Links, laps and Joe Lassus

Among stories and commentary published on Brentwood over the weekend was Williamson A.M.’s “Your Voices” column which asked readers to weigh in on Brentwood’s choice to promote itself on the web versus making a sizable donation to the Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
I’ll be honest, I have mixed feelings about the issue. Too often I believe our city does operate in a vacuum when it comes to working with our county and the other municipalities near us on issues that affect us all. On the flip side, say Williamson County Tturism and what springs to mind. Might it be … Franklin?
I’d be interested in your thoughts. And in the meantime, here’s a link to the W-AM piece in case you missed it: www.tinyurl.com/BWtripweb.

Congrats Stingrays, swimmers
My new swim team correspondent Deb Phillips emailed this over the weekend from the Williamson County Championships held at the Indoor Recreation Center on Heritage Way:
“The results are in! In the Single A division, the Brentwood Country Club Stingray’s avenged their second place trophy in the regular season by winning the first place trophy in the County Championship over the weekend. Coach Will (Drumright) motivated his team by shaving his hair into a Mohawk which he dyed green and then drew a Stingray on the bald area!”
I know Will. Why does this not surprise me? And to all of the local kids who participated in the meet, congratulations! Complete records and results from the meet can be found at www.tinyurl.com/BWswims.

Can you spy Coach Will in the picture? Look closely at the heads and he's pretty easy to find!

Repeat of a football classic Wednesday
Speaking of sports, can’t wait until high school football season starts again? Well, the county’s WC-TV-Comcast Channel 3 offers both a peek into the past and one into the future this week.
This week’s WC-TV classic football game of the week features the Ravenwood vs. Brentwood Academy showdown that took place Aug. 26, 2005. The game will be aired at 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Also on Wednesday, WC-TV’s Williamson County Schools Sports Connection show features guests Page High Football Coach Jack Daniels and Ravenwood High Football Coach Tom Shuman. It airs at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Update on Joe Lassus
Mike Walker shared last week that Planning Director Joe Lassus has completed his radiation treatments for the brain tumor discovered several months ago. “He will continue on chemo for the next month. It is my understanding that they cannot do an MRI to determine the status of the removed tumor until early August so that will be the next big medical date. He visited City Hall a few weeks ago and looked good physically.
“However, prayers for a full recovery are still needed.”
Let’s all stop and say one for Joe and others in need of healing. Unfortunately there are too many of them to list individually here.

Election Day dawns; Mother's Day not far behind

It’s finally here! Brentwood Election Day 2009.
If you haven’t voted and are registered, please help mold the city’s future by taking advantage of your right to help select those who govern you. Remember that this is not a partisan race and whoever is elected represents the city, the entire city. We are blessed with a fine group of candidates, incumbents and newcomers to the political process alike.
The polls, located throughout the city, are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Check this spot throughout the day for updates and news from around the city. And if you see or hear something interesting or funny or otherwise newsworthy, please comment and share.

***

Last week’s post about Brentwood’s role in the Wooded Rapist arrest and subsequent first Davidson County conviction included information about the city’s Rape Aggression Defense class for women.
Brentwood Police Department’s Community Resource Officer Mark Wood has let me know that the next RAD class will begin Monday, June 1, and run through Thursday, June 4, from 6-9 p.m. It will be held at the Brentwood Safety Center East, 1300 Sunset Road, which gives east Brentwood residents a chance to participate without having to come all the way into the city’s Maryland Farms Municipal Building.
Former Williamson A.M. columnist Jill Burgin commented on the previous post that she took the class about two years ago “and I would recommend it to every female I know.
“There was a mom taking the class with her teenage daughter because she said she wanted her daughter to be prepared for any situation she might encounter in college and beyond. I cannot say enough good things about the Brentwood officers who led our class.”
Sounds like a great Mother’s Day present to me – registering Mom and daughter(s) age 13 and over to take the class together.
For more information, call Officer Wood at 371-2267 or email him at woodm@brentwood-tn.org.

***

The news about Brentwood’s Planning and Codes Director Joe Lassus’ post-surgery progress continues to be uplifting.
He got to go home Sunday – two days after his operation to remove a brain tumor. While he still has trouble with his speech, City Manager Mike Walker reported Monday, “the pressure in his brain has been relieved and he has improved control over use of his right hand for eating and writing. The stitches will be removed on Friday. They will not know if the tumor is malignant for 10 days (from this past Friday).”
“Ironically, Joe broke a tooth Sunday at the hospital. When he arrived home, (his wife) Naomi called his dentist, Dr. Gilliam who allowed Joe to come to the office on Sunday night where he did the needed repair. Wow – I am impressed,” Mike writes. “Needless to say, we live in a great, caring community!”

Ghosts, votes and update on Joe Lassus

Just in from the first showing of Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, the new chick flick starring Jennifer Garner and Matthew McConaughey. What's the verdict? Just short of three stars on a five-star scale.
Garner's perfectly cast as Jenny, the maid-of-honor doctor spurned by sleazebag-photographer-who-won't-commit McConaughey. Think Christmas Carol meets Failure to Launch and almost every other movie Matthew's almost ever made. What happened to the Matthew I fell in love with in A Time to Kill?
Still, it was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon with a friend, cell phone off and popcorn (South Beach be damned) in hand.
Bored this weekend? Check it out. Or wait for the video. I actually think I'll like it better the second time around.

***

The stats: 2,233 voters cast early votes in the Brentwood City Commission race. Early voting ended Thursday. That leaves 23,782 left to be cast on Election Day, Tuesday, May 5. Let's break the mold, defy history and give the TV stations something besides the economy to report on.

Imagine the headlines, "Long line sparks Brentwood love match," "Voters wait four hours to cast votes," "Commission candidates attract more votes than McCain, Palin!"

OK, that last one's a stretch.

Check earlier BrentWord postings for details, links to candidates, etc. if you need more election information.

***

Great news from City Manager Mike Walker concerning Planning Director Joe Lassus and his surgery today:

"I just talked to Naomi. She was very upbeat as the operation was completed successfully. ... Joe has been moved to ICU and is 'talking up a storm' now. I actually heard him say in the background “Hi Buddy” when Naomi told him she was talking to me. I asked Naomi to call me with additional updates as soon as she has new information. "

A brain tumor was discovered several weeks ago and Joe has been on leave. Please continue to keep the Lassus family in your prayers.

***

Busy weekend:

• Brentwood High School's band boosters are having their annual sale from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday in the Campbell Center. That means no matter what the weather you can bargain shop to your heart's content. Great looking ferns and planters -- and bake sale items! -- are also available.
• If you have items too big for your trash containers, you can take them to Granny White Park tomorrow between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. But don't bring liquids, paints, batteries, tires or chippings. For those items ...
• Just head down to the Williamson County Administrative Complex (where you get your car tags), 1320 West Main Street, between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. So, what is considered hazardous? Check out the Williamson Beautiful website at http://www.williamson-tn.org/kwb/hhw.htm

Wooded Rapist foiled in Brentwood

Best news to come out of Nashville in weeks, months, years? Yesterday's conviction of Robert Jason Burdick, better known as the Wooded Rapist.
Burdick is accused of committing numerous sexual assaults on Middle Tennessee women over the course of 14 years. It was almost the perfect crime, or crimes, as the case may be. A perfect episode for CBS' Cold Case. But now, at last, the storyline can play out on NBC's Law & Order.
Last year Brentwood police officer Elliott Hamm made the first break in the case, which includes an 2004 assault in the Meadowlake subdivision and others just over the county line. Ironically, Hamm's first encounter with Burdick also occurred in the older north Brentwood neighborhood that's bordered by Franklin Road and Maryland Farms.
Wednesday's conviction brings to a close the first of what will likely be many court appearances for Burdick.
"I think this conviction is a great thing for our case as well," Brentwood Police Chief Ricky Watson told me today of the case which will be tried in Williamson County. "With the evidence against him, I feel very good about multiple convictions."
Burdick was found guilty on two counts of aggravated rape and one count of aggravated burglary. His sentencing is scheduled for June 10. He faces up to 56 years in prison from this first conviction.

***

One of the key factors in Burdick's conviction, according to all published reports, was the cool thinking of the victim in that particular case. The Donelson woman kept her head after being violated and preserved as much evidence as possible.
Though no one ever wants to think of being raped, there are steps Brentwood women can take to be prepared in the event they are in danger.
One of the best is the R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) Program that the Brentwood Police Department offers as free community service.
R.A.D. is the largest and fastest growing women’s only self-defense program in the United States and Canada, according to the city's website. It offers "practical options for responding to increasing acts of violence against women."
Brentwood's 12-hour R.A.D. program is taught in four three-hour sessions and is open to all women age 13 and up. Best of all, it's designed for virtually all fitness and skill levels. To learn more about upcoming programs, contact Officer Mark Wood 371-2267 or email him at woodm@brentwood-tn.org.

***

And finally, a gentle reminder to keep Joe Lassus, our city Planning Director, in your thoughts and prayers. He undergoes surgery on the brain tumor discovered just a few weeks ago early Friday morning.