Care seat safety target of new health initiative
NASHVILLE, TN: Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death among children in the United States . According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), child safety seats reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers. See Me Safe, a Child Passenger Safety (CPS) program, recently held an event at the Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center to address this critical issue by providing families essential training and information on how to keep their children safe while in their vehicles.
See Me Safe, developed by Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, in partnership with Meharry Medical College, shows families how to keep their children safe by providing them hands-on instruction from CPS-certified technicians on the proper installation of their car seats. The program addresses some common issues, such as how to properly strap the seat into a vehicle, and explains the correct age, weight, and height requirements for each type of seat. See Me Safe will partner with Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center for its Nashville child passenger safety seat efforts. [Read more]
APSU Upward Bound Scholars compete
Austin Peay State University’s High School Upward Bound Scholars Bowl Team is the 2009 state champion of the Tennessee Association of Special Programs (TASP) Scholars Bowl Competition. The competition was held on Saturday, March 14 at APSU. Teams were quizzed on math, science, English literature, Greek mythology and current events. [Read more]
River District Commission to meet
The River District Commission will meet on march 25 at the Mayor’s Conference room in City Hall at 4 p.m. to hear the following agenda:
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ANNOUNCE MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE (VERIFY QUORUM)
III. ADOPTION OF MINUTES: January 28th, February 4th, February 25th
IV. COMMISSION UPDATES
1. River District Guidelines
2. Phase II Master Plan Design [Read more]
City Council special session called to submit revised charter to the state
The Clarksville City Council will meet in special session March 23 at 4 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 108 Public Square, to request the Tennessee legislature to approve changes to the Clarksville City Charter. This is the sole item on the agenda.
Local councilors and state legislators representing Clarksville have received communications from residents irked with the idea that the revisions were not openly presented to the public prior to the vote seeking state approval.
Monday night’s agenda is as follows:
- CALL TO ORDER
- PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
- ROLL CALL
- SPECIAL SESSION AGENDA: RESOLUTION 57-2008-09 Requesting the Tennessee General Assembly to enact legislation to amend the Official Charter of the City of Clarksville
- ADJOURNMENT
Springtime prgrams hosted by Parks and Recreation
Signs of spring are popping up everywhere. With the changing of seasons, comes a feeling of renewal. Suddenly it is time to enjoy the fresh air, open the windows and even do some spring cleaning; out with the old and in with the new. Spring is also the perfect opportunity to start fresh and get active. Clarksville Parks and Recreation is ready to help you get out of the winter slump and into shape (while having fun, of course).
Spring Softball is underway with practices taking place and games beginning Monday, March 29th. Spring softball is an annual tradition that brings together people of all ages for fun and exercise. Whether you plan to be a spectator or a player, Parks and Recreation would like to provide everyone with a few reminders about the league.
Youth Softball League registration is open through April 10th. The cost is $30 per child. Both the Women’s League and Tuesday Youth Church Leagues are open for registration until May 1st. The fee is $100.
If you are participating in spring softball, be sure to pick up your Softball I.D. Card. I.D. cards are available at the Parks and Recreation Department on weekdays from 8a.m.-4:30p.m. or at any of the 3 community centers during regular business hours. The cost is $3 for Montgomery county residents and $13 for residents from outside the county. Cards are valid for two years.
Junior Olympics will be held this week at the Crow Community Center Wednesday afternoon from 3-6p.m. This will be a time for kids ages 8-12 to demonstrate and hone skills in basketball, soccer, tennis and track and field. The Junior Olympics is also an opportunity for parents to motivate and encourage their children to get active. Be sure to bring a copy of your child’s birth certificate when registering. For more details, call 647-3071 or stop by the Crow Center.
Kids on Crafts: Does your child prefer artistic creativity to sports? If so, Kids on Crafts is the ideal program. Tuesday, the Tennessee Woodturners Association will be there to demonstrate the art of crafting and spinning wood. The class is from 3-5p.m. at the Kleeman Community Center. Class size is limited to 18 students ages 7-17, so sign up now.
Arts for Adults: The Tennessee Woodturners will also be at Burt-Cobb Community Center on Saturday, March 28th from noon-3 p.m. This class is for adults ages 17 years and up with a $5.00 center ID card and is limited to 10 people. The activity fee is $10 per person. Pre-registration for the class is required by calling the center at 931-552-1263.
Flag Football registration will be held this week, ending
Friday afternoon at 4:30p.m. Games begin April 19th and take place Sunday afternoons beginning at 2, 3, 4, and 5p.m. The league plays approximately 8 weeks at Heritage Park. Games consist of 4- 10 minute quarters and a 5 minute halftime. This is an ideal opportunity to hang out and have fun with the guys and get in shape. A team fee of $300 provides for equipment, officials, fields, trophies etc. Teams should consist of 6-8 players. For more details, call the office at 645-7476.
Easter Egg Hunt: The Easter Bunny is eagerly waiting to hide hundreds of eggs at Heritage Park soccer field for all the children in Clarksville. Join us Sunday, April 5th at 2p.m.as we uncover all the surprises the Easter Bunny is going to leave. Be sure to bring your camera and Easter basket. For more information, contact the office at 645-7476.
- April 11 Pitch, Hit and Run
- April 19 Queen City Road Race- Early Registration ends March 30th
APSU’s VocalEase in concert
The Austin Peay State University Department of Music and the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts are pleased to present VocalEase in a spring performance.
The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 27 in the Music/Mass Communication Building Concert Hall. Although there is no set price for admission, visitors are asked to pay what they can.
VocalEase is an eight-voice ensemble composed of students in the music department at APSU.
The program will include a variety of popular style music from America’s last 75 years. Many of the selections are jazz arrangements, but the program will also include some Broadway musical and popular music. The show will be presented in a Cabaret-styled format with staging and movement. There will be a few solo selections between ensemble pieces. A live show band composed of APSU students will complement the vocal music.
Valerie Oyen-Larsen, APSU professor of music and director of VocalEase, states that the program “will provide something for everyone, including families, and be highly entertaining.”
HUD neigborhood stabilization funds coming to Tennessee
HUD has approved $731Million for neighborhood stabilization programs for 48 states and local communities. Funding targets neighborhoods hard-hit by foreclosure
WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today approved nearly $731 million in funding for 48 States and local communities seeking to recover from the effects of high foreclosures and declining home values. Funded under HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), these plans will target emergency assistance to particular neighborhoods by acquiring and redeveloping foreclosed properties that might otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight (see attached chart).
The neighborhood stabilization plans approved today include a $145 million plan submitted by the State of California, a program President Barack Obama recognized during a town hall meeting today in Los Angeles.
These are Tennessee’s allocations:
| Tennessee | Knoxville |
$ 2,735,980
|
|
| Tennessee State Program |
$ 49,360,421
|
State and local governments can use their neighborhood stabilization grants to acquire land and property; to demolish or rehabilitate abandoned properties; and/or to offer downpayment and closing cost assistance to low- to moderate-income homebuyers (household incomes not exceed 120 percent of area median income). In addition, these grantees can create “land banks” to assemble, temporarily manage, and dispose of vacant land for the purpose of stabilizing neighborhoods and encouraging re-use or redevelopment of urban property.
HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program was created under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 and provides nearly $4 billion to every State and certain local communities experiencing particularly high foreclosure problems and risk of property abandonment. The program permits these State and local governments to purchase foreclosed homes at a discount and to rehabilitate or redevelop them in order to respond to rising foreclosures and falling home values.
In addition, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 makes available another $2 billion of NSP funding to State, local governments, non-profit entities, or consortia of non-profit entities for similar anti-blight and stabilization efforts. HUD will issue a funding notice with application requirements no later than May 3, 2009. Applicants will prepare an application and, for programmatic funding, complete citizen participation before submitting to HUD. HUD will review applications and make awards shortly thereafter.
The NSP Program also seeks to prevent future foreclosures by requiring housing counseling for families receiving homebuyer assistance. In addition, the Agency seeks to protect future homebuyers by requiring States and local grantees to ensure that new homebuyers under this program obtain a mortgage loan from a lender who agrees to comply with sound lending practices.
About HUD: HUD is the nation’s housing agency committed to sustaining homeownership; creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans; and supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development and enforces the nation’s fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.
House of Representatives Republican Caucus
- Firearm legislation close to a floor vote
- Legislation to prohibit firearm “roster” passes House floor
- House Republicans pursue conservative measures
The House Judiciary Committee once again discussed several pieces of gun legislation, but only one bill was approved by the committee and advanced through the Calendar and Rules Committee to be scheduled for a floor vote. House Bill 959 will exempt the handgun carry permit list from the Open Records Act, but a proposed $2,500 penalty for publishing the list was removed by an amendment. The legislation is expected to be up for a floor vote, possibly next week. [Read more]
Red Cross offers web-based training in CPR, AED and First Aid
Learn how to save lives from the comfort of your own home with American Red Cross, now offering web-based blended First Aid, CPR and AED training.
If you have a computer that has Internet access and meets minimum operating requirements, you can participate in exciting new first aid, CPR and AED blended learning courses from the American Red Cross.
The first part of the training is taken online, which allows you to learn at your own pace. You also have the option of going through the course in an abbreviated format and testing out of lessons with which you may already be familiar. And you don’t need to worry about interruptions at home from kids, phone calls or ringing doorbells. [Read more]
Capitol Hill Week: Firearms “carry” law tops agenda
Pace quickens on Capitol Hill with approval of wide variety of bills. Second Amendment Rights legislation begins to move in Senate Judiciary’s Firearms and Ammunition Subcommittee
NASHVILLE, TN: The pace quickened on Capitol Hill this week as the State Senate acted on a wide variety of bills, including key environmental legislation and several bills protecting our citizens’ second amendment rights. Meanwhile, the General Assembly awaits details of the governor’s budget, which will be presented to a joint session of the House and Senate on Monday night.
The governor is expected to take a four-year approach to the state budget, which will include his plans for spending over $4.5 billion in federal stimulus money that will flow into Tennessee over the next two years. The governor plans to cut approximately $1 billion from the budget adopted by the General Assembly last year. However, his speech Monday will not likely include plans to make the massive layoffs in state employees that were once feared. [Read more]
