Latest Blog Entries

Every year you see the Salvation Army on every corner, ringing bells and collecting change.  But their Red Kettle program is only one of many that are offered not only around the holidays, but year round.  Col.

Dr Bill Schaffner of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt Medical School tells why getting a flu vaccination is vital, from how deadly it can be to children to why it's important to prevent the disease from spreading to those around you, explains which forms of the vaccine are now available, such as the traditional vaccination and now the nasal spray, and which one suits which patients depending on age and health.  He also addresses other common ailments such as whooping cough, the "super bug" we sometimes hear about, and those pesky bedbugs.  Murfreesboro pediatric

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  It is estimated that 1 in ever 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, but Dr. Mark Kelley, Associate Professor of Surgery and Surgical Oncologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center says that those odds are getting better.  Dr.

September is National Emergency Preparedness Month, and Mac Purdy, Director of the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency, says not to try and prepare for every individual disaster, but rather engage in "all hazards emergency management".  He explains why it's important to have emergency kits prepared for at work, at home, and in the car, and details what exactly needs to be in those kits, such as food, important documents, and first aid supplies.  He also talks about the value of emergency meeting locations for the family, as well as out-of-state points of contact, and how

Tennessee currently has the 2nd highest obesity rate of any state overall, 4th for childhood obesity, and Nashville specifically has an obesity rate of 30%.  Mayor Karl Dean is sick and tired of those numbers, and he's taking action to get the city up and moving.  The mayor discusses his health initiatives, including community walks to promote more active living, expanding the Greenway system and promoting local parks, as well as what he's doing to make school lunches healthier, and how you can get involved by joining the citywide 5k walk/run on Sunday, November 13th.  You'll

With school about to start back up, students have much more to worry about nowadays than just clothes and classes.  Bullying, while not a new problem, has seen a dramatic rise in the past several years, not just in frequency, but severity as well.  Dr.

The Metro Action Commission provides various support services to citizens with low incomes in Davidson County, including financial assistance with utilities, mortgages, rent, and prescription payments, donations of fans and air conditioning units in the hot summer months, and now, an adult education program which helps those wanting to go back to school earn their GEDs and get into college.  Lisa McCrady and Marvin Cox from the MAC will tell you if you might qualify for the various energy assistance programs and summer food service program, and explain how you can volunteer and donate

Mike Ward with Total HVAC talks about how to properly maintain your air conditioning unit to avoid a breakdown, what to look for when purchasing a unit or selecting a repair service, how to adjust your thermostat to save the most money AND the most energy, and why it's so important to use high quality air filters and to change them often.  For additional questions, contact Mike and his staff at 615-577-1777, and visit Total-HVAC.com.

On any given night, there are as many as 4,000 homeless individuals on the streets of Nashville, struggling to survive day to day, and costing the city millions of dollars each year.  Clifton Harris, Executive Director of the Key Alliance, talks about how the organization, a nonprofit devoted to ending homelessness in Nashville, can save the city money through developing the homeless into productive, working citizens, what some of the most common causes of homelessness are, such as mental illness, children leaving foster care, and newly released prisoners, and what the most beneficial

If you're planning a summer vacation, then this is a must-listen!  Avery Smith from Little Brothers Shell in Brentwood explains how to tune up your car for summer travel, including proper tire care and maintenance schedule, and Mike Prusinski, a Certified Identity Theft Risk Management Specialist, talks about the biggest scams being pulled on travelers these days, and how to avoid having your credit card information stolen while on vacation.  If you're wanting to stay a bit closer to home, Susan Whitaker, Commissioner of the Tn Tourism Department, details Tennessee's b

Dr. John Benitez from the TN Poison Center speaks about common poisonous or toxic plants that you may encounter outdoors this summer.  He also explains which indoor plants could also pose a threat, how to properly treat poison ivy and other contact poisons, and safe procedures for eating wild, potentially harmful plants such as polk salad.  To learn more, visit TNPoisonCenter.org, and if you find yourself in a poison related emergency, call the Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222.

This Memorial Day, as we take time to thank the men and women of the armed forces who protect us at home and abroad, we also need to consider how we might be able to give back as well.  For many veterans, coming home is often the hard part, after experiencing the hardships and life-altering events of war.  They may have difficulties paying bills, readjusting to civilian life, or learning to live with an injury or disability.  These are exactly the problems that Operation Homefront seeks to resolve for those who se