Latest Blog Entries

As the weather gets warmer, you might want to start sprucing up the yard, or get a garden going.  If that's your plan, forester Dwight Barnett from the TN Department of Agriculture will tell you what types of invasive plants you need to identify and how to kill them, how to test your soil and what you can add to it to promote growth, how to properly prune trees and bushes, and what plants you can buy that benefit wildlife and the surrounding environment.  For questions, you can call Dwight at 615-837-5552.

30% of Nashville children are in contact with drugs, alcohol, or prescription medications, and there are many clear warning signs you can pick up on as a parent.  DeWayne Holman from the Nashville Prevention Partnership lists warning signs that your child may be abusing drugs or alcohol, explains why prescription medications are the new substance abuse threat, talks about what life landmarks present the greatest risks for drug use, and gives tips on how to limit the accessibility of harmful substances.  For more resources, visit DrugFree.org o

With all the gloom and doom out there right now regarding the economy, here’s some good news you might not have heard; Tennessee’s economy is actually recovering at a faster rate than the national average, and state unemployment is well under the national rate as well.  In fact, Jeff Hentschel and Melinda Williams from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development say that there are more jobs available now than there have been in years.  Jeff and Melinda explain how the department and their many career centers can prepare you to take advantage of these new jobs, with

March is National Nutrition Month, and according to recent statistics, a lot of us are struggling.  66% of the population is considered overweight or obese, and Tennessee currently ranks 39th of 50 in national health rankings.  New Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr. John Dreyzehner says if you're having a hard time getting healthy, you are not alone; anyone can get healthy with the proper attitude.  Dr.

According to recent statistics, there are 4 widows for every 1 widower in the area, with an average monthly income of $451 or less.  Most are hardly making enough to get by, and what's worse is they have no one to turn to.  Beyond the Gates Ministries and their Widow's Might Support Group specializes in care for the widowed, providing meals, support, and a shoulder to cry on for those of any age who have lost a loved one.  Chaplin Nancy Smotherman and other support group members share personal stories, and talk about how ANYONE widowed, even by choice through divorce, can ben

Tennessee is now officially #1 in the nation for meth labs, as methamphetamine has been identified as the largest drug threat by most law enforcement professionals in the country.  Tommy Farmer, director of the Tennessee Meth Task Force explains how the manufacturing of meth impacts everyone, from the environmental hazards it imposes, to the chemical byproducts, the threat to children, and the laws put in place to curb access to vital ingredients.  He describes how the drug effects the human body, how you can spot a possible meth lab location, and what's being done to put a stop t

Winter can be hard on automobiles.  Frigid temperatures and icy roads can be a danger not only to your engine, but your personal safety as well.  Avery Smith, ASE certified mechanic at Little Brothers Shell, explains the importance of antifreeze and how often to change it, as well as what maintenance to perform regularly to avoid a breakdown.  Mark Cox, director of the Bridgestone Winter Driving School explains which tires are best for winter driving, how you can tell if you're about to hydroplane, and how to execute driving maneuvers that might help you avoid a crash. 

January is National Braille Literacy Month.  Can you imagine what your life would be like without being able to see the world around you?  For many in the Nashville area, that world is a reality.  Terry Smith, Director of TN Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired discusses major contributing factors to blindness (yes, not everyone is simply born blind), what resources and technology is available to assist the visually impaired, and shares his own story of how he lost his own vision.

January is National Blood Donor Month, and this week we take a look at donations of all varieties, with Kim Kennedy and Holly Isom from Donate Life TN. Tennessee has a waiting list of over 2,100 people in need of organs or tissue, donations which statistically only about 1 in 10 of them will get. There is no cost to be a donor, and nearly everyone, regardless of age or certain health conditions, is eligible to donate. Better yet, signing up takes less than 60 seconds.

Especially at this season, what could be a greater gift for a child than to literally give them a home for the holidays?  That's exactly what Youth Villages is striving to do, providing foster care, transitional housing, and often adoptive home to kids in need.  You'll hear from Wendy Lunsford, head trainer and foster parent recruiter, about how children often arrive in these circumstances, why teenaged children are often overlooked, and how lending a hand now can produce even greater returns later in life.  Abby Bartron, a Mt.

The holidays can be a very stressful time, but that doesn't mean they have to get you down.  Clinical psychologist Katheryn Sherrod, PH.D. talks about how to quit being such a taskmaster with cooking and cleaning and ask for help when you need it, how to let go of self-image issues around the holidays, how to deal with continuing grief from losing a loved one this time of year, and how in terms of focusing attention and emotional support on others, giving can be better than receiving.  You can contact Dr.

November is Prematurity Awareness Month.  Ashley Turner, Ambassador Mom to the March of Dimes, shares the story of how the March of Dimes saved her little girl, Ellie, born 13 weeks early, and Tamara Currin from March of Dimes also gives us an update on how Tennessee is stacking up against nationwide numbers for premature births, and how new research is linking obesity and inactive lifestyles to early labor.  You can find March of Dimes online at MarchofDimes.com/Tennessee.