As we head into the Month of May and take a look at everything going on around us, a few things begin to emerge as VERY large items on the Chamber radar screen. Speaking of Wines…by now I am sure that you have heard a lot about the 6th Annual “Toast to Tennessee” Wine Festival coming up on Saturday, May 16th at Nashville Shores.  

Our presenting sponsors are once again TDS Telecom and F&M Bank. We also wish to thank Chief Party Rental, the Mt Juliet News ~ Lebanon Democrat, 95.5 FM the Wolf, The Nashville Wine Press, and CedarStone Bank for the generous support in helping to sponsor this event; without the help and support of our sponsors, this event would not be possible. This year we will have a record 22 wineries at the festival and ticket sales are tracking nearly 40% over last year! Along with the wineries providing free samples of nearly 200 different award winning wines, there will be artisans, specialty food vendors, music, free seminars, free lake cruises provided by Nashville Shores, food, free parking, and one of the most relaxing days you can imagine; all of this while leisurely strolling around beautiful Nashville Shores with new and old friends. Advance tickets are still available online or by stopping by the Chamber of Commerce. Not sure what to get that someone special for Mother’s Day, problem solved; tickets to the Wine Festival will be a sure hit. See you at the Festival!

 “Sign sign everywhere a sign ~ Blocking out the the scenery, breaking my mind ~ Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign”….many of us remember these lyrics from the smash hit of the 70’s “Signs” by the Canadian Group, Five Man electrical Band (eventually reaching #3 on the Bill Board Charts). Band member Les Emmerson wrote this song out of frustration after driving to California along old Route 66 and noticing that his view was obstructed by billboards. These days, a lot of us probably share in those same frustrations regarding signs. Signs and sign related issues are causing a tremendous amount of frustration for nearly everyone involved as we transition from a small community into a rapidly growing and evolving city. Nearly everyone has an opinion one way or the other regarding signs, and the one thing we can almost all agree on is that the problem is not going away anytime soon. At the root of the issue are two very fundamental differences. One extreme is taken by those who wish we had signs so small and discreet that they are not even noticeable. In some communities such as Historic Jamestown, Hilton Head Island, and maybe even Franklin, this might work. The other extreme I guess would be Las Vegas, where the bigger and flashier the better. Somewhere in between is Mt Juliet and this seems to be where we are having our differences.

 I believe that no one really wants to have signs that are excessive, invasive, dangerous to drivers, unsafe, or of cheap quality. I also believe that most sign owners can appreciate the desire of local lawmakers who want to maintain property values, maintain consistent standards, minimize inspections, help customers find their stores, and assist in directing people to their desired locations. How all of that gets accomplished and insuring that everyone is equally represented in the process is a daunting challenge. If you have concerns, questions, suggestions, or need additional information regarding signs, please email me. I will try to help you sort thru the process.

And finally, speaking of “Prayers”…are you on the guest list for the Annual Prayer Breakfast? If you have not yet made your reservation and you would like to join us; please call the office or order your tickets ($15 each) online using the Chamber website. This event will be held on Thursday, May 7th (recognized as the National Day of Prayer) at Cook’s United Methodist Church from 7:00-8:20. Please bring a friend, family member, co-worker, or other special guest and enjoy a very uplifting and inspirational message from Liz Reese from The Brook’s House, who will be delivering our keynote message.

So whether your desire is to enjoy a fine wine, a conforming sign, or you are simply need for prayer, it would seem that May is going to be just the month for you!

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