Update: May 6, 2011

Good Morning MJ:

Here’s a few items as we head into what hopefully will be a weekend with some excellent weather:

1. Want to make a positive difference in your community? Take the Pepsi Refresh Project Challenge and place an on-line vote for Ava's Splash Pad at Charlie Daniels Park. You may recall just a few weeks ago MJ celebrated Ava's parents efforts to build a slash park at Charlie Daniels by holding "Ava's Run for a Reason", with thousands of runners and walkers raising nearly $50k towards this magnificent initiative. Just being selected to participate in the "Pepsi Refresh Project" is a tremendous honor, since only a handful of projects across the country are chosen. Here's how you can help . . . Vote now, Vote every day. Go to http://www.refresheverything.com/build-avas-splashpad or Text: 106253 to Pepsi (73774). By the way, I’m told if we win one of the $50k grand prizes, a private donor has agreed to do an equal match.
2. What has over 900 arms, legs, and eyes and wears white t-shirts? That would be the more than 450 members of Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) who set out across the city to do work projects as part of their “Worship Without Walls” service. Projects ranged from painting the hallways at Stoner Creek Elementary to writing letters to troops serving overseas. Some city initiatives included litter pickup along local streets, cleaning the Animal Shelter, landscaping at the city’s Public Works facility, refurbishing the library at the Senior Citizen Center and building a foot bridge at Charlie Daniels Park. Yes, over 450 citizens combed the city, donating thousands of volunteer hours and thousands of dollars in materials in serving others. If we paid them minimum wage, the salary alone would be close to $12k. To Becky, Jacob, and the hundreds of others who were there, your city and its citizens owe you a big thanks.

3. Here's an update on new business activities:
Marita’s Quilt Shop on Industrial Road is open and ready for your business
Zaxby’s is doing well on the south side of Providence Mall
The Tokyo Restaurant on North MJ Road is open for business
Wilson Bank and Trust in the Providence area will open tomorrow
The Corner Pub on North MJ Road is scheduled to open within a week
The Firestone Service Center in the Paddock’s will be up and running in about three months
Los Compadres’ opening is about three months out
Murphy Oil in Paddocks estimates they will be open next year as well as a new Mapco on Lebanon Road
The south-side McDonald’s is six to eight months away
Farm Bureau Insurance at Providence Commons will open in four months
Roadhouse Subs at Providence Commons projects to be four months out before opening the doors
The city’s first Ballroom Dancing business should open next month
Super Speedy Wash on SMJR is three months away
The Party Zone is up and running in Providence Commons
& more to come. Keep shopping MJ first.

4. Don't forget, Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society's largest fundraiser will hold their “Walk a thon” on Friday/Saturday 20-21 May at Charlie Daniels Park. There’s still plenty of room for participants. See any rep at the Park for sign up info. Immediately following that, on the 21st, at 1100, we'll celebrate Armed Forces Day at C. Daniels Park. There a 5K race earlier in the morning, with proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Program. On 22 May, at 12:30, at Life Assembly Church (Pleasant Grove Road, near Wall Mart), there’ll be a ribbon cutting for a new 180 foot flagpole that will grace MJ’s southern skyline. On 4 June, the city, in partnership with University Medical Center, will hold its first ever Community Health Day, with over 30 health stations and several physicians volunteering at Charlie Daniels. It’s free! For more details on any of these events call the Parks and Rec Department at 758-6822.

5. On a final note, this week is Public Service Recognition Week, a time to express our appreciation to the dedicated public servants who work and serve at all levels of government. In that spirit, I want to thank the men and women of the city of Mt. Juliet, Team MJ, for their tremendous commitment to their jobs, to our city and to its citizens. We don’t celebrate public service enough. When it’s bad news about someone who works for the public, the media is rife with every detail, real or perceived, but they too seldom recognize the overwhelming majority of hard working people who make up our government, and their contributions in making our cities, counties, states and federal sectors. Public service is a truly noble profession and those have a servant’s heart deserve our praise and respect. I have led small and large organizations for more than three decades . . . the men and women who work for the citizens of Mt. Juliet are without doubt some of the best, most professional and highly dedicate with whom I have had the privilege to lead. This week – and every week – for those who read this please know how well served you are in this community.

Thanks MJ. That’s all for this edition. Take care MJ and talk with you later.

R. Robertson