Sherry Chris (far right, in white) congratulates the staff of Better Homes & Garden Real Estate Hometown Connection on their successful open house and new location. Photo by David W. Shelton

With the spirit of a neighborhood backyard barbecue, a dunking booth, and a fair amount of ice-cold bottled water, Better Homes & Garden Real Estate: Hometown Connection celebrated the opening of their new facility at 108 Centerpoint Drive. After outgrowing their previous location at Trenton Road and Wilma Rudolph Blvd. earlier this year, it became clear that with more than 70 agents, a larger office would be needed.

The open house also featured the company’s new mobile charcoal grill that’s geared for such large events. Several vendors were invited to participate, and all paid a nominal fee, which went directly to the Manna Café Ministry, a non-profit organization that works to feed the homeless. Manna offers food distribution to anyone who applies, plus a mean one night a week — Thursdays. An additional meal will be offered at separate location starting in August.

Joey Haley, Jr., who recently jointed the locally-owned Better Homes & Garden office, cited the innovative nature of the marketing model. “They are on the leading edge of real estate marketing,” he said. “Their network is unique in the way they reach out to customers.”Haley’s sentiment is not unique, however.

Maurice Vaughn, CEO of the local Hometown Connection franchise, echoed Chris’ remarks. “Better Homes & Garden is much more than ‘houses for sale,’” he said. “It’s a comprehensive brand strategy — a lifestyle brand.” The appeal to him for BH&G was not only the management of the company itself, but also in the wide appeal and brand recognition of the BH&G name. Vaughn also emphasized that the Real Estate market is a “relationship industry,” and built on service — which is emphasized at both the local and corporate level.

Sherry Chris, Better Homes & Garden Real Estate CEO (Submitted)

In fact, the marketing and outreach strategy of the company as a whole stems from the the leadership of CEO Sherry Chris, who was on hand for the franchise’s celebration today. “Once I got the invitation, I knew couldn’t miss it,” she said.

Such hands-on activity as an executive has helped guide the Real Estate brand of the popular Better Homes & Garden label from its infancy to a multinational corporation that spans 17 states and will soon open offices internationally. She also contributes to the “Clean Slate Blog,” a frequently-updated technology-related blog that’s straight from the company’s corporate center in Parsippany, New Jersey.

Chris’ goals for the company not only include clear growth plans, but a focus on outreach to recruiting younger Real Estate agents and tapping into the fast-growing technology sector for marketing. “The average age for Realtors is 50,” she said. “They’ll stay in the business for years. They don’t retire. They love it too much!” The company is actively looking to recruit younger “echo boomer” generation agents who fit within the demographic of 18-34 years of age. This is especially important since 1/3 of the nation’s population fits within this same demographic.

“It’s sometimes difficult for older agents to start out today,” Chris said. “The biggest issue that our many 50-plus agents find when they get into the business is that they must be tech-savvy.” In fact, the National Association of Realtors indicates that 90% of modern Real Estate customers begin their search online instead of with an agent.”

It’s a far cry from the days where the Realtor was the gatekeeper for specialized MLS listing information — which was not allowed to be given out — to the vast resources online that allow home buyers to search multiple databases, search engines, and listing systems. “Our role as Realtors has gone from being the ‘keeper of information’ to the ‘trusted advisers,’” Chris said. “In a time where we almost have too much information — I can even find the nearest Starbucks on my iPhone — we have to stay with technology.”

And stay with it, they do. In fact, BH&G recently launched a free iPhone app that allows home buyers to help organize their home search with location searches, photo filing, and ranking. “It’s already been downloaded more than 70,000 times,” Chris said. The corporate website is also very inclusive — providing a resource for various tips and services that all aide the homeowner long after they’ve settled into their new home.

Complete with a twitter account, Chris is the leading force for her company’s technological prowess. Her level of technological focus garnered her with an award on July 16th as the Inman Innovator of the Year, which cited the firm’s growth to more than 125 offices worldwide. On top of her own hands-on blogging, she also instituted social media boot camp classes for new agents. Not bad for a two-year-old company.

With the added benefit of the Better Homes & Garden brand, local agents and franchises are able to use that technology to market their services and homes using a database of 85 million magazine subscribers, including that of the popular Better Homes & Garden magazine, the flagship publication of Meredith Corporation, who also publish Parent, Family Circle, Home Journal, and Quilting magazines.

“If an agent wants to market to young families who might be looking for their first home, they can search for renters who read Parent magazine.” The agent, however, would not be privy to any private personal information — not even a name — and would just opt to send out the directed marketing to only those that fit the profile in their search query. Such a process is a much more consumer-driven and targeted marketing strategy than bulk postcard mailings.

Agents will continue to be relevant in the fast-changing Real Estate market, and Chris noted that they will offer what computer searches can not: first-hand knowledge of how the industry works, and most importantly, intimate knowledge of the community. “They’ll always be able to say why a certain neighborhood is popular, which schools are better, and why a property sold for a certain amount.”

Perhaps the only weakness of the film is its requirement of an engaged audience. While The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is big-budget popcorn fun, Inception is a rich, layered yarn that isn’t just great fun to watch, it’s also worth talking about for hours afterward. In fact, members of our staff have already had several hours of discussion (and debate) about is shaping up to be one of the year’s best films.

The premise of Inception is that a select group of people are able to influence a person’s dreams and steal secrets from within the realm of the subconscious. Leonardo DiCaprio, who long ago shook off the “king of the world” shackles of Titanic, settles comfortably into the role of Cobb, one of the world’s most skilled “extractors,” people who are able to steal those valuable secrets.

My greatest concern about Inception was whether or not mass audiences would be able to grasp Nolan’s style of complex storytelling. It worked for The Dark Knight (still on my list of one of the best domestic films since the early 1970s), so the question was if it would work for this film as well. Like 1999′s The Matrix, there are no pre-conceived notions. The lines between reality and dreams are blurred in this film so that if your mind is not fully engaged at every moment, you might as well just take a nap.

Thankfully, with some anchor points of simplicity, there’s enough to hold on to so that even a dunce like me can grasp what’s happening. One of those anchors are the one-word job titles of the characters. DiCaprio is the aforementioned “extractor.” Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is the “point-man,” who researches the targets. Ariadne (Ellen Page) is the “architect” who uses her imagination to create the dream world in which the others execute their REM conspiracies. Earnes (Tom Hardy) is the “forger” who has the ability to disguise himself within dreams. Yusuf (Dileep Rao) is a “chemist” who manufacturers the sedatives needed to enter in the concocted dream world. Robert Fischer, Jr. (Cillian Murphy) is the “mark,” or target, for the group. Look for appearances by Lukas Haas, Michael Caine, and Tom Berenger as well.

Inception isn’t just the title of the film; it’s the whole plan of action. Instead of stealing a secret as they usually do, their task is to actually plant an idea — to convince Fischer to break apart his corporate empire (that would benefit the Saito (Ken Watanabe), the competitor that hires Cobb and his team). It’s a plan that’s “impossible,” as we’re told several times, but like any film about the impossible — Nolan sets out to prove that it is possible.

The “architecture” of Inception is mind-boggling; landscapes and cityscapes emerge from a  dreamworld where the only limit to creation is imagination. It’s a dizzying journey through a setting in perpetual shape shift, blurring and even perhaps obliterating the line between reality and alternate dimensions.

When Stanley Kubrick’s brought his vision of 2001: A Space Odyssey to the screen, people loved it or hated it — there was no ho-hum indifference. Discussions raged for days, weeks, even months over the layered meaning of that film. It provoked thought and challenged perception. Inception is one of the few films in recent years that achieves that level of debate, that level of conscious involvement on the part of the viewer. In an era of mediocre movies spoon-fed to viewers, Inception requires that you put knife and fork to what’s on this plate, slice into the concept and determine which truth you will swallow. The Matrix challenged us to believe that “there is no spoon.” Inception dares to declare that reality itself is in question.

It’s rare that film ever attempts to attain the level of literature, mostly because such stories are limited to art-house and “Oscar-contending” fare that are ignored by multiplexes and casual moviegoers. With Inception, Nolan has delivered a story that may be as important to American cinema in 2010 as 2001 was in 1968.

The quick cuts between scenes and dream “layers” may be a little distracting for some, but only illustrate just how critical it is to fully engage your mind while watching the film. Inception dares to not only try to blow our mind, but to challenge us to think in non-linear time, even though it’s all linear. Everything is real, and nothing is real. The Wizard of Oz gave us a glimpse into the land of dreams. Total Recall gave us a dream with a price, and Inception gives us a dream that literally folds upon itself.

Beyond thought, beyond philosophy, and beyond imagination — Inception will plant in your mind the idea that life is all about wanting to go home. The only problem is that I didn’t want to wake up, and neither will you.

10/10

It’s a band of classic wizard movie clichés that try as they might to not rip off a certain other boy wizard that we all might have heard about. Goofy lead character, check. Mysterious ancient sorcerer warrior guy, check. Creepy, mean villain, check. Wisecracking bad guy henchman, check. All-powerful threat that spells doomsday if it ever reaches its potential, yep. That too.

Director Jon Turtletaub, who once again teams up with star Nicholas Cage, has taken the iconic imagery from the 1940 animated classic, Fantasia, and created a nearly two-hour romp that doesn’t quite live up to the intensity of a mouse with a wizard cap. That’s not to say it isn’t a decent movie — or a bad one. It is, as I said before, just right.

Nicholas Cage is Balthazar, one of three super-ancient wizards that were trained by Merlin himself. The other two were super-baddie Horvath (Alfred Molina) and the beautiful Veronica (Monica Bellucci). Poor Veronica, though, had the misfortune of being trapped for a wicked long time while being possessed by the legendary Morgana (Alice Krige). During that scuffle hundreds of years ago, Merlin succumbs to his wounds, but not before he declares that one person will arise as the “Prime Merlinian” who will hold the same kind of power that he had.

Yes, that person is a ten-year-old kid named Dave (Jake Cherry), who stumbles into a magic store (owned by Balthazar) in New York City — while chasing after a note that got carried away by the wind, a note that is marked by his beautiful classmate, Becky (Peyton List). Yes, we see her again later, too. Mayhem ensues, and Jay is in for the shock of his life as two powerful sorcerers do battle right in front of him.

Ten years later, they’re all grown up. Dave (Jay Baruchel) is still a little messed up after seeing all that magic stuff earlier, and Becky (Teresa Palmer) just happens to be in his class.

Oh, Dave gets to discover his powers and that he has a destiny to be a really cool sorcerer. Naturally, he meets up with Balthazar to do exactly that, and the audience is given an amusing look at budding greatness — complete with a baseball catcher’s outfit. True enough, the story leads up to a climactic battle, and of course, it’s a battle that will determine the fate of the entire world.

The Sorcerer’s apprentice has a few great moments. One is a rehash of the original Mickey Mouse montage from Fantasia, and almost makes it worth the whole movie. Another moment is a great pop culture reference that’s just too much fun to spoil. And finally, defense moves remarkably similar to, yep, that other great teen wizard.

Cage clearly had fun with this film, and for the first time in a while didn’t look like he was entirely bored with the whole process. He was entirely believable as a sorcerer, and his movements were as commanding and graceful as one might expect a centuries-old sorcerer to be. Cage’s choreography – the powerful arching of his arms, the elegant positioning of his hands – were dance-worthy.  Of course, I might have expected him to be a little more uptight, but this is a Disney film — it needed a little bit of lightheartedness.

For his part, Jay Baruchel is — well — pretty darn annoying. I actually found myself wanting to shout at the screen, “just say your line and quit nodding!” And that was just after ten minutes. His attempt was to make the main character seem insecure. Let’s just say it was overkill.

The one weakness of the film that left me feeling jilted was the climactic battle. After seeing sorcerers do battle in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, I guess I was a little spoiled. THAT is how I expect wizards to try to kill each other. What we saw in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice was a little lacking; I really hoped for more. It left just enough of a bad taste in my mouth to actually change my perspective of the film overall.

While it could have been great, it could also have been terrible. This certainly isn’t another Order of the Phoenix, but thankfully, it’s also not another Last Airbender. Like the iconic Goldilocks, I find myself feeling that this bed isn’t too big, or too small — it’s just right. The cracks of corporate pressure show at all of the stress points, leaving the film to suffer as a result. Despite the cracks, flaws, and shortcomings, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice was classic popcorn fare, or as Christine would say, a great drive-in movie flick, making for yet another reason why summer is a great time to go to the movies.

7/10

This isn’t a new film at all. It was first released on DVD in late 2008, then given a limited theatre release in late 2009 and early 2010. I picked it up at a video store closeout, and figured I’d be a member of the aforementioned first group. Boy, was I wrong. Once the viewer gets past the “get your dukes up” title, documentarian Dan Merchant introduces the true purpose of the film: conversation. Yes, it’s a radical idea, but Merchant is convinced it’s also a good idea. Frankly, I’m inclined to agree.

Once the initial The opening credits are placed over a montage of audio quotes from various celebrities including Bill Mahr, George W. Bush, Ann Coulter, Michael Reagan, the late Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and George Carlin. This apparent mix of polar opposites wasn’t by accident. Finally, Merchant asks the question that drive the creation of the film in the first place: “Why is the gospel of love dividing America?”

To find out, he set out across the country while wearing a painter’s jumpsuit stamped with various religious and anti-religious bumper stickers. “Which one is your favorite?” he’d ask people on the street. While I would have liked to have seen more of these street-level conversations, But the overall message of the film is a little deeper than people with a microphone and a camera in their face.

Like most discussions on religion and philosophy, the best conversation is over the simple power of an idea. Naturally, these conversations were as varied as could be. Tony Campolo is quoted saying, “A movement can exist without a god, but never without a devil. There has to be an enemy to be destroyed.” It’s an example of the polarization of religious and political discourse in America.

To illustrate just how polarized this discourse can be, Merchant explored a BattleCry rally which was held on the steps of the San Francisco City Hall. The rally, held by several youth groups, was protested by an angry, pro-gay, anti-Christian crowd. The rally had a lot of yelling, shouting, praying, and chanting. What it didn’t have was any discussion between the two groups. Fingers were pointed, but hearts weren’t changed at all.

Archive footage of Rick Warren from 2006 presented a powerful point — “The way I see it, the church is the body of Christ, and for the last 50 years, the hands and the feet have been amputated. All we’ve been is a big mouth.” For the record, true believers, Warren isn’t a heathen — he’s pastor of Saddleback church, one of the largest evangelical churches in the country. Hardly the message of someone who hates Christianity.

Could it be that it isn’t the gospel of love that’s dividing? Could it be that perhaps instead it’s been turned into the gospel of being right? Merchant seems to think so. in fact, it’s this very sharp divide that is made very evident throughout the film.

The success of Lord, Save Us from Your Followers is not just in the premise, but in its execution. While Merchant could have been very tempted to make it as one-sided as possible, his entire purpose is to present both sides of the discussion as evenly as possible. It becomes evident that he has succeeded in doing exactly that.

About halfway through the film, a mock version of “Family Feud” is presented, pitting “the liberal media elite” against Young Republicans against each other, with the mission of finding out how well they understand each other and their point of view. Perhaps, this is the one area where I wasn’t surprised in the outcome, especially having engaged in several such discussions throughout my adult life.

However revealing the score might be, the story is about conversation — genuine, open, honest discussion. It’s clear that most Americans aren’t going to agree with each other, especially over politics and religion (two topics that are usually avoided in public conversation). And that conversation is clearly the point — talk. It’s not the end of the world to actually see the point of view of the other person.

The second half of the film focuses on Merchant’s viewpoint of people who are doing it right, heavy on charity, and faith in action. Whether it’s a series of outreaches to people after Hurricane Katrina, to Bono’s “The ONE Campaign” or to famine-stricken regions in Africa.

Finally, the film addresses how the church has treated the gay and lesbian community, and once again building conversation where groups can still disagree, yet share compassion and love. It’s a challenging concept for many, but one whose time has come. Its intended audience is both religious and secular — and both can benefit from its message.

Indeed, it’s all about conversation — it won’t be comfortable, but it is necessary. The final premise is that our culture doesn’t have to be at war. It’s time to close the fist, open our minds and our mouths — and talk. Whether it’s over coffee or at a gay pride festival, the conversations can be awkward — but they’re also necessary. Lord Save Us from Your Followers didn’t save me from the culture war, but it will certainly help to get some of us talking, which is always a good thing.

8/10

After the easily forgettable (and terrible) Alien vs. Predator films, these ugly alien monsters could have faded into sci-fi history. Not so with Predators. Usually, when the word “reboot” is bandied about, the entire premise of the story is completely tinkered with. Sometimes it’s a good thing (Last year’s Star Trek, for example) and sometimes it’s just horrible (just name ONE good thing about the atrocious remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still — other than the effects). As a sequel, Predators clearly goes back to its roots, and the script has more than one homage to the original film (including at least one line that’s an exact quote from the first film).

The premise of the film is that several of mankind’s deadliest predators are zapped and parachuted into an alien jungle on a distant planet. There, they must fight for their lives as they’re hunted for sport. Royce (A very buffed-up Adrien Brody), the emerging leader of the group, figures it out pretty quickly. “This is a game preserve,” he says. “And we’re the game.”

With classic monster-movie performances by Laurence Fishburne, Danny Trejo, and Topher Grace, Predators takes the time to not only get to know the characters, but also to inject a little bit of life in them. Of course, there’s your usual bit of betrayal and murderous insanity, but after all — these ARE humanity’s most dangerous specimens. Isn’t that the point?

There’s no sense in wasting time in finding out what planet they’re on — they just want to get off of that planet. Not that it’s an easy task with a group of dreadlocked aliens with zap guns hot on their trail. The predators themselves look great, and the film takes time to build a bit of suspense about their appearance, which is a refreshing change from recent monster movies.

Before the age of computer generated imagery and animation, monster movies were forced to limit the creature’s on-screen exposure because of the extreme amount of work needed to make them function and believable. Fortunately, some films used this necessity to their advantage — namely Alien (1979) and of course, Predator. Those brief on-screen flashes of the monster usually scared the hell out of us. Thankfully, Predators uses this same tactic to the advantage of a great story — the audience doesn’t see what the creature looks like until nearly halfway into the film.

To be sure, the creatures themselves look fantastic. In fact, one of them is the exact “Classic” Predator, as created by the late Stan Winston, seen on film for the first time in over 20 years. Much to my delight, the CGI is extremely limited in this film, meaning that most of the creature effects are mechanical. Even as great as computer imagery is today (Avatar comes to mind), it’s still nice to see good, old fashioned monsters.

Composer John Debney borrows cues from the original’s score by Alan Sylvestri, using the music to let the audience know that danger lurks. It’s just an example of how Predators fires on all cylinders, giving moviegoers exactly what they want: a great monster movie. Of course, there’s plenty of blood, gore, and guts — but not so much that it would turn off fans of the original. Like I said, it’s what the audience wants.

Too often, these monster thrillers are short on acting, plot, and characters. Much to my delight, Predators has plenty of all three — but not too much, as it’d weigh down the film by being too bogged down with blathering. It excels as a thriller, an action movie, and as a sci-fi adventure all rolled into one. It’s an example of how a sequel really can be as good (if not better) than the original, and how even an unoriginal idea can be a hell of a lot of fun.

8/10

While some might frown on the idea of celebrating the country’s 234th birthday a day early, it’s not unheard of. In fact, John Adams, the first American Vice President, declared that we should always celebrate our independence with “pomp and circumstance” — on July 3rd. And celebrate, the city did.

The City of Clarksville sponsored the night’s festivities along with several other sponsors: The Leaf-Chronicle, Clarksville Family Magazine, Clarksville Now, the Five-Star Radio Group, Cumberland Bank & Trust, Aetna Insurance, US Bank, Fort Campbell Credit Union, Planters Bank, Lamar Advertising, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville’s Best Buys, and Ingram Materials.

Business & Heritage Clarksville is pleased to present this gallery and video of tonight’s festivities.

Photos and video by David W. Shelton

Before I begin what will likely be a highly verbose rant of just how awful this film is, I’ll have to confess that I count myself among the many fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the Nickelodeon animated series that ran from 2005-2008. The trailers had the fanboy in me hoping that this would at least be a decent film.

Alas, those hopes were dashed the first time Sokka (Jackson Rathbone) opened his mouth. Oh, by the way, Avatar fans — it’s pronounced SOAK-uh. Get it? Water tribe? Soak? Yeah. I admit it. I had “Super Soaker” puns running through my mind for the next ten minutes.

Sorry. Got a little sidetracked there. Sokka, you see, had his first lines complaining that his hunting skills as taught to him by his father weren’t working. He even went through… Every. Single. Step. Of. How. To. Be. A. Hunter. Shoot me. Please.

It’s as if Shyamalan wanted to take the pretty pictures and themes from the series and put them on a giant movie screen, and forgot that there’s actually something called a “story” behind the whole thing. No. Wait… He had the story. It’s just that it was drilled into my head at every single moment. It would be nice if Shyamalan would learn that storytelling doesn’t require a monologue every time someone wants to say something.

A good example is nearly every scene with Prince Zuko (Dev Patel). “I am the Fire Lord’s son, banished until I find the Avatar,” blah, blah, blah.

“Go chase after women,” his uncle Iroh (Shaun Toub) says.

“No!” Zuko replies. “I am the Fire Lord’s Son! I am banished until I find the Avatar!”

“Don’t you need to pop that pimple?”

“No! I am the Fire Lord’s Son! I am banished until I find the Avatar!”

“Whatever, kid. Don’t burn your uniform.”

Okay, it didn’t happen exactly like that, but it’s darn close. It might have been bearable if Zuko was the only character that reminded us of their existence with every breath, but it wasn’t. The only two characters that DIDN’T blather on about their destiny were the ones that couldn’t: the two CGI animals. Yes, true believers, Appa the sky bison and Momo the lemur are in the film. And no, they don’t help. Not even a little bit.

As the story opens, Katara (Nicola Peltz) and Soak-uh… er, Sokka, were hunting (badly, if you recall) as they come across a boy in a big ice ball, who happens to be Aang (Noah Ringer). They all live in a world that’s separated into four major nations: Earth, Fire, Water, and the Air Nomads.

Each nation has a group of people who have the ability to telekinetically manipulate, or bend, the element of their nation’s namesake. Fire nation people can bend fire, Air Nomads can bend air, Water Tribe people can bend water, and Earth Nation folks can bend earth. There’s one super-special person, the Avatar, who has the ability to bend all four of the elements. Of course, that person happens to be Aang.

He’s such a poor kid, really. He’s the Avatar, and didn’t want to be. Why did he end up in that iceberg? Because he ran away and didn’t want to actually be the Avatar. Yes, I know, it’s a spoiler. But it’s done so badly, who really cares? He ran away and it turns out he was in suspended animation for more than 100 years. Now the whole world’s all screwed up. Poor kid. Almost makes you feel sorry for him. Almost.

Finally, the intrepid trio (after all, they have a destiny, they’re told) end up in the Northern Water Tribe to learn from the water bending masters and a final confrontation with Zhao (Aasif Mandvi) who wants to kill a fish that will turn off the moon. Trust me, it makes sense in the cartoon. Remember, Shyamalan thinks you’re an idiot, so you don’t actually need to SEE anything like characterization or story development, you just need to be told about it.

You don’t need to SEE Soak-uh fall in love with Princess Yue (Seychelle Gabriel), you just need to be told about it. They’re madly in love. Really. Trust us. Did I mention that it’s insanely stupid?

The Last Airbender is marketed to both fans of the series and people who enjoy great special effects. However, if you actually want to use your brain, forget it. Every line will be spoon-fed to you as if you’re a complete moron, and by the end of the film, you’ll wish you were a moron so that you could get past all of the horrible dialogue.

Fans of the series will likely be screaming with their arms up in air. Early scuttlebutt was about the awkward casting and the races of the actors. Trust me, that’s the least of the problems. It’s bad enough that Soak-uh behaved like he was in need of a serious thaw (or at least a good laxative), but did Aang need to have his name pronounced like someone punched him in the stomach? “Hi. I’m UNG!” Really. And no, that’s not how they pronounced it on TV, either.

It’s a classic example of spending millions on great special effects without ever wondering if the movie was any good in the first place. It’s not just a bad story, it’s bad beyond imagination. But if all you care about is great graphics and special effects, then you might just have your movie. Even then, you’re probably much smarter than Shyamalan thinks you are.

Don’t just be satisfied with not seeing this film, run away — far away. I’d even be tempted to go see something with a sparkling vampire. Trust me, it’d be a lot better.

1/10

Our website, BusinessClarksville.com, continues to grow. As I write this, the last thirty days have seen more than 23,000 pages viewed. If you haven’t browsed lately, chances are that you’ve missed quite a lot.

We’re excited to introduce the new name change to Business & Heritage Clarksville. What’s more, it’s the same great content you’ve come to expect, only now you’ll see it monthly. Every issue, and every month, will cover business, arts, and heritage from throughout the area, with an eye to the future.

When I use phrases like “growing pains,” small businesses aren’t the only ones who relate. Every home, every job, and every family is touched by them at one one time or another. Sometimes it’s related to a mountain of bills, a family emergency, tragedy, and disaster.

We’ve certainly had our fair share of disaster recently. The recent flooding that’s impacted our community washed away livelihoods, hopes, dreams, and yes, even lives. We’ve seen homes wrecked, boats smashed against bridges, and roads washed out. Suddenly, our measly “growing pains” don’t amount to a hill of beans.

I’ll never forget how Clarksville came together after the Tornado eleven years ago. When we saw hundreds of soldiers converge on Riverside Drive as they did heavy lifting in a few hours that would have taken business owners weeks to do, I was reminded of just how special my home town really is.

What was once a topic of “if” or “when” has changed to one of “now.” The historic river district redevelopment is now mandated. New wallboard, fresh paint, new flooring, and a full remodeling are now tapped for many local businesses and homes.

These kinds of disasters are a different kind of challenge for publishers — who are compelled to cover them, but to do so with a heart of compassion, but not exploiting them. There are stories to be told, to be sure. These stories are as unique as they are incredible.

You’ll read of people who were among those who were hit the hardest, and of those who press forward — in sheer defiance to the raging floodwaters, with every last effort to save their neighborhoods or even their roads. These are the stories that define the best of us, which is exactly what we’ve been about these last several months.

Even now, we’re forced to realize that we can only break the surface of the sheer number of stories that have arisen out of this disaster. Our hopes that we capture the spirit of these events, and truly acknowledge the struggle and challenges that lay ahead.

This is our time to shine — as a city, as a region, and as neighbors. As we forge ahead, we at Business & Heritage Clarksville invite you to join us as we tell these stories of your friends and neighbors, favorite businesses and restaurants, artists and musicians, parks and nature, and so much more.

Finally, be sure to support your local business people — especially those who have been impacted by the Great Flood of 2010. In all truth, that’s about everyone. As we all support each other, we’ll grow stronger than ever before.

And that will be a sight worth seeing.

It’s easy to assume that eleven years is enough time for a concept to collect a little dust, but rest assured, it’s all wiped away by the time the movie starts. It’s not just a great film; it’s a complex, layered, emotion-rich yarn that has plenty of heart. The characters might be plastic, but the script is anything but.

The film starts off simply enough. Every toy’s worst nightmare has happened. Andy (once again voiced by a grown-up John Morris) is about to head off to college. The question isn’t whether the toys — led by Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), along with their ragtag bunch of playthings — will ever be played with again. It’s whether they’ll be donated, stuck in the attic, or thrown away.

Toy Story 3 is all about continuity. Nearly everyone’s back this third time around. Slinky Dog, though, is voiced by Blake Clark, who filled in for the late Jim Varney. Returning voices are Don Rickles (Mr. Potato Head), Joan Cusack (Jessie), Wallace Shawn (Rex), and the Pixar-ubiquitous John Ratzenberger (Hamm) rounding out all Andy’s old friends. Many of the human voices have returned; even Sid Vicious (the ‘villain’ of the first film, voiced by Erik von Detten) has a cameo appearance. New additions include Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton), Ken (Michael Keaton), and the  strawberry-scented plush bear Lotso (Ned Beatty).

The premise of the story is that the toys end up in Sunnyside Day Care, and quickly discover that things aren’t as they seem. The action ramps up into what is essentially a CGI version of a prison breakout, taking our beloved friends and heroes through some of the most dangerous challenges they’ve ever known. They’re met with very adult themes like heartbreak, betrayal, and enough ‘grown up’ relationships to keep the more mature members of the audience quite entertained with a wink and a nudge, all knowing that those ‘big’ jokes will once again go over the heads of the young ones.

For the kids, there’s plenty of slapstick, humor, and warm fuzzies to go around. Rest assured, it’s a picture-perfect ending that will put a smile on every face, and a tear in every eye.

The story itself is a little darker than the first two, rounding out the trilogy beautifully. I could whine about being concerned about that little bit of ‘darkness’ — but let’s be real. Bambi was dark. So was Snow White. They both had very scary scenes and characters, and they’re some of the most beloved films of all time. To anyone who says that it’s too much for little kids — I say this: so is life. They need this film. Truthfully, so did I.

The message of the movie, though, is anything but dark: if we stand together, even the most unlikely heroes will come through to bring us all out of our darkest times. Whether it’s a little vinyl and fabric cowboy, a screwed-together plastic space hero, or a trio of little Pizza Planet aliens who love big claws, there’s something in this film for everyone.

The one great test of Toy Story 3 is this: will children like it? I had the pleasure of viewing the film with an audience filled with very, very young children. During the trailers, they were little chatterboxes — you know the kind. Wanting to go to the bathroom, wanting a drink, that sort of thing. But when the movie started, that all came to an abrupt end. Every single child was just as mesmerized as I was. Let’s consider this movie “kid approved.”

The 3D version of the film (these days it’s a little hard for me to call it a film, since digital projection is required for 3D movies) isn’t gimmicked or contrived. It does what 3D should do — puts the viewer in the heart of the action. To my delight, there’s plenty of action to watch.

Like all of the preceding Pixar films, Toy Story 3 is preceded by a new short, Day and Night. This brilliant little study of life, friendship, rivalry, the moon, and the sun — is as deep as it is funny. There’s not a bit of dialogue except a short bit from a talk radio show, yet it leaves the audience stunned with thoughtful amusement.

Pixar, true to its nature, has delivered unlikely heroes with every film. I found myself cheering on a rat in Ratatouille, truly wanting to look under my bed after Monsters, Inc.,  and wanting to hug a robot in Wall-E. With Toy Story 3, they’ve truly gone back to their roots, and those roots are as deep as they are a tap into the very meaning of life itself.

10/10

Tyrone Taylor explains the forum format to County Mayor Carolyn Bowers.

The local Coffee Party movement presented its first of several candidate forums for the 2010 election at GetSome Coffee. Nine candidates presented their viewpoint and answered prepared questions for a standing room only audience at the coffee shop located near Exit 1.

Saturday’s forum was geared toward the races for the August 5 General Election, which includes races for Montgomery County, and state primary elections for Governor, US House of Representatives and TN House of Representative candidates. All candidates were invited.

County Mayor Carolyn Bowers was the first to speak, citing her work to recruit new industry to the region. She discussed another upcoming “major” deal, but would not disclose details. Bowers also cited her work with the city and that if elected she would continue her efforts to bring new jobs to Montgomery County. She indicated that the current growth plan with the city was primarily a city project, and that the county government had little input.

Bowers also addressed queries to her opinion and position of consolidation, explaining that the state requires a 51% majority in both city and county referendums. “Under the current circumstances, it wouldn’t pass in the county,” Bowers said. “The state would have to change the law for consolidation to happen.” She did agree that some elements of both city and county governments could be merged for efficiency, and that some aspects of tax revenue collection had already been combined.

County Mayor candidate Curt Mize did not attend.

All three candidates for General Session/Juvenile Court Judge, Division 1, Incumbent Elizabeth Dozier “Sissy” Rankin, Ken Goble, Jr., and Merriel Bullock-Neal,1 were present. Neal spoke first, citing her experience as an attorney and her work with juveniles. Neal also cited her education and volunteer work, noting that she holds a  J.D. and a Ph.D.  in Special Education with support field in Clinical Child Psychology and Family Therapy, providing her with a unique ability to handle family and juvenile court cases.  She said she would use that experience and her passion for juveniles to rule fairly. Neal has also had experience in both bench and jury trials.

Goble, touting his judicial experience, pointed out that he had  more courtroom experience than the other candidates, and said that he has tried jury cases. He cited his experience as a small business owner for 26 years, and said that he would use his business skills to run an “efficient” court. Goble also noted that he worked heavily with the military, and that the needs of the military community are unique.

Rankin, who was appointed to the judiciary last year by the County Commission after 21 rounds of voting, said that she had personally tried more than 10,000 general sessions cases and more than 2,000 juvenile cases. She discussed her work to find the best way to reach every child, and that each had unique situations. Some needed counseling, some needed other care, and some “needed to be punished,” she said.

All three were asked if a juvenile detention center should be built. Goble and Rankin agreed that such a facility would “probably” be a good idea, but it would be a funding issue for the County Commission, on which Rankin once served.  Neal wanted to examine that issue in greater detail, including how such a facility would be operated and by whom. They all agreed that rehabilitation was preferred to incarceration, and shared similar viewpoints on plea bargains, noting that they were effective in helping to reduce the overall workload in the court system.

Montgomery County Sheriff Norman Lewis did not attend, leaving Detective Tyler Barrett the only candidate for Sheriff at the forum. He cited his desire to “change things” within the Sheriff’s department, and would work to build a better relationship between the department and the City police. Barrett suggested that he would look to remodel the county Workhouse, where minimum security and non-violent offenders are houses, into a juvenile detention facility. He described the proposed facility as a “multipurpose” building that would include a “boot camp.” He didn’t offer any suggestion as to where the workhouse inmates would he housed.

Barrett was asked what his managerial experience was. “I don’t have any experience,” he said, then immediately pointed to his presidency of the Police Union and other leadership roles within the community. When asked about problems in the jail, he referred to “reports” of green bologna and “molded bread” being served to inmates, and that people should be allowed to tour the jail to verify that inmates were being treated well.

Circuit Court Clerk candidates Cheryl Castle and Peggy Macias were both on hand for the forum. Castle touted her work to modernize the clerk’s office “to bring it out of the dark ages,” while Macias said that more could be done.

School Board District 7 candidates James T. Mann and Carol Duffin spoke on the Race to the Top funds, and how they’re being used for a new STEM Academy. The program emphasizes math, science, and technology, and will be based at Kenwood High School, but draw from all of the area’s schools. The funds can not be used for any existing programs. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering , and Math) Education is a national initiative in response to increasing concerns about the United States remaining competitive in a global economy.

Both candidates were asked about uniforms. Both liked the idea, but Mann pointed out that with 40% of Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools on free or reduced lunches, the school board would also have to provide clothing if uniforms were implemented. “We just don’t have the money for that,” he said. Duffin opposes a year-round school, and said that 71% of the public also supports a traditional school calendar. Mann, supports a year-round calendar, which would give more breaks to students, and would “keep people involved.” He pointed out that year-round schedules would also allow for vacations to be taken by families year-round, rather than only during the summer.

Two other candidates for School Board District 7, Josh Baggett and Ben Moore, did not attend.

Daymar Institute graduates

Director of Education Eklizabeth Ashy presented awards, with alumni awards given by Elizabeth Ohlschwager, Alumni Association president.

Taniqua Stephens

Maria Jimenez, the graduate speaker, addressed her classmates, offering words of both hope and challenge as she recounted the natural disasters and terrorist incidents that Americans have overcome.

Ashy joined individual program leaders including Susan Cousins, Ana Isaac, Tracy Kane, Bobbie Patterson, James Weber, John Conkin and Patricia Gonzalez in presenting degrees and diplomas.

Business Clarksville is pleased to announced that Daymar graduate Taniqua Stephens, who was awarded an associate’s degree in web development,  has joined its staff as administrative assistant. Stephens worked as an intern with Imagine Media Solutions Inc.

While the waters have already receded, what’s left behind is a muddy, smelly mess that has city, state, and federal officials concerned for the safety of anyone who helps with the cleanup process. Before this veritable army of volunteers converge on the area, it was first cleared and inspected by several busloads of off-duty soldiers from Fort Campbell to determine the safety of the area for volunteers. “Our primary concern is the safety of our volunteers,” Davis said

The Army will spend most of the day, if not the next two or three days, to inspect the entire Riverside Drive area. Once their work is completed and cleared, the community volunteers will be brought in. “We have volunteers in groups and individuals – all with a various list of skills.” Davis also said that at least twenty groups have registered, all of them with at least fifty members.

Individuals or groups are encouraged to call the CAA and register with them at 648-5774, extension 103 and ask for Davis or the agency’s director, Deborah Grubbs. Once registered, the volunteers and groups will be activated according to skill and general numbers.

More than 200 individuals have signed up to volunteer, and Family Readiness Groups (FRGs) are calling in every day with more. “It’s an incredible outpouring people, even with people in other states. In fact, we had people from Illinois and Washington state call in to volunteer, willing to come back and help.” Davis also said that Boy Scout troops have also registered. All are welcome.

Churches and organizations that haven’t registered with the CAA are encouraged to do so, which would give each organization a contact point, and would also help provide fore more consistency and smooth operations in an otherwise very chaotic environment.

Once activated, the volunteers or groups will be required to stop at the checkpoints that will be established along the flooded area. If the volunteer’s name isn’t on the current list, they will certainly be welcomed, but everyone is encouraged to call ahead. The work won’t be limited to Riverside Drive, either. “Once Riverside is cleaned up, they’ll go into the parks. There’s plenty of work for everyone,” Davis said.

Several church groups and other organizations are recruiting volunteers, but the CAA is overseeing all of them. Businesses are donating supplies — pressure washers, soft drinks, water, and whatever might be needed. Skill sets vary greatly. Nurses and doctors have also registered. Through it all, Deborah Grubbs is coordinating the entire effort. “She’s incredible,” Davis said. “This community is really coming together. I like this.”

“We understand that the Cumberland River will be back within its banks on Sunday which should make roads passable for next week.” said Candy Johnson. Students scheduled for AP or End of Course Exams may check the school system website at www.cmcss.net for new test dates.

Stay with Business Clarksville for complete coverage of this continually developing story.

Stay with Business Clarksville for this developing story.

The McClure Bridge on 48/13  and the Cunningham Bridge on  Zinc Plant Road was opened yesterday. “It’s amazing how fast we’re healing,” he said.

Drivers are cautioned to drive with care.

Wednesday’s meeting is intended specifically for those business owners directly affected by the flooding on Riverside Drive. The meetings will allow residents to get answers to any questions or concerns they might have.

Hill also said that while officials had hoped to open the Red River bridge tonight, it would not be possible until at least Wednesday.

Please check back with Business Clarksville for this developing story.

Those who are displaced or otherwise need assistance are urged to go to the Red Cross shelter, which has been set up at Hilldale Baptist Church on 2001 Madison Street in Clarksville. All donations to the Red Cross can be taken there as well. A donation point will be established tomorrow at the Wilma Rudolph Walmart location starting at 6:00 a.m., in coordination with 5-Star Radio.

The Clarksville Area Ministerial Association is collecting clothing items, personal hygiene products, cleaning supplies, and pet food for the Salvation and the Red Cross. Donors are asked to bring their items to Faith Outreach Church at 731 Windermere Drive, in Clarksville. The church phone number is 931-358-3010. Donations will be accepted started at 9:00 a.m.

For anyone wishing to volunteer, they are asked to call Grubbs directly at 931-648-5774, extension 103. Please leave a message if no one answers. Because of the diversity of skills and availability of those who want to help, she will speak to each person individually about what they can bring to the table. “We also want to make sure we have the right contact for everyone,” she said.

Until the waters recede, the Emergency First Responders have not allowed anyone to go into the affected regions for safety reasons. “We just can’t have people wading in knee-high water… but when they’re needed, we’ll have a small army of volunteers ready.” She asked that volunteers not be frustrated if they’re not activated right away, as it will take time to get everyone mobilized.

• McFall Road
• River Road from Zinc Plant Road to Dean Road
• Locust Grove Church Road
• Powers Place Road
• Palmyra Road from Hematite Road to Cunningham View
• Hamatite Road
• Dog Hollow Road
• Spring Creek Village
• Trough Springs Road at Drake Road
• Lock B Road North from River Hills Drive to Gholson Road
• Lock B Road South in the Bottoms
• Chapel Hill Road
• CB Road
• Lylewood Road from Blooming Grove Road to the Bridge
• Adams Road to the County Line
• Kirkland Road at the second entrance
• Levi Road
• Old Port Royal Lane
• Dunlop Road
• Rollow Road
• Salem Road
• Corbandale Road
• Shelton Ferry Road in the Bottoms
• Southside Road in the Bottoms
• Tarsus Road
• Gip Manning Road
• Chapmans Circle Road
• Grants Chapel Road
• Belmont Road
• Gratton Road
• Outlaw Road from Tolar to Rollins
• John Taylor Road from Timber Trace to Lylewood Road
• Mayhew Road
• Jarrell Ridge Road
• Charles Bell Road
• Blooming Grove Road from Lylewood to Cooper Creek
• 76 from North Woodson to Bradbury Road (1 lane closed)

However, the sewer treatment plant is shut down. Residents are urged to defer washing clothes, operating dishwashers and other high water volume activities.

The Red River has flooded several low lying area, including much of the Port Royal Park region. Here, it has risen to within just a few feet of the bridge at College Street. Photo by David W. Shelton

The Red Cross has set up 20 beds inside the Hazelwood Elementary School bridge, with more available as needed. Photo by David W. Shelton

The Red Cross has set up a temporary shelter at Hazelwood Elementary for flood victims who were forced to evacuate their homes. “We have no idea what to expect,” said Earl Parris, a Red Cross volunteer. The site currently has 20 beds ready, with more available as they’re needed.

The Cumberland River and Red River both continued to rise this afternoon, threatening to flood over several major roads and bridges throughout the Clarksville area. Businesses along Riverside Drive were being evacuated, with car and boat dealers moving their product line as far from the raging waters as they could. Thunder Road Marine and Gary Mathews Volkswagen/Kia both moved their vehicles to higher ground this afternoon.

The Cumberland River has risen to within 30 feet of the L&N bridge and threatens to crest over Riverside Drive. Photo by David W. Shelton

The Cumberland River completely flooded the under-construction Clarksville Marina, with its pedestrian bridge barely visible by 2:30 p.m. this afternoon, and the waters continued to rise.

Spring Creek was no longer a meandering creek, with its waters rising to threaten several low-lying bridges along Trenton Road and Oakland Road. Like most low-lying areas, the creek had flooded several fields.

Drivers are urged to avoid Dunbar Cave Road, which was rendered impassable by the flooded Swan Lake.

Business Clarksville will continue to update this developing story.

[View with PicLens]