Good morning, Cookeville.

A New Yorker who'd never set foot in Tennessee just wrote Tech a seven-figure check.

Your heart doctors are striking out on their own and staying put.

Somebody's illegal fireworks trashed one of our oldest parks.

And that reappraisal notice in your mailbox isn't as scary as it looks.

Let's fly.

Until a few years ago, New York City construction magnate Tom Iovino had never heard of Tennessee Tech. He had never even set foot in Tennessee.

Then he read a 2019 Wall Street Journal column by Peggy Noonan describing Tech students as mature, gracious, and quick with smart questions. Something clicked. He started small, donating his designer business suits to the College of Business's professional closet so students could borrow interview attire. Then he and his wife Judith visited campus, met the students, and decided to go bigger.

The result: a transformational seven-figure gift creating the Thomas and Judith Lovino Endowed Professorship, built to keep and recruit faculty whose first job is teaching in the classroom. The inaugural recipient is Chelsea Dowell, the economics lecturer behind the "Everyone Loves Economics" podcast, whose students competed nationally this year for the first time in school history.

The Lovinos turned down having their name on a building. "But if we could keep the really good teachers there," Tom said, "that would really make an impact with the students."

A columnist's kind words, a closet full of suits, and now generations of Golden Eagles with better teachers. Not a bad chain reaction.

Your ballot clock starts Friday. Early voting for the August 6 city elections begins Friday, July 17 and runs through August 1. Eleven candidates are running for Cookeville City Council. If you only do one civic thing this month, this is the one.

Somebody blew up the dinosaur. Illegal fireworks set off on the playground at Cinderella Park destroyed the plastic steps on the dinosaur-themed climbing apparatus, and taxpayers are stuck with a repair bill of $5,000 to $10,000 depending on whether the original parts are still made. The damaged section is barricaded with no reopening timeline, though the rest of the playground has been inspected and is open. Leisure Services Director Chad McDonald called the destruction excessive and said officials are working to identify and prosecute those responsible. His ask of the rest of us: if you see someone damaging a park, say something. Fireworks are already banned in every city park, so this one was illegal from the first fuse.

That reappraisal notice is not a tax bill. New property valuations are landing in Putnam County mailboxes, reflecting a real estate market that has not cooled off. Before you panic at the number: Assessor Steve Pierce says the rising appraisals could trigger a corresponding drop in the county tax rate. That's how reappraisal works in Tennessee. The county certifies a new, lower rate so the reappraisal itself doesn't raise total collections. A bigger valuation doesn't automatically mean a bigger bill.

Tennessee Heart is going independent. The cardiology practice is entering a new era as an independent, physician-led group, partnering with Atria Health and affiliating with Stern Cardiovascular, one of the nation's leading independent heart groups. The part that matters for patients: same trusted physicians and care teams, plus new muscle to recruit more cardiologists and invest in technology. The new era is already paying off. PET/CT stress imaging is now available right here in the Upper Cumberland, no trip to Nashville or Knoxville required.

The library is officially a butterfly rest stop. The Putnam County Library is now a certified Monarch Waystation, a garden stocked with the milkweed and nectar plants monarchs need to survive their migration. The whole thing exists because a volunteer named Michael poured countless hours into planning, planting, and maintaining it. Next library trip, take a stroll through the garden and count the pollinators. And if you spot Michael, say hello. He loves talking flowers and exotic seeds.

Downtown is getting easier on your ankles. The city is upgrading deteriorated sidewalks on South Walnut Avenue to meet ADA standards, part of a broader downtown walkability push. Public Works Director Mary Beth Elrod said crews are focusing on South Walnut and Church Street, coordinating with water, sewer, and gas utilities to fix underground issues before new pavement goes down. The city has exactly one concrete crew of four to five men handling every sidewalk in town, so it's a never ending list, but Cedar Street, North Jefferson, and Spring Street are already done. New developments have to build ADA-compliant sidewalks too, which means more walkable frontage without spending public money.

A Crossville cook is chasing a James Beard dream. Jason Bour, cooking since age 10, is competing in a national contest benefiting the James Beard Foundation, with $25,000 and a TV appearance alongside Chef Carla Hall on the line. He just knocked out a King's Hawaiian challenge with three original Pacific Rim recipes, and if he reaches the quarterfinals, his work could be featured at the foundation's gala in New York. The prize would go toward a competition-sized smoker or a food truck fund. Either way, the Upper Cumberland has a horse in this race.

Pikachu goes to camp. Camp Sandy Stone in Monterey, a camp ministry running since 1969, hosts a Pokemon Day Camp July 20 to 24 for rising 1st through 6th graders. Card trading, the trading card game, Bible study, crafts, outdoor camp activities, and a water slide, Monday to Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM with lunch and snacks provided. It's $125 and spots are going, so register here.

This week's featured outing: Painting with the Stars and a Pro at Cookeville Art Studio & Gallery.

Here's the setup. Some of your favorite local personalities team up with professional artists to create one-of-a-kind paintings, live, while you watch. Then every finished piece goes up for bid in a silent auction. Every dollar supports the Art Studio & Gallery and its mission to bring the arts to the community.

The star lineup includes names you'll recognize from around town: Alissa Hudson, Amber Flynn-Jared, Brett Dartez, Brittany Norris, Chad Gilbert, Clarissa Williams, Emily Bochette, Erika "Rae Rae" Goforth, Jamhile Eckert, Jodi Pitts, John McDonald, Kelly Parkinson, Kim Taylor, and more.

The details:

Come cheer on your favorite "star," enjoy the evening, and take home some art.

Somebody blew up the dinosaur. Illegal fireworks set off on the playground at Cinderella Park destroyed the plastic steps on the dinosaur-themed climbing apparatus, and taxpayers are stuck with a repair bill of $5,000 to $10,000 depending on whether the original parts are still made. The damaged section is barricaded with no reopening timeline, though the rest of the playground has been inspected and is open. Leisure Services Director Chad McDonald called the destruction excessive and said officials are working to identify and prosecute those responsible. His ask of the rest of us: if you see someone damaging a park, say something. Fireworks are already banned in every city park, so this one was illegal from the first fuse.

That reappraisal notice is not a tax bill. New property valuations are landing in Putnam County mailboxes, reflecting a real estate market that has not cooled off. Before you panic at the number: Assessor Steve Pierce says the rising appraisals could trigger a corresponding drop in the county tax rate. That's how reappraisal works in Tennessee. The county certifies a new, lower rate so the reappraisal itself doesn't raise total collections. A bigger valuation doesn't automatically mean a bigger bill.

Tennessee Heart is going independent. The cardiology practice is entering a new era as an independent, physician-led group, partnering with Atria Health and affiliating with Stern Cardiovascular, one of the nation's leading independent heart groups. The part that matters for patients: same trusted physicians and care teams, plus new muscle to recruit more cardiologists and invest in technology. The new era is already paying off. PET/CT stress imaging is now available right here in the Upper Cumberland, no trip to Nashville or Knoxville required.

The library is officially a butterfly rest stop. The Putnam County Library is now a certified Monarch Waystation, a garden stocked with the milkweed and nectar plants monarchs need to survive their migration. The whole thing exists because a volunteer named Michael poured countless hours into planning, planting, and maintaining it. Next library trip, take a stroll through the garden and count the pollinators. And if you spot Michael, say hello. He loves talking flowers and exotic seeds.

Downtown is getting easier on your ankles. The city is upgrading deteriorated sidewalks on South Walnut Avenue to meet ADA standards, part of a broader downtown walkability push. Public Works Director Mary Beth Elrod said crews are focusing on South Walnut and Church Street, coordinating with water, sewer, and gas utilities to fix underground issues before new pavement goes down. The city has exactly one concrete crew of four to five men handling every sidewalk in town, so it's a never ending list, but Cedar Street, North Jefferson, and Spring Street are already done. New developments have to build ADA-compliant sidewalks too, which means more walkable frontage without spending public money.

A Crossville cook is chasing a James Beard dream. Jason Bour, cooking since age 10, is competing in a national contest benefiting the James Beard Foundation, with $25,000 and a TV appearance alongside Chef Carla Hall on the line. He just knocked out a King's Hawaiian challenge with three original Pacific Rim recipes, and if he reaches the quarterfinals, his work could be featured at the foundation's gala in New York. The prize would go toward a competition-sized smoker or a food truck fund. Either way, the Upper Cumberland has a horse in this race.

Pikachu goes to camp. Camp Sandy Stone in Monterey, a camp ministry running since 1969, hosts a Pokemon Day Camp July 20 to 24 for rising 1st through 6th graders. Card trading, the trading card game, Bible study, crafts, outdoor camp activities, and a water slide, Monday to Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM with lunch and snacks provided. It's $125 and spots are going, so register here.

Saturday belongs to the makers and the museums.

Makerfest takes over the fairgrounds. Saturday, July 18 starting at 10 AM, the Putnam County Fairgrounds fill up with live music, demonstrations, vendors, and food trucks. The headline for anyone under twelve, or anyone who used to be: Hot Wheels and Power Wheels racing. Yes, actual racing. Bring the kids and their fastest cars.

Then the museums stay up past bedtime. That same Saturday from 2 to 4 PM, Night at the Museums transforms the Cookeville Performing Arts Center into a living timeline. Historical figures and artifacts from the History Museum step out of their exhibits to tell stories spanning 250 years. Free, family-friendly, and a painless way to sneak some history into a summer Saturday.

Two stops, one Saturday, zero excuses to stay home.

That's the week, flock.

A stranger from New York betting big on our university, heart care getting stronger without leaving town, a butterfly garden at the library, and a Saturday built for kids of every age. Fair season is almost here.

If you spot news worth chirping about, hit reply. I read everything.

See you next Sunday.