American Cancer Society Auction

We held the auction last night for the Relay for Life in Smyrna. The attendance was disappointing, but we did raise over $14,000 again this year. I picked up a necklace made by Andre Norton, world famous science fiction author, for $10. It has about a dozen fresh-water pearls in it, so I'm hoping I got it for a good price!

I saw our LaVergne's city administrator while there - kudos to Mr. Mark Moshea for supporting a good cause. I didn't ask about the pink water, a city swimming pool, nor renaming the new elementary school because I didn't feel it would be appropriate. I focused on the good cause of raising money for cancer research. There was plenty of press, but probably only about 50 buyers. Those who were there got some pretty sweet deals, but some spent major dollars (the signed Titans helmet that went for $2200).

Quick Vacation

I've posted some vacation pictures on my personal blog, but wanted to show everyone how quick and easy a nice vacation from LaVergne can be. Only about 3 to 4 hours from here, you can take a weekend trip to the Smoky Mountains. Yes, it's all tourist-y but you can do a lot of things for little money (drive through the mountains, pack a picnic, hike, window shop). I seriously think that Sevierville and Pigeon Forge have surpassed Gatlinburg in the fun things to do category.

What is everyone else doing this glorious spring break?????? POST your answers!

Will This Blog Have to be the Voice of LaVergne?

Today's editorial piece in the Daily News Journal said LaVergne's elected officials are an embarrassment to the entire county. Here's the Op-Ed piece: LaVergne's Water Problems Point to Poor Leadership

So what do we do? For one, I think I'll buy stocks in our local water filter companies. I think our city administrator needs to FIRE the people in the water company who are falsifying documents. If he can't do this, then he needs to be the one to resign or be fired. (Note, the administrator is the key decision-maker in LaVergne). If the administrator doesn't step up to the plate, our elected officials need to hold all of them accountable. Hells bells, if one little speeder is in trouble by city officials for protesting his speeding ticket without a permit, then certainly mismanagement and forgery should be considered more serious.

I think at our next election we should take a good, hard look at the candidates. We need people who will listen to ideas and suggestions from everyone, but can make the smart decisions for the community rather than for the best back-slapper and hand-shaker. We need someone with vision, brains, and a spine. Wake up LaVergne!

If You Were Mayor or Alder(wo)man

If you were the mayor of LaVergne or held one of the alderman seats, what would you want to accomplish? (See post below for my comments). When I was President of Roy Waldron School PTO last year, my goal was to build a fence around the playground. It creeped me out seeing cars slowly driving by looking at the kids. In fairness, they were probably parents seeing if their little angels were at recess but it still scared me a little. We built our fence (yay!).

So if you were in a position where you could make some decisions that would benefit our residents, what would they be? Don't be afraid to post! We want to hear from you!

Article About our Ticked-Off Aldermen

Here's an article in today's Daily News Journal that covers the whining of our aldermen about issues including the federal investigation into LaVergne's pink water problems. ::rollseyes::

I had to laugh at the comment about the council reviewing the city's parade and demonstration requirements because a lone person who is protesting a speeding ticket is doing so without a permit. Good grief. I think our elected folks need to concentrate more on topics such as:

1. Why they allowed FOUR auto parts stores to be built on the same block.
2. Why they don't require builders to put in a flippin' sidewalk on BOTH sides of the street.
3. How they can find money to build sidewalks around the schools so children don't have to walk in the busy streets.
4. How to give our codes department more opportunities to drive around the town and remove the ugly little real estate pointer signs that are STILL everywhere.
5. How the town can somehow be beautified more so Main Street doesn't look like the barf of Iron Giant (the gigantic metal-eating robot cartoon movie).
6. When the street from the middle school will be opened onto Sand Hill Road.
7. When they're going to finish one of the Shreibman streets so Fergus and Stones River roads aren't the only exits out of Lake Forest subdivision.
8. Put a plan in place to rename the idiotically named "LaVergne Lake Elementary School" to something that makes sense: Stones River Elementary, Sand Hill Elementary, Lake Forest Elementary, Oprah Winfrey Elementary. But that won't happen because I believe some of the illustrious people on the council are the ones who came up with the name in the first place. Stupid is as stupid does, I suppose.

With all my whining, maybe I should run for a seat on the Town Council! hahaha!!! Meanwhile, if you're thinking about buying or selling a home, call me!!!!! ;)

Job Openings for City

Inspired (again) by the "This is Smyrna" blog and in the absence of other things to talk about, I saw on the www.lavergne.org web site that the city has two job openings. One is a part-time rental assistant for the Parks & Recreation Dept. ($8 p/hour). The city is also looking for someone who looks good in a uniform - a police officer.

It also looks like they're finally getting started on the fire station on Bill Stewart just up from the first three-way stop on Fergus. Glad to see that coming! On another subject, why does Fergus Road turn into Bill Stewart? I think that's confusing. Why didn't they just keep the name Fergus? And who is this Bill Stewart? Being fairly new to this area, I don't know who all these people are that keep getting streets named after them. Any insight into that would be appreciated.

Oops - Pink Water Bites LaV Again

Oh dear... it looks like the federal environment officials are now involved in the LaVergne pink water scandal from December 2005. I saw a piece on Channel 2 News today -- apparently the Feds are investigating whether documents have been altered(?). I dunno. I'll post a link here when I find a news article about it.

Beware the Ides of March

This is it - March 15th - the Ides. On this day several (thousand) years ago (44BC to be exact), Julius Ceasar was knifed by his gangsta pal Brutus. As William Shakespeare said, "Remember March, the Ides of March remember. Did not great Julius bleed for justice' sake? What villain touched his body, that did stab and not for justice?"

What else happened on this day in history?

• 1956, the play "My Fair Lady," starring Rex Harrison as Professor Henry Higgins and Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle, opened on Broadway.
• 1493, Christopher Columbus returned to Spain, concluding his first voyage to the Western Hemisphere.
• HERE'S A BIG ONE: Five years ago: Federal authorities confirmed that remains found on a Texas ranch were those of missing atheist leader Madalyn Murray O'Hair and two of her relatives. (David Waters, the key suspect in the slayings, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on a federal extortion charge in connection with the case.) I can imagine there are a lot of people who celebrate this woman's passing. A. Lot. Of. People.

Power Down (again)

We had quite a wind storm last night. I saw several trees down as I drove to Pizza Hut for dinner since we didn't have power to cook. Some quick background: I grew up all across the U.S. - lived in some pretty poor areas as an Air Force brat. But I have NEVER experienced the power outages anywhere else like what we have here in LaVergne. What's up with that? We'll get a little breeze here and our power goes out. We get a big storm and our power goes out. Does Nashville Electric know what they're doing? Maybe they need to go to Arkansas or North Dakota or Arizona or Kentucky to figure out how their power grids are set up and learn from them.

At least Pizza Hut was open and had those new cheezey bites crusts. Those are good. Speaking of food, the renamed/new barbeque place is called "Smokin' Ed's". I sure hope they can make it. I'd like to see an IHOP open in this town. Put it on the corner of Fergus and M'boro roads.

BBQ and Mobile Homes

I drove by what is now the "FORMER" Eady's BBQ (formerly Smokers) on the main drag in LaVergne tonight. It looks like it's changed names again (owners too?). I tried to store the new name in my brain, but my synapses are misfiring I guess. Ha. Okay, so if anyone knows it, add a comment!

I'm not a lifelong resident of LaVergne, but I'm surprised a barbeque place isn't making it. I do think Smokers was a tad overpriced way back when, but I tried to go every now and then just to support our local businesses.

Okay, on to mobile homes. I have some land listed that currently has a mobile home on it (the owner is renting the land). I ordered postcards today to market this property. The postcards have a picture of an orangatang with "Down in the Dumps?" on the front. I'm sending 200 to people who live in Clayton Estates (slum city). I've talked with SO MANY people who live there and despise it. They want me to list their trailers, but we can't unless they own the land it's sitting on. My advice - DON'T BUY A TRAILER people!!

Auction for American Cancer Society

Come one, come all! On Thursday, March 30th beginning at 5:00 p.m., Bob Parks Realty (Smyrna and Auction team) are hosting a live auction benefiting the American Cancer Society. We have worked tirelessly to collect an amazing assortment of professional sports memoribilia, including an autographed photo of Titans' Coach Jeff Fisher, signed footballs, jerseys & helmets, autographed photos, and much more. To see more, click FUNDRAISER AUCTION.

After hearing about the tragic death of Dana Reeve today from lung cancer, we are reminded that cancer affects so many people. I would bet that every single one of us has been touched somehow with this horrible, evil disease. Personally, I was devastated when I lost my 43-year old brother-in-law three years ago to bladder cancer. He left behind four beautiful children and a widow who now struggles to not only make ends meet, but to raise their children alone. Another friend of mine, Ana Barnes, died this past September after a desperate fight against stomach cancer. She was in her 30's - how unfair.

PLEASE COME TO THIS EVENT! You can buy tickets for an all-you-can-eat spread provided by Logans Roadhouse and other restaurants. You can bid on an amazing array of items - bids range from $5 to $1200. If you have questions about the auction, please call my office at 615-459-4040! See you there!!!

The WORST lender EVER

In my several years as a real estate affiliate broker, I think I have finally found the WORST lender EVER. I can not name names here for obvious reasons, but if you reach the point where you want to shop for a home PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE email me and I will tell you who this person is that you should avoid at all costs.

Some hints: she is a bilingual woman, she LIES when she guarantees a closing in four to eleven days (it's been five weeks and our contract has expired so my buyer is about to lose the home), and she tells people what they want to hear, not the truth. She fits all the criteria of being a predatory lender in that she did not issue the good faith estimate in the 72 hours she was supposed to, but waited until the day before closing on another client who then found out their house payment would be $400 more than she promised. I have never been more displeased in working with another person. She is a NIGHTMARE. Seriously, email me.

That is all.