SPRING 2017
BRENTWOOD DESIGNER JONATHAN SMEETON OWL’S HILL NATURE SANCTUARY
February usually finds us fighting off the mid-winter blues after the expectations of the holidays and the waning of the excitement and potential of the New Year. We find ourselves wanting to crawl like groundhogs into a cave of blankets with our remote and a pint of ice cream to wait for spring. Dancing can help chase away those blahs, keep us motivated in our resolutions for positive change, and connect us to the people and feelings that inspire us. MOVEMENT~ Getting up and getting moving is a great way to feel better. Exercise can release endorphins that can make you feel better. But workouts can feel just like that...work, and dancing, more than just about any exercise, can help chase the blues away by giving you a double dose of those endorphins. Studies show, you get an extra boost of the happiness-creating chemical when you dance to music compared to other forms of exercise. MOTIVATION~ Ballroom dancing provides a series of goals, from learning a step or a new dance, to mastering a technique, performing a routine, or participating in a competition. Goals both small and large are important factors in our motivation and well-being. Procrastination, self-doubt, and lack of enthusiasm associated with the winter blues coincide with low levels of dopamine. Completing dance goals and the cheers and recognition it brings produces dopamine helping us maintain the motivation to complete other tasks and inspires us to keep improving and growing on and off the dance floor. COMMUNITY ~ Ballroom dance brings us back together with happy, supportive people. Bad weather and a lack of motivation can make hermits of us, if we let it. Lack of connection and social interaction can lead not only to feelings of loneliness and depression, they can cause physical pain and sickness. Getting together with people in a friendly, social, joyful activity like dancing not only gets you out among people; feeling connected and appreciated helps boost serotonin levels that help give us a feeling of well-being and a reason to get up and get out. And a hug and the connection you find in partnership dance can give you a boost of oxytocin to help you feel better emotionally, but also reduces cardiovascular stress and improves the immune system. LAUGHTER ~ Laughter really is the best medicine. And we laugh a lot at the National Dance Clubs. We have shared goals and shared struggles. Ballroom dance is fun. It helps us take ourselves and our troubles a little less seriously. We focus, for that time we are at the studio or on the dance floor, on getting up, getting out, getting moving, getting healthy, getting together, and getting happy.
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If you haven’t tried ballroom dance, what are you waiting for? Get going!
Williamson County’s First Mountain Bike Park Jonathan Smeeton Hits a Milestone
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Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary Ballooning in Middle Tennessee
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A Conversation with Brentwood Academy’s Cody White
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Student Driver Task Force
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Drinking & Driving in Williamson County
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Brentwood & Franklin Events
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p20 GENERAL MANAGER Stephen Dorris
COPY EDITOR Mariah Timms ADVERTISING STAFF Vaughn Cockrum, Robbie Mathis, Nicole Wallis CREATIVE DIRECTOR Troy Dossett, thumbprintcreative.com WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHY John Evosevic, Ruste Foster, Angie Mayes, Jay Powell 2
FRANKLIN & BRENTWOOD LIFE
FRANKLIN & BRENTWOOD LIFE is produced quarterly by Natchez Trace Media, which includes The Daily Herald of Columbia, The Advertiser News of Spring Hill and Thompson's Station. Send editorial and advertising inquires to: advertiser@c-dh.net / 615.302.0647
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BIKE PARK WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ON A 156 ACRE LOT OWNED BY THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT. THE PARK WILL INCLUDE SEVERAL TRAILS FOR ALL ABILITY, SKILL AND ENDURANCE LEVELS.
NatureLIFE
Williamson County constructs first dedicated mountain bike park BY JOHN EVOSEVIC
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illiamson County will soon have its very first mountain bike park.
Wilkins Branch Mountain Bike Park will be constructed on a 156 acre lot owned by the Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department. This acreage is located near Wilkins Branch Road, west of Main Street in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee. The park is a joint effort between Williamson County Parks and the non-profit group, Outdoor Encounter. The estimated cost for the park is $1,200,000 of which Outdoor Encounter will secure funding. Williamson County Parks & Recreation will maintain infrastructure. According to Rebecca Wynd, founder and director of the non-profit Outdoor Encounter, Wilson & Associates will be marking the boundaries of the properties in the next few weeks. Once, completed, work on phase one of construction will be commenced. “Outdoor Encounter is a project-based organization run by volunteers. We raise every dollar for each of our projects. We are currently seeking corporate sponsors as well as donors,” Wynd said. Outdoor Encounter has raised a total of $29,620 to date. Not included in this figure are the financial investments to which Williamson County has committed. The latter investments will be used to build the park infrastructure such as restrooms, signage and a projected two parking lots. “Our focus is currently on Phase One, which is to build the pump track and temporary parking. We hope to put a shovel in the ground early spring of this year and have Phase One open for the public by summer. 4
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“This will give us the stage to be able to get people out to the property for fundraising and volunteer events. It will also allow the public to be able to start using the park while Phase Two and Three are being worked on,” Wynd said. The completion date is not set and is dependent on how quickly Outdoor Encounter can raise money, hire building crews and construct the trails. “The exact number of trails is still to be determined. Our plan is to have the pump park, flow, endururance and downhill trails on one side of the property and cross country trails on the other. Anyone will be able to ride any of the trails, however they will be built with these specific disciplines in mind,” Wynd said. Wynd anticipates eight to eleven miles of trails.
A pump park will be built in which mountain bikers can take advantage of banked turns and rolling small hills. This allows the mountain biker to ride without having to pedal. One “pumps” one’s body up and down to create and sustain momentum.
A single track trail can be a relatively smooth dirt trail which avoids obstacles, making comfortable riding for children and adults who desire a less strenuous ride. The park will offer other single track trails of varying levels including those designed for the more aggressive bicyclist.
The pump trails may be topped with asphalt. All other trails will be natural surface trails. Also planned are endurance trails and a skills course.
Flow trails are what the name implies: they have a certain “flow” or “rhythm” as avid mountain bikers describe.
Wynd also plans on hosting races and providing space at which local bicycle teams may train.
These trails are characterized by a roller-coaster type effect. Hills and banked turns require some pedaling and braking, but omit any abrupt turns, terrain or obstacles. Downhill trails are often competitive trails which feature uneven and rough terrain, drops, jumps and various obstacles. Specialized mountain bikes are often used for such trails.
“The Wilkins Branch Mountain Bike Park will the the first dedicated mountain bike park in Williamson County and will be free to the public,” she said. F&BL PHOTO FROM METRO CREATIVE CONNECTION SPRING 2017
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931-381-4911 www.dickersoneyecare.com SPRING 2017
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Light designer a star innovator in music industry
ArtsLIFE
BY RUSTE FOSTER
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ringing lights and special effects to a music concert requires savvy. For ex-pat British lighting designer Jonathan Smeeton, aka Liquid Len, success has revolved around his ability to be a fast learner in a fast moving music industry. On May 7, he will hit a milestone of 50 years as a pioneer in lighting technique. Chilling out in the studio at his home in Leipers Fork, he pointed to the posters and awards that cover the walls and said that it took a bit of magic to create each of those dynamite concerts. “I am part engineer, architect and painter,” Jonathan said. “Depending on which performing artist I’m working with, I may find myself tasked with interpreting someone else’s ideas, or I could be asked to come up with the whole idea for the concert carte blanche where I get a lot of freedom to operate.” Either way, he is responsible for the lights, video, video content and designing the scenery, including manufacturing all of the structures and backdrops, using 3D computer design. “I oversee everything visual and am involved in rehearsals, right down to sequencing and general dynamic flow,” he said. “Of course, I like full control, pretty much the Phil Collins method.” His working relationship with Collins through the years has been a dream.
PHOTOS BY RUSTE FOSTER 8
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“My work for him has involved 127 shows, in addition to videos and a Pay-Per-View concert that took nine months to get set up,” he said. “I’m always striving to come up with something original, versus trying to copy something I have SPRING 2017
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seen done. I don’t want to copy others, but I do consider it a compliment if someone copies me!” He believes his success as an artist has come from one main tool. “The imagination of the audience is my biggest tool and it’s free,” he said. “I have multiple styles, but when it comes to technique, you can only expect so much from materials. A little suggestion brings an infinite elaboration of images.” Nowadays, budget usually drives the creative process of a project, which begins with putting ideas on paper and building models with textures to present the concept to the client.
through the tightest bend or corner or door.” What might seem less expensive could be more of a hassle when it comes to logistics. “I designed three sets for Phil in 1990 for the same show because it was cheaper to do that than to ship one set to the UK, and then on to Japan and then to Australia” he said. “And, we didn’t have to wait for gear to go through customs.” Jonathan works exclusively for Diana Ross on tour now. He’s actually trying to slow down now that he’s 70.
“Sooner or later, everything has to go through the smallest of doors!” Jonathan said, chuckling.
“I don’t find work. It finds me,” he said. “I rely on older people in business to remember me. I rely mostly on my reputation now. Fortunately, I can pick and choose. ”
“Your ideas have to be constructed and all items of a set must be packed and transported. They must be loaded and unloaded and then make it
His start in production came about when he was 19. He and a couple of friends were just out of school and looking for jobs in London. “One had worked at a night club and knew that it was just re-opening, so we stopped in to talk to the owner,” he said. “He got a job because he had run a coffee bar, and my other friend got a job as a janitor. Because I was an art student, they thought I knew about psychedelic art shows. I was clueless, but managed to figure it out quickly!” He said working from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. was the hardest part, coupled with a huge learning curve to jump in and skip the light fantastic. Like his fellow pioneers, he was creating magic on stage as a light wizard and presenting imagery that fascinated everyone. The colorful images in sync with the tunes of those days created a magic carpet ride.
WHEN HE’S HOME IN LEIPERS FORK, LIGHT DESIGNER JONATHAN SMEETON FINDS PEACE IN IN HIS STUDIO. THERE HE CAN BE FOUND RESEARCHING CURRENT PROJECTS, TAKING DESIGN IDEAS TO THE COMPUTER, PAINTING, OR JUST HANGING ABOUT IN MEMORIES. 10
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“Back then, lighting was completely open with endless possibilities,” he said. “Everything was experimental. I kept my eye on the work of others to continue learning. In the late 70s, we began to control surfaces with electronics and then in the early 80s, moving lights revolutionized things. Every progression changed things.” One of his first jobs in the late 60s was to build a light show for two nightclubs in London. He was operating
as the Ultradelic Alchemists. From there, he worked in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, demonstrating an art form that they referred to as “new kinetic light.” “Basically, that meant psychedelic lights,” Jonathan said, smiling. “I was putting on private shows in art galleries and city museums where I would run a light show for one and a half hours with rock and roll music! We were also experimenting, especially with layers of glass, say three layers of glass with ink in between each layer. We added air bubbles, and when that was placed under a 1000 watt projector lamp, the boiling ink caused unique movement in multiple colors.” Jonathan was setting the bar for lighting and enjoying the experimentation. His ability to orchestrate an awesome visual program that appealed to his audience also etched his name in the hearts of the stars he was illuminating on stage. They liked what he did and trusted him to bring something special to their performance. Jonathan was just as diverse in imagery as the performers were in music. In addition to Diana Ross, he’s done gigs with the Thompson Twins, Hawkwind, Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon, REO Speedwagon, Journey, Def Leppard, Dwight Yoakam, Wham!, Taylor Swift and the late George Michael. It’s a diverse group of entertainers, but his creative genius has engineered a unique aura for each one. Jonathan’s been a performer in his own right. And that continues when he’s off tour. In Franklin, he’s been adding his expertise in lighting since 2007 to set the stage for many plays at Pull-Tight Theatre. “Pull-Tight is a hobby for when I’m home,” he said. “I’ve done 16 productions since 2007. I’ve never worked in theatre before, so I’ve learned a lot by doing lights there. The directors have been very helpful.” A true creative spirit, he continues to be an adventurous soul when he’s home with his wife Cogie. He doesn’t mind cooking, enjoys designing and building his model railroad and especially loves
TRIBUTES TO HIS PAST CREATIVE PROJECTS, MANY AWARD WINNING ALBUM COVERS AND CONCERT LIGHT SHOW PHOTOS COVER THE WALLS OF JONATHAN’S STUDIO.
taking his two dogs, Chess and Sidney, for long walks. For Jonathan and Cogie the discussion of where they might re-locate for retirement continues. They were born abroad and love their homelands, England and Ireland, but then they really do love living in America. “We enjoy Tennessee,” he said. “We moved here from California in 2005 and have raised our two daughters and son here. It’s such a beautiful place, dignified and strong and very friendly.” When he retires, Jonathan has considered writing a book on the technical history of lighting that he helped pioneer. As May approaches, he’s pondering his options. He’s proud of the fact that he’s one of the top 10 international light designers. It’s been quite a run for him with lots of colorful memories. “I’m considered one of the big innovators,” he said humbly. “I’ve enjoyed the creativity, the travel, and the camaraderie,” he said. “I’ve visited 97 countries and I have 99 to go! I have friends all around the world, and love reconnecting. We truly are a small, international community for people who can’t grow up!” F&BL SPRING 2017
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OutdoorLIFE
Get back to nature at Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary BY ANGIE MAYES
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n a quiet piece of land tucked away in Brentwood lies Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary. The 160-acre sanctuary offers a respite away from the busy day-to-day life of those who want to get back to nature. The sanctuary is a private place, but there are a number of attractive events which take place throughout the year, allowing members of the public to see and be a part of the land. Even though its name refers to owls, that’s not all that have a residence on the property, according to Mary Catherine Mousourakis, Development Director for Owl’s Hill. There are six non-releasable resident owls – two screech owls, two great horned owls, a bard owl and a barn owl. Also living on the property are a corn snake, slider turtles, a millipede and a tiger salamander. “They’re all native to this area,” Mousourakis said. “All but the great horned owls are used in education programs. There are programs for the public —days when school kids visit – in which the kids, depending on their age, can see an owl trainer, the salamander and the snake. “[These programs] break down the barriers that wild animals are scary and should be run away from, or worst, killed,” Mousourakis said. In addition to the animals, the sanctuary still hosts Music in the Meadow, a four-month music event, which takes place June through September. The tickets go on sale this month and usually sell out quickly. “We are limited by the size of our parking lot. Since we’re not open to the public all of the time, our parking is petite, but we do encourage people to come out. The events begin at 7 p.m.” In the past, they’ve hosted a variety of genres, including musical theatre, jazz, rock and country, “We run the gamut,” Mousourakis said. “We’ve had a Baroque ensemble, and this year there will be a variety, including jazz, country rock, folk 12
FRANKLIN & BRENTWOOD LIFE
WILDFLOWER MEADOW IN BLOOM AT OWL’S HILL
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Unlike a state park, the sanctuary isn’t state funded and relies on those who attend the programs, granting organizations, donors and corporate sponsorship to fund Owl’s Hill. Those interested can donate on their website or by sending a check. Visit www.owlshill.org for more information.
TENNESSEE NATURALIST PROGRAM STUDENTS IN CLASS
rock and then pop folk. They’re not definite in one area. The jazz group will bring out some pop favorites and play them jazz style.” They also have other special events. On May 20, the sanctuary will host a beer quest. Jackalope Brewery will be in attendance with a beer flight. Attendees will have to find their tokens on the property. Mousourakis said the event is open those 21 and over and will involve teams of two to five people. Fly Boys of Nashville will also be on the site with their food truck. All the money raised will go to Owl’s Hill. In that same vein, Owl’s Hill also has art classes, basket weaving classes, painting classes and five summer programs for a range of ages.
Owl’s Hill was founded in 1982 by Huldah Sharp Cheek. “She actually helped with Cheekwood and her dream to make the farm that she purchased out here into a nature sanctuary where people could do research and be educated,” Mousourakis said. “She wanted people to learn about what we have, which is a diverse, amazingly strong ecosystem in Middle Tennessee. “She wanted the area to grow. My hope and prayer is that we have become what she wanted. I think we have become and will continue to grow. Last year we had 11,955 visitors which is a 27 percent increase over years before. That’s not an unlimited growth number. We need to cap that. We have to keep it so people come back, they say this is still a wild, untamed, beautiful place. We’ve got lots of opportunities for the public to come here.”
“The older kids can take an animal caretaker camp. That’s for those kids that want to follow a career in environmental stewardship or in MUSIC IN THE MEADOW animal caretaking, whether they become a vet SUMMER CONCERT SERIES or want to be more in the wild animal area.” Mousourakis said the sanctuary is “important, because I’m sure everybody know Williamson County is growing by leaps and bounds. Those places of green space get lost in pursuit of roadways, and we lose sight of what gives us the ability to progress and that is nature.” She added that, in the Beach Creek Valley area, including the sanctuary’s surrounding neighbors, there is more than 2,000 acres of preserved area. 14
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“We try to educate people,” Mousourakis said. “This is important because of the native habitats. We’re trying to educate people that Japanese bush honeysuckle is bad and these inasive species … wind up hurting the wildlife. Wildlife in our habitat didn’t evolve to be with non-native plants.”
There are 10 miles of hiking trails at Owl’s Hill. They host free hike days the second Saturday of each month. Walkers can take the guided hike on their first visit. If they’ve been to the trails before, they can sign in and go out on the trails, Mousourakis said. “We have a lot of public program days, and do want people to be a part of it. It’s not exclusive but is inclusive to a point, so that it’s not damaging to what we’ve been tasked with preserving,” Mousourakis said. “We have a lot of good sponsors, but if you have a business, and want to sponsor us, we have 100 different ways you can sponsor. Most definitely, this is not just for individuals. Corporations or people can sponsor the events throughout the year,” she noted. “It’s great to get grants, but they can’t be the main source of our support. We want the community to know that they have ownership and can be part of Owl’s Hill. We can get a grant one year and never get it again. Grants are nice, but are restricted. We are small. We have four full-time staff members and two part-time staff members. We’re tasked to undertake this great mission, and it’s a lot of work.”
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She said they do have a program for those who donate $250 or more that allows donors to join either the Trail Walkers program or Picnic and Play. These people can come freely, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. The offer is for the contributor plus four people. Even though it is a wildlife sanctuary, staff do keep the trails and paths trimmed and the fields are mowed. “No one is out here and that makes it quite rare,” Mousourakis said. “It’s hard to believe that Cool Springs is just 10 minutes down the road.” For those who want to walk their dogs, Mousourakis asks that they don’t bring the animals on public walk days. Other days are fine, she noted. Although Owl’s Hill is in a remote location, “people say we’re the best kept secret,” Mousourakis said. F&BL
Owl’s Hill is located at 545 Beach Creek Road South in Brentwood. For more information, call (615) 370-4672.
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CountyLIFE
Ballooning gives rider a unique experience of Middle Tennessee BY ANGIE MAYES
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here’s nothing quite like a balloon ride across Williamson County. The hills, the homes, the layout of the roads…all give the rider a different perspective of the county and are a wonder for those who would like an up-top view. For Logan Bedford, the owner of Middle Tennessee Hot Air Adventures, piloting a balloon has been something he always knew he’d do. He had been in balloons his entire life. “When I was younger my father was a pilot, out of me and my three siblings I was the one who always wanted to go flying with him. After going to college, I started Middle Tennessee Hot Air Adventures, LLC. That was in 2009 and I have been flying full time ever since.” Bedford said that when his dad piloted, “he mainly flew for fun and for competition. I am sure you remember the large balloon festival at Warner Parks in the 90s. He flew in those events as well as many others across the world. When I was in college, I decided early on I had four criteria for my career. After a few stock room jobs, I knew that I did not want to work for anyone the in the future, so naturally I wanted to be my own boss, I wanted a career that would be outdoors, I wanted the job to continually change and I wanted to be able to travel with my work. Ballooning fit all of those criteria. “ He has flown balloons all over the world, he said.
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“To start with the United States, we have flown in Nevada, New Mexico, Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and a few others. We have been multiple times to an event in Leon, Mexico, featuring 160 balloons. I flew for two weeks in New Zealand. We also flew in 2011 in Lorraine, France, with 500 balloons. Just recently I went over to Igualada, Spain, just north of Barcelona and was able to make a couple of flights. The balloon’s supplies last for one-hour of flight time. On a ride, the entire experience from meeting to returning passengers to their vehicles last about two-and-a-half to three hours. This includes meeting, inflating and launching the balloons, flying, landing and packing up the balloons, a champagne toast and return to passenger vehicles.
PHOTOS BY ANGIE MAYES
“In Middle Tennessee we do not have a constant wind pattern. The winds change daily so we use this to determine out launch sites. We try to go upwind and fly back towards or across the Franklin area. This means that we could launch from Leipers Fork, Brentwood, Spring Hill or Arrington and anywhere in between. Each flight is truly unique,” Bedford said. He’s landed just about everywhere a person could imagine. “I would not say that I have landed in many ‘strange’ places however some notable places the wind has carried us would be Trace Adkins yard. SPRING 2017
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Once we landed at Tim (McGraw) and Faith’s (Hill) place. The most notable was a landing we had in Kentucky when we flew from the Bowling Green Airport and landed in David Garvin’s property [Garvin was the founder of Camping World]. The ironic part was he used to be a balloonist and just a week earlier he had slipped while working on his roof and unfortunately passed away. We were the only balloon that flew that day from the event and the other stayed and did a balloon glow at the airport. “When we landed, his entire family was in town for his funeral. They all came out to the field and took photos and it saw it as a sign from their father for guiding the balloon to their property. There were many places we could have landed before that but for some reason we flew onto their field,” Bedford said. Bedford’s company takes part in many special events. “A main part of our business is charter flights, however we do attend many events through the year where we do tethered rides,” he said. “This is where we tie the balloon down to the ground and give rides up and down to a lot of guests. (We do) weddings, birthdays, corporate events, as well as fundraisers and church events. We have organized all of the ballooning aspect of the Music City Balloon Festival as well as the West Haven event in Franklin this past year. They have a two-passenger, a four-passenger, a six-passenger and an eight- or nine-passenger basket Each are different size baskets as well as envelopes (the large fabric part), he said. They also now own a basket with a door. “We’ve wanted it for some time now and fortunately we were able to make it happen last year. The door basket makes it much easier for passengers who might have difficulty climbing over the side of a typical balloon basket to enter and exit. It is even easier if you do not have a problem climbing in. I love being able to open the door and walk in and out. It has also been a great asset to have to tethered events as we are 18
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moving large numbers of passengers in and out of the basket. The turn-around time for each ride has been reduced allowing us to take more passengers per hour. Have no fear, the doors are locked using two steel bars running vertical and horizontal and have absolutely no way of an accidental opening. Everything is FAA tested and approved.” Although Bedford is the main pilot, another pilot may be hired depending “on demand, sometimes in busy season we subcontract with other local balloonists. We have had other pilots come in and fly with us for a season. For those who know me, I am one who likes to be in control so I am very picky as to who I will allow to fly our passengers. Pilots who we work with, I have flown with them and they have flown with me many times. “ Beford’s wife, Tina, is the on-ground support who follows the balloon across the county, meeting with it when it lands. Ballooning is so important in their life, Bedford proposed to her with balloons. “Tina always said I could not propose in the balloon only because we see it often. So I knew I had to use the balloons in some way but not be flying. We live in Leiper ’s Fork, the weather was looking good for the next weekend. I was driving home and the idea popped in my head, I ordered banners for the balloon and executed the plan all within a week. “Earlier in the day I went ring shopping and picked out and bought a ring the same day as the proposal. From Walton’s Jewelry in Franklin. I had my dad and my other pilot at the time setup the balloon in the back of a field in Leiper ’s Fork. We had a passenger flight that day and Tina was crewing for me. On the way home then balloons were set up in the back of the field and it was dark out. “I told Tina my other pilot had left something in the field we needed to stop and pick it up. We pulled into the field and picked up the part, I had called my dad and put the phone in my pocket so he could hear what I was saying. So, we were in
the dark field picking up the part when I got on one knee and started to propose. Tina was very confused, when I said the words “You light up my life” two of our hot air balloons lit up about 200 yards behind me with banners which read “Will you marry me?” Of course she said yes and the rest is history. There are a number of conditions in which they won’t fly, Bedford said. “We often get asked what wind speed we will fly in. There is no magic number. I am in constant contact with every pilot in Middle Tennessee and we all formulate a fly/no fly decision together. We base this off of all of our cumulative flight experience. Each one of us have flown in Middle Tennessee for a majority of our lives and we know the wind patterns better than the weather forecasters. “We use these forecasts in combination with our experience to make flight decisions. We try and make this decision before passengers have left to meet us. Sometimes weather can look promising and we get to the launch site and the weather changes from the forecasts and we have to cancel the flight. “There is an old pilot saying ‘I would rather be on the ground wishing I was in the air than in the air wishing I was on the ground.’ We tend to be on the conservative side when it comes to weather. This provides an opportunity for safe flights and happy passengers. When you book a flight for a balloon ride just understand we want to take you flying on your scheduled flight time, however we will not risk the safety of the pilots or passengers to do this. Be openminded and realistic that we cannot control the weather. We do get a lot of good flying days in Middle Tennessee which is why we love flying here so much. We will absolutely not fly in rain, or with storm warnings anywhere close to the middle Tennessee area. We do not want the winds to be much more than 5-10 mph when we will be landing.
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“Our hot air adventures have two main categories. Shared Adventures and Private Adventures. Both flights are the same in length and offered at sunrise or sunset. On a Shared Adventure you will be in a balloon with other passengers who booked that day. On a Private Adventure, it will be your group and the pilot. Shared adventures start at $200 per passenger, Private adventures are $750 for two passengers and $150 for each additional passenger. That also includes insurance for the passengers. “We work with the Shantz Agency, which is the largest national insurance for hot air balloonists. Their policies cover all aspects of hot air ballooning, and also coverage for pilots, passengers, additional insureds for events and they provide hot air balloon event insurance. “ There are also weight requirements, Bedford said. “Sometimes it is hard to ask weights but it is a critical role in our flight planning and the performance of hot air balloons. On private flights, we can accommodate any weight as it will be only your group. On the Shared Adventures, we base this off a 200-pound-per-person average. This means if one person is over 200 pounds this is okay as long as the total group average is not over 200 pounds per person.” He said that “sometimes we get confused with a large national company with a long list of employees. This is a family based company owned and operated almost entirely by myself and my wife. We strive to provide the absolute best experience for each passenger. If you have any questions or concerns please contact us and discuss this with us.” One warning he said he always give to the public is about a growing prevalence of national flight vouchers. There are many companies that are national companies who sell flight vouchers. They have 20
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a group of pilots around the U.S. who take these passenger flight vouchers and send them in to collect payment. “We used to work with one of them,” Bedford said. “That company went out of business owing a lot of money to pilots and rendering these flight vouchers with no value. “Hot Air Ballooning in a small industry relative to most, when you are booking a hot air balloon flight whether it be in Middle Tennessee or elsewhere you should ask these questions. This problem is so bad now that one company has thousands of websites and they advertise as being in small towns such as Fairview, Tenn. and they even have local numbers for you to call. Do not be fooled this is the same national company. Very few balloon operations use call centers. They often use tactics to scare you from booking with a local company. I call them and ask questions so I can hear what they are telling people and it is very disturbing. Of course, they always hang up when I tell them who I am and that the information they have provided is not correct, “ Bedford explained. Bedford said four questions should be asked of the ballooning company: Do they own the hot air balloons and equipment? Are they the pilot, or is the pilot available for me to talk to before purchasing my flight? Is this a call center? and Where is the meeting location? “If they answer no (or refuse to answer) any of these questions, you should be concerned. Also, be wary of 800 numbers,” he said. F&BL
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The 2017 season will begin May 1, due to the couple expecting a baby in April. For more information on Middle Tennessee Hot Air Adventures, call (615) 584-6236 or visit www.tnballoon.com.
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The cost of a ride varies, depending on the adventure, he noted.
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EducationLIFE
Tell us a little about yourself. Cody White, Athletic Director/Head Football Coach / Brentwood Academy HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AT BRENTWOOD ACADEMY? WHERE WERE YOU BEFORE THIS?
I have been at Brentwood Academy for five years now after coming here from Denison, Texas where I was also the athletic director and head football coach. I have been in athletic administration for 10 years now.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATION? I decided to get into education and coaching during college. I loved athletics and really enjoyed working with youth, so it was a natural fit for me. The administration part of my job came about due to the fact that I needed to be an athletic administrator in order to be a head football coach at the larger schools in Texas. It was easy to learn to enjoy administration since I appreciate the value of athletics and truly enjoy being able to help the other sport coaches in giving them the tools for success.
FRANKLIN & BRENTWOOD LIFE
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WHAT IS THE MOST INTERESTING THING THIS CAREER HAS LED YOU TO DO?
The most interesting thing this career has led me to is in allowing me to be a involved in the lives of some incredible young people. It is an opportunity to have a Christian ministry within the confines of sport, and that is truly enjoyable.
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WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
My first job was working in rodeos as a teenager for a stock contractor, the person who owns the livestock and produces the rodeo.
IF YOU COULD DO ANOTHER JOB IN ANOTHER LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I really cannot see myself doing any other job. I have always felt led to be a coach, but, if I have to answer, I would be a fishing guide in the Bahamas who fished more than guided.
YOU MOVED TO THIS POSITION FIVE YEARS AGO FROM TEXAS. CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT MIDDLE TENNESSEE MEANS TO YOU?
www.AlexandersMattressWorld.com HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE INVOLVED IN ATHLETICS AT BA?
All of our middle school students are in team sports as it is a requirement. In the upper school, 85% of the boys and 78% of the girls are in thirteen team sports at BA. What is really neat in this day and age is that we have a large number of athletes who compete in multiple sports.
IN WHICH SPORT HAVE YOU SEEN THE MOST GROWTH SINCE YOU’VE BECOME ATHLETIC DIRECTOR?
Middle Tennessee has been wonderful for our family. It is a great area to raise your children and provides the big city feel in a smaller city. We moved from the Dallas area and this just feels more comfortable. We also really love the people here at Brentwood Academy and the community of the school.
It is hard to say what is the sport with the biggest growth in my time here. We have been fortunate to have a lot of success at the highest level, but the biggest difference in the last five years is the emphasis on year-round training in all of our programs.
HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DO YOU HAVE UNDER YOU?
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT US TO KNOW?
I get to work alongside 80 or so coaches in the sports here at Brentwood Academy. They are phenomenal people who teach and influence me greatly each and every day. 22
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I feel blessed each day I get the opportunity to come to work at this school. It has truly changed our family for the better in the last five years. F&BL SPRING 2017
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SafetyLIFE
Student Driver Task Force convenes to halt local teenage driver deaths BY JOHN EVOSEVIC
I
n the wake of five auto accident deaths involving current and former Williamson County Schools students, county government has created a new task force.
of death among U.S. teenagers, and distracted driving as a whole is on the rise. The risk of motor vehicle crashes are higher among 16 to 19 year-olds than among any other age group.
The Williamson County Schools Student Safe Driving Task Force met last Thursday morning in order to staunch further fatalities.
“Younger, less-experienced drivers under 20 have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes. Distractions in driving include use of cell phone for talking and texting, food, beverages and music.”
Teen drivers Riath Al-Shawi, Savanna Biles, Jim Cheek, Morgan Fell and Austin Oppelt were all killed in the span of less than a year. According to the Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, “Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause
The task force is led by Williamson County Schools Special Projects Manager Dr. Angela Huff. “[Superintendent] Dr. Looney asked that we establish a task force so that we can begin a dialogue to THE STUDENT DRIVER TASK FORCE MET TO GATHER COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS AND NEW PROACTIVE MEASURES TO KEEP YOUNG WILLIAMSON COUNTY DRIVERS SAFE.
see what it is that we can do, what steps we can take, what programs we can put into place, what information we need to share with our students and our families, just whatever it is that we can do to ensure that we can lessen the number of fatalities and accidents of our teen drivers,” Huff said. The task force includes upper level county school district staff, county police advisors, advisors from county Juvenile Services and the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, plus a Senior Manager of Product Safety from Nissan. Common sense solutions were proffered as well as new proactive measures. “We know that we need to remind students and inform students that they need to wear seat belts when they drive. We know we need to inform and remind our students that they should not text while they’re driving. We also know we need to inform students that they should avoid all distractions,” Huff said.
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FRANKLIN & BRENTWOOD LIFE
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Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Long promised stepped up aggressive campaigns to deter distracted driving. “We did a recent survey not long ago. Out of ten cars, eight of them are texting,” Long said. According to the most recent information available from the National Safety Council, Tennessee reported the most cellphone-related auto accident fatalities, with 93 fatalities in 2011. Long added, “We’re probably going to set up some surveillance points where we watch cars in a strategic place to see if they’re on their phone. And if they are, we’re going to be stopping them.”
PHOTO BY JOHN EVOSEVIC
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Huff told The Advertiser News, “the Student SafeDriving Task Force was created so that community leaders, both internal and external could have the opportunity to dialogue together on ways to help keep our teen drivers safer. While we know that we can’t control what a student does while they are behind the wheel, we can certainly take opportunities to remind students on the importance of buckling up, avoiding all distractions and not texting while driving. By making this information available to students and families, hopefully we can lessen the number of student and family fatalities.” F&BL
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SafetyLIFE
DRINKING & DRIVING:
DUIs and the officers who try to get everyone home safely BY JOHN EVOSEVIC
A
s the days get longer, outside activities kick up in frequency. People go to sporting events, hold parties and generally have a grand old time outside of their homes. It’s making sure everyone gets back there sage that local law enforcement has as a main focus. Law enforcement officers of the Spring Hill Police Department and Williamson County Sheriff’s Office will be out on the roads in force with “Saturation Patrols” and manning sobriety checkpoints.
Honea indicated there have been 466 arrests for DUIs in Williamson County so far for 2016. Most DUI drivers are not one-time offenders. “A person will drive an average of 80 times impaired before he’s stopped for a DUI. That’s what the statistics are,” said Sgt. Poss. Several indications attract the attention of law enforcement officers patrolling for impaired drivers: driving with headlights off at night, erratic braking, and weaving are all considered clues.
A person will drive an average of 80 times impaired before he’s stopped for a DUI.” - Sgt. George Poss
Stops and arrests for impaired driving tend to peak during certain seasons. Sgt. George Poss of the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office said, “we might not see quite as much, because they know we’re out looking. But people are getting smarter these days because they’re starting to use Uber or taxis. Two years ago, we went on a bar check on New Year’s Eve. When we showed up and they saw what we were doing, you wouldn’t believe how many taxis showed up before we left,” said Sgt. Poss. Garrett Honea of the Williamson County DUI Court acknowledged that DUI stops and arrests do tend to rise during holidays and as seasons change, but insisted that DUIs can and do occur at any time, day or month. “I track the times that they are arrested and there’s no safe time to be on the road. You see them at 8 a.m., 8 p.m., 5 p.m., 3 p.m. You literally see them all day long. Granted, most DUIs are at night, probably from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.,” said Honea. 26
FRANKLIN & BRENTWOOD LIFE
Sgt. Kennedy explained that some impaired drivers will sit through stoplights. “For impaired drivers, it takes the brain longer to process, so the light can go through several cycles and they’ll just sit there. I also look for accelerating unnaturally. They’ll accelerate, slow down, accelerate, slow down,” said Sgt. Kennedy. He adds, “If I get behind a car, and I see it cross the fog line — the white line on the side of the road — I’m not going to stop that car. Because one time, we’ve all done that. You’ve got other things on your mind. One time’s fine. I’ll give them a second time. I’ll give it three times crossing the fog line before I stop a vehicle. If they continue to a fourth, I believe they’re a danger to the public. I’m going to stop them.” Once stopped, the officer will examine the driver for tell-tale signs. SPRING 2017
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“When I approach the car, I’m looking for soiled clothing. I can’t tell you the number of DUI stops where the drivers have actually wet themselves. I ask for the license, registration and insurance. We do that because that’s a divided attention task that can be difficult for an impaired driver. I’ve been given electric bills. I’ve watched the person flip right through past their driver’s license in their wallet and give me their Visa card,” said Sgt. Kennedy. Bloodshot and glassy eyes can be an indicator, but not singularly, as a driver might be afflicted with allergies or may have been crying. Officers also attempt to detect the odor of alcohol. “I look for your exit. Did you forget to take your seat belt off? Do you stumble when you are getting out? Do you use the car for balance? There’s several things I’m looking at that will lead to my decision to do a Field Sobriety Test,” Sgt. Kennedy said. Once the Field Sobriety Test is commenced, motorists can expect an instruction stage — also a divided task test — in which the officer will demonstrate a nine-step walk and turn in which the left foot is placed on a line, the right foot is then placed heel to toe in front of the left and the driver then walks nine steps in such a fashion. “If they raise their arms more than 4 inches from the body, that’s going to be a clue. If they step off the line, or they separate their heel to toe, it’s going to be a clue. If they do an about-face instead of taking a series of small steps, then that’s a clue. If they stop walking and say, ‘what do you want me to do?’ that’s 28
FRANKLIN & BRENTWOOD LIFE
At this point a blood draw will likely be ordered. While Williamson County still does use a Breathalyzer which tests for impairment in exhalations, most stops rely on blood draws. Spring Hill uses blood draws exclusively due to the increase in drug intoxication. “First, we have implied consent, which is part of Tennessee state law. When you signed your driver’s license, you’ve given permission. And now we have mandatory blood draws. So if someone refuses implied consent, we can still do a mandatory blood draw. We have to get a Search Warrant.” Sgt. Kennedy said.
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Arrests for DUIs are costly for a first time offender. Fines average about $5,000 and the convicted driver will have an Ignition Interlock Device installed in his or her vehicle at a cost of $135 per month for 11 months and 29 days. In order to start one’s car, one must blow into a Breathalyzer device. Any reading over .02 Blood Alcohol Content will not permit the vehicle to start.
a clue. If you get two or more, then more than likely, you have a person at .08 or above,” Sgt. Poss said. Blood alcohol content measured by a reading over .08 or above is over the legal limit to be operating a vehicle. One of the most effective tests is the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test in which a driver is asked to follow a moving object such as a pen or small flashlight. For impaired drivers, there is an involuntary jerking of the eyes, but as Sgt. Kennedy notes, “it is not admissible in court.” Another test is the One Leg Stand in which the driver is instructed to raise their to a comfortable level, about four to six inches, level to the ground with the toe pointed, and count out loud until told you to stop. “We’re looking for swaying, or arms more than four inches out from their body, or if they drop their foot. Those are clues. If they get two or more on that, that person’s .08 or above,” said Sgt. Poss.
Rumors abound on social media and elsewhere that the Spring Hill Police Department place plainclothes officers in bars or park patrol cars near bars in order to entrap motorists leaving bars. “That’s completely inaccurate. I can’t mention a time since I started working here in 2004 that we ever put a plainclothes officer in a bar to catch DUI offenders. That’s just something that we don’t do. We don’t cherry-pick, we don’t sit in the bar parking lot and look for DUI offenders. We’ll come through there as we don’t want DUI drivers out on the road. But we don’t sit in the parking lot and wait for them to leave,” said Sgt. Kennedy. He added, “There are only two ways we can go when leaving our station: left or right. So there’s a high opportunity of catching someone nearby. And we get a lot of public tips. Callers will call in a DUI.” “Our goal is to save lives and that’s it. I’m not here to take your freedom or take your money. I’m here to keep you from killing somebody,” said Sgt. Kennedy. F&BL
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EventLIFE
MARCH MAR19-APR9
PIGEON FORGE – Dollywood’s Festival of Nations hosts more than 200 performers from around the world celebrating music, dance and art.
MAR23-26
KNOXVILLE – The Big Ears Festival is a highly-acclaimed weekend of world-class musical performances in theaters, clubs and galleries with workshops, exhibitions, film screenings and more.
MAR27-APR2
COLUMBIA – Mule Day, one of the world’s biggest mule celebrations, hosts events that include a mule sale, mule pulling, mule shows, pancake breakfast, flea market and parade.
APRIL APR1-2
KNOXVILLE – The Knoxville Marathon, hosts a marathon, half-marathon, relay, 5K, and kids’ run with the finish line at Neyland Stadium.
APR3
FIRST FRIDAY: YOUR SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCE 7:30 p.m. – 9 a.m E|Spaces 1550 W. McEwen Drive Suite 300 Franklin, Tennessee Topic: Diversity & Inclusion Speaker: James R. Threalkill, Sims Strategic Diversity Consultants. FREE for Williamson, Inc. Business Partners and guests. 30
FRANKLIN & BRENTWOOD LIFE
APR5
MEMBER CONNECT! LEADS EXCHANGE 7:30-9 a.m. & 3:30-5 p.m., Williamson Inc., Office 5005 Meridian Boulevard, Suite 150 Franklin, Tennessee 11:30 A.M.-1 P.M. GRANITE CITY FOOD & BREWERY 1864 W. McEwen Drive Franklin, Tennessee A facilitated, casual networking opportunity to develop member relationships! Space is limited to 30 participants and spots fill up quickly, so sign up now! Bring business cards, brochures and product samples to share with other participants. Free, chamber members only.
APR7-8
GATLINBURG – Smoky Mountain Winefest hosts more than a dozen wineries from around the state with local restaurants sharing their best.
APR8
GRANVILLE – The Upper Cumberland Wine Festival hosts wineries of the Upper Cumberland Wine Trail that offer tastings, food and live jazz and blues concerts noon to 5 p.m.
APR11
OUTLOOK WILLIAMSON 7:30-11 a.m., The Factory at Franklin Liberty Hall, 230 Franklin Road., Franklin, Tennessee Outlook Williamson is a half-day economic forum that will feature three 45-minute sessions with industry-leading experts and developers, providing an in-depth picture of Williamson County’s economy and using the latest emerging trends, growth projections and statistical data. Network and enjoy a continental breakfast while perusing through the Renderings Gallery, which will feature a hands-on display of all the commercial
real estate development projects currently in the works in Williamson County. After hearing from expert presenters and panelists, walk away with a brand new copy the 2017 Williamson County Trends Report in your hand, featuring a statistical data summary of the county’s economic health. Registration: Company Table - $1,500, Individual Tickets - $85.
APR20
WILLIAMSON 101 – MEMBER ORIENTATION April 11, 3:30-5 p.m.., Williamson Inc., Office 5005 Meridian Boulevard, Suite 150 Franklin, Tennessee Are you a Williamson, Inc. Business Partner or considering becoming one? Do you have a new employee that wants to get involved? Want to learn how to make a difference with your Williamson, Inc. partnership? Are you a new Chamber member? Do you have a new employee that wants to get involved? Attend our next Williamson 101 Member Orientation to learn how to maximize your membership. Discover the many ways to get involved. We’ll show you how at this fun, educational meeting where you will learn about the Chamber and meet other new and existing members! This event is free for New or Current Partners, as well as those interested in joining Williamson, Inc.
CLARKSVILLE – Rivers & Spires Festival is a free festival with more than 100 entertainers, a kid’s area, car shows, food, jazz and more.
APR14-15
JACKSON – The Bunny Run Jackson Rod & Custom Show is a car show that features approximately 450 vehicles that are 30 years old and older in conjunction with a swap meet and vendors.
APR15
NOLENSVILLE AREA BUSINESS COUNCIL LUNCHEON 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Providence Baptist Fellowship Church 1668 Sunset Road, Brentwood Tennesee Registration is $16 for Chamber members and $20 for non-members.
APR20-22
APR22
MEMPHIS – The Southern Hot Wing Festival is a cooking contest with more than 50 teams and tasting opportunities. Music and entertainment are also offered for the whole family.
APR23
BRISTOL – Food City 500 welcomes race fans to cheer their hearts out at this annual 500lap, 266.5-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Bristol Motor Speedway. MEMPHIS – Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival is one of the largest one-day crawfish festivals and features food, live Cajun and Zydeco music, a crawfish-eating contest and crawfish races.
APR25
HR MANAGER CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE Noon – 1 p.m., Williamson Inc., Office 5005 Meridian Boulevard, Suite 150 Franklin, Tennessee
Topic: “Hire to Retire - The Winds of Change.” Registration is free, but RSVP is required.
APR27
LEADERSHIP BRENTWOOD INFORMATIONAL MIXER 5-7:30 p.m. Williamson Inc., Office 5005 Meridian Boulevard, Suite 150 Franklin, Tennessee Registration is free, but RSVP is required.
APR28
PUBLIC AFFAIRS ROUNDTABLE 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m., Williamson County Administrative Complex 1320 West Main Street Franklin, Tennesee Topic: An Update from the Williamson County Legislative Delegation. Speakers: State Senator Jack Johnson, State Representative Charles Sargent, State Representative Glen Casada, State Representative Sam Whitson. Moderated by: Dave Crouch. Public Affairs No Charge for Chamber Members & Guests. Open to the general public.
APR28-29
CROSS PLAINS – The Kilgore Station Bluegrass Festival has nationally-known headliners and local bands in a venue with a stage built on the side of an old tobacco barn.
MAY
MAY5
PIGEON FORGE – Dolly’s Homecoming Parade has Dolly Parton herself lead colorful floats, talented entertainers and lively marching bands as they make their way down the Parkway in Pigeon Forge.
MAY5-28
MEMPHIS – Memphis in May International Festival is a month-long series of events which includes Beale Street Music Festival and World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.
MEMPHIS – Memphis Brewfest highlights beers, breweries, and hosts beer enthusiasts as they gather for a sampling of fresh beers of all colors, styles and tastes near the bluffs of the Mississippi River.
SPRING 2017
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