Tennessee Democrats enthusiastic after Harris debate performance
Cheekwoodrequested temporary restraining order denied Court rules in favor of Swan Ball group SBI as legal matter moves to October conference
U.S. District Judge Eli Richardson has denied Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art’s request for a temporary restraining order against the group that oversees the annual Swan Ball related to the groups’ legal dispute with regarding the use of the event’s name.
The court next will oversee an initial case management conference related to the legal matter on Oct. 17.
SB Initiative (SBI) had asked the court to deny Cheekwood’s request for the TRO as part of its efforts to have the proceeds of the 2025 event benefit Friends of Warner Parks (SBI has ended its relationship with Cheekwood).
The Tennessee Democratic Party headquarters in The Nations was energized on Tuesday night ahead of the first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. More than 100 people showed up to watch the two candidates, meeting on the debate stage for the first time. Throughout the night, there were cheers and laughs as well as some vocal opposition of Trump. Many younger voters were in the crowd,
and the room quieted down when Harris was asked about the Israel-Hamas war.
At the event Tuesday was Joshua Patrick, regional organizing director for Democrat Megan Barry’s campaign for Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Green’s seat. He was a Tennessee delegate at the Democratic National Convention and is on the board for the Williamson County Young Democrats and the state executive committee for the Tennessee Democratic Party.
Patrick said he was pleased by the turnout for the watch party because he had not, despite working in Davidson County politics, met the majority of attendees. Before the debate, he said he expected Harris to talk about joy, while he predicted that Trump would likely focus his talking points on “doom and gloom.” Afterward, Patrick said the debate unfolded exactly as he expected.
“Kamala went with joy and hope and moving forward, and that frankly
In its response, filed in the U.S. District Court, SBI contended Cheekwood “has failed to meet the high burden required for a TRO or preliminary injunction. It has not demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits, as it exercised no control over the nature and quality of the goods and services provided under the Swan Ball trademark.”
Cheekwood filed the TRO while the case is pending in an effort to prevent SBI from using the Swan Ball name while seeking the separate Warner Parks space.
“Cheekwood is asking the court to maintain the status quo — the Swan Ball is a Cheekwood fundraiser — while the case is pending,” Maia Woodhouse, an Adams and Reese attorney representing Cheekwood, emailed the Post
Presidential debate watch party at the Tennessee Democratic Party headquarters in The Nations PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Tennessee Democrats
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is what I want to see for the country and I think is what most Americans want to see,” Patrick said.
Catherine Ramsey said the energy in the room was similar to that of the Barack Obama campaign years, but noted the job for Democrats is to motivate people to head to the polls to vote.
“I am a child of a segregated system,” Ramsey said when asked if she thought she would see a female president in her lifetime. “If you had asked me in the ’50s, I would have said never. If you had asked me in the ’60s, when I was on the Freedom Rider bus, I’d say, ‘Everything is possible.’ After Obama, everything is possible.”
Harris supporter Lee Beth Kilgore said after the debate she thought Harris’ prep paid off. She had voted as a Democrat in the past, supporting former President Obama, but didn’t become engaged in politics until more recently.
“I was probably a low-information voter prior to that,” Kilgore said. “When Trump entered the race, I began paying attention.”
After Trump’s loss to Joe Biden and the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, Kilgore began learning more about the Christian nationalism movement. She grew up an evangelical Christian with a Baptist minister for a father and decided she had to do something more than just vote. Now she volunteers, knocking on doors for candidates like Gloria Johnson, who’s challenging Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn for one of the state’s two U.S. Senate seats.
Blackburn took to Facebook during the debate to criticize Harris and to paint ABC’s debate moderators as unfair to Trump. Green also posted on Facebook, noting his support for Trump and criticisms of Harris. Most of Tennessee’s Republican coalition, however, was largely quiet on social media Tuesday night — unlike after Trump’s debate against Biden in June.
Tennessee Young Republicans, Tennessee Faith & Freedom Coalition, and Americans for Prosperity’s Tennessee chapter hosted a watch party of their own at Jonathan’s Grille in Germantown.
Hendrell Remus, chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party, told The News that the debate showed the contrast between the two candidates.
“I think tonight Vice President Harris sent a clear message that our party is the big tent,” Remus said. “That we’re ready to welcome every American, every Tennessean, who is ready to go to work and who believes in everything that America is built on. ... Republicans and independents who still believe in the decency and the dignity and the civility of politics, our party is the place for them. That’s how we get back to space that’s outside of the chaos that Donald Trump has created.”
Cheekwood-requested
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earlier this week.
“Cheekwood is not trying to block the Friends of Warner Park event,” Woodhouse added. “Cheekwood has no problem with SBI hosting a fundraiser for any beneficiary. It just cannot use Cheekwood’s trademark to do it. SBI concedes it could do this easily, telling the media that it ‘will simply present our fundraiser in 2025 using another name’ if the Court rules in Cheekwood’s favor.”
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Post.
Audience members at the presidential debate watch party at the Tennessee Democratic Party headquarters in The Nations PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Tennessee Democratic Party members taking a photo with a cutout of vice presidential candidate Tim Walz PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Audience member at the presidential debate watch party at the Tennessee Democratic Party headquarters in The Nations
PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Audience members at the presidential debate watch party at the Tennessee Democratic Party headquarters in The Nations PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Cheekwood Estate and Gardens
PHOTO: DANIEL MEIGS
KELSEY BEYELER
The era of federal COVID-19 relief dollars is ending. At Tuesday’s school board meeting, Metro Nashville Public Schools shared how the district used that money to support student safety and academics since the start of the pandemic.
Since 2020, there have been three nationwide Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding waves meant for disease prevention, staff support, infrastructure enhancements and academic recovery. By Sept. 30, all ESSER dollars have to be spent, obligated or prepared for liquidated extension. While some school districts haven’t used all their available ESSER money, MNPS’ chief strategy officer Sarah Robinson Chin told the school board Tuesday, “We’re not leaving any money on the table.”
ESSER funding came in three parts — though technically, Tennessee school districts had to spend the money and then apply for reimbursement. The first ESSER grant provided Davidson County with $26 million, the second provided $123 million, and the third provided $276 million — though $62.2 million of that total went to charter schools and another $3.3 million was dispersed to both charter and private schools.
The initial wave of ESSER funding was mainly used to support the transition from in-person to virtual learning in 2020, from providing students with internet hotspots and technology to to purchasing new instruction materials, securing personal protection equipment like masks, distributing food and more. As students returned to the classroom, the funds continued to secure PPE and were also used to improve air quality, upgrade technology, and enhance academic and mental support. Through ESSER, Metro schools were able to accomplish lasting changes. The money was used to help MNPS facilitate its
transition of fifth grade back into elementary schools. It also helped put nurses in every school building and brought on more mental health counselors, restorative practice assistants and social workers. Peace and advocacy centers were established to help students work through behavioral issues. ESSER also helped facilitate MNPS’ summer school, tutoring and literacy programs, while teachers received professional development and more endorsements to teach English learners. Through the last round of ESSER funding, each MNPS school got at least $75,000 — plus $450 for each economically disadvantaged student — to spend as needed MNPS’ ESSER investments have proven worthwhile. Earlier this year, MNPS was recognized in a collaborative report from the Education Opportunity Project at Stanford University, the Stanford Center for Education Policy Analysis and Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research. The report, called the Education Recovery Scorecard, sought to identify and compare how students from school districts across the country were impacted by the pandemic and what their recovery has since looked like. In the top 100 school districts, MNPS ranked third for math growth and sixth for reading growth in the 2022-23 school year. It was also identified as one of two large urban school districts that ranked in the top 10 for both reading and math. While the achievement is certainly worth celebrating, and MNPS’ students have continued to grow academically since the 2022-23 school year, its students still have a long way to go. This year’s TCAP results show that the majority of MNPS students didn’t reach proficiency as defined by the state in each subject category, and significant achievement gaps among students of color, English learners and economically disadvantaged students remain.
Another aspect to be wary of as ESSER ends is the “fiscal cliff” it creates for school districts. As the funding dries up, districts have to find new ways to supplement those dollars or drop the initiatives they were funding, which could result in reduced services or staff layoffs. While MNPS didn’t have to do that this year due to the Metro Council’s continued investments in the district, how it will sustain those costs in ongoing years remains to be seen.
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Scene.
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Davidson County Board of Education building PHOTO: ERIC ENGLAND
USN plans damage control after teacher investigation
Administrator shares firsthand account of sexual misconduct
investigation, students circulate petition, and prep school convenes task force ELI
Frustration and disappointment continue to build among students, parents, faculty and alumni at University School of Nashville following administrators’ handling of alleged sexual misconduct by
English teacher Dean Masullo. The school dismissed Masullo over the summer after an internal investigation. Fallout continues, specifically related to the administration’s perceived lack of communication with
Nashville man charged following fatal July 4 crash in West Nashville
A 24-year-old Nashville man was arrested two months after Metro Nashville Police said he killed another Nashville man and injured four other people in a West Nashville traffic crash
Jalen Mahone was charged with vehicular homicide by recklessness and aggravated
assault and has since been released on a $10,000 bond.
According to the MNPD, Mahone was the driver of a Dodge Ram pickup truck that struck a Honda CRV and killed 29-year-old Jacabo Hernandez on Interstate 40 East near the White Bridge Road exit on July 4.
The crash occurred at approximately 7:19 p.m. after Hernandez initially lost control of his vehicle in heavy rain, crashing into the center median wall and coming to a stop in a travel lane of the interstate.
Hernandez moved to the back seat to check on an 18-month-old child who was in a car seat.
Mahone’s truck collided with the rear of Hernandez’s vehicle, which ejected Hernandez through a rear window and killed him at the scene.
Police said that Mahone was traveling 75 mph in a 55 mph stretch of the interstate.
In July, police said “the contributing factor to this fatal crash appears to be the Honda’s failure to maintain its travel lane.”
parents and students.
In late August, Alex Little — the student’s attorney — sent a letter to USN’s board asking the school to clarify the investigation into Masullo and apologize for dismissing the student’s requests for better communication. Connor Daryani first reported on this letter for the Nashville Banner
Many parents and students swapped rumors about Masullo’s abrupt absence. Little’s letter set off a flurry of correspondence, a student petition, text threads between parents, angry emails, public criticism and private calls for top administrators to immediately step down.
In a letter dated Monday, 20 faculty members wrote to the school’s board of trustees criticizing director Amani Reed and top administrator Quinton Walker for prioritizing the school’s reputation and legal considerations over the concerns of the affected student. The same day, Jeff Edmonds — listed as USN’s assistant head of high school for academic affairs — described his experience accompanying the student through weeks of conversations during which attorneys retained by the school replaced administrators and communication gradually cooled, then ceased.
“Any mistakes or poor judgment reflected in what I saw came from human beings struggling to do their best in a vulnerable and risky situation,” Edmonds writes in his preface. “In my opinion the school acted mostly out of fear, which is understandable if not admirable.”
Edmonds shares that the student and her peers were frequently in the dark about the school’s investigation into Masullo. He writes that Walker, USN’s assistant head of school, was initially sympathetic to Masullo,
defended his behavior and implied that the student had brought sexual misconduct accusations for financial gain.
Through a spokesperson, the school says it “disputes some of the statements” in Edmonds’ letter, which spans 10 pages. Juanita Traughber, USN’s director of communications and marketing, warned The News sister publication the Nashville Scene against publishing Edmonds’ letter, stating that “USN will have no choice but to seek any and all legal remedies available, including an injunction against your publication.”
More than 500 students have signed a petition supporting the faculty response and urging the school to hire a third-party investigator to “restore the faith of the community in USN.”
Eric Kopstain, president of the USN Board of Trustees, announced Friday afternoon that the school would convene a new task force, engage additional legal counsel and contact Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk to conduct separate reviews of different aspects of the situation.
“We apologize that our prior communications have disappointed so many of you,” reads Kopstain’s letter, in part. “We regret that our communications and actions have not adequately addressed your concerns. We seek to continue to listen and take to heart any and all feedback. We will keep you informed about this work when we have new facts to share, hold forums for conversations, and report recommendations to the USN community.”
Disclosure: Motycka is a 2013 graduate of the University School of Nashville.
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Scene.
Metro Police investigate ‘unfounded’ active shooter call at Oak Hill School
STAFF REPORTS
Metro Nashville Police responded to an “unfounded” active shooter call at Oak Hill School on Friday afternoon.
According to an MNPD spokesperson, no arrests have been made in the ongoing investigation.
Parents were alerted to the incident in an email from the school, detailing that the call occurred at approximately 2:55 p.m. during dismissal.
“During this occurrence, we acted swiftly
and our students were pulled back inside the building,” the school’s statement read in part. “We quickly initiated a lockdown. All students, faculty, and staff remained quiet and in their offices and classrooms. Metro Police conducted a thorough sweep of the building and determined there was no threat. We then proceeded with our normal dismissal procedures.”
No further details have been released by police at this time.
STAFF REPORTS
Jalen Mahone PHOTO: MNPD
University School of Nashville PHOTO: FILE
Tennessee statesman Jim Sasser
ex-military
Jim Sasser — the former U.S. senator, lawyer and military man who served as U.S. Ambassador to China during the Bill Clinton administration and was respected for his pleasant demeanor and quick intellect — has died.
He was 87.
The Tennessean reports Sasser died at his home in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Tuesday, citing family members.
Born in Memphis in 1936, Sasser briefly attended the University of Tennessee before transferring to Vanderbilt University, from which he earned both his bachelor’s and law degrees. He graduated from Vanderbilt Law School in 1961 while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (from 1957 to 1963).
The Tennessean reports Sasser joined Nashville law firm Goodpasture, Carpenter, Woods and Sasser, at which he practice until 1972
A former Tennessee Democratic Party chairman, Sasser served Tennessee in the U.S. Senate from 1977 to 1995, partly with Republican Howard Baker and partly with fellow Democrats Al Gore and Harlan Mathews. The state has seen no Democrat hold the position since Sasser left. Clinton appointed Sasser in 1996 to serve as the sixth U.S. Ambassador to China.
Gray Sasser, Sasser’s son and also a lawyer, is the past chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party.
The Tennessee Democratic Party issued the following statement:
“We are saddened to learn of the death of former U.S. senator, ambassador and Tennessee Democratic Party Chairman Jim Sasser. He served the people of Tennessee with pride and humility. His service to our party, our state and our nation will forever be remembered.”
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Post.
Maryam Abolfazli talks policy, positions at Brentwood town hall
Democratic candidate for District 5 congressional seat discussed gun safety, economics, more
HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Democratic District 5 congressional candidate Maryam Abolfazli talked economics, abortion rights, gun safety and more during a Sept. 11 Brentwood town hall.
Around 50 citizens attended the hourlong event, which was moderated by Dr. Rod Berger at the John P. Holt Brentwood Library.
“The approach of this campaign is that, gerrymandering be damned, we are humans and we are all fed up in one way or another,” Abolfazli said, arguing that voters — Democrats, Republicans and independents alike — have all been “neglected.”
“What we’re trying to do here is talk to each other and offer representation for the first time in a long time.”
Abolfazli’s background includes nonprofit work and international political and economic development. She also led a series of gun reform protests at the Tennessee State Capitol in the wake of last year’s Covenant School shooting. That work led to her being recognized as one of The News sister publication the Nashville Scene’s 2023 Nashvillians of the Year.
“A really big thing that I see needs to get done, that is not getting done, is bringing that federal money down to our district,”
Abolfazli said.
“I’m not talking about going out there and passing a new bill for resources. I’m talking about existing money that needs to come down here,” citing what she said is continued opportunities for funding and grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
Abolfazli faces Tump-endorsed incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles in the Nov. 5 general election. Ogles defeated his Republican challenger, Metro Nashville Councilmember Courtney Johnston, in the Aug. 1 primary election.
As previously reported, the FBI seized Ogles’ phone as part of a campaign finance investigation one day after his primary win, something that Abolfazli said she is “deeply concerned” about.
At a Sept. 7 Williamson County GOP fundraiser, Ogles told The News that he’s not actually the “target” of the investigation. On Sept. 3 he filed an emergency motion in
federal court, in which he said he was simply a “subject” in the FBI investigation.
Ogles also joked about the investigation at the fundraiser and insisted that he’s unbothered by the potential outcome of the investigation, which he characterized as politically motivated.
“I honestly find it extremely insulting that he would take the rule of law and the processes of investigation to be a joke,” Abolfazli said. “In this country, you are not a patriot if that’s how you approach these incredible processes that keep our democracy in place.”
“We, in District 5, do not deserve this kind of representation,” she continued. “We need this to end. We need these lies to end. We need honest representation. His blowing it off does not surprise me. It’s a great tactic to make it smaller than it is, but clearly, if the FBI is after it [his phone, emails and texts], there’s something there.”
“[Former New York Congressman] George Santos, two weeks ago, pleaded guilty [to federal to wire fraud and identity theft charges]. We could be there in 18 months,
honestly,” Abolfazli said of the investigation.
“I have reached out to Courtney’s [Johnston] voters, I have reached out to her donors,” Abolfazli said. “I want to make sure that they feel seen and heard by me and that they know that I’m interested in representing them. I want to know their perspectives on things. So do we need all our voters? No, but it would be great to get those that are fed up with Ogles to feel like they have an alternative to him, to feel like they would be represented in me.”
Ogles has been a vocal supporter of Israel and a vocal opponent of Palestinians, calling for a ban on Palestinian refugees coming to the U.S., introducing legislation to send pro-Palestinian student protesters to Gaza as punishment, and coming under fire for his rhetoric when pressed by pro-Palestinian activists in Washington D.C. in February.
When asked about her position on the conflict by a voter, Abolfazli said that she has “not seen something more difficult than this issue right now.”
“I will say the hostages should have been back, and the ceasefire should have happened,” Abolfazli said. “I will work towards peace. I don’t find that military solutions often achieve the intentions or outcomes that they want to.”
Abolfazli also spoke about her stance on abortion, saying “I don’t think it’s safe to be pregnant in Tennessee right now,” and spoke about her support for gun reform.
“I think responsible gun owners would be comfortable with background checks,” Abolfazli said. “I think responsible gun owners would be comfortable with safe storage. I think those are two steps that statistics show will increase our safety significantly kind of off the bat. We can talk about magazine capacities and assault rifles down the road, but just some basic incremental stuff would be huge and wouldn’t harm our state’s practice of gun ownership.”
She also supports a waiting period on firearm purchases, as well as some degree of holding gun manufacturers legally liable for gun violence.
“You can count on me to support [and] push responsible gun ownership,” Abolfazli said. “If there are nonexisting bills, which there are, I will happily introduce them. I will hit the ground running as much as you can.”
Abolfazli drew a distinction between herself and her opponent, who has been publicly criticized as “ineffective” and “reckless.”
“We’ve got to stop being so mean, and mean has to stop meaning authentic,” Abolfazli said. “A CEO sets the tone for a company; I think public leaders set the tone for a country.”
Democratic District 5 congressional candidate Maryam Abolfazi speaks at a Sept. 11, 2024, town hall at the John P. Holt Brentwood Library PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Former U.S. Attorney General and current Belmont University Law Professor Alberto Gonzales has endorsed U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris for president. That endorsement came in a Sept. 12 Politico op-ed, two days after a historic presidential debate. In the piece, Gonzales called former president and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump “perhaps the most serious threat to the rule of law in a generation.”
“Power is intoxicating and based on Trump’s rhetoric and conduct it appears unlikely that he would respect the power of the presidency in all instances; rather, he would abuse it for personal and political gain, and not on behalf of the American people,” Gonzales wrote.
Gonzales became dean of Belmont’s law school in 2014 and holds the Doyle Rogers Distinguished Chair of Law professorship. In addition to his former role as U.S. attorney general during the President George W. Bush administration, he served on the Texas Supreme Court and as Texas secretary of
state, among other public service roles.
Gonzales is a Williamson County resident who served as the guest speaker at the 2023 Williamson County Fair’s Hometown Heroes event where he called for citizens of the United States to come together and “disagree better.”
“Folks, let’s find a way to work together on the issues that are important to this country, find common ground, and let’s move America forward,” Gonzales said at the event. “Let’s keep America the greatest country on the face of the Earth.”
Gonzales elaborated on his endorsement in an interview with CNN during which he said Harris was “someone most likely to try to unite America,” and pushed back on the idea that he may be characterized as a “RINO” (Republican in name only) by the MAGA faithful.
“I’d like to have them think about what’s best for this country,” Gonzales said. “The rule of law is what allows ... Americans to enjoy our freedoms.”
Fomer U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales speaks at the 2023 Willliamson County Fair Hometown Heroes event. PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
AT&T Southeast ends longest-ever telecom strike in region Communications Workers of America reach union contract for AT&T employees in Tennessee and eight other states
NICOLLE S. PRAINO
After 30 days, members of the Communications Workers of America reached a tentative agreement with AT&T Southeast on Sunday.
According to a release, the strike was the longest in the telecommunication region’s history. Members returned to work today after accepting the contract that covers 17,000 workers including technicians, customer service representatives and others who install, maintain and support AT&T’s residential and business network in Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Tennessee AT&T workers were part of the strike and had been picketing outside of the 333 Commerce St. building in downtown Nashville since the strike began.
House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Ray Clemmons and Rep. Bo Mitchell brought lunch to the union members at the picket line on Friday. Clemmons’ grandfather was a CWA member and joined strikes in 1955 and 1971.
The newly reached five-year agreement includes wage increases of 19.33 percent with an additional 3 percent increase for wire technicians and utility operations. Health care costs were also a key part of the deal and will remain the same for the first year, decrease in years two and three and increase monthly over the final two years of the agreement.
Luxury brand TAG Heuer opens in Green Hills
Luxury timepiece brand TAG Heuer opened its first Nashville store in The Mall at Green Hills and hosted an A-list, invite-only reception to mark the occasion.
The label, known for its bold and contemporary designs, has been searching for a location for years. The 1,015-square-foot corner location — tucked beside Nordstrom within sight of the Apple store — was exactly what the brand was looking for.
“We wanted to come to Nashville because we saw the potential,” Beatrice Goasglas, president of TAG Heuer Americas, said. “At TAG Heuer, we are very strong in smaller cities where there is an appetite for luxury.”
Established in 1860 by Edouard Heuer, TAG Heuer has a reputation for bold styles that appeal to the trendsetter and collector alike. The brand has a unique following in both large and small markets. Its watches are often sought out by athletes and sports enthusiasts because of their renowned precision timing, their durability through intense wear and the variety of models offered. “
What is strong for us is a mindset
of sports,” Goasglas said. “The idea of performance, perseverance, pushing your own limits is really the future of TAG Heuer.”
IndyCar star Alexander Rossi — best known for winning the 100th Indianapolis 500 as a rookie — has been an ambassador for the brand since 2016.
“As any athlete will tell you, to be able to be a partner of a brand that has such a huge history in the sport that you’re involved in on a global stage is a pretty cool thing,” Rossi said, adding that TAG Heuer does an excellent job blending the lines between sportswear and luxury. “It’s luxury that you can wear everywhere.”
TAG Heuer is located at The Mall at Green Hills, 2126 Abbott Martin Road #128 and can be reached at (615) 461-5266. Find out more about TAG Heuer at www. tagheuer.com/us/en/.
“Our bargaining team has worked tirelessly to negotiate a contract that provides significant wage increases that reflect the hard work and dedication of our union members and a medical plan that ensures that our members and their families have affordable, comprehensive healthcare services,” CWA district 3 vice president Richard Honeycutt said in the statement.
“For every member who has walked a picket line, spoken out for the contract they deserved, or joined their coworkers for a union action, you built this.”
The CWA also reached a tentative agreement with AT&T West after members previously rejected an agreement on Sept. 6. The agreement is for four years and covers 8,500 workers in California and Nevada.
Union members will hold ratification votes in their respective regions before the contracts are officially adopted.
LOGAN BUTTS ASSOCIATE 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
JANET KURTZ
Alex Rossi and Beatrice Goasglas
NATHAN MORGAN OF MORGAN
CWA members on strike outside of the AT&T building in Nashville
PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
OPINION
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
Nine of ten people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of the hospital die. In most of those cases, bystander CPR was not performed. The American Heart Association recognizes this problem and is asking our community to help.
This year’s Heart Walk campaign will focus on CPR as a way to broaden our impact in Middle Tennessee. Through fundraising, community education and corporate engagement, Heart Walk will work to enhance CPR training accessibility, bolster bystander responsiveness, increase funding for vital research, and ultimately, save lives.
But we can’t do it alone. We need every company and community to join the Heart Walk so we can turn our community of bystanders into lifesavers. Each participant
and every dollar donated will contribute to more people trained in lifesaving CPR, more research, and more lifesaving moments.
Cardiac arrests can happen to anyone at any time, and our community’s readiness could be the difference between life and death. As the Chairperson for the 2025 Greater Nashville Heart Walk, I encourage everyone in Nashville to join Heart Walk by visiting nashvilleheartwalk.org. With the help of local supporters, we can ensure our community is prepared and ready to save more lives.
Sincerely,
Danielle Burkhalter
Executive Vice
President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Surgery Partners, Nashville, TN
TICKED OFF!
FILLER JUST TO SELL ADS?
I am ticked off again by the lax reporting of good ‘Ole (Boy?) TV station WSM channel 4.
Aside from rebroadcasting the same exact news segment over many days, they refuse to report the actual results of the presidential debate only to report that “both sides claim they won” being Red State safe by giving the impression it was a tie.
While I don’t expect them to fact check or warn people to lock up their pets, lest they become meals for migrants as per MAGA fear mongering, they could at least report one or some polls (65% btw were in favor of the pro democracy candidate) and feedback from real Republicans (and even Trumplicans for a balanced view) and perhaps also others rather than pandering with non news sugar coated reporting.
Why not also report that the Tenet group in Green Hills have been identified by the Feds as pawns for the Putin regime spreading verified propaganda to destabilize our beloved democracy, revealing also that Ogles and Blackburn use the supplied talking points at times ---real news helps us all!
PARENTAL OBLIGATIONS
If you give humans wiggle room they will wiggle. We now have generations of wigglers and some of them are parents that are passing the buck concerning parental obligations. The most talented and commited well paid teachers could never guarantee every student has acdomplished the required memorization and knows how to use all basics rules and skills. That is the obligation of the parent(s).
Teachers can insist on standards but inforcement brings conflict with the adult wiggling parent(s).
WHY IS LIZZETTE REYNOLDS STILL TENNESSEE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER?
This woman is not qualified to hold the position and should never have been appointed in the first place. Obviously, because of her background, Governor Lee appointed her to help him pass his universal voucher plan for the public schools in the state. She then enrolled to take classes to become a certified teacher, and received tuition assistance from UT Martin, which she was not entitled to – because her primary residence was in Texas! She recently took two unauthorized out-of-state trips to education conferences that were “Pro-privatization” (re: anti-public school), and paid for by ExcelinEd, her former employer. When Representative Caleb Hemmer lodged a complaint with the ethics committee, Gov. Lee’s buddies on the ethics committee said that if she paid back the expenses for the conferences and admitted to no wrongdoing, no further action was necessary. Anybody else would have been fired. Surely there must be a Tennessean more qualified, ethical and competent that her to do this job.
The comments in the Ticked Off column do not reflect the views of FW Publishing.
Local students named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists
STAFF REPORTS
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced the semifinalists for the 2025 NMS program on Wednesday. Of the 1.5 million students to enter the program, only about 16,000 receive this honor each year. The 2025 semifinal list included more than 100 local students.
High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Any semifinalist who has been selected as a National Merit Scholarship finalist will be notified in February.
To become a finalist, the semifinalist and their high school must submit an application including information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and any honors and awards they received.
The following students from Davidson and Williamson County were named 2025 NMS semifinalists:
MONTGOMERY BELL ACADEMY
Ambrose, Henry Dalai, Sayan Dorfman, Jake Gannon, Daniel Glover, William Keefer, Henry Murphy, Braden Singhvi, Arish Smithwick, John Tompkins, Claiborne Trainer, James
ENSWORTH
Buschmann, Price Rehm, Grant Schader, Robert Wong, Veronica
FRANKLIN ROAD ACADEMY
Boylan, Maxwell Jones, Rhys
HARPETH HALL
Bowen, Lillian Rork, Cailin
Thomas, Katherine Vidalakis, Ariadne
HUME-FOGG
Craddock, Oliver George Mooney, Margaret Kathryn Nelms, Grayson Lewis
Qian, Anna Webber, Anya Michelle
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
Luo, Jason
Mayo, Lauren Veltum, Luke Zak, Liam
FATHER RYAN
Saivar, Finn T.
ST. CECILIA ACADEMY
Whittaker, Colsyn A.
USN
Chan, Collin
Cherry-Pulay, Ophelia Guo, Daniel Keiper, Caroline Lara, Alexander Luffman, Samuel Nichols, Elizabeth Ramachandran, Rohan Rothman, Elena Sharfstein, Saul Tong, Katharine
BRENTWOOD ACADEMY
Lumsdaine, Nathan Martin, Samuel
BRENTWOOD
Allen, Ivy Bai, Leonardo Chang, Ivy
Coughlan, Thilo
De Gennaro, Dennis
Estrella, Andrew Gan, Andrew Glenn, Todd Hawkins, Cole Hoesel, Allison Javagal, Nisha
Khairollahi, Parsa
Malhotra, Arshia
McClendon, Margaret McConnell, Cade Park, Geon Perez, Katherine Sathu, Pranav Wang, Katie Wyatt, Lucy Youngberg, Collin
RAVENWOOD
Ali Amghaiab, Jumana Amosun, Oluwaseyi Balaje, Ajay Chakraborty, Shruti Deorah, Yash Dunlea, Caelan Gianakos, Kyra Green, Katelyn Herrmann, Jack Hoskins, William Joseph, Raphael Jun Yeung, Qi Kalasikam, Manushri Kilaru, Rohan Kripalani, Sonia Lowen, Ariela Mehta, Arnav Nair, Ankita Patel, Yug Pierce, Thomas Wang, Jason Yenigalla, Chetan Zhang, Brayden
BATTLE GROUND ACADEMY Lee, Junho
CENTENNIAL
Blank, Natalie L. Comer, Roman D. Eischen, Michael D. Hooks, Alexandria L. O’Donnell, Eve C. Petapalle, Navdeep R. Reuthe, Willow E. Sponsel, Levi D. Stiles, Kory P.
Johnsen, Griffin
FRANKLIN
Edwards, Adelaide C. Hsu, Judy Jamal, Rinaz F. Jiang, Andrew H. King, Zane W. Ohri, Ridham Pallekonda, Gabriel J. Quick, Morea L. Saylor, Finnegan B. Taheri, Dorsa Webb, Abby E.
HOMESCHOOL / ONLINE SCHOOL
Born, Liora Zimmerman, McKinley
FRED J. PAGE
Allu, Sreenesh Avery, Anna K. Ey, MacKenzie N. Gray, John R. Lee, Olivia J. Sundar, Nishanth M. Swallows, William C.
NOLENSVILLE
Balamurugan, Deepak Kelley, Desi McCarthy, Samuel Russell, Bryce Sherrill, Emily
SUMMIT
Constantine, Caroline S. Davis, Paul R. Hoffman, Nathan J. Phillips, Nathan S.
INDEPENDENCE
Brandon, Peyton Britt, Connor Casner, Brendan Honken-Krause, Kate Lindsey, Elliot Palmliden, Anthony Sahay, Dewang Shreekanth, Aditya
MLK National Merit Scholar semifinalists PHOTO: MNPS
FRANKLIN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Hume-Fogg National Merit Scholar semifinalists PHOTO: MNPS
Five free and cheap family things to do in Middle Tennessee
BY AMANDA HAGGARD
Normally there are a lot more events for the small kids than for the big ones, but this week might be slightly more geared toward your older fam. There’s a chance to learn some driving skills at Bridgestone Arena for free that makes me wish I were quite a bit younger. You can check out some kitty cats at The Catio’s adoption event. Bites+Boos offers spooky foods for
the whole family. And then you can dance for free to celebrate National Dance Day at the Nashville Ballet or check out the parade down in Murfreesboro at Middle Tennessee State University. 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:
NATIONAL DANCE DAY AT THE NASHVILLE BALLET
On Sept. 21, Nashville Ballet will celebrate National Dance Day by offering free classes for all ages as well as a performance. Classes are likely to include: ballet, jazz, musical theatre, hip-hop, country Llne dancing, African with Africa Nashville, tap, and DanceFix. Attendees should plan to wear sneakers, socks or bare feet in order to help maintain the studio floors. For more information email school@ nashvilleballet.com.
BITES+BOOS
On Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Bites+Boos will host a variety of vendors with spooky appetizers and party foods, each curated to elevate Halloween gatherings. The event will also have cocktails and mocktails as well as a spooky selfie station. There’s a free gift for the first 50 attendees as well.
CRAFT, FOOD & ADOPTION FAIR
On Sept. 21, The Catio Nashville is slated to host an adoption event featuring more than 80 adoptable cats. The event will include vendor booths, music, food and more, and admission is free.
MTSU HOMECOMING PARADE
Head down to Murfreesboro to celebrate 113 years of Middle Tennessee State University with a homecoming parade on Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. The parade route begins on East Main Street at Maney Avenue. It will continue on East Main Street, turning left on Middle Tennessee Boulevard and ending before Greenland Drive. Find a spot before Faulkinberry for the best parade views. Community members, groups, and businesses are welcome to be in the parade as well.
BRIDGESTONE TEENS DRIVE SMART
Bridgestone is hosting a free Teens Drive Smart hands-on driving experience for Nashville teens on Sept. 22 at the Nashville Superspeedway. The lesson provides teen drivers with the knowledge and skills to make better decisions behind the wheel, according to the event description. The event will focus on preventing accidents, giving tips for driving in adverse weather, offering basic car maintenance advice and highlighting the dangers of distracted driving. The session is led by highly trained, professional driving instructors and is free to attend for ages of 15-21. Registration is required.
YOUR PERFECT HOME AWAITS!
Herta claims Big Machine Music City Grand Prix title
JOHN GLENNON
Newgarden finishes third at home racetrack
Chip Ganassi Racing driver to earn his third IndyCar Series championship.
He became the 13th driver in history to win at least three championships and just the seventh to win three titles in four years. Dario Franchitti was the last to win three straight from 2009-11.
The 27-year-old Palou also became the second-youngest driver to win three series, trailing the 2006 accomplishment of Sam Hornish Jr. by just a matter of days.
Will Power, who entered the day in second place behind Palou in the points standings, would have needed to finish at least third to have any shot at overtaking Palou. But Power went five laps down early in the race due to a disconnected seat belt and wound up finishing 24th.
“We just had to keep on going,” Palou told reporters about maintaining focus after learning of Power’s troubles. “I have to thank everyone working on the 10 car. Super
last year, won the season-ending race by passing Pato O’Ward on lap 202 of the 206-lap race and finishing first by 1.8106 seconds. Herta jumped from fourth place to
we were going to have a hot rod in the race. It’s been an amazing year. I just saw I finished second in the championship, which is awesome. Hoping to do a little bit better
Alex Palou may have captured the big prize
Alex Palou
PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Cars racing in the Music City Grand Prix
PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW MASTERS
Pato O’Ward, Colton Herta, Josef Newgarden PHOTO: HAMILTON MATTHEW
Tell Us About it!
Are you in the know about what’s going on down the street or on the corner?
TDEC names deputy commissioner for Bureau of Environment
STAFF REPORTS
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced Ronné Adkins as deputy commissioner for the Bureau of Environment.
According to a release, Adkins was previously director of TDEC’s division of stakeholder engagement. He replaces former deputy commission for the bureau Greg Young. The release notes Young is leaving to pursue other interests and had served as deputy commissioner since 2019.
In Adkins’ previous role as director, he oversaw the office of external affairs, office of sustainable practices and the small business environmental assistance program. He held
that role since 2022 and was director of the office of external affairs before that. Before that, he was TEDC’s regional director of external affairs in the Memphis Environmental Field Office from 2014 to 2021
Adkins has been an adjunct professor at the University of Memphis and a supervisor at the Shelby County Health Department Pollution Control. He earned his Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of Memphis, where he was also a National Science Foundation Fellow. He received an Master’s in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Johns Hopkins University, after earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College.
“We are fortunate to have someone of Ronné’s ability and commitment to step into this position,” TDEC Commissioner David Salyers said. “Ronné has an accomplished environmental background and a proven track record of working with stakeholders and citizens across the state. I’m confident this experience will serve him well in this new capacity and pay dividends for Tennessee citizens and our natural environment.”
The TDEC Bureau of Environment manages regulatory programs that set standards for air, water, and soil quality. It also provides assistance to businesses and communities for several areas from recreation to waste management.
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Post.
Be a neighborhood news ambassador for
Looking for a few neighbors who want to write about interesting things happening in your neighborhood. Specific neighborhoods of interest are Brentwood, Franklin, Spring Hill, Nolensville, Bellevue, West Meade, Green Hills.
Yes, you need to have some writing chops; extra credit if you’ve contributed to a newspaper at some point! Interested?
Email neighbornews@theNEWStn.com and let us know what neighborhood you are interested in and include a few writing samples.
Tennessee Chamber CEO resigns Bradley Jackson reportedly leaves organization for personal reasons after eight-year run
STAFF REPORTS
Bradley Jackson has resigned as president and chief executive officer of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Tennessee Journal reported the move on Sept. 9, noting Jackson stepped down abruptly from the Nashville-based entity for personal reasons.
Andrew Tavi serves as Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry board chairman and will oversee the search for a replacement. The chamber website lists seven staff employees.
Jackson had held the position since October 2016, after having served as interim president following the departure of Catherine
Glover. He previously was the chamber’s vice president for government affairs.
Before joining the chamber, Jackson worked in various roles in Tennessee state government. He was on the research staff of the Senate and House Finance, Ways and Means committees, headed up lobbying for the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions and worked with the governor’s office on various projects.
Jackson is a Lawrenceburg native and a graduate of the University of Tennessee. This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Post.
Ronné Adkins PHOTO: TDEC
BUSINESS BRIEFS
TriStar names division CMO
HCA veteran Ajit Singh joins by way of Richmond
HANNAH HERNER
TriStar Health, the local brand of Nashville-based for-profit health care giant HCA Healthcare, has named a Chief Medical Officer.
Ajit Singh will serve as CMO for the TriStar division, which includes 10 hospitals and five freestanding emergency rooms. Singh has worked with HCA for more than 10 years, but most recently worked at hospitals in Richmond, Virginia, including
serving as CMO at HCA Healthcare’s Johnston Willis Hospital.
He replaces Tama Van Decar, who had served in the role since 2017.
Singh earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) in Pondicherry, India. He also completed a residency in dermatology there. In addition, he completed a residency in family medicine in Bay Shore, New York. He earned a diploma in dermatology at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and a Master of Business from Indiana University.
“Dr. Singh brings extensive medical leadership experience and a passion for building clinical services rooted in exceptional quality,” Mitch Edgeworth, president of the HCA Healthcare TriStar Division, said in a news release. “I am excited to welcome Dr. Singh to our division, and I know he will lead the thousands of physicians across our hospitals to continue delivering excellence and elevating patient care.”
TriStar Health is underway with building a Spring Hill hospital.
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Post.
West Nashville apartment building opens
WILLIAM WILLIAMS
Houston-based apartment development and construction management company Ascendant Development announced Wednesday the completion of Haven at Charlotte.
The 369-unit apartment 11-story building, billed as offering high-end units, offers an address of 3025 Charlotte Ave. near mixed-use development One City and visible from Interstate 440.
Haven units range in size from about 515 to 1,470 square feet and rent for an average of about $3 per foot, with the building offering a rooftop saltwater pool and yoga room, among other amenities.
“Haven at Charlotte exemplifies our strategy of combining exceptional sites with best-in-class living spaces,” Richard Owen, principal at Ascendant Development, said in a release. “Its proximity to Nashville’s vibrant offerings makes it an ideal choice for those
National Kidney Foundation names Tennessee leader
STAFF REPORTS
The National Kidney Foundation has announced Kristie Kenney as the executive director of Tennessee operations.
According to a release, Kenney has served in leadership positions in the corporate,
nonprofit and higher education sectors. Her experience includes fundraising and donor development as well as work with philanthropists and government leaders for capital and program initiatives.
With a personal connection to kidney disease, seeing its effects with her late father, Kenney has a dedication to NKF’s mission. She holds a Ph.D. in urban higher education from Jackson State University, a Master of Science from Kaplan University (currently Purdue University Global), and a Bachelor of Science from Tennessee State University.
“Kristie is a force of nature,” said Brenita Brooks, NKF’s regional vice president. “Her vision for NKF Tennessee is transformative. Her extensive experience in organizational management and fundraising, combined with her passion for kidney health, make her the perfect leader to advance our mission in the state. I am confident that under her guidance, we will expand our outreach and deepen our impact for kidney patients and healthcare professionals across Tennessee.”
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Post.
Local nonprofit to pay $7M for airport-area property
Second Harvest Food Bank will double capacity with facility planned for site
STAFF REPORTS
Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee announced last week it will pay approximately $7 million for a Nashville International Airport-area site at which it plans a distribution center.
seeking upscale urban living.”
Ascendant Development previously operated as Guefen Development Partners. The company has a ground lease with an LLC affiliated with New York-based real estate investment trust Safehold Inc., with that company having paid $10 million for the 4.38-acre site on which the building sits in November 2021.
Ascendant Development (then Guefen) teamed with local real estate developer and broker Travis Kelty to develop a downtown site, located at 641 Division St., with the 11-story 299-unit apartment building Haven at The Gulch.
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Post.
According to a release, the future facility will allow the nonprofit to double its production and distribution capacity.
The 23.6-acre site is located at 1301 Donelson Pike and offers no structures.
Metro records show the property is owned by Eskimo Centennial, which paid $5.15 million for it in February 2023. Seth Eskind, owner of Nashville-based alcoholic beverage distribution company Best Brands, is a trustee for Eskimo Centennial.
The release notes Second Harvest will acquire the property for $7 million plus closing costs.
The future facility will double the current capacity of Second Harvest’s Martin Distribution Center at 331 Great Circle Road in MetroCenter. The nonprofit paid $1.5 million for that property in 2000, Metro records show.
The release does not note Second Harvest’s plan for its MetroCenter property.
Second Harvest officials said that in addition to increased food storage capacity, the future location will provide increased parking for volunteers, employees and fleet; proximity to major highways; and expand partnerships and program growth.
“Our region continues to grow at an exponential rate, but so does the tremendous need we’re seeing from our neighbors who do not know where their next meal will come from,” Second Harvest President and CEO Nancy Keil said in the release.
“Simply put, if we’re going to serve our neighbors and end hunger as we know it, we need additional capacity with the room to grow to meet our 20-plus-year vision. Our neighbors depend on us, and we’re going to be there every step of the way to meet their needs.”
In 2023, Second Harvest distributed more than 47.8 million pounds of food and provided more than 41 million meals. The food bank currently organizes and facilitates 18 hunger relief programs including Mobile Pantries, Kids Cafe, School Pantries and SNAP outreach, among others.
This article was first published by our sister publication the Nashville Post.
Dr. Ajit Singh PHOTO: TRISTAR
Kristie Kenney PHOTO: NKF
Roasted Red Bell Pepper Sauce With Chicken
BY EDIBLE NASHVILLE
This roasted red bell pepper sauce is super versatile and great as a dip, spread on sandwiches and as a sauce for steak or fish. Stir it into pasta or orzo for a side or use
ACROSS
1 When the stage direction “Enter three Witches” appears in “Macbeth”
in cocktail sauce for shrimp or vegetables. Here we’ve baked a rotisserie chicken in it for a zesty entree.
INGREDIENTS
3 large red bell peppers
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
2 medium shallots or 1 white onion, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning or herbs de Provence
3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
1. Preheat broiler. Cut peppers in half, remove stem and seeds. Place cut side down on a baking sheet lined with foil. Roast under the broiler until soft and charred. Wrap up in foil and let steam for 10 minutes. Peel and coarsely chop.
2. In a large pan, heat olive oil. Add garlic and shallot and sauté until translucent and fragrant. Add the spices and sauté 1 minute more. Add the peppers and remaining ingredients and simmer for 10 minutes.
3/4 crushed red pepper flakes
4 tablespoons tomato paste
1/3 cup chicken or vegetable stock
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
3/4 cup heavy cream
3 ounces goat cheese
1 rotisserie chicken
8 large fresh basil leaves kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3. Transfer to a blender or food processor, and blend until smooth. (Store in refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze indefinitely.) Makes 3 cups.
4. Cut up a rotisserie chicken. Place 1⁄2 cup sauce on bottom of a baking dish. Place pieces on top of sauce. Spoon more sauce over chicken. Squeeze lemon over chicken and place wedges on side. Bake 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve hot.
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.
5 Mower houses
10 Admits (to)
14 “High” time
15 Like abandoned malls
16 Chain with a “2 x 2 x 2” breakfast combo
17 Seventh heaven
19 Purina rival
20 V irginia Tech athletes
21 Texting format, in brief
23 Lead-in to -meter
24 Preach, maybe
25 March Madness round
28 Barbecue joint offering
29 Thermostat piece
30 Big name in Greek yogur t
31 ___-Caps (movie treat)
32 Gym rep
33 Church founded by Joseph Smith, for short
34 Beatles hit written by a teenage Paul McCartney
38 Dedicated wor k
39 Major league?
40 Morning hrs.
43 Like a go-getter
46 Word following sand or steel
47 Composer ___ Car lo Menotti
48 With 56-Across, hairstylist’s observation (that also applies to 17-, 25- and 34-Across?)
50 “Keep Climbing” airline
51 St. Louis summer setting
52 Dallas sch.
53 Wilbur, to Fern, in “Charlotte’s Web”
54 Dethrone
56 See 48-Across
59 Gym bag emanation
60 Preprinted word on some nametags
61 Olympic blade
62 Leakes of reality TV
63 “So long ,” in Seville
64 Prepared to drive
DOWN
1 Last members of relay teams
2 Fill, as with crayon
3 Acknowledged applause
4 Many residents of Nunavut
5 Comedians’ collections
6 “Good one”
7 Blunder
8 Pump option
9 Note by a poor grade
10 Employer of Carrie Mathison on “Homeland,” for short
11 “Well, whaddya know!”
12 Tegan and Sara, e.g.
13 Trackable scents
18 Ruby of “A Raisin in the Sun”
22 Insistently unhip
25 iPhone speaker?
26 Retail giant headquar tered in Bentonville, Ark.
27 Angle
29 2021 sci-fi epic nominated for Best Picture
32 Evergreens with fragrant wood
33 Like a wet noodle
35 One making a bed, perhaps
36 Significant stretches
37 Part of a car’s exhaust system
41 Afternoon attraction
42 Obtained, informally
43 Bigwig
44 Bro’s greeting
45 Stages, as a play
46 Went on the road
47 Lose in a logrolling match, say
49 Poker variant with four hole cards
50 “In excelsis ___”
53 V ietnamese soups
55 Uno + due
57 ___ Lilly and Company
58 Mo preceder
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 SAMUEL A. DONALDSON
SERVICE & MAINTENANCE
WOODMONT BAPTIST CHURCH
Symphony Ball Prelude Party
BY BRENDA BATEY PHOTOS BY BRENDA BATEY
The Symphony Ball Prelude Party was held at the home of Haden and Brian Cook, where guests enjoyed mingling and hearing news about the Symphony Ball.
The ball chairs are Jason Bradshaw and Bob Deal, the first male chairs in the ball’s history. It won’t too taxing for these men, as they have run a flourishing interior design studio for many years and they know what such white tie events require to be successful.
Bradshaw and Deal also co-chaired the Ballet Ball this year with Evelyn Cate Gallertti. They are not afraid to take on more than one big challenge in a year and they have worked for numerous charity events over the years, benefitting TPAC, Belmont Mansion, Steeplechase, Studio Tenn, and numerous others.
In addition, Bruce Pittman will be the event designer and coordinator. Pittman operates a Nashville-based company specializing in the design and planning of weddings and social events. He has been involved in planning three Ballet Balls, two
Symphony Balls, the Authors in the Round Gala, and many other events.
Flavor Catering provided delicious hors d’oeuvres for the Prelude Party, such as mini crab cakes with remoulade, beef tenderloin sliders with horseradish sauce, sun dried tomato polenta bites, mini truffle grilled cheese sandwiches, fresh fruit, and Bourbon chocolate tarts.
Announcements at the event included the Craig Duncan Band will return and play during the ball’s dinner and there also will be dancing for the ball patrons. The Late Party band will be Biz and Everyday People.
The 40th annual white tie Symphony Ball will be held at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on Saturday, December 14. The decor for the ball will be a gorgeous winter wonderland
Party guests included: Katie Curry, Betsy and Ridley Wills, Rob Turner, Alan Valentine, Sharon Sandahl, Rachel Robinson, Irving Martin, and Owen and Amy Joyner
Ashley and Douglas Henry
Kristin Whittlesey and Grace Burkard
Elizabeth Papel, and Kathy and Martin Davis
Michael and Kaci Young, Virginia Garchitorena, and Ben Swann
Donnie Counts, Jay Jones, and Kayla Counts
Symphony Ball Chairs Bob Deal and Jason Bradshaw
Chris and Virginia Garchitorena
2024 Robertson Chapter DAR Kick-Off Luncheon
BY BRENDA BATEY
The 2024 DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) General James Robertson Chapter Kick-Off Luncheon was held at Hillwood Country Club, where chairs and officers gave reports on plans for the upcoming year.
One focus of the group is trying to make life a little easier for those currently enlisted in the U. S. armed services and veterans. They do this, in part, by sending cookies and cards to service people and collecting baby shower gifts for those expecting babies.
The chapter maintains the family burial ground of General James Robertson, founder of Nashville, located in the Nashville City Cemetery, observes historic anniversaries, and locates and preserves historic spots.
This years officers and committee chairs are: Regent Beth Hamilton, 1st Vice Regent Jenny Gremillion, 2nd Vice Regent Myra Leathers, Chaplain Mary Prue Alley, Recording Secretary Denise Davis Arnold, Corresponding Secretary Chris Follansbee, Treasurer Elaine Youngblood, Registrar Mae Ambrose, and Historian and Archives Chair Trish Woolwine.
Directors are Myra Leathers, Ginger Stephenson, and Marees Choppin.
The National Society of the DAR was founded in 1890 with three objectives:
to perpetuate the memory of those who achieved American Independence, to promote institutions for the diffusion of knowledge, and to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom.
PHOTOS BY BRENDA BATEY
Joan Slaughter, Chris Follansbee, and Denise Davis Arnold
Jenny Gremillion, Beth Hamilton, and Mary Anne Mudd
Emily Humphreys, Tyler and Don Moody, and Barry Stowe
Josh Trusley, Melissa Mosteller, Brooke Trusley, and Patrick Clark
Frank and Julie Boehm, and Melinda and Jeff Balser
Debbie Bryan and Myra Leathers
Nancy Peacock, Patrick Clark, and Melissa Mostelle
Tennessee Women In Business Leadership Luncheon
PHOTOS: WEATHERLY PHOTOGRAPHY
The Women’s Business Enterprise Council South hosted more than 150 women on August 27th at its annual Tennessee Women in Business Leadership Luncheon at the Loveless Barn. The event brought together accomplished women leaders, entrepreneurs and professionals from various industries to share their experiences, insights and strategies for success. Guests built new connections and experienced women-owned pop up shops featuring local brands, retail products and consumer goods.
Gracie Byeitima, Mbabazi House of Style
Chaquita Kirby-Green, Sweet Ruby’s
Angelia Hopson and Kay Moore Kasie Alexander and Kristal Alexander
April McClurg, Emily’s Heirloom Pound Cakes
Delly Thomas, Melted Melodies, LLC
Natalie Boyatt, Bevee, 2024 Tennessee Rising Star Award
Ronda Brown-Quarles, Nissan, 2024 Outstanding Partner Organization Award
Maggie Kuyper, Amy Billings and Eliza Tarwater
SOCIAL
Emily Winters, Strings for Hope
Holly Jordan and Angela Carrol Bistany Bass and Cynthia Rust
Ashley Owens, Black Sheep Goods
Sue Watkins, Sharon Reynolds, Teri Doochin and Ronda Brown-Quarles
Katherine Smith and Jennifer Sims
Krisney Flory, Marjorie Feltus Hawkins and Deb Ward
Brandy Hathaway, Renee Raines and Tami Heimbach
Katherine Garcia and Domonique Townsend
Roberta Pettis and Jacqueline Hayes
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