A few years ago when I launched this column in The Brentwood Journal, I crowned the first official BrentWord baby. Well, that baby has moved out of state and is probably in kindergarten now. So it’s my pleasure to introduce the latest, Miss Scarlettt Evangeline Grace Taylor, born Saturday.

Scarlett is my new neighbor. According to her mom, she has lots of blonde hair and I’m pretty sure came out screaming “Roll Tide” and wearing a Bear Bryant-hound’s-tooth diaper cover.

Truthfully, Miss Taylor’s birth is a miracle, since a lot of complications were against her. We all held our breath and tread lightly for the past several months, counting down the days, then weeks, as they passed.

But she made it, all six pounds, eight ounces of her. I hope to meet her tomorrow in person. From her picture, she’s beautiful and the boys at Scales better look out in a few years.

As a new empty nester, I feel some significant babysitting time in my future – if her mom Miranda will let her out of her sight.

Welcome to Brentwood, baby Scarlett. I have no doubt you’ll wear the title of BrentWord Baby 2011 well.

So, what's really up with that?
We received a new “What’s Up with That?” question, but it’s similar to the last one we got and unfortunately I still don’t have the definitive answer …. yet.

A reader wanted to know why, with all of the lanes now open, Concord Road remains at its construction zone, 30-mph speed limit.

The city can’t raise the speed limit back up to its normal 45 until TDOT officially declares the project done. Apparently there are still a few items on the punch list. We’ll check our sources and let you know the latest prediction on the change soon. Promise.

The ol' Irishman is back
It seems that finally coming to a decision about retiring from politics has taken a weight off Joe Sweeney’s shoulders. The longtime city commissioner was in fine form Monday night, making jokes just like he used to. Just ask City Manager Mike Walker about his hair color.

Sweeney also shared some interesting statistics about the Brentwood Library, one of the things he is most proud of in the city he helped build. When the Brentwood Library got its start, it had 52 books, he reported. Today it has 163,459 items in its circulation. And on a recent Sunday – the busiest day of the week for the library/media center/crown jewel, 518 items were checked out in one hour.

Nice to have you back, Mr. Sweeney.