Hello all. This blog is now restarting after the holidays and I am feeling good. I scored some nice items and had some interesting experiences this Christmas time.

Let us get to the heart of the matter. Our town.

Smyrna town government has planned for the next week just one meeting.

Next Town Council Workshop is: December 30, 2008 -7:00PM

Locally I feel parents are burned out on travel with family and all and simply wish to hide from everyone, but I still think that listing some cultural and other events is for the best.

War! War! War!

Stones River Campaign Anniversary Programs
December 26, 2008 - January 02, 2009
Held at the Stones River National Battlefield, 3501 Old Nashville Highway, Murfreesboro. Visitors can enjoy a variety of programs that tell the story of one of the most significant campaigns of the Civil War. Contact: Stones River National Battlefield, (615) 893-9501

A little confused on this one...but here it is

Countdown to Noon
December 31, 2008
Held at Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, 502 S.E. Broad Street, Murfreesboro. 10:30 a.m.-12 noon., $5 for non-members ages 2 and up, free to members. Join in the museum's biggest pajama party! Contact: Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, (615) 890-2300

For the cowboy in your life

Cabin Fever Cowboy Mounted Shooting
January 02, 2009 - January 04, 2009
Held at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum, 304 B West Thompson Lane, Murfreesboro. Contact: Shana Risinger, (615) 494-8879

Things will pick up in our town after the new years.

I hope to speed things up on the blog. With the issue of package sales coming up I will have a lot of material to rant on...I hope.

Merry Christmas!

Just in case anyone missed it... here's the story behind the season from the good doctor Luke, chapter 2. ;)


In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

(Have a very Merry Christmas!)

New sources of revenue?

I heard mention of this in some circles early last year. The idea that red light cameras might be coming to our town. I dismissed the idea because they don't really work and are mostly a form of revenue enhancement.

Channel 4 website has an article about local red light systems and it ends with this ominous line.

Several other middle Tennessee cities are also looking at installing red-light cameras, including Smyrna and Shelbyville.

I'll hold back on this subject for now, but as the ordinances held my attention so much last year with the recodification, and lack of availibility of them...this would easily become my new whipping horse.

I might attend the town workshop this month and find out if this is a rumor or something that is in the works.

Reward offered!

I am a first time home buyer and with that said I am very proud of my new home which is in a nice part of town, but when I came home from work I found that someone had spray painted graffiti all over the side of my garage. I called the police and they informed me that since school is out that it's probably some teens in the area acting up. Well, I know that teens will brag if they do something bad so If anyone hears that some teens in the area spray painted someone's home please let me know and if we catch them I will give out a small reward to that person. I have worked so hard to have a nice home and some punk is going to try to ruin it for me is just insane! I have taken pictures and called the insurance company so they will be out soon to look at the damages and let me know what I should do. I was thinking about painting over this but its way to cold out right for the paint to stick. Please parents make sure you teach your children not to destroy someone else's property!

Hello all

Unless a UFO lands this blog will be slow for the next week or so. Enjoy the holidays and I'm off to have steaks at moms.

Non-Profits

When our town decides the budget they set aside some for non-profits. The amounts given out were as low as $750 for the MCHRA-HOMEMAKER and as high as $65,000 for the Boys and Girls club. The ones receiving money this budget year are here.

SMYRNA SENIOR CITIZENS, INC.
SAM DAVIS MEMORIAL ASSOC.
RUTHERFORD CO. CRIME STOPPERS
SMYRNA/LAVERGNE ASST. COALITION
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAM
LEADERSHIP RUTHERFORD
MCHRA-MEALS ON WHEELS
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS
SMYRNA/LAVERGNE FOOD BANK
CASA OF RUTHERFORD COUNTY, INC.
EXCHANGE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION CTR
MCHRA-OMBUDSMAN
MCHRA-HOMEMAKER
CHILD ADVOCACY Ctr.

For those who end up with the towns largess, there is a list of those who did not get anything.

SMYRNA RESCUE SQUAD
NEW MASTER'S TOUCH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
NEW SMYRNA HIGH BAND BOOSTERS
NEW MCHRA-PER CAPITA DUES CONTRIBUTION
NEW READ TO SUCCEED

The three new ones made their first request this year and the Smyrna Rescue squad did not make a request at all according to the town budget.

In all the town for this budget year set aside $161,210 for non-profits.

For those like me who did not know that the MCHRA is the Mid-Cumberland Human Resource Agency I have added this link for you.

Helping others.

Well the season is about caring and a local company has an offer that I'll let them telll you about.

My husband John and I own Lotus Blossom Photography, an on-location photography company based here in Smyrna and we have joined the cause Giving is Awesome . Through this cause we are giving away a portrait session to one needy family in the middle Tennessee area to include all edited digital negatives. We would love to be able to provide this gift to a Smyrna family and we were hoping you would consider posting about it on the Smyrna blog. Thank you in advance for your help!! Here are the details which are also listed on our blog:

You know someone. You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. We guarantee it.

We want to know who they are, and we want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography – $300 worth, to be exact. That covers a complete portrait session with Lotus Blossom Photography to include the digital images of all edited photos, it's in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $150 gift certificate to apply towards their own photography session - that's a full 50% towards a portrait session of their own. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:
* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)
* The nominee must reside in the Middle Tennessee Area. Tell us who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve our artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.
* You must e-mail me the full story : amber@lotusblossomphotography.com.
The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve — get nominating! We can't wait to read all of your entries!
Open your heart to someone this holiday season — and thanks for giving us the opportunity to open ours.
With love,
Amber and John
Owners, Lotus Blossom Photography

Help someone out this holiday.

Hello all and boy am I relaxed. This semester of school for me is over and I get just short of a month off. I mentally need this breather badly.

Well the town has for this week the last two meeting currently scheduled for the month.

Storm Water Advisory Committee: December 15, 2008 - 7:00 PM
Parks Advisory Board: December 16, 2008 -6:00 PM at Chatterbox Coffee and Tea Café, 197 Enon Springs Road, West

The Board of Zoning Appeals, the beer board, and the Historic commission have no meetings this month. During the last town council meeting there was talk of a special meeting to start regulating and organizing the new package liquor sales. while this is not currently planned I have to say that the subject will interest me greatly and I'm going to have fun dealing with this one. Fun for me...not for them.

Locally we really have one historical event.

Victorian Holiday Tours for Children
December 08, 2008 - December 19, 2008
Held at Oaklands Historic House Museum, 900 North Maney Avenue, Murfreesboro. Experience Victorian holiday customs through decorations and tales from the past as you tour Oaklands. The program is available to home school groups and school groups. Contact: Oaklands Historic House Museum, (615) 893-0022

The DNJ does have an online article listing three local Christmas events produced by local churches for those interested.

For those interested. Our Sister city website This is LaVergne is having a get-together for those who have a strong connection with LaVergne.

It is with great pleasure that I invite the writers and readers of This is LaVergne to celebrate the holidays on Thursday, December 18th from 6:30 - 8:30′ish p.m. at Sir Pizza. Located at 1928 Madison Square Blvd., Suite 100 (behind Burger King and in the same shopping area as WillStan’s Grille), the manager Lucky Maze is welcoming us with open arms.

Well have fun this holiday and I hope you all keep the holiday spirit.

Town council meeting

The Tuesday night town council meeting (streaming video link) started with a public comment from Steve Morgon about parking on the grass and limits on vehicles. Like I suspected he talked about the towns enforcement of this ordinance and the affect it is having on him and his home business.

Steve made a few comments worth noting. The first was that the town issued during the last 60 days 414 citations for parking on the grass and another 160 letters about having 5 vehicles or more. He also had pictures of town vehicles that were parked on the grass seemingly in violation of their own codes.

He asked that there should be adjustments to the ordinance. Removing the restrictions on boats, campers, and trailers, and that allowing for short term cars for sale to be placed in yards.

Steve ended by saying that unless something could be done he might have to move his business out to the county. Sadly this would be the result of restrictive regulations. A loss of taxes and another unneeded cost for a business.

The town council did say a special workshop is needed to start the process to pass a package liquor ordinance. The law will take two months to pass and since we are just shy of 40,000 they will only allow three permit/licenses to be initially issued.

The rest of the meeting had little in the way of eye opening events.

Sworn in

Just seconds ago the town of Smyrna swore in Tim Morrell, Paul Johns, and Mary Esther Reed as town council members of Smyrna Tennessee.

Congratulation.

What is in your air?

A USA Today news article has some bothered, and some not about the air quality in a local school.

During an eight-month investigation, USA Today found that potential problems associated with air quality in schools across the country. Some schools in Middle Tennessee were included in its problem list.

But state and local school leaders dismissed the study, which used the Environmental Protection Agency "model to track the path of industrial pollution and mapped the locations of almost 128,000 schools to determine the levels of toxic chemicals outside," according to USA Today.

According to the study, one of the most vulnerable schools in the nationwide survey is John Coleman Elementary School in Smyrna.

There is little online about the study and how they got their numbers, but it is interesting.

Hello all! Let's see what is happening around town.

The Town has only two meetings scheduled for this week.

Project Assistance: December 9, 2008 -5:30PM
Next Town Council Meeting is: December 9, 2008 - 7:00 PM

The Porject Assistance meeting takes on more meaning now that the economy is troubled.

local events

A Victorian Christmas

Victorian Holiday Tours for Children
December 08, 2008 - December 19, 2008
Held at Oaklands Historic House Museum, 900 North Maney Avenue, Murfreesboro. Experience Victorian holiday customs through decorations and tales from the past as you tour Oaklands. The program is available to home school groups and school groups. Contact: Oaklands Historic House Museum, (615) 893-0022

Theatre

It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play
December 11, 2008 - December 14, 2008
Held at the Lamplighter's Theatre, 14119 Old Nashville Highway, Smyrna. You've likely seen the movie, but unexpected humor happens when a 1940's radio troupe performs this show before a live audience. Contact: (615) 534-0148
DNJ ARTICLE

An older Christmas

Christmas at Cannonsburgh
December 13, 2008
Cannonsburgh Village, 312 South Front Street, Murfreesboro. 1:00 p.m- 4:00 p.m. Cannonsburgh will be dressed in old-time tradition. Music and fun for the family. Contact: Cannonsburgh Village, (615) 890-0355

Is it possible to have too many parades?

Rutherford County Christmas Parade
December 14, 2008
Parade begins at 1:00 p.m. on Middle Tennessee Boulevard (Bell Street Parking Lot). The parade goes down East Main, around the Historic Murfreesboro Square, onto West Main and then ends on Walnut Street. This will be the largest parade with bands, floats, and other special entries. Contact: WGNS, (615) 893-5373

If you have a local event you would like posted please drop me a line.

on the grass

I like getting letters from people who read my columns. One issue that has jumped out is the town's zeal in enforcing the codes on people parking on the grass. The town council meeting this month, the first with Tim Morrell I believe, will have public comments from...

Steve Morgan, 550 Carter Lane – “Parking on Grass”

While I'm only guessing on which side he will come down I hope he is for "it's my yard" side of things.

Sadly there are asses in town who abuse their yard and they are the reason why the town has been 'grounded' from parking there. A form of collective punishment. I fall to the side that feels that there will be victims one way or the other. I just wish the victims are due to too much freedom and not from too much regulation and power in the governments hands.

Here is the town councils agenda for the Dec 9 meeting.

2008-12.09TCA

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

A few well directed emails to the council members that some regulations might need to be loosened or dropped might help Mr. Morgan.

The first story of Christmas

This here looks like it might be nice treat in tune with the holidays.

Stones River Baptist Church will present a combined dramatic and musical performance in honor of the birth of the Messiah at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Stones River Baptist Church is located at 361 Sam Ridley Parkway East.

Fifteen Biblical characters will retell their part in the events surrounding the birth of the Christ child while the church choir intermingles music from a new Christmas arrangment entitled “Hope Has Hands.”

For more information, contact the church at 615-459-2933.

Looks like this might be fun.

Take a survey

The Smyrna Police department would like your feedback on an online survey.

SMYRNA POLICE DEPT. 2008 COMMUNITY SURVEY
Your participation will help us serve you better!
Chief Of Police Kevin Arnold has implemented this survey to gather your valuable input on our Community and our Police Department.

Take a moment and check it out.

Parks and Recreation December newsletter

Newsletter December 08

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

The Smyrna Parks and Recreation has a fun activity planned for kidsnext week, but they need you to register real soon.

Smyrna Parks and Recreation Department would like to invite you to our Gingerbread House and Cookie Decorating Workshop December 9th, 2008 from 5:30pm –7:30pm
Rosenwald Community Building at Hilltop Park
565 Mason Tucker Drive
This program is for children of all ages and is FREE! We will have Mini Gingerbread Houses for big kids and Gingerbread Men to decorate for little children. We encourage parents to help their children decorate.
GINGERBREAD WORKSHOP
Please register early as space is limited.
Register by calling the Park’s office at 459-9773 between 8am - 4:30pm or email us at:christina.manus@townofsmyrna.org

Sounds like fun.

“Breakfast with Santa”

A local private Academyis holding a fund raising event and would like to invite you to take part.

The Master’s Touch Christian Academy
Christian Education for Special Needs Children

Presents the first annual “Breakfast with Santa” on December 6, 2008, from 8:00 a.m. till 11:00 a.m. at the Smyrna Presbyterian Church, 540 Sam Ridley Pkwy., Smyrna, TN

Enjoy breakfast with you’re family

Have you’re picture taken with Santa (Package’s will be available to order)

Write a letter to Santa and hand deliver it

Make a Christmas ornament to take home

Visit the Little Elf Shoppe where children can
Purchase gifts for their siblings and parents

Clowns and face painting

Baked goods, crafts, gift baskets for auction and MTCA cookbooks for sale
Tickets available at the door $5.00 adult $3.00 children
For advance tickets call (615) 202-7411

This is to help fund a school that is run for special kids that sometimes get lost in the normal school system.

The Master's Touch Christian Academy (MTCA) was established in 2002. MTCA is a school that provides a Christian education to children with special needs. MTCA accepts students who are academically, mentally, and physically challenged such as those with multiple disabilities, orthopedic handicaps, attention deficit disorders, learning disabilities, slow learners, educable mental disabilities, trainable mental disabilities, autism, and emotional disabilities.

A big thanks to Deborah Balthrop for emailing this to me. I'm very glad to post information on fund raisers like this.

I hope all of you had a nice Thanksgiving. I have enjoyed greatly this time with my wife as she got a long four day weekend. We did little and had fun doing nothing.

The town has planned the following.

Next Town Council Workshop is: December 2, 2008 - 6:00 PM (PDF Agenda)
Beautification Committee: December 2, 2008 - 6:30 PM
Planning Commission: December 4, 2008 - 7:00 PM
Sister City Committee: December 2, 2008 -6:00 PM

Other local events are

Kids dancing

2008 Tennessee State High School Dance Competition
December 05, 2008
Held at Middle Tennessee State University, Murphy Center, Murfreesboro. Contact: TSSAA, (615) 889-6740

Santa in Murfreesboro

Celebrate Christmas Downtown
December 05, 2008
Annual Rutherford County Christmas Tree Lighting and arrival of Santa Clause on the Murfreesboro Public Square at 6:00 p.m. Also included in the festivities will be choral and dance performances. Downtown merchants and restaurants will be open to welcome guests.

Open Houses

Discovery Center at Murfree Spring Holiday Open House
December 06, 2008
Held at Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, 502 S.E. Broad Street, Murfreesboro. 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Free admission. Contact: Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, (615) 890-2300

The Smyrna Parade

The 34th Annual 2008 Christmas parade in Smyrna is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008at 2 p.m

Events will stay rather slow as Christmas time has gotten most peoples attention.

As always. If you have an event you would like posted please email it to me and I will add it to the list or put it in its own post.