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Volume 8

Letter to Neighbors,

It has been an interesting year plus for me as a board member. Noticing that some tend to focus on the things they don’t like as complete negatives and thus the people who do not agree with them as against them, I thought it would be nice to list the accom-plishments made during this board’s tenure.

If I could leave something for the incoming board, it would be for the board members not to take the disagreements about policy personal but as business and set aside personal wishes, hear out the “other” side and support what is best for all their neighbors.

I leave with a sense of accomplishment and leave behind a to do list. And here are the first ever elected HOA board’s accomplish-ments:

Hired Hector full time for light maintenance and housekeeping

Negotiated to have property manager onsite two half days a week – yes we realize we need a full time PM and are committed to trying to figure out how we can make it work without a dues increase

Upgraded gate and door systems

Installed controlled access system on pool gate – previously we couldn’t lock it due to fire code

You can now use your card to gain entrance at doors

You can now purchase a key fob to open gate and front door

Hot Tub

Had insulated cover made

Added a timer to the hot tub so that it powers down at night to conserve energy

Implemented Hot Tub guidelines

Identified additional opportunities to get utilities reimbursed from HSM Holdings

Requested they have meters installed in commercial space by August 16th

Identified and additional water meter in the marina

Sealed and restriped the parking lot

Repainted 1st floor exterior doors, all columns, pump house and fence around dumpsters

Repaired grills and set Hector to clean them daily

New trash receptacles

Brought all life/safety equipment up to specifications (sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers)

Established a schedule for testing the back up generator and contracted for a regular maintenance program

Worked with local dry cleaners to set up a pick up and deliver service for your convenience.

Installed access control on two doors so pet owners can use an alternate rather than through the lobby where the dog altercations most occur

Installed an additional pet waste station

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BRAXTON GOOD NEWS MEMO Volume 8

Implemented a Move In/Move Out policy with a damage deposit and a schedule for when moving in and out is per-mitted

Changed landscape company

Worked with the Marina owners to build a more aesthetically pleasing fuel tank cover

With the help of resident subject matter expert we were able to get property insurance coverage with minimal finan-cial impact

Repaired and polished first floor tile and cleaned all carpets

Upgraded elevator flooring to tile

Repainted every floor common area walls

Set up package collection room and process

Established a community newsletter

Repaired chillers

We have had to do a lot of repairs on the mechanical equipment on the roof – it was not properly main-tained previously

Managed association within budget

Established a legal committee

Filed lawsuit to attempt to recover some monies that are questionable as to whether the HOA should have paid for it and to clear up questions around the easements granted to the marina owners at the HOA’s expense

Remaining on the board’s to do list:

Working to get better utilization of front desk staff

Trying to collect owner mortgage and parking space and storage room data as required by the governing documents

Begin working on RFP for property management

Working on master deed structure – it is a difficult document to govern by

Repair damaged sidewalks and stairs

Caulking and cleaning of exterior of building

Working on getting an additional water meter installed to reduce sewage fees – estimated savings between 10 – 20 thousand dollars

Working on improving homeowner water billing process (Con Service)

Continue to work on ensuring the commercial space is contributing fair share of expenses

Manage the master deed and by law rules and set others as needed

Have a full time property manager

I have been promoted to resident. See you downstairs.

Patsy Bruce



Back in the day when my cousin and I were young there was only one television station in Nashville. At noon

every weekday Phyla Hach, a renowned southern chef, had a cooking show. My cousin and I would watch it

and then go to the back yard and start cooking our mud pies. We had an old, small iron cooking stove sitting

in the sun. We cooked up a storm decorating our goodies with dandelions , privet hedge blooms and any-

thing else we could find. We talked as if we were on TV and explained every step. When I was about twelve I

started cooking for real and still love trying new recipes. I have written three cookbooks for my children.

They enjoy getting the additions at Christmas and seeing what recipes I have tried that were worth repeating.

I really don't put liquor in everything I cook. The brownie recipe is wonderful . I have simplified it by using a

mix and just adding amaretto for some of the liquid. You can't tell the difference from it and the one I made

for years from scratch. The chicken dish is a good company entree. It can be prepared ahead of time and put

in the oven when your guests arrive.

AMARETTO BROWNIES

1 family size brownie mix 2 T. amaretto

Mix brownies according to package directions but substitute the amaretto for part of the water. Cook in a 9 x

13 pan.

AMARETTO ICING

1/4 C. butter 1 (1 oz.) square unsweetened chocolate

2 T. Half and half (evaporated milk ok) 2 1/2 c. sifted powdered sugar

dash salt 2 T. amaretto

Combine butter and chocolate in a heavy saucepan, place over low heat, stirring constantly, until melted.

Stir in half and half. Take off heat and add powdered sugar, salt and amaretto, stirring until smooth. Spread

on brownies . Cut into squares when cooled.

BOURBON CHICKEN

8 boneless chicken breasts flour, salt pepper, paprika

1/2 c. butter 1 lb. mushrooms, sliced

2 (10 oz.) cans cream of chicken soup 1/4 c. bourbon

3/4 t. curry powder parsley

slivered almonds

Mix flour with some salt, pepper and paprika. Dredge chicken in flour mixture. Melt butter in a skillet and

brown the chicken. Place chicken in a casserole dish. In the same butter (add some if you need to) saute the

mushrooms and pour them over the chicken. Add bourbon to the skillet and stir in the soup and curry pow-

der. Pour over the chicken. Sprinkle with some chopped parsley and almonds. Bake at 350o for 1 hour.

Modern Day Mud Pies By Reba Armstrong



August is the month when, all across the country, families are preparing for one of life’s rites of pas-

sage…high school graduates heading off to celebrate the personal liberty and independence that comes with

attending college.

If you’re one of those families, you’re probably busy with last-minute packing, sorting out whether

your student will live on or off campus, and worrying about roommate selection. Here’s one more thing to add

to your “gotta do” list before your college bound kid heads off to school: Have this young adult to sign a dura-

ble power of attorney and a health care proxy.

These two estate planning documents, more commonly associated with older folks, are essential for

younger people too. Without them, parents don’t have the authority to make health care decisions or manage

money for their kids once they turn 18—even if they are paying the tuition, still have those kids on their health

insurance plans and claim them as dependents on their tax returns. That means if a young adult is in an acci-

dent and becomes disabled, even temporarily, a parent might need court approval to act on his or her behalf.

This reality became far too real for me and Tami a couple of years ago when her son, Alex, had a four-

wheeler accident on Memorial Day weekend. He was 21 at the time. He sent his mom a text message that he

was in an ambulance enroute to the hospital following a wreck. Yikes! We went into panic mode, only to be

followed by totally frustrated mode when we couldn’t get any information about the seriousness of his inju-

ries. From the hospital’s point of view, Alex was an adult and Tami had no rights to his medical information

despite being his mother. Luckily, his injuries weren’t severe and he was able to provide an update on his con-

dition relieving the angst his mom and I were experiencing. Needless to say, Tami now serves as Alex’s health

care surrogate and has been appointed his health care power of attorney.

The chance of illness or injury that requires a hospital stay for young adults is real. A quarter-million

Americans between 18 and 25 are hospitalized with nonlethal injuries each year. The leading cause of their

death is accidents. Regardless of the reason your son or daughter is hospitalized, whether it be a serious bout

with the flu or being hit by a city bus, chances are, their attending physicians will not talk with you about their

condition or prognosis citing privacy concerns.

After 18 years of laboring through colicky fits, the “terrible twos”, countless birthday parties at Chuck-

ey Cheese, and their preteen and teenage years, comes their adulthood and all the rights that go with it. For

you, those rights may suddenly become apparent at the worst of times. Having the necessary authority to serve

as your young adult’s healthcare advocate, during a critical time when they still need you to be in charge of

things for them, will insure your legal right to have access to their healthcare information, condition and prog-

nosis, and a voice in their care plan.

Said simply, encourage your son or daughter (or grandson or granddaughter) to start taking responsibil-

ity for their lives by signing a health care proxy before going away to college. This document, commonly re-

ferred to as a health care surrogate designation or health care power of attorney, will authorize you (or whom-

ever they designate) to make medical decisions on their behalf. And legally, it also automatically gives you,

acting as their agent, access to their medical records pursuant to HIPPA guidelines.

One More Item On the “Off to College” Checklist

http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2011/09/26/sign-a-healthcare-proxy-living-will-and-power-of-attorney-2/



Lastly, a word of caution…don’t put this off to the last minute and then rush online to print off

a generic version of any of these forms. The law related to health care proxies, power of attorney appoint-

ments, and living wills varies from state to state. Hopefully, you never have to actually use any of these docu-

ments, but if you do, you want to be assured that they were properly drafted to protect your child’s and your

own personal and financial interests. Seldom is it wise to adopt a cookie cutter solution when considering

problems that could have life and death consequences.

If you’re a young adult reading this, do yourself and your parents a huge favor by initiating a conversa-

tion on this topic and taking the necessary steps to put your affairs in order. If you’re a parent of a young adult,

don’t delay…schedule an appointment today with your family’s lawyer to get the ball rolling on these docu-

ments. And finally, if you’re a grandparent monitoring the “off to college” chaos from afar, send this article to

your own son, daughter, or grandchild for their consideration. It’s a safe bet that this issue hasn’t even crossed

their mind. Isn’t it better to nudge them into action now than regret not having done so later?

Congratulations to all of you, whether you’re college bound, a soon to be empty-nester, or proud grand-

parent. All the best to you in this new chapter in your life.

Kind regards,

Gregg Treadway

Attorney & Counselor at Law

Photographer: Janice Smith



For the second year in a row, Braxton celebrated the 4th of July in style! With thunderstorms threatening, our flotilla timed their trip up and down the marina at exactly the right time, sang our songs showing our appreciation for living in a marvelous country and then wandered into party mode‼️

Second Independence Day Flotilla



YOU REALLY SHOULD STOP BY HAPPY HOUR (4PM BY THE POOL) I heard a rumor that our happy hour

group celebrated the very first Braxton Annual National Weenie Day roast! I was there...the food was, as

always, yummy and it was definitely an interesting idea. Unfortunately, the only photo taken was one of

Dean’s leg. You really should join us!

Randy and Linda, how does your garden grow???

Sometimes it is the little things in life that make you smile. Walking in the lobby and seeing an arrangement of flowers from Randy and Linda’s garden…coming home and finding a vase of flow-ers by my door…seeing the smiles on people’s fac-es when our Braxton folks deliver those flowers to nursing homes and other special folks. This year, in addition to the thanks that go to Randy and Lin-

da, there are thanks headed out to all of those people who helped them plant and weed and crawl through the mud. Hugs to all because you are certainly appreciat-ed. The flowers are still growing and the weeds are trying their best to keep up with them. Mega thanks

Carol



Mission Statement

Safe Haven Cheatham County is committed to meeting the immediate needs of domestic vio-lence victims and their children. We are dedicated in our mission to provide a safe environment for the victims while in our care and encourage these victims to build better and productive lives while offering the support and services they need they need to accomplish this goal.



Father, son carry on family business

By Randy Moomaw

The Ashland City Times

In October it will be 70 years since Julian and

Marie Empson opened Empson Drug in 1946,

with the family tradition carried on his by son,

Joe, and grandson, Craig.

In honoring Father’s Day it is fitting to note that

it was a father’s love for and devotion to family

and community that not only planted its seeds

for success but tended its growth and quality of

the fruits of its harvest.

When Joe thinks back about his father, two

traits immediately came to mind: a strong work

ethic and care for the community.

“Dad had experience as a medic in the South Pacific during World War II,” Joe said. “He worked in

sales for about a year after he got home from the war. He wanted to start up a sundry-drug store.

There was a rule back then that in small communities if there was not a certified licensed pharmacist

within 14 miles you could open up a sundry-drug store if you had experience and you could be li-

censed as a permit-pharmacy.”

Joe said his father worked with his brother-in-law who had connections in the pharmaceutical field,

which also provided proof of experience for his dad.

His father learned that Ashland City and Monterey were two Tennessee towns that would allow for a

permit-pharmacy.

“With $3,000 dad went into business on a prayer,” said Joe, adding that in 1956 a licensed pharma-

cist had to be hired because a local resident had come home after college and was a licensed phar-

macist.

Joe finished college in 1961 and his son, Craig, graduated from college in 1985 — the two are

among eight in the family who are pharmacists.

For Joe, a driving force in choosing a career as a pharmacist was sparked by his desire to honor his

father by serving in the family business and continuing to provide support for community.

“Our doors have always been open ... even in the ice storm of 1994,” Joe said.

Craig noted many times over the years when customers were served after hours, in the middle of

the night, when there was a need, but quickly added that nowadays safety issues are a much bigger

concern so that no longer takes place.

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Keys to success

Both Joe and Craig see technology as one of the biggest changes for the industry, with computers,

online communication and digital technology.

“The biggest change I see in the pharmacy world is that we’ve lost control of pricing,” Joe said. “We

used to price our own products like most businesses do, but we don’t get to price our own products

anymore. The insurance industry prices our products.”

In terms of what hasn’t changed, both Craig and Joe are in agreement that a strong work ethic still

stands true and strong.

Joe remembers a time when he heard that the property where the business stands today on North

Main Street was for sale and it was rumored that a hospital might be constructed across the street.

He purchased the property in 1984.

For Craig, the word “dedication” is a key factor that explains why he pursued his career a pharma-

cist, the dedication not just to a business but to serving a community that was modeled by his father

and grandfather.

“Dad is more of an idea man and an innovator, while I’m more of a follower,” Craig said.

The first site in 1946 was located next to the Bethesda Center.

“You could get a Cherry Coke for five cents and a pack of cigarettes for 19 cents,” Joe said. “All

three of our locations — all on Main Street.”

For the Empsons, business is not a hobby, and co-workers and customers are truly part of an ex-

tended family.

Craig agreed, citing personal service as a key to success and encouraging loyalty.

“People here are nice enough to tell you they appreciate you,” Joe said.

Joe and Janie Empson will celebrate 57 years of wedded bliss in December. They have a daughter,

Rhonda Jo, who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Craig and Patrice Empson live in Ashland City and have two sons, Bryant and Trey.

Reprinted with permission of the Ashland City Times



ABBY

ANNABEL

BABY

BEAR

COOPER

CHAUNCEY

CHEWIETTA FISHBONE

DANA

DIVOT

EMILY

EMILY

FANCY

FRED

GRACIE

GIRLIE

HARLEY

JACK

JACK

JACKSON

Jess

KIMBER

JILL

JOJO

KATY

LIL BIT

LILY

LILY

___MAGGIE

MAISEY

MARLEY

MIA

MICA

MITZI

PETRA

PIPER

RASCAL

ROCKY

ROSCO

ROSY

SAM

SKY BLUE

SOPHIE

TINKER

Zebra

Finding and photographing all of the dogs/cats at the Braxton was definitely a challenge! If I missed your pup or kitty, I am truly sorry. Some-times I think I know more of the animal's names than I do the people. If I have missed your critter, send me a photo and an email and I will put it in the next issue

Thanks, this was fun!

Carol Yost

Let's see if you can match the pet with the pet's name! I really struggled with a few .



Braxton Bark Buddies

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3 4 1

7 8

2

5

9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20



21 22 23 24

25 26 27

28

A B C D

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