Second Harvest seeks volunteers to feed families in need

WKRN Channel 2
Posted: Nov 24, 2009 7:30 AM CST

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – More families are in need of food in Nashville this holiday season.

A new report found 14 percent of mid-state families are struggling to find enough food.

Second Harvest Food Bank will be giving food to families for Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season, and Metro employees gathered food for Second Harvest to help in that need.

The need is greater this year than in any previous year.

"Our goal this year to meet the increased need of 38 percent is to raise seven million meals for hungry men, women and children during the holiday season," Tasha Kennard, with Second Harvest Food Bank, told News 2. "Last year we raised about five million meals but due to that increase, we need to raise two million meals more than we did last year. We need the community support with food drives, online donations and volunteers to help sort all the food that comes in."

Second Harvest is also short on volunteers as people go on vacation for the holidays.

Those interested in volunteering visit Second Harvest's Web site or visit the center at 331 Great Circle Rd. in Nashville.

Police continue search for Wednesday bank robbers

By Nicole Young • The Tennessean • December 16, 2009

Metro Police and the FBI are looking for three suspects who robbed Fifth Third Bank’s Nashboro Village branch on Murfreesboro Pike Wednesday afternoon.

Three masked men, one described as heavyset and two others described as having medium builds, entered the bank at 4:48 p.m. and demanded cash.

At least one of the men was armed with a shotgun, police said.

Tellers complied with the robbery demand.

As the suspects fled the bank, dye bombs exploded, causing the men to drop some of the money, police said.

Witnesses at the scene did not report seeing a getaway car.

Anyone with information regarding the robbery is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME.

I asked the HOA about a new Property Manager Vote

This is the response I received back.


Thank you for letting me know I forgot to attached the letter. I'll have to wait until I get to the office to forward them to you.

A letter will be going out regarding the Annual Meeting and nominations for new board members hopeful before the end of the year.

Anyone can submit a name for property manager and it will be checked. The current Board has already started investigating other property managers.

AmVets Donations

Good morning neighbors,

AmVets will be sending a truck to our area on Tuesday, December 15 to collect items for donation. I have many things to donate and will be working from home that day in order to coordinate with them on the pick-up. If anyone else has items they would like to donate and you cannot be home or have not scheduled a pick-up with AmVets, you are welcome to bring them to my house prior to Tuesday. I have plenty of space in my garage…Please feel free to call or email to coordinate.

Amy
615-829-3587
watsonamy@comcast.net

November HOA Minutes

Board Meeting
November 19, 2009
Nashborogreens@yahoo.com

www.nashborogreens.com

President, Bob Wolfgang called the meeting to order with Gary Gentry, Gary Petersen, Fran Oroson and Jim Curley in attendance.

Minutes of the October meeting were approved.

Monthly financials were approved. We have had some extra ordinary expenses this year, repairing an outside wall, portion of roofing needed replaced, and installing a garage door (this is reimbursable as the unit owner is responsible for this cost), thus, we have depleted a large portion of our reserves. Even so, the Board elected not to increase the Association Fees for 2010 at this time, reserving the right to re-evaluate the necessity at a later date.

Leaf removal and gutter cleaning has been completed. Any additional need for these services will be looked at when made aware for the need.

Parking continues to be a problem and Jim Curley Properties will be sending out a letter to all homeowners and renters addressing this problem. The Board has received so many complaints that something has to be done. Fran Oroson made the following motion, Gary Petersen seconded the motion it was passed unanimously: Twelve spaces throughout the community will be designated as “Reserved” parking. These spaces will be rented spaces at a cost of $50 per month with a year’s lease for the designated space. Each rented space will have a Reserved sign with the unit number printed on it; anyone other than the person renting the space parking in the designed space will be towed. Rented spaces will be assigned on a first come first serve basis. Any one unit can only rent one space.

The Board also decided that cars parked in the Visitor Only Spaces illegally will be towed. The CCRs state that homeowners with a one car garage have two parking spaces, one in the garage and one on the pad. Homeowners with a two car garage have four parking spaces, two in the garage and two on the pad.

Delinquencies continue to be an issue, and since the economy continues to be tight the Board decided it might help if giving homeowners some extra time to pay their monthly association fees and not charging a monthly late fee would help. Gary Petersen made the motion, Gary Gentry seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed: Effective January 1, 2010, the $25 per month delinquency fee will be done away with. Instead Administration Fees will be levied on a quarterly basis as follows: Association Fees three month in arrears will have an Administration Fee of $75 levied against them; six months in arrears will have an Administration Fee of $150 levied against them. If the Association Fees are paid in full prior to the Administration Fee being levied, no extra fee will be allocated.

A replacement tree at Unit 100 will be planted at the appropriate time. The landscapers will be notified.

Jim Curley Properties will be sending a letter to all homeowners and renters regarding the above parking situation as well as addressing the garbage cans being left in front of the units all week. According to the CCRs garbage cans are not to be seen from the street, this is an unsightly representation to our community. There will be a daily fine assessed against offenders. It was decided by the Board that all the letters and warnings issued to offenders is not working, so perhaps a $25 per day fine will get the message across.

Jamie Rothberg from Fridrick, Pinson & Rothberg Insurance Agency was present to discuss the insurance policy covering The Greens. This is a specialty condo coverage sold in 29 states. The Association Fees pay for this coverage. We have a three year policy with a rate guarantee, meaning our premiums will not go up for three years. Our policy has a $2,500 deductible. Homeowners who would like to have a copy of the Insurance Certificate can get one at no cost by going on line at: www.FPRinsurance.com. Any specific insurance questions should be sent to the Board at nashborogreens@yahoo.com, and they will be directed to Fridrick, Pinson & Rothberg Insurance Agency.

The policy we have covers the building as it was when first constructed. As an example, should a unit(s) be destroyed by fire, it would be rebuilt as it was when first constructed. If the unit floors were covered with carpeting, the insurance would cover the cost of replacing carpeting on the floor. However, if hardwood floors were installed to replace the original carpeting, the insurance coverage would only cover the cost of the carpeting. Any additions and/or up-grades made to the unit would not be covered. Should a covered event happen in our community and the unit(s) is rebuilt, and codes have changed since the original construction, the insurance company will rebuild the unit to meet the new codes requirements.

The coverage written by Fridrick, Pinson & Rothberg does not cover construction issues. When the original owners purchased their unit they were given a 10-year construction warranty. Since the contractor (Westminister) has gone out of business and left the State, the warranty policy we were given is null and void.

The master insurance policy does not cover repairs to HVAC systems, hot water tanks, plumbing, or any other normal maintenance issues, nor does the Homeowners Association. Therefore, it is important that individual homeowners have HO6 Condo Coverage with their own insurance carrier, this is a point that Jamie stressed several times.

The letter Jamie gave to the Board is attached.

The meeting was adjourned. There will be no meeting in December. The next meeting will be The Annual Meeting in January, 2010. A letter will be sent all homeowners with the date, time and meeting location.

Please Come to the Alliance of District 29 Christmas Mixer, 6:30-8:30 pm Friday, December 11, 2009

Hi District 29 Friends:
Don't miss the Alliance of District 29 Christmas Mixer! We will be "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree for a Happy Holiday!" See you there!
Gratefully,

Vivian

THE ALLIANCE OF DISTRICT 29 cordially invites you to the
4th Annual Neighborhood Christmas Mixer

Friday, December 11, 2009
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Priest Lake Presbyterian Church (Gym)
2787 Smith Springs Road

Come enjoy fellowship, food and fun with neighbors and special guests.

Please bring can food donations to benefit our local Second Harvest Food Bank at Hamilton United Methodist Church.

Also, bring your favorite holiday dish to share with everyone!

The Alliance of District 29 is a collective effort of neighborhood watch groups, homeowner associations and neighbors in District 29 to accomplish the mission to “Promote safe, beautiful, and informed neighborhoods.”

For more information, please call Lena Brown Prince @ 361-3729 or Commissioner of Beautification Juanita Veasy
@ 399-6846 or Councilmember Vivian Wilhoite @ 589-2003 or visit www.vivian-29.blogspot.com.

Spot Crime E-mail Alerts - Click on Link to Obtain Updated List

Davidson County crime log Nov. 13-16

Just click on about link for the information.

Will keep the sight updated as the information becomes available.

Mindy

Crime Update Information

Hello all and I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

I was invited to and emergency Crime Update meeting last week with members of HOA Boards and Crime Watch Groups to discuss the upsurge of crime through out all of "District 29".

Things that were discussed and what we plan to do

• In the last four weeks we had someone mugged on the corner of Nashboro Greens and Longhunter at 12 noon on a Sunday.
• Wednesday night I went out front and saw again on our corner two people being arrested at the same corner.
• 2 shootings have occurred in Nasboro Village
• and last but not last Home Burglaries are way up in the houses, condos, and the apartments.
• In all the locations, because of the economy, condos and houses are being rented, and there is a lack of having any control of who rents them. This is not helping the crime rise. Places that are rented in some areas are causing the crime, So again, we cannot blame everything on the apartments. In the Nashboro Village Apartments, they were just each individually checked by management and whoever broke the rules have been served with eviction papers.

Things that we find are issues that are not helping us at all

• Police are taking too long to respond to calls.
• Not enough people are calling the police when they hear gunshots, or see strange people walking around the area. Get involved, otherwise the crime rate will even go higher.
• If you see anything strange going on in a condo or kids hanging out where they should not be, then call crime stoppers and you will not have to give your name.

Actions we are looking to take to make a difference

• Starting to form more neighborhood watch teams. We are even looking at have some combined meetings with other groups around the area.
• Call the police and keep calling, do not be afraid!
• We want to have a Police Precinct closer to our area

We know that we cannot all stumble in to the Mayor's Office so we are creating a petition together to give to the Mayor discussing all the issues. Once created I will come door to door to have you sign. If anyone else is willing to step in and give me some help that would be great.

If you have read this on the blog, please leave your email in the subscribers block, because I am not sure if I have the list for all of you.

If anyone is interested in being part of a neighborhood watch group or can help in anyway then let me know. (Mssphotography@aol.com)

Thanks everyone!

Volunteers give others a reason to give thanks

By Nicole Young • THE TENNESSEAN • November 24, 2009

For thousands of Nashvillians, the Thanksgiving holiday is a time for family, but it's also a time to volunteer.

As of Friday, Don Worrell, president and CEO of the Nashville Rescue Mission, said more than 1,000 volunteers had signed up to work Thanksgiving Day serving food to about 1,000 people at the downtown shelter for the homeless.

"This is a tradition for some families," Worrell said. "We literally have generations of families, grandparents, parents and grandchildren, that come out and spend their Thanksgiving with us."
For more than 55 years, the mission has provided a Thanksgiving dinner for the needy.
"We try to turn this into Grandma's house," he said. "We tell our volunteers that it's just not about serving food here. It's about the feeling of family and togetherness.

"Our volunteers become these people's surrogate family."

Check out these contacts to volunteer on Thanksgiving:

• Assumption Catholic Church parishioner Gerry Searcy is organizing Thanksgiving dinner for about 2,000 people. Volunteers are needed to help prepare and deliver meals. To help, call Gerry Searcy at 615-733-1478 or 615-406-7446, or e-mail her at gjsearcy@aol.com.

• The United Way of Nashville's Call United Way 2-1-1, Middle Tennessee's referral help line, is an option to connect volunteers with organizations. 2-1-1 is free, confidential and available 24 hours a day. Callers are connected with real people who can check the organization's database for volunteer opportunities.

• The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee's GivingMatters.com offers detailed
information about a wide range of nonprofits.

• The Community Resource Center's Web site, http://www.crcnashville.org/, includes a weekly wish list and volunteer list.

Crime UpDate from Metro Nashville Police

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2009
Metro Police and the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the man believed responsible for robbing the Fifth Third Bank branch at 2326 Murfreesboro Pike late this afternoon.

He approached the teller and demanded money at gunpoint at 5 p.m. He fled on foot.

The suspect is described as a black man in his 20’s who is approximately 5’7” tall with a medium build. At the time of the robbery, he wore all black clothing and a ski mask.

Anyone with information about the bank robber is urged to contact Detective Keith Sutherland with the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force at 232-7500 or Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME. Citizens can also send an electronic tip to Crime Stoppers by texting the word “CASH” along with their message to 274637 (CRIMES) or online at www.nashvillecrimestoppers.com. Persons who contact Crime Stoppers by phone or text message can remain anonymous and qualify for a cash reward.

Nonprofit Dispensary of Hope pharmacy serves needs of uninsured

By Christina E. Sanchez • THE TENNESSEAN • November 19, 2009

A local nonprofit drug assistance program will expand to give more uninsured Tennesseans access to critical medications at a time when many prescriptions are 9 percent more costly than they were a year ago.

The Dispensary of Hope has partnered with three national pharmaceutical companies — Merck, Novartis and AstraZeneca — to make sure there is a consistent, plentiful supply of medications for people who cannot afford them. Other companies are expected to sign on.

The pharmaceutical companies already have drug assistance programs, but patients have to apply directly to each company, which can take longer. Under the new Continued Access Program, the Dispensary will become a central order-and-fill pharmacy location for thousands of people in Tennessee and across the country.

"This simplifies distribution," said Scott Cornwell, chief operating officer for the Dispensary. "It adds more resources but also gives us a consistent supply of medication that patients need."
An estimated 800,000 Tennesseans were uninsured in 2008. With the recession, that number is expected to reach 1 million in the next year.

"There is typically the belief that if you are uninsured, you are unemployed," Cornwell said. "We are seeing more uninsured working people."

At the same time, the prescription drugs that people need are getting more expensive, an AARP study showed recently.

Many popular brand-name prescription prices had increased by about 9 percent from October 2008 to September 2009. The average annual cost for one brand-name medication was about $2,045, according to the advocacy group for seniors.

How program works
More than 20,000 Tennesseans accessed the drug aid program in 2008, and with this initiative, the staff hopes the Dispensary will serve that many more. The Dispensary has 47 medications for chronic conditions that include diabetes, heart disease and neurological disorders.

The Dispensary gets its supply from physicians' offices, distributors and manufacturers that send donated medications to the program's distribution center.
Often the medications are brand names.

Partner sites send prescription orders to the Dispensary and then distribute the medicine to patients.

The Continued Access Program could benefit many people who don't know about each pharmaceutical company's aid efforts.

"It's unfortunate that many people who would otherwise utilize these resources don't simply because they don't know they exist," said Jennifer McGovern, director of patient assistance programs for AstraZeneca.

Since it was founded in 2003 in Nashville, the Dispensary has expanded from one site to more than 49 sites across the country.

The program grew out of trips that health officials took to local clinics where they found the biggest need was prescription assistance.

More than 200,000 people have been served since its inception.

"It is truly a model of care for the nation," said state health commissioner Susan Cooper. "What we saw in one little clinic has morphed into a program that has helped tens of thousands of Tennesseans."

First-of-its-kind registry matches volunteers with medical studies

ResearchMatch.org boosts health research
By Christina E. Sanchez • THE TENNESSEAN • November 20, 2009

In the age of the World Wide Web, people are a click away from finding old friends, meeting potential soul mates, and now, helping to discover cures or treatments for diseases.

Some of the nation's leading research institutions, including Vanderbilt University and Meharry Medical College, have teamed up to create the first national research study recruitment registry. ResearchMatch.org pairs volunteers who want to participate in research with the best studies that might be a good fit for them.

The nonprofit site is designed to increase the chances that studies translate into cures, treatments and preventions for diseases.

As things stand now, limited funding forces researchers to find participants by word-of-mouth, short radio spots, newspaper advertisements or supermarket bulletin boards. Some trials never get up and running due to few volunteers.

ResearchMatch is free, and it connects volunteers and researchers nationally. People who sign up are not obligated.

"Clinical research is often stymied by finding the right patient who wants to volunteer," said Dr. Gordon Bernard, associate vice chancellor for research at Vanderbilt. "We don't think it's because people don't want to volunteer."

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 4 percent of the nation's population has participated in a research study. Because of low participation rates, about 85 percent of trials don't finish on time, and about 30 percent never enroll a single patient.

Currently, the only comparable registry is Clinicaltrials.gov, which is run by the National Institutes of Health. The site puts the burden on volunteers to choose which studies might work for them.

Vanderbilt University spearheaded the development of the new match site with a $200,000 grant from the National Center for Research Resources.The site launched Nov. 10 after a year of planning. More than 52 institutions will participate in the first year.

Kristin Woody Scott, Vanderbilt's liaison for the program, said the site is supposed to complement other recruitment tactics to boost recruits.

"There is potentially a research opportunity for everyone," Scott said. "This is a disease-neutral site, meaning it doesn't matter your background. The only limitation is you must be in the U.S."
To join, people give their name and contact information and answer several questions. If a trial match is found, they will receive an e-mail. They can choose to proceed or turn it down. No information is released without consent.

Thousands of clinical studies are happening at any given time. Right now, there are more than 80,000 trials in 170 countries, including almost 5,000 in Tennessee.

But some trials never get started because there are not enough volunteers.

"At the most basic level, one of the difficulties with doing research with humans is to be able to enroll enough people in a study so the results will have meaning from a statistical standpoint at the end of the day," said Jared Elzey, research liaison at Meharry Medical College.

Often, the same people may volunteer repeatedly, or researchers may overuse the same groups, Elzey said. Meharry, which does a lot of studies on health disparities among minorities, often comes across the same people willing to help science.

"It's difficult to enroll enough people," he said. "People (we need for our studies) have a lot of other pressures on their time, lack understanding about the research, or perhaps there is an organizational distrust. This (site) will allow us to interact with a much broader community."
Doctors routinely ask patients who may fit the prototype for a study if they are willing to sign up.

That's how Mary and Phillip Hill joined a Vanderbilt study two years ago. Phillip Hill, who has age-related macular degeneration, an eye disorder that can cause vision loss, was asked by his doctor to participate. His wife also joined as the control — a person without the disease who has lived a similar life. They have been married 50 years.

Phillip Hill, who had a heart transplant, also has been in a study on heart disease for six years. He also signed up after his doctor asked. "We have enjoyed some benefits; we felt like it was important for us to give back," Phillip Hill said.

"This could help our children or our grandchildren or even your grandchildren," Mary Hill said

Urgent Medical Update - Meds can interfere with blood thinner Plavix

Blood thinner used by millions
By Matthew Perrone • ASSOCIATED PRESS • November 18, 2009

WASHINGTON — Federal health officials said Tuesday a popular variety of heartburn medications can interfere with the blood thinner Plavix, a drug taken by millions of Americans to reduce risks of heart attack and stroke.

The Food and Drug Administration said the stomach-soothing drugs Prilosec and Nexium cut in half the blood-thinning effect of Plavix, known generically as clopidogrel.

Regulators said the key ingredient in the heartburn medications blocks an enzyme the body needs to break down Plavix, muting the drug's full effect.

Procter & Gamble's Prilosec OTC is available over-the-counter, while AstraZeneca's Nexium is only available with a prescription.

"Patients at risk for heart attacks or strokes who use clopidogrel to prevent blood clots will not get the full effect of this medicine," the agency said in a statement.

Plavix is marketed by Sanofi-Aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb. With global sales of $8.6 billion last year, it's the world's second-best selling drug behind Pfizer's cholesterol drug Lipitor.
Because Plavix can upset the stomach, it is often prescribed with stomach acid-blocking drugs.

The FDA says patients who need to reduce their acid should take drugs from the H-2 blocker family, which include Johnson & Johnson's Mylanta and Boehringer Ingelheim's Zantac. FDA scientists say there is no evidence those drugs interfere with Plavix's anti-blood clotting action.

Julian Casey Wanted for Market Robbery & Gunfire

November 16, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

An armed robber who fired a number of shots at a citizen chasing him has been identified, but remains at large.

Julian Casey, 19, walked into Antioch Shell, 2813 Smith Springs Road, at 10:55 a.m. Sunday, pointed his pistol at the female clerk, and demanded that she empty the cash drawer into a plastic bag. He also took the victim’s purse.

As Casey fled, he was followed by the clerk’s husband. Casey fired three shots as he ran to the rear of the market and his getaway car. He started to get in, saw that he was still being followed, abandoned the car and fled on foot. Casey again fired three shots as he ran from the scene. No one was hit by the gunfire.

A police canine team tracked Casey across Smith Springs Road and onto Butler Road before losing trail. Items of clothing that Casey shed while running were recovered.

Detectives identified Casey through the getaway car he left at the market. It is registered to his mother, who confirmed that Casey had left in the car. She also confirmed that the clothing depicted in surveillance images was his.

An arrest warrant has been issued charging Casey with aggravated robbery. Additional charges are forthcoming.

Casey is considered to be armed and dangerous. Anyone seeing him or knowing his whereabouts is urged to contact Hermitage Precinct Investigations at 862-6993 or Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME. Persons can also send an electronic tip to Crime Stoppers by texting the word “CASH” along with their message to 274637 (CRIMES), or by going online to www.nashvillecrimestoppers.com.

Those who contact Crime Stoppers qualify for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Pre-existing conditions put insurance coverage out of reach

Those who qualify still face steep insurance premiums
By Getahn Ward • THE TENNESSEAN • November 13, 2009

No longer covered by his mother's health insurance after turning 25 two months ago, John Mathews has learned firsthand how difficult and expensive it can be to find coverage when insurers flag a past injury or illness as a pre-existing condition.

In fact, the majority of 10 insurance companies from which the Mathews family tried to buy a policy denied him coverage because they said two crushed vertebrae in his back caused by a 2008 car accident were a "pre-existing" condition that made him ineligible at any price.

One company was willing to sell Mathews a policy that included coverage of his back ailments for $1,200 a month; while another wanted to charge him $6,000 a year in premiums but exclude any problems linked to his old injury. That's far more expensive than the average $5,000 annual cost typically paid by a single person with employer-based coverage.

"We've been a healthy family and never had to deal with anything like this," said Jan Mathews, the young man's mother and a Brentwood resident who works for the state. "We've always been responsible and (he) can't get insurance?"

Mathews' plight and similar difficulties faced by many other consumers with medical conditions ranging from kidney disease to diabetes to high blood pressure come as the Obama administration pushes for a massive overhaul of the nation's health insurance system in Congress.

A landmark bill to extend health insurance to millions of additional Americans narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week and is pending in the Senate, where it faces more hurdles linked to costs, abortion rights and other issues. But it does include a ban on insurers using pre-existing conditions to deny coverage to anyone.

Some 36 percent of people who try to buy health insurance on their own outside of group plans get turned down, face exclusions or are charged higher premiums because of pre-existing conditions, according to a 2007 survey by The Commonwealth Fund, a nonprofit research group.

That represents about 12.6 million people ages 19 to 64, the group said.

Consumer advocate Tony Garr, executive director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, says ending insurance denials related to pre-existing conditions remains a critical part of bringing affordable health insurance to the masses.
"That's inhumane and not fair because everybody is going to get sick at one point or another and that practice … needs to be outlawed," Garr said.

Bill would dilute risk

Pre-existing conditions for which BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, the state's largest health insurer, can deny coverage include cancer, diabetes, AIDS, cirrhosis of the liver, congestive heart failure, polycystic kidney disease and bipolar disorder. Asthma is among conditions that could be excluded but the coverage still can be written.

Under legislation being considered in Congress, insurers won't be allowed to use health status or specific health problems as a basis for setting premiums. That should result in cheaper premiums for people such as Mathews, whose back condition resulted from a car accident that involved an insured motorist in Maryville, Tenn.
He was a student at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville at the time, his mother said.

Under one provision in the House version of health-care reform, a total of $5 billion would be set aside between 2010 and 2013 to help people who've been uninsured for at least six months, or denied a policy for pre-existing conditions, obtain coverage.

National insurers agreed to an end to their right to invoke pre-existing conditions as a way to block an individual's coverage in return for assurances that health-care reform would require all Americans to get health insurance by a set date. That expands the pool of risk and is a key to driving down insurance costs, proponents say.

Robert Zirkelbach, spokesman for the America's Health Insurance Plans trade group, considers the trade-off a fair one. "If you do market reforms, but don't require everybody to purchase insurance, there's a powerful incentive for people to wait until they're sick to purchase insurance," he said.

"We would love to do away with pre-existing conditions as long as everyone is in the pool," said Scott Wilson, a BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee spokesman.

Agent is grateful
As an insurance agent in Columbia, Tenn., Cindi M. Nickle says she's grateful for her self-insured group policy even though she has to pay $700 a month in premiums and the first $2,500 of care before high-deductible coverage kicks in.

Nickle, whose mild case of Crohn's disease (an inflammation of the intestines) is a pre-existing condition, estimates that if she had to seek individual coverage outside of her group plan, no one else would cover her.

Last month, the insurers through which Nickle writes policies for others turned down two applicants seeking individual policies who had degenerative disc disease, a cause of lower back pain.

At times, a past surgery or some other medical situation that may have happened years ago can still count against an applicant as insurers comb through lab reports and other medical records.

Patsy Smiley, an Ashland City resident, said she's looking forward to turning 65 and getting on Medicare in February. She's paid a hefty price for health care and had trouble getting insurance coverage because she's taken the anti-depressant medication Prozac since 1990.

She pays $500 a month for a limited major medical policy today, and figures Medicare will provide better coverage at a lower price.

Or consider 31-year-old Kris Galbraith, who hasn't had insurance since his coverage under COBRA ran out three months ago. Insurers cited episodes of what they call "post-traumatic epilepsy" related to a pair of seizures he experienced two years ago in turning him down. His current job through a temporary employment agency doesn't provide insurance.

And then there's Debbie Heibert, a Brentwood resident once denied insurance because a set of lab tests suggested she could have had lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease, although later screening ruled it out.

Heibert and her husband, who owns a small business, have insurance but they pay more than $1,200 a month in premiums, with a $5,000 deductible.

"Health insurance is a huge mess for those who do not work for a large company," Heibert said. "It's sad it has gotten this way."

Previous PageGetahn Ward covers the business of health care. Reach him at 615-726-5968 or gward@tennessean.com.

Middle Tennessee locations for H1N1 vaccine

Tennessean November 12

MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Where to get the H1N1 flu vaccine
Call for times, clinic locations and who is eligible. Availability is subject to change
Health departments

Metro Nashville
H1N1 FluMist only — 615-340-7775 or http://www.health.nashville.gov/

Walgreens, participating locations — find times and addresses at 1-866-825-3227 or http://www.takecarehealth.com/. Cost is $18.

Emily’s Crime Watch - Informative Information

I work with an Author and Criminologist Jennifer Chase and I wanted to share a Crime Watch article with you all. It contains informative information and is used by many "Neighborhood Watch Groups" throughout the Country. I will begin to post more of these articles on the blog.

Citizens Unite!

If you are a victim of ANY crime – Report It!

If you’re robbed on the street, someone breaks into your house, or you’ve been swindled – Report It!

It has been reported from law enforcement agencies that one out of every two crimes goes unreported. It’s either because victims don’t think that the police can do anything about it or they just don’t want to get involved.

It can’t be stressed enough that if crimes go unreported then the criminals are going to continue to operate without any interference. Reporting ALL crimes will help law enforcement to assign the appropriate number of officers to troubled locations, and information provided by victims and witnesses can lead to the arrest and prosecution of a criminal.

Your local law enforcement agency needs your help to fight crime.

1. Report ALL crimes to your local police department.

2. No fact is too trivial.

3. Report ANY and ALL suspicious activities in your neighborhood. (Call or email all information to Crime Stoppers - info on right side of blog)

4. Get help immediately or call 9-1-1.

5. If the crime just occurred or is in progress, call 9-1-1.

6. Call a doctor, if necessary.

7. Call a friend or family member.

8. Try to remember ALL details, such as clothing, hair color, vehicle descriptions, identifiable marks or features, etc.

9. Try not to destroy any possible evidence.

10. Keep important emergency and non-emergency numbers available, such as victim’s services, crime stoppers, police department, vehicle abatement, animal control, etc.

For more information about crime and emergencies, please don’t hesitate to contact your local police department or community service officer. (Important phone numbers all appear on the right side of the blog)


Jennifer Chase
Author & Criminologist


**Still looking to create a Neighborhood Watch Group if anyone is interested!

Nashville banks report skimming thefts at ATMs

By Nicole Young • THE TENNESSEAN • October 29, 2009

Metro Police believe Nashville bank ATMs have been targeted by an organized skimming operation.

So far, 39 people have reported that their ATM cards have been compromised, but investigators said Wednesday that they believe there may be hundreds of victims across the city and most of them may not even realize their information has been stolen.

"Go online and check your accounts," warned Metro Police Lt. Mickey Garner, supervisor of the department's fraud unit. "See if there are any charges on there. Don't wait until your paper statements come in. Most banks only give customers a 60-day window to dispute charges."
Police say the suspects, described as three white men with European accents, may have left town. They are believed to be traveling from city to city in groups, staying for two or three days before moving on.

Metro Police have contacted agencies in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina that reported similar fraud operations, Garner said.

In Nashville, the suspects were able to steal nearly $30,000 by installing skimmer devices on bank ATM machines. When a customer places his or her card into the machine, the skimmer records the card number and the personal identification number.

The suspects take the data and clone duplicate cards with it. They then take the cloned cards and go to another bank to withdraw funds or to stores to make purchases, police said.

Investigators are obtaining surveillance video from the compromised ATM machines from a U.S. Bank, Fifth Third Bank and Bank of America. Police said they did not recover skimmers from the machines, which were located in the Church Street, Belle Meade and Antioch areas of town.

"We don't know how many other banks they hit," he said. "The important thing is for people to check their bank accounts and look closely at ATM machines before using them. If the machine doesn't look right, don't put your card in it."

Anyone with information may contact fraud detectives at 862-7594 or Crime Stoppers at 74-CRIME.

Crime Update 10/20/209

Last night about 8:30 P.M. there were 3-4 gunshots that had gone off in this area. I was sitting in the garage and it sounded like they were outside my door.

I called the police last night... along with 3 other people. I called the police this morning and she really had no information to give.

SHE DID STRESS THAT IF YOU HEAR GUNSHOTS WE SHOULD BE CALLING "911". Do not assume they might be fire works, let the police find out. We are never going to get enough police around the area until people start calling in these type things.

Do not be afraid....just MAKE THE CALL!!!!!

October Minutes From Board Meeting 10-15-2009

President, Bob Wolfgang called the meeting to order with Gary Gentry, Gary Petersen, Fran Oroson and Jim Curley in attendance.

Minutes of the September meeting were approved,

Financials were approved. The final invoice for the outside repair completed on Unit 110 will show up on the financials for the period ending October 30, 2009. Jim Curley Properties (JCP) is currently getting estimates for the inside repair and painting of Unit 110. The Board will be meeting with JCP, the contractor and the homeowner next week. The Delinquent List has the same names on it; letters have been sent to either the homeowner or the attorney for further action.

JCP will be mailing the 2010 Budget to the Board Members. After the Board has reviewed and made any changes, a copy will be sent to all homeowners prior to the Annual Meeting scheduled for January 21, 2010, for approval.

The Board has not been unsuccessful in appointing a new member to the Board. We will continue to search for someone to fill the vacant position.

No trespassing signs will be installed at the three entrances to The Greens. It is hoped this will keep unwanted individuals from entering our community.

The renters in Unit 171 have moved and this should eliminate so much of the police activity we have been experiencing in our community. We are still trying the reach the homeowner.

There are a number of units that have stained brick due to rain runoff from the downspouts, Gary Gentry made the motion that where needed the brick be power washed. Gary Petersen seconded the motion and it passed.

Parking in the Visitor Spaces has become a serious problem. Gary Petersen made the motion that 12 of the 22 Visitor Spaces be rented for $50 per month with a year’s lease, if a month-to-month lease is signed the fee will be $75 per month. Spaces will be rented to the first 12 homeowners who contact Jim Curley Properties. Units leasing spaces can only lease one space. Gary Gentry seconded the motion and it passed. JCP will be mailing a notice to all homeowners regarding this subject. Rented spaces will be designated with a “Reserved” sign and the unit number. Towing will start for cars illegally parked in the Visitor Spaces and on the street.

Garbage cans left on the street and in front of units continue to be a problem and an unsightly view of our community. This is a violation of the CCRs which states garbage cans are not to be seen from the street except on collection date (every Friday). JCP will be mailing out a notice informing all homeowners that garbage cans can be put in front of the units on Thursday night and must be removed and put out-of-sight by noon on Saturday, otherwise a fine will be issued.

Fran Oroson made a motion that the meeting be adjourned; it was seconded by Gary Gentry. The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will be November 19, 2009, with Jamie, the Association’s insurance representative, present to answer any questions from homeowners.

Per the HOA if you are looking for the CCRs and By-laws

The CCRs and By-laws can be found on our web-site at http://www.nashborogreens.com/

You will also find the Minutes of Board Meetings and other information. If you have any questions, please e-mail the Board at nashborogreens@yahoo.com

Thank you

HOA

Meeting Cancelled

I was told to let everyone that the Insurance meeting has once again been cancelled.

Sorry, the message had to come from me but, the HOA must be really busy and do not know how to reach all the Homeowners. I know they know how to contact you if you need to pay dues. They also have acess to the same email list as me....

The HOA meeting is still on for tomorrow...This all starting to sound funny?

Sorry guys!!!

Hot Off The Press "17-year-old arrested in golf course murder"

Wkrn Chanel 2

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Police have made an arrest in last week's murder alongside a Nashville golf course.

Christian Walters, a 17-year-old student at Antioch High School, was taken into custody Tuesday for the murder of Dantrell McFadden.

McFadden, 21, was walking near the ninth hole at Nashboro Golf Club last Wednesday afternoon when he was shot.

He was transported to Southern Hills Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
In a press conference held late Tuesday afternoon, Metro police said the murder was gang-related as the teenager is a known Crip member and McFadden a known Blood member.
"What happened was they were riding around in that area in a vehicle. The driver and the person we have under arrest today saw this victim, Mr. McFadden, walking down the road, saw a red bandana hanging out of his back pocket, they asked him if he was a Blood and asked him if he was a gang member," Lt. Duane Williamson explained.

Police said Walters retrieved a weapon and then returned to where the victim was and fired three to four shots.

"What should bother us is if one of our children [has] something hanging out our pocket with what someone else perceives as a gang color, are they going to do the same thing to them? This gang stuff is getting way out of hand," Lt. Williamson continued.

Police said Walters, who admitted he fired shots at McFadden after the two exchanged opposing gang-related gestures, had perfect attendance and was a good student.

He is charged with criminal homicide.

Prosecutors hope to try him as an adult.

Metro police said the investigation continues and additional arrests are anticipated.

"The Greens" - The Homeowners Speak Out

Thanks for sharing this incident with the community. It has been quiet up on the Fairways end. I would like to clarify your comment on the rules around renting/leasing: only those homeowners who purchased their home prior to January 18, 2007 may rent/lease their units. Anyone who purchased a home in our community after this date is not allowed to rent or lease their unit. For anyone who does not have a copy of our CCRs and By-Laws, please refer to this link: http://www.nashborogreens.com/docs.htm.

SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE DECLARATIONS OF COVENANTS, CONDITIONSAND RESTRICTIONS FORTHE GREENS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION INC.

This SECOND AMENDMENT is made effective upon the date of recording of this instrument in the Registrar’s Office of Davidson County, Tennessee by the Greens Homeowners Association, Inc. (the”Association”)

WHEREAS, the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions of the Association is recorded in Book 11703, Page 581, Registrar’s Office for Davidson County, Tennessee (the “Restrictions”); and

WHEREAS the Members of the Association desire to amend said Restrictions in accordance with Article XIII of the Restrictions by an affirmative vote of at least 67% of the members of the Association;

NOW, THEREFORE, the Members of the Association hereby amend the Restrictions as follows:

Article XII USE RESTRICTIONS, Section U LEASING OF UNITS, Paragraph 2 GENERAL, of the Restrictions is hereby amended by adding the following language in its entirety:
Subject to the provisions of the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, any person, corporation or other entity who may purchase a Unit after the date of filing of this Amendment shall have no right to lease the Unit to any third party. No part of the property may be used for purposes other than housing and related common purposes for which the property was designed and is allowed by municipal zoning laws. No Unit may be offered by its owner to the public at large for temporary transient accommodations, nor shall any Owner lease his or her Unit to any third party. Any Owner, as of the date of recording of this Amendment, shall be allowed to lease his or her Unit until such time as said Owner’s Unit is sold to a third party, subject to the provisions of this Article related to Lessing of Units. Thereafter, that Unit must be sold to that third part as a primary residence only.

The restriction set out above shall be enforced and administered by the Association. The Association may levy a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for a breach of any portion of this Section. In addition, nothing herein contained shall be construed as limiting the right of the Association to apply for any injunction or declaratory order to prevent continued breach of the restriction.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Greens Homeowners Association, Inc. has caused this Amendment to the Master Deed to be executed by their duly authorized officers on this day, the 18th of January, 2007.

Amy

Crime Update

Sorry to say I have to report another incident of crime at The Greens.On Sunday,
October 11Th, 12 noon, a young man from The Greens was mugged by a masked person
with a knife on the corner of Longhunter and Nashboro Greens. That is correct noon this Sunday.

Not gang related, just a mugging.

Two things from the police officers - make sure that you call them or at least crime stoppers anytime you see something that is not right. The more complaints they get the more chance we get to have more police patrolling the area. Another interesting thing was that the crime has increased since all the condos allowed renters. All the condos through out Nashville Village are affected here.

I think when it was decided to have condo owners rent units when they are not supposed to,
that all the homeowners should have been allowed to the vote on this issue. There are units here that were purchased here just for the purpose of renting which is not part of our rules.

Sorry, The Police want to keep the whole community aware of what is going on in the area.
Anyone with any ideas or thoughts, feel free to let me know..

But please call if something is going on.....

Jim any news on the signs? The police asked why we never have put up signs..

Thanks all and hope to see many of you at the insurance update meeting.

Mindy

Crime log for Davidson County Oct. 5-7

Submitted by Metro Police • October 9, 2009

These are the most serious calls handled by the Metro police, listed by time, crime reported and address.

Some reports may be unfounded.

Police calls are listed by police precinct or town.

When police cannot immediately determine the location of a crime, the address given is that of the police station or hospital where the crime was reported.

To see the list just hit the title link.........

Diabetes fair to be held at Opry Mills

By Andy Humbles The Tennessean • October 9, 2009

A free Diabetes Extravaganza health fair is scheduled for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at Opry Mills mall in the entertainment court between Barnes & Noble.

The Diabetes Centers at Baptist Hospital and Middle Tennessee Medical Center are the hosts of the health fair.

Programs include:
Cooking for the Patient with Diabetes will be held at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Exercise Demonstration at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
For information call 284-7060.

21-year-old shot, killed on golf course

WKRN October 7th

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Metro police are investigating a fatal shooting Wednesday afternoon at the Nashboro Golf Club, located on Nashboro Boulevard between Murfreesboro and Bell roads in southeast Nashville.

Police spokesperson Kristin Mumford said a 21-year-old man was walking near the ninth hole at about 3:20 p.m. when he was shot.
Golfers in the area reported hearing four shots. They turned around and saw the man, who then collapsed.

The victim, indentified as Dontrell Nathaniel McFadden, was transported to Southern Hills Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

It is not known who fired the shots.(at this time they have not been caught)

Anyone ready for a crime prevention team in the greens?

Complete crime log Oct. 1-4

Serious calls in Davidson County

Submitted by Metro Police • October 5, 2009
Davidson A.M. posts the crime log by large precinct area, but not all crimes happen in the large areas, some occur in towns or are otherwise recorded by Metro Police.

Readers have also requested that we post the complete list of most serious calls handled by Metro police.

Here is the complete list of the most serious calls for Oct. 1-4.

These are the most serious calls handled by the Metro police, listed by time, crime reported and address.

Some reports may be unfounded.

Abducted Newborn Baby Found Safe In Alabama

News Chanel 5
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A newborn baby who was abducted from a home in Antioch has been found safe in Ardmore, Alabama - about 85 miles away.

Maria Gurrolla said she was stabbed multiple times Tuesday by a woman pretending to be an immigration worker who showed up at her home. When Gurrolla ran next door for help, she said the woman abducted her now 7-day-old son, Yair Anthony Carillo.

A Kia Spectra was photographed at a nearby Walmart following Gurrolla before the attack. Police said 39-year-old Tammy Renee Silas rented the vehicle from the Nashville Airport the same day. Silas is from Ardmore.

Police found the newborn boy uninjured around 10 p.m. Friday at a home in Ardmore.
Silas was being held in the Morgan County Jail pending kidnapping and assault charges.

Police Release Sketch In Abducted Newborn Case

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Police released a sketch of the suspect wanted in connection with the abduction of a South Nashville newborn, who was stolen from his mother just days ago.
Maria Gurrolla said she was stabbed multiple times Tuesday by a woman pretending to be an immigration worker who showed up at her home. When Gurrolla ran next door for help, she said the woman abducted her now 7-day-old son, Yair Anthony Carillo.

Metro police officers went door to door Thursday with the sketch of the suspected woman, who according to police, could be involved in the stabbing of Gurrolla and the kidnapping of her baby. Police didn't release that sketch to the public until Friday.

Gurrolla described the woman who attacked her as a heavyset woman with blond hair.
Increasing their efforts, a crime scene analyst went back to the home Thursday on East Ridge Drive looking for evidence that could lead to the suspect. Then on Friday authorities pulled together multiple units to form a task force dedicated to finding baby Yair.

Metro police said the search still continued for the driver of a dark-colored Kia Spectra. Officials believe that driver could have witnessed the abduction of the newborn.

Police also said they have new leads coming in every hour and each piece of information is being checked out and thoroughly investigated. Authorities said they know someone in the community knows were baby Yair is, and they need that person to come forward.

Cathy Nahirny, an infant abduction case expert at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, said there have been at least two other recent cases where the abductor used the same ploy of immigration agent because of the assumption that Latina families will be reluctant to tell police.

Amber Alert Issued In Stabbing, Newborn Abduction

September 29.2009 (5:30)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - An Amber Alert has been issued after a woman stabbed a new mother and kidnapped her newborn baby in Antioch.

The suspect reportedly knocked on the door of 30-year-old Maria Gurrolla at 3816 East Ridge Drive Tuesday around 2:40 p.m. Gurrolle told police the suspect claimed to be with INS and wanted to see her immigration papers.

After Gurrolla allowed the suspect inside, she was stabbed several times in the neck, head, thigh and breast. The suspect fled the home with 4-day-old Yair Anthony Carillo.

Yair is a hispanic male with brown hair and black eyes.

Gurrolla was transported to Vanderbilt Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
The suspect was described as a heavyset white woman in her mid 30s, 5'4" tall with blonde hair in a pony tail. She wore a black blouse and blue jeans.

Officials said the woman was driving a black four-door car resembling a police vehicle.
Anyone with information should call police at 615-862-8600 or 1-800-TBI-FIND (1-800-824-3464).

Metro Water flushes raw sewage into Percy Priest home

by Andy - September 23rd, 2009 - 2:24 pm Messed Up Results, Public Work

Whose fault is it? That’s a question being asked by a Nashville couple whose basement flooded with raw sewage.

It all begins Saturday September 12th.

That’s the day the commode in the Percy Priest Lake residence of Arnold and Tina Bailey begins bubbling over with raw sewage.

The Bailey’s show me pictures of a basement mud room that is blackened by the disgusting mess.

On the day Messed Up arrives, Mrs. Bailey is packing her trunk with suit cases. The woman tells me she has respiratory problems and the on going environmental disaster is forcing her to stay with relatives in Kentucky.

Her husband, Arnold stays behind to manage the hideous mess.

The retired military pilot says dealing with metro has been messed up, so much so, he wrote this letter to Mayor Karl Dean.

My name is Arnold Bailey. I live Clearlake Dr west. On Saturday public works was cleaning sewer lines next to my house at the sewage pumping station and back flushed raw sewer water into my home. They started cleanup late Saturday night, ran blowers and drying equipment, and tore out walls and contaminated items and were going to remove contaminated tiles and clean the air ducts. This afternoon they pulled out the workers and said they were still investigating who was at fault for this problem. This was and is a very serious health problem. They told me to contact my insurance company for repairs. It was a metro pump truck that was blowing the lines at their pumping station. My wife has acute asthma and could not be in the house so we slept in our Motor home. The motor home went for maintenance today so she left to stay with relatives until work is complete. I am staying in the house but am not comfortable with it. Metro caused this problem and they need to take care of it. This pumping station has been a problem for the 25 years that I have lived here with spills, overflows, smells, noise and chemical sanitation blocks hanging next to my pool and patio. I am requesting your help in solving this problem as I have run into a solid wall and they are treating me poorly and seem to think that it is my problem not theirs.

When he gets nowhere with the city, Arnold Bailey calls That’s Messed Up.

I call his Councilwoman, Vivian Wilhoite who tells me she has all ready been investigating the matter. She tells me that Metro should be more responsive to her constituent’s needs.

“They are trying to tell me that this is an act of God. Don’t ever tell me that it is an act of God for him to put poop in a man’s house.”

Wilhoite tells me she tells water department officials to handle this matter now, because she doesn’t want to see it show up on her council desk later, with much heftier price tag.

“This better not end up on my desk. Approve his claim. Take care of this now. It’s only right. I’m not so sure Metro isn’t at fault. That goes along with running Metro Water. If Mr. Arnold was in his yard and did something to the line, that is one thing. But in this situation, he was in his house, and poop comes back up the line.”

The councilwoman indicates that Metro Water was pulling out its crews and limiting the city’s financial responsibility in the matter. She says she told them to reevaluate.

“I asked they open this back up. This makes no sense. It makes no sense. Look back at this and provide me a reason why he should not be compensated. I better not see this a year from now when it could have been resolved on the front end.”

I talk with Sonia Harvat who represents the Metro Water Department.

Harvat says the Bailey’s troubles begin when a sewage pipe is blocked in the neighborhood.

Harvat says the pipe is blocked with house hold materials including grease, which neighbors have been dumping down their drains over time.

According to Harvat, Metro crews pumped the line clean, and when they did, there was a sudden surge that forces its way through the pipe, that pressure rushed to the lowest point, which just happened to be the commode in Arnold Bailey’s home.

“Metro Water Services is paying for the initial clean up,” Harvat says. “Our priority is health and safety. Our system was not malfunctioning, our system was not broken. It was nothing inside our sewer system causing the back up it was grease! Metro will look to see if there was negligence on the part of metro water services. Did we break something that caused the over flow, but there was no negligence and that is what claims will look at it to see who pays for it.”
Bailey says the city did initially hire a company to clean up the filth. But after a few days, the city pulls the plug and the cleaning stops. Thanks to Messed Up and Councilwoman Wilhoite, the city has reconsidered its position.

An attorney for Metro Legal tells Messed Up, the city will pay for the clean up as long as it is deemed reasonable.

A water department official tells Messed Up “We don’t want to build the Taj Majal, but we will pay for the mess.”

Arnold and Tina Bailey say that’s the least the city can do for what they have been through.
Check out this link that educates citizens on the do’s and don’ts of flushing things into the system.

Bill extending unemployment benefits could help 35,500 Tennesseans

By Bonna Johnson • THE TENNESSEAN • September 23, 2009

Laid off more than a year ago, Sharon Loveall estimates that she has sent out 500 resumes with no luck. The former legal secretary even tried to get a job delivering pizzas.

With no job prospects in sight, her final unemployment check was scheduled to come in the mail in November. But as tens of thousands of Americans like Loveall were poised to run out of such aid, the House approved an additional 13-week extension of unemployment benefits in states with high jobless rates, including Tennessee.

The measure passed 331-83 on Tuesday evening, with similar legislation pending in the Senate. Though the extension would come when the economy is showing some signs of recovery, advocates say jobless rates continue to climb in many areas and the labor market has been slow to rebound.

"There is no scenario where the job market will come back quickly enough and workers will be able to find jobs," said Andrew Stettner, deputy director of the National Employment Law Project.

The proposed extension would help an estimated 1.3 million people nationwide who live in states with unemployment rates of at least 8.5 percent and whose benefits will run out between now and the end of the year.

Tennessee had an unemployment rate of 10.8 percent in August.

With an extension some people could qualify for as much as 92 weeks of unemployment pay overall.

"I'm grateful I may get another 13 weeks, but I'm also horrified," Loveall said. "I hate this. You feel absolutely ashamed."

An estimated 35,500 in Tennessee would be eligible for the extension, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. There are about 150,000 Tennesseans receiving unemployment benefits in total.

Loveall, a 57-year-old Hendersonville resident, was laid off by a Nashville law firm in May 2008 and depends on her weekly $275 unemployment check and her elderly father to pay her mortgage and other bills. Despite 17 years of experience, she has had no job offers despite a number of interviews.

"My savings are gone. I have no health insurance," she said. "Relying on my 85-year-old dad is horribly embarrassing."

Benefit bridges a gap
"It's safe to say we are seeing thousands of Tennesseans exhausting unemployment benefits each month," Tennessee Labor Commissioner James Neeley said.

"Many of these claimants have been on unemployment for more than a year. This extension really is important to bridge the gap for those who are actively seeking work."

Since July 2008, Congress twice has voted to extend unemployment benefits, and Tennessee lawmakers approved a third extension as part of the federal stimulus package earlier this year for a total of 79 weeks of benefits.

Still, that hasn't been enough time for many people to find work.

Some 5 million Americans have been out of work for six months or more, representing about one third of the nearly 15 million people in the country who are unemployed. That's a proportion that has never been reached in any post-war recession, according to the National Employment Law Project.

It's unlikely the extension would be a disincentive for people to find jobs, Stettner said. Rather, jobs are scarce, with more than six jobless workers for every job opening in the U.S., he said.

The extension would go to jobless workers in 27 states and in Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. It would not add to the deficit, its sponsors say, because it would extend for a year a federal unemployment tax of $14 per employee per year that employers have been paying for more than 30 years.

VERY IMPORTANT-Board Meeting September 17, 2009

President, Bob Wolfgang opened the meeting at 6:30 pm with Gary Gentry, Gary Petersen, Fran Oroson and Jim Curley in attendance.

Minutes of the August meeting and the Special Meeting held September 11, 2009 approved,

Financials were reviewed. We had a number of unusually high expenses in August: repair work done of units 120 and 123; erosion behind unit 132 and the down payment for work on unit 110. Fran Oroson made a motion that the financials be approved, Gary Gentry seconded the motion and the financials were approved.

An additional board member still has not been elected. Several people have decided not to accept a nomination. Fran said she would check with two more homeowners to see if they have an interest in filling the position left vacant by Mindy Schwartz’s resignation.

The repair work on Unit 110 has been delayed due to the weather and additional demands from the homeowner. Vintage Construction said they could complete the repair as soon as it stops raining. Due to the additional problems found once the repair work was started a change order was issued and an additional $1,800 will be required. It appears the original contractors dumped a load of concrete in front of the unit, which may have in part caused the brick to break away from the unit and crack. Because the contractor is no longer in Tennessee, we cannot seek restitution for the expense of repairing this wall. A civil engineer will be meeting with the unit owner on Friday (September 18th) to assure everyone there is no danger in moving back into the unit. (??????)

The trees that were cut down by Unit 100 were justified. The trees were growing too close to the air conditioning unit posing a real threat to damaging the air conditioning system. The trees were planted without advanced permission by the HOA Board and in accordance with the CCRs were removed. Once the trees were planted in a common area they became property of the HOA. The owners had requested a monetary reimbursement for the lost of these trees. Because they caused the above threat and were not approved to begin with, no monetary reimbursement will be paid. (They were not planted by unit 100, they came from a plant that dropped some blossoms..I am still trying to get in touch with mother nature to see if she asked for approval. It should not have been cut down with out permission)

Unit 100 also reported a water leak in the unit. J&K will be checking the repair work as soon as they can set up a time to meet with the homeowner. (J&K was here as scheduled, he knew what he had to do but, was told not to do anything until he talked to Curley. He called Curley's office and he was told that Curley was on vacation. I cancelled a meeting for him to come over and he drove a long way for nothing. Neither of us were very happy)

Unit 171 continues to be a major problem for the community. Jim Curley Properties has turned the issues over to the attorney and is investigating every avenue available trying to find the owners (this is a rental property). The police were called to the unit again on Monday night, September 14th. The garage door is damaged beyond repair and will need to be replaced. Because we have not been able to reach the owner, the HOA will have the door replaced and will charge the expenses to the owner. A lien has been placed against the homeowner. It has been reported that this unit has caused a number of potential sales to fall through. The HOA is doing everything it can to have the renters removed from the unit and the homeowner made accountable for the damages. (Unit 303 is the unit to thank. They are the one's that called Crime Stoppers and the police anytime anything went on. I would meet her up there in the afternoons and watch the condo)

The no trespassing signs are ordered and we are just waiting for them to be delivered. As soon as they arrive, Jim Curley Properties will have them installed along Long Hunter Court.

Parking continues to be a problem and the Board is getting more and more complaints. So it was decided that in accordance with the CCRs we will start towing cars illegally parked in the visitor areas and on the street. A notice will be posted on the mail boxes, then a ticket will be put on vehicles parked illegally and then they will be towed at the owner’s expense.

With the exception of units 116,118 and 136 power washing will be held off until 2010. The abnormally high expenses the Association has been faced with in August and September has made it necessary to wait for this work to be completed on all units.

Gutters and downspouts will be cleaned in November at a cost of $22 per unit.

It was reported that several driveways have cracks; however, are not at a point where we need to have them patched. However, Unit ____ has a major break in the driveway and that will need to be taken care of immediately.

Gary Petersen reported the President of Fairway Point (Bob Preston) approached him to see if they could use the Green’s visitor spaces at the top of hill. It was unanimous that they could not use our visitor spaces, as we need this area for our own visitors. Gary will let Bob know how the Board voted on this request.

The 2010 Annual Meeting has been scheduled for January 21, 2010.(All Must attend) The Library will be reserved for this meeting. Jim Curley Properties will prepare an annual budget for the Board’s review. Once the Board approves the budget a copy will the sent to all homeowners for review and comment. The budget will be voted on at the annual meeting by all homeowners. Gary Petersen made the motion that the association fees not be increased for 2010 due to the economic times, Gary Gentry seconded this motion and it was passed. (As far as I know Fran, Gary and Curley's contract is up as December 2009 - so there will be many openings. Everyone needs to attend this meeting!)

Please try and attend this meeting, I had put in a request to get someone out here so we would all know what we are and not covered for. This way you, you will be able to make sure that you have the correct amount of homeowners insurance. Please grab your neighbors and attend. I was told that the meetings were not held
because no one attended....

Gary Petersen made the motion that the meeting adjourn, Gary Gentry seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned. The October meeting will be October 15, 2009, 6:30 PM at the Deer Field Club House. The Association’s insurance representative will be available for discussion of any questions the homeowners may have.

Respectfully submitted by Fran Oroson

Senior healthcare program at Summit Medical in Hermitage

By Andy Humbles The Tennessean • September 17, 2009

“Put It in Writing: Healthcare Decision Making,’’ is the title of the next Summit Partners in Prime seminar targeted toward senior adults, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Summit Medical Center in Hermitage.

The program is free, but reservations are required and space is limited. The program will be in classrooms D and E on the ground floor of the hospital.

Members of the Senior Partners in Prime program are entitled to special discounts in the hospital’s Pinnacle Café and Grill and Summit’s gift shop, opportunities to participate in health screenings, monthly seminars, receive a Summit Partners in

Prime binder for healthcare information, discounted flu shots and more.

Membership is free. Call 342-1919.

Used Book Fair scheduled at McKendree Village

By Andy Humbles The Tennessean • September 18, 2009

A Used Book Fair for the public is scheduled at 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at McKendree Village, 4343 Lebanon Pike in Hermitage.

Novels, mysteries, biographies, history and other categories of used books will be sold.
Price ranges are 25 cents for paperbacks, $1 for soft cover books and $1.50 for hardback cover books.

Proceeds benefit the library at McKendree Village, a continuing care community for senior adults.

Free admission offered Sept. 26 at The Hermitage

By Andy Humbles The Tennessean • September 18, 2009

Free admission will be offered at The Hermitage, Home of President Andrew Jackson, on Saturday, Sept. 26, as part of the fifth annual Museum Day, presented by Smithsonian magazine.

People can download a Museum Day Admission Card that must be presented.
Each card provides access for two people. One admission card permitted per household.
To download the Museum Day Admission Day Card and obtain information on other participating museums in the Smithsonian magazine’s Museum Day visit www.smithsonian.com/museumday.

The Hermitage is at 4580 Rachel's Lane off Old Hickory Boulevard in Hermitage.
For information about The Hermitage call 889-2941 or visit www.thehermitage.com.

WEEKEND TRAFFIC ALERT: Roadwork to close I-440

WKRN Channel 2 News

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The westbound lanes of Interstate 440, from Interstate 65 to Interstate 40, west of town, will again be closed this weekend as a major concrete rehabilitation project continues.

The roadway will close at 8 p.m. Friday, September 18 and reopen no later than 6 a.m. Monday, September 21.

Crews with the Tennessee Department of Transportation will saw out and remove damaged sections of concrete and pour new concrete, which must harden completely before the road can reopen to traffic.

TDOT Spokesperson BJ Doughty said the construction will continue, despite the rainy weather.
"The contractor wants to work rain or shine," Doughty said. "They have got some means to cover up if it starts raining, but we've got a lot of work that we're trying to get done on 440 in a short amount of time so they're going to go for it."

The opening will be one day earlier than previous I-440 weekend construction to help with traffic flow for Sunday's Titans game at LP Field.

"We don't like doing things like this when we know we have heavy volumes of traffic at a particular time," Doughty said.

The project, which is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, includes repairs to deteriorating concrete along I-440 and this weekend's closure is one of several planned.

"The concrete surface along most of I-440 is experiencing significant deterioration and is in need of extensive repairs," said TDOT Chief Engineer Paul Degges. "By closing sections of the road on weekends over the next few months, we can complete these repairs in a relatively short amount of time and provide a smooth riding surface for this heavily traveled roadway."

Read more at TennesseeAnytime.org.

Man shot inside home sues his gated community

By Kate Howard • THE TENNESSEAN • September 14, 2009

A resident in a gated community in Nashville who was shot in his home has sued his homeowners association and property management.

The Four Maples condominium complex in the Donelson area has a gate that requires residents to swipe a pass or remotely unlock it for visitors. But Marquette Weaver said in a lawsuit filed in Davidson County Circuit Court that the gate meant to keep non-residents out was not working in June and had been broken for a month prior. That’s when people broke into his home at 2 a.m. and shot him several times, Weaver said, and he’s seeking $750,000 in damages, saying the home invaders couldn’t have gotten near his Coursey Drive home.

Weaver’s attorney, James Harris, said Weaver’s health is now good, and he has no comment beyond the complaint. Betty Flinkow, property manager with the Westwood Management Corporation that manages the condo complex, said she hadn’t seen the lawsuit and has no comment.

According to Metro police, no arrests have been made in Weaver's shooting.

By Andy Humbles The Tennessean • September 11, 2009

Summit Medical Center in Hermitage will hold its annual fall craft fair at 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, in the patient lobby.

Admission is free.

Handmade crafts, Phil Ponder prints, baskets, jewelry and pottery will be among the items for sale by vendors.

Call 316-4902 for information.

Nashville woman mourns twin sister killed in 9/11 attacks

This story hit me hard because I am from NY and was up in Connecticut visiting during that
day 0f 9/11/01. I never will forget that day as long as I live. Just as like I will always consider myself a New Yorker.
Thanks,
Mindy

By Nicole Young • THE TENNESSEAN • September 12, 2009
September 11, 2001, began like any other day for Margaret Mauro.

It started with a phone call, a conversation with her twin sister, Dorothy, in New York.
"She couldn't cook, and she was trying to make dinner for our dad," Margaret said. "I was giving her hints on how to prepare a fish dish."

Margaret, an Antioch resident, moved to Nashville from New York 20 years ago. Although Dorothy remained in the Big Apple, their relationship was a close one. The sisters spoke on the phone every morning before work.

That day, in addition to cooking tips, they talked about their recent trips. Margaret had just been to Seattle, Dorothy to New Orleans. They had celebrated their 55th birthday on Aug. 30.
Margaret was at work at Educational Networks of America in the Gulch. Dorothy was at work at Marsh & McLennan, an insurance company with offices in the World Trade Center.

"I hadn't been at work very long," Margaret remembered. "And a co-worker came to my desk and told me I needed to call my sister.

"He said a plane had just hit the north tower. And it didn't hit me right away. I remember asking what north tower. I didn't know what he was talking about."

Margaret tried to call Dorothy. The line was busy.
The co-worker returned and told her to come watch — a live feed had been set up in another room.

"As soon as I walked in, I saw the second building get hit," Margaret said. "And I said, 'I'm out of here.' "

On the way home, Margaret stopped in the parking lot of a strip mall. On the radio, she heard that the south tower had collapsed.

Dorothy was on the 97th floor of the north tower. Within half an hour, it collapsed.
"And I just knew," Margaret said. "If she had gotten out, she would have called me.
"I knew in my heart if I didn't hear from her, she didn't make it."

Since that day eight years ago, Margaret has struggled to live with the loss of her sister. Each year on the anniversary of the attacks, she releases balloons in Dorothy's memory, one for each year that has passed.

"I attach notes to her on them and let them go," Margaret said.

A time to remember
It wasn't until three years ago that Margaret felt that she could be around other survivors of those lost on Sept. 11.

Friday evening, she planned to attend a memorial service at The Temple with her nephew, Matthew Kirsener, 40, a soldier stationed at Fort Campbell who recently returned after serving in Iraq and Kuwait.

Kirsener's mother, Margaret's older sister, died when he was 3 years old. Since Dorothy's death, the two have become close.

In New York, one of her friends — also a survivor of Sept. 11 — will place yellow roses at ground zero for Dorothy.

"I just don't want people to forget what this country has been through," Margaret said. "It's not just because of my loss, but it's because we were so unified after September 11.

"It's not like that anymore.
"I want people to remember."

Seasonal flu shots available by end of September

Vaccines available by end of month
September 12, 2009

Flu shots will be available from the Metro Health Department almost a month early, starting Sept. 21.

But these shots will not protect someone from the H1N1 or swine flu virus.
The Metro Public Health Department typically begins offering seasonal flu shots the last week in October. This year, the department said Thursday, it plans to begin offering seasonal flu shots about one month early.

The department is expecting to have vaccine for the H1N1 flu strain as early as October.
National recommendations for who should get seasonal flu shots include those who are 65 and older and those who have a chronic disease.

A fast-track clinic for seasonal flu shots will be set up Sept. 21-25 at the Lentz Public Health Center, 311 23rd Ave. N. Beginning Sept. 28, flu shots will be available at Lentz, at the Woodbine clinic, 224 Oriel Ave., and at the East clinic, 1015 E. Trinity Lane.

Shots will be $20, and the Health Department will accept Medicare Plan B and TennCare.
Seasonal flu shots also are being offered in Nashville at doctor's offices, walk-in clinics, pharmacies, groceries and other locations. There is no shortage or delay in receiving this year's seasonal flu vaccine.

The Health Department will offer H1N1 shots free when the vaccine is available.

The Health Department has a recorded community information telephone line, 615-340-7775, with the latest information about seasonal and H1N1 flu.

— TENNESSEAN STAFF REPORTS

"9/11" Never Forget!

Gather Round and get ready for the real things going on at "THE GREENS"

Think we should have a contest on the letter we all just received. How many typos did you find?

The worst of all, is our President that just recently passed away they could not even spell his name right....

Please either subscribe to the blog, so that you will receive updates automatically directly to your email address or keep checking back for many updates to come, since you are the homeowners and deserve to know what really is going on.

This is a major factor why I resigned from the HOA (really pushed out) and since I have resigned and still keep in contact with many homeowners to help them get their issues resolved, I had two very special trees sawed down this week and no one knows who did it.....

HMMM...Stay tuned...

HOA Mnutes for August 20, 2009

The August 20, 2009, Meeting of the Nashboro Greens HOA at 6:30 pm at the Deerfield Club House, with Bob Wolfgang presiding.

Present: Fran Oroson; Gary Peterson; Mindy Schwartz; Bob Wolfgang and Jim Curley, Property Manager (Gary Gentry joined the meeting by invitation after he was elected to the Board).

Bob Wolfgang became the HOA president by order of succession from the position of vice president due to the passing of Gerry Kovoluchuk, who had been the president.

A call was made for nominations to fill the vacancy on the Board created by the death of Gerry Kovoluchuk. Fran Oroson nominated Gary Gentry. Mindy Schwartz nominated Randy Ledbetter. After discussion a vote was taken. Gary Gentry was elected by a vote of 2 to 1. The president abstained from the vote.

Fran nominated Gary Peterson for the office of Vice President. There were no other nominations. Gary Peterson was elected vice president by acclimation.

Motion was made and seconded to approve Financials prepared by property manager, Jim Curley. Financials were discussed and approved.

Motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the last meeting. The minutes were approved.

A motion was made to approve the renovation of the deck on Unit 123 at the owner’s expense. Motion was seconded and approved by a 3 to 2 vote.

Status of ongoing projects was discussed.

· Unit 116 the crack in the driveway and the power washing of the exterior wall that was impacted by overflowing eave troughs.

· Discussion was held regarding the repair or reconstruction of the wall on Unit 110. Attention was brought to the excessive damage to the interior. Although there was already previous approval to repair the outside wall, it was determined that the interior work had not been accessed and that needed to be done. It was agreed that Jim Curley, property manager, Bob Wolfgang, HOA President, and a representative of Vintage Construction, the construction contractor, make an inspection of the interior prior to starting the work to determined status. Jim Curley was to set up an appointment with the Unit owner.

· Mid-Tennessee Erosion and Sediment Control completed the ground work behind unit 132. What the Board has been referring to as a “sink hole” turns out not to be a sink hole, but was caused by erosion.

· Discussion about the repaired leaks in the garage of 112. According to Jim the association did those repairs.

· Discussion about the rights of homeowners who were in the process of bankruptcy determined that the HOA has no control, that is between the homeowner and the lending institution.

· The No Trespassing signs are ordered and we are awaiting delivery and installation according to Jim Curley.

· The Board revisited the replacement of exterior lights on the units. Because many homeowners have already replaced their lights, at their own expense, it was determined the individual homeowners should decide if and with what they replace their exterior lights.

Mindy suggested that we have a meet and greet for the entire Homeowner’s Association. There was discussion about the amount of participation being poor at the annual picnic (which was not scheduled for last year or this year) and the Annual Meeting in January, so the general consensus was that this would not be well attended. No action taken at this time.

The meeting was adjourned.

Submitted by
Bob Wolfgang
President