Lovin' our B: Serving up news, and maybe a little chicken

Have you seen our new signage outside of our new office at the Town Center Roundabout? Our signature B is definitely eye-catching, which is why we paid the big bucks for it. But the first time Kelly and I saw it, driving back to the office from a meeting, we both burst out laughing.

“It’s terrible!” Kelly said.

“It looks like a Broaster Chicken store!” I responded.

What took us by surprise was the white background on our B that definitely made it “pop” as our sign guy said it would. Can’t blame him, we gave him the green light. And as time has passed, and reader after reader tells us they’ve “seen your B!” or “Now I know where your new office is,” we’ve grown to love it. Plus, neither one of us was looking forward to getting up on a ladder with an X-Acto knife and trying to trim the white away.

I continued to use the Broaster Chicken line anytime I gave directions to our new digs. “Just look for the building that looks like you could pick up two legs and a thigh of broasted chicken,” I’d say.

Imagine my surprise a few Saturdays ago when I was screaming down Franklin Road, late to cover the opening of the city’s first dog park. Just before getting to Concord Road, a bright red and blue sign caught my eye outside the Brentwood Market.

“Genuine Broaster Chicken” it read.

Making the world even smaller, after all of the hoopla had died down at the dog park that morning, a couple came in with one of the biggest dogs I’d ever seen. Tiberius, a young Saint Bernard, dwarfed all of her fellow canines. Of course I had to take her picture and get her story for BHP.

Turns out her owners are Archie and Deonna Miller – who just recently bought the Brentwood Market. When he told me that, I laughed out loud again, then shared the story of our B.

Coincidence? I don’t think so.

It took me a while, but on Wednesday I made a special trip to the market to try out the “Genuine Broaster Chicken.”

Folks, despite my love of food, I have not eaten chicken or turkey skin in years. Guess that’s my way of being “healthy.” Well, I’m here to tell you that I not only ate the skin, I think I would have eaten the bones if that had been possible.

You’ll find my review in our Food & Drinks section today, along with our new wine & spirits column, being penned for us by the Saucy Sisters, Barbara Nowak and Beverly Wichman. Look for more food coverage in the weeks and months ahead. And if you know of a great food story we could consider, let me know.

Originally posted in the Brentwood Home Page.

Town Center Saturdays has noisy competition, and a few love notes

So, are you over the cicadas yet?

I’ve got big news if you just can’t get enough of the noisy winged things. An official Nashville Cicada Festival 2024 is already in the works! It’s set for May 18, 2024 from noon to 11:30 p.m. Organizer Jeff Bradford has already gotten 60 affirmative RSVPs on the Nashville Cicada Festival 2024 Facebook page. The citywide festival will feature a cicada art show, cicada cook-off, cicada beauty contest, cicada-inspired music, cicada fashion and “much more,” says Jeff, an old newspaper guy who now owns a very successful Nashville PR firm.

I’m not positive, but I think I am on the official steering committee. Jeff must have heard about my years of work to establish the Brentwood Mole Fest, which was thankfully overshadowed by Town Center Saturdays.

A location for the 2024 Cicada Fest is still being sought. One steering committee member has suggested “a field with lots of mature trees and plenty of cold, frosty 'Bugweiser.'” Good thing we have 13 more years to work out the details.

Luckily for us, all the details have been worked out for the next Town Center Saturday, planned for June 18. Let’s see: The cicada invasion lasts four to six weeks depending upon what source you check. They started hatching – and buzzing – in mid May. Here's hoping we have a cicada-free TCS festival, farm market and overall great time.

I have some romance news to share: First, happy 24th anniversary to the best business partner anyone can have, Kelly Gilfillan and her husband Dave. They must have gotten married when they were teenagers because Larry and I are celebrating our silver anniversary in August and we’re a LOT older than they are.

Also, a big congratulations to City Commissioner Anne Dunn and her husband John. Their daughter Amy was married Sunday. How did I know? I saw Anne in the recently reopened Brentwood Shoney’s just hours before the ceremony.

Now that’s what I call one laid back mother of the bride.

Speaking of weddings and anniversaries, we’re ramping up our coverage of special events like these. If you have a wedding in your future, Brentwood Home Page would love to post an engagement announcement. A wedding? One of those landmark anniversaries?

We’re working on new forms that will be super-easy to fill out, but until we have those ready to roll, we invite our readers celebrating special passages in their lives to send us announcements and a picture to share with friends and family via BHP in our Lifestyles section. Send your announcement to brea@brentwoodhomepage.com, along with the name and a daytime telephone number of a contact person.

Originally posted in the Brentwood Home Page.

Checking in, I know it's been awhile...

Greetings all!
I hope you've been following BrentWord at www.brentwoodhomepage.com. But today for some reason, I thought I needed to check back in here.

It's going to be a busy week around here. The Brentwood High School spring musical, Little Shop of Horrors, opens Thursday night and we're expecting a slew of company. Thomas is the man-eating plant, so his voice will star instead of his body this year. There are some tremendous high school productions coming up. Check out this link for details, and look for additional coverage as each gets closer.

What's going on in your neck of the woods? If you have a story idea, please let me know!

Susan

My Brentwoodians of the year are....

Happy New Year everyone! It seems like everyone's ready to say goodbye to 2009, and much of the last decade. I know I am. Time to embrace the future and new opportunities and dreams.

Today's BrentWord column at Brentwood Home Page is about my unofficial Brentwoodian of the Year honors. Please check it out, as well as the rest of the website. Our goal this year is GROWTH and AWARENESS of the site, so please pass along the link to everyone you know who lives or works in Brentwood.

So, who do I think deserved to be honored in 2009? Click below to find out!

http://www.brentwoodhomepage.com/news.php?viewStory=1163

Billy Jim, Grandmas and more....

Merry Christmas week! I can't believe 2009 is almost over. It will definitely go down as one of the most memorable in my life. If I had the time to sit down and do a timeline from beginning to end, I don't think I'd believe it all myself.
Brentwood Home Page's biggest story today is a sad one: The passing of Billy Jim Vaughn, Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 1 for almost 75 years. He died Saturday at the age of 97 and no doubt is smiling down on everyone from the Boy Scout camp in the sky.
Son Martin had ACL surgery on Friday so the Leathers will be sticking close to home this holiday season, and loving every minute of laying low (well, between trips to Vandy for rehab, that is).
Our Sunday School class is hosting Room at the Inn on Christmas Eve. It's one of the most special things we do, and truly makes you remember the "reason for the season."
That's it, I just wanted to post an update here and direct you to BHP. Hey, Mere Bulles has donated a $100 gift certificate for this week's BHP member drawing. Make sure you sign on as an official member so you will be eligible!
Take care out there over the next few days, and remember to smile!
Susan
www.brentwoodhomepage.com

A busy December ahead....

Greetings all!
I just wanted to stop by here and say Hi! and to remind you to please check out Brentwood Home Page -- and share it with your friends. It's been an amazing three-month run already, with steady readership and advertising growth. Can't wait to see where we'll be in another three months, year, and onward.
We have posted a Holiday wrap of events that we'll be adding to as we get them. Please be sure to bookmark it and to check back often for new additions. As well, the city's Morning with Santa, annual tree lighting and luminaria display are just ahead.
Fires have destroyed three Brentwood homes in as many months. Today we offer fire-prevention tips from Asst. Fire Chief Brian Goss. And coming up later this week, exclusive interviews with Cal Turner, former CEO of Dollar General and owner of the farm we all claim as our own, and Jo Dee Messina who is giving TWO free benefit concerts in Brentwood this Saturday.
Brentwood High didn't make it to the state finals in football, but we still salute them, as well as Brentwood Academy for their great runs toward the titles this year.
Read stories on the above, plus much, much more at www.brentwoodhomepage.com.
Oh, and are you a BHP Facebook fan yet? Our goal is 1000 by the New Year. If you're a Facebook member, please "friend" us today!
Happy Holidays!
Susan

Beautiful Monday, and one full of news

Good Morning! It's a glorious day in Brentwood this Monday, Nov. 2. If you haven't checked out Brentwood Home Page today, you should. Here's a sampling:

Proposed school calendars already creating buzz

Leve: Discussion begins on Thursday

On Saturday, school board member Terry Leve shared with his District 6 constituents an email outlining three proposed 2010-2011 Williamson County Schools academic calendars. By Sunday, many Brentwood parents were already heating up the internet, passing emails back and forth about the proposals.

Brentwood shops say 'Happy Holidays' early

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. That means holiday specials and promotions are just around the corner. For many stores, it also means the time has come for this season’s open house events – with several planned as early as this week.

Fifth annual Hoover Run's Saturday

The Hoover Run for Hope 5k and children’s one-mile run is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7 at Kenrose Elementary School in Brentwood. In its fifth year, this event has raised more than $100,000 to support the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

And my own BrentWord column:

Respect the past but let's move on with the future
I think Brentwood, and Williamson County as a whole, are at an important crossroads. Must we always hold on to the past or might we take a chance to see what exciting things the future might hold?
The question has been heavy on my mind for the past several days. It doesn't stem from one event but several I experienced in the last week.

Are you a BHP member? Sign up for our email alerts and you become automatically eligible for our free giveaways! We'd love to have you follow us on Facebook and Twitter too.

Have a great day!