MAGNOLIA McKay’s Mill Community Magazine
Your Home • Your Community • Your Magazine
January 2011 • FREE
T H I S
N E W
Y E A R . . .
SING - ACT - DANCE all in one place ! U n i v e r s i t y
T r a i n e d
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Singing Acting Musical Theatre Music Theory/Songwriting Hip Hop
Ballet
Jazz Tap
New Preschool Classes Also Available
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Letter From The Publisher
H
appy New Year McKay’s Mill and welcome to your new community magazine! Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Joshua Carré. Along with my wife Sally and our son Joshua, we started Magnolia Publications in early 2010 to provide some of Franklin’s largest and hippest neighborhoods with their own community magazines. We first launched Magnolia’s Fieldstone Farms Community Magazine in April of 2010. Since then, the magazine has grown into it’s own through our wonderful contributors and advertisers in and around the community. Our motto is: Your Home, Your Community, Your Magazine, and that’s exactly what it is. Think of Magnolia as a blank canvass for you to fill with your creative writing, photos, neighborhood reporting and just about anything else that you can think of. The only guidelines that we have are to keep it positive and upbeat! For this premier issue of Magnolia’s McKay’s Mill Community Magazine we have included a few of the writings from our Fieldstone Farms contributors as an example. We urge you to contribute as much and as frequently as you’d like. Nobody has a better feel for your community than you do and we welcome any ideas and suggestions that you can imagine with open arms. You will notice that throughout this issue, there are several places with our email address. Please feel free to contact me directly anytime. We always love to hear from you with your comments on what you would like to see more of in your community magazine. There are a few pages that we will include as time goes on including our McKay’s Mill Business Page designed to advertised McKay’s Mill resident owned businesses. Also, the McKay’s Bulletin Board is an excellent way to post messages that you would like to spread to the community. Along with many neighborhoods in the area, we are sure that you receive a lot of business fliers on your mail boxes. We will actively pursue all business that flier your neighborhood to offer them a consolidated place in which to get their message to you in a more time effective, cost effective and litter-free way. So, if you see a flier, please don’t hesitate to let us know and we will contact that company. On the page to the right, you will notice an ad for our McKay’s Treasure Hunt. This is a fun game that has been a huge success. Imbedded in one of the ads in this issue, you will find our Magnolia Flower (the flowers in our Magnolia logo don’t count). When you email us with the correct business that the flower is in, we will enter your name into a drawing. The winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to that business courtesy of Magnolia Publications. It’s that simple! This is a monthly game that is sure to keep you on your toes. We are here to serve your community. Please let us know about any fund-raisers, non-profit charity events or school events and we will be sure to help get the word out. We hope that you enjoy this premier issue and we look forward to serving McKay’s Mill for years to come. Please feel free to contact me anytime. I look forward to hearing from you! We are honored to start this new year with you!
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice.” ~T.S. Eliot
Happy New Year! 4 Magnolia • McKay’s Mill Community Magazine
Contents Credits Joshua Carré Publisher Every Aiden Thomas Editor
Turning the Page
Sally Carré Advertising Director
Real Estate
Joshua Cantu Creative Consultant
Meet Your Neighbor Chinese New Year Is Not a Postscript
Kathryn Fitch Account Executive
6 7 8 9
Cuddly Companions 10
Outside Graphic Art Jacob Bettis
McKay’s Bulletin Board 11
Contributors Kristi Carré David jay McKay’s Mill Contributors Niki Gauthier
Change Your Conversation, Change Your Life 12 Community Calendar 14 Teacher’s Corner 16
January Cover Photo “Happy New Year” Photo by: H.d. Connelly
Magnolia Publications Franklin, Tennessee (615) 335-2049 www.MagnoliaPublications.com
Join Us On Facebook! Magnolia Mags
Wellness 17 Monthly Message 19
Fieldstone Fashion 20 Business Buzz 21
X-Box Alternatives 24
Please Recycle!
Magnolia Publications is a privately owned company and is not affiliated with The McKay’s Mill Home Owners Association, Ghertner & Company or any of the advertisers within. All Content is © 2011 Magnolia Publications. All Rights Reserved.
MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011
5
Turning the Page by Phil Leftwich
T
he winter solstice has come and gone alongside the very rare occurrence of a lunar eclipse to mark this annual event. The sun has begun nibbling at the darkness a few seconds at a time as the days begin to lengthen once again. The two-faced God Janus left us looking back if only briefly as the clock chimed midnight on New Year’s Eve and we entered the month named in his honor. We have turned the page to another year’s calendar. Looking back is often a good thing since it allows us to assess the past year and make those resolutions of the changes we want to make in the coming year. By now some of mine are already being broken, however, or have shattered into the reality
6 Magnolia • McKay’s Mill Community Magazine
that I really didn’t want to make them. So the curse of Janus is upon me. But it doesn’t have to be that way. I can change my life if I will to do so. If Ebenezer Scrooge could vow to change his life for the better, then anybody can! Janus could see both backward into the past and forward into the future, but he was blind to the present. That must have been an annoying condition. Unfortunately, it is the way that many of us live our lives. We reach as far as our arms will stretch, or our vision will carry us, into the future trying to change what we can to make our lives and those around us better. But our reach often exceeds our grasp. The same is true of dwelling on the past which we cannot alter. We can learn from our mistakes and not repeat them. We can hope and wish for circumstances beyond our control that may alter our lives in fresh and unexpected ways. We can make changes in our lives for the better that are within our control, but even Janus could not undo the past. We can learn how to live in the present and savor the opportunities of each new day. Perhaps we can stop and be still long enough for a few moments every day and see the beauty in the world around us and make some new friends along the way. The question that always haunts me in January is an old one. It is the question “What if?” Someone has said that “if” is the middle of “life.” It’s a nice play on words, and holds some deeper meanings. It goes beyond the superficial. What if, for example, I had not gained back the ten pounds I made a resolution to lose last year? I would certainly look better, maybe feel better, and certainly be healthier. What if I had slowed down on multi-tasking and focused on doing a few things well? What if I had paid closer attention to some old friendships and gotten in touch with those important people from my past with whom I’ve lost touch? What if? There’s no one stopping me from keeping my New Year’s resolutions but myself. I can find those missing friends on line, learn how to actually use Facebook, and renew our conversations from years ago. In some ways, maybe I will learn to know those missing people all over again and in some brand new ways. That seems easy enough. The world of our personal relationships is a fascinating domain. Like a spider web, if we touch one corner ever so lightly the rest of the fragile system feels the vibration. The same is true when we touch the system of our relationships. Granted we may not always know what we are feeling, or even from where our emotions originate, but we can feel their effect. Every time we tug on the edge of our web something happens to others who are connected to us. If we send off “good vibes,” then the people inside our web of life feel something good. If we send off “bad vibes,” then others may intuitively sense that something is wrong. So what kind of vibes do we send out? Good ones? Bad ones? Bad ones aren’t necessarily bad, by the way, if they are cries for help from those we trust. Good ones may help someone else who is having a bad time. Much of what we send is solely our decision. It’s part of examining our own behaviors and sometimes intentionally changing our actions. What if you choose today to do something that sends off some “good vibes?” Maybe sending such messages may make all of us feel better. So what’s on your resolution list for 2011? What are the lingering “What ifs” that can guide your way into January and beyond? What shall we do with a new year? Go ahead and turn the page. What if. . .
Real Estate
MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011
7
Meet Your Neighbor
The Tuckers & The Brennans
Each issue, Magnolia lets you “Meet Your Neighbor”. In this special introductory publication, we get a double dose.
in contact. “She’s just got ‘IT’. People just want to be around her,” says her husband. Jim and Carole just welcomed a new grandson into the family. Brennan Dalton Hammond, was born this past April, and they couldn’t be more thrilled. Their daughter (Krissi), son-in-law (Jeremy), and the new arrival currently reside in Charleston, SC. Don’t tell, but we hear they may try to move back to the area. Yipee!
The Tuckers
The Clan
Meet Tom, Carrie, Grace Ann (10), and Sophie (6) Tucker! Although only a household of three at the time, they moved to McKay’s Mill in the spring of 2003. They fell in love with the location and the feeling of community here. And, after this many years, the
You know, some would say it wouldn’t be so easy to live so close to family. However, when posed with the question, we received the same response from both: “It has been such a blessing.”
friendships have become irreplaceable. “I have been a ‘Franklinite’ most of my life’”, says Carrie. “It’s my home and always will be”. Tom is an attorney at the Nashville firm of Glasgow and Veazey. Carrie is a manager at Tennessee Oncology. Both girls attend Trinity Elementary, and are involved in Girl Scouts, gymnastics, and McKay’s Mill swim team. Grace Ann serves as the Student Council President. The Tuckers wish to send everyone a happy New Year and a “War Eagle!” If you couldn’t guess, they are both Auburn grads and have enjoyed this college football season. The Brennans
Jim and Carole Brennan (Carrie’s parents and some very proud grandparents to boot), also live in McKay’s. They have been here since 2007 and have loved every minute of it. Jim, a home builder/contractor for more than 3 decades, is up and down the roads more than the average “Joe”. You can find him just about everywhere, being welcomed by name from the manager of our local Publix, or at Walgreens, getting a candy fix. Just ask Jim how he is, and you’ll get his contagious smile and standard answer: “Perfect!” Carole can also be seen all over town. She is an experienced Realtor, loyal friend, and enjoys all that is outdoors. She loves helping others and connects with everyone with whom she comes 8 Magnolia • McKay’s Mill Community Magazine
Chinese New Year Is Not a Postscript By Susan S. Cheung
H
appy New Year! Have you made any resolutions? Well I, along with 20 percent of world’s population, haven’t celebrated the New Year yet. We don’t make resolutions for the Chinese or Lunar New Year, but we have to pay off our debts. So, if I owe you anything, I’ll be expecting a call! The Metal Rabbit Year starts on February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012. The Rabbit is the fourth sign of the 12 animals’ Chinese zodiac. Chinese New Year is the most important celebration for Chinese and other Asian people. It’s also part of the story of immigration; a bond linking overseas Chinese and their descendants to their heritage, even though they live thousands of miles away from their ancestral homelands. Saying “Gung Hei Fat Choi” (Congratulations and Be Prosperous) and Sun Nian Faai Lok (Happy New Year) is my connection to millions of others, who speak Cantonese in S.E. China, Hong Kong and around the world where people have settled, such as New York City, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver. My children have an interesting road to navigate being American-born of British raised parents with a Chinese (Guangdong Hakka) and Hong Kong (New Territories Hakka) ancestry. If it was hard for me – and I grew up in a major city with a sizable Chinese population – imagine the cultural questions my children may have living in a small city, hundreds of miles away from any sort of Chinatown. I don’t want them to grow up in a cultural void, so I’ll start with my childhood memories. Hands down, as a child, the best part was getting “Lei Sei” (red packets of money) from family – the equivalent of receiving Christmas presents. Of course, I remember other things, like three weeks before New Year my parents would start to spring clean the house and nearer to New Year the kitchen altar. We prayed to the Kitchen God on New Year’s Eve and to our ancestors on New Year’s Day. The house looked bright with red decorations, vibrant flowers and kumquat trees, and scented with the smells of burning incense and citrus fruits in big bowls. We wore new clothes to visit our relatives. Invariably, we’d be invited to eat some food; maybe a slice of “Nian Go” (New Year pudding) or have some “Tong Yuen” in “Tong Sui” (Sweet Glutinous Rice Flour Balls in Sugar Water) – I never did get used to the texture of Nian Go or Tong Yuen, but was always told to eat it, so I’d grow taller and add one more year to my life (well, I’m not sure Nian Go worked as I’m still only 5-foot, but obviously the Tong Yuen did as I’m at the start of my 4th decade!) Teaching my children to say “Gung Hei Fat Choi” is as if my parents are passing on the parenting baton to me; the very act of
teaching them symbolically tying three generations born on three different continents together. I’ll tell them the traditional stories, like the legend of “Nian” – a ferocious beast that attacked people thousands of years ago. Nian was afraid of noise, fire and the color red, so people hung red peach wood on their doors, made campfires with bamboo to make crackling sounds and beat metal utensils to scare Nian away. These are the origins of the New Year traditions of decorating with red paper with lucky phrases written on them and lighting firecrackers to scare off evil spirits. In Cantonese, New Year’s Eve is called “Guo Nian” – “Guo” means passing and “Nian” in modern Chinese means year so, in essence, the New Year is about surviving Nian (the beast) and starting anew. From honoring our past through veneration of ancestors to “fasting” (eating root and fibrous vegetables and gluten, “Jai”) on New Year’s Day; from sweeping the old dirt away to wearing new clothes, we’re symbolically going back to beginnings and reenergizing ourselves for the year ahead. As a mother, I’m keenly aware that Chinese New Year could become an afterthought or a postscript to Christmas and New Year (Gregorian calendar) and, therefore, it feels more important than ever to be excited and proud, and to celebrate with my children. I’m adapting our heritage to the realities of our life here as best I can, like adapting recipes to the ingredients I can buy. My young children are like sponges wanting to learn by doing. As I clean the house ready for New Year, they’ll have dust cloths in hand ready to help me. As I tell them New Year stories, they’ll use their natural imaginations to role play. And, in turn, I hope they will share the customs and stories with their friends and classmates with pride and excitement, the same way I’m sharing with you today. Susan S. Cheung (known to many by her Chinese name, Shifay) is a Fieldstone Farms-based writer originally from London, England. Her New Year challenge is to make Nian Go from scratch; no mean feat if you imagine her on the phone with her parents as she mixes! You can contact her at y2s2cheung@yahoo.com
Cuddly Companions
Every
Our Best Friend It is our pleasure to introduce you to Every Aiden Thomas (E.A.T.). Every is a 2 1/2 year old Border Collie, Labrador mix and is a loyal companion, protector and friend. Every was born on June 24th, 2008 in the streets of Franklin. He was orphaned soon after birth and ended up with a brief stay at the Williamson County Animal Shelter. We adopted Every when he was a spunky three months old and could not be happier with his high energy antics and happy-go-lucky attitude towards life. Every has several
10 Magnolia • McKay’s Mill Community Magazine
neighborhood friends including Phoenix who is a female Boxer. We think that Every has a secret crush on Phoenix because of his very different whine when she comes around. We can almost always tell which one of his friends are coming around by the sounds that he makes. He has very different greetings for each one of them. We love to take Every to the Puppy Park next to the Williamson County Animal Shelter so he can catch up with old friends and visit the human staff who still remember him and love to see him. Every has more than enough to keep him entertained around the house including three cats and two miniature Koi. Two of the cats were here before him and have taken a while to warm up to his overwhelming affection. The third cat came in as a kitten last year and Every quickly took a parenting role with him to show him the ropes. Although they regularly chase each other around the house, they are quick to curl up with one another on those cold winter nights. If you would like more information on pet adoptions from the Williamson County Animal Shelter, please contact them at (615) 790-5590.
If you would like to feature your furry little friends in Cuddly Companions, please contact us at MM@MagnoliaPublications.com. We would love to hear your stories!
McKay’s Bulletin Board
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MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011 11
Change Your Conversation, Change Your Life “What you talk about, you think about and what you think about, you bring about every single time.” ~Malinda Dowsett and Lani Barna co-creators of the Change Your Conversation, Change Your Life Movement, 2010
I
n Nashville, Tennessee, an interactive workshop, “Change your Conversation, Change Your Life,” has started a movement destined to change the lives of participants for the rest of their lives. The creators of this program, Malinda Dowsett and Lani Barna, share with Magnolia Magazine their vision for our readers. “Our mission is to touch a million lives, and for that million to turn around and touch a million more so we are all creating a karmic wave of changing conversations together.” ~ Malinda and Lani To attain this goal these two inspiring women designed and developed “The Power of Conversation” interactive workshops, online learning program, group seminars and special self study groups to teach people how to change the internal chatter of their mind, using a tool they already use everyday – their conversation. The Power of Conversation offers some of the best one-on-one coaching through a variety of electronic mediums today. Change Your Conversation was founded on four basic understandings that apply to every event and circumstance of your life: Thoughts, Feelings, Inner Guidance and Choice – the “how” of the Law-of-Attraction. In all their programs Malinda and Lani demonstrate how to manage thought and move life beyond the physical senses to find the inner peace and joy we all seek by letting go of junk we carry around for years, overcoming every day hurdles and getting on with the life we want. As Gary Zukov, author of “The Seat of the Soul” puts it, “Spiritual growth begins with emotional awareness.” The key is knowing that our true, inner self is the energy behind every thought we have. Deliberately changing our conversation – the way we talk about our life – changes the vibration we hold ourselves to and every experience we attract into our experience. These women clearly demonstrate that when you change your conversation, you will change your life. Malinda’s story. “After being married for six years, separated for a year and then losing my husband to suicide in 2005, my life was in complete shambles. On the outside everybody thought I was doing pretty well until I decided to remarry a year later out of complete fear. At that point in my life I had never been so scared. I was raising two children on my own, running my own business and totally separated from myself. All my life I thought I was supposed to be married, work hard, be a good mom, a loving person and the rest would come out in the wash. When my husband died I wasn’t sure what direction I was moving in. I felt lost and completely alone. “My conversations with myself were ones of despair, guilt, depression, and anger. I didn’t think I had it in me to stand on my own two feet – as a matter of fact I didn’t want to stand on my own two feet. Deep down I didn’t think I was capable of taking care of myself much less my children. I woke up every morning 12 Magnolia • McKay’s Mill Community Magazine
wanting someone to just take it all away. I didn’t have the strength to deal with the enormous pain I was carrying around. I thought if I just kept going, all of it would eventually go away. “Two years into my second marriage, I had totally isolated myself from all of my family and friends. I was emotionally and mentally at absolute rock bottom. My second marriage was incredibly unhealthy, every thought I had beat me up, tore me down and leaving me feeling angry, depressed, anxious, guilty, and with no self-worth. Through it all, I denied, ignored and dismissed the fundamental emotional patterns that were driving my life and my life reflected this pain back to me. I knew I was destined to repeat the same pattern if something didn’t change. It was like waking up each day and rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic knowing that the end result would keep repeating itself as a complete disaster. Unless I wanted more of the same, I was going to have change from the inside out but where to begin? Then one day I received an e-mail from an old friend, Lani Barna. “Lani and I had not spoken in two years and her e-mail was a wake-up call. We very quickly picked up right where we had left off spending long hours on the phone talking about what had come our way and where we were in our respective lives. Our conversations had always been on a more spiritual side, and during the time that we had lost contact with each other, Lani had begun a journey on her own, studying the non-physical side of herself, her thoughts and how to control them. Through her studies and research she had become quite advanced in her thinking and in our conversations she began sharing her new-found knowledge with me. “On a personal level during the same period of time she was struggling with her own life. She was fighting her own battles following a near death experience in a car accident, divorce and an terminally ill mother. She ended a career in corporate America, leaving a well paying job and the prestige of an important sounding title, in order to move her mother into her home and care for her during her remaining days. “Living quietly with her mother, Lani used that time to rediscover who she was and reconnect with the side of herself she had lost bit by bit over the years. When she wasn’t caring for her Mother, she studied everything she could about being human and what this thing we call “reality” really is. She studied quantum physics, neurobiology and consciousness. She searched the internet, subscribed to cutting edge newsletters and read book after
book. Without the noise and distraction of a daily commute and endless meetings, Lani found – and began to feel – the energy side of herself again. She felt as if she was meeting herself again for the first time. She discovered that her shift in perspective provided her with an incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and finally take control of her life. “In all of life we discovered the need to stop asking ourselves the question, “Why is this happening to me?” and start asking ourselves the question, “Why is this happening for me?” There is a cosmic difference in these two questions. The first one leads us down the path of victimhood, martyrdom, or feeling that there is something wrong with us. The second one takes us down a path towards deeper growth, spiritual awareness and healing. “Our experiential knowing of this fundamental truth quickly changed our conversations from ones full of negativity and “what is” to the spiritual journey of personal growth we were both embarking on. We began helping each other move past what we had created in our lives that no longer felt good - inside or out – by slowly letting go of false expectations of ourselves and others and coming to terms with the personal responsibility and accountability for all that we had, and continue, to create. “As Lani and I peeled back the layers of our lives we discovered that there were four principles involved in the process of creating every experience: thoughts, feelings, inner guidance and choice. We stepped back and looked at every experience that no longer served us. One by one we resolved each through forgiveness and a sense of profound gratitude. Rather than pushing others to change their ways to make us happy, we let go of judging and saw every experience as a gift to more completely discover who we are and what character we are made of. Are we courageous? Are we kind? We saw every difficult person as a way to more clearly express our core beliefs. Is this really what I believe a marriage should feel like? Is this really the relationship I want with my kids? We used every mistake to help us become more clear about our purpose and how the law-of-attraction works in our lives. Is this really who I think I am? Is this really what I want to be? We realized that every conversation we have with ourselves and others either builds us up or tears us down. We learned that when we get to the place where we become aware of how each thought makes us feel, we can always choose a better- feeling thought by getting quiet, becoming clear and using
contrast as a way to determine, once again, what we really want. “As soon as I started applying these four principles of thoughts, feelings, inner guidance and choice to the big things in my life I started seeing more and more opportunity to move my life in the direction that I really wanted to go. I started to feel like I was gaining back control of my life. I started to feel a little more like me. Everyday I started finding my strengths again. I began building myself back from the ground up again. My life began to turn around. “I separated from my second husband shortly thereafter, and with new eyes and an open mind, am now living on my own. I purposefully and intentionally create the loving home I always wanted for myself and my children. I have become incredibly quiet after letting go of all the drama and breaking through all the major issues in my life. I have found enormous strength and gratitude from every life experience that caused me pain. Releasing beliefs and ideas that no longer served me opened up a huge amount of space in my life for the things I truly believe in and desire. I am no longer in limbo. I am living my dream. “After a year of helping each other turn our lives around, we knew that we wanted to share this information with others. We wanted to help anyone and everyone understand that our mind is meant to serve us, not control us. We wanted to demonstrate how easy life can be if we would but relax and get to know ourselves. Life is supposed to be abundant, fun, exciting, adventurous, expanding, and ever-evolving. This was knowledge worth sharing. This was information we knew would help others understand that they do not have to suffer unnecessarily any more. Change Your Conversation was born. “In January 2010 Lani and I took a leap of faith and began teaching others how to use life’s contrasts to create a better feeling life. Speaking in front of groups of people ranging from women of domestic abuse to corporate executives, we show people in a very real way how to use a tool they already use everyday – their conversation – to identify their core beliefs, become clear about what they want, what their purpose is and move. In less than a year Change Your Conversation has become an overnight success touching thousands of people with real stories and changing lives. Today more than 12,000 people follow our daily inspirational thoughts and teachings on human potential and purpose. We call it “The Power of Conversation.” Take heart ... you are not alone. Join us on a journey of selfdiscovery. Learn the science of being human. Understand that our thoughts are like a magnet and to think is to create. “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” ~ George Bernard Shaw We challenge you to start today. Take the first step towards creating the life you desire by entering into a powerful conversation with us that will change your life forever. Go to our website www.changeyourconversation.com and complete the contact form, send it to us and we will help you begin a journey of a lifetime. “Our mission is to touch a million lives, and have those million turn around and touch a million more, creating a karmic wave of changing conversations together.” ~ Malinda Dowsett and Lani Barna Every one of us has the ability to create the life that we want. For more information go to www.changeyourconversation.com. MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011 13
MCKAY’
Community Calendar
Local Events Every Saturday & Tuesday Winter Farmer’s Market Sat: 9:00am - 12:00pm Tue: 3:00pm - 6:30pm The Factory Thu 6th
A+ Twirlers Meet A Game Sports Complex 2:00pm 215 Gothic Court Franklin
January 2011 Sunday
Fri 21st
2
Boo Boo Bear’s Birthday Yogi the Bear’s little buddy.
National Apricot Day
Opening Night “Doubt” Pull-Tight Theater Franklin www.pull-tight.com
9
16
WCS District Calendar
Mon 17th
No School (Administrative Day)
No School (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
All calendar content is not verified and is subject to change without notice.
Wedne
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Birthday Born in 1892.
First Meeting of United Nations In London in 1946.
3
10
Isaac Newton’s Birthday Born in 1643.
4
11
Milk Day Milk delivered in bottles for the first time in 1878.
First Woman Inaugura 1925 inaugurati Ross as Wy Govern
Work Hard
Montgomery Place HOA Meeting - The Clubhouse
National Nothing Day
Mon 3rd
Tuesday
For the latest McKay’s Mill News and Information, please visit www.mckaysmillhoa.com
Sun 9th - Fri 21st McKay’s Mill Clubhouse Renovations Wed 12th Red Cross Blood Drive Little House Animal Hospital Grassland 1pm - 6pm 791-9148
Monday
23
National Handwriting Day
30
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Birthday Born in 1882.
14 Magnolia • McKay’s Mill Community Magazine
17
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Honoring his birthday (born in 1929).
24
Gold Discovered in California At Sutter’s Mill in 1848.
31
Jackie Robinson’s Birthday Born in 1919.
HOA Master Board Meeting The Clubhouse
Opposite Day
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25
10am - 12 noon - Chronologically Gifted Ladies Club meeting at The Clubhouse
Popcorn
Australia The day Sydne was settled
4pm - 5:30pm - Destina at The Clubhouse
’S MILL
esday
Thursday
5
Governor ated ion of Nellie yoming’s nor.
der Day
n Day
12
Friday
6
Sherlock Holmes’ Birthday Born in 1854.
13
Make Your Dreams Come True Day
19
Penguin Awareness Day
26
Chocolate Cake Day
a Day ey Australia in 1778.
ation Imagination
National Hobby Month National Blood Donor Month National Staying Healthy Month
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27
Local Phone Numbers
Saturday
7
Old Rock Day
1
Elvis Presley’s Birthday Born in 1935.
14
8
15
National Dress Up Your Pet Day
First Super Bowl Played in 1967. Green Bay (35) defeated Kansas City (10).
21
National Blonde Brownie Day
28
National Puzzle Day
Squirrel Appreciation Day
Ernie’s Birthday Sesame Street Character.
12pm - 3:30pm - Wise Oak Co-op at The Clubhouse
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Emergency..................................911 Poison Control......................936-2034 Crisis Intervention.................269-4357 Franklin Police......................794-2513 Williamson Co. Sheriff........... 790-5550 Franklin Fire Dept.................. 791-3275 Williamson Medical Center....435-5000 Animal Control......................790-5590 Schools Trinity Elem..........................472-4861 Page Middle.........................472-4760 Page High............................472-4730 B.G.A................................... 794-3501 Columbia State C.C...............790-4400 Williamson Co. A.L.C............790-5810 Services Middle TN. Elec (Service).......794-1102 Middle TN. Elec (Outage)877- 777-9111 Comcast.......................800-266-2278 Direct TV........................866-505-9387 Local Government Franklin City Govt..................791-3217 County Clerk.........................790-5712 Franklin Library.....................595-1250 Veteran Affairs......................790-5623 Miscellaneous Recycling.............................790-5848 Senior Services....................376-0102 Voter Registration.................790-5711 Chamber of Commerce.........794-1225
Hometown Favorites for Real Estate
MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011 15
Teacher’s Corner “The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn.” ~John Lubbock January activity: Fun Winter Cookie Pops Recipe If you are looking for a fun and easy recipe to do with the kids, try these deliciously simple Winter Cookie Pops. The kids will smile and giggle while making these treats, and will have something fun to give to family and friends! Try different decorations for other times of the year too! Ingredients: • 20 vanilla wafer cookies • 1/2 cup peanut butter • 1 6-ounce bag white chocolate chips • colored candy sprinkles, red & green combo and red • pull apart licorice whips, cut into 1-1/2” lengths • M&M candies • M&M mini candies • fruit roll ups, cut into 4” lengths • Cake decorating writer gel in green, black, and orange • tube of white cake decorator frosting with flower tip • ice cream sticks • wax paper or paper plates Directions: Spread peanut butter onto the flat side of the cookies. Place
an ice cream stick into the peanut butter on half the cookies. Top with another cookie so the stick is sandwiched between the two cookies. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, one minute, then in 20 second increments, stirring until smooth. Dip cookie pops in the melted chips, covering completely. Roll pops in red and green sprinkles and lay or stand on waxed paper or paper plates. Place in refrigerator to chill. Variations: Snowmen Using a licorice whip, while chocolate is still warm on pop, form headband and position to regular sized M&M candies as ear muffs. Lie pop flat on waxed paper and let cool. When cool, use black decorator gel for eyes and mouth and orange for the nose. Gently wrap a fruit roll up around the bottom of the cookie at the stick. Santa While chocolate is still warm, dip top of pop into red sprinkles for Santa’s hat. Lie flat on waxed paper and let cool. When cool, dot top of hat with white decorator icing using flower tip. Use flower tip and white icing to add his bear and line the brim of his hat. Use black decorator gel to dot on eyes. Holly While chocolate is still warm, position to red mini M&M candies off center in the chocolate. Let cool. When cool, use green decorator gel to draw on holly leaves, fill in. Note: You can tint the melted chocolate with food coloring, or leave the chocolate white and use different colored sprinkles. Decorate with any other candies you wish, or leave some plain. Another variation is to use vanilla or chocolate frosting instead of peanut butter for the filling. Kristi Carré hold a Master’s Degree in Teaching with an emphasis in Reading and is a Fourth Grade teacher in the Franklin Special School District
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Buff in the ‘Burbs by Niki Gauthier
D
o you want to lose weight and tone-up? One of the most important activities you can invest time into is RESISTANCE TRAINING. Combine this with great nutritional plan and regular cardiovascular exercise and there’s no reason you can’t look and feel your best ever in 2011! Resistance Training (also known as Strength Training or Weight Training) is anything that provides resistance against your muscles such as weights, bands, medicine balls or even your own body weight. Walking or running up a hill can even be considering a form of resistance training. Keep in mind, lifting heavier weights will NOT make you look like a bodybuilder, especially if you do it right! Why Women should do some Resistance Training: To Increase your metabolism: The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism. This obviously helps with weight loss but also means that if your goal is to maintain your weight (body fat levels) you will be able to consume more calories than you would if you had less muscle. Maintain Your Youth: Resistance Training helps maintain bone density, improves your energy levels and your balance. It also helps you in everyday activities like walking up stairs, loading kids into the car, bending down to pick up something off the ground or carrying heavy items. Shapes your figure: Some women are blessed with great genetics, the rest of us need to actually shape or bodies with some weights. Resistance training will give your skin a firmer appearance, especially important after weight loss. How to Do Resistance Training without adding bulk or hurting yourself • Follow a ‘circuit training” routine: Instead of lifting super heavy weights, or doing heavy duty strength training exercis-
Wellness es (think football players weight room), use moderate weight with high reps and limit the amount rest between sets. With an emphasis on safety first, add some cardio exercises like jumping jacks into the circuit to keep the intensity level up for best results. • Vary the intensity level throughout the workout and from workout to workout. The bigger the weights, the more reps, speed, or range of motion the higher the intensity level. Any of the variables are perfect to mix up your routine, especially if you hit a plateau. Be creative and never get stuck with the same old boring exercises and routines. • Form ALWAYS over heavy weights. Don’t sacrifice your form just to lift a heavier weight. • If you feel like your body fat levels are too high for you, try adding more cardio and eat less, but don’t back off the weights! In fact you should lift weight your entire life so you never lose muscle. Keep in mind that the muscle you see is there to stay if you TRAIN it! Fat NEVER turns into muscle and vice versa. You lose muscle, and you gain fat. Resistance Training is one of the best way to look and feel great and to stay young. Resistance training in a Circuit training format will keep the intensity level high enough to build lean muscle and help turn your body into a fat burning machine. So start pumping some iron today! Niki Gauthier is the owner of Niki G’s Fitness, private studios specializing in Fitness Boot Camps and Yoga and Pilates FitCamps located in both Lenox Village and Cool Springs. A personal trainer for over 15 years, she also appeared as regular guest and fitness expert on the Home Shopping Network from 2005-2007. Niki and her husband Sam have two daughters and live in McKays Mill in Hadden Hall. She can be contacted directly at niki@nikigfitness.com. For more information about Niki G’s Fitness programs, please visit www.nikigfitness.com MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011 17
On The Menu
Stoveworks
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rom finding scrumptious main courses like Herb Roasted Pork Loin and Maple-Glazed Ham to the all-important budgeting process, there are many elements to planning the perfect event used by the experts at Stoveworks Restaurant at the Factory. A favorite, historic Franklin eatery for over a decade, owners Pat McCracken and Sam Barcus have expanded their “Southern Fare with Flair” style restaurant into a full-service catering business from barbeque to high-end fuision cuisine including a full liquor license. Stoveworks takes their team of experts to locations throughout Photo by Evin Photography the area in addition to transforming their newly-renovated space into a beautiful setting for a variety of events. Parties have a unique feel in Stoveworks’ charming courtyard wrapped in exposed brick and wrought-iron as well as three lovely dining areas flexible to any host’s imagination. McCracken, whose family has a rich tradition of creating yummy food, says there are important keys to planning the perfect party. “I grew up watching my grandmother create delicious recipes like her own special Chicken Cordon Bleu for her restaurant and knew this was a tradition I wanted to continue with my own wonderful Tennessee community,” McCracken said. “I’ve continued her commitment to serving delicious foods with a flair.” McCracken answered several important questions about the party planning process: What is your priority in planning an event? We have a wonderful Catering Manager, Jessica Jarve, who has helped us stage incredible events over the past year with her expertise in music and special events planning. We ask clients about the theme and desired outcome for their events. When this is decided, everything from menu to decorations falls into place. We’ve seen some beautiful events, from a 40th birthday party to a Bar Mitzvah to rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions. We love playing a role in these happy occasions. How do you help people manage a budget? Once we’ve established the event look and feel, we work with folks to itemize expenses as comprehensively as possible. I think any host has to be clear and candid about budget goals so creative planning and money saving suggestions can occur. What is a key event-day element? Having one point person available on site during set-up is the key to a smooth event preferably a calm, detail-oriented one! I’ve seen a few events 18 Magnolia • McKay’s Mill Community Magazine
turn stressful when the point person wasn’t an intimate part of the process. What’s important is that all details are addressed early in the planning so there are no last-minute surprises. Choose your event coordinators wisely! How do you add a special touch to an event? This is where surprise is a good thing! We think an element of whimsey adds a memorable note. Do something different with your menu or decorations which will leave your guests awed by your creativity and set your party apart as being uniquely you. I loved seeing a Sixties-themed birthday party which really set a fun tone for the evening. For more information on Stoveworks menu ideas and catering information, visit www.stoveworksrestaurant.com or 615-791-6065 for a free event consultation.
Photo by Evin Photography
On the Menu Bruschetta
1 french baguette sliced 1/4in thick 4c. diced roma tomatoes 1/4c. capers drained and rinsed 1/2c. red onion diced 1/4c. fresh basil chopped 1/2c. diced roasted red peppers 2 tablespoons sea salt 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper 1/2c. oliveoil Brush baguette with oil, season w/ salt and bake for 8 minutes at 350 degrees. Mix all remaining ingredients in a bowl. Top the toasted bread with the mixture and serve.
New Beginnings by Brian Bachochin
Well, chalk up another one for the record books... We commemorate & celebrate the passage of time in many ways throughout the course of our lives, but few milestones are as consistently poignant as the arrival of each new year. Standing on this annual threshold has a tendency to provoke reflection, contemplation and assessment. Most all of us innately see this moment as a point of re-calibration; and approach it as a launching pad for some pursuit that will help us to become new, improved versions of the self that we’d like to think we left behind with the turning of the calendar. January 1st is the day of “This is the year that I...(fill in the blank)” Whether it be a decision to quit smoking, embark on a new career or to (finally) get in shape, the first day of the new year provides us an annual starting gate for just such an endeavor. We call it making a New Year’s Resolution. We use the term “resolution” because it caries the idea of employing a measure of resolve in our quest to develop the chiseled abs, step out onto the new career path or don the nicotine patch. It implies being resolute in our pursuit. That said, interestingly (albeit not really that surprisingly), by some counts, over ninety-percent of New Year’s Resolutions are not kept, and forty-five percent of those goals set out with such fervor on January 1st are abandoned by January 31st (the treadmill / coat-rack in my garage only serves to validate those findings!) But, in spite of the statistics, most of us will leave 2010 behind in the hope that 2011 will mark the beginning of a new chapter. We welcome the possibility of a new beginning. I’m thankful for new beginnings. And, if I can broaden our scope a little, I’m thankful that God delights in offering us fresh starts...and that He doesn’t limit their availability to a single day of the year. Imagine telling your child, teary-eyed after running the bathwater until it’s overflowing down the stairs, that you’re not going to forgive her and resolve the issue until next year. That’s a lot for your little princess to carry for the next 12 months! The Apostle Peter was a good example of someone who needed a new beginning. In the Gospel accounts, Peter had at one point been more vocal than anyone in his devotion to Jesus. However, following his Master’s betrayal and arrest, Peter became fearful for his own life, and under the pressure of being associated with His Lord, he caved in and denied even knowing Him. You know the story. But equal to the depth of Peter’s fall was Jesus’ willingness and ability to restore. Following His resurrection, the Lord went to great lengths to set His fallen disciple back on his feet (cp. Mark 16:7, John 21:15-17), wiping the slate clean and giving Peter a chance to start over. As it’s been said, He truly is the God of the second chance. Reflecting on the year now past, and considering what I might want to do differently as I look forward to the days that lie yet ahead, I’m reminded of a poem that I heard years ago by Kathleen Wheeler: He came to my desk with quivering lip, The lesson was done. “Dear Teacher, I want a new leaf,” he said,
Monthly Message “I have spoiled this one.” I took the old leaf, stained and blotted, And gave him a new one all unspotted, And into his sad eyes smiled, and said “Do better, now, my child.” I went to the throne with a quivering soul— The old year was done. “Dear Father, have you a new leaf for me? I have spoiled this one.” He took the old leaf, stained and blotted, And gave me a new one all unspotted, And into my sad heart smiled, and said “Do better, now, my child.”
Welcome to 2011, complete with clean slate. There are new chapters to be written. How will your story read this year? A very blessed new year to all!
CALVARY CHAPEL FRANKLIN Simply teaching the Bible...simply
Sunday Mornings at 9:30 am Meeting at the The Fieldstone Club 1530 Lexington Pkwy, Franklin, TN 37069 Phone: (615) 870-7310 e-mail: ccfranklintn@gmail.com www.CalvaryChapelFranklin.com
Pastor Brian Bachochin
Are you a McKay’s Mill Based Church Leader?
If so, we would love to have you write your neighborhood Monthly Message!
Please contact us at MM@MagnoliaPublications.com MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011 19
McKay’s Fashion
Wintertime Lulu’s Clothing Company where the Lulu girl marches to a beat of a different drummer, and so does her style. She finds a sense of humor in her fashion, and never takes herself too seriously. If this sounds like you, then Lulu’s Clothing Company is the store for you. We like style on our own terms, we want to stand out from the crowd, but of course at a great price. We are a boutique in downtown Franklin, but without the boutique prices. What our customer wants right now is the sweater dress. This is a very versatile piece that can be worn as a dress with High Heel boots, or can be worn as a tunic layered with a tissue tee underneath, leggings, over the knee socks and
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boots, or even with jeans. The really cool thing is that our Lulu girl is ageless, we offer something for everyone no matter if she is 12 or 65. Lift yourself out of the winter doldrums with fun color, a great felted wool handbag, or hat to go with your new look.
Come check us out at: Lulu’s Clothing Company, 145 2nd Ave. N, Franklin 615-556-5858 Lulusclothingcompany.com On Facebook: like us at Lulu’s Clothing Company
Primrose School of Cool Springs
Primrose School of Cool Springs is a high quality, 3-star accredited, private preschool specializing in early childhood education. Located in Cool Springs near the corner of Cool Springs Boulevard & Mack Hatcher Boulevard, Primrose has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SACS CASI since 2002. Primrose offers educational programs for children from Infants through Private Pre-Kindergarten. Magnolia: Primrose of Cool Springs just celebrated its ten year anniversary, what made you decide to open Primrose ten years ago in 2000? Ms. Grant: Well, in my former life I worked full time as a Physical Therapist for 16 years, and during that time I had my two sons. Education has always been a huge priority to me, and traditional daycare didn’t offer the early childhood education I knew was so important to their educational foundation. I knew there was a need that was not being met for today’s parents. So after lots of hard work and sacrifice, I opened Primrose in September 2000! Magnolia: What do you feel sets Primrose apart from other childcare facilities? Ms. Grant: The thing that really separates us is our commitment to creating an educational environment for our children, which is part of Primrose’s Balanced Learning® curriculum. The curriculum is carefully delivered in daily schedules to ensure a balance of learning and play through a blend of teacher-directed and childinitiated activities. Primrose is three-star rated by the state of Tennessee and is also SACS CASI and NCA CASI accredited by AdvancED, which is an outside party that evaluates schools based on certain established standards. Primrose children are wellprepared
Business Buzz for Williamson County Schools and have received placement in all private schools in the area. We’ve even had elementary school teachers enroll their own pre-school aged children in Primrose after teaching students in their class who attended Primrose. This says a lot about the Primrose curriculum and our children’s Kindergarten readiness! Magnolia: What can prospective parents expect their children to experience at Primrose? Ms. Grant: A child at Primrose will be exposed to many educational themes throughout their day like: physical development and health, social/emotional development, language and literacy, creative arts and expression, mathematics, science and technology and social studies. We also have lots of fun! We have seasonal parties with fun games and special guests, cookouts, theme days and our very popular “Camp Primrose” for our Pre-Kindergarteners. Our children also get the opportunity to be a part of our community by participating in a Second Harvest Food Drive, a food drive for the Williamson County Animal Shelter and they also participate in our Spring Fling event where we raise money for a local Williamson County charity. Parents can rest assured that their children are receiving the most current and advanced programs in early childhood education while enjoying a loving and nurturing environment. Tracy Grant is the franchise owner of Primrose School of Cool Springs. Ms. Grant currently sits on the Primrose Schools Advisory Board, guiding and setting standards for the Primrose Brand nationwide. She is the proud recipient of the prestigious Primrose School’s President’s Award for outstanding achievement in 2003 and the Community Spirit Award in 2005 for the greatest philanthropic fundraising donation to the Primrose Children’s Foundation. For tours or more information on Primrose School of Cool Springs go to www.primrosecoolsprings.com or call 615.771-3001.
MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011 21
Battle of Franklin Trust Unveiled Bullet that Killed Confederate Soldier Captain Theodrick “Tod” Carter
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n December 2, 2010, The Battle of Franklin Trust unveiled the bullet that killed Confederate soldier, Theodrick “Tod” Carter, which was lodged in his skull during the Battle of Franklin November 30, 1864. During a ceremony marking the anniversary of Tod’s death, Carter Conway, Tod’s great-great nephew donated the artifact to the Battle of Franklin Trust to be displayed at The Carter House. Conway’s wife Ann, his daughter, grandchildren and several cousins from the Carter family were in attendance during the ceremony. The bullet was encased along with Tod’s spurs, showcasing the two available mementos of Tod Carter – in life – and in death. Moscow Carter, Tod’s oldest brother gave the bullet to his daughter, who then gave it to her daughter to save for son Conway until he became of age. When speaking about the announcement, Joanna Stephens, curator for the Battle of Franklin Trust said, “We are grateful to the Carter family for sharing this extraordinary piece of Civil War
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history with us—this truly is historically significant. It provides us with a tangible ending to the inspirational, yet tragic story of Tod Carter.” “It has great historic value, in my opinion. It’s something that I ought not leave around,” Conway said during an interview. Captain Tod Carter was the middle son of the Carter family. He was serving as an aid for General T.B. Smith on the battlefield during the Battle of Franklin. Amid the combat, Tod saw his home for the first time in more than three years and cried out, “Follow me boys, I’m almost home.” He did not make it. He was mortally wounded and found on the battlefield approximately 175 yards from his home by his father and two sisters. He was taken into the Carter home, and treated the following day. Tod died on December 2, 1864. He was 24 years old. The bullet, which is known as a Williams cleaner, will be on permanent display at The Carter House. Elijah Williams invented this type of bullet which was intended to clean the barrel of muzzle loading rifles and prevent them from fouling during combat. When the bullet was fired it was meant to clean residue from the barrel. The Carter House is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors over 65 and $6 for children between the ages of six and 12. Children under six are free. Tours of the grounds are $5. A value ticket is available for $28 which includes guided tours of The Carter House, Carnton Plantation and the Lotz House. Built in 1830 by Fountain Branch Carter, The Carter House is nationally known for its role in the Civil War. The house was caught in the center of the Battle of Franklin and still bears the scars of the battle, with more than 1,000 bullet holes still visible. The Visitor’s Center includes a new video presentation, military museum and museum shop. The Carter House hosts various annual events with re-enactors as well as the annual Candlelight Tour in early December. The Battle of Franklin Trust is a 501 (c) 3 management corporation acting on behalf of Franklin’s battlefield sites to contribute to a greater understanding and enrich the visitor experience of the November 30, 1864 battle. It’s organized for the charitable and educational purposes of preserving, restoring, maintaining and interpreting the properties, artifacts and documents related to the battle so as to preserve an important part of the nation’s history. Learn more at www.battleoffranklintrust.org or call (615) 786-1864.
MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011 23
X-Box Alternatives
Mortgages Music & Dance School Expands to Serve Community Better families by Busy Thomas Hall beneĂžt from extended hours and additional convenient class times
SING - ACT - DANCE
J Kelley Studios
School for the Performing Arts has expanded into a new location to offer more diverse programs for ages 3 to 18 from beginner to advanced. Expanded Class Choices Save Time for Busy Families
Many of the parents have said theyÕve chosen the school because in addition to having excellent teachers and programs it is possible to drop off all the kids with different interests at one location. Between the pressures of homework, sports, and family time, a lot of parents can become overwhelmed trying to fit in all the activities. Saving 45 minutes or an hour of commuting time per week between activities really helps the typical busy familyÕs schedule. J Kelley Studios is conveniently located at The Factory in Franklin.
Studio Offers Extra Benefits to Students
1. PERFORMANCE VENUE - J Kelley Studios is professionally equipped with a stage, sound, and lighting. Having a performance venue at the facility allows students the opportunity to perform regularly on stage throughout the year. The students learn how to handle themselves confidently in front of an audience. 2. UNIVERSITY TRAINED TEACHERS - Our teachers are highly qualified university trained with professional performance experience. 3. SMALL CLASSES - Young students starting out can easily become overwhelmed and lost in a large class setting. At J Kelley Studios the classes average from 8 to 12 students. This allows for more focus, control and helps students feel more comfortable and at ease. 4. SPECIAL DANCE FLOORS - One of the most important features of a dance studio is the type of flooring used. J Kelley Studios is equipped with foam based wooden floors helping to keep the students safe and able to dance longer without getting tired so quickly.
Beginner Ballet Workshop
Starting in February 2011 J Kelley Studios will be teaching a 10 Week Beginner Ballet Workshop for grades K - 3rd. This is the perfect class for young students wanting to get started in ballet. Young dancers have fun as they are taught the proper technique that will assure they start out on the right foot.
Creative Music & Dance for Preschool
Young preschool students learn to listen and follow music and rhythm through assorted activities, working their singing voice and dance movement.
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Students who have the opportunity to perform on stage regularly will see faster results and learn to handle themselves on stage with more confidence.
A Variety of Dance Styles Being Offered
J Kelley Studios offers a variety of dance styles from Hip Hop, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, & Musical Theatre. Students are not lost in a huge class. The classes are small averaging from 8 to 12 students allowing for more focus on each individual student.
Acting & Musical Theatre Classes
Students are taught core acting techniques and then given the opportunity to perform in showcases with monologues & scenes. The performing experience gives them the competitive edge needed for auditions.
Vocal Students are Taught More Than Good Singing Technique With Jo Dee Messina as one of the judges at the 2010 ÒSing Your Heart OutÓ vocal competition, 6 of the top 9 finalists trained at J Kelley Studios. In todayÕs competitive market it takes more than just a good singing voice to stand out. Our 1st priority is developing the voice. Second is developing good stage presence and performance skills. ItÕs the unique combination of these elements that has given these finalists the winning edge.
www.jkelleystudios.com
McKay’s Scrapbook
These photos were taken at the Breakfast With Santa on December 11th, 2010 at the McKay’s Mill Clubhouse. If you or a family member is in one of these photos and you would like a digital copy or you would like to share some of your photos from community events with your neighbors, please write to us at: MM@MagnoliaPublications.com MagnoliaPublications.com • January 2011 25
“Happy New Year!” That greeting will be said and heard for at least the first couple of weeks as a new year gets under way. But the day celebrated as New Year’s Day in modern America was not always January 1. The celebration of the new year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring). The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary. The Babylonian new year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year’s Eve festivities pale in comparison. The Romans continued to observe the new year in late March, but their calendar was continually tampered with by various emperors so that the calendar soon became out of synchronization with the sun. In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year. But tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the new year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days. Although in the first centuries AD the Romans continued celebrating the new year, the early Catholic Church condemned the festivities as paganism. But as Christianity became more widespread, the early church began having its own religious observances concurrently with many of the pagan celebrations, and New Year’s Day was no different. New Years is still observed as the Feast of Christ’s Circumcision by some denominations. During the Middle Ages, the Church remained opposed to celebrating New Years. January 1 has been celebrated as a holiday by Western nations for only about the past 400 years. Other traditions of the season include the making of New Year’s resolutions. That tradition also dates back to the early Babylonians. Popular modern resolutions might include the promise to lose weight or quit smoking. The early Babylonian’s most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment. The Tournament of Roses Parade dates back to 1886. In that year, members of the Valley Hunt Club decorated their carriages with flowers. It celebrated the ripening of the orange crop in California. Although the Rose Bowl football game was first played as a 26 Magnolia • McKay’s Mill Community Magazine
part of the Tournament of Roses in 1902, it was replaced by Roman chariot races the following year. In 1916, the football game returned as the sports centerpiece of the festival. The tradition of using a baby to signify the new year was begun in Greece around 600 BC. It was their tradition at that time to celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth. Although the early Christians denounced the practice as pagan, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth forced the Church to reevaluate its position. The Church finally allowed its members to celebrate the new year with a baby, which was to symbolize the birth of the baby Jesus. The use of an image of a baby with a New Years banner as a symbolic representation of the new year was brought to early America by the Germans. They had used the effigy since the fourteenth century. Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck they would have throughout the coming year by what they did or ate on the first day of the year. For that reason, it has become common for folks to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year in the company of family and friends. Parties often last into the middle of the night after the ringing in of a new year. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year’s Day would bring either good luck or bad luck the rest of the year. It was particularly lucky if that visitor happened to be a tall dark-haired man. Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes “coming full circle,” completing a year’s cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year’s Day will bring good fortune. Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. The hog, and thus its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. Cabbage is another “good luck” vegetable that is consumed on New Year’s Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year’s Day. The song, “Auld Lang Syne” is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700’s, it was first published in 1796 after Burns’ death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700 and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scottish tune, “Auld Lang Syne” literally means “old long ago,” or simply, “the good old days.”