The weekly Clarksville Parks and Recreation Deparment Recreation Report provides Clarksvillians with a glimpse at the activities and events that are available from the Parks and Recreation Department for them to enjoy together as a family. This weeks highlights include:

• Community Centers
• Bark Park
• Christmas on the Cumberland
• Downtown for the Holidays Christmas Cookie Bake-off

With work, holiday shopping, preparing for guests and everything else that comes with this time of year, it can be difficult to find a good time for a workout.  At Parks and Recreation we understand your demanding schedule.  That is why we feel it is important to provide you with opportunities to exercise when it is convenient for you.

Community Centers

The Burt-Cobb Community Center offers both Morning Walkers and Lunchtime Walkers.  The programs are open to everyone and take place on weekdays.  Morning Walkers can come to the center before it opens to the public from 7-8a.m. every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday to walk indoors and get their hearts pumping and blood flowing before heading off to work.

Can’t make it that early in the morning?  Then the Lunchtime Walker Program is for you.    Stop by Burt-Cobb from 11a.m. to 1p.m. to walk indoors during your lunch break.

The Kleeman Community Center currently offers Zumba on Monday nights for those who want to kick off their week right.   To make it more convenient for those wanting to participate in Zumba, the original class time of 5p.m. has been moved to 6:30p.m. beginning tomorrow.  The later time should provide extra time for working individuals to grab a bite to eat or get the kids settled in before heading to class.

Bark Park

Bring your pets to the opening of the city's newest Bark Park at Heritage Park on October 10th at 1:00pm

When it comes to staying in shape, humans are not the only ones who need a good workout.  Our canine friends do too.

Bring your dogs, big or small, to the Heritage Park Bark Park.  The park has plenty of open space for dogs to run and play with others.  Throw a frisbee, go for a run off-leash and just enjoy some time with your four-legged friend.  After all the fun and exercise, he will thank you for it.

The Bark Park is located at Heritage Park right past the skate park.  It is open to the public daily from dawn until dusk.

Christmas on the Cumberland

Do not forget to mark your calendars for November 24 when we will celebrate the grand opening of Christmas on the Cumberland.

Join us as we light up the McGregor Park RiverWalk with over a million Christmas lights.  Music and visits from a few very special Christmas guests are planned.  The grand opening event is for children of all ages and begins at McGregor Park at 6:30p.m.

Christmas on the Cumberland

Downtown for the Holidays Christmas Cookie Bake-off

It is time to pull out some of your favorite recipes and start practicing for the first ever Downtown for the Holidays Christmas Cookie Bake-off.

Show off your baking skills by baking your special Christmas cookies and submitting your entry to Ingredients on Strawberry Alley from 4-5 p.m. on December 5th. Judges will make trying out the homemade treats and judging based on taste, presentation and originality.

Entry fee is a bag of 2 dozen cookies that will be donated to the Salvation Army’s James D. Amos Shelter as well as 5 samples for the judges to sample for judging.

Ringing will take place November 13 and 14 then starting November 21, ringing at all sites, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. The last day of ringing will be December 24. Locations are: St. Bethlehem, Sango and Fort Campbell Wal-Marts; Kroger on Lowe’s Drive, Madison Street and Dover Crossing; Sam’s Club; Walgreens on Madison Street and Hilltop Grocery Store. Friday,

November 27 is Kettle Day. Kettle Day is ringing at all sites with a goal of $25,000. Funds raised support the work and mission of the Clarksville Salvation Army Shelter operations.

A packed house at the Salvation Army Pancake Breakfast

The James D. Amos shelter opened with great fanfare at last February. On an average day 45 people call it home. The Shelter has the ability to provide shelter for 68 individuals and 3 families. Last month they provided emergency shelter to a total of 42 Men, 21 Women, and 7 families. The Men’s and Family rooms stay filled to capacity, and sadly according to advisory Board member Jill Crow, there is a waiting list for the family rooms.

Feed the Body, Heal the Soul Cookbook

As you rounded the corner towards the dining room, you met Jasmin Chambers. She was manning a table where you could purchase a copy of the “Feed the Body, Heal the Soul” Cookbook. Featuring 446 delicious recipes, the cookbook also provides information on the history of the Salvation Army, and the Women’s Auxiliary. Jasmin serves as the Chairwoman of the Cookbook project, she wants everyone to “Please come down to the Thrift store on Kraft Street, and pick up one”. The cookbook costs $18, and the proceeds go to help fund the shelter’s operations. The cookbook is a joint project of the local Advisory Board and the Women’s Auxiliary.

Volunteers urgently needed!

Kim Maccarone is heading up the Salvation Army Bell Ringers this year, and she needs a lot of volunteers. The holiday season is just around the corner. They are gearing up for “Kettle Day” where they hope to raise $25,000. Kettle day occurs on the infamous Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. If you are interested in helping out, contact her at 561-1680.

Kim is also working on the Angel Tree program. The program will be accepting sign ups from low income parents between October 26th and 30th. After undergoing a verification of their income, their children will be placed up for virtual adoption on the Angel Trees. Then people who choose to adopt them, go out and buy them Christmas presents, this provides them with the Christmas that their parents are unable to provide on their own. Every child deserves an amazing Christmas!

How you can help

The Salvation Army can always use help from the community they serve. You can make donations at the Thrift Store on Kraft street in Clarksville, TN. Another problem all non-profit and charitable organizations have is that there is never enough manpower, so if you have time and are able to, step up and help out.

Photo Gallery

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The 1st Annual Salvation Army Golf Tournament will be held at The Eastland Green Golf Course on Friday, May 8, 2009 at 8a.m. The Tournament is limited to 144 golfers. The entry fee is $60 per person and includes green fee, cart, prizes, lunch and much more.

The Salvation Army is looking for donations and sponsorships with $100 hole sponsor, $500 corporate sponsor (which includes team of 4 players) options being available. For more information contact Bubba Burchett at  931-624-2647.

]]> http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2009/04/26/the-first-annual-salvation-army-golf-tournament/feed/ 0 http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2009/02/23/james-d-amos-shelter-officially-opened/ http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2009/02/23/james-d-amos-shelter-officially-opened/#comments Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:10:26 +0000 Christine Anne Piesyk http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/?p=16300 The Salvation Army officially opened the doors to its new $500,000 Kraft Street Shelter on Sunday in a ribbon-cutting ceremony that also named the facility after its volunteer contractor, James D. Amos. Amos, in a very brief statement, said he saw the need for the building, but “God was the power” in getting the job done.

With a snip of the ribbon, the Salvation Army's new James D. Amos shelter is officially opened

Majors Grady and Shelly Pearson greeted over one hundred city and  business leaders, along with the general public, gathered for tours of the building, a “dream” that became reality because of strong community support.

“Finally, Clarksville has a new shelter. It’s a blessing to the community, and there is indeed a need for this,” said Advisory Board Chairman  Jill Crow in opening the dedication ceremony. “Because of all of you, dreams do come true.”

Jill Crow announces the naming of the shelter after contractor James D. Amos (at far right)

Kentucky/Tennessee Division Commander John Needham, standing in sunny but near-freezing, windy air, said it “fitting that we stand here in the cold to dedicate a place of respite for the weary and the homeless.”

Clarksville Mayor John E. Piper and Montgomery County Mayor Carolyn Bowers  each spoke briefly, mentioning that both city and county each contributed $100,000 toward the cost of the shelter.

The homeless shelter is “Phase 1″ of the Salvation Army’s plan for the Kraft Street campus. Phase 2 will be the construction of a combined chapel, office and classrooms on the lot immediately fronting the shelter, a space currently topped with fresh sod to create a spacious lawn.

Inside, guests were shown well lit rooms that will accommodate up to 24 men, 18 women, and four families of up to five members each. In each of these rooms, colorful patchwork quilts covered the beds; each of 55 quilts were made by Jo Cameron, who according to reports, stitched “a quilt a day.”  One of the quilts in the men’s  hall was a beautifully blended array of creme, brown and gold, with one of the chosen fabrics a subtle print of angels, apropos for the guardianship the shelter will afford its needy occupants.

In the dining area, visitors could view photos and a slide presentation documenting shelter construction.

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Contractor James D. Amos stands with Salvation Army Majors Shelly and Grady Pearson as the "future home" of the S.A. Shelter becomes reality

Clarksville Online toured the facility Thursday with Majors Grady and Shelly Pearson, and the shelter’s volunteer  contractor, James Amos. The Pearsons are  on their second tour in the Queen City, having been stationed here from 1997 through 2000.

Pearson said the new facility is “Phase I” of the Salvation Army’s project, noting that the new lawn in front of the building is “temporary.”

“Phase II is a church that will also be used as a multipurpose facility for the Salvation Army’s social services, children’s activities  and programs, and more.”

Major Grady Pearson is proud of the fact that the new shelter is “100% paid for; no debt.” At a total of $502,000 for the energy-efficient building and all its furnishings and equipment, the bill came to $56 dollars a square foot.

A "triple bunk bed" accommdates one child at the top and two in the bottom bunk in the special family rooms.

Pearson said the shelter has already begun housing homeless individuals  in need of emergency, and by 4 p.m. on Thursday had 21 of its beds booked for the night, which promised to be another unseasonably cold one in Clarksville. The new shelter has 24 beds for men (six men to a room in bunk beds), 18 for women (six women to a room in bunk beds), and four rooms that can accommodate a family of five, for a maximum capacity of 68 guests per night. The men’s quarters are housed toward the back of the building, the women’s quarters to the front, and the family rooms tucked in at the front end of each of those hallways.

Client’s are allowed to stay in shelter for only 30 days, and during that time must actively seek employment. Anyone who does not participate in activities leading to self-sufficiency may asked to leave as early as two weeks into the program. At the same time, if someone is really trying, is putting in the effort, their stay “might” be extended. They also assist families in obtaining child care if that is a barrier to employment.

The shelter is open from 6 p.m., overnight to 7 a.m.  Potential residents may come to the shelter during the day to request a bed for the night, but no one is allowed in prior to 6 p.m.

While the rooms are compact and fitted with lockers for the individuals, there is a unique element of comfort awaiting each guest: handmade quilts.

One of Jo Cameron's 55 handmade quilts, ready to cuddle up in.

Jo Cameron of Clarksville “made a quilt a day, 55 quilts in all, in the shelter,” Major Pearson said, pointing to the carefully folded quilts on the foot of every bed. While the individual squares were machine-stitched, the quilt top and back with a batting fill were hand quilted with 1/8 inch stitches — a lot of hand work when measured in terms of one quilt a day. “A labor of love,” Pearson said of Cameron’s work.

Upon entering the shelter, one is immediately facing a registration and security window, where, on this day, Scott Mead, social services director for the shelter, is sitting at his desk tracking the images from multiple cameras keep track of activity and access to the building. All common areas are monitored; actual bedrooms and bathrooms are not. A waiting area is simply but comfortably furnished with durable brown leather sofas, as are the men’s and women’s living rooms, each of which holds two sofas and a television set. Furniture was donated by Furniture Connection.

A commercial Whirlpool washer/dryer is available to residents for personal laundry

As the shelter is readied for its formal opening on Sunday, they still have a wish list: additional twin fitted sheets,toiletry items in small or travel sizes, food, cleaning supplies and more pots and pans. Volunteer opportunities include working at the family thrift store, fundraising, meal preparation, and the holiday Angel tree and bell ringing. Donations can be made in the form of money or donations to the family thrift store.

An industrial size washer and dryer that handles linens for the shelter, and is capable of washing all the linens in use throughout the facility in a single load. A commercial Whirlpool washer/dryer combination, another gift from a patron,  is used by shelter residents can be operated by tokens obtained at the front desk.  A donor provided all the linens for use at the shelter.

The new kitchen is ready for meal preparation

A new stainless steel commercial kitchen is ready for the supper and breakfasts served to residents.  For the time being, the spacious dining area doubles as a chapel on Sundays. The shelter’s freezers are outside; commercial grade structures at the back of the building, protected by security fencing and monitoring. One step from kitchen door to two state-of-the-art walk-in units.

Even the water connections are innovative: a small walk-in corridor houses all the connections. A plumber can select whatever line may have a problem or leak and work on that section without disrupting water use to the rest of the facility.

Major Pearson noted that the Salvation Army, in addition to having paid off the new building in full before it opened, also has approximately $250,000 earmarked for the new church building, with an additional $250,000 yet to be raised.

Rev. Charles Moreland meets with contractor James D. Amos and Major Grady Pearson for a tour of the facility.

“We won’t break ground until we can pay for what we build. No debt,” Major Pearson said. The sale of the old Greenwood Street property will be applied toward new construction costs as well as operating expenses.The Salvation Army requires between $140,000-$180,000 to operate for a year. “People don’t understand the working part.” Major Pearson noted that salaries must be paid to the small but necessary staff and the store, while it also generates some revenue, must also be maintained.

“People don’t realize that we do not receive national funds for this. In fact, we tithe 10% back,” Major Pearson explained.

Major Pearson said that the closing of the old Greenwood shelter “opened up the city’s eyes to the need for shelter services in Clarksville.”

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The CPSIA calls for any children’s product exceeding the amount of 600-ppm (parts per million) lead content cannot be sold in the United States.  Items that fall under this Act are children’s toys, cribs, pacifiers, children’s jewelry, baby bouncer seats, walkers and jumpers. Any product that can be mouthed, or ingested by a child under the age of twelve must be tested for safety.

This Act will begin today. One year following this date the lead count will drop to a strict 300-ppm, then continues down to 100 ppm. This law will also prohibit against children’s items containing PVC (polyvinyl chloride ) and the chemical phthalate.

This is exciting for parents in that within the year we will be able to purchase toys and products for our children and have peace of mind that it will not cause long term health problems or that a favorite, beloved toy will have to be taken from our children because of another recall.

However, shortly after the Act was passed, some local business owners begin to worry about how the CPSIA would affect them. Local consignment stores such as Once Upon a Child, Sweet Repeats, and Little Lambs and Ivy are all small businesses who would not have the funds to possibly control and test every item of clothing or toy that came through their store. Other stores in the community that provide a service of clothing and toys at a lower cost such as the Salvation Army and Goodwill feared how they would continue to provide a service to children and families that needed them the most. Feeling that their hands were tied, they braced for the worse and prepared to shut their doors after February 10th, and be left with a large inventory of product that would not be accepted anywhere.

January 8th, 2009, an amendment was issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission stating to all resale shops of children’s merchandise:

“…. Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.”

“The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content… Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties.”    ~~ Consumer Product Safety Commission, January 8th, 2009

That’s great news for local resellers as well as consumers. Once Upon a Child’s director, Susan Baustian issued a response to the amendment on the OUAC website saying they are still committed to buying and selling good quality children’s products but will not accept the following:

• Recalled Children’s products
• Children’s jewelry containing lead
• Wood painted or metal toys
• Flimsy toys that can be broken down into small parts
• Dolls, stuffed animals that have buttons eyes or noses or other small parts that can come off and become a choking hazard.

Cindy Corlew of Sweet Repeats also had something similar to say in response to the Jan. 8th amendment:

“It’s business as usual we will still accept clothes and toys three years old or newer and are not on the recalled list.”

She says she is committed to staying on top of all recalled items listed. She will also not be accepting any wood painted surfaces, unless the product was hand made and hand painted using lead free paint.

As a parent, I can’t resist the huge consignment sale of Little Lambs and Ivy that is set up twice a year by Jeanette Smith. If you have ever been to this event you would know that she has wall-to-wall merchandise that is priced by individual consigners. I was curious as to how this new amendment would affect this years’ sale occurring in March.

She commented that she would know the items on the recall list, as would her volunteers.

If any merchandise is spotted, it will be removed and not sold at that sale. If you plan on being a consigner for this sale, please check out the Little Lambs and Ivy website www.tnconsign.com where there will be posted links and addresses of sites where you can obtain a list of all recalled items including cribs, car seats, bouncy seats and other children’s products.

While it would seem that all the confusion over this Act is now cleared up there are still other battles occurring. The American Library Association was approached by the General Council of the Consumer Product Safety Commission saying that it was their “opinion” and “interpretation” of the CPSIA that all books intended and used by children under the age of twelve be pulled off shelves.

In response the ALA has requested that America’s libraries send letters of intent to the CPSC urging them to release an opinion to the General Counsel to send out a statement that more closely reflects Congress’ true intent for the law.  The Act states that books and other non-book, paper-based printed materials should not be subject to the lead, phthalate, and applicable ASTM standards that are referenced in CPSIA because they do not present any of the health or safety risks to children that the law intended to address.

The Clarksville Montgomery County Library said that as of now they do not fear that any thing will happen, and they will wait until after February 10th, 2009 to see if the new law will affect them.

This item was originally published in the February issue of Clarksville Family.

Builders Club helps those less fortunate

Builders Club is sponsoring a Salvation Army gift drive this holiday season.  Every class in the school is sponsoring a Clarksville-area child.   Teachers will be sending home information regarding this event and the age, size, needs, etc. of the child sponsored by your student’s class.   All donations are welcome and appreciated! Our goal is to have 100% participation in grades K-12.  Deadline for gifts is December 12th!  Happy Holidays!

Spirit Cart

Watch for the Spirit Cart with new basketball tee shirts, hoodies, and drawstring backpacks!  These will be on sale during basketball games near the concession stand and in the main building foyer during regular business hours.  Window sports decals are available for purchase in the business office.  Also, arriving soon….CA spirit blankets!!  These are scheduled to arrive by December 1st and will make great holiday gifts.

Key Club  serves others

Key Club is currently conducting the Fall Reading Glasses Drive.  Anyone wishing to help them reach their goal of 500 pairs may drop glasses off in the main foyer.  If you do not have any glasses to donate, a $5.00 donation enables Key Club to purchase five pairs of new reading glasses for the medical mission in Haiti.

Middle Tennessee Wrestling Club

Information is available in the CA office for students who are interested in finding out more about the Middle Tennessee Wrestling Club.  The program is for middle and high school students and will take place at the Cumberland University wrestling facility located in Lebanon, Tennessee.  Please contact Mrs. Kathy Conn at 801-0313 or 362-4569 if you would like additional information or for potential carpooling information.

One Friday morning during my solitary time in fellowship with God, I read a passage of Scripture that spoke to me from Acts 4: 32-37. Verse 34 summarizes the result of corporate and united action taken by the disciples: “There was not a needy person among them.” The context sheds light on the meaning of the verse. The disciples shared their time, skills and talents as in response to God’s call. They sold their houses and land and shared everything.

In analyzing this verse we see first a direct giving spirit. Their graciousness and personal sacrifice is a principle incorporated into our faith. All major faith groups expose this idea of sharing and giving to others. How can we practice this concept and integrate it into our own lives? As a spiritual people, we recognize the benefits of giving.

There are ways for us to emulate the example of these men and women of early church. First, a sensitive look at our own community will challenge us. Our very own Salvation Army, Roxy Regional Theatre, Animal Control, Precious Friends, and Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen, to name a few, provide opportunities to do good for others by sharing even though we have personal needs.

Loaves and Fishes is always in need of donated food to feed the poor and in serving the disenfranchised of our city. Daily, over 150 meals are served and sent out to the needy. Gifts of canned food are appreciated and will be used to meet the needs of unfortunate citizens. Also, Loaves and Fishes is always in need of workers to pick up food, and properly prepare and serve a warm healthy meal. We who serve offer our smiles and greetings as though Jesus was standing before us.

Secondly, this is a constant need for supplies, food and volunteers for our organization dedicated to serving pets who, for one reason or another, need a home. Cats ‘r Us and Precious Friends offer protective care for abandoned pets. Their resources are provided only by residents of the community; they receive no tax dollars for their work of mercy.

We will deepen our spiritual life through Holy Communion, fellowship, prayer, reading the Bible and other spiritual books, and last but not least, by sharing and giving. Recently, the spirit focused me on making a contribution to help a financially struggling  APSU student. “What would the disciples do?”

Many of us already have the things we really want or need, so we’ve turned to a different kind of shopping: we seek out places and organizations that would benefit from charitable contributions, a donation “in lieu of…” random gifts. Because we also like to see these supporting gifts in action, we keep most of our charitable giving “local.”

With that in mind, Clarksville Online is launching this holiday season with a list of organizations whose work we admire and support; it is an eclectic list of organizations that in one way or another has direct impact on the people of our community.

• Clarksville-Montgomery County Chapter of the American Red Cross. This virtually all-volunteer local chapter trains continually, has been known to work around the clock for days-on-end (ten fires in one week last winter; everyone got sick and kept on working), and has deployed to help in other disasters. They serve Montgomery, Stewart and Houston Counties and Fort Campbell. The chapter depends on donations to sustain many of its local efforts. Make checks payable to: Clarksville-Montgomery County American Red Cross, 585 S. Riverside Drive, Suite L, Clarksville TN 37040.

• Loaves and Fishes serves hot meals to approximately 150 people a day, six days a week, working with volunteer teams of dedicated volunteers who arrive early to slice, dice, bake, roast and stew up a variety of foods to feed the city’s hungry. Make donations payable to: Loaves and Fishes, 215 Foster Street, Clarksville TN 37040.

• Roxy Regional Theater. This theater has provided an array of arts and entertainment to the city for 25 years and offers young people special opportunities to train for the performing arts. With more than a dozen shows staged annually, they are the premier performance center in the city and a resource for the arts in our community. There are many ways to support the Roxy Regional Theater; for more information on ways to support the Roxy, call 931-645-7699.

• Urban Ministries/Grace Assistance Program. Working from a small group of offices on Third Street, the volunteers at Urban Ministries offer kind, courteous and confidential assistance to people in need throughout Clarksville. Assistance with utility bills, prescription medications, food services, myriad other needs and referrals are handled by their staff. Make checks payable to: Urban Ministries, 217 South Third Street, Clarksville TN 37040.

• Fisher House at Fort Campbell offers a comfortable home for families of wounded servicemen undergoing prolonged recovery and rehabilitation in a VA hospital and provides families with a supportive atmosphere during a very stressful time. Make checks payable to: Fort Campbell Fisher House, 652 Joel Drive, Fort Campbell KY 42223. Mark envelope: Attn: Vivian Wilson

• Clarksville Public Library. The library in Clarksville can be considered “state of the art” with its meeting rooms, computer labs, extensive children’s department, exhibition space, and collections of books, music and video. Give the gift of a “Friend of the Library” membership (available at the library) or make a donation to support library programs and services. Its librarians have stood their ground in protecting your right to free and unfettered access to all kinds of literature and other resources. Make your check payable to: Clarksville Public Library, 350 Pageant Lane, Clarksville TN 37040.

• U.S.O. provides programs and services to boost morale of soldiers at home and overseas. The receive no federal funding and operate solely on donations from ordinary people who wish to support our troops. Make checks payable to the: USO, Department WS, P.O. Box 96860, Washington D.C., 20090-6860

• H.O.P.E., the Hispanic Organization for Education and Progress, offers a variety of services including youth programs, a holiday food program that will deliver Thanksgiving meals to at least local families, and a range of school based informational programs. Make checks payable to: H.O.P.E., 120 Legion Street, Clarksville Tn 37040.

• Dunbar Cave. Clarksville’s extraordinary natural resource, the Caves are a prime site to visit with a unique and much older history of use than anyone suspected. Its natural history and conservation are prime commodities to be nurtured and sustained for the benefit of the community at large. Gift the gift of membership to the Friends of Dunbar Cave or make a donation to: Dunbar Cave, Dunbar Cave Road, Clarksville TN 37043.

• Salvation Army. Thrifts stores. Homeless services. Assistance for a variety of needs including prescription medications and utilities. The Salvation is part of a network of community-based organizations working with people whose needs are very real. The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign is a staple across the country during the holiday season, but rather than dropping in your nickles and dimes and quarters, considering making a larger donation. Make your check payable to: Salvation Army, 838 Greenwood Avenue, Clarksville TN 37042.

• Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County is a non-profit ministry dedicated to the creation of affordable family housing. Make checks payable to: Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, P.O.Box 331, Clarksville TN 37041.

• Hospice provides psychological, social, physical and spiritual care with an emphasis on providing pain relief and emotional support during the last days of life. Their support extends beyond the patient to encompass and support the entire family. Donationsmade in memory of a loved one can be so designated on the check. Make your check payable to: Gateway HOSPICE, 1760 Madison Street, Clarksville TN 37043.

The Montgomery County Parents & Teachers Organization (PTO) along with local School Board members and several County Commissioners will present evidence, petitions and signed affidavits. We all agreed that this possible shelter would not only pose a safety risk to the students of Byrns – Darden Elementary School, but would cause irreparable damage to the community as a whole.

Jimmie Garland Sr., President of the local NAACP, said it best when he stated that the “Salvation Army has the right heart but this is the wrong location”. Speaker after speaker stressed the facts about the crime rate surrounding the current location of the Salvation Army and the fact that the new location would endanger the entire student population including the 19 children who walk to and from school each day, with the youngest being 5 years old.

But the startling statement of the evening came from a former Salvation Army homeless person who commended them on the work they do for the homeless but, he too must agree with those in attendance that a homeless shelter near a school is a bad location!

The next step for the Salvation Army is to petition the Clarksville Board of Zoning Appeals approval of this location and site. The Urban Resource Center, parents, concerned citizens, PTO members, school board members, elected officials, clergy, NAACP members plan to attend this meeting on January 3, 2007 – 100 Spring Street Clarksville, TN @ 8: 30 A.M., to speak before the Zoning Board members in opposition to the Salvation Army building a homeless shelter next to Bryns – Darden Elementary School.

We urge all citizens to attend this event and speak!

Contact person for this press statement is:

Mr. Terry McMoore, Director Urban Resource Center
931-552-9076 (H) or (W) or 931-378-1999 (C)
Email:

We will gather to discuss the recent move by the Clarksville Salvation Army to open a homeless shelter on the same property as the Byrns-Darden Elementary School.

Many parents, residents, elected officials, clergy, businesses, community organizations and leaders are concerned that this move to place a homeless shelter in such close proximity to the elementary school would cost irreparable damage and safety issues for the students.

This area of the city known as New Providence has had it’s fair share of crime and just when the citizens are showing progress in cleaning it up many are concerned that a homeless shelter will serve only to turn it back over to what it was before.

Salvation Army Major Bruce Stefanik and Hugh Smith Salvation Army Advisory Board Chairman, it’s Board of Directors have made it perfectly clear that they intend to seek the approval of the Clarksville Board of Zoning Appeals next month and so we the concerned parents and citizens plan to have our voice’s heard so that we may be the voice for the voiceless, The Children!

“Many of the parents and scheduled forum attendees donate year round to the Salvation Army because we all believe in supporting those that help others, but many controversial safety concerns for our children as well as community beatification and future urban development plans has forced us to speak out. Sure they should provide a place for the homeless but another location would better serve the children and community”…… Terry McMooreWe urge all concerned citizens to attend this very important forum. Contact person for this event is:

We urge all concerned citizens to attend this very important forum. Contact person for this event is:Mr. Terry McMoore, Director Urban Resource Center

Home: 931-552-9076
Work: 931-338-1287
Cell: 931-378-1999
Email: