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Volu m e 14

| Number 23 | October 28 - November 11, 2020

GRATIS Noviembre

2020

L a N ticia

newspaper edición bilingüe digital

www.hispanicpaper.com

“DONDE OCURREN LOS HECHOS QUE IMPORTAN, SIEMPRE PRIMERO... ANTES”

Año 18 - No. 317

Nashville, Tennessee

Retos Digitales para Negocios Pequeños en Epocas de Pandemia

Nunca fue tan necesario como ahora el tener digitalizadas las cuentas, los datos del negocio, de los empleados y clientes y saber utilizar el zoom y las redes sociales como lo es ahora en tiempos de pandemia y recuperación económica.

IN THE ISSUE Por Karina García Contribuidora

Herramientas sin un nombre específico necesariamente pero sí con una función que ha sido crucial en estos tiempos. Son 5 las herramientas que tu y tus socios seguro encontrarán útiles e incluso las considerarán como salvavidas para futuras ocasiones.

Nadie se esperaba el virus , todos teníamos nuestros planes , nuestras deudas , nuestras prioridades; pero la pandemia nos encontró por sorpresa y la necesidad de capital para cubrir los gastos operativos en tiempo de cierre fue el primer reto para muchos empresarios y empresarias. Los préstamos del PPP del gobierno necesitaban información financiera actualizada. Un conteo de ingresos y gastos que muchas empresas hacen hacia el final de julio cuando se aproxima el pago de impuestos pagando a un contador externo. Entonces el apuro de recolectar esta información fue algo que todos necesitaron. Y fueron las herramientas de bookkeeping online como lo son Quickbooks y Square los

Digital Challenges and Tools for Small Businesses in Pandemic Times

mejores aliados para los propietarios indepen-dientes y empresas pequeñas para reportar esta información e incluso procesar sus préstamos desde estas plataformas. De esta manera, una suscripción que puede costar desde 8 dólares al mes como hasta 75 dólares dependiendo de las necesidades de la empresa, pudo agilizar el proceso de el acceso a los fondos de alivio económico. Y yendo más allá de la recolección de información en tiempos de emergencia. Muchos empresarios ya usan esta herramienta a diario y la consideran elemento fundamental de una contabilidad saludable. Pero no sólo se presentó la necesidad de capital ; sino también el de tener presencia en línea y comunicarse con sus clientes de manera efectiva y sobretodo conocer a su público objetivo para hacerle saber que está a salvo en su negocio y/o pedirle que le acompañe en la transformación y ajustes de su producto o servicio. Porque todos tuvimos que adaptarnos y era mejor hacerlo en comunidad que solos. Efectivamente, los grupos en Facebook para la venta, promoción y comunicación con el cliente se han convertido en una de las herramientas de comunicación más efectivas y populares. Solo piensa en el

Conoce tus derechos: ¿Que hacer en caso de una redada? 1. Mantenerse callado 2. Sólo dar nombre y apellido 3. No mentir 4. Nunca acepte/lleve documentos falsos 5. No revelar su situación migratoria 6. No llevar documentación de otro país 7. En caso de ser arrestado, mostrarla Tarjeta Miranda (llámenos si necesita una)

por

No queda más que hablar de la valiosa herramienta de apalancamiento que una reunión en Zoom puede significar. La oportunidad de hablar directamente con el alcalde, el gobernador, autoridades de la oficina de Administración de Negocios de los Estados Unidos nunca antes fue más accesible. Para un empresario que siempre está buscando hacer las conexiones adecuadas que lo llevará

al siguiente nivel, el poder desempeñarse óptimamente en un webinar en Webex o llamada Zoom es muy importante. Descargar la aplicación en su celular, hacer uso de la opción chat y preguntar en los momentos adecuados sin dificultades técnicas pueden significar diferencias muy grandes en el aprovechamiento de estas reuniones para el acceso a más oportunidades e incluso a contribuir con tu ejemplo.

Vale la pena también mirar herramientas que seguramente ya manejas como Google My Business y centralizadoras de manejo de redes sociales como SproutSocial o Zoho. Herramientas que te ayudarán a ganar más presencia online poniendo tu negocio en el buscador de Google y en Google Maps, manejando los reviews, actualizando horarios de atención y apertura conforme los cambios de las regulaciones, midiendo el interés y probando el lanzamiento de nuevos productos, así como también resaltando los productos más consumidos y mostrando la calidad de tu trabajo para que te sigan recomendando. En fin , estos retos digitales traídos o intensificados por la pandemia también nos trajeron la oportunidad de explorar nuevas herramientas. Cinco en concreto: de manejo financiero online como quickbooks y square; de manejo de relación con el cliente como Methods y Zoho CRM; de videollamada y conferencias como Webex y Zoom; de presencia online en Google; y manejo de redes sociales como SproutSocial y Zoho. Todas ellas para sacar el máximo provecho a la tecnología en nuestro favor y de nuestra comunidad. Karina García es graduada de Estudios de Gobierno y Política y estudiante del Máster en Manejo Internacional Público del la Escuela en Paris de Asuntos Internacionales PSIA. Envíenos sus sugerencias por e-mail: news@hispanicpaper.com

Basados en la Quinta Enmienda de la Constitución, los derechos de guardar silencio y contar con un abogado fueron denominados Derechos Miranda luego de la decisión de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de Estados Unidos en el caso Miranda vs. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, de 1966.

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Vendor Spotlight

Nursing the Vote

Vendor Writing

La Noticia + The Contributor

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This year, the responsibility of making sure nursing home residents are able to vote fell onto the staff at local care facilities.

In this issue, vendors write about mice, COVID-19, Hadley Park Towers, and tips on building vendor/ customer relationships.

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Contributor Board

Tom Wills, Chair Cathy Jennings, Bruce Doeg, Demetria Kalodimos, Ann Bourland, Kerry Graham, Peter Macdonald, Amber DuVentre, Jerome Moore, Erik Flynn

Contributors This Issue

Amanda Haggard • Linda Bailey • Hannah Herner • May Hartness • Alvine • Joe Nolan • Alonza K. • June P. • William B. • Mr. Mysterio • Tyrone M. • Maurice B. • Vicky B. • Deana H. • Mary B. • Jennifer A. • Yuri Cunza

Contributor Volunteers Joe First • Andy Shapiro • Michael Reilly • Ann Bourland • Patti George • John Jennings • Janet Kerwood • Logan Ebel • Christine Doeg • Laura Birdsall • Nancy Kirkland • Mary Smith • Andrew Smith • Ellen Fletcher • Richard Aberdeen • Shayna Harder Wiggins • Pete MacDonald • Robert Thompson

Cathy Jennings Executive Director Tom Wills Director of Vendor Operations

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Hannah Herner Staff Writer Jesse Call Housing Navigator Raven Lintu Housing Navigator Barbara Womack Advertising Manager

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Amanda Haggard & Linda Bailey Co-Editors 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. Submissions may be emailed to: editorial@thecontributor.org Requests to volunteer, donate, or purchase subscriptions can be emailed to: info@thecontributor.org Please email advertising requests to: advertising@thecontributor.org

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FEATURE

Vendor Spotlight: ALONZO K. GOES FROM A BOAT TO BELLEVUE, WITH MANY STOPS IN BETWEEN IMAGES AND STORY BY HANNAH HERNER Before he became a mainstay at Old Hickory Boulevard and Highway 70 South in Bellevue, Alonzo K. had been around the world. He joined the Navy right out of high school and got to work as a boatswain’s mate, which means he got to do a lot of different maintenance-style jobs on the destroyer he was stationed on. He was a “swabby,” has he put it. Stationed in the North Atlantic Ocean, Alonzo relishes the time he got to spend in England, Germany and parts of The Caribbean. “It was a good experience, I got to travel and do a lot of things,” he says. “It was a great learning experience for me. I got the benefit of going to college,

free education.” Alonzo grew up on the water in South Carolina, and spent a lot of time on his uncle’s boat. It was he who taught Alonzo to swim. By the time he was taking Nav y swimming tests, “Water wasn’t nothing new for me,” Alonzo says. After he served two years, Alonzo took classes at Milwaukee Area Technical College in Wisconsin, then went to another technical college in Atlanta, went to University of South Carolina for a time, and even took a few classes here in Nashville. He didn’t get a degree, but got a few certificates, with the focus on business management. Alonzo is quick

to get bored when he stays in one place too long, always itching to see somewhere new, he says. Next on his list is to visit Canada, and the United States West Coast. When Alonzo started at The Contributor 10 years ago, he was living at a shelter. He applied for a housing program through Veteran’s Affairs. The steady income he had developed selling the paper helped him qualify for public housing. Now, he stays in The Nations. “I pretty much know all my customers and they know me. I’m not getting rich but I can sell some papers and make some income,” he says. “We talk about just about anything, sports, entertain-

PAGE 4 | October 28 - November 11, 2020 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

ment, housing, problems that we have, life in general.” Alonzo especially likes to talk about the Tennessee Titans and action movies. With his dapper clothes, it’s important to him to convey a well-kept image to his customers. Backed up by his studies, he’s a businessman. During his time selling The Contributor, Alonzo became old enough to start receiving social security, but he still sells the paper for supplemental income, and to get to see his customers. “I don’t want to be cooped up in the house all day,” he says. “That’s not good, like a couch potato.” Read Alonzo’s writing on Pg. 14.

NEWS

THE CITY REGROUPS AFTER THOUSANDS GATHERED IN PUBLIC SQUARE PARK FOR A “WORSHIP PROTEST” BY MAY HARTNESS On Oct. 11, thousands of participants, many unmasked and not socially distanced, gathered in Public Square Park to experience Let Us Worship, a campaign dedicated to fighting the alleged censorship of Christian voices in America. Sean Feucht, leader of Let Us Worship, took to social media that evening and said, “We had THREE venue changes and so much resistance BUT THE CHURCH WILL NOT BE SILENCED!” In early July, Feucht created the Let Us Worship pledge. The pledge was made in response to California’s temporary ban on singing and chanting in houses of worship — due to an increased likelihood that

these practices would spread COVID-19. The California Department of Public Health announced that such practices could continue to occur via internet streaming. In the video announcing the pledge, Feucht wears American flag sunglasses and quotes the Bible, specifically the book of Exodus. “Let my people go, so that they may worship me.” This verse in Exodus alludes to a group of people who have been enslaved for over 400 years. “It really is time that we take a stand and fight back” Feucht says. And more than 11,000 have since signed the petition. The Tennessean reports that the orga-

nizers did not apply for a permit for the event, and the Metro Public Health Department is actively pursuing “penalties for the organizer.” MPHD did not respond to questions about how they were pursuing these penalties. Interim Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake released a statement expressing his disappointment in the lack of face coverings and social distancing at the event. He claimed that the organizer of the event had no prior communication with the Metro Nashville Police Department and that the department is working alongside MPHD in “reviewing Sunday’s event.” After images that Feucht posted to In-

stagram from the Nashville event received both support and intense opposition, he removed the comment section entirely from some of his photos. He also released a statement regarding the city government, emphasizing the supposed attack against Christianity. “Nashville launched an effort to selectively target Christians for harassment and punishment. There’s no need for an investigation here,” Feucht says. It’s important to note that Feucht previously ran for the third congressional district in Northern California. He ran as a Republican and received about 13% of votes in the 2020 primary.

In Memorium: Richard Thomas Faust Sept. 3, 1961 - Sept. 28,2020

Richard Thomas Faust, 59, passed away Sept. 28, 2020. He was born Sept. 3, 1961 and grew up in North Carolina but later moved to Georgia, then Louisiana and finally Tennessee. He was raised by his loving grandparents, Albert Thomas Faust, Sr. and Mary Estee Faust of Springlake, NC, who preceded him in death. Ricky overcame many challenges in life and left this world very loved. He took care of the people around him. He worked hard to provide for his family and gave freely to those in need even when he had very little himself. He was a highly skilled wood worker and was well respected within his field until Parkinson’s stole his livelihood. Even though he could no longer work, he still did what he could to help others. In recent years, he volunteered with church members to help feed hungry people in his community. Ricky felt that he was blessed every day and tried

to pass that onto everyone he met. He will be remembered as a hard-working, loving and giving man. Not because of some singular heroic act but because of those small, everyday moments that showed his love and kindness. Those moments live on in our hearts even though he is gone. He is survived by his daughter, Camille Stearns (Jason), his Aunt Charlotte Faust Eaves, nephew Dauphin Childs, cousin Karen Kallam, his beloved dog, Lil Bit, and many other family and friends. A memorial service will be held Nov. 1st at 2pm at 2011 24th Ave. North. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, please wear a mask and understand that the number of attendees will be limited to 25. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating your time or money to The Little Pantry That Could at http://thelittlepantrythatcould.org and Hands On Nashville at hon.org.

October 28 - November 11, 2020 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 5

The New Christian Year Selected by Charles Williams (1941)

The Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude THE Body cannot feel gladness at the trouble of consent in the grief and in labouring for the remedy. In a company of two is the Church; but the Church is Christ. Tertullian: On Penitence. IN the Christian Church He hath given us means to be better today than yesterday, and to-morrow than to-day. That grace which God offers us in the Church does not only fill that capacity which we have; but gives us a greater capacity than we had: and it is an abuse of God's grace not to improve it, or not to procure such further grace as that present grace makes us capable of. Donne: Sermons.

21st Wednesday after Trinity LET humility be always at work, like the bee at the honey-comb, or all will be lost. But, remember, the bee leaves its hive to fly in search of flowers and the soul should sometimes cease thinking of itself to rise in meditation on the grandeur and majesty of its God. St Teresa of Avila: The Interior Castle. HUMILITY is not insipidity, but it is seasoned, as it were, with salt. The Paradise of the Fathers.

21st Thursday after Trinity A BROTHER asked an old man, saying, "What is humility?" And the old man answered and said unto him, "That thou payest not back evil for evil." That brother said unto him, "And supposing that a man cannot attain to this measure what must we do?" The old man said unto him, "Let us flee and follow after silence." The Paradise of the Fathers. HE who owes everything to grace in such a degree that he understands he is superfluous must be all the more obedient. True, all that exists is nothing in the hands of the Almighty who created it out of nothing; but that which by coming into existence attains nothing more than to be superfluous must understand most profoundly that is is nothing. Kierkegaard: Christian Discourses.

21st Friday after Trinity WHEN religion is in the hands of the mere natural man, he is always the worse for it; it adds a bad heat to his own dark fire and helps to inflame his four elements of selfishness, envy, pride, and wrath. And hence it is that worse passions or a worse degree of them, are to be found in persons of great religious zeal than in others that make no pretences to it. History also furnishes us with instances of persons with great piety and devotion who have fallen into great delusions and deceived both themselves and others. The occasion of their fall was this; it was because they made a saint of the natural man. My meaning is, they considered their whole nature as the subject of religion and divine graces; and therefore their religion was according to the workings of their whole nature, and the old man was as busy and as much delighted in it as the new. William Law: Christian Regeneration.

21st Saturday after Trinity JESUS Christ, without riches, and without any external exhibition of knowledge, is in His own order of holiness. He did not invent; He did not reign. But He was humble, patient, holy, holy to God, terrible to devils, without any sin. Oh! in what great pomp, and in what wonderful splendour, He is come to the eyes of the heart, which perceive wisdom! Pascal: Pensées. HERE is the root then, the love of the Father, and the tree, the merit of the Son; except there be fruit too, love in us, to them again, both root and tree will wither in us, howsoever they grew in God. Donne: Sermons.

The Feast of All Saints IT is the feast-day of all those who loved Jesus Christ, who gave Him their souls and their blood for pure Love, who were without pride, without confidence in themselves, and who, because of that, shine with the greatest imaginable splendour. Léon Bloy: Letters to his Fiancée. AS verily as we shall be in the bliss of God without end, him praising and thanking, so verily we have been in the foresight of God, loved and known in his endless purpose from without be-

ginning. In which beginning love he made us; and in the same love he keepeth us and never suffereth us to be hurt (in any way) by which our bliss might be lost. And therefore when the Doom is given and we be all brought up above, then (shall) we clearly see in God the privities which now be hidden to us. Then shall none of us be stirred to stay in any wise: "Lord, if it had been thus, then it had been full well"; but we shall say all with one voice: "Lord, blessed mayest thou be, for it is thus: it is well; and now see we verily that all thing is done as it was then ordained before that anything was made." Juliana of Norwich: Revelations of Divine Love.

HE who desires to become a spiritual man must not be ever taking note of others, and above all of their sins, lest he fall into wrath and bitterness, and a judging spirit towards his neighbors. Tauler: Sermons.

ABOUT him all the sanctities of heaven Stood thick as stars, and from his sight received Beatitude past utterance. John Milton: Paradise Lost.

22nd Friday after Trinity

Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity THE seeking is common—that every soul may have with his grace—and ought to have that discretion and teaching of the Holy Church. It is God's will that we have three things in our seeking:—The first is that we seek wilfully and busily, without sloth, as it may be through his grace, gladly and merrily without unskilful heaviness and vain sorrow. The seconds is, that we abide him steadfastly for his love, without grudging and striving against him, to our life's end: for it shall last but a while. The third is that we trust in him mightily of full sure faith, for it is his will. We know he shall appear suddenly and blissfully to all that be his lovers. For his working is privy, and he willeth to be perceived; and his appearing shall be sweet and sudden; and he will be trusted. For he is full kind and homely: blessed may he be! Juliana of Norwich: Revelations of Divine Love.

22nd Monday after Trinity SUDDENLY, I saw before my inward eyes these words—God only . . . they were at the same time a Light, an Attraction and a Power. A Light which showed me how I could belong completely to God alone in this world, and I saw that hitherto I had not well understood this; an Attraction by which my heart was subdued and delighted; a Power which inspired me with a generous resolution and somehow placed in my hands the means of carrying it out. Sister Lucie-Christine: Spiritual Journal.

IN the Son of Man I see the Son of God, because Thou art so the Son of Man that Thou art the Son of God and in the finite attracted nature I see the Infinite Attracting Nature. Nicholas de Susa: The Vision of God.

22nd Tuesday after Trinity IT is nature which teacheth a wise man in fear to hide himself, but grace and faith doth teach him where. Fools care not where they hide their heads . . . But because we are in danger like chased birds, like doves that seek and cannot see the resting holes that are right before them, therefore our Saviour giveth his disciples these encouragements beforehand, that fear might never so amaze them, but that always they might remember, that whatsoever evils at any time did beset them, to him they should still repair, for comfort, counsel, and succor. Hooker: Sermons.

22nd Thursday after Trinity GOODNESS procreates itself and all that is in the good soul: knowledge, love, energy, it pours them all forth to the good man, and the good man receives all his being, knowing, love and energy from the central depth of goodness and from that alone. Eckhart: The Book of Benedictus.

THE faithfulness of God may be obscured, but we cannot be rid of it; His gifts may evoke no gratitude, but they will not be withdrawn; His goodness will bring under judgement those who withstand it, but it is His goodness none the less. Barth: The Epistle to the Romans. THE benefits that God contrives to give in any one way are to be found and gotten in good ways one and all, and we ought to find in one way the good things common to them, not those peculiar to that one. For man must always do one thing, he cannot do them all. He must always be one thing and in that one find all. Eckhart: In Collationibus.

22nd Saturday after Trinity BEFORE the foundations of the worlds, and before all that can be called 'before', thou art, and art God and Lord of all which thou hast created: in thee abide, fixed for ever, the first causes of all things unabiding; and of all things changeable, the springs abide in thee unchangeable; and in the live the external reasons of all things unreasoning and temporal. St Augustine: Confessions. UNLESS the shape of his Manhood be withdrawn from our bodily eyes, the love of his Godhead may not fasten in our ghostly eyes. The Epistle of Privy Counsel.

Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity THE Gospel is not one thing in the midst of other things, to be directly apprehended and comprehended. The Gospel is the World of the Primal Origin of all things, the Word which, since it is ever new, must ever be received with renewed fear and trembling. The Gospel is therefore not an event, nor an experience, nor an emotion—however delicate! Rather, it is the clear and objective perception of what eye hath not seen nor ear heard. Moreover, what it demands of men is more than notice, or understanding, or sympathy. It demands participation, comprehension, co-operation; for it is a communication which presumes faith in the living God, and which creates that which it presumes. Barth: The Epistle to the Romans. THIS only is charity, to do all, all that we can. Donne: Sermons.

23rd Monday after Trinity

I AM not come to this meaning, or to this work and knowledge through my own reason of through my own will and purpose; neither have I sought this knowledge, nor so much as to know anything concerning it. I sought only for the heart of God, therein to hide myself. Boehme: Aurora.

THE Day of Jesus Christ is the Day of all days; the brilliant and visible light of this one point is the hidden invisible light of all points; to perceive the righteousness of God once and for all here is the hope of righteousness (Gal. v. 5) everywhere and at all times. By the knowledge of Jesus Christ all human waiting is guaranteed, authorized, and established; for He makes it known that it is not men who wait, but God—in His faithfulness. Barth: The Epistle to the Romans.

22nd Wednesday after Trinity

23rd Tuesday after Trinity

I ALSO wish thee to look at the Bridge of My only-begotten Son, and see the greatness thereof, for it reaches from Heaven to earth; that is, that the earth of your humanity is joined to the greatness of the Deity thereby. I say, then, that this Bridge reaches from Heaven to earth, and constitutes the union which I have made with man . . . So the height of the Divinity, humbled to the earth, and joined with your humanity, made the Bridge and reformed the road. Why was this done? In order that man might come to his true happiness with the angels. And observe that it is not enough, in order that you should have life, that My son should have made you this Bridge, unless you walk thereon. St Catherine of Siena: Dialogues.

THE soul, when it least uses its own proper ability, travels most securely, because it walks most by faith. St John of the Cross: Ascent of Mount Carmel. SOMETIMES, when the soul least thinks of it, and when it least desires it, God touches it divinely causing certain recollections of Himself. St John of the Cross: Ascent of Mount Carmel.

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October 28 - November 11, 2020 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 7

LOCAL ACTIVISM

October has seen several major actions in Nashville. On Oct. 17 The Women’s March led a march and a rally downtown to call for, “social justice and a coordinated effort to vote early.” Also on Oct. 17, advocates from the Nashville BLM movement painted a “Black Lives Matter” mural on Woodland Street. On Oct. 23, the final United States Presidential debate took place at Belmont University. Trump and Biden supporters, as well as activists from several movements gathered outside of Belmont during the debate. IMAGES BY ALVINE

PAGE 8 | October 28 - November 11, 2020 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

COVER STORY

2020 COLD WEATHER PLAN ADDRESSES A SECOND EMERGENCY BY HANNAH HERNER

The city’s cold weather shelter plan this year is overf low shelters on top of overf low shelters. It centers around The Fairgrounds shelter, which is managed by the Office of Emergency Management. The Fairgrounds shelter was originally formed as an emergency shelter for COVID-19 and overf low for Nashville Rescue Mission as they lowered their capacity in an effort to obey social distancing rules. The first emergency was the pandemic, but in the approaching months, yet another threat of emergency will arrive for people experiencing homelessness. Each year, at least one person in Nashville dies from exposure to the cold. Each winter since 2016, the city of Nashville has released a different cold weather shelter plan for those experiencing homelessness. From Nov. 1 until March 31, the city operates under a community-wide plan that is a bit different than the usual shelter operations. And on the coldest nights, when the temperature is below 28 degrees Fahrenheit, an emergency plan will be activated. Capacity changes Due to the pandemic, the Nashville Rescue Mission men’s campus’ typical capacity of 574 shrank to 300, and the women’s campus went from a capacity of 313 to 150. Since March, The Fairgrounds Nashv i l le shelter has maintained enough room for 200 people on the “well” side and 250 on the “sick” side. The Municipal Auditorium has been serving as overf low for the Nashville Rescue Mission women’s campus and can accommodate 175. Both of these shelters require screening at the Rescue Mission’s campuses first. As of now, neither location will be directly accessible on a typical day or night with temperatures above 28 degrees. On those nights when it is below 28 degrees, an additional 300 spaces will open at the Fairgrounds, and both men and women can access that directly. For reference, the Point-in-Time count found 2,016 people in shelters or staying on the streets in Nashville in January.

Barriers lowered Two barriers that might keep people from seeking shelter to begin with is the fact that shelters in Nashville typically do not typically allow dogs, and they separate men and women. Beginning Dec. 1, Nashville Rescue Mission will be allowing pets in supplied kennels. Up until then, they will be abiding by their typical dog policy, which is only to allow service animals. During the entire cold weather season, Nashville Rescue Mission will allow all who have been barred for nonviolent offenses to come in for shelter as well. The Fairgrounds Nashville will also be allowing pets inside of the emergency shelter when it activates, but do not currently allow animals in the shelter. While Nashville Rescue Mission will continue separating by sex, the cold weather emergency shelter at the Fairgrounds will allow couples to stay together on the coldest nights. These decisions made by the area shelters and Metro fare well compared to last year’s plan, says Lindsey Krinks, homeless advocate and co-founder of nonprofit Open Table Nashville. “Our outreach team is so glad to see that Metro’s overf low shelter will be at the Fairgrounds this year and not at a former detention facility as it was last year,” she wrote via email. “So many of the people we work with refused to go to what they felt like was a jail last year. We’re also glad to see that the Mission is open to accepting pets at their men and women’s facility as they did last year. It is a best practice across the country to provide low barrier, trauma-informed shelter options, and any step we can take in that direction as a city has the chance to both save and transform lives.” New challenges Taking the hardest hit to its model is Room In The Inn. The organization will be operating on just a quarter of the normal capacity when they kick off the annual winter sheltering program. They will also only be taking men this year. The nonprofit uses a model where they partner with area congregations and bus people experiencing homelessness in to spend the night there. The highest number of beds arranged for the

month of November is a total of 63, as compared to a typical 250 to 300 beds available each night last year. Executive director Rachel Hester hopes to see that number grow as the season goes on. She wants to keep the congregations engaged as much as possible, and to start, regulars at the organization’s day shelter services will have priority. “We have to ease into this and do it well, because every week that I do it right, I have potentially another congregation willing to step up and add additional numbers to their group or join,” Hester says. “Many of those congregations have stepped back because they cannot wrap their head around how to offer ministry in the building when they can’t even worship in their space.” In an effort to bump up the number sheltered, the organization has pivoted to hosting two shelter spaces within their own buildings, and the Catholic congregations are hosting some people in the underutilized St. Vincent de Paul gym, Hester says. Open Table Nashville’s typical role is to canvas the streets on cold nights and help people get transported to shelters if they desire, or equip them with supplies to survive the night on the street. Because of the pandemic, that will look different this year. “We are having to reexamine everything and put new safety protocols in place,” Krinks says. “Instead of canvassing in the evenings across the city, our outreach workers will work to provide supplies and support during the days and then we’ll have some pick-up spots for shelters in the evenings. We are still planning to canvass the downtown corridor in the evenings because it is the area with the highest concentration of people who stay out.” The plan is different this year, as it has been every year since 2016. But the city and homeless service providers know the need, which could only be rising with the effects of COVID-19. Because of the vulnerability of those experiencing homelessness, the emergencies pile up. To read the full plan visit coldweathernashville.com. The status of the cold weather shelter is announced each day by 9 a.m. at coldweathernashville.com or by calling 615-862-6391.

October 28 - November 11, 2020 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 9

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NEWS

Residents at Blakeford Life Senior Communities see family though a parade during the Covid-19 pandemic. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BLAKEFORD LIFE

ELECTION COMMISSION LEANS ON NURSING HOME EMPLOYEES TO HELP RESIDENTS VOTE BY HANNAH HERNER In a typical election, a team of 16 paid poll workers would fan out to nursing homes around Davidson County, meeting with residents to help them fill out their ballots. This year, the responsibility of making sure nursing home residents aren’t disenfranchised fell onto the staff of those facilities, especially because Tennessee would not allow mail-in ballots for this population. Davidson County Election Commission dropped off ballots to each nursing home in the county this year, and picked them back up. “Instead of our staff going into the facility — which is still prohibited in a lot of facilities — we were dependent on the nursing homes to actually help us and help the voters with the process,” says Jeff Roberts, administrator for the Davidson County Election Commission. Roberts reported that out of around 710 ballots dropped off, 656 ballots were turned in between Oct. 4 and Oct. 13. Those missing either died, moved from the facility, were in the hospital or declined to vote. This deadline is unique to Davidson County, as the goal was to get the nursing homes taken

care of before early voting started in the county on Oct. 14, Roberts says. Voting in nursing homes can legally start at 29 days out from the election. The same protocol was followed for the local election back in August. In some counties in the state, the employees were paid just like a poll worker would be, but in Davidson County they were not. For the first time, LeadingAge, a national training and advocacy organization for senior care providers, created a Voting Plan Toolkit to help nursing homes across the country make sure their residents will be able to vote, and also to fight misinformation amongst elderly voters. “I don’t care if you’re red or blue — there’s a lot of noise out there that can try to confuse the process,” says Gwyn Earl, executive director of LeadingAge TN. “We don’t have a lot of extra time to deal with the noise. We have to trust the process and make sure we’re crossing every t and dotting every i and giving our residents the means and the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.” Lindsey Vanderkooi, first year activities

director at The Meadows Senior Community in Bellevue had a list she was referencing on the days leading up to the ballot pickup. She had to make sure her residents were, in fact, registered to vote, and make sure they also had the appropriate cognitive score to do so. When working on a ballot with a resident, she signed as a witness and signed off to say whether she assisted them. She was in constant communication with the election commission throughout this process, she said. Before this election, she helped residents get registered to vote. Throughout the last seven months, she’s arranged video calls with families of residents and strove to keep residents entertained and active while not allowing them to congregate — all without any volunteers or outside help. Now, she’s onto organizing a tight limited schedule of outdoor, socially-distanced, in-person visits. “We had to adapt to that, because we can’t have outside people coming in and doing music,” Vanderkooi says. “We can’t have outside people coming in and doing a fun activity, so that’s been really hard. So it’s mostly an individual

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approach.” Brian Barnes, CEO of Blakeford Life, a Nashville-based company that offers multiple types of senior care, is quick to sing the praises of what they call their Life Enrichment team. “They’ve really been the conduit to keeping our families connected with our residents and keeping our residents — on a daily basis — active, giving them something to do, keeping them engaged,” he says “They’ve really done a remarkable job during this pandemic. They cover a lot of bases.” Earl says this is also a time that has seen plenty of nursing home caregivers quit, because of the additional stress and responsibilities brought on by the pandemic. In many cases, they can make more money “flipping burgers,” she says. “People really cannot understand the extra load that our providers and their staff are carrying each and every day, while smiling and keeping their residents encouraged and their families as content as possible,” Earl says. “Nobody can really understand that unless they have spent time walking in their shoes.”

NEWS

FREE HEARTS MAKES SURE FEES DON’T STAND IN THE WAY OF VOTING BY HANNAH HERNER

Court fees and fines stand in the way of some Nashvillians looking to get their right to vote back after having committed a felony, even after they’ve served their time. Free Hearts, a local organization led by and advocating for people who are formerly incarcerated, looked to change that. Jawharrah Bahar, director of outreach for Free Hearts, was one of the beneficiaries of the Free Hearts Fines and Fees Fund. Having finished her sentence in 2015, she had owed more than $5,000 in court fees and restitution, which was blocking her right to vote. Bahar will be able to vote in this November’s election, thanks to the fund and the help navigating the bureaucracy that Free Hearts provided. How did this fund come about? I was having difficulties getting my voting right back. We did a survey, it was called the criminalization of poverty survey. We learned that a lot of people were not able to vote due to their fees and fines. I had completed my sentence for over five years. Since 2015 I had been working on this. We just learned that in order for us to wield power locally and statewide, we needed more voters to vote. That’s the only way we’re going to really see effective change. It was a very difficult time because I didn’t feel like I was part of my community, not being able to vote. How did it feel to get your voting rights back? It felt good, it felt really good. It was a hard challenge because I never thought I would ever even get my voting rights back. Because there’s so much you have to go through just to pay your fees and fines. It’s really sad and ridiculous and if a person don’t really know how to navigate it, it would cause them to get frustrated and not even want to be a part of it. What was the process like? It was very difficult and what I would tell someone is they just have to keep their head up and reach out for support. We’re available. I’m just so blessed to have this opportunity to be able to help other people that actually need the help.

What advice would you give to someone looking to go through the voting restoration process? I just want to say that people can’t give up. It’s frustrating and it feels like you’ll never actually get the things you need to get done, but you have to just keep pushing. You can’t allow your past to determine your future. Just because a person makes a mistake, that doesn’t mean your life is over. We all have made mistakes and the thing about life is you learn from it, you grow from it and you move on.

For more information on whether you can get your voting rights restored, visit sos.tn.gov. Email info@freeheartsorg.com or call 615-745-1117 for more information on Free Hearts.

October 28 - November 11, 2020 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 11

FEATURE

Why Johnny STILL can't read? 3 out of 4 children in Tennessee cannot read at grade level. Find out why at N2Reading. com or check out N2Reading on Facebook.

Nonprofit Spotlight: Step Up Nashville STEP UP NASHVILLE PUTS HOUSING FIRST FOR THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS BY MAY HARTNESS Step Up is a community agency that believes all people who are struggling with mental health issues and homelessness can be housed. This organization, with sites spanning from Santa Monica, California to Atlanta, Georgia, extends their vision for homlessness alleviation into Music City as they launch their newest branch: Step Up Nashville. “Housing should be the first thing that we resolve,” says Arthur Murray, Vice President of Step Up Southeast Regions. “Without housing, we can’t begin to work on other challenges.” The Step Up team works to remove barriers that especially prevent those with mental illness from housing. Through a combination of scattered site housing units and their own Step Up properties, the agency hopes to “give clients opportunities when others won’t,” and provide tailored support to each individual they serve. This support aids members in acquiring long-term housing, and provides them a specialized treatment team. The treatment team could consist of a case manager, peer specialist, and a social worker if the client wants clinical treatment for their mental illness. A peer specialist is someone with their own lived experience of homelessness, mental health issues, or history with substance use. This member is included on the treatment team because of their capacity to relate to the client in a more personal way. “By tailoring support to people we can help them succeed,” Murray says. Step Up first began as a mental health services agency in Santa Monica, California in 1984. In the

past three years, the agency has doubled in size, and boasts a 96% housing retention rate after one year for their clients. As a new member of Nashville’s Continuum of Care, Step Up hopes to collaborate with other nonprofits in the area to help the city solve the problem of homelessness for good. “Not competition, collaboration,” says Terri Lawson, Program Manager for Step Up Nashville. Lawson believes that reaching out to other service providers in Nashville and working with other experts are key ways to build collaborative relationships within the community, one of the core values of Step Up. Other core values include hope, wellness, voice and choice, and respect. Out of these five values, Lawson and Murray believe that hope

PAGE 12 | October 28 - November 11, 2020 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

and voice and choice are the most necessary. “This agency tries to live out client centeredness,” Murray says. “And that means being okay when clients turn down housing and want to keep looking for something else.” Step Up wants their clients to feel free to speak up about their preferences, and they accomplish this goal through honoring individual voice and choice. “[They’re] not our lives to live, we’re just here to assist,” Murray says. The core value of hope stands out to Lawson. She hopes that Step Up will make a difference in the lives of people in this city as the agency begins its newest chapter in Nashville, Tennessee.

MOVING PICTURES

Scream Streams For Your Halloween Screens BY JOE NOLAN Film Critic

I’m not a big horror movie fan. But as the days get shorter, the temperatures get cooler, and summer greens give way to autumn reds and yellows, my movie tastes turn decidedly bloodthirsty. I jumped the gun this year and started compiling scary movie lists on various streaming services before September was over. Now that we’re counting the final days before Halloween I want to share these nasty notes from my diabolical diary of movie madness to help you plan an evening of scary cinema after you run out of treats for the tricksters. ‘A Hole in the Ground’ One of the biggest surprises I discovered during this Halloween horror movie season is the Irish supernatural thriller, A Hole in the Ground. Lee Cronin’s feature film debut begins with Sarah (Seana Kerslake) and her son Christopher (James Quinn Markey) renting a house next to a spooky forest. What could go wrong? The pair have left Christopher’s father behind and Cronin’s script and the scar on Sarah’s forehead point to a possible case of domestic abuse. That said, Sarah begins the film optimistically and Christopher just starts adjusting to a new school before the pair discover a massive, mysterious hole in the middle of the woods, and their new lives get turned upside-down. A Hole in the Ground is a body-snatcher film that’s a perfect fit for Halloween. Come for the spooky children, stay for the damp chilly woods and sweater-weather vibes. A Hole in the Ground is currently streaming for free to Amazon Prime members. Amazon Prime offers a 30-days-free trial.

‘Doctor Sleep’ Speaking of domestic horror films, The Shining began as a novel about abusive alcoholism in the hands of author Stephen King. But when Stanley Kubrick adapted the book for his horror movie classic, the director transformed it into a haunted house thriller, crackling with paranormal encounters and psychic phenomena. King hated the film and his Doctor Sleep sequel catches up with Danny Torrance, who’s become a middle-aged mess suffering from PTSD. Danny lives a subsistence existence in the shadow of his father’s abusive legacy and the otherworldly happenings he experienced as a child at the Overlook Hotel. Mike Flanagan’s (the auteur behind Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House and the now-streaming The Haunting of Bly Manor) film adaptation of Doctor Sleep gives viewers an always-game Ewan McGregor as grown-up Danny Torrance, struggling between his own battle with the bottle and a reluctance to engage his psychic abilities. In the film’s first act, Danny tries to run from his demons, arriving homeless at a small town New Hampshire bus stop, looking to make a new start. Be warned: This contemporary vampire film gets shockingly dark, and you may want to keep the fast-forward button on your remote control handy. I love Flanagan’s homage to Kubrick’s original film, and this new movie throbs with deep dark pathos. This is the adult horror cinema that Danny Torrance deserves at the end of his hero’s journey. Doctor Sleep is streaming on HBO Max where they also offer a 7-day free trial. ’70s Horror on Criterion Channel Doctor Sleep is part of HBO Max’s curated creepy season movie collection, “Halloween is Here.” I love this kind of thoughtful trick-or-treat organizing. Another shocking selection of ghoulish goodies is The Criterion Channel’s “’70s Horror” category. American films of the 1970s are the greatest movies ever made, and part of that achievement is due to the groundbreaking horror movie-making of that era. Don’t miss Tobe Hooper’s masterpiece, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). This film still feels too-real, but, if you can keep your eyes open, Hooper delivers one of the greatest final sequences in all of movies. Nicolas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now (1973), like Doctor Sleep, is a haunting thriller shot through with deep grief. It’s also visually stunning and vividly inhabited with emotional performances from Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie. Also, be sure to check out Sutherland in The Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978). The Criterion Channel is currently offering a 14-day free trial.

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

October 28 - November 11, 2020 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 13

VENDOR WRITING

HOW TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE BY WILLIAM B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR Sept. 4 of this year my daughter turned 33. It breaks my heart around this time because I haven’t seen her since she was 8 years old. It hurts, it hurts very much. Her and my son are only 11 months apart. I’m in contact with him, but I can’t see my daughter. Her husband is a cop. I’ve been in a lot of trouble in my lifetime — even as a child. I turned to trouble after my brother was murdered. This is post-traumatic stress. I know what it is, and I’m trying to get help. The thing is, I know there’s people out there that are suffering from the same kind of things I’ve been going through. Let me tell you what I would suggest, or hope you would listen to. First of all, if you have a problem with alcohol, drugs or whatever — admit it to yourself. You got a bunch of people out there that’s on drugs and alcohol and will not admit they have a problem. Well, I admitted it when I got tired of messing with people I

NEW WAYS TO MEET POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS BY ALONZO K., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

loved and hurting them so bad. I never got to pay back some of the people that I’ve done wrong. These are some of the things that still haunt me today. When I met The Contributor two years ago, I fell in love with the organization. I fell in love with the staff. I saw a lot of people on the streets doing the same thing I’m doing: playing music. They actually give me some of their money! They insist. They say, “You earned it. You’re good.” I say, “I’m not homeless.” They say, “Well I didn’t ask you that. You earned this money. We love you.” What I’m saying to you out there is if you got problems, talk them over with yourself. Admit to what you can do to make yourself better. Or just completely do what I’ve done. Change your life. Do a complete change in your life. And if you do this and make your way to The Contributor newspaper you will find friends that will help you in many ways.

I work at a stoplight, and sometimes people ask me, “What is The Contributor newspaper?” I say, “It is a newspaper for the homeless and the impoverished to make a legal income, and contribute to society.” One thing you can do to meet potential customers is join a group or club whose purpose is to build community around common grounds. Social clubs and public interest, etc. These themselves fuel out emotions and conversations even among strangers.

Always work the participants to build relationships outside of official groups. Always use body language to make people feel comfortable like you. Don’t make them feel you’re a threat. When you engage in a new conversation, don’t always ask where you from? Talk about common grounds, sports, books, movies, recreation. These wield interesting information that you can bond over in future encounters. May God Bless You always!

MY FRIEND THE MOUSE B Y J U N E P. , C O N T R I B U T O R V E N D O R As everyone knows, I got me an apartment a couple of months ago with the help of the paper, The Contributor, of course. Osborne Bi-Rite has been my selling spot for years now. If you didn’t know, I have to sell 300 papers in a two period time, which is a month, to keep my spot mapped. That way, when I’m there no one else can sell there but me. And all my dear customers help me do that every month. Thank you all very much. I am grateful. Well OK, back to my apartment. My mouse I found on the street, I really believe he has found me in my apartment. I really believe it’s him. He acts the same. He’s a little like I remember out on

the street. I’d be lying on my box and he’d come and look me in the eyes. Well you know how it feels when someone is just there looking at you? Well the other night I woke up feeling that in my apartment. I was so scared to open my eyes, but did, of course. There sat a mouse on the floor looking up at me. It was him! I really believe it’s him. So he’s back, cute as hell, and as always, friendly. Gave him cheese and told him goodnight. He ran off. The next morning, I went to make coffee and get ready for work selling my papers. Behold, there he was in the kitchen waiting on me. My friend is back. I missed him so much. Happy Day everyone!

Advertisers of The Contributor put their marketing dollars to work in lives of Nashville’s most vulnerable community. If your business is exploring cause marketing opportunties, consider partnering with The Contributor.

CONTACT: 615-499-6829 OR

BARBARA@THECONTRIBUTOR.ORG PAGE 14 | October 28 - November 11, 2020 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

FUN

HOBOSCOPES SCORPIO

What are you going to be, Scorpio? It’s a question we usually just ask kids. There’s the perennial “What are you going to be when you grow up?” and the annual “What are you going to be for Halloween?” But it’s a question you can ask yourself any time, any day, any age. Give it a try. It’s the perfect season to be something else, Scorpio, and we can be anything.

SAGITTA R IUS

The colors still change, Sagittarius. These trees were so full of every shade of green and now they’re all yellows and reds and oranges and browns. And soon those colors will be gone, too. There’s always another season coming, Sagittarius. And if that scares you, remember that there’s another one coming behind that. The last thing never really was the thing that you remember and the next thing will never really be the one you fear.

CAPRICORN

If you follow that trail behind the shed you’ ll pass a lit tle crooked stream and then you’ ll come to a cave. Yes, the mouth is small, but it’s wide enough that you can crawl. Take your f lashlight. You’ll be moving on your knees and forearms for a good while and there’s not really enough room to turn around. When you finally get to the spot where you can stand up, take a minute catch your breath and get your bearings. Now you’re ready for the long walk to the center of things. Going deep can be scary, Capricorn, but you’ve got to do it sometime and I’d recommend starting tonight.

AQUA RIUS

Why did they make so many zombie movies, Aquarius? I mean, sure, make that one with the slow zombies and the house full of strangers who have to try to work out their differences to save each other and themselves. But how many more do we need? I guess we keep telling ourselves this story because we’re still so afraid of each other. We’re afraid the other side is gonna crash through that window and eat our brains. But I’d like to suggest that nobody on the other side of that wall is a zombie. That everybody is already in this house together. And that we’ve got to start working out our differences to save each other and ourselves.

PISCES

Maybe if I can just make it to two weeks from now everything will be better, right? Like, if I can just hang on for a little while longer everything will settle down and I can stop worrying so much and stop checking the news. I can start the projects I’ve been dreaming on and get a better routine and maybe read a book. It always seems like that new life is just a couple of weeks away. But I’m afraid it always will be, Pisces. I think we’ve got to get going on it now. Try that and check back in with me in two weeks.

ARIES

Have you been on the internet lately, Aries? It’s wild out there these days. Like, just this morning I accidentally got in an all-caps yelling match with my highschool youth minister over a meme that I posted that contradicted the meme that he posted. I think we were arguing about personal responsibility or maybe the concept of “privilege” or possibly the plot of Back to the Future. I’m really not even sure anymore. But it reminds me that these are tender days. Everybody is just one meme away from a breakdown. So maybe take a step back and try honesty and vulnerability instead. It’s scarier, but I think it could help.

TAURUS

When I was a kid, wearing a mask in the last week of October was a privilege. They were rubbery and smelled funny and the eye-holes never lined up with my eyes, but it was worth it. These days we think of wearing a mask more as a responsibility. They’re not as fun, but they smell better and you don’t have to worry about eye-holes. It’s funny how things change, Taurus. But we can’t live in the past. We do the best we know and we hope for a more rubbery future.

GEMINI

This morning I saw a moth who had wings that perfectly mimicked the dry, yellowing leaves falling from these hickory trees. There were even little dark spots and tattered edges just like the two leaves it perched between. Sometimes when you need to stay safe from the birds that want to eat you, you have to completely blend in. I get that. And I know that’s worked for you in the past, Gemini, but those birds are long gone. This might be a good week to drop the camouflage.

CANCER

I’ve been watching a lot of movies at home lately, Cancer. I pop some popcorn and put on my warm socks and maybe make some hot chocolate and then roll those opening credits. It’s great, but lately I’ve been missing those moments in movie theaters when everybody is tuned-in and we’re all in it together. When we all jump when the axe comes into frame. When we chuckle and the guy who screamed a little too loud. When we all breathe a collective sigh of relief when the hero gets away just in time. It’s hard to have those shared moments lately, Cancer. But we need them. Don’t forget to let us know what you’re experiencing. Even if it’s just boredom or irritation. Keep us updated until we can all breathe that collective sigh of relief.

LEO

I think it was the night of Alex Mcgloughlin’s birthday party. We all met up after some game and Annie had built a fire in the backyard with smores and a sincere attempt at a campfire singalong. You said you weren’t feeling up to much and had to be up early and then I dropped my phone and the screen cracked and Rob said he knew a guy who fixes them for cheap but by the time I looked around again you were already gone. The Stars indicate that we’ve missed you and we really regretted that we never caught up. If things are still hard, or if they got better, it’d be great to talk sometime. Maybe soon?

VIRGO

When nature gets bored, it makes a crab. Nature is always trying to make a crab. Carcinologists have found evidence of at least five different times that simple crustaceans have, over millennia, independently evolved into 10-legged crab-shaped creatures. What’s the thing you’re always trying to evolve into, Virgo? That ideal form that you’re always just a few thousand adaptations away from becoming. Because I think you may be closer than you think. Count your legs again. You may be there already.

LIBRA

It’s good to check the weather before you go out for the day. Do you need a sweater? A raincoat? Is it a good day for layering or just an easy T-shirt. But sometimes we don’t know what’s coming, Libra. It’s hard to get ready when you don’t know what’s next. But you have to go out there anyway. And if you find out you weren’t prepared for the way the world turned out, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Mr. Mysterio is not a licensed astrologer, a trained statistician, or a registered crab. Mr. Mysterio is, however, a budding intermediate podcaster! Check out The Mr. Mysterio Podcast. Season 2 is now playing at mrmysterio.com. Got a question, just give Mr. M a call at 707-VHS-TAN1

October 28 - November 11, 2020 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 15

VENDOR WRITING

Hadley Park Part 2 BY VICK Y B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

THEME: THE 1970S ACROSS 1. Muscular contraction 6. D.C. mover and shaker 9. “That was close!” 13. Blood circulation organ 14. FEMA provisions, e.g. 15. Not bob, to a boxer 16. Like a whistle? 17. UN labor org. 18. Speck in the ocean 19. *Fallen South Vietnamese capital 21. *War movie and Oscar-winner 23. Once around 24. Hippocrates’ promise 25. Ribonucleic acid 28. Bakery unit 30. Foliage vein 35. In fine fettle 37. Scoop or skinny 39. Nephew’s sister 40. “Metamorphoses” poet 41. *ABBA’s genre 43. Thailand money 44. Temporarily ban 46. Way to fry

47. Jamie Fraser of “Outlander” 48. *”The Gods Themselves” author 50. Romanov ruler 52. Give it a go 53. It prevents objectivity 55. Brewed beverage 57. *First U.S. space station 60. *Mr. Jefferson 63. Nest for an eagle 64. Between Fla. and Miss. 66. Cold cream brand 68. Does like some coffee makers 69. Tasseled hat 70. Not snail mail 71. Back talk 72. *Nicklaus’ peg 73. Smartly dressed DOWN 1. Anatomical pouch 2. Plural of #6 Across 3. ____ 51, Nevada 4. *”____way to Heaven” 5. Feed beet

6. Some have a high tolerance for it 7. *1973 ____ crisis 8. *Oliver Sacks’ “Awakenings” drug 9. Boll weevil, e.g. 10. Saintly sign 11. Like never-losing Steven 12. Kind of nurse 15. Not outside 20. Egg-shaped 22. Cash dispenser 24. Compensating equivalents 25. *”The Mary Tyler Moore Show” spin-off 26. Center of a church, pl. 27. Defendant’s excuse 29. Black tropical cuckoo 31. “I call first ____!” 32. Undergo a chemical reaction 33. Blood of the Greek gods 34. *First Lady, familiarly 36. Dutch export 38. South American wood sorrels 42. Talk like Demosthenes 45. Paso ____, CA 49. By means of 51. Go back into business 54. Behind a stern 56. Pleasant odor 57. Serum, pl. 58. *Cheryl Ladd on “Charlie’s Angels” 59. Golfer’s dread 60. Fixed look 61. Flying biter 62. Blue pencil mark 63. Internet pop-ups 65. *”Enter the Dragon” star 67. *”Rocky” star’s nickname

It’s been wonderful, during the last two weeks, to see all the maintenance staff cleaning every nook and cranny of Hadley Park. From the elevators right down to each floor being mopped daily. What I assume are temps have come in and cleaned up the grounds of empty beer bottles, trash and misc items. I was even shocked to see the f loors getting buffed out one afternoon. The office had been opened each and every day as well, giving the presence of management in the building. Maybe my previous article was good for the community, or so I thought. Early this morning while waiting for the elevator, a resident got off and spewed the most vulgar profanity at me saying that I, “needed to go.” My first thought was, “OK, she’s off her meds.” It turned out to be much more. About an hour later a friend had told me the article I wrote had been taped up in the elevator with the words, “Vicky Batcher needs to go,” and posted my apartment number. Feeling threatened and intimidated, I told the office lady what happened. She copied the top portion of the article and said she’d give it to the manager, with an I don’t care type of attitude. My friend followed up with the office lady and she said that there was nothing really wrong with what was written on it and that it was freedom of speech. She went on to say that, “Anyone at any time can post whatever they like, it’s called freedom of speech.” When my friend told me, I was horrified. By posting it in the elevator, this was at the very least

intimidation and bullying. After speaking with MNPD on the phone, they have said that this doesn’t fall in the parameters of “intimidation” or “bullying,” however they could do something if I was assaulted. What a comfort. What a feeling of safety and security that MNPD gives citizens — tax paying citizens. I think I’ll have my son look around for some pepper spray for my protection. A fellow writer once said that we live in the looney bin. I’m believing it now more than ever.

Observations about being homeless during COVID-19 BY MAURICE B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR If there has ever been a time in a person’s life that they have been voracious towards different circumstances and situations, well, these are those times again. Times of being packed up on one another and “eating greedy.” The gimme, gimme, gimme, push, push, push, take, take, take. (As the famous — but late may he R.I.P. — Tupac Shakur once proclaimed.) The scheme of it all is that the rich individuals shall find the means to continue to stay and keep getting rich as all the other individuals will continue to struggle or begin to struggle. As homelessness and death counts rise all over the world, some rich individuals are in well off positions. In their debates of the well being of many individual’s lives, they define what “well-being” is and decide if they should assist those that aren’t established as they are to keep things in what they believe is a substantial way to give help or better yet manage only a certain class of human creation. For so many years we’ve seen people face the true epidemic of poverty, and there hasn’t been any major solutions except the actions of moving individuals around, or on top of one another, which brings about more and more corrupt mindsets and actions.The homeless are now living during today’s COVID-19

PAGE 16 | October 28 - November 11, 2020 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

epidemic, which kills off the weak and less fortunate. Yes, the epidemic will hit and take a toll on a small percentage of those that are or were seemed to be in good standards, but that is only to show that it wasn’t predigested to color nor age. The homeless still struggle to find ways to survive, but because they had to live a rugged means before and some on a multiple of occasions the ole saying will remain in many individuals’ minds, “if it doesn’t kill’em it will only make us stronger.” The way homeless people have survived and lived before and after other epidemics in their lives is the way homeless people strive to live through this one. One moment, one hour, one day at a time. When times get too rough most homeless individuals will step things up another notch or degree. See, that’s the hard part for those that are willing to assist because that’s when the aim or target becomes them. That’s all a part of the dog eat dog world where the rich already know that individuals sit outside their offices waiting for scraps, but would actually gnaw their hands off because of the ways they treat them. So by the rich individuals playing the control game of when and if there is going to be relief, the homeless have to ponder over if they must act fast with deep survival tactics?

VENDOR WRITING

THE TROUBLES JENNIFER A.

IN MEMORY OF LILLY MAY WORLEY

I CAN BE WHO I AM

JAMIE W.

When I wake in the morning and face the day.

ANTHONY G.

2-9-2015 - 9-13-2020

It troubles me That there are citizens of

I can face the day and live it my way.

The United States of America

What can I say

Ready and willing

We had her ever since she was a few minutes old

To gather ‘round him

I never will forget the day she was born.

When society kicks you in the gut, and you fall on your butt.

Just to be near him

I stayed home that day because it was pouring snow

Get up and fight it and say to yourself I can be who I am and

Pandemic be damned

She loved to lay on her back

I choose to do what I want.

To risk death themselves

She would lay like that for hours

Or condemn their neighbors

She loved to hear me talk even though she could not understand

Society say there is a set of rules which you must abide.

Or their own family

what I was saying

Get married have a family.

To that horrible fate

We loved her so much

Deal with a bank buy a house.

Just to be in his presence

She brought such great joy and happiness to us

Go to college and educate yourself.

But it troubles me more

I can’t believe she’s dead

Start your own business get as rich as you can.

I can be who I am.

To speculate

Be straight and live right and be a honest man.

What he’s going to do

She had been like this a little over a week

With his army of

I thought she was getting better

Irrational fanatics

I love her so much & my heart is broken & shattered in a million

After he loses

pieces She is not suffering anymore She is an angel is heaven now & I believe she is looking down on me There will not be a day that goes by that I won’t think about her or miss her She is an angel in heaven now

OUR WORLD AND GOD

I’m so sad and I think she is looking down on me saying, “Mama

KATHY M..

don’t be sad”

Living in a world where all our loves are falling apart, the democrats and republicans seem to not have kindness or care in their hearts. Covid-19 taking more and more lives from us every single day But the President takes this illness as a joke

This is no joking matter because this disease is so real.

She loved looking out the window

“Did you see all kinds of birds today?” She loved chasing the laser light I’m gonna miss her

More people becoming homeless and having to live on the streets Don’t know where their meal is gonna come from,

And my other cats loved her My husband Tommy loved her We will miss her

how their children are gonna eat.

Dearly

All we can do is hope and pray and put everything into God’s hand, because my friend he’s the only one that has the real plan.

It’s the only place it’s safe!!

I wish this was a nightmare and I could wake up but it is reality

I would come home and say to her,

People losing their jobs not being able to pay their rent and bills

Give your heart only to God

I just wish I could snap my fingers and bring her back

Looking at all kinds of birds

and wants things all his way

So I say to you my last words today

This has drained the life out of me

And I know the other cats will miss her as well I love her and miss her She never once was sick until now Lilly Honey I’m gonna miss you like crazy She was a good baby

October 28 - November 11, 2020 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 17

P HO T O S UBMI T T E D B Y JE N. A , P HO T O GR A P HE R , R ODNE Y BR O W N F L O W E R B Y M A R Y B . , C ON T RIBU T OR V E ND OR

LA NOTICIA “The Contributor” está trabajando con uno de los principales periódicos en español La Noticia para llevar contenido a más lectores en Middle Tennessee. Nuestros vendedores de periódicos han pedido durante mucho tiempo que nuestra publicación incluya contenido que apele al interés de residentes de habla hispana en nuestra comunidad.

“The Contributor” is working with one of the leading Spanish-language newspapers La Noticia to bring content to more readers in Middle Tennessee. Our newspaper vendors have long requested that our publication include content that appeals to the interest of Spanish-speaking residents in our community.

LOCALES - POLÍTICA - INMIGRACIÓN - TRABAJOS - SALUD - ESPECTÁCULOS - DEPORTES Y MÁS...

GRATIS Noviembre

2020

L a N ticia

Escanee esta imagen para ver La Noticia newspaper edición bilingüe digital

www.hispanicpaper.com

“DONDE OCURREN LOS HECHOS QUE IMPORTAN, SIEMPRE PRIMERO... ANTES”

Año 18 - No. 317

Nashville, Tennessee

Retos Digitales para Negocios Pequeños en Epocas de Pandemia

Por Karina García Contribuidora

Comenzando desde poner el horario adecuado en Google para que las personas sepan si tu local está abierto o no, hasta saber usar la plataforma de video lamadas Zoom para acceder a las reuniones virtuales que mantendrán tu mente emprendedora y papel de líder comunitario en funcionamiento a pesar de la cuarentena y las diferentes condiciones de salud de tus colegas, clientes y socios. Herramientas sin un nombre específico necesariamente pero sí con una función que ha sido crucial en estos tiempos. Son 5 las herramientas que tu y tus socios seguro encontrarán útiles e incluso las considerarán como salvavidas para futuras ocasiones. Nadie se esperaba el virus , todos teníamos nuestros planes , nuestras deudas , nuestras prioridades; pero la pandemia nos encontró por sorpresa y la necesidad de capital para cubrir los gastos operativos en tiempo de cierre fue el primer reto para muchos empresarios y empresarias. Los préstamos del PPP del gobierno necesitaban información financiera actualizada. Un conteo de ingresos y gastos que muchas empresas hacen hacia el final de julio cuando se aproxima el pago de impuestos pagando a un contador externo. Entonces el apuro de recolectar esta información fue algo que todos necesitaron. Y fueron las herramientas de bookkeeping online como lo son Quickbooks y Square los

Digital Challenges and Tools for Small Businesses in Pandemic Times

número de grupos que has sido agregado últimamente o que son de tu interés y te darás cuenta. Pero cómo construir un grupo si no sabemos quienes son nuestros clientes? Pues todos tenemos un registro de nuestros clientes, ya sea en el registro de pagos electrónicos, agendas, hojas de Excel etc. Y una vez más, hay herramientas que hacen este trabajo más fácil, práctico y efectivo. Las herramientas de relación con el cliente o CRM (Customer Relationship Management) por sus siglas en inglés, cómo Methods o Zoho CRM, pueden potencializar el esfuerzo que un propietario independiente hace para mantener muy buenas relaciones con sus clientes. Es así que el virus y la pandemia han traído también oportunidades de cambio y de escalar nuestros negocios y participación en la comunidad. No queda más que hablar de la valiosa herramienta de apalancamiento que una reunión en Zoom puede significar. La oportunidad de hablar directamente con el alcalde, el gobernador, autoridades de la oficina de Administración de Negocios de los Estados Unidos nunca antes fue más accesible. Para un empresario que siempre está buscando hacer las conexiones adecuadas que lo llevará

por

w w w . j u a n e s e . c o m

PAGE 18 | October 28 - November 11, 2020 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Life Navigation Services By Major Ethan Frizzell, The Salvation Army

Have you ever been lost? Have you been lost with a dead phone? Lost in a new experience? When I used to travel for work (Pre-Covid) I always used public transportation for at least one leg of a journey. It is a novel badge of honor highlighting being cheap. I check my bearings every five minutes because I am notorious for extending my journeys in the wrong direction. The more tired, hungry, or stressed I am, the more errors I make and the longer the journey becomes. Sometimes the journey is so long that the phone dies, I’m sweating, the bags are heavy and I just want to give up and use an Uber. But the phone is dead. Do I really want to stop to buy a coffee just to plug in? Maybe a cab? Too cheap. Trust me, my friends can relate to this travel story. At some point, I feel trapped. My freedom is limited. My joy is gone. And I second guess every decision, including the first step of the journey. This is the reality of many of our neighbors who have been socially displaced by a breakdown of community, family and self. So how can we change the experience? First, let’s celebrate the personhood of our neighbors. C.S. Lewis has noted what is most important. Individual differences matter, “human individuals not as mere members of a group or items in a list, but as organs in a body—different from one another and each contributing what no other could.”[1] Citizens, be they, black, yellow, white, brown, housed, unhoused, tourist or neighbor are each equally important! Imagine a different reality. In this reality we behave as if every person is a tourist. In this reality everything is behaviorally designed with an expectation of success, an increased quality of life for all. The Salvation Army Life Navigation Services (LIFNAV) have LIFNAV Mobile Service Centers around the city. A helpful LIFNAV coach offers free coffee or water with some direction. The mobile unit has WiFi and a charging station for your phone. The LIFNAV Coach can provide an Uber credit so you can get a ride to The Salvation Army or a local service provider. If necessary and beneficial they can also give you Uber Eats credits. If you need a place to stay, The Salvation Army LIFNAV Coach can sign you in to the city’s Coordinated Entry System. You then are given sheltering options and put in queue for Rapid Re-Housing. Because we know that connections are important, you are invited to regular Navigator lunches at The Salvation Army. You will receive your NAV Pack with a journal, phone, flashlight (for lighting your path) and a key to remind you of your YET home. You also receive the Uber credits you need so that you do not use your limited time and energy trudging through tourists and fear for food as you travel the city. Oh and... There is a LIFNAV app put on your phone that shares where all the community’s services are with mapping. There is a calendar of service events like meals, laundry, welcoming churches and such. There is the “My Nav” storage place for all your identifications necessary to access services. Also, you can schedule your LIFNAV Coach meeting at a local coffee shop. Our body is stronger together. Freedom is found in navigability. When can we start living in this new reality? November 27, 2020. Social Philosopher

Give me a call. Let’s have coffee. 615.933.9305 [1] C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, in The Complete C.S. Lewis Signature Classics, HarperOne, 2007, page 149.

October 28 - November 11, 2020 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 19

Learn More: SalvationArmyNashville.org

The Contributor: Oct. 28, 2020

Articles inside

Vendor Writing

HOBOSCOPES

Vendor Writing

Scream Streams For Your Halloween Screens

Nonprofit Spotlight

FREE HEARTS MAKES SURE FEES DON’T STAND IN THE WAY OF VOTING

ELECTION COMMISSION LEANS ON NURSING HOME EMPLOYEES TO HELP RESIDENTS VOTE

THE CITY REGROUPS AFTER THOUSANDS GATHERED IN PUBLIC SQUARE PARK FOR A “WORSHIP PROTEST”

Vendor Spotlight

2020 COLD WEATHER PLAN ADDRESSES A SECOND EMERGENCY