The Weekly Market Snapshot from Frazier Allen
Market Commentary by Scott J. Brown, Ph.D., Chief Economist
- Scott J. Brown Ph.D., Chief Economist Raymond James Investment Services
In addition to the mostly positive corporate earnings reports this week, the focus fell on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s monetary policy testimony – before the Senate Banking Committee on Wednesday and in front of the House Financial Services Committee on Thursday. While he didn’t offer anything new in support of the economy, he assured the legislators the Fed remains “prepared to take further policy actions as needed.”
In prepared remarks, Bernanke said the economy is “proceeding at a moderate pace.” On the positive side, he noted that business and household demand is rising, but that housing and commercial construction are weak – and that continuing job market weakness is holding back consumer demand. It will require “a significant amount of time” to recoup the 8.5 million jobs lost in 2008 and 2009, he said, citing the latest Fed projections that show reducing unemployment “is now expected to be somewhat slower than we previously projected.” Unemployment may stand between 7% and 7.5% at the end of 2012, he said.
APSU School of Nursing receives AT&T Foundation grant
With the help of a $10,000 Communication Foundation Grant from AT&T, the School of Nursing at Austin Peay State University will develop an intervention program for upper-level nursing students pursuing their bachelor’s degrees.
Lanie Johnson, regional director of external affairs at AT&T, presented the grant during a reception held July 21st at APSU.
(from left) Dr. Patty Orr, assistant professor of nursing and the Lenora C. Reuther Chair of Excellence; Dr. Tristan Denley, provost and vice president of academic affairs; state Sen Tim Barnes, D-Adams; Dr. Chita Farrar, professor of nursing; Lanie Johnson, regional director of external affairs at AT&T; Tim Hall, APSU president; state Rep. Joe Pitts, D-Clarksville; Richard Jackson, vice president of legal and strategic affairs; and Dr. Sherryl Byrd, vice president of student affairs. (Photo by Melony Shemberger, APSU Public Relations and Marketing)
The Surprising Saga of Sporting Suspenders
John Lithgow sporting suspenders
At some point in the life of some older men, a shift occurs. The former rounded derriere becomes flattened and the formerly flat abdomen becomes a rounded tummy. This can occur because of lessened activity due to illness of some variety, a hernia that can happen to the central muscles of a man’s chest, or simply the advent of becoming a “couch potato” for a number of years. It can even happen when someone has indulged in too many trips to the beer keg or drinks cabinet. (Or, as someone has put it, he might have traded one “six pack” set of muscles for too many others in cans or bottles!)
The result of this shift to “no hips” and “more tummy than one wishes” may necessitate moving from the use of a belt to hold up one’s pants to the purchase of suspenders.
[Read more]
Making Pools Safer
What could possibly go wrong? That is a question which doesn’t get asked often enough.
Fencing your pool is a very important safety measure you should take.
In June of 2002, it was discovered that the suction drain of a hot tub was strong enough to hold a child underwater. Seven-year-old Virginia Graeme Baker lost her life because a spa manufacturer did not ask the question: what could go wrong? The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was signed into law in December of 2007.
If it feels like five years was too long to wait for a regulation that makes spas and pools less able to hold children underwater – I agree. The Act calls for safety interlocks and anti-entrapment screens ─ all the things you think would be common sense, but apparently weren’t. Implementation of the law is still being worked out.
But here is the thing – the pool in the backyard is yours. You can assume that designers and manufacturers (and government regulators) thought of everything, or you can start asking your own questions. [Read more]
APSU TECTA presents $5,000 grant to library for early childhood
To ensure that early childhood educators have professional resources available, the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) at Austin Peay State University has awarded $5,000 to the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library to purchase additional materials for the early childhood community.
TECTA presented the grant to the library July 20th.
(From left) Participating in a grant presentation from Austin Peay State University TECTA to the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library were Claudia Rodriguez, TECTA coordinator; Dr. Linda A. Sitton, TECTA director; Pam Murphy, public library director; and Jean Nichols, director of the children’s library.
Daymar Instituite Announces Christmas in July Craft Fair this Saturday
Daymar Institute, formerly Draughons Junior College is pleased to invite the residents of Montgomery and the surrounding counties to their Christmas in July Craft Fair on Saturday July 31st, 2010 from 8:00am-3:00pm.
Residents are invited to come and shop early for Christmas with over 40 local vendors all featuring handcrafted items.
L.E.A.P. ORG Awards Scholarship at 3 on 3 Back to School Basketball Tournament Championship
Nonprofit organization and community center provide recreation and supplies for youth
On Saturday, July 24th at 12:00pm the L.E.A.P. Organization awarded April Ogburn with Scholarship for her outstanding performance in the LEAP Intern Program and being accepted into Lane College. Trophies were awarded to winners fo each bracket.
As a result to donations from LEAP and the community we were able to collect over 240 packs of paper and other items for the Back to School Bash. This event also gave our youth a positive outlet to fellowship and build teams in a safe and secure environment.
Participants of the 3 on 3 Back to School Basketball Tournament Championship
New CD by APSU’s Gateway Chamber Ensemble Lauded by National Music Magazine
Classical music aficionados were surprised last month when they picked up the latest issue of Fanfare Magazine and read that a chamber ensemble out of Clarksville had recorded the definitive version of Mozart’s “Wind Serenade in B flat” and Richard Strauss’s “Wind Serenade in E flat.” Music critic Jerry Dubins even said the recordings by this previously unknown group ranked above the performances by prominent ensembles from New York, London and around the world.
The Gateway Chamber Ensemble, which consists of Austin Peay State University faculty members and professional musicians from around the region, released its first CD, “Wind Serenades,” in March, and critics with Fanfare Magazine, one of the genre’s pre-eminent publications, immediately took note of the recording’s high quality.
APSU Gateway Chamber Ensemble
Volunteers Needed – Teacher’s Warehouse
Teacher’s Warehouse – A free store for teachers
The burden falls on teachers when kids don’t have supplies…..
Many Montgomery County School children cannot afford lunch, much less basic school supplies and studies indicate that the average teacher spends between $ 500 and $ 1,000 of his or her own money to buy supplies for their students. Countywide the school budget has been slashed dramatically and there is a great need for student and teacher support.
Help support the “Teachers Warehouse”, providing a unique means to transfer donated, value purchased and created products from businesses and individuals free to teachers for use in school classrooms.
Dunbar Cave’s Cooling at the Cave is Saturday July 31st
Transportation via golf cart between the parking lot and the cave entrance will be available for those who need it, thanks to the kindness of the Jeff Vaughn and the City of Clarksville.
With the heat index passing 100 lately, it is perfect timing for the Friends of Dunbar Cave’s annual Cooling at the Cave event. Bring your family out Saturday, July 31, from 4pm to 6pm and enjoy sitting at the mouth of the cave, which stays at 58 degrees year round.
Sitting in the shade at the mouth of the cave is how locals cooled off before the cave was a designated State Natural Area. Folks would bring tables, chairs, and board games. Some would play instruments, while others danced. This is the atmosphere the Friends of Dunbar Cave recreate every year. [Read more]
