Hello neighbors,

It is with sheer delight and pleasure the Barton Hills Executive Committee announce the co-Grand Marshals for the 2009 Barton Hills Independence Day Parade on Saturday, July 4, 2009: (drum roll, please)

Leading the 16th annual 4th of July Parade will be the award-winning Barton Hills Elementary "Odyssey of the Mind" students and Austin's own Police Chief, Art Acevedo!

According to the APD website: "Art Acevedo serves as the eighth Police Chief in the 84-year history of the Austin Police Department and is the first Hispanic to lead the City?s police force. With more than two decades of law enforcement experience, he oversees a department that employs approximately 2,100 sworn officers and civilian personnel. With the consolidation of the Austin Police Department and the Austin Public Safety and Emergency Management Department in January 2009, Acevedo is now responsible for all municipal law enforcement in the City of Austin, including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, parks, and municipal courts. Appointed Austin Police Chief in July 2007, Chief Acevedo believes in the spirit of our community and the commitment to excellence demonstrated by the men and women he leads."

Thanks to Cherylann Campbell for this description: "Odyssey of the Mind (OOTM) is a competition in creative thinking for kids from elementary school to college. Teams are judged on how well they meet challenges, on creativity and teamwork. Our Barton Hills Elementary team is the first Austin area team to ever qualify for World Competition! They won the Central Texas regional competition, and came in second in the Texas State competition, to earn the chance to represent their school, their community, Austin, and Texas at the 30th annual Odyssey of the Mind, World Competition this May. In Iowa at the World Competition, they came in 24th of 47 teams competing in their division. They competed against teams from across the US, Mexico, Poland, Hong Kong and China."

"There are 7 kids on the team: 2 girls and 5 boys. This is their second year competing together as a team. Five will be at the parade. All are 10 years old who just finished 4th grade at Barton Hills Elementary. Five live in the neighborhood. They call themselves ?the Peeps.?"

Because we do not have permission to identify each of the children by name, we will give a "shout out" of congratulations to our talented team and thank all the neighbors and contibutors who helped get them to competition! Bravo!

Please come to the Parade next Saturday, and welcome Chief Art Acevedo and the students of "Odyssey of the Mind" as they lead our 2009 Barton Hills July 4th Parade! We're honored to have you as our co-Grand Marshals!

Please forward the attached Parade flyer to family and friends. See you at the Parade!

Kay

Kay Killen
BHNA Representative to the
Austin Neighborhood Council
512-447-4287
bhnaparade2007@yahoo.com