Monday, February 11, 2008
Winter Heritage Festival
The Dancing Bear Lodge in Townsend hosted the kickoff reception for the Winter Heritage Festival. The event warmed up in the entrance hall to the majestic lodge with hor douerves that served more like a meal than a snack, and the mingling was followed by a presentation by Bill Landry the host of the Heartland Series. Landry, who seems like the best guy in the world on the tv series, is the same, even better, in-person. The real man has not only true stories to tell of this place and its past, but he also has more wisdom and wit than the television will allow. Plus, he and his wife, who is every bit as charming as her husband, have moved to Blount County. Talk about incentive for this community to move into the future while preserving our past. Heaven forbid Bill and his bride would have to move to Monroe County to find a decent place to live at the foot of the Smokies.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Appreciation
This past weekend I had the privilege of seeing some firstline police work and I came away with a better understanding of just what we ask our officers to do.
"Go out into the midst of trouble wherever and whenever it is found and sort it out! If someone needs to go to jail, you take them; if someone needs to go home, you tell them; if someone is going to get hurt in the process, it very well may be you, so watch out for yourself, your fellow officers and the public who for the most part won't even know you're there."
Thankfully the men and women who do this job like it and have the dedication, judgment and guts to make the rest of us a lot safer in our cars, our homes and our businesses.
"Go out into the midst of trouble wherever and whenever it is found and sort it out! If someone needs to go to jail, you take them; if someone needs to go home, you tell them; if someone is going to get hurt in the process, it very well may be you, so watch out for yourself, your fellow officers and the public who for the most part won't even know you're there."
Thankfully the men and women who do this job like it and have the dedication, judgment and guts to make the rest of us a lot safer in our cars, our homes and our businesses.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Campaign Beginnings
This Saturday amidst their otherwise busy lives, 75 or so of my friends met to begin organizing into 33 precinct committees. Okay, the task of reaching 25,000 or so voters still seems overwhelming, but looking around we had a truly diverse group of talented folks who agreed to do grassroots work way below their pay grade. Looking ahead to the election, we have the common cause of breathing some fresh air into our local government. Please, Grow your committee; Diversify your committee; Report back to Headquarters (681-0553) or email mike@mearesforjudge.com.
Oh yes, one Principle Note, the Campaign has decided to make an ethical statement by not accepting donations from attorneys! The mark of a good judge is one who will rule against his former lawyer friends when they are wrong and rule for his former rivals when they're right. Don't take this the wrong way. I'm the son of a lawyer, married to a lawyer, nobody loves lawyers more than me, but the public needs to understand that justice isn't for sale to the lawyer who contributes the most to the judge's campaign.
Oh yes, one Principle Note, the Campaign has decided to make an ethical statement by not accepting donations from attorneys! The mark of a good judge is one who will rule against his former lawyer friends when they are wrong and rule for his former rivals when they're right. Don't take this the wrong way. I'm the son of a lawyer, married to a lawyer, nobody loves lawyers more than me, but the public needs to understand that justice isn't for sale to the lawyer who contributes the most to the judge's campaign.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
"To remember is good: to act is greater." MLK
Over this past week I visited New Providence Presbyterian Church, DENSO, Fairview United Methodist Church, the MLK Center and Alcoa High. Each location hosted a portion of the movable feast of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration. The food and fellowship were superb at New Providence as always the wholesome center of Maryville community life. DENSO was an impressive lunch for the business community, but the events really picked up the pace at Fairview Methodist where Reverend Jerry Russell delivered a personal story of overcoming racism that had the congregation tearing up and Reverend Colquitt claiming him as secretly a fellow Baptist Minister.
The real stand out of all four events, however, was the interdenominational choir which raised the already high rafters at Fairview and then rocked the gym at Alcoa. We truly have some singing talent in our local churches and it was great to see them sing together. The whole week was a reminder of how well the African American and white communities can work together and sadly somehow a reminder of how infrequently we do.
The real stand out of all four events, however, was the interdenominational choir which raised the already high rafters at Fairview and then rocked the gym at Alcoa. We truly have some singing talent in our local churches and it was great to see them sing together. The whole week was a reminder of how well the African American and white communities can work together and sadly somehow a reminder of how infrequently we do.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Rocky Branch Community Center: Bluegrass & Gospel
If you ever want to be reminded about what's great in Blount County, I advise you go to Rocky Branch Community Center in Walland on any Friday night. I went last night with my sixteen year old daughter and two year old son. Rocky Branch offers the best of bluegrass and gospel music in a genuinely friendly atmosphere. The Community Center welcomes musicians to jam in six of the old classrooms of the converted schoolhouse and on the second Friday of each month invites them to perform on the small stage. Admission is free and children are welcome.
The truly wonderful thing about this gathering place is that you have a mix of oldtimers whose families have been in Blount County forever and newcomers who have come for the music. I met one man who has moved here from California and was just plain happy that he could walk around with his banjo around his neck. He proudly introduced me to his son who seemed as enthusiastic about the experience as his dad. I also met a CPA who recently moved to Townsend and was there with his wife to join in with their guitars. Of course, I introduced myself wherever I could and saw several people I knew and a couple from my church who like so many others just come to enjoy the music.
Whether you are running for election as Judge or just bored with your Friday nights, the friendly mix of the new with the old and some great music make Rocky Branch Community Center a must visit spot in Blount County. Thanks to the good folks who make this Center a truly great gathering place.
The truly wonderful thing about this gathering place is that you have a mix of oldtimers whose families have been in Blount County forever and newcomers who have come for the music. I met one man who has moved here from California and was just plain happy that he could walk around with his banjo around his neck. He proudly introduced me to his son who seemed as enthusiastic about the experience as his dad. I also met a CPA who recently moved to Townsend and was there with his wife to join in with their guitars. Of course, I introduced myself wherever I could and saw several people I knew and a couple from my church who like so many others just come to enjoy the music.
Whether you are running for election as Judge or just bored with your Friday nights, the friendly mix of the new with the old and some great music make Rocky Branch Community Center a must visit spot in Blount County. Thanks to the good folks who make this Center a truly great gathering place.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
The New Year
The holidays are over and like everyone else I'm back to work. The Justice Center appears to have survived the absence of clerks, lawyers and judges without ill effects. While these next three months promise to bring an incredibly hard challenge of taking care of the people's business of trying criminal cases, they also bring for me the personal challenge of laying the groundwork for getting elected on August 7, 2008.
After office hours I'm making calls to the Townsend Voting Precinct on the quest of forming a Committee of Supporters, let's call them "Friends of Mike". One goal is to have 33 separate Committees, one for each and every one of the 33 voting locations in this County. I've already talked with some great folks about their lives and perhaps chatted a bit too long for political purposes. It is truly amazing how interconnected we are with each other, by our backgrounds, our life experiences and by our goals and aspirations. In the process of just a few calls I've identified some new supporters and come up with a new goal.
No Precinct Committee of the "Friends of Mike" should consider itself complete until it has at least one Republican, one Democrat and one Independent. Being a Judge should never be about politics as usual and neither should this campaign.
Please help me make this happen. If you, my friend, are reading this message please email mike@mearesforjudge.com or call 681-0553. Let me know where you vote and I'll put you in touch with the ever growing number of Meares for Judge Supporters in your area. People will best hear the message "Equal Justice for All" when they can see that their neighbors share their aspirations for this campaign and this community.
After office hours I'm making calls to the Townsend Voting Precinct on the quest of forming a Committee of Supporters, let's call them "Friends of Mike". One goal is to have 33 separate Committees, one for each and every one of the 33 voting locations in this County. I've already talked with some great folks about their lives and perhaps chatted a bit too long for political purposes. It is truly amazing how interconnected we are with each other, by our backgrounds, our life experiences and by our goals and aspirations. In the process of just a few calls I've identified some new supporters and come up with a new goal.
No Precinct Committee of the "Friends of Mike" should consider itself complete until it has at least one Republican, one Democrat and one Independent. Being a Judge should never be about politics as usual and neither should this campaign.
Please help me make this happen. If you, my friend, are reading this message please email mike@mearesforjudge.com or call 681-0553. Let me know where you vote and I'll put you in touch with the ever growing number of Meares for Judge Supporters in your area. People will best hear the message "Equal Justice for All" when they can see that their neighbors share their aspirations for this campaign and this community.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
