THE NASHBORO GREENS UNDERGROUND

Tennessee gets $146 million in mortgage settlement

2012-02-09T15:48:00.000-08:00

The Tennessean
Posted: Feb 09, 2012 1:02 PM CST
Updated: Feb 09, 2012 1:02 PM CST

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee's share in the $25 billion agreement with five mortgage servicers will be an estimated $146 million.

State Attorney General Bob Cooper said Thursday the agreement, once approved in court, provides major and tangible relief to distressed homeowners who need the help now.

State banking commissioner Greg Gonzales said provisions in the agreement protect consumers now and are similar to what he called common sense treatment that Tennesseans are likely to receive from smaller community lenders.

Officials urged Tennesseans to consult http://www.KeepMyTNHome.org .

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

David Waynick Esq New Owner of Nashboro Golf Course, Office Hours, Hickory Hollow Meeting and more

2012-02-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2012

Councilwoman Karen Johnson confirms Attorney David Waynick has

purchased Nashboro Golf Course

Attorney David Waynick praised Councilwoman Johnson Wednesday for helping
remove obstacles to keeping the golf course in the community.

Nashville, Tennessee – Councilwoman Karen Y. Johnson announced today that Nashville
attorney David Waynick has purchased the Nashboro Village golf course, thereby protecting the
area as a golf course/green space for years to come.

“Our community is extremely grateful to Attorney Waynick, again, as he has saved yet another
treasure in our community,” Johnson said. “The residents of the 29th have shown resounding
support for keeping this part of Nashboro Village green and free from development. “Thanks to
David Waynick, it will remain that way for generations to come in our community.”
David Waynick praised Councilwoman Johnson Wednesday for helping remove obstacles to
keeping the golf course in the community.

“Karen is in touch on a daily basis with the residents of her district,” Waynick said. “She listened to the community and her leadership in withdrawing the bill before Metro Council helped pave the way for me to acquire and save the golf course."

“I am proud to stand with her and the entire community as we move forward on this project.”
The golf course is expected to open March 2012 and plans are being developed to ensure long
term success.
# # #
Councilwoman Karen Y. Johnson is a 1st term member of the 13th Metropolitan Nashville Davidson County Council and represents the 29th District located in Southeast Nashville. The Metropolitan Council is the legislative body of Nashville and Davidson County, with 5 at-large and 35 district members, each elected to serve a term of four years.

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Karen Y. Johnson Appointed to National League of Cities’ Community and Economic Development Steering Committee

Washington, DC – National League of Cities President Ted Ellis, has announced the appointment of Councilwoman Karen Y. Johnson to the National League of Cities’ (NLC) 2012 Community and Economic Development Steering Committee. The Community and Economic Development committee is responsible for developing policy positions on issues involving housing, community and economic development, land use, recreation and parks, historic preservation and international competitiveness. The appointment was announced by NLC President Ted Ellis, Mayor, Bluffton, Ind.

As a member of the committee, Karen Y. Johnson will play a key role in shaping NLC’s policy positions, while advocating on behalf of America’s cities and towns on Capitol Hill, with the Administration, and at home.

The chair of this year’s Community and Economic Development Committee is Neal Andrews, Council Member, Ventura, CA. Serving as this year’s vice chairs are Frank “Tony” Thomas, Alderman, Savannah, GA, and Priscilla R. Tyson, Council Member, Columbus, OH.

For more information on NLC’s other committees and councils, visit http://www.nlc.org/inside_nlc/committeescouncils.aspx.

The National League of Cities is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.
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Office Hours Scheduled - Special Invite has been sent to all neighborhood leaders for a update on projects in District 29. We have lots of exciting things that are getting ready to take shape. I will work to meet with Neighborhood Leaders every other month. For all in District 29 Office Hours will be every 4th Saturday from 10 am-12 noon. (should there be a change in this schedule, it will be communicated timely. Thank you.
First Tennessee Bank
Nashboro Location
2360 Murfreesboro Pike
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THE SOUTHEAST NASHVILLE EASTER EVENT PLANNING COMMITTEE WELCOMES YOUR HELP, SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION
If you are interested in volunteering to help with this year's Easter Event which is hosted by 8 Metro Council Members - Jacobia Dowell, Robert Duvall, Karen Johnson, Duane Dominy, Jason Potts, Josh Stites, Fabian Bedne, Davette Blalock, please call 615-501-0641 or email southeasteasterevent@gmail.com. Save the below Date, time and location and share with others you know. More info to come!

www.SoutheastEasterEvent.com

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Information coming soon! We are the next district in Nashville to GO Green!! Look forward to District 29 being the greenest in Nashville!

www.GoGreen-Nashville.com
http://energytomorrow.org/energy/#/type/all

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Afterschool Programs Coming to Southeast Nashville Priest Lake/Antioch/Cane Ridge
This is a positive step forward for our children in Nashville!

Mayor Karl Dean expands after-school programs

Dean announced Wednesday that Nashville is one of nine cities awarded a Wallace Foundation grant, which will be used to open programs in the Whites Creek and Pearl-Cohn clusters this fall and Cane Ridge and Antioch area in 2013.

“There are far too many kids who go home to an empty apartment or house … vulnerable and not making the best use of their time,” Dean said. “After-school programs help kids stay on track in school and ultimately help more kids graduate from high school and on to college, which is good for the city and students.”
Click here to read more

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Don’t forget to bring a PHOTO ID in order to Vote in the Upcoming Election. To learn more about the new law and its exceptions, call the Davidson County Election Commission as this became effective January 1, 2012 or visit http://nashvilleclerk.com/davidson-county-clerk%E2%80%99s-office-to-provide-id-upgrades-for-voting/

e ID upgrades for voting. Read for more information.

Davidson County Clerk Office to provide ID upgrades for voting. Read for more information.
EARLY VOTING IS FEBRUARY 15 – FEBRUARY 28. ELECTION DAY IS MARCH 6, 2012
Federal or State government issued photo ID is now required to vote, unless an exception applies. College student ID’s will not be accepted.

Friday Night's Shooting Outside Hickory Hollow Mall Not Believed to Have Been Random

2012-01-22T09:15:00.000-08:00

January 21, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

South Precinct detectives believe Friday night’s shooting outside Hickory Hollow Mall that left a Florida man with a non-critical wound to his shoulder was not random and that there’s much more to the story than they’ve been told.

The victim, Cedric Davis, 27, of Ft. Lauderdale, told detectives that he is not interested in prosecuting the gunman.

Davis was at the mall with four other persons, a woman from Cincinnati and three men from Florida. None of the group consented to formal interviews. Detectives were able to piece together this scenario despite inconsistent statements from the group:

The woman from Cincinnati, Jennifer Walen, 35, said that she walked out to the group’s black Infinity SUV to drop off shopping bags when she was approached by two gunmen and was ordered to get into the vehicle. Walen said the men asked her where the money was and “where do they keep the cash.” Somehow Whalen got out of the vehicle, walked back into the mall and told the others in the group what had happened. The four Florida men accompanied Walen back to the Infinity. They said a man was standing at the side of vehicle with all the doors open. They reported that when he saw the group approaching, he closed the tailgate, pulled a pistol and fired. Davis was hit in the shoulder.

Detectives have identified two of the men traveling with Davis. The others said they did not know the name of the third person, although he had accompanied them from Florida.

A local witness who was in the parking lot when the shooting occurred saw just one gunman. The witness said it appeared to him the gunman knew members of the group. Most of the involved parties were reluctant to give officers their names and were more concerned with just leaving.

Original News Story

One Person Shot At Hickory Hollow Mall
NewsChannel 5 WTVF
http://www.wtvf.com/story/16568382/one-person-shot-at-hickory-hollow-mall

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- One person was injured in a shooting at Hickory Hollow Mall Friday night. The shooting happened just after 8 p.m.

Police said that as a woman was leaving the mall she was rushed by two men armed with guns that forced her to get into her car and demanded money. It was unclear what happened inside the vehicle, but somehow the woman managed to get away. The victim fled back into the mall and brought two of her male friends back out to the car with her.

Officials said when the suspects saw the victim and her friends coming out of the mall they fired several shots. One 27-year-old man was hit in the shoulder and transported by ambulance to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Police have not said if the suspects were in custody in relation to this case. The identity of the victim also had not been released.

Backyard Chicken Ordinance Passes with 8 Metro Council Districts Opted Out to include District 29, Community Meeting on HH Mall, and more

2012-01-20T07:45:00.000-08:00

Thank you to each and everyone of you who attended the Urban Chicken Ordinance meeting at Antioch Church of Christ, sent emails, and made phone calls to give me your feedback. As the news reports have shared, the Urban Chicken Ordinance below passes with council districts 12, 20, 28(Dominy), 29(Johnson), 30(Potts), 31(Bedne), 32(Dowell), and 33(Duvall) - All Six in Southeast Davidson County exempted.
Click on the below to view the ordinance
http://www.nashville.gov/mc/ordinances/term_2011_2015/bl2011_47.htm

Below are some articles just in case you missed any. Thank you.

Backyard chickens ordinance for only part of Nashville is a first
The Tennessean 1/19/2012
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120119/NEWS0202/301190019/Backyard-chickens-ordinance-only-part-Nashville-first?odyssey=tab

While a majority of Metro Council members agreed this week that Nashville residents should be allowed to raise chickens, a handful squawked enough to get their districts exempted from the new law.

In doing so, they reached a split verdict that critics fear could change the way the council does business.

Eight of the 35 council districts — 12, 20 and 28 through 33 — were allowed to opt out of the urban chicken ordinance, which will allow people living in residential zoning districts to keep small numbers of chickens in their back yards for a $25 annual permit fee. Council members representing those districts said their constituents were overwhelmingly opposed to the proposal.

The unprecedented decision, made by the narrowest of majorities Tuesday night, raised thorny questions about the establishment of public policy and the ability of the majority of elected representatives to decide what the entire city will do. Click on link above to read the entire news story.

Backyard chickens approved in Nashville
The Tennessean 1/18/2012
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120118/NEWS0202/301180095/Backyard-chickens-approved-Nashville?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE
Chickens, long forbidden in Nashville’s urban precincts, will now get to cluck in the city — legally.

After a 45-minute debate and a close decision to let nearly one-quarter of Davidson County opt out, the Metro Council voted 21-15 on Tuesday to allow residents to raise hens in their back yards. Click on link above to read the entire news story.

Backyard chicken bill survives opposition, clears Metro Council
Nashville City Paper 1/19/2012
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/backyard-chicken-bill-survives-opposition-clears-metro-council
But Tuesday’s win overcame a serious challenge. The bill failed to receive recommendations from two council committees. Most troubling to its fate, eight council members were successful in opting out their individual districts through the approval of a last-minute amendment, which cleared by an 18-17 vote.

Council districts exempt from the backyard chicken law are: 12, 20, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33. Six of the shielded districts are in southeastern Davidson County; one is in Donelson; and the other is in West Nashville. Click on link above to read the entire news story.

Councilman wants district exempt from backyard chicken bill
WKRN NewsChannel 2
1/15/2012
http://www.wkrn.com/story/16525543/metro-council-member-wants-district-exempt-from-backyard-chicken-bill

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Metro Council members on Tuesday will hear the third and final reading of the highly controversial urban chicken ordinance.

The ordinance would make it legal for Davidson County residents to have up to six chickens in their backyard, depending on property size.

The ordinance passed the second reading at the council's meeting on January 3....Click on Link above to read the entire news story.

Area RUBY TUESDAY - Nashboro/Murfreesboro Road location steps up to help with the Lakeview Elementary School Playground Build Project
Area RUBY TUESDAY - Nashboro/Murfreesboro Road location steps up to help with the Lakeview Elementary School Playground Build Project

Please consider helping with this very important project to help one of our neighborhood schools. The playground is very much needed

SAVE THE DATE and Mark your calendars to dine at our District Ruby Tuesday, Thursday, March 8, 2012, 6 PM. 20% of all sales will be given to this project. A special thank you is extended to District 29's own LaTisha Cox, who lives in our district and is the General Manager for helping with this effort and Principal Robin Shumate for her outstanding leadership! We need all neighbors in District 29 to help make this a success. Thank you.

COMMUNITY MEETING Hosted by COUNCILWOMAN JACOBIA DOWELL REGARDING HICKORY HOLLOW DISTRICT

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Antioch Middle School

(Meeting will be held in the Library)

5050 Blue Hole Road

Antioch, TN 37013

(* There will be regular chairs and bar stool seating available)

Purpose: To discuss upcoming District 32 happenings. Agenda includes discussing the development projects in the District: the former JC Penny’s into the proposed Library and Community Center, Nashville State Community College, Cane Ridge Elementary construction, brief updates from the Metro Council, Antioch Community Plan Update, Beautification, Community Education, District 32 Neighborhood University and opportunities for you to get involved! Formal agenda will be provided later.

REMINDER: OFFICE HOURS FOR DISTRICT 29

Saturday, January 21, 2012

10 am - 12 noon

2360 Murfreesboro Pike

First Tennessee Bank, Nashboro Location

Please come out and share with me your concerns, ideas or any information you would like to share. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you.

Brush Pickup
Metro Nashville Public Works will begin Brush and Leaf collections in our district "Area 4 " beginning on January 23, 2012.

To ensure that your brush will be collected , you should have limbs and all other yard waste out and ready for pick-up on the date above. Place only limbs, branches and true yard waste by the curb for brush crews. Lumber, household trash and other types of debris found in your brush pile means it won’t get picked up. Brush piles should not be placed close to mailboxes, utility poles, fences, trees or other stationary objects. The mechanical arm of the knuckle boom truck needs enough room to lift the brush pile up and into the trailer pulled behind the truck. Only the driver travels with each truck; no other crew members are there to move piles or separate items that don’t belong in a brush pile.

Place leaves in biodegradable paper bags only; Paper biodegradable bags can be purchased at most hardware stores, Wal-Mart's, Target, Home Depot, etc. Public Works also has a supply of these bags available for purchase at the Omohundro Convenience Center: 5 bags for $3.00 and 10 bags for $6.00. Plastic bags will not be picked up.

2011-2012 Collection Dates

Please have your brush out for collection by the following dates:

January 23, 2012

May 16, 2012

You can review details for each route on the below Website by clicking on this link:

http://www.nashville.gov/pw/recycle/yard/brush.asp

Dolly Parton, Mayor Dean, Governor Bill Haslam and Gaylord Entertainment Executives announce New Theme Park for Nashville!
Please see the below article regarding the announcement today.

Gaylord, Dolly Parton Announce Plans For Theme Park

WtVF NEWSCHANNEL 5
01/19/2012http://www.wtvf.com/story/16556165/gaylord-dolly-parton-announce-plans-for-theme-park

Dolly Parton and Gaylord Entertainment CEO Colin Reed announced they will partner up to build a first of its kind 114 acre family entertainment zone off Briley Parkway. Its first phase will be a $50 million water and snow theme park.

Governor Bill Haslam and Mayor Karl Dean were on hand for the announcement Thursday afternoon at the Grand Ole Opry House.

The park will provide high energy water activities for the summer season and designated snow activities for winter play. Once it's open, the first year attendance is projected at 500,000, and they believe a large portion will come from out of state.

In a release, Governor Haslam said "Tourism is the second largest industry in Tennessee generating more than $1 billion in tax revenue annually and employing more than 170,000."

Dollywood will be the operating partner, and expects to employ 450 full and part-time employees.

A groundbreaking is expected in late 2012 or early 2013 with the park opening in summer 2014. Please click on link above to view the entire news story.

Restaurant Week kicks off Monday in Nashville

2012-01-16T07:23:00.000-08:00

Tennessean
Posted: Jan 13, 2012 7:58 PM CST
Updated: Jan 16, 2012 01:13 AM CST

By Tiani Jones, Reporter - bio | email

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Restaurant Week kicks off Monday with deals for diners at dozens of area restaurants.

Sponsored by Nashville Originals, Restaurant Week is held twice a year and aims to introduce diners to locally owned and operated eateries.

This year is the first year new restaurant Burger Up is participating.

General Manager Kevin Crowley told Nashville's News 2 the event is the perfect way to be introduced to customers in Nashville.

"Seeing a lot of new faces, hopefully wining over new customers, getting the word out because we don't do a lot of advertising either so it's all been word of mouth," Crowley said.

Burger Up focuses on everything local, from the beef they serve to the vegetables. Even the tables are from Middle Tennessee.

"We're a firm believer in using local products, farmers who are out there trying to make a living and just supporting people around here," Crowley said.

That stance holds true for all of the participating restaurants.

Nearly 50 businesses are participating this year, including some coffee shops and bars.

Many restaurants, including Rumba and Cabana, are offering three course meals, featuring an appetizer or salad, an entree and dessert for $20.20.

Other participants, such as Holland House Bar and Refuge and Red Pony, will offer three course dinners for $30.12.

Restaurant Week continues through Sunday, January 22.

For the complete list of participating restaurants, visit NashvilleOrginals.com.

Upcoming Final Vote on Urban Chicken Ordinance, Lakeview Elementary Project Playground, Brush Pickup, Office Hours, Hickory Hollow

2012-01-14T07:56:00.000-08:00

District 29: Reminder - You are invited to the community meeting scheduled to discuss the Urban Chicken Ordinance Saturday January 14, 2012 from 12 pm until 2 pm Antioch Church of Christ 2142 Antioch Pike. Thank you to all who have made phone calls to me as well as sent emails. I am continuing to receive feedback after the public meeting that was held at our first metro council meeting of the year. Please continue to give me your feedback. The final vote on this takes place at our upcoming Metro Council Meeting this Tuesday, January 17, 2012. Thank you.
Click on the below to view the ordinance
http://www.nashville.gov/mc/ordinances/term_2011_2015/bl2011_47.htm

Other Legislation

- Thank you for your feedback on the below ordinance. It has passed the Metro Council. I will keep you updated on how this will affect our ability to improve the turnaround time to cut and take care of neglected lots.
http://www.nashville.gov/mc/ordinances/term_2011_2015/bl2011_34.htm
- I am a co sponsor for legislation to include a fiscal note for all bills
http://www.nashville.gov/mc/ordinances/term_2011_2015/bl2012_91.htm

Area RUBY TUESDAY - Nashboro/Murfreesboro Road location steps up to help with the
Lakeview Elementary School Playground Build Project
Please consider helping with this very important project to help one of our neighborhood schools. The playground is very much needed

Mark your calendars to dine at our District Ruby Tuesday, Thursday, March 8, 2012, 6 PM. 20% of all sales will be given to this project. A special thank you is extended to District 29's own LaTisha Cox, who lives in our district and is the General Manager for helping with this effort and Principal Robin Shumate for her outstanding leadership! We need all neighbors in District 29 to help make this a success. Thank you.

UPDATE ON HICKORY HOLLOW
I attended the THHAP (The Hickory Hollow Action Partnership Group) meeting this past Tuesday at Zaxby's. A representative from Nashville State was in attendance and they are moving forward with breaking ground to begin the build out for their campus to be located in the Dillard's building at Hickory Hollow Mall this fall 2012. I was pleased to see neighbors from District 29 in attendance at the meeting. I will continue to send out notices of their meetings. Mr. Steve Abernathy who is with the Cane Ridge Community Club suggested to Matt Wiltshire with the Mayors Office of Economic and Community Development who was also present, to approach Sears leadership, to inquire if they could relocate or consolidate their outlet operations to the Hickory Hollow Mall location since it is a larger space and since they own it. This is a great idea and what was added to the discussion also was for them to arrange for the council members and THHAP leadership to speak directly to the corporate leaders at both Sears and Macy's because generally corporations make decisions based on their sales and other budgetary data instead of planned activities that are being made to revitalize a particular area. This will at least give them information that they can consider should other options be available due to the projected increase of foot traffic expected from the revitalization and other data from the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce that was presented at the meeting by THHAP's Ben Freeland. Also information was shared that the Global Market, Expanded Library, Community Center are still moving forward. Also announced was the opening of the store Family Dollar behind Zaxby's

Brush Pickup

Metro Nashville Public Works will begin Brush and Leaf collections in our district "Area 4 " beginning on January 23, 2012.

To ensure that your brush will be collected , you should have limbs and all other yard waste out and ready for pick-up on the date above. Place only limbs, branches and true yard waste by the curb for brush crews. Lumber, household trash and other types of debris found in your brush pile means it won’t get picked up. Brush piles should not be placed close to mailboxes, utility poles, fences, trees or other stationary objects. The mechanical arm of the knuckle boom truck needs enough room to lift the brush pile up and into the trailer pulled behind the truck. Only the driver travels with each truck; no other crew members are there to move piles or separate items that don’t belong in a brush pile.

Place leaves in biodegradable paper bags only; Paper biodegradable bags can be purchased at most hardware stores, Wal-Mart's, Target, Home Depot, etc. Public Works also has a supply of these bags available for purchase at the Omohundro Convenience Center: 5 bags for $3.00 and 10 bags for $6.00. Plastic bags will not be picked up.

2011-2012 Collection Dates

Please have your brush out for collection by the following dates:

January 23, 2012

May 16, 2012

You can review details for each route on the below Website by clicking on this link:

http://www.nashville.gov/pw/recycle/yard/brush.asp

With end to Nashboro Village plan, residents worry they won't get a park

2012-01-11T11:04:00.000-08:00

Metro had wanted to buy golf course, convert it to public space
Tennessean
Written by
Nancy DeVille

Priest Lake residents drive miles to take a lap around a Metro greenway or break a sweat at a community center fitness class.

They live in one of Davidson County’s fastest-growing areas, one where city parks and recreation centers haven’t kept up. Metro Nashville was eyeing the private, 144-acre Nashboro Village golf course to convert to public space but abandoned that plan after residents along the golf course mounted strong opposition.

Now, people who don’t live on the golf course are worried it will take years to get the kind of amenities some drive as far as Coleman Park Community Center on Thompson Lane to get. Metro Park officials say they have plans for recreational projects in other southeast neighborhoods, but not in the immediate Priest Lake area.

“It makes me wonder if local government has crossed us off the list for now, since we said we didn’t want (a park) there,” said Cassandra Gray, a 14-year Priest Lake resident. “I’m hoping they strongly consider another location. I hope the next step in the conversation with the community is what are the other options.”

Metro’s parks board was scheduled to vote on the plan today but removed it from the agenda after Councilwoman Karen Johnson, who represents the area, asked the city to withdraw its proposal. An investor came forward who wants to keep the space as a golf course.

Projects planned

At a packed meeting with Johnson on Thursday, residents said they purchased homes that bordered the golf course because of the value it would bring their investment. They expressed concern about the additional traffic and crime a city park might bring to the area.

Park officials acknowledged there aren’t enough recreation centers in southeast Davidson County but pointed out work is beginning on other projects.

In November, the Metro Council voted to buy the former JC Penney building in Hickory Hollow Mall and the lot it sits on for a new library, community center and small park. The 30,000-square-foot community center will include a gymnasium, fitness center and multipurpose room. The purchase is on track to be finalized this month.

The Mill Creek Greenway will expand near Lenox Village off Nolensville Road with the potential for a park in the future. A neighborhood park is also planned for about 22 acres on Old Hickory Boulevard, west of Murfreesboro Pike.

“We are still striving to get our services distributed to all parts of the county, and particularly the ones that need it,” said Tommy Lynch, Metro Parks and Recreation director. “We still see there is a need in that very specific area. ... We are still going to pursue acreage, greenways, parks and community centers for that part of the city.”

The golf club purchase would have fallen under Metro’s open space plan that calls for preserving 22,000 acres over the next 25 years. The city recently purchased Cornelia Fort Airpark in East Nashville and Hermitage’s Ravenwood Country Club under that plan.

Former Mt. Juliet Mayor David Waynick sent a letter of intent to purchase the Nashboro Village golf course. He and golf course owner Textron Golf Financial Division are communicating, said Gilbert Smith, the real estate broker.

Contact Nancy DeVille at 615-259-8304

Letter to Parks From Karen Y Johnson

2012-01-08T07:19:00.001-08:00

My Local Crime Alert (01/06/2012 01:28pm) - by SpotCrime

2012-01-07T08:31:00.000-08:00

Burglary 01/04/12 10:11 PM NASHBORO BLVD 2300 MURFREESBORO PK
B Robbery 01/04/12 09:14 PM HICKORY HOLLOW PKWY 1000 BELL RD
C Robbery 01/04/12 03:21 AM DONELSON PKE 2800 ELM HILL PKE
D Burglary 01/04/12 05:09 PM HICKORY HOLLOW PL
E Robbery 01/04/12 09:13 PM BELL RD / HICKORY HOLLOW PKWY
F Burglary 01/04/12 05:21 PM STREAMRIDGE CT E 3600 BENTFIELD DRIVE
G Robbery 01/04/12 12:36 AM DONELSON PKE 2700 WELLMAN DRIVE

http://spotcrime.com

Metro Will Not Purchase Nashboro Golf Course

2012-01-07T08:16:00.000-08:00

NewChannel5.com
Posted: Jan 06, 2012 1:27 PM CST
Updated: Jan 06, 2012 7:12 PM CST

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Metro has pulled the plug on a plan to buy the Nashboro Village Golf Course, just one day after a community meeting raised big concerns.

On Friday a Metro Councilwoman sent a letter to Metro Parks asking them to withdraw legislation that authorizes the purchase of the Nashboro Village Golf Course- and Parks Director Tommy Lynch sais he will comply with that request

The letter from councilwoman Karen Johnson stated that based on turnout at Thursday night's community meeting, it "is the strong preference of the neighbors" to have local attorney David Waynick purchase the property.

Metro Parks had planned to buy the property, which closed in November, to use as an open green space as part of the Open Space Plan the city adopted two years ago.

The $595,000 purchase price for the Nashboro Golf Club would come out of a $5 million previously set aside for open spaces that includes private donations from The Land Trust of Tennessee.

Those who live in the area felt that the purchase and transformation will destroy their property values and ruin their neighborhood.

To Watch Video: Click Here!

Updated Statement from Parks Director Tommy Lynch regarding Nashboro Village Golf Course Property to all Media Outlets Shortly ago

2012-01-06T16:15:00.000-08:00

“While we have a strong, unwavering commitment to the development of parks and greenways in this community, we will withdraw our staff recommendation to the Park Board for the acquisition of the Nashboro Village Golf Course.

The very reason we have public meetings is to get the chance for community feedback. After last night’s meeting with residents in the Nashboro Village area, we agree with them that it is in the best interest of the community and the Parks Department to give residents in the area the opportunity to pursue private funding for the continuation of golf in the area. As well, the council member representing that district has pulled the legislation to authorize acquisition of the property.

Metro Parks will continue our efforts to fulfill the Open Space Plan as well as the Master Plan for Parks and Greenways in communities that welcome such initiatives.

Tommy Lynch, Director
Metro Parks

Letter to Textron Financial and Southeast Ventures regarding Nashboro Golf Course Property

2012-01-06T07:31:00.000-08:00

Please see letter to Southeast Ventures. Much success to David Waynick and the Nashboro Village Master Association in moving forward with a private purchase of the Golf Course Property to run as a golf course. Thanks to Everyone who came out to the meeting last night. I have also requested withdrawal of this legislation with the Planning Commission and the Metro Parks Board.

Link to Letter: Click Here!

Backyard hens make gains in Nashville

2012-01-04T08:51:00.000-08:00

Tennessean
By Michael Cass

Council is one vote away from allowing home-grown eggs

Scientific talk about the drawbacks of mass-produced eggs mixed with the excited chatter of children as the Metro Council took on an unusual subject — chickens — at a colorful public hearing Tuesday.

The council gave preliminary approval to a bill that would make it easier for urban residents to keep backyard hens after hearing from dozens of residents, most of whom spoke in support of the measure.

Partially organized by Urban Chicken Advocates of Nashville — which had put yellow Peeps marshmallow candies on council members’ desks earlier in the day — and sporting yellow hats and shirts, they spoke of the benefits of producing good, organic eggs. They also talked about teaching young people the thrills of living off the land and the need to solve the “food desert” phenomenon in which some neighborhoods have no grocery stores or markets nearby.

“Many residents of Nashville are united in their desire to produce their own food locally,” said Andrew Greer, a graduate student at Vanderbilt University. “Local farming lets people know where their food is coming from and provides a space for social interaction when neighbors share produce or even meals together.”

Three critics of the proposed law warned that chickens would make noise and attract predators, and they noted that enforcement would be based on residents’ complaints rather than proactive efforts by Metro government.

“Constituents have few rights and little recourse,” said Michelle Miller, who lives in the Hillsboro-West End area.

The legislation, introduced by Councilwoman Karen Bennett last fall, would allow people living in residential zoning districts to keep up to two, four or six chickens, depending on the size of their property, for an annual permit fee of $25. Chickens wouldn’t be allowed in front yards, and roosters wouldn’t be allowed at all.

The bill still must win one more approval from the full council to become law.

The right to keep hens has been a long-standing cause for groups like Community Food Advocates. That organization’s office administrator, Megan Morton, an East Nashville resident, said the opportunity to raise chickens would give some people more “food security.”

“When you’re living on such a low income in terms of what you can buy, being able to grow a tomato plant, grow lettuce, get eggs from your backyard plays such a key role,” she said.

Kids, celeb attend

Children had their say to an unusual degree for a zoning matter. One boy wore a chicken hat as he came to the podium and exclaimed, “I’m a chicken lover!” Another youngster said chickens are quieter than dogs, better at staying put and less likely to leave their waste in places where it doesn’t belong.

The hearing also attracted a celebrity of sorts in the world of backyard chickens.

Andy Schneider of Ideal, Ga., host of a radio show called Backyard Poultry with the Chicken Whisperer, said he has seen chickens unite neighbors, not divide them, in cities around the United States.

In an interview, Schneider, 42, said the hens never cause as much trouble as some people expect.

“Regardless of how strict or lenient the law, the city still doesn’t have the complaints everybody thinks they’re going to have,” said Schneider, the letters “CW” stitched into the collar of his yellow shirt.

He also dismissed fears about the smell chickens might generate, saying, “We’re talking about six chickens, not 60,000.”

Schneider said Urban Chicken Advocates of Nashville invited him to speak to the council. He said they planned to go to dinner after the hearing at Otters, a place known for its chicken fingers.

New state laws target DUI, voter photo IDs

2012-01-02T13:18:00.000-08:00

Tennessean
Jan 1, 2011

• Testing for blood alcohol content will be required in cases in which the driver has previously been convicted of a DUI or when there is a child present in the vehicle.

• Voters will have to present valid photo identification at the polls.

• Election officials must accept the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot as a backup measure for overseas military personnel who have not received their official ballots in time to participate in elections.

• Pharmacies must use the National Precursor Log Exchange to monitor purchases of medicines that contain pseudoephedrine, a precursor to meth.

• The Department of Health must establish rules to govern the operation of clinics that dispense pain medications.

• The punishment for rape of a child has been clarified to be up to 60 years in the most egregious circumstances.

• Employers with more than 500 workers face penalties if they do not check the immigration status of new hires through the federal E-Verify system.

• Insurance policies must cover up to $1,000 per ear for the purchase of hearing aids every three years for children.

• Medical practitioners must wear photo badges showing their full name and licensure type.

• The penalty for firing a weapon into a residence is set at a Class C felony if the home is occupied and a Class D felony if no one is home.

Neighbors want sale of golf course to Metro stopped

2011-12-30T20:11:00.000-08:00

WKRN News
Posted: Dec 30, 2011 9:20 PM CST
By Joseph Pleasant, Reporter

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
Concerned neighbors living near the Nashboro Village Golf Course are fighting a plan by Metro Nashville to purchase the golf course and turn it into green space.

Neighbors worry selling the golf course will hurt property values and community safety.

The Metro Nashville's Board of Parks and Recreation plan to take up a proposal to buy the 144-acre golf course at its January 10th meeting.

The city plans to pay $595,000 for the land, according to parks officials.

"This is a beautiful course," said Bob Preston, a 9-year homeowner. "There is no reason for it to close the functionality of it."

Preston, like many of his neighbors, bought his house, in part, because of the access to the golf course.

"I did it so I could enjoy a golf course and the way of life," he said. "That is being taken away."

Neighbors told Nashville's News 2 they first learned of the pending sale from a letter sent to them by District 29 Councilwoman Karen Johnson.

"I don't want a park. I don't want ball fields. I don't want community centers," long-time resident Gary Peterson said. "I want a golf course."

The golf course closed in November. It has been up for sale for about five years, according to neighbors.

Some neighbors would rather have a private buyer take over the golf course. They worry that the city could later rezone the land for commercial development.

"I think it will have a negative impact on our entire village," neighbor Jo Beth Hastings said. "There are 1,970 homes out here."

She continued, "It was built and designed around a golf course, and the impact it's going to have will be huge."

Other neighbors worry about safety. Currently, the golf course is private property and people can be cited for trespassing if they are on the golf course without permission.

The course backs up to the back of many of the residents homes. They worry about having a city park right outside their back doors.

"We would have people in back of our houses were we would have no control," neighbor Jacquelin McCoy said. "My house is one of the homes that is actually sitting on the golf course."

McCoy continued, "I think there will be a lack of security."

McCoy and other neighbors want Metro officials to consider their concerns before finalizing the sale.

They say a private buyer has shown interest in purchasing the golf course. They would not reveal the identity of the buyer.

"We bought into this with our dollars," McCoy said. "I am hoping they will listen to the community and not decide on their own."

The Nashboro Village Golf Course would be the latest course purchased by the city and turned into green space.

Metro Council approved the purchase of Ravenwood Country Club in Hermitage. The city paid nearly $3 million for the 181-acre once private country club earlier this month.

The city plans to adjoin the land with the nearby Stones River greenway.

Councilwoman Johnson did not return a message left by Nashville's News 2 for comment.

She plans to host a community meeting about the sale on January 5, 2012 at Smith Springs Church of Christ, located at 2783 Smith Springs Road.

Letter to Councilwoman Karen Johnson

2011-12-30T15:36:00.000-08:00

December 30, 2011
Councilwoman Karen Johnson
Metropolitan Council – District 29
2928 Moss Springs Drive
Antioch, TN 37217

Dear Councilwoman Johnson:

I hope all is well with you and that you had a good holiday break. I am Richie Hoffman, President of the Masters Association of Nashboro Village Golf Community. I have recently heard about your proposal to have Metro purchase the Nashboro Golf Course. It is critical that you please stop this fast movement of the acquisition. I hope that you received my voice mail messages from yesterday, December 29, 2011. Others and I also left you messages with the council staff. We know that you are very busy, but we wanted you to know that there is a private buyer that is interested in the acquisition of the Golf Course. This is huge! And we are very excited about this new development.

Councilwoman Johnson, just consider, if given the opportunity for the private entity it would result in generating positive tax dollars to Metro government, creation of jobs, and the sustainability of a community that is already a form of open green space. Jo Beth Hastings, one of my neighbors from the Nashboro Woods Association says it best if the private acquisition is given the opportunity to purchase, “The federal dollars that were going to be used for the public purchase can now be directed elsewhere which would be a win-win for everyone”.

We asked you and others involved for your support to allow the private acquisition the opportunity. I understand that he has reached out to you and other officials regarding his interest. Please help us save our community. I look forward to hearing from you and would truly appreciate talking with you.

Sincerely,

Richie Hoffman

CC: The Honorable Mayor Karl Dean
The Honorable Vice-Mayor Diane Neighbors
The Honorable Metro Council members
Parks Board Commissioners and Acquisition Committee
Members of the Masters Association

The Nashboro Village Masters Association is comprised of the Hunters Trace, Fairways, Fairway Pointe, Fairway Villa, Lakeside Villas, Nashboro Woods, The Greens, and Woodridge Homeowners Associations and the Nashboro Village Apartments.

Friend us on Facebook @ Save Nashboro Golf Course

Press Release Regarding Our Concerns - Golf Course

2011-12-30T15:18:00.000-08:00

Concerned Neighbors Want Options Explored

NASHVILLE, TN – Residents of the Nashboro Village Golf community have learned that Metro is interested in the purchase of the Nashboro Golf course to be used as open space and community center. Residents state that they were recently informed of the deal, and are concern about the purchase stating that many brought homes into the community with the value that the golf course community would bring to their home investment. Some residents also stated that they were surprised to learn that Metro had entered into a contract without notification to the community. “I thought that there had to be community and council engagement before any transaction occurs, says Richie Hoffman, President of the Masters Association. “With open space that would increase public accessibility, many of us are concern that home value would plummet in an already shaken economy, with increased traffic and potentially compromise the safety of the community,” Hoffman continues. The Masters Association is comprised of nine separate homeowners associations within the Nashboro Village Golf community. Hoffman and others go on to say that they appreciate the efforts of their governmental officials, but there exists an identified private buyer, who is willing to pay a competitive price to keep the golf course as a golf course. The private buyer has reached out to government officials, including Councilwoman Karen Johnson. The residents are hoping that Mayor Karl Dean, Council woman Karen Johnson, Metro Parks and other officials would entertain this option by giving the private buyer, who is extremely interested, the opportunity to enter into negotiations. That may involve deferring the legislation that would give metro the power to purchase the golf course. Jo Beth Hastings, a resident of the Nashboro Village Homeowners neighborhood says, “The Federal dollars that were going to be used for the Metro acquisition can now be directed elsewhere which is a win-win for everyone.” Hoffman says, “If given the opportunity for the private entity purchase, the Nashboro Golf Course property would result in generating positive tax dollars to Metro government, creation of jobs, and the sustainability of a community that is already a form of open green space.

The Masters Association strongly encourages all residents to attend the community meeting that will discuss Metro’s intent to purchase hosted by Councilwoman Karen Johnson.

6:30 pm, Thursday, January 5, 2012

Smith Springs Church of Christ

2783 Smith Springs Road

Nashville, TN

Friend us on Facebook @ Save Nashboro Golf Course

Metro eyes purchase of 144-acre Nashboro Golf Club for parkland

2011-12-29T08:09:00.000-08:00

The City Paper
By Joey Garrison

Metro officials are eyeing the city’s third major open space acquisition in just nine months, with plans to buy southeast Davidson County’s Nashboro Golf Club and convert its 144 acres to parkland.

The Metro Parks and Recreation Board is set to vote Jan. 10 on the parks staff’s recommended purchase of the 18-hole privately owned Nashboro Golf Club, which opened in 1975 but closed in November. Its acquisition would fall under Metro’s Open Space Plan, which guided Metro’s recent purchases of Cornelia Fort Airpark in East Nashville and the Ravenwood Country Club in Hermitage.

Nashboro Golf Club, which the real estate group Southeast Venture owns, is appraised at more than $900,000, according to Metro Parks Director Tommy Lynch. Under the proposed deal, Metro would by the land for $595,000. He said the company has agreed to sell.

Lynch said the city’s open space plan, which seeks to preserve land that could otherwise be developed, identifies southeast Davidson County and Antioch as areas in need of open space preservation.

“From the standpoint of meeting the open space plan and from the point of meeting the parks and greenways master plan, it falls in line with what we should be doing to add space in that part of town for parkland,” Lynch said.

A planning process would help decide the future of the purchased Nashboro Golf Club land, Lynch said. Broadly, he said the land would be used as public open space, retrofitted with trails and walking areas.

“On down the line, we’ll have to assess maybe adding amenities, picnic shelters and things like that,” he said. “But, what we’re thinking about is a 144-acre park.”

Metro’s Open Space Plan began with a balance of $5 million. The Metro Council, which would need to authorize the Nashboro golf course purchase, approved the $2.8 million purchase of the Ravenwood County Club earlier this month. The plan is to adjoin its 181 acres to nearby Stones River Greenway.

In April, Metro finalized the $1.2 million purchase of East Nashville’s Cornelia Fort Airpark to add its 135 acres to Shelby Park’s Shelby Bottoms Greenway.

“We had $5 million to spend on the open space plan,” Lynch said. “This makes it three very good acquisitions: one adjacent to Shelby Bottoms, one adjacent to the Stones River Greenway and one where we don’t have anything.”

City eyes purchase of Nashboro golf course

2011-12-29T07:11:00.000-08:00

Channel 4 WMSVPosted: Dec 29, 2011 5:47 AM CST
Updated: Dec 29, 2011 6:16 AM CST
Posted by Scott Sutton

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
Nashville city leaders are looking again to expand the city's park system.

The Metro Parks Board is considering the purchase of the Nashboro Village golf course.

Park officials tell the Nashville City Paper the owners have agreed to sell the land for $595,000.

The golf club closed for the winter last month.

The park board will vote on the purchase plan next month. The golf course has been in operation since 1975.

If it passes, this would be the city's third park purchase in recent months. Nashville has already acquired the Cornelia Fort Airpark and the Ravenwood Country Club in Hermitage.

Copyright WSMV 2011. All rights reserved

DISTRICT 29 COMMUNITY MEETING----Urgent - Please pass on

2011-12-28T16:19:00.000-08:00

What: Proposed Purchase of Nashboro Village Golf Course Property

When: Thursday, January 5, 2012
Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Smith Springs Church of Christ (Gym) - 2783 Smith Springs Road.
In Attendance will be Metro Park Police, Metro Parks and Recreation Director Tommy Lynch, and other Government Officials

Southeast Ventures on behalf of Private Property owner Great Oaks Golf has entered into official negotiations for the purchase of the Nashboro Village Golf Property. Parcel 276 the pond property is included in the proposed acquisition and purchase.
This property is scheduled to be heard at the next Metro Planning Commission Meeting January 12, 2012 at 4:00 pm , 800 2nd Avenue South.

A meeting was held with Neighborhood Leaders and Association Presidents from every area of District 29 on Saturday December 10 to discuss this property as well as other projects in District 29. Every Neighborhood was invited. Only 3 neighborhood Presidents attended - Mr. Dave Kuhlman with Nashboro Woods, Mr. Mike Hassell with Priest Lake Neighborhood Association and Angeline Burns with Percy Priest Meadows Neighborhood Association. Concerns and ideas were shared and this information was given to Metro Government officials working on this proposed purchase.

Thank You!
www.District29Community.Blogspot.com

DISTRICT 29 COMMUNITY MEETING - Urgent

2011-12-26T08:26:00.000-08:00

What: Proposed Purchase of Nashboro Village Golf Course Property
When: Thursday, January 5, 2012

Time: 6:30 pm

Location: Still being confirmed - Will post the location by Tuesday after the Christmas Holiday, so Save the Date and Time

In Attendance will be Metro Park Police, Metro Parks and Recreation Director Tommy Lynch, and other Government Officials

Southeast Ventures on behalf of Private Property owner Great Oaks Golf has entered into official negotiations for the purchase of the Nashboro Village Golf Property. Parcel 276 the pond property is included in the proposed acquisition and purchase.

This property is scheduled to be heard at the next Metro Planning Commission Meeting January 12, 2012 at 4:00 pm , 800 2nd Avenue South.

A meeting was held with Neighborhood Leaders and Association Presidents from every area of District 29 on Saturday December 10 to discuss this property as well as other projects in District 29. Every Neighborhood was invited. Only 3 neighborhood Presidents attended - Mr. Dave Kuhlman with Nashboro Woods, Mr. Mike Hassell with Priest Lake Neighborhood Association and Angeline Burns with Percy Priest Meadows Neighborhood Association. Concerns and ideas were shared and this information was given to Metro Government officials working on this proposed purchase.

Thank You!

Councilwoman Karen Y Johnson District 29

Email: JohnsonKarenY@gmail.com
Blog: District29Community.blogspot.com
Website: www.KarenJohnson.org
Telephone: 615-977-6721/862-6780

Fire Destroys Duplex, Claims Family Pet

2011-12-16T07:23:00.000-08:00

Channel 5 News
Posted: Dec 14, 2011 8:39 PM CST
Updated: Dec 15, 2011 9:18 AM CST

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A grease fire destroyed a duplex in south Nashville on Wednesday night.
Fire crews responded to the duplex on Longhunter Court Nashboro Village around 8 p.m.
Officials said it appears that a man was visiting his brother and was cooking, when something caught fire and the fire quickly got out of control and spread throughout the duplex.

Multiple engines and fire crews were called to the scene.

Three adults were home at the time of the fire and were able to escape. Fire officials said the family's dog died in the fire.

The duplex was a total loss.

The Red Cross came out to help the family who lost all its possessions so close to Christmas.

"It's very sad to have people to lose everything that they have anytime of the year, but it's extremely hard during the holiday season," said Nashville Fire Captain Ricky Taylor.

Although the other side of the duplex didn't have any serious damage, power was turned off to the entire building, so both families didn't have a place to stay.

The fire rekindled around 8 a.m. Thursday morning, but was put out quickly.

To See Video Click Here!

Breaking News Two School Buses Crash In Antioch, Injuries Reported

2011-12-15T15:55:00.000-08:00

News Channel 5
Posted: Dec 15, 2011 5:26 PM CST
Updated: Dec 15, 2011 5:26 PM CST

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Emergency Crews are on the scene of a two school bus crash in Antioch where at least four people have been injured.

Police said the crash happened on Hobson Pike around 5 p.m. Thursday. It was unclear what caused the crash.

Officials said at least four people were injured in the crash and were transported by ambulance to the hospital.

Police have not released the name of the school the bus were from.

Smartphone suicide prevention app being announced

2011-12-13T05:39:00.000-08:00

WKRN Channel 2
Posted: Dec 13, 2011 3:13 AM CST
Updated: Dec 13, 2011 3:13 AM CST

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - State officials are announcing a new suicide prevention smartphone app for soldiers.

Gov. Bill Haslam and Maj. Gen. Terry "Max" Haston, the state adjutant general, will announce "Guard Your Buddy" Tuesday afternoon. According to a news release from the Tennessee National Guard, it is the first app of its kind in the country.

The announcement will coincide with a celebration of the 375th birthday of the National Guard.

Clark Flatt, founder of the Jason Foundation, is also scheduled to discuss the app. The foundation works to prevent youth suicide.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Tennesseans reminded to test smoke alarms monthly

2011-12-12T06:40:00.000-08:00

Tennessean
Posted: Dec 12, 2011 3:11 AM CST
Updated: Dec 12, 2011 3:11 AM CST

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee Fire Marshal Julie Mix McPeak reminds homeowners that smoke alarms should be tested at least monthly.

The suggestion is listed in a safety checklist she provided with the onset of cold weather. Tennessee, she said, has a high rate of fire deaths.

Other recommendations:

Don't leave decorative candles unattended.

Fireplaces should be professionally cleaned before using them during the season.

Furniture, clothing and other combustible materials should not be placed in front of permanent heaters like those on walls or on baseboards. If vents blow warm air, this way there will be little worry about the items catching fire.

Don't smoke in bed or in a chair.

CPA offers advice for lowering 2011 taxes

2011-12-11T14:47:00.000-08:00

You're Invited to the Historic UNA Community's Annual Lighting of the Star of UNA

2011-12-11T14:11:00.000-08:00

LIGHTING OF THE "STAR OF UNA".
Come Enjoy a tradition with hot cider and our neighbors in the Historic Una Community.

TIME: 6:00PM
DATE: MONDAY, DECEMBER12TH

LOCATION: 2211 SMITH SPRINGS RD
Look for the bonfire!

For more information please contact Jan Cain or Richard Curran at 361-6406 or 361-4310. Thank You!

Reminder Tonight District29 Christmas Party at Camp Widjiwagan Clark Baker Bldg 6:30p - 8:30p - Please bring canned goods for Second Harvest Food Bank

2011-12-09T06:24:00.000-08:00

You're Invited to our Annual District 29 Christmas Party tonight Friday December 9th from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Beautiful Joe C. Davis YMCA Camp Widjiwagan Clark Baker Building. Please Come Out, Enjoy the Festivities and Please consider bringing Canned food items to support our Second Harvest Food Banks at Una Church of Christ and Hamilton United Methodist Church.

While donations lag in a sluggish economy, demand on food bank rises
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/while-donations-lag-sluggish-economy-demand-food-bank-rises

Planners urge approval for backyard hen bill

2011-12-08T19:49:00.000-08:00

Tennessean
The Metro Planning Commission has voted to recommend a bill allowing Davidson County residents to raise domesticated hens at home after two councilmen spoke in favor of it.

No one spoke in opposition to the bill.

“I think urban chickens are a wonderful thing for Nashville,” said Councilman Anthony Davis. “Karen Bennett has drafted a good bill and I’m supporting it.”

Davis said the chickens will provide educational opportunities and fresh produce for residents.

Councilman Scott Davis agreed and also urged approval.

Free flu shots offered at 3 Nashville health centers

2011-12-08T08:10:00.000-08:00

Written by Tom Wilemon | The Tennessean
Metro Public Health Department is offering free flu shots.

Health departments in suburban counties also plan to drop their charges for the vaccinations.

The shots are available on a walk-in basis at three health centers in Nashville: 1015 E. Trinity Lane, 224 Oriel Ave. and 311 23rd Ave. N. The shots are offered from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m weekdays at the first two locations. The Lentz Health Center at 23rd Ave. N. opens and closes at the same time, but does not offer the vaccinations from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Metro stopped charging for the shots after learning that the Tennessee Department of Health is offering its remaining vaccines to county health departments for free.

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all Americans get vaccinated, some groups are especially vulnerable to deadly complications from the flu. They include pregnant women, people with certain chronic medical conditions, people in households with a child younger than 6 months and people who come into contact with vulnerable individuals.

You're Invited to the District 29 Christmas Party - Please bring canned goods for Second Harvest Food Bank

2011-12-04T18:45:00.000-08:00

You're Invited to our Annual District 29 Christmas Party on Friday December 9th from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Beautiful Joe C. Davis YMCA Camp Widjiwagan Clark Baker Building. Please Come Out, Enjoy the Festivities and Please consider bringing Canned food items to support our Second Harvest Food Banks at Una Church of Christ and Hamilton United Methodist Church.

While donations lag in a sluggish economy, demand on food bank rises
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/while-donations-lag-sluggish-economy-demand-food-bank-rises

Below are Directions to the Joe C. Davis YMCA Camp Widjiwagan Clark Baker Buildinghttp://www.ymcacampwidjiwagan.org/directions

Updated Information on Adjacent Metro Council District 33 Cleanup - which is a Roadside Cleanup ONLY with no dumpsters

2011-12-03T18:00:00.000-08:00

Please Accept my Apologies. The Flyer received was not clear that the cleanup planned for tomorrow is only for Roadside Pickup for District 33 Residents to help pick up signs and trash along Murfreesboro Road. I had made plans like many of you to clean out and take items to a dumpster but new information was shared with me this evening that their cleanup on tomorrow is not the same as the cleanup we had for our district back in October. I am just getting an opportunity to send this email since receiving the information due to my participation tonight in the Nashville Gas Christmas Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting at Public Square with Mayor Dean and Metro Council members. Additionally I attended a neighbors 50th Birthday party tonight immediately following and I am just getting home to send you this update. Again, I apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you.

Metro Beautification Commissioner Sidney Ames
Councilmember Robert Duvall
Metro Public Works
Metro Beautification
TDOT Litter Grant
Publix - Mount View Market Place

District 33 Neighborhood Cleanup

Keep Nashville Clean and Beautiful because Cleaning up is Everyone’s Business!
visit www.nashville.gov/beautification

Date: Saturday, December 3, 2011
Time: 9 AM to 1 PM

Location: Publix - Mount View Market Place
3352 Murfreesboro Pike

For More Information and to Volunteer your services.
Please Contact: Sidney Ames 870-8942

Trash Pickup (Murfreesboro Road from Lavergne City limit to Hamilton Church Pike)

Illegal Sign Drop-off (Remove from Public Right of Way and Utility Poles ONLY)

Supplies will be provided.

Coffee and Donuts will be Served.

The refreshments are being provided by our Publix in support of this clean-up event.

October 2011 Minute Meetings

2011-12-02T10:28:00.000-08:00

Present at the board meeting of October 20, 2011 at the Deerfield Clubhouse were: Lin Rutherford, Gary Peterson, Justin Sauer, Robert Wolfgang, Fran Oroson and Jim Curley, of Jim Curley Properties.
Items discussed –

1) Proposed operating budget for 2012, a copy of which is attached to these minutes. There will be an increase of $10.00 in the monthly maintenance fee, which will now be $120.00 starting in January of 2012. Approval of budget was motioned by Fran and seconded by Bob. This budget was approved.

2) Demolition and installation of new post and anchor systems on decks at #’s 101, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 125, 149, 151, 153, 155, 157, and 159. A copy of the estimate is attached. The estimate was approved.

3) An insurance claim has been approved for the deck at unit #109, including a new air conditioner. The deductible will be paid by the residents of #109.

4) Mack Enterprises to check drainage on Westminster section homes.

5) Lin Rutherford volunteered to get estimates on painting and caulking all homes in Westminster section with bay windows.

6) There was a discussion regarding changing all visitor parking to “overflow parking” due to continued parking by residents in visitor parking. This issue has not been voted on yet.

7) Pruning pear trees at some point.

8) Possible assessment next year if needed to cover unexpected expenses.

The annual meeting will be January, 2012 at Metro Library Branch off Bell Road. Nominations for open positions for the board of The Greens to be made at this meeting, if there is a quorum.

Bob moved for homeowners meetings every other month in 2012. Motion seconded and approved.

Friends and Family, you are cordially invited to attend this event at the home of our city's First Lady the Honorable Delta Anne Davis and Mayor Karl Dean

2011-12-01T13:33:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family, you are cordially invited to attend this event at the home of our city's First Lady the Honorable Delta Anne Davis and Mayor Karl Dean! Thank you for your support of this very important historical endeavor. I hope you will join us! Your support would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.
Courtney Wheeler

Your Help is needed for our Newly Expanded Library proposed for Hickory Hollow

2011-12-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

No Office Hours for DecemberLook forward to seeing you at our
District Christmas Party Dec 9 at Gran Dale Manor from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm More information will be shared in my next newsletter

The library is conducting surveys to gauge what programs and services the residents of the Hickory Hollow/Antioch area would like to see in their new library building. This is the first step in designing the new library.

The survey will take place at the Southeast Branch Library and the Kroger on Mount View Road. Each volunteer is required to get a minimum of 20 surveys, after which they may leave from their shift if they like. We have had some interest from our regular, library volunteer but have been unable to fill all of the openings.

The following openings are still available:

Wednesday, November 30th: 10:00am to 1:00pm
Wednesday, November 30th: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Wednesday, November 30th: 4:00pm to 7:00pm

Thursday, December 1st: 10:00am to 1:00pm
Thursday, December 1st: 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Thursday, December 1st: 4:00pm to 7:00pm

Saturday, December 3rd: 10:00am to 1:00pm
Saturday, December 3rd: 1:00pm to 4:00pm

The times are not set in stone, and I would be happy to take any and all help I can get. If you know of anyone interested, please feel free to send them my contact information (in the email signature below) or forward their email address or phone number to me and I will follow-up!
Thank you for any help you can provide!

http://www.library.nashville.org/locations/loc_southeast.asp

Ryan

_________________
Ryan Darrow
Library Volunteer Services
615 Church Street
Nashville, TN 37219
(615) 862-5769

District 29 - The 59th Annual Nashville Christmas Parade - Metro Nashville Parks and Arts in the Park

2011-12-01T03:49:00.000-08:00

The 59th Annual Nashville Christmas Parade hosted by Piedmont Natural Gas will be held Friday, December 2nd beginning at 7:00 p.m. On the same evening, the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on the Public Square in front of the Courthouse at 6:00. p.m.

Hope Everyone had a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving Holiday. The next newsletter will share updated information on our District 29 Christmas Party, Legislation and our next District 29 Community Meeting being planned for early 2012 with our Metro Hermitage Police Precinct and apartment managers and more. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you!

District 29 NEWS - District 29’s Una Art Student, Judging for Holiday Lights, Metro Parks, Community Ed and More

2011-11-30T12:41:00.000-08:00

TVA Rate Impacts - December 2011

NES recently completed the bill effects evaluations for the December 2011 bills. The average residential home with 1,300 kWh usage will have a bill of $135.15, approximately a 3.9% increase from last month. There are two factors which contribute to higher bills in December: 1) the higher winter rate and 2) an in Impacts - December 2011crease in the fuel cost adjustment (from 0.447 cents per kWh to 0.657 cents per kWh).

You may recall that TVA implemented seasonal rates earlier this year. The highest rates are in the summer and winter months when the cost of purchasing/producing energy is higher; the rates are lower in the transitional months. These rate fluctuations are to the TVA base rates; NES has not increased its rates in more than two years.
____________________________________________________________________

Temporary Street/Alley Closings

Bell Road, Dodson Chapel to Stewarts Ferry
Closed through December 15, maintenance on Percy Priest Damn
_____________________________________________________________________

Another Opportunity to Clean Up and Clean Out! You can participate in our adjouring Metro Council District 33's Cleanup this Saturday.

Metro Beautification Commissioner Sidney Ames
Councilmember Robert Duvall
Metro Public Works
Metro Beautification
TDOT Litter Grant
Publix - Mount View Market Place

District 33 Neighborhood Cleanup

Keep Nashville Clean and Beautiful because Cleaning up is Everyone’s Business!
visit www.nashville.gov/beautification

Date: Saturday, December 3, 2011
Time: 9 AM to 1 PM
Location: Publix - Mount View Market Place
3532 Murfreesboro Pike

For More Information and to Volunteer your services.
Please Contact: Sidney Ames 870-8942

Trash Pickup (Murfreesboro Road from Lavergne City limit to Hamilton Church Pike)

Illegal Sign Drop-off (Remove from Public Right of Way and Utility Poles ONLY)

Supplies will be provided.

Coffee and Donuts will be Served.
The refreshments are being provided by our Publix in support of this clean-up event.
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Nashville Beautiful Art Contest Winners Announced - Congratulations to District 29's own Una Elementary student Cadence Brown!

Art students from Una, Glendale, Crieve Hall and Hickman elementary schools have been named winners among the 70 finalists in this year’s “Nashville Beautiful” art contest. The competition features original works by 3rd and 4th grade public students in Metro, and is designed to raise awareness about recycling and environment. The grand prize winning entry by Cadence Brown of Una Elementary will be featured in the city’s Christmas Parade on Fri., December 2. Mayor Dean will host a public viewing of all winning artwork on Sat., December 3, at 10 a.m. in Lot R of LP Field. The student artwork will be displayed on the sides of Red River waste collection trucks through May 2012, to be seen by more than 9,000 people each day while the trucks are on their routes. To learn more, visit www.nashville.gov/pw
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Metro to Offer Christmas Tree Recycling Sites Again This Year
Starting December 27th, Metro residents will be able to recycle their live Christmas trees at 11 sites in Davidson County for pickup by Public Works. In order to be mulched at the city’s Bordeaux Mulch Facility, trees must be free of all lights, ornaments, garland and tinsel. The list of sites will soon be posted at www.nashville.gov/recycle.
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JUDGING STARTS MONDAY IN ‘ HOLIDAY LIGHTS’ CONTEST

District winners, then five regional winners to be selected from 37county wide entries

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The entry deadline has passed, and now the contestants have a few more days to add any finishing touches to their displays for one of Metro’s longest-running holiday traditions, the 2011 Alice Chapman Holiday Lights Competition.

Judging will begin Monday, December 5, with winners in each Councilmanic district represented being selected. From those district winners, five regional winners will be chosen December 7-8; final judging to select the Overall County Wide Winner is Friday, December 9.

This is the 24th year of the contest, sponsored by Mayor Karl Dean, Metro Beautification and Environment, Metro Public Works, NewsChannel 5 and Nashville Electric Service.

The competition is open to all Davidson County residents, and this year boasts a total of 37 entries. “We have twenty-two of the (35) council districts represented, and while we would love to see every district have an entry, we’re still pleased with the level of county wide participation this year,” Metro Beautification Director Veronica Frazier said. “And as always, our judges will have a tough time deciding from so many colorful, unique and original holiday displays.”

Residents are judged according to their designs, originality and use of environmental elements such as LED lighting, recycling and/or nature themes, or including recycled items in their display.

A list of all 2011 entries is available online at www.nashville.gov/pw. The list will be updated late next week to show district and regional winners.

The five regional winners selected will be highlighted on NewsChannel 5 the week of December 12-15. The overall County Wide Winner will be announced live on their 6:00 p.m. newscast on Friday, December 16.

For more information, contact District 29's Metro Beautification Commissioner Karen VanCleave at 399-1550.
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New Embroidery and Silk Screening Business in Hickory Hollow

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Metro Police Department Promotions

Chief Steve Anderson announced the promotion of 14 officers to the rank of sergeant effective January 1, 2012. These new sergeant positions are necessary to staff the new Madison Precinct, which will begin operating on January 1.

The 14 officers being promoted to sergeant are:

Officer Matthew Barnes, a six-year police department veteran, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. Barnes is currently assigned to the Hermitage Precinct Flex Unit;
Detective Anthony Brooks, a six-year police department veteran, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Brooks is currently assigned to the Gang Unit;
Detective Troy Gossett, a ten-year police department veteran, who is currently assigned to the Fraud Unit;
Officer Ryan Hampton, a five-year police department veteran, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from The University of West Florida in Pensacola. Hampton currently works the South Precinct evening shift;
Officer Matthew Howlett, a 14-year police department veteran, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Alabama. Howlett is currently assigned to the Strategic Development Division;
Officer Scott Hull, a 30-year police department veteran, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Hull is currently the School Resource Officer at H.G. Hill Middle School
Detective David Layne, an 18-year police department veteran, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Middle Tennessee State University. Layne is currently assigned to the Specialized Investigations Division;
Officer Jonathan Marklein, a 14-year police department veteran, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Middle Tennessee State University. Marklein is a School Resource Officer currently assigned to Maplewood High School;
Officer James McGill, Jr., a ten-year police department veteran, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Hobart College in Geneva, New York. McGill is currently the School Resource Officer at Two Rivers Middle School;
Detective Robert Peterson, a ten-year police department veteran, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Peterson is currently assigned to the West Precinct Investigative Unit;·
Officer Marty Reed, a seven-year police department veteran, who has completed the equivalent of an Associate’s Degree. Reed is currently assigned to the East Precinct;
Officer Matthew Sears, a six-year police department veteran, who holds a Master’s Degree from Lipscomb University. Sears is currently a Field Training Officer at the East Precinct;
Detective Michael Straube, a five-year Police Department veteran, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Trevecca Nazarene University. Straube is currently assigned to the Gang Unit;
Officer Mark Wells, a seven-year police department veteran, who holds an Associate’s Degree from Georgia Military College. Wells currently works as a School Resource Officer at McGavock High School.

“These individuals have a combined 148 years of Nashville police experience, and have expressed a strong desire to join our first line staff of supervisors,” Chief Anderson said. “I have every expectation that they will continue to serve our community very well as sergeants.”
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Community Education Opportunities

Hello Council Members,
I hope this message finds you well.

My name is Philip Stoecklein and I am the Program Coordinator for Nashville Community Education Commission.

We have completed our Spring 2012 catalog.

I am writing and asking you to please forward the Spring 2012 catalog link below to your constituents.

Your assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Community Education is once again growing, and with your help we will continue to grow.
Thank you for your time and attention.

Philip

http://www.nashville.gov/ce/docs/catalog/current.pdf
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METRO PARKS: Holiday Season Art Exhibit and Sale - Don't miss it!

Hope Everyone had a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving Holiday. The next newsletter will share updated information on our District 29 Christmas Party, Legislation and our next District 29 Community Meeting being planned for early 2012 with our Metro Hermitage Police Precinct and apartment managers and more. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you!

Bell Road over dam to reopen Thursday

2011-11-29T06:47:00.000-08:00

Tennessean
Nov 29,2011
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Monday that Bell Road across the J. Percy Priest Dam will reopen in time for the morning commute on Thursday.

This section of Bell Road has been closed to traffic since Aug. 1 for scheduled maintenance on the dam.

The Stones River Greenway Trailhead, the J. Percy Priest visitor information center and the Overlook remained open to the public. The Right Bank Tailwater area will remain closed as repair work to the river bank below the dam continues.

Concerns or questions can be addressed to the J. Percy Priest Resource Manager’s Office at 615-889-1975.

— Cindy Smith
The Tennessean

Razz'z Restaurant

2011-11-21T13:19:00.000-08:00

One of our area businesses Razz'z Restaurant is offering a special today and tomorrow - Buy One Meal and Get One Free Monday November 21 and Tuesday, November 22.

Please Support Razz and his business. They are a real asset for our area.

Their facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/pages/Razz-Restaurant-Bar/255917245053
and you can print off a coupon there or below.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

Bagging Leaves for Pickup, Home Foreclosure Prevention Information

2011-11-21T13:15:00.000-08:00

Information on Bagging Leaves for Pickup

I received several inquiries regarding Metro's new requirement for disposing of leaves.

Metro accepts leaves in plastic bags at any of the below convenience centers, however the biodegradable paper bag requirement is for pickup with Brush Removal only. The next Brush Removal scheduled for our area is January 23, 2012 http://www.nashville.gov/Recycle/Brush/map/pdfs/AREA4.pdf
The bags will not last until January if left outside and during the upcoming pick up time no plastic bags will be picked up. The biodegradable bags can be purchased at the convenience centers. If you have regular trash bags placed on the curb, please try to have these dropped off at the convenience centers below.

The Convenience Center locations that accept bagged leaves are below
Omohundro
1019 Omohundro Place (entrance on Freightliner Drive)
Nashville, TN 37210
Phone:880-1955

Hours: Tue.-Sat.: 8:00am-4:30pm

and

Bordeaux Mulch Facility
1400 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
Phone:862-8640

Open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Accepts: untreated wood; limbs and brush; leaves and non-commercial grass clippings only in biodegradable paper bags that are free from any other trash or material.

Does not Accept: stumps (with roots and/or dirt)
http://www.nashville.gov/Recycle/Centers/compost_center.asp

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Many of our neighbors are experiencing difficulty during this time with mortgages due to the number of foreclosures that have developed in neighborhoods around our city. Please share the below information with others so that if there are neighbors who are in need of help, they can find assistance and we can keep our property values from experiencing declines.

Lost your job? Don’t lose your home.

If you live in Tennessee and lost your job, there is a great new program to help you avoid losing your home. Not a lot of people know about it and your mortgage company may not even know about it. It is called “Hardest Hit Fund.” This program is also available in about a third of the other states of the union but it can differ from state to state and I only know the details of how the program operates in Tennessee.

I am a housing counselor with the Woodbine Community Organization which is a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. I want to tell you about this great new program.

What will the program do:If you qualify, the program will do one of two things,
(1) it will bring your loan current, or,

(2) it will make your house payment for you for up to a year or until $15,000 (or $18,000 in some counties) has been paid out on your behalf.

The program provides money in the form of a loan, but it is a “loan” that never has to be repaid, assuming you stay in your house for five more years. The loan is forgivable at the rate of 20% a year.

Who qualifies?
One must have had an income reduction of at least 30%. Usually, this means you must have lost your job, however, a reduction in work hours or reduction in commissions, or a reduction in earnings if one is self employed, may also qualify one for the program. The job lost must have been through no fault of your own. If you quit your job, you do not qualify. If you were dismissed for cause however and subsequently were able to get unemployment benefits, then you still may qualify. There are other qualifying requirements, but a reduction in income due to job loss or job income reduction is the first test that must be met.

How to make application:
The easiest thing to do is just call me at 850-3453 and I will walk you through it, or you may do the following:

(1) Go to the website WWW.KeepMyTNHome.org, log in and answer the twelve qualifying questions and then complete the on-line application. Be careful. Read the qualifying questions carefully before answering. If you are told you do not qualify and do not understand why, call me at 615-850-3453 and I will review your situation with you on the phone.
(2) While at the Keep My TN Home website, choose “Woodbine Community Organization” as your counseling agency. That’s me. You will see a question that asks if you are working with a counseling agency. Please answer “yes.” You will then see a drop down box and you are to select the agency with which you are working. Woodbine Community Organization is the last name on the list in the drop down box.
(3) After, the above is completed, call me, Rod Williams, 615-850-3453. Please call immediately. I will set an appointment with you to complete the Hardest Hit packet. If you do not reach me, please leave a message. You may also email me at Rodwilliams47@yahoo.com.
This is a great program, however not everyone qualifies. The same type documentation that one must provide when financing a home, one must provide to be approved for this loan, and more. I will walk you through the process. I have been a housing counselor for over twenty years and while I hesitate to brag on myself, I do what I do very well. I have all of the training and certifications one could have and recognitions and awards. I know how these programs work. If anyone can get you approved for the program, I can.

If you do not need this program, but have coworkers or relatives who may, then please pass this information on to them. If your civic group, church group, or place of employment located in the Nashville area would like to have me come speak about this program to them as well as other loss mitigation options, I will be glad to do so.

As a word of caution: Please do not pay anyone to help you with mortgage default or loss mitigation services. Most companies charging to provide mortgage default resolution are scam artist who will take your money and deliver no service. I often see people who have paid a company money to help them save their home, when if they had used that money wisely, it could have been part of a down payment on a mortgage default resolution work-out or at least paid the rent on their new lodging if their home could not be saved. Also, it seldom helps to pay a lawyer to represent your interest when dealing with a mortgage company. Tennessee is a “non-judicial” state with regards to home foreclosure and there is little an attorney can do for you.

If you have questions about the Hardest Hit fund or other mortgage default questions, feel free to call me, Rod Williams (615)850-3453.

Also Mr. J.R. Herrell with Crye Leike Realtors is a resource for assistance in foreclosure prevention and he can be contacted at (615) 361-6949 email: herrell@realtracs.com

http://www.nashville-mdha.org/pdfs/2011FactsSheet.pdf
The above link also shares information on a program that is available for homeowners.

Meeting with Congressman Jim Cooper, District Holiday Lights Contest Time is Running Out, Legislation Update

2011-11-18T13:55:00.000-08:00

Meeting with Congressman Jim Cooper on Federal Funding
Last week I along with many members of the Metro Council met with Congressman Cooper to learn of grant funding cuts on the federal level that can impact State and Local funding. This link http://www.nashville.gov/finance/docs/omb/20110908_Memo.pdf provides information on what was discussed.

Update on Hickory Hollow Mall Improvements -

This past Tuesday at our Metro Council meeting, the funding request was approved.

RESOLUTION NO. RS2011-77

A resolution authorizing the Director of Public Property, or his designee, to exercise an option to purchase real property (Map 163-00-0 Parcel 255.00) for use as a community/recreation center, public library, and storage, including conversion of the parking area to a recreational area (Proposal No. 2011M-022PR-001).

Click on this link to view what was approved http://www.nashville.gov/mc/resolutions/term_2011_2015/rs2011_77.htm

Former Metro Councilman Mike Jameson was appointed to fill the late Judge Leon Ruben's seat in Metro General Sessions Court by the Metro Council.

Legislation Update

The ordinance regarding Chickens - The Public Hearing for comments regarding this legislation before the Metro Council is scheduled for January 3, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.
http://www.nashville.gov/mc/ordinances/term_2011_2015/bl2011_47.htm

Continue to provide feedback and share this information with neighbors who may not be on my email list so that they can join in the discussion and feedback and also be added to future newsletters. I thank each and everyone of you for the significant number of emails with feedback to date. Thank you for taking time to respond. I will represent your voice accordingly on the council floor.

The Ordinance regarding Tri-faced Billboards - Item 4 on this link

http://www.nashville.gov/mpc/docs/meetings/2011/111110sr.pdf has been deferred http://www.nashville.gov/mpc/docs/meetings/2011/111110ac.pdf at the request of the Planning Staff and Commissioners.

I appeared before the board last week and this item was on the agenda to be disapproved.

However with the assistance of Attorney's I was able to provide information that they are now considering. When the Commission learned that they had approved this on consent without discussion also they wanted to discuss what was shared further.

One of the commissioners asked if I would be open to deferring this and in an attempt to act on good faith, I agreed.

This item will be moved from the public hearing agenda in January at the Metro Council to the February public hearing.

However the billboard company who has demonstrated they are not willing to act in good faith and be a good neighbor in our community took advantage of the deferral and placed just the pole up in pouring down rain in a rush so that whatever happens they can still proceed through a grandfathering option.

What I have learned is that when there is pending legislation such as what I have no action can be taken by any company during this time, however if a deferral takes place, they can proceed with at least starting and it is apparent that one of the commissioners was knowledgeable of this and moved quickly to have this done when it appeared that the other commissioners were wanting to consider discussion and to look at the issue since it was on consent with no discussion when it was passed earlier this year in January.

I will continue to work with the staff and commissioners and the hope is that a fair decision is made that can truly allow neighborhoods and communities to have input into decisions on billboards that affect their areas instead of how it is presently, whereby it is automatically approved due to a technicality of moveable/changeable tri faced boards not being defined.

Therefore resulting in them being considered the same as a static billboard face which does not move and is stationary. You can view this meeting that has been replaying this week tonight at 9:00 pm on Cable Channel 3. It has also been scheduled to be replayed on Saturday, November 19 at 9:00 am. A list of times when this is being replayed can be viewed at this link http://www.nashville.gov/calendar/metro.asp

The Ordinance regarding overgrown lots passed Second Reading and is coming up for final reading. http://www.nashville.gov/mc/ordinances/term_2011_2015/bl2011_34.htm

A Special thank you to all who participated in Mayor Karl Dean's 5 K Run/Walk last Sunday. Southeast Nashville was one of the largest groups in participation and it was equally as exciting to see so many of us from District 29. I have posted pictures on my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Karen-Y-Johnson-for-Metro-Council/136610609741870 please visit, view and comment on these and/or any other items that are posted.

Friday December 9, 2011
6:30 pm until 8:30 pm
Planning for Tentative Location - Our District's Very Own Gran Dale Manor - Planning has begun for our District Christmas Party. Please join me at my office hours Saturday at First Tennessee Bank from 10 am until 12 noon if you would like to help. Also other meetings have been planned for Monday, November 21 and Monday, November 28 at 6:00 pm at 500 Moss Landing Drive. You can also contact me by emailing me at Karen.Johnson@nashville.gov or JohnsonKarenY@gmail.com to help make our event a success for everyone. Thank you for your involvement in our District.

METRO NASHVILLE'S HOLIDAY LIGHTS CONTEST - TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO ENTER AND WE WANT DISTRICT 29 TO SHINE TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO ENTER 'HOLIDAY LIGHTS' CONTEST

One more week until November 23 deadline for annual Metro tradition
Just one more week left to enter Metro's Holiday Lights Competition, which invites all Davidson County residents to share the Christmas spirit by decorating their homes and lawns. This is the 24th year of the contest, sponsored by Mayor Karl Dean, Metro Beautification & Environment, Metro Public Works, NewsChannel 5 and Nashville Electric Service.

The deadline to enter is Wednesday, November 23, and judging begins on December 5. Winners will be selected in each of the 35 Councilmanic Districts, and the County Wide Winner will be announced live on NewsChannel 5's 6:00 p.m. newscast on Friday, December 16.

Contestants are encouraged to include Environmental Elements such as energy conservation, recycling and/or nature themes, or recycled items in their display. Rules for the competition and a list of judging criteria are available at www.nashville.gov/beautification. For more information, contact our Beautification Commissioner Karen VanCleave at 399-1550 or by email at bubbavan@comcast.net.

Click here for Entry Guidelines

All Entries must be returned by Wednesday November 23, 2011

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you. I look forward to working with each of you to make our district the best that it can be.

Opryland Hotel To Flip Switch On Lights Thursday

2011-11-17T07:57:00.000-08:00

News Channel 5
Posted: Nov 17, 2011 6:08 AM CST
Updated: Nov 17, 2011 7:42 AM CST
By Janet Kim

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A Nashville holiday tradition continues at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. The hotel will flip the switch on their 28th annual "A Country Christmas" celebration on Thursday night.

Hundreds will gather for the lighting ceremony which kicks off at 5:40 p.m. Two million Christmas lights will shine outside the Gaylord Opryland Resort throughout the holiday season.

The light display is one of the signature attractions of the Opryland's Country Christmas celebration, going hand in hand with decorations throughout the resort. They include a 48 foot Christmas tree, a 25 foot tree made up of poinsettias, and an additional 200,000 lights throughout the inside the hotel.

NewsChannel 5 got a look behind the scenes as the final touches went up; the poinsettia Christmas tree alone took four hours and more than half a dozen people to complete.

"Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland is so neat because people come from all around Kentucky, Alabama and their spirit is so full of Christmas. That's what's so neat about us, because we get to provide a place where people can come and share the Christmas spirit. And we get to put it forth for them too," said Horticulture Supervisor Brooks O'Brien.

This year, the ICE attraction has a new theme, in a new building that was built after the devastating flood 18 months ago.

Gaylord Opryland has teamed up with DreamWorks to bring the animations from its movies throughout the resort. This year, ICE will feature Merry Madagascar.

The indoor frozen attraction includes life size characters and scenes from the movie and 20-foot tall ice slides. The exhibit was hand carved out of two million pounds of ice by 40 artisans.

Organizers said this is their second Christmas since the flood, and they haven't missed a beat.

"The flood was certainly tragic but it's amazing that we're back and we're better than ever, and this Christmas, it's going to be our best yet," said Spokesperson Jenny Barker.

The Radio City Rockettes are also back in town with their world famous "Radio City Christmas Spectacular". Louise Mandrell is also back this year for her final year with her Christmas Dinner Party.

For the kids, there are all kinds of things to do including a ShrekFeast Interactive Character Meals, a Puss in Boots scavenger hunt, and wake-up calls from favorite DreamWorks characters.

www.gaylordopryland.com

To see Video and Pictures Click Here:

Cancer patient's dog missing in Brentwood

2011-11-16T07:44:00.000-08:00

WKRN Channel 2
Posted: Nov 15, 2011 4:39 PM CST
Reported By Stephanie Langston, Reporter

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - A Mid-State woman battling cancer is hopeful her dog, missing for more than three months, will be found safe and returned to her.

Jill Napier was in the hospital receiving treatment for ovarian and uterine cancer when her dog, Skippy Lou, wandered off from her pet sitter in August.

"Skippy Lou is like a child," Napier said, adding, "She is a part of the family."

Friends of Napier's, volunteers from the community and animal rescue squad members have been searching non-stop for Skippy Lou since her disappearance.

Leslie Morrison is charge of the search effort and told Nashville's News 2 the dog search team, Team Skippy Lou, has spent more than $1,000 and hours of volunteer time placing flyers throughout the Mid-State.

Recently, however, officials with Brentwood's codes department said the flyers violated policy and took them down.

Morrison told Nashville's News 2 she wishes there was a compromise.

"Without public awareness, without the sightings, there is no way to find her," she said.

In recent weeks, a bloodhound has joined the search for Skippy Lou.

"She has given positive indicators on three of the last sightings," said Michael Fay, among the dozens of volunteers who has spent time searching for Napier's pet.

"It's for a good cause. We have to get this animal back home because it has a mother that needs it and it's going to help her through recovery," He continued.

Napier said she continues to hope Skippy Lou will be come home safe and worries about the dog's safety as cooler weather moves into the area.

"The part I worry about the most is [bad weather]," she said. "She might die out there in the elements."

Skippy Lou is a light golden colored Lab mix with white around her nose. She has a pinkish-brown nose and is six years old.

Skippy Lou was last seen wearing a pink collar with dots on it and a heart shaped ID tag.

The bloodhound last picked up Skippy Lou's scent in the Southernwoods area of Brentwood.

Volunteers say their main goal is to get Skippy Lou food and then try to lure her into an enclosed area.

Anyone with information on Skippy Lou's whereabouts should call 615-772-7368.

To See Video: CLICK HERE!

Tennessee's Big Health Care Decision

2011-11-09T17:25:00.000-08:00

Tennessean
Posted: Nov 09, 2011 4:59 PM CST

Updated: Nov 09, 2011 6:48 PM CST

by Scott Arnold

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - For many Tennesseans health insurance will undergo a significant change in 2014 due to federal reforms.

A number of major decisions about health insurance at the state level still have to be made. State officials have asked Tennesseans to share their opinions about the options.

Governor Haslam and state lawmakers have to decide if the state will handle health care reform or if they will leave it up to the federal government to create what is being called a Health Insurance Exchange.

The Health Insurance Exchange is a government-regulated marketplace of insurance plans with different levels of coverage, offered to individuals without health care, or to small companies.

The debate about state versus federal control has already began.

"I for one don't want you all to manage an insurance exchange. We have a history going back to the Civil War, when you turn federal programs over to the states, they are invariably administered, heavily handed, against poor and minorities," said Reverend Joe Ingle.

"One of the advantages if the state were to offer the exchange, is we can use existing infrastructure, and organizational talent to bring this thing forward. If the federal government does it, they are going to have to build a whole new system, hire new staff that means the people who use the exchange will have to pay more for it. "said Brian Haile, with the Health Insurance Exchange.

"It scares me when I think about the community that I serve, and the people who are in the community understanding what is actually going on," said Sharon Hurt with the Jefferson Street Merchants Association.

Over the next few months Governor Haslam will make the call if Tennessee should be in charge of health care, but he'll need the backing of state lawmakers.

Regardless of who's behind the wheel health care reform will mean up to $700,000 uninsured Tennesseans will get health care in 2014.

The price tag has many worried, and it's predicted insurance premiums for many of us could jump dramatically.There are several things that could happen to make all of this worry irrelevant. The U.S. Supreme Court could rule health care reform is unconstitutional or this month, on the 23rd that budget super-committee in D.C. could dramatically cut Medicare and Medicaid spending.

But either way the state has to be ready with a decision.

Info on listening sessions for Health Insurance Exchange

http://www.tn.gov/nationalhealthreform/forms/listeningsessions.pdf

Info on giving feedback on Health Insurance Exchange

http://www.tn.gov/nationalhealthreform/forms/listeningsessions.pdf

MTA Considering Fare Increases

2011-11-09T17:16:00.000-08:00

Channel 5 News
Posted: Nov 09, 2011 5:01 PM CST

Updated: Nov 09, 2011 5:01 PM CST

NASHVILLE, Tenn.- Riders could soon be paying more to take the Nashville bus, but before prices are raised the public will get their chance to weigh in.

The Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority is considering a 10-cent increase in the basic cash fare, raising the price from $1.60 to $1.70. AccessRide cash fare might also see a 20-cent increase from $3.20 to $3.40.

MTA is also considering increasing the rates for Regional Transportation Authority's basic cash fare, changing it from $3.50 to $4.00.

MTA said that rising healthcare, fuel and other related operating costs are the reasons for the proposed fare increases.

Meeting to discuss the potential raises will be held next week at the Music City Central off of Charlotte Avenue.

Meeting times are:

7-9 a.m. and 3-5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14.

11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Middle TN homeowners get relief

2011-11-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

Tennessean
Retooled federal program affects Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans
12:32 AM, Nov. 6, 2011

For some of the 67,000 homeowners in Middle Tennessee whose properties are financially underwater or near it, partial relief could be close at hand, thanks to a retooled federal program affecting droves of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans.

President Barack Obama late last month announced changes to a federal refinancing program that will allow hundreds of thousands of homeowners nationwide to refinance their mortgages, some of whom may be able to take advantage of historically low interest rates.

But for other homeowners who haven’t kept their monthly payments current, the situation may remain bleak. The revamped program applies only to borrowers who haven’t fallen behind on their mortgages, even if they owe more on the house than it’s currently worth.

Despite such caveats, the program could put more money in the pockets of many Middle Tennessee homeowners who will end up with lower monthly rates after refinancing.

“It could boost consumer spending because money that used to go to banks to pay for mortgages will now be used on other things,” said Gregory Brown, an economics professor at Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tenn. “The new program has the potential to have a real stimulus effect on the local economy.”

Underwater cap gone
The Home Affordable Refinancing Program, or HARP, was introduced in spring 2009 and was intended to assist many troubled borrowers with refinancing.

The rub, though, was thatthe program applied only to borrowers who were no more than25 percent underwater on their mortgage loan.

Fewer than a million borrowers refinanced under HARP, which was expected to help many millions more.

The new rules remove the underwater cap and scrap some appraisal requirements in addition to nixing closing fees and other charges associated with the former program. Thus, refinancing will be cheaper and easier.

“It is certain that many more borrowers will benefit than would have otherwise,” said a statement from CoreLogic, a real estate data firm.

“There are no silver bullets that will solve the issues facing the housing and mortgage markets, only solutions that play their small part,” the statement continued.

Nationwide, nearly 1 in 4 of the country’s homeowners are underwater, according to CoreLogic. That’s roughly 11 million borrowers.

In the Nashville area, 13 percent of all homeowners, about 42,000 borrowers, are underwater, and an additional 25,000 people are on the cusp, owing more than their home’s value, according to the firm’s latest report.

Local lenders expected to embrace program
The announcement of the revamped program from the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the overseer of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, noted that the new program relies on private bank participation, which is voluntary.

A spokeswoman for Bank of America confirmed by email that the bank will participate in the new HARP program. Other big lenders are expected to follow suit.

Furthermore, banking experts in Middle Tennessee expect local lenders to also embrace the rules.

The federal government will provide lenders with pricing guidelines on Nov. 15, and some banks will begin taking applications by Dec. 1.

“What bank would say no to helping borrowers lessen their burden? I can’t imagine any,” said Ross Kinney, Pinnacle’s residential and mortgage manager. “The legislation is aimed at big banks, and they’re the ones who will make the decision.”

Geoff Hill, president of Fifth Third Bank’s mortgage division, said the program will shore up housing markets in certain hard-hit pockets of Florida and Nevada far more than it will affect Middle Tennessee.

Still, “it will get people talking about the program again. There are people in Nashville who are already eligible and don’t know it,” Hill said.

Nearly half of the country’s mortgages are backed by Fannie or Freddie.

When one of the two agencies guarantees a loan, the lender promises the loan will meet federal standards. If it fails to, Fannie or Freddie can force the lender, typically a bank, to put the loan on its books.

Consequently, banks were hesitant to issue new loans for underwater homeowners to refinance because they wanted to steer clear of more troubled loans.

But the new rules reverse that.
Now, Fannie and Freddie no longer have the authority to force a lender to buy back a sinking loan. The government justifies the change by insisting that nearly all the loans eligible for the program are “seasoned,” meaning they are not expected to fail, according to a FHFA statement.

“That provides a big incentive for banks to do this,” economist Brown said.

Borrowers must be current on payments
The revised HARP applies only to borrowers who have been current on their mortgage payments the past six months.

That means hardscrabble borrowers who are unemployed or underemployed are still out of luck, according to local housing advocates.

“Most people I see who are underwater are in a crisis mode. They haven’t been current for months,” said Ron Williams, senior housing counselor for the Woodbine Community Organization. “I think it will help a handful of people, but every federal program I’ve seen so far has failed to live up to expectations.”

Others, including some local mortgage bankers, also remain skeptical.

“We want to minimize risk to the bank and be able to assist the public as much as possible, but I don’t know if it’s going to be as widespread as some are predicting,” said Steve Swain, senior vice president of direct lending for First Tennessee Bank.

“For some people, it’s just putting off the inevitable,” Pinnacle’s Kinney said, suggesting that borrowers who do qualify may end up in foreclosure on their homes anyway.

Edsel Charles, chairman of MarketGraphics research group based here, said the program does not address declining home values, which, he predicts, will soon return to pre-crisis levels in Nashville.

“I’m glad there’s some effort to fix what is a very difficult issue, but only time will fix the equity problem,” Charles said.

Alice Walker, president of the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, said any effort designed to provide incentives for homeowners to stay in their homes should be applauded.

Homeowner stability helps entire neighborhoods, she said.

“For a certain segment of homeowners, tweaking this program can be quite effective at that,” Walker said.

Contact Bobby Allyn at 615-726-5990 ormailto:ballyn@tennessean.com.

City to buy JCPenney building for library, community center

2011-11-04T15:41:00.000-07:00

Channel 4 WSMV
Posted: Nov 04, 2011 11:08 AM CDT

Updated: Nov 04, 2011 1:59 PM CDT
Posted by Scott Sutton - email

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - Mayor Karl Dean announced plans Friday for the city to purchase the JCPenney building at Hickory Hollow Mall for a major development.

The project would include an expanded library, new regional community center and 2.6 acres of green space for a park.

"Southeast Davidson County is one of the fastest growing parts of our city, and this purchase will help make sure that the facilities and services there keep pace with the needs of its residents," Dean said in a news release. "The new public facilities will bring new life to Hickory Hollow Mall and become a model for grouping community services in a way that both serves residents and benefits surrounding retail and commercial areas by attracting more visitors and creating a more stable business environment."

A resolution authorizing the city of Nashville to purchase the property for $3.25 million from CBL & Associates will be filed Friday and go before the Metro Council on Nov. 15.

The 30,000-square-foot regional community center is expected to include a gymnasium, fitness center, multi-purpose room and other amenities, said the city in a news release.

The expanded library would replace the current Southeast Branch Library located at 2325 Hickory Highlands Dr. The new library, at 25,000-square-feet, will be more than double the size of the existing library.

Copyright 2011 WSMV. All rights reserved.

Bank of America nixes $5 debit card fee

2011-11-01T20:12:00.001-07:00

Tennessean
November 1, 2011

NEW YORK — Bank of America is nixing its plans to charge a $5 debit card fee.

The news comes after other major banks, including Chase and Wells Fargo, said last week that they were canceling tests of similar fees.

Bank of America had said last week that it would stand by its decision to roll out the $5 monthly fee starting next year.

The about-face by the banking industry comes amid growing public anger over higher fees. A movement to get customers to switch to credit unions and community banks had marked this Saturday as “Bank Transfer Day.”

SunTrust, Regions drop debit card fees

2011-11-01T20:06:00.000-07:00

Tennessean
November 1, 2011

Banks say customer feedback led to about-face; some customers still plan to switch to new banks

After customer discontent rose to a fever pitch, Regions Financial Corp. and SunTrust Bank on Monday scratched plans to impose monthly debit card fees, the latest in a spate of announcements reversing new fees.

“Consumers were ticked, and this is a short-term victory for consumers,” said bank analyst Bill Hardekopf, who runs LowCards.com. “But I would caution them that it’s not the end of new fees.”

Birmingham, Ala.-based Regions — the institution with the largest share of deposits in the Nashville market — announced last month it would start charging customers a $4-per-month fee when they made purchases with a debit card.

Monday’s policy reversal means customers who incurred the monthly fee over the past few weeks will have the money refunded to their accounts on Friday.

SunTrust, which has the city’s third-largest share of deposits, also on Monday nixed plans to continue its $5-a-month swipe fee, which the bank had introduced in June. Fees that were already assessed against customers’ accounts will be returned, SunTrust said.

Both banks say the reversals came as a result of “customer feedback.”

For Regions customer Bill Dobbins, 57, the bank’s sudden about-face to abandon its debit card fees won’t be enough to make him rethink his recent decision to switch banks. Dobbins is in the process of closing all his Regions accounts.

“For me, it’s too little, too late,” Dobbins said, adding that he picked a community bank that doesn’t plan debit card fees. “I don’t know what to expect from them,” he said of Regions. “So, that’s why I’m leaving.”

Other customers, however, heaved a sigh of relief at Regions’ fee reversal.

Regions customer Joe Lance, 42, of Chattanooga, said he was hunting for a bank with no debit card fees before the announcement. He welcomed the bank’s decision to drop the swipe charges, adding a note of caution.

“I’m glad to see they’re no longer pursuing it,” Lance said. “But I’ll continue to be on my guard and watch for new notices because they’re still on thin ice trying to make up lost revenues.”

Plans reassessed

The fee changes had been the result of last year’s Dodd-Frank financial overhaul legislation, which, in part, halved the amount that merchants pay to banks every time a debit card is used to make a purchase.

Regions had estimated the fee caps would cost the bank $170 million annually.

First Tennessee Bank, which was planning a debit card fee of 4 cents per transaction up to $3 a month beginning the end of November, said Tuesday it will not be charging customers for debit card use.

“We’re going to make sure our pricing remains competitive,” said Dave Miller, executive vice president of retail banking.

New fees likely, bank analyst says

Bank of America Corp., the second-largest bank in Nashville by deposits, said on Monday that it will be not charging customers for debit card use. The bank had planned to charge a $5 monthly debit card fee starting in January.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo, furthermore, plan to back away from their debit card fee tests that were conducted in several states.

Bank analysts predict that even if the lucrative debit card fees vanish altogether, consumers should look for other heavier charges to be tucked in other places.

“The new fees will probably be more subtle,” Hardekopf said. “Consumers should look for (more) increases in existing fees and raises in introductory rates on debit cards. There’s no question that there will be more fees on the way.”

Titans to collect food for Second Harvest Sunday

2011-11-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

Posted: Nov 01, 2011 2:28 PM CDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Titans are again teaming up with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee this year for their annual non-perishable food drive as they take on the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend at LP Field.

The collection will take place from 1 p.m. until kickoff, which is set for 3:05 p.m. Sunday.

Second Harvest Food Bank will have volunteers stationed at the seven charity drop sites around the stadium to collect donations.

"If every fan attending the game donates at least one pound of non-perishable food, then Titans fans will raise 68,000 pounds of food that will result in thousands of meals for hungry families in Middle Tennessee," Jaynee Day, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank, said.

Canned tuna and chicken, peanut butter, canned vegetables, cereal, canned fruit, pasta and canned soups and stews are among the most needed items.

Second Harvest's Feeding Hope Challenge runs November 1 through December 31 with a goal to raise nine million meals for those in need.

Read more at SecondHarvestMidTN.org.

FROM COUNCILMAN ROBERT DUVALL DISTRICT 33

2011-10-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

On Friday, November 4th, Petco will be opening its sixth Nashville location at 3536 Murfreesboro Pike in Antioch. We cordially invite you to attend our Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony as our Guest of Honor at 8:55 am on Saturday, November 5th. I have attached our Grand Opening Flyer for your review. I will reach out to your office tomorrow for confirmation on your availability as I know this is short notice.

We are excited about the our new store in Antioch and our opportunity to bring community programs to Antioch including pet adoption drives to help animal-welfare organizations find lifelong, loving homes for millions of orphaned pets. Our Petco Foundation also funds spay and neuter efforts, animal assisted therapy programs and humane education in the communities we serve.

I look forward to speaking with you.

Sincerely,

Billy Etter
General Manager
Petco Store #1550
3536 Murfreesboro Pike
Antioch, TN 37013
(615) 641- 2251

Halloween Safety

2011-10-28T16:49:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

As Halloween approaches, the Nashville police department, in partnership with the Board of Probation and Parole, reminds citizens that certain convicted sex offenders are specifically prohibited from engaging in Halloween-related activities.

Convicted and/or registered sex offenders on probation or parole are restricted from any Halloween festivities and are not allowed to pass out candy or treats. Additionally, convicted, registered sex offenders who are not on probation or parole, and whose victims were minors, are prohibited from pretending to be, dress as, impersonate or otherwise assume the identity of a real or fictional person or character while in the presence of a minor or with the intent of enticing a minor. Police and Probation/Parole personnel anticipate making random checks to ensure compliance.

As is the case every Halloween, Patrol and Flex officers will be paying very close attention to Nashville’s various neighborhoods on Halloween and will take very seriously any attempts to panic citizens by giving children harmful candy items or by committing any type of disruptive behavior.

Parents are urged to closely monitor their children’s trick-or-treat activities and to keep in mind these safety recommendations:

Trick-or-treaters should carry flashlights.
Persons should give, and children should accept, only wrapped or packaged candy.
Children should bring their treats home for adult inspection before the candy is eaten.
Children should wear light-colored clothing that is short enough to prevent tripping. Reflective tape should be added.
Make sure children can see well enough through their face masks. Consider make-up or face paint as an alternative.
Keep costumed children away from pets, particularly dogs. The pet may not recognize the child, become frightened and react in a vicious manner.
Choose costumes that are flame retardant, and use props, such as magic wands and swords made out of foam rubber or cardboard, rather than metal or wood.

Halloween has been historically safe for Nashville and officers will be working to ensure the same is true Monday. Officers will take a zero tolerance approach to criminal behavior as well as pranks that cross the line.

Petco Opening, Free Electronic Waste Event, Mayor Dean coming to Antioch Community Center

2011-10-28T16:38:00.000-07:00

I AM RESENDING THIS EMAIL AT THE REQUEST OF A NEIGHBOR WHO SHARED THAT THE LINK BELOW WAS TYPED IN ERROR. I APOLOGIZE. I HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US AND SIGN UP!
THANK YOU.

REMEMBER YOU CAN SIGN UP UNDER OUR DISTRICT GROUP "PRIEST LAKE PACERS" under the drop down box at http://www.mayorschallenge5k.com/. Please join your neighbors and let's all get fit, stay fit and make our Health a priority.
Thank You!
See you on Saturday!

Mayor Karl Dean would like to invite you and your neighbors out to the Antioch Community Center located at 5023 Blue Hole Road to a FREE training session for his 5K Challenge. Come out and join Mayor Dean this Saturday, October 29th, at 9am for training session led by our training partner Fleet Feet Sports.

There will be a free shoe giveaway courtesy of United Healthcare at this event. The ONLY requirement to enter the drawing is to be registered and bring a printed copy of your training log.

The “Mayor’s Challenge” is a call-to-action for all Nashvillians to improve upon the health of our city through their participation in the “Mayor’s Challenge” 5K Walk/Run. The initiative will consist of a free, semiweekly training program from Tuesday, September 10 through Tuesday, November 8. The “Mayor’s Challenge” will drive participation through a “Step Up to the Challenge” Community Competition that will encourage registrants to log mileage, events attended and independent exercise time. The series will conclude on Sunday, November 13 with the “Mayor’s Challenge” 5K Walk/Run and Finale Celebration in Downtown Nashville.

The detailed training schedule is available online at www.mayorschallenge5K.com or on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/mayorschallenge5k

Thank you,

Scott C. Wallace
Community Relations Coordinator
Mayor's Office of Neighborhoods
1 Public Square
Nashville, TN. 37201
(615) 862-6000 office
(615) 862-6001 fax
www.nashville.gov/neighborhoods

2011-10-28T15:55:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, November 1st we will be considering several bills of which I would like to hear feedback from you.

Are you for, against or indifferent allowing Chickens in smaller properties in Davidson County? Thank you.

http://www.nashville.gov/mc/ordinances/term_2011_2015/bl2011_47.htm

http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/backyard-urban-chicken-bill-resurfaces-metro-council

___________________________________________________________________
I am a co-sponsor on a bill that will address overgrown vegetation/lots. Many complaints are made about homes falling in foreclosure or unkept lots. This bill will try to address the issue by giving Metro the authority to cut the grass after 10 days, bill the owner on file at the time and place a lien against the property. This should shorten the amount of time to respond to complaints. Please give me feedback and your thoughts on this bill. Thank you.

http://www.nashville.gov/mc/ordinances/term_2011_2015/bl2011_34.htm

_____________________________________________________________________

I am sponsor of a bill that will designate a definition for tri-faced billboard signs. Definitions for billboard signs are still relatively new. Much debate has developed over static versus digital signs and tri-faced panel signs that also changes images fall into a open category. Currently Metro considers Tri-faced signs the same as static signs. My bill will attempt to give a separate definition to these type signs. Many of you may remember that we were victorious in the most recent denial of a digital sign at Bell Road and Murfreesboro Road. Due to a bill that passed in January that had no rationale attached for defining tri faced signs as static signs, this has resulted in the sign company being able to install a tri faced sign which is still has a moveable face instead of what they would have only been allowed to install, a static sign if this was not changed back in January by former Councilman Eric Crafton. Tuesday at our council meeting a public hearing will be held regarding this issue. Please email, call or come to the council meeting to share your views.
Thank you.

All candidates for the open Judgeship for Nashville/Davidson County will be interviewed on Tuesday, November 1st at 4:00 pm and the committee meetings are open to the public. If you would like to provide feedback to me on any of the candidates, please email me. Also being considered Tuesday are candidates for open positions on the Industrial Development Board. I am pleased to share that I have nominated one of our district's prominent Realtor's Mr. Andy "JR" Herrell. He will be interviewed along with all other candidates as well on Tuesday during the Rules-Confirmations-Public Elections Meeting. If you are interested in serving on any board or commission for Metro Nashville, please let me know.

Thank You.

http://www.nashville.gov/mc/council/committee_schedule.htm

SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR DISTRICT WIDE CHRISTMAS GATHERING/PARTY

2011-10-27T16:31:00.000-07:00

Friday December 9, 2011
6:30 pm until 8:30 pm

Planning for Tentative Location - Our District's Very Own Gran Dale Manor - currently the Manor is undergoing stormwater work and may or may not be ready by this date, however Attorney David Waynick shared that all efforts will be made to accommodate our great event should the work be completed by this time. As it gets closer to this date, we will give additional details and will share the alternate location should this be necessary. If you are interested in volunteering to help plan this great event for our district, please contact our District's Beautification Commissioner Karen VanCleave.

Thank You!
________________________________________________________________________

METRO NASHVILLE'S HOLIDAY LIGHTS CONTEST BEGINS AND WE WANT DISTRICT 29 TO SHINE

Please contact our Beautification Commissioner Karen VanCleave for more information
2011 Ann Chapman Holiday Lights
A Metro Nashville Tradition for Celebrating the Season

Sponsored by Mayor Karl Dean, Metro Public Works, Metro Beautification and Environment Commission, Nashville Electric Service, NewsChannel 5

Click here for Entry Guidelines
All Entries must be returned by Wednesday November 23, 2011

Metro nears deal to add 181-acre country club land to parks system

2011-10-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

Sharing this article since I am now a newly appointed member of the Parks Library and Recreation Committee of the Metro Council and the Greenway's Commission under the Metro Board of Parks and Recreation as a representative on behalf of the Metro Council. I sought this appointment due to our area expressing a great need for quite some time for Quality of life improvements in the area of Parks and Recreation. Efforts continue to be made to bring these great opportunities that other areas of the city currently enjoy. This article highlights enhancements to East Nashville and the Hermitage area.

Three appointments most recently were made which include myself representing Southeast Nashville, Sheri Weiner representing West Nashville and Charlie Tygard representing At-Large.

I will continue to seek out ways to bring Quality of Life enhancements by supporting Parks and Recreation and seeking opportunities to improve our access to a network of conservation and recreational resources. Two areas of the city have now moved ahead to take advantage of the few funds that are available in the open space plan which is a new plan launched by Mayor Karl Dean. As a former member of the Metro Parks and Recreation Board, I am pleased to see our city making advancements in preserving developable land to green space that can be enhanced aesthetically and can connect people to beautiful natural areas.
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Metro nears deal to add 181-acre country club land to parks system
The City Paper

By Joey Garrison

Metro’s Stones River Greenway could expand by 181 acres, with the city working to finalize the acquisition of the privately owned Ravenwood Country Club in Hermitage.

Jim Fyke, of the Metro Finance Department, told The City Paper Metro officials are still
finishing details of a deal that would allow the club’s acreage to become part of Metro’s greenways system. He declined to say how much Metro would pay for the property but said it would come out of $5 million in funds set aside for open space acquisition.

If a deal between the club owner David Watkins and Metro is hammered out this week, the Metro Parks and Recreation Department staff is set to recommend the club’s purchase to the nine-member parks board at its Nov. 1 meeting, next Tuesday.

“They’re recommending — assuming we have a signed agreement — that we go forward with the purchase,” Fyke said. “We still haven’t settled on a final price yet.”

The acquisition –– requiring Metro Council approval –– would come seven months after Metro paid $1.2 million for the 132-acre Cornelia Fort Airpark to add to East Nashville’s Shelby Park.

In hopes of sparing land from development, Mayor Karl Dean recently launched an open space plan that carries the ambitious goal of preserving 22,000 acres of land over the next 25 years. Both purchases fall under the plan’s umbrella.

Fyke said Watkins –– who purchased the country club in 2008 –– must contractually keep the club operating through 2013. Thus, if Metro does purchase the property, it would not take ownership until that time.

“The [country club] membership is getting what they agreed to in 2008 even if we buy it,” Fyke said.

If the club is purchased, Fyke said Metro wouldn’t continue operating the club’s existing 18-hole golf course on the acreage. But he said the city would make use of the club’s swimming and tennis facilities.

“[Metro] Parks will have to adjust,” Fyke said of converting the golf course to park space, “but I think fairly quickly it could be made into quite a bit of public use.”

District 29 Cleanup a Tremendous Success

2011-10-25T16:06:00.000-07:00

What a Day of Work and Pride for District 29!

A tremendous number of volunteers, neighbors and our great friends at Public Works, the Sheriff's Department, Goodwill, Shred It and State Representative Janis Sontany with the help of our city's drug court volunteers, our area Boy Scouts and youth helped to make this one of the largest and best events to be held this year. Our Boy Scouts who participated received badges from Metro Beautification Commissioner Karen VanCleave, Mayor Karl Dean and your Metro Council Member. :-)

We also collected food items for their canned food drive. Mr. Edwards a District 29 homeowner loved by all who happens to own our District's almost 40 year business Homestyle Bakery provided us with the best doughnuts in town and our Nashboro Starbucks provided us with coffee to start the day as well as our area Starbucks in Hickory Hollow. Also Krystal's provided breakfast sandwiches which was another wonderful highlight to our morning thanks to the manager Eddie and his crew. We also had drinks, chips and more from our area Target. Our district's Shell Gas Station owner Duke and Misty provided ice and so much more and they even helped pick up trash on the sides of our roads. What a Day! We want to also thank Sue Paugh, Mike Hassell, Steve Cardin, Phyllis & Leon for cranking up the food on the grill as well as Sue Luttrell, John & Marge Lewis, Roy & Jackie Tracey and many many neighbors who helped to organize and get our teams out to our intersections to take down signs and to clean our main roads. For all who did not get to bring their items on Saturday, we have heard much feedback thanking Public Works and our Sheriff's crews (Sheriff Daron Hall is awesome!) for picking up additional items with the Bulk Curbside Cleanup that will continue until the end of this month. We look forward to seeing everyone next year!

If you are interested in helping with the organization of next year's cleanup, please email or call our District's Beautification Commissioner Karen VanCleave or myself. District 29 Cleaned Up and Cleaned Out!

We Mean Business in Keeping our Community Clean.
Thank you!

Click on the link below to view more pictures from our event.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.211166672286263.50443.136610609741870&type=1

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS - OUR COMMUNITY SHINES BECAUSE OF YOU!

MAYOR KARL DEAN

Cigna to buy HealthSpring for $3.8 billion

2011-10-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

Associated Press

BLOOMFIELD, Conn. -- HealthSpring’s stock has soared 33 percent so far this morning after news of its sale to Cigna.

Managed-care company Cigna Corp. said Monday it would buy fellow health insurer HealthSpring Inc. in a $3.8 billion deal that would boost Cigna's Medicare Advantage business.

The Bloomfield, Conn., company will pay $55 per share in cash for HealthSpring, which is based in Franklin. That represents a 37 percent premium over the stock's Friday closing price of $40.16.

HealthSpring shares soared $13.34 per share to $53.50 in premarket trading, while Cigna stock was up more than 3 percent, or $1.55, to $46.25.

Cigna said the boards of directors for both companies have approved the deal, and it is expected to close in the first half of 2012.

Medicare Advantage plans are privately run versions of the government's Medicare program. They are subsidized by the government and offer basic Medicare coverage topped with extras or premiums lower than standard Medicare rates.

HealthSpring has about 340,000 Medicare Advantage customers in 11 states, including Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas. It also has a Medicare prescription drug business with more than 800,000 customers.

Cigna said it has a commitment from Morgan Stanley for bridge financing, and that plus available liquidity will fund the acquisitions.

Cigna is the fourth-largest commercial health insurer based on enrollment, trailing WellPoint Inc., UnitedHealth Group Inc. and Aetna Inc. It operates health care, group disability and life segments in the U.S. The insurer also has a growing international segment that sells individual insurance in several countries and operates an expatriate business that covers people living outside their home countries.

Big insurers like Cigna have reported strong results in recent quarters. Analysts have speculated that companies would look to make acquisitions with the cash they were piling up.

Cigna said Monday it will move up its third-quarter earnings report to Friday from Nov. 3.

Governor wants pay analysis for state workers

2011-10-24T10:54:00.000-07:00

Bank Fee Information, Cleanup Reminder and Invite to Breast Cancer Event

2011-10-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

Cleanup Reminder 10-23-2011
Please Support our area Boy Scouts. They will have a tent set up to collect canned foods as part of their community service project for Arlington United Methodist Church Food Pantry. The cans collected will help families in our district. Our area Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will also be participating and helping with all activities for the cleanup
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Please Share this information with everyone you know. Why Bank with a Financial Institution that charges allot of fees. Click on this link to view information on fees being assessed by area banks shared by the Nashville City Paper
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/files/citypaper/Banks.pdf

2011-10-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

Smith Springs Church of Christ will hold their Sanctuary Re dedication Sunday, October 23 at 10:00 am. We all remember the devastating tornado that ripped through our community and severely damaged and destroyed the sanctuary's for both Priest Lake Presbyterian Church and Smith Springs Church of Christ. Priest Lake Presbyterian Church had a beautiful re dedication of their sanctuary back in August.

Please support our neighbors and friends this Sunday at Smith Springs Church of Christ.

Click here for more information.

Thank You!

District 29 Cleanup Reminder Saturday Oct 22 Compton's Foodland Parking Lot

2011-10-21T06:19:00.000-07:00

For the first time we will also be having a date for bulk pickup of items that are placed on the curbside! Please see list below of items that will be picked up!

District 29 Bulk Cleanup Maps and Pickup Dates and Shred It, Goodwill, and Dumpsters scheduled for Saturday October 22 Compton's Lot

2011-10-17T18:17:00.000-07:00

FLAYERS ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED IN NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND OUR DISTRICT WITH CLEANUP INFORMATION ON THE FRONT AND MAPS WITH DATES OF YOUR AREA PICKUP ON THE BACK.

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS.

TO SEE ENLARGED MAPS VISIT WWW.DISTRICT29COMMUNITY.BLOGSPOT.COM.

IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED FLYERS ON YOUR MAILBOX POST BY TUESDAY, PLEASE EMAIL ME johnsonkareny@gmail.com (AND WE WILL GET FLYERS TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD/AREA) ASAP.

LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION AND SEEING YOU AT OUR COOKOUT AFTER THE CLEANUP ON SATURDAY AT COMPTON'S.

THANK YOU.

Residents help push for needed safety measure in Priest Lake area

2011-10-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

GREEN HILLS NEWS

http://gcanews.com/thisWeek.html

October 13, 2011

Metro approves new traffic signal for dangerous intersection

The Metro Traffic and Parking Board gave unanimous approval for a new dual traffic
signal that will improve safety at Castlegate Drive and Clearlake Drive West in the
Priest Lake Antioch area. The commission decided Monday afternoon that an intersection that poses visibility problems to motorists, which has been repeatedly denied by Metro, will have a new long awaited traffic signal for both motorist and pedestrian safety.

At the suggestion of the residents and Councilwoman Johnson’s appeal, the board decided to approve a split based signal.

Johnson made a request to appeal three prior denials of a traffic signal at the intersection and made a strong case that the intersection be viewed as one entire intersection even though there are two separate streets involved.

"The most important thing to improve is the safety in this area and to get the traffic signal approved, which the board unanimously agreed to after much discussion," Johnson said.

Residents such as Isaac Okoreeh-Baah shared testimony of a child who died in his hands as a result of not having a traffic signal at that location. Arnett Bodenhamer shared that the community overbuilt without consideration of the current infrastructure.

Other residents who live in the area and the adjacent Metro Council district shared major problems with visibility and having nearly deadly encounters trying to turn onto Smith Springs Rd.

The Traffic and Parking Board’s approval will now move to the Metro Council and Mayor Karl Dean’s office for funding approval. Installation will be scheduled immediately following.

Join District 29's Group for Mayor Karl Dean's 5K Run and Announcing New Medical Clinic in Plaza behind Krystal's on Murfreesboro Road

2011-10-13T06:30:00.000-07:00

In an effort to foster environments that support healthy choices, several in the community asked that we form a 5K group to support Mayor Karl Dean's comprehensive initiative to get active and healthy in our communities so that we can make Nashville a "Healthier" city.

Nashville Mayor Karl Dean announced the 3.1 mile route for the free "Mayor's Challenge 5K Walk/Run" on Nov. 13. It will begin at Public Square Park, go across Capitol Hill to the Gulch, up Second Avenue and end back at the historic Metro Courthouse.

Please accept this invitation, my neighbors and friends, to join the free training sessions, which are designed for all ages and people of all fitness levels. More information is online at http://www.walkbikenashville.org/

Sign up to Join Our Team at http://www.mayorschallenge5k.com/ and select the group in the drop down box titled "Priest Lake Pacers." My first Metro Council resolution that was on the agenda at our first Council meeting supporting walking initiatives around children and families in our community. Please visit http://www.nashville.gov/mc/resolutions/term_2011_2015/rs2011_41.htm

Through partnerships with Metro Parks and Recreation and the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, training sessions are conducted in city parks and community centers, as well as at YMCA facilities, throughout Davidson County.

Four primary training sites include Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, McCabe Community Center, Antioch Community Center and Hadley Community Center. Training sessions at these four sites are led by the Nashville Striders, Fleet Feet Sports, the Nashville Running Company, Tennessee State University and the Vanderbilt University Dayani Center.

Training opportunities are available six day's a week at various times of the day and last no longer than one hour. A full schedule of training session days and times is available at www.mayorschallenge5k.com Individuals and groups can train on their own or follow the Mayor's Challenge training program.

Registrants will also have multiple opportunities to participate in free "Pressure Check" screenings. They are provided by 5k community partner HCA TriStar Stroke Network. These screenings will allow participants to log and monitor their blood pressure, while further educating themselves on healthy living practices and stroke prevention.

United Healthcare, another community partner, is offering a shoe giveaway. Participants are eligible to enter the giveaway at the Saturday training sessions at the four primary sites.

Official partners for the "Mayor's Challenge 5K" include the HCA TriStar Stroke Network, United Healthcare, Piedmont Natural Gas, the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, Metro Nashville Department of Parks & Recreation and NashVitality. NashVitality, a federally funded initiative of the Metro Public Health Department, celebrates the many opportunities in Nashville to live healthy, active and green lives.

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PRIEST LAKE FAMILY & WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTER

COMING SOON

(MAP)

615-292-9770

2637 Murfreesboro Pike - behind our area's Krystal's

http://uchshealth.org/clinics/

THHAP October Meeting will be an EVENING MEETING on 10/11/11 at 5:30 p.m. at Chatman's Studio

2011-10-11T12:17:00.000-07:00

The Hickory Hollow Action Partnership (THHAP) Meeting is moving the time of day and venue for the month of October to Victor Chatman's Studio in the Hickory Hollow Mall on the second floor next to Macy’s. The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. We are having an evening meeting to accomodate the business people, community leaders, elected leaders and first responders whose work schedule makes it impossible to attend at the regular meeting time.

Please forward to anyone you think will be interested in attending.

Cheers,

Alma

THHAP is an organization that was formed to enhance the Hickory Hollow Business District through the combined efforts of business leaders and area residents. In conjunction with community organizations, support from the Metro Nashville Politce Department, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce's Chamber South Area Advisory Council, among others, THHAP is playing a major role in everything from business recruitment and crime mitigation to beautification and community spirit efforts. The goal is to renew the focus on the area that will lead the rebirth of Hickory Hollow as a new business hub in Middle Tennessee.

THHAP holds regular meetings the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 8:30 a.m. at the Freeland Chevrolet meeting room. For more information about THHAP or the Hickory Hollow Business District, contact Ben Freeland at 615-731-3000, Carol Joscelyn at 615-731-3000 ext. 0, or Judi Petty at 615-731-9911.

District 29's New Beautification Commissioner Karen VanCleave, CERT Info, Cleanup Update, and more Part 2

2011-10-06T15:52:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to District 29's Doug Troupe and SallieAnn Brodie. Their foster son from Croatia "Voymir Mustapich"artwork was displayed in Metro Parks Centennial Art Center. Voymir's work was featured in the Nashville's Internationals Art Display reception that was held on Friday, September 30. This is the 5th year for him to have his work displayed. His work along with others will be available for viewing until October 26th. The picture below features his artwork under the title "MUSTAPICH" Please make a visit to this wonderful art gallery and display.

Protect yourself, fight crime and be GREEN at the same time!!

SUBMIT A WEB TIP http://www.blogger.com/goog_1297849368

615-74-CRIME (615-742-7463) Se Habla Espanol

Text “CASH” plus your message to CRIMES (274637)

Nashville Crime Stoppers Inc · P.O. Box 24185 · Nashville, TN. 37202-4185 · (615) 742-7463

As a Crime Stoppers Board member, I am proud to extend an invite to each of you to come by and drop of your paper work, records you want shredded and of course make a donation to Crime Stoppers.

Our board is comprised of citizens like yourself. The police have a police liaison assigned to our board and I might add a good one at that.

Our board pays tips from monies that are donated to our chapter as a 501-C-3. So, anything you can do to help us raise monies, please do so.

I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about our interest in making our community safe to live and work in.

Dwayne M. Duhon
CELL: 294.8844

Councilwoman Karen Y Johnson District 29

The first Metro Council meeting of this term I am proud to share that I was able to sponsor a resolution for this very important day and initiative in Nashville with co-sponsor Councilwoman Erica Gilmore and many of our Metro Council members. You can view the resolution by clicking here.

I want to thank District 29's Principal Dr. Robin Shumate, Assistant Principal Deanne Miree for the successful walk to school day on Wed Oct 5. I also want to thank the many parents who turned out in great numberssupporting their children in this very important initiative. Also a special thank you to Ms. Hill and District 29's Smith Springs Baptist Church where the walk initiated for sponsoring the wonderful breakfast and to Walgreens for giving all parents and their children. Walk kits that included a walking journal, pedometer and drawstring bag.

They have committed to participate also in Mayor Karl Dean's 5 K Walk with our community!

NASHVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HIGHLIGHTS

OUR AREA HIGH SCHOOLS ACADEMIES.

Dr. Register, Antioch High School's principal Brian Mast, Marc Hill with the chamber and Rita McDonald held a Academy tour Wed Oct 5 which showcased the incredible work that our teachers, administrators and students are doing in our school's academies which at Antioch High feature the Tennessee Credit Union Academy of Business and Finance, The Academy of Hospitality, The Academyof Teaching and Service and The Academy of Technology and Communication. Please click on the link below to view pictures from this event where all of our elected officials from Southeast Nashville attended as well as area pastors and community leaders.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nashvillechamber/sets/72157627701792485/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you to all who attended my first community wide meeting on Monday, September 26th at Lakeview Elementary School. Our next community wide meeting will take place soon. Watch for the next Announcement which will be shared in the next newsletter. It will be held with
our Metro Police Chief, Hermitage Police Commander and officers. Our area apartment managers will also be in attendance. I also want to thank everyone for your interest in forming a CERT team for our area of the city which is the only area that has not yet formed a team. The
training classes are below that were shared. If you have any questions, please email me at Karen.Johnson@nashville.gov or contact Angie.roscoe@nashville.gov or teresabrown@nashville.gov

_____________________________________________________________

Community Emergency Response Team Sponsors Family Disaster Training

Who is teaching the program?

The Nashville Mayors Office of Emergency Management
NO COST. -FREE Participants who complete all 4 classes receive a certificate from the
Office of Homeland Security.Learn more about this national program go to…..www.citizencorps.gov/cert

What are the class dates and times ?

Oct 11- (Tuesday night) 6pm-9:30
Oct 15- (Saturday ) 9pm-4pm
Oct 18- (Tuesday night) 6pm-9:30

What will I learn about ?

Disaster Prep –Learn how to prepare before a disaster and how to respond after a disaster.
Terrorist Awareness –learn what to look for, don’t become a victim.
Disaster First Aid and Triage-what you can do for family until paramedics arrive.
Fire Suppression-learn about fire, shoot a fire extinguisher and put out a live fire.
Search and Rescue- Learn how to find a victim under a tornado destroyed home.
Disaster Psychology – prepare yourself mentally- know what to expect after a disaster.

Where are the classes and how do I sign up?

LOCATION : NPD South Precinct – 5101 Harding Place

SIGN UP : Name -Phone- Address - E-mail
TO : ronream.cert@comcast.net or call 331-2726
Or call Angie Roscoe Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management at (615) 862-8530.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DISTRICT 29 OFFICE HOURS

Saturday, October 29 from 10 am until 12 Noon

First Tennessee Bank - Nashboro Village Branch

Murfreesboro Road

District 29's New Beautification Commissioner Karen VanCleave, CERT Info, Cleanup Update, and more Part 1

2011-10-06T14:58:00.000-07:00

Beautification Commissioner Karen VanCleave

Mayor Karl Dean has made the Appointment of our New District 29 Beautification Commissioner to the Metropolitan Beautification and Environment Commission, pursuant to Chapter 2.152 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws. Please welcome Ms. VanCleave to this new role. Her contact information is below as well as updated information she has provided for our District Cleanup scheduled
for Saturday, October 22, 2011.

http://www.nashville.gov/beautification/commissionmembers.asp

DON'T FORGET!!!!!Reminder to support one of our area's Neighborhood Associations- Castlegate!

YARD SALE - 10/8/11 - COMPTON'S SIDE LOT - SMITH SPRINGS ROAD 8:00 to 2:00 p.m. - $10 registration for prime 15 feet frontage space. All registrations go to Castlegate Club - Contact Carl Stasiunas 361-3737 BYOT (bring you own tables) and lots of stuff - this is going to be HUGE!

Thanks much!

Sincerely,
Carl Stasiunas
Owner/Tour Agent
Flair Tours/Flair Models
PO Box 17372
Nashville,TN 37217
615-361-3737
866-729-9411
http://www.flairtours.net/
http://www.flairmodels.net/

More bad news for bank customers: Debit card fees

2011-09-30T07:17:00.000-07:00

WKRN CHANNEL 2 NEWS
Posted: Sep 29, 2011 12:32 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 29, 2011 6:42 PM CDT

By CANDICE CHOI
AP Personal Finance Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - Bank of America will start charging debit-card users $5 a month to pay for purchases. The move comes as the cards increasingly replace cash and as banks look for ways to offset the loss of revenue from a new rule that will limit how much they can collect from merchants.

Paying to use a debit card was unheard of before this year and is still a novel concept for many consumers. But several banks have recently introduced or started testing debit card fees. That's in addition to the spate of other unwelcome changes checking account customers have seen in the past year. Bank of America will begin charging the fee early next year.

Bank of America's announcement carries added weight because it is the largest U.S. bank by deposits.

The fee will apply to basic accounts, which are marketed toward those with modest balances, and will be in addition to any existing monthly service fees. For example, one such account charges a $12 monthly fee unless customers meet certain conditions, such as maintaining a minimum average balance of $1,500.

Customers will only be charged the fee if they use their debit cards for purchases in any given month, said Anne Pace, a Bank of America spokeswoman. Those who only use their cards at ATMs won't have to pay.

The debit card fee is just the latest twist in the rapidly evolving market for checking accounts.

A study by Bankrate.com this week found that just 45 percent of checking accounts are now free with no strings attached, down from 65 percent last year and 76 percent in 2009. Customers can still get free checking in most cases, but only if they meet certain conditions, such as setting up direct deposit.

The study also found that the total average cost for using an ATM rose to $3.81, from $3.74, the year before. The average overdraft fee inched up to $30.83, from $30.47

The changes come ahead of a regulation that goes into effect next month.

Starting Oct. 1, the regulation will cap the fees that banks can collect from merchants whenever customers swipe their debit cards. Those fees generated $19 billion in revenue for banks in 2009, according to the Nilson Report, which tracks the payments industry.

There is no similar cap on the merchant fees that banks can collect when customers use their credit cards, however. That means many banks are increasingly encouraging customers to reach for their credit cards, in hopes of reversing a trend toward debit card usage in the past several years.

An increasing reliance on credit cards would be particularly beneficial for big institutions like Bank of America, which have large credit card portfolios, notes Bart Narter, a banking analyst with Celent, a consulting firm.

"It's become a more profitable business, at least in relation to debit cards," Narter said.

This summer, an Associated Press-GfK poll found that two-thirds of consumers use debit cards more frequently than credit cards. But when asked how they would react if they were charged a $3 monthly debit card fee, 61 percent said they'd find another way to pay.

With a $5 fee, 66 percent said they would change their payment method.

Several banks are nevertheless moving ahead with debit card fees.

SunTrust, a regional bank based in Atlanta, began charging a $5 debit card fee on its basic checking accounts this summer. Regions Financial, which is based in Birmingham, Ala., plans to start charging a $4 fee next month.

Chase and Wells Fargo are also testing $3 monthly debit card fees in select markets. Neither bank has said when it will make a final decision on whether to roll out the fee more broadly.

The growing prevalence of the debit card fee is alarming for Josh Wood, a 32-year-old financial adviser in Amarillo, Texas.

Wood relies entirely on debit cards to avoid interest charges on a credit card. If his bank, Wells Fargo, began charging a debit card fee, he said he would take his business to a credit union.

If a debit fee became so prevalent that it was unavoidable, Wood said he's not sure how he'd react.

"I might use all cash. Or go back to writing checks," he said.

Bank of America's debit card fee will be rolled out in stages starting with select states in early 2012. The company would not say which states would be affected first.

Man arrested for attacking ex-girlfriend, threatening officer

2011-09-29T19:27:00.000-07:00

WKRN CHANNEL 2 NEWS
Posted: Sep 29, 2011 8:47 PM CDT

ANTIOCH, Tenn. – An Antioch man wanted for a brutal attack on his ex-girlfriend and threatening an officer was taken into custody on Thursday.

According to police, Brandon Leonard called the police department's domestic violence division around 9 a.m. and said he would shoot a detective in the face if they came looking for him after he became aware authorities were attempting to locate him for the attack against his former girlfriend.

The 27-year-old was taken into custody at his home located on Merritt Street.

Leonard is charged with felony aggravated assault for punching and choking his ex-girlfriend earlier this month, as well as burglarizing a home on Cabana Drive.

He remains in jail in lieu of an $80,000 bond.

Castlegate Neighborhood Yard Sale Sat Oct 8 - Open Event to Come and Sell or Buy

2011-09-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

YARD SALE - 10/8/11 - COMPTON'S SIDE LOT - SMITH SPRINGS ROAD
8:00 to 2:00 p.m. - $10 registration for prime 15 feet frontage space
All registrations go to Castlegate Club - Contact Carl Stasiunas 361-3737
BYOT (bring you own tables) and lots of stuff - this is going to be HUGE!

Thanks much!

Sincerely,

Carl Stasiunas
Owner/Tour Agent
Flair Tours/Flair Models
PO Box 17372
Nashville,TN 37217
615-361-3737
866-729-9411
http://www.flairtours.net/
http://www.flairmodels.net/

CrimeStoppers Shred It Day Sat Oct 15, and District 29 Clean Up

2011-09-29T03:57:00.000-07:00

Protect yourself, fight crime and be GREEN at the same time!!

COMMUNITY SHRED DAY

October 15TH, 2011

10:00am- 1:00pm

LP FIELD PARKING LOT D

Take the first step in protecting yourself from identity theft crimes.
Your old personal documents will be instantly destroyed by a
Shred-it high speed, mobile, cross shredder

All shredded material will be recycled so you will also help
protect the environment!

All proceeds from your $5 per box donation will benefit Nashville
Crime Stoppers, Inc., a 501 (C) 3 not-for-profit organization, that
is working with local law enforcement to solve serious crimes in
your community. ALL DONATIONS GO DIRECTLY TO OUR
REWARD FUND!
Receipts will be made available for your tax deductible donation.

Nashville Crime Stoppers’ community partner for this great event is
Shred-It, the world’s leading on-site document destruction company.
For information about Shred-It visit http://www.shredit.com/

ALSO INCLUDED IS PHARMA TRASH DISPOSAL

The improper use of prescription medication should be a concern
to everyone. Metro police officers will be on site to collect the
prescription medications that you no longer need and we will
properly dispose of them to protect our environment.

SUBMIT A WEB TIP http://www.nashvillecrimestoppers.com/
615-74-CRIME (615-742-7463) Se Habla Espanol
Text “CASH” plus your message to CRIMES (274637)

Nashville Crime Stoppers Inc · P.O. Box 24185 · Nashville, TN. 37202-4185 · (615) 742-7463

As a Crime Stoppers Board member, I am proud to extend an invite to each of you to come by and drop of your paper work, records you want shredded and of course make a donation to Crime Stoppers.

Our board is comprised of citizens like yourself. The police have a police liaison assigned to our board and I might add a good one at that.

Our board pays tips from monies that are donated to our chapter as a 501-C-3. So, anything you can do to help us raise monies, please do so.

I will be happy to answer any questions you may have about our interest in making our community safe to live and work in.

Dwayne M. Duhon

CELL: 294.8844

July Meeting Minutes

2011-09-27T21:12:00.000-07:00

Minutes from board meeting on July 21, 2011 at Deerfield Clubhouse:

Present: Gary Peterson, Lin Rutherford, Jim Curley, Fran Oroson, Bob Wolfgang
Absent: Justin Sauer
Fran was nominated by Bob to serve as board member. Seconded. Approved.

1 – Discussed HomeShield Exterminating Co. soliciting in Nashboro Greens. The company was either called or will be called to say solicitors will be arrested.

2 – Financials – discussed people in arrears on maintenance fees and how to recover; 3 people to start paying for reserved parking spaces; downspouts and tubing on houses – drainage should be away from house and tubing should be buried. #142 – water problems; check behind Bob’s house as to retaining wall; #126 – water problems; #111 – foundation issue; bow in roof in front

3 – #100/#102 – sealing rock, drainage, retaining wall

5 – Audit was received – acceptable – entered into records; 2 suggestions:

a: capitalize capital expenditures
b: estimate on cost of replacing roofs was out of date

6 - #119 – mold issue – after 1 week Jim will call Codes:

Update: as of 7-25 garage is being cleaned out. Wheelers report mold smell gone!
Boxes thrown away. No leak.

7 – Get a price on pruning trees

8 – Garbage cans left out past Saturday after Friday morning pickup – owners will be fined $50

9. Cars to be towed when parked illegally in visitors places as of Aug. 1.

10. Next meeting in October. Meeting adjourned.

Meeting Minutes for May 2011

2011-09-27T21:07:00.000-07:00

Officers: President: Gary Peterson

Vice-President: Justin Sauer

Secretary: Lin Rutherford

The issue of background checks on future renters was voted down. HOA did not want to pay for such checks. A decision was made to determine if condo #121 was operating a business illegally from the home.

A letter will be issued to all homeowners regarding cars parked illegally in visitors parking spaces. A car parked illegally will receive a warning that if it is not moved, it will be towed. If the car is not moved within a reasonable time, it will be towed at owner’s expense. Visitors are to put a sign in the window of their car stating that they are a visitor and the number of the condo they are visiting. Cars parked in the visitors spaces without this sign will receive a warning, then will be towed.

A motion was made and seconded to have quarterly meetings. The motion was approved. Any business arising between meetings will be handled by phone or email if possible. The next HOA board meeting will be July 21st, 2011.

Free guide helps make doctor visits easier for autistic kids

2011-09-27T19:10:00.000-07:00

Channel 4 WMSV - TV
Posted: Sep 27, 2011 2:14 PM CDT

Updated: Sep 27, 2011 2:21 PM CDT

Posted by Micca Terrell

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and Autism Speaks have teamed up to create a free guide to help parents of autistic children better prepare for medical visits and procedures.

It has pictures and simple language that allow parents and children to discuss ahead of time what will happen at the doctor's office, thus reducing anxiety, according to Cassandra Newsom, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center.

One of the key tips, Newsom said, is distraction. "Things like bubbles, iPads, iPhones and toys that flash or blink can keep a child's attention away from whatever procedure the medical professional is doing."

Newsom said there is one thing that parents do not want to do, and that is to lie to their child about what to expect. She said that it's best not to say a procedure will not hurt, and to instead compare that pain to something the child will understand, such as the feeling of a big pinch or sting.

Newsom said the kit also works for children with disabilities other than autism.

You can download a free copy from Autism Speaks.

Post-9/11 GI Bill gives veterans more opportunities for success

2011-09-27T18:47:00.000-07:00

Channel 4 WMSV-TV
Posted: Sep 27, 2011 6:04 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 27, 2011 6:06 PM CDT

Posted by Kevin Young

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - Veterans and service members will soon have more options for college thanks to the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The program is open to veterans and active duty members.

Here's how it works:

Active duty members can get money for books, free full state tuition, or up to $17,000 for private school tuition.

Veterans are allowed all of the above plus nearly $700 for housing.

It applies to any school, and all students need to do is ask for the school certifying official at any university.

For more information, visit http://www.gibill.va.gov/ or call 1-888-GIBILL-1.

Copyright WSMV 2011. All rights reserved.

Priest Lake area getting new tornado sirens

2011-09-27T18:40:00.000-07:00

Channel 4 WMSV-TV
Posted: Sep 27, 2011 6:29 AM CDT
Updated: Sep 27, 2011 8:14 AM CDT
Posted by Scott Sutton

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) - Two new tornado sirens will be installed in the Priest Lake area, according to District 29 councilwoman Karen Johnson.

In February, two churches along Smith Springs Road were damaged during a severe storm.

The warning sirens will be placed at Lake View Elementary School and the Smith Springs pumping station.

Johnson said the tornado sirens will be installed within the next six months.

Copyright WSMV 2011. All rights reserved.

Tornado Siren To Be Installed In Percy Priest Lake Area

2011-09-26T18:41:00.000-07:00

News Channel 5
Posted: Sep 26, 2011 6:22 PM CDT

Updated: Sep 26, 2011 6:25 PM CDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Residents who live near Percy Priest Lake have been asking for a tornado siren, and they will soon be getting their wish.

The new siren will be announced Monday night at a meeting hosted by Councilwoman Karen Johnson.

She was elected in August to represent District 29 in the Percy Priest area.

In April, the area was represented by Vivian Wilhoite, who was lobbying for the new siren.

The new siren at Percy Priest Lake is part of a $2-million emergency siren upgrade and improvement plan approved by the Metro Council.

Former Councilwoman Vivian Wilhoite said she became aware of the problem when a man told her he could only hear a warning siren from the I-40 side of the lake.

"It is important that people who are outside on the lake which is an area, definitely that area of Davidson County, they know when to take cover. They know it's serious weather whenever the sirens are going off," said Wilhoite.

There has been some speculation that the Smith Springs pumping station may be considered. Metro already owns it.

There are currently more than 70 tornado sirens in Nashville. The plan approved by Metro Council includes additional sirens and upgrades throughout the city.

Representatives from Metro's Office of Emergency Management are supposed to be at the meeting to talk about possible locations for the new siren.

To Watch Video CLICK HERE

Metro Council District 29 E-Newsletter - Community Wide Meeting Reminder Monday September 26 and Clean Up Save the Date October 22, 2011

2011-09-26T08:24:00.000-07:00

The Alliance of District 29 Fall/Winter Great American Clean-up

2011-09-25T08:15:00.001-07:00

Great American Cleanup

When: Saturday, October 15, 2011

Where:Smith Springs Church of Christ

2783 Smith Springs Road

(In the Parking Lot)

On August 31, 2011, you were asked to save the date for the Great American Fall/Winter Clean-Up. Started by the Alliance of District 29, we have been please to provide you with the following clean-up as we continue to show pride in our community

7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Clear signs off intersections, telephone poles and public rights-of-way. We have volunteers but more are needed! We need you!

9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Swap Shop

If you bring something that you do not want and someone wants it, you can have it. Items that are left by 11 a.m. will be provided to Goodwill.

From 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

FREE Shredding Service
Protect your identity by shredding ALL of your confidential items.

Goodwill Pick-up and Donate Your Old Cell Phones

Donate your not-so-used clothing to Goodwill. Donate your old cell phones and chargers to domestic violence shelters. The shelter will give your old cell phone to victims to call for help.

Donate Your Soda Can Tabs

Help the Ronald McDonald House and donate your soda tabs to help with the cure for children.

Throw away your large household items in the roll-off bin until its full.

Sign the District 29 Community Pledge to help keep our neighborhoods clean.

Get a FREE T-shirt, gloves, trash bags and flower seeds.

Get with neighbors to clean-up eye sore areas in your immediate neighborhood.

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

After a day of cleaning and sprucing,bring a lawn chair for fun, fellowship and food after the clean-up. Chili Dogs with all the fixins and refreshments!

Sponsored by The Alliance Neighbors of District 29 with help from our government offices and friends:

Mayor Karl Dean, Public Works and Metro Beautification

Community Shred Service, Call for Help,

Krypie Kreme and Starbucks

Questions? Contact: Lena Brown Prince @ 361-3728 or Vivian Wilhoite @ 589-2003
or email vivianwilhoite@comcast.net.

A Very Special Thank-You to Smith Springs Church of Christ for their continue support of this community event by allowing us to use their parking lot. We are truly grateful!

We hope to see you on Saturday, October 15!

Study Finds Winners, Losers Of Health Care Reform

2011-09-24T04:07:00.000-07:00

News Channel 5
Posted: Sep 23, 2011 10:07 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 23, 2011 10:10 PM CDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A study of the new health care reform law has some winning, and some losing.

That's according to a new report from Blue Cross Blue Shield. The company commissioned a report to see who would benefit.

The winners are the economically disadvantaged, and some businesses. The businesses, according to the report, will experience an initial financial gain because they will be able to shift their workers to a state-provided insurance.

The Losers, as the report calls them, are those who already have health insurance, who will see longer waits, and some price increases.

The report complains about the costs placed on insurance companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield; however, most other analysts have pointed to the Affordable Health Care act as beneficial to the companies, bringing them many more customers.

Middle Tennessee businesses remain hesitant to hire

2011-09-20T07:37:00.000-07:00

Tennessean
September 20, 2011

CEOs want more access to capital, less debt doubt, fewer regulations

Click here to read more

An Invite to the Inauguration Ceremony of Karl F. Dean Mayor of Nashville

2011-09-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

Company will drop pursuit of digital billboard in Antioch

2011-09-18T17:47:00.000-07:00

Sunday, September 18,

An outdoor advertising company has told Metro it plans to amend its application to install a digital billboard in Antioch and will seek the city’s approval of a less controversial sign instead.

The city’s Board of Zoning Appeals granted Richardson Outdoor Advertising’s application for a 50-foot-tall digital board at Bell and Murfreesboro roads earlier this year. But Metro attorneys sued the zoning appeals board in an attempt to overturn the decision three weeks ago.

Lora Fox, a Metro attorney, confirmed today that Richardson’s attorney, Jim Murphy, told the city his client now plans to drop the digital billboard application and seek a permit for a tri-fold sign instead.

“I have not seen the amended application yet,” Fox wrote in an email. “But if Richardson drops its request for a digital sign and receives a permit for a tri-fold sign, it will make the lawsuit moot and Metro will dismiss the suit against the BZA.”

Metro Council District 29 E-Newsletter from Councilwoman Karen Y Johnson Office Hours Today Reminder

2011-09-17T09:06:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Neighbors,

OFFICE HOURS TODAY - REMINDER

Please don't forget to join me today Saturday for Office Hours at our area Krystal's

on the corner of Bell Road and Murfreesboro Road. Please come join me and your

neighbors for breakfast and conversation from 9:00 am until 11:30 am.

***********************************************************************************
Today, Saturday September 17, 2011 10:00 a.m. until
Huge benefit for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at Nancy Morton's
farm. The farm is called "The Homeplace Farm" and is located at 5580
Cane Ridge Road, Antioch 37013. (Old Franklin Road & Cane Ridge Road
one mile off Bell Road.) Donations will be greatly accepted. This is a family
friendly event. Critters will be on hand for children to see. At 4:00 p.m.
white beans and corn bread will be served and country music will be played.
Pumpkins are available for schools. She will make a parking space for
school buses if there is a need. Sponsors include: Freeland Chevrolet,
Nashville Bobcat, D&R Siding of Shelbyville and TriGreen Equipment.

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Also tomorrow Sunday Mayor Karl Dean invites you to his 5 K Walk

Public Square
2:00 pm until 5:00 pm
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Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 6:00 pm

The Mayor's 5 K Challenge will come to Antioch Community Center
5023 Blue Hole Road. Nashville has been challenged to train in
preparation for a citywide 5K, scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 13. Mayor
Dean kicked off the free nine-week training program for the "Mayors
Challenge 5K" Saturday, September 10th at the new McCabe
Community Center. There is still time to join. The program includes
free training sessions six days a week at local Metro Parks and YMCA
locations. Program partners include the TriStar Stroke Network, Metro
Nashville Department of Parks and Recreation, YMCA of Middle Tennessee,
Unired Healthcare and Piedmont Natural Gas as well as training partners
Tennessee State University, Fleet Feed Sports, Nashville Striders, Nashville
Running Company and the Vanderbilt University Dayani Center. A complete
training module and schedule is available at www.mayorschallenge5k.com
The Mayor's Challenge 5K is a follow-up to the Mayor's successful "Walk 100
Miles" initiative that took place this spring.

Karen Y. Johnson, former School Board Member District 6, Davidson County: Antioch gains parks

2011-09-17T08:36:00.000-07:00

To Read Entire Article CLick Here

Metro Council District 29 E-Newsletter from Councilwoman Karen Y Johnson regarding Neighborhood Grant Program

2011-09-14T16:46:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Neighbors,

I want to share with you that since being sworn in September 1st, I have been meeting with Department Heads and connecting with those who can assist me as your council member with responding quickly to your requests for services, concerns and questions. Additionally, I am working to proactively make requests with various departments, boards and commissions on things that you want to see happen in our district such as the community center, greenway's, enhanced park areas and infrastructure improvements. I am pleased to share some new information that can assist us in our efforts to enhance our neighborhoods.

Grant applications for example if you would like to see things like new street signage, improvement of neighborhood branding and identity, as well as infrastructure improvements can be submitted for up to $75,000 in grant funding for neighborhood projects.

Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) is accepting applications for eligible
projects to be funded under the CDBG Neighborhood Improvement Program. Projects will be selected on a competitive basis according to the criteria set forth in the Application.

Applications are available between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.. Monday through Friday at MDHA's Construction Department, 712 S. 6th Street, Nashville, Tennessee.

An information meeting will be held 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 15, 2011 at the MDHA Board Room, 701 S. 6th Street.

Applications will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday October 13, 2011 at the MDHA Construction Department, 712 S. 6th Street.

Within MDHA's Neighborhood Improvement Program are two programs: the Neighborhood Infrastructure Program and the Neighborhood Enhancement Program.

The Neighborhood Infrastructure Program will fund infrastructure improvements and community facilities. Potential infrastructure improvements include but are not limited to streets, sidewalks, street lighting, security cameras, and acquisition of property for redevelopment. Community facilities include but are not limited to community centers, libraries, youth centers, senior centers and parks.

The Neighborhood Enhancement Program will fund projects that address a neighborhoods aesthetic needs. Eligible projects include but are not limited to playgrounds, signage, community gardens, traffic mitigation, bus benches and shelters, tree planting and acquisition of property for redevelopment.

MDHA has contracted with three non-profit organizations two of which can assist in this area of the county to assist persons and neighborhoods with planning and capacity building and with preparing applications for MDHA's Neighborhood Improvement or Enhancement Program. They are:

Civic Design Center/The Housing Fund
http://www.civicdesigncenter.org/
Click here to connect to the Facebook Page for Nashville Civic Design Center

Neighborhoods Resource Center

www.Tnrc.net

Click here to connect to the Facebook Page for Neighborhoods Resource Center

To submit a project it is Mandatory to attend the Training at MDHA on this Thursday, September 15 at 10:00 am in the MDHA Board Room, 701 S. 6th Street. I apologize for the short notice, but I just received this information and feel it is very important to share this with you. I will be in attendance and will be looking proactively at enhancing the streetscape along Murfreesboro Road in our district and Smith Springs Road so that we can move forward initiatives that can transform these areas into a more walkable bikeable corridor.

Bell Road, Anderson Road and Nashboro Blvd are areas where aggressive efforts will be made to have sidewalks installed.

NOTE: Electronic copies of the Application will be available as of Noon on Tuesday September 6, 2011. To receive an electronic form of the Application, please send an email to rchenaul@nashville-mdha.org

In your request, please include your name, the name of your organization, your mailing address, your telephone number and fax number.

This information is needed to send you any addendum's or additional program updates.

Sara Hylton
Senior Development Specialist
Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency
701 South Sixth Street
Nashville, TN 37206

Phone:615.252.6732
Fax:615.248.9090
Email:mailto:shylton@nashville-mdha.org

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PLEASE VOLUNTEER ON SEPTEMBER 24TH
TO HELP OUR AREA SCHOOLS
HANDS ON NASHVILLE DAY
Click here for information, Thank You.

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OFFICE HOURS

Please don't forget to join me this Saturday for Office Hours at our area Krystal's

on the corner of Bell Road and Murfreesboro Road. Please come join me and

your neighbors for breakfast and conversation on Saturday, September 17, 2011

from 9:00 am until 11:30 am.

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BRUSH PICKUP REMINDER FOR OUR AREA

BEGINS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH

Click here for more information and the schedule

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DISTRICT 29 COMMUNITY WIDE MEETING

Our District's first community meeting has been scheduled for MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2011
at 6:30 pm LAKEVIEW DESIGN CENTER SCHOOL. Invited are Representatives from
MTA (Metro Transit Authority) and OEM (Office of Emergency Management). You will be
able to learn of the grant money that is available to place tornado sirens in our district and
ask questions and share what services you would like to see as well as give feedback on the
newly added buslink for District 29.

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SAVE THE DATE! DISTRICT 29 COMMUNITY

WIDE CLEANUP

Saturday October 22, 2011 from 7:30 am until 12:30 noon with a cookout to
follow beginning at 1:00 pm. Information on set up, dumpster locations and
schedule of activities will be shared in the next series of newsletters.

Commissioner appointed by Mayor Karl Dean coming soon as well as cleanup details.
Please make plans to attend. I look forward to seeing you.

******************************************************************************

YOU'RE INVITED

To the Swearing in of Mayor Karl Dean, Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors and
the entire Metropolitan Council
Friday, September 23, 2011
11:00 a.m.

LOCATION HAS CHANGED. MAYOR WILL ANNOUNCE SOON

THIS WILL BE SHARED IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU.

Rape suspect arrested in Antioch

2011-09-14T13:57:00.001-07:00

WKRN Channel 2 News
Posted: Sep 14, 2011 12:26 PM CDT
Updated: Sep 14, 2011 02:29 PM CDT

Herman Sowell Jr. was arrested midday Wednesday in Antioch.NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A 45-year-old man wanted on charges he raped a teenage girl was arrested Wednesday afternoon in Antioch.

Authorities located Herman Sowell Jr. at the Mapco gas station on the corner of Hickory Hollow Boulevard and Bell Road around Noon and took him into custody without incident.

Sowell is accused for having inappropriate contact with a 15-year-old girl.

The alleged incident is believed to have occurred late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.

Officials were notified of the incident just after 7 a.m. Wednesday.

Officers said Sowell cooperated during the arrest despite previously saying he was armed with a weapon.

A weapon was not found.

Police told Nashville's News 2 that Sowell will at least be charged with rape and possibly other charges. Police said he knew his alleged victim.

Sowell has an extensive criminal history, including 78 charges or convictions including domestic violence and theft, among other charges.

Metro police assisted with the arrest.

Plan would add shops, reflect Antioch's diversity

2011-09-14T12:59:00.000-07:00

Tennessean

Auto dealer Freeland amasses more than 100 acres

Auto dealer Ben Freeland hopes to reshape more than 100 acres off Interstate 24 in Antioch into a more vibrant shopping and entertainment zone that stresses the diversity of the area’s population, he said Monday.

Freeland has retained restaurateur David Swett Jr. — whose family started Swett’s Restaurant — as a consultant to help craft plans to revitalize a nearly empty strip mall that Freeland bought earlier this year.

They hope to turn the 112,000-square-foot center in the 5300 block of Hickory Hollow Parkway into a global market offering a diverse array of ethnic foods, artisans, merchants and entertainment. The market, expected to open in the first half of 2012, will be “a multi-cultural destination that reflects the area’s diversity,” Swett said.

The plans don’t include a third Swett’s Restaurant location, Swett said.

The market is just one part of a broader redevelopment effort envisioned by a group of Antioch officials, residents and business owners who meet monthly at Freeland’s dealership.

The partnership’s effort has gotten major financial backing from Freeland, who has spent nearly $7 million to acquire almost 110 acres in the area this year, public records show. The purchases, all made though Freeland Realty, include:

The strip mall across from Freeland’s auto dealership. Freeland paid $2.95 million for the 9.3-acre site once anchored by Best Buy.

Nearly 96 undeveloped acres in The Crossings at Hickory Hollow, a planned development centered at Old Franklin Road and Crossings Boulevard. Freeland paid more than $3.26 million at auction for the land.

Two acres at 520 Cane Ridge Road, purchased for $200,000.

The former Cracker Barrel at 500 Collins Park Drive. Freeland bought the 2.2-acre site for $525,000 and already has turned it into his dealership’s commercial sales lot.

Freeland said he hasn’t decided what to do with the Cane Ridge site but has hired consultants to craft a master plan for the vacant land in The Crossings.

The parcels are zoned separately for industrial/warehouse/distribution, commercial and multi-family housing, but that could change.

It’s possible some of that land could be used to support a potential HCA data center on 55 acres that the Nashville-based hospital chain bought in July, Freeland said.

The only thing planned for certain is the global market, which could include ethnic restaurants, organic grocers, a farmers market and a hydroponic urban farm, Swett said.

Freeland called it “the starting point, the game-changer” toward remaking the image of Hickory Hollow and Antioch.

“This is the diamond in the rough of Davidson County,” he said of the area. “It has a great location, a great workforce. It just needs some (tender loving care) to get going.”

“We’re trying to change the brand and image of our community,” said Metro Councilwoman Jacobia Dowell, who represents the area and is part of the Hickory Hollow Action Partnership. “We’re more than just the (Hickory Hollow) Mall.”

Contact Duane Marsteller at 615-259-8241 or dmarstelle@tnnessean.com.

Rentals see sharp rise in price in Nashville

2011-09-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Rent prices in Nashville are climbing faster than almost any other city in the nation, according to a new report released this week in Businessweek.

AXIOMetrics, founded in 1994 to measure the performance of the apartment sector, ranked Nashville No. 6 when it comes to the highest rent hikes over the last year.

With an average monthly rent of $786, the average price increased 8% over last year. The vacancy rate in Nashville is 5.5%.

According to the report, residents in the Metro area shied away from buying last year, causing home prices to fall 8.5%.

Rent in parts of Donelson, Hermitage, and Wilson County jumped by 13.9% in 2010.

In addition, the jobless rate in Metro Nashville in 2010 fell to an estimated average of 8.9% compared with 9.3% in 2009.

Greenville, South Carolina ranked No. 1 on the list of cities with the highest rent hikes, followed by Chattanooga and Savannah, Georgia.

Ten Year Anniversary of 9/11/2001 - Never Forget all our Heroes

2011-09-11T06:47:00.000-07:00

A Photo I took of the WTC from a Cruise Ship from NY to Bermuda!

I am from New York and Connecticut and was up visiting friends and family during 9/1/11 and that is a day I will never forget ever.

Mindy Schwartz

Davidson briefs: National Passport Day is Sept. 17

2011-09-11T06:22:00.000-07:00

The Tennessean

DOWNTOWN

Davidson County residents can apply for or renew a passport without an appointment during National Passport Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Howard Office Building at Fulton Complex, 700 Second Ave. S.

In addition, the Davidson County Clerk’s office will provide certified copies of Tennessee short-form birth certificates and driver’s license renewals that day.

For more information, visit http://www.nashvilleclerk.com./

Flu shots are available

The Metro Public Health Department has begun offering flu shots Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at all three health centers: Lentz Health Center, 311 23rd Ave. N.; East Health Center, 1015 E. Trinity Lane; and Woodbine Health Center, 224 Oriel Ave.

Flu shots are $20, and Medicare Part B and TennCare are accepted.

Tennessee boomers face growing threat of hunger

2011-09-11T06:14:00.000-07:00

The Tennessean 9/11/2011
Older Tennesseans increasingly face hunger, AARP says

Therese Marrs has learned the art of stretching a link of smoked sausage, a jar of cheese and a box of macaroni into three meals every week.

The 56-year-old Smyrna mother struggles to make the meals come together for her husband and 16-year-old daughter each week, since she was laid off from her quality assurance job at a factory in February. She spends almost every day looking for jobs, but she fears the worst once her unemployment benefits run out in a few months.

“I’ve learned how to cut my meals. My food stamps only stretch about three weeks, so the food bank helps,” Marrs said. “I’ve been working in factories since I was 15, but I can’t seem to get anybody to hire me.”

Marrs is among the 1 in 6 Tennesseans and 15.6 million older adults who face the threat of hunger as a result of a lingering weak economy in America, according to a recently released AARP report, “Food Insecurity Among Older Adults.” The study, conducted by the University of Kentucky and the University of Illinois, showed that between 2007 and 2009, there was a 63 percent increase in food insecurity among 40- to 49-year-olds and a 37 percent increase for those between the ages of 50 and 59.

Baby boomers seem to be at the greatest risk for hunger because many do not receive benefits such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, which is offered to adults with children, or Social Security, typically available to those 62 and older, said AARP Tennessee spokeswoman Karin Miller. Tennessee ranks ninth in the country for food insecurity among 40- to 49-year-olds.

“People are losing their jobs, and it particularly hits the older worker harder,” Miller said. “There are few government programs set up for them, but our goal is to let them know of the benefits they do have. More people are in need of food, but there are less donations and less assistance. Nobody should go hungry because of that.”

Stigma is barrier
Besides the lack of employment, older adults also are misinformed about benefits that could assist them with their nutrition needs, said Casey Woodling, Community Food Advocates food stamp outreach coordinator. More than 1 million Tennesseans receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, but thousands more qualify, he said. His agency, which advocates healthy and affordable food, receives 200 calls a month from individuals in need of food stamps. Still, only a third of seniors eligible for food stamps are receiving them.

“There’s the stigma with receiving food stamps, but there’s also the barriers of knowing how the program works, mobility and technology,” Woodling said. “I get a lot of calls from people in that age group, and they’re struggling to get food on the table and paying for health care.”

Cathy Adams faces that particular perfect storm as she attempts to care for her husband, Mike. He suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, but does not receive disability benefits. The 47-year-old Madison woman was fired from her waitress job in December, but she expected to snag a job quickly after working in food service for 30 years. The lack of prospects, her husband’s health condition and the fact that she is now forced to live with a friend have led to depression, Adams said. She decided to sign up for SNAP earlier this month.

“We raised two kids. My husband was a roofer, and I worked two jobs,” Adams said. “We were never rich, but we were able to own a home and be OK. I laugh to keep from crying a lot of times, because I can’t figure out why I can’t find a job.”

Help is diminishing
SNAP has created a safety net for older adults suffering in the economic downturn, but those benefits will decrease by 2013, Woodling said. The stimulus program funded a13 percent increase in benefits in 2009, but the increase will be eliminated a year earlier than planned to make up for federal budget shortfalls.

Other programs such as Meals on Wheels and funding for food banks also face challenges. Barbara Hale, director of the Smyrna-La Vergne Food Bank, said her food bank depended on an annual $15,000 Emergency Food and Shelter grant for several years, but those federal funds were cut from the budget this year. The United Way and the Rutherford County community fund the food bank, which sees more than 450 people every month. Demand for food boxes is growing for residents in their 40s and 50s, but many residents are unaware of the food woes, she said.

“We’re having to go cheaper, and we’re giving out less food than we used to,” Hale said. “The cost of food keeps going up, but the funding is down. There’s so many people that go to work and church every week but don’t know this need is there. They just don’t see it.”

Since September is National Hunger Action Month, AARP hopes to open the eyes of those Americans to the fact that older adults have a growing urgency for sustenance, Miller said. The organization is holding donation drives at food banks across the country through its Drive to End Hunger program. AARP has also partnered with Walgreens to offer information about SNAP at the retailer’s 300 stores. Future cuts to state and federal budgets will make a community effort to end hunger a must, she said.

“We can’t count on the government because we know those budgets and numbers for feeding programs are not stable,” Miller said. “It’s so important that we help our own neighbors. One dollar at a food bank can turn into three to five meals.”

For Marrs and her family, the tide may be turning. Her husband, James, recently landed a job. Her daughter Glorie has managed to keep A’s and B’s in spite of the family’s hardship.

“I used to clean houses for a living,’’ Therese Marrs said. “I’ll go back to that if I am able to, but maybe something else will come up.’’

Contact Stephanie Tooneat 615-259-8079 or stoone@tennessean.com

Education, shopping to mix at Hickory Hollow mall

2011-09-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

The Nashville Ledger
By Joe MorrisPrint

It’s been written off, even making its way onto a website chronicling dying shopping centers. But Hickory Hollow Mall isn’t finished yet.

An exodus of anchor tenants and smaller retailers in the last decade, coupled with negative coverage due to alleged gang activity on and around the premises, spooked shoppers and led to empty parking spaces.

In the last 12 months, however, the facility’s fortunes have taken a decided turn for the better, albeit in a bumpy fashion. After a few stops and starts, Metro Nashville is moving into the site in a big way, and Nashville State Community College is heading a multi-pronged educational component for other portions of the mall.

The increasingly sunny picture for Hickory Hollow is a sign that, if properly managed and marketed, even a foundering property can find new life, says Bob McCalla, managing partner at Cumberland Commercial Partners.

“The mall had become economically obsolete, just from the competition that it didn’t have back when it opened,” McCalla said. “The power centers to the south and east of it have drawn away business and, because of the way it’s built, there aren’t a lot of ways to split it up. They needed someone who required a large floor space, and they’ve gotten that with these two deals.”

The parking, and the location near major thoroughfares and the interstate work to the mall’s advantage like they always have, McCalla adds.

“I can’t think of any city that doesn’t have a mall like this, one that’s failing for economic reasons,” he says. “It’s the nature of the beast right now. But if you can get the right mix of tenants, or lease and sell the larger buildings, then you can still be viable. The malls in Green Hills and Cool Springs haven’t faced this problem, but Hickory Hollow has and it may have found a way to still be successful.”

The arrival of Metro has been particularly roundabout and, if nothing else, a study in perseverance.

About a year ago, Mayor Karl Dean announced an $18 million plan to put a library and archives, public health and community centers and even a park on the site. The plan also called for an expo-type center to house the flea market and other ongoing events that would be homeless due to Dean’s simultaneously announced decision to shut down the Tennessee State Fairgrounds.

Some aspects of the plan, such as relocating the flea market to Antioch, got a negative reception. For its part, Metro only conceded that the high rent for the former Dillard’s building made the plan unworkable for the flea market.

Earlier this year, vocal foes of moving the Metro Archives out of Green Hills won their battle as well. Once again, cost was cited as the deal breaker, this time to lease the former JCPenney building.

But by late spring, Metro had moved from leasing failures to buying success.

A $3.25 million offer was made for the JC Penney building and its 12.31-acre site, enough room for a library, community center and small park. Negotiations are moving ahead, and the city is moving ahead with its plans for the property, the mayor says.

“Southeast Davidson County is one of the fastest-growing areas in Nashville, and I am working to make sure that the facilities and services there keep pace with the needs of its residents,” Dean explains.

“Vanderbilt’s work with One Hundred Oaks is an example of an innovative new use for an underutilized suburban mall. I believe the project at Hickory Hollow can be another model for grouping community services in a way that both serves residents and benefits surrounding retail and commercial areas.”

Meanwhile, the state has agreed to pay $3 million the Dillard’s building for Nashville State Community College, giving the school a satellite campus to its White Bridge Road location. If that deal goes through, it could join an alternative high school and a charter school on the site.

If all these plans take place, the area between Macy’s and Sears would house non-retail facilities while the larger, former stores at each end will house Metro and NSCC. It’s a mix that Angie Carter, Hickory Hollow’s general manager, thinks will work out well for all parties involved.

“Malls change and evolve,” Carter says. “Look at how this mall has changed over the years. We are excited to see what the property will become. It’s always been a great facility, and to have people reuse this space in new and exciting ways presents some welcome challenges to us as well.”

The foot traffic will be somewhat different in that not every visitor to the property will be there to shop, but there’ll still be enough people who will need to pick up various items, not to mention eat and drink, to keep the connecting retail corridors jumping, she predicted.

“People will come here to eat, shop and work,” Carter says. “This is the latest way in which we have remade ourselves. This mall has come a long way from Hot Dog on a Stick, and we’re going to guarantee the new tenants and owners a safe, secure and comfortable place for their students, employees and guests to visit.”

Nashville State sees its new property as a multi-part win. First, it’s big enough to house existing programs and have room for expansion. Second, as an empty shell there’s not a lot of teardown costs. And third, the mall comes with plenty of parking space. Add location, an area from which NSCC already draws heavily, and it’s a bit surprising the school didn’t snap up the property before now, says Dick Tracy, executive director of the Tennessee Board of Regents’ Office of Facilities Development, which is handling the transaction.

“A big part of our students come from the 37013 ZIP code, and so when we began looking at a new campus that was the area we focused on,” Tracy says.

“But we needed at least 40,000 square feet, and there was nothing. It was either warehouse space with no parking, or a spot with parking but not near enough room. And then we looked at leasing. We talked with CBL a few years ago about the Penney’s and Dillard’s buildings, but that didn’t work out for a variety of reasons.”

If all goes well, renovations will begin in the coming months and classes will start in the fall of 2012. The college’s main campus holds around 14,000 students, and it’s expected to have anywhere from 4,000 to 5,000 at the new site.

“We’re just going through the process,” Tracy said. “We’re taking the building and the seven acres it sits on, which gives us access to the public street as well as all the parking. CBL will manage the overall property, and we will maintain our own facility.

“We relieve pressure on our main campus and pick up more students, and the mall gets a lot more traffic,” he said. “Not everyone who goes to the mall will take a class, but a lot of people who take classes will go to the mall. It was affordable land; it had good parking and was accessible. Now we’re going to talk to the city to see what we can do with the facility that they’re going to be putting in, so that we’re all working on this large property together.”

The increasingly sunny picture for Hickory Hollow is a sign that, if properly managed and marketed, even a foundering property can find new life, says Bob McCalla, managing partner at Cumberland Commercial Partners.

“The mall had become economically obsolete, just from the competition that it didn’t have back when it opened,” McCalla said. “The power centers to the south and east of it have drawn away business and, because of the way it’s built, there aren’t a lot of ways to split it up. They needed someone who required a large floor space, and they’ve gotten that with these two deals.”

The parking, and the location near major thoroughfares and the interstate worked to the mall’s advantage like they always have, McCalla adds.

“I can’t think of any city that doesn’t have a mall like this, one that’s failing for economic reasons,” he says. “It’s the nature of the beast right now. But if you can get the right mix of tenants, or lease and sell the larger buildings, then you can still be viable. The malls in Green Hills and Cool Springs haven’t faced this problem, but Hickory Hollow has and it may have found a way to still be successful.”

Invite to Nashville' Observance of the 10th Anniversary of September 11, 2001

2011-09-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

THHAP Meeting (The Hickory Hollow Action Partnership)

2011-09-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

September 13, 2011 at Freeland Chevy at 8:30 A.M.

Please attend this meeting to find out what is new in “your” neighborhood.

Please forward this invitation on to anyone that is interested in what is going on in the Hickory Hollow area.

THHAP is an organization that was formed to enhance the Hickory Hollow Business District through the combined efforts of business leaders and area residents. In conjunction with community organizations support from the Metro Nashville Police Department, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Chamber South Area Advisory Council, among others. THHAP will play a major role in everything from business recruitment and crime mitigation to beautification and community spirit efforts. The goal is to renew the focus on the area that will lead the rebirth of Hickory Hollow as a new business hub in Middle Tennessee.

www.THHAP.org Call Carol 731-300 x 0 or Judi 731-9911 if you have questions.

Doctors rake in to push pills for drug companies

2011-09-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

The Tennessean
8 drug companies paid $220M to physician marketers last year

Eight pharmaceutical companies, including the nation’s three largest, doled out more than $220 million last year to promotional speakers for their products, according to a ProPublica analysis of company data.

For the first time, all of these companies have reported a full year of payments, allowing for head-to-head comparisons of how much they spent on physicians to help push their pills. Some appear to be paring back.

Firms with the highest U.S. sales last year didn’t spend the most on physician marketers. Industry leader Pfizer, with sales of $26.2 billion, spent $34.4 million on speakers, ranking third among the eight companies. By comparison, Eli Lilly and Co. spent the most on speakers, $61.5 million, even though its sales were about half of Pfizer’s.

“We continue to believe in the benefits and value that educational programs led by physicians provide to patient care,” Lilly spokesman J. Scott MacGregor said in an email.

The data provide a preview of what the public can expect to see in 2013, when all drug and medical-device companies — potentially hundreds — must report such figures to the federal government.

Until 2009, pharmaceutical company payments to health professionals were closely held trade secrets. But several companies began reporting the information publicly under pressure from lawmakers or as a condition of settling federal whistle-blower lawsuits.

In October, ProPublica published a database called Dollars for Docs that included information from those companies. It allows the public to search for individual physicians to see whether they’ve been on pharma’s payroll.

Today, ProPublica is updating that tool to include payments made to health professionals by 12 companies. Eight of those published data for all of 2010: Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, Merck, Cephalon, Johnson & Johnson, ViiV Healthcare and AstraZeneca.

In addition to the payments made to speakers, some of the companies also disclosed how much they’ve spent on consulting, travel, meals and research.

In all, payments to doctors and other health-care providers in ProPublica’s database total more than $760 million and cover reports from drug companies between 2009 and the second quarter of 2011.

Some docs pull out

The new data offer a glimpse of how the firms have adapted their strategies over time, both to changes in the marketplace and to increased scrutiny of their sales techniques.

Many experts predict physicians will back away from working for the companies once their names and pay are publicly revealed.

It’s too early to know if this is true, but ProPublica’s analysis shows that the payouts to dozens of doctors and other health professionals took a steep dive last year.

Pulmonologist Veena Antony, for example, was paid at least $88,000 to give promotional talks for GlaxoSmithKline in 2009. But last year, the Birmingham, Ala., doctor gave them up out of concern that patients might think her advice was tainted.

“You don’t even want the appearance that I might be influenced by anything that a company gave,” she said.

Cancer specialist Nam Dang was a regular on Cephalon’s speaking circuit, pulling in $131,250 in 2009. But those promotional gigs stopped, he said, after he took a job at the University of Florida in Gainesville, which bans such talks. In 2010, he received $10,000 consulting for Cephalon and Pfizer.

Nurse practitioner Terri Warren, who runs a Portland, Ore., health clinic, earned at least $113,000 from Glaxo in 2009, mostly talking about its herpes drug Valtrex. In 2010, that dropped to $300 after the drug went off patent and Glaxo no longer had a financial incentive to promote it.

“It’s a business decision, clearly,” said Warren, who felt her talks helped educate other health professionals about treating a taboo illness. “My money (from Glaxo) went into keeping this little clinic alive, and now we have to figure out some other way to do that.”

Another group of physicians has ramped up speaking engagements and consulting.

Buffalo hematologist Zale Bernstein earned $49,250 from Cephalon in 2009. The following year, his pay jumped to $177,800 (plus an additional $35,500 for travel). Bernstein did not return calls for comment.

Pain specialist Gerald M. Sacks spoke and consulted for four companies in the database and was among the highest paid. The Santa Monica, Calif., doctor earned $270,825 from Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Lilly and Cephalon in 2010, up from $225,575 in 2009. Those figures do not include travel costs and meals.

Over 18 months, Pfizer alone paid Sacks $318,250 for speaking. He did not return repeated calls for comment.

Pfizer’s new disclosure also revealed an unusual recipient. Its top-paid physician consultant last year, Dr. Christiana Goh Bardon, runs a hedge fund in Boston that bets on the rise and fall of health-care companies. She was paid nearly $308,000 to “provide input on our BioTher-apeutics business development plan,” Pfizer spokeswoman Kristen Neese wrote in an email.

Bardon, who started her hedge fund after her Pfizer contract ended, was required to sign a confidentiality agreement and not allowed to invest in Pfizer or any of the biotech companies that Pfizer was looking at acquiring or partnering with for projects, Neese said.

Bardon said in a voice-mail message that she does not currently practice as a physician and her work was based on her business acumen.

Drug companies change strategies

Some companies apparently have used fewer physician speakers and consultants since they began posting their data publicly.

Cephalon, a relatively small Pennsylvania company that specializes in pain, cancer and central nervous system drugs, paid physicians nearly $9.3 million in 2009 for speaking and consulting. That figure dropped to $5 million last year.

“There wasn’t one big thing that happened that shifted the focus,” said spokeswoman Jenifer Antonacci. Rather, the company’s marketing strategies for its brands changed.

AstraZeneca cut its spending on speakers from roughly $22.8 million in the first half of 2010 to about $9.2 million in the second half.

The company’s U.S. compliance officer, Marie Martino, said AstraZeneca typically holds most of its speaker events in the beginning of each year. But she acknowledged that the company’s spending on promotional talks has been decreasing.

“We’re in a period now where we don’t have a lot of new indications (approved uses) or new products that have been introduced in recent months, and that really is the fundamental explanation for what you’re seeing,” Martino said.

AstraZeneca, like other companies, is also replacing some in-person speaking events with teleconferences, webcasts and video conferences.

Glaxo’s spending on speakers also slowed in 2010, averaging about $13.2 million per quarter in 2010, down 15 percent from the last three quarters of 2009. (Glaxo did not report data in the first quarter of 2009.)

Company spokeswoman Mary Anne Rhyne said the company is working to reduce its speaker rolls by 50 percent. “We feel it is a better use of resources to use fewer speakers more often. This cuts down on training costs as well as lessens the number of contracts needed,” she wrote in an email.

And Lilly’s speaker payments dropped 10 percent from 2009 to 2010, which spokesman MacGregor said was likely due to “normal year-to-year fluctuation.”

ProPublica’s early analysis of the data is limited because so few companies report their spending and even then, disclose different information. Lilly, for example, reports every health professional it pays to speak, while Pfizer includes only those who can prescribe.

“It’s really unclear how much money is being spent in any one of these areas,” said Vincent DeChellis, a principal at NHHS Healthcare Consulting, which has studied the data. “As you get more and more companies participating and submitting this information, you’re going to get an initial look” at what may be a multibillion-dollar practice.

When Massachusetts required drug and device companies to report payments to doctors in that state last year, 286 companies did so.

Scrutiny of speaker programs has prompted changes.

After ProPublica reported last year that some drug-company speakers had been sanctioned by their state medical boards, the firms pledged to toughen their screening procedures and exclude physicians with disciplinary records.

Separately, ProPublica found that universities were not enforcing their own policies barring physicians from giving promotional speeches. In response, a number of schools said they would begin using the payment rosters to check for rule-breakers.

Pharma’s trade group said the focus of most companies right now is ensuring the accuracy of data that will be publicly released in 2013. But this transparency also must be put into context for patients, said Diane Bieri, executive vice president and general counsel for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

Doctors help develop new medicines, advise companies on marketing and help educate their peers about appropriate uses of new drugs, she said.

“If the only information that’s available is that company A paid doctor B $75,000 for a consulting arrangement,” she said, “that’s typically not enough information to really educate the patient about what was involved in that relationship.”

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INVITE TO ALL!

2011-09-08T07:54:00.000-07:00

Police: 2 men jump out of car, rob man walking home

2011-09-08T07:51:00.000-07:00

News Channel 2 WKRN
Posted: Sep 08, 2011 7:32 AM CDT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A man was robbed as he walked home from work early Thursday morning in south Nashville.

The victim was walking home around 1 a.m. along Welch Road, near the intersection of Nolensville Pike and Harding Place.

Detectives said after a car approached the victim, two men armed with a gun and knife, jumped out of the car and stole the man's money.

The victim was not hurt.

Police are looking for a silver 2007 or 2008 Nissan Maxima with a temporary tag.

The car had a Tennessee Titans decal on the passenger side, rear window.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME.

Councilwoman makes plea for Antioch community center, park

2011-09-07T16:05:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 5:22pm
By Joey Garrison

Karen Johnson was sworn into the Metro Council only a week ago, but she’s already making a plea that’s been at the forefront of concerns for Antioch residents for years: Bring a new community center and park space to southeast Davidson County — by far Nashville’s fastest growing area.

Johnson, the former school board member elected in August to fill the council’s District 29 seat appeared before the nine-member Metro Department of Parks and Recreation board Tuesday morning to highlight the urgency to bring recreational opportunities, community space and public investment to Antioch, specifically the area east of Murfreesboro Pike.

"We are the only area of Davidson County where we don’t have recreational outlets for our children and families,” Johnson told the parks board.
“We want to be able to provide a center or place where families will go safely and be able to recreate and have community meetings,” she said. “I beg of you to please do what is possible.”

To accommodate a new community center, Johnson requested the parks board consider purchasing what she described as approximately 100 acres at 171 Bell Road near the intersection of Nashboro Boulevard. She said the property, located near the Nashboro Village Apartments complex and a golf course, is currently for sale.

Johnson also asked board members to look at 2084 Smith Springs Road as an opportunity to acquire land that could go toward Mayor Karl Dean’s open space plan, which seeks to preserve thousands of acres of land that could otherwise be developed.

“This would be a good area to advance walking initiatives, exercising and enjoying space with their families,” Johnson said, adding the space is also well equipped to feature a dog park.

Antioch already has one community center at 5032 Blue Hole Road, but the building is far from the Bell Road parcels Johnson described.

Dean’s administration last year unveiled a plan for a revamped Hickory Hollow Mall, which included several new public utilities, anchored by a new community center and relocated fairgrounds expo center. A plan to lease the mall space fell apart when Dean backed away from his fairgrounds redevelopment plans.

Metro Finance Director Rich Riebeling said the city is now in conversations about acquiring — not leasing — the mall building last occupied by JC Penny to house a regional community center. Combined with a new Nashville State Community College satellite campus, he said its addition would help “rejuvenate” the struggling mall, which CBL & Associates Properties Inc. owns.

“We’re continuing to look at all the issues associated with real estate,” Riebeling said. “We’re moving forward with looking at potentially purchasing the Penny’s building.”

Riebeling said a proposal for the Hickory Hollow community center could go before the council this fall.

But even if the Hickory Hollow community center were to come to fruition, Johnson said the project would only partially meet the area’s demand, adding that the area to the east of Murfreesboro Pike needs aggressive exploration.

Tommy Lynch, the park department’s interim director, said Metro’s Parks and Greenways Master Plan has identified the need for three additional community centers in southeast Davidson County.

Lynch also said Johnson’s request for more open space is consistent with the department’s desires. He said officials are already looking at available open land in Antioch.

“Her request is totally in line with the open space plan,” Lynch said. “It’s been identified as an area for us to look for property.”

Given the area’s growth, parks board member James Lawson said the board should “seriously consider” making greater investments in southeast Davidson County.

“It is sorely needed,” Lawson said.