Fun things to know and share

Feeling the need to take a break from crime news and such, here's some fun stuff to share:

Talk about book work: Last week, 41 different people volunteered a total of 303 3/4 hours to help make the summer Friends of the Brentwood Library Book Sale a success. Just how successful was it? Try $10,860 successful. What a great bunch of volunteers they are. Thanks too to the hundreds of people who donate books to make the quarterly sales possible, and those that come to buy.

Sweeney's loss, scout's gain: It wasn't quite a full house at the City Commission meeting last night. Commission Joe Sweeney took a rare night off, so the invocation he was down to give was offered instead by Commissioner Paul Webb. So who did that leave to lead the Pledge of Allegiance? Commissioner Webb was down for that one.
No concerns. Mayor Betsy Crossley tapped Boy Scout Andrew Wilson who was in the audience to lead the unusually large crowd. Wilson, a member of Troop 1 and a rising 8th grader at Brentwood Academy, did a fine job.

How about those chairs! Anyone who's visited the Municipal Center's board room in the past month or so couldn't have helped but notice that something was missing -- the permanent chairs. They have made their return, each recovered in royal blue upholstery fabric and accented in metal trim dressed up with a fresh coat of black paint.
The commissioners went on and on about how great they looked and how "green" they were, despite their eye-popping blue. The city saved a bundle of cash by refurbishing instead of replacing.
"We didn't throw the old ones away, we didn't take up any landfill space," Commissioner Regina Smithson noted.
All true. But after sitting in one of them for close to 90 minutes, I wish the city had invested a little more to have them restuffed.
At least they're easier on the eyes, if not the seat!

City proclaims Pete a legend

Anyone who read my newspaper column or now reads this blog knows I cheat on my husband. I have a thing for older men. Much older men.

And there's one in particular who has won the key to my heart. And now he has the key to the city.

Pete Schutt's daughter asked me Tuesday night how I had gotten to know her dad. I really couldn't remember. I think we connected on some city issue and just clicked. Since then we've lunched and laughed and he's given me some great political and life advice.

My family was lucky enough to have attended two of the Meadowlake Homeowners Association picnics that Pete and his bride Joyce hosted for years at their "lakefront" home on Williamsburg Road. But beyond introducing ourselves, we didn't connect then.

It was several years later that the World War II veteran and I started "sparking" so to speak. I always light up when I see him. Maybe it's because I so seldom get to see my dad and Pete reminds me so much of him.

For years, some might say 33, Pete has been a Brentwood fixture. He's been an active citizen by attending board meetings and writing letters to board members and city staff. He even put his name forward to fill out Bill Youree's seat last year after Bill's too-sudden death.

As recently as a few weeks ago, Pete sent a letter to all of the commissioners urging them to take the lead in redevelopment of Town Center.

"As a concerned member of the community, can I expect to hear that the city commission is going to get the ball rolling?" he asked. He wrote he had read about a small, grassroots group that wants to see more progress made there.

"The city has the gavel. Let me hear it to get the meetings started. Together we can move a mountain but divided all we can do is talk ... Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference," he continued.

He signed it, "May love, joy and peace be yours, Pete Schutt."

At Tuesday's City Commission meeting, love, joy and peace were evident. Commissioners recognized him for his role as a soft-spoken citizen activist -- activist being used here in the best sense of the word.

You see Pete is moving to Franklin soon. I actually suggested the 50-plus development where he is buying a home. Now I feel guilty.

At the meeting, Mayor Betsy Crossley called Pete up to the front of the board room. First she presented him with an official proclamation and key to the city. Then the accolades began.

Calling Pete, "a citizen who has never held back," Commissioner Anne Dunn noted that when Pete had concerns, his criticism was "always taken to heart."

"Pete, we love you," Joe Sweeney told him. "You've never been vindictive, you've always been firm." He added how much he had enjoyed the birthday cakes Pete and Joyce had baked for board members over the years.

"It wouldn't be a city commission meeting if he wasn't sitting there on the second row," quipped Joe Reagan, who went on to mention his and Pete's shared love of woodworking. (And for the record, I'm convinced the too-small wood shop at The Heritage may have been the deciding factor in Pete's departure.)

Pete actually has several reasons for moving to Franklin, not the least of which is being closer to his bride. Joyce, as much a figure at Brentwood City Commission meetings over the years as her husband, has Alzheimer's Disease. A few years ago she moved into a Franklin assisted living facility better equipped to take care of her.

In a prepared statement, carefully printed in pencil on an index card, Pete told the commission how much he appreciated the fact that it had remained non-partisan and urged it to stay that way.

"Joyce and I have enjoyed every minute we've been here," Pete told those attending the meeting, including two of his children, a granddaughter and a great-granddaughter who traveled to Brentwood to see him honored. "Brentwood has been good to us ... I am not moving far down the road so will be able to come back often."

I sure hope so.

Say, we're 'Historic' too, and lots more

While the election of a new mayor and vice-mayor stole the headlines from Monday night's City Commission meeting (scroll down to Monday night's post for details), there's lots of other news to report. For instance ....

Bank a welcome sight
Rick English shared with the commission that Red Mountain Bank will open in three to four weeks at the corner of Franklin Road and Maryland Way. All who have passed or turned that corner in the past few years know what an improvement the bank has made since acquiring the forlorn-looking building that most recently was home to dry cleaning and computer repair businesses.
English shared that Red Mountain has spent $18,000 on landscaping alone. A grand opening is planned in late June.

Historic Franklin move over
While recognizing her request was late in the city's budget-making process, Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber president Cindi Parmenter asked the commission to consider using a portion of its motel tax to support the Williamson County Convention and Visitors Bureau (http://www.visitwilliamson.com/). She held up the bureau's latest tourism brochure that only mentions Historic Franklin on its cover "because we are not supporting the CVB," she said. (The county seat just loves it when people use that capital "H". It's Historic, you know.)
With city support, Brentwood would hold more seats on the bureau's board, could possibly be home to a new visitor's center and could get a piece of the tourism organization's $1.1 million budget, Parmenter said.
"It is an investment, not just an expenditure," she added. Brentwood has more hotel/motel rooms than any other city in the county, making the request seem reasonable.

A November election ahead?
City resident and active chamber member Chris Bosen asked commission members to discuss turnout at last week's municipal election, and what each thought of holding the non-partisan event in conjunction with state or national races as a way to increase voter interest.
Of the commissioners who responded, none spoke in favor of making a change. Anne Dunn cited partisan interference in the past as one reason the commission years ago voted to have its own election day.
Commissioner Joe Sweeney, however, did suggest that Bosen and the chamber undertake a study and to share the results with the commission. A step in the right direction.

Picayune, Miss. pays it forward
Did you know if a natural disaster strikes Brentwood and chaos and crime run rampant in the aftermath, all we have to do is make a phone call to Mississippi and reinforcements will be on their way?
This comforting bit of information was shared by Police Chief Ricky Watson as he presented a proclamation and plaque given to the city from its counterpart in Picayune, Miss. Nineteen of Brentwood's finest went to help out there immediately after Hurricane Katrina.
Watson said the area had looting, assaults and no services after the storm.
"It's just undescribable what you could see as you flew over," he said of his visit to check on his crew while they were there.
Greg Mitchell, Picayune's mayor, called his proclamation a "pay it forward" one, Watson said. Let's hope we never have to cash it in.

Saying goodbye to the Judge
There was a reception Tuesday for retiring City Judge Thomas Schlater who served all but two of the past 40 years on the city's bench. Haven't heard, but I hope all of the teenagers he has taken licenses from over the years didin't catch wind of it. It could have gotten ugly.
Seriously though, I bet more than a few of them would love to shake his hand and say thanks now that a little bit of time, or in Judge Schlater's case, a lot, has passed.

What else? Well, Comcast is suing the city but apparently we don't have to worry about it ... yet.

Have BrentWord worthy news to share? Email me at brentword@comcast.net.