GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY
Turning on utilities ELECTRICITY Cheatham County: Dickson Electric System, 615-446-9051; Nashville Electric Service, 615736-6900; Cumberland Electric Membership Corp., 1-800-987-2362 Davidson County: Nashville Electric Service, 615-736-6900 Dickson County: Dickson Electric System, 615-446-9051 Maury County: Columbia Power, Water and Cable, 931-388-4833; Duck River Electric Membership Corp., 931-388-3131 Montgomery County: Clarksville Department of Electricity, 931-648-8151; Cumberland Electric Membership Corp., 1-800-987-2362 Robertson County: Springfield Utility Co., 615-382-2200; Cumberland Electric Membership Corp., 1-800-987-2362; Nashville Electric Service, 615-736-6900 Rutherford County: Murfreesboro Electric Department, 615-893-5514; Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corp., 1-877-777-9020; Nashville Electric Service, 615-736-6900 Sumner County: Cumberland Electric Membership Corp., (Gallatin) 1-800-987-2362, (Portland) 615-325-4172; Nashville Electric Service, 615-736-6900 Williamson County: Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corp., 1-877-777-9020; Nashville Electric Service, 615-736-6900 Wilson County: Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corp., 1-877-777-9020
NATURAL GAS Cheatham County: Clarksville Gas and Water, 931-645-7400 Davidson County: Piedmont Natural Gas, 1-800-752-7504 Dickson County: Greater Dickson Gas Authority, 615-441-2830 Maury County: Atmos Energy, 1-888-2866700 Montgomery County: Clarksville Gas and Water, 931-645-7400 Robertson County: Springfield Utility Co., 615-382-2200 Rutherford County: Atmos Energy, 1-888286-6700; Smyrna Utilities, 615-355-5740 Sumner County: Gallatin Public Utilities, 615-451-5922 Williamson County: Atmos Energy, 1-888286-6700 Wilson County: Lebanon Utility Co., 615-4446300; Middle Tenn. Natural Gas, 615-683-1021; Piedmont Natural Gas, 1-800-752-7504
TELEPHONE AT&T serves all Midstate counties, 1-888-7576500 Charter serves Cheatham, Montgomery, Maury, Robertson, Williamson and Wilson counties, 615-444-2288, 1-888-438-2427 Comcast serves most counties, 615-244-5900, 1-800-266-2278
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Thomas Edison, famed inventor who developed the first electric light bulb, is photographed in his laboratory in West Orange, N.J., in 1933. AP Grapevine Interactive serves all counties, 615-446-2010 TDS Telecom serves Davidson, Rutherford and Wilson counties, 1-888-225-5837
WATER Cheatham County: Ashland City Water and Sewer, 615-792-4211; Second South Cheatham Utility District, 615-952-3094; River Road Utility District, 615-792-4603 Davidson County: Metro Water Services, 615-862-4600; Harpeth Valley Utility District, 615-352-7076; Madison Suburban Utility District, 615-868-3201; Old Hickory Utility District, 615-847-2043 Dickson County: Water Authority of Dickson County, 615-441-4188; Sylvia-Tennessee City-Pond Utility District, 615-446-8888 Maury County: Columbia Power, Water and Cable, 931-388-4833; Maury Co. Water System, 931-381-8900; Spring Hill Water Dept., 931-486-2252; Mt. Pleasant Water System, 931-379-7717 Montgomery County: Clarksville Gas and Water, 1-800-987-2362; Cumberland Heights Utility District, 931-648-2365; Woodlawn Utility District, 931-552-2921 Robertson County: Greenbrier Water and Sewer Department, 615-643-4531; Springfield Water System, 615-382-2200; White House Utility District, 615-672-4110 Rutherford County: Consolidated Utility District, 615-893-7225; La Vergne Water Department, 615-793-5932; Murfreesboro Water and Sewer Department, 615-890-0862; Smyrna Utilities, 615-355-5740 Sumner County: Castalian Springs-Bethpage Utility District, 615-841-3724; Gallatin Public Utilities, 615-451-5922; Hendersonville
Utility District, 615-824-3717; Portland Water System, 615-325-6776; Westmoreland Water System, 615-644-3382; White House Utility District, 615-672-4110 Williamson County: Brentwood Water Department, 615-371-0080; Franklin Water Department, 615-794-4572; HB & TS Utility District, 615-794-7796; Mallory Valley Utility District, 615-628-0237; Milcrofton Utility District, 615-794-5947; Nolensville-College Grove Utility District, 615-776-2511; Water Authority of Dickson County, 615-441-4188; Spring Hill Water Department: 931-4862252 Wilson County: Gladeville Utility District, 615-449-0301; West Wilson Utility District, 615-758-5682; City of Lebanon Water, 615-444-6300; Watertown Water & Sewer, 615-237-3326;Wilson County Water, 615449-2951
CABLE AT&T (U-verse) serves all Midstate counties, 1-888-757-6500 Charter Communications serves Cheatham, Montgomery, Maury, Robertson, Williamson and Wilson counties, 615-444-2288, 1-888-438-2427 Columbia Power, Water and Cable serves Maury County, 1-800-987-2362 Comcast serves most counties, 615-2445900, 1-800-266-2278 TDS serves parts of Wilson County, 1-888225-5837. Utility providers don’t necessarily serve all parts of the counties.
GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY
Elected officials GOVERNOR BILL HASLAM
lam@tn.gov
Bill Haslam was elected in 2010 as the 49th governor of Tennessee. Before that he served as mayor of Knoxville, first elected in 2003 then re-elected in 2007. The 54-year-old Republican was formerly the president and director of Pilot Travel Centers LLC. Mail: 1st Floor, State Capitol, Nashville, TN 37243 Phone: 615-741-2001 E-mail: bill.has-
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RON RAMSEY
In 2009 the Blountville Republican became the longest-serving Republican Senate speaker in Tennessee history and was elected to a third term as speaker in 2011. The former auctioneer, 56, was elected to the state Senate in 1996 and before that served in the House. Mail: 301 Sixth Ave. N. Suite 1, Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243 Phone 615-741-4524 E-mail: lt.gov.ron.ramsey@capitol.tn.gov
STATE HOUSE SPEAKER BETH HARWELL
A 12-term state representative, Republican Beth Harwell, 55, made history in 2011 when she was unanimously elected by her House colleagues to be the first female speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives. She represents State House District 56. This district includes part of Davidson County. Mail: 301 Sixth Ave. N., Suite 19, Legislative Plaza, Nashville, TN 37243 Phone: 615-741-0709 Email: speaker.beth.harwell@capitol.tn.gov. Harwell faces no opposition in the November election, however; she will need to be re-elected as House speaker in January 2013.
U.S. SENATORS LAMAR ALEXANDER
The Republican from Maryville, 72, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002. He previously served two terms as governor, was U.S. education secretary and also was president of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Mail: 3322 West End Ave., #120, Nashville, TN 37203; or 455 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510 Phone: 615-736-5129, 202-224-4944 E-mail: www.alexander.senate.gov, click on “E-mail me,” fill out the form, and click “Submit.”
BOB CORKER
The former Republican mayor of Chattanooga and state finance commissioner, 59, was elected in 2006 to the U.S. Senate. Before taking public office, he owned construction and real estate companies. Mail: 3322 West End Ave., Suite 610, Nashville, TN 37203; or 185 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C., 20510 Phone: 615-2798125, 202-224-3344 E-mail: www.corker.senate.gov click on “Contact Information,” fill out the form and click “Submit.” Corker faces Democratic candidate Mark Clayton, who is not supported by Democratic party officials, in the November election.
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U.S. REPRESENTATIVES JIM COOPER
The 58-year-old Democrat has represented the 5th District since 2003. The district includes most of Davidson County and parts of Cheatham and Wilson counties. He is an attorney, founded Brentwood Capital Advisor and is a part-time business professor at the Owen School of Management at Vanderbilt University. Mail: 605 Church St., Nashville, TN 37219; or 1536 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: 615-736-5295, 202-225-4311 E-mail: www.cooper.house.gov, click on “Contact Jim,” fill out the form, and click “Submit.” Cooper faces Republican candidate Brad Staats in the November election.
MARSHA BLACKBURN
The Republican from Brentwood, 60, was elected to her first term in Congress in 2002. Her 7th District includes parts of Cheatham, Montgomery and Williamson counties and runs west. She previously served as a state senator. Mail: Cadence Bank Building, 198 East Main St., Suite 1, Franklin, TN 37064; or 217 Cannon Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: 615-591-5161, 202-2252811 E-mail: www.blackburn.house.gov, click on “Email Marsha,” fill out the form, and click “Submit.” Blackburn faces Democratic candidate Credo Amouzouvik in the November election.
SCOTT DESJARLAIS
A Republican, the 48-year-old was a physician before being elected in 2010 to represent the 4th District, which includes Maury County, parts of Hickman and Williamson counties, and ranges from the Alabama border to East Tennessee. Mail: 807 South Garden St., Columbia, TN 38401; or 413 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: 931-381-9920, 202-225-6831 E-mail: www.desjarlais.house.gov, click “Contact Me,” then follow the instructions. DesJarlais will face State Sen. Eric Stewart (D) in the November election.
DIANE BLACK
Formerly elected to the state House of Representatives and later to the state Senate, the 61-year-old Republican was elected in 2010 to represent the 6th District, which includes Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Wilson and 11 other counties. Black defeated rival Lou Ann Zelenik to win the Republican nomination for the 6th Congressional District in the August 2012 primary. Mail: 355 North Belvedere Drive, Suite 308, Gallatin, TN. 37066; or 1531 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: 615-206-8204, 202-225-4231 E-mail: www.black.house.gov, click “Contact Me,” then “Email Me,” then follow the instructions. Black will face Independent candidate Scott Beasley in the November election.
STEPHEN FINCHER
The 39-year-old Republican was elected to represent the 8th District in 2010. Before his election, he was a managing partner in Fincher Farms. The mostly western district includes Dickson County and part of Montgomery County. Mail: 117 North Liberty St., Jackson, TN 38301; or 1118 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 Phone: 731-423-4848, 202-225-4714 E-mail: www.fincher.house.gov, click “Contact Me,” then follow the instructions. Fincher will face Democratic candidate Timothy Dixon in the November election.
GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY
State laws HUNTING & FISHING Hunting and fishing licenses go on sale Feb. 18 every year and are valid through the last day of February the following year. Season dates are subject to change, so check with Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, 615-781-6500, 1-800-624-7406 or www.tn.gov/twra. You can buy most licenses — except for the Lifetime Sportsman License and specialty licenses — from most county clerks, sportinggoods stores, hardware stores, other interested merchants, and from all TWRA offices and online from the TWRA website. You also may order most license types by telephone, 1-888-814-8972, from anywhere within the U.S. or Canada, and pay for your purchase with a credit card. An authorization number will let you — in season — begin fishing or hunting right away. A processing fee will be added to online purchases or to ones made through the toll-free telephone number. Visit the Tennessee State web site to review prices of all hunting and fishing licenses at www.tn.gov/twra/licensefees.html. When buying a license by telephone from the toll-free number above, you will be given the option of having a paper license mailed to you, if you wish, for a fee of $7.50; if you do not want a license mailed to you, the fee is reduced to $6.25. You can purchase a license online at www.wildlifelicense.com/index.php and print it yourself for a fee of $3. If you have the license mailed, the fee will be $4.25. If you buy a license in person from one of the offices or merchants listed above, the fee is $1 for an annual license. There is a $7 charge for duplicates or to replace a lost license. You must have a Social Security number in order to purchase a hunting or fishing license in Tennessee.
WEAPONS Handgun-carry permits are available in Tennessee and are valid for four years. Eligibility requirements are as follows: an applicant must be at least 21 years of age, a resident of Tennessee and must first successfully complete a handgun safety course that is offered by a state-certified handgun safety school. An applicant cannot be federally prohibited from purchasing or possessing a handgun in this or any other state. Applicants for a new permit must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency; apply at any fullservice Driver Service Center. The application fee for a four-year permit is $115. The cost to renew is $50, and a duplicate permit costs $5. Certain factors, such as a felony arrest or conviction, all current Class A misdemeanor convictions while under the jurisdiction of the court, or arrest for stalking, domestic violence or DUI second or subsequent offense, could prevent the state from approving an application. The process includes a criminal history check. It is illegal to provide a handgun to anyone under 21. Handgun permit holders are permitted to carry their weapons into bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, unless the establishment has a posted notice prohibiting firearms; they may not consume alcohol while carrying their weapon. Handgun possession laws in public parks vary from county to county, so call the park and ask about local ordinances before carrying or operating a firearm on park property. There are exemptions to many of these rules for some security guards, police officers and members of the military. For more information, call the Tennessee Department of Safety’s handgun permit office at 615-2518590 or go to www.tn.gov/safety/handgunmain.shtml
MARRIAGES To obtain a marriage license in Tennessee, both parties must appear together at 700 Second Ave. S., Suite 101, Nashville. Both parties must have proof that they are at least 18 years old and both must have proof of a Social Security number (if they have been issued one). Acceptable proof of date-of-birth includes a government-issued photo identification (this includes a driver's license or passport) or a certified birth certificate. If one of the parties is younger than 18, he
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or she must be accompanied by his or her parent(s) or guardian. No one younger than 16 may be married in Tennessee without a court order. No blood tests are required and there is no waiting period once you have the license, except in certain specific situations in which one or both parties are under the age of 18. The marriage license is valid for 30 days and can be used for ceremonies anywhere in the state of Tennessee. The fee for a marriage license in Davidson County is $99.50. License applicants who have completed a premarital preparation course within a year of the application will receive $60 off. More information is available at your county clerk’s office or — for Davidson County — online at www,nashvilleclerk.com
VOTING To vote in Tennessee, you must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years old before the date of the next election and not have any felony convictions (or, if you have had a felony conviction, your full rights of citizenship must have been restored to you or you must have been given a pardon). As of January 2012, a government-issued photo ID is required to vote in the State of Tennessee. You must register at least 30 days before a given election to vote and must provide a street address, Social Security number, birth date and birthplace. You may register at your county’s election commission office, county clerk’s office, any public library, a register of deeds office, various state department offices or by mail. If you register by mail, the envelope must be postmarked at least 30 days before the election. If the registration deadline falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline is extended until the next business day. Anyone who registers by mail cannot vote by absentee the first time they vote. For a registration form, visit www.tn.gov/sos/election/registration.htm. In Tennessee, early voting begins 20 days before elections and closes five days before.
SMOKING The tax on cigarettes is 62 cents per pack of 20s and 77.5 cents per pack of 25s. With a few exceptions, smoking is banned in all enclosed public places in Tennessee, including health-care facilities, restaurants, childcare and adult day-care facilities, retail stores and shopping malls, sports arenas and stadiums. Smoking laws are monitored and enforced by the Tennessee Department of Health and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Someone caught knowingly smoking in an area where smoking is prohibited can be fined $50. Businesses that don’t comply will get one written warning. A second violation within 12 months carries a $100 fine. Each subsequent violation in a 12-month period comes with a $500 fine. Violators can be reported to the state Department of Health or the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Smoking is allowed in some areas, such as businesses, including restaurants and bars, with patrons ages 21 and older only; designated hotel and motel rooms; patios and other open-air areas; private businesses with three or fewer employees that have a designated, enclosed smoking area; and private clubs.
ALCOHOL The legal drinking age in Tennessee is 21. Bars are allowed to stay open until 3 a.m. seven days a week under state law. Liquor and wine are sold through licensed stores. Beer can be purchased at most grocery and convenience stores. Liquor is available by the drink as determined by municipal vote. Licensed direct shippers may ship up to three cases of wine to a Tennessee consumer in a given calendar year. An individual purchaser also may buy up to five cases (or 60 liters) of wine in one day at a licensed out-of-state winery and bring that wine back home. For more information, call the Alcohol Beverage Control Commission at 615-741-1602, or visit their website at http://www.tn.gov/abc/
GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY
Driving laws LICENSES, RENEWALS
while driving, or read emails or look at websites on phones. The offense carries a $50 fine.
U.S. citizens who move to Tennessee from another state have 30 days from the time they establish permanent residency to change to a Tennessee driver’s license. They must pass a vision test and present their valid license from another state. If six months have passed since establishing residency, a written test and a road test are also required.
Motorcycles: All motorcyclists must use an approved helmet, and all motorcycles must have a windshield. Rearview mirrors must be mounted upright on the left handlebar, and footrests are required for drivers and passengers.
Those applying for a driver’s license must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, two proofs of identity, two proofs of Tennessee residency (documentation should include name and residential address) and proof of Social Security number. If never issued a Social Security number, a sworn affidavit stating that is required. Those obtaining a license for the first time must pass a written test, a vision test and a road test. Applications can be made at any of the 47 full-service driver’s testing stations in the state. For locations, go to www.tn.gov/safety/driverlicense/dllocationmain.htm.
Seat belts: Seat belts must be worn by drivers and all front-seat passengers, as well as back-seat passengers younger than 18. Violators may receive a ticket, with additional penalties for occupants ages 17 and younger.
Anyone issued a Tennessee driver’s license since Jan. 1, 2001, is required to provide documentation of U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency at the first renewal. For more information, call 615-253-5221 or 1-866-849-3548 or go to www.tn.gov/safety/driverservices.shtml.
VEHICLE TAGS, REGISTRATION You can renew a Tennessee license plate or registration in person or by mail, and some counties allow online renewal. Bring or mail a renewal form and the fee to the county clerk’s office. Some counties also require an emissions test. To renew a registration online, see www.tncountyclerk.com. In Davidson County, visit davidson-tn.mygovonline.com/mod.php?mod=motors. For more information, contact your county clerk’s office. For personalized or specialty license plates, see www.tn.gov/revenue/vehicle. Before a gas or diesel-fueled vehicle can be registered in Davidson, Hamilton, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson or Wilson counties, it must pass an emissions test. Drivers must bring the vehicle, registration or title and a $9 fee to an emissions testing station. For locations, visit www.nashvilleclerk.com/emissions-testing or call 615-862-6050. Effective June 2012, vehicle temporary operation permits shall no longer be issued by the county clerk’s office for vehicles that have failed vehicle inspection requirements. Under Tennessee law, neither the Department of Revenue nor the county clerks are authorized to issue temporary operation permits to allow operation of motor vehicles that have failed a vehicle inspection. For questions, please call: Davidson County, 615-340-5656; all other counties, 615-532-8378. Exempt are 1974 or older models; electric vehicles; motorcycles; and vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 10,500 pounds.
ROAD RULES Pedestrians: Drivers must yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, intersections without traffic signals or when signals are not operating at a crosswalk. Pedestrians led by a guide dog or carrying a cane always have right of way. Move over law: Tennessee’s “Move Over Law” requires motorists to move into an adjacent lane of traffic for emergency vehicles when safe to do so, or to slow down. Cell phones and texting: Drivers with learner’s permits or intermediate licenses may not use cell phones (including hands-free devices) while driving. Failure to comply may result in a $50 fine. Drivers can use a hand-held cell phone only in emergencies or to communicate with a parent. Drivers may not send, read or receive text messages
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Child restraints: Children younger than 1 year old or weighing 20 pounds or less must be in a rear-facing position in a federally approved restraint system in the rear seat. Children 1 to New Tennessee residents have 30 days to obtain a Tennessee driver’s 3 years old and weighing more than 20 pounds must license. LARRY MCCORMACK / TENNESSEAN be in a safety seat in a forward-facing position in the rear seat. Children 4-8 or less than 4-foot-9 tall must be in a federally approved booster seat in the rear seat. Children 12 and younger may not ride in open truck beds on the highway, and children 6 and younger may not ride in open truck beds on any street. Turns: Drivers may turn right on red, unless posted otherwise. A left turn may be made from a one-way street onto another one-way street after checking for traffic. Littering: There is up to a maximum $500 fine and sentence of 40 hours of public service removing litter for throwing trash from a vehicle. Accidents: Automobile insurance is mandatory in Tennessee, and you must show proof of insurance during traffic stops and accidents. After a non-injury accident, vehicles involved may be moved out of traffic.
TEEN DRIVERS Teenagers younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian when obtaining a learner’s permit or driver’s license. Tennessee has a graduated license program that restricts teens younger than 18. For information, see www.tn.gov/safety/driverlicense/gdlfaq.htm.
DUI Tennessee’s legal blood-alcohol limit is .08 percent. Tennessee law states that when you drive in Tennessee, you have given “implied consent” to take a blood-alcohol or drug test if pulled over by a law enforcement officer. Refusal results in an automatic suspension of a driver’s license for one year.
GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY
Boating laws
TWRA Officer Brad Bagwell performs a safety check for a group of boaters on Percy Priest Lake. GEORGE WALKER IV / THE TENNESSEAN
REGISTRATION
YOUNG DRIVERS
All owners of mechanically powered boats or sailboats principally used in Tennessee must register their vessels. Fees vary by boat length. For information, contact Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, 800-648-8798 or www.tn.gov/twra/boatregistrations.html, your county clerk’s office or many marine dealers. Owners may register their boats for one, two or three years.
People younger than 12 may not operate a powered boat of more than 8.5 horsepower unless they are accompanied by an adult who can take immediate control of the vessel.
BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE It is illegal to operate a boat under the influence of intoxicants or drugs. The measure is .08 percent blood-alcohol level. In an accident resulting in serious injury or death, blood-alcohol content may be taken from all operators involved. The penalty for the first offense is a fine of up to $2,500, the second offense is $2,500, a third offense, $5,000 and possible jail time and license suspension.
LIFE JACKETS When operating a boat, you must have one wearable personal flotation device on board — of the appropriate size — for every person on the boat or for each person being towed. Each device must be easily accessible (not stored away), be in good condition and have a Coast Guard approval stamp. Boats that are 16 feet or longer must have at least one throwable personal flotation device on board. Children 12 years old or younger must wear life jackets if they are in open boats or on the open deck of a recreational boat, unless it is anchored, moored or aground. Life jackets must be worn by anyone operating a personal watercraft.
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Any resident of Tennessee born after Jan. 1, 1989, who is operating a boat alone or accompanying an operator under the age of 12 must carry a TWRA-issued card showing proof of completion of the TWRA boating safety exam. Nobody younger than 16 may rent a personal watercraft.
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT Personal watercraft, such as Jet Skis, are considered powered vessels and must follow the same rules as any other boat, as well as additional regulations. For more information, contact TWRA or visit www.tn.gov/twra/boatingregs.html. A personal watercraft cannot be rented by anyone younger than 16 in Tennessee.
OWNER RESPONSIBILITY The owner of a vessel may be responsible for any injury or damage done by his or her vessel whether the owner is present or not. This shall not hold true if the vessel is used without the owner’s consent. For additional information on boating regulations, visit www.tn.gov/ twra/boatingregs.html.
GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY
Nashville economy
A view from the Pinnacle at Symphony Place of the Music City Center, scheduled to open in 2013. SAMUEL M. SIMPKINS / THE TENNESSEAN While Nashville’s national reputation centers on its role as Music City — and as a growing center of technology-related employment — the economy is more diversified than most might guess. That fact has helped this region weather tough times and bounce back faster in terms of employment than many competing cities. In late summer 2012, the Metro area’s jobless rate was about 7.3 percent, down 1.5 percentage points from summer 2011. Forecasts call for further improvements. Here’s a look at how various sectors have fared with the economy on the mend.
HEALTH CARE Nashville is home base to hundreds of health-care companies, including publicly traded HCA and Community Health Systems, two of the nation’s biggest hospital chains. The area also gets an employment and research boost from well-known academic and research institutions such as Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Meharry Medical College. Health care is generally seen as the Nashville area’s most attractive economic sector, with an annual economic impact estimated at $30 billion. The forecast calls for more job growth driven by changes under health care reform and a push by doctors and hospitals to go digital with patients’ medical records. More urgent-care centers are popping up to expand medical options for Nashville-area residents. Meanwhile, hospitals, doctors and other health-care providers are pursuing new partnerships to better position themselves for changes ahead that require more collaboration to trim health-care costs while keeping patients well.
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MUSIC AND HOSPITALITY A Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce study suggested that the music industry provides an economic impact of about $6.4 billion a year, with average earnings ranging from $10.69 an hour for entrylevel musicians and singers to $38.87 an hour for more experienced performers and record-label staffers. Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and Tim McGraw make a lot more than that, but the strength of Nashville as Music City is mostly built on the lyrics and licks of workaday players and songwriters. Separately, the hospitality and convention business continues to play a key role in Nashville’s economy. A new convention center south of Broadway — dubbed the Music City Center — is under construction and is scheduled to open in 2013. The Omni Hotel, opening later in 2013, will be connected to the convention center and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Gaylord Entertainment’s Opryland hotel, the Grand Ole Opry and the Opry Mills Mall have all recovered from the historic May 2010 floods. While the hotel and Grand Ole Opry Auditorium were opened in 2010 and 2011, respectively, the mall celebrated its grand re-opening in spring 2012. More stores have opened as the year progressed, gearing up for what retailers hope will be a strong Christmas shopping season at year end. See ECONOMY, Page 20
COMMUNITIES
Davidson County
Aerial of downtown Nashville and surrounding areas. LARRY MCCORMACK / FILE / THE TENNESSEAN Recently featured in The New York Times, GQ and other national publications, Nashville is gaining notoriety for things other than music. A thriving dining scene and an economy more diversified than other cities keep Nashville on the rise. Although there are distinct communities throughout Davidson County, there is also a community as a whole that makes the 50-year-old metropolitan area a great place to live.
ANTIOCH In Antioch, your neighbor or favorite shopkeeper may be from Somalia, Mexico or Laos, and multiple languages are spoken along Nolensville Pike, in churches and in schools. Homes are affordable, and the community is popular with first-time buyers and young families with children.
BELLEVUE In Bellevue, it’s possible to get more house for the money than in other places in the county. With good schools and lots of outdoor activities for children, the area remains ever-popular with families. One of Nashville’s landmark restaurants, The Loveless Café, is in Bellevue, as are the Warner Parks.
DONELSON / HERMITAGE Life near Percy Priest Lake keeps this area popular. The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson, is one of Tennessee’s bestknown landmarks and one of the most-visited presidential homes in the country. The “Grand Ole Opry” also makes this area popular with tourists. Commuter rail service to downtown Nashville and Lebanon and the accessibility of Nashville International Airport also help make this area appealing.
DOWNTOWN / THE GULCH / GERMANTOWN Downtown Nashville and the Gulch have seen a steady increase in condo and apartment growth over the past few years. Germantown, just north of James Robertson Parkway, also continues to attract those moving back into the city looking for an urban lifestyle. With trendy shops and dining options, downtown, the Gulch and Germantown are also destination stops for many throughout the region.
EAST NASHVILLE This older neighborhood has been a mecca for artists, musicians and young professionals who have led the charge in renovating Victorian and other architecturally interesting homes. Many will tell you there’s a sense of community in East Nashville unlike any other spot in town. The Five Points area, with its blend of eclectic restaurants and shops, makes it a popular destination for East Nashvillians and people from across the city.
GREEN HILLS Trendy boutiques, The Mall at Green Hills with its designer shops and Nordstrom, upscale homes and some of the area’s fine dining establishments make this one of the premier neighborhoods to live in in Davidson County. Public schools Hillsboro High and Julia Green Elementary are top-notch, and one of the area’s finest private schools, Harpeth Hall (for girls only), is in the community. The area also boasts a Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods Market.
MADISON / GOODLETTSVILLE These two communities in the northern portion of the county feature good deals on homes and a strong tax base because of RiverGate Mall and many auto dealerships. Goodlettsville has its own city government after choosing to remain autonomous when Nashville merged with the county in 1963. It is also the home of Dollar General Corp.’s corporate headquarters.
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COMMUNITIES
Davidson County facts Melba Toast was on hand in Tomato garb at the Tomato Festival in East Nashville. JOHN
DAVIDSON COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS Population (2011): 635,745 Change from 2010: + 1.4 percent Male: 48.4 percent
PARTIPILO / THE TENNESSEAN
Female: 51.6 percent High school graduates (age 25+, 200610): 85.1 percent Bachelor’s degree or more (age 25+, 2006-10): 34 percent Median household income (2006-10): $45,668
RACIAL BREAKDOWN White: 66.2 percent Black: 27.9 percent American Indians/Alaskan Natives: 0.5 percent Asian: 3.2 percent Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders: 0.1 percent Hispanic/Latino: 9.9 percent Two or more races: 2.1 percent
PROPERTY TAX RATES
Country Music Hall of Fame, 615-4162001, www.countrymusichalloffame.org Frist Center for the Visual Arts, 615244-3340. www.fristcenter.org Grand Ole Opry, 615-871-OPRY (6779), www.opry.com The Hermitage, Home of Andrew Jackson, 615-889-2941. www.thehermitage. com Nashville Shores Water Park, 615-8897050, www.nashvilleshores.com Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, 615-8331534, www.nashvillezoo.org Ryman Auditorium, 615-889-3060, www.ryman.com The Parthenon, 615-862-8431, www.nashville.gov/parthenon The Tennessee State Museum, 615-7412692, www.tnmuseum.org
cotton and traveled to Louisiana, where she singlehandedly negotiated the sale of her cotton to Rothschilds of London for a reported $960,000 in gold, thus saving her from financial ruin.
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS Metro Government General Operator: 615-862-5000 Mayor’s Office: 615-862-6000 Police (Non-emergency): 615-862-7400 Police (Urgency, but no emergency): 615-862-8600 Fire (Non-emergency): 615-862-5421 Sheriff: 615-862-8123 Animal Control: 615-862-7928
Per $100 of assessed value
MAJOR ANNUAL EVENTS
County: $0.54
» Country Music Marathon (April) » Nashville Film Festival (April) » Ragin’ Cajun Crawfish Boil (April) » Iroquois Steeplechase (May) » TACA Spring Craft Fair (May) » CMA Musical Festival (June) » Fourth of July festivities, Riverfront Park » Music City Brewer’s Festival (July) » Music City Festival and BBQ Championship (August) » Tomato Art Fest (August) » African Street Festival (September) » Greek Festival (September) » Tennessee State Fair (September) » TACA Fall Craft Fair (September) » Germantown Street Festival (October) » Southern Festival of Books (October) » Veterans Day Parade (November) » Music City Bowl (December) » Nashville Christmas Parade (December)
Oak Hill City Hall: 615-371-8291
INTERESTING FACT
Ridgetop Police: 615-851-0203
General services district: $4.04 Urban services district: $4.66 Belle Meade: $0.30 Goodlettsville: $0.63
SCHOOLS www.mnps.org, 149 public schools, enrollment about 81,000 students.
TOP EMPLOYERS Vanderbilt University HCA Nissan North America St. Thomas Hospital Gaylord Entertainment
ATTRACTIONS Belle Meade Plantation, 615-356-0501, www.bellemeadeplantation.com Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, 615-356-8000, www.cheekwood.org
Adelicia Acklen, mistress of Belmont Mansion, was one of the richest women in the nation. In 1863, during the Civil War, the Confederate army threatened to burn her cotton to keep it from falling into Union possession. She negotiated with both the Confederate and Union armies to save her
County Clerk: 615-862-6050 Codes Administration: 615-862-6500 Health Department: 615-340-5616 Metro Transit Authority: 615-862-5969 Recycling: 615-880-1000 Register of Deeds: 615-862-6790 Belle Meade City Hall: 615-297-6041 Belle Meade Police: 615-297-0241 Berry Hill City Hall: 615-292-5531 Berry Hill Police: 615-297-3242 Forest Hills City Hall: 615-372-8677 Goodlettsville City Hall: 615-851-2200 Goodlettsville Police: 615-859-3405 Goodlettsville Fire: 615-851-2246 Ridgetop City Hall: 615-859-0596 Ridgetop Fire: 615-851-4570
COUNTY WEBSITE www.nashville.gov
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COMMUNITIES
Cheatham County
The Cheatham County Courthouse in Ashland City. FILE / TENNESSEAN
ASHLAND CITY Ashland City was created in 1856 as the county seat for the newly formed Cheatham County. Ashland City has gained distinction as a bedroom community for Nashville and Davidson County because of its accessibility to the larger Metro area and the more secluded and simple atmosphere found there. The Cheatham County area is comparatively rural and undeveloped, making it a popular place to raise a family.
KINGSTON SPRINGS Kingston Springs, originally developed as a resort town along the railroad that ran between Nashville and Dickson, was known for its hot springs. Today, the town is home to a massive parks system with trails weaving around the Harpeth River.
Country singer Craig Morgan was born in Kingston Springs, but there’s more to the town’s musical side: The Fillin’ Station on Main Street hosts songwriter nights, blues jams and rock bands, and not far away, Red Tree Coffee hosts live music on Friday nights.
PLEASANT VIEW Situated halfway between Nashville and Clarksville, Pleasant View is a small but growing bedroom community. Development has taken hold as the town has become the commercial center for northern Cheatham County and nearby Coopertown in Robertson County. Community life centers on youth softball in the summer and War Eagle football at Sycamore High School in the fall. Each summer, the Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department hosts its annual parade and picnic.
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COMMUNITIES
Dickson County
The Dickson County Courthouse in Charlotte. FRED R. TERRY
BURNS
DICKSON
Burns was first known as Grade 42. In 1866 the name was changed from Grade 42 to Burns Station. The name Burns was in honor of Capt. Michael Burns, who had commanded a detachment encamped at Grade 42 during the Civil War. The area also is the site of the rolling Montgomery Bell State Park.
Dickson, 40 miles west of Nashville, is the largest city in Dickson County. It is the hometown of former Tennessee Gov. Frank G. Clement, who served from 1953 to 1959 and 1963-67. His birthplace, the Halbrook Hotel, has been converted into a railroad and local history museum.
WHITE BLUFF
CHARLOTTE Charlotte, the county seat of Dickson County, was named for Charlotte Reeves Robertson, wife of Gen. James Robertson. The Charlotte Courthouse Square is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest in Tennessee still used as a courthouse.
White Bluff was incorporated in 1869. Its name was derived from the white bluffs overlooking Turnbull Creek, and it’s the home of barbecue favorite Carl’s Perfect Pig. With a railroad going through the city and also Highway 70, White Bluff was once called the Broadway of America.
Dickson County facts DICKSON COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS
RACIAL BREAKDOWN
PROPERTY TAX RATES
White: 92.9 percent
Per $100 of assessed value
Black: 4.4 percent
County: $2.85
American Indians/Alaskan Natives: 0.4 percent
Burns: $0.66
Male: 49 percent Female: 51 percent
Asian: 0.6 percent
Dickson: $0.90
High school graduates (age 25+, 200610): 80.6 percent
Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders: 0 percent
White Bluff: $0.44
Bachelor’s degree or more (age 25+, 2006-10): 14.9 percent
Hispanic/Latino: 3.2 percent
Population (2011): 50,081 Change from 2010: + .8 percent
Median household income (2006-10): $44,554
Two or more races: 1.6 percent
Charlotte: $0.17
See DICKSON COUNTY, Page 34
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COMMUNITIES
Maury County
TENNESSEAN FILE
Maury County is about 40 miles south of Nashville and remains largely rural. Many picturesque communities are tucked among the rolling hills of Maury (pronunced MUR-ee) County, including Santa Fe (pronounced Fee), Fly and Theta to the northwest; Cross Bridges, Sawdust, Hampshire and Williamsport to the west; Southport, Culleoka and Campbell’s Station to the south; and Pottsville, Rock Springs and Rally Hill to the west. Larger cities include Columbia, Spring Hill and Mount Pleasant.
MT. PLEASANT
COLUMBIA
Spring Hill straddles the Williamson and Maury county line, with incorporated areas in both counties. The town is home to a General Motors manufacturing plant, formerly a Saturn plant that had brought thousands of newcomers to the area.
Columbia is the county seat of Maury County and lies astride the Duck River. The 2010 census put the population at 34,681. As the birthplace of President James K. Polk, it has numerous historic sites that make it a key tourist destination. Columbia is also notable for being the self-proclaimed “Mule Capital of the World.” Each April, the Mule Day festival celebrates that fact as people come from all over to enjoy the festivities, which include a parade and mule-pullings.
Incorporated in 1824, Mt. Pleasant became a key stagecoach stop on one of the nation’s first federal highways, the military road. Phosphate was discovered in the late 19th century, and the city quickly became a mining boomtown.
SPRING HILL
The county school district opened its first middle school in Spring Hill for 2010-11. Spring Hill Middle School has state-of-the-art technology, like interactive whiteboards. The town is famous for its Civil War history. During the Battle of Spring Hill on Nov. 29, 1864, more than 500 Confederate and 350 Union soldiers died. That night, Southern forces slept while Union soldiers passed through. The next day, the Confederate army suffered 6,200 casualties at the Battle of Franklin to the north. Rippavilla, a well-preserved, 10,000-square-foot antebellum mansion, had a key role in the war, and tours offer a glimpse of original furnishings and memorabilia from the 19th century.
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COMMUNITIES
Maury County facts
Maury County Courthouse on the Courthouse Square in downtown Columbia. FILE / THE TENNESSEAN
MAURY COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS Population (2011): 81,509 Change from 2010: +.7 percent Male: 48.3 percent Female: 51.7 percent High school graduates (age 25+, 2006-10): 82.4 percent
Mt. Pleasant: $1.37 Spring Hill: $0.59
SCHOOLS www.mauryk12.org/, 21 public schools, enrollment about 11,990 students
TOP EMPLOYERS
INTERESTING FACT Columbia plays host to the annual Mule Day festival, which began as a livestock show in 1840 and now draws thousands of visitors from across the country and the world.
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS County Mayor: 931-375-1001
Median household income (200610): $46,278
» Maury Regional Medical Center » Maury County schools » General Motors » Tennessee Farm Bureau » Maury County government
County Schools: 931-388-8403
RACIAL BREAKDOWN
KEY ATTRACTIONS
White: 84.6 percent
James K. Polk Home, 931-388-2354, www.jameskpolk.com Rippavilla Plantation, 931-486-9037, www.rippavilla.org Rattle and Snap Plantation, 931-379-1700, www.rattleandsnapplantation.com Mt. Pleasant/Maury Museum of Local History, 931-379-9511
Health Department: 931-388-5757
Bachelor’s degree or more (age 25+, 2006-10): 16.1 percent
Black: 12.6 percent American Indian/Alaska natives: 0.4 percent Asian: 0.7 percent Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders: 0 percent Hispanic/Latino: 5.0 percent
MAJOR ANNUAL EVENTS
Two or more races: 1.7 percent
» Mule Day, Columbia (April) » Cruisin’ the Square, Columbia (June) » Southern Fried Festival, Columbia (September) » The Great Duck River Duck Race, Columbia (September)
PROPERTY TAX RATES Per $100 of assessed value County: $2.60 Columbia: $1.31
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Sheriff: 931-380-5733 Animal Control: 931-540-0897 County Clerk: 931-375-5200 Election Commission: 931-381-4691 Register of Deeds: 931-375-2101 Maury Alliance (chamber of commerce): 931-388-2155 Columbia City Hall: 931-560-1500 Columbia Fire: 931-560-1700 Columbia Police: 931-388-2727 Mt. Pleasant City Hall: 931-379-7717 Spring Hill City Hall: 931-486-2252 or 1-888-774-8988 Spring Hill Fire: 615-302-4668 Spring Hill Police: 931-486-3270
COUNTY WEBSITE www.maurycounty-tn.gov
COMMUNITIES
Montgomery County
Lisa and Stephen Gore look over the new boat slips during the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours at the new Clarksville Marina. ROBERT SMITH / GANNETT / TENNESSEE
CLARKSVILLE Clarksville is a fast-growing city with a low cost of living. The city’s youth and diversity have been shaped by Fort Campbell to the north and Austin Peay State University to the south. The Clarksville Marina opened in July; other developments in the works that will alter its landscape are the incoming $1.2 billion Hemlock Semiconductor plant, promising 500-800 high-paying jobs, and Agero, a roadside assistance call center, is scheduled to open this fall. A variety of entertainment events keep this transient community grounded, particularly the Rivers & Spires Festival.
FORT CAMPBELL Fort Campbell, an Army post on the Kentucky border established in 1942, is home to the 101st Airborne Division, the only air assault division of the Army, as well as the 5th Special Forces Group and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Fort Campbell soldiers were among the first ground forces deployed in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and many have served multiple deployments. Visitors to Fort Campbell must obtain a pass at the Vehicle Registration and Visitor Control center. They must present a valid driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance.
Clarksville Police Officers Harry Hampton, left, and Bob Peterson patrol on bicycles around the Clarksville Marina and Liberty Park. GREG WILLIAMS / GANNETT / TENNESSEE
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COMMUNITIES MONTGOMERY COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS Population (2011): 176,619 Change from 2010: +2.5 percent Male: 49.1 percent Female: 50.9 percent High school graduates (age 25+, 2006-10): 90 percent Bachelor’s degree or more (age 25+, 2006-10): 22.3 percent Median household income (200610): $48,930
RACIAL BREAKDOWN White: 73.2 percent Black: 19.6 percent American Indians/Alaskan Natives: 0.7 percent Asian: 2.2 percent Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders: 0.4 percent Hispanic/Latino: 8.1 percent Two or more races: 3.8 percent
PROPERTY TAX RATES Per $100 of assessed value County: $3.14 Clarksville: $1.24
SCHOOLS www.cmcss.net, 39 public schools, enrollment of 30,077 students as of May.
TOP EMPLOYERS » Austin Peay State University » Convergys Corp. » City of Clarksville » Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools » Gateway Medical Center
KEY ATTRACTIONS Customs House Museum and Cultural Center, 931-648-5780, www.customshousemuseum.org Beachaven Vineyards and Winery, 931-645-8867, www.beachaven winery.com Dunbar Cave State Natural Area, 931-648-5526, www.tn.gov.us/ environment/parks/DunbarCave Roxy Regional Theatre, 931-6457699, www.roxyregionaltheatre.org Historic Collinsville, 931-648-9141, www.historiccollinsville.com
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The rebuilt Montgomery County Courthouse as it stands today. ROBERT SMITH/GANNETT TENNESSEE
MAJOR ANNUAL EVENTS » Old Time Fiddlers Championship, Clarksville (March) » Rivers & Spires Festival, Clarksville (April) » Mid-South Jazz Festival, Clarksville (April) » North Tennessee State Fair, Clarksville (June) » Run for the Fallen, Fort Campbell (August) » Riverfest, Clarksville (September) » Oktoberfest, Clarksville (October) » Christmas on the Cumberland, Clarksville (December)
INTERESTING FACT Charles Schulz, the beloved creator of Peanuts, began drawing characters — the subjects were his fellow soldiers — when he was a homesick 20-year-old soldier at what was then known as Camp Campbell.
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS County Mayor: 931-648-5787 Sheriff: 931-648-0611 Animal Control: 931-648-5750 County Clerk: 931-648-5700 County Schools: 931-648-5600 Election Commission: 931-648-5707 Health Department: 931-648-5747 Recycling: 931-648-5751 Register of Deeds: 931-648-5713 Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce: 931-647-2331 Clarksville City Hall: 931-645-7444 Clarksville Police: 931-648-0656 Clarksville Fire: 931-645-7456
COUNTY WEBSITE www.montgomerycountytn.org
COMMUNITIES
Robertson County
Springfield High School cheerleaders get the crowd excited at the Robertson County Pep Rally. All five county football teams, their bands and cheerleaders met on the square in Springfield for a pep rally to kick off the 2012 football season. LARRY MCCORMACK / THE TENNESSEAN
ADAMS
GREENBRIER
Adams, a small agricultural community of 633 people, is known around the world as the home of the legendary Bell Witch. Legend has it that a spirit tormented the John Bell family during the early 1800s, and President Andrew Jackson is said to have encountered the spirit during a trip to Adams.
This all-American town is best known for its Fourth of July celebration, which starts July 3 with the Turning of the Pig. A team of cooks starts early that day and roasts barbecue pork all night. July 3 is also when residents gather at City Hall for music, children’s games and fellowship. People line up in the early morning hours of July 4 to buy the barbecue by the pound. A parade that morning caps off the celebration.
COOPERTOWN Coopertown, along Interstate 24 about halfway between Nashville and Clarksville, derived its name from a large cooper shop that made barrels for the nearby Red River Mills Distillery. By 1874, Robertson County distillers were producing 45,000 barrels of whiskey annually. The barrel business in the Coopertown community then produced $125,000 in business a year.
CROSS PLAINS The town in northern Robertson County began as Kilgore Station, an important 18th-century rest stop on the road into the Tennessee frontier. By 1812, the town of Cross Plains emerged. One of its bestknown structures is Thomas Drugs, which dates to 1915 and was built on a site occupied by merchants since the town began. Thomas Drugs still features its 1930s soda fountain and is known for its oldfashioned milkshakes.
MILLERSVILLE Millersville is in both Robertson and Sumner counties, just off Interstate 65, and 6,440 people live there, according to the 2010 census. A former school serves as the community center and emergency services training center. The building is also home to the Millersville Bluegrass Jam, offering evenings of bluegrass and folk music on the first and third Fridays of each month.
ORLINDA According to the 2010 census, 859 people call Orlinda home. Thirteen miles northeast of Springfield, Orlinda is the town’s third name. Originally called Washington Tract, the town was later renamed Crocker’s Crossroads or Crockersville for a landowner. In 1887 the town became Orlinda when the U.S. Post Office rejected Crocker’s Crossroads. See ROBERTSON, Page 40
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COMMUNITIES Continued from Page 39
RIDGETOP At the edge of the Highland Rim, Ridgetop is more than 800 feet above sea level. Originally known as Nunley and then as Chancy, it took its name from the train stop known as Ridgetop Station. Construction of the 4,700-foot-long L&N Railroad tunnel — hailed at the time as one of the world’s longest self-supporting tunnels — began in 1902 and took four years to complete. The tunnel attracted wealthy Nashvillians to Ridgetop to escape the summer heat. According to the 2010 census, 1,874 people reside here.
SPRINGFIELD Springfield was established as the seat of county government in 1796, but according to historians the city was not officially founded until two years later. Springfield is about 30 miles north of downtown Nashville and is best known for the renovations to the downtown square, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the residential Historic District. The city has a population of 16,440, according to the 2010 census.
WHITE HOUSE White House is a suburban community about 22 miles north of Nashville, lying in Robertson and Sumner counties. U.S. 31W is the dividing line between the two counties. While it has easy access to all of the amenities of the big city, White House maintains a small-town feel that appeals to new residents. The community has grown substantially since the 1990s from a small village to a population of 10,255 in 2010.
Thomas Drugs, located in Cross Plains, dates to 1915. FILE / THE TENNESSEAN
Robertson County facts ROBERTSON COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS
Asian: 0.6 percent Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders: .1 percent
Population (2011): 67,106
Hispanic/Latino: 6.1 percent
Change from 2010: +1.2 percent
Two or more races: 1.3 percent
Male: 49.2 percent Female: 50.8 percent High school graduates (age 25+, 2006-10): 81.1 percent Bachelor’s degree or more (age 25+, 2006-10): 14.2 percent Median household income (200610): $50,820
RACIAL BREAKDOWN
PROPERTY TAX RATES
» Electrolux Home Products » Robertson County Schools and Government » Macy’s Logistics » Northcrest Medical Center » Martinrea Fabco
Per $100 of assessed value
SCHOOLS
County: $2.89 Adams: $0.27 Cedar Hill: $0.26 Greenbrier: $1.03 Millersville: $0.82 Portland: $1.10
White: 89.9 percent
Ridgetop: $0.76
Black: 7.7 percent
Springfield: $0.83
American Indians/Alaskan Natives: 0.5 percent
White House: $1.01
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TOP EMPLOYERS
www.rcstn.net, 19 public schools, enrollment about 11,000 students
KEY ATTRACTIONS Honeysuckle Hill Farm, Coopertown, 615-382-7593 School House Cafeteria, Adams, 615-696-1224 J. Travis Price Park, Springfield, 615382-1655, www.springfield-tn.org/ Parks
COMMUNITIES
Rutherford County
Walkers, runners and cyclists enjoy the Murfreesboro Greenway system. JIM DAVIS / GANNETT TENNESSEE
EAGLEVILLE Eagleville is Rutherford County’s smallest incorporated municipality, with just over 600 residents in the 2010 census. Each June, it hosts the longest-running, one-night horse show in Tennessee at the Eagleville Tractor Show Grounds. It’s also home to the Antique Tractor Pull and Show, which runs at the grounds each September.
LA VERGNE The northernmost city in Rutherford County, La Vergne is home to 32,588 people, according to the 2010 census. Though La Vergne incorporated in 1972, its history dates to the 1700s. The city was named after Frenchman Francois Leonard Gregoire de Roulhac de La Vergne on the same day that he died in 1852. Growth in the La Vergne area has been on the rise in the past several years, offering homeowners more options. The proximity to Nashville and Murfreesboro makes it commuter friendly.
MURFREESBORO In 1811 a plot of 60 acres of land was chosen for a new county seat for Rutherford County. The land was chosen from land that belonged to Captain William Lytle. Originally called Cannonsburgh in honor of Williamson County politician Newton Cannon, the name was changed to Murfreesborough one month later, at the request of Lytle. Murfreesboro was recognized as an official city in 1817 and became
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the capital of the state because of its central location, which is the geographical center of Tennessee. Murfreesboro is the sixth-largest city in the state, with a population of 108,755 in a 2010 census, and is home to the largest undergraduate university in Tennessee — Middle Tennessee State University. Several Civil War battles were fought in and around the city, including the Battle of Stones River. In the 1920s, the federal government established Stones River National Battlefield Park. Murfreesboro is celebrating its 200th birthday this year.
SMYRNA Dating to the early 1800s, Smyrna was once home to large farms and plantations. The city, however, has reinvented itself as a destination for families looking for affordable homes near Nashville. The city of 39,974, according to a 2010 census, traces its roots to the rail line that runs through town. Though the train is no longer central to Smyrna’s success, the city has built on that tradition by redeveloping the small downtown that built up around the depot. Though distinct, the lines between Smyrna and neighboring La Vergne continue to blur as growth and development continue in the northern section of the county. Smyrna is home to Nissan’s first U.S. automotive plant, which opened in 1982. It continues to make Altimas and Maximas, two of the company's most popular models, and launched the luxury Infiniti JX this year. The all-electric Nissan Leaf is set to start rolling off the lines later this year, the lithium-ion battery plant is scheduled to open this fall and the Rogue will be built in Smyrna next year.
COMMUNITIES
Rutherford County facts RUTHERFORD CO. DEMOGRAPHICS Population (2011): 268,921 Change from 2010: +2.4 percent Male: 49.4 percent Female: 50.6 percent High school graduates (age 25+; 200610): 87.9 percent Bachelor’s degree or more (age 25+; 2006-10): 26.3 percent Median household income (2006-10): $53,770
RACIAL BREAKDOWN White: 81.2 percent Black: 12.9 percent American Indians/Alaskan Natives: 0.5 percent Asian: 3.1 percent Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders: 0.1 percent Hispanic/Latino: 6.9 percent Two or more races: 2.1 percent
PROPERTY TAX RATES Per $100 of assessed value County: $2.47 Eagleville: $0.75 La Vergne: $1.00 Murfreesboro: $1.27 Smyrna: $0.80
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SCHOOLS
INTERESTING FACT
www.rcs.k12.tn.us , 45 county public schools , enrollment about 39,000 students
Nicknamed the “Heart of Tennessee,” the geographic center of the state is on Old Lascassas Pike, a mile from the Middle Tennessee State University campus.
TOP EMPLOYERS » Rutherford County government » Middle Tennessee State University » State Farm Insurance » VA Tennessee Valley Health Care System’s Alvin C. York Campus » Middle Tennessee Medical Center
ATTRACTIONS Stones River National Battlefield and Cemetery. 615-893-9501, www.nps.gov/stri Discovery Center at Murfree Spring, hands-on children’s museum, 615-890-2300, www.discoverycenteronline.org Oaklands Historic Home, 615-893-0022, www.oaklandsmuseum.org Sam Davis Home, house of Confederate hero from Civil War, 615-459-2341, www.samdavishome.org
MAJOR ANNUAL EVENTS » Great Tennessee Airshow, Smyrna (May) » Main Street JazzFest, Murfreesboro (June) » International FolkFest, Murfreesboro (June) » Uncle Dave Macon Days, Murfreesboro (July) » Old Timers’ Day, La Vergne (September) » Heritage Days at the Sam Davis Home, Smyrna (September)
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS County mayor: 615-898-7745 Sheriff: 615-898-7721 Animal services: 615-898-7740 County clerk: 615-898-7800 County schools: 615-893-5815 Election commission: 615-898-7743 Health department: 615-898-7880 Recycling: 615-898-7739 Register of deeds: 615-898-7870 Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce: 615-893-6565 Eagleville city hall: 615-274-2922 Eagleville fire: 615-274-2922 (day), 615898-7770 (night) Eagleville police: 615-898-7770 La Vergne city hall: 615-793-6295 La Vergne fire: 615-793-6223 La Vergne police: 615-793-7744 Murfreesboro city hall: 615-849-2629 Murfreesboro police: 615-849-2670 Murfreesboro fire: 615-893-1422 Smyrna city hall: 615-459-2553 Smyrna fire: 615-459-9735 Smyrna police: 615-456-6644
COUNTY WEBSITE www.rutherfordcountytn.gov
Smyrna Airport is located at what once was Sewart Air Force Base. SANFORD MYERS / THE TENNESSEAN
COMMUNITIES
SUMNER COUNTY
The Sumner County Courthouse is located in Gallatin. PHOTO COURTESY OF FRED R. TERRY
GALLATIN Gallatin, the county seat of Sumner County, is a thriving community 25 miles northeast of Nashville and within a one-day drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population. With a population of just over 30,000, it offers big-city opportunities and small-town charm. The town square is its cornerstone; it features a courthouse and 19th-century buildings. Attractions include Old Hickory Lake and Bledsoe State Park. Gallatin is home to a diverse business community, including manufacturing, retail, agriculture, a regional hospital and community college.
GOODLETTSVILLE Straddling Davidson and Sumner
counties, Goodlettsville was incorporated as a city in 1958. A 2010 census showed the city had 15,761 residents. The city chose to remain autonomous in 1963 when the city of Nashville merged with the government of Davidson County. Therefore, Goodlettsville operates a separate governmental entity than that of the Metropolitan Nashville government. It has a mayor, vice mayor and a city commission. Goodlettsville is also the home of Dollar General Corp.’s corporate headquarters and RiverGate Mall.
HENDERSONVILLE Situated on scenic Old Hickory Lake, Hendersonville was incorporated in 1969. A 2010 census showed that 51,372 resi-
dents call the City by the Lake home. Hendersonville was settled about 1784 by surveyor and state Sen. Daniel Smith when he began work on Rock Castle, his historic home, which is a state landmark. William Henderson, for whom the area was named, settled there in 1790 and became the city’s first postmaster. With the completion of Old Hickory Dam in 1954, the city of Hendersonville started to grow into the most populous city of Sumner County, and also one of the most populous suburbs of Nashville. Although best known as the home of late country stars Johnny Cash and Conway Twitty, Hendersonville has been put back on the map by teen country star Taylor Swift, along with other music luminaries such as Marty Stuart and Ricky Skaggs.
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COMMUNITIES
Sumner County facts SUMNER COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS Population (2011): 163,686 Change from 2010: + 1.9 percent Male: 48.9 percent Female: 51.2 percent High school graduates (age 25+, 200610): 85.4 percent Bachelor’s degree or more (age 25+, 2006-10): 23 percent Median household income (2006-10): $65,313
RACIAL BREAKDOWN White: 90.3 percent Black: 6.7 percent American Indians/Alaskan Natives: 0.3 percent Asian: 1 percent Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders: 0.1 percent Hispanic/Latino: 4.0 percent Two or more races: 1.5 percent
PROPERTY TAX RATES Per $100 of assessed value County: $2.02 Gallatin: $0.99 Goodlettsville: $0.87 Hendersonville: $0.65 Millersville: $0.78 Portland: $1.10 Westmoreland: $1.40 White House: $0.98
SCHOOLS www.sumnerschools.org, 48 public schools
TOP EMPLOYERS » Gap
» ServePro » ABC Tech » R.R. Donneley » Hoeganaes Corp.
KEY ATTRACTIONS Bledsoe’s Fort Historical Park, www.bledsoeslick.com/fort.hmt Mansker’s Fort, 615-451-3738, www.cityofgoodlettsville.org Cragfont Mansion, www.historiccragfont.org, 615-452-7070. Rose Mont Plantation, www.historicrosemont.org, 615-451-2331. Old Hickory Lake, 615-822-4846, www.lrn.usace.army.mil/op/old/rec Sumner Crest Winery, Portland, 615-3254086, www.sumnercrestwinery.com Long Hollow Winery, Goodlettsville, 615-859-5559, www.longhollowwinery .com
MAJOR ANNUAL EVENTS » Main Street Festival, Gallatin (October) » Candlelight Cemetery Tour, Gallatin (October) » Trinity Christmas City USA, Hendersonsville (November-January)
INTERESTING FACT
Election Commission: 615-452-1456 Health Department: 615-206-1100 Recycling: 615-574-0314 Register of Deeds: 615-452-3892 Gallatin Chamber of Commerce: 615452-4000 Gallatin Police: 615-452-1313 Gallatin Fire: 615-452-2771 Goodlettsville City Hall: 615-851-2200 Goodlettsville Police: 615-859-3405 Goodlettsville Fire: 615-851-2246 Hendersonville City Hall: 615-822-1000 Hendersonville Police: 615-822-1111 Hendersonville Fire: 615-822-1119 Mitchellville City Hall: 615-325-6020 Millersville City Hall: 615-859-0880 Millersville Police: 615-859-2758 Millersville Fire: 615-859-0880 Portland City Hall: 615-325-6776 Portland Police: 615-325-2061 Portland Fire: 615-325-5649 Westmoreland City Hall: 615-644-3382 Westmoreland Police and Fire: 615-6442222 White House City Hall: 615-672-4350 White House Police: 615-672-4903 White House Fire: 615-672-5338
COUNTY WEBSITE www.sumnertn.org
The county was named after Jethro Sumner, a brigadier general in the Continental Army who served in the American RevolutionaryWar.
USEFUL NUMBERS County Executive: 615-452-3604 Sheriff: 615-452-2616 Animal Control: 615-452-2400 County Clerk: 615-452-4063 County Schools: 615-451-5200
Old Hickory Lake in Hendersonville offers great recreational activities, as shown in this 2007 photo. Kevin Bradshaw demonstrates how to waterboard. GEORGE WALKER IV / THE TENNESSEAN
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COMMUNITIES
Williamson County
Ebenezer Scrooge, portrayed by Chip Arnold, surprises two women, portrayed by Kim Bretton and Nan Gurley, with his kindness during a matinee performance of Studio Tenn Theatre Company’s production of “A Christmas Carol” in historic Franklin Theatre during Dickens of a Christmas in downtown Franklin in December 2011. JEANNE REASONOVER / THE TENNESSEAN
BRENTWOOD Brentwood hugs the southern Davidson County line extending roughly between Nolensville Road in the east to Hillsboro Road in the west. It dissolves into Franklin in the Cool Springs area, which is shared by both cities. The town was incorporated in 1969. City limits do not cross the county line, though some South Nashville neighborhoods are inside the Brentwood ZIP code. The population is 37,163, according to a 2010 census. Native Americans are thought to have lived in the area about 2,000 years ago. European settlement dates to the late 1780s, with the first settlers thought to have lived near Old Smyrna Road and Wilson Pike.
FAIRVIEW Fairview, in far west Williamson County bordering Cheatham, Hickman and Davidson counties, was incorporated in 1959. The population is 7,720, according to a 2010 census. Commuters like the area
for its access to Interstate 40 and State Route 840. Fairview retains a rural character and in recent years was under a growth moratorium because of limited sewer capacity. It is home to the county’s largest park, Bowie Nature Park.
FRANKLIN Franklin is the Williamson County seat and is best known for its historic downtown that was fist platted when the town was founded in 1799. A 2010 census placed Franklin’s population at 62,487. Nationally, the city is known to Civil War buffs as the site of a bloody battle in 1864 that shredded the Confederate Army of Tennessee and dashed one of its last hopes for military victory. Franklin is home to Nissan North America corporate headquarters, Belmont University at Cool Springs, a campus of Columbia State Community College, O’More College of Design and Williamson Christian College. See WILLIAMSON, Page 54
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Violinists bring music to Main Street in Franklin during Dickens of a Christmas. JEANNE REASONOVER / FILE / THE TENNESSEAN
Continued from Page 55
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
INTERESTING FACT
County Mayor: 615-790-5700 Sheriff: 615-790-5560 Animal Control: 615-790-5590 County Clerk: 615-790-5712 County Schools: 615-472-4000 Election Commission: 615-790-5711 Williamson County Fire: 615-790-3270 Health Department: 615-794-1542 Register of Deeds: 615-790-5706 Williamson County/Franklin Chamber of Commerce: 615-794-1225 Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce: 615-771-1071 Parks and Recreation: 615-790-5719 Library Main Branch: 615-794-3105 Brentwood City Hall: 615-371-0060 Brentwood Police: 615-371-0160 Brentwood Fire: 615-371-0170 Brentwood Public Works: 615-371-0080 Fairview City Hall: 615-799-2489 Fairview Police: 615-799-2431 Fairview Fire: 615-799-3473 Franklin City Hall: 615-791-3217 Franklin Police: 615-794-2513 Franklin Fire: 615-794-3411 Nolensville Town Hall: 615-776-3633 Nolensville Police: 615-776-3640 Spring Hill City Hall: 931-486-2252 Spring Hill Police: 931-486-3270 Spring Hill Fire: 931-302-3462 Thompson’s Station City Hall: 615-794-4333 Thompson’s Station Rescue: 615-794-0137
The City of Franklin, founded Oct. 26, 1799, was named after Benjamin Franklin, a close friend of Dr. Hugh Williamson, who served as a member of the Continental Congress and for whom Williamson County was named.
COUNTY WEBSITE www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov
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COMMUNITIES
Wilson County
The Wilson County Fair is the largest county fair in Tennessee. SANFORD MYERS / THE TENNESSEAN
LEBANON Lebanon, founded in 1801, is the county seat. Its name is rooted in the abundance of cedar trees found in the area; they inspired early settlers to name the town after the biblical city of cedars, and it is pronounced “Lebanun.” Today, the rapidly growing city is home to 26,190 residents and has become a distribution hub for companies such as Famous Footwear and Performance Food Group and is the headquarters for Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores. The area’s history is still evident in its Public Square as well as Cumberland University, founded in 1842.
MT. JULIET Though it has been a community for more than 150 years, Mt. Juliet
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didn’t officially become a city until 1973. In 1990, the population was just 5,400. In the 2010 census it boomed to 23,671, making it one of Tennessee’s fastest-growing cities. Just south of Interstate 40, the mega-development Providence and its affluent neighbors are bringing in a slew of new businesses.
WATERTOWN Founded around the same time as Lebanon, Watertown was originally known as Three Forks. It was renamed in recognition of the Waters family that called it home. A massive fire in the early 1900s burned much of the village; today’s downtown is not too dissimilar from the one rebuilt afterward. The tiny town is packed with cultural and tourism draws. It is known for an annual jazz festival and largescale community yard sales held regularly. The city also has one of the few Midstate drive-in movie theaters, the Stardust Drive-In.
COMMUNITIES
Wilson County facts
WILSON COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS
Population (2011): 116,617 Change from 2010: +2.3 percent Male: 49 percent Female: 51 percent High school graduates (age 25+, 200610): 87.7 percent Bachelor’s degree or more (age 25+, 2006-10): 24 percent Median household income (2006-10): $60,678
RACIAL BREAKDOWN White: 90.2 percent Black: 6.7 percent American Indians/Alaskan Natives: 0.4 percent Asian: 1.2 percent Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders: 0.1 percent Hispanic/Latino: 3.4 percent Two or more races: 1.5 percent
PROPERTY TAX RATES Per $100 assessed value
County: $2.50 Lebanon: $0.34 Lebanon Special: $2.89 Watertown: $0.95
SCHOOLS www.wcschools.com, 21 county public schools, enrollment about 15,435 students.
TOP EMPLOYERS » Wilson County schools » Cracker Barrel corporate headquarters » University Medical Center » Wilson County government » Genco
KEY ATTRACTIONS City of Lebanon Museum and History Center, 615-443-2839, www.lebanon tn.org/departments/museum/default.aspx Cedars of Lebanon State Park, 615-4432769, www.tn.gov/environment/parks/ Cedars
MAJOR ANNUAL EVENTS » Watertown Mile-Long Yard Sale (Spring and Fall) » Watertown Music and Arts Festival (July) » Midsummer Art Crawl & Concert (July) » Wilson County Fair, Lebanon (August) » Gladefest, Gladeville (September) » Native American Pow Wows, Mt. Juliet
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(September) » Cedar City Christmas & Festival of Lights, Lebanon (December)
INTERESTING FACT Wilson County was named for Major David Wilson, a Revolutionary War hero. A commission of five decided to build the county seat by an unnamed creek near virgin cedar trees, and named the city Lebanon, after the biblical land of cedars. It is pronounced Lebanun.
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS County Mayor: 615-444-1383 Sheriff: 615-444-1412 County Clerk: 615-444-0314 County Schools: 615-444-3282 Lebanon City Schools: 615-449-6060 Election Commission: 615-444-0216 Health Department: 615-444-5325 Humane Association: 615-444-1144 Register of Deeds: 615-443-2611 Lebanon-Wilson County Chamber of Commerce: 615-444-5503 Lebanon City Hall: 615-443-2839 Lebanon Police: 615-444-2323 Lebanon Fire: 615-443-2903 Mt. Juliet City Hall: 615-754-2552 Mt. Juliet Police: 615-754-2550 Watertown City Hall/Police: 615-237-3326
COUNTY WEBSITE www.wilsoncountytn.com
The statue of Civil War General Robert H. Hatton was erected in the Lebanon town square in 1912. LARRY MCCORMACK / THE TENNESSEAN
COMMUNITIES
Area hospitals CHEATHAM COUNTY
DICKSON COUNTY
WILSON COUNTY
Centennial Medical Center of Ashland City 313 N. Main St., Ashland City 37015 615-792-3030 http://tristarashlandcity.com
Horizon Medical Center 111 Highway 70 E., Dickson 37055 615-446-0446 www.tristarhorizon.com
University Medical Center 1411W. Baddour Parkway, Lebanon 37087 615-444-8262 www.universitymedicalcenter.com
MAURY COUNTY
PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS
Maury Regional Hospital 1224 Trotwood Ave., Columbia 38401 931-381-1111 www.mauryregional.com
McFarland Specialty Hospital 500 Park Ave., Lebanon 37087 615-449-0500 www.universitymedicalcenter.com
DAVIDSON COUNTY Baptist Hospital 2000 Church St., Nashville 37236 615-284-5555 www.baptisthospital.com Centennial Medical Center 2300 Patterson St., Nashville 37203 615-342-1000 www.tristarcentennial.com Kindred Hospital 1412 County Hospital Road, Nashville 37218 615-687-2600 www.khnashville.com Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt 2200 Children’s Way, Nashville 37232 615-936-1000 www.vanderbiltchildrens.com Nashville General Hospital at Meharry 1818 Albion St., Nashville 37208 615-341-4000 www.nashvillegeneral.org Saint Thomas Hospital 4220 Harding Pike, Nashville 37205 615-222-2111 www.stthomas.org Skyline Madison Campus 500 Hospital Drive, Madison 37115 615-769-5000 http://tristarskylinemadison.com Skyline Medical Center 3441 Dickerson Pike, Nashville 37207 615-769-2000 www.tristarskyline.com Southern Hills Medical Center 391 Wallace Road, Nashville 37211 615-781-4000 www.tristarsouthernhills.com Summit Medical Center 5655 Frist Blvd., Hermitage 37076 615-316-3000 www.tristarsummit.com The Woman’s Hospital at Centennial 2221 Murphy Ave., Nashville 37201 615-342-1000 www.tristarwomensandchildrens.com Vanderbilt University Medical Center 1211 Medical Center Drive, Nashville 37232 615-322-5000 www.mc.vanderbilt.edu
MONTGOMERY COUNTY Blanchfield Army Community Hospital 650 Joel Drive, Fort Campbell, Ky. 42223 270-798-8400 www.campbell.amedd.army.mil Gateway Medical Center 651 Dunlop Lane, Clarksville 37040 931-502-1000 www.todaysgateway.com
ROBERTSON COUNTY Northcrest Medical Center 100 NorthCrest Drive, Springfield 37172 615-384-2411 www.northcrest.com
RUTHERFORD COUNTY Middle Tennessee Medical Center 1700 Medical Center Parkway, Murfreesboro 37129 615-396-4100 www.mtmc.org Stonecrest Medical Center 200 Stonecrest Blvd., Smyrna 37167 615-768-2000 www.tristarstonecrest.com
SUMNER COUNTY Hendersonville Medical Center 355 New Shackle Island Road, Hendersonville 37075 615-338-1000 www.tristarhendersonville.com Sumner Regional Medical Center 555 Hartsville Pike, Gallatin 37066 615-328-8888 www.mysumnermedical.com
Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute 221 Stewarts Ferry Pike, Nashville 37214 615-902-7400 www.tennessee.gov/mental/mhs/ mhs2.html Rolling Hills Hospital 2014 Quail Hollow Circle, Franklin 37067 615-628-5700 www.rollinghillshospital.org Parthenon Pavilion at Centennial 2401 Parman Place, Nashville 37203 615-342-1000 www.tristarparthenonpavilion.com The Psychiatric Hospital at Vanderbilt 1601 23rd Ave. S., Nashville 37212 615-327-7770 www.vanderbilthealth.com/psychiatric hospital/
VETERANS HOSPITALS VA Tennessee Valley Health Care System 1310 24th Ave. S., Nashville 37212 615-327-4751 or 1-800-228-4973 www.tennesseevalley.va.gov VA Tennessee Valley Health Care System, Alvin C. York Campus 3400 Lebanon Pike, Murfreesboro 37129 615-867-6000 or 1-800-876-7093 www.tennesseevalley.va.gov
REHABILITATION HOSPITALS Madison Healthcare and Rehabilitation 431 Larkin Springs Road, Madison 37115 615-865-8520 www.madisonrehab.com
WILLIAMSON COUNTY
McFarland Specialty Hospital 500 Park Ave., Lebanon 37087 615-449-0500 www.universitymedicalcenter.com
Williamson Medical Center 4321 Carothers Parkway, Franklin 37067 615-435-5000 www.williamsonmedicalcenter.org
Metro Bordeaux Long-Term Care 1414 County Hospital Road, Nashville 37218 615-862-7000 www.nashville.gov/bordeaux Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital 2201 Children’s Way, Nashville 37212 615-320-7600 www.vanderbiltstallworthrehab.com
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Guests make their way into the Nordstrom Gala in September 2011. DIPTI VAIDYA / THE TENNESSEAN
Shopping hot spots DAVIDSON COUNTY Berry Hill: A community of stores and eateries housed in cottages, this spot is a unique, unexpected shopping surprise. Get the giggles at Curious Heart Emporium (2832 Bransford Ave.), packed with lots of affordable and unique gift items and art. Head over to Gilchrist & Gilchrist (2823 Bransford Ave.) for a look at romantic, slightly vintage décor, from bedding to candles. Visit the Cat Shoppe / Dog Store for pet supplies and unique gift items for pets and pet lovers. See Spot Eat, A Doggie Bakery (2815 Bransford Ave.) offers fresh baked treats made from healthy, natural ingredients, plus pet training aids. East Nashville: Head to The East Garden (1108 D. St.) for floral designs for weddings and home as well as chic, sophisticated home décor and gift items. Check out Alegria (1108 Woodland St.) for a worldly selection of new and one-of-a-kind items as well as handbags, boutique dresses, vintage jewelry, baby and children’s items, and more. Try Art & Invention Gallery (1106 Woodland St.) for whimsical, beautiful and affordable pieces from many local artists. The Gulch: In this pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use area you’ll find shopping and dining options not offered in other areas of the city, from upscale restaurants such as Watermark and Kayne Prime to Whiskey Kitchen. While shopping options continue to develop, you’ll find Apricot Lane, Urban Outfitters and Two Hippies, with more in the works.
Hill Center: With a “stroll down Main Street” feel, you’ll find unique local boutiques as well as national stores such as Anthropologie, West Elm, Billy Reid and Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams in the Green Hills shopping mecca. With several options for dining, including California Pizza Kitchen and Five Guys Burgers and Fries, you may just end up spending the entire day here. Hillsboro Village: If you love shops that pique your curiosity, try this district on 21st Avenue South, just south of Vanderbilt. Davis Cookware is a neighborhood institution with a jumble of gadgets. Also hit Posh Boutique for young, fresh looks; Fire Finch for amazing (and affordable) jewelry; and Panagea for eclectic home décor items. Looking for furniture? Don’t miss the eclectic selection at Retropolitan, offering a mix of modern, retro and urban styles. The Mall at Green Hills: The roster of merchants at this upscale mall reads like a who’s who of shopping. David Yurman, Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Tiffany & Co., Juicy Couture, Cole Haan, Wolford, Kiehl’s and Kate Spade share space with stores such as Jos. A. Banks, Gap, Banana Republic and Express. Department stores include the recently completed Nordstrom, Dillard’s and Macy’s. Even if you can’t afford to buy a bag from Coach or a necklace from Tiffany, the mall is a destination for checking out luxury stores.
Nashville West: This outdoor shopping center on the west side of Davidson County includes a Super Target, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy, Ross and Marshalls. There are plans for expansion to include more restaurants and shops. Costco and Hill Center Nashville West are nearby, as are PetSmart and Big Lots. Opry Mills: The massive outlet mall in Donelson, (433 Opry Mills Drive), with nearly 1.2 million square feet of shops, was heavily damaged in the flood of 2010. The mall, which reopened in spring 2012, features many of the original tenants such as Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Ann Taylor Factory Store and Off Broadway; new stores include Cole Haan Outlet, Tommy Bahama Outlet, Calvin Klein , Coach Factory Store, Talbots and Chico’s.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY Murfreesboro: The Avenue (2615 Medical Center Parkway) is modeled on open-air European shopping centers. It offers several eateries, including Romano’s Macaroni Grill and Longhorn Steakhouse, as well as dozens of stores ranging from Belk, Best Buy and Dick’s Sporting Goods to smaller clothing stores such as Hollister, Hat World and Talbots.
See SHOPPING, Page 72
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Continued from Page 71 gentle vibe, Gallatin is an easygoing place to indulge in local luxuries. Shop for designer consignments at the Upscale Boutique on NorthWater Avenue, where Williams Design & Fashion also offers business attire, women’s suits and accessories. Hendersonville: Streets of Indian Lake Village is a lifestyle center that features more than 30 stores including Ann Taylor Loft, Coldwater Creek, The Children’s Place and Barnes & Noble Booksellers.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY Brentwood: This upscale city has a distinct ladies-who-lunch vibe. Head to Hot Pink (231 Franklin Road) for home décor or Pear Tree Avenue (237 Franklin Road), a hybrid mall with booths featuring a mix of Vera Bradley, antiques and jewelry. The star of Pear Tree is Stacey Rhodes Boutique, favored by celeb stylists. Cool Springs: CoolSprings Galleria offers shopping for fashionistas, foodies and families. The anchors are Dillard’s, J.C. Penney, Sears and a premier Belk that offers upscale goods (think Trina Turk or Kate Spade). For tots, upscale Janie and Jack sidles up to The Children’s Place and Gymboree. For techies? Hit the MacAuthority. Downtown Franklin: Downtown Franklin is packed with upscale, unique retail and affordable, funky venues. Emmaline (400 Main St.) offers fashion for celebs and soccer moms, while What’s In Store (407 Main St.) is filled with low-priced trendy accessories. Stop by Philanthropy’s T-shirt bar (432 Main St.), then indulge in Bathos’ amazing handmade bath offerings (416 Main St.).
WILSON COUNTY Lebanon: Lebanon calls itself the “Antique City of the South,” with a downtown filled with things you might see in your great-grandmother’s attic. But if you’re on the hunt for something new, chances are you’ll find that, too. Prime Outlets just off of Interstate 40 offers outlet shopping including Polo Ralph Lauren, Nike Clearance Store, Brooks Brothers Factory Store, Coach Factory Store and Tommy Hilfiger. Mt. Juliet: Providence MarketPlace offerings include J.C. Penney, Belk, Old Navy and Best Buy, as well as local specialty shops such as Ramona & Co. This open-air shopping stop includes a cinema and eateries including Red Robin, Wasabi and Red Lobster.
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MS. CHEAP
Area swells with bargains
If you’re new to town and enjoy getting a bargain, you’re in luck, because here in Middle Tennessee, bargains abound. No matter whether you are looking for fun free and cheap things to do and places to go, or whether you are in search of good deals for yourself or your home, our area has it all. Here is a sampling to get you started: » As far as inexpensive and free things to do, your best bet is our Metro Parks system, which not only has a full schedule of free concerts and events — in the outdoorsy months — but also has art shows, art, dance and music classes, swimming pools, golf courses, tennis courts, and nature and fitness programs and hikes for all ages, year-round at various locations around Davidson County. The parks’ lineup includes everything from free big band dances and Shakepeare in the Park performances to Nashville Symphony concerts in parks around town. Plus there are dog parks, nature centers, waterplay areas and more. www.nashville.gov/parks » Our libraries also have a wide reach with books, movies, concerts, classes, wonderful children’s programs and great used book sales. You can get a lot of mileage out of a free library card, including online access to thousands of resources, as well as the offerings at the brick-and-mortar facilities. www.library.nashville.gov In addition to the Nashville library system, check out others such as the Brentwood Library, Franklin Library, Sumner County Library and the Linebaugh Library in Murfreesboro, for more free programs. » For exercise and exploring the great Middle Tennessee outdoors, check out our greenways. Greenways have been one of the biggest additions to the Metro Nashville parks system with 190 miles of various trails, including 51 miles of multi-use greenway trails that primarily follow Nashville’s waterways. Other communities such as Murfreesboro also have developed lovely greenways. These are great if you like to walk, bike or explore. www.nashville.gov/parks or www.murfreesborotn.gov/parks Outdoor enthusiasts will want to explore our state parks. There is a state park within a 30-minute drive of every Tennessean, and they offer amazing resources for day visitors as well as campers and lodge and cabin guests. Some are rustic, and others are fully developed with golf courses, swimming pools and restaurants. All are beautiful! Details: www.tn.gov/environment/parks/ Another great outdoor resource is the Nashville Hiking Meetup, an informal group you can join free, that organizes doz-
ens of hikes and walks every month. www.nashvillehikingmeetup.com » If you like art, the Tennessee State Museum is free all the time, and the Frist Center for the Visual Arts is free for anyone 18 and younger all the time. The Frist also has numerous free days throughout the year. Plus the Parthenon, a true Nashville treasure, is only $6 to get in, and our colleges and universities have wonderful art offerings, too, including the Fisk University Van Vechten Gallery’s Stieglitz Collection, which is loaded with big-name artists works including Georgia O’Keeffe, Picasso, Cezanne and Renoir. The gallery has a $10 entry fee, but a visit is worth it. www.fisk.edu/campuslife/FiskUniversity Galleries/CarlVanVechtenGallery.aspx You should also know about the regular monthly art walks that give you a healthy dose of the new artwork around town. The biggest and most established is the First Saturday Art Crawl downtown that includes more than a dozen galleries showing off new artwork from 6 to 9 p.m. the first Saturday night of every month. There is even a free shuttle that takes you from gallery to gallery, and free wine and light appetizers are offered at most of the galleries. Details: 615-743-3090 or www.nashvilledowntown.com Also monthly is the First Thursday Hillsboro Village Art Walk from 5 to 8 p.m. the first Thursday of every month with receptions, shows, book signings and events in most Hillsboro Village (21st Avenue South) shops and restaurants. There’s free parking after 6 p.m. behind Cornerstone Financial. Details: www.hillsborovillage.com. The downtown Frankin Tour of the Arts is 6-9 p.m. the first Friday of every month, in and around downtown Franklin. The tour is free and there is a trolley operating on a loop with unlimited pickup and drop-off service with a $5 wristband. www.franklinart scene.com » For shopping, Middle Tennessee is full of consignment clothing shops for ladies clothing and accessories, as well as shops that specialize in consigned furniture and household items. Plus Opry Mills, which re-opened this year, which has a mixture of full price and off-price stores, and the Prime Outlets Outlet Mall in Lebanon that offers an array of outlets. Other popular bargain stores are Essex Bargain Hunt, www.bargainhunt.com, which sells a large variety of merchandise from clothing to electronics to baby things to home goods at variable discounts, and Marti & Liz Shoes and French’s Shoes, www.frenchsbootsand shoes.com/, both with multiple locations ofSee MS. CHEAP, Page 73
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Cheekwood Mansion. TENNESSEAN FILE
Nashville attractions ADVENTURE SCIENCE CENTER, 800 Fort Negley Blvd., 615-862-5160, www.adventuresci.com The area’s most comprehensive and interactive place for kids to learn in a fun atmosphere, Adventure Science Center draws kids and their parents with the four fun exhibits that also teach along the way. One of the most popular draws is BodyQuest, where little ones can explore what goes on inside the body with The Big Heart, a 10-foot-tall beating organ where they can even insert a stent after an attack. It’s actually more fun than it sounds. This is a great spot for a birthday party or field trip. BELLE MEADE PLANTATION, 5025 Harding Road, 615-356-0501, www.bellemeadeplantation.com This 30-acre historic property features the famous Greek Revival-style mansion, home to the Harding-Jackson family for generations. Now families can enjoy the land for events like fishing with authentic cane poles or a tea party on the porch, complete with gloves and a tour of the mansion. A magnet for field trips, it also makes a stunning backdrop for a wedding or birthday party. Tons of camps are available, such as museum theater, perfect for your budding diva. BELMONT MANSION, 1700 Acklen Ave., 615-460-5459, www.belmontmansion.com In the heart of Belmont University lies the crown jewel of the campus (and its name-
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sake). The elaborate Italianate-style villa that housed Adelicia Hayes Franklin Acklen Cheatham (who has no shortage of Nashville street etymology dedicated to her) boasts an unimaginable 19,000 square feet of ornately decorated interior. Today, the mansion is one of Middle Tennessee's most prestigious architectural specimens from the antebellum era in the South. The mansion is also the perfect setting for private parties such as weddings, receptions and dinners. BICENTENNIAL CAPITOL MALL STATE PARK, 600 James Robertson Parkway, 615-741-5280, http://tn. gov/environment/parks/Bicentennial/ This 19-acre park that sits beneath the State Capitol in downtown Nashville was designed to complement the Tennessee State Capitol building. The park, which features 31 erupting geyser fountains, carillons that ring on the hour and a large grass area (the mall) that is bordered by the Nashville Farmers’ Market, Jefferson Avenue, Sixth Avenue and the front plaza on James Robertson Parkway. Its surrounding walls are etched with a timeline of Tennessee history. Park rangers are available to educate visitors about the state's historical, natural and recreational areas. CHEEKWOOD BOTANICAL GARDEN AND MUSEUM OF ART, 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville, 615-356-8000, www.cheekwood.org The 55-acre estate, built by Leslie Cheek and his wife, Mabel Wood Cheek, is a prime example of an American Country
Place Era estate. The Botanical Garden is a spectacular showcase of color and horticultural diversity with 11 specialty display gardens and a stunning natural landscape. The Museum of Art has collections of painting, sculpture and decorative arts. Visitors can enjoy year-round familyfriendly activities with four distinct festivals held during the year. From Cheekwood in Bloom with more than 50,000 tulips in the Spring, to a children’s wonderland of Christmas trees, trains, Santa, live reindeer, and more during Holiday at Cheekwood, Cheekwood celebrates the seasons in style with something for everyone. COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM, 222 Fifth Ave. S., 615-4162001, www.countrymusic halloffame.com The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum houses an incredible collection of artifacts that tell the history of country music from the hillbilly singers of yesteryear to the modern country swingers of today with displays, interactive exhibits, historic video clips and much more. See the stars’ glittering costumes, colorful Hatch Show Print posters and priceless instruments that were used to make the music. FORT NASHBOROUGH, 170 First Ave. N., 615-862-8400, www.nashville.gov/parks/historic/ fortnashborough.asp CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR REPAIRS, OPENING DATE NOT See ATTRACTIONS, Page 75
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Hermitage is the home of President Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, and is preserved to its 1840s appearance. KAREN KRAFT / THE TENNESSEAN Continued from Page 74 KNOWN AT PRESS TIME In the middle of downtown Nashville sits an uncanny structure that seems out of place amid the modern high-rises. Fort Nashborough is a replica of the original fort, which was four times as large and two acres further north. Before Nashville was Nashville, this fort served as a haven of protection along the Cumberland River bluffs during the late 18th century. The meticulous re-creation continues to be one of Nashville’s more important historical monuments. Costumed docents educate visitors on the times and trials Nashville’s founding families endured. GRAND OLE OPRY HOUSE, 2804 Opryland Drive, 615-871-6779, www.opry.com The “Grand Ole Opry,” the world’s longestrunning radio program, is steeped in tradition, having grown from a roaring ’20s radio broadcast into a national music marvel. Its stage showcases country music legends and present-day performers alike. The much-loved institution is broadcast mainly from the Grand Ole Opry House in Donelson and sometimes from its original home, Ryman Auditorium downtown. THE HERMITAGE, 4580 Rachel’s Lane, Hermitage, 615-889-2941, www.thehermitage.com Presidential history comes to life at The Hermitage, the home of America’s seventh president, Andrew Jackson. This plantation house was originally a working farm. Today, it is an 1,100-acre historical site. Visitors can tour the impressive Greek Revival
mansion, which is preserved to its 1840s appearance; Rachel’s formal garden; the tombs of the Jacksons; slave quarters; and the original log cabin. At the visitors center, learn about Jackson and his family through film and historic displays. The property includes Tulip Grove Mansion, Hermitage church and other farm and outbuildings that depict life in Jackson’s time. THE PARTHENON, Centennial Park, 2600 West End Ave., Nashville, 615-862-8431, www.nashville.gov/parthenon The building in Nashville’s Centennial Park is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon, the ancient temple in Athens, Greece, built to honor Athena. The first replica was constructed of temporary materials for the Centennial Exposition in 1897 (celebrating Tennessee’s first 100 years of statehood), to symbolize Nashville’s claim as “Athens of the South.” Because of the popularity of the structure the city, in the 1920s, reconstructed the building to be a permanent facility. Local sculptor Alan LeQuire was commissioned in 1982 to re-create the nearly 42-foot-tall Athena statue inside, and the 12-ton sculpture was unveiled in 1990. Athena was completely gilded in 24-karat gold leaf in 2002, to more closely resemble the original. On the lower level, check out art galleries with permanent and changing collections. NASHVILLE ZOO AT GRASSMERE, 3777 Nolensville Road, 615-833-1534, www.nashvillezoo.org Nashville Zoo is a remarkable opportunity tucked just off of Nolensville Road. With countless activities and programs for the community and the curious, as well as a
diverse and extraordinary assortment of animals on display in expansive and nonconfining habitats, the zoo works for the purposes of education, entertainment or the perfect backdrop for a romantic outing with that special someone. TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM, 505 Deaderick St., 615-741-2692, www.tnmuseum.org This three-story museum underneath TPAC is open Tuesday through Sunday, so you have plenty of opportunities to check out this downtown center for history and art. Permanent exhibits include historical features on Native Americans, the Old South, the Civil War and Reconstruction. The museum also has an art gallery for traveling exhibitions, which have spanned a diverse range including European masters, music-related photography and homemade furniture. Best of all, admission to permanent exhibits is always free, making the Tennessee State Museum both an affordable and fascinating outing. TRAVELLERS REST PLANTATION & MUSEUM, 636 Farrell Parkway, 615832-8197 www.travellersrest plantation.org The main objective at Travellers Rest is to inspire the public to explore, experience and reflect on Nashville's historic past. The house and grounds are held in public trust by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in Tennessee. Travellers Rest represents life in Middle Tennessee from the Native American period through the Civil War, with an emphasis on 17891833, when Judge John Overton lived there. A great way to learn about Southerners’ changing lives.
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Where to dine
Top picks from restaurant reviewer Nancy Vienneau WATERMARK 507 12th Ave. S., Nashville TN 37203 615-2542000, www.watermark-restaurant.com Renowned for its urbane ambience and gracious service, Watermark is now elevated to a premier fine dining destination under the expertise of Cuisinier Bob Waggoner. His seasonally driven menu offers a lush meld of Low-Country and French cuisines, artfully presented in the serene quarters of this contemporary Gulch establishment. An extensive wine cellar is another distinction.
MARGOT CAFÉ AND BAR 1017 Woodland St., Nashville TN 37206 615227-4668 www.margotcafe.com Chef Margot McCormack embraces the peasant fare of Provence and Tuscany. In 2001, she and business partner Jay Frein reimagined an abandoned East Nashville service station into the sort of cozy eatery that you might find in a Provencal village. With its focus on seasonal eating, farm-to-table, it continues to beckon with its customary of-the-moment preparations, hospitable service and casual, rustic elegance.
The menu advertises the daily specials as Deborah Fuller and Eric Simon prepare for the lunch rush at Arnold’s Country Kitchen. THE TENNESSEAN
THE CATBIRD SEAT 1711 Division St., Nashville TN 37203 615-2488458 www.thecatbirdseatrestaurant.com An exciting, extraordinary dining experience awaits you, perched above craft speakeasy The Patterson House. Take a seat at the U-shape counter that surrounds the open, high-tech kitchen, and watch as chefs Josh Habiger and Erik Anderson and team prepare your multicourse meal: a mystery to you until presentation. Beverage Director Jane Lopes creates dazzling cocktails, wine and beer concoctions that pair with each innovative dish. CITY HOUSE 1222 Fourth Ave. N., Nashville TN 37208 615736-5838 www.cityhousenashville.com You’ll find City House in historic Germantown, in the former home and studio of a fine sculptor. Great works of art are still created here, now by chef Tandy Wilson. He makes superb Italian-inspired, Southern-based dishes. When it comes to Going Local, he walks the walk. He butchers and uses the whole beast — tail to snout. He works with an area farmer to grow his produce year ’round, and that forms the foundation of his intriguing menu. Ever-changing, shareable: Sunday suppers at City House are special. KAYNE PRIME 1103 McGavock St., Nashville TN 37203 615-2590050 www.mstreetnashville.com The traditions of the great American steakhouse are both honored and enlivened at this boutique independent, where clubby extravagance meshes with contemporary aesthetic. Culinary director Robbie Wilson has designed a modern menu highlighting prized Wagyu beef, prepared sous-vide and flash-seared at
Grab a spot at The Catbird Seat. PHOTO BY JOSH HABIGER
Try the Farm Burger with tater tots at The Pharmacy Burger Parlour and Beer Garden. LARRY MCCORMACK / THE TENNESSEAN
1,200 degrees. Housed across from the Kayne rail switchyards, the restaurant affords an uncommon and engaging view of Union Station. THE SILLY GOOSE 1888 Eastland Ave., Nashville TN 37206 615-915-0757 www.sillygoosenashville.com Manned with a rice steamer, Panini press and George Foreman grill, Roderick Bailey opened this charming — and tiny — eatery in Walden Center. Customers flocked for his piquant couscous blends, stacked salads and savory sandwich constructions. Now, the Goose has spread its wings — with expanded space, Bailey sautés, sears and roasts beautiful fish, seafood and meats, dressed in delectable combinations. Simply put: It’s serious good food, served with a light-hearted spirit.
GABBY’S BURGERS AND FRIES 493 Humphreys St., Nashville, TN, 37203 615-733-3119 www.gabbysburgersandfries.com Doug Haveron brought new life to the legendary but defunct diner, Hap Townes, and for that act alone he should be commended. But the real commendation goes to his local grass-fed beef burgers: handpatted and grilled to juicy succulence. Hand-cut russets are predictably tasty, but his cinnamondusted sweet potato fries are downright addictive. ARNOLD’S COUNTRY KITCHEN 605 Eighth Ave. S., Nashville TN 37203 615256-4455 The “meat-n-three” is the ultimate expression of Nashville down-home-cookin’ and See DINE, Page 82
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Continued from Page 79 this James Beard award winner serves you up right every time. Fried chicken, carved roast beef, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, collards, pintos, creamy mac-cheese and corn cakes. Mercy. Make room for dessert, if you can. Casual, welcoming little place: a lunch can power you for the next two days or put you into a food coma. PRINCE’S HOT CHICKEN SHACK 123 Ewing Drive #3, Nashville TN 37207 615-226-9442 Yes, there are several terrific Hot Spots, but here is the original king of Nashville Hot Chicken: crispy, blistering greatness from a cast-iron skillet, served on a cottony slice of white bread, cooled with pickle coins. Its history fabled, the fiery spice blend has inspired celebrity chefs, fraternal hot chicken eatin’ orders and the city’s annual festival in July. For novices, remember: Patience is a virtue (Hot Chicken takes Time.) and Medium is Supa-Hot. ANATOLIA TURKISH RESTAURANT 48 White Bridge Road in Lion’s Head Village, Nashville TN 37205 615-356-1556 www.anatolia-restaurant.com The Ustunkaya brothers have been consistently giving diners an authentic experience of Turkish culture, food and hospitality. And they’ve done it in a manner that pairs seeming opposites: It is both family friendly and intimate for couples. It is upscale, yet unpretentious. They’ve transformed a modest strip mall space into a comfortable eatery, furnished with the artifacts of a Turkish home. There are delicious meat, fish and vegetarian dishes — exotic, yet approachable, even to those unfamiliar with the cuisine. THE CAPITOL GRILLE/OAK BAR in the Hermitage Hotel 231 Sixth Ave. N., Nashville TN 37219 615345-7116, www.capitolgrillenashville.com www.capitolgrillenashville.com/ oak-bar.com/aspx Experience Beaux Arts elegance inside the historic downtown Hermitage Hotel. Executive Chef Tyler Brown makes stunning food that speaks of the South. His alternative title is Farmer Brown. All that he harvests from his urban farm goes into his upscale seasonal preparations. If you can’t dine in the Capitol Grille, then duck into the adjacent Oak Bar for a sip of whiskey and a platter of the chef’s house-cured meats and pickled vegetables. MARTIN’S BAR-B-Q JOINT 7238 Nolensville Road, Nolensville TN 37135 615-776-1856 www.martinsbbqjoint.com There are places dotted throughout Nashville neighborhoods smokin’ some great barbecue — but it’s worth the pilgrimage to pitmaster Pat Martin’s joint in Nolensville, where the Pig is the Hero. This is whole-hog barbecue, roasted low-andslow and hickory-sweet. His Redneck Taco — generous pulls of that whole hog, crunchy slaw and sauce atop a hoecake — is moanin’ good.
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Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack serves crispy, blistering greatness from a cast-iron skillet, served on a cottony slice of white bread, cooled with pickle coins. FILE / THE TENNESSEAN Also worth mentioning: THE FOOD COURT AT THE NASHVILLE FARMERS MARKET 900 Rosa Parks Blvd., Nashville TN 37208 Open 364 days a year, our downtown farmers market also boasts an enticing food court. Its diverse offerings of regional and global cuisines include barbecue, NOLA style po-boys, Jamaican, Indian, Asian and Mexican fare. Best bets include the weekend crostini bar with a glass of wine at AM@FM or a local wood-fired pizza at Bella Nashville. And, there are various tasting-cooking-dining events at the Grow Local Kitchen. Certified Green Restaurants: TAYST RESTAURANT AND WINE BAR 2100 Hillsboro Road, Nashville TN 37212 615-383-1953, www.taystrestaurant.com Achieving the Green Restaurant’s certification is a rigorous and lofty achievement. Chef Jeremy Barlow has garnered a 3-Star rating — the only such in Tennessee — along with rave reviews for his playful farm-to-fork fare. Cooking seasonally is at the forefront, with the goal of creating a dining experience that is imaginative, adventuresome and satisfying. THE MAD PLATTER 1239 Sixth Ave. N., Nashville TN 37208 in Historic Germantown 615-242-2563 www.themadplatter restaurant.com Within this quirky Germantown Victorian, Craig and Marcia Jervis pioneered the local food movement in Nashville. Since 1989, they have been serving seasonal dishes, in many cases harvested from their own garden. In 2011, The Mad Platter was distinguished with a 2-Star Green rating, formalizing sustainable practices already long-followed.
A Tasty Bermuda Triangle: Between these three, clustered at an East Nashville corner, you could vanish for hours in gastronomic delight. HOLLAND HOUSE BAR & REFUGE 935 W. Eastland Ave., Nashville TN 37206 615-262-4190, www.hollandhousebarand refuge.com Take refuge. These maestros of mixology will concoct lively libations to both soothe and enliven at this whimsical spot. THE PHARMACY BURGER PARLOR AND BEER GARDEN 731 McFerrin Ave., Nashville TN 37206 615-712-9517 www.thepharmacynashville.com Old-fashioned soda fountain phosphates, burgers, tater tots, handcrafted German sausages, craft beers: there’s a lot to love at the “Wurst-Burger joint in East Nashville.” MAS TACOS POR FAVOR 732 McFerrin Ave., Nashville TN 37206 615-724-1601 Teresa Mason, The Taco Lady, transformed the little cinderblock at the corner of McFerrin and West Eastland into the ideal dining outpost you’d find if you were driving across the Baja to the Sea of Cortes — with fresh, deftly spiced food to match. FOOD TRUCKS We’ve got a fleet of ’em, offering the gamut of Asian noodle salads, barbecued brisket sandwiches, gourmet Mexican quesadillas, shaved rainbow ices, swirled cupcakes, stuffed burgers, fluffy filled biscuits, Jerk chicken plates and upscale grilled cheeses. Check out this website for profiles, updates and locations: www.nashvillefoodtruckassociation.com
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Cumberland Park features spray fountains, rain curtains, a rock-climbing wall, concert stage, walking trails and a massive lawn for lounging around. SHELLEY MAYS / THE TENNESSEAN
Parks BARFIELD CRESCENT PARK: Murfreesboro. This 430-acre community park has many facilities to occupy the free time of Murfreesboro residents. College students as well as hard-core players take full advantage of the 18-hole championship disc golf course, and there are picnic shelters to rent for your next summer party. More than seven miles of paved and unpaved trails are perfect for jogging or an easy walk. The park also has a well-maintained baseball and softball complex, and a Wilderness Station with two outdoor classrooms. BICENTENNIAL CAPITOL MALL STATE PARK: Nashville. This 19-acre park that sits beneath the State Capitol in downtown Nashville was designed to complement the Tennessee State Capitol building. The park features 31 erupting geyser fountains, carillons that ring on the hour and a large grass area (the mall) bordered by the Nashville Farmers Market, Jefferson Avenue, Sixth Avenue and the front plaza on James Robertson Parkway. Its surrounding walls are etched with a timeline of Tennessee history. Park rangers are available to educate visitors about the state’s historical, natural and recreational areas. BLEDSOE CREEK STATE PARK: Gallatin. A relaxing getaway for when life
gets too fast-paced, Bledsoe Creek State Park is where visitors can be greeted at their tent flap by deer and see wildlife at every turn of the six miles of walking trails. With campsites equipped for tents or campers, this park is where time stands still. The catch of the day from Old Hickory Lake can include bass, blue gill and crappie. Playgrounds and picnic sites are the perfect place to get away from it all. BROOKMEADE PARK: Nashville. A greenway at Kelly’s Point Battlefield, the site of a Civil War battle, Brookmeade Park is in West Nashville off Charlotte between the Lowe’s superstore complex and the Cumberland River. There’s parking near the trailhead, which leads to a bike-friendly greenway and a small, simple overlook of the river. The trail here will eventually be connected with other sections of the Metro Nashville Parks Greenways Project to create the Cumberland River Greenway. BURGESS FALLS STATE NATURAL AREA: Sparta. The 154-acre Burgess Falls State Natural Area is eight miles south of Interstate 40 near Cookeville. A streamside nature trail winds through lush woodlands, descending below scenic limestone cliffs to the still water of Center Hill Lake. Falling Water River offers
beautiful cascades and scenic overlooks. The park shelters an abundance of wildlife and more than 300 species of trees and plants. Visitors should check out the large Native Butterfly Garden adjacent to the upper parking lot. Picnic facilities are available. CEDARS OF LEBANON STATE PARK: Lebanon. Named for the dense cedar forest that existed in the biblical lands of Lebanon, Cedars of Lebanon State Park consists of 900 acres of recreational area and 8,100 acres of natural area. There are 117 campsites, with all the camping amenities, a modern group lodge, trails, swimming, picnic facilities, a meeting facility and nature programs. The unique natural ecosystems found in and around Cedars of Lebanon include natural rock gardens called cedar glades. This park should certainly be on your list of mustsees. CENTENNIAL PARK: Nashville. Nashville’s flagship park is home to large grassy areas, several picnic pavilions, a small lake and, to top it all off, a decommissioned locomotive and fighter jet. It also houses The Parthenon, a replica of the Greek Parthenon in Athens, built for Tennessee’s 1897 Centennial Exposition. See PARKS, Page 85
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Continued from Page 83 CHARLIE DANIELS PARK: Mt. Juliet. Entertainer Charlie Daniels is larger than life in the music world and in his hometown of Mt. Juliet, with a park that bears his name. Folks entering the city-owned park step into an enclosed Planet Playground that resembles a castle. Picnics and fun are the name of the game at the gazebo. And what would a place named for Charlie Daniels be without a spot for music? An amphitheater is just right for the strains of all types of tunes. CHEATHAM LOCK AND DAM: Ashland City. The Nashville District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers welcomes visitors to Cheatham Lake. Lock A Campground is very close to the lock and dam on Cheatham Lake on the Cumberland River System, and is surrounded by environmentally important wetlands and wildlife management areas. Boating, swimming and fishing are among the activities offered at Lock A. The campground has 45 sites with hook-up; seven sites are tent only. Additional amenities include hot showers, a boat launch, interpretive trail, playground, a shelter and swimming area. CUMBERLAND MOUNTAIN STATE PARK: Crossville. South of I-40 on U.S. Highway 127, this 1,720-acre wooded park is centered on the Cumberland Plateau, elevation 2,000 feet, America’s largest forested plateau. The state’s grandest Civilian Conservation Corps structure, a seven-arch sandstone bridge, spans Byrd Lake in the park. A lakeside trail winds between tall pines and hemlocks. Nestled among the hardwoods are cabins, a recreation lodge and a restaurant overlooking the lake. There also are campgrounds, swimming and play areas. Nearby are the historic Cumberland Homestead tower, Piney and Ozone Falls Natural Areas, the scenic Sequatchie Valley, and Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, plus Jack Nicklaus’ signature Bear Trace Golf Course. CUMBERLAND PARK: Nashville. An innovative play space for children and families that includes unique play structures, an interactive splash pad and other water features for all ages. The new attraction is between the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge and the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge and offers direct access to the Shelby Street Bridge by way of a new elevator and staircase. Covering about 6.5 acres, the park encompasses 900 feet of riverfront and also includes an outdoor amphitheater. The park is part of Nashville’s larger Riverfront Revitalization Plan. DUNBAR CAVE STATE NATURAL AREA: Clarksville. The gaping mouth of Dunbar Cave is ominous, but at the same time curiously enticing. This massive cavern has attracted mankind for countless years, evident by the recent discovery of cave paintings — a rare find in North America. Tours are offered on a varied schedule throughout most of the year, and advance reservations are necessary. The guided tour is $5 and lasts about an hour and half. Three nearby hiking trails complement the cave, as well as scenic Swan Lake, which offers recreation for those who would rather fish than spelunk. See PARKS, Page 86
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Parks Continued from Page 85
front Revitalization Plan. DUNBAR CAVE STATE NATURAL AREA: Clarksville. The gaping mouth of Dunbar Cave is ominous, but at the same time curiously enticing. This massive cavern has attracted mankind for countless years, evident by the recent discovery of cave paintings — a rare find in North America. Tours are offered on a varied schedule throughout most of the year, and advance reservations are necessary. The guided tour is $5 and lasts about an hour and half. Three nearby hiking trails complement the cave, as well as scenic Swan Lake, which offers recreation for those who would rather fish than spelunk. FALL CREEK FALLS STATE PARK: Pikeville. An oasis of more than 20,000 acres sprawled across the eastern top of the rugged Cumberland Plateau, Fall Creek Falls State Park is one of the most scenic and spectacular outdoor recreation areas in America. There are cascades, deep chasms (or gulfs, in local parlance), virgin timber and the Fall Creek Falls themselves, which plunge 256 feet into a shaded pool. Over half of the park is designated a natural area wilderness. The Nature Center provides exhibits on the geology, plants and animals of Fall Creek Falls. A 345-acre lake has yielded record-size fish. The 18-hole championship golf course has been listed among the top public courses in the United States. This area was once a home site for Gilbert Gaul, renowned Civil War genre painter.
GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK: Gatlinburg. The Smoky Mountains are world-renowned for the diversity of their plant and animal life and the remnants of Appalachian culture. The Appalachian trail runs through part of the park, and untold miles of hiking trails await the intrepid adventurer. HAMILTON CREEK PARK: Nashville. Hamilton Creek offers 8.5 miles of mountain biking trails. The beginner-tointermediate trail, aka the Lakeside Trail, is 2.5 miles. The advanced trail, the Pinnacle, is six miles and popular in the mountain-biking community. Pinnacle is rated hard-intermediate for the expert rider. Trail elevation ranges from 510 to 660 feet above sea level (150 feet of change). Pinnacle is rated by local mountain bikers as the fifth-most “technical” trail in Tennessee, meaning it’s rocky, rooty and requires coordination of mind and legs. HARPETH RIVER STATE PARK: Kingston Springs. This unique linear park along the Harpeth River in Middle Tennessee offers natural, cultural and recreational day-use areas rich in historic significance and natural beauty. There are canoe access areas at all sites (excluding archeological areas), providing beginner and advanced paddlers opportunities to float this beautiful Class II river. Downstream, the Narrows of the Harpeth provides an upstream and downstream access, the Bell’s Bend five-mile float, a unique quarter-mile portage and breathtaking views from the bluff trail. A 100-yard tunnel, hand-cut through solid rock, was one of the great engineering feats of the time and today is an
industrial landmark on the National Register of Historic Places. A mile upstream, Mound Bottom preserves a Mississippian Village. Group tours, hiking and other activities are available. HENRY HORTON STATE PARK: Chapel Hill. The park is on the old estate of Henry H. Horton, the 36th governor of Tennessee. It’s on the Duck River, the longest remaining stretch of free-flowing river in the state of Tennessee, which supports the most diverse mussel fauna in the world. The 1,146-acre park provides a 72-room inn, seven cabins and a restaurant that seats 250 along with meeting room space to accommodate convention and family groups. The park’s 18-hole championship golf course, with bent-grass greens and a pro shop, is one of the finest in the state. The state park system’s only skeet and trap range is located here. Family canoeing also is popular on the scenic Duck River. Camping and swimming are available. HIWASSEE/OCOEE SCENIC RIVER STATE PARK: Delano. Hiwassee Scenic River State Park is on Maggie Mill Road at U.S. Hwy 411. The Hiwassee was the first river managed in the State Scenic River program. A 23-river mile section, from the North Carolina state line to U.S. Highway 411 north of Benton, has been declared a Class III partially developed river. This stretch of river offers canoeing, rafting, fishing, hiking and nature photography. A scenic portion of the John Muir trail winds through the river gorge. Numerous public access sites provide boat launch ramps. At the Gee Creek campground, picnic areas, bath
This is an aerial view of Cumberland Park on the East Bank in Nashville. LARRY MCCORMACK / THE TENNESSEAN
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See PARKS, Page 88
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Parks Continued from Page 86
houses and primitive camping are available. Adjacent is the Gee Creek Wilderness of the Cherokee National Forest. The Ocoee River is a premier white-water river in the Southeastern United States, possessing the Class III and IV rapids. Access sites are maintained. J. PERCY PRIEST LAKE: Boaters, fishermen, campers and hikers visit yearround at this lake that straddles Davidson and Rutherford counties. The lake, named for the late Congressional representative James Percy Priest (also a high school teacher, coach, reporter and editor), features three campgrounds, Long Hunter State Park, recreational areas and trails, including a horse trail. It is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. www.lrn.usace.army.mil/op/jpp/ rec. LONG HUNTER STATE PARK: Hermitage. Named after the early explorers of the 1700s, Long Hunter is along the shore of Percy Priest lake. The 2,657-acre park offers a variety of day-use recreational opportunities and protects a unique cedar glade environment. The park has a 110-acre lake with a fishing pier. A visitor’s center provides exhibits and key information on the flora and fauna you’ll find on 28 miles of hiking trails suitable for day hiking and overnight backpacking. A satellite park called The Sellars Farm Archaeological Site is near Watertown, Tenn., and includes a Mississippian period Native American ceremonial mound and village site. Although there are no artifacts remaining, the site’s interpretive kiosk, vegetation and landscape tell a rich story about thriving Native American culture A.D. 1000-1300. MONTGOMERY BELL STATE PARK: Burns. They say there used to be iron in them there hills; now the rolling landscape of Dickson County serves more awe than ore as 3,782 acres of luscious Montgomery Bell State Park landscape draw visitors just as the metallic treasure used to in days of old. Wild animals and wildflowers make homes in the soft forest bed that once was heavily cut to produce farmland and charcoal for iron industry furnaces, making the park a place of serene beauty. Sightseers can visit the location of the first Cumberland Presbyterian Church, fish in one of the park’s three lakes, hike 19 miles of trails or hit the links at the golf course. Accommodations include vacation cottages, campsites or the park inn. MOUNT VIEW GLADE STATE NATURAL AREA: Antioch. Encircled by subdivisions, Mount View Glade State Natural Area is a nine-acre pocket of wood-
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lands and fields that somehow survived the rampant sprawl that began racing across Antioch decades ago. Here you’ll find several rare plant species, including the endangered Tennessee coneflower, and delightful scenes of undisturbed natural beauty. Trek into the peaceful cedar-hardwood forest, and you’ll forget completely that Hickory Hollow Mall is less than three miles away. Just be careful what plants you step on. MURFREESBORO BARK PARK: Murfreesboro. People who love their dogs love the fact that they can take them to their very own off-leash park. There is plenty of green space for dogs to romp around in, and maybe meet a new panting pal or two. Dog parks are notorious singles spots, so be sure you look your best when you get out with Rover. And don’t miss the annual Barkaroo festival, where you can even win a dog-owner look-a-like contest or impress everyone with your dog’s best trick. OLD FORT PARK: Murfreesboro. This 50-acre park offers plenty of outdoor fun for all ages. Lighted tennis courts attract players, and on summer evenings you can catch a game on one of the baseball fields. Hikers take advantage of the greenway trails, while teens can go off with their friends and hit the volleyball area. Toddlers find endless entertainment at the Kids’ Castle playground, giving moms a small break for conversation while they watch the tots. Picnic shelters are available to rent for large gatherings during the summer months. OLD HICKORY LAKE: Hendersonville. Millions of boaters, fishermen, skiers, campers and hikers each year visit this manmade lake on the Cumberland River, which spans into five counties — Davidson, Sumner, Wilson, Trousdale and Smith. Fishing is popular year-round, while swimmers and skiers jump in during the spring and stick around well into the fall. An abundance of wildlife can be seen in and around the lake, which is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. PATTERSON PARK: Murfreesboro. An indoor/outdoor multipurpose sports and recreational facility composed of two gymnasiums, 1/8-mile track, aerobics area, fitness equipment, game room, conference center with three meeting rooms and dining room, indoor pool with 25-yard lap area, zero-depth area, interactive play system and triple-loop slide, theater, arts-and-crafts room and MGL Library. Multi-purpose field for soccer, flag football, two tennis courts, outdoor basketball courts, and small and large picnic shelters located by the parking lot and playground. R H BOYD-PRESTON TAYLOR PARK: Nashville. This park, which sits cattycorner to the Tennessee State University
campus, is a pretty straightforward affair where nature lovers will find gentle hills and scattered trees. It’s a great place to walk dogs or to simply kick back and relax in a grassy, natural spot in the midst of a busy area. Bring a blanket and snacks to enjoy a picnic with friends or head to the park’s small dirt field for a game of softball. RADNOR LAKE STATE PARK: The 85-acre man-made lake in Nashville is surrounded by a variety of scenic overlooks and diverse natural habitats. Hikers, families and photographers will enjoy the wildlife and scenery along the park’s trails, which range from an easy walk to a challenging hike. 615-3733467. www.tn.gov/environment/parks/ RadnorLake. REELFOOT LAKE STATE PARK: Tiptonville. Tennessee’s largest natural lake, 18,000 acre Reelfoot Lake, was created by severe earthquakes in 1811 and 1812. This picturesque area is a favorite wintering ground of the American bald eagle. Guided tours to view the majestic birds are offered by park naturalists during the winter months. On the Mississippi Flyway, the lake hosts thousands of migrating waterfowl and has a diversity of other wildlife. Reelfoot’s partially submerged forest, with its acres of water lilies, creates an abundant fish hatchery, which makes it an ideal spot for fishing. On the north side of the lake, a unique inn is built over the lake among bald cypress trees. Adjacent to the inn is an all-weather, 3,500-foot lighted airstrip. On the south end of the lake, an excellent visitor’s center provides insight into the origin of Reelfoot and its complex ecosystem. Pontoon boat cruises are available during the summer months. RICHLAND CREEK GREENWAY, MCCABE TRAILHEAD: Nashville. This two-mile paved path connects McCabe Park, Nashville State Community College, White Bridge Road and the Sylvan Park area. You can walk your dogs or go for a run while eying golfers on the green, as much of the path follows the edge of the McCabe Park golf course. Like any good greenway, it’s lined with wildflowers and takes occasional turns into shady, wooded areas. Like the Shelby Park greenway, it’s largely flat, and so provides a great setting for a leisurely bike ride or walk. RICHLAND PARK: Nashville. En route to your day of Southern Thrifting and Bobbie’s Dairy Dip, stop by Richland Park for a picnic and game of Frisbee. Essentially a large, green lawn, this park offers a view of Charlotte that’s perfect for people-watching, and it’s also the site of the quaint Richland Park library. This is a great urban park for weekend sports, whether a game of touch football out See PARKS, Page 89
SPORTS
Tennessee Titans
Titans quarterback Jake Locker (10) drops back in the pocket to throw a pass in the first quarter of a preseason game against the Buccaneers. GEORGE WALKER IV / THE TENNESSEAN By Nick Cole The Tennessean
The Titans will enter the 2012 season hoping to make their first playoff appearance since 2008, after a 9-7 record in 2011 left them just short of postseason play. In his first season as head coach, Mike Munchak was left with little time to implement his system prior to the start of the 2011-12 season due to a league-wide work stoppage that lasted well into the summer. Once camp opened in August, Munchak leaned on veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, a free-agent signing, to guide the offense. Hasselbeck was up to the task, starting all 16 games and throwing for 3571 yards, the third highest total of his 10-year career. This season, the Titans hope to revitalize a running game that finished next to last in
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the NFL in yardage. Chris Johnson will again be the featured back and will attempt to notch a fifth 1,000-yard season, a milestone he has reached each of his previous four seasons. Javon Ringer will back up Johnson for a fourth season, and second-year back Jamie Harper could see some short yardage work. Hasselbeck lost the starting position at quarterback in training camp to second-year quarterback Jake Locker, a first-round draft pick. Hasselbeck will provide great insurance if Locker falters in the opening weeks. While the quarterback portion of the passing game should be solid, there is some uncertainty at the wide receiver position. Kenny Britt, once seen as a budding superstar at receiver, is battling legal troubles and is trying to rehabilitate from a torn ACL that caused him to miss the majority of the 2011 season. Look for the Titans to rely
on eight-year veteran Nate Washington to be the primary pass catcher, and first-round draft pick Kendall Wright should add depth to the position. Talented tight end Jared Cook also could see an increase in production as he grows into a more prominent role in the offense. Defensively, the Titans will look to replace the production of Pro Bowl cornerback Cortland Finnegan and defensive lineman Jason Jones, who both left the team via free agency in the off-season. The signing of defensive end Kamerion Wimbley should help improve a pass rush that was lacking last season, seeing only eight sacks from the defensive end position. Michael Griffin remains a steady performer at the free safety position, and Colin McCarthy is developing into a top-notch middle linebacker.
SPORTS
Nashville Predators
Predators defenseman Francis Bouillon (51) tries to slide a shot past Coyotes goalie Mike Smith (41) during game three of the Stanley Cup Western Conference semifinals at Bridgestone Arena in May. GEORGE WALKER IV / THE TENNESSEAN By Nick Cole The Tennessean
In 2011-12, the Predators made the second round of the NHL playoffs for the second consecutive season, after failing to reach that mark for the first 11 years of the franchise’s history. Nashville lost to Phoenix in five games during the second round, a disappointing end to a season that many believed could have been a deep run into the playoffs. It was the seventh time in the last eight seasons that Barry Trotz has led the Predators to postseason play. The story of the offseason was the fate of the Predators’ All-Star defensive duo of Shea Weber and Ryan Suter. Both players were eligible for free agency, Suter unrestricted and Weber restricted. Suter landed a 13-year contract from the Minnesota Wild
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that was worth $96 million. Weber signed a 14-year offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers worth $110 million, but the Predators were given the option to match that offer due to Weber’s restricted free-agent status. In a decision that surprised many because of the financials involved, the Predators decided to retain their captain and match the Flyers’ offer sheet. Weber will remain with the team under contract until 2026. With goaltender Pekka Rinne also signed to a contract extension, he and Weber are the nucleus of the Predators’ team going into the 2012-13 season. Nashville will rely on the steady play of veteran forwards Mike Fisher, David Legwand and Martin Erat to set the tone offensively. Patric Hornqvist, the Predators’ leading goal scorer in 2011-12 with 27, will return and should continue to be among the
team’s leaders in goals. Youngsters Sergei Kostitsyn, Craig Smith and Colin Wilson will be asked to continue to progress offensively, as the Predators may need one of them to take a significant step forward if the expectation is to move beyond the second round of the playoffs this season. Defensively, Weber lost his longtime partner in Suter, and Nashville will search for an adequate replacement. The Predators will ask Kevin Klein to increase his ice time in Suter’s absence, and will hope that they see continued progress from prospects Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis and Jonathon Blum. Veteran Hal Gill was re-signed to serve as a veteran presence on the defense during the post-Suter transition.
SPORTS
Nashville Predators’ Francis Bouillon (51) clears the puck from Phoenix Coyotes’ Antoine Vermette (50) in game two of the Stanley Cup Western Conference semifinals at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz., on April 29. GETTY IMAGES
TOP PLAYERS DEFENSEMAN SHEA WEBER
Defenseman Shea Weber finished second in Norris Trophy voting last season. (The award is given to the NHL’s top defenseman). His 49 points were fourth on the Predators, and he was among league leaders with 26:10 minutes of ice time per game. Weber was awarded a 14-year, $110 million contract during the offseason, making him the highest paid player in Predators history and the second highest paid player in the NHL.
GOALTENDER PEKKA RINNE
Goaltender Pekka Rinne finished third in Vezina Trophy voting (The award is given to the top goaltender in the NHL), following his breakout season with an equally impressive one. The Predators rewarded Rinne with a 7-year contract extension, and the expectation is that he will continue to be one of the league’s elite net minders over the course of pact.
TV/RADIO/TICKETS The Predators will have 82 regularseason games broadcast on Fox Sports Tennessee and SportSouth. The flagship radio station is 102.5 FM The Game. For tickets, go to nashvillepredators.com or call 615-770-7800.
2012-13 SCHEDULE http://predators.nhl.com/club/schedule.htm
WINGER MARTIN ERAT
Winger Martin Erat led the Predators in scoring with 58 points last season. He led the team with a 17.8 percent shooting percentage and remained efficient on the ice with a +12 plus/ minus rating.
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Middle Tennessee State University By Nick Cole The Tennessean
TICKETS Tickets may be purchased at the ticket office at Floyd Stadium (Gate 1-A) off Faulkinberry Drive on campus in Murfreesboro. Also purchase by calling 615-8982103, or 1-888-YES-MTSU (937-6878) or at www.goblueraiders.com. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. On football and basketball game days, the office is open through halftime, during baseball until the fifth inning.
BASKETBALL Middle Tennessee State University Blue Raiders and Lady Raiders play home games at Murphy Athletic Center on campus. Capacity is 11,500. Men’s outlook: The Blue Raiders are coming off a Sun Belt regular season championship, finishing with a record of 14-2 in conference play and 27-7 overall last season. Coach Kermit Davis agreed to a con-
tract extension following the breakout season that ended in the quarterfinals of the NIT. Under Davis (180-133), MTSU has had only one losing season in 10 years, and will be looking to build on the momentum of its first postseason tournament appearance since 1989. The Blue Raiders will lose Sun Belt player of the year LaRon Dendy, but return guard Marcos Knight and forward J.T. Solton. Both players averaged more than 10 points per game last season. Senior guard Raymond Cintron, who hit 67 three pointers last season, also will return as an outside threat. Women’s outlook: The Lady Raiders posted a 26-7 record last season, extending their streak to nine straight years in the postseason, including eight NCAA tournaments and one WNIT berth. They have won at least 20 games in nine straight seasons, including seven under Coach Rick Insell. MTSU’s women finished a perfect 16-0 in conference play on their way to the Sun Belt regular-season title, before losing in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Vanderbilt. Expectations will be high for the Lady Raiders this season, as they return their three leading scorers in Kortni Jones (16.8 PPG), Ebony Rowe (16.3 PPG), and Icelyn Elie (13.7 PPG).
FOOTBALL Middle Tennessee State University plays its home games at Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium. Capacity is 30,788. Outlook: After consecutive bowl appearances in 2009 and 2010, the Blue Raiders took a step backward in Rick Stockstill’s 6th season as head coach in 2011. Posting a 2-10 record, the team’s worst in nearly 30 years, the Blue Raiders finished 2011 on an eight-game losing streak. In 2012, MTSU will attempt to return to the upper echelon of the Sun Belt on the arm of starting quarterback Logan Kilgore, a redshirt junior who threw for more than 2,200 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2011. Nashville native Benny Cunningham and LSU transfer Drayton Calhoun will be the featured running backs. Defensively, the Blue Raiders hope experience improves a unit that allowed 36.8 points per game in 2011. The 2012 schedule includes just five home games, bringing McNeese State, Florida Atlantic, LouisianaMonroe, North Texas and Troy to Murfreesboro. The Blue Raiders will make road trips to Mississippi State and Georgia Tech this season.
University of Tennessee By Nick Cole The Tennessean
TICKETS To order tickets, call 800-332-VOLS (6857) or go to www.utsports.com.
BASKETBALL Thompson-Boling Arena opened in 1987-88 as one of the nation’s largest basketball facilities, with a capacity of more than 24,000. Capacity was later scaled back to 21,678, and the arena underwent a complete interior facelift in 2007-08. Men’s outlook: Cuonzo Martin’s first season at the helm of UT basketball was a roller coaster ride, showcasing impressive wins over UConn, Florida and Vanderbilt, paired with frustrating losses to Austin Peay, Oakland and College of Charleston. Finishing with a 19-15 record (10-6 SEC) and an appearance in the NIT in the midst of a transitional season for the program, Martin gave UT basketball fans reason to believe that better days are ahead for the program. After replacing wildly popular and successful coach Bruce Pearl, Martin will attempt to put his stamp on the program’s identity in his second season. The Vols return top scorers Trae Golden (13.6 PPG) and Jeronne Maymon (12.7 PPG), and expect big things from prized recruit Jarnell Stokes, who joined the team midway through the season last year. Three-point specialist Skylar McBee and post player Kenny Hall return for their senior seasons, giving the Vols an
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experienced squad that should be among the best in the SEC this season. Women’s outlook: Pat Summitt, the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history (men and women), retired after her 37th season as coach of the Lady Vols due to health issues. In Summitt’s final season, the Lady Vols won the SEC tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament, only to fall to eventual national champions Baylor. Tennessee will turn to Holly Warlick as its new leader, a star player for the Lady Vols 1976-80 and an assistant for 27 years under Summitt. Warlick will look to replace the team’s top two scorers, as both Shekinna Stricklen (15.4 PPG) and Glory Johnson (14.2 PPG) were lost to graduation. Junior guard Meighan Simmons (11.1 PPG) will be the leading returning scorer, and sophomore point guard Ariel Massengale will be asked to take on a bigger role this season. The Lady Vols should again be the class of the SEC this season and could make another deep run into the NCAA tournament.
first time since the 1910-11 season. Filling seven coaching vacancies on his staff in the off-season, Dooley will attempt to return the Vols to relevancy in the SEC East in 2012. Offensively, the Vols return junior quarterback Tyler Bray, who has thrown for 294 yards per game in 12 career starts. Bray will throw to a talented group of receivers, including Justin Hunter and junior college transfer Cordarrelle Patterson. Sophomore Marlin Lane is expected to take over at running back, replacing two-year starter Tauren Poole. Defensively, the Vols will transition to a 3-4 alignment under new coordinator Sal Sunseri. Sophomore linebacker A.J. Johnson will be looked to for leadership after logging 80 tackles and earning Freshman All-American honors last season. Senior cornerback Prentiss Waggner will lead a secondary that had just five interceptions last season.
FOOTBALL
Aug. 31: vs. N. Carolina St. (Atlanta, Ga.) Sept. 8: vs. Georgia State Sept. 15: vs. Florida* Sept. 22: vs. Akron Sept.29 : at Georgia* Oct. 13: at Mississippi State* Oct. 20: vs. Alabama* Oct. 27: at South Carolina* Nov. 3: vs. Troy Nov. 10: vs. Missouri* Nov. 17: at Vanderbilt* Nov. 24: vs. Kentucky* *Southeastern Conference game
Neyland Stadium, opened as Shields-Watkins Field in 1921, was named for Gen. Robert R. Neyland, who coached 1926-52. Capacity, including standing room, is 102,459, which has enabled Tennessee to be among the national leaders in attendance for decades. The Vols ranked sixth nationally in attendance in 2011 with 94,642 fans per home game. Outlook: After finishing 5-7 in Derek Dooley’s second season as coach, the Vols finished with a losing record in consecutive seasons for the
2012 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE