THE WANNABEATLES TO CELEBRATE SGT. PEPPER ANNIVERSARY On June 9

"The Beatles have had such an incredible impact on musicians here and everywhere. This is a great opportunity for Nashville to say "thank you' for both the music and the memories. "
Dennis Scott
WannaBeatle



The popular Nashville band The WannaBeatles, former Apple Records executive Ken Mansfield, and superstars Wynonna and Phil Keaggy will celebrate the 42nd anniversary of The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper album on June 9 with an evening of live music and storytelling at the W.O. Smith Nashville Community Music School.

The With a Little Help From My Friends benefit will occur from 7-9 p.m. in the school's concert hall. The event will feature career reflections and readings from Mansfield; live performances by The WannaBeatles, country star Wynonna, contemporary Christian artist Phil Keaggy, country star David Ball and other celebrity guests. Metro Councilman Parker Toler will read a Metro proclamation naming January 30th as Nashville Beatles Music Day.

Proceeds from the event will be used to help W.O. Smith continue to provide instruments and music instruction to hundreds of children from low-income families.

"W.O. Smith is excited to celebrate the 42nd anniversary of the Sgt. Pepper album by hosting a concert with The WannaBeatles and special guest Ken Mansfield," said Jonah Rabinowitz, the school's executive director.

The school is located at 1125 Eighth Ave. S. in Nashville. Admission to With A Little Help From My Friends is $20 per person. Seating is limited. To order tickets, call (615) 255-8355.

Councilman Jason Holleman Works With Community Gardeners And Local Food Advocates

"Community gardens are springing up all over West Nashville, and we want that to continue to happen. These are great places for neighbors to spend time together, and they are a great way for city-dwellers to have fresh fruits and vegetables. This bill will take away current restrictions on community gardening and will encourage local food growing to flourish in our neighborhoods."
Jason Holleman Metro Councilman District 24




Councilman Jason Holleman and Sarah Bellos Of Nashville Urban At Harvest At The West Nashville Community Farm

On May 21st Councilman Jason Holleman filed a bill that would expand the number of zoning districts permitting community gardening in Davidson County. The bill defines community gardening as “a group of individuals growing and harvesting food crops and/or non-food, ornamental crops, such as flowers, for personal or group use, consumption, or donation.”Current law prohibits community gardening as a primary use of lots in residential districts, furthermore, current law prohibits growing fruits, vegetables, or flowers for sale in all of Nashville’s urban services district.

A group of community gardeners, local food advocates, and countywide community members worked with Councilman Holleman in shaping the legislation, including the Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee, Nashville Urban Harvest, Edgehill Community Garden, Earthmatters Tennessee, and Friends of the Nashville Farmers’ Market. Concerns were varied -- the lack of access to healthy, affordable food in Nashville’s urban neighborhoods, the county’s dependence on food from other states and countries, and the need to support more “green” entrepreneurial activity in Nashville, but the message was the same: zoning laws have not kept up with Nashville’s changing needs.

Kate Lassiter, of Nashville Urban Harvest, helped found a community garden in West Nashville where volunteers grow food for sale to community members through a Community Supported Agriculture Subscription program. Shares in the program are subsidized for low-income families to increase access to fresh and healthy food. Lassiter states: “This is an important first measure in many ways. In addition to increasing access to fresh and nutritious food, the community gardening bill also encourages economic stimulus that has potential benefit for individuals and families living in Nashville. The use of neglected space for food production is a creative way to encourage local business ownership and increase revenue in Davidson County.”

The bill would not allow residents to raise livestock in the city; nor would it allow community gardeners or commercial community gardeners to operate farm stands in residential areas.

Holleman’s bill is currently being co-sponsored by ten other members of the Metro Council: Kristine LaLonde, Emily Evans, Erik Cole, Mike Jameson, Bo Mitchell, Megan Barry, Jerry Maynard, Sandra Moore, Erica Gilmore, and Darren Jernigen.

The State Of Tennessee Has Provided 6 Justices To The United States Supreme Court

John Catron
Appointed By President Martin Van Buren
Served May 1, 1837–May 30, 1865


Howell Edmunds Jackson
Appointed By President Benjamin Harrison
Served March 4, 1893–August 8, 1895


Horace Harmon Lurton
Appointed By President William Taft
Served January 3, 1910–July 12, 1914


James Clark McReynolds
Appointed By President Woodrow Wilson
Served October 12, 1914–January 31, 1941


Edward Terry Sanford
Appointed By President Franklin Roosevelt
February 19, 1923–March 8, 1930


Abe Fortas
Appointed By President Lyndon Johnson
Served October 4, 1965–May 14, 1969

Warner Parks Nature Center Event Schedule For June 2009

By Betsy Thorpe


Park Naturalist Heather Gallagher Leads A Group Hike Through Edwin Warner And Percy Warner Parks

The Warner Park Nature Center is an environmental education and recreation facility that brings people and nature together. The center offers various programs and events designed for both children and adults throughout the year.


The Warner Nature Parks June Schedule

Celebrate National Trails Day
Saturday, June 6
It’s about more than hiking now: everyone can participate in National Trails Day at Warner Park! Run, walk, stroll or take a cart tour on the trails of Warner Parks!

On the Trail of the Early Bird
Saturday, June 6
7-8 a.m.
Age level: Adults, 13+
Registration opens May 22
Join naturalists to see and hear bluebirds, hummers, cardinals, and many more of our breeding birds!
Leaders: Ed Gleaves, Volunteer Naturalist, and Irene Perry

Trail Running on National Trails Day
Saturday, June 6
9-11 a.m.
Age level: Adults, 13+
Registration opens May 22
Celebrate National Trails Day by running the hiking trails in Warner Parks. The trails offer many calorie-burning opportunities. Breathe new life into your fitness routine with an outdoor workout that will engage your brain and body.
Leaders: Warner Parks Staff

Trails a la Cart
Saturday, June 6
9 a.m.-3 p.m. (hourly)
Age level: All ages
Call to register
Designed for those folks who find walking the trails difficult, guided golf cart tours of the park will be offered hourly to allow everyone to enjoy the trails of Warner Parks.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff and Volunteers

On the Trail of the Exotic!
Saturday, June 6
9 a.m.-noon
Age level: All ages
Call to register
Give back to the Parks on National Trails Day by clearing invasive exotic privet and bush honeysuckle from the forest!
Leader: Jon Martin, Friends of Warner Park

Mountain Biking and Trail Maintenance
Saturday, June 6
9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Age level: Adults, 18+
Call to register
Celebrate National Trails Day by riding the challenging routes and helping SORBA members maintain mountain biking trails at Hamilton Creek. No mountain bike experience necessary.
Leaders: Southeast Off Road Bicycle Association & Warner Park Staff

Hiking the Solar System
Saturday, June 6
10-11 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens May 22
Cover the greatest distance (from the Sun to Pluto) during our shortest hike (less than one mile!) while learning about the solar system.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff

Harpeth Woods Hike
Saturday, June 6
1-2:30 p.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens May 22
Hike the 2 ½-mile blue trail with your family through the hills and hollows of Edwin Warner Park.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff

Jr. Naturalist Kick-Off: Reptiles!
Wednesday, June 10
10 a.m.-noon
Age level: 6-12 years
Registration opens May 27
Leapin’ lizards and slitherin’ snakes! Reptiles are the focus of our Jr. Naturalist
Patch! Come play games, go on a reptile “hunt”, and make a new friend or two!
Leaders: Nature Center Staff

Mud Pies
Friday June 12
10 a.m.-noon
Age level: All ages
Registration opens May 29
Use your imagination to create mud pies! Join us at the Nature Center for a fun time in the cool mud.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff

Full Moon Pickin’ Party
Friday, June 12
7-11 p.m.
Age level: All ages
Join us for this bluegrass event under the light of a full moon. Come ready to play and join a jam session or come to eat and tap your toes. All proceeds help to protect & preserve the Parks. For information, fees, pre-registration, or to volunteer, go to www.friendsofwarnerparks.com or call 370-8053.
Leader: Maggie Odle, FOWP & Volunteers

LOST in the woods!
Saturday, June 13
10-11 a.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens May 29
Learn how to stay found and as well as about summer hazards such as poison ivy, snakes, and chiggers, and the easiest prevention method—identify and avoid!
Leaders: Heather Gallagher

Kite Flying 101
Tuesday, June 16
10-11 a.m.
Age level: 8-14 years
Registration opens June 2
Come join us and learn the basics of kite flying. Blue Ridge Mountain Sports staff will bring the latest technology in technical kites for participants to fly and enjoy.
Leaders: Blue Ridge Mountain Sports & Warner Parks Staff

Sustainable Food Film Series: Tableland
Tuesday, June 16
6:30 p.m.
Age level: Adults, 13+
Call to register
Martha’s at the Plantation, Good Food for Good People, and the Warner Park Nature Center present a screening of the film Tableland, a “culinary expedition in search of the people, place and taste of North American small-scale, sustainable food production.”
Coordinators: Vera Vollbrecht & Nature Center Staff

Feathered Frenzy
Wednesday, June 17
10 a.m.-noon
Age level: 6-12 years
Registration opens June 2
Observe and learn the nesting birds of the park on this summer birding adventure. We will search for birds foraging for food, feeding their young and fledgling the nest.
Leaders: Irene Perry & Nature Center Staff

Owl Prowl
Friday, June 19
8-9:30 p.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens June 5
Whoooo wants to prowls for owls? Enjoy a warm June evening looking for owls, it will be a hoot.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff

Picnic in the Park
Saturday, June 20
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens June 5
Bring your lunch in a backpack to hike the Old Roadway in Edwin Warner Park. We’ll listen for birds, identify trees, and read a story.
Leaders: Nature Center Staff

Sustainable Food Film Series: King Corn
Tuesday, June 23
6:30 p.m.
Age level: Adults, 13+
Call to register
Martha’s at the Plantation, Good Food for Good People, and the Warner Park Nature Center present a screening of the film King Corn, a documentary “about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation.”
Coordinators: Vera Vollbrecht & Nature Center Staff

Astronomy, Space and Model Aviation
Wednesday, June 24
10 a.m.-noon
Age level: 6-12 years
Registration opens June 16
You have seen their planes in the sky, now come and meet the pilots and see these model airplanes do their acrobatics. Also learn about space and constellations from members of the Bernard-Seyfert Astronomical Society.
Leaders: Edwin Warner Model Aviators, BSAS Volunteers & Warner Parks Staff

Astronomy on the Cheap
Friday, June 26
8-9:30 p.m.
Age level: All ages
Registration opens June 11
Bring your family to learn the basics of astronomy using star charts and binoculars as we explore the southern summer sky.
Leaders: Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society and Nature Center Staff

Fly-fishing with the Pros
Saturday, June 27
9 a.m.-noon
Age level: 10-16 years
Registration opens June 12
Come explore the world of fly-fishing and learn the basics from the professional anglers at Trout Unlimited. Youth will learn about fly casting, reading the water, fly tying, casting with insects, ecology, and conservation.
Leaders: Trout Unlimited & Warner Parks Staff

Growing Organic
Saturday, June 27
10 a.m.-noon
Age level: All ages
Registration opens June 19
Tour the garden and learn about growing organic herbs, vegetables and flowers. We’ll look for beneficial insects and potential pests. Variety is the Spice of Life in the organic garden.
Leader: Irene Perry

Knot Tying & Rock Climbing Safety
Tuesday, June 30
10-11 a.m.
Age level: 8-14 years
Registration opens June 16
Have you ever wondered how to tie a figure 8 knot or a water knot? Come join us and learn the basics of knot tying skills from local wilderness experts.
Leaders: Blue Ridge Mountain Sports & Warner Parks Staff

Sustainable Food Film Series: A Sense of Wonder
Tuesday, June 30
6:30 p.m.
Age level: Adults, 13+
Call to register
Martha’s at the Plantation, Good Food for Good People, and the Warner Park Nature Center present a screening of the film A Sense of Wonder, a film depicting pioneering environmentalist Rachel Carson sharing her convictions and her foresight regarding the risks posed by chemical pesticides.
Coordinators: Vera Vollbrecht & Nature Center Staff

For more information on the Warner Parks Nature Center of to register for any of these classes, programs or events call 615-352-6299.

Leaves of three, let them be!

Poison Ivy, Don't Touch Or Burn This Plant!

Poison Ivy, is a common plant in Middle Tennessee that contains a chemical oil (Urushiol) that can cause the skin to develop a red, itchy rash. The oil is present in all parts of the plant and can be carried on a pets fur and later transferred to people when they pat or touch the animal. Even the smoke from burning poison ivy can be harmful. Burning poison ivy produces smoke that contains Urushoil that when inhaled can cause serious respiratory problems.

To prevent the itchy allergic reactions caused by Urushiol learn how to recognize and avoid poison ivy. And always remember, "Leaves Of Three, Let It Be!"

James Wilson Supreme Court Justice Served October 5, 1789– August 21, 1798

By Betsy Thorpe


Supreme Court Justice James Wilson
Served October 5, 1789– August 21, 1798

On October 5, 1789 James Wilson took the judicial oath of office. He was the first of the original six justices to be appointed by George Washington to the Supreme Court of the United States. Wilson was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a member of the Continental Congress, and a major force in the framing of the United States Constitution. He was also a Brigadier General of the State Militia and during the war he worked with John Adams and Thomas Jefferson to write definition of treason for the emerging nation. In 1787 a delegate in the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia wrote of James Wilson stating that, "Government seems to have been his peculiar study, all the political institutions of the world he knows in detail, and can trace the causes and effects of every revolution from the earliest stages of the Grecian commonwealth down to the present time."


Judge Sonia Sotomayor

This week, President Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the U.S. Court of Appeals to replace Justice David Souter. On May 30th the president said, "After reviewing many terrific candidates, I am certain that she is the right choice. In fact, there has not been a nominee in several generations who has brought the depth of judicial experience to this job that she offers". If the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor is confirmed by congress she will be the 111th judge to take the judicial oath of office and the first Supreme Court Justice to be appointed by President Barack Obama.

Weekly Address By President Barack Obama, May 30, 2009

Friday, May 29th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Weekly Address: The Experience of Judge Sotomayor


The President discusses the breadth and depth of experience held by his nominee for the Supreme Court. In the course of a life that began in a housing project in the South Bronx and brought her to the pinnacle of her profession, Judge Sonia Sotomayor accumulated more experience on the federal bench than any incoming Supreme Court Justice in the past 100 years, touching nearly every aspect of our legal system.



WEEKLY ADDRESS: President Obama Calls for Thorough and Timely Confirmation for Judge Sonia Sotomayor

WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Barack Obama called for a rigorous, principled and swift confirmation for his Supreme Court nominee, Court of Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor. Judge Sotomayor’s extraordinary professional career, as a New York City prosecutor, a litigator, and as a judge for 17 years, is matched only by her remarkable life story, from growing up in a housing project to graduating from Princeton University and Yale Law School. With the depth of her experience, she will be a prudent Justice who respects and adheres to the Constitution and the law.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Washington D.C.

This week, I nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the U.S. Court of Appeals to replace Justice David Souter, who is retiring after nearly two decades on the Supreme Court. After reviewing many terrific candidates, I am certain that she is the right choice. In fact, there has not been a nominee in several generations who has brought the depth of judicial experience to this job that she offers.

Judge Sotomayor’s career began when she served as an Assistant District Attorney in New York, prosecuting violent crimes in America’s largest city. After leaving the DA’s office, she became a litigator, representing clients in complex international legal disputes. She was appointed to the U.S. District Court, serving six years as a trial judge where she presided over hundreds of cases. And most recently, she has spent eleven years on the U.S. Court of Appeals, our nation’s second highest court, grappling with some of the most difficult constitutional and legal issues we face as a nation. She has more experience on the federal bench than any incoming Supreme Court Justice in the past 100 years. Quite simply, Judge Sotomayor has a deep familiarity with our judicial system from almost every angle.

And her achievements are all the more impressive when you consider what she had to overcome in order to achieve them. Judge Sotomayor grew up in a housing project in the South Bronx; her parents came to New York from Puerto Rico during the Second World War. Her father was a factory worker with a third grade education; when she was just nine years old, he passed away. Her mother worked six days a week as a nurse to provide for her and her brother, buying the only set of encyclopedias in the neighborhood and sending her children to Catholic school. That’s what made it possible for Judge Sotomayor to attend two of America’s leading universities, graduating at the top of her class at Princeton University, and studying at Yale Law School where she won a prestigious post as an editor of the school’s Law Journal.

These many years later, it was hard not to be moved by Judge Sotomayor’s mother, sitting in the front row at the White House, her eyes welling with tears, as her daughter – who had come so far, for whom she sacrificed so much – was nominated to the highest court in the land.

And this is what makes Judge Sotomayor so extraordinary. Even as she has reached the heights of her profession, she has never forgotten where she began. She has faced down barriers, overcome difficult odds, and lived the American dream. As a Justice of the Supreme Court, she will bring not only the experience acquired over the course of a brilliant legal career, but the wisdom accumulated over the course of an extraordinary journey – a journey defined by hard work, fierce intelligence, and the enduring faith that, in America, all things are possible.

It is her experience in life and her achievements in the legal profession that have earned Judge Sotomayor respect across party lines and ideological divides. She was originally named to the U.S. District Court by the first President Bush, a Republican. She was appointed to the federal Court of Appeals by President Clinton, a Democrat. She twice has been overwhelmingly confirmed by the U.S. Senate. And I am gratified by the support for this nomination voiced by members of the legal community who represent views from across the political spectrum.

There are, of course, some in Washington who are attempting to draw old battle lines and playing the usual political games, pulling a few comments out of context to paint a distorted picture of Judge Sotomayor’s record. But I am confident that these efforts will fail; because Judge Sotomayor’s seventeen-year record on the bench – hundreds of judicial decisions that every American can read for him or herself – speak far louder than any attack; her record makes clear that she is fair, unbiased, and dedicated to the rule of law. As a fellow judge on her court, appointed by Ronald Reagan, said recently, "I don’t think I’d go as far as to classify her in one camp or another. I think she just deserves the classification of outstanding judge."

Congress returns this week and I hope the confirmation process will begin without delay. No nominee should be seated without rigorous evaluation and hearing; I expect nothing less. But what I hope is that we can avoid the political posturing and ideological brinksmanship that has bogged down this process, and Congress, in the past. Judge Sotomayor ought to be on the bench when the Supreme Court decides what cases to hear this year and I’m calling on Democrats and Republicans to be thorough, and timely in dealing with this nomination.

As President, there are few responsibilities more serious or consequential than the naming of a Supreme Court Justice. The members of our highest court are granted life tenure. They are charged with applying principles put to paper more than two centuries ago to some of the most difficult questions of our time. And the impact of their decisions extends beyond an administration, but for generations to come.

This is a decision that I have not taken lightly and it is one that I am proud to have made. I know that Justice Sotomayor will serve this nation with distinction. And when she ascends those marble steps to assume her seat on the Supreme Court, bringing a lifetime of experience on and off the bench, America will have taken another important step toward realizing the ideal that is chiseled above its entrance: Equal justice under the law.

Thanks.

Networking ( words of advice from songwriter Craig Bickhardt)

A couple of weeks ago I happily discovered Ninety Mile Wind a blog for songwriters authored by Craig Bickhardt. Offering opinions and advice the posts on Ninety Mile Wind encourage songwriters to nurture and trust their own creativity.

Craig graciously gave Nashville Past And Present permission to post in part, articles from the archives of Ninety Mile Wind.


Networking
By Craig Bickhardt
Ninety Mile Wind

After 25 years in and around Nashville (I lived there for 23 of those years) I can share some of my experience with you. One thing is true: the music industry is a network that is made up of smaller networks, and people only want to do business with their friends. This was some of the earliest advice given to me in Nashville by my friend Don Schlitz. Almost everyone knows everyone else in some capacity.

Another piece of good advice I got early on was to keep my head in my papers and ignore the crap swirling around me. The work is what matters.

Go here to read the entire article titled Networking, by Craig Bickhardt.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Visit Your Local Park

"Our most interesting trails are the Turnbull River Trail, The White Pine Trail and the Bluff Trail. These trails are all unique. On the Turnbull Trail you see spider lilllies, alder and rushes. The White Pine Trail is a beautiful stand of White Pine that makes you feel like you are in a special place and the smell is wonderful. The Bluff Trail gives you a panoramic view of the Turnbull river and has several large hardwood trees, it is very peaceful".
Bowie Nature Park, Fairview Tennessee


Park Naturalist, Melissa Bell
Bowie Park And Nature Center


Prior to her death in 1992 Dr. Evangeline Bowie deeded to the city of Fairview the 722-acre forest that she created from land that was once barren and eroded. Following her wishes the city made a public park out of the land and this year more than 137,000 children and adults are expected to visit Fairview's Bowie Nature Park.

The Bowie Park Nature Center is located near the park's entrance and includes The Bowie Museum where information and exhibits regarding the history of the Bowie family and their gift to the city of Fariview is available. The center also contains the “Discovery Room” a classroom that offers a hands on learning environment that encourages the discovery of the park's natural wonders. The Nature Center's classes on identifing local mushrooms, and on weather watching are very popular. Night hikes, and fishing rodeo's are favorite programs offered by the center.

Inside the park are seventeen miles of winding hiking trails that move through the park's various eco-systems. A small channel runs through the park's Lake Van and is great for cat-fishing. An interpretive trail surrounds the lake. The trail begins in a Loblolly Pine forest and progresses into a hardwood bottom wetland. The interpretive signs posted along the trail help hikers discover some of the more interesting plants and animals growing and living in the area. Several species of woodpeckers, hawks and water fowl populate the forests and lakes at Bowie Nature Park. In addition to hiking trails, the park also offers trails accessible to equestrians and mountain bikers.


Bowie Nature Park is located at
7211 Bowie Lake Road
Fairview, Tennessee


Park Hours
Bowie Nature Center is open from Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 - 4:00
Bowie Nature Park is open from sunrise to sunset year round.

For more information on Bowie Nature Park, call 615 799-5544

President Barack Obama Joins The Hall Of Presidents, Disney World, July 4, 2009

Disney Imagineer John Cutry programs an Audio-Animatronics likeness of President Barack Obama in preparation for the July 2009 re-launch of the Hall of Presidents attraction at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The attraction in the Magic Kingdom Park features Audio-Animatronics representations of all the United States Presidents.



President Obama’s likeness will have a speaking role, along with “George Washington” and “Abraham Lincoln.”

Free Language Class For Japan Exchange Teaching Alumni Offered At Nashville's Japanese Consulate

Announcement The Consulate General of Japan in Nashville

We are very pleased to announce that the Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville will offer Japanese language classes for JETAA members and departing JET Participants (including alternates) this summer. If you would like to brush up on your Japanese language skills then this class is for you!

The Japanese class is free of charge and will start on June 2 and end July 28.

Please note that while prior Japanese study is not mandatory, the class will be geared for those who have had 2 years of college level Japanese or have at least passed the Level 4 JLPT.

TIME: 5:30-7:00PM Every Tuesday June 2 to July 28

PLACE: Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville
(1801 West End Avenue, Suite 900)

INSTRUCTOR: Mika Garrett of Belmont University

SPACE IS LIMITED AND REGISTRATION IS ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS

If you would like to attend, please email Sumir Brahmbhatt at jet@cgjnashville.org with the following information:


Name
Japanese level (Basic, Beginner, Intermediate, Advance, Fluent)
Contact info (Phone/email)
Topics you would like to cover
If you have any questions, you may call Sumir at (615)340-4300 x172

Mayor Karl Dean's Centennial Park Restoration Committee Will Meet Next Week

Centennial Park was originally built for Tennessee’s 1987 Centennial Exposition. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.



A General view, of the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition, shows Parthenon, Memphis Pavilion, and other buildings, Nashville, 1897
Many cities and organizations built buildings and exhibit halls on the Exposition grounds. Among the most prominent were those of Nashville and Memphis. Nashville designed its pavilion after the Parthenon in Greece due to the city's nickname as The Athens of the South. Memphis's exhibit, in honor of its Egyptian name, was a large pyramid.


The Women's Building, Tennessee Centennial Exhibition, Nashville, 1897


The Negro Building, Tennessee Centennial Exposition, Nashville, 1897
The Negro Building on the Exposition grounds was intended to show the progress being made by a people liberated from slavery only 30 years earlier.

Mayor Karl Dean's Centennial Park Restoration Committee

"This committee is dedicated to making Centennial Park not only the signature park in Nashville, but also a model for great inner-city parks across the country."
Mayor Karl Dean

Last November Mayor Karl Dean appointed a committee to oversee the restoration of Centennial Park. The park, which was the site of the 1897 Centennial Exposition, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“The Exposition was the catalyst for municipal park systems here and across the state,” Dean said. “But despite its historic significance and prominent location in our city, the monuments, historic architecture, and grounds of Centennial Park are in great need of repair.”

George Anderson,who is the chair of the Conservancy for the Parthenon and Centennial Park, chairs the mayor's committee. Nicholas S. Zeppos, chancellor of Vanderbilt University, serves as honorary chair. “Centennial Park is a Nashville treasure that is an incredible destination and resource for faculty, staff, students and visitors of Vanderbilt, and I am honored to work on the restoration of this historic site that includes classical ties to my Greek ancestors,” Zeppos said.

The committee is charged with overseeing the restoration of Centennial Park, starting with the development of a master plan for the park. The next meeting of the mayor’s Centennial Park Restoration Committee will be held Wednesday, June 3 at 11:30 a.m. in the West Gallery at The Parthenon.

Tennessee’s Child Passenger Safety Center At Meharry Medical College Promotes Proper Use Of Child Safety Seats

By Betsy Thorpe

“Tennessee’s Child Passenger Safety Centers are providing an exceptional service to protect children from injury or even death.”
Kendell Poole
Director of the Governor’s Highway Safety Office



A Mural on the side of the The Middle Tennessee Child Passenger Safety Center van pictures Meharry employee Ruby Thorpe and her daughter Mary, with Davion the son of Meharry sterilization technician, Kim Moore.


The Middle Tennessee Child Passenger Safety Center van At Meharry Medical College

When you see the Child Passenger Safety Center van on your street, you can know that neigborhood children will be safer because it is bringing certified technicians to work with area fire departments, police officers, and medical centers to educate members of your community on how to install and use child safety seats correctly.

The Middle Tennessee Child Passenger Safety Center at Nashville's Meharry Medical College was established as a place where parents can have their children’s safety seats inspected, adjusted, or replaced. The center's director Angela Brown said "73 percent of all child passenger restraints are used incorrectly", however she also stated that "“child safety seats if used correctly can reduce infant mortality by 71 percent and toddler fatalities by 54 percent." By educating the community on the proper use of child safety seats Meharry and The Middle Tennessee Child Passenger Safety Center hopes to dramatically reduce the number of injuries and fatalities suffered by local children in automobile accidents.

For more information on child passenger safety, or to locate an inspection station near you, call the Middle Tennessee Child Passenger Safety Center at Meharry at 327-5900 or visit www.tntrafficsafety.org.



To learn more about Meharry Medical College go here.

Bee Hives Added To The West Nashville Community Farm

By Betsy Thorpe


One Of Two Bee Hives Recently Added To The West Nashville Community Farm


The management team at the West Nashville Community Farm recently introduced two bee hives into the farm's eco-system. Most flowering plants are fertilized when bees and birds transfer pollen from one plant to another.Pollination is an important step in the completion of a plants life cycle and when nature does not provide enough wild bees and birds to pollinate a cultivated garden, growers will often add bee hives to their plot.

Bees are especially beneficial to farmers growing cucumbers, squash, melons, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and tomatoes. In addition to the benefits of pollination bee colonies also provide farmers with an ongoing supply of honey.

The growers at the West Nashville Community Farm use natural farming methods and the utilization of honey bees for pollination and fertilization is just one example the sustainable agricultural practices employed at the farm.

May 25, 1977 Star Wars Opened On Memorial Day Weekend In 32 Theatres

On May 25, 1977 the movie, that was to become a pop culture phenomenon, STAR WARS, made its Hollywood debut at the world famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.


Following the movie's unprecedented success, actress Carrie Fisher, told Time magazine"It wasn’t like a movie opening, it was like an earthquake." Fisher also said that Star Wars created "a new order of geeks, enthusiastic young people with sleeping bags," waiting to buy tickets to see the blockbuster film.



Today STAR WARS is one of the most iconic representations of 1970's popular culture.

Nashville National Cemetery

By Betsy Thorpe


Nashville National Cemetery, around 1881

The National Cemetery system was founded in 1862, following the enactment of legislation authorizing President Lincoln “to purchase cemetery grounds . . . to be used as a national cemetery.” On November 19, 1863 the president delivered the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the first "Soldiers National Cemetery" in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. In July of 1866 the Nashville National Cemetery was founded and by 1872 75 national cemeteries existed throughout the country.

The first burials at the Nashville National Cemetery were re-interments transferred from local battlefields and veteran hospitals. The Nashville National Cemetery holds over four thousand graves of unknown soldiers.

In 1996 the Nashville National Cemetery was listed in the National Register Of Historic Places.

The Nashville National Cemetery is located north of downtown Nashville at 1420 Gallatin Rd.

"The Lost Soldier" Nashville National Cemetery

The Lost Soldier History Bill wanders through the Nashville National Cemetery, wishing he had a tour guide to tell him some of the stories of the people buried there. Along comes a mystery soldier to tell his story.



The Lost Soldier is portrayed Bill Radcliffe, a Nashville firefighter and Civil War re-enactor with the 13th USCT. Mr.Radcliffe is also the model for the 9'high bronze statue that stands guard over the graves of the 2,133 Civil War servicemen buried at the Nashville National Cemetery. The statue was unvieled on Febuary 18, 2006 and is the only momument in the nations 139 National Cemeteries that is dedicated to African American soldiers. President Lincoln believed that the Civil War was the nations punishment for slavery and his provision for a national cemetery system ensured that all those, both black and white, "who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan" would be recognized for their supreme sacrifice.

To read how the monument has been documented and archived by The Smithsonian Institute or to see photo's of the statue go here.

More than 200,000 United States Colored Troops fought in the Civil War, more than 20,000 of those soldiers were from Tennessee.

Weekly Address By President Barack Obama, May 23, 2009

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 at 12:00 am
Weekly Address: Sacrifice

On this Memorial Day weekend, President Obama calls on the American people to join him in paying tribute to America’s veterans, servicemen and women – particularly those who have made the ultimate sacrifice - and their families.



Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Saturday, May 23, 2009


This Memorial Day weekend, Americans will gather on lawns and porches, fire up the grill, and enjoy the company of family, friends, and neighbors. But this is not only a time for celebration, it is also a time to reflect on what this holiday is all about; to pay tribute to our fallen heroes; and to remember the servicemen and women who cannot be with us this year because they are standing post far from home – in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world.

On Friday, I traveled to Annapolis, where I spoke at the Commencement of the United States Naval Academy. It was an honor to address some of America’s newest sailors and Marines as their Commander-in-Chief. Looking out at all of those young men and women, I was reminded of the extraordinary service that they are rendering to our country. And I was reminded, too, of all of the sacrifices that their parents, siblings, and loved ones make each day on their behalf and on our behalf.

Our fighting men and women – and the military families who love them – embody what is best in America. And we have a responsibility to serve all of them as well as they serve all of us.

And yet, all too often in recent years and decades, we, as a nation, have failed to live up to that responsibility. We have failed to give them the support they need or pay them the respect they deserve. That is a betrayal of the sacred trust that America has with all who wear – and all who have worn – the proud uniform of our country.

And that is a sacred trust I am committed to keeping as President of the United States. That is why I will send our servicemen and women into harm’s way only when it is necessary, and ensure that they have the training and equipment they need when they enter the theater of war.

That is why we are building a 21st century Department of Veterans Affairs with the largest single-year funding increase in three decades. It’s a commitment that will help us provide our veterans with the support and benefits they have earned, and expand quality health care to a half million more veterans.

That is why, this week, I signed a bill that will eliminate some of the waste and inefficiency in our defense projects – reform that will better protect our nation, better protect our troops, and save taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.

And that is why we are laying a new foundation for our economy so that when our troops return home and take off the uniform, they can find a good job, provide for their families, and earn a college degree on a Post-9/11 GI Bill that will offer them the same opportunity to live out their dreams that was afforded our greatest generation.

These are some of the ways we can, must, and will honor the service of our troops and the sacrifice of their families. But we must also do our part, not only as a nation, but as individuals for those Americans who are bearing the burden of wars being fought on our behalf. That can mean sending a letter or a care package to our troops overseas. It can mean volunteering at a clinic where a wounded warrior is being treated or bringing supplies to a homeless veterans center. Or it can mean something as simple as saying "thank you" to a veteran you pass on the street.

That is what Memorial Day is all about. It is about doing all we can to repay the debt we owe to those men and women who have answered our nation’s call by fighting under its flag. It is about recognizing that we, as a people, did not get here by accident or good fortune alone. It’s about remembering the hard winter of 1776, when our fragile American experiment seemed doomed to fail; and the early battles of 1861 when a union victory was anything but certain; and the summer of 1944, when the fate of a world rested on a perilous landing unlike any ever attempted.

It’s about remembering each and every one of those moments when our survival as a nation came down not simply to the wisdom of our leaders or the resilience of our people, but to the courage and valor of our fighting men and women. For it is only by remembering these moments that we can truly appreciate a simple lesson of American life – that what makes all we are and all we aspire to be possible are the sacrifices of an unbroken line of Americans that stretches back to our nation’s founding.

That is the meaning of this holiday. That is a truth at the heart of our history. And that is a lesson I hope all Americans will carry with them this Memorial Day weekend and beyond.

Thank you.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Visit Your Local Park

Richland Park, Nashville

Richland Park is located in West Nashville on Charlotte Pike, between 46th and 50th Avenue North.

This Is The Last Week To See The Nashville Public Library's "Cultural Heroes" Exhibit sculptures by Alan LeQuire

Alan LeQuire: Cultural Heroes
January 23, 2009 – May 31, 2009
On Exhibit in the Art Gallery at the Main Library


Artist Statement

One of my favorite places is the Cluny Museum in Paris. Inside are displayed the heads of the kings of France which were broken off the facade of Notre Dame during the French Revolution and rediscovered during the 1970s. These larger-than-life stone heads are so beautiful and are displayed in such an ethereal setting that they continue to affect me now, years after I first encountered them.

I wanted to create something myself which would have a similar effect and presence. I am not interested in mythological subject matter, but instead, real people whose art succeeded despite obstacles. I began to compile a list of personal artist role models.

These are the first of five on an ongoing series of colossal portrait heads, which I call Cultural Heroes. I experimented with various ways of handling the material (clay), always with the intent to make the material and its treatment at least as important as the subject matter.

The six people currently represented in the sculptures so far are Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Leadbelly, Paul Robeson, Marion Anderson and Woody Guthrie.

Alan LeQuire

Pictured below are photos of two sculptures from the exhibit Cultural Heroes.

Salad Greens Harvested At West Nashville Community Farm

"Nashville Urban Harvest is a community driven, non-profit group working to build sustainable food systems in Nashville, Tennessee, and surrounding environs. We seek ways to align our core values through public action: education for food justice, creation of markets to support local producers, and production of food on urban green space, all with an eye toward sustainable, local, community-supported agriculture and action".

On May 20 the growers at the West Nashville Community Farm provided Nashville Urban Harvest CSA holders with their portion of this years first harvest, a basket of garden fresh salad greens. Each basket included two varieties of lettuce, kale and green onions.

The West Nashville Community Farm is located at 1211 56th Avenue North. Anyone interested in learning how to grow food using sustainable agricultural practices is welcome to visit the community farm on Saturday's between 9:00 am and noon.





Sarah a member of Nashville Urban Harvest Picks Kale
May 20, 2009

Lettuce Ready For Harvest
May 20, 2009

Green Onions And Kale Fresh From The Garden
May 20, 2009

I Know You Are Listening

You Can Never Be Too Paranoid

Steve Martin to Make Grand Ole Opry Debut on May 30

Steve Martin will make his Grand Ole Opry debut May 30 with a performance from his first music album, The Crow, New Songs for the Five-String Banjo. Life-long friend John McEuen, who produced the album and assembled an all-star cast to record with Martin, will appear on the show along with Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Stuart Duncan, Tim O’Brien, and others. The artists will be performing select songs from the The Crow. The album is currently available exclusively through Amazon.com but will be available at all music retailers later this year.


McEuen and Martin began their friendship as teenagers in Orange County, California, working at Disneyland’s Magic Shop, and have worked together over the years on various projects. “This will be a lifelong memory highpoint—one of just how far a dream can go,” McEuen said. "Two kids from Orange County at the Opry! Well, when Steve picks, fans will see how much it means to him to bring his music to the heart of country music. The audience will find out he’s a musician disguised as an actor.”

Go here to purchase tickets to see Steve Martin debut at the Grand Ole Opry on May 30th.

A Message from Chicago Bulls Star Luol Deng

Chicago Bull #9, Luol Deng

Chicago Bulls forward,Luol Deng recently sent the following message to the people of Illinois, however his public appeal holds relevance to people living in Tennessee and throughout the United States. More than 8,000 Sudanese's immigrants and refugees presently reside in Tennessee and The Sudanese Community and Women's Center located at 3221 Nolenville Road in Nashville, serves a large portion of the local immigrant community. According to founder and director, Gatlauk Ter Thach, the center is currently in need of volunteers to help teach English in the various language classes offered at the center.

Go here to learn how you can be of assistance to Nashville's Sudanese Community and Women's Center.

Betsy Thorpe

Dear Friends,

As a Member of the Board of Directors of the Sudanese Community Association of Illinois, I ask that you support our Sudanese Community Center. The development of this Center had long been a dream of Illinois residents of Sudanese descent.

I am honored to be working with so many skilled professionals, elected officials and civic leaders who helped make our dream a reality.

Our Illinois community comes from every corner of the Sudan. Some community members are “Lost Boys” who walked thousands of miles after their villages were destroyed and their family members killed during Sudan’s civil war. Others have fled the ongoing genocide in Sudan’s Darfur region, where over 300,000 have been killed and over 2 million lives are still at risk.

Regardless of religious, tribal or ethnic background we now share a common goal: to support this center where all Illinois residents of Sudanese descent can learn the skills they need to succeed in the United States, and to preserve our heritage for future generations. Please click here to donate and join us in this exciting effort.

Sincerely,


Luol Deng

Visit The Buffalo Valley Farm, Become A Locavore!

By Betsy Thorpe

A Locavore is a person who participates in the purchasing and consumption of locally grown organic produce.




Rows of lettuce, spinach, turnip greens and other leafy vegetables are growing near the barn at the Buffalo Valley Farm. This section is called the "Salad Garden".


Rows of various plants are growing in front of the farm's hoop house. The hoop house is used to start the garden's seeds in the very early spring. The seedlings are planted in the ground once the threat of frost is gone.

Growers , Buddy and Sydney Rogers of Bellevue's Buffalo Valley Farm are interested in educating the public on the merits and benefits of purchasing and consuming healthy food that is grown locally.

The Buffalo Valley Farm is a family effort. Sydney's son Philip has attended garden related workshops and is responsible for the design and layout of the garden's fruit and vegetable plots. Philip's girlfriend Mandy works with him at the farm and his sister Alyson tends the farm's mushroom bed. Alyson and her boyfriend Philip also work on the farm along with Sydney Rogers' nephews, Ryan and Derek Winters. Buddy Rogers who is the farm's beekeeper, hopes to have honey for sale by next years harvest.

Sustainable agricultural practices are utilized at the Buffalo Vally farm, ensuring that the farm's produce is free of any inorganic pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers. Believing that produce grown using all natural methods promotes healthy living, Mrs. Rogers said another reason she prefers " all natural, local over commercially grown produce is it just simply tastes better".

Anyone interested in visiting the Buffalo Valley Farm or in learning how to become a locavare can contact Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Rogers here.

The TVA Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow

By Betsy Thorpe


The Tennessean
Nashville Tennessee
May 18, 1963

"We are saluting the 30th anniversary of the Tennessee Valley Authority, which transformed a parched, depressed, and floodravaged region into a fertile, productive center of industry, science, and agriculture".

President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Vanderbilt University, May 18th, 1963.

The Tennessee Valley Authority was established by Congress in 1933 to assist farmers by providing affordable electric power, "and for the general purpose of fostering an orderly and proper physical, economic, and social development" throughout the Tennessee Valley.

In an address to congress on April 10 1933, President Franklin Roosevelt proposed the development of the Tennessee Valley Authority, by saying "The continued idleness of a great national investment in the Tennessee Valley leads me to ask the Congress for legislation necessary to enlist this project in the service of the people". "Such use, if envisioned in its entirely, transcends mere power development; it enters the wide fields of flood control, soil erosion, reforestation, elimination from agricultural use of marginal lands, and distribution and diversification of industry. In short, this power development of war days leads logically to national planning for a complete river watershed involving many States and the future lives and welfare of millions. It touches and gives life to all forms of human concerns". On May 18, 1933 President Roosevelt signed the Tennessee Valley Authority Act. The signing of the act occurred during the first hundred days of the New Deal, an initiative designed to bring relief to the unemployed, and to promote economic recovery during The Great Depression.

On April 18 2009, and approaching his first hundred days in office President Obama said "It’s not news to say that we are living through challenging times: The worst economic downturn since the Great Depression." He also said "our future depends on building a new energy economy". Today as the TVA marks its 76th anniversary it is the nation's largest public power provider. In response to President Obama's call to action and in the spirit of President Roosevelt's entire vision, the agency is working in cooperation with the environmental community to find ways to bring electricity generated by renewable resources to Tennessee Valley consumers, to protect "the future lives and welfare of millions".

Kombucha Tea Was Once Known As The Immortal Health Elixir

By Betsy Thorpe


Nashville songwriter, John Wendell received his first Kombucha Tea colony in October of 2007, at "Windy Acres" an organic soybean farm located in Orlinda Tennessee.

"I am really glad I discovered this unique drink because I'm not a big water drinker, and I'm inclined to think that it's at least better for me than soda-pop. My initial interest was in its potential health benefits, but since there's not a lot of science on that, it's hard to know for sure if it's benefits are real. I love this beverage so much that my main concern nowadays is that it is at least not detrimental to my health. I pray I'm not pickling my insides. I'd say I consume on average two to three 8 oz. glasses a day."

"It's fun to make, it's always exciting to see how bubbly and carbonated my brew is, and comparing the 4 or 5 dollars a bottle that it costs at the health food store to the pennies a serving by brewing at home, that alone is motivation for home brewing. Home brewed Komucha Tea is a bit peculiar looking with the "scoby" floating on the top so some people think I am a nut for drinking the stuff. But all I can say is that anybody who discovers this beverage and learns to love it like I do, will be eternally grateful for the discovery."

John Wendell

Use of the popular vinegary drink now known as Kombucha Tea was first recorded around 250 BC during the Qin Dynasty in China. Called the Immortal Health Elixir, or the Remedy For Immortality the tea was brewed from fungi said to have mystical powers and properties. Qin Dynasty physicians believed the elixir balanced the Middle Qi where the spleen and stomach is located by aiding digestion, and centralizing the bodies energy in order to promote healing.

Throughout the centuries the use of the fermented yeast enzyme tea now known as Kombucha progressed across Asia and Europe. The brew and it's ancient folk lore arrived in the United States during the 1960's and were quickly adopted by the country's young health conscience counter-culture, who enthusiastically embraced various alternatives to established medical beliefs and practices.

Kombucha Tea is a symbiotic colony of yeast and beneficial bacteria that grows in sugar-sweetened black tea. Using a mother, a colony of babies is created with each new batch. Left to ferment in a warm, environment, the colony grows until the elixir, rich in antioxidants, amino acids, and a large amount of of B-vitamins is ready to drink.

Today thousands of bottles of the fermented vinegary drink are sold in health food and whole food stores everyday and a growing number of colonies are harvested in the homes of Kombucha Tea's most devoted and purest consumers.

Remarks by President Kennedy in Nashville at Vanderbilt University, May 18, 1963

Courtesy, JFK Library And Archives



In a spirited and eloquent speech before an estimated crowd of 30,000 people in the stadium at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee on May 18, 1963, President Kennedy reminded his listeners that it falls to the educated man to assume the greater obligations of citizenship—for the pursuit of learning, to serve the public and to uphold the law.



President John Kennedy
Dudley Field
Vanderbilt University
Nashville Tennessee
May 18, 1963

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENSHIP


President John F. Kennedy
Nashville, Tennessee
May 18, 1963

Mr. Chancellor, Mr. Vanderbilt, Senator Kefauver, Senator Gore, Congressman Fulton, Congressman Evins, Congressman Bass, Congressman Everett, Tom Murray, distinguished guests, members of the judiciary, the Army Corps of Engineers of the Tennessee Valley:

I first of all want to express my warm appreciation to the Governor and to the Mayor of this State and city and to the people for a very generous welcome, and particularly to all those young men and women who lined the street and played music for us as we drove into this stadium. We are glad they are here with us, and we feel the musical future of this city and State is assured.

Many things bring us together today. We are saluting the 90th anniversary of Vanderbilt University, which has grown from a small Tennessee university and institution to one of our Nation's greatest, with 7 different colleges, and with more than half of its 4200 students from outside of the State of Tennessee.

And we are saluting the 30th anniversary of the Tennessee Valley Authority, which transformed a parched, depressed, and floodravaged region into a fertile, productive center of industry, science, and agriculture.

We are saluting--by initiating construction of a dam in his name--a great Tennessee statesman, Cordell Hull, the father of reciprocal trade, the grandfather of the United Nations, the Secretary of State who presided over the transformation of this Nation from a life of isolation and almost indifference to a state of responsible world leadership.

And finally, we are saluting--by the recognition of a forthcoming dam in his name-J. Percy Priest, a former colleague of mine in the House of Representatives, who represented this district, this State, and this Nation in the Congress for 16 turbulent years--years which witnessed the crumbling of empires, the splitting of the atom, the conquest of one threat to freedom, and the emergence of still another.

If there is one unchanging theme that runs throughout these separate stories, it is that everything changes but change itself. We live in an age of movement and change, both evolutionary and revolutionary, both good and evil--and in such an age a university has a special obligation to hold fast to the best of the past and move fast to the best of the future.

Nearly 100 years ago Prince Bismarck said that one-third of the students of German universities broke down from overwork, another third broke down from dissipation, and the other third ruled Germany. I do not know which third of the student body of Vanderbilt is here today, but I am confident we are talking to the future rulers of Tennessee and America in the spirit of this university.

The essence of Vanderbilt is still learning, the essence of its outlook is still liberty, and liberty and learning will be and must be the touchstones of Vanderbilt University and of any free university in this country or the world. I say two touchstones, yet they are almost inseparable, inseparable if not indistinguishable, for liberty without learning is always in peril, and learning without liberty is always in vain.

This State, this city, this campus, have stood long for both human rights and human enlightenment--and let that forever be true. This Nation is now engaged in a continuing debate about the rights of a portion of its citizens. That will go on, and those rights will expand until the standard first forged by the Nation's founders has been reached, and all Americans enjoy equal opportunity and liberty under law.

But this Nation was not founded solely on the principle of citizens' rights. Equally important, though too often not discussed, is the citizen's responsibility. For our privileges can be no greater than our obligations. The protection of our rights can endure no longer than the performance of our responsibilities. Each can be neglected only at the peril of the other. I speak to you today, therefore, not of your rights as Americans, but of your responsibilities. They are many in number and different in nature. They do not rest with equal weight upon the shoulders of all. Equality of opportunity does not mean equality of responsibility. All Americans must be responsible citizens, but some must be more responsible than others, by virtue of their public or their private position, their role in the family or community, their prospects for the future, or their legacy from the past.

Increased responsibility goes with increased ability, for "of those to whom much is given, much is required."

Commodore Vanderbilt recognized this responsibility and his recognition made possible the establishment of a great institution of learning for which he will be long remembered after his steamboats and railroads have been forgotten. I speak in particular, therefore, of the responsibility of the educated citizen, including the students, the faculty, and the alumni of this great institution. The creation and maintenance of Vanderbilt University, like that of all great universities, has required considerable effort and expenditure, and I cannot believe that all of this was undertaken merely to give this school's graduates an economic advantage in the life struggle. "Every man sent out from a university," said Professor Woodrow Wilson, "Every man sent out from a university should be a man of his Nation, as well as a man of his time."

You have responsibilities, in short, to use your talents for the benefit of the society which helped develop those talents. You must decide, as Goethe put it, whether you will be an anvil or a hammer, whether you will give to the world in which you were reared and educated the broadest possible benefits of that education. Of the many special obligations incumbent upon an educated citizen, I would cite three as outstanding: your obligation to the pursuit of learning, your obligation to serve the public, your obligation to uphold the law.

If the pursuit of learning is not defended by the educated citizen, it will not be defended at all. For there will always be those who scoff at intellectuals, who cry out against research, who seek to limit our educational system. Modern cynics and skeptics see no more reason for landing a man on the moon, which we shall do, than the cynics and skeptics of half a millennium ago saw for the discovery of this country. They see no harm in paying those to whom they entrust the minds of their children a smaller wage than is paid to those to whom they entrust the care of their plumbing.

But the educated citizen knows how much more there is to know. He knows that "knowledge is power," more so today than ever before. He knows that only an educated and informed people will be a free people, that the ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all, and that if we can, as Jefferson put it, "enlighten the people generally ... tyranny and the oppressions of mind and body will vanish, like evil spirits at the dawn of day." And, therefore, the educated citizen has a special obligation to encourage the pursuit of learning, to promote exploration of the unknown, to preserve the freedom of inquiry, to support the advancement of research, and to assist at every level of government the improvement of education for all Americans, from grade school to graduate school.

Secondly, the educated citizen has an obligation to serve the public. He may be a precinct worker or President. He may give his talents at the courthouse, the State house, the White House. He may be a civil servant or a Senator, a candidate or a campaign worker, a winner or a loser. But he must be a participant and not a spectator.

"At the Olympic games," Aristotle wrote, "it is not the finest and strongest men who are crowned, but they who enter the lists-for out of these the prize-men are elected. So, too, in life, of the honorable and the good, it is they who act who rightly win the prizes."

I urge all of you today, especially those who are students, to act, to enter the lists of public service and rightly win or lose the prize. For we can have only one form of aristocracy in this country, as Jefferson wrote long ago in rejecting John Adams' suggestion of an artificial aristocracy of wealth and birth. It is, he wrote, the natural aristocracy of character and talent, and the best form of government, he added, was that which selected these men for positions of responsibility.

I would hope that all educated citizens would fulfill this obligation--in politics, in Government, here in Nashville, here in this State, in the Peace Corps, in the Foreign Service, in the Government Service, in the Tennessee Valley, in the world. You will find the pressures greater than the pay. You may endure more public attacks than support. But you will have the unequaled satisfaction of knowing that your character and talent are contributing to the direction and success of this free society.

Third, and finally, the educated citizen has an obligation to uphold the law. This is the obligation of every citizen in a free and peaceful society--but the educated citizen has a special responsibility by the virtue of his greater understanding. For whether he has ever studied history or current events, ethics or civics, the rules of a profession or the tools of a trade, he knows that only a respect for the law makes it possible for free men to dwell together in peace and progress.

He knows that law is the adhesive force in the cement of society, creating order out of chaos and coherence in place of anarchy. He knows that for one man to defy a law or court order he does not like is to invite others to defy those which they do not like, leading to a breakdown of all justice and all order. He knows, too, that every fellowman is entitled to be regarded with decency and treated with dignity. Any educated citizen who seeks to subvert the law, to suppress freedom, or to subject other human beings to acts that are less than human, degrades his heritage, ignores his learning, and betrays his obligation.

Certain other societies may respect the rule of force--we respect the rule of law.

The Nation, indeed the whole world, has watched recent events in the United States with alarm and dismay. No one can deny the complexity of the problems involved in assuring to all of our citizens their full rights as Americans. But no one can gainsay the fact that the determination to secure these rights is in the highest traditions of American freedom.

In these moments of tragic disorder, a special burden rests on the educated men and women of our country to reject the temptations of prejudice and violence, and to reaffirm the values of freedom and law on which our free society depends.

When Bishop McTyeire, 90 years ago, proposed it to Commodore Vanderbilt, he said, "Commodore, our country has been torn to pieces by a civil war .... We want to repair this damage." And Commodore Vanderbilt reportedly replied, "I want to unite this country, and all sections of it, so that all our people will be one." His response, his recognition of his obligation and opportunity gave Vanderbilt University not only an endowment but also a mission. Now, 90 years later, in a time of tension, it is more important than ever to unite this country and strengthen these ties so that all of our people will be one.

Ninety years from now I have no doubt that Vanderbilt University will still be fulfilling this mission. It will still uphold learning, encourage public service, and teach respect for the law. It will neither turn its back on proven wisdom or turn its face from newborn challenge. It will still pass on to the youth of our land the full meaning of their rights and their responsibilities. And it will still be teaching the truth--the truth that makes us free and will keep us free.

Thank you.

Go here to hear the speech titled "The Responsibilities Of Citizenship" delivered by President Kennedy at Nashville's Vanderbilt University on May 18, 1963.

To read more about President John F Kennedy and Vanderbilt University go here.

Weekly Address By President Barack Obama May 16 2009

Weekly Address: Two Pillars of a New Foundation
This week the President discusses breakthroughs on two issues where stakeholders from all sides, who once opposed each other, are coming together for real reform. On health care and energy, solutions would provide key pillars for a new foundation for the country.




WEEKLY ADDRESS: President Obama Says Progress on Clean Energy and Healthcare Reform Will Lay New Foundation

This week, President Barack Obama praised individuals representing different perspectives for coming together to address the challenges of building a clean energy economy, reforming the healthcare system and laying a new foundation for the long-term strength of our economy. Utility companies and corporate leaders are working with environmental advocates and labor leaders to find a way to reduce dependence on foreign oil, to fight climate change, and to create millions of new jobs in America. Recently, past critics and advocates of healthcare reform sat down with the President to work on reducing the healthcare costs by $2 trillion in the next decade and saving families $2,500 in the coming years.

Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
Saturday, May 16, 2009


Good morning. Over the past few months, as we have put in place a plan to speed our economic recovery, I have spoken repeatedly of the need to lay a new foundation for lasting prosperity; a foundation that will support good jobs and rising incomes; a foundation for economic growth where we no longer rely on excessive debt and reckless risk – but instead on skilled workers and sound investments to lead the world in the industries of the 21st century.

Two pillars of this new foundation are clean energy and health care. And while there remains a great deal of difficult work ahead, I am heartened by what we have seen these past few days: a willingness of those with different points of view and disparate interests to come together around common goals – to embrace a shared sense of responsibility and make historic progress.

Chairman Henry Waxman and members of the Energy and Commerce Committee brought together stakeholders from all corners of the country – and every sector of our economy – to reach an historic agreement on comprehensive energy legislation. It’s another promising sign of progress, as longtime opponents are sitting together, at the same table, to help solve one of America’s most serious challenges.

For the first time, utility companies and corporate leaders are joining, not opposing, environmental advocates and labor leaders to create a new system of clean energy initiatives that will help unleash a new era of growth and prosperity.

It’s a plan that will finally reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and cap the carbon pollution that threatens our health and our climate. Most important, it’s a plan that will trigger the creation of millions of new jobs for Americans, who will produce the wind turbines and solar panels and develop the alternative fuels to power the future. Because this we know: the nation that leads in 21st century clean energy is the nation that will lead the 21st century global economy. America can and must be that nation – and this agreement is a major step toward this goal.

But we know that our families, our economy, and our nation itself will not succeed in the 21st century if we continue to be held down by the weight of rapidly rising health care costs and a broken health care system. That’s why I met with representatives of insurance and drug companies, doctors and hospitals, and labor unions who are pledging to do their part to reduce health care costs. These are some of the groups who have been among the fiercest critics of past comprehensive health care reform plans. But today they too are recognizing that we must act. Our businesses will not be able to compete; our families will not be able to save or spend; our budgets will remain unsustainable unless we get health care costs under control.

These groups have pledged to do their part to reduce the annual health care spending growth rate by 1.5 percentage points. Coupled with comprehensive reform, their efforts could help to save our nation more than $2 trillion in the next ten years – and save hardworking families $2,500 each in the coming years.

This week, I also invited Speaker of House Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and other congressional leaders to the White House to discuss comprehensive health reform legislation. The House is working to pass a bill by the end of July – before they head out for their August recess. That’s the kind of urgency and determination we need to achieve comprehensive reform by the end of this year. And the reductions in spending the health care community has pledged will help make this reform possible.

I have always believed that it is better to talk than not to talk; that it is far more productive to reach over a divide than to shake your fist across it. This has been an alien notion in Washington for far too long, but we are seeing that the ways of Washington are beginning to change. For the calling of this moment is too loud and too urgent to ignore. Our success as a nation – the future of our children and grandchildren – depends upon our willingness to cast aside old arguments, overcome stubborn divisions, and march forward as one people and one nation.

This is how progress has always been made. This is how a new foundation will be built. We cannot assume that interests will always align, or that fragile partnerships will not fray. There will be setbacks. There will be difficult days. But we are off to a good start. And I am confident that we will – in the weeks, months, and years ahead – build on what we have already achieved and lay this foundation which will not only bring about prosperity for this generation, but for generations to come.

Thanks so much.

Enjoy Your Weekend, Visit Your Local Park

Local resident, C L Walks The Trail Surrounding Bellevue's Red Caboose Park

On Saturday May 16th the 32nd annual Bellevue Community Picnic will take place at the Red Caboose Park. The picnic is sponsored by the Bellevue Chamber Of Commerce and features booths showcasing local businesses, carnival rides, food kiosks and live music and exhibitions on two stages. Mayor Karl Dean will be present for the picnic's opening ceremony at 10:00 am. Joe Elmore, host of Tennessee Crossroads is this years Grand Marshall. The event will close at 10:00 pm following a fireworks display.


Bellevue Community Picnic Schedule Of Events

KID'S STAGE


10:30 - 11:00 AM GOWER PERFORMANCE CHOIR

11:00 - 11:30 AM BELLEVUE DANCE CENTER GAIA - EVERY KID COUNTS

11:30 - 12:00 PM WEST MEADE SINGERS KRISTA MEADOW

12:00 - 12:30 PM HALEY BUTLER TALIA MAYDEN

12:30 - 1:00 PM DANCE IN BLOOM SHIN'S MARTIAL ARTS

1:00 - 1:30 PM JOHN SCHULTZ (12:30 - 1:15 PM)

1:30 - 2:00 PM NICK SPAIN AND MARK CARDINAL REAGAN BOONE

2:00 - 2:30 PM WORLD MUSIC
(2:00 - 3:00 PM) JAZZERCISE - ALLISON ARNOLD

2:30 - 3:00 PM YOUTH FITNESS DEMO YMCA

3:00 - 3:30 PM JOEL ATKINS & ED TOSSING TAYLOR OLIVER

3:30 - 4:00 PM GAIA - EVERY KID COUNTS NICK SPAIN AND MARK CARDINAL

4:00 - 4:30 PM WORLD MUSIC
(4:00 - 5:00 PM)

4:30 - 5:00 PM ANNA KATE DUNN

Schedule Main Stage Music
5:15 PM Ronald Jones Hip Hop

And Break Dancing Troupe Hip Hop

6:00 PM Roux Du Bayou Band Cajun

7:00 PM Dennis Welling

and the BCC Mission Band Fusion of 60's 70's Rock, Soul, and R&B

8:00 PM Brian Bonds and Ready Shoot Eclectic Rock/Country

9:00 PM Troma POP