At an event Friday when Volkswagen executives announced $5 million in grants for Tennessee education, Gov. Phil Bredesen brought jokes.

He compared the day to last July when the German auto manufacturer first announced it had chosen Chattanooga for its American plant.

“I was thinking, this was a somewhat more subdued gathering ... (before) it was more like a rock concert . We had people holding candles, women fainting. It was the only time in my life I felt like Bruce Springsteen, and I really appreciated it. So thank you all very, very much.”

Later, he said he thinks VW’s success can be attributed partly to the company’s efficiency.

“I also think this is a company that pays a lot of attention to detail and makes sure they do not spend money unnecessarily, as witnessed by the fact that while there are four of us speaking up here, there are three chairs on the stage.

“And the thought being that one person is going to be speaking at any given time, so we don’t need four chairs up there — very efficient. Of course, in government we would put six or seven up here, just in case.”

JUST TWEET IT

Like millions of people worldwide, state Sen. Andy Berke, D-Chattanooga, has jumped on the Twitter train.

Sen. Berke uses the social networking and mirco-blogging site to update his 267 “followers” about his daily business and thoughts.

In his latest “tweet” — which is Twitter lingo for a 140-word blog — he shared this story: “Just asked by a 12-year-old girl if Senators have Chris Brown’s phone number.”

Chris Brown is a pop music star, who ws recently been charged with allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, Rihanna, also a pop singer.

Sen. Berke’s other tweets include:

* “Reading a stack of thank-you notes from fourth graders, one of which begins ‘Dear Reprehensive Andy Burke’.”

* “Sad that I will be in Nashville rather than at the Roundhouse tonight.”

* “Wish there was a slot on the schedule titled ‘laziness.’”

* “Note that Nashville was named the country’s manliest city only after I began spending part of my time there.”

* “Fat-free milkshake ... Mmmmmmmm ... Kinda.”

* “Listening to Jay-Z, grooving on the inside.”

parliamentary pandemonium

Hamilton County Commissioners had to deal with a little confusion Wednesday during and after their vote to reject a plan to increase camping rates at Chester Frost Park.

An amendment proposed by County Mayor Claude Ramsey, which would have halved the increase for Hamilton County senior citizens, failed in a 4-2 vote. The four votes were in favor of the amendment, but it takes five votes, a majority of the full commission, to pass anything.

Commissioners John Allen Brooks and Curtis Adams did not attend the meeting. Commissioner Greg Beck did not vote.

Commission Chairman Jim Coppinger, who cast the last vote, a “no,” stated that the amendment had carried. But County Clerk Bill Knowles told him that it had, in fact, failed.

Later, after the commission voted 4-2 against the rate increases, Commissioner Richard Casavant attempted to bring Mr. Ramsey’s amendment back up.

After some discussion, Mr. Knowles and County Attorney Rheubin Taylor decided he couldn’t do that.

According to Robert’s Rules of Order, which the commission follows, only someone voting on the prevailing side of the original motion, not an amendment, can ask for reconsideration after a vote on the original motion.

Dr. Casavant voted against the amendment, which failed, but in favor of the original proposal, which also failed, putting him on the losing side.

After all was said and done, Dr. Casavant finally said, “I withdraw anything I said, and let’s move on.”

The audience laughed and applauded.

A NOD TOWARD THE IRISH

Several people showed up to Tuesday’s City Council meeting dressed in green for St. Patrick’s Day.

The most dressed of all was Jerry Stewart, director of waste resources division, who sported an emerald green shirt with an emerald green bow tie.

Every now and then, Mr. Stewart would tap the bow tie and green lights would flash.

“It was St. Patrick’s Day, being an engineer, sometimes we’re stodgy, so I’m just trying to put a little humor into it,” he said.

Mr. Stewart said he has Irish ancestry as well.

vote often

County commissioners Larry Henry and Bill Hullander jokingly raised some questions Wednesday about just who Emergency Communications District Board Chairman Don Allen voted for in the 2006 County Commission election.

“Every time Don calls me, he says, ‘Hey, Commissioner Henry, I want you to know I voted for you,’ ” Mr. Henry said during a recognition ceremony for Mr. Allen.

Mr. Hullander chimed in: “I don’t know if the election commissioner’s here, or not, but he’s told me he’s voted for me, too.”

Mr. Allen and others in the audience laughed.

The commission presented Mr. Allen with a plaque to recognize him for being named emergency manager of the year by the Emergency Management Association of Tennessee.

this magic night

The Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department will be holding its fourth annual “magic night” on April 3 from 7-9:30 p.m.

The event at Chester Frost Park will feature members of the Chattanooga Magic Club Ring 112 performing illusions and other tricks. Snacks will be served at 7 p.m.

Families wishing to attend must pre-register by calling 842-6748. The cost is $5 per person or $15 for families of three or more.

Neighborhood council holding retreat

The Chattanooga Neighborhood Association Council will host its second annual retreat on March 28 in the Electric Power Board community room, said Council President Charles Payne.

The retreat, to be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., is free and open to the public, he said. Topics of discussion include updates of the council’s by-laws, revisiting the strategic plan and discussing how to have safer and more involved neighborhoods.

For more information regarding the retreat, contact Mr. Payne at (423) 899-1748.

conservation educator of the year

Bill Haley, education outreach coordinator for the Tennessee Aquarium, was named conservation educator of the year last week by the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, officials said.

Mr. Haley, who is known as “Mr. Bill” at the aquarium, first started as a volunteer in 1992, said Thom Benson, aquarium spokesman. Since that time, Mr. Haley became the aquarium’s full-time educator and co-founder of the Bug Club, Mr. Benson said.

Mr. Haley, who lives in North Chattanooga, walks to work every day from his home, which features a wildlife habitat certified by the National Wildlife Federation.