The Contributor: January 17. 2023

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ISA CRUZ. PHOTO BY ALVINE

Vo l u m e 1 8 | N u m b e r 2 | Ja n u a r y 1 7 - 3 1 , 2 0 2 4

IN THE ISSUE 9

7

3

Contributor Board

Kerry Graham, Chair • Amber DuVentre, Chair Elect • Christine Doeg , Secretary • Cathy

Jennings • Demetria Kalodimos • Jerome Moore • O. Wade Nelson, Jr. • Waddell Wright • Robin Kimbrough-Hayes • Jim Shulman • Tom Wills • Drew Morris

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Vendor Spotlight

Local Feature

Vendor Writing

Moving Pictures

"God wants to see me be a better person. Not to struggle, not to be homeless, anything like that ever again."

Learn More About How Metro Spends $50 million to Reduce Homelessness

Contributor vendors write in this issue about werewolf movies, slow travel, Gram's, life and the O Gallery.

Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon is brilliant ensemble filmmaking. Now streaming on demand.

Contributors This Issue Amanda Haggard • Linda Bailey • Justin Wagner • Ridley Wills II • Judith Tackett • Lisa A. • Scott Owings • Terry H. • FreePressGma • Maurice B. • James "Shorty" R. • Daniel H. • Michael G. • Chris Scott Fieselman • Mr. Mysterio • Joe Nolan Contributor Volunteers Christine Doeg • Joe First • Andy Shapiro • Michael Reilly • Ann Bourland • Laura Birdsall • Marissa Young • Matthew Murrow • Gisselly Mazariegos • Tyler Samuel • Jamie Dore • Russ Heldman Will Connelly Executive Director Tom Wills Senior Advisor Cathy Jennings Director of Finance

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Technology is a barrier to those experiencing homelessness. Many of our vendors don’t have phones or bank accounts, or use online commerce. Thus we simplified the VENMO process by using one account for all vendors. This means YOU MUST IDENTIFY YOUR VENDOR when using VENMO. Here is the skinny on how to do it right. #1 You must have a VENMO account.

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Carli Tharp SNAP Specialist Ree Cheers SOAR Manager Andrew Terry IV SOAR Referral Specialist Rachel Ternes Housing Navigator Bri Givens Case Manager Caroline Lindner Case Manager Holly Bowman Director of Development Esther Mwandiko Kitenge Engagement Specialist Jesse Call Operations Consultant Raven Nye Director of Housing Initiatives Justin Wagner Resource Coordinator & Reporter Barbara Womack Advertising Manager Amanda Haggard & Linda Bailey Co-Editors Chelsea Jackson Manager of Vending Operations Andrew Krinks Editor Emeritus Will Connelly, Tasha F. Lemley, Steven Samra, and Tom Wills Contributor Co-Founders Editorials and features in The Contributor are the perspectives of the authors. Submissions of news, opinion, fiction, art and poetry are welcomed.

The Contributor reserves the right to edit any submissions. The Contributor cannot and will not endorse any political candidate.

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PAGE 2 | January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

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VENDOR SPOTLIGHT

Shameka I. holding her keys in her new apartment. PHOTO BY RACHEL TERNES.

With a new apartment to call home, Shameka reflects on family and faith

BY JUSTIN WAGNER “Prayer is always the key. God will help you get through a lot.”

When Shameka I. went from staying in a motel with her mom to staying on the streets, she prayed.

“That’s from my family … I know God will be here. I know God will change everything in my life.”

And after many months spent between staying with family and sleeping by a public transit stop, Shameka has an apartment in her own name again. She’s still praying — but now, it is in thanks for a blessing she’s waited on for a long time. “[God] got me where I need to be, to start a new chapter. He wants to see me be a better person. Not to struggle, not to be homeless, anything like that ever again. Ever again.”

Shameka is no stranger to renting.

Because Shameka is disabled, her employment options are limited, and her

SSI check isn’t enough for the vast majority of living options in Nashville. The income-based options that do exist come with restrictions.

At the last apartment she had in her own name, a miscommunication about whether she could have a pet in her room led to a rapid eviction. In violation of her lease, she had a dog in her room – and without the paperwork to claim her dog as a service animal, she was kicked out before she had a chance to react.

“I wasn’t supposed to have a dog … [my landlord] never asked me if I was disabled. Disabled people can have dogs,” she said. “I should’ve been able to have the dog, but they put me out because of that. I learned from my mistakes.”

That was over two years ago now.

In her new home, she looks forward to having a pet again – but that’s for later down the line, she said. At the moment,

Shameka is still furnishing her new digs.

She’s especially eager to put some new cookware to work, now that she’s got a kitchen to employ again.

“I love to cook. I call myself a chef,” she said. “Now that I’ve got the chance, being in an apartment, I’m hoping one day I can start selling food to people. I always wanted to open a business like that,” she said. “What I want to start out with is cooking spaghetti and fish plates … my customers, I’d want them to attend that as well. They might see a difference in me. They might see me in my best life.”

Those customers were another welcome blessing, she said, when circumstances were bleak. Shameka explained that between the staff and the regular visitors at her vending spot, The Contributor brought her into what felt like a huge family.

January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 3

“I just started trying to sell papers, I started liking it, seeing how many people would change my life. They’d smile at me, it’d keep me happy, and it got me somewhere I need to be.”

She was grateful to have a community to lean on when she needed it – and with the high degree of homelessness in the city, it’s an opportunity more people deserve, she said.

“I really think it’s a good thing to do for the community. God is with me, The Contributor is with me. The days I struggled, it got better. The Contributor puts a lot of big smiles on people’s faces.”

After Shameka settles in, she hopes to get back to her spot and spread the good news.

“I plan on getting back to it. I plan on letting my customers know that I got a place. That’s what The Contributor is about … we’re all Contributor family.”

Image by Aubrey Watson Photography

Image by Aubrey Watson Photography

THE BEST PLACE TO TIME TRAVEL.

FREE ADMISSION 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. in Nashville 615.741.2692 TNMuseum.org

PAGE 4 | January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

NASHVILLE HISTORY CORNER

Tennessee-born officer was one of first to enter Berlin in 1944

BY RIDLEY WILLS II

Major Lon MacFarland, of Columbia, Tenn., was a native Tennessean whose ancestor arrived at Fort Nashboro by boat in 1780. A distinguished attorney in Columbia, he distinguished himself in World War II where he and three fellow officers in the 5th Armored Division were the first American soldiers to enter Berlin.

MacFarland served as an intelligence officer in the 5th Armored Division of the U.S. Army, rising to the rank of major. His Armored Division, under the command of Major General Lunsford E. Oliver, landed on Utah Beach on July 24, 1944. It went on to cross the Mayonne River and capture the city of LeMans on Aug. 8. Passing through Paris, on Aug. 30, the 5th Armored Division liberated the City of Luxembourg on Sept. 10 and was the first American unit to enter Germany, crossing the Rhine at Wesel on March 30, 1945. They reached the banks of the Elbe at Tangermunde on April 12, only 45 miles from Berlin. The 5th Armored Division was poised to cross the Elbe and capture Berlin. However, orders came from high command to not cross the Elbe as a decision had been made to let the Russians capture Berlin. Disappointed, Major MacFarland and three other officers decided, several days later, to cross the Elbe with several Russian translators and go see Berlin for themselves. So they got a couple of jeeps and crossed the Elbe. In the middle of the river, they encountered a Russian boat.

MacFarland told one of the translators to hail the Russians and say “Welcome from the U.S. Army.” A Russian officer responded “You don’t have to speak Russian, I went to the City College of New York.”

MacFarland’s party got to Berlin on May 5 three days after the Germans surrendered the city, and spent the afternoon seeing various sites. They were the first American soldiers to enter Berlin. At some point, Russian soldiers escorted them to Russian Army headquarters where they and senior Russian officers made many toasts with vodka. Deciding that it was time to get back to the American lines, MacFarland and his crew did so that evening. On their way across the Elbe, they saw that Russian soldiers were blowing up an ammunition dump. So, the Americans stopped and enjoyed the fireworks before continuing across the river, Major MacFarland was never remanded for his unauthorized excursion. Instead, he was awarded the Russian Red Star. For his outstanding service, he was also awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Croix de Guere by the French government.

After the war, Lon MacFarland returned to Columbia where he was an attorney. He was a president of the Tennessee Bar Association and the chairman of the board of the Middle Tennessee Bank in Columbia.

Years later, my wife Irene and I attended a reception at his home on West Seventh Street for his daughter, Perre Coleman.

January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 5

LEARN MORE ABOUT

Learn More About How Metro Spends $50 million to Reduce Homelessness

BY JUDITH TACKET T

The 2023 national report on the state of homelessness showed an increase of 12 percent over the previous year, with 40 percent living in unsheltered situations.

In Nashville, 2,129 people were counted as experiencing homelessness on one night in January of 2023, an increase of 11 percent. Of those, 28 percent were unsheltered.

The data source for the national report is the Point In Time Count, which is a one-time snapshot applied with different methodologies across the nation and mainly counts people in shelters, some temporary housing, and outdoors.

When I am reading headlines across the nation, there are two things that stand out. First, we still see positive news. And second, NIMBYism (Not In My Back Yard) is winning and the loudest voices direct how homelessness should be handled, distracting us from solid implementation of proven solutions.

Let’s start with a couple of positive headlines out of Denver and Minneapolis-Hennepin County. Denver has reached its goal of moving 1,000 people indoors in 2023 and closing encampments under its House1000 project. Minneapolis reduced chronic homelessness by 35 percent. Naturally our inclination is to repeat what is happening in these cities.

But before we do so, I caution us to first take a closer look at how Nashville has invested its $50 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and what the outcomes after the first year are.

The importance of reviewing data is critical and can lead to adjustments so that communities are able to assist more people with needed services. For example, when we take a closer look at Denver, a more complete picture shows that their overall homelessness population increased by 46 percent last year.

Minneapolis saw an increase of 24 percent in overall homelessness and an 80 percent increase in family homelessness.

Let’s take a closer look at Nashville’s investment of $50 million in ARPA funding.

In October 2022, Metro Council approved $50 million in one-time federal ARPA funds to address homelessness — $25 million was allocated to gap financing for permanent supportive housing, and another $25 million was dedicated to programs that help identify more units, speed up the housing placement process and provide the needed wraparound support to help people transition to and maintain housing successfully.

The following chart reflects the dedication of the $25 million, a timeline that Metro presented to Metro Council at the time of approval of the allocation, and an actual timeline of implementation.

Timeline as announced to Metro Council in October 2022

Grant Recipients

$9 million Housing First Supportive Services

First support services would be ready by the end of January 2022

• $143,000 to Colby’s Army • $3 million to Mending Hearts • $900,000 to Park Center • $275,000 to Room In The Inn • $2,499,950 to Step Up on Second • $1,961,514.92 to Neighborhood Health

• 2 hh / 2 ind.

• 43 hh /51 ind.

• 84 hh /95 ind.

• 88 hh/102 ind.

• 53 hh/81 ind.

• Not listed in the report

$9 million in Interim Gap Housing

Direct allocations made in 2022 to expand existing programs

• $4,542,355 to The Salvation Army • $4,457,645 to Community Care Fellowship

• 102 individuals • 195 individuals

$3 million to Low Barrier Housing Collective

Immediate allocation

No competitive grants as this program is managed by Metro’s Office of Homeless Services

• 158 sign-on bonuses to landlords • 249 households assisted with furniture • 22 households assisted with security deposits • 17 units received minor repairs

$4 million in Competitive Grants

By Spring 2023

In approval process

None

Program Allocation

When asking for approval of the $50 million, the prior administration outlined the following timeline to Metro Council. Temporary housing allocations would be done immediately through sole sourcing. Support service contracts would be competitive and the contracts in place by the end of January 2023, in time to serve the people from the first encampment closures as they move from temporary locations to permanent housing. By the way, permanent housing generally indicates that a person entered a formal relationship with their landlord (usually through a lease agreement).

However, the support service contracts were delayed and most of them approved by mid-June. Referrals would occur through the coordinated entry process, which is managed by the Office of Homeless Services. The data above shows how many referrals have been made so far.

After realizing the delay in the contracting timeline, Metro announced the competition for the $4 million in competitive grants would be released in spring.

They were sent out in late summer with a deadline for mid-October and an expectation to have service delivery start by Dec. 1, 2023. As of this writing, contracts are currently in the approval stage.

The reason these timelines matter is because plan implementation affects how we serve people. Specifically, in order to implement Housing First, the elements of permanent housing and support services have to be in place prior to encampment closures. Offering only access to temporary housing beds where people then get stuck for months slows down the process.

I wholeheartedly supported the temporary housing programs in their initial set up. However, they only perform well when a path to permanent housing exists.

And the data released by the Office of Homeless Services (which oversees the implementation, monitoring, and public information of the plan) does not support Metro’s message that our community’s current Housing Surge works. The will is there. The plan is there. The experience of how to actually do it will come with time.

Metro’s data dashboards indicate that all people who moved to permanent housing went through gap housing. I cannot find information of direct permanent housing placements resulting from the $50-million in ARPA investment. This does not mean that did not occur. But the data does not show me clearly how. Also, there are other funding sources under which people continue to be housed in

PAGE 6 | January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Total # of households (hh) /individuals (ind.)

served as of December 2023

our community. Some of them I assume have received assistance through the support services funded by the ARPA dollars.

Metro’s most recent dashboard data is from Dec. 1 (as of this writing) and show the following highlights: • 271 total people have been served in temporary housing (the overall three-year goal is 900 people).

• The Salvation Army served 101 people (goal: 400).

• Community Care Fellowship served 170 people (goal: 500 people).

• A total of 177 people exited the programs to different destinations.

• 38 people exited from The Salvation Army program, of those, 76 percent or 29 people exited to permanent housing.

• 139 people exited from Community Care Fellowship’s program, 45 percent or 63 people exited to permanent housing.

When I examined the destination of the people who were not permanently housed, the data was not giving clear, comparable information for both temporary housing programs. In fact, some of the data raised questions. Specifically, The Salvation Army did not list anyone as returning to the streets, which seems unrealistic to me. Thus, I encourage the

LEARN MORE ABOUT

Office of Homeless Services to revisit how the exit data is presented and dig a little deeper into the data quality of the report.

Another important data point to watch is the demographics, especially race breakdown. We know that nationwide minorities are overrepresented among people experiencing homelessness, which is also reflected in Nashville.

Based on the 2023 PIT Count, 45 percent of people experiencing homelessness in Nashville identified as African American or Black. This compares to about 27 percent of the general Nashville population.

Therefore, we need to pay attention to how we prioritize housing. Based on the dashboard data, Metro served 9 percent African Americans through The Salvation Army program and 26 percent of African Americans through the program run by Community Care Fellowship.

Nashville is clearly underserving people of color, which is likely a consequence a consequence of Metro's focus on encampment closures rather than implementing a housing plan that solves homelessness for people as quickly as possible.

So, let’s talk about an alternative approach that could have allowed for a smoother implementation with likely different results.

First, rather than starting with the shutdown of encampments, Metro leaders should have reviewed Metro-internal encampment protocols which have been in place for years and were put together based on recommendations from a task force. This would have allowed them to reduce numbers of people living outdoors and in encampments on an ongoing basis while the housing and support services pieces are put in place.

Second, the city did the right thing by investing quickly in temporary housing locations but should have doubled down with their Low Barrier Housing Collective (LBHC), investing in staff and their training immediately (currently the most senior staff in that program has been there for less than a year). This would have helped implement stronger community coordination to identify housing units while Metro was working on the gap financing program and the development of new permanent supportive housing, which takes time.

But there is good news. I estimate that in 2024, at least 300+ new PSH units should become available between Metro and private developers, which will ease the bottleneck in the temporary housing Metro has created through its encampment plan implementation.

All this would have helped prepare people living in targeted encampments and the providers serving them to outline a more direct path to permanent housing.

It also would have helped educate the Metro Council, especially with about half of them being new, on what Housing First truly means. Nashville councilmembers

Links to the Metro data reports used for this article:

clearly care and want results that are best for all of their constituents (housed and unhoused).

Instead, by implementing a speedy encampment closure plan, the city has missed opportunities to serve more people with housing. How many more, we’ll likely never know. What we know, however, is that based on Metro’s data reports, at least 44 of the 177 total people who exited the temporary housing programs returned back to the streets. In comparison, the data reports show that

the ARPA investments during year one have assisted 92 people with permanent housing. When Metro folks speak of a housing surge, I cringe.

Messaging matters as it creates trust.

Even in the two other cities I mentioned at the beginning, while the headlines are great, we also need to consider the investments they made to achieve those results. Denver, which by the way has not permanently housed all of the 1,000 people yet, invested $46.8 million into the Housing1000 program. According

January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 7

to the Denver Post, their city expects to spend another $40 million on it this year. In comparison, as of Nov. 30, 2023, Metro has spent $8.23 million of the $50 million ARPA allocation.

In the end, Nashville politicians need to decide whether they want to focus on quick fixes to make homelessness less visible or whether they support the Office of Homeless Services and start talking about long-term investments to implement Housing First according to best practices.

PAGE 8 | January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

VENDOR WRITING

Local Spotlight

BY LISA A., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

One thing for sure: Grams Community Coffee House is not convenient by bus. I had a good twenty minute hike from Gallatin Road, rolling a suitcase full of The Contributor in tow.

As I trudged uphill on one of the only continuous sidewalks with proper signage and pedestrian safety in mind, (could it be the County Clerk's Office midway down the route?) Suburban Nashville was acting civilized for once.

The journey was worth it.

I arrived at a sweet little cottage remade into the perfect hangout for the small business person, of which there were many in attendance.

The front entrance is super relaxed with a handicapped ramp serving as the luxurious entrance to outdoor seating.

The foyer is bright and modern, using shades of clean white and slate blue with black accents.

Warm wood tables of various sizes look out through the dear old 50’s picture window.

A separate lounge/conference area with comfy black couches currently houses three quietly enthusiastic groups making plans for our future here in Madison, Tennessee.

A delightful array of artisan mixed teas is available at a “sniff” bar. Super mellow cool Black jazz rounds out the welcoming vibe.

And the backyard has a surprise barbecue/ picnic vibe, with a deck, outdoor heater, lawn, scattered picnic tables and extra parking.

In short, a very civilized hang out. Right down to the street.

Jenifer Grady in Urbaanite.com reveals that Native Nashvillian Edward Gray opened Grams Communitea Coffee on July 7, 2020, mid-pandemic. Because he had every detail in place, and he knew people had been hungry for a community hangout in this neighborhood for years.

I stopped in to sample a bit of brunch and ask Mr. Gray about his current renovation project in the front yard.

Mr. Gray, I see you are in the midst of a landscaping renovation out front. Can you let us in on the surprise?

We are adding additional outside seating in the front. I also rent out the backyard or full facilities.

I read that you are a tea connoisseur. Do you have a story about what drew you to the use of herbs and tea?

I have been vegetarian for the past ten years.

That taught me the power of plants.

What would you say to a Madison resident who has yet to visit your Communitea Shop?

This whole thing is about community.

Trusted friends, camaraderie. Come and meet a new friend, a new business partner, your spouse …

Grams is going strong three years later. Come on by and sign in to the place where every detail will tell you, “Our home is Your Home.”

Better Angels

Undone

BY SCOTT OWINGS, Associate Chaplain at St. Augustine’s Chapel

BY LISA A., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR My heart rains Droplets free fall Ping off each empty chamber My voice lost inside the parched valley of my mouth Water has come only to my eyes Huge mountains live in my throat My arms a continuous two way roil of granite Dynamited to dust, choking out the world

Note: Some people ask, what is it like to suffer from depression? It is like that, only we struggle to find our way out of the grief.

Thanks to The Contributor staff, volunteers and my patrons, I find my voice and begin to feel love and connection again.

The outside of Gram's.

PHOTO BY LISA A.

For Whom the Moon Sings

May your Better Angels ground your feet in truth and guide your steps with humility.

Remember your roots.

for whom the moon sings

May your Better Angels channel justice through you and bathe your words in hope.

Water your seeds with kindness.

BY SCOTT OWINGS, Associate Chaplain at St. Augustine’s Chapel

None of us is merely a soul Entirely alone.

We are rays of the Moon Her hidden wholeness.

If a wave be pulled by the tides, The Ocean is not lessened.

Just as when rain is drawn to earth Just as when the river merges into sea, Or when breath exhales into fullness.

Each passing revives us, for all will rise into joy.

Therefore, fear not to receive for whom the Moon sings, She sings for all.

May your Better Angels honor your heart and blaze the trail in light.

Tend to the passions of your longing.

May your Better Angels breathe light upon your face and throw fear to the wind.

Smile with your eyes.

May your Better Angels make your dreams come true and know you embody that dream.

Evolve in this space.

For Henry Levintis's Investiture as the US Attorney for TN May 19, 2023

January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 9

COVER STORY

PHOTO BY ALVINE

Tennessee General Assembly's 2024 Session Opens With New Rules, Same Issues

Gun violence, school vouchers and reproductive rights on the slate for 113th session

BY AMANDA HAGGARD The Tennessee General Assembly's 2024 session opened with controversy as a new rule requiring citizens to obtain a special ticket to enter and watch the proceedings in the Tennessee House of Representatives came into effect with no prior notice.

This change in access — somewhat foreshadowed by last-minute rules changes in the special session in the fall — placed limitations on democratic participation on the very first day of proceedings and set the tone for what will be a conflict-ridden legislative session. Anyone who wanted to enter the gallery had to have a ticket from their representative, some of whom were only notified of the new rule the morning they arrived at their office at the capitol.

A coalition of organizations are

engaged in varying degrees of policy discussion and advocacy around gun violence at the capitol: Moms Demand Action, Covenant Families for Brighter Tomorrows, and Rise & Shine Tennessee, are all advocating for sensible gun safety measures. The coalition, composed of groups of parents and community members skilled in law, media and direct communication with lawmakers, plan to strategically oppose bills that seek to loosen existing gun laws.

“In terms of policy, I think if the people keep showing up, the ability to pass the loosening gun laws will hopefully be mitigated or their ability will be lessened because they have gun laws that they would like to pass, and we're hoping that they will not get a chance to pass those because Tennesseeans don't want

them,” says Maryam Abolfazli, founder of Rise & Shine Tennessee.

Abolfazli, who also chairs the Metro Human Relations Commission and is a mother and longtime advocate, organized protests after the Covenant shooting and found parents with strengths all over the state who were ready to jump into action. After a less than fruitful special session, there’s more of a general consensus that stopping the worst bills from pushing through is the best anyone can hope for in 2024.

The day before the session began, the state released The State of the Child 2023 report, revealing alarming statistics that indicate a 133 percent increase in violence against children using firearms over the past decade. Additionally, the report highlighted that 1 in 4 child deaths

PAGE 10 | January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

in 2021 alone were related to firearms.

These sobering figures should have set the stage in their own way for discussions on gun safety legislation during the session, but Abolfazli says the data largely won’t move anyone to action, at least not on the legislative level, and certainly not in this session. A Vanderbilt University poll released in the spring of last year also showed the majority of Tennesseeans — around 75 percent — support stricter gun control measures.

“I've learned that Republican lawmakers, lawmakers do not care about data, it doesn't work,’ she says. “Gun owners of the Second Amendment kind also don't care about data. Responsible gun owners that don't want their kids to die at school, they're interested in the data. They're interested in the child

COVER STORY

On the opening day of the 113th Tennessee General Assembly, Rise & Shine Tennessee organized elementary-aged children to demand action on gun violence. On Jan. 11, high schools from across the state also shared what it's like to go to school in an era with mass shootings as well as their expectations for legislators in the coming session.

PHOTOS BY ALVINE

death data, but extreme extremists, they don't care… we're focusing much more on really trying to bridge our opinions, really trying to bring gun owners to see that there can't be an arming everybody only solution. We don't want to be armed. I don't want to be armed. I don't. And that's the natural end is that everyone has to be armed everywhere for their version of safety to occur. For the non-gun owner version, no one needs a gun anywhere. So we've got to find some middle between that.”

Advocacy groups like Rise & Shine have still mobilized to ensure that the voices of concerned citizens are heard, but they see the roadblocks ahead of them for necessary policy changes. This convening of the session will likely bring up other hotly contested pieces of leg-

islation around school vouchers and reproductive rights.

Abolfazli said in addition to supporting the groups working alongside other advocates on those issues, Rise & Shine is working on centering gun violence discussions around the people they affect most this session — opening the first week with a presser with elementary school children and another with teenagers — with an eye toward how legislation has left some out in the past.

In addition to bringing children, who have experiences with living in a world with mass shootings, to the discussion, she stressed the need for inclusive policies that consider the experiences of people of color, those in poverty and marginalized communities.

“A lot of times policies have passed in

the gun safety world that are not thinking about children of color or people of color,” Abolfazli says. “So making sure we have these filters on it: How would a person going through poverty experiences? How would a person who's unhoused experience this? How would a person who is a person of color experience it?

How would an immigrant experience this? How [would] a child versus an adult experience this? So really putting the filters on it.”

In terms of a forward-moving policy change, Abolfazli feels confident in one change that could make a difference: If both sides could rally around secure storage of firearms in the car and home, it would at least cut down on the number of children who die accidentally from unsecured firearms left as well as suicides.

January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 11

“That would really help with suicides and deaths of children in the car,” she says. “Because so many firearms are stolen to perpetrate crimes and things.

And then in the home, because that's where the kids kill each other and kill themselves accidentally. So I would love that. I don't think in the home it's even on the table and the car might be on the table and otherwise, I hate to say this, but I think if we can just prevent the further loosening of the laws, we would be OK. They want to [be able to] bring [guns] into the parks. They want to have teachers have enhanced gun permits.

Anyone with an enhanced gun permit to have it on campus. They want kids to be able to have it on college campuses. I think preventing all that could be, very sadly, that could be just as helpful.”

Need help? Call 833-837-HOME or scan the QR code for more information.

(833) 837-HOME

(615) 701-7957

This information is only for Davidson County. The information provided here does not and is not intended to constitute legal advice. If you have a legal problem, please call a private attorney or call your local Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands office at 1-800-238-1443 or the Nashville Hispanic Bar Association at 1-615-701-7957. Revised 9/23.

PAGE 12 | January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

VENDOR WRITING

I Am Not A Disease

BY TERRY H., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

In case you haven’t truly noticed, I’m human just like you! I pray, bleed, breathe, eat, drink and use the bathroom, etc. just like you! What view of me that you have in your mind that gives you that right to secretly or openly despise me? Is it my hair, clothes or smile, that get deep under your skin or is it the fact of knowing that I am indeed too a human being who just so happens to be homeless? Does it make me any less of a person … if the very sight of me turns your world upside down then why smile, like you care even though we all have a story to tell, should mine not be told? Cause life happens …

and no matter how much you try to prepare for it, you just can’t when the storm comes all you can do is pray the Lord strengthen you through it! Nobody wakes up and chooses today, as the day they want to be homeless, homelessness is not some kind of disease that you can catch just like a virus or STD. It’s an issue and (state of mind) that sometimes ultimately changes peoples lives, so when or if the next time you see me, know me, understand me, before you judge me, I’ve made some bad choices just like you and believe it or not, I have a heart too. Just like you, I am not a disease!!!

Unleash Your Potential

Exercise or — something else?

A Slow Travel insight.

BY FREEPRESSGMA., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Thousands of exercise programs. New Years Resolutions.

Feeling discouraged?

Try this: Sleep in your track suit with tennies and socks by the bed.

When you awake, do some bed yoga, some rolling and stretching. Put on your socks and shoes. Get a little glass of water, etc. then head out the door. You can start by walking whatever pace you want. After a little while, stop and do a little stretching.

Then look around you. See what might be there that you hadn’t noticed before. It could even be a crumbling brick, or a plant that’s growing surprisingly in January. Then walk

for a fast clip for a while. When you’re feeling a bit out of breath, and you feel like you’ve put in some effort, slow down. Then find another place to noodle around and check things out and observe or maybe grab a handful of dirt! Give it a sniff and see how it’s doing. Are there any yummy things in there?! As a gardener, I’ve always loved the smell of good dirt.

The point is, allow yourself to noodle along and push a little here and there, but do not worry too much about it. Just enjoy.

The idea is to have joyful movement.

When people ask you how you’re doing with your exercise, you could say, “Just fine.

I am doing interval training! “

What is Recovery?

BY MAURICE B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

In this life, we all seek our almighty creator, God, and ask Him to bless us. Let’s look at the logistics, that being that He has given us the blessing that we've been so seeking for when and as He has chosen to return our Nafs (soul) back into our limited free will another day. Within that blessing of Him giving us another chance to make and or do things correctly according to His will, we first must examine the “things,” meaning all circumstances and situations in and of life. They ultimately must add up to His will and not to our limited self-will.

The issue of and definition of addiction varies because addiction comes in an enormous range of characteristics. Sometimes these characteristics are justified; sometimes they are not. Sometimes we justify them ourselves. For instance, an issue of an overeating disorder or having high blood pressure or high and low blood sugar from

having diabetes brings about the necessity of recovery for our health. Likewise, we still have an enormous amount of other circumstances that call for the necessity of recovery. For instance, Nashville's homeless issue is a recovery issue. Individuals need another chance from people here in Tennessee, a chance to recover.

Our almighty creator still has the determining judgment to return our Nafs (souls) back into our limited and often flawed supervision.

Returning our Nafs to us gives us another blessed opportunity to strive to do His will and not the will of man. Simply put, mankind's will can and will fail, but His will is perfect at all times.

The answer to recovery is when our almighty creator gives us another day here on earth, it is always an opportunity to get in line with His will. To keep it simple: get out of our self will get in His will.

W H AT ’ S Y O U R F U T U R E H O L D ?

A N D H OW W I L L YO U M A X I M I Z E I T ?

At Belmont University, we believe you were created

by God for a purpose, and we want to guide you in developing your unique gifts, skills and character so you can make the world a better place. Christ-centered and known worldwide for our creative community, Belmont is the place where your hopes and dreams can take shape.

12:1

STUDENT T O F A C U LT Y R AT I O

96%

CAREER OUTCOMES R AT E

180+ U N D E R G R A D UAT E , G R A D UAT E A N D O N L I N E PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Live

BY J. “SHORT Y” R., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR To live the fullest; you have one second, one minute, or one day. Live it to the fullest you can.

Please don’t let anyone choose the way you live. Also be happy and content and don’t let anyone take that away. Like a ball and yo yo

what goes down must come up. We chose our paths and choices we do good or bad ones. Be content and happy on this way of life we live, we’re not promised tomorrow, let’s pray that we line this journey together and not alone.

It’s so precious — live it and love it.

L E A R N M O R E A T B E L M O N T. E D U

January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 13

VENDOR WRITING

Olga’s O Gallery

BY DANIEL H., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

On Dec. 23, an era of an artist came to a close.

Olga, who has been doing art in the communities of Nashville, has decided after 60 years to retire from the industry that brought her much joy. As in any story there are layers of events that shape us as humans to change the course of how we are seen through other people’s eyes.

I was there the last day Olga closed shop at the Arcade downtown Nashville. A sign on the 4th street entrance read, “70 percent off all artwork.” I, an artist myself, was with my friend Edwin Lockridge (who goes by Tony to his close friends) and our interest peaked.

We went up the elevator to find the sign was referencing the O Gallery.

We were immediately greeted by owner Olga Alexeeva, who was standing outside her store. We followed her in and we were told to disregard all prices and to look around. As we did we were told that all art that doesn’t sell is to go into storage.

During the course of time while looking, I mentioned that we had met before. Olga owned a storefront on Clinton street across from the American Pickers store in the Marathon Motors building. I was just starting out as an artist with not a large inventory to choose from. Most of my work was black and white. Olga was quick to point out the difference in her work to mine.

She said it was beautiful, but people don't buy

black and white art anymore and that I would have it for a hundred years, to which I took no offense. What Olga didn’t know was I had gone to the Frist Art Gallery when I first arrived in Nashville to get an opinion. I was greeted by the assistant director at the time who told me my drawings were so impressive that they would waive the five year hold to display and show my art immediately. I thanked her but didn’t feel I had enough work for a show.

I had shown Olga two paintings of hers that I liked, but discussing the price it was not 70 percent off as the sign read. Later, I called a friend of mine, Ellie Kane, who gave me a different number as to what 70% was. I didn’t buy anything due to this. While leaving I asked Olga to be in a picture with Edwin Lockridge “Tony” outside her storefront.

In conclusion, when you put profits before people, nobody wins. The Arcade, which has been around since the early 1900s is under new management and still not open. When it reopens, it will hopefully be fair in price to its new owners of shops to be leased. I’ve seen many art galleries fail due to this. For example, there was a gallery next to the DoubleTree hotel, which read, “By Appointment Only” outside its windows. Perspective buyers want to feel welcomed and remembered.

When you lose focus of your original goal or

Tony and Olga stand outside O Gallery. Tony is holding a painting covered in white bag because we picked it up earlier at The Contributor of fice. It's called “Smoky Mountain Christmas” and was on the cover of their second edition of the gif t wrapping paper. It was also used as wrapping paper. PHOTO BY DANIEL H. perspective then all good intentions go out the door. My name is Daniel Holmes and the reason I do art is simply from the love and joy

my final pieces bring to the lives of those who I give and sell art to. One day I hope to be a household name.

Michael G.’s Movie Reviews 3 Movies for the Price of 1 Paper

BY MICHAEL G., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Bonehill Road (2017) Runtime: 1:24 Rated: NR

Late Phases: Night of the Wolf (2014) Runtime: 1:35 Rated: NR A blind, retired veteran moves to a retirement community and must fight off werewolves. If you love werewolf movies then watch this movie.

This movie has a surprise twist in store for those who watch this movie. This, is one of the best werewolf movies since 1981's The Howling.

The Howling (1981) Runtime: 1:31 Rated: R This movie has by far the best werewolf transformations in any werewolf movie.

... And Now, Coming Soon to a paper near you: Michael G.'s TV Series Reviews.

PAGE 14 | January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

The New Christian Year Selected by Charles Williams (1941)

Charles Walter Stansby Williams (1886–1945), the editor of the following selections, is today probably the third most famous of the famous Inklings literary group of Oxford, England, which existed in the middle of the 20th century, and which included among its ranks the better-known and longer-lived Oxford Dons J.R.R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis—but he was arguably the most precocious and well-read of this eminent and intellectually fertile group. He was also known to have influenced Dorothy Sayers, T. S. Eliot and W. H. Auden.

Lacking a proper degree unlike his fellow Inklings, this genius Cockney-speaking author, editor, critic, and playwright was eminently well-versed in both philosophical and theological writings of the remote past as of the present day (the mid-20th century) and used this familiarity to good effect in his poetry, supernatural fiction and his lesser-known devotional selections designed for the spiritual benefit of the faithful in the Church of England. This series of profound quotations, encompassing all walks of life, follows the sequence of the themes and Bible readings anciently appointed for contemplation throughout the church's year, beginning with Advent (i.e., December) and ending in November, and reaches far beyond the pale of the philosophical and theological discussions of his day. It was under his hand, for instance, that some of the first translations of Kierkegaard were made available to the wider public. It is hoped that the readings reproduced here will prove beneficial for any who read them, whatever their place in life's journey. — Matthew Carver

2ND WEDNESDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY SIN is a robbing of God: a robbery which becomes apparent in our arrogant endeavour to cross the line of death by which we are bounded (i. 18, 19); in our drunken blurring of the distance which separates us from God; in our forgetfulness of His invisibility; in our investing of men with the form of God, and of God with the form of man; and in our devotion to some romantic infinity, some ‘No-God’ of this world, which we have created for ourselves.

Karl Barth: The Epistle to the Romans.

2ND THURSDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY O LORD, shew me this matter; one fleeth from the world for Thy Name’s sake, and another receiveth and is gracious for Thy Name’s sake.

The Paradise of the Fathers.

A MAN will always be tripped up by that thing which he will not cut off from himself.

The Paradise of the Fathers.

3RD FRIDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY THY kingdom come . . .

Christ Himself may be the kingdom of God, whom we day by day desire to come, whose advent we crave to be quickly manifested to us. For since he is himself is the resurrection, since in him we rise again, so also the kingdom of God may be understood to be himself.

St Cyprian: On the Lord’s Prayer.

3RD SATURDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY OUR accesses to His presence are but His descents into us; and when we get anything by prayer, He gave us beforehand the thing and the petition.

John Donne: Letters.

MEEKNESS hath three degrees. The first degree is: a man to be subject and lowered to his sovereign and not preferred or raised above him that is equal with him in estate. The second is: to be subject to his equal like in estate and not to be raised or preferred above his underling. The third and sovereign degree of meekness is: to be subject and lowered to his underling, that is, he that is less in estate than he.

The Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ, tr. by Nicholas Love.

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY NOW the reason why there are spiritual properties in all the material things of this world is only this, it is because the matter of this world is the materiality of the Kingdom of Heaven, brought down into a created state of grossness, death, and imprisonment, by occasion of the sin of those angels who first inhabited the place or extent of this material world. Now these heavenly properties which were brought into this created compaction lie in a continual desire to return to their first state of glory; and this is the groaning of the whole creation to be delivered from vanity which the Apostle speaks of.

William Law: An Appeal.

3RD MONDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

find in me Adam; guilty as I was in him, so now justified in Christ.

St Ambrose: On the Death of Satyrus.

IF you kept your body in accordance with virtue, your desires would not be of this world.

Leonardo da Vinci: Notebooks.

3RD Tuesday AFTER THE EPIPHANY ALL men by nature hate each other. They use their lusts as far as they can for the public good, but it is only a feint and false image of love, for at bottom there is nothing but hate.

Pascal: Pensées.

TO make rapid progress and to reach the mansions we wish to enter, it is not so essential to think much as to love much: therefore you must practise whatever most excites you to this.

St Teresa: The Interior Castle.

3RD WEDNESDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY HERE you have the true reason why revenge or vengeance is not allowed to man; it is because vengeance can only work in the evil or disordered properties of fallen nature.

But man, being himself a part of fallen nature and subject to its disordered properties is not allowed to work with them, because it would be stirring up evil in himself, and that is his sin of wrath or revenge. God therefore reserves all vengeance to Himself, not because wrathful revenge is a temper or quality that can have any place in the holy Deity, but because the holy supernatural Deity, being free from all the properties of nature, whence partial love and hatred spring, and being in Himself nothing but an infinity of love, wisdom, and goodness, He alone knows how to overrule the disorders of nature and so to repay evil with evil, that the highest good may be promoted by it.

William Law: The Spirit of Love.

FEAST OF THE CONVERSION OF ST PAUL WHEN a man’s behaviour, his mission, his exercise of authority, impress us as being of divine authority, what do we really mean? If we take the word ‘divine’ seriously, we mean that in this man the invisible has become visible, that what he is calls to mind what he is not, that a secret lies above and behind his behaviour, and is hidden as well as illustrated by his con- duct. We do not in any case mean that the secret is to be identified with his actions.

Karl Barth: The Epistle to the Romans.

LET God operate in thee; hand the work over to him and do not disquiet thyself as to whether or no he is working with nature or above nature, for his are both nature and grace.

Eckhart: In Collationibus.

3RD THURSDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY THE peace of the celestial city is the perfectly ordered and harmonious enjoyment of God and of one another in God. The peace of all things is the tranquility of order.

St Augustine: City of God. WHOSOEVER seeketh from God ought besides God, doth not seek God chastely.

St Augustine: Sermons.

IN Adam I fell, in Adam I was cast out of Paradise, in Adam I died; how shall the Lord call me back, except He

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January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 15

4TH FRIDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY PERFECTION of a thing is threefold: first, according to the constitution of its own being; secondly, in respect of any accidents being added as necessary for its perfect operation; thirdly, perfection consists in the attaining to something else as the end . . . This triple perfection belongs to no creature by its own essence; it belongs to God only, in Whom alone essence is existence; in Whom there are no accidents; since whatever belongs to others accidentally belongs to Him essentially; as, to be powerful, wise, and the like, as appears from what is stated above; and He is not directed to anything else as to an end, but is Himself the last end of all things. Hence it is manifest that God alone has every kind of perfection by His own essence.

Aquinas: Summa Theologica.

4TH SATURDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY HE to whom (God) is different in one thing from another and to whom God is dearer in one thing than another, that man is a barbarian, still in the wilds, a child. He to whom God is the same in everything has come into man’s estate.

But he to whom creatures all mean want and exile has come into his own.

Eckhart: Sayings.

ALL our moralities are by our outworks, our Christianity is our citadel; a man who considers duty but the dignity of being a man, is not easily beat from his outworks, but from his Christianity never.

John Donne: Letters.

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY GIFTS of nature are common to good and bad, but grace or love is the peculiar gift of Thine elect, and they that bear this mark are accounted worthy of eternal life.

This grace is so excellent, that neither the gift of prophecy, nor the working of miracles, nor the understanding of deep mysteries, is of any worth without it.

But neither faith, nor hope, nor any other virtue is acceptable to Thee without charity and grace.

Thomas à Kempis: Imitation.

4TH MONDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY THE self, the I, the me, and the like, all belong to the evil spirit, and therefore it is that he is an evil spirit.

Theologica Germanica.

DO not suppose that our Lord has need of any works of ours; He only expects us to manifest our goodwill.

St Teresa: The Interior Castle.

4TH Tuesday AFTER THE EPIPHANY I CONSIDER Jesus Christ in all persons and in ourselves: Jesus Christ as a father in His Father, Jesus Christ as a Brother in His Brethren, Jesus Christ as poor in the poor, Jesus Christ as rich in the rich, Jesus Christ as Doctor and Priest in the priests, Jesus Christ as Sovereign in princes, etc. For by His glory He is all that is great, being God; and

by His mortal life He is all that is poor and abject. Therefore He had taken this unhappy condition, so that He could be in all persons, and the model of all conditions.

Pascal: Pensées.

PIECES OF POETRY - 16

Teach Them?

WRITTEN BY CHRIS SCOTT FIESELMAN

WRITTEN BY CHRIS SCOTT FIESELMAN

O plan on being there, Every step of the way, Because I know, I have something, Worth hearing to say.

It starts with a spark of inspiration, And the God Given Gift, Of a Vivid Imagination.

There must be a Divine Purpose, And a Justification.

For all the Troubles and Trials and Tribulation.

There has to be a Location, And a Destination, Where anyone can experience, A Transformation.

If “This Land is your Land” As an American, Then Common Ground needs to be found.

I knew there was a Damn Good Reason, Why I was still hanging around.

It took a while... To get here.

But we finally did arrive.

The reasons are... So clear.

This is the time of your life.

Now, I’m not really sure, Just what’s in store?

Or what you’re going to see?

But you’re bound to find, What you’re looking for, When you’re, Where You’re Supposed to Be.

Teach Them... Teach Them... Teach Them...

And you’ll find a way to reach them...

THEME: THE GR A MM YS 68. Safe place ACROSS 69. Bird word 1. Moonshine maker 70. Leave out 6. *Artist with most 2024 71. Bookkeeping entry Grammy nominations 72. Refrigerator sound 9. Not his 73. Scatter 13. "Roots" author 14. That guy 15. Full of emotion (2 words) DOWN 1. Not Sunni 16. Relating to #3 Down 2. Baby powder ingredient 17. Tarzan's mom, e.g.

3. Pelvic parts 18. Caribbean island desti4. Shows the way nation 5. Aristotle's school 19. *The Recording ____, 6. One-horse carriage voting organization 21. *"What Was I Made For?" 7. Mailing "code" 8. Single-cell protozoan movie 9. *Grammy-winner, ____ 23. *"A Boy Named ____," Alpert 1970 Grammy winner 10. *Purse for the red carpet 24. Prickle on a wire 11. Bumpkin 25. Drench 12. Pampering place 28. Waiter's handout 15. Bar ____, ME 30. *Grammy-nominated 20. Rewards, in the olden Lauper song, "True ____" 35. Amusement destination days 22. Pendulum's path 37. Rachel Renee Russell's 24. Cantina staple "____ Diaries" 25. *Ice ____, Best New 39. Extend subscription 40. South Korean boy band 41. Type of wrap 43. Italian wine region 44. Forearm length unit 46. Honey-producing facility 47. Saw incision 48. Nauseant 50. Fancy marbles used as shooters 52. U.S. Marine Corps gift recipient 53. EU currency 55. Aglet on a shoelace, e.g.

57. *____.com Arena 60. *Miley Cyrus' Song of the Year nominee and popular romantic gift 64. Texas cook-off dish 65. *"In the ____ Tonight,"

by Grammy-winner Phil Collins 67. Send, as payment

Artist nominee 26. Wooden ship caulking 27. Space exploration mission 29. *Grammy host for the fourth time 31. Plumbing problem 32. Early stages of illness 33. Reminiscent of the past 34. *"Anti-Hero" performer 36. Not purl 38. Pacific Islanders' herbal drink 42. Handrail post 45. Neckwear decoration 49. Use scissors 51. Soft palate vibrations 54. House pest 56. Resided 57. Social media conversation 58. Bank of Paris 59. Big Bang's original matter 60. Word on a gift tag 61. Arabian bigwig 62. Fair attraction 63. Hot pot 64. Denoted by symbol X 66. Debtor's letters

Where You’re Supposed to Be

I will not choose to be complacent, Even though I know, The Brick Wall that I’m facing.

Community is the Opportunity, For Communication.

An Address is considered Progress, And a Place to Call Home, A Destination.

What does it take to create motivation?

To be able to Excel, And Exceed Expectation.

There’s got to be land, and a property, Available for Appropriation.

And Money on Hand, That’s yet to be spent, From that, “Address Homelessness Allocation” All that State and Federal Money, Coming on in, To keep playing a game, That nobody wins.

Something has to come to an end, And something new has to begin.

Teach Them... Teach Them... Teach Them...

And you’ll find a way to reach them...

With so many Institutes of Higher Education, And “The Sound of Music” City, Nashville, Tennessee, The Fire of My Inspiration, I’m Right Where I’m Supposed to Be.

PAGE 16 | January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

And where you ended up, Is Where You’re Supposed to Be. Doing what you Love, On the road to destiny.

Let the music take you home, Pick you up and set you free.

That’s when you truly know, You’re Where You’re Supposed to Be. Now, it’s just like coming home.

Been gone for quite a while.

You know that you’re not alone, When you see your old friends smile.

Pull up a chair with people who care.

Set your mind at ease...

Enjoy every minute that you’re there...

Cause You’re here You’re Supposed to Be. And where you ended up, Is Where You’re Supposed to Be. Doing what you Love, On the road to destiny.

Let the music take you home, Pick you up and set you free.

That’s when you truly know, You’re Where You’re Supposed to Be. Spend time with good old friends, And new ones that you’ve met.

Some of them you’ll never see again.

Some of them you’ll never forget.

If you’re looking for an answer or, Searching for a key...

No need to look or search no more...

When You’re Where You’re Supposed to Be. And where you ended up, Is Where You’re Supposed to Be. Doing what you Love, On the road to destiny.

Let the music take you home, Pick you up and set you free.

That’s when you truly know, You’re Where You’re Supposed to Be.

FUN

HOBOSCOPES CAPRICORN

I remember walking toward that mountain, Capricorn. And how no matter how far we walked, the mountain always seemed to be just as far away as it was when we began. So after what seemed like hours (but may have only been 15 minutes), we chose a different path and found a closer destination.

What was the thing you wanted to do last year but never got to? And what was the thing that kept you from getting there? Was that really it, or is that just something you decided to do instead? No judgment from me, Capricorn, but be honest. Whether you want to make another run at that mountain or stay closer to where you’re at, just acknowledge that you have a choice.

AQUA RIUS

People are always singing about “when you wish upon a star” but not enough people are asking “why you wish upon a star?” What I mean, Aquarius, is that we all want things. Maybe they’re physical things like a bigger house or a faster horse or a talking cricket. Maybe they’re less tangible things like true love or a sense of self-worth or a satisfied cricket.

We make these wishes all day long with actions and imaginings. But why is there always a next thing to wish?

Why is there always a craving for things to be other than they are? Next time you see the star take some time to feel the longing. And wonder what it would be like to just accept that feeling as a part of you and not a void to fill.

PISCES

The sun will come out tomorrow, Pisces. At least, that’s what the short, red-haired, orphan meteorologist on TV just said. Personally, I’m not so sure. It’s been pretty hazy out there all week and my weather app is just pictures of dark clouds, black cats, and lightning bolts in the shape of question marks.

I’ve never seen it do that. I think the sun is gonna be a few more days. Instead of singing songs about a brighter future, it may be useful to make peace with the present darkness.

ARIES

My UPS delivery driver was telling me about this text group she’s in where every day she has to text five things she’s grateful for and everybody else texts five things they’re grateful for.

I thought it sounded like a great idea but I didn’t have a group to text so I’ve just been writing things I’m grateful for on pieces of paper and leaving them around the grocery store. I’m only telling you this, Aries, because if you’re picking out a jar of pickles and a note that says “Baby Sloths” falls to the floor, I don’t want you to be startled.

And if you want to join my “text group” all it takes is some scrap paper and a little gratitude.

TAURUS

I’m planning a heist, Taurus. We have big plans and I’m hoping you’ll join my crew as the getaway driver. Honestly, Taurus, it’s more of a heist movie marathon and we need somebody to drive us to pick up the pizzas because my coupon only works for carry-out orders. In any case, I see you as a crucial part of this team and we’re definitely going home with more than we brought. Mostly, though, I want you to remember that you have an important role to play.

There are things that only you bring to any conversation.

Don’t forget your value. We can pay you for gas.

GEMINI

I woke up 10 minutes before my alarm went off this morning. “Well, why not get an early start?” I thought. And that was going pretty well, just making myself a cup of tea and putting cat food in the cat food bowl and then “bim-dom-dim-bom-dim!” my alarm starts going off and I swivel around and reach to shut it off and I trip over the cat and spill my tea on the rug and my day is already off to a bad start and I’m not even supposed to be up yet. Mornings are so unfair. But it reminds me, Gemini, that every 10 minutes is another chance for a fresh start. If you don’t like the way this one is going, set a timer and try again.

CANCER

How exciting! Candy! Oh, wait, no. It says “Cancer.” Sorry to get all excited, Candy…I mean, Cancer. I honestly think I just need to get my eyes checked. Time was, I could read a license plate at 100 yards. These days I have to hold my phone 6 inches from my face just to see the texts I get from my doctor reminding me to schedule a colonoscopy. I thought I’d stay young for a lot longer, Cancer, but here we are. Time passes too quickly. Have some candy when you get the chance. And call your doctor back if you get a message. I’m gonna schedule an eye appointment.

VIRGO

Remember when they remodeled the drug store on 29th Street into an escape room?

You’d go in for some Advil and a box of Triscuits and before you knew it you were trapped on the shaving cream aisle with four people you just met trying to solve a crossword puzzle in the checkered tiles on the floor that would unlatch the gate to the 1 hour photo counter so you could ring the bell to open the sliding doors. “Of course! Use the angled mirrors on the ceiling!

The message was backwards the whole time! Do I still have to pay for these crackers?” Well, Virgo, this week remember what you learned about the power of pressure and the wonder of creative collaboration with strangers.

LIBRA

It’s like that old joke about how two wrongs don’t make a right but three lefts do. And there’s you, Libra, waiting for the green arrow so you can take another hard turn at finding forgiveness or being understood. I guess I’ve been around that same block a time or two, friend, and these days I’m thinking it’s not about absolution or even restitution much less the resignation to retribution that first got you to turn that ignition. Pull over, Libra. Put this whole show in park before you run out of fuel. Walk away from that spinning wreck or walk toward something solid and still. Turn a new corner. Make your own right.

SCORPIO

How long does it take to bake a potato, Scorpio? Probably at least 20 minutes, right? I feel like this is the kind of thing I should know by now. Isn’t that what being an adult is? Getting headaches, watching british mystery shows, and baking potatoes? Anyway, Scorpio, while I’ve got that spud warming up, we’ve got at least enough time to talk about your plans. Tell me what you’re trying to change. Tell me what you wish was different. Tell me what you like most about yourself. Better yet, Scorpio, tell somebody who’s closer to you than I am.

Somebody who knows how to bake a potato.

LEO

Do you think this is the “sell by” date or the “use by” date? I only bought it last Tuesday and I’d expect it to be good for at least another week. And is that last number a “1” or a “7?” Does it even look the right color to you?

Is the fridge supposed to be at 41 degrees or is that too high? Sometimes, Leo, you need to gather more information. But sometimes you just need to screw off the lid, pour a little bit in a saucer, sniff it and sip it and see if it’s sour. You’ve put a lot of effort into gathering information, but you’re never really going to know until you try it.

SAGITTA R IUS

When I was a kid we didn’t have boundaries.

Didn’t know about them, at least. Said yes to every request, just in case it’s what they wanted. Why would it matter what I want? How would I know that anyway? That’s why I’m so impressed everytime I hear you say “no,” Sagittarius. It’s something I never learned to do. But I’m learning it from you. You probably don’t need the stars to tell you to ask for what you need and to decline what doesn’t serve you at the moment.

But as your amateur astrologer, I’m politely requesting that you keep this up. Do it for you. I’ll be taking notes.

Mr. Mysterio is not a licensed astrologer, a certified ophthalmologist or an animated cricket. Listen to the Mr. Mysterio podcast at mrmysterio.com Or just give him a call at 707-VHS-TAN1

January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 17

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PAGE 18 | January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

MOVING PICTURES

Martin Scorsese’s 'Killers of the Flower Moon' is brilliant ensemble filmmaking

BY JOE NOLAN, FILM CRITIC I’m typing this column up at my desk on the Monday morning after the 2024 Golden Globes, a week after the Music City Film Critics handed in our individual nominations, and the day our group of local cinema scribes announced our list of official 2023 movie nominations. Award season is well upon us and there were a number of solid movies in theaters this year. From May December to American Fiction to Godzilla Minus One, to box office blockbusters like last summer’s one-two punch of Barbie and Oppenheimer. Underrated gems (Napoleon) and overrated bores (The Holdovers) are a seasonal staple this time of year, but for me, 2024 delivered one great film that separated itself from the pack.

Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon tells the true story of the murder of members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma in the 1920s. When the Osage found oil on their tribal lands they became wealthy and a corrupt political boss began scheming to steal their mineral rights by killing them. Killers of the Flower Moon is a slow drama with a nearly three-and-a-halfhour runtime. It also missed at the box office, earning only 156.3 million against a budget of 200 million. But it’s clear from the film’s opening scene that we’re watching the work of master moviemakers, and Scorsese effortlessly transports all of the gritty criminal realism of his best works from modern New York to the American West a century ago. As with all of Scorsese’s best films, he shows us the violence and corruption at the heart of criminal subcultures while also avoiding cliched characterizations and easy moralizing. The results are a both captivating and disturbing masterpiece that’s greater than the sum of its impressive parts.

Killers of the Flower Moon might be the best ensemble acting film in a year that includes great ensemble acting in

movies like May December and American Fiction. The movie is especially notable for giving us fresh new performances from Scorsese film veterans alongside virtuoso turns from relative newcomers. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Ernest Burkhart, a World War I vet who returns to America after the war and accepts a job from his uncle William King Hale (Robert De Niro) who is a sheriff and a cattle rancher, posing as a benefactor to the Osage.

DiCaprio’s Ernest is greedy and stupid, and one of the biggest highlights of the film is watching the actor bring so much thorough intensity to such an unflattering role. De Niro has been criticized for years for lazy performances in throwaway movies, cashing big checks to underwrite his Tribeca Film Festival. De Niro’s earned any opportunity he chooses to follow, but his work with Scorsese here is a return to form that reminds viewers what a great villain he can be. The cast includes seamless small turns from Jesse Plemons as an FBI investigator, and Brendan Fraser as a bombastic defense attorney, but the standout performance in Killers of the Flower Moon comes from Lily Gladstone who plays Mollie Kyle, a wealthy Osage whose family owns oil rights.

Gladstone was in First Cow and in the FX channel show Reservation Dogs, but Killers of the Flower Moon is her big breakout. I expect her and De Niro to both get Oscar nominations and Gladstone is going to win every best actress slot she’s nominated for including the Academy Award. She just won her Golden Globe but that’s just the beginning of the avalanche.

Another notable character in the film is the late great Robbie Robertson’s hypnotic, percussive score which is as raw, atmospheric and intense as the scenes that inspired it. Killers of the Flower Moon still finds Scorsese in excellent form and attracting the best new and es-

tablished talent in Hollywood.

And, for me, this is the best movie of the year.

Killers of the Flower Moon is streaming on demand

Joe Nolan is a critic, columnist and performing singer/songwriter based in East Nashville. Find out more about his projects at www.joenolan.com.

January 17 - 31, 2024 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 19