Community Foundation to implement Imagine Nashville recommendations
After revealing the results of a study of more than 10,000 Nashvillians in February, the Imagine Nashville team took seven months to engage residents and experts in creating more than 30 ideas for action. Imagine Nashville co-chairs Dr. Alex Jahangir and John Faison Sr. joined Mayor Freddie O’Connell for his Friday media roundtable to unveil the group’s recommendations.
“We wanted to create a unified vision
for the next decade driven by shared values of Nashvillians and providing a road map for policymakers, nonprofit leaders, philanthropists, business, community and neighborhood groups alike,” Jahangir said.
“As we stand before you today, I’m really proud to say I think we’ve reached our goal.”
“It was reassuring to discover that their data deep-dive reinforced what we had heard from voters across the city all year,” O’Connell said. “Keeping our transition
process and the Imagine Nashville process linked was an important decision for us.
After a campaign built on making it easier for Nashvillians to stay and thrive here, we worked through the first year of this administration to improve quality of life and make Nashville more affordable.”
The four areas of focus laid out Friday morning included creating pathways for a higher standard of living, moving people around the city safely
storm
East Tennessee
Tennesseans, non-profit organizations and government agencies are stepping up to donate and distribute aid to those impacted by what is being described as “historic” damage from Hurricane Helene, which caused widespread devastation to East Tennessee and surrounding states over the weekend.
The then-Category 4 hurricane made landfall in Florida on Sept. 26 and traveled north into Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas.
First responder agencies from across the state have deployed to the region, and Bristol Motor Speedway has also been designated as the Northeast Tennessee Disaster Relief Center, which is receiving and storing donations from across the nation for the foreseeable future.
Anyone wishing to volunteer to help the continued cleanup efforts can sign up on the Tennessee Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters website.
Monetary donations are being collected by a variety of groups including the East Tennessee Foundation, United Way of East Tennessee Highlands’ Disaster Relief Fund, TN Baptist Disaster Relief, Region A.H.E.A.D., Team Rubicon, Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort, Convoy of Hope, Appalachia Service Project, Samaritan’s Purse, AIDNET – United Way of Greene County, Catholic Charities of East TN, Aerial Recovery, Hope Force International, and Cocke County Partnership Relief Fund.
On Oct. 2, U.S. President Joe Biden approved Gov. Bill Lee’s request for Expedited Major Disaster Declaration, which will increase federal recovery assistance to eight Tennessee counties
NICOLLE S. PRAINO
HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee CEO Hal Cato PHOTO: NICOLLE S. PRAINO
Community Foundation
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
and efficiently, matching the demand for attainable and affordable housing, and fostering a high quality of life and distinct character for each neighborhood.
“From young people to aging Nashvillians, immigrants to LGBTQ residents, these are the voices that make Nashville what it is, yet many feel like they’re on the outside looking in,” Imagine Nashville co-chair Renata Soto, who was unable to join the meeting, said in a release. “We were intentional about including all these groups in shaping our vision for the future. We want Nashville to be a place where everyone can see themselves.”
The research showed the sense of belonging that 78 percent of Nashvillians feel is also at risk, with 72 percent of respondents seeing a growing divide between the rich and poor and 57 percent of low-income families feeling increasingly excluded from the opportunities of living in the city. In the meeting Friday, Faison recognized this as well as the need for management of growth.
“The bottom line is we’ve got to focus not just on growing, but also on making sure people are thriving,” Faison said. “We also feel a sense of duty to the thousands of Nashvillians who rolled up their sleeves and helped us imagine what Nashville could be. We owe it to them to ensure that these ideas are implemented with faithfulness and with fidelity.”
As part of the announcement, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee CEO Hal Cato joined the group to share that the foundation would be forming implementation teams for each of the four recommendations. He said the
Community Foundation will work directly with the mayor’s office, including senior director of civic and community engagement Brittany Irby, on these initiatives.
“Our goal here is to really create worldclass, public, nonprofit, philanthropic partnerships that advance each priority,” Cato said. “Each team will be led by leaders from the public and nonprofit sector and charged with developing a multiyear scope of work that aligns to clear, actionable and measurable strategies that will be supported by implementation team coordinators.”
He said the question of how to know whether they are really able to move the needle was an ongoing challenge that came up during the process. To address that, the Community Foundation is forming a partnership with the Belmont Innovation Lab for Social Impact to create a community indicators platform that uses artificial intelligence and combines data points from the Imagine Nashville study and other relevant data.
“I feel very hopeful that it will give our community the potential to weave together both the anecdotal and the empirical data that we need to know where progress is truly happening and what’s behind it,” Cato said.
He noted that other studies have taken place in the past five to 10 years, and that this kind of data repository can help identify where the city is in relation to those findings and be a source for future progress markers. Cato said a group of data scientists from Belmont and Vanderbilt universities are working on developing an active demo that they hope to have ready by the end of the month.
Hurricane relief
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington — in addition to ongoing local- and state-level recovery efforts.
Earlier that day, Lee gave an update on recovery efforts at the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) Operations Center in Nashville in what he called an ongoing “survivor-centric effort.”
“What we’ve seen is a historic situation unfolding in East Tennessee, and I think what we’re seeing is frankly a historic response,” Lee said.
“There has been [a] significant response and there is a tremendous amount of work to do.”
Lee detailed that nearly 400 Tennessee Army National Guardsmen, 400 Tennessee Department of Transportation employees, and 200 state troopers have been assisting local agencies in East Tennessee.
The state has confirmed eight weatherrelated fatalities, while dozens of people remain missing. The death toll from the storm has surpassed 160 throughout the Southeast.
“The Expedited Major Disaster Declaration is a crucial first step in providing survivors with essential resources,” TEMA Director Patrick C. Sheehan said in a news release. “Our focus remains on a survivorcentered response, ensuring that the recovery process is as smooth and supportive as possible for those impacted.”
Sheehan said that more than 600 homes across four counties were damaged by the storm, 120 of which were destroyed and 313 of which received “major damage.” Five bridges were also destroyed by the flood waters.
Lee has made several tours of the affected areas, including with Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty.
Nashville Jewish community remembers Oct. 7 attacks with memorial Event featured art installation, commitment to community
Hundreds gathered at The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom in Belle Meade on Monday evening to mark the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
The memorial featured prayers, live music, and testimonials from numerous faith leaders, community members and an Israeli Defense Force soldier, as well as an art installation that honored the 1,200 victims killed and the hundreds of people kidnapped in the attack, which included numerous Americans.
“As we mark one year since Oct. 7, during our high holiday season [Rosh Hashanah] of awe and introspection, where we recommit to being the best versions of ourselves, we recommit to living proudly as Jews, growing in our knowledge and practicing joy, even when it feels uncomfortable; we recommit to making our voices heard in the offices of our elected leaders…and in the halls of our capitals,” Rabbi Dan Horwitz, CEO of the
Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville, said. Horwitz pledged to continue advocating for the release of the hostages and supporting the IDF, and urged memorial attendees to continue to invest in Israel through tourism and support Jewish community and advocacy groups both domestically and abroad.
“Our family is in need, and we have the means to help,” Horwitz continued. “This is our generation’s moment, and we will not take Israel or her people for granted.”
Among the attendees was District 55 state Rep. John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville), who told The News that it was “important for me and others to show support for our entire community at times like this.”
Nashville’s Jewish community also gathered days after the 2023 attack, which came as Israelis were celebrating the end of the seven-day-long Jewish festival Sukkot, with Hamas militants breaching
Jewish Federation of Greater Nashville CEO Rabbi Dan Horwitz speaks at The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom in Belle Meade.
PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Gov. Bill Lee tours storm damage in East Tennessee following Hurricane Helene.
PHOTO: BRANDON HULL/OFFICE OF GOV. BILL LEE
Israeli territory by land, sea and air.
U.S. President Joe Biden commemorated the anniversary in a separate memorial service, and renewed calls for a ceasefire and hostage deal.
Just over four miles away from the temple, hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched and held their own vigil at Centennial Park, decrying what they argue is an ongoing genocide.
Nashville and other U.S. cities have seen numerous demonstrations over the past year,
calling for an end to the expanding war, which has killed more than 40,000 people in Gaza and injured 10s of thousands more, many of whom are children.
Nashvillians demonstrate at Centennial Park calling for a ceasefire in Gaza on the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
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Nashvillians walk through an art exhibit at The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom in Belle Meade. PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Musicians perform at The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom in Belle Meade.
PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Vanderbilt football shocks the world, knocks off No. 1 Alabama
Commodores
never trailed in first win over top-ranked opponent
JOHN GLENNON
Only days after Vanderbilt linebacker — and Nashville native — Langston Patterson said he and his teammates were ready to shock the world; the Commodores did just that on Saturday night.
In one of the more stunning upsets in recent college football history, Vandy knocked off the No. 1 team in the nation for the first time, overwhelming top-ranked
Alabama 40-35 at FirstBank Stadium.
It was a victory for the ages for the black-and-gold faithful, who tore down the goalposts, marched them a couple of miles down Broadway and dumped them in the Cumberland River to celebrate.
Heading into the contest, Vanderbilt had been 0-10 against No. 1 teams, 0-60 against top-five teams and had lost 23 consecutive games to Alabama (4-1, 1-1).
Surely, Vandy coach Clark Lea and his players were among the few who gave the Commodores a chance against an Alabama team that last week knocked off rival Georgia.
“We expected to win that game,” Lea told reporters afterward as he fought back tears. “That’s not shocking to me. I was going to be emotional no matter what because it’s a big win. To capture that stadium and as we’re kneeling the ball out — just to picture in my mind of what the dream is — that is the dream. That’s why I came here. That’s what I came here to do.”
Vandy (3-2, 1-1) was the better team for the better part of the game, outgaining Alabama 418-394, converting 12-of-18 third-down attempts and winning the time of possession battle by an incredible margin of 42:08 to 17:52.
The Commodores never trailed, didn’t
commit a turnover and were penalized just three times for 20 yards.
“I felt like we physically were the more dominant team tonight,” said Lea, a Nashville native and Montgomery Bell Academy graduate. “That’s a statement. These guys played tough. We made it hard. [Alabama] got some plays with their skill and they were able to snuff out [quarterback Diego Pavia] a couple times. But we just kept throwing our punches.”
Pavia, the transfer from New Mexico State, was not surprisingly the engine of Vanderbilt’s offense production.
The same quarterback who didn’t get a single FBS scholarship offer coming out of high school tore apart the Crimson Tide defense, completing 16-of-20 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 20 carries for 56 yards.
Both of Pavia’s touchdown passes came in the game’s last 18 minutes, and both were backbreakers for ‘Bama.
In the closing moments of the third quarter, Pavia connected with Lipscomb Academy grad Junior Sherrill on a 36-yard, fourth-and-one pass that put the ‘Dores ahead 30-21.
In the fourth quarter, Pavia led a sevenplay, 53-yard drive following a Vandy strip sack of Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.
Pavia capped the drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kamrean Johnson, giving the ‘Dores a 40-28 advantage. It was enough points to win, despite Alabama scoring with 2:46 remaining.
Vandy held leads of 13-0 — following Randon Fontenette’s 36-yard interception return for a touchdown — and 23-7 before Alabama scored a touchdown just before halftime to make it 23-14.
“This isn’t an arrival for our program,” Lea said. “It’s a beginning in some ways. I do feel like this is a breakthrough moment for us, but it only matters in terms of the climb we’re on and the journey if we turn and get right back in our process.”
In his fourth year at Vanderbilt, Lea began this season with a 7-27 record.
“Obviously you know how much this means to me,” Lea said. “I love our university. I love our city. I love our program. This is why I came back. It’s meant to be emotional because, again, I bled a lot into this and again, it just feels great to be able to celebrate with a team I love and care about. I look forward to doing that more in the future.”
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Post.
Tennessee Supreme Court to hear argument over state districts map
Fighting over how Senate, House elections are determined on the docket
CONNOR DARYANI, NASHVILLE BANNER
This story is a partnership between the Nashville Banner and The News. The Nashville Banner is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization focused on civic news. Visit nashvillebanner.com for more information.
How much leeway should the General Assembly have to redraw legislative districts?
Thursday morning, the Tennessee Supreme Court heard arguments in two challenges to the state’s Senate and House district maps. Francie Hunt and Gary Wygant brought lawsuits against the state over its district maps — Hunt against the Senate map, and Wygant against the House map. While a three-judge panel ruled in 2023 against Wygant’s case that the House map is unconstitutional because it split the maximum of 30 counties — a move that is allowed only under the Tennessee Constitution if it is required to appease federal redistricting laws — it made a 2-1 ruling in Hunt’s favor, finding that the
Senate map was unconstitutional because the Davidson County Senate districts were not numbered consecutively.
On Thursday, the bulk of the arguments revolved around standing — whether or not Hunt or Wygant had the ability to bring the suits — with the state challenging whether the redistricting actually injured either of the plaintiffs and if they even had a right to make a legal challenge.
“Even if Ms. Hunt did have some constitutional interest in having the opportunity to vote for a stable Senate delegation, violation of that right by itself is not an injury,” said Assistant Solicitor General Philip Hammersley. “There has to be something else concrete.”
Hunt lives in Senate District 17, which encompasses all of Wilson County and a small piece of Davidson County and is represented by Republican Mark Pody. She lives in the Davidson County piece. When a single county has multiple Senate
districts, the state constitution requires those districts to be numbered consecutively so that the senators’ election is equally staggered every two years. The current map has districts 17, 19, 20 and 21 all within Davidson County, meaning three of the four senators representing Davidson County face reelection in the same year.
“This particular Senate district includes part of Davidson County and Wilson County,” said Chief Justice Holly Kirby in response to Hammersley’s argument that Hunt was uninjured.
“She would have an interest in her senator being in as strong a position as possible if Davidson County gets attacked. And certainly, Davidson County has been criticized. How does that not manifest if there’s not stability if the configuration of this district and the non-staggering of terms places her senator in a less advantageous position to be cohesive with the other Davidson County senators?”
Hammersley went further, arguing that voters would not have standing to argue the redistricting injured them, and that “if forced to speculate,” the only people he could think of who could show they were injured were either county commissioners whose jobs were made more difficult by having to run three elections at once, or an incumbent in the misnumbered district.
“So the only injury that you can pose to us is a county commissioner who says that’s too much trouble?” asked Kirby. “That’s not why the constitutional provision was enacted. It has to do with continuity of the representation within the populace counties.”
Turning to the Wygant case, attorney Scott Tift argued that the Supreme Court should overturn the three-judge panel’s ruling. While Tift acknowledged that the splitting of counties, which goes against the Tennessee constitution, is allowed and sometimes necessary to align with federal redistricting laws, he argued that
Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia
PHOTO: DAVID RUSSELL
the burden of proof lies on the state to show that 30 divisions are necessary.
“Our founders decided to ban the dividing of counties. We don’t know why they did; it’s been in there for 200 years. And when you divide a county, you are expressly violating that constitutional provision,” said Tift. “The state has to justify that divide.”
Most of the court’s questions revolved around the argument that the state legislature needs flexibility when redrawing the House districts, and that constitutional factors, such as political subdivisions, geography and population equality can be used to draw districts. However, Tift argued that while those factors are available to the state legislature, they do not override the prohibition on splitting counties.
“What this language isn’t sufficient to do is show that everything else in the Constitution doesn’t apply,” said Tift. “If that were the case, districts would not need to be contiguous anymore. They wouldn’t need to be adjacent. You could pick the left and right side of the state and make that into a district, they wouldn’t have to be divided. Everything else that’s a clear prohibition in the Constitution would be overridden.”
But Hammersley argued that the general assembly has the discretion to pick other factors when drawing the districts and that the courts are “ill-equipped to second guess legislative determinations” on how to draw the districts in a balanced way.
“So if we were to find that this is a political question and say we should not be involved, the legislature could divide every county in the state with no consequences [from the courts]?” asked Justice Jeffrey Bivins.
“The legislature could do that, yes,” said Hammersley, arguing that the consequences could come from the people of Tennessee choosing to vote out the legislators due to the redistricting.
While the three-judge panel ruled in 2023 that the Senate maps would have to be redrawn by January, which would have affected the November elections, the Supreme Court in December stayed that order, allowing the maps to remain as is until the higher court comes back with its ruling. If the Supreme Court rules in either of the plaintiffs’ favor, the ruling would likely not be effective until 2026.
Council finalizes nominations for East Bank Development Authority
Two of five nominees will be selected by councilmember vote on Nov. 7
NICOLLE S. PRAINO
Metro Council has named five nominees for two positions the body gets to appoint for the East Bank Development Authority.
District 19 Councilmember Jacob Kupin, who serves the area in which the East Bank sits, nominated Cumberland River Compact executive director Mekayle Houghton. District 4 Councilmember Mike Cortese nominated Kerry Garner. District 2 Councilmember Kyonzté Toombs nominated Nathaniel Carter. District 5 Councilmember Sean Parker nominated Scott Tift. District 10 Councilmember Jennifer Frensley Webb nominated Bob Braswell.
Nominees will meet with the council’s rules, confirmations, and public elections committee on Tuesday, Oct. 15. If a nominee does not appear at the meeting, she or he will be withdrawn from the nomination. Council will vote on Nov. 7 to officially elect its two members to the authority.
There are two terms with one expiring June 30, 2026, and one expiring June 30, 2027. The person elected with the most votes from council will fill the longer term and the second person elected will fill the shorter term.
The authority, comprising a board of directors consisting of nine members, will be allowed to enter into contracts, own and
manage property, issue bonds and exercise power of an industrial development board, housing authority, parking authority and port authority.
Mayor Freddie O’Connell will appoint five members to supplement the Metro Council’s two. The mayor is working on his selections, but no announcements have been made yet.
The speakers of the state Senate and House of Representatives, or someone else of their choosing, will serve as the final two members to make up nine board members.
Metro Council officially created the authority after passing an ordinance on Aug. 20 adopting the state’s private act that lays out how the authority will be governed.
The ordinance that adopts the state’s East Bank Development Authority legislation notes that future development of the area will require coordination of public and private projects and management of the design and construction of substantial infrastructure improvements.
In addition to Metro’s agreement with The Fallon Company for 30 acres of initial development and the future Nissan Stadium, the authority will oversee the land that will become the Oracle campus.
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The City of Oak Hill will hold a Special Called Meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals on October 15th, 5:00 PM at the City of Oak Hill Offices, 5548 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN 37220. The meeting is set to replace the regular BZA meeting to cover the heavy case load. The agenda for this meeting will cover normal business as heard by the BZA for cases as requested by the applicants. This Agenda will be available 48 hours prior to the meeting date by visiting the city’s website at www.oakhilltn.us or by calling (615) 371-8291.
Graduate students file for union vote at Vanderbilt Bargaining unit includes 2,200 student-workers, according to new NLRB case
Vanderbilt University graduate students filed with the National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday for a union election, a move that signals confidence from organizers who have been consolidating support on campus for more than a year.
Within 24 hours, Vanderbilt lawyers filed a petition to slow down the process, arguing that an Oct. 10 hearing scheduled by the NLRB did not provide the school with enough time to prepare its response. The NLRB filing estimates the campus bargaining unit — the total number of eligible employees covered under these negotiations — at 2,200, encompassing “all graduate student employees enrolled at Vanderbilt University who provide
instructional services, research services, or administrative services, regardless of funding source.” To win the union, a simple majority of the bargaining unit must vote in favor.
Universities across the country have experienced a boom in on-campus unions over the past few years.
Vanderbilt organizers reported in February that they had collected hundreds of union authorization cards from colleagues, a typical first step in consolidating support. National labor giant United Auto Workers of America has helped guide on-campus group Vanderbilt Graduate Workers United through the legal and practical work of forming a union. The NLRB opened the labor case on Oct. 2.
The university has ramped up antiunion messaging in recent months. A school webpage titled “Union Facts” lays out arguments against unionization. While petitioners’ case is built on how graduate students function as employees, the school emphasizes campus work as educational and describes a “mentor-mentee relationship” between faculty and grad students.
On Friday, administrators C. Cybele Raver and C. André Christie-Mizell sent a letter to graduate students criticizing the union push.
“We believe unionization conflicts with the core goal of the Vanderbilt educational experience: to provide a flexible, collaborative environment in which learning, discovery and innovation are nurtured,” reads the email, sent Friday morning.
“Further, we believe graduate students do not meet the definition of ‘employee’ under the National Labor Relations Act. For these reasons, our position is that unionizing is not well-suited to meeting the varying individual needs of our graduate students.”
The email promotes the Graduate Student Council, an elected on-campus body, as a way to address student grievances. While direct doctoral stipends this year range from $34,000 to $38,000, Vanderbilt administrators referenced a “comprehensive financial aid package” worth more than $75,000 a year in the email.
“It’s pretty offensive stuff, honestly —
‘We believe graduate students do not meet the definition of employee’ is ridiculous,” one Ph.D. student, who is preparing to defend his thesis, tells The News sister publication the Nashville Scene. “At least in STEM, all of us do some amount of labor to produce science that significantly benefits the university financially. TAs do critical labor for many classes. I just don’t understand how you could consider that not to be an ‘employee.’”
Students across disciplines work in labs, produce research for grants and facilitate undergraduate classes.
Grad students’ efforts have already cost the university money. Days after an on-campus rally, the school announced it would increase students’ annual pay floor from $28,000 to $34,000, an immediate concession toward union demands for higher pay. Vanderbilt also retained attorneys Jim Thelen, Brooke E. Niedecken and Kameron Miller at Littler Mendelson — known for representing employer interests in unionization attempts — to lead labor negotiations.
Vanderbilt did not immediately respond to the Scene’s request for comment. The UAW and GWU have not issued an official press release.
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Scene.
TheraPaint Studio offers creative ways to relieve stress
So often we hear the phrase, “Take whatever life throws at you.” Well, the newly opened TheraPaint Studio gives you the chance to throw a little paint back at life.
In June, husband-wife duo Jake and Jackie Laurian Long opened a first-of-its-kind paint-throwing studio in Nashville. The idea, born from a particularly stressful time in the
couple’s life, began in a home studio, where Jackie invited friends to relieve stress by throwing paint. TheraPaint Studio has since grown into a fun business that invites clients to unwind, release tension and even improve range of motion — all by throwing paint.
At TheraPaint Studio, paint throwing is a luxurious and surprisingly clean experience. Guests dress head-to-toe in protective gear and spend 45 minutes throwing bright, milk-based paint on a compostable canvas. The exercise makes the most of the mindbody connection, helping guests produce endorphins — happy hormones — and release pent-up emotions. After the session, guests can take a moment for private reflection in the Zen Den or the meditation garden, which is grown with compost made from the used canvases. They also leave with a keepsake — a photo of their paintthrowing masterpiece.
Jackie and Jake thoughtfully laid out the studio, embracing luxury, sustainability and calm. The design came alive under Jackie’s direction. She furnished the space
with secondhand pieces and favored ecofriendly paints and materials — all while maintaining some of the historic site’s original elements. After each session, the milk-based paint, paint containers and canvases are composted; the paintbrushes and protective glasses are washed for reuse; and clients are encouraged to save their paint-throwing suits for future visits.
Jackie and Jake have seen clients embrace the experience — even if they were skeptical before giving paint throwing a try. “I have become such a firm believer in traditional and adjunct therapies, especially for men who tend to shy away from such practices,” says Jake, studio co-owner and a former All-Pro NFL player. “Since our opening, we have seen firsthand the positive impact paint throwing has on our clients, and are thrilled to have concrete evidence that it really works.”
TheraPaint Studio is located at 1613 17th Ave. S., Nashville.
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nfocus.
JANET KURTZ
TheraPaint Studio PHOTO: ERIC ENGLAND
ELI MTOYCKA
Vanderbilt’s campus PHOTO: Vanderbilt University
Five free and cheap family things to do in Middle Tennessee
This list couldn’t possibly capture the sheer amount of fall and Halloween happenings going on around town, but here we try to get to some of the favorite, can’t-miss events for families this season.
Beginning with the Fall Tennessee Craft Fair, which has plenty for the kids and other members of the family, and moving
through several opportunities to get outside and enjoy the crisp, as-autumn-as-it-gets-inTennessee air. Here’s hoping your kid already has the perfect costume picked up and doesn’t request something different between now and Oct. 31.
As part of our series on free cheap things to do with the family, here is our weekly
roundup of places to spend time together over the next week:
46TH ANNUAL FALL TENNESSEE CRAFT FAIR
At Centennial Park, the Tennessee Craft Fair is slated for Oct. 11-13. This exhibition and fair requires artists to be on-site so that attendees can meet the artists. Folks will have items built from everything from clay to wood to metal and glass. The festival also has plenty of hands-on activities for children, food and educational demonstrations for the whole family.
BOO AT THE ZOO
While it’s not at all free or cheap at $19 per person through the week and $23 on the weekends, Boo at the Zoo begins this weekend. This event, which takes place throughout the entire zoo, will have a Ferris wheel, storytime, spooky scenes and photo opportunities, giant straw creatures, free rides on the carousel and nightly animal shows. Dressing up is encouraged.
THE SPECTACULAR DRIVE-IN LASER LIGHT SHOW –DOUBLE FEATURE!
On Oct. 11-12 from 7:30-10 p.m., the Spectacular Drive-in Laser Light Show –
Double Feature is coming to Franklin. Pack up your car to check out a laser light show set to music for $39 per car. The event will have food trucks and other vendors, and you can purchase tickets ahead of time to ensure your place at the show.
FALL FUN FEST AT THE MALL AT GREEN HILLS
At The Mall at Green Hills, they’re hosting a special Halloween fun fest with games, crafts, snacks, music, a selfie station and more on Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Everything is free, but it’s also first come, first served and while supplies last. Dressing up is encouraged.
COLUMBIA MAIN STREET FALL FEST
Another fall must is the Fall Fest held by Columbia Main Street on Oct. 12 from 2-8 p.m. The event is free, and includes local music, treats, handmade goods and all kinds of traditional fall activities. Kiwanis of Columbia will also host a fun zone featuring free face painting, balloon artists, caricature artists, inflatables, ax throwing, snow cones and more.
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Tennessee Craft Fair PHOTO: JAYME FOLTZ
Dismas House CEO to step down Kay Kretsch will remain with nonprofit social services provider as an advisor
WILLIAM WILLIAMS
Social services provider Dismas House announced Thursday that Kay Kretsch will step down as chief executive officer by year’s end.
According to a release, Kretsch will become an advisor for the nonprofit, working with the Dismas board of directors, led by chair Taylor Fortune, in the transitioning to a future replacement CEO.
Kretsch began her board service at Dismas House in 2015, overseeing an expansion committee related to what would become a 72-bed facility housing formerly incarcerated men, located at 2424 Charlotte Ave. Having served as board chair in 2018-19, Kretsch led the organization through a startup phase that involved an eight-bed house on Music Row to the existing facility, with the changes coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic.
This past year, Dismas House served 93 formerly incarcerated men, helping them reenter society with employment, housing and holistic services. The release notes that in Tennessee, 30 percent of those released from state prisons are reincarcerated within three years. The Dismas House recidivism rate is now below 2.5 percent.
Relatedly, and during her tenure, Kretsch expanded the Dismas personnel roster from 10 to 23 full-time employees and grew the annual budget from $850,000 to $3.6 million.
“It has been an honor to serve the men of Dismas House and see their transformation firsthand to restore their health and well-being as vibrant members of our community,” Kretsch, who earned an MBA degree from the University of St. Thomas in
Area home sales flatline in September
St. Paul, Minnesota, said in the release.
“I’m grateful to the board, staff, community partners and volunteers who raise the bar to serve more residents and expand our programs. The future of Dismas House is very bright, and the expanded team is prepared for the next level of growth.”
The late Father Jack Hickey, a Vanderbilt University chaplain, founded Dismas House in Nashville in 1974.
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Post.
GNR reports median price for single-family home remains below $500K mark
STAFF REPORTS
The Nashville area saw 2,810 home closings in September — a fractional increase from September 2023, when 2,807 residences changed ownership hands.
This follows the area having registered 3,086 home closings in August — a 6 percent decrease from the 3,305 mark of August 2023.
Relatedly, and according to a Greater Nashville Realtors release, the median price for a single-family home for September was $467,000, down from the $468,410 mark of the corresponding month of the previous year. The single-family home median price figure was $485,000 for August. Before that month, the area had eclipsed the $500,000 mark for three straight months.
The median price for a condominium in September was $356,000, up compared to the $344,995 figure of the same month of last year and an increase compared to the $349,990 mark of August (though down
from the $359,900 mark of July).
For a recent comparison, and in February, the median prices for a residential singlefamily home and a condo were $478,870 and $339,990, respectively.
There were 2,403 sales pending at the end of September, compared to 2,277 pending sales at the conclusion of the same month in 2023.
Inventory at September’s end was 12,308, a 24 percent increase from the 9,896 active listings reported for the same period in 2023. The area continues to see an approximately four-month inventory supply, GNR statistics show.
The GNR release notes the average number of days on the market for a residence in September was 46. The mark was 46 days for August and 42 days for July. For context, February registered 59 days and January recorded 57. In 2023, homes often sold in no more than 40 days.
Conventional 30-year fixed-rate
mortgages offer an average interest rate of about 6.6 percent, according to online source mortgagenewsdaily.com. The figure had been 6.4 in August, 6.7 percent in July and 7.2 percent in May, Forbes reports.
“Median home sale prices and the number of home sales in the Greater Nashville market remained stable in September, with a 3 percent increase in median condo prices,” Kevin Wilson, Greater Nashville Realtors president, said in the release. “With a 5.5 percent increase in pending home sales in September, buyers are moving back into the market and we can expect a stronger fourth quarter.”
The GNR data was collected from Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Maury, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties.
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Post.
Forest Hills to host Pat Nolan for lecture on state of the upcoming election
STAFF REPORTS
The City of Forest Hills will host political analyst Pat Nolan on Oct. 29 for a lecture on the state of the upcoming election.
The free event will take place at 5:30 p.m. at Forest Hills City Hall, located at 6300 Hillsboro Pike.
Nolan has served as a NewsChannel5 political analyst for more than three decades and is the host of Inside Politics.
“We’re excited to have Pat Nolan share his political insights with our neighbors regarding the upcoming election,” Susan Andrews, chair of the Cultural and Natural Resources Committee of the City of Forest Hills, said in a news release.
“Our community is eager for information from a local analyst who understands our concerns and vision for the future of our
neighborhood and beyond. We hope to inspire our residents to learn more about the political climate and our choices in the upcoming election.”
Registration is encouraged by emailing Susan@AndrewsPR.com.
LOGAN BUTTS EDITOR
HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS NEWS REPORTER AND PHOTOJOURNALIST
NICOLLE S. PRAINO STAFF REPORTER
LISA BOLD PRODUCTION MANAGER
CHELON HASTY SALES OPERATIONS MANAGER
ELIZABETH JONES CORPORATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
TODD PATTON CFO
MIKE SMITH PRESIDENT AND CEO
BILL FREEMAN OWNER
Kay Kretsch PHOTO: DISMAS
OPINION
TICKED OFF!
WHY NOT CREATE RATHER THAN JUST CRITIQUE?
Given the flood devastation in East TN that require urgent FEMA aid, I am ticked off that MAGA Trumplicans Ogles, Blackburn and Hagerty recently voted “No” on Government funding, putting politics over country) but no doubt they will be on TV with the poor people in need now acting as if they are relevant!
GOV. LEE – LATE AGAIN
Tennessee House Republican Caucus chair Jeremy Faison posted “President Biden has finally approved [Tennessee governor Bill Lee’s] state of emergency request,” making it sound as if the delay in federal support for the state during the devastation of Hurricane Helene was Biden’s fault. In fact, while Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina all declared emergencies and requested and received federal approval of those declarations before the hurricane hit, Governor Lee did not.
Instead, in keeping with an April joint resolution from the Republican-dominated Tennessee legislature calling for 31 days of prayer and fasting to “seek God’s hand of mercy healing on Tennessee,” Lee proclaimed September 27 “a voluntary Day
of Prayer & Fasting.”
Lee did not declare a state of emergency until late on September 27, after flash flooding had already created havoc. Of course, President Biden approved it immediately. But somehow Marsha Blackburn claimed credit for the “speedy approval” from the president. She refuses to debate or even give interviews, so she twists the facts for votes. That way she can continue to hide from questions about the millions of dollars she continues to receive from big Pharma and the NRA.
I believe in prayer. However, I also believe that God offers us opportunities that can help us in the time of a crisis. Prayers alone do not help the devastation caused by massive flooding; requesting help as soon as possible from a president, who happens to be a Democrat, is more probably what God wanted our governor to do. And prayer alone will not help those affected by the Covenant School shooting. Passing common sense gun laws and not sticking your head in the sand is perhaps what our God would like our legislatures to do.
The comments in the Ticked Off column do not reflect the views of FW Publishing.
INVITATION TO BID
CITY OF BELLE MEADE STREET SIGN UPGRADE PROJECT
Sealed bids for the Street Sign Upgrade Project Contract will be accepted until 9:00 a.m. CST on Friday, November 1, 2024 at Belle Meade City Hall, 4705 Harding Rd., Nashville, TN 37205 at which time said bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. All bids must be made on the forms included in the bid packet. This time and materials contract consists of provision of new sign posts and related materials and labor for installation of new signage throughout the City. Specifications and plans will be available online, or by request, as of 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. Contact Public Works Director Nathan McVay to request a copy of the bid packet: 615-297-6041 or nmcvay@citybellemeade.org or online at www.citybellemeade.org, “Doing Business with the City”. The City reserves the right to waive informalities and to reject any and all bids.
City of Belle Meade Jennifer Moody, City Manager (615) 297-6041
Pomegranate Molasses and Thyme Roasted Squash
BY EDIBLE NASHVILLE
No need to peel the squash for this easy dish. Just cut a acorn squash, butternut squash, or pumpkin into rings then in half again. Any combination of winter squash will work, just make the pieces approximately the same size. You can find
pomegranate molasses at most grocery stores or international markets. You can also substitute standard molasses or honey combined with 1 tablespoon lemon juice for the pomegranate molasses. Be sure to save the seeds to roast.
INGREDIENTS
2 small acorn squash or pumpkins
1 small butternut squash or pumpkin
3 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup pomegranate molasses, divided
1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Carefully cut squash in half and scrape out seeds. Cut acorn squash into rings and then cut rings in half. Trim top from butternut squash and cut into pieces lengthwise.
3. Toss all squash with olive oil. Spread out flat on sheet pan. Drizzle with 1/4 cup pomegranate molasses. Sprinkle
1 handful fresh thyme, plus sprigs for serving large flake sea salt freshly ground black pepper
with thyme, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
4. Roast 20 minutes. Squash should be fork tender, but not mushy. Remove from oven. Cover loosely if not serving immediately. Just before serving, drizzle with remaining molasses and additional fresh thyme sprigs.
Follow Edible Nashville on instagram @ediblenashtn and their website ediblenashville.com.
To subscribe to the magazine that comes out 6x/year, go to ediblenashville.com.
ACROSS
1 V isitor to Mecca
5 Choices for par ty organizers
11 Quick refresher
14 Lamar ___, ex of Khloé Kardashian
15 Top pilot
16 Rapper Lil ___ Vert
17 It will change the way you see yourself
19 Operate, as a program
20 Throw one’s hands up, say
21 Foreign policy grp.
22 Floral bubble tea flavoring
24 On the line
26 Spiral-horned antelope
28 Point of no return on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”
32 Garment that might have a built-in bra, for short
36 Work on Broadway, say
37 Investigator’s interest
38 Pain
40 AirPod holder
42 Boxes for crackers?
43 “A Hard Day’s Night” songwriter
45 U.K. militar y arm
47 Monthly expense
48 Warhead carriers
51 Microwave no-no
52 Cleaning product made in “F ight Club”
57 V fliers
59 Frosty
61 Symbol seen on eight national flags (though, ironically, not the U.S. flag)
62 Writer Rand
70 Penny pinchers
71 London’s Royal Academy of ___ DOWN
1 Labor leader Jimmy
2 What Peter Pan refuses to become
3 Pop rock’s ___ Brothers
4 Duel cr y
5 … rho, sigma, ___, upsilon …
6 Honorific for a Catholic cardinal
7 Makes mistakes
8 Painter Duchamp
9 Prefix with efficiency
10 Hot peppers
11 Caregiver for a pregnant woman
12 Blue, in Spanish
13 Like much cotton candy
18 “Frozen” snowman
63 F irst- and thirdquarter moons, e.g. … or a hint to this puzzle’s theme
66 Call that might precede “first service”
67 Bar tender’s valve
68 Comic book figure
69 Major campaign expense
23 General Motors subsidiary with emergency services
25 Its parent company is Hyundai
27 On the ___
29 Asteroids made a big impact on it in the 1980s
30 Flat
31 Conclude in cour t
32 H.S. course in which one might be graded on a curve?
33 Teen follower
34 Mount Rushmore and the Taj Mahal, e.g.
35 Some navels
39 Red-haired toon who is always seeing red
41 Light racing vehicle
44 Secretive org
46 T ina of “30 Rock”
49 Covers in goo
50 Forward-looking sort
53 Comic actor ___ Baron Cohen
54 Lewd looker
55 On guard
56 Cancún coins
57 Ball
58 Stared at
60 Include in a footnote
64 ___ Moskowitz, a.k.a. “Hawk” on Netflix’s “Cobra Kai”
65 Computer addresses: Abbr
ANSWER TO PUZZLE
Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 9,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/ crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.
Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/ studentcrosswords.
PUZZLE BY KAREEM AYAS
SERVICE & MAINTENANCE
Symphony Ball Late Party Kick-Off
PHOTOS BY DANIEL MEIGS
The Nashville Symphony welcomed an up-and-coming crowd of more than 50 guests to Riviere Rooftop at Four Seasons Hotel Nashville for the Symphony Ball Late Party Kick-off. The Symphony Ball Late Party, which will be hosted in conjunction with the 40th annual Symphony Ball on December 14 at Schermerhorn Symphony Center, is a great opportunity for a younger crowd of rising leaders and philanthropists to support the world-renowned Nashville Symphony. This year’s Late Party will be co-chaired by Virginia Ingram Garchitorena,
Michael and Kacy Young, and Ben Swann. At the kick-off, the crowd enjoyed a variety of passed hors d’oeuvres, like tuna crudo tarts and mini shrimp rolls, and signature cocktails including an old-fashioned and the SoBro Spritz. One lucky guy and gal in attendance were the winners of a drawing for a free white-tie tuxedo rental from Street Tuxedo and a ball gown rental from The Showroom. The Nashville Symphony will hold another drawing for a tux rental and gown rental this fall, eligible for anyone who purchases a Late Party ticket.
Late Party co-chairs Ben Swann, Virginia Ingram Garchitorena, and Michael and Kacy Young
Symphony Ball co-chairs Jason Bradshaw and Bob Deal Evan and Mary Lockhart
Justice Martin, Janay Martin, Kayli Gattz, and Rachel Seel
Kellian Carpenter, Jasmine Greer, and Tyler Parker
Byron Harvey, Branden Burkey, and Jeff vom Saal
Andrew Horowitz, Todd and Sharon Sandahl, and Jacob Tudor
Alan Valentine and Sherry Gibbs
Schuyler Nunnally and Steven Attorri
THE GREEN HILLS APARTMENTS
Care Giver
I'm a in-home private caregiver with 30 years experience and great references. I will take good care of your loved ones.
is no longer just for retired teachers. All seniors 62 and older may apply with no fee. Efficiencies start at $500 which includes utilities.
One bedroom & studio apartments available starting at $625 per month. Must be 62 and older and live independently.
615-297-7536
greenhillsapts@comcast.net
Dawn (615) 513-8905
One bedroom & studio apartments available starting at $650 per month. Must be 62 and older and live independently. I am super personal assistantHousehold / pet management, driver, security, business / legal consulting, problem solver. $50 / hr. Stellar References. (615) 292-7615
Care Giver
Hi my name is Shanda, I'm looking for a personal care position. 10 years experience providing care. I'm confident, I can make a positive contribution to your family. If you like you can reach me at: (615) 484-3323 Madison, Hermitage, Hendersonville, Old Hickory
Sell it in the Classifieds! Call 615-298-1500 to place your ad!
CleaninG svCs.
Residential Cleaning Where Quality & Respect Come First!
www.lighthousecleaningservice.net (615) 957-7661
Licensed, Insured & Bonded
meticulous hardworking, trustworthy, dependable, flexible Reasonable rates. Excellent references. (615) 636-7639
References • Concrete Patios
Steps
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• retaining Walls
• Retaining Walls • Concrete Driveways
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Restore Tuck Pointwork
Custom Entrances
Small Job Specialist
Are you looking for Ultimate Care for your Loved One? 31 years of experience. Outstanding references. Serving Middle Tn. Call Laverne (615) 569-2829
roofing
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Richard’s Cell: 1 (615) 670-2273 (615) 755-3509
Get Results, Advertise Your Business in the News!
$10 for the first 15 words, .30 cents each word extra. Call 615-298-1500 to place an ad
FIREPLACE REPAIR
“For those who want it right the first time!”
W.J. Miller (615) 890-0533
Buy American
sos, serving our seniors is committed to providing consistent quality care. Licenced, Insured and background checked. Give us a call to discuss your future care needs.
SOS Serving Our Seniors www.sos-seniors.com (615) 767-2273
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BBB Accredited w/ Reviews 20 year advertiser!
land ClearinG
4
much more. In business 40+ years; No collection too large or small. Mention this ad when you call. BUY - SELL - TRADE the Great escape Call 615-364-3029 TheGreatEscapeOnline.com
