Thursday we’ll find the Cruise-In hosted by the LaVergne Rotary Club. While we are not thrilled that it has moved outside of town to Smyrna in front of Firehouse Subs, we can say that the sandwich shop has been extremely generous to the city with their donation of the six-wheeler and trailer for search and rescue.  THIS WEEK all money raised will be donated to the United Way and earmarked for LaVergne programs, so make an effort to stop by and pitch in $5 or $10 or $20. Or more. Sources tell me they have some pretty cool cars that participate!

On Friday,Carry the Load will be making an overnight stop in LaVergne as they pass through town.  We heard it’s because of the phenomenal welcome they received last year.  (See the picture? That was last year!).  According to the city facebook page, they’ll be at the city limits between 4:00 and 4:15.  People hoping to walk with them can meet on Lillian Buchanan Drive next to the post office to join the procession as they come through.  They will stop at City Hall for their overnight rest and it’s at City Hall where the big, beautiful American flag will be on display.  If you don’t walk with them, wear your red, white and blue and bring an American flag to welcome them as they journey down Murfreesboro Road.  Sources tell me you might expect some traffic delays between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.

On Saturday we have GRADUATION for LHS seniors!  This will be at the Murphy Center on the campus of MTSU. How many graduation parties will there be throughout town? The twice-a-year book sale is also scheduled at the Library. You can pick as many books as you want for purchase and make whatever donation you feel is appropriate to pay for them.  If you have a lot of money, make a good donation. If you don’t, that’s okay.  But remember this is a fundraiser to help pay for new books and activities hosted at the library. It’s not a giveaway!

What else is going on this weekend, LaVergne?

But, guess what…it doesn’t stop here.  Your next stop after this is a big one, no matter what path you choose.  You may be leaving high school on your way to college in the fall, or in to the workforce.  You may have obtained a degree at the university and you are considering another or what you are going to do with that fancy, expensive piece of parchment.  I could spout clichéd lines from commencement speeches past about spreading your wings, soaring to new heights or yada yada yada.  But, you will hear enough of that at your graduation.

I want to offer some adv ice for navigating the rocky, crazy planet you are set upon.  First, GET A JOB!  IT doesn’t have to be the best job you ever had.  It just has to earn an honest wage.  Guess what, flipping burgers is honest work.  So is digging ditches or any other hard, less than glamorous jobs you can think of.  The point here is responsibility.  Take some.  Take a lot.  There is plenty to go around.  You will be glad you did.  Your parents will be proud of you.

Which brings me to point number two…tell your parents (or whoever has supported you financially, emotionally and lovingly all these years) thank you.  Thank them for standing by you.  Thank them  for taking care of you.  Thank them for loving you.  And, thank them for kicking your backside when you needed it.  Continue to respect them.  Showing the proper respect to the parental types in your life will help you with your future job/career/life of lottery winning luxury.  Showing respect for others doesn’t stop with your parents.  Respect your peers.  Respect your superiors.  Respect your employees if you get to the top.  Respect opens more doors than it closes.

Also, don’t forget to respect yourself, too.  This is very important.  If you neglect to treat yourself with kindness and respect, you set yourself up for others to take advantage of you.  No one deserves that.  You are not a doormat.  If that ever happens, stand up straight, dust yourself off and refuse to let it happen again.

Always remember that you are not entitled to anything in this world.  Things won’t always be easy.  Hard work really does build character.  Enduring the occasional (and I truly hope it is only occasional) hardship will serve to make you stronger.  I speak from WAY TOO much experience on this.

Every day spread kindness.  If you can afford nothing more, a smile is an amazing gift that is free to give.  Kindness begets kindness.  It is contagious.  Start an epidemic.

Most of all, be yourself.  The best you there is.  I am proud of you.  Now get out there and celebrate (responsibly!!!)

Can you help?  Would you be interested in adopting one of these?  They are labrador/rottweiler mix. Here are the dogs and more information about them

LT (aka Little Too), Male, 3 years
This sweet dog had a rough start in life. As a puppy, he was diagnosed with Parvovirus and his human Mom spent a LOT of money to make him all better. Miraculously he survived and is now a very loving, sweet boy. He is used to living indoors (he is fully house trained, but you might need to give him some time to retrain as he’s been living outdoors with the other dogs for about a month now.). He has been around a newborn and has a positive history with children.

LT (Little Too)

Hershey, Male, 4 years old.
Hershey is an outdoor dog who lives happily in a fenced area. He is a great guard dog with a bark much bigger than his bite. He is muscular and would be a great hunting companion if someone has the know-how and patience to train him.

Hershey

Angel, Female, 4 years
Angel is from the same litter as Hershey. She is a very sweet dog and will cover you with kisses if you let her. She is not photogenic, but really is very beautiful in person. She has always been an outdoor dog with a good disposition. She and Hershey both have come indoors when the weather gets extremely cold and have not pee’d or pooped indoors (no accidents!). She will join in the barking chorus if other dogs start barking, but is not the “lead singer.”

Angel

All of these dogs have been great in warning when someone comes near the door, is in the yard, or there is unusual activity in the neighborhood. All dogs need to be spayed or neutered.  LT has had all his shots, but Angel and Hershey are due to get theirs.  Their Mom hasn’t been able to take them because of the move, her job, and taking care of an infant. She would be willing to pay for the shots if they are taken to Beasley Animal Clinic, which offers discounted rates for county residents.

Having them spayed or neutered may be difficult for her financially unless you are a Davidson County resident. They offer very low cost spay & neuter opportunities for low income individuals. (And hey! Why can’t Rutherford County do this!?)

If you are interested in adopting any of these sweet babies, please go to our Facebook page and comment. The owner will then send you a private message on Facebook on how you can get in touch and make arrangements to meet and/or pick up the doggie.

Thank you, LaVergne – especially you animal lovers willing to adopt one of these precious pooches!

With the nicer weather we will see more children out playing.  As we have the smartest readers on the planet, I know you all realize we need to be extra careful when driving through our kid filled neighborhoods.  Our kids could be riding their bikes, playing ball or running around playing tag (do kids still do that?)

One important thing to consider is the children who have special needs or physical considerations.  My daughter has Asperger Syndrome, a mild form of Autism.  Children with special needs, especially Autism, may not have a strong concept of personal safety.  My girl forgets the need to look both ways before crossing the street most of the time.  Parents are always very vigilant and protective of our children; parents of special children have to be more so.  But, for me, I also appreciate the watchful eyes of others.   So, please make sure you are obeying the speed limit, watching for kids running around and just being careful.

Another way we need to take care of our children is to protect them from being exploited.  Please make sure that any charitable organizations that are raising money, awareness or anything in your child’s name are legitimate and trustworthy.  Make sure the motives of the group and your own are in line with what is best for your child.  (I had to say this because of something I read recently, not something any of us would do.  Just needed to get that out there!!)

So, please watch the kids: yours, mine and others.  Drive safely.  Enjoy the sunshine!

Theresa: Rich you are the Weather Coordinator for Box 100. What does that mean exactly?

Rich: The job in Box 100 I volunteered for when I joined was the Weather Coordinator. The job entails a lot of things like tracking storms and getting information about warnings and damage out to our city workers and residents. Another aspect is community education. I spend a lot of time at our city events promoting storm preparedness and planning. And yet another aspect is talking with our city leaders about way that they can improve the safety of residents. One particular project I was able to save the city $3200.00 a year by researching the best tool for the job. I’m also very proud to represent La Vergne as the Vice President of the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National Weather Association.

Theresa: What this severe weather season is expected to look like based on the recent models?

Rich: Well in the weather world we have a saying “anything more than seven days out is voodoo!” I think the biggest news is we are just about out of winters hold. As the temperature warms though, especially in the April/May timeframe, we see more of a potential for severe weather. We have gotten off to a bit of a late start but I think we will still see some action.
Theresa: When we are put under a WATCH for significant weather (flooding, tornado, severe thunderstorm) what preparations should we begin making?

Rich: The number one thing people need to do when a watch is issued is to stay connected with what is happening. The one pet peeve I have in this universe is the statement I hear most often after a community has been devastated by a tornado is “We had no warning.” There are cases where this is true but the average warning time in the U.S. (from the time the warning is issued to the time it hits the town) is 24 minutes. For 24 minutes warnings were going out on TV, radio, cell phone apps, weather radios, among others. I counter I get to this is often “but most of the time nothing happens.” This is true. National Weather Service has a working group looking for ways to make the system better but at the end of the day, if it is a false alarm, you have been inconvenienced for 20 minutes. If it’s not, the action you take could save your lives and the lives of your kids.

Beyond staying connected make sure that the weather radio is working and has a good battery along with several flashlights and your emergency kit. Make sure you know where your kids and pets are incase you have to take action quickly. I would also recommend all La Vergne residents sign up for Code Red. It’s a free service from the city that will call you with weather warnings. The nice part is the city can also put out information on it as to where disaster shelters are located and other important information. You can sign up for free at www.lavergnetn.gov or at www.box100weather.wordpress.com.

Theresa: What additional preparations do you advise when we are under a WARNING for flooding or thunderstorms?

Rich: When you are under a severe thunderstorm warning make sure you stay inside and keep away from windows. Close the drapes if you can. The main hazards are winds over 58 mph (remember a tropical storm in the gulf has winds above 39 mph), or hail over 1” in diameter. Either of these could break the windows or pick up and throw something that will.

Flooding warnings are a little harder. If you know that your property is prone to flooding then its best to grab your emergency kit and head for higher ground. Make plans ahead of time to go to a friends or relative until the warning is over. If you’re in your car and you come up to a road that’s flooded (Fergus rd. is a good one for this) just turn around and go another way.  You can’t judge the depth of the water and many poor folks found out in 2010!
Theresa: In the event of a tornado WARNING, we know to go to the lowest level interior room possible in the building we are in.  We know not to get in a car to go somewhere else.  What other suggestions do you have?

Rich: Remember the goal is to get as many walls as you can between you and the outside. One great idea I heard was wear a bicycle or motorcycle helmet to protect your head and the heads of your kids from debris. I have also heard of getting in the bathtub and pulling a mattress over you. My plan is we are lucky enough to have an interior closet so when the watch is issued we prepare it by putting a weather radio, an am/fm radio, flashlights and the first aid kit (among other supplies) so when/if a warning is issued we are ready to go and don’t have to waste time finding things we need.
Theresa: Speaking of supplies, what would you consider a basic weather preparation kit to contain besides a flashlight and a radio?

Rich: Well everyone’s kit will be different but remember to make copies of important documents… especially your homeowners’ insurance policy. If your home is damaged you will need the contact information and policy number. Think about your medications and other things you would need if you had to abandon your home and stay at an emergency shelter. Don’t forget your pet in this process either. What will they need? For more information on kits visit www.ready.gov

Now with that being said one of the common complaints I hear is that kits are expensive. This can be true and I have two suggestions. One is to look around your home for things you already have. You don’t need top quality. Do you go camping? If you do you have most of an emergency kit already

Second would be to go to http://do1thing.com/ and do one activity they suggest a month. Being prepared for disasters and emergencies can seem like a big job. Many people don’t know where to start, so they never start at all. With Do 1 Thing you can take small steps that make a big difference in an emergency. Do 1 Thing is a 12-month program that makes it easy for you to prepare yourself, your family, and your community for emergencies or disasters. I challenge every La Vergne resident to do one of these activities every month for a year!

Theresa: If people have questions how can they contact you?

Rich: they can contact me via email at kf6bka@yahoo.com or on Facebook at La Vergne Box 100. I’ll be happy to help you any way I can.

We would like to thank Rich for this valuable information.  He loves to talk about weather and forecasts so don’t be shy if you have any questions.

To recap:  In a newspaper with circulation of probably 10,000, maybe 20,000, one of our aldermen said the city spends like “drunken sailors.” The mayor on her facebook page with about 200 friends* said the alderman was an “embarrassment” to the city. The editorial that followed (plastered on the front page of the online edition of the newspaper complete with a nice little online poll designed to feed the fury) did not focus on why an alderman insinuated the city spent money on booze and hookers to 10,000 readers, but attacked the mayor for firing back to her 200 readers. The newspaper seemed almost gleeful in covering this silliness rather than the fact that a former elected official completely screwed up and ripped off home- and business-owners by over-assessing their properties.**

THIS is not the only reason why I’m writing, though… let me continue.

At the same time the county story of greed and unchecked power was essentially buried because of the “drunken sailor” comment controversy, the city was going through a rough patch with its little league ball team. There was zero coverage of this in the same newspaper, but lots of coverage by television news.  Online the city was attacked again and again as being terribly unfair and draconian in asking an organization that works with children to provide proper documentation from the IRS and state to operate.  Meanwhile in two short weeks, the city of LaVergne had gone from having the spring season blow up to now having a very reputable ball league manage what will be a season that starts a couple of weeks late … something that in my opinion is nothing short of a miracle.

Then the little league team in Lascassas had the same exact thing happen.  The media outlet (the one that kicked up a ruckus about the mayor telling 200 of her friends on facebook that an alderman was embarrassing but had NO newspaper coverage of the league disaster that could impact a thousand children) wrote a nice, three page piece about the Lascassas story. Read it here.  It was a good article.  It explained that the Lascassas league did not have their 501(c)3 (same as LaVergne’s league) and it was not registered with the state (same as LaVergne’s league).

And we heard crickets.  No one accused the Rutherford County lawmakers of being unfair and horrible for doing the same exact thing that LaVergne city officials did.  LaVergne leadership said their goal was to get kids to play ball. And they are coming through on that promise.  The county said they want to see kids play ball. We don’t know if that will happen yet.

But the county is totally in the clear. They are walking away smelling like roses.  But for us, people called our mayor names that were incredibly insulting and crass. People accused the city of lying (to quote one person [sic] “Yahl straight out lied…” and “ The city of Lavergne doesn’t give a crap about these kids and a ball season.”).  Really? Apparently the city hates children.

People made comments stating that LaVergne is always in the news for bad things.  But here’s the real story … one week of media coverage from just two media sources (DNJ & WKRN):

Warrants stop leads to meth discovery, arrest - Murfreesboro
82 bottles used to manufacture meth seized at Rockvale home – Rockvale (same story??)
Counterfeit cash passed; Man reports hit and run – Murfreesboro
Smyrna Police identify man wanted in Kmart attack – Smyrna
Standoff ends with disabling of suspect - Smyrna
Police seek identities of girls shown nude - Spring Hill
City school system may need to tap its reserves – Murfreesboro (Good Lord could you imagine if this was in LaVergne??)
Man tried to run over woman with her car - Murfreesboro
Another hole forms next to Gateway Trail - Murfreesboro (Good Lord could you imagine if this was LaVergne’s greenway??)
Couple indicted for children living in filth - Murfreesboro
Woman sought in ID fraud case - Murfreesboro
Son charged with death of 60 year-old mother – Nashville
1 stabbed, clerk punched in the face during argument – Nashville
Dog shot in front of East Nashville owner – Nashville
Woman wakes to find stranger standing over bed – Nashville
Man stabbed by girlfriend in domestic dispute – Lebanon
TN Department of Corrections warns of scam targeting inmate’s families – Nashville
Mayor signals Metro schools may not get requested $44 million increase – Nashville
Suspect smashes store’s window, steals cigarettes, cash register – Hendersonville
H.S. student dies from injuries sustained in shooting – Nashville (what a horrible tragedy)
Woman accidentally shot by child – Lebanon
Sandwich shop burglarized, suspect takes off with gumball change – Nashville
Man injured in shooting outside Village of the Green Apartments – Nashville
Couple arrested for vandalizing each other’s property after break-up – Murfreesboro

Again I ask, “REALLY?”  One week of news from two media outlets and you say LaVergne is bad?  Here’s my request. I ask people who perpetuate the stigma that LaVergne is bad to take a look around.  Look long and hard and don’t be so flippin’ quick to accuse our city of wrongdoing.  If YOU live here, have a little bit of class and do not talk crap about YOUR town in public. If you have an issue, call the city, call the mayor, call at least TWO aldermen (so you have a chance of getting a *balanced* explanation).  Do not harm your own city, your neighborhood, your home, your family.  Defend your city. Stop allowing nutjobs from other places to essentially devalue your home, your property, your quality of life by spreading malicious rumors and perpetuating the stigma.

If your hatred is that deep that you just can’t help yourself, then you have problems far more serious than just being anti-local-government or anti-mayor.

*200 has grown to 279 as of now because of the new friends she gained from the exposure.
**The city is refunding money contrary to online snark written by gloomerati that it is just not true. Read about that through this link and scroll down to the workshop update.

Has spring finally sprung?

Spring usually also heralds the beginning of La Vergne’s baseball and softball season. This year we’ve had a bit of a rough start, though. Here’s what I have pieced together from reliable sources (“reliable” being the key word here!).  When the former parks & rec director left, the interim director found an agreement signed by the former director.  When the city attorney looked at it, he determined according to Tennessee Municipal Code that the contract was not valid because the only people who can sign are either the mayor or city administrator.   The board of mayor and aldermen were called together then for an emergency meeting to sign a valid agreement.

That agreement had the same requirements that other non-profits provide to the city, including proof of 501(c)3 status – or the documentation that allows people and corporations to claim a charitable contribution on their taxes each year when they file.  ”All contributions are tax-exempt” must meet specific federal and state criteria to actually be tax-exempt, including an approved 501(c)3 determination by the IRS and must be registered with the state as a charitable organization. These charitable organizations are required to file an annual tax report (like everyone else) and are required to send an annual report to the state as a registered organization. With the state registration, you must annually report the roster of your Board of Directors (I know this from my friends who are part of other non-profit organizations).

Unfortunately it was at this point that the city learned the LBSA was not tax-exempt nor was it a registered organization with the state. With the state registration comes the responsibility to meet certain requirements for sales tax revenues from concession stands. For example, according to eHow, ”The state Concession stand owners must obtain vendor licensing through the state or with local counties. Food service vendors are required to display their state or county licenses at all times. Additionally, concession stand owners are required to pay business taxes and file tax returns with the Tennessee Department of Revenue and the IRS.” Perhaps no taxes would be owed for LBSA’s concession stand sales, but it comes back to the fact that the organization does not have an approved 501(c)3 status so they are not tax exempt.

So where does this leave the city? When the city learned this, it HAD to legally step in – or in this case step away.  If the Gloomerati of our town wish to point fingers as they are so prone to do, it would be to fault the city for not learning about this earlier. That LBSA has operated for so many years without being a fully eligible organization should have been discovered earlier.  But it was not.  However, equally notable is that once it was discovered, the city did take action.  If they had not taken action, the city could be culpable in potential future challenges the LBSA may face.

This next part is equally important to emphasize.  WE HOPE NOT.  All of us have had children or have had neighbor’s children or relatives who have played ball with LBSA. It is my opinion that the volunteers with the organization were dedicated workers who love our children and want to see the children of our community flourish.  It is a frightening prospect that there could be IRS problems in the future because of the lack of a 501(c)3 designation for LBSA because of the years of outstanding service and dedication to the youth of our city, as well as kids from other cities in Tennessee.

So what’s next for our kids who play ball?

Mayor Mosley, City Administrator Richardson, and parks & rec staff had a meeting about a week and a half ago saying they had met with another league and kids would play ball this season.  The season may be a bit shorter, no one knows yet. In fact at this point, the identity of the new league remains unknown.  The city updated the following on its facebook page a little more than a week ago, “The director of their board has asked the city to wait on announcing the non-profit organization’s name until after the agreement is approved because of the organization’s fiduciary and legal responsibilities to their members and national sponsors. We want to assure you that negotiations are well underway and we anticipate our own Board of Mayor and Aldermen will have a special meeting in the near future to vote on the agreement.”

While that seems pretty straightforward to me, many people – primarily coaches and some parents – have seemed to relentlessly accuse the city of lying and misleading.  The Gloomerati has jumped on the bandwagon, as well, because … well because they apparently welcome any gloom and doom.

Like Punxatawney Phil, it is easy to point fingers in disdain at the city workers or the Mayor because they are an easy target to blame for the delayed start of the ball season.  When it involves kids, people definitely have strong feelings!  It is very clear, though, that they have done everything they can do to legally move forward in a way that won’t leave the future of our ball players in question again.  The Board of Mayor and Aldermen are having a special meeting tomorrow (MONDAY, APRIL 8th at 5:30 p.m.) to consider the agreement with the new league. This means that TOMORROW we know after a long, arduous wait who the new league is and when the kids can start playing!

The meeting is open to the public, so come on down to City Hall if you want to know first-hand and immediately the answers to the lingering questions.

And THANK YOU City of La Vergne for doing the right thing.

Photo from city web page.

I have heard a rumor that thousands of Easter Eggs are missing in La Vergne.  Children are being asked to join together on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park where games and crafts will begin at 9 am with the hunt for the missing eggs to start at 10 am.  The Easter Bunny will be there to egg the kids on (come on, that was funny!)  Children will hunt for eggs in groups based on their age.  The divisions are: Newborn to 4 years, 5 to 7 years and 8 to 11 years.  There are three Golden Eggs to be found, one for each age group.  These eggs can be traded for a special prize after the hunt.  Please come out and join us for this fun, family friendly eggstravaganza (see what I did there! LOL)

Tell us what you are doing this weekend, or about your favorite Easter dinner dish.  I am looking for new ideas for holiday meals!

First we want to note the following from the city facebook page:

On Tuesday, March 12 from 4:00 and 8:00 p.m., Zaxby’s in Smyrna will donate 10% of sales to the LaVergne Smyrna Food Bank. Eat out and donate to a great cause!

Several of our friends say they go to the food bank often to donate items.  Non perishable, non expired food are always accepted, as well as any cash you can donate!

Secondly, wow to Sherwood Locksmithing!   Box 100 tonight posted about a very very generous donation made by Thomas “Trapper” Sherwood (who happened to win by acclamation as favorite locksmith in LaVergne Loves).  After the organization revamped its big trailer (REHAB ONE), including updating weather and ham radio equipment, he stepped in and changed all the locks on all vehicles and equipment.  He donated both his labor and the materials to this cause.  If you have ever had to change locks, you know firsthand what a generous donation this really is.  ”Trapper” is pictured below with members of Box 100 during their Open House yesterday at City Hall.

Photo by Precious Prints Photography.

Another businessman that also donated recently was Sam of CH Automotive. Again as we have watched Box 100 rebuild this year with new leadership and new members, a lot of maintenance work has been done. According to Box 100 members, he charged the organization a hugely discounted rate on labor. Bravo to CH Automotive for recognizing the value of this organization and helping them out.

What other groups are active in our city? Who else deserves a shout-out in our community?  Let us hear from you, LaVergne!

Here is Mr. Richardson working hard as City Recorder during the November 2010 meeting when the new board members and mayor were sworn in.

During the past year, people have directed criticism at city officials because there was not a full-time city administrator.  But there was someone at the helm all along. Bruce Richardson, the assistant administrator / city recorder, had been appointed to serve in the interim capacity last year.

At the time that he was appointed interim city administrator, Mr. Richardson already had nearly 19 years of city experience working in LaVergne.  A couple of weeks ago we saw that he had become a certified municipal finance officer, something that the state wants all local governments to have at least one staff member certified in. This certification, along with his Bachelor’s degree in business administration degree and his work history with the city of LaVergne, make Mr. Richardson uniquely qualified for the position.

On Tuesday, the Board finally named the very capable and professional Mr. Richardson as the City Administrator.  The city provided this quote from Mr. Richardson on its web page,

“The city of La Vergne has been my work home for nearly 20 years,” said Richardson. “I have seen the city triple in size and with the large growth here, there have been more infrastructure needs, public safety needs, and zoning and codes requirements, as well as additional services, programs and activities the city offers to its diverse population. It has been my pleasure to be a part of La Vergne as it has evolved from a small town to a vibrant mid-size city and I look forward to helping it grow in the future.”

It is obvious that that Mr. Richardson cares deeply for our city.  Kudos to the Board for their unanimous vote in appointing him to this position.  Our thanks to Bruce Richardson for his stellar performance as interim during the past year and for his entire 20 years of service to the city of LaVergne!  And our sincere welcome and congratulations on his new “official” position!