"Citizens' honor late city historian

When Vance Little died in late March, the city lost its historian and one of its best friends.

Perhaps the saddest part about his death, which came too soon after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, was that he didn't live to see the Brentwood Room, the local history room planned in our expanded library, named for him. Luckily he did know about the plans and those that he told know how honored and proud he was about it.

On Thursday, the Citizens for Brentwood Green Space announced a donation to the Brentwood Library for the T. Vance Little Room in the amount of $1,125.

“Vance Little was a treasured resource in Brentwood and a tremendous friend to our organization,” founder Stephen Prince said. “Whether it was allowing us to use his facilities for meetings, or providing us with invaluable insights on ways of preserving green space, Vance was always there when we needed help. It’s an honor to be able to help preserve his legacy in the community.”

Formerly known as the Brentwood Room, the T. Vance Little Room will be a place where visitors will be able to conduct research about Brentwood’s history on their own. “The donations we received for this new addition at the library were above and beyond what we expected or hoped for,” Gil Hutchinson, the group's president added. “We thank all those that donated in honor of Vance’s memory.”

“Vance Little was a great friend of the Brentwood Library, and the many contributions we have received in his memory show that he was a great friend to the whole community. The contribution of the Citizens for Brentwood Green Space is especially significant because Vance helped that group get started by providing them with meeting space," Library Director Chuck Sherrill said. "The T. Vance Little Room at the Brentwood Library will continue his tradition of providing an elegant setting for community activity. We are most grateful to the members of Green Space for making this generous gift to the library.”

Limited numbers of Vance's final book, Gently Flows the Harpeth, published right before his death, is now on sale at the Brentwood Library and at the Brentwood Municipal Building. The book, published in conjunction with the city's 40th anniversary is $40.

The Citizens for Brentwood Green Space, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to preserving open space in the form of parks, trails, historic sites, and flood plains while being sensitive to the rights of landowners and developers. For more information, visit http://www.brentwoodgreenspace.org/

In photo, from left: Gil Hutchinson, Chuck Sherrill, Bert Bosse

Twitter me up Devin

A few final thoughts on Tuesday's election:

Personally, I'm so glad Devin McClendon lost the election. Now he'll have time to teach me to Twitter. But unfortunately for me, I have an idea he won't be twiddling his thumbs, or teaching me to Tweet anytime soon. I hope there's a 2011 Brentwood race in his future, or maybe even something bigger. After yesterday, I wonder if he's not too progressive for us. And that's a shame.

Have you ever seen the 1998 movie Pleasantville starring Nashville's own Reece Witherspoon? Since we're supposed to have another 19 inches of rain in the next few days, rent it, Netflix it or check it out from the Brentwood Library (just make sure you return it on time! This I know from experience -- see yesterday's post). Settle in on the couch, pop popcorn and enjoy. Then let me know what you think.

Speaking of rain, the Leathers’ rain gauge currently shows just shy of an inch of rain from overnight and this morning. Sigh.

And speaking of the library, you have to love Library Director Chuck Sherrill. He said he would have loaned me cash or his library card yesterday. As to why he would be late to the gathering at the library to hear who vote tallies, you must love his excuse: “I’m going out to dinner with my parents, celebrating their 64th wedding anniversary (!). I will be back at the library after that.” Congratulations to them!

Could 2011 bring a Joe and Joe showdown?
Last year, longtime commissioner Joe Sweeney announced at a city commission meeting he did not plan to run for re-election. In a Brentwood Journal story following up on the statement he confirmed that was his thinking at that time, leaving the door cracked for another run. If he decides to open the door in two years he will face Brentwood's other Joe --longtime commissioner Joe Reagan who came in fourth Tuesday. Both have celebrated 80th birthdays but both still love the city with the passion they had when they first ran for office.
Will be interesting to see what happens.