Final superintendent interview tonight

Candidate gives Marines credit for success
I wasn't able to make Tuesday night's interviews of Barry Carroll of Limestone County Schools in Athens, Ala., and Mike Looney of Butler County Schools in Greenville, Ala., finalists for Williamson County Schools' Director of Schools' position. But Williamson A.M.'s Maria Giordano was there and reports the dark and stormy night didn't keep the school board from the task at hand.
Read her report at http://tinyurl.com/BWwcssupe.
The interview process ends tonight at 6 p.m. with James Wilson, former superintendent, Fulton County School System, Ga. in the Carolyn Campbell Room in the Administrative Complex, 1320 West Main St., in Franklin. The school board will decide who to bring back for final interviews at a public work session Thursday.
For background on all the candidates, visit http://tinyurl.com/BWsupebios.

Sonic news hard to swallow
Also in the news, today's 'A Closer Look' column in The Tennessean's business section includes information on what fast food restaurants are "Tasty" in this recession -- in other words doing well, and what one's are "Nasty."
Included on the Nasty side was Sonic. "It specializes in things like cherry limeade and tater tots, which hard-pressed consumers have cut back on," the features states.
Obviously no one talked to the folks at our three Brentwood Sonics. It took me three circles to find a spot at the Wilson Pike Circle restaurant during Happy Hour last week, and it wasn't the first time. But I'm never deterred, nor does anyone else seem to be.
Guess I'm not the only one with a passion for Route 44 diet cherry limeades.

Other Brentwood stories to check out:

• Citizens for Brentwood Green Space pushes for open space measures: http://tinyurl.com/BWgreenspace
• Mooreland Estates seeks city's help with road repair: http://tinyurl.com/BWmooreland
• New Vanderbilt Home Care venture will be Brentwood based: http://tinyurl.com/BWwalgreens

Sports links and a Dear Abby plug

During a quick perusal of Williamson A.M. this morning, I discovered two sports stories by Chip Cirillo I thought Ravenwood parents and students might like to read in case you missed the printed version. I'd also like to take this opportunity to say so long to Chip, who is leaving the Williamson County sports beat to return to The Tennessean's home office on Broadway in Nashville.
Chip's sports feature writing brought a wonderful dimension to Williamson County sports coverage and will be missed. The good news is that he will be covering prep sports so I'm sure we'll be seeing Brentwood datelines a lot when he covers Brentwood and Ravenwood high schools along with Brentwood Academy and the other private schools that draw student athletes from our city.

In the meantime, here are Chip's stories today:

• Manning turns corner; Ravenwood junior wins state amateur: http://tinyurl.com/BWManning
• Ex-Raptors coach takes Florida job: http://tinyurl.com/BWRaptor

Dear Abby, Dear Abby I have no complaints....
John Prine is my all-time favorite singer-songwriter bar none. Sometimes I wonder what he would write about life in Brentwood. We'll have to wait and see. But in the meantime, Dear Abby herself has an interesting series of letters today, page 5D of The Tennessean's Life section, that provide a perfect reflection of our life in the bubble.
The topic, living in affluent communities, really hits home. This is a constant source of discussion among my friends, my Parents of Teens Sunday School class, and my family.
Check it out. Would love to know what you think. Don't have the paper? I also found it online at http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/

BrentWord 'vacating' for a few; other news

Today's posting will be short, as the BrentWord office is closing for a few days in order to help best friend Eve Solomon celebrate her 50th on the campus of Emory & Henry college in southwest Va. It could be dangerous. Good thing the ol' campus cop Casey is no longer prowling the place. Or maybe it would be a good thing.
By the way, E&H is included in the Colleges That Change Lives directory (http://www.ctcl.org/; http://www.ehc.edu/). The CTCL college fair is coming to Williamson County Thursday, Aug. 20. It will be 7-9 p.m. at The Factory at Franklin. If you aren't enamored with UT or other big state schools and are looking for a unique college experience for yourself or your child, mark your calendar and check it out.

Here are a few Brentwood-related news links to check out:
From today's Williamson Herald:
Don't miss Kiri Walton's story on Alecia Venkataraman. This young woman graduated from high school at age 16, Belmont University at 19, and at only 24, is working on her MBA and already out of an abusive marriage. She also just started Make It Beautiful, a Cool Springs non-profit. http://tinyurl.com/WHbeauty.

Kiri also has a Brentwood business story: Fox+Kolb accounting firm brings a woman's touch, strong skills to the bottom line. http://tinyurl.com/fox-kolb

And in today's Tennessean, check out John Glennon's story on Brentwood ice hockey player -- and Preds prospect -- Blake Geoffrion. http://tinyurl.com/TNhockey

Speaking of the Herald, I learned yesterday that Kiri is no longer writing for the Franklin-based weekly. This is a huge loss for Brentwood. She's really covered the city well during her brief tenure and was responsible to a large degree for the recent 40th anniversary special section the paper published. However, I know that she has far better things in front of her and I look forward to seeing how far she can go.

(Another) sad day for journalism
And on personal note, though I don't know if the paper will report it, The Tennessean is laying off another round of employees today. In December, I lost my editing job there, ending a 27-year career that spanned four papers in four states, during a previous round. This will affect my friends and former co-workers. As a person who loves newspapers and the vital role they play in society, I'm heartbroken. There is no way no matter how they spin it that news coverage will be better, streamlined, more efficient, whatever.

That's why I started this blog (see my first post for details: http://brentword.blogspot.com/2009/04/new-day-dawns.html. In coming months it will take on a new life as an online "newspaper" for our city. If you have thoughts about what you would like to see included and covered in this new venture, please email me at brentword@comcast.net, or leave a comment below. This will be YOUR community newspaper, just online instead of in print.

Big day for Brentwood news....

Not sure about your house, but the Leathers received a Williamson Herald in the driveway this morning, right along with The Tennessean. So glad we did. LOTS of interesting Brentwood news, and an exceptionally nice special section by the Herald in recognition of Brentwood's 40th birthday.
Here are some story links in case you haven't seen them:

Hardscuffle community reunion recalls city’s black community
http://tinyurl.com/hardscuffle

Ready to ride: Brentwood boys, cousin trek across America on bikes
http://tinyurl.com/bwbike

Town Center evolution awaits infusion of capital, cohesion
http://tinyurl.com/townctr2

And a related story off of last week's TIF meeting, Town Center financing meeting raises questions, some answers
http://tinyurl.com/townctr

City commissioners hear residents’ concerns on issues
http://tinyurl.com/bwcity

And in today's Williamson A.M.:
Do pay, benefits motivate municipal candidates?
http://tinyurl.com/boardpay

Can't help you with the special section, but look for Herald newsracks around town or give them a call at their office to see if they have extra copies.

Of course, I hope BrentWord is your first -- and favorite -- choice for our hometown news! And be sure to check out my earlier posts on the TIF meeting, City Commission meeting and more.

Sad news to share

It's with a heavy heart I share that Tim Chavez, a longtime Brentwood resident, award-winning journalist, and former Tennessean and Brentwood Journal columnist, passed away Thursday at Alive Hospice.
Tim, diagnosed with leukemia several years ago, had beaten it back, along with other health problems. But as is too often the case, it seems the cancer had more fight in it than Tim did.
Tim also had a blog, www.politicalsalsa.blogspot.com and his last post, on May 10, shares his thoughts when he learned his leukemia had returned. It's a gentle reminder to us all that life is short, often too short, and we need to appreciate those we love and the blessing of life we have each and every day.
"I never believed my leukemia would be over. The only lesson God wanted me to learn was to appreciate the moments of extra living he gave me, along with the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the 24/7 dedication of my heroic wife. She fought everyone from insurance companies to doctors for me. But I forgot too much of her heroics, which is to my great shame."
Please keep Tim's wife Kathi and their family and friends in your prayers.
More details to come as they become available.