Janie's Blog Clarksville,TN Real Estate Marketing Expert

Wi-Fi is everywhere! There are six of the 54 State parks in Tennessee with Wi-Fi Access.  Outdoor enthusiasts may dislike the idea of a laptop in every tent, but the number of state parks with wireless Internet service is growing rapidly.

State officials say park users want Wi-Fi, so parks are installing it in campgrounds, lodges and visitors centers. Some states, including Tennessee and Kansas, plan to equip every park with it.

There is a growing need for many of our visitors to be able to stay in touch with friends, family members and co-workers while they are away.

So, if you are planning a trip to our great state of Tennessee, remember these parks for your online access. Fall Creek Falls, Henry Horton, Montgomery Bell, Natchez Trace, Paris Landing, Pickwick Landing  

Some people don't like the idea, but it's there if you should need it!

Tiny Town Road has gained a taste of all things Mexican, conveniently in front of the northeast Montgomery County mecca that is the Great Escape movie theater.

Nicolas Onate Jr. has opened El Bracero Mexican Restaurant there, seating about 150 people when you include the bar, and employing 20.

The lure to that side of town was obvious for Onate, of Madisonville, Ky.

"We saw that that area of Clarksville had been building up with the movie theater being there. We had been thinking about opening up a restaurant in Clarksville for some time.

"We chose this particular location because we felt that it was far enough away from other Mexican restaurants in Clarksville to have success."

The El Bracero menu is typical of popular Mexican cuisine, with the usual tacos, enchiladas and fajitas, and margaritas to drink, but Onate has added a few twists as well.

"Our best sellers are our Durango Special and Jalisco Special," he said.  The Durango features a split chicken breast with cheese, shrimp, rice, lettuce and guacamole, topped with Mexican spice.  The Jalisco starts with a bed of rice topped with steak, chicken and shrimp, cooked with onion, bell pepper and tomato all smothered in cheese.  This dish is his own creation.

If you are in the area, or just out looking for a great new place to eat out, you should give this restaurant a try, I think the food is excellent!!!

Clarksville, TN has a new slogan and logo that has a few folks around here pretty excited.  Clarksville is no longer the "Gateway to the New South."  The city is now "Tennessee's Top Spot."

On Friday at the downtown branch of F&M Bank, the new brand for Clarksville was unveiled to a room full of people anxious to catch a glimpse of the new brand that will follow the city in all of its marketing efforts for the next several years.

And the early reviews were stellar.

"The best comment I heard was it was a home run," said Jim Durrett, city chief of staff.

The new logo is clean and simple. It uses a compass pointer as the "I" in Clarksville, bringing attention to the geographic location of the city being Tennessee's northern-most city.

The colors are red and blue, which were no coincidence, according to Ward 2 Councilwoman Deanna McLaughlin, who also served on the communications committee that helped design the new logo.

"Red and blue are colors that are not going to fade," McLaughlin said after the unveiling. "We didn't want to go with the hot colors for now, we wanted something that we can have a long life with."

The slogan of "Tennessee's Top Spot" was also intentional - designed to be versatile with almost any marketing effort that might come about in the future.

Mike McCloud, president and CEO of MMA Creative, the design firm behind the logo, made the presentation and hinted at potential marketing ideas such as "Tennessee's Top Spot ... for tourism" or Tennessee's Top Spot ... for shopping."

"We're not looking at just creating a logo," McCloud said. "We're looking at creating a movement."

The concept of a new branding for the city came up just under a year ago at a planning retreat where one of the top initiatives the city had for the future was to "put Clarksville on the map."

City leaders, including McLaughlin, had also voiced their displeasure with the old brand and logo of a river passing by one of the city's coveted spires.

Mayor Johnny Piper was on hand and said the new logo will first appear on city letterhead and business cards, and will be phased in over a period of time.

The first place many residents will see the new logo will likely be on city vehicles, he said.

"The marketing capabilities of using this theme is significant," Piper said. "What a great marketing tool to use."

Article compliments of "The Leaf Chronicle"

Rivers & Spires  is an award-winning festival with live music, interactive entertainment, activities for the kids and great food on every street corner held in historic downtown Clarksville, Tenn.

~April 17 - 19, 2008~
Only 7 days until Rivers & Spires 2008!  All of my friends and colleagues will be attending this crazy fun street festival.  This is one of the most exciting events for the Spring and it's a great time to get out and have some fun!  If you are new to Clarksville, TN or just need to ask a question about the festival or need directions, please feel free to give me a call.  I look forward to seeing you there!  Janie Masterson  931 801-3348 

Rivers & Spires is planned to have more than 100 performers on six stages. The headliners are:

Friday, April 18

Hypertension
6 p.m.
Downtown Stage

Run Kid Run (opening act)
Hawk Nelson Green T Tour
7 p.m.
Christian Rock Stage

Mariachi Band Zelaya
8 p.m.
International Stage

Touch (Motown band)
8:30 p.m.
Downtown Stage

The WannaBeatles
8:30 p.m.
Courthouse Stage

Rhett Akins
9 p.m.
Public Square Stage

Saturday, April 19

Second Story Guys (stilt walkers)
2:30 p.m.
Courthouse Stage

Eclipse
4 p.m.
Downtown Stage

U.S. Navy Band
4 p.m. & 6 p.m.
Jazz ‘n Wine Stage

Legend Vega (salsa band)
8 p.m.
International Stage

Stacy Mitchhart
9 p.m.
Downtown Stage

Lonestar
9 p.m.
Public Square Stage

The Public Square Stage is sponsored by F&M Bank and Legends Bank and is located at Public Square.

The Courthouse Stage is sponsored by The Leaf-Chronicle and is located at the Montgomery County Courthouse at Second and Commerce Streets.

The International Stage is sponsored by Heritage Bank and is located at Third and Main Street.

The Christian Rock Stage is sponsored by First Baptist Church and is located at Commerce and Hiter Streets.

The Downtown Stage is sponsored by Regions Bank and is located at Franklin and Hiter Streets.

The Jazz ‘n Wine Stage is sponsored by Wingate Inn and is located behind Trinity Episcopal Church.

Sponsored by: Friends of Dunbar Cave Warioto Audubon Chapter

Tennessee Trails Association Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

ALL ACTIVITIES BEGIN AT THE VISITOR CENTER AND ARE FREE OF CHARGE.

SOME PROGRAMS MAY OVERLAP TIMES; EVENT WILL BE HELD RAIN OR SHINE.

Hike the trails at the park; watch and identify birds with members of the Warioto Audubon Chapter. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them.

Merri Hinton, an experienced backpacker and long-distance hiker, will demonstrate the needed equipment for backpacking, day hiking and camping.

Duane Rice, local Audubon Society leader and bluebird expert will talk about how to host Eastern Bluebirds around your home and property.

Amy Wallace, the park's naturalist, will lead you on a hike to appreciate the abundant wild flowers & other plants found in the park.

Save Our American Raptors will give an educational program showing various birds of prey. They will tell about each bird and its personal history, describe its species and how it fits into the natural world. Several of the birds are flighted which should make for some lively audience encounters.

Nathan Parker, APSU naturalist, will talk about some of our local native salamanders, frogs and snakes.

Walden's Puddle will discuss some of the animals that you will find living in your town or community. Live animals will be displayed.

Save Our American Raptors will provide an educational program showing a various birds of prey.

Sherry and Donny Howell and Logan Snyder, local reptile experts, show you native and exotic snakes and other reptiles. Learn why these gentle creatures are so important to our ecology.

Walden's Puddle will discuss some of the animals that you will find living in your town or community.

Suva Bastin, member of Clarksville's Tennessee Trails Association, will lead us on a hike on the park's trails. She can provide valuable pointers for day-hiking in our region.

Enjoy the beauty of Swan Lake and Dunbar Cave State Natural Area from a canoe. Canoes, paddle and life jackets provided for brief excursions on the lake.

For More Information Contact: Janie Masterson 931 801-3348.  I'll see you there!

Dunbar Cave State Natural Area in Clarksville, TN attracts thousands of visitors each year to its natural beauty, scenic hiking trails and enchanting cavern. It also offers fishing, picnicking, golf and cave tours. 

The historic 110-acre park was acquired by the state of Tennessee in 1973 and is dedicated to preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the area.

History

The 8.07-mile cave is the 75th longest cave in the United States and has been occupied by man for thousands of years.

More than 30 rare cave drawings and etchings have been discovered in the cave and are on public display. While they can't be carbon dated because the process would destroy them, they are estimated to be a part of the Mississippian Era, which is around 700 to 1300 AD, based on remnants of torches found in the area.

Included in these pictographs are religious symbols and a Mississippian supernatural warrior.

The cave is named after Thomas Dunbar, who lost the cave to its modern discoverer, Isaac Rowe Peterson, in a legal battle in 1792. Peterson had explored the area in 1790 and staked a claim to the cave and surrounding area. He then returned to North Carolina to move his family to their new home in Tennessee.

Dunbar, unaware of the claim, explored the area during Peterson's absence and settled on the land with his family. Peterson returned with his family in the spring of 1791 and a dispute arose over the ownership of the land.

The county court in Clarksville determined Peterson was owner of the land and granted him clear title.

Although Peterson was the first settler to find the cave, it retained the name of Dunbar, the first occupant of the land.

In the days before air conditioning, the cool atmosphere of the large cave was a natural attraction for local people, leading it to become a natural entertainment area. A resort was built at Dunbar Cave in 1901, and dances were held in the cave through the 1940s.

The dances were publicized in advance and featured the Big Bands of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Kay Kyser.  Country entertainer Roy Acuff bought the cave property in 1948 and staged his Saturday Night Radio Dance Broadcast from the site.

Park Features

Special programs are conducted by the park staff on topics ranging from wildlife to wildflower identification, along with guided tours and slide shows. Check the program schedule for current programs.

The Visitors Center is a restored remnant of the area's early resort era and has been made accessible for people with disabilities.

The building once served as the bathhouse for an adjacent swimming pool, the footprint of which can still be seen outside. But today the building houses exhibits, displays and literature aimed at interpreting the geological and ecological significance of the cave and man's use of the cave through time.

The center also contains the park manager's office, restrooms and a water fountain.  Picnic tables are behind the Visitors Center overlooking scenic Swan Lake.

The 15-acre lake is fed by the cold, clear waters from the cave, and it is a popular local fishing spot. Special fishing permits are not required, but all state fishing regulations must be observed.

Tours and Hiking

Guided cave tours are conducted Wednesday through Sunday from June through mid-August at 1 and 3 p.m. Groups are limited to 20 people per tour and reservations are required. The cave tours are offered on weekends during the spring and fall.

Tours cost $5 per person. Participants must be at least 3 years old and able to walk one to 1 1/2 miles without being carried. All participants should bring a flashlight equipped with fresh batteries. Some flashlights may be available for rent ($2) at the Visitor's Center. Photography is not allowed in the cave.

Cave explorers working for the state continue to probe remote sections of the cave system, and some rare creatures have been found, including crayfish, salamanders and the eyeless, unpigmented cave fish.

There are three well-maintained nature trails in the park that range from a leisurely walk to a strenuous hike. All trails begin and end at the Visitor's Center.

The Lake Trail is an easy two-thirds mile hike, while the Short Loop (one mile) is in the moderate category. The Recovery Trail is a 1.7-mile moderate hike.

We are planning a day at Dunbar Cave real soon and my family is so excited that Mom is actually going to take a day off and have some FUN! 

I have read so many great posts here on Active Rain.  You guys are so smart and you seem to be having so much fun too!  Have you ever thought of working part time or full time even for Google or another company?

I  recently read an article about Google and it's workplace.  Seems the employees have lots of freedom and fun...on the job.  Early employees were rewarded with stock options that turned quite a lot of them into multimillionaires. How does Google keep them coming to work? By making working for Google as nearly as possible to the job those people would choose if they didn't have to work for a living--because they don't.

There have always been people who put their passion into play rather than work, but most of them were rich. This is not the case for me though.  They include many of the people that companies like Google most want. They are productive enough when they work, so that they can afford, if they wish, to spend most of their time playing.

For a more extreme example, assume, as I think quite possible, that sometime in the next few decades we solve the aging problem. Having retired at 65 with a modest but adequate pension, what do you do for the next 50 or a 100 years? The answer may depend a lot on what looks like fun.

If this view of the future is correct, quite a lot of companies ought to be emulating Google's approach. It is hard for work to compete with play, but it's not always impossible. Human beings want to have fun, but they also want to accomplish something, and in that dimension working for Google has some real advantages.

It is with great respect and honor that I welcome Kim James to Active Rain.  Kim and I work together here in Clarksville, TN and she is just a great person and a terrific Realtor.  Active Rain is going to provide Kim with the vehicle that she has been searching for....a great place to socialize with other Realtors and Associates of Real Estate, while learning everything she can about the business.  Kim brings with her a wealth of knowledge and she is always sharing her information with others.  She is just a doll, and I know you all are going to get to know her real soon.

Kim, concentrate on the Newbie group and you won't go wrong.  Read, read, read, and watch those training videos....they are the best.

Take Care,

Realtors spend a lot of time in, on, and leading automobiles around town.  With the prices of gasoline going up, up, and out of sight, where should we turn?  Should we all go out a buy a new fuel efficient car?  If you are like me, you probably don't know the differences in the new "Green Cars."  I can't tell an EV from an FCV?  I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.  I have been researching these new fuel efficent autos for a while now trying to decide which type and brand to buy.  I am all for the Green Thing these days, and I want to do my part, plus save a ton of money and the world!  What are these things? What happened to the cylinders, like 4,6 or 8?  Do we still have those?  Leather or cloth seats?  Now I know what that means.  Why make things so complicated?

Here are the definitions that I found:

Alternative Fuels:  Generally nonpetroleum fuels, including ethanol, synthetic diesel, compressed natural gas, and hydrogen. 

Clean Diesel:  New Technolody-often using the additive urea-to sharply reduce emissions.  New diesels also are smoother, faster, and quieter than previous generations.

Electric Vehicle: A car, truck, or crossover running, solely on electric power.  EVs are the only true zero-emissions vehicles, but they suffer from limited range, long charging times, and high costs.

Flexible Fuel Vehicles: Vehicles designed to run on more than one type of fuel, most commonly gasoline, ethanol, or a blend of the two.

Fuel Cell: A device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to form water vapor and electric current.  That energy can be used to run an electric vehicle's motore: hence fuel cells are sometimes called "refillable batteries."

Hybrids: Hybrid-electric vehicles, or HEVs, combine two forms of power to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.  The most common approach combines gasoline and electric motors.  The batteries are charged when the vehicle brakes or coasts.

Plug-In Hybrid:  Similar to a conventional hybrid, but uses advanced batteries that also can be charged from an electric outlet.  The goal is to provide enough energy to handle daily commutes on batteries alone but still offer unlimited range on gasoline power.

PZEV: Partial-zero-emissions vehicles are some of the cleanest vehicles on the road.  They produce less hydrocarbon emissions driving cross-country than a car of the 1970s would emit while parked.

Okay, so enough with the definitions, now what does all of this really mean?  Would anyone care to comment?  How are we suppose to make a decision when it's so complicated?? 

Clarksville TN Ranks 10th in nation in growth

MARKETING A NEW IMAGE MAKEOVER GETS CREDIT FOR CLARKSVILLE, TN SUCCESS

More soldiers at Fort Campbell and a rising number of retirees moving a little closer to home have helped make Clarksville the nation's 10th-fastest-growing metropolitan area.

The four counties in Tennessee and Kentucky that surround Fort Campbell grew nearly 4 percent from 2006 to 2007 and have shown a steady population increase over the past seven years, according to U.S. Census figures released today.

The growth outpaced that of the Nashville metropolitan area, which includes the booming counties of Rutherford, Williamson, Wilson and Sumner. Nashville grew 2.34 percent, to rank 42nd.

Clarksville economic officials are using the numbers to their advantage as they try to diversify the job base by attracting more white-collar jobs.

"Places with government bases or a diverse economy, where it's not totally at the whim of one or two sectors that may have fallen out of favor for the time being," tend to thrive, even in an uncertain economy, said William Frey, a demographer with The Brookings Institution, an independent think tank in Washington.

Joining the Clarksville area in the top 10 are several other Southern cities, including Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C.; Austin, Texas; and New Orleans.

While Clarksville's place on the list may be surprising at first glance, a closer look at how the area has marketed itself and changed in recent years reveals the reason for its success, said James Chavez, president of the Clarksville Montgomery County Economic Development Council.

Local leaders continue working to change the perception of Clarksville as a strictly military town and as a city in the middle of nowhere.

The area is no farther from downtown Nashville than other surrounding cities.

"The perception when I moved here three and a half years ago was that we're predominantly military, predominantly blue-collar, but that's not the case," Chavez said. "Our economy has grown to a point that that's one facet of who we are, not who we are."

After a tornado ripped through the city seven years ago, city officials began to rebuild and refocus on attracting white-collar jobs and big corporations. A new $250 million Gateway Medical Center will open this summer, for example, bringing a significant number of jobs and specialties not present in the area before, Chavez said.

"We've got projects in the works, and if any one of them hits, it would bring a large scale of newcomers to our community," Chavez said.

After following growth trends, executives with Nashville-based Alley-Cassetty Companies Inc. decided to set up a brick supply office in Clarksville.

"It was a logical step," manager Jeff Jeries said. "They kept seeing growth up this way with the housing industry and Fort Campbell growth and wanted to be in a better position to capitalize."

FAMILIIES TEND TO STAY

The ebb and flow of military deployment has also benefited the area.

About 6,000 more soldiers are stationed at Fort Campbell, the headquarters of the Army's 101st Airborne Division, than in 2002, said Kelly Tyler, a post spokeswoman.

Fort Campbell is the third-largest army post in the country, behind North Carolina's Fort Bragg and Texas' Fort Hood. Recent numbers put Fort Campbell's total military population at 30,865, plus 16,546 family members on post. An additional 46,000 live off the post, Tyler said, and often decide to stay in the Clarksville area after their duty has ended.

"Clarksville, TN is so supportive of the installation that it becomes easier to stay a part of the community," Tyler said.

Most of those 46,000 have settled in Clarksville or other northern Tennessee communities, but city leaders in Hopkinsville, Ky., say they're also working to draw those families north to Christian County. Christian and Trigg counties in Kentucky are part of the Clarksville, TN-KY Metropolitan Statistical Area, along the Montgomery and Stewart counties in Tennessee.

The share of soldiers and their families who have settled in the Hopkinsville area has risen to 18 percent over the past couple of years, said Mayor Dan Kemp. The city is now working to move a bill through the Kentucky legislature that would exempt active-duty military families from the state's income tax to attract more potential residents from the post.

HOME PRICES ARE LOWER

Also responsible for the spike in growth are retirees who have moved from the North in search of warmer climates and who are now fleeing high home prices and turbulent weather. Many have landed in the Clarksville area, where home prices are lower and a large city is nearby, Chavez said. 

"It's been an up-and-down decade for home buying. It's been a continued move away from pricey coastal areas which has fueled a lot of movement into the Southeast," Frey said. That's one reason the Southeast has faired better than other regions during the recent real estate slump and credit crisis, he said.  Contact an Experienced Realtor who can assist you in your home search.

Now, local leaders are trying to bring the necessary amenities to the area to match the rising population. Clarksville is underserved in retail, for example, and economic development leaders are scouting options in Nashville, Chavez said.

"The more alliances we make, the easier it becomes," Chavez said.

Article Compliments of The Tennessean