Hey moles, come on home! You can dig away to your hearts’ content, create a few zillion tunnels, eat the grubs until you can’t stuff one more into that cute little mouth of yours.

After years of putting down the lowly mole, which until recently had been the bane of my existence, I’ve got a newer and more aggravating enemy – the cicada. And I don’t think I’m alone.

The noisy bugs forced our neighborhood spring block party to be postponed. The incessant noise they cause is driving me crazy. And trust me, I don’t need any more noises in my head.

How many days are left until they disappear? Too many I’m afraid.

Calling all Citizen Fire Fighters

“Have you ever taken a ride in a fire truck?  Ever rappelled down the face of five-story building?   Ever extinguished a raging car fire?  You can experience these and other once-in-a-lifetime events by enrolling in Brentwood Fire and Rescue Department’s Citizens Fire Academy (CFA) scheduled from July 28 to November 3.”

So began the press release Asst. Fire Chief Brian Goss sent me the other day. He knows my answer. That would be NO.

I became the first person ever presented a “The Road to Hell is paved with good intentions” diploma at a CFA graduation ceremony (OK, it didn't say exactly that but that's what Fire Marshal Nancy Jones meant, I'm sure). Good thing Mom & Dad didn’t drive all the way down from Virginia to see me walk across the stage.

But my fellow classmates did do all of the above and more as academy members last year. And now you can. Applications are now being accepted for the Class of 2011. To entice you even more (as if the thought of rappelling down a building isn’t enough), check out this new recruitment video.

Heck, I may even apply again.

Got news? 

Finally, I hope to see many of you at the Brentwood Library tomorrow night for our second BHP Night at the Brentwood Library. We’re hosting a special workshop we’ve titled “Getting YOUR news in the News.” If you’ve always wondered how to publicize the news, events and other interesting information about yourself or your favorite community group, business, school or other group in local media, you won’t want to miss it. I’ll be joined by my friends and peers at Williamson A.M., the Williamson Herald and NewsChannel 5. Together we’ll do our best to answer your questions.

It begins at 7 p.m. Come and bring a friend!