"A public meeting on the proposed Hadley Bend Bridge toll project will be held 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at DuPont Hadley Middle School, 1901 Old Hickory Blvd.

The project being studied would be an additional north-south route between Davidson and Sumner counties.

The public will have the opportunity to make comments regarding the proposed toll project.

A second meeting is rescheduled for 5-7 p.m. April 24 at Hendersonville High School, 123 Cherokee Road in Hendersonville. The meeting at Hendersonville High was changed from an original meeting date of April 15.

For more information, call 741-8899"

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041808 Rachels Chapel to be Sold - Old Hickory - Hopewell - Reported by www.tennesseean.com

"Photo: ANDY HUMBLES / THE TENNESSEAN

Rachel’s Chapel is in the Hopewell neighborhood of Old Hickory. The church, which once was a central point of activity for the Hopewell community, has not been used and will be sold by the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee

The Rachel's Chapel building in the Hopewell community in Old Hickory will remain a church.

St. John Chrysostom Romanian Orthodox Church is the new owner of the small building on Union Street. St. John Chrysostom purchased the property from The Presbytery of Middle Tennessee after the building had been vacant and the property largely unkempt for years.Father George Gradinaru said St. John Chrysostom wants to refurbish Rachel's Chapel but to keep it as close to its original state as possible. St. John Chrysostom is also considering keeping the Rachel's Chapel name, Gradinaru said.

"We want the neighborhood to be proud of it; we are sure it will be a plus for the neighborhood,'' Gradinaru said.

Randy Alcorn, a resident of Hopewell for 52 years, called it "great news,'' and Councilman Darren Jernigan said it was a plus for the neighborhood that the property would be renovated and remain a church.

Rachel's Chapel was estimated to have been built in the 1920s. It's always been small, but was described by Alcorn and residents as a community church at its peak in the 1950s and '60s, drawing 40-60 for Sunday services. The building is about 1,400 square feet on about 0.6 of an acre, Gradinaru said.

It was also the site of community events such as cookouts, Easter egg hunts and vacation bible schools.

But services became more infrequent and attendance dropped significantly in the past decade or so when an older minister experienced health problems. Attendance had dropped to fewer than 10 when the minister could not continue, and the Presbytery did not appoint a new one.

The building fell into disrepair and the property became overgrown and a dumping ground.

"As long as it's a church, I don't care what denomination it is,'' Alcorn said. "It's designed to be part of the neighborhood. It's a historical landmark. Tearing the church down wasn't the best thing for this neighborhood.''

St. John Chrysostom purchased the church for $50,000.

The congregation rents space Sunday afternoons at Pennington United Methodist. About 40 attend St. John Chrysostom services, Gradinaru said.

Gradinaru expects to meet for services around 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Starting a Saturday afternoon service is possible and so are some short services during the week, he said. Officials hope the building will be ready to be occupied in 3-4 months.

"We're happy the property has sold, and we're pleased to know it will continue as a church,'' said David Cole, president of the board of trustees for the Middle Tennessee Presbytery.

Gradinaru anticipated meeting with neighborhood residents as the church prepares for occupancy"