TheNews – May 17th, 2012
Volume 24 • Number 20
Northwest cities help Chamber learn about transit options
Haslam signs No Child Left Behind Waiver
Dean announces citizens group to plan celebration of Metro’s 50th anniversary
Tennessee’s film incentives get funding boost
Metro/State Commentary with Horace Johns
Interstate closures will affect downtown events this weekend
Cheekwood’s Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden opens May 19
Dru's vues, too! by Drucilla Smith Fuller
NASHVILLE NEWS BITES
Taxing Matters with Jim Wilson
New Parthenon exhibit puts Nashvillians in artwork
Vanderbilt tuition to increase, but only slightly
Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis now simply known as Waller
Metro’s property tax increase has some District 12 residents upset
State Library to host War of 1812 workshop June 16
Live on the Green to return for fourth year
Nashville Humane Association to begin PET PALS summer program
Buchanan Log House hosts fish fry and appraisal fair this weekend
SCORE on Business with Michael Fekkes
Q&A with General Sessions Judge Democratic candidate Rachel Bell
Metro detectives charge 138, seize more than $14K this week
FRA seniors take time to help Habitat for Humanity
American Red Cross to offer Pet First Aid course
Dyer Observatory to host Bluebird on the Mountain concert series starting Saturday
Harwell to hold District 56 town hall meeting Saturday
State launches new job database
Metro Water rolls out new customer info system
New BusinessDent Central hammers dings, not wallets
35th annual Bellevue Community Picnic to be held this Saturday at Caboose Park
Northwest cities help Chamber learn about transit options
Chris Brooks
Associate Editor
Count the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce among those seeking advice for implementing mass transit following a recent trip to the Pacific Northwest.
A delegation of 117 representing the city traveled to Portland, Ore. and Eugene, Org. to research those cities’ mass transit systems.
Dubbed the “Leadership Study Mission” and “Transit Study Mission,” the visits provided the representatives with philosophical concepts city leaders could learn from while installing new systems in the future.
Vice President of Policy Stephanie Coleman highlighted some of the practices in a blog on the Chamber’s website following the trip. Portland’s transit system, which connects commuter rail, light rail, streetcar, bus and bicycle traffic, caught Coleman’s attention.
“The interconnectedness of these systems helps residents and workers get around in a city where more than 40 percent of the population relies on public transit and about 6 percent bike to work each day – the highest percentage of any major city in the U.S.,”
Coleman said in her blog. “Additionally, Portland’s aerial tram transports more than 5,600 people from South Waterfront to the Oregon Health & Science University each day.”
The visit to Eugene provided a more in-depth look at the system Nashville is targeting for mass transit – bus rapid transit, or BRT. Eugene’s system, named EmX, utilizes hybrid vehicles with features such as signal priority and doors on both sides, is operated on dedicated lanes allowing the vehicles to bypass traffic, a mechanism Nashville also wants to implement.
“As Nashville works through the beginning phases of our East-West Connector BRT project, we have a lot to learn from cities like Eugene that have already been through the process,” Coleman said in the blog. “We learned about what it takes to build community awareness and support, fund and build a first-rate BRT system.”
In December, members of the Broadway-West End Steering Committee voted to support consultants’ recommendations for BRT instead of a streetcar similar to those in Portland. The BRT systems carries a price tag of $136 million compared to the $275 million setback a streetcar system would cost the city.
Mayor Karl Dean, who frequently touts Metro’s bus system, favors the BRT for the East-West Connector, initially described as the Broadway/West End Corridor.
“If we do nothing, and choose not to move forward with advancing mass transit in Nashville, we will be consciously making a decision to put ourselves at an economic disadvantage to our peer cities,” Dean said. “We will be limiting our potential for economic growth and we will be guaranteeing future traffic congestion.”
Nashville has a limited bus rapid transit line on Gallatin Pk. from past Madison into downtown, but that service does not have a dedicated lane or signal-changing technology, which the new service would have to allow for faster trips along the corridor. Dedicated bus lanes would allow for emergency vehicles to use them as needed.
Metro Transit Authority officials said the service will likely run as often as every 10 minutes during peak weekday hours, with stations providing real-time arrival and departure information.
The study, conducted by consultants from Parsons Brinckerhoff, an international planning firm with a Nashville office, compared bus rapid transit with streetcar service.
It estimated 4,500 average weekday trips during the first year, working out to 1.35 million average annual trips.
Funding for the system is still unknown because the amount of federal and state funding Metro could receive is not yet clear. Dean said the city could seek assistance from the private sector.
Chris Brooks can be reached at cbrooks@gcanews.com.
Haslam signs No Child Left Behind Waiver, announces new accountability
Andrew Smith
Staff Writer
In an important development for Tennessee public education, last Thursday Gov. Bill Haslam signed into law the No Child Left Behind Waiver bill.
Effectively removing the state from meeting yearly progress levels in reading and math as required by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), the waiver instead requires growth in overall student achievement and seeks to reduce the so-called “achievement gap” between students of different racial and economic backgrounds.
Currently, Tennessee is among 10 states to be granted NCLB waivers by President Barack Obama. NCLB was signed into federal law by his predecessor George W. Bush in 2001.
“I want to be real clear, we are not lowering standards. We are just making certain that we are measuring and improving and having appropriate standards that recognize when achievement is happening and rewarding it,” Haslam said.
“We want to measure improvements in students; we do think it is important that if a teacher does a great job of bringing some low achieving students up, that should be recognized.”
“Make no mistake, this is a sea-changing of how we measure accountability,” he said of the waiver’s impact and shift at its public signing at Brick Church Middle School in Nashville. He was joined by Speaker of the House Beth Harwell (R - Nashville), Metro Nashville Director of Schools Jesse Register and other officials.
“It has ambitious and achievable goals that we will continue to hold ourselves to a very high standard.”
“As part of the waiver, we are committed significant resources to turning around the bottom 5 percent of schools in Tennessee,” the governor said.
Most of the work will be directly done by state-run Achievement School District and by autonomous school districts called Innovation Zones, Haslam said.
“Innovation Zones are small clusters of schools where more accountability will be given to principles and teachers, and where innovative education systems can be developed uninhibited and shared,” he explained.
Thirty-seven million dollars in federal grants will go towards helping these troubled local education districts, mostly in Nashville and Memphis; $12.4 million will go towards Metro Nashville schools plus awards to seven specific schools. Haslam also said $3.25 million will be given to Nashville’s only league charter schools to expand their K-12 program to five campuses and 2700 students.
Andrew Smith can be reached at smith@gcanews.com.
Dean announces citizens group to plan celebration of Metro’s 50th anniversary
Mayor Karl Dean announced that he has appointed a citizens group to plan a nine-month celebration and public education campaign commemorating Metro Government’s 50th Anniversary.
Serving as co-chairs are John Seigenthaler, founder of the First Amendment Center and former editor and publisher of The Tennessean; George Cate, Metro’s first vice-mayor; and State Sen. Thelma Harper.
In addition to the co-chairs, Dean appointed committee leaders who will focus on different aspects of the celebration:
Jay Turner, managing director of MarketStreet Enterprises, will chair the Finance Committee;
Beth Seigenthaler Courtney, CEO of Seigenthaler Public Relations, will chair the Events Committee;
Carole Bucy, professor of history at Volunteer State Community College and Metro Historian, will chair the Education Committee; and Pat Nolan, senior vice president at DVL Public Relations & Advertising, will chair the Media and Community Relations Committee.
“This anniversary is an important one for our city,” Dean said. “Fifty years ago, Nashvillians decided to do something different than the rest of the country and become a more efficient government and a stronger community by consolidating our city and county governments. That forward-thinking decision to make us a ‘metropolitan’ form of government has saved us money and resources over the years and is the reason cities from across the country call us to learn more about how it is done. To help make this important anniversary a successful celebration and learning experience for the community as a whole, we are fortunate to have three long-standing community leaders guide this commemoration.”
Activities will be scheduled around three key dates: June 28, the 50th anniversary of the successful referendum creating the Metro Charter; November, 2012, the 50th anniversary of the first Metro mayoral and run-off election; and April 1, 2013, the anniversary of the implementation of Metro Government.
Nashville’s consolidation in 1963 was the first true city-county consolidation in the country, although Miami-Dade County had merged part of their government services prior to then.
According to the National League of Cities, to date, there are only 14 city-county consolidations in the United States.
Tennessee’s film incentives get funding boost
Changes to state law made during the 107th General Assembly will mean $2 million in anticipated funding for the state’s film incentive program, administered by the Tennessee Film Entertainment and Music Commission (TFEMC).
In addition, reforms to the state’s film funding grant formula will give smaller, indigenous film productions access to a larger share of available grant dollars.
Sen. Majority Leader Mark Norris (R-Collierville) sponsored a repeal of the refundable tax credit available to film productions under TCA § 67-4-2109(j). The repeal will mean an additional $2 million in funding for the Tennessee Film/TV Incentive Fund .
Norris said the move makes TFEMC the “one-stop shop” for film incentives in the state and ends a complex system of incentivizing productions through both TFEMC grants and refundable tax credits issued by the Department of Revenue.
"We recognize the importance of the film industry not only to the economy of the state but to the welfare of countless Tennesseans whose livelihoods depend on it,” Norris said. “This new program simplifies, streamlines and strengthens our commitment to the film industry."
Changes made to the Tennessee Film/TV Incentive Fund grant formula by the TFEMC are designed to promote the development of indigenous production and attract independent filmmakers by streamlining the incentive delivery process.
Under the new program, projects with budgets more than $200,000 will be eligible to receive grants equal to 25 percent of their qualified Tennessee expenditures. Previously, the combined grant and tax credit system awarded a 17 percent grant and 15 percent refundable tax credit only to productions with budgets over $1 million.
“As part of Governor Haslam’s Jobs4TN economic development plan, the entertainment industry was identified as one of the key industries in which the state has a clear competitive advantage,” Bill Hagerty, commissioner, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, said. “I would like to thank Sen. Norris for his vision on this bill and members of the General Assembly for their support.”
The TFEMC is part of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
The American economy remains sluggish with only modest growth.
Talk centers on unemployment, how to create jobs and high gasoline prices. These are “now” concerns because many Americans can immediately identify with them.
Although the deficit and national debt are alarming, they are not immediate concerns with which most Americans can identify. However, if and when the debt overwhelms us – the way it has in Greece and is starting to do in other European countries – our current pain and suffering will pale in comparison.
Just how close is the U.S. to economic collapse due to a mushrooming national debt?
That is difficult to say. But it is clear that the federal government is out of control and spending money well beyond our means. Moreover, it is not even a top priority as evidenced by the Senate’s – under Harry Reid’s leadership – unwillingness to pass a budget for more than three years.
In 1970, each American’s share of the national debt was $6,435; today, it is $36,267.
To demonstrate the absurdity of the federal government’s deficit spending, let’s take a look at what a family budget would look like if it were operating according to the federal government’s formula: (1) annual income of $24,700; (2) annual spending of $37,900; (3) annual new credit card debt of $13,300; (4) already existing credit card balance of $153,500; (5) annual belt tightening or cutting spending of only $385. First, what credit card company would continue to lend to this family? Second, how long would a family survive like this? Third, how long will the U.S. government survive like this?
The answers to the above questions are obvious. Yet, President Obama says his new budget will put the U.S. on a more sustainable fiscal path, although at the same time it will add another $1.3 trillion to our rapidly approaching $16 trillion debt.
How did we get in this mess? The U.S. had a $161 billion budget deficit in 2007. Then the recession hit, creating enormous deficits. There was more unemployment, making for less income to tax and plunging revenues. More Americans went on unemployment and welfare. Obama’s nearly $1 trillion stimulus, expensive financial bailouts and continued wars in Afghanistan and Iraq – all contributed to spending 25 percent of GDP, a post-World War II record.
Before 2009, our largest budget deficit in history was $458 billion under President George W. Bush. All of Obama’s four years as president will see annual deficits of more than $1 trillion.
Although our treasury needs more revenue, make no mistake about it: rising spending, not falling revenues, is by far the bigger culprit in raising long-term deficits. Between 1789 and 2008, the federal government accumulated $5.8 trillion of national debt. Between 2009 and 2021, it is projected to borrow $17 trillion more. In short, in only 13 years, we will have quadrupled the national debt.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the total national debt could exceed the size of the entire economy or GDP by 2020 and triple the size of the economy during the next few decades. Obviously, the economy would collapse before that kind of spending and debt could be reached.
Many economists believe that rising debt will cut our economic growth rate in half within 10 years and many economic models predict complete collapse by the 2030s. The end could come sooner if there is a surge in interest rates, which is almost assured if we don’t halt outrageous deficit spending. Low borrowing costs is one thing that is currently keeping us afloat.
It is both foolish and disingenuous to demagogue that our spending problem can be brought under control without entitlement reform. Nearly all future spending increases will come from Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and interest on the debt.
A wave of 77 million baby boomers are beginning to enjoy Social Security and Medicare. In 1960, five workers supported one retiree; today it’s three workers for every retiree; by 2030 it will be two for one. Medicare spending will increase further by rising healthcare costs. During the next 75 years, Social Security will be in the hole by $7 trillion and Medicare by $36 trillion. Our government has simply made commitments that it cannot financially meet.
So, let’s get something straight: totally eliminating foreign aid, corporate welfare, Obama’s healthcare program, all funding for Iraq and Afghanistan, plus hiking taxes on both those earning more than or less than $250,000 annually (and assuming this would not harm the economy) will not fix our runaway spending. Only entitlement reform will. How can it be done? I will address that in a future column.
Interstate closures will affect downtown events this weekend
Downtown traffic and activity is expected to be heavier than usual this weekend due to an annual hot rod car show at LP Field, combined with TDOT’s weekly bridge work requiring closure of I-24, Main and Woodland streets.
As many as 40,000 car enthusiasts are expected for the 7th Nashville Nationals show sponsored by the Good Guys Rod and Custom Association. Event planners invite area residents to come join the festivities. Anyone who does should remember to use established detour routes to avoid the interstate and local street closings, which will begin at 9 p.m. Friday.
Other Saturday events affecting downtown include the 2012 Tour de Nash, a series of biking events across Metro to promote the city’s greenways and bikeways; and Ellie’s Run for Africa, a morning 5K run that begins and ends in Riverfront Park at 1st and Broadway.
The sections of Main and Woodland streets underneath I-24 and the interstate itself in both directions will be closed Friday night until Monday at 5 a.m. Maps of all detour routes are available online at www.nashville.gov/pw/projects/TDOT_I24.asp.
Cheekwood’s Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden opens May 19
Celebrating the remarkable life of Sigourney Cheek, Cheekwood’s Literary Garden will open to the public on May 19 and will offer guests a place to seek solace and inspiration with a beautiful view of the Tennessee hills.
Generously funded by the Cheek family and their friends and designed by Ben Page of PAGE | DUKE Landscape Architects, the garden features an amphitheater setting intended for hosting poetry and book readings for groups of up to 40 people.
The garden also has additional space for receptions and other social gatherings.
Opening day festivities will be held from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on May 19 and will feature special readings, performances and programs, including at book lecture by Robert Massie at 10 a.m.; family story time at 11 a.m. featuring children’s authors Jamina Carder and Kaaren Engel as they share the true story of Herman’s Journey, an inspiring and adventurous tale about two friends and a caterpillar; followed at 1 p.m. with writer performances and readings.
Sigourney Woods Cheek passed away in April 2010 after a lengthy and courageous battle with leukemia. She loved Nashville deeply and supported many local not-for-profit institutions, including Cheekwood and The Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville. She was a life-long learner, a community leader, inspirational spirit and avid gardener whose personal garden is listed as “an Important American Garden” at the Smithsonian Institute.
Late in life, Cheek published “Patient Siggy - Hope and Healing in Cyberspace,” a book about her battle with cancer and the thousands of people who communicated with her online.
The Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden will be dedicated in her memory by her family: her husband, Jim, and children Jamie, Daniel and Matthew, along with scores of friends.
For further information call 615-356-8000 or visit www.cheekwood.org.
State senate hopefuls weigh in on gun issues
Guns v. Property? Three Republican Primary hopefuls vying for Senate District 20 seemed nearly on the same page on gun rights versus property rights at a recent Green Hills Conservatives' Forum.
Tax activist Ben Cunningham, who moderated the standing room only event, posed a tough choice in asking their views on guns-in-parking-lots legislation. "Large corporations have lobbied against this bill because it violates private property rights," Cunningham said. Gun owner rights are supported by most Republicans.
Rob Mortensen, a Green Hills businessman, said he is dedicated to property rights but also a gun owner. He suggested amending the legislation to give people a convenient place to check their guns while on the business property.
Goodlettsville's David Hall said guns locked in cars should be allowed on business property. He drew the line on allowing guns inside the business.
West Nashville's Dr. Steve Dickerson said, "The guns-in-parking-lots bill before the General Assembly was not ready for prime time. Get the right senators into the General Assembly then vote for a compromise."
Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey addressed the question in his recent media availability. He thought cooler heads could compromise on the question in the upcoming General Assembly. The measure never made it to a floor vote. Business interests opposed the bill while gun advocacy groups favored it.
"I want to make sure that we work something out between now and the time we come back," the Republican lieutenant governor told WPLN radio. "We can ratchet the rhetoric down. We can ratchet the name-calling down and actually come up with a common-sense piece of legislation. It got completely out of hand.”
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Gala goodies: The Swan Ball is a white tie gala benefiting Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art. Even if you are not attending the 50th annual ball on June 9 you can get in on some online goodies right now. Bid for tickets to the Country Music Television awards show or a luxury New York stay or perhaps seats at the annual National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Lucie Carroll (with some help from Lucius) is the go-to gal to get in on this fun. Just click the auction tab at swanball.com to bid. White tie optional for online bidding.
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Iroquois fashion: Lucius W. Carroll II was a standout among the 20,000 Nashvillians attending the 71st Annual Iroquois Steeplechase. He sported fire engine red slacks decorated with black Labradors to the horsey event.
NASHVILLE NEWS BITES ~
Nashville realtors’ trade association backs tax increase
The Greater Nashville Association of Realtors (GNAR) announced last week its support for the 13 percent property tax increase proposed by Mayor Karl Dean in his State of Metro address. In a statement, President Kendra Cooke said GNAR met with the mayor and other Metro officials and “believe that what would be funded by the tax increase is needed to keep our city and region both improving and competitive.
“GNAR leadership is convinced that in order for our city – and region – to remain competitive in attracting individuals, families, businesses and job growth, Nashville must continue to build on its positive momentum in public education and public safety.”
Cooke also said GNAR is pleased that the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce is also supporting the tax increase. “Apparently they, too, realize that this tax increase is correctly seen as an investment in the future.”
Winwood to be added to Music City Walk of Fame
Two-time Grammy-winning composer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Steve Winwood will participate in an official ceremony, including the unveiling of his commemorative sidewalk marker on the Music City Walk of Fame on Tuesday, June 5, beginning at 12:30 p.m. in Walk of Fame Park.
“We are pleased to induct music icon Steve Winwood into the Music City Walk of Fame, as he is a perfect example of the diverse music that comes out of Nashville,” Butch Spyridon, president of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, said. “It is the immense talent and creative contributions by Mr. Winwood and the inductees before him that make Nashville, Music City.”
With Winwood’s addition the Walk of Fame boasts 59 stars. A permanent sidewalk medallion with Winwood’s name displayed in a star-and-guitar design will be installed in the sidewalk along the Music Mile. Winwood’s plaque will be inlaid in Walk of Fame Park on Demonbreun, between 4th and 5th Avenues South.
Major tax changes occurred in 2011; more on the way
?While searching through the internet for information regarding tax changes in 2012, I googled the question, “what will happen in 2012?”
Well, to my surprise, I read that the “world will end on December 21.” Obviously, my topic pales in insignificance in light of that revelation. Who cares what the tax law will be if we are not going to live to see the tax filing season of 2013. Taxes will be the least of our worries.
I am tempted to preach a little at this point, but I will forgo that luxury and pursue my topic. What have you heard about tax changes and budget constraints for 2012? Most commentators agree that little will be done before the election.
However, some planned changes are already in the works. Some of the tax changes could save you a lot of money. Some of the tax changes could increase taxes even more.
Estate Tax – For individuals dying after 2011, the federal estate tax continues with a $5.125 million exemption and a 35 percent maximum rate. The current federal estate tax rules are scheduled to end after 2012.
Lower capital gains and dividend tax rates have been extended through 2012 – The tax rate reductions for long-term capital gains remain in effect for 2012. The maximum rate is 15 percent on stock sales but 28 percent on collectibles.
Child Tax Credit – The credit of $1,000 per eligible child continues through 2012.
Payroll Tax Credit – The partial credit for payroll taxes paid by employees will continue for 2012 (now that the fight about it has ended).
Tax Credit for College Tuition – The American Opportunity tax credit remains in effect through 2012.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – Temporary increases in the earned income tax credit for filers with three or more children and the higher income levels for the phase-out of the credit have been extended through the end of 2012.
401(k) - Retirement Accounts – You can contribute more in your 401K-retirement account and your IRA account before having to pay tax on it.
IRS Mileage Tax Deduction – The IRS mileage deduction rate has increased. However, at $.555 there is room for improvement.
Gift Tax – The gift tax exclusion remains at $13,000. Please note, each state has its own gift tax exclusion. Tennessee gift tax exclusion for anyone other than a direct lineage relative is $3,000.
The provisions that expired on Dec. 31, 2011 will certainly increase taxes for most filers. We can hope they will be extended for the sake of all concerned. The largest tax provision would be the higher Alternative Minimum Tax Exemption or AMT patch. In 2011, a taxpayer filing a joint return was allowed an AMT exemption amount of $74,450.
Without an extension of this tax provision, that same AMT exemption amount would decrease to $45,000, which is of course a tremendous drop. And with an AMT tax rate of 26 percent, this could cost taxpayers approximately $7,500, as well as increase the number of taxpayers affected by the AMT.
Alternative Minimum Tax is a fancy term for “let us take a second try to tax the taxpayer and we will not allow certain deductions.” It is complicated. Call or email us for full analysis.
Several other popular tax breaks that have expired are direct IRA payouts to charity, the research and development tax credit, the college tuition deduction and the write-off of $250 of supplies for teachers.
But that is what has already expired. Then there is the issue regarding the tax provisions that will expire on Dec. 31, 2012.
These issues need to be addressed before they expire and will probably play a role in a presidential hopeful’s platform. The biggest issue looming is the sun-setting of the Bush tax cuts, which would eliminate the lower income tax rates.
The current top rate of 35 percent will increase to 39.6 percent.
Also, the 15 percent maximum rate on long-term capital gains will increase to 20 percent. The tax on ordinary dividends will jump from 15 percent to the taxpayer’s ordinary rate and that could be as high as 39.6 percent.
Your tax bill in 2013 will definitely be higher, unless Congress finds ways to cut spending.
There are a bunch of changes in the budget announced last night, with many of them directed at specific groups (families with children at school being the most visible target).
However, the biggest structural change is the ongoing push to change the tax-free threshold from $6,000 to $18,200, which will eliminate the need for many people to submit a tax return if they’re on a low wage.
What does this do? It hangs the debt on the middle class and small businesses.
Jim Wilson can be reached by calling Wilson & Wilson CPAs at 615-673-1330 or by emailing him at jcwcpa@bellsouth.net.
New Parthenon exhibit puts Nashvillians in artwork
The Parthenon has announced a new exhibition featuring photographic portraits by Juan Pont Lezica, guest curated by Channel 4 news anchor Demetria Kalodimos.
Lezica has reimagined iconic paintings and sculptures, posing prominent Nashvillians in settings that reference the original artwork, using props, wardrobe, and makeup to create his whimsical interpretations.
The title “Artwork Among Us” suggests that the inspiring work done by these individuals makes them living, breathing works of art.
The resulting photographs, which feature such famous Nashvillians as former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George, award-winning novelist Ann Patchett, and Nashville Symphony conductor Giancarlo Guerrero, among others, are playful takes on the original artworks they reference as well as the sitters themselves, allowing us to see these beloved Nashvillians in a new light.
The exhibition will also include behind-the-scenes documentary footage of the photo shoots, created by guest curator Demetria Kalodimos.
“I've had a lot of terrific opportunities in Nashville, but none as unique and challenging as this,” Kalodimos said. “To champion an artist I admire, and encourage everyone to come to the Parthenon is a win-win. I'm sure the whole city will be talking about this exhibit... and wishing they could inhabit a different persona, if only for a while!”
Lezica is a commercial and fashion photographer whose work has appeared on album covers, in magazines, and on billboards across the country. His company, CYC Studio, is based in Nashville.
An artist’s reception, free and open to the public, will take place on Friday, June 1, from 6-8 p.m. Reservations are required; please call 615-862-8431 to RSVP.
Subsequent receptions will take place on Thursday, July 5, from 5-7 p.m. and Thursday, August 2, from 5-7 p.m.
Vanderbilt tuition to increase, but only slightly
Undergraduate tuition to attend Vanderbilt University will increase 1.9 percent for the 2012-13 academic year, the lowest tuition increase in more than 25 years.
“Vanderbilt provides a world-class education and at the same time strives to be an excellent value for our students and their families,” Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Richard McCarty said. “We are committed to making Vanderbilt affordable and accessible to all qualified applicants, regardless of their economic situation.”
Tuition for 2012-13 will be $41,088, up from $40,320. Vanderbilt’s 1.9 percent increase is significantly lower than many leading private universities, which have publically announced tuition increases ranging from 2.5 to 4.9 percent.
In addition, Vanderbilt has made a commitment to avoid saddling its graduates with student loan debts. The university meets 100 percent of the demonstrated financial need of its students, who are admitted without regard to each family’s ability to pay tuition.
Financial awards from Vanderbilt include scholarships and a reasonable work study expectation, but no student loans are required. This program of need-based financial aid, called Opportunity Vanderbilt, has been in place for all undergraduates since the fall semester 2009.
Hillsboro Village sidewalk and landscaping improvements to begin this week
Construction of long-awaited landscaping and sidewalk improvements within the Hillsboro Village neighborhood is scheduled to start on Wednesday, May 16.
The improvements are Phase 1 of a larger Master Roadscape Plan developed for Hillsboro Village and extend along both sides of 21st Ave. S. from Blakemore/Wedgewood Ave. to Acklen Ave.
During construction, a 4-foot wide strip along the back of the curb will be improved with a combination of brick-sized pavers and expanded planting spaces beneath the existing trees. Some areas of damaged brick outside the 4-foot area will also be repaired and bollard-style bicycle racks will also be installed.
Work will begin at the Wedgewood Ave intersection and proceed block-by-block toward Acklen, then continue on the opposite side of 21st from Acklen to Blakemore. No traffic lane closings are planned, and the contractor will not be allowed to work during the morning or afternoon rush hours. On-street parking adjacent to the work zones will be temporarily unavailable when construction is underway.
K-Barr Group, LLC, is the contractor for the approximately $168,000 project, which is expected to be completed by late July.
During 2010-11, Metro Public Works and Hawkins Partners, Inc. developed a master plan for streetscape and landscaping improvements within Hillsboro Village, following public input received at a series of community meetings.
More information is available at www.nashville.gov/pw/projects/21st.asp.
Iconic law firm rebrands
Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis now simply known as Waller
Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis has made an indelible mark across the U.S. as one of Nashville’s most prominent law firms. Now the firm is transforming this mark by unveiling a new brand, complete with a simplified name, crisp green logo and website. The iconic law firm — Nashville’s largest — will refer to itself simply as Waller.
“This is an important entry in the history of our firm,” Waller chairman John Tishler said. “Our new brand builds on Waller’s legacy by further emphasizing the values we’ve cherished since 1905, such as deep appreciation and caring for our clients, our community and our colleagues here at the firm. Our new brand respects this history while embodying who we are today.”
The new brand was officially launched Monday at www.wallerlaw.com. According to Mark Greene, Waller’s Chief Business Development Officer, the new brand is reflective of the collegial relationship between the firm and its clients.
The firm has been known throughout the business community as “Waller” for many years so the decision to introduce the new, concise name is more of a progression than a change, according to Greene.
“This is the evolution of a century-old brand,” Greene said. “We’ve long been known as ‘Waller’ to our clients, partners and friends so we’re embracing that name with a new look and feel that captures our identity and best represents the law firm we are now.”
Currently, Waller has about 200 attorneys operating out of its headquarters in Nashville and an office in Birmingham, Ala. The firm’s 11 practice groups cover a wide range of transactional, regulatory and litigation issues for a variety of industries. In particular, Waller’s healthcare department has been recognized as one of the top in the US and has played a key role in the growth and success of Middle Tennessee’s healthcare industry.
State Library to host War of 1812 workshop June 16
To help commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812, the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) will host a free workshop on June 16 from 10-11 a.m. in the TSLA Auditorium.
The workshop will shed a light on Tennessee's role in the war. Politically and militarily, Tennessee played a vital role in the War of 1812 and placed the state in the national spotlight for the first time.
The workshop will also focus on key questions: What caused the war? Why did Tennesseans want to fight? What is the legacy of the war in Tennessee? While the focus of the workshop will mainly be on the history of the War of 1812, the session will also examine what resources pertaining to the war are available at TSLA.
The guest speaker is Tom Kanon, an archivist at TSLA. He holds a master's degree in History and a P.h.D. in Public History from Middle Tennessee State University. Kanon is an award-winning author who has written extensively on the War of 1812-related topics for publications such as Tennessee Historical Quarterly and Ohio Valley History.
The session is open to anyone with an interest in the War of 1812, as well as geneaologists who want to gain some historical knowledge and background for their research.
This is a free workshop, but reservations are required due to limited seating in the auditorium.
To make reservations, please e-mail workshop.tsla@tn.us or call 615-741-2764. TSLA's building is located at 403 7th Ave. N., just west of the state Capitol in downtown Nashville.
Limited parking is available in front, beside and behind the building.
TGNA announces its Lawn of the Month award winner for May
Rodney and Janet Martin, who reside at 688 Atlanta Dr. in Tulip Grove, have been selected as the May “Lawn of the Month” winners by the Tulip Grove Neighborhood Association (TGNA, Inc.) Beautification Committee. The Martins have lived in Hermitage since 1976.
Their home is very neat and colorful with a wonderful presentation of pink peonies, boxwood and evergreens. Two shades of peonies that can be found curbside. A beautiful pansy bed circles a tree on the front lawn area. Janet and Rodney really enjoy working in their yard and all their hard work has truly paid off.
Beautification Committee Chairman Richard Jones and Co-Chairman Cherry Jones presented the award and placed the official “Lawn of the Month” custom sign on the front lawn area.
Richard and Cherry Jones also awarded the Martins with some nice gifts provided by local Hermitage merchants who have supported the beautification promotion for several years now.
You may contact the TGNA to volunteer and join hands in attempting to “raise the bar” for the Tulip Grove area at www.Tulipgrove.org or send an email to Hal Perry at Tulipgroveassoc@gmail.com.
Nashville Humane Association to begin PET PALS summer program
The Nashville Humane Association has announced a new summer program specifically designed for school-aged children.
PET PALS is a fun and exciting way for children to learn the importance of animal welfare through a series of four 90-minute educational sessions beginning in June and running through September (one per month). Each session will take place from 2 - 3:30 p.m. on Sundays at the Nashville Humane Association, and will be divided into three age categories: 6-8 year olds, 9-11 year olds and 12-13 year olds.
All classes will be led by NHA Executive Director Joy Beach and will include valuable instructions, plus hands-on experience and special guest speakers. Each month, children will gain a better understanding of the topics covered:
June - Dog Bite Prevention: Staying safe around animals;
July - Taking Care of Pets: How to keep your pets happy, safe and healthy;
August - Careers in Animal Welfare; and
September - Pets, People and Neighbors: Understanding and helping wildlife in our communities.
Registration for the four-week summer session will be $50 per child and will include a PET PALS t-shirt, workbooks and other valuable handouts to use and share at home. Classes are limited to 15 students per age group. Anyone interested in enrolling a child may do so online now. This one-of-a-kind summer program series will provide youngsters with a solid foundation for understanding the importance of caring and respecting animals in their community and at home.
For more information and registration, visit the Humane Association’s website at www.nashvillehumane.org.
Buchanan Log House hosts fish fry and appraisal fair this weekend
The historic Buchanan Log House, located at 2910 Elm Hill Pk., will host a fish fry and silent auction from 4-7 p.m. Friday, May 18.
The silent auction will begin at 10 a.m. and will last throughout the fish fry.
The Music City Sheraton has donated a two-night stay with breakfast for the auction and a dulcimer has also been donated.
For more information, visit www.buchananloghouse.com or call 615-871-4524.
Then on Saturday, May 19, the Buchanan Log House will host an antique appraisal fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Supercharge your marketing campaign on a budget
The success of any business hinges on its ability to cost effectively market its products and services.
A comprehensive marketing communications strategy will cover a number of areas including advertising, promotions, public relations, direct marketing and personal selling.
Marketing is vital for any business to succeed; unfortunately, it can also be very expensive. The key is finding the proper mix of the many available marketing tools and strategies, and ensure that they are both within budget as well as yield the highest results.
The goal of this article is not to detail the tenets of a comprehensive marketing communications plan, but to highlight a few low cost or no cost strategies that can be used to augment such a plan.
Finding innovative ways to evangelize a business’ products, services and brand is extremely important, especially in today’s economic environment when businesses are more sensitive to controlling expenses.
Write Articles
One of the most effective methods of capturing free promotion for your company, is to write targeted articles specific to your business and have them published on one or more of the (no-cost) article submission directory sites. Several of the more popular sites include:
• www.ezinearticles.com
• www.articlesbase.com
• www.articledashboard.com
• www.buzzle.com
The benefits of this form of marketing include:
• Efficient tool to promote and gain exposure for a product or service offering;
• Enables an owner to brand themselves as an expert in a field or sector; and,
• Achieve more traffic to your website.
Good articles often become syndicated and republished by other websites who often browse these article directory sites for quality blogs and articles. The result is even more back-links and traffic to your website.
Once published on the third-party article directory site, the article can then be republished on the business’ website in addition to their Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts.
Newsletters
Email newsletters continue to be an essential part of an effective web-based marketing strategy. Newsletters build relationships with users and also offer recipients an added social benefit in that they can forward relevant newsletters to friends and colleagues.
Internet marketing with an email newsletter is the best way to stay competitive in today's online market, giving one an edge on the competition. The more contact you have with your customer the more likely they will return to use your services and products rather than your competitor’s.
Issues and problems that arise with your customers are discovered and dealt with quickly. Email marketing through a newsletter campaign is a highly targeted, measurable and effective method offering a variety of benefits:
• Improve your competitive edge;
• Expand customer base and target audience;
• Increase referrals and word of mouth;
• Boost sales, repeat business and customer loyalty; and
• Saves time and money by reducing marketing costs.
There are a number of email marketing campaign services available and, while these are not free, they are available at a low cost. Some of the more popular services include:
• www.constantcontact.com
• www.icontact.com
• www.benchmarkemail.com
• www.pinpointe.com
• www.mailchimp.com
• www.mailigen.com
• www.madmimi.com
• www.campaigner.com
• www.graphicmail.com
• www.myemma.com
Press Releases
Generating press releases on a regular schedule will assist in driving traffic to your business and increase the chance of your website having a higher ranking by the search engine.
Press releases are different than writing articles as the content of the release has to be newsworthy in nature – an introduction of a new product, the promotion of an employee, the business hitting a new milestone, etc.
A press release will not be accepted if it is a blatant promotion for a service or product. When writing a press release, it is important to concentrate on the headline as journalists scan hundreds of headlines a minute.
The headline is your only chance of grabbing their attention. Once published, the press release should be added to your own website or blog.
Listed below are a number of free sites. Many of these sites also offer paid plans with extra features. The sites are listed in order of page rank. Typically the higher page rank will provide more valuable inbound links although not necessarily more traffic.
• www.FreePressRelease.com
• www.PRLog.org
• www.PR.com
• www.OpenPR.com
• www.1888PressRelease.com
• www.NewswireToday.com
• www.PR-Inside.com
• www.24-7PressRelease.com
• www.EcommWire.com
• www.TheOpenPress.com
• www.PressMethod.com
• www.dbusinessnews.com
Another resource for finding help is through the Nashville Chapter of SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business.” SCORE provides FREE confidential business counseling, and offers a variety of sales, marketing, and business start-up workshops.
To learn more about SCORE counseling and workshops call the Nashville office at 615-736-7621. Go to the web site scorenashville.org.
See “SCORE On Business” NewsChannel 5+ Comcast 250 weekends.
Q&A with General Sessions Judge Democratic candidate Rachel Bell
Andrew Smith
Staff Writer
Rachel Bell is the Democratic candidate in the race for the District 8 General Sessions judgeship in the Aug. 7 election.
Bell, a lifelong Nashville native, graduated from Hillsboro High School before attending Auburn University on a basketball scholarship where she won a SEC championship. She transferred to Memphis where she continued playing basketball until graduating.
After college, Bell worked with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as an advocate and then achieved the distinction as the first African-American teacher hired at St. Mary’s Episcopal in Memphis.
She has been a practicing attorney for seven years in Nashville after graduating from Memphis’ law school and returning to start her law firm Bell & Kinslow, PLLC.
Could you describe more about your diabetes volunteer and student mentor work?
“I was diagnosed with diabetes at age 13 so I work with the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital as their Youth Ambassador because I am an individual that is very motivational at helping children and parents. I want others to know that being diabetic is difficult and is hard, but you can overcome that. I give two scholarships right now, one to a student who graduated from a blighted community and another to an individual who is Type-One Diabetic. I mentor students so they can learn more about the legal process and becoming a lawyer.”
Your campaign emphasizes on fairness, could you elaborate on that?
“General Sessions Courts and judges are here to honor the law, to respect people and to be fair with our assessments and judgements. General Sessions Court is the people’s court and is the court of first impressions for a number of individuals. Fairness also comes with looking at both sides, whether they have a lawyer or not. In my practice, I’ve been there a number of times and practice both criminal and civil. Individuals that come there without a lawyer, many times don’t really know what they are doing. Fairness is making sure they understand the process as well as they understand the law and how it applies to their facts and their evidence in making sure you make a judgement right down the middle. I think what would help the General Sessions Court is what I would do - I already do this anyway - is having legal clinics and places for people to come so they can understand the process of the court so they know what to be prepared for. I would be very influential in helping an online system that would allow individuals to know what to expect when they are coming to Criminal and Civil Court. I want to make sure the individuals are more educated about the system and I don’t mind being the judge that will continue to do that off the bench as well.”
Why is having diversity reflected on the bench needed?
“Diversity is very important. Our city is ranked [as one of] the top three [U.S.] cities to move to... We want to be a city that has a mighty, diverse representation of culture that live here. When you are a resident in a city, you would like to have equal representation.”
Metro detectives charge 138, seize more than $14K this week
Undercover detectives charged 138 persons this week with mostly drug and prostitution offenses as the result of investigations in various Nashville neighborhoods.
South Precinct detectives charged 28 after investigations on Trimble St., Spence Ln., Terragon Trail, Murfreesboro Pk. and Sidco Dr. Seized were 40 grams of marijuana, 21 grams of cocaine, three grams of heroin, six pills, four guns and $12,023 cash.
Hermitage Precinct detectives charged 23 following investigations on Lafayette St., Charles E. Davis Blvd., Perkins St., Murfreesboro Pk., Old Hickory Blvd., Lebanon Pk., Dabbs Ave. and Trinity Ln. Seized were 20 grams of marijuana, five grams of cocaine, nine pills, one vehicle and $122.
West Precinct detectives charged 14 after investigations on Charlotte Pk., Patterson St., Murphy Rd. and White Bridge Rd. Seized were 10 grams of cocaine, 12 Lortab pills, 165 oxycodone pills, 67 Soma pills, 121 Xanax pills, 65 morphine pills, 90 various pills and one vehicle.
North Precinct detectives charged 13 as the result of investigations on Trinity Ln. at Brick Church Pk., Dickerson Pk. at Marie St., the 1300 block of 14th Ave. N. and 24th Ave. N. at Osage St. Seized were three grams of cocaine and two grams of heroin.
Madison Precinct detectives charged 16 after investigations on Rio Vista Dr., Gallatin Pk., Palestine Ave. and Argyle Ave. Seized were five pounds of marijuana, five grams of cocaine, 20 oxycodone pills, 10 morphine pills, one gun and $630.
East Precinct detectives charged 21 following investigations on Gallatin Pk., Dickerson Pk., Pennock Ave., Stainback Ave., South 6th St. and Litton Ave. Seized were 1.9 grams of cocaine, 120 Lortab pills and 6.6 grams of marijuana.
Central Precinct detectives charged 23 persons as the result of investigations on Spring St., Jefferson St. and Monroe St. Seized were 38 grams of marijuana, 15 grams of cocaine, 35 pills, three vehicles and $1,700 cash.
Persons suspecting drug activity in their neighborhoods are urged to call the police department’s 244-DOPE hotline. Callers to the hotline can remain anonymous.
FRA seniors take time to help Habitat for Humanity
On one of the hottest days of spring, the Franklin Road Academy 2012 senior class came together, not for prom or graduation, but to help the community by building a fence in Habitat for Humanity’s Park Preserve neighborhood in Nashville.
“Before we leave for college, this build is a great way for us to come together and serve. It is part of being a good neighbor, and these people are so deserving,” said Scott Looney, FRA Leadership Committee member.
“This is Franklin Road Academy’s fourth year to volunteer with our organization – these kids are amazing! They have built walls, a rain garden, and now a fence in addition to raising over $20,000 to support Habitat for Humanity,” said Mike Allen, Habitat for Humanity Faith Relations Director.
“Sometimes we get so caught up in wanting to help people internationally that we overlook opportunities and needs right here in Nashville,” added James Nelson, FRA Leadership Committee member. “Working together is a great way for us to go out as a class.”
American Red Cross to offer Pet First Aid course
The American Red Cross Nashville Area Chapter has partnered with training experts at Nashville K-9 to offer a Pet First Aid Course for dog owners.
The course will be offered from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 23 at the American Red Cross Nashville Area Chapter Auditorium, located at 2201 Charlotte Ave.
“This course will not only educate the new and seasoned pet owners, but also give some basic knowledge on how to recognize and care for emergencies, illness and injuries in dogs,” said Joe Simpson, State Operations Manager for Preparedness Health & Safety Services.
The course costs $50 and participants must register by contacting Nashville K-9 at (615) 438-2602 or visit www.NashvilleK9.com.
Dyer Observatory to host Bluebird on the Mountain concert series starting Saturday
Historic Dyer Observatory will again host the summer Bluebird on the Mountain concert series beginning with a Saturday, May 19 performance by Lionel Cartwright, Allen Shamblin and Chuck Cannon. The concert begins at 8 p.m. and gates will open at 6 p.m.
The 2012 series – which includes six concerts – runs from May 19 to Oct. 6 and will showcase more than a dozen of Music City’s most popular singer-songwriters. The July concert will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Bluebird Café, the crown-jewel of performance venues for Nashville’s songwriting community. Tony Arata, Fred Knobloch, Thom Schuyler and Jellyroll Morton are scheduled to perform and special events are being planned.
Season tickets are available through Ticketmaster and a limited number of advance tickets for single shows are also available through the ticket outlet, which will add a handling fee. Single show tickets are $105 for a carload. No individual tickets will be available for the series. In the event of severe weather activity, check the Dyer Observatory calendar for updates the day of the concert.
Additional show dates for this season’s series are scheduled for June 16, July 21, Aug. 18, Sept. 22 and Oct. 6. Gates will open at 6 p.m. for the 8 p.m. shows.
The Sept. 22 and Oct. 6 shows, however, have a 7 p.m. start time with gates opening at 5:30 p.m.
Visitors are encouraged to bring a blanket, lawn chairs and pack a picnic basket. After the show, visitors can linger to stargaze using the observatory’s Seyfert telescope. No RV’s or buses will be admitted.
Dyer Observatory is located at 1000 Oman Dr., off Granny White Pk. between Old Hickory Blvd. and Otter Creek Rd., near Radnor Lake. Directions are available at www.dyer.vanderbilt.edu/.
Harwell to hold District 56 town hall meeting Saturday
State Representative Beth Harwell (R-Nashville) announced that she will be holding a town hall meeting to provide an update on the recently completed work of the Tennessee General Assembly. The event is free to the public and is an opportunity to meet with Rep. Harwell.
The meeting will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19 in the Community Room of the Green Hills Library, located at 3701 Benham Ave.
“I look forward to hearing what is on the minds of the people in the district,” Rep. Harwell said. “We accomplished much to be proud of for Tennessee this year. I encourage residents to come by to hear this update, ask questions or provide input on issues that are important to them.”
For more information on the town hall, call 615-741-0709 or email speaker.beth.harwell@capitol.tn.gov.
State launches new job database
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Karla Davis have announced a new jobs database to help connect job seekers with Tennessee employers.
Jobs4TN Online is a virtual recruiter, automatically notifying job seekers when jobs they may qualify for are posted and notifying employers when candidates who fit their needs register.
The online database contains positions from job orders placed directly by Tennessee employers, from corporate Internet sites, and from major job search engines. Jobs4TN Online also identifies available green jobs.
“The unemployment rate for Tennessee is at its lowest since November 2008 and has fallen below the national rate, but it is still too high,” Haslam said. The governor committed to developing a new jobs database during his gubernatorial campaign. “With Jobs4TN Online, those without a job will have quicker and better access to job openings related to their skills, and as we work to make Tennessee an even better place to expand and start a business, we want to help employers find the employees they need.”
Jobs4TN Online makes available labor market information, including demand occupations, education requirements and salaries for positions, labor force projections, and training program graduates. Information can be tailored to focus on specific communities, metro statistical areas or statewide. Employers and job seekers are encouraged to log in to Jobs4TN Online at www.jobs4tn.gov.
“This system is much more than a traditional job search engine,” Davis said. “Jobs4TN Online offers extensive information for interviews, lists of local training providers, and the capability to create and send resumes.”
The state’s previous job search site, the Source, included job orders received by Tennessee Career Centers and jobs listed by Fortune 500 companies. Jobs4TN Online uses a more robust search that provides first-run jobs from newspapers, government sites and private job boards, and the amount of jobs listed in Tennessee has gone from 30,000 to more than 85,000.
Jobs4TN Online can be accessed anywhere with a computer and Internet access. Tennessee Career Centers across the state have free computer resource rooms with guidance on job searching. For anyone not comfortable with using a computer, referrals can be provided in person at the center once they have registered for services. To find the nearest Tennessee Career Center visit www.tn.gov/labor-wfd/cc/cccounty.shtml.
Tennessee Career Coaches are another available resource. They are mobile career centers with computer workstations and access to the Internet anywhere by satellite.
Three mobile units operate in east, west and middle Tennessee to provide job searching resources to those attending job events or to those that don't have access to the Internet.
The Career Coaches’ schedules can be found at www.getonthecoach.tn.gov.
Metro Water rolls out new customer info system
Metro Water Services recently implemented a new Customer Information System that features enhanced service options for customers. WebConnect allows customers to view a wide range of account information online, including current balance, bill image for last 12 months, payment and consumption history, frequently asked questions and open service request status.
Customers can sign up to receive and view their bill electronically and to initiate service requests on-line at Nashville.gov/water.
There are three levels of access based on customers’ needs. (Customers will need their account number to access information):
· Premium Access offers a full set of account-access options and self-service options, including e-bill registration, creation of service requests, enroll in recurring payment plans and account-profile management. You will need to create an online account for premium access.
· Standard Access allows limited account access, including account balance and payment, billing and usage histories. No registration is required for Standard Access.
· Landlord Access allows limited account access, including account number, service address, account balance and payment links for a landlord's multiple properties. No registration is required for Landlord Access.
Both WebConnect and the Interactive Voice Recognition System at (615) 862-4600 offer an integrated real-time payment gateway allowing customers to make payments 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In addition to WebConnect, Metro Water Services also offers Budget Billing, which allows customers to pay a fixed amount each month based on a “budget bill” calculation. The calculation averages the bill during a 12-month period from the previous year. Customers will pay the same amount each month based on the calculated average. The account will be balanced by either increasing or decreasing the payment per month the following year based on the actual consumption difference.
Metro Water Services customers can sign up for these services at any time.
New Business
Dent Central hammers dings, not wallets
Little dings and dents from hail damage are not only unattractive, they diminish a car’s value. Dent Central, locally owned and operated, can take care of that without hurting the car or your pocketbook.
Dent Central specializes in “green” automotive body repair, also known as Paintless Dent Repair or PDR, which first appeared in the 1980s.
“We are able to return the vehicle back to its pre-hail damage condition without sanding, body fillers or repainting,” says owner Charlie Sanders, who has been in the hail damage repair business since 1994. He explains that green repair preserves the resale value of a car because once it has been painted, its resale value drops.
“We can actually repair the dents without doing any of that and your car will look like it did before it was damaged.”
Dent Central professionals don't drill holes in door jambs or safety braces to perform repairs, which can cause further damage to a vehicle. Many companies that set up temporary hail repair shops are only around for a couple of months and then off to the next storm.
“Their mobility affords them unaccountability,” Sanders said. “They may not do what is best for you and your car.”
Usually, Dent Central customers have no out-of-pocket expenses as the company will absorb up to $500 of labor toward their deductible. Dent Central offers a lifetime guarantee on repairs and works with all insurance claims and companies to make sure that its customers get a fair amount on their claim. In fact, the company's slogan is “We work for you, not your insurance company.”
As Sanders elaborates, “We work with insurance companies, but work for customers.”
Sanders said Dent Central has been featured on ABC News, other media and collision industry trade publications as an authority on how to properly perform paintless hail damage repair.
35th annual Bellevue Community Picnic to
be held this Saturday at Caboose Park
The 35th Bellevue Community Picnic will be held Saturday, May 19, from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. at the Red Caboose Park, Highway 70 S. and Colice Jeanne Rd., Bellevue.
Admission is free and open to the public. The picnic will feature fireworks; live music throughout the day on two stages which include a performance by Country singer Mandy Barnett; a playground for children to play on; children’s arts and crafts activities and free goodies from local businesses.
Sam’s Club Matinee Stage will feature demonstrations by Shin’s Martial Arts, the YMCA and more, along with music and dance performances.
Tickets for rides, drinks and snacks, along with a schedule of events, will be available at the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce booth in the center of the park.
For more information, call the Chamber at 662-2737 or visit the bellevuechamber.com.
