APRIL 2016 • 1
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APRIL 2016 • 3
4
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APRIL 2016 • 5
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in this issue even ts 10 12 14 16 21 24 27 28 30 54 58 62 65
33rd Annual Bootlegger’s Bash V.I.C.E. Night The Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts Ovation Awards 42nd Annual Old-Time Fiddlers’ Championship Clarksville Chamber Business After Hours 34th Annual Debutante Cotillion A Decade of Young Life Fellowship Church Health & Craft Fair Altrusa’s 7th Annual Dancing with the Stars All-Star Reunion Show 32nd Annual Austin Peay State University Candlelight Ball 7th Annual Clarksville Chamber Home & Garden Show 12th Annual Bridal Expo 10th Annual Tabernacle Christian School Gala Gateway Chamber Orchestra Rhapsody in Blue
33rd Annual Bootlegger’s Bash V.I.C.E. Night
10
7th Annual Dancing with the Stars All-Star Reunion Show
28
32nd Annual APSU Candlelight Ball
30
Gateway Chamber Orchestra Rhapsody in Blue
65
depar tme n t s 18 37 38 42 44 43 47 50 60
April Calendar of Events Home & Garden Section The Art of Living: Porch Pizzaz Trends in New Home Building PYSK: Kayla Goad-LeVan PYSK: Valerie Hunter-Kelly The Power of Curb Appeal The Good Life: Bellingrath Gardens & Home Give | Care | Share: YMCA Day Camps Bring Fun to Summer
ON THE COVER Marydith Young & Beverly Parker The Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts Ovation Awards at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center Photography by Karen Parr-Moody
VIP Clarksville Magazine is a registered trademark. The entire contents herein copyright Sixteen Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of Sixteen Media, LLC, VIP Clarksville Magazine, its employees and/or representatives. All information printed in this publication is compiled in such a way to ensure complete accuracy. However, Sixteen Media, LLC, VIP Clarksville Magazine and its agents assume no liability and/or responsibility for the accuracy of claims in advertisements, articles, etc. • VIP Clarksville Magazine is published ten times per year by Sixteen Media, LLC. www.VIPClarksville.com • info@vipclarksville.com
APRIL 2016 • 7
letter from the publisher VOLUME I
•
ISSUE III
PUBLISHER ASHLEY MYNATT WATSON
VIP FOUNDER JEFF WATSON
EVENTS EDITOR STACY LEISER
I
t’s April, and with those inevitable April showers come the blooms of spring! As the season of new growth unfolds, people all across the country are gearing up to start their annual spring cleaning and get back out in the garden, clearing out the clutter and revitalizing their homes from top to bottom, both inside and out. It’s a great time for renewal, whether you’re looking at the possibilities in your own property or considering something new; so put some spring in your step as you hit the “Refresh” button and get some of those goals crossed off your list. With all the excitement in bloom, we’re delighted to present our very first annual Home and Garden Issue; and we’ve packed it full of great articles featuring tips on gardening, adding curb appeal to your home, and even how to get in on some of the latest home trends. We want this to be your best spring yet, so we’ve tapped into some of our greatest local experts on real estate. Get to know them better by taking a look at the Realtor profiles we’ve highlighted as People You Should Know; whether you’re looking to sell a home, hoping to buy one to call your own, or considering the purchase of an investment property, these market mavens are sure to have the perfect solution for everything you need. With spring in gear, the calendar has certainly been hopping; and the people of Clarksville have been out in force, showing local love and support for all kinds of community initiatives and fun charity events that prove beyond doubt that this truly is a city that recognizes the importance of giving back and never losing site of old-fashioned values. Be sure to check out our calendar of events, and if you have events you’d like to share, please email the details to us at events@vipclarksville.com Happy Spring!
Ashley Mynatt Watson
ADVERTISING LYDA KAY FERREE SHANNA MORRIS KAY SITES ASHLEY MYNATT WATSON
ART DIRECTOR LYDIA BOHS
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS LYDA KAY FERREE STACY LEISER KAREN PARR-MOODY LIESEL SCHMIDT Jessie Shirley JEROME WHALEY GREG WILLIAMSON
DISTRIBUTION JASON FRANKLIN
V I P C L A R KSV I L L E M AGA Z I N E EVENTS@VIPCLARKSVILLE.COM INFO@VIPCLARKSVILLE.COM WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/VIPCLARKSVILLEMAGAZINE VIP Clarksville Magazine is free to pick up at any of our numerous distribution locations. We’ll be on racks at many local restaurants, bookstores, hotels, banks, salons, boutiques — and the list is growing! Be sure to watch our website and Facebook page for a complete list of locations to pick up the next issue.
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APRIL 2016 • 9
Clarksville VIPs at Valor Hall • Oak Grove, KY
Story & Photography by Stacy Leiser Maria Harkins, Laura Sharkey, Becky Curl, Ariel Orlando, Marcia Rickley, Erica Holmgren & Melissa Sordillo
Ariel Orlando & James Garrity
Timothy & Kaycee Swanton
Blair & Christopher Gordon
Sandy & Ken Killingsworth
Jill Ross, Beth Bryson, Sonya Beaty, Loni Boone, Rachel Forrester & Alex Clemence
10
T
he scene was set when 400 people poured into elegant Valor Hall. It looked like a scene out of 1920s Hollywood: men donned dress shirts, suspenders, and fedoras, while women wore sequins and fringe, topped with a feather for good measure. The occasion? Bootlegger’s Bash, the 33rd Annual incarnation of the Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club V.I.C.E. Night. The event was held March 18 at Valor Hall Conference and Event Center in Oak Grove, KY. Perennially sold out, the club’s V.I.C.E. (Very Important Charity Event) raises tens of thousands of dollars for local charities each year. “It’s a throwback to the 1920s and 30s, prohibition in the South,” said Jessi Mitchell, co-chairwoman of the event, along with Trish Wietholder. Jessi Mitchell gave an impromptu tour of various venues within Valor Hall: the speakeasy with gaming tables and a bar, the cigar lounge, the dance hall and an extravagant buffet hall with food created by Fire and Ice Catering. Equipped to make the memories last forever was a period-perfect photo studio where groups of friends cut up with preposterous props and poses. Among the night’s most lavish highlights was an array of 101 gift baskets that included Old Hickory Lake and Lake Barkley trips, plus Nashville getaways valued at more than $500. Active bidders were drawn in by golfing, baseball, and amusement park outings. Kaycee Swanton walked away with the second priciest basket of the bunch, valued at $959. “It’s ‘All You Need for a Coffee Group Night,’” Kaycee said, revealing the name of her prize. The basket included a 5-hour rental of Smith-Trahern Mansion, logo design by Pink Zebra, $50 Gift Certificate from Trio Signs, Kentucky and Tennessee state jewelry, and four bottles of wine. But no coffee! The live auction was high-intensity from start to finish, with 17 bid packages bringing in more than $23,000. One of the most hotly contested items up for bid was a 1928 Victrola phonograph cabinet from the Fort Campbell Officers’ club in the 1940s, refurbished into a one-of-a-kind bar. Jason Dechenne ultimately had the winning bid, taking home the phonograph bar and an antique chess table for $2400. At the end of the night, he and his wife, Kari, had taken each other on in a whimsical chess match. “We had a great time!” Kari Dechenne said. Ben Polanco bought a surprise auction item, described by emcee Donald Groves as lot number 13 ½: A Gibson Epiphone guitar. “You bought the one thing that’s not in the book!” Sara Polanco teased her husband. Auctioneer Charlie Henderson brought out the best in the bunch with the final auction item, “Savor, Swirl, Sniff and Sip — An Enviable Wine Country Getaway.” The 4-night Napa Valley vacation included stays at Christopher Creek Winery and Harvest Inn by Charlie Palmer, as well as airfare and lots of wine. The California vacation fetched the top bid of the night: $8,000. “We make sure there’s something for everyone,” Jessi Mitchell said. For more information about the Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club, visit www.fortcampbellspousesclub.com.
Anne & Hank Coleman, Ben & Sara Polanco
Nancye Britton, Mark Kelley & Valerie Hunter-Kelley Heather Conkle & Sarah Jennings
Christine Cloan & Stephanie Gabriel
Valerie Cloutier & Andrea Herrera
Brian Fallon, William Corcoran & William Shomaker
APRIL 2016 • 11
Clarksville VIPs at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center
The Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts
Ovation Awards Becky & Wade Bourne
Debbie Wilson
Story & Photography by Karen Parr-Moody
A The Madison Street Brass
Marydith Young & Beverly Parker
Band
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Brian Vernon & Dee Boaz
fter the attendees of the 2016 Ovation Awards settled into their seats, writer Wade Bourne began his job as Master of Ceremonies. Little did he know, he would soon experience a big surprise. But that would come later. The annual ceremony took place on Sunday, March 6, at the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center. Bourne orchestrated the event, during which eight recipients won awards administered by the Acuff Circle of Excellence, a non-profit organization affiliated with the Austin Peay Foundation. The awards honor those who have made outstanding contributions to the arts in the Clarksville-Montgomery County community. “We have an art community that is second to none in the state, I feel, and Austin Peay State University is certainly an integral part of that community,” said Dr. Bill Wall, owner of Richview Family Dentistry, which won the Business Award. Wall’s office features works by regional artists. Jared Wilson, the founder of The Madison Street Music and Arts Academy, spoke after his organization was honored with the Community Award. “It was a dream of mine to have an opportunity for students, regardless of their background, to develop musical skills,” he said. “This really means the world to me,” said Debbie Wilson, director for the Northeast High School choirs for the past 23 years and winner of the Individual Artist Award. “And I see a lot of my students, my adopted family and friends here, who helped guide me and teach me the road to excellence.” Young Artist Awards were presented to Jacob Capps, Jonathan Weidner, Brandon Crite and Mercedes Johnson. Then the prestigious George Mabry Ovation Award — which had been kept secret — was handed over to Bourne by APSU President Alisa White. He exclaimed, “I am shocked beyond belief.” He added, “I am truly fortunate to have taken the things I love and turn them into a career and spend my life in the outdoors promoting the joy that comes from catching a fish or taking a gun to the duck blind or training a dog. And throughout all this, I’ve fostered a love for the outdoors and an appreciation for the conservation of our natural resources — the beautiful lakes, woods and fields of Tennessee. We’re so fortunate to live where we do.” The George Mabry Ovation Award, as described by APSU, “recognizes a living Tennessean who has made a significant impact on arts and culture in Montgomery County through philanthropy, leadership or direct involvement, or a Tennessee individual who has advanced arts and culture through innovative work in creating or supporting the arts in Montgomery County.” Bourne is a renowned writer and author of six books on fishing and hunting. He has written more than 3,000 articles for national outdoor magazines and is the founder and host of the award-winning “Wired2Fish/Hunt Radio,” a syndicated fishing/hunting radio show. He also hosted “In-Fisherman Radio,” the largest syndicated outdoor radio show in North America, for 16 years. Following the ceremony, guests went on to hobnob with the award winners during the reception.
Linda Nichols & Jacqueline Crouch
Maurice & Kim Johnson
Katy Olita & Michelle Dickerson
Ted Jones
Nancy Sneed & Ted Crozier
Emily Hanna Cran
Kay Martin
Mercy Cannon & Dixie Webb
Jacob Capps
Brandon Crite
APSU President Alisa White & Wade Bourne
Vic Daniel & Marydith Young
Mercedes Johnson
Jim Zimmer
Jeanne Nichols & Amy Wright
APRIL 2016 • 13
Clarksville VIPs at Rossview High School
42 Annual nd
Story & Photography by Karen Parr-Moody
M Angel Donohue
Steven & Karen Taylor
Terry Ellis
Joyce Faulkenberry
14
odern Americana bands The Low Anthem and The Avett Brothers have introduced new generations to the mandolin, fiddle and banjo. The same can be said of the State of Tennessee Old-Time Fiddlers’ Championship, which is now in its 42nd year. On March 11 and 12 the event celebrated those enchanting sounds through 19 dancing and musical events at Rossview High School. Additionally, there was a large area featuring arts and crafts vendors. The event was organized by the Hilldale Civitan Club, which donates the proceeds to various charities. Mention the term “fiddler” to the cognoscenti and the famed Broadway play “Fiddler on the Roof” comes to mind. Mention it to a Southerner, and he or she knows exactly where it lives in their memory: on front porches. Tootie Louie, a local realtor for Crye-Leike, has been attending the event every year for 25 years. “I love coming out and hearing the old-time music and enjoying all of the talented people who come from all over, every year, just for this event,” she said. “It is kind of like a family reunion for me every year.” Louie’s favorite category is the dancing. “I love to see the young kids up there doing the old-time clogging,” she said. “I also love to see the young kids playing guitar, fiddle, banjo and mandolin. Where else can you go and pay $15 and enjoy two days of such talented people of all ages?” Hilldale Civitan Club members Steven and Karen Taylor were manning the sign-in table. “We take turns running back and forth to the auditorium,” Karen Taylor said, noting that she and her husband are bluegrass fans. She commented on how far people had traveled to attend the event. There were names listed from Texas, Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, Japan, Missouri, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Alabama, people who had driven or flown from miles away to hear the strains of the dobro, harmonica, fiddle and more. Angel Donohue, a vendor selling lovely hair accessories, said she knew she had to be a part of this event after reading about it. “It’s great,” Donohue said. “I love music.” Preston Holt and his wife, Barbara Holt, drove up from White Bluff, Tennessee, to enjoy the event, which they attend regularly. Preston spent about 10 years square dancing at the Grand Ole Opry with the late Ralph Sloan, a legendary dancer who was inducted into America’s Clogging Hall of Fame. Preston said, “Bluegrass is my favorite music.” Callie Cansler, who has backed up banjo players in contests for three years as a guitar player, was at the event playing on the banjo, an instrument she only recently learned to play. Her mother, Cherie, said, “I was playing banjo in a family group. In two days she was doing better than me after two years.” “Banjos have always fascinated me,” Calie said. “It just made sense. Once I had the banjo in my hands, I knew where the notes were.”
APRIL 2016 • 15
Clarksville VIPs at James Corlew Chevrolet
Business
Regina Donnelly & Ginger Lawler
Cindy Chambers & Charles Smith
AFTER HOURS Story Stacy Leiser Photography by Greg Williamson
I Kevin Kennedy, Julie Dyess & Dwayne Miller
Brooke Kelly & Stacey Fair
Alicia Edwards, Patsy Cobb, Anthony Johnson & Sharon Kitchen
16
Annette Kalinowski & James Satterfield
rish eyes were smiling on James Corlew Chevrolet on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. On that day, the iconic Clarksville car dealership hosted Business After Hours, complete with a bagpipe player, live music by the Lard Bucket Bluegrass Band, and green food galore made by The Choppin’ Block. Magician Tim Finley entertained guests of the monthly Chamber of Commerce networking event by turning $1 bills into $20 bills! Almost everyone who saw this magical mystery unfold said the same thing: “I need you to do that to all the $1 bills in my wallet.” Alas, Finley quickly changed the $20 bills back into singles, negating the money-multiplying effect that would have all of Wall Street abuzz, were it lasting. Andreas Bunjor, with Scott Bryant State Farm, said he had a blast at Business After Hours that evening. “I like all the food and the music. It’s a great location, too,” Andreas Bunjor said. “The Choppin’ Block always puts on a good spread.” Bunjor said his favorite of the St. Patrick’s Day-themed delights was stuffed jalapenos wrapped in bacon. “Everything is better wrapped in bacon,” Bunjor said. Toward evening’s end, James Corlew said he was very happy with how it all went. “I’m really excited to have great music, great entertainment — a magician!” James Corlew said. “It’s a great St. Patrick’s Day. It was a good turnout. We’re proud to host a Chamber of Commerce event.” Shelby Miles of the Chamber of Commerce agreed. “It was a really good turnout, and a great location, with all these windows,” she said, gesturing around James Corlew Chevrolet’s impressive new car showroom. “People had fun!” The next Business After Hours will be 5-7 p.m. on April 21 at Fortera Credit Union, 145 Dover Crossing. For details about the Chamber or Business After Hours, see www.chamberclarksville.com or call (931)6472331.
Shanun Killman & Kimberly Pierce
James Corlew, Jr. & James Corlew
Diane Bryant, Tammy Lewis & Robin Riccio
Lard Bucket Bluegrass Band
James Corlew, Jr., Magician Tim Finley, George Watson, Gage Watson, Todd Beck & Bradley Sandifer
Todd Boswell
Jenny Goslin & Michelle Heil
Billie Jo Thomas & Kris Bender
Rodger Bowman, Tim Sims & Udo Jakobs
Tom Denney & Sheri Tittle
Billy Atkins & Frank White
APRIL 2016 • 17
APRIL CALENDAR OF EVENTS 3/29-4/1
Spring Break Model Trains Run and Art Activities 10-11am & 2:30-3:30pm Customs House Museum & Cultural Center www.customshousemuseum.org
1-2
The Magnificent Ambersons 8pm Roxy Regional Theater
1
Nashville Symphony A Musical Celebration for Clarksville 7pm First Baptist Church (931) 645-2431 www.nashvillesymphony.org
2
Bikers Who Care Pancake Breakfast 7-11am Grace Lutheran Church
APSU ADPi Run for Ronald 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run 8am Check-in 9am 1-Mile Race begins 10am 5K Race begins Awards following adpirun4ronald@gmail.com
The Magnificent Ambersons 2pm Roxy Regional Theater www.roxyregionaltheatre.org
14th Annual Downtown Artists Co-op Art Auction & Fundraiser 6-8pm The Franklin Room @ F&M Bank, 50 Franklin St. www.downtownartistsco-op.com
Third Annual Daddy Daughter Date Night 6:30-9:30pm Wilma Rudolph Event Center www.cityofclarksville.com.datenight 18
4
Poor Man’s Sale
APSU Men’s Basketball Championship Gathering & Ring Fundraiser
9am-6pm Beachaven Winery www.beachavenwinery.com
7pm River Club Golf Course www.letsgopeay.com
Spring Craft & Vendor Fair
5
Job Fair 10am-2pm Goodwill Career Solutions kim.pena-molnar@givegw.org
6-7
The Taming of the Shrew 7pm Roxy Regional Theater www.roxyregionaltheatre.org
8-9
The Taming of the Shrew 8pm Roxy Regional Theater www.roxyregionaltheatre.org
8
APSU Alpha Tau Omega’s 8th Annual Jump for Jude
9am-4pm Daymar Institute wchscheerbooster@gmail.com
5th Annual Ride for Life 9am Sign-in 10am Ride begins Appleton Harley-Davidson www.hopepregnancy.net/getinvolved/news-events/ ride/
The Taming of the Shrew 2pm Roxy Regional Theater www.roxyregionaltheatre.org
Cheers for Charity 2016 6pm Sango Event Center jaofclarksville@gmail.com
10
Day of Play
4-9pm APSU Red Barn mason.devers@gmail.com
1-5pm Wilma Rudolph Event Center claudiarodriguez@charter.net (931) 221-7300
Show of Force Tried-N-True Wrestling & Global Force Wrestling
Gateway Chamber Orchestra Presents Our City: Clarksville
6:30pm Wilma Rudolph Event Center www.brownapertickets.com/event/2499621
9
Community Yard Sales to Benefit USO Fort Campbell 8am-1pm Trane - 2701 Wilma Rudolph Blvd.
Clarksville’s Extreme Open House Challenge 9am Check-in 10am Shotgun Start www.clarksvilleaor.com/extreme-tour
15
Beer, Brats & Pretzels 4-7pm Christ Lutheran Church www.facebook.com/christlutheranclarksville/ (931) 358-0888
20-24
Footloose the Musical 7:30pm Wednesday-Saturday 2pm Sunday www.events.apsu.edu
21
Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours 5-7pm Red River Concrete Products www.clarksvillechamber.com
Oh Noir She Didn’t! 1920’s Murder Mystery Dinner 6-9pm The Belle Hollow Event Venue @ Miss Lucille’s info@thebellehollow.com
23
6th Annual Breast Cancer 5K 8am 5K begins 8:30am 1-Mile Fun Run begins APSU Foy Fitness & Recreation Center Parking Lot www.events.apsu.edu
4pm George & Sharon Mabry Concert Hall - APSU www.gatewaychamberorchestra.com/events
Color Vibe 5K Run
12
Day in the Park
Clarksville-Montgomery County Green Certification Program manewell@mcgtn.net 931-245-1867
14-16
Rivers & Spires Festival Historic Downtown Clarksville www.riversandspires.com
9am Beachaven Winery www.thecolorvibe.com/clarksville.php
9am-12pm Liberty Park www.cityofclarksville.com
A Touch of Spring Shopping Expo 10am-4pm Sango Event Center www.facebook.com/events/188566301519132/
28
DJ on the Dock 5-8pm Beachaven Winery www.beachavenwinery.com
29-30
Green Day’s American Idiot 8pm Roxy Regional Theater www.roxyregionaltheatre.org
30
Tour de Clarksville 5th Annual Paddle the West Fork From Robert Clark Park To Trice Landing www.bluewayadventure.com (931) 320-8466
MAY 5 Godfather Invitational Golf Tournament 1pm Shotgun Start Clarksville Country Club yvonnep@clarksville.tn.us
6
Indoor Yard Sale 8am-2pm Clarksville Senior Citizens Center (931) 648-1345
7
Queen City Road Race 8am Austin Peay State University
9 Chamber Membership Golf Scramble Swan Lake Golf Course
EXHIBITS March 4 - April 30
A Woman’s Touch: Celebrating Tennessee Crafts
March 10 - May 1
James Alexander: Sculptural Thinkings
March 1 - May 1
Elizabeth LaPenna: Expressions in Color
March 4 - May 8
School Days: From the Collection
March 10 - May 8 A Time of Mourning
March 22 - April 28 Oh, To Live by the Sea
March 22 - May 25
School Days: From the Collection
March 4 - May 8
School Days: From the Collection
ACTIVITIES Saturday, April 9
Hook Rug Demonstrations 10am-2pm
Tuesday, April 12 Women Writers Hour 6:30-8:30pm
Story & Craft Time: Our Forrest Friends 10:30-11am April 7 - Porcupines | April 13 - Beavers April 21 - Squirrerls | April 27 - Rabbits
Free Saturday Family Day: Make Me Laugh! April 9 | 10am-4pm
Programs for Adults
Want your event on the VIP Calendar of Events? Email all event information to events@vipclarksville.com
The Art of the Picture Book: The Uncle Remi’s Stories April 12 | 2-3:15pm “Let’s Talk About: the Cold War” April 28 | 2-3:15pm Please Note: Home-school teens and college students are invited to join both of these adult discussions. All activities are free with your paid admission or museum membership. For more information contact Ms. Sue at sue@customshousemuseum.org or (931)648-5780 ext. 28. APRIL 2016 • 19
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Clarksville VIPs at James E. Bruce Convention Center
“Exquisite Pearls of Dignity” the 34th annual
Debutante Cotillion hosted by the clarksville alumnae chapter of
delta sigma theta Story by Karen Parr-Moody Photography by Gregg Williamson
W
hen the ballroom doors swung open during the “Exquisite Pearls of Dignity” cotillion, young debutantes floated in on clouds of white tulle. Like modern-day Cinderellas, their waists were cinched, their hair was coiffed and their white satin gloves gleamed. The 34th Annual Debutante Cotillion was hosted by the Clarksville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, a sorority founded in 1913 at Howard University. Cotillions, or debutante balls, have occurred in the U.S. since the first half of the 20th century, and were used to present young women to polite society. Today, the Delta Sigma Theta cotillion is a mentoring program. “We promote college,” said Valecia Largin, president of the Clarksville Alumnae Chapter. “The participants actually raise money to use as scholarships. These young ladies have done an outstanding job this year; they’ve raised more than $39,000 in scholarships.” In addition to mentoring the debutantes (ages 17 and 18), the sorority mentors the Delta Academy (ages 11 to 14); the Delta Gems (ages 14 to 16); and Embody, a male group of teens. Delta Academy member Chamara Teasley said she got involved after she attended a Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial march and saw Delta Sigma Theta participants “wearing these really pretty long-sleeved shirts.” Teasley said, “We do lots of fun physical and mental activities.” During the cotillion, Teasley sat with six other Delta Academy members who craned their necks to better see the debutantes dance the waltz. One of the members waved at someone across the room, her thin, black wrist encircled by glistening pearls. It wasn’t just any wave — it was the pageant wave, that elegant half-wave known to all beauty queens. The pageant wave was also the trademark of the debutantes, who were Isha Cheaye, Virginia Coleman, Celeste George-Brown, D’ajha Jemison, Kyla Tillis, Carmecia Walker, Nataliah Whetstone and Serenity Whitaker. These young ladies were not chosen; they chose to join. Through area schools, the sorority informs students how to get involved. “The opportunity is out there for anyone,” Largin said. The requirements consist of having a 2.75 GPA, two recommendation forms and a commitment to attend monthly workshops that begin each October. Workshop topics include international awareness, educational development, social and political action, mental and physical awareness, etiquette, and the waltz. Members must also complete a community service program. By the evening’s end, Isha Cheaye had won Miss Congeniality and Miss Foritude. Nataliah Whetstone was crowned the 2016 Debutante Queen. D’ajha Jemison was the first runner-up and Serenity Whitaker was the second runner-up. “It feels amazing,” Whetstone said. “It’s indescribable. I was expecting someone else to get the award.” Influenced by the cotillion program, she has set her eyes on education.
Kathleen Evans
Linda Raymond & Likisha Young
Kalynn William, Chamyra Teasley, Keyera Willims & Naima Marshall
Tanya Edmond, Ramona Douglas & Deanna Largin
Tanasia Tharpe, Azrah Williams, Iyana Largin & Kaiya Walls
APRIL 2016 • 21
34th Annual Debutante Cotillion
Latavious Hutchinson & D’ajha Jemison
Celeste George-Brown & Justice Johnson
Isha Cheaye & Frederick Shar
Virginia Coleman & Jhonte McAvoy
Markel Dobbs & Carmecia Walker
555th Triple Nickel Parachute Infantry Association
Calvin Johnson & Serenity Whitaker
Deonte Mayfield & Nataliah Whetstone
Serenity Whitaker, Nataliah Whetstone & D’ajha Jemison
22
Kyla Tillis & Craig Copridge
APRIL 2016 • 23
Clarksville VIPs at First Baptist Church
A Decade of
Story & Photography by Greg Williamson
R
ecently, Young Life members greeted more than 600 guests with cheers, noise makers, and warm handshakes as they entered First Baptist Church for a dinner and program. “Tonight we are here to celebrate the 10th year of YL being in Clarksville and telling kids the life of Jesus everywhere,” Clifford Shirley, YL Area Director said. When all the guests were seated, more than 100 high school students from Clarksville, Northeast, Northwest, Rossview, Montgomery Central, and Kenwood enthusiastically jogged to the front of the room to get the crowd to sing “Happy Birthday” to the group before being served their meal. Young Life began in 1941 when a pastor named Jim Rayburn walked across the street in Gainesville, Texas to the local high school. He saw hundreds of kids getting out of school and decided, instead of waiting for them to come to him... he would go to them. Clifford Shirley said Josh and Anne Loy moved across the state in 2006 and walked into the lives of kids at Clarksville High School to do the very same thing. Their desire then was the same as it is today: that every high school student in Montgomery County would have the chance to become personally acquainted with the person of Jesus Christ. “This is about 10 years of caring adults going into the world of kids, meeting them where they are, loving them as they are and telling them about Jesus,” he said. According to the younglife.org website: “Young Life doesn’t start with a program. It starts with adults who are concerned enough about kids to go to them, on their turf and in their culture, building bridges of authentic friendship. These relationships don’t happen overnight — they take time, patience, trust and consistency.” Tatum Wallace, 16, a junior at CHS said, “I like how they have shown us our resemblance relationship with God and how God is going to pursue us.”
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APRIL 2016 • 25
LOCALE Campbell crossing
A touch of this or that
APSU MEN’s BASKETBALL
Bachelors, DOD, and Retirees Welcome to Make Their Home with Campbell Crossing
New Local Event Company will Focus on Organizing Events in Clarksville Area
APSU Senior Chris Horton All-District 19 Title-holder
Campbell Crossing is pleased to offer housing to active duty, military and geo bachelors, DoD employees, and military retirees. Located on Fort Campbell, KY, renters have the opportunity to experience comfort and peace-of-mind in an all-inclusive community. The pet friendly community boasts a variety of housing options ranging from 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes. Monthly rent includes basic utilities, trash and recycling pick up, free use of community centers, resident events, 24-hour emergency maintenance, and more! Residents can also enjoy convenient access to other post facilities including shopettes, restaurants, the aquatics center, bowling alley, and golf course just to name a few. If you enjoy travelling and will be away from your home for any length of time, the Campbell Crossing staff will watch over your home and even perform preventative maintenance so it’s in tip-top shape when you arrive back. “Campbell Crossing strives to make our residents feel at home by providing quality, comfortable homes in a community rich in history,” said John Bredehoeft, project director for Campbell Crossing. “Our first priority is, and always will be, taking care of our military service members and their families, but we are equally excited to welcome these new renters into our community and have them become part of our larger Campbell Crossing family.” Those interested in applying for housing can contact the Campbell Crossing office at (888) 662-6144. Applications can be submitted on the Campbell Crossing website, by fax at (931) 431-2765, or in person at 850 Georgia Avenue, Fort Campbell, KY. Currently there is availability in neighborhoods resulting in minimal wait times, less than 30 days, with some homes available for same day move in, applications fees waived. For more information, photos and floorplans, visit www.campbellcrossingllc.com.
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Deanne Compton & Arielle Maffitt
With their own personal experience as entrepreneurs, Arielle Maffitt and Deanne Compton know how beneficial it is to have as many community networking opportunities as possible — not only to stock up on marketing contacts and potential business partners, but also to keep your finger on the pulse of ways to grow and expand your company in the future. It was at one such event that the two business-savvy thirty-somethings met last year, each sensing in the other that they could not only benefit each other’s businesses as representatives of health and wellness products, but also form a great alliance of their own. With their very first event in the works, Compton and Maffitt are happy to announce the launching of A Touch of This or That, an event company whose main focus will be organizing events in the Clarksville area to bring local crafters, vendors, and small business owners together in hopes of providing them greater visibility with new clients and giving them a supportive, fun environment where they can socialize and network with other businesses. “We love to give back to the community that gives us so much; and our hope and vision for A Touch of This or That is to bring the community closer and to showcase small businesses, direct sales companies, and local crafters,” explains Maffitt, a consultant for Perfectly Posh. “We wanted to connect and network with other small businesses and crafters in the area,” Compton continues. With her own busy schedule as an ambassador for Plexus Worldwide, she felt an immediate kinship with Maffitt in offering their clients health-conscious products; and their similarly-minded goals inspired them to cofound their new business venture as a way to support other entrepreneurs in the Clarksville community. “We plan on organizing shopping events open to the community so that people will know what’s out there, what’s available to them from these vendors and local businesses,” Compton explains. “We’re both excited to see growth happen from this.” For more information on A Touch of This or That and their upcoming events, call (615) 3933363. By Leisel Schmidt
After an astonishing and truly exciting season, the talented men’s basketball team at Austin Peay State University certainly have the ball in their court. Having captured the title as the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) 2016 Champions, the Governors are also riding high on the glory of having one of their very own players chosen as first-team All-District 19 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Looking back at their games, little doubt is left that these dedicated dribblers are destined for great things. Most notable in his accomplishments of late, of course, is Chris Horton, the APSU Senior and proud All-District 19 title-holder who shot his fellow Govs to their victorious run at the OVC tournament and led the team to take part in its first NCAA tournament since 2008. And while such lofty athletic accomplishments could easily given them reason to boast, APSU’s boys showed grace, sportsmanship, and humility — to such an extent that they were recognized for their truly laudable traits, receiving the 2015-2016 OVC Sportsmanship Award. “Without sportsmanship, there are truly no meaningful victories,” said OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche, after the announcement of the award was made. “The recipients…should accept this award with great pride, for their fellow competitors have made it clear their teams exemplify the best in intercollegiate athletics,” DeBauche continued. “Other competitors are saying [that] these student-athletes compete with class, respect their opponents, and value fair play. That is quite a compliment, as those are all traits that will lead to true victories throughout the course of life.” As the celebrations ensue, fans of the team will have a unique opportunity to participate in a Championship Gathering and Ring Fundraiser hosted on April 4th by APSU athletics and the Governors Club at the River Club Golf and Learning Center. During the event, loyal lovers of the Govs will be able to meet the team and get autographs from their favorite players and have the chance to become proud contributors to the purchase of 2016 OVC championship rings for the members of the team. Door prizes will keep the winning streaks running high, and the River Club will be televising the evening’s coverage of the NCAA National Championship game on TBS. For more information on the fundraiser, call the APSU Athletic Department at (931) 221-7903. By Leisel Schmidt
Clarksville VIPs at Fellowship Methodist Church
Health & Craft Fair Story & Photography by Stacy Leiser
H
ealth usually goes with “food” or “club,” or, perhaps, “wellness.” But Fellowship United Methodist Church shook up the expected by pairing health with creativity. The church’s first Health and Craft Fair, put on by the Senior Adult Ministry and Women’s Crafting Group, was held March 12 at the church. “We’ll have various health organizations from around the area giving out expert advice on how to live a healthy life and at the same time, we’re hosting a Craft Fair,” said the event’s page on Facebook. “We’ll have crafts made by our own congregation as well as several vendors. We’re good, ain’t we?” And good it was. The Health and Craft Fair was warm and welcoming, with hundreds of people attending throughout the day. The main room was filled with color, representing the work of dozens of Clarksville’s most creative cooks and crafters. Amid tables arrayed with handmade jewelry, clothing, knitted kitchen accessories, and artwork were people like Kariny Sander, a devoted Zumba teacher, and Storm Sims, coach at Precision Parkour Performance. Storm Sims’ passion is bringing parents and their children together for a cross-generational workout. In addition to coaching Spartan SGX and parkour, Sims creates obstacle courses are challenging for all of his students, who currently range in age from 5 to 63. “As parents, we don’t always have time to interact with the kids,” Sims said. “The kids love it, because they’re getting to run, hop, skip, jump and climb, and the parents like it because they’re getting a good, solid workout and getting to hang out with their kids.” Sims will have some of his equipment on display at the Rivers & Spires Festival, which is April 14-16 in downtown Clarksville. On May 21, Sims and many of his students will participate in a beginners’ obstacle course race, called The Gauntlet, in Rotary Park. For details about participating in the race, contact Amanda Cherry at the YMCA, acherry@ymcamidtn.org or (931)647-2376. In addition to Zumba and parkour, the Health and Craft Fair featured a free yoga class and had food served by Clarksville’s own Don’t Have a Cow Vegan Cafe. Janay Moreland, owner of Vivid: Art Meditation, offered an immersive art-making experience for attendees. Mother and son, Louise Howard and Rodney Eppinger, are the creative cooks behind 4 Real Bar-B-Que Sauce. They used a recipe that was passed down, “and we perfected it,” Rodney Eppinger said. Covering both the “health” and “craft” bases was Nude Dough, selling cupcakes, to-die-for truffles and other homemade treats. “It’s free of any preservatives, artificial flavors, dyes — it’s nude,”said Sonya Williamson, who started the healthy baking business with her husband, Marcus, about a year ago. The Health and Craft Fair was so well-received by the community that it may become an annual tradition for Fellowship United Methodist Church.
Sandra Prettyman
Curtis Davis
Elise Henary, Solie Carrasquillo, Kariny Sander & Hannah Rueb
Storm Sims
Don’t Have a Cow! Vegan Cafe
APRIL 2016 • 27
Clarksville VIPs at Mabry Concert Hall
Story by Stacy Leiser Photography Jerome Whaley
H Jennifer Ryan & Ian Preble
Dr. Aleeta Christian, Daniel Christian, Dr. Floyd Christian & Mark Cabaniss
Wanda Grandberry & Darwin Eldridge
Lynn & Scott Gensen
Denese Eldridge, Claudette Sallee, Melissa Eldridge, Faye Walker & Eufonda Reed
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e’s not just a winner. Now he’s a winner among winners. At Altrusa’s 7th Annual Dancing with the Stars All-Star Reunion Show in March, there were spangles and spectacles galore, but the most spectacular of them all was Kevin Kennedy, who walked away with both the trophy and the glory. “This has been one of the happiest nights of my life, one of the most fulfilling,” he said after winning the competition. “If we can use our talents, have a little fun and raise money to make Clarksville a better place — that’s a good time!” Kevin Kennedy and his partner, professional dancer Christy Corley Sanders, owner of Clarksville’s Gateway Cast & Crowns Performing Arts Center, wowed the crowd and then some, with a wild-west-themed dance, complete with backup dancers. The pair were named All-Star Champions after the competition at Austin Peay State University’s beautiful Mabry Concert Hall. “I loved the show. I thought it was very wonderful. I was extremely impressed,” said first-time attendee Nancy Logue. “I know Kevin Kennedy. His whole family does wonderful things for the community. But I was just amazed by his performance, as well as Conrad Edington’s — he was over the top!” Conrad Edington portrayed a non-dancer, a reluctant man who was cajoled off his TV-watching spot on the couch by his lady friend, portrayed by professional dancer Morgan Rudolph. The results were unforgettable, and the audience chose Edington as its favorite All-Star and Rudolph its favorite professional dance partner. In addition to Kennedy and Edington, all-star dancers in the show were Darwin Eldridge, Eddie Ferrell, Kayla Goad-LeVan, Karen Meacham, Cydney Miller, Joe Padula, Amy Orton and Melissa Schaffner. Dance pros representing local studios were Ola Bashorun and Cathryn Curtis of Fusion Art & Dance, Mia Davila and Steven Hawkins of Infinity Dance & Fitness, Christy Corley Sanders of Gateway Cast & Crowns, TC Madison of TC’s Dance Academy, Tyler Crawford of Natalie’s Dance Network, Ian Preble of Nashville Swing Dance Foundation, and Morgan Rudolph of Dance Force. The official judges for the evening were professional dancers Danny Pugh and Laurie Lee Sisk and former Dancing with the Stars winner, Judge Ted Crozier Jr. The show was a bit wilder than the crowd expected, with way more props and eye-popping spectacle than in years past. “This was a no-rules show,” said Altrusa member Lisa Boyd, who organized the event along with Faye Green. “If they said, ‘Can I do this?’ I said, ‘Yes!’” The dancers prepared for the show for nearly three months. “We are extremely proud of the stars and the pros who put in a lot of time to make this night amazing,” Boyd said. “They were so dedicated,” Green said. The event is presented by Altrusa of Clarksville as a fundraiser, with the goal of presenting at least $10,000 in scholarships to non-traditional college students each year. For more information about Altrusa of Clarksville, please visit www.clarksvillealtrusa.org.
Susan Rudolph, Lilo Rogoish, Holley Rudolph & Spencer Rudolph
Geraline Appleton, Michael Appleton & Ebone Appleton
Joan DeWald, Ernie DeWald & Judy Hammerstein Black
APRIL 2016 • 29
Clarksville VIPs at Hilton Nashville Downtown
Story by Stacy Leiser Photography by Stacy Leiser & Jerome Whaley
The Gov & Miss Austin Peay, Hannah Johstono
Lee & Cindy Peterson, Kelly & Todd Williams
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C
larksville shares the best it has to offer with its Southern cousin, Nashville, for one special night each year. On March 12 at the regal Hilton Downtown Nashville, nearly 400 Clarksvillians dressed to the nines and had a ball — the 32nd Annual Candlelight Ball. Austin Peay State University’s annual black-tie fundraiser, Candlelight Ball has raised more than $350,000 in scholarship money in its three-decade history. In addition, Candlelight Ball proceeds supported the restoration and renovation of the Pace Alumni Center at Emerald Hill and helped fund the APSU Center for Teaching and Learning. Candlelight Ball’s positive ripples extend far beyond the event itself. But on the evening of the ball, all the focus is on fun, fabulous food and fancy footwork on the dance floor. The evening began with red carpet entries, attendees greeted by The Gov, Austin Peay’s mascot, and Miss Austin Peay, Hannah Johstono. Dinner entrees were filet mignon and crab cakes, served with bottles of wine and followed by a variety of decadent desserts. After dinner, emcee David Loos, Jr. presented some highlights from Austin Peay, then Austin Peay President Alisa White took the mic to present awards. The Spirit of Austin Peay Award was presented to Josh Baggett, District Engineering Technician with Cumberland Electric membership Corporation. Next was the Wendell H. Gilbert award. If not for Gilbert, Candlelight Ball would not exist. “Thirty-one years ago, Wendell H. Gilbert saw the opportunity to raise funds for deserving students who needed academic financial support,” says Austin Peay’s web site, www.apsu.edu. “A retired Army brigadier general and former APSU vice president for development and university relations, Wendell H. Gilbert is the founder of the signature Candlelight Ball…he depicts what it means to be a ‘true Governor.’” Alisa White introduced the recipient of the award. “There aren’t many communities that have people like Jack Turner,” she said. “They are giants in their own field” as well as being instrumental to the development and improvement of the community as a whole. Jack Turner thanked his family, and his wife, Margie Turner, by his side for, “Would you believe, 60 years?” he said. Jack Turner then passed the praise on to Wendell Gilbert. Jack Turner then passed the praise on to Wendell Gilbert, “I give Wendell Gilbert the credit for the business community of Clarksville and Montgomery County being more engaged with Austin Peay State University,” he said. “It’s an honor and my privilege to accept this award named on behalf of my friend, Wendell Gilbert, and let’s have a helluva good time tonight!” People took Jack Turner’s suggestion to heart, keeping the dance floor packed with energy and enthusiasm until nearly midnight. The co-chairwomen in charge of planning the ball were Andrea Goble and Fran Jenkins, joined by Candlelight Ball Committee members Brittnye Reigle, Christina Clark, Kathryn Minniehan, Kayla Morgan, Nicole Williamson, Sally Allen, Stephanie Lanham, Candy Johnson, Ashley Jackson, Britney Campbell, Pam Loos, Cindy Greene, Adrienne Beech and Kimberly Silvus. For more information on the Candlelight Ball, Contact the APSU Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@apsu.edu or at (931)221-7979. Find more information about Austin Peay State University at www.apsu.edu.
Margaret Anne & Wesley Sumner
Charlsie & John Halliburton
Jack & Margie Turner
Jeffrey & Gail Young, Shawn & Susan Molsberger, Toshia & Edward Lenard
Letishia & Lawrence Johnson
Stacey Boisseau & Holly Bucy
Rob & Stephanie Lanham
Jasmine Jones & Makeba Webb
Anne Bethencourt & Phil Gannaway
APRIL 2016 • 31
APSU Candlelight Ball
Leonard & Stephanie Tharpe, Sid & Saundra Curry, Kym Dukes, Betty & Tommy Chester
APSU President Alisa White & Elliott Herzlich
Ann Marie & Ted Crozier
Mark Green
Bill & Betsy Kimbrough
Adonia & Kevin Kennedy Jr. & Rhonda & Kevin Kennedy Sr.
Tara & Norman Quirion
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Stacy Leiser & Harry Morgan
Jennifer & Corey Cornell
Jack Turner & Norman Quirion
Sara & Dr. Drew Poret
Charlie & Camille Biter
APSU Candlelight Ball
Kris & Tammy Phillips
Mark Green, Mitchell Green, Camie Green, Cathryn Alexa Green, Christian Brekken
Marcine & James Corlew
Rep. Joe & Cindy Pitts
Sammy Stuard, Cindy Clements, Jordan & Matt McWhirter
Darla & Aaron Kidd
James & LaDonna Embry
Imani & Joe Shakeenab
Josh Baggett & APSU President Alisa White
Diane & Bill Goodman
Andrea & Col. Sal Herrera
Tommy & Betty Chester, Kym Dukes
Leigh & Win Winegar
APRIL 2016 • 33
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APRIL 2016 • 37
The Art of Living
PORCH
Pizzaz “Once shady places to greet neighbors and retreat from a rainstorm, porches have now claimed their place as prime outdoor living and gardening spaces.” — JAMES T. FARMER III AUTHOR OF “PORCH LIVING”
Story by Lyda Kay Ferree, The Southern Lifestyles Lady Photography by Helen Norman, James T. Farmer III & Maggie Yelton
I
t’s been said that a porch is where a home welcomes you with open arms. I grew up in a large house in downtown Jackson, TN with a long screened-in porch with white rocking chairs, a swing, and a glider where we greeted our neighbors and friends who parked on the street as they headed to work in downtown Jackson, shelled purple hull peas, ate watermelon, sipped iced tea and lemonade, took Sunday afternoon naps, and listened to stories told by my grandparents and parents. On rainy and stormy days there was no better place to be! As a child, I played with my dolls and talked to them as I sat in a small rocker. With a pretend microphone I “interviewed” them as 38
Obediah, our pet turtle, swam slowly around in his watery world, and Bootsie, our black and white cat, nuzzled against my legs. When I visit a home with a porch, I am instantly transported to those days and gravitate to that area of the house. I can still hear the sound of the screen door on our front porch. Stemming literally from words of antiquity, the porch has been our greeting and gathering place for centuries. Grandiose and humble, classic and modern, country and city, these vestibules of nostalgia and welcome are our homes’ first and last impressions. The porch is an architectural welcome mat, a social scene, and a hybrid of home and garden.
“Pots of geraniums, urns of ferns, tables laden with treats, and pitchers full of lemonade and glistening with condensation—food and flowers—nature’s best and all a part of the porch’s tableau,” said Farmer. “Rockers and swings cushioned with pillows, chairs weathered and worn from years of good use, and lanterns extending the light just a bit longer invite us to linger a while or beckon us home.” In James Farmer’s book he describes various styles of porches ranging from classic country and rustic porches to casually elegant porches to sleeping and lazing porches to porches for entertaining, and garden porches.
You Say Porch, I Say Veranda Who’s right, asks Denise Gee, author of the book “Porch Parties: Cocktail Recipes and Easy Ideas for Outdoor Entertaining.” Gee describes a veranda as a large, grand porch, usually open or perhaps partially screened-in. A porch, she says, is a smaller, more intimate space, sometimes screened-in. A gallery is typically an upstairs porch or area adjoining building sections. My friend, the late Madeleine McNeely of Natchez, Miss., lived in an
historic home with a marvelous gallery, perfect for cocktails and conversation, and watching the birds on the Mississippi Flyway. A colonnade is a covered expanse with a series of columns. A stoop is a small covered entrance at the front or back of a house, more like a platform, not a place that affords much area to party! That describes my back stoop. How I yearn for a covered patio off my master bedroom or a New Orleans courtyard like the one at the home of Debra Shriver, author of the marvelous book “Stealing Magnolias: Tales from a New Orleans Courtyard.” Shriver writes that her “favorite nook” in her New Orleans house is her small bricked-in courtyard. It is bordered by a series of French doors on one side, and a high, hand-cut brick wall on the other. Like a porch, the courtyard becomes another room for relaxing and entertaining. A semblance of New Orleans ambiance may be found on my narrow front porch with a black wrought iron table and chairs and black New Orleans-style “gas” lights surrounding my front door. Adopting an old Victorian custom, I had my front porch ceiling painted a lovely blue. Now I want to add a bottle tree featuring mostly blue bottles or perhaps a mixture of colored bottles. There are five ideas for creating breezy spaces in the magazine “Porches & Gardens.” The writer suggests that we Go Green and use eco-friendly materials when we build or restore a porch or patio; enclose our space; layer on comfort (the more inviting your porch is, the more you’ll use it) with deep-seating furniture and plumped-up pillows and make it nap-worthy; and create your own breeze with ceiling fans and be creative from the ground up. Envision your porch floor as an empty canvas and let your inner artist emerge.
Sleeping Porches The epitome of a fabulous sleeping porch may be found when you tour the home of P. Allen Smith (HGTV host and author) on Moss Mountain not far from downtown Little Rock. Instantly I fell in love with his porch with twin beds covered in crisp bedding and old quilts, a copper bathing tub, and expansive windows that overlook the back APRIL 2016 • 39
The Art of Living
garden and his art studio. Inspired by the gardens of her Prince Edward Island home, an interior designer blogger crafts the ultimate summer getaway. Colorful linens and pillows echo the hues of the hydrangeas on her porch. A birdhouse in the corner invites feathered visitors, making this cozy nook a celebration for all the senses. The homeowner changes the look of her sleeping porch from year to year, and she likes to decorate for the seasons. An old iron bed with dreamy netting is a must for her, and wicker chairs from yard sales have old-fashioned appeal and speak of long, lazy summer days. Pretty china and linens carry out her lilac theme. You may visit Carolyn Aiken’s porch on her blog at warrengrovegarden.blogspot.ca.
Recipes Source: “Sip & Savor: Drinks for Party and Porch” by James T. Farmer III
Georgia Sunrise Sunsets are fabulous and spellbinding, but a sunrise is a glorious, welcome start of a new day. Sunrises tear night’s darkness with streams of red, orange and yellow light, and these colors are caught in a drink I call a Georgia Sunrise, says James T. Farmer III. Sunrises are full of hope and promise, and I hope and promise you this drink will surely make the beginning of a new day simply marvelous. Might as well start breakfast with a peach tart as well! The breakfast of champions, I’m sure! Makes about 4 cups • 3 peaches, pitted and sliced into wedges (skin on or off, your preference)
• 2 cups peach nectar • 1 cup cranberry juice — Puree the peaches in a blender. — Pour in nectar and cranberry juice and mix well. — Serve chilled over ice.
Lavender Limeade A twist on a classic. Lavender has such a fantastic bouquet and flavor, blending well with many dishes. Lavender ice cream, lavender milk, or James Farmer’s Lavender Limeade will surely hit the spot any day. Plus, lavender and green look so beautiful together, this drink is fun to garnish and set in a tableaux. Makes about 14 cups. • 6 heaping teaspoons lavender • 12 cups water, divided • 2-3 cups sugar, depending on your sweet tooth • 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lime juice • 1/ 2 teaspoon salt • Lavender sprigs for garnish • Lime slices for garnish — Mix lavender, 3 cups water, and sugar to taste in a saucepan. — Boil gently for 5 minutes. — Strain out the lavender and add the now lavender-infused simple syrup mixture to 9 cups of water, lime juice, and salt. — Mix well and serve ice cold. — Garnish with lavender sprigs and sliced lime.
cheers! 40
After the honeymoon...
Where houses become homes
furniture design accessories
327 Warfield Blvd • Clarksville, TN
931-648-8422
APRIL 2016 • 41
According to the National Association of Home Builders, the features that wow buyers moving into the upscale home market in 2016 are:
Kitchens that impress
Extra-large or double islands and drop-down islands are popular options.
Laundry connections
Stackable washers and dryers in upstairs bathrooms are appealing.
New technology
Traditional wall outlets are being replaced with USB outlets in new construction. Then there are all the remote-control options. The ability to turn on the lights and turn off the heat from three states away? Yes, please!
Trends in New Home Building By Stacy Leiser
W
hen in the market for a new home, most Clarksville homebuyers tour a dozen or more homes, visit a few open houses, choose their favorite, make an offer and move in. But some are able to take the opportunity to build their new home from scratch. Having a home built to one’s own specifications is one of the most rewarding — and trying — experiences a person can have. A family wants a home that is able to meet its own needs, certainly, but also to design a home that has sensible, attractive features that will stand the test of time. Every new construction built is the result of thousands of decisions, both big and small. In custom-built homes, buyers have the opportunity to choose everything, from the pitch of the roof to the color of the switch plates. For families looking to build an upscale home — one that will cost $250,000 or more to build — decisions aren’t limited to flooring and finishes. People with larger budgets have a larger array of luxuries from which to choose. Unless they plan to stay in the home forever, they also must consider: Will that $50,000 home theater appeal to buyers 20 years from now, or will it be as outdated as enormous 1980s satellite dishes were in 1990? Decked-out outdoor kitchens are appealing to many right now, but will people still want to cook in their back yards in 2035?
Great rooms and open floor plans
Make a small house feel larger by breaking down barriers. People want to see from the front to the back of the house. Open floor plans are an simple way for your home communicate an uncluttered and accessible feel.
Outdoor rooms
Quality outdoor spaces are replacing formal living rooms and dining rooms. Many of these outdoor spaces include kitchens with full amenities. Cooking dinner in the great outdoors has never been easier.
Spa master baths
Characterized by light, open airy spaces, many builders are getting rid of tubs in favor huge, luxurious showers. Another nod to the popularity of the open floor plan. So, how do the national trends stack up against the local trends? Rick Reda and Amber Clark of Reda Home Builders shared the wants of buyers of upscale new homes, right here in Clarksville, Tennessee. Topping their wish lists are:
Granite countertops
While quartz is making a play for buyers’ dollars, less-expensive granite is still king.
Large tile master shower
Yep. Two shower heads? Yep. Clear glass door enclosures? Yep.
Open floor plan from kitchen to living room
The kitchen has long been known as the center of the house, and kitchens have gotten bigger and bigger over the past 20 years. Maximize the value of that space by making your beautiful kitchen an integral part of the warm, welcoming great room.
Larger lot
Who doesn’t want their own, personal park? However, when it comes time to mow the lawn, a homebuyer may rethink that multi-acre decision. 42
But if he has the gumption to do it himself or the cash to pay for a lawn service, everybody’s happy!
Full brick home
Brick facades with vinyl siding on the side and back are commonplace these days. However, many discerning buyers want their homes covered entirely in durable, maintenance-free brick.
Real hardwood floors
An approximation of the look of wood can be achieved by many substitutes, but the warmth of natural wood can never be replaced.
Tile floors
Again, a suggestion of tile is available with many cheaper options. But upscale Clarksville homebuyers want the real deal.
Covered back deck area
Too sunny? Rainy? Your back deck has you covered. Like outdoor rooms, the back deck offers privacy, a sense of luxury, and a connection to the natural world. Karen Blick, executive officer for Clarksville Montgomery County Home Builders Association, added that a large front porch with stacked stone columns is very popular in today’s market. “Stained glass and dramatic entryways, such as a two-story foyer, also get buyers excited,” she said. So, what’s your pleasure? Clarksville home builders can do it all, from brushed nickel door knobs to mansard roofs, and everything in between. If you’re considering having a home built to your specifications, lucky you! The sky’s the limit, and Clarksville custom home builders stand ready to take you there, one decision at a time.
APRIL 2016 • 43
People You Should Know
Kayla
Goad-LeVan By Leisel Schmidt
D
espite the fact that Kayla Goad-LeVan was only 21 years old when she started working in the real estate business, the young Clarksville native knew that she’d found her niche in life and was determined to make her mark. Now more than a decade into her career, Goad-LeVan forms part of a team of trusted realtors in the Clarksville area, working with her teammates at Byers and Harvey Real Estate, Inc., to offer clients personalized care; a friendly smile; and years of expertise in buying, selling, and investing in properties all over the county. No matter what her clients need, Goad-LeVan is more than willing and able to meet and exceed expectations; and it’s that combination of grit and grace that have earned her such a glowing reputation with clients and colleagues alike. Hers is a work ethic learned at her father’s knee, continued on into her adulthood under the watchful eyes of her teammates and mentors — people she’s both blessed and proud to have in her corner every day as she works tirelessly to grow her home town and show people that Clarksville really is one of the best places that anyone could ever call home.
What is your hometown? Born and raised in Clarksville, Tennessee. What is your professional title? Realtor at Byers and Harvey Real Estate, Inc. What lead you to choose this profession? My father is a 3rd generation contractor. Watching his success and steadfast work ethic as a child, I knew I wanted to be involved in his business to some capacity. I started my career co-listing his properties with Todd Harvey, a broker and the owner of Byers and Harvey. Since then, I’ve grown my real estate business to so many other areas of this industry that I didn’t even know were options when I first started my career. What three words that best describe you? Hardworking, loyal, and fun! What do you like best about what you do? I love that I get to do something new everyday. Some days, I help people find a house and make it their home, while on others, I may be helping someone grow their real estate portfolio. I also love having the opportunity to work with contractors who have gone above and beyond to create beautiful homes and bring them the perfect buyers to appreciate their work. The relationships I have built with my clients and customers speak for themselves, and I am proud to have grown my career to this point. I truly can’t wait to see what the future holds.
without ever stopping to take a break. I’ve learned to work very hard; but I try to keep that balanced with playing hard a few days here and there, taking some time to travel, and just simply having fun. It’s great to get away and re-charge my brain when I can. What are you most proud of in life? The fact that I’ve been able to make and reach goals in my career that I would have thought were unattainable, if you’d asked me ten years ago. Who have been the most influential people in your life? My grandparents, Glenn and Jane Goad. What do you do for fun? I love to travel, getting some time out on a boat, and having the chance to spend time visiting and socializing with my friends. What’s the most exciting thing you’ve ever done? The two most exciting things I’ve ever done both actually involve helicopters—I had the chance to see the Grand Canyon from above, and I took a helicopter tour of Hawaii. What is your can’t-miss show? Scandal and Nashville.
If you were to change careers today, what would you do? I would want be a movie star, a country music artist, or maybe an astronaut. Considering the fact that I have no acting skills, I can’t sing, and I didn’t take the right college classes to go to the moon, however, I think I’m in the real estate industry for the long haul!
What is your favorite thing about Clarksville? I love that, even though we’re an area that’s constantly growing, Clarksville still has a home-town feel that offers a warm welcome for everyone. I like that people still wave when you drive down the road here and that they’re still kind enough to open doors for you at restaurants and stores. I love that when someone is in need, this is a community that will join forces to help. I’ve been all over world, but I’m blessed to call Clarksville my home.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Todd Harvey once wisely told me something I will never forget: “You can either run this business or let this business run you.” It’s so true, because in this business, it’s easy to end up working day in and day out
What are your favorite things to do in Clarksville? I love to go out on the water at the marina, take a walk at the river walk, or listen to music during Jazz on the Lawn at Beachhaven Vineyards & Winery.
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People You Should Know
Valerie
Hunter-Kelly By Leisel Schmidt
W
hen former scientist Valerie Hunter-Kelly stepped out of the labs to begin her career as a real estate agent, she knew that being successful would require some of the very formulas she learned as a scientist: persistence, patience, and problem solving. For this Keller Williams agent, each client provides a new opportunity for experimentation and requires a brand new approach to finding the perfect solutions. With nearly three decades behind her as a realtor, homes and properties have become her specimens; and as she dissects each case to arrive at her goal, Hunter-Kelly provides her clients with results that fit their needs of selling their properties, gaining greater financial stability, and implementing their profits in ways that will grow their opportunities in the future. As part of the team at Keller Williams Realty, Inc., in Clarksville, Hunter-Kelly has become a huge part of the community, contributing to its ongoing growth as homes are built, bought, and sold all throughout the area. For this scientifically minded woman, however, the breakdown isn’t all about the numbers — it’s also about the people. People are full of potential, and it’s her utmost goal to help them achieve that potential. In helping her clients sell their properties, Hunter-Kelly finds great fulfillment — knowing that they’ve come to her hoping for an answer, and she’s found them the very solution they were seeking.
What is your hometown? Washington, DC What is your professional title and give a brief description of what you do? Realtor and CEO of the Air Assault Team with Keller Williams Realty leading a team of ten people. I meet with all sellers who are interested in selling their home. What do you like best/least about what you do? I love coaching, teaching, mentoring and problem solving, which will hopefully raise the level of excellence in real estate. If you were to change careers today, what would you do? I would want to be a motivational speaker. What is your greatest accomplishment in life so far? In my personal life, it’s been knowing that I’ve raised two daughters who are independent, successful, and strong women. I also started running four years ago when I was 58; and by the end of 2016, I’ll have more than 29 half-marathons, numerous 5 and 10k races, and four marathons. That’s amazing to me! Who have you been influenced most by in life? I would say my parents have been some of my greatest influences because they both encouraged me to believe that I could do anything I wanted to do. They raised me to see that I was the only person standing in my way. Fortunately, I also married a man who is extremely supportive in all I do, and he’s always been an amazing source of encouragement. If you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be? Oprah Winfrey. I have some great business ideas, and I would love to talk to her about how to develop and market my ideas. What are the top three things on your bucket list? I’d love to travel to Israel with my husband and walk all the places
that Jesus walked. I want to get VIP tickets to the Superbowl to watch it with my husband and meet all of the players — I think he would die! I’d also love to take my running global — I want to run the Great Wall of China and take down some marathons and half marathons in Africa and all 50 states right here in the USA. What’s your favorite quote? I actually have two favorites: “If they say, ‘It’s impossible,’ remember that it’s impossible for them, not for you.” The other would have to be, “Every morning, you have two choices: Continue to sleep with your dreams, or Wake up and chase them.” What is the most exciting thing you’ve ever done? I actually jumped out of a helicopter! What motto do you live by? Persist without exception! What are a few of your special professional accomplishments? I had the very unique and exciting opportunity to meet and produce a commercial with NY real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran. I also formed a great team to sell 300 houses in one year! Being selected as a Champion of Ft. Campbell in 2014 was also a great honor for me. What are some of your favorite things to do in Clarksville? I love going to see theater productions at the Roxy. We have great special events that keep the calendars packed: graduations for Passing of the Shovel for the Food Initiative, YMCA’s Tickle Me Pink, the Museum’s Flying High fundraiser, and the Officer Spouse’s Club Vice Night Fundraiser at Ft. Campbell. And those are just a few! What challenges have you faced in the real estate business? Learning how to manage and apply the many technology changes applicable to the real estate industry. It’s also been challenging to recognize different ways of doing things than our competitors so that we can stay ahead of the game! APRIL 2016 • 45
46
Story by Lyda Kay Ferree, The Southern Lifestyles Lady
L
ast spring while cleaning out a bedroom closet, not one of my favorite tasks, I heard my doorbell ring. Not looking my best, attired in casual jeans and a dusty shirt, I slowly made my way to the front door to find a lady who with a female friend was parked in my driveway. Through the door I asked the lady, whom I had never met, if I could assist her. Then she asked me an unusual question: was my front door original? (She was fascinated by the cottages and homes in the historic district of the area known to locals as Midtown Jackson, Tennessee.) I was not trying to be a smart aleck, but I laughingly told the lady that I am just the second owner of my home and that I was not living in 1920 when the house was built! She never told me why she asked that question, but we chatted long enough for me to learn that my front door had caught her eye and that she was about to downsize and wanted to purchase a home similar to mine. Shortly before her visit, my front door with two glass Gothic-style panels had been painted a Charleston gray and it really made the door pop! The visitor’s comment made me realize the power of curb appeal. “Your front yard is like a book cover,” says Barbara Ballinger in Small Gardens Magazine. “Make sure it tells the right story right away!” Note: See “10 Ways to Improve Your Home’s Curb Appeal” at www.popularmechanics.com/ home/outdoor-projects/how-to/g645
“FIVE AWFUL PLANTS FOR THE FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE” While doing research for this article, I came across an article of the above title in Southern Living’s Best Southern Gardens magazine. (Special 2016 Anniversary Edition). According to The Grumpy Gardener the plants to avoid are as follows: Golden Euonymus, Bradford Pear, Redtip Photinia, Leyland Cypress and Privet.
COLORFUL MASSING Grab attention with long-blooming perennials that save yearly replanting costs and time. Mix hues, textures, and heights. Try Japanese anemones, geraniums, daylilies, or hibiscus.
SETTING THE STAGE For believers in the power of good feng shui, opt for a winding path that leads to the front door rather than constructing one that is a straight shot. Doing so draws interest to the yard and makes reaching the destination more pleasurable. Hard quartz stones on a concrete base (use mortar for joints so stones won’t shift in cold weather) complement a home’s dark gray roof.
BASIC IS BEST Lay a gravel path to add old-fashioned romance and keep costs to a minimum. In addition, the material provides wonderful sounds as APRIL 2016 • 47
visitors walk along. Make the path at least 5 feet wide for comfort, and use bigger stones set on end to prevent gavel from spilling into planting beds. Two caveats: Gravel must be replenished seasonally, and it can be hard for women walking in high heels to maneuver. In many of the Deep South cities and towns that I visit, plantation homes have brick sidewalks leading to the front entrance of the house. Warning: When wet and/or moss-covered, the bricks may be dangerous.
FANCIFUL FRAMING As the destination point, the door is the first element that is spotted when guests are approaching a house. Play it up with lively color, a tile “frame,” and accents of big, antique-looking urns planted with perky pink hydrangeas that you change seasonally. Install a drip irrigation system to make maintenance easier.
OVERARCHING ROMANCE To soften a rectilinear front door and long row of steps, consider planting an arch with climbing roses that bloom long-term. Cecile Brunner roses are fragrant and good for cutting. Repeat the roses’ pink hues in billowy plants bordering the steps. For years real estate pros have known that a beautiful front yard helps to sell a house, not only because it makes it the star of its neighborhood, but also because it reflects how much the homeowners care about the interior and back yard. “Even the most beautiful home looks better with a front foundation garden,” states Katherine Brooks of Bloomin’ Gardens Inc. in Garden Gate magazine. Good curb appeal comes from a host of details, even when a yard is small. Start with a mix of plants and flowers native to the area so they’ll thrive. Add attractive, practical hardscape materials for walks and the driveway; insert a few pops of color and texture in plantings; and end with one or two whimsical garden ornaments such as a birdbath, angel statue or bench. Try to tie at least some of the elements back to the house’s architecture. “Remember that less is more for a small yard,” says landscape designer Michael Glassman of Sacramento, California (michaelglassman. com).
LIGHTING The right lighting can visually expand your yard and make it sparkle. “Think about how your landscape and entry will look after dark,” advises landscape architect David A. Pedersen. Pretty lanterns flanking the front door add a strong focal point and they are functional. Hang them high to draw the eye up and add interest. After I had painted my front door, I added New Orleans-style lamps 48
on either side of my front door. I love the flickering lights as they remind me of homes in the Vieux Carre.
DETAILS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE By focusing on materials that survive well in a particular climate, we can also stretch our landscape budget. Concrete, brick, and many faux woods will last longer than real woods, and they won’t have to be strained or repainted. Native plants also won’t require as much water as their invasive cousins — sometimes none! For small years, go with choices that won’t grow higher than 3 or 4 feet, so you don’t have to trim plants back regularly and worry they’ll look messy.
KEEP IT INTERESTING Research planting choices so that something always blooms or offers greenery in at least a part of your front yard. Even in a cold climate, dwarf evergreens, spruces, and cedars enhance curb appeal; come late winter, forsythia’s lovely yellow flowers will start to bloom, and quince will produce pink or red buds.
EXPANSIVE ENTRY For an unexpected welcome, incorporate a trellis as part of your front walk. Use it to display greenery and also as a way to introduce a
shade cover. Use synthetic woods or plastics that look authentic for easy maintenance and to avoid rot.
CONSISTENCY PAYS OFF
Make a border lush and full, but avoid chaos by repeating just a few choices along the steps leading up to the front door.
REPEAT EFFECT
To mimic a roof’s steep peak, a landscaped arch might be built at the center of a picturesque picket fence. The same pink roses were repeated by the street and house to tie the space together, which ultimately makes the yard look bigger and better.
“These days, the cookie-cutter approach is going away, replaced with a desire to make a unique statement and tell the world who you are.” — Small Gardens Magazine
HARDSCAPING ELEMENTS
Introduce stone, tile, or brick with some texture.
TEXTURED PLANTINGS
Go with the same idea when picking plants — mix spiky with billowy, and go with a seamless grouping of shades, from lime to graygreen to dark. Err on the subtle side.
GOOD SIGHTLINES
Since you spend a lot of time inside, be sure you love the view to the outdoors, too, even when a yard is small.
UNEXPECTED EXTRAS
Add seating so you can watch street life go by and children playing.
SMART SCALE
Match the scale of plantings to the house and yard. Don’t overpower your home with massive trees that cast wide shadows or huge hedges that don’t let visitors see your house. APRIL 2016 • 49
The Good Life
“The Gardens are like a beautiful woman with a different gown for each week of the year.” Walter Bellingrath Story by Lyda Kay Ferree, The Southern Lifestyles Lady | Photography courtesy of Bellingrath Gardens & Home
O
ne of the Deep South’s most admired attractions, Bellingrath Gardens and Home is located along the scenic Fowl River 20 miles southwest of Mobile, Alabama. It is truly one of my favorite attractions in the South. On my bucket list is to visit Bellingrath Gardens every season.
HISTORY OF THE BELLENGRATH GARDENS
Upon the advice of his physician, Dr. Paul McGehee (the grandfather of Tom McGehee, Museum Director for Bellingrath Gardens and Home), Walter Bellingrath, president of the regional Coca-Cola Bottling Company, was told to “learn how to play,” and he advised Walter to buy a fishing camp immediately. The property, which the Bellingraths purchased in 1917 on a bluff above the Fowl River, consisted of two abandoned cabins amidst fallen trees and debris from the severe hurricane of 50
1916. Bessie, Walter’s wife, who was passionate about flowers, improved the looks of the place by bringing down a few azaleas from their Mobile home. The overflow made its way to “Bellecamp,” as it was called. The 65-acre garden estate made its grand debut in the spring of 1932 while a national garden club meeting was being held in Mobile. When the Bellingraths ran an advertisement in the “Mobile Press Register” inviting the public to view “Bellecamp” free of charge during the peak of its azalea season on Sunday, April 7, around five thousand attendees crowded the roads leading to the property, and the local police force had to be called to direct traffic. Stunned by the overwhelming response, the couple decided to keep the Gardens open year-round, beginning in 1934. Gradually the property was transformed (with the help of prominent Mobile architect George B. Rogers) into a sprawling landscape of English-inspired gardens and a rambling English Renaissance manor.
for Bellingrath Gardens and Home since January of 1994, will speak about the history and construction of the Bellingrath home. His presentation will be included in the garden/home admission on that date. Lunch will be served in the Magnolia Room Café followed by a 30-minute power point lecture presentation and a guided tour of Bellingrath Home. “Most people build a grand home and then the gardens,” said McGehee. In that capacity he oversees the 15-room Bellingrath Home and its collection of original decorative arts and antiques as well as the Delchamps Collection of Boehm Porcelain. Recently McGehee attended a 60-plus year-old summer program at Attingham, an English country house, where he studied English country houses and gardens. I asked McGehee what he learned at Attingham that applies to Bellingrath. “When you see these British gardens, you realize how much the architect of the gardens at Bellingrath was looking to England in terms of the layout of the property. You can always pretend you’re in an English country estate at Bellingrath except for the fact that you’ve got Spanish moss and camellias and tropical flowers blooming in the summer here which they would not have in England… The curving pathways that meander around are surprising and that is exactly what England was doing in the 16th and 17th century, going away from formal French gardens. They wanted the look to be more natural. English flagstone walkways beckon visitors to linger and explore on self-guided tours. The Bellingrath home looks English with its slate roof, and the downspouts for the drain with the initial of the big B are typically English.” McGehee stated that in the Bellingrath home instead of an entrance hall there is a living hall, which is an English concept going back to the medieval times. Bellingrath has a multipurpose room with a grand staircase. “We have a lot of English decorative arts, Chippendale furniture and a big fireplace,” he said.
LIFE AT BELLINGRATH BELLINGRATH HOME TO CELEBRATE A MILESTONE “The home of the Bellingraths turns 80 in July,” said Sally Pearsall Ericson, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Bellingrath Gardens and Home. “The home’s ground breaking was in 1934, and the home was completed in 1936.” The home is a combination of English Renaissance and a Gulf Coast look with the black wrought ironwork that came from the old Southern Hotel in Mobile. Guests are invited to tour the home with its original furnishings and extensive decorative-arts collection. On June 15 at 10am Thomas (Tom) McGehee, Museum Director
McGehee shared with me many interesting facts about the Bellingraths’ lifestyle. The couple built their 10,500-square-foot mansion in the middle of the property that was open to the public seven days a week. That meant that 365 days a year in those days people walked past their open windows all day long. Mr. Bellingrath was notorious for walking outside and visiting with guests. According to a diary which revealed the names of the guests, the first meal was served in the house on July 4, 1936. Mrs. Bellingrath never knew how many people would show up at her table, so she asked that the table always have 12 place settings. McGehee’s favorite rooms in the mansion are the dining room and the glass-enclosed dining porch with a view of the Fowl River because it was a room that the Bellingraths used the most. (These rooms are also
APRIL 2016 • 51
my favorite rooms in the mansion.) Mrs. Bellingrath loved to shop. “She did major league shopping and there is such a wide array of objects in the Bellingrath mansion,” said McGehee. One example is a porcelain ink stand in the upstairs hall and lots of antique silver. She bought from the best antique shops on Royal Street in New Orleans, and she shopped in New York City. “The Bellingrath Mansion is one of the very few museum homes in the world to feature the complete furnishings once enjoyed by its original occupants,” said McGehee.
BELLINGRATH GARDENS The Bellingrath Gardens and Home encompass approximately 900 acres along the Fowl River. Sixty-five acres are cultivated with annual blooms and continuous color. A new rose garden on the Great Lawn is being installed. It will be centered with a cast iron urn fountain and feature three fern-patterned benches. Next to Christmas, spring is the busiest season at Bellingrath Gardens. Tulips, daffodils and hyacinths will knock you over with fragrance. Gardeners are putting in lilies and hydrangeas, and spring flowers are coming up. In April the award-winning Rose Garden and the Ecological Boardwalk are among the many highlights of the season. Visit the Annual Blooming Schedule link on this website: www.bellingrath.org/gardens-home/whats-in-bloom/. Some of the azalea bushes are well over 125 years old. The Bellingraths’ collection of azaleas at their Mobile home (sadly it was demolished in 1971) was the city’s largest. They brought some of those azaleas to Bellingrath. Miss Bessie’s nephew told McGehee that one azalea was so large that they had to close the Causeway to bring it over the Cockran Bridge, through Mobile, into the garden! Children enjoy the waterfront — the river and lake and the Ecological Bayou Boardwalk — because they see so many kinds of fish. They also love running on the bridge. The most special flower is the early November cascading chrysanthemum because you don’t see them anywhere else. It is the largest outdoor display of cascading 52
chrysanthemum in the United States. This display was created after Mrs. Bellingrath’s death. The cuttings came from Longwood Gardens near Philadelphia (Longwood got their cuttings from China). “They are very light sensitive like a poinsettia,” added McGehee. The gardeners bring the chrysanthemums to the Bellingrath home, gallery, Asian Garden and Mirror Lake Bridge, and they hang in colors of yellow, gold, white and shades of dark reds. “They hang off balconies, bridges and in gardens,” said McGehee.
BELLINGRATH-MORSE FOUNDATION Bessie Morse Bellingrath died in 1943 at the age of 64. Walter D. Bellingrath died in 1955 at the age of 86. At the age of 80, Walter Duncan Bellingrath publicly announced the creation of a non-profit foundation to assure the continued existence of his beloved gardens in perpetuity. The Foundation’s Board of Directors and the staff maintain, not expand, what the Bellingraths created. The foundation benefits Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, AL, and Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL.
WHAT TO KNOW Bellingrath Gardens & Home 12401 Bellingrath Gardens Road Theodore, Alabama 36582 (20 Miles southwest of Mobile, Alabama) Phone (251) 973-2217 | Toll Free (800) 247-8420 Fax (251) 973-0540 | www.bellingrath.org
Hours of Operation Daily: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Museum Home Tours daily beginning at 9:00 a.m. Last tickets sold at 3:30 p.m. The Magnolia Café opens at 11 a.m. daily. Reservations not required except for group tours. Boehm Porcelain Collection located in The Boehm Gallery across Live Oak Plaza from the Bellingrath Home, and a chapel is located next to the Boehm Gallery. Bellingrath Gardens & Home are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day.
DON’T MISS A “BLOOMING” THING! Attend the Bellingrath Bouquet of Events
23rd Annual Camellia Classic Car Show
Sponsored by the Mobile Bay Mustang Club | April 2
Mother’s Day Concert May 8
”Miss Bessie’s” Birthday May 20
Summertime Wonderful Wednesdays June 1-July 27
Founder’s Day
August 5 | Celebrate Mr. Bellingrath’s birthday
Boo at Bellingrath October 22
Outdoor Cascading Mum Display & Festival Bloom Out November 6-21
Magic Christmas Lights
November 25-December 31 (closed December 25)
Crabmeat Salad Source: “Recipe Jubilee!,” Published by the Junior League of Mobile, Al in 1964
• • • • • • •
1 pound lump crabmeat 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely snipped 2 spring onions, sliced thin (tops and all) 1 small garlic clove, mashed Freshly ground pepper to taste Salt to taste Enough mayonnaise to make quite moist
- Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate several hours. - Serve on lettuce, crackers or in avocado halves. - Top with Roquefort dressing, if desired, if used for shrimp salad. “I add chopped hard boiled eggs and small amount of celery.” —Mrs. Ernest L. Brown
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Clarksville VIPs at the Wilma Rudolph Center
7 Annual th
Tiffany Jenkins
Summer Wall & Tammy Rice
Jake Lowary
Home & Garden Show Story & Photography by Jessie Shirley
T
he 7th Annual Chamber Home and Garden Show was a weekend event to remember. At the Wilma Rudolph Event Center, vendors from Clarksville and the surrounding area gathered for the event. From gardens, to lawns, bathrooms, to pools – there was something for everyone hoping to fix up or build their next home. Throughout the day hundreds gathered to visit booths, sign up for raffles and prizes, and receive coupons to the surrounding furniture stores, home, and garden stores. Also being served at the event was food from “The Chopping Block.” This event was patroned by families and business owners hoping to find the perfect vendor to help with their home or business.
Keith Earhart & Mike Laghan
Thomas Sexton & Britney Bowen
Bill Haggie & Roscline Gooch
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Kim Miller & Melinda Sheppard
Connie Kondrat & Nicole Hamilton
Janine Cash & Rachel Norman
Tessa, Torre, Larry, & Effie McGill
Cathey Morrey & Michael Tutje
Lauren Grimes & Anita Keeton
Randy Thrash & Jeff Oakland
Tom & Susan Lawless
Maggie Cox, Brenda Sikes, Beverly Bridges & Horace Heggie
Dan McReynolds
Blake Howell, Sarah Johnson & Matt Manzella
Emelia, Emerie & Grayson
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7th Annual Clarksville Chamber Home & Garden Show
Chris Grimes & Amethyst Mathis
Nicole & Roy Clement
AJ Doreneles
Sierra Peterson, Lawren Dossett & Emily Scoggin
Jimmy Theal
Makayla & Christie Sanders
Vanessa & Todd Weber
Charles & Erika Clark
Renee, Frank & Robert Saunders
Stephanie Scott & Marshellia Johnson
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Clarksville VIPs at the James E. Bruce Convention Center
Story by Stacy Leiser Photography by Jason Franklin
B
Shelly Morrison & Karen Grimsley
Paula Turner & Tammy Hester
Madeline DeJager
Paula Harrington & Julia Pendleton
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Megan Sheree
eauty was the theme of the day for brides-tobe at the 12th Annual Bridal Expo at James E Bruce Convention Center in Hopkinsville. Held Sunday, March 6, the Expo was a ballroom, a bridal boutique, a florist, a travel agency, a reception hall, a fashion runway, and indoor garage to the world’s largest limousine, all in one. Gorgeous wedding dresses, vibrant flowers, and towering feather centerpieces were some of the delights on display. Set against a stage lit like old Hollywood, these beauties and more served to inspire each bride to envision her unique wedding day. In addition to all the eye candy, the Expo offered brides practical help in making the best of the myriad choices available in planning ceremonies and receptions, which require expensive decisions to be made well in advance. Tammy Hester and Paula Turner represented Creations by Tammy, the Hopkinsville flower shop that was named Best Florist in Western Kentucky. Taylor McManus showcased the catering options available for receptions held at Clarksville Country Club, while Steve Chlupsa and Verna Chlupsa guided brides through the array of romantic and whimsical wedding cakes they can whip up at The Cake Artist in Cadiz, Ky. Shelley Morrison and Karen Grimsley of the ASYMCA had hundreds of designer sample gowns for sale, each one priced at $101. Proceeds from the sale are used to support programs for Fort Campbell soldiers and their families. Several hotels were bidding for business as venues, places to host out-of-town guests and honeymoon havens. Event planners promised to make all the rigamarole simpler, while travel agents were eager to plan the post-ceremony celebration and sigh of relief. Stephanie Mason of Cruises Inc. stood ready to create all-inclusive dream vacation escapes that make for vivid memories of a couple’s first days together. Ann Erps, sales manager for James E. Bruce Convention Center, said all of the staff pitches in to plan the annual Bridal Expo. She was pleased that vendors were eager to help assemble the biggest Grand Prize to date, won that day by Ashley Adams and her fiance J.R. McGee. “The prize package was worth more than $6,000,” Ann Erps said. Included in the prize were use of the James E. Bruce Convention Center, planning services from Visions by Debra Harris, an engagement session from Wallflower Wedding Photography, two nights at Comfort Suites, DJ service from Lt. Dan’s DJ, 15 Up-Lights from First Dance DJ Service, vases and floral designs from Creations by Tammy, limo service from Black Beauty Event Transportation, $250 towards a wedding cake by The Cake Artist, and $250 in furniture from Rooms for Less. The Bridal Expo has become the area’s go-to guide for all things wedding. People getting married in 2017 can go ahead and mark their calendars now. “It’s always the first Sunday in March,” Ann Erps said.
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Give | Care | Share
YMCA Day Camps Bring Fun to Summer
By Karen Parr-Moody
S
|
Photography courtesy of YMCA.com
tudents breathe a sigh of relief at the school year’s completion as they eagerly anticipate balmy days filled with discovery. For those who enroll in the YMCA’s day camp program, curiosities will be ignited through themed weeks. The word “variety” sums up the many themes that populate the YMCA’s day camp schedule. These weekly camps, designed for children from 5 to 12 years of age, will cover such topics as swimming, global culture, detective work and dinosaurs. The camps take place from May 30 to Aug. 25 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Clarksville Area YMCA located at 260 Hillcrest Drive. Children are eligible for regular registration through May 18 for $125 per week for members and $155 for non-members. Late registration, after May 19, will cost $135 per week for members and $165 for non-members. The YMCA offers before and after-care hours from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at no extra charge.
Becky Lyons, the aquatics and family services program director for the Clarksville Area YMCA, is the contact for the camp program. She says that the camp curriculum has been created purposefully through a committee that evaluates the themes each year. “There is a true curriculum and it’s mostly fun activities, games, arts and crafts,” she says. “So it’s not like a school curriculum, but it includes activities to keep children involved all day long.” One new theme the committee developed is called “Around the World in Five Days.” It takes place from June 15 to 17 and invites children to learn about cultures from around the world through games and music. Another new theme is called “Jurassic Adventure.” It takes place from July 11 to July 15 and allows children to explore an array of creatures that existed during the Jurassic time period. During an “archeological dig,” campers will discover a dinosaur fossil, for example.
“There is a true curriculum and it’s mostly fun activities, games, arts & crafts. So it’s not like a school curriculum, but it includes activities to keep children involved all day long.” - Becky Lyons Aquatics and Family Services Program Director
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There is also a “Y-Spy Detective Day Camp” from June 20 to June 24 and Aug. 1 to Aug. 5, as well as a “Science in Action Day Camp” from June 27 to July 1 and Aug. 1 to Aug. 5. Lyons says that all campers will get to go swimming two to three times a week at the indoor pool at the YMCA. This year there is a water safety course included in the camps at no additional cost. She said this course is not only designed to help children develop their swimming strokes and learn how to float, but to teach them to safely get themselves out of water.
“Say they fall into a lake,” Lyons says. “We want to give them the skills so that they can save their lives and not drown.” Lyons says that, in her experience, campers who have taken the water safety course see a true impact on how well they swim. She explains, “Last year we served around 300 or 400 kids, and by the end of the summer we only had two or three who hadn’t passed the swim test.” To see the full schedule of YMCA camp themes and to learn more about the program, visit www.ymcamidtn.org/ clarksville/programs/day-camp#info.
Around the World in Five Days June 15-17
Jurassic Adventure July 11-15
Y-Spy Detective Day Camp June 20-24
Science in Action Day Camp June 27-July & August 1-5
Supports Breast Cancer Survivors & More There is life before breast cancer and life after breast cancer. The diagnosis changes everything. At the YMCA, the After Breast Cancer (ABC) program addresses that significant shift. Amanda Cherry, the YMCA’s development director, explains that the YMCA operates to fill in the gaps in every community. She said one issue the organization discovered was a need for a program to address the care of breast cancer survivors. “It’s a 16-week program and we offer anything they need in their journey,” Cherry says. The program takes place at the Clarksville Area YMCA located at 260 Hillcrest Drive. Cherry noted that, depending on the length of the survivor’s recovery, needs vary. Some women who have undergone a mastectomy might need help in improving the range of motion in their arms. Others might need mind-body support. “We meet them where they are in their journey,” she says. ABC’s features, Cherry says, make up a long list. It includes comprehensive nutrition, exercise and wellness services and more. The program is free of charge. To learn more about the ABC program, visit www.ymcamidtn. org/programs/support-groups/after-breast-cancer. Community service comes in a wide array of forms at the YMCA. Open Doors is another program that serves individuals’ needs, according to Amanda Gill, the YMCA’s operations executive
director. “The Open Doors program enables us to keep the doors open for everyone, no matter where they are financially,” Gill says. “We offer financial assistance on a sliding scale and we’re able to do that through our annual giving campaign.” Open Doors is based on a household’s income. Those who have experienced a job loss, or some other financial issue, are encouraged to seek assistance by bringing in a recent tax return or a proof of income for the last 30 years. A representative will then explain the membership options and the level of assistance the YMCA might provide. To learn more about the Open Doors program, visit www.ymcamidtn.org/join/ open-doors. As with all programs, more information may also be found by calling the YMCA at (931) 6472376.
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Clarksville VIPs at First Baptist
10th annual
Tabernacle Christian School
gala
Story by Stacy Leiser Photography by Greg Williamson
Mayor Kim McMillan & Merriel Bullock’Neal
Servella Terry & Yvonne Hackney
Alisha & Michael McGhee
Cheri & Ronnie Hollingsworth
Cindy & Rep. Joe Pitts, Joyce Bradley
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T
abernacle Christian School celebrated the talents and top-rate schooling of its pupils at the Tabernacle Christian School 10th Annual Gala. From the Mistress and Master of Ceremonies — Amari Ramtahal and Nathaniel Carter — to Rachel Austin’s moving entreaties, complete with solos by Talia Toon and Hezekiah Lee, the gala showcased students’ skills from start to finish. The school at 301 Market Street serves children from ages 3 through fifth grade. One of the school’s mottos is: “If excellence is a possibility, then good is not good enough.” The program began with a processional led by Elijah Blackmon and a prayer by Dr. Elizabeth Pritchet. Following were Pledges Jasmine Knight, Charlese Teasley, Aniyah Value and Cornelius Patterson. After a song and grace, dinner was served, complete with “delightful dinner music” by Ann Glass. During dinner, art by Tabernacle Christian School’s Artist-in-Residence Bob Privett was on display. “I want to implore you, tonight,” Rachel Austin said, “to join us not only in prayers for this school, but to lay the foundation of Christian education for our young people, for Clarksville, and for the world.” Principal Yvonne Hackney spoke about the importance of vision, of “knowing what we want for our children.” The evening ended with remarks by Tabernacle Christian School Executive Director Servella Terry and Pastor Jimmy Terry. The finale “He is Exalted” was led by Charlese Teasley and Nathaniel Bradley. For more information about Tabernacle Christian School, see the school’s web site, www.tcs1999.com, or call (931)552-9431.
Pastor Michael & Cassandra Osborne & India Ramtahal
Horace & Jean Murphy
Servella Terry & Lee Carter
Tammy & Jim Terry
Larry & Mayor Kim McMillan
Tamera & Destiny Rob
Pastor Eddie & Eunice Sumbler
Joyce & Harold Shoulders
Merriel Bullock’Neal & Seymour Hagans
Pastor Jimmy Terry & Eva Gibson
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Clarksville VIPs at Austin Peay State University
Rhapsody in Blue Story & Photography by Greg Williamson
G
o ahead. Take your kids to an orchestra concert! That may sound like an idea on par with bringing babies to movie theaters, but Gateway Chamber Orchestra’s Rhapsody in Blue proved that kids and orchestras go together just fine, thank you. Held March 20 at Austin Peay State University’s gorgeous George and Sharon Mabry Concert Hall, the kid-friendly “musical kaleidoscope of America” introduced Gershwin’s great classic to a new generation. The concerto-style performance featured solos by acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Biegel. An hour before the professionals took the stage, unusual sounds echoed through the halls of Austin Peay’s Music/Mass Communication Building. There was a petting zoo on site! But these sounds weren’t the bleats of little lambs or the squeals of pigs. They were the bold tones of children playing musical instruments — from timpani to tubas — for the very first time. The Children’s Instrument Petting Zoo is an Austin Peay Music Department tradition, giving youngsters their first hands-on experiences with instruments that, until that moment, seemed entirely mysterious to them. Samuel Ugalde’s eyes widened as he held a flute, gently blew, and heard the sweet sound he created. Evelyn Ugalde beamed as she watched. She brought her 7-year-old son to the concert knowing he would enjoy trying out the instruments, since he already liked playing a small keyboard and bongo drums at home. But she said she never expected to be there at all. “Someone blessed me with these tickets,” she said. “She came to the bank — I’m a teller — and she just blessed me with two tickets.” The Ugaldes’ mystery benefactor was Chamber Orchestra Guild President Sandra Armistead. She was dropping off posters for the concert at Cumberland Bank and Trust, which supports the Chamber Orchestra through advertising, when she met Evelyn Ugalde. “I’m really excited she brought her son,” Sandra Armistead said. The concert that followed was part of Gateway Chamber Orchestra’s Family Series, which presents “classical music in an approachable format featuring other arts disciplines such as visual art and creative writing.” The Rhapsody in Blue concert was narrated by author Anna Celenza, with original animated graphics by Clarksville art duo Black & Jones — Austin Peay Art Professors Kell Black and Barry Jones. Formed in 2008, Gateway Chamber Orchestra is directed and conducted by Gregory Wolynec. The National Endowment for the Arts supports its Family Series, which, in addition to the Sunday afternoon public events, presents classical music to nearly 2,500 local school children in free concerts each year. For more information about Gateway Chamber Orchestra, call (931)444-6240 or see www.gatewaychamberorchestra.com.
Alex Dickerson & Jeremy Rice
Jesus & Janet Martinez
Michelle, Alex & Dan Dickerson
Connie & Bill Booth
Mario Stewart-Baez & Becky Baez-Stewart
APRIL 2016 • 65
Gateway Chamber Orchestra Rhapsody in Blue
Mia Reid
John Barron & Noah Lane
Don & Patsy Sharpe
Charles, Reynolds & Danica Booth
Reagan & Robert Hill
Jesse Austin & Cheyenne Plank
APSU President Alisa White & Susie Perry
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Jillian Vogel & Brigid Downs
Logan, Parker & Kristina Hill
Marlon Crow & Eric Berg
Ruth Montalvo, Greycha Lopez, Victor & Nayara Acevedo Madeline Robinson & Amber Heady
DoD and Retirees Welcome! Do Local Attractions & Shopping One hour from Music City • Land Between the Lakes • Governor’s Square Mall • Walmart Super and Market Centers •
Basic utilities* Free use of community center amenities Pet-friendly community 24/7 maintenance Free resident events Lawn care *Up to an established baseline
Post Amenities • • • • •
Walking trails Fitness centers Aquatics center Splash parks Golf course
• • • • • • •
Tiny Town Theater Publix Lowes Home Depot Best Buy Target Kohls
Shoppettes Don F. Pratt Memorial Museum • Bowling alley • And more! • •
School Information •
Children of full-time DoD employees are afforded the opportunity to attend DoD schools. For information on each school and to view yearly calendars, visit www.dodea.edu/Americas/Kentucky/
Leasing Office: 850 Georgia Avenue, Fort Campbell, KY 42223
Phone:
(888) 662-6144
www.campbellcrossingllc.com APRIL 2016 • 67
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