Set Clocks Back One Hour By 1:59 AM Sunday Morning

DON'T FORGET TO FALL BACK!
The idea of daylight saving was first proposed in "An Economical Project," a 1784 essay written in Paris by American delegate Benjamin Franklin.


Tennessee General Assembly Sergeant-At-Arms Mickey McGuire setting a clock, 1963

History Of Daylight Savings Time
Courtesy United States Navy

Although standard time in time zones was instituted in the U.S. and Canada by the railroads in 1883, it was not established in U.S. law until the Act of March 19, 1918, sometimes called the Standard Time Act. The act also established daylight saving time, a contentious idea then. Daylight saving time was repealed in 1919, but standard time in time zones remained in law. Daylight time became a local matter. It was re-established nationally early in World War II, and was continuously observed from 9 February 1942 to 30 September 1945. After the war its use varied among states and localities. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 provided standardization in the dates of beginning and end of daylight time in the U.S. but allowed for local exemptions from its observance. The act provided that daylight time begin on the last Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October, with the changeover to occur at 2 a.m. local time.

During the "energy crisis" years, Congress enacted earlier starting dates for daylight time. In 1974, daylight time began on 6 January and in 1975 it began on 23 February. After those two years the starting date reverted back to the last Sunday in April. In 1986, a law was passed that shifted the starting date of daylight time to the first Sunday in April, beginning in 1987. The ending date of daylight time was not subject to such changes, and remained the last Sunday in October. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 changed both the starting and ending dates. Now, (starting in 2007,) daylight time starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

Snow White A Witch And A Vampire Prepare To Walk In The Shadow Of The Haunted Halloween Moon

This Witch Promises Not To Offer Snow White An Apple


"I Am A Wicked Witch, But I Am Not Evil!"


The Vampire's Hair Turns Red


Becoming A Vampire Requires A Lot Of Work!


Anything Can Happen Under The Shadow Of The Haunted Moon

Carving A Pumpkin

Cindy Entertains The Girls While The Pumpkin Is Readied For Carving


Time To Dig In


"This Feels Slimey"


"Now What Do I Do?"


Philip Lends A Hand

"We're Bored, This Pumpkin Is Too Big, Lets Go Trick Or Treat"

Weekly Address By President Barack Obama October 31, 2009

Weekly Address: Milestones on the Economy and the Recovery Act

While there is nothing to celebrate until job numbers turn around, the President cites the recent dramatic turnaround in gross domestic product as a sign of better things to come. He also applauds the fact that the Recovery Act has now created or saved more than a million jobs.



Remarks of President Barack Obama
As Prepared for Delivery
Weekly Address
Saturday, October 31, 2009


Each week, I’ve spoken with you about the challenges we face as a nation and the path we must take to meet them. And the truth is, over the past ten months, I’ve often had to report distressing news during what has been a difficult time for our country. But today, I am pleased to offer some better news that – while not cause for celebration – is certainly reason to believe that we are moving in the right direction.

On Thursday, we received a report on our Gross Domestic Product, or GDP. This is an important measure of our economy as a whole, one that tells us how much we are producing and how much businesses and families are earning. We learned that the economy grew for the first time in more than a year and faster than at any point in the previous two years. So while we have a long way to go before we return to prosperity, and there will undoubtedly be ups and downs along the road, it’s also true that we’ve come a long way. It is easy to forget that it was only several months ago that the economy was shrinking rapidly and many economists feared another Great Depression.

Now, economic growth is no substitute for job growth. And we will likely see further job losses in the coming days, a fact that is both troubling for our economy and heartbreaking for the men and women who suddenly find themselves out of work. But we will not create the jobs we need unless the economy is growing; that’s why this GDP report is a good sign. And we can see clearly now that the steps my administration is taking are making a difference, blunting the worst of this recession and helping to bring about its conclusion.

We’ve acted aggressively to jumpstart credit for families and businesses, including small businesses, which have seen an increase in lending of 73 percent. We’ve taken steps to stem the tide of foreclosures, modifying mortgages to help hundreds of thousands of responsible homeowners keep their homes and help millions more sustain the value in their homes. And the Recovery Act is spurring demand through a tax cut for 95 percent of working families, and through assistance for seniors and those who have lost jobs – which not only helps folks hardest hit by the downturn, but also encourages the consumer spending that will help turn the economy around.

Finally, the Recovery Act is saving and creating jobs all across the country. Just this week, we reached an important milestone. Based on reports coming in from across America – as shovels break ground, as needed public servants are rehired, and as factories whir to life – it is clear that the Recovery Act has now created and saved more than one million jobs. That’s more than a million people who might otherwise be out of work today – folks who can wake up each day knowing that they’ll be able to provide for themselves and their families.

We’ve saved jobs by closing state budget shortfalls to prevent the layoffs of hundreds of thousands of police officers, firefighters, and teachers who are today on the beat, on call, and in the classroom because of the Recovery Act. And we’ve also created hundreds of thousands of jobs through the largest investment in our roads since the building of the interstate highways, and through the largest investments in education, medical research, and clean energy in history.

These investments aren’t just helping us recover in the short term, they’re helping to lay a new foundation for lasting prosperity in the long term – and they’re giving hardworking, middle-class Americans the chance to succeed and raise a family. Because of the investments we’ve made and the steps we’ve taken, it’s easier for middle-class families to send their kids to college and get the training and skills they need to compete in a global economy. We’re making it easier for these families to save for retirement. And in areas like clean energy, we’re creating the jobs of the future – jobs that pay well and can’t be outsourced.

In fact, just this week, I traveled to Arcadia, Florida to announce the largest set of clean energy projects through the Recovery Act so far: one hundred grants for businesses, utilities, manufacturers, cities and other partners across the country to put thousands of people to work modernizing our electric grid – the system that provides power to our homes and businesses – so that it wastes less energy, helps integrate renewables like wind and solar, and saves consumers money. And that’s just one example.

So, we have made progress. At the same time, I want to emphasize that there’s still plenty of progress to be made. For we know that positive news for the economy as a whole means little if you’ve lost your job and can’t find another, if you can’t afford health care or the mortgage, if you do not see in your own life the improvement we are seeing in these economic statistics. And positive news today does not mean there won’t be difficult days ahead. As I’ve said many times, it took years to dig our way into the crisis we’ve faced. It will take more than a few months to dig our way out. But make no mistake: that’s exactly what we will do.

For the economy we seek is one where folks who need a job can find one and incomes are rising again. The economy we seek is one where small businesses can flourish and entrepreneurs can get the capital they need to plant new seeds of growth. The economy we seek is one that’s no longer based on maxed out credits cards, wild speculation, and the old cycles of boom or bust – but rather one that’s built on a solid foundation, supporting growth that is strong, sustained, and broadly shared by middle class families across America. That is what we are working toward every single day. And we will not stop until we get there.

Thank you. And Happy Halloween.

Road Trip, Be Back Soon

I am taking an autumn trip to the mountains. How lucky am I?

Daylight Savings Time Ends At 1:59 AM Sunday November 1st

Don't Forget To "Fall Back" On November 1st

The idea of daylight saving was first proposed in "An Economical Project," a 1784 essay written in Paris by American delegate Benjamin Franklin.


Tennessee General Assembly Sergeant-At-Arms Mickey McGuire setting a clock, 1963

History Of Daylight Savings Time
Courtesy United States Navy

Although standard time in time zones was instituted in the U.S. and Canada by the railroads in 1883, it was not established in U.S. law until the Act of March 19, 1918, sometimes called the Standard Time Act. The act also established daylight saving time, a contentious idea then. Daylight saving time was repealed in 1919, but standard time in time zones remained in law. Daylight time became a local matter. It was re-established nationally early in World War II, and was continuously observed from 9 February 1942 to 30 September 1945. After the war its use varied among states and localities. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 provided standardization in the dates of beginning and end of daylight time in the U.S. but allowed for local exemptions from its observance. The act provided that daylight time begin on the last Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October, with the changeover to occur at 2 a.m. local time.

During the "energy crisis" years, Congress enacted earlier starting dates for daylight time. In 1974, daylight time began on 6 January and in 1975 it began on 23 February. After those two years the starting date reverted back to the last Sunday in April. In 1986, a law was passed that shifted the starting date of daylight time to the first Sunday in April, beginning in 1987. The ending date of daylight time was not subject to such changes, and remained the last Sunday in October. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 changed both the starting and ending dates. Now, (starting in 2007,) daylight time starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

2nd Grade Fall Concert

The performers take the stage


Teachers accompany the young singers


Mary enjoys the show


Groovin' to the tunes


"How Do You Make Pumpkin Stew?"

This Is It Michael Jackson Movie Opens Tonight In Nashville 11pm Green Hills Regal 16

Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in Londons O2 Arena. Chronicling the months from April through June, 2009, the film is produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at Jackson up close and personal. In raw and candid detail, Michael Jacksons THIS IS IT captures the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius and great artist at work as he creates and perfects his final show. Kenny Ortega, who was both Michael Jacksons creative partner and the director of the stage show is also directing the film, which is being produced by Randy Phillips, Kenny Ortega and Paul Gongaware. Executive producers are John Branca and John McClain.

EXIT 196

By Betsy Thorpe

Dozens of travelers leave I-40 at Exit 196 everyday, some to visit friends and family, others for fuel, refreshment or lodging. They all have a story to tell and we are here to share a tale or two that we heard at Exit 196.

Throughout the past week a procession of Gatlinburg bound travelers, stopped at EXIT 196.

In 1807, Martha Jane Huskey Ogle arrived in East Tennessee with her children and several other family members. Honoring the wishes of her deceased husband she settled in a remote locale in what is now known as the Great Somky Mountains. First named White Oak Flats for the abundant native white oak trees covering the landscape the remote locale is now one of Tennessee's most popular tourist destinations, Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Nestled in the valley of the Little Pigeon River's West Fork and surrounded on three sides by the majestic Smoky Mountains, Gatlinburg has evolved from a rural hamlet to a thriving community.

As a self sustaining community Gatlinburg changed little during its first one hundred years. When the Civil War erupted, some locals joined the Union, others the Confederacy but for the most part the mountain people tried to remain neutral. Although only one Civil War skirmish was fought in Gatlinburg, countless raids were made by both sides to gather vital resources needed to sustain the war effort. As with much of the South, deprivation and hardship persisted long after the war.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park was established by congress in 1934 and was dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1940. The formation of the park, boosted the area's tourism industry and many displaced mountain families moved into town, either developing new enterprises or taking jobs in the region's new hotels, restaurants and service facilities that were established to meet the needs of the burgeoning tourist industry. Economic progress slowed considerably during World War II, but, by the war's end, tourists happily returned to the area and the sleepy little village of Gatlinburg expanded to meet their needs and demands.

Incorporated in 1945, Gatlinburg has since developed into a popular year round destination for tourists from across the nation and around the globe.

After enviously observing a week long parade of travelers making their way to east Gatlinburg everyone at EXIT 196 decided that now must be a good time to visit the mountatins and we all started making travel plans.

Weekly Address By President Barack Obama October 24, 2009

Weekly Address: Working with Small Business to Drive Recovery

The President restates his commitment to small business as key to economic recovery -from the Recovery Act to Financial Stability to Health Reform -- and pledges more to come.



WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Barack Obama spoke of how important small businesses are to the economy and described the steps his administration is taking to support them. Health insurance reform will allow small business to purchase insurance for their employees through exchanges, which will increase the quality of coverage while lowering the costs, and reform will provide tax credits to those businesses. To free up credit, the President called on Congress to increase the size of various SBA loans, and he announced that the administration will be making more credit available to the small local and community banks that many small businesses depend on.


Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
October 24, 2009
Washington, DC

All across America, even today, on a Saturday, millions of Americans are hard at work. They’re running the mom and pop stores and neighborhood restaurants we know and love. They’re building tiny startups with big ideas that could revolutionize an industry, maybe even transform our economy. They are the more than half of all Americans who work at a small business, or own a small business. And they embody the spirit of possibility, the relentless work ethic, and the hope for something better that is at the heart of the American Dream.

They also represent a segment of our economy that has been hard hit by this recession. Over the past couple of years, small businesses have lost hundreds of thousands of jobs. Many have struggled to get the loans they need to finance their inventories and make payroll. Many entrepreneurs can’t get financing to start a small business in the first place. And many more are discouraged from even trying because of the crushing costs of health care – costs that have forced too many small businesses to cut benefits, shed jobs, or shut their doors for good.

Small businesses have always been the engine of our economy – creating 65 percent of all new jobs over the past decade and a half – and they must be at the forefront of our recovery. That’s why the Recovery Act was designed to help small businesses expand and create jobs. It’s provided $5 billion worth of tax relief, as well as temporarily reducing or eliminating fees on SBA loans and guaranteeing some of these loans up to 90 percent, which has supported nearly $13 billion in new lending to more than 33,000 businesses.

In addition, our health reform plan will allow small businesses to buy insurance for their employees through an insurance exchange, which may offer better coverage at lower costs – and we’ll provide tax credits for those that choose to do so.

And this past week, I called on Congress to increase the maximum size of various SBA loans, so that more small business owners can set up shop and grow their operations. I also announced that we’ll be taking additional steps through our Financial Stability plan to make more credit available to the small local and community banks that so many small businesses depend on – the banks who know their borrowers, who gave them their first loan and watched them grow.

The goal here is to get credit where it’s needed most – to businesses that support families, sustain communities, and create the jobs that power our economy. That’s why we enacted the Financial Stability Plan in the first place, back when many of our largest banks were on the verge of collapse; our credit markets were frozen; and it was nearly impossible for ordinary people to get loans to buy a car or home or pay for college. The idea was to jumpstart lending and keep our economy from spiraling into a depression. Fortunately, it worked. Thanks to the American taxpayers, we’ve now achieved the stability we need to get our economy moving forward again.

But while credit may be more available for large businesses, too many small business owners are still struggling to get the credit they need. These are the very taxpayers who stood by America’s banks in a crisis – and now it’s time for our banks to stand by creditworthy small businesses, and make the loans they need to open their doors, grow their operations, and create new jobs. It’s time for those banks to fulfill their responsibility to help ensure a wider recovery, a more secure system, and more broadly shared prosperity. And we’re going to take every appropriate step to encourage them to meet those responsibilities. Because if it’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that here in America, we rise and fall together. Our economy as a whole can’t move ahead if small businesses and the middle class continue to fall behind.

This country was built by dreamers. They’re the workers who took a chance on their desire to be their own boss. The part-time inventors who became the fulltime entrepreneurs. The men and women who have helped build the American middle class, keeping alive that most American of ideals – that all things are possible for all people, and we’re limited only by the size of our dreams and our willingness to work for them. We need to do everything we can to ensure that they can keep taking those risks, acting on those dreams, and building the enterprises that fuel our economy and make us who we are.

Thanks.

In 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt Promised Help With The Historic Preservation Of A Nashville Landmark Property, The Hermitage

President Theodore Roosevelt on the steps of President Andrew Jackson's Tomb October 22, 1907


During his tour of Nashville on October 22, 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt visited The Hermitage, the Tennessee home of President Andrew Jackson. After meeting with members of the Ladies Hermitage Association and in front of a crowd of more than 10,000 people the President promised to provide federal funds to help with the historic preservation of The Hermitage.

Go here to read how since 1856 various groups and individuals have worked to preserve the Hermitage.

October A Busy Month For Author Lauren Braddock Havey

By Betsy Thorpe



Author Lauren Braddock Havey with her father Bobby Braddock,her husband Jim Havey and her son "Little Man" (the inspiration for her book "A Journey To The Son") at the Davis Kidd book signing event in Nashville, October 8, 2009

On October 7th after "years of work" on her "Momoir," author Lauren Braddock Havey received the first printed editions of her book, "A Journey To The Son." On October 8th at Davis Kidd, Nashville's author friendly book store, Ms. Braddock-Havey presented a reading of her new book to a standing room only crowd that included New York Times best selling author Alice Randall and John Egerton the renowned author of several books on Nashville history and on Southern cooking. Grammy winner Don Henry, co-writer and producer of "A Journey To The Son's" companion CD accompanied Lauren in a live performance of several of the CD's songs. On October 11th she gave a reading of "A Journey To The Son" at the "Southern Festival Of Books" an annual Nashville event that brings authors and book lovers together to meet and celebrate the written word. The following weekend Lauren took her book and CD on the road for a signing event at Charis, Atlanta's ultra-hip feminist book store.

Employing humor and well crafted phrases Lauren Braddock Havey recalls the obstacles, and trials she encountered in her quest for motherhood. Winning the battle with infertility by a successful invitro fertilization, assigned to months of bed rest and diagnosed with gall stones, Lauren finally gave birth, however immediatley following her son's delivery she almost died in a rare obstetric emergency called an Amniotic Fluid Embolism. Thankfully the story did not end there, "A Journey To The Son" continues with the reader experiencing the joy surrounding Lauren's son's first birthday.

The clever song titles on the book's companion CD, taken from the book's chapter titles include "The Waiting Womb," "Thinking Positive", "Grounded and Stoned," (addressing 5 months bed rest and having gallstones while pregnant), "Spit Happens" and "Breast Intentions". Lauren came by her quirky and intelligent way with words naturally, her father who co-wrote the recent #1 country hit song "People Are Crazy" is Nashville's legendary songwriter Bobby Braddock.

Lauren Braddock Havey who said she wrote "A Journey To The Son" in part "to help others who are going through similar circumstances, be it fertility treatments, difficult pregnancy and delivery and new parenthood in general." She also stated that she is "happy to be connecting with the newly launched AFE Foundation, founded by another amniotic fluid embolism survivor, Miranda Klassen. There are many questions to be answered about the usually fatal complication that we were so lucky to have survived." She also said she plans to stage "A Journey To The Son" as a musical with the projects co-writer and producer Don Henry.

"A Journey To The Son," published by Two Harbors Press is available in Nashville at Davis Kidd book store and globally at ajourneytotheson.com and Lauren's 2002 CD release "Lauren Braddock" is available for purchase at CDBaby.com

Little Sister Gives The Lap Pool A Try

"Here I go"


"I'm so little and it is so far, I think I am getting tired"


"I made it to the end but I am not going to swim back"

Adriana Swims In The Lap Pool

"I think I can do it"


""Here I go""


""Touch the side of the pool and turn around""


"I'm getting tired, think I'll swim on my back"


"My legs are really sore but I did it!"

Kudos To The Historic Preservation Community In My Home State---Oregon

On October 15, in Nashville, at a ceremony that presented its first award to former First Lady Laura Bush, The National Historic Preservation Trust awarded The Portland Development Commission, SERA Architects, and the Heritage Consulting Group with the "2009 National Preservation Honor Award" for the rehabilitation of Portland's historic downtown Meir & Frank store building into Oregon's first 5-star hotel and modern retail space while embracing LEED goals.

The building that was put on the Register of Historic places in 1982 once held the world's longest continuous escalator, and at one time was the largest retail outlet west of the Mississippi.

Go here to read more about the history of Meier & Frank and how for more than a century it was the Pacific Northwest's premier department store and retail outlet.

FEEL GOOD FRIDAY

Thank you Ruby and Sara for turning me on to Jack Johnson.........

Amanda Little's New Book "Power Trip" POWER TRIP examines the ways in which oil and coal have shaped America as an international superpower

Infused with modern candor and optimism, POWER TRIP examines the ways in which oil and coal have shaped America as an international superpower-even as they have posed political and environmental dangers to the nation and the world. Amanda Little, a stellar young journalist who has covered the energy beat for more than a decade, reveals how energy grows our food, fights our wars, makes our plastics and medicines, warms our homes, animates our cities, moves our products and vehicles, and influences our politics. She exposes the hidden consequences of Americas energy-lavish lifestyles, and shows how some inspired alternatives already promise hope as we work to shift from fossil fuels to clean-energy sources.

Power Trip, By Nashville Author Amanda Little is available for online purchase at Barnes and Nobel.

"Good Hair" Opens In Nashville On October 23 At Regal Hollywood 27

Chris Rock's Documentary "Good Hair" opens tomorrow in Nashville at the Regal Hollywood 27 cinema.

Titans Sink To New Low

Titans Sink To New Low
By Chris Lambos

If you have not heard by now, the Tennessee Titans franchise is sinking. Sunday, they reached a new low, not only with their current 0-6 record, but a low of historical proportions. Take a look at the following Patriot team records set in this game:

Most points in a game (59)
Most points in a half (45 in the first half)
Most points in a quarter (35 in second quarter)
Most total net yards in a game (619)
Most passing net yards in a game (426, tie)
Most touchdowns in a game (8, tie)
Most passing yards in a half (Tom Brady, 345)
Most passing touchdowns in a half (Tom Brady, 5 in first half)
Most passing touchdowns in a game (Tom Brady, tie, 6)
45 points scored in a half? That's the most points scored in a half in NFL HISTORY!

I'm sorry, folks! I'm not going to sugarcoat this: It's time for CHANGE!!!

#1 - Change the QB

We knew last year (or sooner) that Vince Young was not an NFL-caliber QB. And after his early season meltdown that year, we gave the starting job to a man (Kerry Collins) who would not be able to 'start' on any other NFL team if given the chance. Mr. Collins is a backup QB and he is a great one at that. He proved last year to be a great insurance policy for VY, leading the Titans to the AFC playoffs with the leagues best regular season record.

The mistake made with Collins was assuming he could take this team, year after year to the playoffs. Again, no other team in the NFL would start Kerry Collins, let alone making him an integral part of the team's long-term offensive vision at this stage in his career.

#2 - Change the Defensive Coordinator Chuck Cecil doesn't blitz enough (maybe half as much as other league defensive units), and that seems to irk me. However my biggest problem with the Titans D is coverage issues...assignment flub ups...If blame doesn't point to Cecil on this, then what exactly IS the job description of a defensive coordinator?

#3 - Change the Offensive Coordinator

You know your offense has seen better days when it might be more effective to start defensive backs in place of the teams starting wide receivers. Think about it!

#4 - Change the Head Coach

Ouch... that one is tough to type. Why fire Jeff Fisher? Maybe changes #1 - #3 are good enough reasons since he does oversee the entire squad. But if Coach Fisher is not to blame for anything (which is somewhat debatable), then there is only one other change to be made at this juncture:

#5 - Mr. Adams: Have you thought about selling your franchise lately?

New Medical Marijuana Policy Issued

Today the Justice Department informed prosecutors that medical Marijuana patients and their sanctioned suppliers should not be targeted for federal prosecution in states allowing medical marijuana.

A Shoney's Nashville Memory

Shoney's Turns 50!



The Following Memories Courtesy Nashlinks

The Fifties and Sixties brought new freedom to teens and cruisin' was a weekend tradition. Shoney's, Griff's Hamburgers, Yannie's, Rawhide, Ford's Drive In on Gallatin Rd. just past East High, The Black Stallion, Bar B Cutie on Murfreesboro Rd. and many others became the meeting places of choice. The famous Hi-Ho Drive-In Restaurant (with the best hamburgers and french fries) was another hot spot on Gallatin Road in East Nashville. Do you remember the sorority girls circling Shoney's with the particular car honks they would blow? I know that SAP was Dah, Dah, Dah...Dah, Dah. Anther long standing Nashville tradition was to blow your horn as you passed through the dark and narrow railroad tunnel on Thompson Lane.

A Comprehensive Strategy for Sudan

A Comprehensive Strategy for Sudan
By Scott Gration, Special Envoy To Sudan

This morning Secretary Clinton announced the results of this Administration’s Sudan policy review, accompanied by Ambassador Rice and myself. The strategy is the result of months of serious and extensive deliberations and considerations of the complex challenges by the most senior levels of this Administration. It provides the integrated and comprehensive approach that the issues in Sudan require, and it is focused on achieving verifiable progress on the ground.

This strategy includes three primary strategic objectives: first, a definitive end to conflict, gross human rights abuses, and genocide in Darfur; second, implementation of the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that results in a peaceful post-2011 Sudan, or an orderly path toward two separate and viable states at peace with each other; and third, ensuring that Sudan does not provide a safe haven for international terrorists.To achieve these objectives, we are committed to using all levers of American influence. Fundamental to our approach is a policy of broad, deep engagement for lasting change on the ground. That includes engagement with the National Congress Party (NCP), the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM), Darfuri armed movements and civil society, as well as countries in the region and the broader international community. Crucial to these efforts will be a frank dialog with the Government of Sudan about what needs to be accomplished, how the bilateral relationship can improve with verifiable improvements in conditions on the ground, and how strong pressures will be exerted on Sudan if conditions remain the same or worsen.

The situation is urgent. Time is short. Failure is not an option. The United States is committed to working for a sustainable, lasting peace in Darfur and full implementation of the North-South CPA. We are focused on verifiable progress on the ground.

Go here to watch Secretary Clinton make today's announcement regarding the Sudan.

Adriana's Movie Pick, "Where The Wild Things Are" Now Playing In Nashville At Regal Opry Mills 20

Where The Wild Things Are tells the story how Max gets in trouble and is sent to his room. When he gets in his room he invents a world in the woods where he rules and is in charge of all the wild creatures that live in the Forrest. Where The Wild Things Are is playing in Nashville at the Regal Opry Mills 20 &Imax Cinema.


Watch This Video To See Our President Read Where The Wild Things Are To Children At The White House In Washington D.C.

National Historic Preservation Trust's "2009 11 Most Endangered List" Includes The Ames Shovel Shops In North Easton, Massachusetts

This year marks the 22nd annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Since 1988, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has used this list as a powerful alarm to raise awareness of the serious threats facing the nation’s greatest treasures. It has become one of the most effective tools in the fight to save the country’s irreplaceable architectural, cultural and natural heritage. In the days leading up to and during the National Preservation Trust's Nashville Conference, Nashville Past And Present will highlight the historic buildings, structures and places on this years most endangered list.




In southeastern Massachusetts, an important piece of our nation's industrial heritage is threatened by development. The Ames Shovel Shops complex, an eight-acre site comprising 15 granite and wood buildings dating from 1852 through 1928, is the central core of what many consider a museum of 19th-century American development. To some, the area is so scenic it looks more like a New England college campus than an industrial village, complete with worker housing and civic buildings of international architectural reputation. The iron-bladed shovels fabricated here by generations of the Ames family literally built America. They were critical elements of the California Gold Rush, the Civil War and the building of the Transcontinental Railroad – but today, the new owners of the Ames Shovel Shop want to tear down some of the site's historic buildings and radically alter others in order to pave the way for a new mixed-use development.

Captain John Ames, a blacksmith, began manufacturing a simple but vital tool, the iron-bladed shovel, around 1774. His son, Oliver, established the Ames Shovel Works in Easton in 1803, and by 1870, the company, which pioneered early mass-production techniques, sold 60 percent of the shovels used worldwide. Thanks to the patronage of the Ames family, the town of North Easton flourished and is now a treasure trove of Henry Hobson Richardson's Romanesque Revival architecture and Frederick Law Olmsted lanscapes.

Although the Shovel Shops left Easton in 1953 after a series of mergers, the Ames company remains in business today as Ames True Temper, based in Pennsylvania. The complex was sold in the 1970s to a local businessman who leased portions of the buildings for office space.

After being granted a comprehensive permit for the affordable housing complex proposed at Ames Shovel Shops, the developer filed demolition applications that would destroy 15 of the historic buildings on the site. Read more.

In 2007, the Shovel Shops were sold again to developers who now propose building a 177-unit affordable-housing complex with 15,000 square feet of office space. The plan, filed under Chapter 40B, the state's affordable-housing law, is making its way through the permitting process. If approved, it would allow the demolition of several of the buildings and the dramatic expansion of others and would have an adverse impact on both National Landmark and National Register historic districts surrounding the Shovel Shops site.

The Easton Historical Commission, one of the groups leading the charge to save the Ames Shovel Shops, believes the best way to preserve the site is to keep it in active use, but not in a way that so devastatingly impacts the entire historic area. The developer has rejected alternative design concepts that would retain the historic character of the former factory complex and has threatened to apply for demolition permits if the current proposal is rejected. Despite being urged to pursue a project with state and federal historic tax credit programs which are designed to provide compensation for preservation projects just like this, the developer has refused to revise plans to protect these important and unique historic resources.

National Historic Preservation Trust's "2009 11 Most Endangered List" Includes Human Services Center, Yankton, South Dakota

This year marks the 22nd annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Since 1988, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has used this list as a powerful alarm to raise awareness of the serious threats facing the nation’s greatest treasures. It has become one of the most effective tools in the fight to save the country’s irreplaceable architectural, cultural and natural heritage. In the days leading up to and during the National Preservation Trust's Nashville Conference, Nashville Past And Present will highlight the historic buildings, structures and places on this years most endangered list.





The oldest public institution in the state, the Human Services Center – formerly the South Dakota Hospital for the Insane – played an important role in South Dakota history. It was here in the 1890's that Dr. Leonard Mead implemented his groundbreaking idea of creating an environment that would be therapeutically beneficial for patients instead of the sterile, fear-provoking asylums of the day. As he added buildings to the campus in the former territorial capital of Yankton, it became more New England college than prairie hospital. Surrounding a landscaped central park, the 65-acre campus, constructed between 1882 and 1942, featured neoclassical, Art Deco, Italianate, Prairie and Neo-Renaissance buildings, many constructed of South Dakota-quarried Sioux quartzite. Each building had sun-drenched dayrooms with columns and attractive architectural features, like Carrara marble and granite staircases. Today, more than 125 years after the institution was founded, the State is moving forward with plans to demolish many of the historic buildings on the Yankton campus.

In 1899, a fire at the hospital took the lives of 17 patients. In the aftermath, Dr. Mead ensured that all subsequent buildings were rock-solid – constructed of stone, with foot-thick walls, clay tile roofing and concrete for fireproofing. An amateur architect, Dr. Mead left his artistic mark in the wide porches, fan and Palladian windows, pedimented porticos, balustrades, bracketed eaves, arches, pillars, coffered ceilings and terrazzo floors that adorn the campus.

The collection of buildings on the Human Services Center (HSC) campus is both architecturally significant and representative of the style of treatment for the mentally ill between 1880 and 1940. Many patients spent their entire lives at the hospital, and, as a result, the majority of the endangered buildings once served as patient wards. The campus also includes barns and farm buildings where patients would engage in therapeutic activities such as growing vegetables.


n the 1990s, the State determined that the HSC's historic buildings were no longer needed and constructed a new mental health facility on campus called the Mickelson Center. Since that time, many historic buildings have been left vacant - without even utility service or routine maintenance. Despite being neglected, the buildings have endured because of their solid construction.

In 2007, the South Dakota Joint Appropriations Committee voted to approve funds to begin demolition of selected historic buildings on the HSC campus, but budget constraints resulted in a temporary reprieve. The continuing economic downturn prevented a similar appropriation in 2008, but a future ask will more than likely be made and could be approved.

Weekly Address By President Barack Obama SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17TH, 2009

Weekly Address: Taking the Insurance Companies on Down the Stretch

As the health insurance reform debate enters into its final stages in Congress, the President denounces the desperate and deceptive last-ditch efforts of the health insurance companies to derail it.



In his weekly address, President Barack Obama praised the progress that has been made on health insurance reform, and spoke out against those who defend the status quo in order to score political points and protect their profits. With reform the closest it has ever been to becoming law, the insurance companies are rolling out deceptive ads, paying for misleading studies, and flooding Capitol Hill with lobbyists. Now, Washington needs to serve the American people, not the special interests.




Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address October 17, 2009

Over the better part of the past year, a great debate has taken place in Washington and across America, about how to reform our health care system to provide security for people with insurance, coverage for those without insurance, and lower costs for everyone. From the halls of Congress to the homes of ordinary Americans, this debate has helped us to forge consensus and find common ground. That’s a good thing. That’s what America is all about.

Now, as the debate draws to a close, we can point to a broad and growing coalition of doctors and nurses, workers and businesses, hospitals and even drug companies – folks who represent different parties and perspectives, including leading Democrats and many leading Republicans – who recognize the urgency of action. Just this week, the Senate Finance Committee approved a reform proposal that has both Democratic and Republican support. For the first time ever, all five committees in Congress responsible for health reform have passed a version of legislation. As I speak to you today, we are closer to reforming the health care system than we have ever been in history.

But this is not the time to pat ourselves on the back. This is not the time to grow complacent. There are still significant details and disagreements to be worked out in the coming weeks. And there are still those who would try to kill reform at any cost. The history is clear: for decades rising health care costs have unleashed havoc on families, businesses, and the economy. And for decades, whenever we have tried to reform the system, the insurance companies have done everything in their considerable power to stop us.

We know that this inaction has carried a terrible toll. In the past decade, premiums have doubled. Over the past few years, total out of pocket costs for people with insurance rose by a third. And we know that if we do not reform the system, this will only be a preview of coming attractions. A new report for the Business Roundtable – a non-partisan group that represents the CEOs of major companies – found that without significant reform, health care costs for these employers and their employees will well more than double again over the next decade. The cost per person for health insurance will rise by almost $18,000. That’s a huge amount of money. That’s going to mean lower salaries and higher unemployment, lower profits and higher rolls of uninsured. It is no exaggeration to say, that unless we act, these costs will devastate the US economy.

This is the unsustainable path we’re on, and it’s the path the insurers want to keep us on. In fact, the insurance industry is rolling out the big guns and breaking open their massive war chest – to marshal their forces for one last fight to save the status quo. They’re filling the airwaves with deceptive and dishonest ads. They’re flooding Capitol Hill with lobbyists and campaign contributions. And they’re funding studies designed to mislead the American people.

Of course, like clockwork, we’ve seen folks on cable television who know better, waving these industry-funded studies in the air. We’ve seen industry insiders – and their apologists – citing these studies as proof of claims that just aren’t true. They’ll claim that premiums will go up under reform; but they know that the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office found that reforms will lower premiums in a new insurance exchange while offering consumer protections that will limit out-of-pocket costs and prevent discrimination based on pre-existing conditions. They’ll claim that you’ll have to pay more out of pocket; but they know that this is based on a study that willfully ignores whole sections of the bill, including tax credits and cost savings that will greatly benefit middle class families. Even the authors of one of these studies have now admitted publicly that the insurance companies actually asked them to do an incomplete job.

It’s smoke and mirrors. It’s bogus. And it’s all too familiar. Every time we get close to passing reform, the insurance companies produce these phony studies as a prescription and say, "Take one of these, and call us in a decade." Well, not this time. The fact is, the insurance industry is making this last-ditch effort to stop reform even as costs continue to rise and our health care dollars continue to be poured into their profits, bonuses, and administrative costs that do nothing to make us healthy – that often actually go toward figuring out how to avoid covering people. And they’re earning these profits and bonuses while enjoying a privileged exception from our anti-trust laws, a matter that Congress is rightfully reviewing.

Now, I welcome a good debate. I welcome the chance to defend our proposals and to test our ideas in the fires of this democracy. But what I will not abide are those who would bend the truth – or break it – to score political points and stop our progress as a country. And what we all must oppose are the same old cynical Washington games that have been played for decades even as our problems have grown and our challenges have mounted.

Last November, the American people went to the polls in historic numbers and demanded change. They wanted a change in our policies; but they also sought a change in our politics: a politics that too often has fallen prey to the lobbyists and the special interests; that has fostered division and sustained the status quo. Passing health insurance reform is a great test of this proposition. Yes, it will make a profound and positive difference in the lives of the American people. But it also now represents something more: whether or not we as a nation are capable of tackling our toughest challenges, if we can serve the national interest despite the unrelenting efforts of the special interests; if we can still do big things in America.

I believe we can. I believe we will. And I urge every member of Congress to stand against the power plays and political ploys – and to stand up on behalf the American people who sent us to Washington to do their business.

Thank you.

National Historic Preservation Trust's "2009 11 Most Endangered List" Includes Galveston's Cast-Iron Architecture

This year marks the 22nd annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Since 1988, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has used this list as a powerful alarm to raise awareness of the serious threats facing the nation’s greatest treasures. It has become one of the most effective tools in the fight to save the country’s irreplaceable architectural, cultural and natural heritage. In the days leading up to and during the National Preservation Trust's Nashville Conference, Nashville Past And Present will highlight the historic buildings, structures and places on this years most endangered list.



The late-19th-century Greek Revival and Italianate buildings with elaborate cast-iron storefronts in Galveston's 12-block Strand/Mechanic National Historic Landmark District constitute one of the largest collections of historic commercial buildings in the country. They are reminders of a time when this small island was a center of finance and commerce, with a bustling commercial district nicknamed "The Wall Street of the Southwest." Although the buildings have weathered storms and economic downturns, the blow delivered by Hurricane Ike in September of 2008 has left the Galveston historic commercial district fighting to survive.

On September 13, 2008, Galveston Island took a direct hit from Hurricane Ike, and the downtown commercial district was flooded with 10–13 feet of a noxious mix of salt water, oil and debris. When the water receded after two days, the full impact could be seen: destroyed interiors, ruined mechanical systems and the devastation of Galveston's trademark decorative cast-iron embellishments. In addition, Hurricane Ike's wrath has created structural deficiencies, posing a threat to the integrity of many of the district's buildings.

When it was founded in the 1830s, Galveston was little more than a barrier island with a natural harbor and a barren landscape. Within decades, the city's founders had created a major port, employing architectural cast iron – both structural and ornamental – as the preferred building material. More than 44% of the buildings in the Strand/Mechanic district have cast-iron storefronts, along with buildings along Market and Post Office streets, and many more have brick fronts with cast-iron details. The cast iron storefronts took the full force of Hurricane Ike's assault, and today, the 1859 Hendley Buildings, once used as a Civil War lookout and, also, reportedly where the first shot of the Battle of Galveston was fired, are suffering from severe structural problems and demolition by neglect.

For more than three decades, the Galveston Historical Foundation has championed economic revitalization in the historic district, and each year it holds a well-attended holiday festival, Dickens on the Strand. Even before Hurricane Ike, however, downtown Galveston was experiencing an economic downturn that saw businesses leaving and buildings deteriorating due to neglect. In addition, many business owners had no flood insurance and have not reopened in the wake of the storm – and FEMA’s relief efforts have been slow to unfold. Compounding the already dire situation, the City of Galveston is facing a severe economic decline and has been unable to offer assistance with the revitalization of the historic commercial district.

The cast iron storefronts took the full force of Hurricane Ike's assault in 2008 and today are suffering from severe structural problems and demolition by neglect.

Feel Good Friday

Louis Armstrong
Mack The Knife
London, 1956

Local Percussion Band, "Nature's Drummer" Part Of ARTDOC's Fundraiser

ARTDOCS is a new nonprofit organization providing healthcare for Nashville performers, musicians, writers and visual artists without health insurance. Primary care office visits will be provided at no charge at the Meharry Family Medicine Clinic---labs, simple x-rays and administrative fees that will be paid for by funds raised at the ARTDOCS Annual fundraiser.




ARTDOCS NASHVILLE (Artists Receiving Treatment Doctors Offering Crucial Services) is a new 501c3 charitable organization in Nashville offering no-cost medical services for artists without health insurance. ARTDOCS was founded in New Orleans in 1999 by art gallery owner Jonathan Ferrara, Vincent Morelli and a group of physicians and volunteers. ARTDOCS NASHVILLE is the first ARTDOCS outside of New Orleans.

On October 15 ARTDOCS Nashville, held the first annual URBAN ARTS BIZARRE in the Arcade, located in Nashivlle's 5th Street Historic District to raise money to cover health care costs for Nashville's uninsured visual artists and muscians.

For more information on ArtDocs or to schedule a medical appointment at Meharry Medical Center, call 327-6661.

National Historic Preservation Trust's "2009 11 Most Endangered List" Includes Miami Marine Stadium

This year marks the 22nd annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Since 1988, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has used this list as a powerful alarm to raise awareness of the serious threats facing the nation’s greatest treasures. It has become one of the most effective tools in the fight to save the country’s irreplaceable architectural, cultural and natural heritage. In the days leading up to and during the National Preservation Trust's Nashville Conference, Nashville Past And Present will highlight the historic buildings, structures and places on this years most endangered list.




Completed in 1963, Miami Marine Stadium, on Virginia Key, is both a South Florida landmark and an icon of modern design. Built entirely of poured concrete and featuring a dramatically cantilevered folded-plate roof, the stadium, which has been closed for 17 years, is a sentimental favorite of many Miami residents who experienced their first concerts under the stars over Biscayne Bay. With its 6,000-by-1,400-foot water basin in the shape of a Circus Maximus, the stadium, named for Coconut Grove pioneer and boating enthusiast Ralph Munroe, has all the trappings of an acquatic mid-century hippodrome. The 6,566-seat arena was designed by Hilario Candela, a Cuban-born architect, who at age 27 conceived a stadium that would, decades later, be viewed as a masterwork of civic architecture and modern construction. Seventeen years ago, after the stadium was damaged by Hurricane Andrew, an engineering study commissioned by the city indicated that the damage was modest and could be repaired for approximately $2 to $3 million. Unfortunately, the repairs were never carried out, and the stadium, a prime target for development, has suffered from years of deterioration and neglect.

Framing views of downtown Miami, the stadium’s distinctive sculptural, zigzag canopy seems to float over the water while its columns appear to levitate over Biscayne Bay. A venue for classical and rock concerts, operas, political rallies, speedboat races, regattas, wake board competitions, swimming competitions and religious services, the stadium once was the place to see and be seen. On any given night, hundreds of audience members on private boats would surround the floating barge that served as the stadium’s stage in order to catch a show

Miami Marine Stadium has taken an important step toward potential restoration. World Monuments Fund and the National Trust for Historic Preservation have joined with local supporters in Miami—The Villagers, the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium, the John and Selene Devaney Foundation, and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Carlos Gimenez, whose district includes the stadium—and have raised the $50,000 necessary to commission an engineering study that will help determine the cost of its restoration. The partners expect the results of the study, due later this fall, to help guide decision making about the future of the facility. Read more.

The City of Miami, which is now developing a Master Plan for Virginia Key, remains lukewarm about preserving the stadium and questions its viability as a performing arts venue. Stadium supporters, including the Friends of Miami Marine Stadium, say that the facility's location is as desirable as ever for its original purpose. The group intends to ensure that the stadium is preserved and a plan is created to maximize its public use.

Returning Soldiers Not Alone

Help and hope for soldiers and families dealing with re-entry and combat stress was the topic of a presentation to the Nashville Republican Women by Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient Mike Jones of “Not Alone.” The charitable
organization provides confidential online programs and resources for those dealing with “the invisible wounds of war” at www.NotAlone.com.


Bronze Star Recipient Mike Jones, With Not Alone CEO Carter Andrews and Carolyn Amiot, First Vice President of the Nashville Republican Women.


On Wednesday, October 14, 10:45 a.m., at the Richland Country Club in Brentwood, the Nashville Republican Women held its monthly meeting with a special presentation by “Not Alone,” a charitable organization especially focused on helping returning soldiers cope with re-entry stress, depression and anxiety.

Speaker, Not Alone CFO Mike Jones, a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient, and a 1996 West Point graduate who fought his own battles with re-entry stress after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq was motivated to help other returning soldiers who suffered mentally after coming home from war.

Haunted Museum

Annual Ghost Story Festival Takes Place at Tennessee State Museum on October 24th



The Tennessee State Museum’s annual ghost story festival, Haunted Museum, is back for its ninth year and promises to be more entertaining than ever! The family oriented event takes place from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 24.

Haunted Museum, which is free to the public, will feature a “ghost trail” through the museum with prizes, crafts, and refreshments. At stops along the ghost trail there will be chilling ghost stories from Tennessee’s past, including those of the Bell Witch and the Cherokee spirit, Spearfinger. The trail concludes at the tall tales stage where professional storytellers will relate stories about Tennessee.

Located at Fifth and Deaderick Streets in downtown Nashville, the museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday and is free to the public. On Saturdays, parking is free at state employee parking lots to the west of the State Capitol.

Laura Bush Accepts Award In Nashville

Today, former First Lady Laura W. Bush and John L. Nau, III, Chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, received the prestigious John H. Chafee Trustees Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Policy from the National Trust for Historic Preservation for their leadership in developing and promoting the Preserve America program. The National Trust bestowed the award at its 2009 National Preservation Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

In 2003, Mrs. Bush's expansive vision for the federal preservation program was instrumental in the creation of Preserve America, one of the most far-reaching preservation initiatives ever launched. The program has officially designated more than 700 Preserve America communities, established a $7.5 million grant program and convened a White House-sponsored summit in a sweeping effort to save our nation's heritage. As honorary chair of Preserve America, Mrs. Bush crisscrossed the country, publicly and personally reaffirming the importance of saving historic places.

The former longtime chairman of the Texas Historical Commission, John L. Nau, III, was appointed chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation by President George W. Bush in 2001. Nau's leadership was essential to the implementation of Preserve America and, together with Mrs. Bush, Nau is credited with guiding the widespread and influential preservation initiative.

"Laura Bush and John Nau have given preservation broader visibility through their exemplary leadership and vision for historic preservation and Preserve America, one of the most extensive preservation initiatives ever." said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "These two leaders have earned our commendation for their passion for preservation and their inspiring leadership in putting together a nationwide program that empowers communities to preserve the places that matter to them."

The award presented to Mrs. Bush and John Nau is named in honor of John H. Chafee, former governor of Rhode Island, Secretary of the Navy and United States Senator. Chafee was a dedicated champion of preservation and contributed significantly to advancing public policy on preservation issues.

National Historic Preservation Trust's "2009 11 Most Endangered List" Includes Memorial Bridge Located In Kittery Maine & Portsmouth New Hampshire

This year marks the 22nd annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Since 1988, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has used this list as a powerful alarm to raise awareness of the serious threats facing the nation’s greatest treasures. It has become one of the most effective tools in the fight to save the country’s irreplaceable architectural, cultural and natural heritage. In the days leading up to and during the National Preservation Trust's Nashville Conference, Nashville Past And Present will highlight the historic buildings, structures and places on this years most endangered list.







For more than 85 years, Memorial Bridge, the first major "vertical lift" bridge in the eastern US, has been a sturdy and dramatic landmark, spanning the Piscataqua River and connecting the historic coastal towns of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine. At its 1923 dedication as the official state memorial to World War I servicemen, the bridge had the longest lift span in the country (297 feet), making it the prototype for later metal truss bridges. Unlike a drawbridge, which swings open and upward like a gate, a vertical-lift bridge hoists a single section straight up, allowing boats to pass underneath. For generations, the bridge has carried automobiles along coastal Route 1, and its wood-floored walkways still provide the only pedestrian and cycling link between two communities steeped in history.

With its dramatic 200-foot twin towers, Memorial Bridge is one of three highway bridges spanning the Piscataqua River between New Hampshire and Maine. The bridge plays a critical role in the local economy linking historic downtown Portsmouth and the recently revitalized Kittery Foreside neighborhood.

Our nation's historic bridges are being destroyed at the alarming rate of one every two or three days. Lack of maintenance and a knee-jerk preference for replacement often counters the directive of Congress that historic bridges be preserved whenever possible. Bridges that cross state lines are especially vulnerable.

In 2007, the states of Maine and New Hampshire agreed that Memorial Bridge should be fully rehabilitated. When estimates came back $15 million over budget, the two states disagreed on how to pay for proposed repairs and are now studying their options, including destruction and replacement of Memorial Bridge, a solution that could be far more costly.

Although owned jointly by both states, Memorial Bridge is operated by New Hampshire, which placed the bridge at the top of the state Department of Transportation's "Red List," of bridges needing repair. At a public meeting in Portsmouth in November, 2008, New Hampshire officials revealed that two bids had been submitted for bridge rehabilitation, both substantially higher than pre-bid estimates. The Maine Department of Transportation was unwilling to proceed with the rehabilitation at the higher price.

A broad coalition of seacoast area preservation, business, green, and veterans' organizations supports the recent proposal by the New Hampshire Department Of Transportation that both states seek competitive infrastructure stimulus funds to completely rehabilitate the Memorial Bridge. The Maine Department Of Transportation, however, has not yet concurred.

PUBLIC WORKS TO ADD MORE GENERAL SERVICES DISTRICTS CURBSIDE RECYCLING CUSTOMERS

Six-month success in Bellevue sparks expansion in three more neighborhoods


Bolstered by the more than 100 tons of recycling collected in a pilot curbside program in the Bellevue area, Metro is ready to expand recycling subscription services to more General Services District neighborhoods, Mayor Karl Dean announced today.

The program is being added in the following zip code areas of Davidson County: 37027 in Brentwood, 37013 in Antioch and Cane Ridge, 37076 in Hermitage, and 37138 in Old Hickory.

"A year ago we promised that if the pilot curbside recycling program in the GSD was successful, we would work to expand it to other areas,” Dean said. “Today we are fulfilling our promise and offering more residents the opportunity to reduce their waste. Waste reduction is a key goal set by my Green Ribbon Committee on Environmental Sustainability, and recycling is one of the easiest things our residents can do to help.”

Residents can sign up online at www.recyclenashville.com. For $10 a month and the one-time cost of a 96-gallon cart, Davidson County residents can receive monthly curbside pickup of paper, cardboard, all plastics Nos. 1-7, aluminum and metal cans, and glass. Back-door collection and more frequent pickups are also available for slightly higher fees.

Providing as many convenient recycling opportunities as possible is a key objective in Public Works’ strategy to manage waste in Metro, and reduce the amount of materials being sent to landfills.

"Every ton of recycled materials provides the city with much-needed revenue and also saves Metro the cost of landfill disposal fees, so taxpayers are the ultimate winners when it comes to recycling,” Public Works Director Billy Lynch said.

Voluntary curbside recycling is currently provided to approximately 120,000 households in the Urban Services District. Public Works also provides a network of 13 community recycling drop-off sites in Davidson County, including the Hermitage Hobby Lobby at the corner of Old Hickory Boulevard and Lebanon Pike, Dupont-Hadley Middle School in Old Hickory, and a Saturday-only site at Granbery Elementary School in Brentwood.

Public Works does not expect the curbside program to negatively impact the existing drop-off locations, and Lynch said the curbside subscription service is desperately needed in GSD areas of Brentwood and West Nashville to provide new options to residents who previously used the drop-offs at the Edmondson Pike and Charlotte Avenue locations.

"The Edmondson Pike center was rapidly gaining ground to become one of our most popular drop-offs, so it was a huge loss to the area when it closed in August,” Lynch said. “Our Charlotte Avenue center has changed locations twice in the last three months, and we believe some residents will like the consistency and convenience of curbside recycling.”

Making residential curbside recycling available countywide is possible through Public Works’ partnership with Earthsavers, a Nashville-based company that serves about 400 residential and business recycling customers in Metro, plus more than 700 households in Bellevue.

The Bellevue pilot was Metro’s first effort to expand curbside recycling in GSD neighborhoods, which are not eligible to participate in the Curby program provided by Public Works. Bellevue-area subscribers have recycled more than 200,000 pounds since collections began there in March, said Bobby Bandy of Earthsavers.

"Our service is also available for residents in condos, apartment complexes and Home Owner Associations, as well as all sizes of businesses, office complexes and retail shops, so the potential impact of this expansion is huge for Metro Government and our company,” Bandy said. “The most important thing, however, is to get as many people recycling as possible.”

For information about Metro’s recycling programs and drop-off locations, visit www.nashville.gov/recycle or call (615) 880-1000.

National Historic Preservation Trust's "2009 11 Most Endangered List" Includes The Infamous The Manhattan Project's Enola Gay Hangar

This year marks the 22nd annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Since 1988, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has used this list as a powerful alarm to raise awareness of the serious threats facing the nation’s greatest treasures. It has become one of the most effective tools in the fight to save the country’s irreplaceable architectural, cultural and natural heritage. In the days leading up to and during the National Preservation Trust's Nashville Conference, Nashville Past And Present will highlight the historic buildings, structures and places on this years most endangered list.





It is a name synonymous with a moment in history that was both devastating and defining. The Enola Gay, the B-29 Superfortress airplane that dropped the world's first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, still evokes strong emotions more than six decades after its fateful mission. The operation to deploy the "Little Man" bomb began at Wendover Air Force Base, the remote facility 100 miles west of Salt Lake City, Utah, where the Army Air Force's 509th Composite Group conducted top-secret assembly of prototype atomic weapons and aircraft training as part of the Manhattan Project, the U.S. government's classified program to develop a nuclear bomb. In June of 1945, the still-unnamed B-29, commanded by Colonel Paul Tibbets, left Wendover and flew to California, Hawaii, Kwajalein and then to the Pacific island of Tinian. Here, Tibbets had the name "Enola Gay" painted on the bomber's nose in honor of his mother, Enola Gay Tibbets, and, on August 6, executed the history-making mission. Although the Enola Gay has been restored, the Wendover hangar where the plane was stored prior to its deployment is severely deteriorated, as are many other important sites associated with the Manhattan Project.

After the war, Wendover was used for training exercises and as a research facility. Closed by the Air Force in 1969; the airfield is now owned by the City, and the historic buildings are operated in cooperation with the Historic Wendover Airfiled group. The famed Enola Gay is today fully restored and on permanent display at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, near Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, the Wendover hangar is in a critical state of disrepair requiring between $5 and $6 million to completely restore the structure and turn it into a public museum.

Five years ago, recognizing the significance of the Manhattan Project to American and world history, Congress directed the Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior to study the feasibility of creating a Manhattan Project National Historical Park. Because the Manhattan Project took shape in more than a dozen states, a park would encompass many geographically diverse areas, from the mountains and deserts of the West to the island of Manhattan, the project's namesake and site of its first headquarters.

In 2000, eight sites were designated by the Department of Energy as "Signature Facilities of the Manhattan Project." Only one, the "V Site" at Los Alamos, N.M. – where the atomic bombs were designed – has been restored. The future of five others, including the K-25 uranium enrichment plant in Oak Ridge, Tenn., currently threatened with demolition, may be in jeopardy.