Seen and heard around town ...

Today marks the official start of hurricane season. Really.
But no one needed to tell that to Katrina.
When the "window technician" at the Brentwood post office opened her booth at the always-jammed Brooks Chapel Road facility late Monday afternoon, she looked out at all the people in the lobby. Then she said, with a smile, that while she was just back from vacation, "this has been the longest day of my life."
Isn't it always like that when you return to the real world? And if anyone ever needs a taste of it, the Brentwood Post Office is the place to experience it.

Our 'tony' town adds a bank

On Nov. 11, 2007, The Birmingham News published a story that stated, "Birmingham's Red Mountain Bank applied to open a branch in Brentwood, Tenn., a tony suburb of Nashville, signaling the boutique bank's first move outside the state."
I just hate it when someone calls us "tony," though my friend Jill Burgin did blog last week about moms wearing $250 sandals to the Civitan ball fields (http://www.seafoodchicken.blogspot.com/).
But what the Birmingham article predicted less than two years ago came true Monday with the opening of the Birmingham-based bank's first true Tennessee location.
Except for watching the transformation from crud to cream over the past few months, I knew little about the bank now at the corner of Franklin Road and Maryland Way. I walked in as a stranger and out as a potential customer, at least of their Red Mountain Bank coffee (keep reading for details).
Don't look for teller stations and "the rail" as we used to call it when I worked as a United Virginia Bank teller during college. As Rick Archer Jr., market president, explained it, Red Mountain has a "three-step rule" all staffers are trained to follow. That would be that before any customer has taken three steps into the branch, someone will be there to greet them.
"Our goal is to get to know you as an individual," he explained while standing in the taupe lobby that's still in progress, but already features leather chairs, big-screen TVs and a coffee and water bar adorned with fresh sunflowers.
Which brings me back to the coffee. In its Alabama branches, RMB sells two kinds of coffee, The Daily Grind, featuring beans from Indonesia and Central America, and an Investment Blend, with beans from Indonesia and East Africa. All proceeds go to local charities.
It seems that the city of Brentwood has some ordinance that prevents the bank from selling the coffee, so here it will make the bags available for donations. Where will those donations go? The staff is still trying to decide. Why don't you make a suggestion? I think it should stay right here in Brentwood or at least Williamson County. How about Happy Tales Humane perhaps, or what about Bridges of Williamson County?
Unfortunately, even our "tony" city and home county are home to many non-profits helping more people -- and animals -- than ever before.
I didn't sign up for anything today -- when I asked if they were offering an interest-free, opening-day loan special they looked perplexed. But I'll definitely be back for more coffee.

New week, new news

And you thought life slowed down in the summer ...
On this week's calendar you'll find Monday's 7 p.m. Planning Commission meeting (sorry, no agenda posted that I can find so I can't tell you what will be discussed);

Monday's kickoff of the Summer Reading Program at the library (www.brentwood-tn.org/index.aspx?page=558);

The last Sabrina Fair performances at Towne Centre Theatre (http://www.townecentretheatre.com/);

Friday night's Mandy Barnett concert being held at Brentwood High School by the Brentwood Morning Rotary Club. http://brentword.blogspot.com/2009/05/patsy-cline-coming-to-brentwood.html

Looking ahead a bit, the first real Summer Concert Theater performance on Sunday at Crockett Park. Since the Nashville Symphony cancelled, this will be the first opportunity to pack the picnic basket, meet up with a few friends and enjoy Riders in the Sky. The singing cowboys are always a favorite. (http://www.ridersinthesky.com/

And I understand Red Mountain Bank opens today. I'll drop in to see the makeover ASAP. I've heard it's an amazing transformation. (http://redmountainbank.com/)

Check back today and during the week for new posts, and please keep scrolling down if you missed reading last week. You'll find out who's opening a new restaurant in Town Center (Chuy's who?), a tribute to Pete Schutt, who received a key to the city last week; coverage of the first Brentwood Future meeting, links to the city's new budget and Capitol Improvements Program and lots more.

If you have BrentWord worthy news to share, please email me at brentword@comcast.net.

Amazing day in downtown Brentwood

What an amazing day it's been.
Had incredible meeting with web designer. Then had lunch at Sweetpea's Cafe (formerly Maggie's) just off Church Street in the little strip mall just east of Pewitt Drive. Not only was the catfish great, we were told that business has really begun to pick back up after a slow spring.
I'm taking that as a positive sign the recession is slowing.
Next it was on to Tom Jones' State Farm insurance office where I gazed across at the new Red Mountain Bank. Who would have thought the downtrodden building at that corner could be rejuvenated and landscaped to look so wonderful? Paired with the framing going up on the Pinnacle Bank building at Franklin Road and Town Center Way and the amazing facelift to the building that now houses The Perch coffee and crepe house, we have some real-world examples of how Town Center can improve right now.
See my previous post about the new restaurant renovating the sad Church Street Pub building and you'll agree we're really on a roll here.
Did I mention Spruce, my new favorite gift and home accessories store? If you haven't stopped in, do it. After eyeing it for months, I finally went in today. Wow. No need to head to downtown Franklin and redo or any of the other stores there. Combined with existing businesses like Hot Pink, Gabriel's Garden and the other boutiques that call downtown Brentwood home, we're looking good.
Cheerleading for Brentwood? Sure. But why not. Anyone who knows me knows I don't give feint praise.
So get out this weekend and start exploring yourself. And if you're hungry, I thoroughly recommend the catfish at Sweetpea's.

Bean bringing Texas BBQ to Town Center

Here's a little scoop for all fans of Texas Barbecue:
Judge Bean's BBQ is coming to Brentwood. That's right, Aubrey Bean, who first won fans with his restaurant near the Tennessee State Fairgrounds before moving to the Gulch on 12th Avenue in downtown Nashville, has bought and is renovating the old Church Street Pub.
Popped in today to check out the work and it's coming right along.
The old pub, Brentwood Sports Grille and other incarnations that have occupied the gray-framed Town Center bar over the past few years are in the process of being ripped away. Let's hope the outside is repainted to give it a new vibe too.
More details as they become available. Everyone's so excited about Chuy's coming to Cool Springs but I think this could be big for Brentwood.

Patsy Cline coming to Brentwood!

OK, so really it's Mandy Barnett, who's currently starring in Always ... Patsy Cline at the Ryman, coming to play the Brentwood's own version of the Ryman -- Brentwood High's Campbell Center. But a full Mandy Barnett concert, especially one that benefits all the good works of the Brentwood Morning Rotary Club, is a must-see event.

Here are the details:

The concert is Friday, June 5, at 7:30 p.m. Reserved tickets are $35, with general admission $30. Still tracking down where you can buy advance tickets so check back for details.

And don't think this is just some little three-song deal for charity. "This is a full Mandy Barnett concert, focusing on classic country songs," according to her website, http://www.mandybarnett.com/.

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.