The evidence?  Well, the latest example comes from Rush Limbaugh, the voice of the Republican Party, and his right-wing copycats as they denounce the President’s “Cash for Clunkers” program. The hugely popular program put money into the hands of local car dealerships, who are taking a beating in the never-ending Bush Recession.  Cash for Clunkers has allowed countless car dealers to stay in business and keep employees hired.  So therefore, by opposing the program, Republicans hurt businesses.

There’s also the right-wing outrage over healthcare reform, which would help the bottom line of small business owners as they try to afford health insurance for their employees.   On a larger scale, reforming healthcare would bring some 50 million new customers into the health insurance market to buy goods and services that would help doctors, nurses, clinics, hospitals, medical supply companies, and the thousands of small businesses and vendors who have contracts in the healthcare industry prosper.  Again, by opposing reform, the Republicans hurt businesses.

And of course, the so-called “Cap-And-Trade” bill, which Republicans opposed, had major incentives and tax credits available for new “pro-green” companies and industries that would create thousands of jobs and pump money into the economy (and the markets).  By opposing this legislation, Republicans hurt businesses.

We already knew that Conservatives hate working people.  After all, they have opposed nearly every program or effort over the last 80 years that has benefited working families and have created the middle class.   Social Security, Medicare, the minimum wage, and OSHA come to mind.  But not being content with beating up on workers, now they’re turning their sights on their own traditional allies – business.

Who knew Republicans were anti-capitalists?  Makes you wonder who will support them in the next election.  I mean, besides ultra right-wing extremists…

Rep. Curtis Johnson, House District 68

State Representative Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville) has been appointed as Chairman of the House Republican Caucus Task Force on Budget and Economic Development.  The appointment was announced today by House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada.

“Representative Johnson was an ideal choice for this group,” said Rep. Casada.  “Being from Clarksville, he understands the importance of economic development, as evidenced through his role in the Hemlock project. I am confident that he will lead the group effectively and assist in crafting solutions.”
The House Republican Caucus leadership appointed and announced the formation of their Caucus Task Forces this week. The task forces are charged with developing policy ideas and legislation around conservative ideals, and to assist all caucus members with information on specific issues.

“I am very honored to serve on this committee because I believe economic development has one of the greatest impacts on the lives of everyday Tennesseans,” stated Rep. Johnson.  “I was very honored to be a part of bringing Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation to Clarksville, and I am already seeing the positive things that are happening because of that project. I look forward to crafting more policy with this group that will achieve similar ends for the rest of the state.”

Representative Johnson serves the 68th District in the Tennessee House of Representatives.  His district includes part of Montgomery County, and is serving his third term in the legislature.

Amanda and Clay Powers, owners of Water Street Events Center

A new events center and gathering enterprise has joined the Clarksville business landscape. In a robust, rollicking fun-filled after sunset networking gala, the Water Street Event Center, 804 South Riverside Drive, opened its doors to a gathering of business professionals and curious community members.

The new enterprise made its public debut as  host of the Chamber of Commerce’s February ‘Business After Hours’ mixer and networking showcase.

One of many striking floral arrangements displayed for 'Business After Hours'

Introducing itself as Clarksville’s Premier Events Center, the 8,000 square feet facility can accommodate up to 500 guests, with a seating capacity for 400, offering a breathtaking view of the Cumberland River, gorgeous hardwood floors, a multi-tiered deck,  gas log fireplace and ample parking. Water Street comes with a large kitchen equipped with  commercial appliances, a self-proclaimed caterer’s dream.

Guests  took full advantage of the diverse  offerings provided by The Chopping Block, including  a Chocolate Fountain station where fruits, breads and baked items were offered for your chocolate dipping delight. Cheese cubes, smoked meats, broccoli salad,  smoked meat-filled dinner rolls, caramel glazed bread pudding, wafer crackers, a veggie and dips station, a wine and beer bar were positioned through out the spacious floor space of this warm and welcoming facility.

Tea lights set the mood

Chamber members representing local businesses of all categories were present to take in this newest addition to the city’s business inventory: Charlie Koon from Cumberland Bank and Trust, Norris C. Ming of NCM Financial Services, Latisha Clifton of Travel With Me Travel Services, Judge Charles Smith and Cindy Chambers of Bethel College, Sheriff Norman Lewis and his wife, Theresa Green of Hattitude, Marketing Coordinator  for the American Red Cross  Samantha Wright,  and James Bland of Surplus Warehouse.

Also on hand were Amy Carroll, executive director of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Clarksville, City Council Representatives Geno Grubbs and Bill Forrester, Richard George of Staff Partners; Jim Durrett, Chief of Staff for Office of the City Mayor, Carole Dorris and Melinda Shepard — just a few of the many business enterprises and community members on hand to view the city’s  new business jewel.

Networking at 'Business after hours'

Amanda Powers is the facility director for Water Street. She can be reached at  931-206-9100 or by Email at  .

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Over the next 5 years a half a billion dollars in job training money will be coming to Clarksville. Hemlock Semiconductor (HSC) will open a new plant in Clarksville that will hire over 1,000 construction workers to build, and provide over 800 permanent high paying jobs when they open. HSC will be one of the richest employers in Clarksville’s history since the arrival of Fort Campbell in the 1940s.

Under the President’s Economic Recovery Bill, states and counties are poised to receive significant federal funding to stimulate the economy and put people back to work.

To learn more about the coming opportunities, join in a Community Discussion titled  “How Will President Obama’s Economic Recovery Bill Affect the African American Community?” to be held on  March 5 at the Montgomery County Public Library, 350 Pageant Lane, Clarksville, from 6-8 p.m. The event, which is free and open to the public, is hosted by the Urban Resource Center and its director,   Terry McMoore, in partnership with the Center for Community Change.

New job opportunities for targeted populations include high school graduates, college graduates, veterans or members of the reserve forces, homeless individuals, non-violent ex-felons, and low-income individuals.

These are some of the questions:

• Pastors: Are you educated enough on the new job issues to help your congregation?
• Business Owners: Do you know the steps in getting funding for training under the Green Jobs Act?
• Community: Are you prepared to have a place at the table right now while there are still jobs and money available?

How and what this money is spent on is important to the survival of our communities; these are the jobs of the future and they pay good salaries. Don’t wait until the last minute.

Here in our local market, Clarksville seems to be bouncing back, according to our January numbers. As you can see from the graph below, there seems to be a bit of a pattern for the month of January that started in 2005.

This pattern seems to be following the previous years. In 2006 and 2008 our numbers were in the $190’s. In 2005, 2007 and 2009 our numbers are in the $200’s. We do show the numbers for 2009 are lower range of $200’s whereas 2005 and 2007 are in the $280-290 range. Still it is a sign of movement!
In the blue column you will see the total numbers, according to our local multiple listing service.

In 2005 we sold from January 1 – December 31, 4072 properties. In 2006, 4127. In 2007, 4236.

So, when the Nation was showing a decline in 2007, we were in our biggest year! The year 2008 is where we saw the 34% decline in sales. We show that in December, 2008,  we were ahead of 2007! In December of 2007 we had 215 sales that month.

In December of 2008 we were up 8% at 233 closings!

So if we can base our future off the past, and for the record I don’t have a crystal ball, it would show that we should be in a good year for 2009. If you would like to see a graph based on your subdivision in Clarksville, please contact us or call (931) 206-2156.

It’s hard to maintain a happy face about our future when our personal finances and monetary worth for retirement are steadily declining, when our retirement plans are going bankrupt. In our communities, cities and states are raiding their rainy day funds to prevent raising taxes. International governments and their citizens are also in financial straits. Presently, places from our own Clarksville,  to Mexico City, to Heidleberg, London, Asian cities are all experiencing financial world. Such unfortunate events precipitate the “sad face” facing retirees.

Our neighbors who have already retired are facing despair as their financial security diminishes substantially. In the locker room I hear complaints from retirees who suddenly find their secure plans for their future sabotaged by the monetary crisis. Social Security had its marginal annual  increase and that helps some budgets but is not enough to offset other losses.

Our retirement plans are swayed by economy and income. Previous plans are now scrapped on the rubbish heap of our dreams as the economy suffers a nervous breakdown. Optimism and that “smiley face” have made a quick retreat as investments drop 25% or more of their previous net worth.

Personally, I refuse to estimate my losses, though for now they are just “paper losses.” I recognize that refusal is a form of denial and wishful thinking, but perhaps now, after Christmas and the holiday season, I’ll find the fortitude and motivation to analyze my situation. Statistics show that “only 18% of workers are confident that they would have enough money for a comfortable retirement, down from 27% in 2007.” The sad faces emerges.

The smiling face, that symbol of optimism, is still there though; it’s a psychological, emotional and spiritual dimension that can help take this adversity in stride and keep at least a faint  smiley face going.

“Our retirement health doesn’t have to fluctuate with the health of the economy.” It’s well to remember and to practice the creed that well-being is not completely dependent on dollars and bank accounts. We can have a measure of confidence, hope and encouragement as our resources diminish and fade.

We can improve the smiley face with the rationalization and understanding that we do have some control; our health and outlook should hinge on the things we can control:

• Spending habits
• Retirement savings
• Investments

Managing these items expands the potential for retiring with that smiley face. Read and study informational materials on finance, such as those reports in Money Advisor by Consumer Reports. A wealth of valuable information is at your fingertips.

In the absence of throngs of shoppers at many stores, I found myself eyeing lovely $8.00 boxes of holiday greeting cards (18 per box) for a mere $1.60 a box. Lovely extra ornaments (box of 24 in the colors and finishes I love) also $1.60. Another snowman for my collection: 67 cents. A funky purple hat and a funkier stuffed turtle  for one granddaughter, total price $1 each. Even the suet cakes for my bird feeders were discounted to 50 cents apiece. Half price. And this was Sunday, the last weekend shopping day before Christmas.

I hadn’t planned on doing my food shopping on what is usually the most chaotic shopping day of the season other than the insanity that is Black Friday, but quite frankly, it was easy to find a parking up front of each of the stores I visited. Inside there was no frenzied fray to find items, no staggering lines at the cash registers, not much of anything except the kind of deep, deep discounts one expects to see in the January sales and February clearance sales — only these sale prices  are happening before Christmas is even here.

I visited seven stores Sunday, with no problem parking, no lines to stand in for service, and no significant traffic on the roads. Doesn’t seem like Christmas as usual, and there’s no doubt that the state of the nation’s economy is being felt here.

Retailers hoping for a surge in sales seem destined for disappointment. Those of us who plan ahead and love a good bargain will find the best shopping yet to come.

It remains a question, though, as to which retailers will survive the slump otherwise known as Christmas 2008.

In a press release just made available in Washington, D.C., American Bankers Association President/CFO Edward L. Yingling praised “The strong new regulations announced today by the Federal Reserve, the Office of Thrift Supervision and the National Credit Union Administration are unprecedented in their scope and signal the beginning of a new market structure for credit cards.”

The public statement reads:

“In seeking to address concerns expressed by policymakers and consumers, the Fed has severely restricted or prohibited card issuers from engaging in certain practices such as ‘universal default,’ ‘double-cycle billing,’ and raising interest rates on existing balances. The basic principles contained in many legislative proposals are reflected in these regulations.

“The disclosure requirements, which are the result of several years of consumer testing undertaken by the Fed, are a dramatic improvement over the existing legalistic disclosures. The new regulations will fundamentally alter the relationship that cardholders have with their banks and the way that banks communicate with cardholders.

“The new disclosure rules ensure that the most important — and potentially most costly — parts of a cardholder’s agreement are highlighted and in easy to understand language. This will give consumers the ability to easily compare the terms of different credit cards and make more informed decisions about their personal finances.

“While the new rules are designed to increase protections for consumers, the Fed itself has recognized that they may result in increased costs for most card users and reduced credit availability, particularly for consumers with lower credit scores or limited credit history. With the uncertainty facing our financial system, it’s absolutely vital for policymakers to understand the full impact of these regulations on consumers and the economy before judging their success or further restricting the marketplace.

“An overhaul of the market for credit cards of this magnitude will require time for full implementation, and we are committed to working with the Fed and other regulators to make these regulations work for consumers and small businesses.”

SOURCE American Bankers Association

http://www.aba.com/

Cranberry fruit on the vine

Cranberries. Once upon a time in American history they were called “Craneberries.”  So many people walk past the basket of this hard red fruit, not quite sure of what to do with the berries, culled from watery bogs in places like Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the Canadian Maritimes, or in land-locked Wisconsin.

Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines found in acidic bogs throughout the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Cranberries are low, creeping shrubs or vines with wiry stems and small evergreen leaves. The flowers are dark pink.

Cranberries, a major commercial crop in certain American states and Canadian provinces, are processed into products such as juice, sauce, and sweetened dried cranberries, with the remainder sold fresh to consumers.

Cranberry sauce is regarded an indispensable part of traditional American and Canadian Thanksgiving menus and European winter festivals. According to the Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, Wisconsin is the leading producer of cranberries, with nearly half of U.S. production. Massachusetts is the second largest U.S. producer, with over one-third of total domestic production.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Since the early 21st century within the global functional food industry, there has been a rapidly growing recognition of cranberries for their consumer product popularity, nutrient content and antioxidant qualities, giving them commercial status as a novel “superfruit”. Canadians called them “mossberries” and a traditional English name for them was “fenberries.”

Historically, cranberry beds were constructed in wetlands. Currently cranberry beds are constructed in upland areas that have a shallow water table. The topsoil is scraped off to form dikes around the bed perimeter. Clean sand is hauled in to a depth of four to eight inches. The surface is laser leveled with a slight crown in the center to facilitate drainage.  In addition to making it possible to hold water, the dikes allow equipment to service the beds without driving on the vines. Irrigation equipment is also installed in the bed.

A common misconception about cranberry production is that the beds remain flooded throughout the year. During the growing season cranberry beds are not flooded, but are irrigated regularly to maintain soil moisture. Beds are flooded in the autumn to facilitate harvest and again during the winter to protect against low temperatures.

Cranberries are harvested in the fall when the fruit takes on its distinctive deep red color. This is usually in late September or early October. To harvest cranberries, the beds are flooded with six to eight inches of water above the vines. A harvester is driven through the beds to remove the fruit from the vines. For the past 50 years, water reel type harvesters have been used. Harvested cranberries float in the water and can be corralled into a corner of the bed and conveyed or pumped from the bed. From the farm, cranberries are taken to receiving stations where they are cleaned, sorted, and stored prior to packaging or processing.

Cranberry Sauce

HOLIDAY CRANBERRY SAUCE

1 quart cranberries
1 cup water
1 3/4 cups sugar
citrus for flavoring (optional)

The general rule is: Use 1/4 as much water as cranberries. Add 1/3 as much sugar as cranberries.

Wash and pick over cranberries, discarding any that are soft. Bring water to a boil; add berries. Cover and cook over medium low heat until berries have burst outer skin.

Add sugar and boil a few minutes longer. If desired, cranberries may be strained before sugar is added. A few tablespoons of freshly squeezed orange or lemon juice may be added along with a little grated citrus peel, if desired. A tablespoon of frozen orange concentrate is also a nice addition.

Cranberry Chutney

CRANBERRY CHUTNEY

1 can whole cranberries
1 can cubed or chopped pineapple
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Combine all ingredients and chill several hours before serving.

Cranberry Nut Bread

CRANBERRY – ORANGE NUT BREAD

The early settlers learned to cook with cranberries from the Indians of the Cape Cod area, who added cranberries and nuts to their corn breads. Cakes of dried venison and cranberries, called pemmican, were a mainstay of the Indian diet.

1 3/4 cups flour
3/4 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 c. butter, softened
Juice and grated peel of 1 orange
1 egg
1 c. cranberries, chopped
1/2 c. chopped nuts

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom of loaf pan, 9 x 5 x 3 inches. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Stir in butter until mixture is crumbly. Stir in orange peel (about 1 tablespoon), the juice of 1 orange and 1 egg. Stir only until the flour is moistened. Stir in cranberries and nuts. Spread evenly in pan.  Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 55 to 65 minutes. Loosen edges of loaf with spatula; remove from pan. Let stand at least 8 hours before slicing. If using self-rising flour, omit baking powder and salt. Reduce baking soda to 1/4 teaspoon.

Apples complement the taste of cranberries

CRANBERRY APPLESAUCE

8 cups apples, peeled and cored (about 8 apples)
4 cups cranberries
3 cinnamon sticks (about 3 inches each)
2 whole cloves
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup cranberry juice

Slice apples. In a 3 quart saucepan, bring 1/3 cup cranberry juice to a boil; add apples, cranberries, cinnamon sticks and cloves. Stir and reduce heat to medium-low or until just a simmer. Continue to cook, uncovered for about 15 minutes or until the apples are just becoming tender. Add sugar, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cook for another 4 or 5 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks and refrigerate. When cold, taste and adjust sweetness as desired.

Cranberry Mousse

LIGHT CRANBERRY MOUSSE (Courtesy of Ocean Spray)

2 cups Ocean Spray® Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail
OR
Ocean Spray® Light Cran•Raspberry® Cranberry Raspberry Juice Drink
1 0.3 ounce package sugar-free raspberry-flavored gelatin
1 8-ounce can Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce
2 cups frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed
Prepared pie shell, optional
DIRECTIONS:

Heat juice to boiling in a saucepan. Remove from heat. Stir in raspberry gelatin until dissolved. Using a fork or wire whisk, mix cranberry sauce until smooth in a small mixing bowl. Stir into gelatin mixture. Chill until it begins to thicken, but not set. Gently mix in whipped topping, using a rubber scraper. Spoon into serving dishes or prepared pie shell. Chill until firm. Makes 8 servings.

Whole uncooked cranberries

WILD RICE CRANBERRY STUFFING (Courtesy of Ocean Spray)

2 slices bacon, chopped
2 tablespoons tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup peeled, chopped carrot
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup Ocean Spray® Fresh or Frozen Cranberries OR 3/4 cup
Ocean Spray® Craisins® Original Sweetened Dried Cranberries
2 cups chicken broth
4 cups cornbread stuffing
1 16-ounce package wild rice, cooked according to package directions

Cook bacon over medium heat in a stockpot until crisp. Remove bacon and set aside. Add butter to pan and melt over medium heat. Add onion, celery, carrot and mushrooms. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add cranberries and chicken broth; bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat and add stuffing, wild rice and bacon. Serve immediately. Makes 14 1/2-cup servings.

Cranberry Bread Pudding

CRANBERRY BREAD PUDDING

6 cups toasted whole wheat bread cubes, packed
2 cups Ocean Spray® Cran•Raspberry® Raspberry Cranberry Juice Drink
1 cup honey
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup raisins
1 6-ounce package Ocean Spray® Craisins® Sweetened Dried Cranberries
Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, optional, for topping

Preheat oven to 350º. Grease a 2-quart casserole dish or pudding pan. Pour bread cubes in prepared pan; set aside. Combine all remaining ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and pour cranberry mixture over bread cubes. Let sit 15 minutes. Bake pudding for 45 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Makes 10 servings.

A sneak preview included a sampling of small paintings, unique pottery, and other craft items retailing for $100 or less. Many lovely items were priced at significantly less.

The charm of Silke’s is the mix of great sandwiches, unique pizzas, amazing desserts with a sampling of art and photography by multiple talents in the greater Clarksville Area. Approximately six times a year, Silke hosts an art open house showcasing local artisans and artists. The Christmas event comes with a twist: the “small packages” designed to be given as gifts.

My stomach churns, and I realize again why the sheer lunacy of queuing up in the wee hours of morning for a bargain has never been on my agenda. Never will be. This statement of the American consumer mindset is appalling, and as a nation, we should collectively be ashamed of ourselves.

Kolacky in the Polish tradition

When I hear of parents putting $50 limits per toy even as they stack dozens of toys in their carts and create colorfully mountains of wrapped gifts, I remember a year when my then toddler daughter and I made dozens of loaves of yeast breads — cinnamon, sourdough, rye, and fruit breads — banana, date, pumpkin, then spent several hours wrapping them and tying yarn ribbons with recipe cards and gift tags on each. We had a full pantry but not a lot of “loose change” for store bought presents.

I remember a year when a friend’s mom sent us a stack of recipes from her Slavik relatives overseas; those delicate fruit-filled pastries such as Kolacky were carefully baked and wrapped in colorful tins the following year for us to give as gifts.

The autumn harvest of red raspberries, blueberries, and black raspberries became jams and jellies in crystal jars topped with pinked quilt fabric and tied with ribbon. The last bushels of cucumbers became the sweetest bread and butter pickles ever.

I remember teaching my daughter, then two, to push a tiny finger into the tilled earth, count two seeds, and pat the dirt back in the hole. “These will be cucumbers (”cumbies”) and these will be yellow beans,” I would tell her.

Which is not to say this wasn’t hard work. Or economically necessary. But it had another purpose: it was also a time of bonding, passing on traditions, or sharing activities laced with love and laughter. In the past few years, this homegrown tradition took another step in time as my almost-grown-up grandchildren want to learn the secrets and mysteries of the family recipes they have been gorging themselves on for years. Girls. Boys. Makes little difference. Each has had their turn at learning the craft and joy of cooking and passing along that nourishment, spiritual and physical, in the form of gifts from the hands and the heart.

This is not to say that all of us have to return to homemade gifts and avoid holiday commerce; there were many years after when Christmas was spent in a year ’round hunt for those “perfect” gifts, items that would be unique to the recipient.  I became known for my Christmas shopping which began in January, and continued through the season, with those “finds” carefully hidden in my grandmother’s old trunk.

Again, it is not that we could or should avoid holiday commerce, or return to the allure of those homemade cookies, but when that desire for the item of the year transcends humanity and is trampled under collective greed, it is time to step back, pause and rethink the real meaning of the holidays. No store-bought item is worth the price of greed, selfishness and, above all, human life.

Be it the company of family, of cherished friends, or even the quiet long-distance morning chat between friends on a holiday morning, there are things much more important and far more valuable than showy and often overpriced and overvalued gifts — if we take the time to notice and appreciate them.

In her periodic newsletter and update, Goddard College Professor Catherine Lowther circulates items of interest on environmental issues. With her permission, we pass these items to our readers.

Gland, Switzerland: The world is heading for an ecological credit crunch as human demands on the world’s natural capital reach nearly a third more than earth can sustain.

That is the stark warning contained in the latest edition of WWF’s Living Planet Report, the leading statement of the planet’s health. In addition global natural wealth and diversity continues to decline, and more and more countries are slipping into a state of permanent or seasonal water stress.

“The world is currently struggling with the consequences of over-valuing its financial assets,” said WWF International Director-General James Leape, “but a more fundamental crisis looms ahead — an ecological credit crunch caused by under-valuing the environmental assets that are the basis of all life and prosperity.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

The report, produced with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the Global Footprint Network (GFN), shows more than three quarters of the world’s people now living in nations that are ecological debtors, where national consumption has outstripped their country’s biological capacity.

“Most of us are propping up our current lifestyles, and our economic growth, by drawing – and increasingly overdrawing – on the ecological capital of other parts of the world,” Mr Leape said.  “If our demands on the planet continue to increase at the same rate, by the mid-2030s we would need the equivalent of two planets to maintain our lifestyles.”

For more information,check out Panda.org , The Living Planet Index, which reflects the health of the planet’s ecosystems; and The Ecological Footprint, which shows the extent of human demand on these ecosystems.

The statement came even as the stock market, which had a rebound last week, tanked on the news, dropping 400 points by noon Monday and closing the day down by 680. With a public still reeling from months of soaring gas prices and the fallout of higher food and other retail items (due in part to exploding transportation costs), the reality of recession with or without documentation from a national bureau.

In making their determination on the state of American economy, the NBES examined records on jobs and job loss, real personal income, industrial production, and wholesale and retail sales. The last two recessions (1990-91 and 2001) both lasted less than a year.

Initial reports of “better than expected” holiday spending may not be an indicator of the true retail market this holiday season, since many shoppers who bought into the Black Fridayscenerio seemed to be after the sharply discounted big ticket items like computers and audio/visual equiment. One of the problems for retailers is that these items have been so steeply discounted so early there is a diminishing profit margin — little “wiggle room” for more cuts. Apart from these specialty items, consumers seemed conservative and, at least in Clarksville, not as willing to randomly spend.

There is no fudging a national declaration of “recession.” It’s, here. It’s now. And it’s been here for a while. It’s an issue on which the current administration has been in a state of persistent denial. For the rest of America, the lower and middle class worker bees, it’s reality.They have the bills and the decreased spending power to prove it.

Our objective was the Governors Square complex, where one finds several of the largest retailers in our community: Target, Circuit City, JC Penny’s, Dillard’s, Old Navy, Sears, Toys ‘R Us, to name a few. Driving through the various parking lots, we found them — unlike last year — disappointingly bare of overnight campers. Target, Dilliard’s, and JC Penny were completely empty, and Toys ‘R Us and Sears had only one car each.

The first stop on our survey tour was the Best Buy Store. At 2:02 a.m. there was a line of approximately 60 to 75 people camped out at the store. Sleeping bags, tents, lawn chairs, blankets filled the sidewalk along and past Premiere Medical Center and wrapped around the corner. This proved to be the largest gathering we encountered in our city tour. Best Buy had set out Port-a-Potties, lighting and recorded outdoor music for the campers. Speaking with a few of the hearty souls gathered revealed the following:

• Having arrived at 5 a.m. Thursday morning, Dan Stafford was looking to save money on a laptop
• Aaron Watts said he started his vigil at 1:30 p.m. Thursday and was looking for computers, both a laptop and a desktop
• Souette Quinn took up her post at 4 p.m. Thursday. She was looking to save $500 and buy a laptop and software.

Next we traveled to Circuit City. At 2:11 p.m. there were considerably fewer campers awaiting the Black Friday savings. Daniel Lockwood was there with his friend Raphael Alexander, looking to save money on cellphones, DVDs and video games. They had began their vigil at 6 p.m. Thursday. Quentin McLaughlin was interested in MP3 players, the Samsung Fuse, a Nintendo DS and was looking to spend about $250. There were also two good friends from Trigg County in the small group of about 15 people.

From Circuit City, we traveled to the front entrance of Governors Square Mall, where an even smaller group of die-hard shoppers stood their ground in the silent dark. Mitchell said he had been there since 11 a.m.. Ashley and Amber came on the scene at 11 p.m. with their Uncle Roger as guardian. They were looking for anything from Hot Topic and getting something to eat. Ashley admitted her funds were rather meager but she was hoping to find good bargains. There were about eight people camped out at the entrance and maybe four more in parked cars. At this point, we drove around the mall, finding the parking lot barren at JC Penny, Belk, Dillards, Old Navy and Sears. Toys ‘R Us was likewise forlorn, as was the lot at H.H. Gregg.

There were about 15 cars parked awaiting the specials at Kohl’s. K-mart employees seemed to be only cars in that parking lot- there was no one inside the six cars parked there and TJ Maxx was even more so vacant. However, Office Depot did have a hearty bunch awaiting their door opening. Wendy Kostenbawder and Jenny Shulze had arrived at 2:30. Wendy was looking for a laptop. Drew Jeffrey said he was also looking for the laptop special. The sales flier said there would be a minimum of six at each store and there were seven shoppers in this group. Right next door at Electronic Express, Dakota said he had been posted since 6 a.m. Thursday and was looking for a laptop. Other locations scoured included Borders, Pier 1, Books-A-Million, Hastings, Radio Shack, Hollywood Video, Big Lots, Grandpa’s, Riner’s and Chuck’s Furniture Stores, and both the Wilma Rudolph Boulevard and Fort Campbell Boulevard Wal-Mart Super Centers. Except for the Wal-Marts, businesses were all closed, with no indicated activity inside and no shoppers camping out for specials. The Wal-Marts were open but with no appreciable volume in their parking lots.

This little tour ended at 3:40 a.m.. It is hoped that shoppers did arrive after our drive-through, but the feeling from most the people we talked with indicated that while they were intending to spend some money, they had specific objectives and were not looking to be extravagant or deviate from their shopping lists. Everyone referred to being practical in some sense or another. This does not bode well for merchants. Last year early bird shoppers numbered in the thousands at the various retail outlets. What we saw would barely break the 130 mark. Our conclusion: the economy is having a definite impact on consumer shopping. Merchants are going to have to keep bargains in front of the public and have sufficient staff to insure quick processing at the check-outs. Best of luck to us all.

Share your Black Friday experiences. Did you shop online, go to Nashville, Bowling Green, Memphis, Atlanta, Louisville or not bother at all? Or are you looking for specials on Franklin Street or other local venues? Maybe you went shopping on Thanksgiving Day. How will you spend your holiday dollars this year?

The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will host a fact finding meeting tonight on the controversial downtown redevelopment plan, dubbed “the blight bill,” including its eminent domain and assemblage issues. The meeting will be held at the New Providence Outreach Center, 207 Oak Street, in Clarksville at 7:00 p.m.

The redevelopment plan was first brought to the attention of federal officials this summer, when local NAACP President Jimmie Garland submitted some concerns to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The plan as it was passed contained language that effectively “blighted” the entire downtown business district — two square miles.

Angry residents challenge the redevelopment ordinance at a series of public meetings on the issue

Property owners, in response to this legislation, formed the Clarksville Property Rights Coalition to challenge this ordinance.William Dirl, field office director of the Nashville HUD office, expressed concerns in a letter to Clarksville Mayor Johnny Piper that the redevelopment plan did not emphasize providing housing rehabilitation to existing residents nor did it protect low to moderate home owners from eminent domain abuse.

Representatives from the NAACP, Clarksville Property Rights Coalition and the Institute for Justice a national advocacy group supporting the community will  attend the meeting.

Elected officials, community leaders have been invited to attend. The meeting is also open to interested members of the public and the media.

For more information please contact meeting coordinator Mr. Terry McMoore, Director, Urban Resource Center at (931) 378-1999 or Jimmie Garland, NAACP President, at (931) 216-6745