Dear Resident,
I hope you are enjoying the summer. July has been an exciting month on many issues. I have traveled to North Carolina, Chattanooga and Georgia. Catherine and I celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary. Alexandria spent the day before her 14th birthday with me for 9 hours of council meetings... at her request. What a trouper and what an education on government. I'd be glad to have any of our teenagers that may be interested shadow me at the council meetings. Just let me know and we can arrange a day.

I've read over 2000 emails on council bills regarding guns, non-discrimination based on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" as well as Maytown Center. I appreciate those that have communicated with me on these issues... both for and against. I hosted a town hall meeting for one of our neighborhoods, held a tour for council members of the AWESOME new addition at Apollo Middle School, worked our community clean-up organized by our great Beautification Commissioner, Bill Covington. I met and interviewed candidates, then voted to appoint a new school board member, Kay Simmons. I've had over a dozen graffiti locations cleaned. It has been amazing to see so many things happening in such a short time.

Since the 4th, I used every spare hour I could find to produced a 32 page magazine for a client which was delivered to the printer Wednesday morning. It is a huge relief to have it completed, but it will pay the bills for a month or so.

In case you've not heard, starting today through Sunday at midnight is TAX FREE weekend. For more information you can visit the following link. http://www.tn.gov/revenue/salestaxholiday/

The Mayor's First Day Festival takes place Sunday afternoon from 2-5 at the Sommet Center. Get more information at this link. http://www.nashville.gov/mocy/firstday/2009/index.asp

Issues before the council.
Bill # BL2009-489
This bill would ban handgun carry permit (HCP) holders from carrying their weapon into parks or greenways. As you may have seen on TV, I do not support this ban for several reasons. (1) Any government that can take away one constitutional right can do so with any other. I like all of the amendments and will fight to support them all. (2) Our parks have had multiple guns confiscated from criminals caught in them. (3) All statistics show that crime is reduced when criminals think that there "might" be permit holders. (4) Interesting Fact: More people have been accidentally killed by doctors prescribing medicine with adverse reactions than by HCP holders. (5) The communication that I have received from residents has been about 4 to 1 in support of carry permit holders. I still welcome your input.

Bill # BL2009-502
This ordinance proposes to add "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to the list of protected classes. Here is the primary text of the bill which was deferred last night so that some amendments could be considered. This bill and any amendments will be voted on second reading, Aug 18.
"It is unlawful for the metropolitan government to fail or refuse to hire or promote, or to discharge any individual, because of such individual’s race, religion, creed, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, color, age, and/or disability."
Currently the overwhelming position shared with me from district residents is in opposition to this ordinance. Their concerns have been numerous and include: the terminology is broad; this is the first step to requiring this for all businesses; the position is self determined and unverifiable; and of course on religious ground. I welcome your input and concerns.
FYI, I am currently working to draft a bill that protects all individuals and bases hiring and promotion decisions on ONLY merit factors such as experience and qualifications while not violating the religious views of many of our city's residents.

Bill # BL2009-503
I have sponsored this bill as the result of the ultra energy efficient addition built at Apollo Middle School. This building used less that $400 of electricity to run the HVAC system in July and during the same time period sold $800 of "green" power back to TVA. It is also guaranteed to not have a power bill for the HVAC system for three years. It is likely the most energy efficient school building in the world. However, under our current laws this system will not be used in any other buildings in the city. I'm attempting to allow an alternative to the current monopolistic requirement for so called "green" buildings that most often fail to perform at the level of this amazing building.
I expect a fight, as most monopolies do not like to be tampered with.


Finally, I want to share with you that I have been asked to consider running for State House in District 59. I assure you that my first concern is insuring that I serve this council district first and foremost. The decision has not been made yet, though I have appointed a treasurer to allow me to investigate the possibility. Those on this list will be the first to be notified upon diciding. While this may impact all of our district, only those in precinct 2804 and 2805 would be eligible to vote in this state house race. As leaders in our community, I welcome your comments and thoughts on this subject and hope that I can count on your support should I decide to seek this office.

All the best,
Duane Dominy
District 28 Councilman
101 Cherokee Place
Antioch, TN 37013
615-831-0774
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Park Smart appears to be working.
A review of stolen vehicle reports in Nashville from Sunday, June 21 through Saturday, August 1, shows that 40.9% of the automobiles taken (70 of 171) were easy targets because the keys were left inside or made available to thieves.

An encouraging trend in this data is that the percentage has been trending down from 70% in the first week to 23.1 in the last. Keep parking smart and lock your automobile doors, secure any valuables and REMOVE THE KEYS.

Officers also urge citizens to SHOP SMART by not leaving purses or other valuables unattended in shopping carts, even for a very short time. An unattended purse is an easy target for a thief.
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Excerpts from Historical Commission Newsletter

“ Nashville: Sites and Sounds” :
Music City Featured in the July/August Issue of Preservation Magazine
Read the article and latest issue:
http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2009/july-august/

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Save the Date! 28th Conference on African-American History and Culture

For almost thirty years, the Metropolitan Historical Commission has partnered with Tennessee State University to devote a day celebrating the influence of African Americans in Nashville and Tennessee 's history and culture, with historical lectures, musical performances, dramatic performances, and a chance to network with others interested in learning more about the contributions of African Americans across the state. Once again, the TSU downtown campus will host the conference, to be held on February 10, 2010. In 2010, we are commemorating fifty years since the Nashville Sit-Ins, and will be studying the effects that the Sit-In Movement had across the state. Please mark your calendars now and plan to join us for this historic event! Registration information will be available later in the year, but SAVE THE DATE!

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EXHIBITS
NEW! “Back to School, 1844-2005”
Nashville Public Library, 615 Church Street
Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Lobby – August 2009
This small exhibit features highlights from the Special Collections Division showcasing materials about Nashville schools, past and present. Subjects include boys and girls’ schools, public and private schools, higher education, religious schools, and parents, teachers and alumni.

The People’s House: A Temple of Democracy,
150th Anniversary of the Volunteer State Capitol
Tennessee State Museum, Fifth and Deaderick Streets
Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the landmark Tennessee State Capitol building, which was completed in 1859. The special sesquicentennial exhibit, comprised of selections by the Tennessee General Assembly Arts Caucus, showcases the rich history of this magnificent building and the accomplishments of state government. Visitors will learn about the construction of the Capitol, which was a triumph of architecture and engineering. For more information about this free exhibit, please visit the Tennessee State Museum website.
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RESOURCES

New Website: The Civil War Discovery Trail
The Civil War Preservation Trust has launched a new website to promote the Civil War Discovery Trail. The Civil War Discovery Trail links more than 600 sites in 32 states to inspire and to teach the story of the Civil War and its enduring impact on America. The new Civil War Discovery Trail website includes profiles of all the sites on the trail and lists important visitor information as well as contact information. To learn more about Civil War Discovery Trail sites in Nashville and Tennessee, please visit www.civilwardiscoverytrail.org.
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Dear Friends,
Please help CCSI with your vote and then send out to your email list. May need a personal message from you to get others to vote. Really appreciate your help.
Jackie

CHRISTIE COOKIES IS HAVING A CONTEST WHERE YOU VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY. THEY WILL GIVE $10,000 TO THE CHARITY THAT HAS THE MOST VOTES!!!!!! SECOND PLACE WILL RECEIVE $5,000 AND THE NEXT 10 WILL RECEIVE $1,000 EACH.
PLEASE GO TO WWW.CHRISTIECOOKIES.COM and vote for Christian Community Services, Inc., NASHVILLE, TN. This is legitimate, and it is very easy to do. Just go to the website and fill in the very few blanks. Patrick Johnson would be the contact person.
Christian Community Services, Inc. works with families living in government subsidize housing by teaching basic life skills, money management, homeownership, credit issues and budgeting. CCSI has assisted 104 families in reaching self-sufficiency --65 homeowners/taxpayers and 40 in private rental. In June 2009, we graduated 17 participants in the Mentoring Towards Independence Program which brings the total graduates to 165. Please vote for CCSI.
Jackie Corley
Adult Program Directorb
Christian Community Services, Inc.
601 Benton Avenue, Ste. B
Nashville, TN 37204
(615) 297-4024 Ext. 1
Fax (615) 297-7496

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Tips for Handling Telemarketers

Three Little Words That Work !!
(1)The three little words are: 'Hold On, Please...'
Saying this, while putting down your phone and walking off (instead of hanging-up immediately) would make each telemarketing call so much more time-consuming that boiler room sales would grind to a halt.
Then when you eventually hear the phone company's 'beep-beep-beep' tone, you know it's time to go back and hang up your handset, which has efficiently completed its task.
These three little words will help eliminate telephone soliciting.

(2) Do you ever get those annoying phone calls with no one on the other end?
This is a telemarketing technique where a machine makes phone calls and records the time of day when a person answers the phone.
This technique is used to determine the best time of day for a 'real' sales person to call back and get someone at home.
What you can do after answering, if you notice there is no one there, is to immediately start hitting your # button on the phone, 6 or 7 times, as quickly as possible This confuses the machine that dialed the call and it kicks your number out of their system. Gosh, what a shame not to have your name in their system any longer !!!

(3) Junk Mail Help:
When you get 'ads' enclosed with your phone or utility bill, return these 'ads' with your payment. Let the sending companies throw their own junk mail away.
When you get those 'pre-approved' letters in the mail for everything from credit cards to 2nd mortgages and similar type junk, do not throw away the return envelope.
Most of these come with postage-paid return envelopes, right? It costs them more than the regular 41 cents postage 'IF' and when they receive them back..
It costs them nothing if you throw them away! The postage was around 50 cents before the last increase and it is according to the weight. In that case, why not get rid of some of your other junk mail and put it in these cool little, postage-paid return envelopes.

One of Andy Rooney's (60 minutes) ideas.
Send an ad for your local chimney cleaner to American Express. Send a pizza coupon to Citibank. If you didn't get anything else that day, then just send them their blank application back! If you want to remain anonymous, just make sure your name isn't on anything you send them.
You can even send the envelope back empty if you want to just to keep them guessing! It still costs them 41 cents.
The banks and credit card companies are currently getting a lot of their own junk back in the mail, but folks, we need to OVERWHELM them. Let's let them know what it's like to get lots of junk mail, and best of all they're paying for it...Twice!
Let's help keep our postal service busy since they are saying that e-mail is cutting into their business profits, and that's why they need to increase postage costs again You get the idea !
If enough people follow these tips, it will work ---- I have been doing this for years, and I get very little junk mail anymore.

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News From Jan Cain regarding the Historic Ellis Garage
You all have probably seen the Ellis Garage with the canopy falling down. We had a meeting with Myra Ellis a few days ago and Tony Hammonds advised that it is imperative to get the canopy down because it is connected to the bricks and the entire front of the garage could come down with it. Also, school will be starting soon so it is urgent to remove this dangerous condition. Ms. Ellis signed papers yesterday (7/31/09) and Tony got the permit to take the canopy down. He will take it down on Monday.
The permit to remove the canopy cost Tony Hammonds $250 and the dumpster will cost $750. Myra Ellis has no money, so Tony is donating his time. Codes received two emails this week about the condition of the garage, but fortunately hadn't acted on them yet. We were lucky enough to get the permit just in time before Codes could condemn it!
Right now we believe Tony has about $1000 in the project. Labor for his workers will cost about $1200, so all together his demolition costs will be about $2200.
We are doing everything we can to save the garage and are grateful to Tony for funding it up front. We think the right thing to do would be to help Tony out with the expenses. This portion of the project is just for the demolition of the canopy. Rebuilding is not as urgent and we can deal with that later. If you can help out with the project, send money to Treasurer, Betty Ensor Thomas, 2230 Smith Springs Rd., Nashville, TN 37217 or call one of us and we will come to pick up your donation.
Thank you for your consideration.

Richard Curran, President Jan Cain, VP & Historian Betty Ensor Thomas, Treasurer
361-4310 361-6406 424-9704

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Councilman Dominy and Neighbors,
I have returned from vacation and am glad to be home. We had a wonderful time and left Savannah Ga. still in tact.

I received this information from the Beautification Office and felt it was good information to send out on email to as many as possible.
See you all soon,

Bill Covington
28th District Beautification and Environmental Commissioner


How to dispose of unwanted medications

Did you know that there is a proper way to dispose of out of date and unwanted medications? Remove the unused medication from its original container and place it in a sealable plastic bag such as a baggie or sandwich bag, mix with an undesirable substance such as used coffee grounds, kitty litter, or other pet waste and place the bag in your normal household trash. Dispose of the trash as you would other household garbage. This will insure the medication is disposed of safely in an environmentally engineered and protective landfill. It is important that you do NOT flush unused medications down a toilet or sink!
For more information on waste disposal issues, contact Metro Public Works at 862-8750.

Sincerely,

Bill Covington
Beautification Commissioner, District #28


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Media Contacts:
David Trusty, Piedmont Natural Gas • david.trusty@piedmontng.com • 704 731-4391 (office)
Hailey Cobb, LGA • cobb@lgapr.com •
704 552-6565 (office)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Piedmont Natural Gas Launches Share the Warmth Round Up and Challenges 100,000 Customers to Sign Up in 60 Days

Customers Can Round Up Bills to Nearest Dollar to Help Neighbors in Need Pay Home Energy Bills

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 15, 2009) – On one of the hottest days of the year, Piedmont Natural Gas executives and employees are joining community leaders in Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina as they line up and don orange scarves in support of Piedmont’s new Share the Warmth Round Up program.

Share the Warmth Round Up offers a simple, opt-in way for Piedmont customers to round up their monthly natural gas bill to the nearest dollar with the difference going to assist neighbors in their community who need help paying their home energy bills. Share the Warmth funds can be used to pay energy bills throughout the year regardless of the energy source used in the home – including natural gas, propane, oil, electricity, coal, kerosene and wood.

Piedmont Natural Gas is making an initial contribution of $100,000 to Share the Warmth, and as an added incentive, will donate an additional $50,000 if 100,000 customers enroll in Share the Warmth Round Up within the next 60 days.
“The need for assistance in the communities we serve has never been greater,” said Thomas E. Skains, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Piedmont Natural Gas. “In Charlotte alone, we expect 10,000 families to need assistance in the coming year. As a result, we hope as many of our customers who are able will join us in this effort by signing up for Share the Warmth Round Up. The more customers that sign up means the more families that can be helped. This is a simple step each of us can take to support our communities and our neighbors in need and the most it could cost any of us is $12 a year. That’s small change to change lives.”

“We served twice as many families last year seeking help with their utility payments,” said Cynthia Croom, executive director of the Metropolitan Action Commission. “We anticipate that need to be just as great this year, which is why Share the Warmth is such a vital resource for our community. Families are sometimes faced with impossible decisions – food or heat, rent or electricity. Piedmont has addressed a critical need with its Share the Warmth Round Up program.”

Contributions are tax deductible and 100 percent of every donation goes to assisting families and individuals in need. Share the Warmth partner agencies use donations to provide direct financial assistance to low-income families and individuals using all forms of energy throughout the year.

Piedmont’s Share the Warmth partner agencies are:
North Carolina
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
• Crisis Assistance Ministry (Charlotte)
South Carolina
• South Carolina Governor’s Office
Tennessee
• Metro Action Commission (Davidson County)
• Mid-Cumberland Community Action Agency (Cheatham, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Trousdale, Williamson and Wilson counties)
• Highland Rim Economic Corporation (Dickson County)

There are three ways for Piedmont customers to sign up for Share the Warmth Round Up: 1) complete the enrollment form on the back of their monthly bill and return it with their bill remittance; 2) call 1.800.752.7504; or 3) visit www.piedmontng.com and click on the Share the Warmth icon on the left-hand side of the page.

Non-Piedmont customers may contribute by sending a check made out to Share the Warmth to:
Piedmont Natural Gas / Share the Warmth
Attn: Treasury Department
4720 Piedmont Row Dr., 8th Floor
Charlotte, NC 28210

Those interested in tracking the Share the Warmth Round Up program during the 60-day challenge period can do so by following @sharethewarmth on Twitter or becoming a fan of “Piedmont Natural Gas Share the Warmth Round Up” on Facebook.

About Piedmont Natural Gas
Piedmont Natural Gas is an energy services company primarily engaged in the distribution of natural gas to more than one million residential, commercial and industrial energy customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, including 61,000 customers served by municipalities who are wholesale customers. Our subsidiaries are invested in joint venture, energy-related businesses, including unregulated retail natural gas marketing, interstate natural gas storage and intrastate natural gas transportation. Additional information about Piedmont is available on the Internet at www.piedmontng.com.


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New textbooks open for public review
Nashville City Paper–Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 7:24pm
By Amy Griffith Graydon

A slate of possible new textbooks for public schools are open for public viewing and input.

The state of Tennessee is adopting new textbooks for English grammar and composition, foreign languages and English as a second language, and the public is invited to get involved.

“It is very important for the public to have access to the textbooks under consideration,” said Morgan Branch, director of textbook services for the state Department of Education, in a Wednesday statement. “Our goal is to provide a wide variety of materials that enrich and support the curriculum and to address the varied interests, abilities and learning styles of students.”

Textbooks can be viewed at 10 locations throughout the state, including the campus of Tennessee State University in Nashville. To make an appointment to view the books, call TSU’s Debra Jackson at 963-5480.

The DOE has also put together a group of 30 Tennessee public school teachers to review the textbooks. Public and educator input will be considered Sept. 14 and 15, when the Tennessee Textbook Commission is due to discuss public feedback and ask questions of textbook publishers.

The commission will vote on the books Oct. 12, and make recommendations to the state Board of Education.

State board members make fall final textbook decisions. Once the state has a list of approved texts, local school systems can adopt the books for a six-year period.

Textbooks should be viewed and commented on by members of the public before Sept. 14. Appointments are needed to view the books.

Once comments are prepared, input should be directed to the DOE’s Branch. Branch can be reached for questions at 253-3160.

For more information, click http://state.tn.us/education.