Now that spring is here and summer is just around the corner, there is no time like the present to take preventive steps and measures against thefts, scams and fraud.
Our crooks, thieves and con-artist population views the changing seasons as new job opportunities for themselves. They look for the perfect opportunity to steal, deceive and downright lie to make a quick buck the easy and lazy way. These criminally minded people have no shame and love to target our citizens for their trusting nature and good spirit.
These evil individuals also apparently have no shame or problem taking property that doesn’t belong to them. They often drain citizens’ bank accounts by offering a job or service they never deliver, even after they were paid for their service ahead of time. Most of the time, the unsuspecting citizen doesn’t even realize they don’t need the service offered because of their own trusting nature and the skill of the con artists. But these slick-talking and jive-walking crooks sell the victims these scary, the-sky-is-falling stories and con them into repairs they don’t need or ever receive.
I wonder if these crooks would feel the same about their so-called profession if they or someone they love were to be bilked, swindled, cheated, ripped off or just downright lied to. I seriously doubt it. What these crooks need to do is get a job and quit making excuses for their laziness and evil ways. It’s time to stop making excuses to make yourselves feel better and straighten your act up. There’s no excuse or justification for thievery, plain and simple.
It is also important to look out for our senior citizens and their welfare. Our seniors are often targeted by these slick-talking and walking crooks and con-artists because of their trusting nature. Our seniors were born in an era when a handshake and person’s word was often all that was needed to seal a deal. So let’s please look out for one another and send these crooks and con artists packing.
As the Cedar Creek Community Band prepares for its first performance of 2019, it’s a year that marks its 10th anniversary of musical performances in Wilson County.
Band founder and conductor Sherie Grossman said the band was started as a way to continue to play music locally. But even she admits she wasn’t sure how long it would last.
“My daughter was 2, and I didn’t want to have to drive all the way to Nashville to be in a community band, so I decided that I would try to make my own. And now after 10 years, she’s playing in the group. She’s 11, and it’s great to have her playing in the band.” Grossman said. “At our first rehearsal in January 2009, we had 30 people, and six of them are still here.
Grossman is also the Mt. Juliet High School assistant band and orchestra director and recently received a Music Teacher of Excellence award from the Country Music Association Foundation.
One of the six original band members is Debra Martin who said the band has become a community that helps her and others to stay sharp in their talents.
Another original member Andrew Smith clutched his tuba and recounted his return to music after he played in college.
“I stopped playing after college. I really missed it, and I was hoping that there would be some opportunities like this, and I’m really grateful to Sherie to start it up. It’s a big task, and a lot of times I know it’s a thankless task. Yeah, I’d picked my horn up again, and I thought my horn was broken. It was actually my lips,” Smith said.
The band’s next performance will be April 1 at Lebanon High School at 7 p.m., alongside the Nashville Community Band. The concert is free, however, donations are encouraged and will be accepted.
The Cedar Creek Community Band will also perform twice on Memorial Day, once in the morning at Old Hickory Veterans Park and again at 2 p.m. at Charlie Daniels Park in Mt. Juliet.