October 27, 2022

BY MATT MASTERS

Tennessee’s state House District 59 will soon have new representation. Democratic Rep. Jason Potts, who won the seat in 2018 and was reelected in 2020, decided last year not to seek a third term, citing a demanding work schedule and an inability to pass legislation as part of the state’s small Democratic caucus.

Following the Republican supermajority’s extensive redistricting efforts, District 59 now contains Belle Meade and Green Hills, with Democrat Caleb Hemmer and Republican Michelle Foreman facing off for the seat in the Nov. 8 election. Foreman earned 62 percent of votes in the August Republican primary, while Hemmer ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Foreman is a registered nurse and

a Brentwood Academy and Lipscomb University graduate. According to her website, her primary focuses are on education, “responsible government,” low taxes, access to affordable insurance and supporting law enforcement. She’s been endorsed by the Tennessee Right to Life PAC, The Tennessee Conservative, Americans for Prosperity PAC, the Nashville Fraternal Order of Police and Latinos for Tennessee.

Foreman did not return several requests for comment from the Scene.

“No one likes politicians who divide us and turn neighbors against each other,” reads a statement on Foreman’s website.

“That’s not how I was raised growing up in Nashville. It’s not the Nashville Way.”

But Foreman appears to take a different approach on social media. “No matter what a democrat calls themselves, we can call them wrong for us!” reads a recent post. And another: “Democrat politicians have defunded our police departments so many times that there are not enough officers to handle the situation. Crime has escalated to the point that it is literally in our backyards, so my question to voters is this: why in the world would you ever vote Democrat on November 8?”In a conversation with the Scene, Hemmer discusses how to address the country’s widening political divisions.

“I think it starts by electing serious people who have a background of experience of working in government and working across the aisle and getting

Titans, mayor agree to terms on new stadium

BY STEPHEN ELLIOT

Mayor John Cooper and Tennessee Titans leadership on Monday announced they have agreed to terms on the financing package for a new domed stadium they hope to have constructed on the East Bank adjacent to Nissan Stadium.

Negotiations have been ongoing for months, and the Metro Council still must approve the deal and other aspects of a new stadium’s construction. According to the announcement, the Titans and the NFL will put up $840 million for the project, with $500 million from the state and $760 million in Metro revenue bonds contributing to a project that is expected to carry a price tag of more than $2 billion. The Metro portion would be made up of a new 1 percent hotel room sales tax and a sales tax redirect for transactions conducted in the stadium and on a 130-acre tract surrounding it.

Cooper called the agreement a win, as it lets Metro off the hook for a provision in the 1996 Nissan Stadium lease, which obligates the city to provide a “first-class” stadium for the Titans. Venue Solutions Group, a consulting firm hired by Metro, estimated maintaining Nissan Stadium as a “first-class” stadium would cost between $1.75 billion and $1.95 billion through the life of the lease.

The same company estimated in 2017 that Nissan Stadium would need less than $300 million in upgrades. Venue Solutions Group’s full report is not yet complete, but Managing Partner Russ Simons wrote in a letter to Metro that the company’s estimate is “in the order of magnitude of the Tennessee Titans’ consultant’s report.” Cooper initially declined to ask for a second opinion, but the Metro Council pressed the issue.

The deal would have the Titans franchise assume approximately $62 million owed by the city for outstanding maintenance obligations and remaining bond debt under the current stadium lease.

Nissan Stadium demolition costs and the completion of any future

candidates

Democrat

Caleb Hemmer and Republican Michelle Foreman.

Heidi Campbell Tries to Make Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District Purple

BY ELI MOTYCKA

When the state legislature redrew Tennessee’s U.S. congressional districts early this year, Nashville got cracked. It looked like a safe gamble for the state’s Republican supermajority: Lawmakers split the city’s longtime Democratic seat into three — redrawing the lines of the 5th, 6th and 7th districts — and diluting the electoral power of the city’s left-leaning constituency.

Nashville’s historic seat, Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, now bears very little resemblance to its former self. It combines slices of Davidson, Wilson and Williamson counties, as well as Marshall, Lewis and Maury to the south. Along with packing and stacking, cracking is Gerrymandering 101 — all ways to draw boundaries that emphasize or dilute partisan voting power. The state’s efforts turned Nashville’s safe Democratic district, held for two decades by now-retiring Democrat Jim Cooper, into parts of three districts with double-digit margins for Republicans.

Things have changed in nine months. The Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, leaked in May and decided in June, gutted protections for reproductive rights and precipitated chaos in an already dysfunctional health care system. Republicans have targeted the FBI, the IRS and, more recently, Social Security, for budget cuts. On the national level, remaining party planks have been largely replaced by a string of absurd stunts and talking points increasingly divorced from reality — from panics about rainbow fentanyl to targeting transgender health care to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis luring immigrants onto a plane bound for Martha’s

Vineyard.

President Joe Biden has become slightly less unpopular, notching a few termdefining accomplishments with the Inflation Reduction Act and student loan forgiveness. Armed with clear material for campaign offense and defense, Democrats are finally learning how to message to a demographic that is disproportionately older and female — the ideal context for a moderate candidate to win moderate voters in a suburban district.

Against this backdrop, Tennessee’s new 5th Congressional District has become a little bit competitive. Instead of climbing a mountain, the Democratic candidate, state Sen. Heidi Campbell, may just be climbing a hill as she faces off against far-right Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles. Or a slightly smaller mountain. Estimating voting numbers for a brand-new district requires even more conjecture than usual, and every county in the redrawn district went to Trump in 2020 by a nearly 2-to-1 ratio, with the exception of Davidson. But a few interesting developments — namely Ogles’ dogmatic views on abortion — have cleared a narrow path for the Oak Hill Democrat who identifies as a Williamson County soccer mom.

“It’s been inspiring to have a lot of Republicans and independents come on board this campaign,” Campbell tells the Scene. “They are aware their freedoms are being taken away by the far-right faction controlling their party. The precedence of Social Security has surprised me — my opponent wants to eliminate Social Security.

It was the top issue in our poll. And many feel like Dobbs was a bridge too far.”

Since Ogles won the Republican primary in August, Campbell has been on offense. He won with 21,000 votes — 37 percent of the total share. It was enough to edge out major opponents Beth Harwell and Kurt Winstead, but not quite an anointment. An ideological outgrowth of Republicans’ right flank, Ogles made a career bouncing between various think-tank and campaign posts in GOP-libertarian world before his Maury County election in 2019. He comfortably fights in the right’s culture war, relying on platitudes about “separation of powers” and “accountability and transparency” while saving more detailed campaign positions for immigration, guns and abortion.

Ogles does not support access to abortion, even in cases of rape or incest. In December, Ogles briefly made national news for his Christmas card, which featured the mayor and his wife, along with two adolescent children, toting assault rifles. In recent weeks, Ogles added “Take Back TN-05 Republican Nominee Fund 2022” to a growing list of political action committees based in other states to help fund his campaign. Over the summer, a complaint filed with the FEC detailed a “pattern of malfeasance” related to the campaign’s bookkeeping, overseen by campaign treasurer and Nashville conservative mega donor Lee Beaman.

The Ogles campaign did not respond to multiple requests for an interview.

Polling commissioned by the Campbell campaign and shared with the Scene

gives her a slim edge — though the firm that conducted it, Frederick Polls, has historically overestimated margins in favor of Democrats. The survey keys in on “middle partisans,” about half of the poll’s 1,622 respondents, who indicated that they had not yet made up their minds. Poll questions focus on abortion and inflation and emphasize Ogles’ loyalty to Trump, attempting to cast every Republican position as an example of government overreach.

Campbell hits the same points in the same way in a recent Tennessean op-ed, focusing her messaging on abortion access and Ogles’ contempt for basic and popular federal programs like Medicare and Social Security. She frames Ogles as a threat to democracy and “personal” and “basic” freedoms, words that have increasingly filtered into Democratic Party rhetoric after years of the left losing the battle over patriotism. She also takes the chance to shame Ogles for refusing repeated invitations by Campbell to participate in a live debate ahead of Election Day on Nov. 8.

The 5th Congressional District will be a testing ground for Democrats hoping to hold a slim margin in the House. Word out of D.C. is that party leaders are “cautiously optimistic” about midterms. In Nashville, the race is a reminder that state and federal politics are deeply connected, and that democracy is a set of rules that can always be revised.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

STAFF REPORTS

Lipscomb University will host political analyst and former White House advisor David Gergen in November as part of the university’s 2022 Don R. Elliott Distinguished Presidential Lectures series.

According to a news release, the event will take place on Thursday, Nov. 3, at 6 p.m. in the George Shinn Center with a reception in Shinn Lobby at 5 p.m.

Gergen served in the administrations of former Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, and is the author of “Hearts Touched with Fire: How Great Leaders are Made.”

“His decades as a trusted voice on national issues, and years of teaching and mentoring young people to offer a stirring playbook for the next generation of changemakers,” the news release reads.

“By linking lessons of the past with the ever-changing practice of leadership today, Gergen reveals the time-tested secrets of dynamic leadership while sharing the wisdom of the past into an invaluable guide for leaders of our future.”

Lipscomb University to host former White House advisor David Gergen in November

BY BILL FREEMAN

Tennessee can do better than Marsha Blackburn. We have a decades-long career politician representing us in the United States Senate who frequently brings embarrassment on Tennesseans.

Where to begin? Remember when Blackburn grilled Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a Purple Heart recipient and Iraq War hero, while he testified during the 2020

congressional inquiry into Trump strong-

special affairs, called Blackburn’s actions a “testament to cowardice” as she tried to discredit Vindman and questioned his commitment to his country.

And we can’t forget her inflammatory interrogations of Black attorneys who were recently up for consideration for some of the most prominent positions in U.S. courts. Memphis’ own U.S Court of Appeals

Judge Andre Mathis successfully overcame

Blackburn’s comments that he had a “rap sheet with a laundry list of citations” — three speeding tickets received more than 10 years earlier. Was it racist for Blackburn to question whether U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to be nominated to our highest court, had a hidden personal agenda over the use of critical race theory in educational institutions? Many people thought so.

Speaking of education, Blackburn also recently fought to revoke the federal charter of the National Education Association, the labor organization that represents teachers across the nation. How is attacking teachers helpful to our public education system? Was she fighting for more funding? More services for our most at-risk students? Better nutrition standards for school lunch programs? No. She was arguing to revoke the charter of one of our country’s oldest and largest labor organizations — an institution that has protected the rights of teachers and students for more than a century.

“If she’s gonna go on television and say something like that, she needs to be able to back it with facts,” one well-spoken Fairview resident told NewsChannel 5 at the time. “She has taken what the folks in Fairview viewed as a successful town hall, and she went on television and basically delegitimized it for us.”

Blackburn’s veering to the far-right extreme has simply gone too far. Where has the equitable exchange of ideas, legislation and productivity gone? Long gone are the days when Republicans and Democrats could agree to disagree on larger issues but still get the job done. Simply put, we need new representation in the U.S. Senate. We need someone who can and will listen to logic and reason and will work cooperatively and productively on behalf of all Tennesseans — not just the ones who march to the same drum.

If we are to start from scratch, we should consider all angles. What is their possible statewide appeal? Have they staunchly aligned themselves with Trump? Have they championed moderation and consideration? Would they be able to generate interest in their campaign and draw sufficient fiscal support from a wide array of potential constituents? Do they have proven business experience that would apply to political aspirations? After all, if Bill Lee — a man who ran his grandfather’s plumbing company — can win the governor’s seat, that opens the field to a wide array of businesspeople and community leaders.

We should also consider city officials and members of the Tennessee General Assembly who have clearly expressed a desire to improve their communities and better our circumstances. Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton has proven himself to be moderate and well-respected by House members from both sides of the aisle — all while navigating the turbulent waters brought about by state Rep. Glen Casada and his aide Cade Cothren, who were recently arrested as the result of a federal investigation. Conducting business-as-usual is impressive in and of itself in this partisan world, but doing so in the midst of that tumult is a testament to Sexton’s abilities to champion caution and moderation.

arming Ukraine over the Russia mess? Vindman’s attorney, a former U.N. ambassador for

Blackburn’s exaggerations over her 2017 town hall meeting in Fairview, Tenn., must also be considered. Remember that one, when she said on CNN that the Fairview meeting had been stuffed with far-left extremist ringers, with fewer than one-third of the crowd being actual constituents? She was continuing a trend popularized by then-President Trump — casting doubt on legitimate dissatisfaction — as she depicted her critics as radical extremists who had infiltrated a small community’s town hall meeting. Blackburn’s comments that, in essence, the meeting had been delegitimized left many legitimate Williamson County residents who had attended the meeting feeling ignored and pushed to the edges.

Whomever Tennessee elects to the U.S. Senate, we should all hope to be represented by someone whose balanced politics take into consideration the opinions, needs and perspectives of all Tennesseans.

Bill Freeman

Bill Freeman is the owner of FW Publishing, the publishing company that produces the Nashville Scene, Nfocus, the Nashville Post and The News.

PHOTOS BY MATT MASTERS

Cameron Sexton

Marsha Blackburn

Foreman and Hemmer

things done, like I have,” Hemmer says. “Government is very serious business, and it takes serious people that can actually work and effect change for the better, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m running — I’ve got a background and track record of actually doing that.”

Hemmer is a Nashville native who previously served as an aide to former Gov. Phil Bredesen and as an executive in the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. He also served as a commissioner on the Metro Board of Fair Commissioners for the past seven years, and currently works for a health care company. Hemmer has been endorsed by 10 Metro councilmembers and Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall, as well as by his former boss, Bredesen.

Hemmer touts his experience and Metro accomplishments, including the redevelopment of The Fairgrounds Nashville, as proof that he can get things done. He says one of the biggest lessons he’s learned in his government experience is what he calls “the lost art of listening.” He calls health care “a right, not a privilege,” and is focused on education and public safety, calling for fully funding TBI crime labs to address the state’s backlog of untested rape kits.

Hemmer also supports “enhanced background checks” for firearms and increasing law enforcement funding, and pledges to “protect and defend” reproductive rights and gay marriage. He says what he’s heard most from voters are concerns about the economy, education and conservative extremism.

“A lot of people are very concerned about the economy, they’re concerned about education, kitchen-table issues, you know, as well as democracy and extremism in our legislature,” Hemmer tells the Scene. “A lot of comments I get from people when I knock on doors [are about] just how much time and energy is wasted by our general assembly, working on divisive and extremist policies versus kind of the kitchen-table issues that most people care about and affect their daily lives.”

Hemmer calls Foreman’s campaign “more in the chaotic mold” reminiscent of embattled U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia. He says he would approach the office as someone who is “pragmatic and solution-oriented.”

Early voting is already underway in Davidson County and will conclude on Nov. 3, with Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Titans, mayor agree

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

stadium-related infrastructure are to be included in the deal, the release note.

The future stadium would rise on a site located east of the current facility and near the interstate loop on what is now surface parking.

Renderings have not yet been released. Other pieces of the announcement:

The Titans agreed to “waive $32 million of outstanding bills owed by the city for construction and maintenance performed on Nissan Stadium over the past four years” and pay off $30 million in remaining bonds owed on Nissan Stadium.

The new stadium would host four Ten nessee State University home games each year with a dedicated locker room for the college football team.

The new lease will run for at least 30 years, with a new stadium potentially ready by the 2026 NFL season.

The team agreed to cover construction cost overruns.

“Doing nothing was not a legal option for us, and renovating the current stadium proved to be financially irresponsible. So we are proposing a new stadium paid for by the team, the state, tourists and spending around the stadium — not by your family,” Cooper said in a release.

Metro Council approval is not guaran teed, as multiple members have been vocally critical of the proposed new stadium and the process by which it has been shepherded to fruition. Outside groups — both progressive and conservative — have criticized the deal, either as a waste of taxpayer money or as a continued over-emphasis on the tourism and hospitality industry over other community needs.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Belmont’s Wells named to Lieberman Award Watch List

BY LOGAN BUTTS

With a little under the month until the start of the regular season, Belmont star Des tinee Wells is already making waves national ly. On Monday, the junior was named to the 2022-23 Nancy Lieberman Award Watch list, which is handed out annually to the best point guard in the nation.

Wells was one of 20 players across Divi sion I to be named to the list and one of just three from mid-majors alongside College of Charleston’s Jenna Annecchiarico and Yale’s Jenna Clark.

Last season, Wells led Belmont to a 12-seed over 5-seed upset in the NCAA Tournament for the second season in a row as they defeated Oregon 73-70 in double

overtime. They nearly advanced to the Sweet 16, falling just short to 4-seed Tennessee in Knoxville 70-67.

En route to earning All-OVC First Team honors for the second straight year, Wells averaged team-highs with 16.7 points and 4.5 assists to go along with 3.6 rebounds.

Her performance earned her the Ten nessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA) Player of the Year honor. She has also won each of the past two OVC Tournament MVP awards.

This season, Belmont will make their de but in the Missouri Valley Conference after making the leap from the OVC alongside fellow conference heavyweight Murray State.

Volleyball: BGA wins back-to-back DII-A state championships with sweep of Goodpasture

BY LOGAN BUTTS

of their own to cut it to 23-19. BGA would close out for a 25-19 set two victory.

They’re such a great team,” Alvarez said of BGA. “Goodpasture is a very winning program with depth and expectations. They will come out and fight and make you work for it, and they absolutely did.”

In set three, BGA and Goodpasture were tied at 7-7 before BGA ultimately took con trol of the game, finishing out with another 25-19 win to complete the sweep.

The Battle Ground Academy Wildcats have been on a season-long mission to repeat as state champions. On Thursday morning, they achieved their goal with a 3-0 sweep of Goodpasture in the 2022 TSSAA Division II-A state championship game.

“It feels amazing,” BGA head coach Tati ana Alvarez said. “It feels relieving. I feel so much joy and happiness that these kids got to earn another title because that is absolute ly what they deserve undeniably. I’m just so proud of them.”

The Wildcats (37-4) and the Cougars (34-6) have battled in the postseason three times in the last two weeks, including in the Middle Region championship and in the state semifinals on Wednesday. All three games have been BGA wins.

Set one was back and forth in front of a raucous crowd at Middle Tennessee Chris tian in Murfreesboro until the Wildcats rode an 8-3 run, including three consecutive points at the end, to a 25-19 win.

BGA jumped out to a 6-2 lead in set two, building their lead further when a reversal of call from the line judge pushed the Wildcats to a 17-12 lead.

Goodpasture, the 2020 state champions in Division II-A, responded with a 6-1 run

“It’s special for the program for our com munity and for representation as a whole,” Alvarez said. “We’ve been working towards this from day one, just as if it was something we’ve never achieved before. I think that’s what it had to be in order to get here.”

Seniors Addison Atkins and Gillian Bais den led the team with 11 kills each. Baisden had a monster second set where she notched eight of her 11 kills. Senior Mackenzie Hun tington added seven kills.

Senior Kyra Hampton was the table setter as usual, dishing out a team-high 31 assists and notching 13 digs.

But it was Isabelle Northam, in the often unsung libero role, who was named MVP. The senior and co-captain alongside Atkins compiled a team-best 29 digs and four assists.

“Izzy has deserved that award in so many ways,” Alvarez said. “She is one of the hard est workers on this team. Although at times she’s probably a little bit working in the shadows as a libero because liberos are only noticed when they’re not doing great and, it’s very rare that Isabelle does not do great.

“I am just so proud that she could receive that award today. She’s so respected by her peers, her community, and her volleyball family, so she absolutely deserved it.”

Five Free and Cheap Family Things To Do in Middle Tennessee

BY AMANDA HAGGARD

It’s spooky season, and there’s no shortage of Halloween festivities to take part in with the goblins and ghouls. Get out and take in all that is PumpkinFest in Franklin along with thousands of other festival goers. Or check out a couple free creepy movie screen ings at a plant sale or brewery. If you’re not feeling up for a fright, you can go fly a kite at the annual Kite Fest in Antioch.

As part of our fall series on free and cheap things to do with the family, here are a few ideas for spending time together over the next week:

HOCUS POCUS SCREENING

On Oct. 27, TailGate Brewery on Char lotte is hosting a free screening of Hocus

Pocus. In addition to the movie, the fami ly-friendly brewery will also have pumpkin beers and Oktoberfest pizza. It’s a great spot to relax on a fall night, and who doesn’t want to watch a cult classic on the big screen again?

PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

Come down to Franklin and spend a day with thousands of your pumpkin-lovin’ pals. This year is the 37th Annual Pump kinFest, where downtown will be taken over by all things pumpkin on Oct. 29. The day includes autumn-inspired food and drink, children’s activities, live music, costume contests for pets and families, arts and crafts, and plenty of speciality gift items.

LITTLE PLANT SHOP OF HORRORS

At Gardens of Babylon Landscapes, they’re screening Little Shop of Horrors in conjunction with an enormous plant sale. There will be pumpkin painting for the kid dos, popcorn, drinks, and, of course, all the plants you could ever want to buy. Dress up in green and you’ll blend right in. All other costumes are also welcome.

HALLOWEEN AT THE MARKET

On Oct. 28-29, the Nashville Farmers Market is hosting a free two-day family and pet-friendly Halloween celebration. Friday night festivities start at 5 p.m. and Saturday will kick off at 10 a.m.

The events include live music, a kids zone

with inflatables, bilingual storytime, a ce lebrity pumpkin contest and hay bale maze. Costumes are welcome for people and pets.

KITE FEST

This free annual Kite Fest has been going on all October at Mill Ridge Park, and Oct. 29 is the last day to partake in the high-fly ing fun. Take a break from the Halloween fun on Oct. 29 and take your kite to the park between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day includes flying tutorials, picnic snacks, and lawn games.

State Commission reverses three Nashville charter decisions

BY KELSEY BEYELER

The Tennessee Public Charter School Commission wrapped its final scheduled meeting of the year on Tuesday. The commis sion, which was appointed by Gov. Bill Lee and inherited charter appeal and authoriza tion responsibilities from the Tennessee State Board of Education in 2021, heard 13 new start appeals this year, four of which were slated for Nashville.

Overall, the commission green-lit three of the 13 new start appeals — all of them in Nashville — including KIPP Southeast Nashville College Prep Elementary and KIPP Southeast Nashville College Prep Middle earlier this month, and the Tennessee Nature Academy on Tuesday.

The commission followed executive direc tor Tess Stovall’s recommendations regarding the two KIPP schools, but this was not the case for the Tennessee Nature Academy. Stovall noted strengths in the proposed char ter’s academics and community support, but cited concerns about its financial capacity and recommended the commission uphold the decision of the Metro Nashville Public Schools board. During the public comment

portion of the meeting, however, TNA supporters provided more claims about its financial viability, including funding sources, land that has been donated to the school and financial personnel that have committed to working with TNA.

“There were things shared today that … I could not consider in my recommendation,” said Stovall.

“Do we go with the fact that they’ve tried to cover these gaps, hopefully covered these gaps, covered the financial gaps, hired some one, brought in back-office support, have acres of land given to them, and put a little bit of risk on finance?” asked commission member Wendy Tucker, who voted in favor of TNA. “Or do we risk that this school never happens because they’ve put two years into this, and we deny them, and they don’t have the ability to stay and continue and come back?”

Charter commission staff made sure to note that the body’s decision was not approv ing the school on a contingency, which it isn’t allowed to do. It can, however, delay the opening of the charter school.

Additionally on Tuesday, the board voted to deny the appellate application of Bing hampton Community School, Tennessee Volunteer Military Academy and Acade my of the Arts Charter High School. On Monday, it denied two Founders Classical Academy applications slated for Brentwood and Hendersonville. On Oct. 5, the commis sion denied Oxton Academy. Commission member Derwin Sisnett did not participate in any voting because of a conflict of interest regarding his involvement with the Bing hampton Community School application.

“We’re not a rubber-stamp committee,” said commissioner Eddie Smith during a discussion regarding Academy of the Arts Charter High School — though his com ment vaguely addresses criticism that the commission was created to approve as many charter schools as possible.

Four charter school applications never saw final decisions from the commissioners, having withdrawn their applications before a vote. These include Saber STEM academy (Nashville) and three American Classical Academies slated for the Rutherford County,

Clarksville-Montgomery and Jackson-Mad ison school systems. The American Classical Academies garnered widespread public inter est due to their connection with the Mich igan-based conservative Hillsdale College. While some opposed the proposed charter schools’ conservative curriculum, others opposed them based on disparaging remarks about teachers made by Hillsdale president Larry Arnn. Following three contentious hearings in those three districts, American Classical Education withdrew its charter applications before Stovall could make a recommendation and before the commission could vote.

“Those who have said this body … has no voice, opinion, or differences at all … I think today’s vote on the [Tennessee] Nature Academy sort of sends a signal that our independent minds are up here to express themselves,” said Chair Tom Griscom.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

2022 Southern Festival of Books draws thousands in return of in-person festival

BY MATT MASTERS

The Southern Festival of Books returned to Nashville’s War Memorial Plaza and Nashville Public Library earlier this month

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

after two years of virtual programming due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The 34th annual celebration of the

written word is hosted by Humanities Tennessee and took place Oct. 14-16, drawing some 20,000 attendees who enjoyed live music, dozens of book vendors, author talks, book readings and much more.

“We have learned the value and relative ease of virtual events during Covid, and we will always offer some level of that for people who cannot or do not care to travel — That’s important — But the energy and excitement of being back in person was palpable all weekend,” Humanities Tennessee Director of Literature and Language Programs Serenity Gerbman said in an email.

“From authors and hosts being in conversation with one another and audiences, to attendees lining up for book signings and photos with favorite authors, the weekend was filled with moments, conversations, and connections that are hard to replicate online.”

Gerbman said that Middle Tennessee’s “thriving” literary community was evident throughout the festival, adding that the publishing world as a whole is returning to full force following the heights of the pandemic.

“This weekend provides a very positive snapshot of our community for the larger book world, and shows that readers still want to come out and have the experience of engaging with authors and other readers,” Gerbman said.

Among the local bookstores present at the festival was Nashville’s own Parnassus Books, whose Store Manager Cat Bock said that

they have been a part of the festival since Parnassus opened in 2011.

“Working the festival and being a bookseller here is one of the highlights of our year,” Bock said. “We love to be able to help Humanities Tennessee to be able to put on this festival and keep it free to the public. We donate a portion of our proceeds back to help keep it free and open to everyone.”

Bock said that ahead of the holiday season, they are seeing a “huge resurgence” in the popularity of romance books in part, she said, due to the role of social media apps, especially TikTok which has cultivated a new community of literary fans in what is known online as “BookTokers.”

“Our romance section and romance readership has absolutely exploded, and we really expect that to be one of the sections that people are most excited about during the holidays,” Bock said.

And like seemingly all goods over the past two-and-a-half years of the pandemic, books are not immune to ongoing global supply chain and manufacturing issues.

“That is especially true for any books that are printed on specialty paper,” Bock said. “Cookbooks, gift books, kids books, anything that’s not a standard paperback, so we’re seeing a lot of folks start their shopping early, and we really encourage that.”

And while there may be some added wait times to restock titles this year, it’s clear that the written word is strong, especially in Middle Tennessee.

Attendees browse bookseller tents on Nashville’s Legislative Plaza at the 2022 Southern Festival of Books.

Bellevue hourslong standoff ends with arrest after shootout, fire

BY MATT MASTERS

The Metro Nashville Police Department arrested a 40-year-old Nashville man early Friday morning following an hours-long standoff in a Bellevue home that included a shootout and structure fire.

According to an MNPD news release, Zachary Michael Johnson was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a dead ly weapon, two counts of harassment, and stalking after he was discharged from an area hospital on Saturday following a medical evaluation.

Police said that the incident began on the afternoon of Thursday, Oct. 20, when investigators from the District Attorney’s Office attempted to serve an arrest warrant at Johnson’s General George Patton Drive home.

That warrant was related to alleged threats against an unidentified Nashville Assistant District Attorney who had previously prose cuted Johnson.

According to court records, In 2017, Johnson was found guilty of two counts of assault of a police officer, aggravated criminal trespassing and resisting arrest, and in 2018, he was found guilty of assault.

Police said that Johnson refused to come out of the home, eventually exiting the home with a long gun after MNPD officers arrived at the scene before going back inside, beginning a standoff that lasted more than 12 hours.

“For hours, Johnson refused to come out of the residence despite repeated announce ments over a loudspeaker, a lengthy phone conversation with a police negotiator, and the deployment of tear gas into the home,” MNPD said in a news release.

During the standoff, Johnson allegedly fired a gun at police, with an unidentified SWAT officer returning fire.

No one was injured in the shooting, but the home did catch fire following the use of the teargas, but police said that the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Johnson was arrested at 2:45 a.m. on Friday, and MNPD released a short video of Johnson being taken into custody.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting by police, as is standard procedure following an officer-in volved-shooting.

Johnson was booked in jail on a $120k bond, and was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, Oct. 25

WESLEY MORTGAGE HIRES TWO NASHVILLE NATIVES AS LOAN ORIGINATORS

Franklin-based Wesley Mortgage has announced the addition of Todd Wiggins and Dalton Ponchilla as loan originators.

According to a news release, Wiggins has more than 24 years of experience in mortgage loan origination, and most recently served as a loan originator for FirstBank.

Ponchilla is a former NFL, CFL and XFL football player who previously served as a mortgage loan originator for iServe Residential Lending.

“While others in the residential lending market are decreasing their employee count, we are actually investing in growing our team,” Wesley Mortgage President Steve Medes said in the news release. “This is a great time to bring on experienced talent and we look forward to Todd and Dalton helping us continue to expand the presence of Wesley Mortgage in Middle Tennessee and beyond.”

Wesley Mortgage offers conventional VA, FHA, non-QM and Jumbo loan products across Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Texas.

GLOBAL ENTITY PAYS $33M FOR WEST SIDE INDUSTRIAL SITE

A West Davidson County property located near the Cumberland River and home, in part, to a Goodwill outlet store has sold for $33 million, with the new owner a global private equity investment firm that continues acquiring local properties.

According to a Davidson County Register of Deeds document, an LLC affiliated with San Francisco-based TPG Capital now owns the roughly 31.4-acre two-parcel property. The main address of the Cockrill Bend site — home to a large industrial building that includes multiple other businesses in addition to Goodwill — is 6040 Tufting Court. John C. Tune Airport operates nearby.

TPG Capital real estate platform TPGRE includes, according to the company website, TPG Real Estate Partners, Thematic Advantage Core-Plus and TPG Real Estate Finance Trust. Via the three entities, TPGRE manages approximately $19.6 billion in assets and maintains offices in New York and London.

TPGRE has been active in the Nashville market the past few years, having seemingly most recently paid $7.15 million for an Old Hickory warehouse in October 2020.

The seller was a joint venture that paid $6.85 million for the property in 2014, Metro records show. The manager of the JV is William Hawkins, chairman of Nashvillebased Charles Hawkins Company.

The properties sit next to a warehouse home to Centurion Stone and are located at 7237 Cockrill Bend Blvd. Founded in 1969, that company moved to Cockrill Bend in 2018 from Germantown. Its former home is now being redeveloped by Boca Raton,

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Florida-based Mill Creek Residential with Modera Germantown (read more here).

In addition to the Cockrill Bend location, Goodwill operates an outlet store in Berry Hill. The two stores do not accept donations, unlike the conventional Goodwill retail businesses.

FIRSTBANK ANNOUNCES THIRDQUARTER INCOME

FB Financial Corp. has reported net income of $31.8 million, or $0.68 per share, for the third quarter of 2022, compared to $0.41 in the previous quarter and $0.94 in the same quarter last year.

According to a release, adjusted net income was $32.1 million, or $0.68 per share, compared to $0.64 in the previous quarter and $0.89 per share in the same quarter of 2021.

Pre-tax, pre-provision earnings for the third quarter were $52.1 million, and adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision earnings were $52.5 million. Reported results during the third quarter included a provision for credit losses of $11.4 million compared to $12.3 million for the prior quarter and a mortgage segment loss of $3.7 million compared to a loss of $15.2 million for the prior quarter, or $2.7 million loss adjusted.

FB Financial recorded growth in loans held for investment of $480.7 million, or 22.1 percent, and growth in noninterestbearing deposits of $71 million, or 9.73 percent, in the third quarter.

FB Financial reported loan balances of $9.11 billion, an increase of $480.7 million, or 22.1 percent, from the end of the previous quarter.

Total deposits decreased by $537.2 million in the third quarter to $10 billion, and noninterest-bearing deposits increased by $71 million, or 9.7 percent.

“The company continues to deliver strong balance sheet trends, and we are pleased with the 9 percent increase in net interest income over the prior quarter and the 41 basis point expansion in our net interest margin,” FB Financial President and CEO Chris Holmes said in the release. “All of our markets continue to have strong credit demand and good economic activity. While we hope for a soft landing for the economy in the coming months, we are taking a prudent approach with our balance sheet by limiting growth in certain assets, maintaining appropriate capital and reserve levels, managing liquidity and preparing for a range of economic scenarios.”

FB Financial Corp. is the parent company of FirstBank.

PINNACLE SEES NET INCOME INCREASE 9.1%

Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. has reported net income per share of $1.91 for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared to net income per share of $1.75 for the same period of 2021, an increase of 9.1 percent.

According to as release, net income per share was $5.42 for the nine months ended

Sept. 30 compared to $5.05 for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2021, an increase of 7.3 percent.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) net interest income for the quarters ended Sept. 30, 2022 and 2021, was approximately $755,000 and $20.4 million, respectively. PPP net interest income for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2022 and 2021, was $15.5 million and $66 million, respectively. PPP net interest income contributed $0.01 and $0.15 to earnings per share for the three and nine months ended Sept. 30, respectively, compared to contributions of $0.20 and $0.64 for the three and nine months ended Sept. 30, 2021, respectively.

“There is little doubt that we continue to operate in a weakening economy,” Terry Turner, Pinnacle president and chief executive officer, said in the release. “Nevertheless our relentless focus on those items that we believe are most highly correlated with total shareholder returns resulted in year-over-year growth in earnings per diluted share of 9.1 percent, organic revenue growth of 20.2 percent, book value per share accretion of 2.6 percent and tangible book value per share accretion of 3.6 percent.”

Total assets at the end of the quarter were $41 billion, an increase of approximately $4.5 billion (12.3 percent) from the mark of the same period in 2021.

“We have hired 118 revenue producers thus far this year, including 53 in the third quarter, so we are well on pace to surpass our hiring successes of the past two years,” Turner said. “As a result, we believe we are extremely well positioned to seize the significant opportunities arising from the substantial market disruption we see occurring across our footprint and to continue producing sound growth in what is likely to be a more challenging economic landscape. Our third quarter results increased our belief that our proven and unique business model should continue to produce outsized revenue growth, earnings growth and tangible book value accretion through a more challenging operating environment.”

Turner said Pinnacle experienced “strong growth” in loans during the third quarter with an annualized growth rate of 20.9 percent over June 30 balances.

“Our core deposits increased during the third quarter by 9.8 percent annualized over the June 30, 2022, balances,” he said. “Also, during the quarter we got further confirmation regarding the effectiveness of our model based on FDIC summary of deposit data as of June 30, 2022, where we learned that we increased our deposit market share in virtually every market in which we operate.”

Turner said the Nashville metropolitan statistical area was “particularly noteworthy,” as Pinnacle’s total deposits grew approximately 3.5 percent year-over-year and the bank captured 57 percent of that growth.

“We believe our longstanding ability to

take deposit market share will serve us well in a period where many are forecasting a contraction in M2 (a measure of the money supply that includes cash, checking deposits and easily-convertible near money), which is highly correlated to shrinking deposit balances.”

VANDERBILT PLEDGES $750K TO AID CENTENNIAL PARK MASTER PLAN

Vanderbilt University has pledged $750,000 over a three-year period for support of the Centennial Park Conservancy and Metro Parks’ Centennial Park Master Plan to restore, renovate and revitalize the West End corridor park.

In addition to the pledged $750,000, Vanderbilt will contribute $50,000 to the conservancy’s arts and educational programming that supports Musicians Corner, Kidsville and Nashville Earth Day, and will be used to develop park-based initiatives that expand cultural activities and events near campus.

The two completed phases of the Centennial Park Master Plan have enhanced the park’s Great Lawn, increased walkability from West End Avenue to the Parthenon, created the Musicians Corner amphitheater, and honored women and children through the Tennessee Woman Suffrage Monument and the Children’s Memory Garden.

According to a release, Vanderbilt’s contribution will further extend walkway connections from West End to Park Plaza, including the creation of a pedestrian entrance at the 31st Avenue Connector. The gift also will support the creation of an event pavilion adjacent to Lake Watauga for community gatherings and park programming.

“Centennial Park is a Nashville treasure and beloved green space in our … neighborhood,” VU Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said in the release. “We share a commitment with the conservancy to protect and enrich this iconic urban park that is of immense benefit to our campus community. This is one of many steps Vanderbilt is taking to strengthen the ties between our institution and the Middle Tennessee region.”

FOURTH CAPITAL APPOINTS SENIOR VP

PLAY BALL?

The news about the billion-dollar giveaway by our state and city government is out. The Titans (worth $3.5 billion) will get a new stadium courtesy of free tax dollars, our tax dollars. Like taking candy from a baby. We don’t have money for things for families who have been struggling with so many priorities. Help me understand.

The contradiction that stands out is this, and it has nothing to do with the poor state performance of educating our young people (we just got the bathrooms straightened out, praise the Lord). Our conservative state will give away billions to the sport’s Adams family but just pennies to families stricken by killer drugs.

The state program to help Tennesseans with Titans season tickets is 280 times the state support for the Tennesseans affected by opioids and fentanyl($1.4 billion free cash vs. $5 million).

Our candidate for reelection, Bill Lee, says that he is all of about families. It’s a shame that you have to buy season tickets.

2,000 SPACES

You have to be kidding me, the city of Nashville will provide 2,000 parking spaces if a new stadium is built for the Tennessee Titans. Right now they provide 7,500

parking spaces. So if they build a stadium that seats 60,000 people with parking for 2,000 cars that Metro provides, where are the rest of the people supposed to park? Sure there is off-street parking or maybe there will be a pay-for lot close by. Or will there be a shuttle bus from some other lot?

Ask the soccer fans just how easy it is to find a place to park. And ask them about the gridlock they experience when coming to or leaving a game.

Parking is at a premium in Nashville no matter where you go and some really lucky parking lot owner is raking in the dough. How about if Metro builds a five-story parking garage and charges a FAIR price to use it? Any outside events could park there and WeGo could do the shuttling instead of patrons having to shell out a ridiculous amount of money.

MORE NEWS FOR SENIORS

News this week was of interest to me and other seniors. I know seniors will be annoyed by the news. Last week it was great news about the cost of living increase for next year. Now the bad news. And who can we thank? The family-friendly conservative GOP congressional delegation.

And what is their plan for 70 million seniors who earned their social security

income? The GOP plan is to do away with our earned benefits, and renege on the American promise to seniors. The GOP says that it’s on the table to cut. Shame on them. I know our Tennessee delegation votes in lockstep with family values but what value tells you to vote to take seniors’ earned income away?

Jim Cooper would stand up for seniors but I am not sure if Mr. Andy will. I’d ask him but like others in Nashville, I can’t find him. If anyone runs into Mr. Andy let him know that Tennessee seniors need their earned social security income to pay for their bills.

NOT INTERESTED!

Now the Titans are trying to woo us again into their predatory scheme calling it a ‘Community Impact Agreement’, or whatever. Just because you can’t see a dead rat, the smell gives him away. Oh ya, ‘we’re going to let TSU play four games in our stadium’. Whoop Do. All this does is divert the economic benefits to the businesses downtown as opposed to the TSU community. We’ve had enough of your schemes, and the politicians who go along with them. TSU should not play not one more game in Nissan stadium; all games going forward should be at Hale Stadium on the TSU campus. Let’s put our money back into our community. We’re only an asset to the downtown businesses when we’re giving them our money.

So Titans, take your predatory scheme to another city, we’ve had it with you. Mr. Lee’s $ 5 million to a private-owned team will go a long way in building a new TSU stadium at a publicly owned institution. Yes, we know rich take care of rich, and the poor get the crumbs left over; if any.

FOOL US ONCE SHAME ON YOU, FOOL US TWICE SHAME ON US

Let’s not be fooled again about how great, and the benefits to Nashville will be by having the Titans here. For those of us who were here with the inception of the Oilers/ Titans, we were sold that bologna by “Let’s Make A Deal Phil” Bredesen. Looking back from then to now what benefits have Nashville gained, none. Our schools are short of teachers, bus drivers, and other support staff, our ability to live in our longtime communities has been devastated, our infrastructure has been demolished, our taxes have increased multiple times, and just more recently the Metro Water, Sewer, and Waste Department is having to borrow money to fund mandated needs. Now you call this better; I think not. The only ones who have benefited from the Titans being here are the billionaires who own the team and her little millionaire friends. Not by any standard of measurement has this benefited the ordinary citizens of Nashville.

It is time for the Titans to go, we don’t

need you, we don’t want you. To ensure that this happens we the citizens should vote the Mayor, and any Councilman/woman out of office. Why would we hire/elect anyone that doesn’t vote and serve our interest? To vote to build a new stadium for the Titans clearly do not. The interest of ordinary citizens is at stake. Now let us put our so-called elected officials who we hired to represent us in reelection at stake.

“Let’s Make A Deal Phil” fooled us once lets not let ‘I Don’t Care John’ Cooper fool us twice.

ANGER AND UNKINDNESS

It’s sad and worrisome how our nation has broken out into anger and unkindness. On social media formerly good friends are tearing each other apart. In politics, this mean-spiritedness is becoming the norm. Is this really the best we can do? Are we not going to take some responsibility for setting a tone in society that will brighten the futures of our children and grandchildren? This anger and distrust between Americans is not inevitable. It is being fed by those who want to push our buttons, and they are succeeding. There is much that needs to change in this country: the main thing being the free-flowing money in politics that makes a mockery of our democracy. The 1% is happy to have us fighting with each other. It doesn’t threaten their profits. But, let us remember, both political parties have come to accept this devastating manipulation of government by money. So, how do we take responsibility? By keeping two questions in mind when we cast our votes. First, is a candidate fueling the fires of division that are ravaging our country, or are they looking for solutions? And secondly, has a candidate EVER made any attempts to rid politics of money, like the pricey attack ads that manipulate our vote? Many of those who want our votes next month have track records that can give us a more honest picture of who they are and how they would govern. Let’s cast our votes for civility.

CAN YOU HELP SENATOR?

I was watching TV recently and there was our Senator Blackburn talking about former Senator Clinton. If you remember Clinton was a Senator about 10-12 years ago. Today her memory is the conservative punching bag that never fails to bring the faithful to full salvation. It’s like a dinner bell for the hounds. Marsha gets it, got to feed the base.

But what ticks me off is not what some ex-Senator did or didn’t do, but I am interested in the action of my Senator. And it’s with anger and bewilderment the crazy conspiratorial theories our Senator spouts off at the drop of a hat. For example, she said that the evil people want to make gasoline prices higher to ensure that the Covid pandemic never ends. Huh?

Now, I must admit that I am not a Q

member so I am not up to date. But I do know that Putin and OPEC cut the supply of oil that is pumped to the US. Lower supply means higher prices. So what is the connection to the pandemic?

I’m just a guy that drives my new heavyduty pickup to my customer service job. I got my diploma so I am good. I get 10-14 miles per gallon so conspiratorial theories do not fill my tank. Can you help Senator?

OUR SENIORS’ GRANDCHILDREN

It is pretty clear that the pro-donor GOP are revving up the corporate welfare firehose to flow, baby, flow. Nothing is more conservative than gushing out tax dollars to the largest and most profitable companies. Like a shower of gold. Nothing but the best for our employers.

As a senior, I was grateful for the news about the dramatic decrease in the Federal Deficit, a massive $1.7 trillion dollars. This is debt that will not be given to our grandchildren. Deficit reduction is familyfriendly. Kudos to the Fed’s management here.

So where is the money coming from for the GOP giveaway to their big, wealthy donor corporations? Could it be from the gutting of Social Security and Medicare they have promised?

I wonder if Andy Ogles would vote to cripple seniors and load debt onto the grandchildren? He is a family man, right?

AMENDMENT 1

First of all, I believe the main reason our governor is so opposed to the right to join a union is as a businessman, and after his time as governor, he will go back to running his company. So, as long as union workers are paid more fairly and receive some benefits that businessmen seem to feel they are not entitled to, of course our governor is on that bandwagon. As a retired former union employee, I have a rather nice pension which has given me $792,000 in the past 22 years. Now tell me is that worth joining a union for? Yes, it wasn’t an easy job, but the pension made it all worthwhile. Plus, I had a matched 401K. Not just a 401K

For your sake and the sake of your grandkids, VOTE NO on Amendment 1.

NEW CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

The new congressional district 5 that our State GOP combined as a part of Nashville is with rural communities. Our GOP candidate is from Maury County, so I decided to learn more about the people who are now part of district 5. What about education, we all care about the children. Data is easily found if you look.

Maury County public school educational results are unfortunately less than good. While they graduate 90% of the students from high school, only 30% test at their grade level for reading or math. Math

results show only 22% are at their grade level. Additionally, Maury County does not prepare for college with AP classes as their rating is an 11 on a scale of 1-100. Davidson County’s rating is 26. So netting it out, lowgrade level achievement and little interest in the college prep coursework. But the kids get graduated.

Davidson County public schools have similar results with the exception of the college prep coursework with Davidson kids preparing for college at 2.5 times the rate of Maury. There are two demographic differences and these are two things that affect county-to-county comparisons. And we are all aware of the current and historical bad-mouthing of Nashville schools.

20% of Davidson County students attend private school compared with the State average of 10%. Second, Nashville public schools’ percentage of minority students is 70%, twice that of Maury County. What is the point?

Nashville is still in a somewhat ‘separate but equal’ environment, with minority students in public schools. Maury school population is more diverse than Nashville. Maury families have not embraced college prep. Conservatives lambast Nashville schools while counties like Maury are comparatively worse.

So when you see the district 5 conservative candidate say America is in a ditch, ask when his hometown Maury County is going to stop digging.

I’M TICKED OFF

Most Tennesseans are proud people, most are not Proud Boys. And that is good for America. The PB are radicalized, conservative para-military troops. Remember that they stormed the Capitol on January 6th. Lots of military muscle with weapons galore.

So it was quite distressing to find out that the Proud Boys were part of the program this past weekend at anti-gay(can you say that in Tennessee??) rally in Nashville. What do these military gun guys have to do with anti-gay proponents? Senator Marsha’s security detail? Here to keep an eye on the voting in liberal parts of the city? A bachelor party?

Probably not a bachelor party. The Proud Boys are about intimidation, the conservative historical game plan. These guys wear camo and leave the bed linens at home. As the Governor says, they’re just getting started.

The comments in the Ticked Off column do not reflect the views of FW Publishing.

Music City Bowl Vegetable Chili

BY EDIBLE NASHVILLE

tablespoon grapeseed or vegetable oil

large yellow onion, diced

chipotle pepper in adobo, chopped

red bell pepper, cored and diced

green bell pepper, cored and diced

cloves garlic, minced

tablespoon chili powder

teaspoons smoked paprika

teaspoon ground cumin

teaspoon ground coriander

powdered cayenne pepper

1. 1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat oil. Add onions, chipotle, and bell peppers. Cook on medium-high for about 6 minutes or until onions are softened. Add garlic and spices, salt and pepper and cook one minute or until fragrant.

2. Add red wine and lime, deglazing the pot

salt and freshly-cracked black pepper splash of red wine zest of 1 lime

cups good, flavorful vegetable stock

(14.5-oz) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes

2 (15-oz) cans red kidney beans, drained

1 cup uncooked brown lentils, rinsed avocados, sour cream, cheese, jalapenos, lime, and cilantro for servin

by scraping brown bits on bottom. Add remaining ingredients, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lentils are tender. Serve with avocado, sour cream, shredded cheese, jalapenos, lime, and cilantro.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Edible Nashville. For more recipes and all things local food, follow Edible Nashville on instagram @ediblenashtn and their website ediblenashville.com.

for their beautiful magazine around town.

magazine that comes out 6x/year, go to ediblenashville.com.

subscribe

MATHEW STOCK

Nashville-based community bank Fourth Capital has appointed Travis Dumke as senior vice president, commercial relationship banker.

Prior to joining Fourth Capital, Dumke served as senior vice president at First Bank. For more than a decade, his career has spanned the banking industry with positions at SunTrust, Fifth Third Bank and Wells Fargo, according to a release.

Dumke earned his bachelor’s degree from Austin Peay State University and later attended Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management to study commercial lending. Dumke is a graduate of the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Pennsylvania where he also attended the Wharton Leadership School. He is a member of Leadership Franklin’s 2017 class and is a board member of FrankTown Open Hearts, Franklin Tomorrow, Williamson County Homeless Alliance and Youth Leadership Franklin.

“Travis’ commercial banking experience plus his understanding of the Middle Tennessee market makes him a tremendous addition to our team,” Brian Heinrichs, CEO of Fourth Capital, said in the release. “Fourth Capital is committed to local businesses — they are the bedrock of Nashville’s economy. Travis understands the needs of local business owners, and I’m confident he will help Fourth Capital expand our relationships throughout the region.”

The privately held Fourth Capital was founded in 2004 and is headquartered at 10 Lea Avenue. in the Rolling Mill Hill neighborhood at Peabody Plaza Mortgage in Middle Tennessee and beyond.”

Wesley Mortgage offers conventional VA, FHA, non-QM and Jumbo loan products across Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Texas.

YMCA NAMES SYDNOR FOR DEI ROLE

global engagement.

According to a release, Sydnor previously served as senior manager of human resources for ServiceSource. As diversity and inclusion leader for Logan Aluminum in Russellville, Kentucky, she created the company’s firstever DE&I strategy program and increased minority hiring by almost 80 percent within six months.

In 2021, Sydnor served as guest speaker for the Middle Tennessee Society for Human Resource Management’s conference and as a virtual diversity panelist for Western Kentucky University.

Sydnor holds a Bachelor of Science degree in human resources management from Western Governors University, a professional certification from both the Human Resources Certification Institute and the University of South Florida. She is currently pursuing certified diversity credentials from the Institute for Diversity Certification.

“My decision to join the YMCA is driven and motivated by a desire to complete meaningful and purpose-driven work that has a positive impact on the organization, but most importantly, the employees, sponsors, volunteers, members and communities that she will have the privilege of connecting with and serving,” Sydnor said in the release.

BRIEFS

University, Raines began his career working at Alfred Portale’s Gotham Steak at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with Levi for more than a decade and am always impressed with his expertise,” Carmellini said in the release. “For the past year, he has helped showcase our traditional yet unexpected Italian-American menu at Carne Mare, and I’m excited for him to step into this new, and much-deserved, leadership role at both spots in Nashville.”

AMERICAN PHYSICIAN PARTNERS NAMES ARDENT ALUM CFO

By Hannah Herner

Brentwood-based American Physician Partners has named James Grimes to the role of senior vice president and chief financial officer.

Grimes most recently served as senior vice president of finance and chief accounting officer at Ardent Health Services. He had been with the Nashville-based hospital operator for 18 years before moving to American Physician Partners.

American Physician Partners provides care management services to hospitals and health care systems at 160 sites nationally, according to a press release.

“As we seek to build out our senior executive team with strong industry leaders, we feel James’ senior-level finance and accounting experience in health care will further American Physician Partners’ ability to exceed the expectations of our patients, providers and hospital partners,” said John Rutledge, president and chief executive officer. “James’ strong financial expertise in high-growth environments will contribute to APP’s ongoing growth and reputation as an industry leader.”

VANDERBILT TAPS NEW METRO LOBBYIST

Vanderbilt University has picked Eben Cathey to lead the school’s relationship with Metro Nashville.

SILOAM HEALTH CEO TO STEP DOWN, JOIN BELMONT MEDICAL SCHOOL

By Hannah Herner

The YMCA of Middle Tennessee has announced Tia Sydnor will serve as vice president of diversity, equity, inclusion and

W Nashville and NoHo Hospitality have announced the promotion of Levi Raines as senior chef de cuisine of both Carne Mare and The Dutch, sister restaurants located in the hotel and overseen by James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Carmellini.

According to a release, Raines previously served as chef de cuisine of Carne Mare since its opening in fall 2021.

Raines offers more than a decade of culinary expertise. Prior to opening Carne Mare Nashville with Carmellini, Raines served alongside James Beard Award-winning chef Nina Compton, first as sous chef at Compere Lapin and later as chef and partner, of Bywater American Bistro in New Orleans. Earlier in his culinary career, Raines joined Chef Carmellini’s opening team at The Dutch Miami, located in W South Beach.

After graduating from Johnston & Wales

Cathey comes to Vanderbilt from Calvert Street Group. He previously worked at the Metro Codes and Planning Department, in the office of Mayor David Briley and as a foreign service officer for the U.S. State Department.

At Vanderbilt, Cathey’s title is senior director for local relations.

According to Metro records, Vanderbilt is represented by local lobbying firm Jigsaw.

“Eben Cathey has the perfect skill set and deep experience inside Metro government to be a leading voice for Vanderbilt’s advocacy and partnership efforts at the local level,” Nathan Green, VU vice chancellor for government and community relations, said in a release. “We look forward to leveraging his expertise as we grow our relationships with community leaders and enhance our impact on the Nashville community.”

Morgan Wills, CEO of Siloam Health, announced he is stepping down from the health care nonprofit to join the faculty of the Thomas F. Frist Jr. College of Medicine at Belmont.

Wills had served in the lead role at Siloam for nine years, and he will begin his role as an associate professor of medicine when he officially steps down in March 2023.

In 2000, Wills was the first full-time staff physician hired at Siloam Health, according to a press release.

Wills counts the launching of a community health worker program and the opening of an Antioch location among his accomplishments as CEO. Wills called leading the organization the “privilege of a lifetime.”

“I’ve been honored to serve alongside incredible staff and volunteers pursuing a simple but powerful mission: to share the love of Christ by serving those in need through health care,” he said. “Having navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, completed the bulk of our strategic expansion plan and launched innovative community health initiatives, it seems a fitting time for me to pass the baton to a new leader for the next phase of our growth. I have no doubt that the best is yet to come for Siloam Health.”

Siloam Health’s board of directors, led by chair Sammye Woods, will form a search committee for a new CEO. Belmont’s medical college named an interim dean in June, replacing founding dean Bill Bates. It is set to host its first students in the summer of 2023.”

Have a promotion you wish to submit to Business briefs? Send to news@gcanews.com

NOHO HOSPITALITY PROMOTES CHEF AT W HOTEL RESTAURANTS

LEVI RAINES

MORGAN WILLS

SOCIAL

Conservancy Gala Patron Party

BY BRENDA BATEY

The Conservancy Gala patron party was held at the home of Ellen Martin and Gerry Nadeau to raise money to help preserve, enhance and share the Parthenon and Centennial Park.

Kristen Winston Catering provided delicious hors d’oeuvres, which included: beef tenderloin canapés, parmesan mini sweet potato biscuits with country ham, poached salmon on wonton crackers, tomato, bacon and Swiss croustades, lemon shrimp on endive, and warm Gruyere gougeres.

Among the guests were: Heather and Scott Asbury, Sallie Bailey, David and Melanie Baker, Russell Bates, Ben Scott, Lee and Tonya Beaman, Betty and Marty Dickens, Elle Becker, Mark Bloom, Angela Bostelman, Kindy Hensler, Jean and Denny Bottorff, Sara and Richard Bovender, Russell Bates, Ben Scott, Bob Deal, Lisa and John Campbell, Phil Bredesen, Andrea Conte, Gail Danner, Jan and Joseph DeLozier, Josephine and John Darwin, Donna and Jeff Eskind, Jimmy Granbery, Sissy and Bill Wilson, Beth Fortune, Debbie Turner, Pam and Steve Taylor, Shirley and Stuart Speyer,

Barbara and Rick Turner, Anne and Joe Russell, Robin and Robin Patton, Peggy and Randy Kinnard, and Martha Ingram.

Centennial Park Conservancy’s “Gala Grand Finale: The Sky’s the Limit” will take place on Saturday, November 5 at the Parthenon.

For more information, call 615-862-6810 or visit conservancyonline.com.

Kim and Jeff Leeper

Jennie and Rob McCabe, and Karyn Frist

Steve Fridrich, and hosts Ellen Martin and Gerry Nadeau

Lee and Emily Noel

Tom and Pam Wylly

Andrew and Marianne Byrd, and Jason Bradshaw

Ellen Martin and Julie Boehm

Catherine and John Tumminello, Conservancy president

Sarah Reisner, Amy Hobbs, and Janice Elliott Morgan

Brian Setzer, Nan Parrish, and Michael Dixon

Jim Munro, Melinda Buntin, and Trish Munro

Sandra Lipman and Laura Niewold Julie and Ben Sistrunk

Zoo’s Claws, Paws and Jaws Event

BY BRENDA BATEY PHOTOS BY BRENDA BATEY

Nashville Zoo’s Claws, Paws and Jaws event, to thank generous donors, was held at Karyn Frist’s gracious home.

The weather was beautiful and everyone loved being outside, where they could wander through the stunning gardens and view the interesting animals zoo staff brought to show off.

Sasha, a huge Burmese Python, had a wonderful time lounging on the grass while being admired by those on hand. Several small children attended and they were fascinated by the snake.

Everyone admired Sandra Dee, a little Screaming Hairy Armadillo. It is a burrowing armadillo found in the central and southern parts of South America. The adjective “screaming” derives from its habit of squealing when handled, and Sandra Dee, too, luxuriated on the lush lawn while snacking on her food.

Also on display was Andre, a Tamandua, which is a genus of anteaters from Central and South America. They possess partially prehensile tails and mainly eat ants and

termites. They have no teeth, but they certainly have very long tongues for scooping up their food.

While everyone enjoyed the evening, they sipped the specialty cocktail, which was creatively named the Lion’s Tail, mixed with Bourbon, allspice dram, simple syrup, lime juice and bitters.

Kristen Winston Catering served delicious passed hors d’oeuvres, including steak crostini with thyme aioli, poached salmon canapes, mini grilled cheese sandwiches, bacon wrapped dates, and Asian shrimp cakes.

Nashville Zoo’s mission is to inspire a culture of understanding and discovery of the natural world through conservation, innovation and leadership.

Nashville Zoo is located six miles south of downtown Nashville. With just 90 of 188 acres developed, Nashville Zoo is the ninth largest zoo in the country by landmass.

For more information, call 615-833-1534 or visit www.nashvillezoo.org.

Woods and Kim Pridgen, and David Oehler

Matt and Sandra Morgan, Nancy and Ed Goodrich, and Terry Bruggeman

Catherine Vrettos, Ed Stuart, and host Karen Frist

Mary Lou and Steve Zagorski

Laurie Eskind and Dorothy Pace

Chris and Catherine Vrettos, and Jake Belair

Jean Williams pets Andre, a Tamandua

Nora and Kent Kirby, and Suzanne Iler

Andy Tillman, and Kim and Woody Pridgen

Kitty and Pat Murphy, and Amy, Camden and Trey Lee

Mac and Fran Hardcastle

Sandra Dee, a Screaming Hairy Armadillo

Ellen Clark, Ward Frist, Janeth McKendrick, Amelia Fearn Frist, and Bryan Frist

Robin and Richard Patton John Lea and Steve Eskind

Larry and Mary Wieck

Ed Goodrich and Rick Schwartz, Nashville Zoo CEO