts, tie offs for 10 boats and swimming picnic and camping areas.  It is secluded from the road and is located in a cove with a “no wake” zone. 

Challenges:  This is a high price point for Trafalgar and buyers interested in purchasing second homes are a bit tougher to find in the recent market. 

WHAT’S IT WORTH?    $1,200,000

Fishers and Carmel have announced Trick-or-Treat hours for Halloween. Trick-or-Treat hours will be on Friday, October 31, 2008 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Please review the following safety tips for Halloween:

• Give and accept wrapped or packaged candy only.

• Only go to houses that you know the owner.

• Have children bring treats home for adult inspection before they are eaten.

• A parent or adult should accompany children when they are trick-or-treating.

• Carry a flashlight.

• Stay within your neighborhood; only visit homes you know.

• Use make-up or face paint instead of masks. If masks are used, make sure the child has good visibility.

• Choose costumes that are flame retardant.

• Wear light-colored clothing, short enough to prevent tripping. Add reflective tape to dark colored costumes.

• Watch for vehicle traffic and use caution when crossing the street.

Police cars will be patrolling the neighborhoods to ensure everyone’s safety. If you see or find anything suspicious, please call the Fishers Police Department at 773-1282, Carmel Police Department at 571-2580, or Emergency 911.

Carmel Indiana is named an IACT Green Community by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.  The designation was awarded at the 2008 Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT) Annual Conference & Exhibition.

In order to be named as an IACT Green Community, Carmel had to meet a minimum score on a question survey in areas of operations, purchasing, measuring success and sample projects.  Scoring considerations were given to the size of the community and the likelihood it would or could implement certain programs.

Carmel had previously received two other environmental awards this year including the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Award and the Governors Award for Environmental Excellence in Pollution Prevention.