No Bones About It
Scott McNutt's column on body-part cliches [Snarls, Oct. 31] really sucked ass.
Jim Wayland
Knoxville
Tax Credits at Work
I enjoyed Joe Sullivan's Insights column [Nov. 7] concerning the use of federal historic tax credits in the CBID. Though I know Joe is aware of it, for those who are not, I would like to point out that historic tax credits are being used in Knoxville's historic neighborhoods as well.
Utilizing historic tax credits, residents of the Fourth & Gill and the Park City neighborhoods are presently undertaking three residential projects valued in excess of half a million dollars. These tax credits are then taken by the residents who are each part owner in the projects.
In turn, these homes have been returned to the property tax rolls at a much higher assessment, jobs were created to renovate these homes, materials were purchased for these projects, and neighborhoods have been bettered. And all of this has been done by caring neighbors who have once again put their money where their mouths are as well as where they live.
Though the names of the people involved in these projects are not recognizable to most, the next time you drive down Luttrell Street or Washington Avenue and you see a young family out walking, though you might not know it, you might be passing some savvy users of federal historic tax credits.
Rob Frost
Knoxville
Kudos to Martini
I must express my heartfelt admiration for your willingness to print in your last issue the story of Adrienne Martini's illness and struggles. She is a very brave woman to be able to reveal herself to the world in this way.
There is an untold part of her story, however, that can be equally revealing and meaningful. She had a husband and mother-in-law who were also a major part of her struggles and who had to find some way to live with and accept a loved one who had left reality and also left them with the fears and hopelessness of the situation and their future. She received good and proper treatment at St. Mary's. Meanwhile, at home, there was a small infant just beginning life and a confused husband trying to cope with his own thoughts of why this happened, whether he caused this, where does he turn next, what if she never gets well, and the stigma and fear that he knew was part of mental illness.
I don't intend this as a commercial, but this type situation is the foundation for the mission we offer at The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Knoxville. There is a place of treatment for the mentally ill themselves, but the loved ones who must care for and accept a life with a sick loved one also need a great deal of help and support. We accept that challenge and offer, free of charge, classes and support groups for these loved ones who find themselves on a new and frightening journey. We try to transform that trip into a "Journey of Hope."
Lee Vandewalker, Executive Director
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Knoxville
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