Briefs: Funds available to pay for utilities -Tennessean

The Metropolitan Action Commission has funding to help income-eligible families with electricity and natural gas payments. Metro Action received an additional $3.1 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in December. The additional funding will allow the agency to more than double the amount of families receiving help with energy payments, according to a release from the agency. Last year, the agency helped 5,993 families. As of yesterday, the agency had assisted more than 10,000 customers with electricity or natural gas payments. The agency expects to serve more than 13,000 this year. Energy assistance applications are available at all public libraries, the Nashville Electric Service and accessible on the Metro Action Web site (www.nashville.gov/mac). Customers may bring the applications to the Metro Action office from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Completed applications may also be mailed to: Metro Action, 1624 5th Ave. N., Nashville, TN 37208. Metro Action receives federal LIHEAP funds from a pass through grant from the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Census takers hit the streets April 13 April 1 marked one year to Census Day, and the Census Bureau is set to launch its first major on-the-ground operation in Tennessee to prepare for the nationwide count in spring 2010. Beginning Monday, April 13, more than 3,000 census workers will go block-by-block across Tennessee to develop a correct and complete address list. This operation will continue through mid-summer. The updated address list will be used to deliver 2010 Census questionnaires next March. More than 140,000 address listers will knock on doors across America in the address canvassing operation. William W. Hatcher, regional director at the Charlotte Regional Census Center, said the address list developed in 2009 is the cornerstone of a good census in 2010. Census results are used to determine the number of congressional seats for each state, the shape of legislative and local government districts, and how $300 billion in federal funds are distributed annually to communities across America. Address listers will use handheld computers that capture GPS information as they comb the streets and knock on doors to verify an address and inquire about additional living quarters on the premises. Census workers also can be identified by their official U.S. Census Bureau badge or by calling a local census office. Census workers never ask for bank or Social Security information. All census employees take an oath of confidentiality and face a fine of up to $250,000 and five years in prison for violating that oath. The Census Bureau has opened three local census offices in Tennessee to support the address canvassing. The Nashville office can be reached at 234-5740. Sage Awards taking nominations The Council on Aging of Greater Nashville is accepting nominations for the 2009 Sage Awards. The awards are given to several older adults who have contributed to the quality of life in their community throughout the course of their lives. The deadline is May 1 to nominate an individual or couple for this honor. The 18th annual Sage Awards Luncheon will be held at noon Sept. 24 in the Curb Event Center Atrium at Belmont University . Individuals and companies interested in becoming a patron or sponsor of the 18th Annual Sage Awards Luncheon should e-mail Donna Kumar or call 353-4235. For more information about the Sage Awards, or to nominate, visit www.councilonaging-midtn.org or call 353-4235. Free ice cream for Tax Day MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery has announced that on Wednesday, April 15, participating stores nationwide will reward customers with one free single-scoop of ice cream in honor of Tax Day. The nationwide ice cream social will take place throughout the day. For more information, visit www.maggiemoos.com.