Free Kidney Disease Screening Available Saturday!

Consider these simple questions:

1. Do you have diabetes?
2. Do you have hypertension (high blood pressure)?
3. Do you have a family history of high blood pressure or diabetes?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, you are at risk for kidney disease. This Saturday, July 11th, you, your family, loved ones and friends can get free medical assistance. Faith Outreach Church is hosting a free kidney screening from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. The church is located at 731 Windermere Drive. While the screenings are free, pre-registration is requested. Call 615-383-3887 to pre-register.

Free Centerstone Mental Health Fair

Also happening on Saturday is an later day health care outreach event at Burt Cobb Community Center.The Burt Cobb Community Center, 1011 Franklin Street, will play host to a free Mental Health Awareness Fair, from 2 to 4 PM. There will be information booths, mental health screenings, activities for kids and door prizes and free food. This is a Centerstone event. For more info, call 931-920-7247 or 249-5330.

Both events are free and open to the public. The general public is encouraged to support these free health care events and participate in the services being offered.

CAMTAN is the local organization assisting individuals affected by the HIV pandemic within our own demographic. an IRS certified local 501 (C) 3 non-profit in need of community support.

As 2008 comes to a close, consider making a tax-deductible donation to this Clarksville-based non-profit. Started by a small collective of local ministerial leaders and lay people, the Clarksville Area Ministers Technical Assistance Network (CAMTAN) seeks to provide assistance, support and education to persons affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the greater community.

While Metro-Nashville has Nashville Cares, MICTAN, the Ryan White Foundation, Operation Stand Down Nashville-Street Front, a transportation funding grant from the Nashville United Way and a array of philanthropic foundations: Clarksville, Montgomery County, Dover, Stewart County, Erin, Houston County, Charlotte, Dickson, Dickson County, Springfield, Robertson County, Cumberland City, and other outlying areas must relay on the limited resources provided by a small collective of churches and a few private individuals, with which CAMTAN seeks to address the physical and psychological stresses that can accompany an HIV/AIDS infection.

Rev. James W. Hill Jr., pastor of Greenwood C.M. Baptist Church, serves as the Senior Executive Director of this all volunteer effort. Rev. Hill has attended numerous training seminars with the Nashville United Way -Ryan White Foundation, Operation Stand Down Nashville, the MICTAN initiative and Tennessee Dept. of Health to become certified as a HIV/AIDS counselor-facilitator.

MICTAN is the much larger and better funded Metro-Nashville equivalent of CAMTAN- a faith-based fellowship ministry to those impacted by the HIV/AIDS virus. These efforts are non-judgmental and focus on assisting the client in stabilizing their lives in the areas of housing, medication, counseling, personal relationships, fellowship and employment sustainability and include a general community health education outreach. Of the five county service area, Clarksville leads with the highest number of STDs and HIV transmission cases. The need for education and awareness is real and growing. CAMTAN is seeking to raise funding so that they can hire a case manager, a secretary and a driver and stabilize their client medical appointment transportation support system.

Rev. Timothy Grant- CAMTAN booth, 2008 African Street Festival

CAMTAN has participated in and sponsored several health fairs over the past years in an effort to increase community awareness of the various and diverse health issues confronting our collective communities. Information is available on cancer- be it either female or male breast cancer, colo-rectal or prostate cancer, cervical cancer or testicular cancer. Additionally diabetes, hypertension, obesity and weight control, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), depression and other mental health issues are all matters that CAMTAN seeks to aide the community in understanding and confronting. All of these health concerns are also of concern to individuals confronting an HIV/AIDS infection, along with issues of homelessness, abandonment and physical or domestic abuse. CAMTAN seeks to educate the community to raise the level of awareness and understanding of these issues and improve the public’s preventive posture addressing these concerns. It also seeks to provide assistance to those confronting an HIV/AIDS infection and/or the consequences of such an infection upon the client or family members.

Donations, both monetary and in-kind services, may be sent to: CAMTAN, 1325 Dodd Street, Clarksville, TN 37040. Receipts will be sent acknowledging all donations for tax reporting purposes. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return receipt. Rev. Hill is also available to speak with interested groups and coordinate CAMTAN participation in health fairs and other community events. Contact CAMTAN at 931-249-4262/552-3611. Send e-mail to: .

Walking through a garden of holiday lights...

The City of Clarksville unwrapped its Christmas gift to the city Tuesday evening with the lighting of Christmas on the Cumberland, a holiday light display that is a top attraction not just to local residents but the region.

Bundled up and braving the cold at Christmas on the Cumberland

On a brisk and cold eve, a substantial crowd gathered, bundled in coats, scarfs, hats and mittens — a far cry from the 2007 event and its exceptionally temperatures that could have given Santa heat stroke under all that velvet suiting and flowing cape.

Hot chocolate and spice cider were in demand as two tables served up beverages to help revelers beat the chill in the air. Frances Sykes donned a Victorian gown to set the holiday spirit as she handed out programs for the evenings event.

J.T. Daniels of Eagle 94.3 FM emcee’d the event, with Pastor Scott Evans of the Grace Church of the Nazarene offering the invocation. Mayor Johnny Piper took time to acknowledge the city employees who have spent hundreds of hours installing this years holiday display.

APSU’s Honors Brass Quintet played a selection of holiday music for the early visitors, with Hypertension, a local and popular combo, taking center stage on the riverside terrace with some bluesy holiday and popular songs. Beside them was the switch to “turn on the lights.”

With a festive welcome, Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived in their sleigh, towing wagons of holiday trees and a collection of festive Nutcrackers.

Then with a collective press of the switch, Santa, Mayor Johnny Piper, and other officials lit up Christmas on the  Cumberland.

Mayor Johnny Piper presents a print of the winning poster to its artist, Cori Marrott of Northeast Middle School

During this event, Public Information coordinator Tonya Vaden presented finalists and the winning artist in the Christmas on the Cumberland Art Contest, which was open to all Middle Schools in the Montgomery County school system. Of the hundreds of entries received, the winning artist was Cori Marrott of Northeast Middle School, who received a framed copy of her poster, which is being used to advertise the Christmas on the Cumberland event. Other winners include:

• Unity Christian Academy: Yu-Jeong Choi and Jaen Yeon Lee.
• Clarksville Academy: Matt Hyams and Amelia Mathis.
• New Providence Middle School: Rebecca Ratcliff and So Park.
• St. Mary’s Catholic School: Amanda Kelling and Nicole Mullins.
• Richview Middle School: Leann Smith and Alyssa Durant.
• Northeast Middle School: Cori Marriot and Alec Seeburger.
• Rossview Middle School: Analena Boehms and Kristen Johnson.

Christmas on the Cumberland is open 5-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Jan. 1  at the McGregor Park Riverwalk. The event is free and handicapped accessible.

[Show as slideshow]

123►

Christmas on the Cumberland, Clarksville’s walk-through holiday light display, will open for its 10th year on November 25,  with a lighting ceremony and entertainment at Clarksville’s McGregor Park RiverWalk on Riverside Drive.

The Grand Opening Celebration next Tuesday will begin with holiday entertainment performed by the Austin Peay State University Honors Brass Quintet and Hypertension.  Clarksville’s Mayor Johnny Piper will officially light up the park during a lighting ceremony that begins at 6:30 p.m. The Mayor’s Youth Council will be serving up hot chocolate and apple cider and children will be able to visit with Santa and The Grinch.Admission to Christmas on the Cumberland is free and the event will be open nightly through January 1, 2009 unless inclement weather occurs.

Downtown visitors will enjoy an extra treat with the holiday lights extending from Public Square to University Avenue and including the newly renovated Strawberry Alley this year.   More than 300 businesses in the Central Business District, including downtown and Riverside Drive, were asked to join the holiday celebration by decorating their stores and shops for the holidays as well.

The Opening Ceremony will kick-off the holiday entertainment at 5:30 p.m. with Austin Peay State University Honors Brass Quintet.  Immediately following will be the holiday jazzy sounds of Hypertension.  After the entertainment and much anticipation, Mayor Johnny Piper along with City Council Members will flip the switch that will begin the official holiday season at McGregor Park River Walk.

This year’s Christmas on the Cumberland event will be decorated with beautiful Christmas villages along with several other holiday scenes featuring over a million twinkling lights. Children of all ages will enjoy scenes like Santa’s Workshop, snow skiing elves, Santa’s Express Train, gingerbread boys and girls, skating bears, and two tunnels of amazing dancing lights. A custom-made light display featuring the 101st Airborne Division emblem will once again adorn the pedestrian overpass in honor of our community’s men and women serving at Ft. Campbell and around the world.

It will be an exciting time during the Holiday Season for Clarksville.  Don’t forget that Santa is scheduled to make several visits to the Christmas on the Cumberland event which is scheduled to be open nightly from November 25th through January 1st.  Event hours are from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday through January 1st. Admission is free.

For more information on this event and for the entire holiday entertainment schedule at McGregor Park, go to the website at www.christmasonthecumberland.com or call 645-7444 for more information.

The local phenomenon known as ‘Jazz On The Lawn” rolls on, to great appreciation! Beachaven Winery plays hosts during the summer and early fall to a series of free music concerts on its back lawn, as it were. People of all stripes, shapes and divergent humanity find their way to the soft lilting sounds of music flowing from Dunlop Lane. They come with an immense array of cultural delicacies and favorites to share with friends, along with blankets, lawn chairs and an equally immense appetite to enjoy conversation, friendship and music. Saturday’s concert featured the big brass sounds of Hypertension.

This is Clarksville as few get the opportunity to see her people: a sea of humanity enjoying itself and each other. The music is invariably good and long lasting. The vibes abound throughout the evening and wondrous things occur: a marriage proposal may be presented, old friendships rekindled, and many new ones are fostered.

Beachaven Winery

Beachaven Winery is to be thanked for providing the backdrop for this great community commune to take place. They open “their home’ to all for the evening’s repast. Attendees are admonished not to harm the vines, nor pick the grapes. After all, we are guests in their home and livelihood. If you have never attended, watch the media and start your plans now. August 30th will be here before you know it. The music always starts at 6:30 pm and goes until 9:30 pm. Because seating is “general admission”, it pays to get there around 5 pm to get both a good parking spot and a good viewing spot on the lawn. Our concerts are free admission with free parking.

As always, there are some terms and conditions. Beachaven’s are few and simple; they are called the Rules of the Beach: Please bring with you: your friends, a picnic, and a blanket and/or lawn chairs. Please DO NOT bring with you: pets, grills, and outside alcohol. Also, please pick up your trash! We provide dozens of trash receptacles around the lawn

This is Clarksville’s Summer-long ‘Music Festival Among the Vines!’ “Come, Hear the Music Play!”

Upcoming Concerts

• August 30 – Tim Gonzalez & Friends
• September 20 – The Dean Martinis
• October 4 – Joel Brown
• October 25 – Tina Brown

Photo gallery

[Show as slideshow]

1234►