Tour Collierville Magazine – May/June 2021 by Tour Collierville Magazine

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“ TH R E E C H O R DS A N D TH E TR U TH ” M A I N A N D M U L B E R R Y: S E S S I O N S | B L U F F C I T Y B A L LO O N JA M B O R E E | S Q UA R E F E E T

LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER

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Contact us to schedule your consultation. 832 W. Poplar Ave. Collierville, Tennessee 38017 | solutionsmedicalcenter.com | (901)853-6428 mar c h / ap r i l 20 21

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“WE WILL MEET OR BEAT ANY FIXED RATE MORTGAGE FROM ANY LOCAL OR ONLINE LENDERS.”

PANSY HALL

LARRY BOYD

ALEXIS BOYD HEINZ

Cell: 901-486-1878

Cell: 901-351-3204

Cell: 901-848-5303

Email: phall@downhomebank.com

Email: lboyd@downhomebank.com

Email: aheinz@downhomebank.com

Online Application:

www.pansyhall.com

www.larrykboyd.com

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CALL US TODAY: 901-854-7383 YOUR LOCAL COLLIERVILLE MORTGAGE LENDER 2

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RE ALT ORS ®

“THANK YOU TO OUR CLIENTS FOR JOINING US IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILDHOOD CANCER” Over $250,000 donated in six months

SERVING COLLIERVILLE FOR OVER 34 YEARS. 968 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE, SUITE 103 COLLIERVILLE, TN 38017 • (901) 259-8500 Each office is independently owned and operated.

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

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LIGHT THE NIGHT! Landscape Lighting Architectural Lighting Security Lighting String Lighting Patio Lighting Advanced Lighting Controls

(901) 371-6031 | Mid-SouthNightLights.com 4

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MAKE YOUR MOMENT WITH MY TOWN. ®

My Town Movers® understands that it’s the moments in life that matter most. Whether you’re moving into your first home or downsizing from a home that contains years of memories, we’ll be there for you. My Town Movers® is committed to making every experience with us stress-free, so you can get back to enjoying the moment.

MyTownMovers.com

WE ARE MORE THAN A MOVING COMPANY We love serving our customers, but we also love it because it allows us to give back to the communities we serve. Through our non-profit foundation , My Town Miracles, we are able to give back to our community in amazing ways.

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CONTENTS 8 12

Letter from the Editor

12 16 18 20 22

WatCh and listEn 24

Community Editorials CHS Class of 2021 Second Chances Praise and Worship At the Crossroads of Tradition & Innovation International Travel During COVID-19

32 34 36

M ay/J u n e 2 0 2 1 | vo l 8 | #3

A Sweeter Sound: Sessions On The Square Up, Up, and Away The Show Must Go On...

squarE FEEt 36 38 40

Aexcellence MISH Furniture Makers

Exquisite Heirloom Quality

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Amish Excellence of Memphis

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lovE, laughtEr, and happily EvEr aFtEr

soCials 44 46

Off the Market Designer Wholesale Home Tour Realtor Tips

44 34

2020 Excellence in Business Awards Main Street Collierville's Easter Eggstravaganza

PUBLISHERS Keith Essary Shannon Essary

EDITOR Regan Hewitt

STAFF WRITERS Anna Bell Nicholas Cotros AK Lewellen

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Life Growing

Michael Stires

LET ME MAKE IMPORTANT PHOTOGRAPHS AN EFFORTLESS PROCESS

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

*Access to Client Closet and Online Styling Service Available

Chelsey Handley

KARENWAITSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

PHOTOGRAPHER Cindy B. Thymius

ADVERTISING & SALES Jessica Fitzhugh-Clarke Victoria McDaniel

Where today’s trends become tomorrow’s traditions

CLIENT SUCCESS COORDINATOR Sheila Holt

Published by Stakt Media 114 E. Mulberry Street Collierville, Tennessee, 38017 P: 901-451-9329 E: sales@stakt.com ADVERTISING: 901-451-9329

110 E. MULBERRY STREET COLLIERVILLE, TN | 901.853.9767 BROOKSCOLLECTION.COM may/ j u n e 20 21

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Letter from the Editor

“THREE CHORDS AND THE TRUTH”

ormally, a video of a person singing or playing an instrument would be no big deal. However, when one man in Italy, struggling with isolation, began singing on his balcony and his neighbors joined in, the heartfelt experience was felt around the world in one of the most-shared videos during the height of the pandemic. (Haven’t seen it yet? Search “quarantined Italians singing from balconies.”) The unifying qualities of music are undeniable and, for this reason, our annual music-themed issue is a staff favorite. As the world fell silent from the closure of concert venues and music studios, the music community did what they do best: got creative. Major musicians started performing from home, bands came together virtually for performances and the desperation of the times led to inspired songwriting. In this issue, we delve into a behind-the-scenes look at the town square’s latest venture, Main and Mulberry: Sessions. This video series, started in 2020, remains an awesome way to bring music back to the Collierville Town Square – the best part is, it can be enjoyed from anywhere. To honor these new ventures and steadfast musicians, we picked our cover lyric, “three chords and the truth,” which was suggested during our cover shoot by Bailey Bigger. While these lyrics appear in songs sung by everyone from U2 to Sara Evans, this phrase was actually coined by famed country songwriter Harlan Howard to describe his sincere and successful songwriting process. It represents the heart of all music: simple, long-lasting and honest. In addition to exploring the innovative performances found on Main and Mulberry: Sessions, in this issue you will find details about the Bluff City Balloon Jamboree,

Tour Collierville Editor Regan Hewitt.

travel tips for your upcoming summer and a celebratory congratulations for Collierville High School’s Class of 2021! We are also super excited to bring back our beloved Collierville-based socials! These have been on hold due to the pandemic and social distancing requirements, but as the world begins to reopen, we cannot wait to, once again, show off the part of Collierville that makes it stand above the rest: its community. Enjoy your first few months of summer, keep those tunes turned up and we’ll see you around the square soon!

On the Cover We’d like to give a huge round of applause to local singer-songwriter Bailey Bigger, for coming out to the Collierville Town Square so we could get the perfect cover shot! As mentioned above, she also inspired our cover lyric during the photoshoot. Thanks, Bailey!

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Lucius E. and Elsie C. Burch, Jr. Library

Personalized Care. Clinical Results. Customized Facials Microcurrent LED Therapy Chemical Peels

SUMMER READING PROGRAM

Waxing Brow & Lash Treatments Event & Bridal Packages Gift Cards

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JUNE 1 - JULY 30 Open to readers from ages 0 - 120 Enjoy programs, prizes, and more!

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All the care you need. Even if it’s just a smile.

At StoryPoint Collierville, from a simple smile to helping you get meet you where you’re at — wherever that may be. For a limited time, take advantage of exclusive seasonal savings! Call today to get started! StoryPoint Collierville 691 S. Byhalia Road Collierville, TN 38017

901-403-6742 StoryPoint.com 10

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"ARISE! SHINE! YOUR LIGHT HAS COME; THE LORD'S GLORY HAS SHONE UPON YOU." --ISAIAH 60:1

Join Collierville UMC Kids

CUMC JULY VBS 19-22 2 0 2 1 6PM - 8PM REGISTER HERE: COLLIERVILLEUMC.ORG/VBS2021

July 19-22 for an awesome week at Adventure Island! All kids who have completed pre-school through 5th grade are welcome to attend this year's VBS! While we're at Adventure Island, we will go on a quest to and Hope. Cost is $10 and includes a t-shirt! See you there!

PRESCHOOL SUMMER CAMPS! MUST BE 2 YEARS OLD BY 6/1/21 TO ATTEND. ALL CAMPS RUN M-F FROM 9:30AM - 2:30PM.

JUNE 7-11: ZOOTOPIA PRESCHOOL JUNE 14-18: SUPERHEROES JUNE 21-25: PLANES,TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES JULY 12-16: OLYMPICS REGISTER HERE: COLLIERVILLEUMC.ORG/PRESCHOOL

454 W. POPLAR AVE. COLLIERVILLE, TN may/ j u n e 20 21 TOURCOLLIERVILLE.COM WWW.COLLIERVILLEUMC.ORG 901.853.8383

SPECIAL HONORS National Merit Finalists

Commended Scholars

Subhash Eedarapalli Sruti Gandreti Brandon Gong Yao He Julia Howell Aiden Jonkman Jack Siegel Emily Sun Rupali Venkatesan Alex Zhang

Allison Boers Anandi Farrell-Rousseau Sarah Heckman Tianya Jin Srisashi Mandava Cola Naidu Sudiksha Polasa Alyssa Smith Noah Stewart Allison Wells

699 Graduates | 282 Honor Graduates* | 10 National Merit Finalists 108 Cum Laude | 10 Commended Scholars | 127 ACT 30 & Above $79,650 in scholarships from the Collierville community

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Shraianya Acharya*, Bianca Aguas, Adam Al Jafari, Natheneal Alamrew, Brenda Aleman Figueroa, Scottie Alexander, Tyland Alexander, Alaina Allen, Nassir Almayahi, Timothy Alway, Robert Amann*, Kelvin Anderson, Serina Baig*, Morgan Baigrie*, Khushi Bains, John Baird*, Colby Baker, Ericka Baker, Mira Baker*, Joshua Ballew, Joshua Bandelin, Kateara Banks, Noah Barbee, Anna Barchak, Jacob Barham, Justin Barham, Davon Barnes*, Kendall Barnes*, McKenzie Barr*, Riley Basham, Antonio Bates, Jacob Bauer, Dylan Baugh, Chad Bayha, Braden Bender, Cecily Berry*, Daniel Bertrand, Anna Betsa, Jigar Bhatt*, Sarah Bhayani*, Justus Biddle, Landon Biggers, Allison Bilbrew, Emma Birdwell, Ashley Biviano, Andrew Blackburn, Connor Blair, Brooke Bledsoe*, Caroline Bledsoe*, Andrew Block, Connor Blount, Allison Boers*, Zachary Borden*, Brian Bortz*, Tyler Boshaw*, Craig Bowlin*, Madigan Bowman, Mary Boyadjian*, Kristin Boyce, Amaya Boyd*, Tawana Boyd, Ethan Bozeman, Anna Bridge*, Lilly Brimhall*, Brianna Brister, Lauren Bristol*, Hunter Brockman, Morgan Brown*, Seth Brown, Catherine Brunswick, Anastasia Buie*, Hannah Bull*, Kylor Bun, Christopher Burns, Megan Butler, Bailey Bynum*, Amelia Byrd*, Tyler Byrd, Melissa Calderon, Justin Caldwell, Connor Callaway*, Adeline Camp, Kayla Campbell*, Andreis Campo, Ashlyn Cantrell, Samuel Cardenas*, Ricorya Cargo, Sarah Carpenter, Ressie Carr, Meghan Carter*, Michael Carter, Terrance Carter, Emma Caskill, Christopher Cates, Julia Cavanaugh,* Andrea Cervantes-Abraham*, Benjamin Chapman*, Carson Chavies*, Isaac Cherry, Sai Chekrith Chintamaneni*, Jason Choi, Natalie Christensen*, Kni’Kayla Clark, Tyler Clark, Vies Clark, Iyana Clay, Jacqueline Clements, Jadyn Cobb*, Carson Cogdell, Christian Coleman*, Jordan Coleman, Ethan Colston*, Chloe Cook*, Gracie Cook*, Ryan

Cook*, Robert Cooper, Theodore Cooper*, Ashleigh Corley*, Darcy Corson*, Ethan Coster, Alyssa Cotham*, Catherine Couture*, Madison Covington*, Jalen Cowan, Bradley Cox*, Mason Cox, Warren Cox*, James Crawford*, Morgan Crawford, Claire Criner*, Jacob Crouch, Emily Crowley*, Jacob Culver, Jaylen Cunningham, Matthew Dahl*, Vyvyan Dang, Avani Daniels-Marks, Srikar Darapu*, Sydney Darby*, Wesley Darnell, Claire Davis*, Sydney Davis*, Jonathan Dawson*, William Deal, Alan Deng, Alexander Denzer*, McKayla DeSouza*, Jaskaran Dhiman*, Jackson Diamond, Faith Dillard, John Dimento, Damarius Dinwiddie, Tyra Dodd*, Morgan Domek, Allison Donahue*, Brycen Donels, Kennedy Dorr*, Kelly Dorriety, Sophia Douglas*, Hannah Downey*, Leela Doyle*, Jalen Driver, Weston Driver, Harrison Dunn, Celia Dupuy*, Alaina Eaton, Caleb Edwards, Matthew Edwards, Subhash Eedarapalli*, Ethan Efraimsen*, Alston Elam*, Aubrey Elam, Cody Embrey, Heather Emery, Sydney Emion*, Ashleigh Enriquez*, Chloe Enzor*, Ethan Erickson, Reagan Ervin, Florentino Escobar*, Margarita Escobar, Brianna Eskridge, Erin Farrell, Anandi Farrell-Rousseau*, Xzaria Fason, Natalie Faulkner*, Michael Flanagan, McKinzey Fletcher, Nicholas Flinn*, Elizabeth Flood*, Leonardo Floyd, Christian Flynn, Susan Fong*, Rikki Ford, Tyler Fowler*, Morgan Franklin, Paris Gaines*, Sruti Gandreti*, Kyle Gant, Ryan Gardner*, Saniya Garg*, Nytavia Gary, Morgan Gentry, Daniel German, Joseph Gervasi*, Gerard Geuss*, Caleb Gilchrist, Jasmine Gillenwaters*, John Glaser, Charles Glover, Kennedy Glover, Trisha Goldsmith, Brandon Gong*, Aidan Gould, Griffin Gray, Zimmer Greene, Chandler Greer, Damarcus Greer, Gabrielle Greer, Juan Guerrero Dubon, Raphael Alfred Guevarra*, Jacob Guillemette, Grant Gunderson*, Chase Guttu, Jordan Gwaltney, Madison Haddix, Yusuf Halim*, Annabelle Hall, Carson Hall*, Trevor Hall, Muskaan Hameed*, Sarah Hanna, Allison Hargrave, Meredith Harpel*, Alexander Harper, Kynndal Harper, Addison Harris, Brooke Harris, Christopher Harris, David Harris, Desztin Harris, John Harris, Pearson Harris, Salma Hashmi*, Ethan Hassler, William Hatchett, Rachel Hatke, Maria Hauffe, Matthew Haws*, Ka’veon Hayes, Haylee Haynes*, Cedric Hazley*, Yao He*, Sarah Heckman, Jaxon Heidenreich, Madison Heldman*, Shahm Hemani*, Bryan Henderson, Gabrielle Henderson, Kamren Henderson, Madison Henderson, Dylan Hensley*, Alex Heo, Brandom Herrera, Olivia Hicks*, Solomon Hightower, Aaron Hills, Alexandria Hilton*, Emily Hinderliter, Jacob Hoang, Luke Hockaday, Wolfgang Hoelmer*, Emma Hofer, Garrett Hoffman, Isabella Holcomb, Dilan Holloway, Thomas Holmes, Brianna Honshell, Raquel Hooker, Cameron Horne*, Hayden Hornsby*, Sawyer House, Morgan Houser*, Jeffrey Houston, Julia Howell*, McKenzie Howry*, Alexandra Huang*, Samantha Hudgins*, Jaylen Hughes*, Terrica Hurt, Aubrey Huth*, Christian Iroh, Malina Ishii, Majdal Issa*, Serene Jaber, Autumn Jackson, LaCorian Jamison, Jordan Jenkins, Kameron Jennings, Shaylee Jerdon, Myles Jessop*, Tianyi Jin*, Abby Johnson*, Arianna Johnson*, Ayden Johnson, Brooke Johnson*, Celeste Johnson*, Chase Johnson, Emma Johnson, Faith Johnson, Keith Johnson, Kirsten Johnson*, Cobi Jones, Hayden Jones, Justin Jones, Lillian Jones, Olivia Jones, Shantanna Jones, Aiden Jonkman*, MaKena Jordan*, Jordan Jump*, Sydney Kail, Eric Kang*, Olivia Keffeler, Sarah Kelley*, Kyle Kelly, Reghan Kerr-Lewis*, Esme Keszler*, Arham Khan, Insiya Khan*, Savannah Kilgore, Anes Kim*, Gage King*, Gavin King, Jamison King, Kellis Kirby, Ethan

Kirk, Margaret Knight*, Kirsten Kones, Andrew Kukkapalli*, Haniya Lakhani, Angela Mariz Lambo, Albert Lambright, Carol Ann Land, Wyatt Lankford*, Fadl Lareef*, Ella Laughmiller*, Benjamin Laughner, Alexander Lawrence, Hyunwoo Lee, Sharon Lee*, Olivia Leggett*, Julia Lewis*, Daniel Liggins, Caleb Lightsey, Mark Lindsey*, Kennedi Lofton, Joshua Logan, Duncan Loomis, Krystal Lucas, Melissa Lukawitz, John Lunsford*, Cameron Lytle, Angelique Maartens, Hannah Mabie*, Robert Macri*, Rayven Madison, Bilha Magu, Meenakshi Malkar*, Jaden Malone, Madison Malone, Srisashi Mandava*, Reagan Mangavalli, Abigail Manning*, Tamyra Marshall, Kassandra Martinez, Ava Martino*, Martin Maxim*, Patrick May, Mariana McAlvin, Summer McCalleum, Kylie McCallum, Madison McDonald, Najah McDowell, William McFall, Hannah McGregor, Amoriana McKinney, Jeremiah McKinney, Ryan McTigue*, Madison McWhorter, Alessandro Medina, Mei Lin Melson, Abhishek Menothu*, Luke Michaud*, Lanie Michiels, Angelina Miljanic*, Brooke Miller*, Joshua Miller, Marlaina Miller, Joseph Milligan, John Mills, Isaac Miranda, Samuel Miranda, Madeline Misavage*, Taryn Miskowiec*, Maeve Mitchell, Lucas Mobo*, Sahil Mohammed*, Elijah Molina*, Maria Montano, Makayla Montgomery, Tiara Montgomery*, Justin Moore, Addison Morefield*, Kieron Morman, Jack Morris*, Kayla Moscon*, Dwight Moss, Daniel Moultrie, David Mullaly*, Preston Nabors*, Saloni Naidu*, Anish Nakka*, Travis Nance, Ashmita Nauhria*, Jesse Navarro, Cole Neal, Carly Nelle, Connor Nelson*, Cooper Nelson*, Maya Nelson, Colby Newberry*, Gina Nguyen*, Maddison Nichols, Erin Noonan*, Jordan Norris, Abigail Norwood*, Alexsandra Nott, Nathan O’Connell, Matthew Ochoada, Anna Odom*, Talmage Old*, Elizabeth Olson*, Nhu Ong, Samuel Osborn, Alexis Oszaniec, Kendall Owens, Nehal Pagadala*, Amberlyn Parker*, Samantha Parker*, Duncan Parkes, Kayla Parnell, Katherine Parr, Peter Parrino, Grace Partin*, Bradford Partlow, Shivani Patel, Conner Patterson*, Nolan Patterson*, Savannah Patterson, Frederick Patton*, Lane Pauly*, Riley Pearson, Asher Perrigin*, Walker Perrin, Conor Perry, Danny Perry, Avery Peterson*, Myles Peterson, Kennedy Pettet, Miranda Pham*, Jake Phipps, Reese Pickering, Aidan Pier*, Joshua Pike, Mya Pilcher*, Stone Pittman*, Bradley Pleasants, Jared Plummer*, Demi Pointer*, Sudiksha Polasa*, Abhilash Poluri*, Gracen Ponnath, Dallas Pope, Alayna Porter, Allen Powell, Dylan Powell, Patrick Powell, Zoe Powell, Timothy Prewitt, Evan Prouty, Logan Purser*, Ethan Pyatt*, Breanna Quinn, Bryson Quinn*, Ian Rainey*, Srija Rairao*, Nicholas Ranks, Lily Reed, Tianna Reese*, Suchir Reganti*, Alexander Reives, Hayden Rice, Hope Rice, Markus Richard*, Keundre Richardson, Paige Ritchey, Rachael Rivera, Tia Rizvi, Sarah Roberson*, Daniel Robertson, Madelyn Robertson, Lauren Robinson, Megan Robinson, Hunter Rodgers, Johnathan Rodgers, Mark Rose*, Frank Ross, Lauren Rowland, Tea Rugolo*, Ethan Ruiz Hernandez, Reagan Rukstad*, Nazah Rupani*, Sahir Rupani*, Saman Rupani*, Dylan Rupprecht, Braden Rushing*, Austin Ryan, Caleb Sabin, Gabrielle Sadd, Lily Saddler, Roberto Salazar, Nikitha Sam*, Mazin Sarwar*, Richard Sawyer*, Bradley Schillinger, Dominic Scholze, Rico Schwartz, Matthew Scoggins, Macey Scott, Tera Scott*, Cayley Scroggins, Zachary Scroggs, Victoria Shade, Chanell Shannon, Nia Sharp*, Sarah Shaw, Abby Shelton, Kathryn Shelton, Taylor Shelton, Zoe Shelton*, Laila

Shepherd*, Adnan Shihaibar*, Cody Shore, Shakyra Shore, Emily Siegel*, Jack Siegel*, Benjamin Simcoe*, Xavier Simmons, Nathan Simpson, Derwin Sims, Shreya Singh*, Aanchal Singhal*, Pallavi Singhal*, Anna Sisson, Sebastian Slater, Alyssa Smith*, Jordan Smith, Kaitlyn Smith, Kamille Smith*, Lauren A. Smith*, Lauren E. Smith*, Matthew Smith, Trinity Smith, Taylor Smrt*, Julia Soares, Swarna Somasundaram*, Cristina Sotelo Salinas, Ausam Sourti, Daniel Sowder*, Jaden Spencer*, Mya Spencer, Andrew Stalls*, Brooke Stamps, Allie Starrett, Daija Steele, Alexis Steelman, Grant Stevens*, Justin Stevens, Carson Steward, Dominick Stewart, Megan Stewart*, Natasha Stewart, Noah Stewart*, Reese Stimpson, Greyson Stovall, Kendall Strange, Robbyn Stringfellow, Benjamin Stroud*, Haisten Studstill, Sahar Suleman*, Emily Sun*, Vedh Sunkara*, Margaret Sweet*, Madihazaman Syeda*, Dylan Tackett, Gracelyn Tanner*, Gavin Tasker*, Kody Tate*, Landon Tate, Caroline Taylor, Jacob Taylor, Koby Taylor, Myron Taylor, Callie Thomas, Ila Thomas, Tyler Thomas, Jordyn Thompson, Maddox Thompson, Julia Timms*, Demiah Todd, Destiny Todd, Haley Tolar, Jonathan Tooby*, Michelle Tran, Natalia Trexler, Kennedy Trice, Benjamin Tucker, Gavin Turfler, Noah Upchurch, Jared Uribe, Philip Urrutia*, Dannett Valdez, Thomas Van Duyn, Ethan Van Horn, Athira Vasudevan*, Lawson Vaughn, Zackary Vega*, Rupali Venkatesan*, Brayan Javier Ventura Estrada, Jordan Victor, Shaiyaz Virani*, Ethan Von Gunten*, Savanna Walden, Kennedy Walton, Kowin Walton, Monterrious Walton, Muhammad Waraich*, Roqaiya Waraich*, John Ward, Margaret Ward*, Samuel Warren, Mariah Washington, Ava Wasilewski, Cole Waycaster, Hasham Wazir, Luke Weatherly, Nisha Weaver, Darrell Weems, Allison Wells*, Sydney Weron, Cooper Werth*, Ryann West, Timia Westbrook, Tanner Whatley, Lauren Whitaker, Natalie White, Robson Whittaker, Tyler Wigington, Peyton Wilkinson*, Anna Williams*, Ashley Williams, Austin Williams, John Williams*, Karrington Williams, Nyah Williams*, Emily Winsett*, Colton Winters, Jalisa Wiseman, Lilian Wiseman, Ella Woodcock*, Emily Woodruff*, Kirbi Woods*, Bailey Wooldridge, Emma Worrell*, Catherine Wozniak*, Emma Wyatt*, Thomas Wyrick*, Cooper Yancey*, Kaleb York, Stephanie Young*, Jacob Yount, Christian Zabielski*, Olivia Zayed, Samantha Zeng*, Juan Zepeda, Alex Zhang*, Matthew Zhang*, Ryan Zona

may/ ju n e 20 21

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www.TNHERO.com

Simon Clark, ex-pro soccer player and Collierville dad of three, is one of the few real estate agents in the Memphis area that is part of Homes for Heroes. This program, started shortly after the 9/11 attacks, is designed to give money from the home buying/selling process back to firefighters, EMS, law enforcement, military members and veterans, healthcare professionals and teachers through both grants and real estate-related cash rewards. Born in Cambridge, England, Simon moved to the United States in 2002 after an injury ended his budding professional soccer career. In 2012, when he moved to the Memphis area, he quickly fell in love with Collierville. Simon’s background is in finance, but after taking a break to be a stay-at-home dad, he chose to re-enter the market as a real estate agent. “I just love it. It is flexible and lets me stay involved as a parent,” he said. His three children are currently enrolled in Collierville Schools and his two daughters are active in the cheer community. Shortly after starting his real estate career, Simon discovered Homes for

Heroes. “It’s an amazing program that helps so many people,” he said. “It’s a way to save money when buying or selling a home because you save on real estate transactions,” explained Simon. “There’s no red-tape. If you fit in one of those categories, you automatically qualify.” Simon explained that the decision to become an affiliated Homes for Heroes real estate agent was an easy one for him. “It’s a great way to give back to those who serve our community and our country,” “As a nurse, I work long hours and deal with stressful situations. It feels great to feel appreciated and know that serving others does not go unnoticed.” - healthcare worker

he explained. Simon says that, on average, heroes receive $2,400 back from their real estate transactions. However, it gets even better. The program also supports the Homes For Heroes Foundation, which awards grants to charitable organizations that support heroes. By March 2021, the foundation has already awarded over $10,000 in grants for

McLemore & Co. Realtors 118 E. Mulberry St. Suite 101 collierville, tn 38017 MAC-Realtors.com • 901.701.7555 14

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the year. “I’m so proud to be a part of it,” said Simon. Although he has been working in real estate and with the Homes for Heroes program for 5 years now, Simon still wants to get the word out about this fantastic program and how you can become involved. “There are so many people I speak to who say ‘I wish I’d known about that’ when they were buying a house,” he said. Whether you want to utilize the Homes for Heroes program or are just looking for someone who is knowledgeable about the Collierville area, you should visit Simon Clark at Real Living McLemore & Co. on the Collierville Town Square. As a long-time Collierville resident, Simon knows the area and the school districts. “I’m here to give advice on whatever you need – whether it be about a school, a potential new home or something else entirely. I’m always available,” he said. To get started working with Simon, call (901) 612-0747 or email him at simon@mac-realtors.com today!

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Second Chances Hi everyone! My name is Sweet Pea and I’m thrilled to share my story with you. My life began as a puppy at the Collierville Animal Shelter. The humans there fed me, loved on me and gave me the name Sweet Pea. Back then, I was the kind of little baby that people loved to snuggle with and “oooh” and “ahhh” over, so I was immediately adopted. Sadly, the rest of my story is an all-too common one. My people grew busy with human things and I grew up in the backyard. My humans finally decided they didn’t have time for me, so they dropped me off at a shelter. I was terrified and heartbroken. Luckily, that shelter found my microchip and realized that I had originally come from the Collierville Animal Shelter, so I was returned there. Everyone welcomed me back with open arms, but to be honest, I was still terrified. I think my reaction was similar to what I remember hearing the human children say about their first day at school. They were scared about the unknown rules, scared that the other humans wouldn’t like them and scared that they would do something wrong. That was me at the shelter. When humans would come to take me for a walk, I would try to make myself small and invisible. When potential forever-home people would meet me, I would

“The shelter humans say I am truly a reflection of my name because I will lay my head in their laps, lick their hands and give them kisses.” hide in the corner. Everything I did was working to reduce the risk of repeating what had happened to me last time I was adopted, but I was also working against myself. The good news is that time heals all wounds, right? Like a child in school, I eventually learned the routine and started to gain confidence again! I find myself loving my walk, running and playing and reacting to humans with

love. I am still very cautious when I meet new people, but if they’re patient and give me about ten minutes, I will share my heart in a deep and affectionate way. The shelter humans say I am truly a reflection of my name because I will lay my head in their laps, lick their hands and give them kisses. So now I’m here, asking if there are any humans that would love a beautiful, brindle one-year-old boxer-mix like me? Who would let me stay in their house and let me show off how playful, smart and happy I am? Could you be my new forever home? I’m here at the shelter, holding on to the hope that if you’re reading this, YOU are my forever family. If you think we could be a match, please make an appointment to meet me. We can go for a walk and I can show you how much this sweet pea has to give.

XOXO,

sweet pea

Julie Weaver. Collierville Animal Services is located at 603 E. South Street, Collierville. Call 901-457-2670 or come by to find your perfect companion!

SPONSORED BY: Dogtopia at Carriage Crossing. *2 weeks unlimited daycare for newly adopted pups from the Collierville Animal Shelter. 16

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PR AISE

AND

Worship

What do the terms “praise” and “worship” mean to you? Praise is talking about God to God! Praising God is to brag on God! As Hebrews 13:15 ESV says, “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” As for “worship,” that is something we understand here in the South. There are great examples of it almost every weekend in the fall when hundreds of thousands of people meet in stadiums to cheer on their beloved football teams. This is an example of great corporate, or group, worship, but to a false god. Some people define worship as a time when their church meets. Others only define worship as playing music or singing. Worship can be music and singing – however, it can also be a number of different things. There are many different definitions of worship, but a simple one is, “Worship is our response to God for who He is and what He has done in our lives.” You can worship the Lord through song, but you can also worship Him through prayer, scripture, nature and many other forms. One of the many things we have learned through this pandemic is how much corporate worship means to people. As COVID-19 restrictions continue to relax and people begin rejoining their lives, don’t forsake assembling with other believers. Return to church and engage in corporate worship.

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Being the Worship Pastor at Central Church here in Collierville, I would love to have you come visit us. One of my goals as Worship Pastor is to plan our worship services in a way that promotes strong corporate worship. I try to follow the model laid out in scripture:

• Ephesians

5:19 says, addressing one another in psalms (Scripture songs) and hymns (Older songs) and spiritual songs (Newer songs), singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.

• Psalm 100:1-2 also says, “Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” God does not need our worship for Him to survive. He is looking for our hearts, not our talents. My prayer is that this article encourages you to strongly engage in corporate worship in the church God has called you to. May it richly change our community and His kingdom.

Chris Copeland, Worship Pastor Central Church 2005 Winchester Blvd, Collierville TN 38017 centralchurch.com

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TH E

CROSSROADS

Tradition & Innovation

As you may remember, Collierville celebrated our 150th birthday with the “Shine A Light” initiative in 2020. As we have grown from 7,800 citizens in 1980 to over 52,000 today, strategic development has not only occurred within our borders but all around us. Through all of this, we have maintained an unique sense of independence, as evidenced by our own school system and Town-managed water and sewer systems. Additionally, our thoughtful assets give a sense that Collierville is much bigger than it actually is. Many of the cities we benchmark and often compete against, such as Franklin, TN, Carmel, IN and Marietta, GA, are much larger when compared to Collierville. Collierville continues to successfully manage growth and assets, while maintaining a sense of tradition that uniquely positions us as a dynamic community.

Collierville Schools The Collierville school system is not only rated one of the best in the state, but is also academically competitive with some of the best districts in the region. Our new $93,000,000 Collierville High School is the largest public high school in the State of Tennessee and, arguably, the most sophisticated. The Town’s commitment to this life-changing asset speaks volumes about our communities’ priorities. Our school system fuels residential growth, attracts corporate headquarters and differentiates our Town as a truly innovative community. I would be hard-pressed to find a similar asset in another community with 52,000 residents — it just doesn’t exist!

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photo | RED BARDES

Interestingly enough, the recent Women’s National Invitational Basketball Tournament (WNIT) picked the 3,500-seat My Town Movers Arena at Collierville High School to host their semifinal and championship games. Collierville was picked over Charlotte’s Bojangles Coliseum (9,600 seats), Ft. Worth’s Wilkerson-Greines Center (5,000) and Rockford’s UW Health Sports Factory (3,700).

Corporate Expansion & Relocation To give more perspective, Elkhart, IN, Florissant, MO and Galveston, TX are all towns with about 52,000 residents. However, these communities do not have the assets we have, and I would again be challenged to find a community of a similar size with the corporate headquarters dynamics that Collierville enjoys. Our corporate partners in FedEx World Technology Center, Helena Agri-Enterprises, MCR Safety, JuicePLUS, Orgill, Mueller Industries and soon-to-arrive IMC account for close to 4,000 corporate headquarters jobs in approximately 1,700,000 square feet of office space. They are here for a variety of reasons, including the fact that Collierville is an excellent location to relocate to as well as recruit and retain from. Our residential, retail and restaurant markets all benefit from this dynamic. What’s going on with Collierville’s corporate headquarters expansion and relocation surge, by scale, is the exact same thing that is happening in Atlanta, GA and Austin, TX. We have the infrastructure, amenities and assets that allow us to compete in the hyper-competitive world of office expansion and relocation. Our highly-organized and thoughtfully-planned Town of 52,000 is unbelievably dynamic, competitive and strategic, all while maintaining a strong sense of small-town community. From the FedEx World Technology Center to the award-winning historic Collierville Town Square, from Collierville High School to H.W. Cox Park, we truly are at the crossroads of tradition and innovation. John D. Duncan Director of Economic Development 500 Poplar View Parkway Collierville, TN 38017 901-457-2200 General 901-457-2213 Direct 901-457-9325 Cell www.AccessCollierville.com

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International Travel DURING COVID-19

As the world begins to reopen, there is pent-up demand for travel to resume. Islands and countries are welcoming travelers back and people are ready to go! Below are a few helpful tips for when you are ready for an international vacation:

TIP 1: CHECK YOUR PASSPORT In order to fly internationally, you must have a valid passport. Depending on the location that you are traveling to, this passport typically must be valid 3-6 months after you return home. Before booking your trip, look at your passport: is it still valid? What is the expiration date? If you need to renew your passport or apply for a new one, make sure you have plenty of time before your trip as it can take quite a while. Due to the pandemic, passport processing has experienced significant delays. Make it a priority!

TIP 2: CHECK THE COUNTRY’S ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Everywhere has their own entry requirements. Some places require a negative COVID-19 test anywhere from 10 to 3 days prior to travel, some allow you to enter without a test but you must have received both doses of the vaccine and others do not require testing at all. If you need testing pre-travel, it is important to make sure you are receiving the correct type (PCR vs. rapid tests). All required information must be properly documented on your results and the testing lab location must meet all specified requirements. Many countries will also require you to fill out a health questionnaire and submit it online days prior to travel.

TIP 3: FOLLOW TRAVEL PROTOCOLS Wear a mask when it is required, wash your hands regularly and carry hand sanitizer or wipes with you. I recently traveled to Cabo San Lucas where I visited several different properties. At each one, I was greeted by someone that took my temperature, offered hand sanitizer and had me step on a mat with sanitizer to clean my shoes. This process was repeated in every restaurant that I visited as well. 22

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TIP 4: KNOW TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS TO FLY BACK HOME As of March 2021, the United States requires every person flying back into the country on an international flight to have a negative PCR test result. Once you arrive at your resort, you will set up a time for your test. The results will be sent to you by text or email. Depending on your airline, you will then load your results onto your airline app or show them at airport check-in. You will also want to make sure any other departure forms are properly filled out and submitted.

TIP 5: USE A TRAVEL ADVISOR Things are changing daily. A trusted travel advisor will help guide you through the process of international travel and keep you up-to-date on the current travel requirements. We are seeing more and more requests for travel in late 2021 through 2023. Plan early to take advantage of availability, refundable deposits and discounts. Happy traveling!

Cathy Sprayberry Yellow Shoe Travel 901-488-7297 Cathy@yellowshoetravel.com Facebook: Yellow Shoe Travel – Cathy Sprayberry Instagram: @yellowshoetravelcathy www.yellowshoetravel.com

Make plans to visit Discovery Park of America this summer.

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100 Years, 3 Ge ne rations

Family owned and ope rated since 1921, Jim’s Place Gr ille and the Tara s Family are honored to celebrate our 100th year of se r vice to the Greate r Me mphis Area.

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ain and Mulberry is making new history on the historic Collierville Town Square. For many, the town square is known for music. Most Friday nights in the spring, local bluegrass musicians casually meet at the square, grouping up for spontaneous tunes as visitors stroll the area. In the summer, country and rock bands come through town for Main Street Collierville’s Summer Concert Series on Thursdays. All of this paused in 2020 and the impact on the music community ran much deeper than Collierville. “I actually had my first record deal that February,” said Bailey Bigger, a local folk singer-songwriter. “I was on tour when the first serious shutdowns started to happen – I had my last show in Knoxville before I headed back to Memphis.” Bailey’s brother, Wyly, had a standing gig playing piano in the Peabody Hotel’s lobby, alongside several other bookings each week. “I had started to get my foot in the door in Nashville as well,” he said.

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Suddenly left with a void of performances, musicians had to find new ways to stay involved with the now-virtual music scene. Some focused on learning new instruments and techniques, and many wrote songs to cope with the emotional toll of the year. Adam Miles, a guitarist and songwriter, took the year to invest in his growth as a musician. “With live music at a standstill, school being all online and the whole rest of the world basically on hold, I had a lot of time to get creative with songwriting. I feel like I’ve honestly grown a lot this past year as a songwriter,” he said. “Writing my own songs is really my favorite thing to do.” Another local musician, McKenna Bray, who had been planning a 2020 tour, continued to write songs when she could. “I was supposed to go on tour with Zach Pietrini, but we ended up writing a five song EP titled ‘Modern Love’ that is set to release this summer,” she said. Others took to the Internet to host virtual concerts and engage with fans in a new way. Duo Mike Sweep and Chris Johnson, who comprise the group Johnny Maestro, immediately decided to go “live” on Facebook®. “[It was] weird at first due to no actual ‘live’ audience physically in front of you, but we became more comfortable with it,” they said.

“IT WAS WEIRD AT FIRST DUE TO NO ACTUAL ‘LIVE’ AUDIENCE PHYSICALLY IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT WE BECAME MORE COMFORTABLE WITH IT.” JOHNNY MAESTRO

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Bailey Bigger

Yubu Kazungu, a graduate from the Memphis College of Art, used Facebook® to transform a 2020 European tour into a daily acoustic show called “Yubu’s Afternoon Sessions.” He also decided to record his new material at Sun Studios. “I spent quite a bit of the lockdown recording and mixing my new records,” Kazungu said. Main and Mulberry took action to support local artists and musicians, and keep the Collierville Town Square alive with the sound of music, with Main and Mulberry: Sessions. The podcast series debuts on Friday afternoons on Main and Mulberry’s Facebook® and YouTube™ channels. Featuring everyone from local fan favorites to the newly discovered, welcoming any and all genres of music, Sessions aims to lift up performers and share their music with a wider audience. “I jumped on coming out to perform for Main and Mulberry: Sessions because it was safe and small, and a great opportunity to

“I JUMPED ON COMING OUT TO PERFORM FOR MAIN AND MULBERRY: SESSIONS BECAUSE IT WAS SAFE AND SMALL, AND A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY AND WORK ON A PROJECT DURING ALL OF THIS CRAZINESS.” BAILEY BIGGER

Yubu Kazungu

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play and work on a project during all of this craziness. In all of this, as an artist, you’re just hungry to share and to perform,” said Bailey Bigger. Bray was also excited to record. “Growing up in Collierville, I have always loved the community here and seeing that Sessions is showcasing artists in the area, I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of it!” she said.

Similar to guests of Main and Mulberry’s other podcast series, Sessions performers are also encouraged to share how they write songs, where they learned to play, their first concerts and more. “I got to tell my story through song and in the interview. It was a chance for me to break away from my band for an evening and enjoy the acoustic nature of the songs we wrote,” added Kazungu. Main and Mulberry: Sessions are recorded on the Collierville Town Square, in the studio and occasionally outside on the square itself. “It was a beautiful day out on the square and people walking would stop and listen for a bit from afar, so it really ended up feeling like I got to perform for strangers again, which is such a beautiful thing for me,” Bailey Bigger explained. Memphis is a musical powerhouse and Main and Mulberry is helping Collierville become an active participant in this rich culture. Both before and after performing on Sessions, many of these musicians were invited to play at local events and restaurants here in Collierville, and they say Collierville locals are great crowds.

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“It’s always a great feeling when you’re performing background music at a restaurant and finish a song to realize the room is silent. People listening with intent is always a great feeling as an artist, especially when performing original music,” said Bailey Bigger. “[They’ve] been a well-receiving and involved audience each time we have played [at Highlander Pub and Tony’s Trophy Room],” shared Johnny Maestro. “We’ve gotten other performance opportunities due to playing at these venues, even private parties.”

“THE VIBE THAT SESSIONS HAS IS SIMPLY UNMATCHED. WHEN YOU WATCH THE DIFFERENT EPISODES OF ALL THE DIFFERENT MUSICIANS, IT’S SOMETHING THAT IS JUST SO UNIQUE. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE HEART AND SOUL OF COLLIERVILLE, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING ONE OF THE COOLEST PLATFORMS FOR MUSIC.” ADAM MILES Jeremy Stanfill

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Amber Dunn

The response to Sessions outside of Collierville has also been impactful. For instance, Johnny Maestro’s acoustic recording of their new single “Heartless Valentine” received over 10,000 views as of April 2021. “We couldn’t be more grateful,” the duo said. “A lot of people I don’t know were commenting and messaging me personally about my Sessions performance, as well as people in other cities!” remarked Bray. Wyly Bigger agreed, saying, “I’ve had several people reach out to me on Facebook® to tell me that they watched the session and enjoyed it. I shared a link to it on my website as well. I really am glad to have that session to share.” Main and Mulberry: Sessions can share not only a song but a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of local musicians. As Miles said, “The vibe that Sessions has is simply unmatched. When you watch the different episodes of all

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Johnny Maestro

the different musicians, it’s something that is just so unique. It highlights the heart and soul of Collierville, while also providing one of the coolest platforms for music.” Sessions live streams on Main and Mulberry’s Facebook® page and YouTube™ channel on Fridays at 3 PM. Snap the QR codes below to see them all! story | REGAN HEWITT

Main and Mulberry on YouTube

Will Tenney

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Main and Mulberry on Facebook

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UP, UP, AND AWAY D

urham Events and Bluff City Balloons are taking the Mid-South to the sky on Father’s Day Weekend! “It’s going to be a weekend to remember,” shared Toni Durham, Durham Events founder and Bluff City Balloon owner. The inaugural Bluff City Balloon Jamboree, presented by Alston Construction, will be hosted June 18-20. “This event is about bringing smiles to the community,” shared Durham. “After the tough year we’ve all had, this weekend is about bringing joy to the whole Bluff City at large.” On Friday June 18th, a select 500 children will have the opportunity to partake in a truly magical night of 32

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fun! “The Special Night for Special Kids is going to really be something special,” said Durham with a smile. “The best way to describe it is that we are going to give these kids their very own hot air balloon festival privately so that their needs can be met in a safe environment. We’ll have at least two ADA compliant balloons to accommodate the needs of any of the children and we’re there to serve them.” From 5-9 PM, children and adults with special needs will enjoy a free evening of festival fun including tethered balloon rides and activities for all ages! The Bluff City Balloon Jamboree is also accepting donations in order to host this event at no charge for these children and their families.

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presented by:

On both Saturday and Sunday mornings, all 15 hot air balloons will take to the skies during the morning mass ascension event. Spectators can expect to capture remarkable pictures from 5:30-8:30 AM. The festival truly begins at noon and goes until 10 PM. Ticket holders can walk the grounds, explore the treasures of the arts and crafts vendors, enjoy food from local food vendors and take

“This event is about bringing smiles to the community. After the tough year we’ve all had, this weekend is about bringing joy to the whole Bluff City at large.” -Toni Durham a moment to shop with local retail vendors! Not only will you be supporting these businesses — every dollar and donation put toward this event will impact the local school system! “Originally we were going to host the event in 2020,” shared Durham, “but now because we had more time to prepare, we were able to establish the Bluff City Balloon Jamboree as a 501c3 and now every donation and sponsorship is a charitable donation that

will benefit education through Collierville Rotary Club, CEF [Collierville Education Foundation] and others to be dispersed to schools throughout the Mid-South.” The positive impact on Collierville will be left long after the balloons have floated back down. Each day at 6 PM, tethered rides and the night mass ascension Balloon Glow will begin. Imagine all 15 hot air balloon pilots hitting their burners simultaneously in a choreographed rhythm. “My greatest hope is that the Bluff City Balloon Jamboree becomes an annual event where Collierville is front and center,” shared Durham, “where people from the Bluff City and all over have this memorable experience for the entire family that makes them want to keep coming back to Collierville year after year. I want everyone to think ‘I can’t wait for next year’.” The Town of Collierville and companies like Alston Construction are excited about the event. Chad Lindsey, VP/ General Manager of Alston Construction, said, “When Toni approached Alston about this exciting event and shared her vision for creating a family-fun annual balloon jamboree, we knew we wanted to be a part of it. At Alston, we are always trying to find a way to give back to the communities we build in and this event is an outstanding way to do just that.” Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner has high hopes for an eventful weekend! “This is a unique event for the MidSouth, and we are pleased to have the Bluff City Balloon Jamboree take place in the Town of Collierville. We know that everyone is ready to return to outdoor festivals and believe that the jamboree will bring much-needed cheer to our greater community. The organizers are also doing their due diligence to make sure COVID-19 protocols are in place for everyone to safely attend,” said Mayor Joyner. It is also important to note that tickets will not be available for purchase on the Maynard Way festival grounds, donated to the event by Collierville local, Dean Wingo. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children (4 to 14) and FREE for children 3 and under. Tethered rides will be available for $20 per person from 5–8 PM. Tickets must be purchased in advance at www.TheBluffCityBalloonJamboree.com, with a limit of 5,000 tickets each day. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to visit Collierville’s first Bluff City Balloon Jamboree this Father’s Day weekend! story | ANNA BELL photos | BLUFF CITY BALLOONS

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The Show Must Go On... Briarcrest Fine Arts

e are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and can ease back into the more fun activities. One of these is the delights of the stage. Briarcrest Christian School has one of the largest K-12 theatre programs in the district. Beth Rooks, Director of Marketing and Communications, was excited to share that the Elementary Theatre Department opened “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” at the beginning of April. “Our productions are really unbelievable, from the set, the costuming, everything. The kids do such a great job,” said Rooks. Director of Briarcrest’s Elementary and Middle School Theatre Program, Jennifer Douglas, shared how proud she is of the kids for being able to put all of this together, especially during a pandemic. “We had many obstacles to navigate around COVID-19 and these kiddos never batted an eye. They are true wonders in their dedication, perseverance and resilience, and I am incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with them,” said Douglas. Briarcrest’s production of this classic show involved almost sixty students. With so many 34

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actors, actresses and stagehands, practicing social distancing, wearing masks and staying safe may seem impossible. However, with proper planning, it can go off without a hitch. “We worked with our high school director to mitigate the risk,” said Douglas, who was also the director and choreographer for the production. “We stand six feet apart, and we stagger who can come to rehearsal because of max capacity. We’ve had to get creative on how these kids learn where they are supposed to be in rehearsal. Everyone has to wear masks, no one can touch anyone, so it has definitely affected our choreography.” Able to have only 12 to 20 kids on stage at a time, while balancing everyone’s stage time, Douglas placed each student on a different show track. “The great thing about Briarcrest is that our stage is 66 feet wide, so the huge performing space has been such a blessing to be able to spread out,” said Douglas. When it comes to the overall program, Douglas said, “[It] gives students the opportunity to discover their gifts and talents… by teaching them ways to better

articulate their thoughts and emotions and how to read social situations and the world around them, which I think is so important at this time when we seem to be so disconnected.” Briarcrest’s fine arts department offers more than just theatrical experiences. In 2009, JD Frizzell, the school’s Director of Fine Arts and Director of Vocal Music, created OneVoice, an a cappella group for highschool students. “OneVoice is a contemporary a cappella group,” said Frizzell. “Mostly, we cover pop songs with only our voices. This means we recreate all of the drums, bass, keyboards, guitars that you hear on a song.” The group releases a professionally-recorded album every year that can be listened to on Spotify®, Amazon®, iTunes® and other major platforms. Since 2013, the group has averaged over 100 million streams and downloads; this past year hasn’t slowed the group at all. The Contemporary A Cappella Society (CASA) hosts the A Cappella Recording Awards, an annual awards ceremony which awards students and ensembles from all over the country for their hard work and achievements. This year OneVoice received four nominations: Best High School Album, Best

students choose how they want to express themselves and enjoy their educational years. “It’s our goal to equip these kids with the tools they need to be successful, not only on the stage but also in the classroom and in life,” said Douglas. Arts programs can open doors for students that they have yet to imagine. story | AK LEWELLEN photos | BRIARCREST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

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High School Song, Best High School Solo and Best Pop Album. “I’m so proud of how hard these students have worked, especially under such challenging circumstances,” said Frizzell. The Briarcrest arts department offers a variety of opportunities for students of all ages. At Briarcrest,

155 North Main Suite 103 Collierville, TN 38017 901-861-1350

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Collierville’s residential real estate market is still exceeding expectations, despite a pandemic! Have you seen the numbers? We did the research and you’ll be interested to know the average statistics of Collierville homes sold in February and March!

$236.24

$73.44

highest per square foot cost

lowest per square foot cost

$1,040,000

$175,000

highest priced sale amount

lowest priced sale amount

$405,450

$143.54

median sale price

average per square foot cost

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Building neighbors

Serving Collierville since 1979, we understand that Collierville real estate is much more than a transaction. It’s a personal decision to join our neighborhoods, schools and community. As we live, work and invest in Collierville, John Green and Company Realtors is uniquely suited to services that help both buyers and sellers. 50 N. Main Street Ste. 101, Collierville, Tennessee 38017 | (901) 853-0763 | johngreen.com

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HOME TOUR PRESENTED BY: DESIGNER WHOLESALE

orn and raised in Memphis, Donnyel Thornton chose to move to Collierville after four years of service in the Navy. “It’s a great area, and I’m close to my mom,” she shared about Collierville. In 2016, she bought a home off of East Shelby Drive but always knew renovations were in the future. “I wanted to do something different with it,” she said. In the fall of 2020, she decided to start work on her kitchen, which originally featured light brown cabinets, white countertops and a dual-height island. “I had some inspiration from Pinterest® and knew what I liked, but I needed someone to help me make it look its best,” said Thornton. Although she had considered working on the different areas of her kitchen – primarily the cabinets and countertops – as two separate projects, after meeting with Designer Wholesale, Thornton decided to go ahead with refacing the entire kitchen at one time. “I went to their design center and they helped me with the step-by-step process of choosing cabinets and everything,” said Thornton. Because her home was already painted in a delightful

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Visually, it makes the kitchen, and the island itself, look much bigger than the original layout. Thornton explained that the entire process, from start to finish, took about four to six weeks. Her favorite part of the kitchen now that it is complete? “I always forget I have them, but the soft-close cabinets are great,” said Thornton. It’s always the smallest details that make the biggest difference! story | REGAN HEWITT

“Lazy Grey’’ color, she wanted to guarantee that the color chosen for the cabinets was coordinated. With the design team’s help, Thornton decided upon a complementary light grey for the cabinet resurfacing project. The original kitchen backsplash consisted of brown and grey diamond tiles. Designer Wholesale replaced them with rectangular white tiles, fashioned in a herringbone pattern, that brightened the entire kitchen. At the same time, under-cabinet lighting was installed, which means that the kitchen is always well-lit, day or night. For the countertops, Thornton found the perfect white marble with streaks of grey to match the cabinets and walls. “I realized later that I had a photo of these countertops in [a model home] that I saw a few years ago, and my counters now are almost identical. I knew what I liked,” she laughed. In addition to replacing the countertops, Designer Wholesale adjusted the island by reducing the bar height portion, keeping the original footprint but all at counter-height.

Designer Wholesale By

CONSTRUCTION

Designer Wholesale by Capital Construction 720 Chaney Cove, Collierville, TN 38017 / 901-563-8989 Mon-Fri: 10am-5pm, Saturday: 10am-2pm Appointments can be made after 5pm, Monday through Friday.

Justin & Destiny Herter Designer Wholesale

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REALTOR TIPS OUTDOOR SPACE UPDATES

The long days of summer are fast approaching and this means spending more time outside. It is also a great time to think about upgrading your home! According to Realtor.com®, in this COVID-19 era, the number one home upgrades to focus on are outdoor spaces. These projects can be as simple as a home garden or as elaborate as a pool, but the bottom line is that people want more options for spending time at home. The real estate market has been red-hot and pretty much all homes are selling right now in just about any condition. However, homes with curb appeal that have been updated, including outdoor spaces, are selling for a higher premium. Simple, easy-to-do projects outside that will increase your curb appeal include:

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Cleaning the exterior of your home Updating your landscaping Adding landscape lighting Painting the exterior of your home

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These projects will make your home more inviting to potential buyers, while also increasing your enjoyment of your space. In this post-pandemic world, outdoor spaces have become more of a focal point for buyers and homeowners looking to increase the livability of their current homes. Some of the most popular projects include:

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Outdoor kitchens Fire pits and fireplaces Pergolas Gardens Screened porches Pools

With the current state of the real estate market, you will more than likely recoup 100% or more of the costs of most of these projects. The greatest benefit is that your home will stand out against the competition, if you decide to sell. While resale value is important to consider, the enjoyment

of your home should be the main reason behind any of these projects. The reality is that our lifestyles and priorities have changed since COVID-19 and our homes are where we spend most of our time now. Adapting your home to the way you live will not only benefit you, but will increase your home’s value as well. If you are considering a project like this, it is always a good idea to consult with a local Realtor® to determine which projects will add value. Also, remember to check town ordinances or your homeowners association’s bylaws before starting any home project!

Allen Green, Realtor John Green & Company Realtors ®

Zach Burrows

225 Washington St. | Collierville, TN | 901.853.2664 | wilsonhf.com

(901) 468-7881 localfencequote@gmail.com

Excited To Serve THE COLLIERVILLE COMMUNITY!

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Love, Laughter,

& Happily Ever After ANNE MARIE

B L A K E A M AT O

ASHLEY

WILLIAM BURKS

September 12, 2020 photos | CINDY B. THYMIUS PHOTOGRAPHY

December 19, 2020

ceremony | SAINT PAUL THE

photos | NLA WEDDINGS

APOSTLE CATHOLIC CHURCH

ceremony | DALLAS ARBORETUM

reception | CYPRESS HALL

& BOTANICAL GARDEN

florist | JIMMY SARGENT

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N ATA L I E

BRIAN BAILEY

LEWISVILLE

APRIL

B R A D FL E TC H ER

November 21, 2020 photos | CINDY B. THYMIUS PHOTOGRAPHY ceremony | MALLARD’S CROFT

March 6, 2021

florist | EHBLOOMS

photos | LINDSEY FORD

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