The Contributor: November 23, 2022

Buying

Contributor Board Tom Wills, Chair Cathy Jennings, Christine Doeg, Demetria Kalodimos, Kerry Graham, Amber DuVentre, Jerome Moore, Drew Morris, Andy Shapiro

Contributors This Issue

Linda Bailey • Amanda Haggard • Cole Roberts • Carli Tharp • Hannah Herner • Norma B. • Jen. A. • Wendell J. • William B. • Judith Tackett • Mary Skinner • Dixie Williamson • Joe Nolan • Mr. Mysterio

Waffle Shop

Moving Pictures

WHO WE ARE

The Contributor is a nonprofit social enterprise that creates economic opportunity with dignity by investing in the lives of people experiencing homelessness and poverty.

Starting in 2019, our C.O.V.E.R. Program (Creating Opportunity for Vendor Employment, Engagement, and Resources) was the natural expansion of our mission of removing obstacles to housing. We now offer full case management, assistance with housing and rental expenses, addiction recovery, health insurance, food benefits, and SSI/SSDI assistance. We see the onestop-shop team approach radically transforming a vendor's image of self and their place in community.

Since we started in 2007, more than 3,200 different vendors have purchased $2.3 million worth of The Contributor and sold over six million copies, generating over $15 million in income for themselves.

Take the paper, change a life. Read the paper, change yours.

Contributor Volunteers

Christine Doeg , Volunteer Coordinator Joe First • Andy Shapiro • Michael Reilly • Ann Bourland • Laura Birdsall • Marissa Young • Matthew Murrow • Gisselly Mazariegos • Tyler Samuel

Cathy Jennings Executive Director

Tom Wills

Director of Vendor Operations

Carli Tharp SNAP Specialist

Ree Cheers SOAR Manager

Rachel Ternes Housing Navigator

Amy Holt Housing Navigator

Mary Margaret Weatherford Housing Navigator

Jesse Call Operations Consultant

Raven Nye Director of Housing Initiatives

Arnita Carson Recovery Specialist

Justin Wagner Resource Coordinator & Reporter Barbara Womack Advertising Manager

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 Printed at:

The Contributor P.O. Box 332023, Nashville, TN 37203 Vendor Office: 615.829.6829

Contributor’ remembers vendor Paul Arndt for his generosity and dark humor

BY CARLI THARP

On Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, The Contributor said goodbye to beloved vendor, advocate, and friend: Paul Allen Arndt.

There is no simple way to sum up Paul’s life or personality in words. To say that he deeply loved his friends and The Contributor fits, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Paul loved people enough to act.

He expressed great generosity, even to the point of his own det riment. He stood up for The Con tributor and for folks experiencing homelessness every time an oppor tunity arose. He had big ideas on how to help, and always had ques tions about what Nashville was do ing next to help end homelessness.

Paul loved Nashville enough to get angry when people’s needs were not being met. He wanted everyone to do their part to make the world a better place, and he believed in hard work. He saw his friends at The Contributor doing their part by

vending, creating microbusinesses and spreading important news. He heatedly demanded that those with power and money do their part to help those experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness in re turn. He fought against the stereo types and clichés — that everyone can just pull themselves up by their bootstraps, or that poverty is a char acter flaw.

He loved with a ferocity that held leaders accountable, asked hard questions, solved problems, and challenged us all to do our ab solute best for each other.

Paul cared about other people so much.

My hope — and I think his hope — for Nashville would be that we can all learn to love and demand justice for each other with kindness, but also with unrelenting strength, and maybe a little bit of dark humor.

We miss you so much already, Paul.

Paul A. wanted to ‘solve the world’s problems’

BY HANNAH HERNER

When Paul Arndt was in high school, he got in big trouble for selling shots of alcohol to other students from his locker — $1 per shot. He counted this as his first business, a sign of the resourcefulness that would stick with him for the rest of his life.

He had come to Nashville a few years ago to escape some of the cold of his home in Michigan, and camped under Jefferson Street Bridge for much of his time here. If he really had a choice of how to spend his time, he’d be out fishing, but it seems sitting in front of Puckett’s downtown selling The

Contributor was a fine second choice. While he wasn’t selling a high number of papers, he was one of the most consistent and wellknown vendors to The Contributor staff.

If Paul had a catch phrase, it would probably be “what’s going on?” He had a voracious appetite for news, gossip, ciga rettes and black coffee. Through his many submissions to the paper, he wanted to share good news, ways things were getting better for him. But he was also very honest about issues he saw and felt deeply that if he could just get the word out about what people

experiencing homelessness needed, it could get better. Paul was up at all hours of the night just thinking about how to solve the world’s problems.

Paul made friends wherever he went — at his camp, in two different apartment com plexes, at the office, on the street corner. He was a good conversationalist, took interest in other people, and gave away a lot of single cigarettes. The Contributor staff and volun teers worked hard to get him into housing, and a number of times he let others stay with him, even at risk of his own well-being.

On the other hand, Paul was very stub born, and if someone crossed him, he was going to put up a fight.

Life had an unfair amount of challeng es for Paul. What made it easier for him to manage is that he was always thinking about the future, and things he could look forward to.

Paul said once that he wanted to die with a Contributor in his hand. It didn’t happen that way, but he did die having left a mark on this paper, and many others including myself, through it.

A Few Questions with Councilmember Nancy VanReece, District 8

BY JUDITH TACKETT

Nancy VanReece is in her last year of representing Metro Council District 8. She plans to increase her focus on visual arts and has found the ideal platform to her two passions of government relations and supporting community artists in her new position as the Vice President for Strategic Engagement at LDG Development, an affordable housing developer with offices in multiple states including Nashville.

The Contributor talked with VanReece as part of a series called A Few Questions With where we interview councilmembers about their district’s most pressing issues.

What are some unique characteristics of District 8 and its constituents?

With the redistricting, District 8 will move to Antioch. So, I have a bit of nostalgia for District 8 as we know it now. It currently starts with North Trinity Lane and includes North Inglewood, Maplewood, and about 60 percent of the District is north of Briley Parkway into Madison. With Dickerson Pike on one side and Gallatin Pike on the other, we have a lot of different neighborhoods with their own characteristics and personalities.

We have suburban neighborhoods with one- to two-acre lots and a heritage with a lot of country music stars who lived up here from Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright to Lorretta Lynn who had her first home here in Madison. An unusual number of folks who live in the 37115 identify as being in the creative class and are making the majority of their income from some sort of creative work.

The District is also more diverse than peo ple realize. It’s pretty similar in diversity to the countywide population. About 30 percent are African American and 17 percent Hispanic, so it’s diverse in culture. We also have diversity in socioeconomic aspects.

What’s been your approach in terms of affordable housing?

We started that phrase “development for us and not to us” to make sure anything new com ing in was actually serving those already here as well as being a welcoming place for new folks.

I’m really proud that we’ve had a kind of YIM BYism reputation in District 8 – “Yes In My Back Yard.” With that we have been able to provide a lot of affordable and workforce housing opportu nities. The last time I looked, consistently 32-38 percent of all new housing in District 8 during my two terms has been affordable. We’ve done that not by regulation but by sheer will and strategic placemaking to create mixed-income neighbor hoods. When we have affordable, multi-family unit projects going in, it’s across the street from $400,000 townhomes to create mixed-income communities on purpose.

In seven years, every one of my rezoning requests at the Planning Committee got through on consent except for one that was pulled be cause they thought it was something else. The rest of the county may not be aware, but we have done a lot of work up here [to build consensus]. I’m really proud of it.

What are currently the main issues and con cerns you hear about from your constituents?

For the last 10 years when I ask any neigh bors, particularly in the Madison area: ‘what is

METRO COUNCIL COMMITTEES:

• Budget and Finance

• Planning and Zoning

• Public Facilities, Arts, and Culture

it that you like about living here and what do you wish were different?’ People say they like that ‘it’s close to everything. I can get to transit, but I still feel like I’m not in the middle of it all, where I am is not congested.’

When it’s about what they wish was dif ferent, they say, ‘I wish I could walk to things.’

Well, one of those things does not work with the other. But people want restaurants and retail, so they don’t have to drive over the river or into Hendersonville. They also don’t want to have to drive to parks to walk. Those are the types of concerns I hear.

You are a founding member of the Metro Council LGBTQ Caucus, the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and the Ten nessee Equality Project. What are some of the legislative wins you would like to high light in terms of your LGBTQ advocacy?

I’ve seen a lot of change in the last 20 years, from early meetings and I’m talking about 2008, where we met in a back hallway at the Loews Hotel where the doors were closed, and you had to knock and identify yourself before you could go in.

I first ran in 2011, and when asked about my husband avoided the topic. I lost, but had 44 percent of the vote, so I ran again in 2015. When I was asked then about my spouse, I would say, ‘I don’t have a husband, but my partner and I were unable to marry.’ And then I would try to move on the conversation. I got some threat ening mail in 2015. But when I ran in 2019, it was, ‘How is Joan doing?’

I was the first out woman elected to any legislative body in the state of Tennessee in 2015. Brett [Withers] was elected at the same

time and we said, if we get at least 4 or 10 percent of LGBTQ councilmembers, we could form a caucus. When we got five, we officially launched the Caucus. Brett and I are leaving, but the other three are still running and I know there are a few other LGBTQ candidates running, so that this caucus can continue. The LGBTQ Caucus members consider themselves not only as district councilmembers but also as at large representatives for the LGBTQ community.

What are some of the barriers that you think still need to be addressed in terms of LGBTQ rights?

BIPOC and LGBT residents and guests have indicated that our entertainment district down town is challenging, and we should do better. The LGBT Chamber has ongoing discussions with the Convention & Visitors Corp. to look at a program that will show welcoming locations throughout Nashville with a window sticker or the like.

Our trans community continues to be bul lied by inappropriate legislation at the State, and Davidson County should and will need to be proactively speaking up and encouraging support of the Tennessee Equality Project.

What are some legislative barriers you’d like to see addressed?

From a housing side, Tennessee is only one of — I believe three states — that still taxes LI HTC (Low-Income Housing Tax Credit). Unless you’re in a city that has PILOT program, you can’t build affordable housing. It’s the equivalent of the government taxing your down payment on your house. So, I think as far as long-term tackle on the state level, there needs to be a way for the state legislature to realize that if you

want to build affordable housing for low-income workers, you have to find better ways to make sure the housing gets built.

I love that Angie Hubbard of Metro’s new Division of Housing is trying to adjust the Da vidson County Area Median Income (AMI), which is currently calculated including sur rounding counties, to reflect the actual afford ability levels for Nashville.

We still have to do a transit-oriented devel opment site that the state said we could do, but they’re so complicated that no one wants to do them, that needs to be fixed.

So those are a couple of things on the hous ing side.

On the arts and culture side, the city of Nash ville still doesn’t value its creative class the way it should because we are Music City and people come here because of that and because it’s a cre ative environment. Yet our Metro Arts funding is still drastically behind that of our peer cities when we compare per capita spending on the arts. That’s part of living a good life and having those opportunities for everybody is really important.

The city of Nashville loves to plan. We love to do reports and have meetings, and commu nity meetings and charrettes, showing pretty pictures and documents, but actually doing something has been kind of hard.

I’m hoping in the next five to 10 years we see a lot of really good ideas that the community has been involved in actually happen.

What approach would you like the city to take when it comes to addressing home lessness?

Listen to the experts. If I were to answer the question, what do you think we should do about brain surgery, I would say, we should go talk to a brain surgeon. Or when you talk to someone about, “How do you think we should do the infrastructure on this piece of property?” You talk to an engineer.

When you talk about making systemic changes that hopefully hold up and not just be band aids, you need to work with the experts.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would like to give a big shout out to The Contributor vendors. There are two places where I pick up my paper. One vendor is selling at the BrickTops restaurant and then my wife has been buying from Michael at Eastland forever.

My wife Joan has instilled in me to never ignore someone who is on the street. Look them in the eye, wave at them, smile at them, don’t make them invisible. Even if you don’t have any money with you, you always have a smile to give.

*from the TACIR, the Tennessee Advisory Com mission on Intergovernmental Relations: Tennes see is currently in the minority of states that allow local property assessors to include the value of the Federal low-income housing tax cred it (LIHTC) in a property's assessed/appraised value. Continued utilization of this punitive valuation method is detrimental public policy that threatens current and future affordable housing development in Tennessee.

**PILOT information is available at MHDA: http://www.nashville-mdha.org/lihtc-p ilot-program/

I’ve written before about how I must get ‘a certain look’ when I get hungry. Well, that must’ve been the case for most if not all of the instances you’ll read about here. For that reason please know that I’m just as grateful for all this as I am the money I receive — some times even more so especially if I’m REALLY, REALLY hungry.

First up there’s Adam who was just passing through one Sunday evening and stopped at Pan’s Soul Food to grab a bite to eat, and he said, “I thought since I was getting me something to eat I’d get you some thing too.” How sweet! He got me my favorite seafood combo: a sampling of shrimp, crab sticks, scallops and a piece of flounder with fries and slaw all for less than $10. Yum!

Jordan stops by occasionally and she ALWAYS has SPECIAL treats from her favorite coffee shop in East Nashville. Most recently, she not only brought a coffee, she also had a homemade triple berry

Food for Thought

BY NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

pop-tart. (In case you’re wondering, homemade is SO much better than store bought!)

My granddaughter and I met Pat from Pennsylvania and her sis ter Tracy from New Jersey at the Waffle House near my spot while we were waiting to go to a doctors appointment. When I went to pay our bill I was told they’d bought our breakfast!

They said they’d come to town to take their brother home because he was homeless and gotten sick.

I commended them for assist ing their brother, and proceeded to tell them about The Contributor and its purpose to help those ex periencing homelessness.

The funny thing was, I wasn’t even trying to sell the paper that day, I just happened to have one on hand.

Not to be overlooked is Offi cer Hill who stopped one day and offered me a turkey sandwich. (It wasn’t a regular turkey sandwich,

it was Boars Head.) Along with it there were Wavy Lays, Oreos and a strawberry lemonade. (My grand daughter loves ALL those things so I hope he doesn’t mind, I saved it for her!)

There’s Randy who briefly served as the manager of the Jack in the Box before pursuing other employment opportunities. He found out I REALLY liked their tiny tacos and from then on when ever he saw me out he ALWAYS made sure I got them along with anything else I wanted. How? He’d send Doug over telling him he “ had an assignment for him.”

The first time Doug not knowing what he wanted protested saying, “ But I was about to take my break.” Randy said, “ Fine. You can take it when you finish your assignment.”

What was the task? Randy said, “ Take your friend some tiny tacos and something to drink! ” My order was ALWAYS free of charge, but in return, I’d send him the latest

issue of The Contributor. Not a bad trade if I do say so myself!

The last incident I will relate here involves several individuals, but bear with me and you’ll see how it all came together and what made it SO special.

First to stop was a Hispanic man who gave me a bag of fruit. A tasty snack.

Next, Danny gave me a reus able Walmart bag with everything from tuna to toiletries, even socks — but wait, there’s more. Shamir stopped and gave me a dinner plate with chicken and dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, turnip greens and cornbread. It was more than enough for lunch and dinner! For desert, the bread man (who comes every Sunday afternoon) brought chocolate doughnuts in his goody box!

All that was missing was some thing to drink. Just then my Ari zona man appeared.

No, he’s NOT from Arizona,

but the first time he stopped to talk to me he said, “ I don’t have much money, but can I get you anything? ” I told him the Arizona drinks were 99 cents. From that time on a tra dition was born. Now any time he sees me out, he buys me an Arizona drink, and his timing is AMAZ ING! Problem solved.

All that happening in one day would be something special, right? But can you imagine it all happen ing in 10 minutes or so? There was only one thing to say as the last left that day, BREAK TIME!

The special time of giving is upon us, and I know many are hes itant to give money. If you choose to give food, PLEASE KNOW IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED, but remember people need to eat 365 days a year and NOT only during the holiday season.

No matter what you choose to give, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO to help others in your community!

Second Chances and where it’s gotten me in life as of today

BY WILLIAM B, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

You know how a cat has nine lives? I think I’ve had more than nine lives. All the things that have happened to me in the past mentally and physically, I would say I’ve had about 23.

Let’s put it this way, in 1995 I got pinned under a car because I didn’t realize you can’t take the drive shaft out of a car and you can’t have the wheels wedged. It rolled off the blocks I had it on and I was drug down an alley by the car. My starter was holding me. I was screaming and screaming and my son heard me screaming and yelled, “daddy’s hurt, daddy’s hurt!” They were able to get me out. I seen the Lord under there and he said, “I’m not ready for you yet. Go back.”

I also took an overdose in 1975 in Oregon. And here I am here alive because the Lord said he wasn’t ready.

I’m very happy with my church and my church family and I’m very blessed to find The Contributor newspaper They give me chances to tell my life stories and my everyday stories. I think if more people would come to The Contributor you’d see more people to get off the streets. It works for some.

I love getting out there and telling my story, and singing and playing my music. Once I got my map badge in Berry Hill, I came alive. I do this in the rain, I do this in the snow. They know that I’m really trying to get my life together.

I’m not bragging, but my life of crime started at five years old. I think it was because of TV. I watched It Takes a Thief and it was a good show, but maybe not for me. I know the hell I went through when I was on drugs and alcohol and the people I hurt. I’m not going there anymore.

I have a goal. I want to save up money and do

another demo. A little bit of singing, a little bit of joking and a little bit of playing my instruments. I’ve got a scrub board! When I see a musical instrument that’s a little odd, I buy it. I’ve got a triangle, and you wouldn’t believe how many spoons I have. Probably around 75-100. I play so hard, they break and I leave them for someone to get a souvenir.

I have another goal too, I was an ordained minister in 1974 in the state prison. When I was ordained, I done a little preaching while I was in prison. When I got out, I married my baby brother and his first wife. It wasn’t my calling though. My love of my music and meeting people and telling my story is my calling.

There are three ways I'd want to go out in this world: In church, playing my spoons on the streets and singing, or in my bed at my room at Room In the Inn.

Life is not what they say. It’s not really a bowl of cherries. Life is what you make of it, and I think I’ve made quite a bit of my life. And I can only do better.

Local Artist Lucky One Lane played some songs out at Contributor Vendor Wendell J.'s sales location for Veteran's Day. PHOTO BY WENDELL J.

Painting titled, "Northern Lights Reflection" by Contributor vendor Daniel H.

Waffle Shop, one of Nashville’s oldest and most popular events, is back in-person

The event on Dec. 1 will benefit homeless ministries at Downtown Presbyterian Church

BY MARY SKINNER AND DIXIE WILLIAMSON

The Waffle Shop began in 1924 as a fundraiser for the Downtown Presbyterian Church and evolved into a popular holiday tradition. In the early days when downtown was the center of Nashville’s retail, the Waf fle Shop marked the beginning of the Christ mas shopping season. Over the decades it has evolved as an event to raise funds to purchase food and supplies to provide weekly meals for the less advantaged members of our community.

This year’s event takes place Thursday, Dec. 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The church is selling Waffle Shop tickets on the website at dpchurch.com. The $15 ticket includes:

• A waffle breakfast which includes waf fles, grits, a choice of Hattie B’s Hot Chicken or sausage, choice of Frothy Monkey Coffee or spiced tea

• A free guided tour of the church’s beau tiful historic Egyptian Revival sanctuary

• The opportunity to shop at the church’s gift shop which includes homemade baked goods and other merchandise

• A chance to bid on wonderful items at the Silent Auction such as tickets to Immersive King Tut

• Most importantly, it is a contribution to the church’s community outreach program which assists those in our community who need food and clothing

Printed tickets are also available and will be sold by church members or at the church office at (615) 254-7584. Tickets will increase to $20 the day of the event.

Free parking will be available in Lot B

at the Nissan Stadium. And an Old Town Trolley will provide shuttle service. Please refer to the church’s website (dpchurch.com) for more detailed instructions. To purchase a ticket or for more information, go to the church’s website (dpchurch.com) and sup port Waffle Shop 2022.

The 98th Waffle Shop will honor the late Irene Wills

Irene Jackson Wills was a beloved mem ber of Downtown Presbyterian Church (DPC) for many years. She died earlier this year on May 14. In the midst of mourning her loss, the DPC community realizes that we are richer for having had her as a part of our congregation.

For about as long as Irene and her hus band Ridley were married, she was a part of the Waffle Shop activities. July 2022 would have been their 60th anniversary. The deli cious cheese wafers that some members still make for Waffle Shop are from a recipe that, although not verified, may very well have come from Irene. There is explicit instruc tion at the end of the recipe to be careful not to add too much red pepper, especially if it is fresh.

She always made sure that at Christmas time there were poinsettias decorating the sanctuary in memory of her and Ridley‘s son Jesse who died at a very early age.

Irene’s gentle, yet firm and direct ap proach, to expressing her thoughts and opinions was always a unique quality. With assuming trust, she imparted personal infor mation with dignity. Until just a few weeks before her death, Irene helped with bagging

the lunches for our homeless community.

Traditionally, long-timers “graduate” to the head table to make waffles during the annual event. Irene was among those who carefully poured the batter into the irons and watched as the waffles turned a golden brown. She no doubt was one of the neater cooks, as the batter inevitably spilled all over the table.

Ridley Wills credited the recipe for the waffles to Mrs. Noel Oscar. Over the years many hands have gone into the an nual event. Irene participated along with Damaris Steele, Mary Anne Maddin, Lu ann Pilkington, Josephine Douglas, Martha Lindsey, Loiette Henry and Sarah Cheshire, to name just a few.

In recent years, Irene was responsible for recruiting the cooks. Sometimes she would try to get a jump on recruiting them ahead of others who were trying to recruit for other duties, like the servers.

As Waffle Shop returns “in person” this year, those who knew Irene will miss her presence at the table. A dear and devoted member of our church community, the mem ory of Irene’s steadfastness and dedication remains.

The event supports the Downtown Pres byterian Church Outreach Program

As a downtown congregation, we believe God has called us to reach out into the sur rounding community and support Nashville’s most vulnerable and marginalized residents. The church spends almost $15,000 a year in food and supplies to provide a weekly nutritious meal to those in need. Volunteers

assist in making and distributing the meals. Addressing the needs of those struggling to live with burdens such as urban poverty, homelessness, addiction and domestic abuse is best achieved by partnering with dedicated organizations who have built up expertise and effectiveness in their given field. Our partner organizations have a proven track record and we have been supporting them through financial contributions, fundraising events and volunteers for many years. For a complete list of the organizations supported by the Downtown Presbyterian Church, visit dpchurch.com/mission-outreach.

Don’t miss out on the merriment!

What could be better than eating de licious waffles paired with Hattie B’s Hot Chicken while listening to one of Music City’s most popular bands — Les Kerr and the Bayou Band.

Afterwards, browse through the Bake Goods & Gift Shop and be sure to check the Silent Auction, which will have lots of items perfect for holiday gifts.

Then, take a tour of the sanctuary of one of the most unique American church es and Nashville’s second oldest existing church. Designed by William Strickland, the architect who also designed the Tennessee State Capitol, the church was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1993 for its distinctive Egyptian Revival architecture.

Best of all, you will be supporting a very worthy cause by helping the church’s out reach program to raise much needed funds for food to feed those less fortunate members of our community.

Middle Photo from Friday, November 20, 1964 issue of Nashville Banner courtesy of the Nashville Public Library/Special Collections. Pictured left to right: Mrs. John K. Maddin, Mrs. W. Ridley Wills II, Mrs. James P. Pilkington and Mrs. Douglas Henry Jr. set tables for the Waffle Shop to be held a the Downtown Presbyterian Church on Dec. 2.

An alternative to the holiday classics to watch this Thanksgiving

If you’re like me, movies play a big role in your holiday celebrations.

I devoured Rob Zombie’s Halloween remakes in October as an appetizer for his The Munsters reboot on Net flix. And now I have an appetite for films smothered in turkey gravy and family drama. I won’t let the season pass without a viewing of Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), but this year I’m tweaking traditional rec ipes to prepare a feast of lesser-known cinematic Turkey Day celebrations that will satisfy any finicky cinephile’s cravings for unique filmic flavors this Thanksgiving.

The Wiz (1978) is Hollywood’s version of the 1974 hit Broadway musical that remade L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz into a funktastic musical with an all-Black cast. The movie is helmed by the great Sydney Lumet with the also great Quincy Jones handling the mu sic. It features Diana Ross as Dorothy, Michael Jackson as The Scarecrow and Richard Pryor as The Wiz. The movie opens with Dorothy’s family celebrat ing Thanksgiving in their apartment in Harlem. The film was a critical and commercial flop, but it’s become a cult classic with Oz fans and we want to see The Wiz in its rightful seat at the table

this Thanksgiving. Stream The Wiz for $3.99 on numerous platforms or grab the DVD at Nashville Public Library.

Movie fans around the world were saddened by the death of Milwau kee-based musician Mike Schank on Oct. 14. Schank was the best friend of film director Mark Borchardt. Borchardt and Schank became in die film legends when the making of Borchardt’s horror film, Coven (1997) became the subject of an award-winning Sundance Film Festi val hit, Chris Smith’s American Movie (1999). The documentary captures the highs and lows of independent filmmaking while also spotlighting the relationship between the pair of oddball creatives. In one of the film’s most hilarious scenes, Mike arrives at Mark’s place for Thanksgiving dinner after buying a winning lottery ticket. Rent American Movie for $2.99 on Vudu or pick-up the DVD at Nashville Public Library.

Growing up in Michigan, no Thanksgiving trip to my grand mother’s place was complete unless we heard Arlo Guthrie’s hilarious “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” on the radio. After I became a teenager, I learned that “Alice’s Restaurant” was a Vietnam War protest song based

BY JOE NOLAN

on mostly-true events, and that the tune had been made into a movie by Arthur Penn shortly after he helped to launch the New Hollywood era with Bonnie and Clyde (1967). Alice’s Restaurant (1969) is a counterculture curio released just days after Arlo Guthrie played his set at the Wood stock Festival, and both the song and the film feature a Thanksgiving dinner as the starting point for their satirical misadventures. I find Alice’s’ less-than-officially posted to YouTube all the time, and the DVD is at Nash ville Public Library.

In Werner Herzog’s Stroszek (1977) an alcoholic street musician is released from a Berlin prison before he joins his elderly friend and a prosti tute in their dream to leave Germany and start a new life in Wisconsin. Stroszek is a tragicomic fish-out-ofwater story about an unlikely family trying to make a home in an unfa miliar land — it also ends with one of the most unforgettable Thanksgiving scenes ever put to film. This one is required viewing after dinner at my house. Stroszek is streaming for free on the Tubi platform. You can also rent the DVD or stream the movie courtesy of the Nashville Public Li brary. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday, Dec. 1st from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All proceeds go to assist with homeless ministries.

The $15 ticket includes:

• A waffle breakfast which includes waffles, grits, a choice of Hattie B’s Hot Chicken or sausage, choice of Frothy Monkey Coffee or spiced tea

• A free guided tour of the church’s beautiful historic Egyptian Revival sanctuary

• The opportunity to shop at the church’s gift shop which includes homemade bake goods and other merchandise

• A chance to bid on wonderful items at the Silent Auction Purchase tickets Nov. 1 at: dpchurch.com Tickets will increase to $20 the day of the event. Free parking for patrons at Nissan Stadium Lot B

Event takes place at the Fellowship Hall at Downtown Presbyterian Church 154 Rep. John Lewis Way N. Event Sponsors:

The New Christian Year

Selected by Charles Williams (1941)

24th Wednesday after Trinity

ALL the Trinity wrought in the Passion of Christ, minister ing abundance of virtues and plenty of grace to us by him: but only the Maiden’s Son suffered: whereof all the blessed Trinity endlessly enjoyeth.

Juliana of Norwich: Revelations of Divine Love.

MY me is God, nor do I know my selfhood save in Him.

St Catherine of Genoa: Life.

24th Thursday after Trinity

GRACE is only the type of glory, for it is not the ultimate end. It has been symbolized by the law, and itself symbol izes (glory). But it is the type of it, and the origin or cause.

Pascal: Pensées.

THE tree lies as it falls; it is true; but yet it is not the last stroke that fells the tree; nor the last word, nor the last gasp that qualifies the soul.

Donne: Sermons.

24th Friday after Trinity

IT is part of righteous living not to stand in fear of things which ought not to be feared . . . In order that no kind of death should trouble an upright man, the cross of this Man had to be set before him, because, of all kinds of death, none was more execrable, more fear-inspiring than this.

St Augustine: Questions.

GOD compasses us with songs of deliverance, we are sure he would not leave us; but he compasses us with cries too, we are afraid, we are sure, that we may drive him from us.

Donne: Sermons.

24th Saturday after Trinity

THEY used to say that one of the old men asked God that he might see the fathers, and he saw them all, with the excep tion of Anthony; and he said unto him that showed them to him, “Where is Anthony?” And he said unto him, “Where soever God is there is Anthony.”

The Paradise of the Fathers.

NOW therefore, my children, abide in peace, for, behold, Anthony bringeth his journey to an end, and he goeth whither Divine Grace shall bring him.

St Athanasius: Life of St Anthony.

KEEP us, Lord, so awake in the duties of our callings that we may sleep in thy peace and wake in thy glory.

Donne: Sermons.

First Sunday in Advent

GOD is intelligible light.

Aquinas: Summa Theologica.

GOD is that which demands absolute love.

Kierkegaard: Fear and Trembling.

THE beginning is faith, the end is love. And the two blend ing in unity are God, and all else follows on these, ending in perfect goodness.

St Ignatius: Epistle to the Ephesians.

A NOBLE lover does not rest in the gift, but in Me above all gifts.

Thomas à Kempis: Imitation of Christ.

CONSOLE thyself, thou wouldst not seek Me, if thou hadst not found Me.

Pascal: Pensées.

HOW admirable is thy Justice, O thou First Mover! Thou hast not willed that any power should lack the processes or qualities necessary for its results!

Leonardo da Vinci: Notebooks.

1st Monday in Advent

GOD is Love; and He cannot deny Himself.

Doctrine in the Church of England, Report of the Commission.

WHEN God was made man, the innermost heart of the God head was put into man.

Eckhart: Sayings.

FROM all bodies together, we cannot obtain one little thought; this is impossible, and of another order. From all bodies and minds, we cannot produce a feeling of true char ity; this is impossible, and of another super- natural order.

Pascal: Pensées.

1st Tuesday in Advent

THE will to all goodness, which is God Himself, began to display itself in a new way, when it first gave birth to crea tures. The same will to all goodness began to manifest itself in another new way, when it became patience and compas sion towards fallen creatures. But neither of these ways are the beginning of any new tempers or qualities in God, but only new and occasional manifestations of that true eternal will to all goodness which always was and always will be in the same fulness of infinity in God.

William Law: The Spirit of Love.

Feast of St. Andrew

THE Church was created before all things, and for her sake the world was framed.

Hermas: The Shepherd

IF you have the unity (of the Church), whoever possesses anything in that unity possesses it also for you.

St Augustine: On St John

EVERYTHING in the Church is done to create love, in love, for the sake of love, and by love.

St Francis de Sales: On the Love of God.

1st Wednesday in Advent

THE years a.d. 1–30 are the era of revelation and disclosure; the era, which is shown by the reference to David, sets forth the new and strange and divine definition of all time. The particularity of the years a.d. 1–30 is dis- solved by this divine definition, because it makes every epoch a potential field of revelation and disclosure.

Barth: The Epistle to the Romans.

WHAT was the purpose of the Incarnation but this—that the flesh which had sinned could be redeemed by itself?

St Ambrose: On the Incarnation.

1st Thursday in Advent

THOU hast united, O Lord, thy divinity with our humanity and our humanity with thy divinity, thy life with our mor tality and our mortality with thy life. Thou hast received what was ours and given unto us what was thine.

Syrian Liturgy of St James.

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O make this heart rejoice, or ache; Decide this doubt for me; And if it be not broken, break, And heal it if it be.

Cowper: Olney Hymns.

1st Friday in Advent

RELIGION is the possibility of the removal of every ground of confidence except confidence in God alone.

Barth: Epistle to the Romans.

NOTHING burneth in hell but self-will. Therefore it hath been said, Put off thine own will, and there will be no more hell.

Theologia Germanica.

1st Saturday in Advent

A CERTAIN brother asked an old man, saying, “What shall I do because of my negligence?” The old man said unto him, “If thou wilt root out this small plant, which is negligence, a great forest will come into being.”

The Paradise of the Fathers.

EVEN the things which you do after the flesh are spiritual. For you do all things in Jesus Christ.

St Ignatius: The Epistle to the Ephesians.

YOU will never be younger; if not done soon it [the work] will never be done, to the end of all eternity . . . You may indeed excuse yourself and see reasons why the work should not have been done, but it will not have been done.

Gerard Hopkins: Letters.

Second Sunday in Advent

WHAT, then, is God? As regards the universe, He is the final end; in respect of election, He is salvation; as regards Him self, He is self-knowledge. What is God? He is almighty will moved by loving-kindness, virtue, eternal light, in communicable reason, highest blessedness; He is the cre ator of minds to enjoy Himself; He endows them with life to perceive Him, disposes them to long for Him, enlarges them to receive Him, justifies them to be worthy of Him, fires them with zeal, fertilizes them that they may bear fruit, guides them into sweet reasonableness, moulds them into loving-kindness, regulates them for wisdom, strengthens them for virtue, visits them for consolation, illuminates them for knowledge, preserves them for immortality, fills them for happiness, is about their path for safety.

St Bernard: On Consideration.

2nd Monday in Advent

IN every soul, even that of the greatest sinner in the world, God dwells, and is substantially present. This way of union or presence of God, in the order of nature, subsists between Him and all His creatures.

St John of the Cross: Ascent of Mount Carmel.

BY love all God’s chosen have been made perfect; nothing is well pleasing to God without love.

St Clement: Epistles.

2nd Tuesday in Advent

GOD is in all things as being, as activity, as power. But he is procreative in the soul alone for though every creature is a vestige of God, the soul is the natural image of God. This image is perfected and adorned in this birth. No creature but the soul is susceptible to this birth, this act.

Eckhart: Sermons and Collations II

GRACE is indeed needed to turn a man into a saint; and he who doubts it does not know what a man or a saint is.

Pascal: Pensées.

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. First pub lished in 1941, this series of profound quotations, encompassing all walks of life, follows the sequence of the themes and Bible readings anciently appointed for contemplation through out the church's year. 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