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A look inside...
Fall Festivals
Food for Football
Pumpkin Patches
Grandparents Day
Hispanic Heritage Month Recipes
Kids in the Kitchen
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Editor Alex Zapetis
Contributors Dave Marshall Ramon M. Maisonet Brendalyn Carpenter=Player
Publisher Creative ink
Creative Director
Hello everyone, I hope you are having an amazing year so far! Can you believe it is already September? Fall is officially here on September 22nd, and to celebrate we are bringing you some information on all of the best Fall festivals and pumpkin patches in the area! Attending them is truly the highlight of the year!
Sears Hallett
Advertising Kristi Williams 270-484-0463 kristi@creativeinktn.com
Photography http://www.mixthatdrink.com Dreamstime Photo pg: Cover,5, 7, 10, 13, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 31 Deposit Photo pg: 23 Unsplash pg: 10, 25
We also have some adorable little local chefs to show off, as well as some delicious recipes for you to try out this month. It is a great issue that I am super excited to share with you all. See you next month.
Alex Zapetis, Editor alex@creativeinktn.com
Like us and share on Facebook facebook.com/fortcampbelllife 3
Fall festivals are one of the most exciting and fun things about this chilly season. Nothing is quite like picking out that cozy sweater, loading up in the car with your family, and attending a once-a-year festival! There are always so many to choose from in our area that your fall weekends will be booked up all season long. 12th Annual Butterfly Festival - September 4 Live release of over 1000 butterflies at 4 pm. Children will be able to make environmental arts and crafts projects for free. Interact with live butterflies in their habitat in our Butterfly House or let the Master Gardeners take you on a tour of our beautiful Butterfly Garden. Watch a family-friendly stage show, take a ride on the train, or get your face painted. Have your portrait drawn by a caricature artist, take a spin on the human gyroscope ride, or take pictures like a Hollywood star at their Golden-Globe styled backdrop. Free, nature focused arts and crafts for the children to create and take home. visitoakgroveky.com/festivals/butterfly-festival
Clarksville’s Riverfest September 9-11 An exciting time for all residents of the city, Riverfest kicks off on Thursday, September 9th with a juried art show at 5 pm in the Wilma Rudolph Event Center. Music, art, family events, and more will fill McGregor Park. Admission and entertainment at the Festival are free and open to the public clarksvilleriverfest.org
Nashville Greek Festival- September 10 - 12 The Nashville Greek Festival offers a rich, multi-sensory experience of Greek hospitality and culture. Savory cuisine, soulful music, lively dancing, and educational tours transform the church grounds into a three-day “glendi” (celebration). Nashville Greek Festival is at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4905 Franklin Pike, Nashville. Admission is $3 for the entire weekend with free admission for children 12 & under and all military with valid ID. nashvillegreekfestival.com
Salty Dog Festival - September 11 The 10th annual Salty Dog Festival will have the best in local art, crafts, music, and food. The day starts with a Stop, Drop and Run 5K before the festival begins with live music, a petting zoo, a kids' zone and much more spilling over to adjacent side streets. The run starts at 10 am, and the fun goes on until 4 pm. Located at Main Street on the lawn of City Hall from Moncrief Ave. to Memorial Drive in Goodlettsville, TN. business.goodlettsvillechamber.com/events/details/salty-dog-festival-6647
Middle Tennessee Highland Games & Celtic Festival September 11 The Highland Games are a sight to see in Middle Tennessee. The Scottish culture comes alive through games and tradition at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, TN. This festival will be sure to have unique vendors. A great number of kilts, some flying logs, and plenty of beer for toasting, along with ample musical acts, like Doon The Brae, Secret Commonwealth, and Colin Grant Adams. midtenngames.com
Tobacco and Heritage Festival September 23 - October 9 The Logan County Tobacco and Heritage Festival is two weeks long starting Sept. 23rd. Included are Historic Walking Tours, Jesse James Bank Robbery Reenactment, Golf Scramble, free concerts in the square, and a festival parade among others are all part of this festival. A complete listing of times and locations is on the website. Logan County, KY. loganchamber.com/tobacco-heritage-festival
Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival September 25-26, 2021 Headlined by The Dave Matthews Band, The Black Keys, Maren Morris, and so many great artists. The eclectic Pilgrimage Music Festival returns for its fourth year in Franklin, Tennessee. This two-day festival offers one and two-day passes and is sure to get any music lover's foot tapping along to the beat. Located at 239 Franklin Rd., Franklin, TN pilgrimagefestival.com
Bowling Green International Festival September 25 Circus Square Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, becomes an international paradise of nationalities coming together to proudly share their cultures. The festival is a traditional celebration that honors the heritage and diversity among their residents through music, dance, demonstrations, authentic foreign foods, cultural displays, and aninternational bazaar. Circus Square Park, Bowling Green KY. • bginternationalfest.com
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Nashville Brew Festival October 1st The Nashville Brew Festival will take place on the field and throughout the concourse of First Horizon Park from 7 pm to 11 pm. The festival will have over 50 breweries and 150 beers. It will also have food trucks, music, lawn games, and more. Both general admission ($50) and VIP ($65) will include unlimited beer. nashvillebrewfestival.com
Tennessee Honey Festival - October 31 Bring your family and friends for an educational fun-filled festival to learn about the importance of bees and other pollinators in Middle Tennessee with painting, honey-inspired goods, beekeeping classes, and much more. The festival is from 10 am until 5 pm. Located at First Horizon Park, Home of the Nashville Sounds. Admission is $10 a person, and $5 for children 6 to 12 years old. • tennesseehoneyfestival.com
Trigg County Ham Festival - October 8 – 9 Have you ever wanted to see the world's largest ham biscuit? Well, it isn't as far as you might think. Just head north to the Trigg County Ham Festival this year for their 45th anniversary and get a glimpse of the 4,000-pound biscuit while taking in the sights and sounds of the historic downtown Cadiz, Kentucky. hamfestival.com
Dog Day Festival - October 16 Join thousands of Nashvillians and their furry companions for a day jam-packed with four-legged fun. Dog Day Festival, is a celebration of everything pup and all proceeds go to benefit the Nashville Humane Association. Dog Day at Centennial Park, 2500 W End Ave., Nashville. Admission is $5 kids 10 & under free. nashvillehumane.org/dogday
Annual Harvest Day of Praise - October 16 Christian Way Farm's annual day of praise. A wonderful menu of food combined with the sound of praise music filling the farm. Listen to the pumpkin story told at various times throughout the day. Enjoy the petting zoo, the corn maze, rides, putt-putt golf, and more. Admission to the Harvest Praise is included with farm or golf. christianwayfarm.com/harvest-praise-2/ 7
Butterfly Festival The International and Regional Award-winning Butterfly Festival is back Saturday, September 4 from 11am-4pm. It all happens at the War Memorial Walking Trail, 101 Walter Garrett Lane, in Oak Grove. The Oak Grove Butterfly Festival is one of the most popular events in the region. 2021 should have been the 13th year of the butterfly festival but this year is being marked as the 12th annual TAKE 2 festival, and word has spread quickly about this fun, free and educational event. This year’’s stage show is Dominguez Attractions featuring “The Globe of Death”. This show is an extremely fast, death-defying act to excite the whole crowd. This is one of many shows they will perform during the festival. And have you ever wondered what it would be like to soar through the sky like an eagle? If so, you're in luck! Come out and enjoy the ever-so-popular zip-line by Southern Zip-Line Company. They will have your legs dangling and your heart thumping. There will be arts and crafts, face painting, a balloon artist, a photobooth, the bubble zone, and more. All activities are completely free! No cost for admission or parking. When you get hungry you can purchase food from one of the food trucks parked on site. This festival is one of a kind and is sure to take your breath away with the beautiful live release of 1600 butterflies at 4 pm on the Viceroy berm. For more information visit: www.visitoakgroveky.com
Riverfest is Clarksville’s longest-running community festival. It brings 30,000 people to the banks of the Cumberland River each year in an arts and recreation celebration. The celebration begins with their Juried Art Show at the Wilma Rudolph Event Center on September 9th. It showcases the work of local professionals, amateurs, and aspiring artists in three divisions. They are professional, amateur, and youth. Riverfest continues with music, art, family events, and more at McGregor Park on September 10-11. This year’s musical headliner is Generation Radio. The supergroup formed in early 2020 to bring 80’s rock and classic music back to life. Riverfest Juried Art Show
Admission and entertainment at the festival are free and open to the public. Thursday, September 9 To stay up to date on Riverfest, visit 5 - 7pm the festival website, Wilma Rudolph Event Center www.clarksvilleriverfest.com.
Riverfest Friday September 10 5 - 10pm McGregor Park September 11 11am - 11pm McGregor Park
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Football season is here and you know what that means?! Gameday snacks! There is nothing tbetter than getting your fingers a little dirty and grubbing down while yelling at your favorite team. Whether you are staying in or going out, preparing these game day go-to snacks will have your stomach doing a touchdown dance too. Hamburger Sliders 1 lb ground hamburger • salt • pepper • Slider Buns • Cheese Lettuce • Tomato • Onion To begin, split up your ground beef into 10 even portions, and then roll into balls. Make each pattie and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place your patty in a well-greased pan, and cook for 15 seconds before flipping. Squish down your patty until it is flat, and cook for one minute. Flip again, and cook until golden brown. Slice your rolls in half, add your burger, and then desired toppings like lettuce, tomato, and cheese.
Guacamole 3 avocados - peeled, pitted, and mashed • 1 lime, juiced 1 teaspoon salt • ½ cup diced onion • 2 Roma tomatoes, diced 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro • 1 teaspoon minced garlic In a large bowl, mash together the avocados, lime juice, and salt. Mix in onion, cilantro, tomatoes, and garlic. Refrigerate or serve immediately.
Buffalo Chicken Wings 2 lb. chicken wings 1 ⁄4 c. hot sauce 2 tbsp. Vegetable oil 2 tbsp. honey • 1 tsp. garlic powder • Kosher salt • 4 tbsp. butter Freshly ground black pepper Preheat the oven to 400° and place a wire rack over a baking sheet. In a bowl, coat your chicken wings with oil and season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. After they are covered well, move to the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, flipping the wings halfway through. In a saucepan, whisk together hot sauce and honey. Once it is at a simmer, stir in your butter. Cook for about 2 minutes. Transfer your baked wings to a bowl and toss with buffalo sauce. Lastly, return your wings to the rack and broil for 3 minutes.
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Is a trip to the pumpkin patch on your Fall bucket list? If so, you are in luck. The Fort Campbell area is home to many amazing and fun field pumpkin patches. Whether you enjoy the hayrides, pumpkin picking, or even the fall games, all of these spectacular locations will have you smiling ear to ear. Christian Way Farm What is better than to add a round of mini golf or a toasty bonfire to your pumpkin picking experience? If that sounds like a fantastic family experience to you, then check out Christian Way Farm. You can grind corn, feed farm animals, enjoy a hayride, and more. Did we mention that they serve some delicious food as well? 19590 Linville Road Hopkinsville • christianwayfarm.com
Boyd’s Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze Are you on the hunt for that picture perfect pumpkin? Then this local farm has your back. They are praised for their large corn maze and fun children’s area. This pumpkin patch also has photograph set ups so that your family can snap that perfect shot. 1425 Hwy 76 Clarksville boydspumpkinpatch.com
Honeysuckle Hill Farm Make sure to clear out your entire day for this huge fall experience. Not only does it offer a huge pumpkin patch with gorgeous pumpkins, but it has so much more. This patch comes complete with hayrides, corn mazes, daily shows, games, rides, a petting zoo, and so much more. You will not know where to begin. You will be jumping around from game to game. Your family is sure to love this fall hotspot. 1765 Martins Chapel Church Road Springfield • honeysucklehillfarm.com
Gentry’s Farm Did somebody say tire swings? Yes! It is true. It has a corn maze, a wooden tractor playground, farm animals, tire swings, and more. It is hours of great and pure family fun. They will be working on limited capacity, so please buy your tickets ahead of time. 1974 New Highway 96 West, Franklin • gentryfarm.com/fall 13
Walden Farm Who doesn’t love a pumpkin patch that comes complete with a pumpkin train? You can never have too many pumpkins once those leaves touch the ground. There will be limited opening this year due to Covid, but Walden Farms is still very excited to open their doors. 8653 Rocky Fork Road, Smyrna • waldenfarm.biz
Cheekwood Harvest Do you want a more unique fall experience this year? Then you are going to want to stop at this awesome patch. They have all kinds on pumpkins and beautiful gardens to explore. They also have a one of a kind 11-foot-tall pumpkin house. How cool is that? 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville • cheekwood.org
Lucky Ladd Farms Did someone say pony rides? Every kid loves riding a pony after picking a pumpkin. This farm also has a 80 foot mega slide and a corn maze. It is a place that people of all ages can truly enjoy. 4374 Rocky Glade Road, Eagleville • luckyladdfarms.com/index.html
CMC Teacher Warehouse The Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club held their monthly luncheon last month on August 27. Their super fun theme was inspired by the show “Cheers” now that they are back in person for their regularly scheduled programs! Their nonprofit spotlight was the CMC Teacher Warehouse/ Education Foundation.
The CMC Teacher Warehouse is a free supply store available to licensed CMCSS teachers. Teachers are allowed to visit the warehouse two times a semester to shop for necessary school supplies to help their students achieve educational greatness. They follow the motto “Bringing the vision of student success to a reality.” Their mission statement is “The Clarksville-Montgomery County Education Foundation exists to support the improvement of public education by providing the Clarksville/Montgomery County School System with additional funding for the support of programs and initiatives that contribute to student achievement.” The CMC Teacher’s Warehouse is always in need of volunteers, donations, and hosts for supply drives. This year they are asking for Hand Sanitizer, Clorox Wipes, Boxed Tissues, Paper Towels, Liquid Soap, Band Aids, Dry Erase Boards (small), Dry Erase Board Erasers, Expo Cleaner, Dry Erase Markers, Tape, Glue Sticks, Mechanical Pencils, Binder Clips, Post It Notes, Highlighters, Scissors (adult & child), Staples, Ziploc Bags (all sizes), and Headphones. For more information on this non-profit, please visit their website at https://cmceducationfoundation.wpcomstaging.com/programs1/cmc-teacher-warehouse/ For more information on the Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club, please visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fortcampbellspousesclub/ or their website https://www.fortcampbellspousesclub.org/. 16
Fat Charley
Caramel Candy This rich, sweet cocktail features cognac with cream, vanilla and salted caramel. It’s wonderful for a night in by the fireplace. 1 2
⁄ ounce cognac ⁄ ounce vanilla liqueur 3 ⁄4 ounce Salted Caramel Vodka 1 ⁄2 ounce half-n-half Sugar (for the rim of the glass) 3 4
Rim a cocktail glass with sugar. Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Pour in all the ingredients. Shake until chilled. Strain the mixture into the glass.
The Fat Charley cocktail features the flavors of orange, coconut and banana with a touch of cranberry just to marry it all together. This cocktail has enough of a tropical feel that drinking it during fall can make you feel like you’re somewhere warm and balmy. 1 ounce white rum 1 ounce Malibu coconut rum 1 ounce banana schnapps 5 ounces orange juice splash of cranberry juice Pour the rums and schnapps into a collins glass filled with ice cubes. Pour in the orange juice, followed by the splash of cranberry juice on the top. Stir it up and serve.
Drink recipes and photos courtesy of https://www.mixthatdrink.com
Avalanche Cocktail The Avalanche Cocktail is basically a White Russian with Crown Royal instead of vodka. That of course adds notes of caramel to the flavors of sweetened coffee and cream. 1 part Crown Royal 1 part Kahlua fill with cream Put ice in a highball glass and pour the ingredients in, in order. Stir and serve.
Fall Berry Pie Infusion The Fall Berry Pie Infusion is just what it sounds like. Blending pumpkin pie vodka with cranberry juice gives it a fruity but spicy flavor. 1 part Pinnacle® Pumpkin Pie Vodka 3 parts cranberry juice Splash of club soda Fill a highball glass with ice and build ingredients in order over the ice. Garnish with a lime wheel.
Grandparents play a special role in our lives. They are always there for you and are a great shoulder to cry on. With achievements and successes, they are usually there to cheer you on. That is why there is a day dedicated to these amazing role models in our lives. If you are looking for some great things to do this year, check out our list down below. 1.
Bake them a treat. Who doesn’t love some homemade cookies or a cake? When you take the time to make them their favorite treat, you are showing them that you care.
2. Have a sleepover. We know that not everyone has the opportunity to have a sleepover with their grandparents. But, if you are lucky enough to be close to your family, surprise them with a fun-filled sleepover. Nothing beats the memories that this night can make. 3. Make a photo collage. Do you have some old photos sitting around that include your grandparents? If so, print them out and create a heart-shaped photo collage. Put it in a frame for them to hang up in their home.
4. Have a meal delivered. Are your grandparents further away this year? You can still show them appreciation for all of their love and hard work by sending them a nice warm meal to be delivered to their doorstep. Who doesn't love not having to cook? 5. Write them a poem. Poems come from the heart and take some time to create. They can be very meaningful gifts. Sit down with a pen and paper and write a poem. 6. Start a family tradition. There is no better time to start a family tradition that can be passed down for generations and generations than on Grandparent’s Day. 7.
Interview your grandparent. Have your child write down a few questions that they can ask their grandparent. “What is your favorite color?” “What is your favorite food?”
8. Make a scrapbook. Sitting down and making a family scrapbook together is a fantastic way to walk down memory lane, as well as create a long-lasting and special craft. 9. Sing them their favorite song. Do you have a songbird in your family? If you have some
one that is musically gifted in your family, get them to serenade your grandparents with their favorite song. 10. Gardening. Help them create a gift that will keep on giving all year round. A garden!
Lucius Annaeus Seneca once said, “We all sorely complain of the shortness of time, and yet have much more than we know what to do with. Our lives are either spent in doing nothing at all, or in doing nothing to the purpose, or in doing nothing that we ought to do. We are always complaining that our days are few and acting as though there would be no end of them.”
What Are You Waiting For? By Ramon M. Maisonet
Your life doesn’t just happen. I don’t make this statement with the intention of offending you, but rather to bring to your attention the very real power you have today over what happens for you tomorrow. Read the next statement slowly and carefully. Your life is carefully designed not only by your choices, but when you make them. You choose contentment. You choose unhappiness. You choose determination. You choose ambivalence. You choose triumph. You choose letdown. You choose the “whats” of your life, and this is great. However, hear me when I tell you that your life is not affected by the whats as much as it is affected by the whens. Let me go deeper. Do you know how much someone can negatively affect the potential opportunities in their life by purposely delaying what they have the ability to do now? We know it as procrastination. Napoleon Hill put it best saying, “Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.” Not all procrastination is bad. Sometimes it is wise to hold off on doing something until (a) you get all of the facts, (b) weigh all of the facts, and (c) consider every available option. What I want to address in this article is the procrastination in which people should be doing something very important and instead do: (a) something less important or (b) nothing at all.
Fact: most procrastinators know that they procrastinate. I should know, I’m not just writing about this, but I am also a recovering procrastinator! Even though I’ve learned quite a few tricks over the years to help me stay on task, I don’t always hit the mark. Most days I have a system that allows me to get real work done, and then I have a few days when I get swallowed up in meaningless tasks that I know are sucking the life out of my day—and yet I still allow it. How can we change our habits? Begin with this question: Is this the best use of my time at this present moment? There’s nothing like self-confrontation and a real-time assessment to find out what exactly you are doing with your time.
Tip #1: Block it out. In your personal life, look to block out a day of the week, or an hour of every day, in which you don’t schedule appointments, accept invitations, or allow interruptions. That day, or that hour, is blocked off for working on a project that’s important to you or on something that you should be doing. In your work life, I recommend you really look to becoming calendar-driven. Try to write down all of your important tasks by in order of completion deadlines and dates. Ensure you do progress checks to keep you on track. Tip #2: Accountability. In both your personal and professional life, look to partner with someone who can help keep you on task. Accountability is one of the best methods for avoiding the routine of blowing important things off. The likelihood of your accomplishing important tasks is significantly higher if there’s someone you know that will be holding you accountable. Tip #3: An hour a day. Very few of us have the luxury of taking a year-long sabbatical to devote exclusively to organizing ourselves and setting and achieving important life goals. Most of us have jobs, kids, Families, along with other obligations. I will tell you that the secret of my success has simply been in my devotion of one hour a day. Every single day, I don’t do anything until I’ve devoted the very first hour into what I intend to accomplish that day. If you are goal-driven, this will give you a tremendous sense of accomplishment. If all else fails, keep in mind this thought-provoking perspective by Pablo Picasso who said, “Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.” So, what are you waiting for?
September is National Honey Month and it is dedicated to promoting the beekeeping industry and honey as a natural and beneficial sweetener. Raw and local honey has amazing benefits to the human race, and it should be a staple in your diet. It is a great source of antioxidants. Antioxidants help to protect your body from cell damage due to free radicals. Unfortunately, free radicals have been linked to cancer, chronic diseases, and advanced aging. Honey also is known for its outstanding bacterial and fungal killing properties. This is due to it containing natural hydrogen peroxide! How cool is that? But, that is not the only thing it can do to help heal your body. It has been known to help aid in tissue regeneration, which means it is great for wounds and burns. Do you suffer from stomach problems? Then adding honey to your daily diet could be very beneficial for you. It can be used to treat diarrhea due to it being a great treatment against the Helicobacter pylori bacteria. This strain of bacteria has also been linked to stomach ulcers. Finally, the most common and known benefit of honey is its remarkable ability to treat a sore throat and cough. So, be sure to have it in your pantry this cold and flu season. You will be thankful that you have it to add to your warm tea. If you are now on the hunt for some raw and local honey for your home, you can purchase in the Fort Campbell area at the stores below.
Seasons Market 2091 Wilma Rudolph Blvd, Clarksville Clarksville Downtown Market 1 Public Square, Clarksville Farm Fresh Produce 540 Big Pond Rd, Trenton
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In honor of National Hispanic American Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15, we wanted to bring you some delicious and authentic Hispanic recipes to try out this month. Elote (Street Corn) Vegetable oil, for brushing • 1 teaspoon chili powder ½ teaspoon cayenne powder • 8 ears of corn, husked ¼ cup mayonnaise or unsalted butter ½ cup crumbled cotija cheese, Parmesan, or ricotta salata 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges To begin, light your grill. Brush grill grate with oil. Combine chili powder and cayenne in a small bowl. Then begin grilling your corn, and turning it occasionally with tongs. Do this for about 10 minutes. Remove from grill and immediately brush each ear with 1½ tsp. mayonnaise. Sprinkle each with 1 Tbsp. cheese and a pinch of chili powder mixture. Squeeze 1 lime wedge over each ear and serve.
Ceviche 1 lb cooked shrimp diced • 1 cup lime juice from 6 limes 1 cucumber peeled and diced • 1 large avocado 2 roma tomatoes diced • 1⁄2 red onion diced 1 ⁄4 bunch cilantro chopped • 1 jalapeno seeded and minced 1 ⁄4 tsp black pepper or to taste • 1 cup clamato juice Start by dicing the shrimp and placing it into a large bowl. Squeeze 1 to 1 1⁄4 cups lime juice over shrimp. Stir to combine then cover and marinate in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes. Chop the vegetables: cucumber, avocado, tomatoes, red onion, jalapeno and cilantro. When shrimp are done marinating, add vegetables to the bowl. Add 1⁄4 tsp black pepper or season to taste and gently stir to combine. Lastly, stir in 1 cup clamato juice, mixing just to combine. Serve with tortilla chips or over tostadas. 25
National Kids Take Over The Kitchen Day is on September 13th, so we wanted to take this opportunity to show off all of the amazing tiny chefs that the Fort Campbell Area has in its kitchens! You are never too young to create delicious recipes, and these kids are proving that.
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Fort Campbell’s Service Excellence Earns Prestigious Presidential Award by Brendalyn Carpenter-Player
Fort Campbell achieved the highest honor among Army garrisons, Aug. 11 with the presentation of the 2021 Commander in Chief’s Annual Award for Installation Excellence at 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) headquarters. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Installations Paul D. Cramer, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Construction within the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Sustainment) Michael McAndrew, presented the highly competitive presidential award to Fort Campbell leaders during a virtual ceremony. The garrison workforce was recognized for exemplary achievements in supporting Department of Defense missions while also enhancing the working and living conditions for the post’s Soldiers and Families. Additionally, local mayors and community partners were recognized for their longstanding support and contributions. “Fort Campbell and the 101st have an unparalleled reputation for being the assignment of choice for Soldiers and their Families,” said Maj. Gen. JP McGee, commanding general of the 101st Abn. Div. and Fort Campbell. “It’s evident in the support the installation provides, our tradition of training excellence, our friendship with the greater community, and in the rich heritage of this place we call home. None of this would be possible without the hard work of our garrison civilians, Soldiers, and contractors who make it happen every day for our Warfighters and
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their Families. This award is well-deserved and I’m proud to bring it home to Fort Campbell where it belongs.” The competition judged performance in several areas of installation management including mission support, energy conservation, quality of life, unit morale, environmental stewardship, real property management, safety, health and security, communications and public relations during fiscal year 2020. Among Fort Campbell’s major achievements are mounting an early and effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, deploying more than 20,000 personnel and 8,500 pieces of equipment to support six named and multiple training operations, innovating best practices to increase quality of life for Soldiers and Families, starting work on an $87.4 million five-year housing development plan, demolishing nearly 100,000 square feet of World War II-era wooden structures, consolidating services and strengthening relations with community partners. “Installation excellence is really based on community partners that are there to deliver, because we are no longer islands in the middle of states or in the middle of cities,” Cramer said. “We rely on local communities to deliver services each and every day. Thank you for everything you’ve done for the service members in delivering the services that are needed so that we can maintain a ready force for the United States.”
Visit Clarksville and Oak Grove Tourism Commission are partnering to host the sixth Welcome Home Celebration September 15-19. The five-day event includes a variety of free exhibits located on the grounds of Oak Grove Gaming and activities, along with ticketed events like meals and concerts, all designed to show appreciation for the service and valor of America’s veterans. The main event will be an American Veteran Traveling Tribute Wall, an 80-percent replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, is returning for the 2021 event along with the Field of Honor-Veterans Tribute flag display, and the Traveling Korean War Memorial, which is also a replica of the Korean Memorial in our nation's capital.
Two other exciting exhibits are also joining the lineup. The first one is the General Tommy Franks Mobile Classroom & Road Show. It is a mobile museum designed to enhance and enrich the learning experience of students. Exhibits include cultural, social and geographical items and information from 25 countries, from Africa, the Middle East and South Central Asia including cultural dress, one-of-a-kind handcrafted items, children’s toys, ceremonial items and the first democratic ballot from Afghanistan. There will also be a Cost of Freedom Tribute that includes a dedicated Afghanistan & Iraq Warrior’s tribute with all casualty names and Medal of Honor recipients for the Iran Hostage Situation, El Salvador Civil War, Beirut, Lebanon Barracks Bombing, Invasion of Grenada, Operation El Dorado Canyon Libya, USS Stark Bombing, Invasion of Panama, Cold War, Gulf War, Somalia, Khobar Towers, USS Cole Bombing, along with WWI & WWII. Also included in the Cost of Freedom is a special tribute dedicated to the lives lost on 9/11, complete with timelines, casualty listings, Flight 11, Flight 175, Flight 77 & The Pentagon, & Flight 93/PA. It is the only one in the country. Be sure to attend the many other activities that are free and open to the public from 9am on Thursday, September 16 through 9am on Sunday, September 19. Some of those include the documentary “The Girl Who Wore Freedom”, a Veteran Picnic, Remembrance Ceremony & Wreath Laying, and a Welcome Home Parade. A Few of the Other Available Ticketed Events: • • •
Enjoy an opening dinner on Wednesday evening at Oak Grove's Valor Hall. Hear a panel of speakers discuss the 30th anniversary of Desert Storm. A closing dinner at Oak Grove Gaming on Saturday evening takes place in a beautiful room overlooking the racetrack. CMA Male Vocalist of the Year, Grammy Award Winner and American Patriot Lee Greenwood will perform at the amphitheater at Oak Grove Gaming. Local favorites Music 4 Mercy will open for Greenwood. Tickets will be available soon on Ticketmaster.
Tickets are available for all events except the Lee Greenwood concerts at www.welcomehomeveteranscelebration.com. 30
School is back in full swing, and the days of packing daily snacks and lunches are underway. Are you looking for some cute and funny jokes to add to your child's lunchbox to spice things up? Leaving little daily surprises in their lunchboxes can truly help turn any frown upside down if they are having a rough day at school. Here are a few kid-friendly jokes that will surely bring a smile to your child's face.
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The 10th Annual USO Ten Miler, 5K, and Free Fun Run, presented by Kroger, will be here soon! The race will be held on Saturday, October 16 and the start/finish line will once again be at the Fort Campbell's Division Parade Field. Registration for all three events is at https://runsignup.com/uso10miler5kandfreefunrun. The registration fees for the Ten Miler (currently $25) and the 5K (currently $30) increase soon! The Fun Run is always free, but registration is required! The money raised in the event supports the programs and services at USO Fort Campbell and USO Nashville.
Strollers are welcome in these races! Children will be allowed to ride a bicycle in the 5K and the 10 Miler to accommodate parent participation, but those families must start in the back of the pack. (More information about this will be shared with registered runners and on the Facebook page!) To be a part of the race conversation, follow the event on Facebook at www.facebook.com/events/1078432456014189. Finishers in the 10 Miler and the 5K will receive a medal. Due to this being the 10th Annual event, all 10 Miler and 5K participants will receive a tee-shirt included with their registration this year! There will also be some fun surprises! There are many opportunities to volunteer, cheer, and sponsor the race. Anyone wishing to participate without running is encouraged to email Kari Moore at kmoore@uso.org!