Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Happy birthday

This month the This is Smyrna, TN. website turns two.

Started in June 2005, it had only three posts the first month. Thanks to M for starting this website and helping us get to know each other better. I've met some great people through blogger meet ups, and this website was even the item that helped me into my Smyrna A.M. column that I have now.

Two? Does that mean we can now enter "the terrible twos"?

Happy birthday to all of our contributors, and all of the ones that may join us in the future.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Smyrna Farmers Market

Great news people. Gerry Hauser of our humble city has jumped over the next-to-last hurdle to set up our own farmer's market. It will be on Front Street and will be a single day per week affair.

One last hurdle has to be taken care of, but things are looking good.

When I find out more, I'll post it for you all.

With my politics I'm very happy at this going up. A private individual went and did it all himself without a government sponsorship using taxpayers money to start it. A desire to make it happen and an active citizen did it all.

The new Smyrna A.M. blog

The Smyrna A.M. has set up a blog of sorts. For items that a fast turnaround is best, they will be posted here at Smyrna Small Talk. Right now it includes an introduction from our local editor, and a bit I'm happy about. Someone wrote to the editor and said how WRONG I was on one column. Yippee! Someone dislikes my stuff.

I am a bit surprised. I set up an email account so people who disagree, or agree with me could email me direct. Instead they sent their letter to the editor.

Oh well.

This is Smyrna is NOT dead

In the last many months we have had our whole writing group go through some changes. One has moved, one has a job that will limit their writing, and I have gone back to school to finish my degree(I hope). because of that our blog has slowed down noticeably.

While it is slower, this blog will be around for a long time.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Middle Tennessee Blogger & Podcaster's Group Meeting

It’s time for our monthly meeting of area bloggers and podcasters! This month we’re shaking things up a little and changing locations:

WHEN: Saturday, June 23rd at 2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Bob Parks Realty - upstairs conference room (557 Sam Ridley Pkwy., W. SMYRNA)
WHAT TO BRING: If you want to bring munchies for yourself, please do. If you want to bring something to share, even better!! We do have a per cup coffee machine that costs 25cents. We also have a coke machine (60cents).

We talk about various local issues, some silly stuff, and keep up-to-date on blogging technology. If you have anything you’d like to add to the very informal agenda, contact Daily Diablogger at dailydiablogger (at) gmail (dot) com.

We sure hope you can join us for this meeting!

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Little known city websites

The city of Smyrna has a good Internet presence, but I have felt it lacked in links. I thought a few of the city pages may hold some interest to you.

There is the general download page. Loaded with PDF's of subdivision regulations. zoning ordinances, and business license application, plus many others. A lot of the downloads you need can be found here.

Have a need to request public work? Giant tire crushing pothole on your street? Is the street drain in front of your house backing up..even when there is no rain? Is trash being dumped regularly on a back road near your yard? You can go to the city public works online request form to submit a request.

I recently found a Smyrna website called "Come to Smyrna, Tn". Run by Kendra Cooke of Crye-Leike Realtors it has some nice material on it.

Want the latest news on good BBQ and the people who celebrate it? the Heritage BBQ festival's website has that and more.

Thursday, June 7, 2007

New gas station in town....

There is a new gas station in town and I think its already open at the corner of Weakely lane and Sam Ridley. The name is Thortons and I know today there gas price for reg unleaded is $2.89 which is really alot cheaper than other places in town. They also have bags of mulch for sale...I believe they are 4 for $9.00 so go and welcome them to our great city!!!

Does anyone know about this???

on June 29th the city of Smyrna is holding a fundraiser to help send teens to the sister city in Japan. I know my boss has printed up about 300 tickets for this event but have yet to find out where they can be purchased from since the city is holding this event. If anyone knows please leave me a message and I will blog about it! This event will be held at the bowling center and will be overnight with all the bowling you can handle on a Friday night. Plus if enough tickets are sold then the place will be closed and opened just for this fundraiser. so Lets see some support from our city and help these kids go over seas to our sister city!!

A busy saturday

If you're looking for something to do this Saturday, there are a lot of events happening.

For those with an interest in history and old style living.
Oaklands Victorian Fair
Held at Oaklands Historic House Museum, 900 North Maney Avenue, Murfreesboro. Tours of the mansion, crafts and games for children, an old fashioned cake walk, wetlands education, storytelling, Victorian music, living history demonstration. Admission: $5.00 adults, $3.00 children, 5 years and younger free. 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Contact: Oaklands Historic House Museum, (615) 893-0022
Those Civil War buffs out there may get a kick out of this event.
Hallowed Ground: A Lantern Light Tour of the Stones River National Cemetery
Held at the Stones River National Battlefield, 3501 Old Nashville Highway, Murfreesboro. Hallowed Ground is an hour long tour through the Stones River National Cemetery. Visitors will learn to look beyond the stones and into the stories of the men and women who felt the impact of war. Reservations are required and must be made by phone starting at 9:00 a.m. the Monday preceding the program. Contact: Stones River National Battlefield, (615) 893-9501
Now if you like big engines and noise, this may be just what you want.
Thunder in the Valley Super Truck and Tractor Pull
Held at the Tennessee Valley Pioneer Power Showgrounds in Eagleville. 6:00 p.m., Admission is $10.00. Bring your lawn chairs. No alcohol allowed on the premises. Hot Rod classes, Limited Mod classes, 4x4 Truck classes, Hot Farm classes and Super Farm classes. Contact: Buddy Woodson, (615) 289-3901
While rain is predicted for tomorrow, the forcast for Saturday is cloudy with a high of 89° and a low of 64°.

New coach at Smyrna high school.

Looks like there is going to be a new coach for the boys and girls soccer teams at Smyrna High.
Smyrna High School principal Bud Raikes has announced the hiring of William McCloskey to coach both boys and girls soccer, replacing Mark Gonyea and Maggie Morrow, respectively.

McCloskey has spent the last 14 seasons at Kingsport-Dobyns Bennett High School, turning the Tribe and Lady Tribe into perennial contenders in ultra-tough East Tennessee.

"He has plenty of experience and has an excellent background in soccer," said Raikes. "Everything we found out about him was a positive in helping get our programs moving forward."
Good luck

Smyrna goes green

With the assistance of a state grant, Smyrna is getting help in establishing an alternate fuel site.
Gov. Phil Bredesen announced today that the state will provide a Green Island Corridor Grant of $35,200 to Daily’s fuel station on Tridon Drive at Almaville Road in Smyrna in Rutherford County. The funds will be used to install new underground storage tanks and dispensers for both biodiesel (B20) and ethanol (E85) fuel. This grant is one of 10 awarded to retail fuel stations across the state totaling more than $130,000.

“Awarding these grants today places us one step closer to making biofuels more commercially available to all Tennesseans,” said Bredesen. “By establishing this network of retail biofuel stations along our interstates and major highways, we are giving Tennesseans more choices at the pump. By increasing the availability of biofuels, we’re also able to reduce vehicle emissions, help protect public health and reduce our dependence on petroleum.”
I'm not sure is this is the first site in Smyrna to sell "green" fuel, but the demands from the marketplace demand a supply be established.

Friday, June 1, 2007

BBQ

event over

Smyrna Radio show TODAY!

Just a reminder that today, at 3pm, their will be a broadcast of the Smyrna radio show from the YMCA.
I wanted to inform your blog of the Smyrna Show heard on WGNS 1450 am and 100.5 Fm thats on fridays at 3:00 pm. Friday's show was held at the North Rutherford YMCA on Sam Ridley Parkway and we discussed Smyrna' growth and new business that will be coming to Smyrna such as Kohls department store in November, Demo's Restaraunt, Applebees, a New Starbucks, Taco Bell and 2 2 new main commercial streets that will be named in memory of past Smyrna soldiers killed in Iraq and much more. We also gave away $140 worth of tickets for the Smyrna Rotary "Wings of Freedom Fish Fry" and 2 cash gft certificates to benefit Smyrna and Rutherford County non profits. The next show will be aired on friday at 3:00 pm June 1st. If you havew any creative ideas for our show please let me know, if you could mention this it would be greatly appreciated.
I plan on dropping by and saying "hello."

Read comments.
I waited till 3:30, then bugged out. Needed to wait till 4 it seemed. Taylor Loyal, the new Smyrna A.M. editor was ont he show. I heard part of it on the radio.

question for all

When you say Smyrna, how do you pronounce it?

Smyrna or Sa-Myrna?

I've noticed a lot of people insert a hidden "a" between the "S" and the "M".

May Housing Numbers

Here are some Smyrna housing numbers for May:

2007
Homes currently on the market in Smyrna: 348
Home under contract (pending): 140
Homes closed in May 2007: 82
Homes closed Jan. 1 - May 31, 2007: 376

2006
Homes closed in May 2006: 84
Homes closed Jan. 1 - May 31, 2006: 348

Current
Least expensive: $97,100 (998 square feet, 2 bedroom, 2 bath, zero lot line on Dellwood Dr.).
Most expensive: $649,900 (this home has a contract on it, but is located in Hidden Valley and has 4706 square feet, foru bedrooms, three and a half baths).
Total number of homes for sale for over $300,000: 26

This research shows the Smyrna real estate market is right on track, and perhaps a little ahead of the numbers from last year. Congratulations Smyrna!

On a side note, I saw another study conducted by Tennessee State University that said consumer confidence is down 26%, largely due to gas prices. The feds are also reporting that the economy has slowed to a crawl the first part of the year, according to MSNBC.