Busy week ahead in Brentwood

Who has time for the mid-summer doldrums when there is so much to see and do? Here are just a few suggestions to help fill your week. If you know of more, please let me know!

The Friends of the Brentwood Library's quarterly book sale opens Wednesday and runs through Saturday at the library. As mentioned in an earlier post, science fiction fans will be happy to know one patron made a huge donation that will be available. This is also a great opportunity for students to find last-minute required Summer Reading books and books for next fall's literature classes at real bargain prices.

Check out my previous post for details: http://tinyurl.com/BWscifi (just remember that any references to NEXT week are now THIS week!)

Speaking of the library, the Summer Reading Program's far from over, with award-winning songwriter and recording artist Katherine Dines presenting an interactive program at 1 p.m. today. It's designed for kids from toddler age to 6.

Just a head's up: The River Park playground and shelter will be closed today through Thursday for playground maintenance. This would be a good time to check out one of the city's other parks and playgrounds, like the newest, Owl Creek Park, between Concord Pass and Chestnut Springs Road in east Brentwood. You'll find a picnic shelter, playground, basketball courts and walking paths.

It's supposed to rain on Wednesday, so you may want to settle on the sofa and watch WC-TV's Classic Football Game of the Week: Brentwood vs. Franklin, September 26, 2006. It will be aired on Comcast Channel 3 at 9 a.m. and 2 and 7 p.m. Also, Brentwood High's 2009 graduation ceremony will air Friday at 10 a.m. and 3 and 8 p.m.

About a zillion years ago I wanted to be Good Morning America's Joan Lunden. A newspaper career won out over a broadcasting one, but I still can't wait to hear Channel 4 news anchor Demetria Kalodimos at Thursday's Women in Business luncheon. Sponsored by the Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber, it begins at 11:15 a.m. at the FiftyForward Martin Center. Noon today is the deadline to register. It's $12 for chamber members, $15 for guests. You can register online at http://www.brentwood.org/ or call the chamber at 373-1595.

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.