Fair weather ahead! Cotton Candy too

If it's hot, it must be time for the Williamson County Fair, which opens this afternoon for a nine-day run.

But the heat can't be helped, County Commissioner and one of Brentwood's best people, Tom Bain, told me Thursday. As the baby of the Tennessee fair circuit, Williamson County had "to get to the front of the line or the back of it" when it rejuvenated itself after a 50-year lapse four years ago.

The powers that be decided August was a better bet than late fall, so the second week in August it is, come searing temps or drenching rains or a combo of both. But don't let that deter you. In fact, the 10-day forecast looks pretty good. Sure, there's a chance of isolated thunder storms most days, but what summer days aren't like that? And temps are supposed to max out in the mid-80. Can't ask for much better this time of year.

Sounds good to me. And I can't wait. I need a new set of Ginsu knives. Now, I'm not sure if I'll find them there, but I've got my fingers crossed. The best knives I've ever owned I bought at the Sonoma County Fair in a pavilion packed with hawkers who sold everything from dusting wands and Orange Glo cleaner to waterless cookware.

Tom couldn't promise I'll find a pavilion full of purveyors, but he did say several will be found on the top level of the air-conditioned arena. Can't wait to check them out!

And should anyone get tired at the fair, just be on the lookout for Mayor Betsy Crossley, Commissioner Paul Webb, John Lackey, Tom Allen and Arley Henry who are among the Brentwood volunteers Tom has lined up to be "Fair Ambassadors." He's got Police Chief Ricky Watson and Fire Chief Kenny Lane on call. They'll be driving courtesy carts around the fairgrounds to give a lift or a hand to anyone who needs one, taking up tickets at the Elvis show and more.

Commissioner Joe Reagan, a CPA by trade, has worked the fair from the start as a money counter. And Sonnie Bain, one of the talented women who run Brentwood Baptist Church, is a roving ambassador, doing whatever husband Tom says needs to be done.

You have to love these folks. And all the other volunteers that make the fair happen every day.

Hope to see them, and you, there!

• For complete fair information, visit www.williamsoncountyfair.org
• To learn why Mayor Betsy Crossley will be saying "here suey, suey" this afternoon, read today's fun story from Williamson A.M. at http://tinyurl.com/BWpigrace

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!

Mandy shines at Night of Music

First things first: She got her truly cool dress off the rack at Macy's.
And second, she learned how to stand in 4-inch heels for 90 minutes 15 years ago during her first run as Patsy Cline.
She is Mandy Barnett and she wowed the almost-capacity crowd Friday night in Brentwood High School's Campbell Center. The concert was the ninth annual presented by the Brentwood Morning Rotary Club. And best of all, all of those ticket sale proceeds will go to charity and scholarships.
"She sure looks just like her mama," Brentwood Commissioner Paul Webb said after the concert, watching Barnett sign autographs for a line of people 40 deep. How did he know? Mandy's mom Betty worked for Paul when he was the city of Crossville's financial director.
And her daughter shared, Betty Barnett's still in Crossville and still working at the courthouse.
An appreciative audience enjoyed the single set of country standards, with a little Roy Orbison thrown in for good measure. Barnett's big voice can serve up Willie Nelson's "Crazy," Orbison's "Blue Bayou" and a little Tammy Wynette without missing a beat.
Though the Campbell Center isn't the most comfortable venue for a 90-minute show, Mandy complimented the sound system and acoustics.
"I've played a lot of high school gyms but this was like playing in a real theater," she said after all the "To Preston with love, Mandy" and similar statements had been penned. "I wouldn't mind playing here again."
I have a feeling the Rotary club will be happy to hear that.

A very special thanks to Rotarian Mike Sowers for sharing his picture with BrentWord.
Check back here later for a final count of how much money was raised.

It's Madam Mayor now

Betsy Crossley is Brentwood's new mayor.
The first-term commissioner was elected by her fellow board members in a 4-3 vote Monday night. Paul Webb, sworn into his second term just minutes before, received three votes.
And in a surprise action, the commission elected its newest member, Rhea Little III, as the city's vice mayor. Little received five votes; Joe Reagan two.
Crossley and Little will serve two-year terms. The next City Commission election is in 2011.
Immediately following the elections, Crossley took her first action as mayor. She called for a 10-minute recess to regroup.
Popular thought among commission watchers was that the mayor's seat would be decided between Webb and long-term commissioner and former mayor Joe Sweeney.
BrentWord will have complete coverage of the meeting on Tuesday.

***

Also coming tomorrow:

• Late city historian Vance Little's final coffee table book is now available for $40 -- a fitting price for a book published to help promote the city's 40th anniversary.
• Why the city should seriously consider supporting the county's Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Should Brentwood ever need help dealing with the aftermath of a natural disaster, the city of Picayune, Miss. is ready to help.

Have BrentWord worthy news to share? Please email it to brentword@comcast.net!

Candidates ask for your vote

Today I am offering each of the candidates vying for one of four seats on the Brentwood City Commission the opportunity to "speak" to the voters. Below are the messages I have received so far. Check back as the day goes on for more as they arrive.

Natalie Mertie:
This campaign has been an eye opening event for me. I assumed that some our commissioners were just dedicated citizens who enjoyed the limelight. I have certainly found that is not the situation. To function as the very best commissioner,I've discovered that your time belongs to Brentwood! I've taken phone calls at home about paving of streets, past commissioner decisions, eminent domain, senior citizen housing etc.,etc. I've attended workshops and seminars and vast numbers of community meetings. All this has shown me that to be a commissioner requires a vast amount of energy. I have that energy. I also have the DESIRE to make Brentwood an even better place. We are all grateful to our incumbants for their work in the past,but now is the time for a fresh approach to our new sets of problems: traffic, Town Center, diminishing sales tax. I am that candidate. A vote for Natalie Mertie reflects the thinking voter's decision to move ahead,not look behind us resting on past accomplishments.Remember you can vote for FOUR candidates. Choose Natalie Mertie as one of those Fabulous Four!

Paul Webb:
I am asking for your vote because I have experience in dealing with budgets, personnel, logistics and what it takes to make any business or government agency operate. Brentwood is not isolated from the recession. As a CPA, I will be looking at ways to maintain our city services and quality of life without a tax increase.
I will continue to listen to the concerns of the citizens and make decisions based upon the information available to me so that I may make the best choice possible for all of Brentwood. I care about Brentwood’s future. My record of involvement in the community helps me better understand the needs and wishes of Brentwood.

Rhea Little III:
Tomorrow Brentwood will determine the direction that we will take going from this point into the future. Being blessed to live in a nation where we have the right to vote for our leadership, it is important for us to both cherish and utilize that right. Having a long heritage in Brentwood, it has been a wonderful experience catching up with many friends and family, while also meeting and getting to know so many new residents as I have enjoyed the many activities involved in this campaign. As I have met and talked with Brentwood's citizens, it is amazing to me how we are blessed with so many high-caliber individuals. Because of the people who make up this community, I only see prosperity for Brentwood if we harness our energies in a unified way towards establishing Brentwood as one of the foremost cities in the United States. Please vote for Rhea Little for City Commission on May 5, 2009, for Brentwood's Bright Future!

Devin McClendon:
As the campaign concludes, my personal thanks to all who have voted, will vote, have offered support, volunteered or even watched or attended a candidate forum. Our election process is alive and well in Brentwood.
When you go to the polls tomorrow, please consider a vote for the future of Brentwood by voting Devin McClendon. My knowledge of and commitment to Brentwood is strong. I will serve our city with an eye for the future but with a knowledge and respect for the past. I will always keep an open mind and encourage new ideas while taking a proactive approach to Brentwood’s future.