YOUR Williamson November 2013

PUMPKINFEST

FRANKLIN WINE FESTIVAL

RIVER SWING

A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2013

GIVING THANKS & GIVING BACK:

Nashville Rescue Mission Thanksgiving

A GIRLS’ TRIP TO TUSCANY PROJECT STARFISH

Granting a Water Wish

Salute to Business in Williamson County Celebrating One Year! The Williamson County Chamber of Commerce November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 1

MEN’S HEALTH

da Vinci Surgical System • Prostate Health • Advanced Orthopaedic Services Sports Medicine • Physical and Occupational Therapy • Advanced Cardiac Services • Primary Care • Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine • Laboratory Services

2 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 3

YOUR WILLIAMSON

NOVEMBER 2013 • VOL II-XV SPECIAL SECTION: BUSINESS

COME FLY WITH ME

62 67

31 90

46 FROM OUR TABLE TO YOURS

YOUR CHARITABLE SELF

ARTS & CULTURE A LA CARTE

TABLE OF CONTENTS YOUR CONTRIBUTORS

YOUR FEATURES

YOUR COLUMNS

24 Fashionable YOU

22 YOUR Beauty & Style

18 Shopping

46 YOUR Charitable Self

26 YOUR Effortless Style

21 YOUR Best Self

Soft & Stylish Scarves

Confessions of a Beauty Junkie

Nashville Rescue Mission

60 From Our House to YOURS Home for the Holidays

64 A Little Something Extra Dining Out on Thanksgiving

67 Special Section

Salute to Business in Williamson County

with Katie Rushton

34 Come Fly with Me Girls’ Trip to Tuscany

52 Around YOUR Town with Fridrich & Clark

with CoolSprings Galleria

with Connie Haley

28 YOUR Health & Wellness with WMC

36 YOUR Education

with Williamson County Schools

58 Hospitable YOU

with Southern Soiree

73 YOUR Community Partner

62 From Our Table to YOURS

82 In YOUR Backyard

70 In YOUR Best Interest

EVERY MONTH

with The Chef & I

Williamson Co. Chamber of Commerce Project Starfish: Granting A Water Wish

with First Farmers

8

YOUR Publisher’s Letter

10 YOUR Featured Events 65 In the Click 78 Ribbon Cuttings

COVER PROFILE

BUSINESS IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY Celebrating Business in Williamson County on a gorgeous autumn day at Harlinsdale Farm. Our featured local business owners – Pamela Stephens of Williamson Memorial Funeral Home, Calvin and Blythe Houghland of Pear Tree Avenue and PANDORA, Shea Freeman Patrick with Freeman’s Flowers & Gifts, Courtland and Missy Taylor of Taylor Made Smiles and Arde Afrakhteh with Arde Motors.

Photography by Andrea Davis

4 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

New Williamson County Businesses

86 Scoop: YOU in the News 88 Read Between the Lines with Landmark Booksellers

90 Arts & Culture A La Carte with Andrea Davis

98 YOUR Random WC Facts

WE’VE FINALLY BUILT IT...

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN TO COME THE NEW LEXUS OF NASHVILLE OPENS I-65 @ ROSA L. PARKS BLVD NOVEMBER 18TH

WWW.NASHVILLELEXUS.COM

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 5

YOUR STAFF

Andrea Davis

Anna Robertson

Heather Peters

Johnny Birdsong

Julie Jorgenson

MANAGING EDITOR

EDITOR EMERITUS

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

VP OF SALES & DEVELOPMENT

LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Susan Charest

Cameron McBride

Leslie Drewery

Erica Lampley

K York

COMMUNITY EDITOR

SALES & MARKETING MANAGER

SALES & MARKETING CONSULTANT

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Andrea Stockard WRITER

Gary Buchanan Kerney McNeil DISTRIBUTION MANAGERS

Ron Cheatham Sarah Bailey

Rachel Weishaupt

Nicole Staggs

Adam Sanner

PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTOGRAPHER

PHOTOGRAPHER

YOUR Williamson is a publication of: Robertson Media Group, LLC President/Publisher Shelly Robertson Birdsong Office: 615.979.1548

For our interactive calendar, event photos, additional features, and content, visit: www.yourwilliamson.com

Please send all content & coverage requests to: info@yourwilliamson.com

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Steve Absher, Account Exec.

Kingery Printing Company YOUR Printing Partner

6 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

615-828-8661 stevea@kingeryprinting.com quotes@kingeryprinting.com

BUSINESS MANAGER

@yourwilliamson facebook.com/yourwilliamson

NOVEMBER 2013

BE THANKFUL! Dear Readers,

info@robertsonmediagroup.com

CUSTOM PUBLISHING . INTEGRATED MEDIA & MARKETING . CONSULTING

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

I hate trite. I abhor redundancy. And I dislike disingenuous prattle. So all that being said, I am about to embark on that letter of the year, where all of those things may come to mind, as we all find ourselves “saying” the same things a lot over the course of the next two months. Those two months of the year, when everyone has “be thankful” and “be happy” on their lips and a lot of times (well yes, it’s true), it’s all just lip service isn’t it? I mean, we aren’t lying but it is hard not to become a little cynical and jaded, when the first Christmas trees popped up right after the 4th of July bunting went down! And, as our minds turn to extreme commercialism, retail overload and in general, largess over our food, family, fun and fabulous finds throughout the holiday season, I ask, dear reader, friends and fellow Williamson Countians, that we all take a moment, take a breath and ask ourselves with all sincerity, what are we thankful for this season and how best to express it wholeheartedly with meaning and reason this magical season?

It goes without saying that for me, this year, I am truly blessed. I am thankful beyond measure and “that ain’t no lip service.” I have a beautiful daughter with whom, Johnny and I and our family will celebrate her first… well, her first everything this year. I am already teary-eyed thinking about her first glimpse of a Christmas tree and of all the unnecessary gifts we will buy her which let’s face it, are for mommy and daddy to take pictures of her eating the wrapping paper, as she will care less about what gift lies within! For goodness sake! I just cried, when I took her Halloween picture as a ladybug even though there was no trick or treating for the four month old. We of course, had to have a costume! But we all engage in the commercialism as children do make the holidays magical, and our cynicism can be tempered a bit by their clearness of spirit and their simple glee and joy at all things sparkly and bright. I encourage you to capture some of that childlike spirit this season, and mean it as you pass it on and pay it forward. The story in this issue about the Nashville Rescue mission and their efforts to provide Thanksgiving dinner to so many reminds me that, while my table is full, many have to do without. But I can try in whatever ways possible to share my blessings whenever I can, no matter the season or holiday. I encourage you to do so too. The events we covered this issue, where money has been raised to benefit the sick, the forgotten and the needy, will compel you to attend a charitable event this month and show that you too, can appreciate that sometimes everyone needs a little help. Water is our most precious natural resource and is so very taken for granted. Remember that with your next glass, and think about ways to help Rotary provide water to those lacking here- HERE in our own privileged county. Help the Harpeth River Watershed Association keep our water clean. Join the Chamber of Commerce, and help promote business in our community; so that more jobs are created, more revenue is built and a vibrant and thriving community to live in, raise our children in and have the means by which to give back, can abound.

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” ~ G.K. Chesterton

Am I thankful? You bet I am. I am thankful to all of you I have this page to write from and a voice that you have enabled to tell your story and the story of so much around us to be thankful for. Trust me. If you live in Williamson County, you have much to say a blessing over. Do so and mean it. I am thankful for and to you Williamson County. From our family to YOURS: Happy Thanksgiving!

Shelly, YOUR Publisher - shelly@yourwilliamson.com

8 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

Sterling silver charms from $25

Experience at: THE MALL AT GREEN HILLS jewelrystorenashville.com COOL SPRINGS GALLERIA jewelryfranklin.com PEAR TREE AVUENUE Brentwood

Available starting November 4 Purchase a limited edition Twelve Days of Christmas gift set for $500, featuring 12 new holiday charms in a PANDORA Design Center Jewelry Box (a $50 US retail value).* *Bracelet and 791066 charms not included. While supplies last. See store for details.

TABLE OF CONTENTS YOUR EVENTS 14 River Swing

44 Chili in the Fork

16 Hope Grows

48 Habitee Golf Challenge

20 PANDORA Meet and Greet 27 Heroes in Heels 29 Grace Healthcare Fall Fest

54 Caddyshack for RPAC Golf Tournament 65 British Car Show 83 Closer to Home

30 Flemings Wine Tasting 34 CharacterEyes Art Show 38 Pumpkinfest in Downtown Franklin

84 Franklin Wine Festival 95 Walk of Remembrance

November Featured Events Sponsored Event

YOUR Williamson is proud to partner with these special organizations and events in November!

Styles of Yesterday & Today The American Girl Fashion Show is a fun-filled event for girls and their families, friends, and favorite dolls!

Celebrate the experience of being a girl, whether yesterday or today, through a colorful presentation of historical and contemporary fashions. Enjoy elegant refreshments, enter to win door prizes, and learn how clothing has changed over the years to reflect history, culture, and girls’ individual styles.

AMERICAN GIRL DOLL FASHION SHOW

November 9th - The Factory at Franklin ® girls and The American Girl Fashion Show is a fun-filled event for their families, friends and Hosted favorite dolls!

Celebrate the experience of By and To Benefit Mercy Community Healthcare being a girl, whether yesterday or today, through a colorful Styles of Yesterday & Today Sponsored By presentation of historical and contemporary fashions. Enjoy elegant It’s Vintage, Baby The American Girl Fashion Show is a fun-filled refreshments, win door prizes and learn how clothing hasand changed event for girls and their families, friends, November 9, 2013 favorite dolls!

Celebrate the experience of beingstyles. a 10:00am, 2:00pm & 6:00pm over the years to reflect history, culture and girls’ individual girl, whether yesterday or today, through a colorful The Factory at Franklin presentation of and contemporary fashions.

Hosted Byhistorical and To Benefit 230 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN 37064 Enjoy elegant refreshments, enter to win door prizes, Mercy Community Healthcare and learn how clothing Tickets: $35 has changed over the years www.mercycommunityhealthcare.org www.MercyCommunityHealthcare.org to refl ect history, culture, and girls’ individual styles.

Hosted by

96 YOUR Williamson October Social

40 Franklin Tomorrow Chili Cook-Off 42 Dog & Pony Show

Providing coverage and exposure for our community non-profits and other organizations is the cornerstone of what we do at YOUR Williamson. We would love to know about YOUR upcoming event and provide in-magazine or online coverage & promotion when possible. We also participate in a limited number of event partnerships with extensive advertising and marketing packages monthly. Please submit events at least one month in advance of date for consideration of coverage to info@yourwilliamson.com and contact our Publisher at shelly@yourwilliamson.com for sponsorship information..

Host Organization of Yourtown To benefit ARTFULLY AWARE

Recommended for children 6 and up.

American Girl Fashion Show is licensed from American Girl Programs. Copyright 2013 American Girl. All rights reserved. All American Girl marks are trademarks of American Girl.

Children’s Cause U.S.A. An Auction to Benefit Autism Day, Month X Join The Brown Center for Autism for X:00 p.m. a Night of Fun and Entertainment!

The Am event favorite girl, whe presentati Enjoy eleg and learn to reflect

Host

C

Day, Month X

XX:00 a.m., X:00 p.m., X:00 p.m.

Day, Month X

ARTFULLY AWARE X:00 p.m.

November 9th - The Factory at Franklin Location Name XXX Any Street An Auction to Benefit Autism Yourtown Join The Brown Center for Autism for a Night of Fun and Tickets: $XX ($XX is tax-deductible) Entertainment!

For more information, call (XXX) XXX-XXXX, www.thebrowncenter.org or visit www.XXXXX.com.

Recommended for children 6 and up American Girl Fashion Show is licensed from American Girl Programs. Copyright © 2013 American Girl.

All rights reserved. All American Girl marks are trademarks of American Girl.

Tic

For m

Re

American Girl Fas All ri

THE FACTORY AT FRANKLIN Liberty Hall, 230 Franklin Rd Franklin TN, 37064

November 9th 7:00 - 10:00 pm

Thanksgiving Day

Thursday, 28th FUN RUN TURKEY TROT 5KNovember AND KIDS 5k begins at 8:00 AM –– Kids Fun Run at 9:00 AM USATF Certified Course November 28th,D1 Campus Thanksgiving just south of CoolSpringsDay Galleria in Cool Springs To benefit GraceWorks www.turkeytrotfranklin.com ChampionChip Timing - Race Management by Nashville Striders

Online Registration: www.TurkeyTrotFranklin.com

For more information, visit: graceworksministries.net

10 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

Style

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 11

YOUR CONTRIBUTORS

Designing YOUR Space Chris Carlisle Carlisle Interiors

Hospitable YOU Krista Cook & Lauren Hartman Southern Soiree

Man About Williamson Jondie Davis JONDIE Boutique

Fashionable YOU Katie Rushton Effortless Style

Carlisle Interiors is a residential and commercial interior decorating company offering the most unique products from a variety of exclusive sources. Principal Designer, Chris Carlisle, has over 20 years of experience while working closely with high-end craftspeople and artisans.

As a full service event production company specializing in weddings, Southern Soiree collaborates with discerning brides to design their wedding with personalized style and exceptional execution. Their goal is for you to enjoy your wedding, from the initial planning to the last dance of the night! They have fun and strive to minimize the stress associated with wedding planning.

Jondie is a long time resident of Williamson County and with his wife own JONDIE Boutique located on Main Street. His humor and feet on the street experience in fashion, dining, entertaining and all things modern gentleman, will be shared in his monthly column featuring topics of all varieties and appeal to men... and women!

Katie Rushton is a fashion stylist and owner of Effortless Style, a personal shopping and wardrobe consulting company in Brentwood, TN. Effortless Style provides a variety of services including Closet Audits, Styling Sessions and Personal Shopping. For more fashion tips from Katie or to learn more about about Effortless Style, visit effortlesstyle.com.

12 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

Read Between the Lines Joel & Carol Tomlin Landmark Booksellers

From Our Table to YOURS Chris & Erica Rains The Chef and I

YOUR Beauty & Style Julie Jorgenson The Beauty Junkie

YOUR monthly book review of great reads, local, regional and beyond will be provided by this unique bookstore in historic downtown Franklin. Owners Joel and Carol Tomlin will share insight and knowledge of literature both current and old and encourage our readers to … read, read, read.

Amy Freese Living in Style Erica and Chris Rains have owned a large catering company in Middle Tennessee for five years and have now opened their interactive supper club in Lenox Village.

They both have a passion for food and the people that they serve, and strive to raise the bar locally in both catering and in dining out environments. And remember, life is short. It might as well be delicious.

A self proclaimed Beauty Junkie, Julie is our go-to gal for all things beauty - how to find it, apply it, fake it and rock it.

She scouts out the best deals and the best beauty tricks around. Author of her own beauty blog - she treats readers to some hilarious insight into the world of what it takes to be fabulous!

Connie Haley Life Coach is a certified life coach that specializes in helping people love the life they have and from there, create the life they always envisioned. Every issue she will show readers ways to find peace and calm in their lives and in themselves.

YOUR Best Self Connie Haley Connie Haley Life Coaching

Marketing 101 Marti Veto

Marti Veto Strategic Communications sees every business as a collection of talent. They spotlight the most attractive strengths and passions in an organization and capitalize on them. Marti will contribute monthly insight and advice on how to best utilize marketing strategy in your business.

Marti Veto Strategic Communications

Charlie Woodall, investment officer for First Farmers Investment Services, is a twenty year investment industry veteran. His monthly column will offer practical advice on wealth-building strategies.

In YOUR Best Interest Charlie Woodall First Farmers

From Our House to YOURS

Amy Freese, with Cool Springs Upholstery is a life-style expert, who encourages others to create a custom-fit they are excited to showcase from the inside out. She will take you inside one of a kind homes in the area and show readers that designHER living is more than just fabric swatches, paint and furniture!

It’s a state of mind.

Around YOUR Town Sean Simons and Mary Kocina Fridrich & Clark Realty, LLC Sean Simons and Mary Kocina are realtors with Fridrich & Clark Realty, LLC. Long-time residents of Williamson County, they focus on the real estate market in this county, combining local knowledge and experience in real estate sales.

APPLE STORE J.CREW | CREWCUTS PANDORA POT

POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONOMA APPLE STORE J.CREW | CRE

PANDORA POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONOMA TH

WILLIAMS-SONOMA APPLE STORE J.CREW | CREWCUTS PANDOR

POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONOMA APPLE STORE

J.CREW | CREWCUTS PANDORA POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONO

APPLE STORE J.CREW | CREWCUTS PANDORA POT

POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONOMA APPLE STORE J.CREW | CRE

PANDORA POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONOMA TH

WILLIAMS-SONOMA APPLE STORE J.CREW | CREWCUTS PANDOR

POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONOMA APPLE STORE

J.CREW | CREWCUTS PANDORA POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONO

APPLE STORE J.CREW | CREWCUTS PANDORA POT

POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONOMA APPLE STORE J.CREW | CRE

PANDORA POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONOMA TH

WILLIAMS-SONOMA APPLE STORE J.CREW | CREWCUTS PANDOR

POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONOMA APPLE STORE

J.CREW | CREWCUTS PANDORA POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONO

APPLE STORE J.CREW | CREWCUTS PANDORA POT

POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONOMA APPLE STORE J.CREW | CRE

PANDORA POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONOMA TH

WILLIAMS-SONOMA APPLE STORE J.CREW | CREWCUTS PANDOR

POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONOMA APPLE STORE

J.CREW | CREWCUTS PANDORA POTTERY BARN WILLIAMS-SONO

APPLE STORE J.CREW | CREWCUTS PANDORA POT

FIND MORE

Wrap your arms around great shopping.

Visit Santa in Santa’s Village in Center Court!

I-65, Exits 68 & 69, Franklin | 615.771.2128 CoolSpringsGalleria.com November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 13

Sponsored Event

Harpeth River Swing

Photography by Adam Sanner

Charles & Anne Roos

The River Swing, benefiting the Harpeth River Watershed Association, as always, was held on an awesome autumn evening at a local farm. Guests enjoyed great appetizers, cocktails and dinner, all while raising funds to maintain and keep The Harpeth River in its natural state. The Harpeth River Watershed Association (HRWA) in middle Tennessee is dedicated to preserving and restoring the ecological health of the Harpeth River and its watershed. Their work leverages the scientific and technical training and experience of staff and advisors with the efforts of a diverse corps of volunteers who are crucial to every aspect of their programs. The River Swing is one of their largest annual fundraising events. For more information on the organization and how you can help keep our river clean go to www.harpethriver.org.

Stephanie Sanders & Grace Mayfield Lauren Wilburn, Margaret Wilburn, Ran Batson, Darlene & Buster Wolfe

Valerie & Andy Green

Matthew & Ann Dobson

14 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

Harold White, Joseph Lee & Carolyn Stone

Andrea Bailey & Brian Storrs

Laurie Williams, Alex Wade, David Pickens, Allison Hammond & Susi Trabue

Kathy & Scott Harrison

Rachel Mullaney, Haley Hunter, Kelley Spence & Kristen Corn

Rachel Mullaney, Sara Simpson & Haley Hunter

Blake Sage & Andy Simpson

Rick & Susan Bowerman

David Pickens & Allison Hammond

Margaret Wilburn, Steve & Kathy Anderson

Paige & Garret Pair, Brett & Elizabeth Barthel

Chris & Valerie Cantrell, Mandi & Kevin Sage

Ben Norwood & Belinda McKinley Norwood

Ruthie & Dennas Davis

Alana Berry & Steve Scott

Tom DelCambre, Dale & Bill Powell

Dwight & Annie Osteen

Carolyn & Rich Warden

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 15

Sponsored Event

Hope Grows

Story & Photography by K York The Refuge Center held their inaugural event, Hope Grows, in October at the Factory in Franklin. The dinner, silent auction and awards ceremony were held to benefit the counseling center in its mission to empower, educate and support those in need. The first Refuge Award was presented to Ann Buchanan, former head of the United Way of Williamson County. The Magnolia Sons rocked the crowd with the sounds of classic rock and roll.

Emily, Sean & Stacey Carroll

Magnolia Sons David & Benita Teems

Amy Alexander & Jennifer Gillett

Tess Fries, Dorsey McHugh & Patsy Clairmont

Rachael & Gabe Howard

Ann Buchanan

Eddie & Arnetta Hamilton, Yolanda & Marcus Henderson

16 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

Tonda & Keith Solomon

COME FIND YOUR PERFECT SLEIGH RIDE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

www.globalmotorsportsinc.com /GlobalMotorsportsBerryHill

Belle Meade Dealership 5212 Harding Road Nashville, TN 37205 615.353.9333

Berry Hill Dealership 2222 Franklin Road Nashville, TN 37204 615.463.7474

/Global_Motor

Cool Springs Dealership 7116 Moores Lane Brentwood, TN 37027 615.661.5512

Downtown Dealership 1504 DemonBreun St Nashville, TN 37203 615.248.2215

SHOPPING

COOL SPRINGS GALLERIA

Relax & Enjoy this Holiday Season: Tips for Planning Ahead Styles of Yesterday & Today The American Girl Fashion Show is a fun-filled event for girls and their families, friends, and favorite dolls!

Celebrate the experience of being a girl, whether yesterday or today, through a colorful presentation of historical and contemporary fashions. Enjoy elegant refreshments, enter to win door prizes, and learn how clothing has changed over the years to reflect history, culture, and girls’ individual styles.

®

Hosted By and To Benefit

Mercy Community Healthcare Styles of Yesterday & Today Sponsored By

It’s Vintage, Baby The American Girl Fashion Show is a fun-filled event for girls and their families, friends, and November 9, 2013 favorite dolls!

Celebrate the experience of being a 10:00am, 2:00pm & 6:00pm girl, whether yesterday or today, through a colorful The Factory at Franklin presentation of historical and contemporary fashions.

230 Franklin Road, Franklin, TN 37064 Enjoy elegant refreshments, enter to win door prizes, and learn how clothing Tickets: $35 has changed over the years www.MercyCommunityHealthcare.org to refl ect history, culture, and girls’ individual styles.

Hosted by

Host Organization of Yourtown Recommended for children 6 and up.

To benefit

American Girl Fashion Show is licensed from American Girl Programs. Copyright 2013 American Girl. All rights reserved. All American Girl marks are trademarks of American Girl.

Children’s Cause U.S.A. Day, Month X

You deserve to feel special, beautiful and confident — Location Name every single day.

X:00 p.m.

Day, Month X

XX:00 a.m., X:00 p.m., X:00 p.m.

Day, Month X X:00 p.m.

XXX Any Street Yourtown When your wardrobe is at its very

best, you are at your very best. That is

effortlesstyle defined.

Tickets: $XX ($XX is tax-deductible)

For more information, call (XXX) XXX-XXXX, I help clients navigate or trends, visit www.XXXXX.com. new choose items

that work for their body

Recommended children 6 and up type and knowfor exactly

where to find the pieces they need to build their Katie Rushton Wardrobe Consultant own personal style.

Is there a party or event on your calendar and you just don’t know what to wear?

For any special occasion where you want to look your very best – give me a call!

American Girl Fashion Show is licensed from American Girl Programs. Copyright © 2013 American Girl.

All rights reserved. All American Girl marks are trademarks of American Girl.

Katie Rushton | Wardrobe Consultant Closet audits | Styling sessions | Personal shopping 615.734.9956 | kbc.rushton@ gmail.com www.effortlesstyle.com

It’s November, which officially ignites the seasonal roller coaster that seems to always crash into the holidays before you know it.

CoolSprings Galleria is here to help you get ahead of the game this holiday season with some tips to keep your shopping organized and on schedule. Let this be the year that you show up early to the party bearing a well-thought® out and fabulous gift while wearing the perfect dress. The key word for you to remember this year is preparation. The first thing to do is create a holiday shopping list to help you keep track of who you need to buy for and what’s on theirThe wishAmerican list. I bet there’s even anShow app foristhat!

Don’t forget teachers, Girl Fashion a fun-filled coaches andfor babysitters this year.families, Begin to friends, think of everyone who does event girls and their and something for your family throughout the year of andbeing get their favorite dolls!

Celebrate the experience a names on your list. girl, whether yesterday or today, through a colorful

Styles of Yesterday & Today

presentation of historical and contemporary fashions.

Starting out at CoolSprings Galleria with list and direction Enjoy elegant refreshments, enter toawin doorsome prizes, will youhow makeclothing the mosthas of your time. We have plethora of andhelp learn changed over thea years stores something forand everyone your list. styles.

Have a young, to reflthat ect offer history, culture, girls’on individual

trendy babysitter? Start at J. Crew for the latest fashion trends. Your daughter’s soccer coach might love Hosted bya gift basket from The Art of Shaving or Apple. Your children’s friends would love the Build-A-Bear Host Organization of Yourtown experience, goodies from Toys R Us Express or some cute new duds from Crazy 8.

To benefit

Cause U.S.A. This year Children’s pay special attention to the teachers in your life. They care for your child day in and day out, so don’t get caught on the last day Day, Month of school without something to showXthem how extra special they X:00 p.m. a scarf from Coldwater Creek are. A bag from Brighton Collectibles, Day,Pandora Month would X or basically anything from do the trick and clearly XX:00 X:00 p.m., X:00 p.m. a budget in mind illustrate the deptha.m., of your appreciation.

Keeping is also important whenDay, tackling a large Month X shopping list. Organize your X:00ofp.m. list of gift recipients in order how much you plan to spend and tackle the big ones first. Planning some holiday entertaining this season? Make sureLocation your home looks and smells as fabulous as the Name catalogs you have earmarked.

Williams-Sonoma is a great stop for XXX Any Street fabulous shortcuts to a wonderful meal. They have delicious bread Yourtown mixes, spices and cocktail mixes along with the pots and pans you need to bring it all to life. Pottery Barn is another great choice for Tickets: $XX ($XX tax-deductible) centerpieces, additional seating andisholiday accessories for your For more information, call (XXX) XXX-XXXX, home. The most important detail to entertaining at home, of course, or visit www.XXXXX.com. is your outfit! Hit Ann Taylor for the perfect party frock.

Recommended for children 6 and up

Probably the most important day to remember as you plan is Black Friday.

The day after Thanksgiving has become synonymous with American Girl Fashion Show is licensed from American Girl Programs. Copyright © 2013 American Girl. rights reserved. All American Girl marks are trademarks of American Girl. holiday All shopping and more importantly – saving! Visit www. coolspringsgalleria.com to take advantage of extra savings and great deals this year. We will have extended hours so plan to get here early and beat the rush. You can be back home with your feet up and shopping done before most people get out of bed. ** photo courtesy of J Crew.

Watch Facebook weekly for chances to win a $100 J Crew giftcard, courtesy of the CoolSprings Galleria and J Crew, during the month of November!

PANDORA Meet & Greet with Stylist Renee Layher Photography by Adam Sanner A Celebrity Stylist Meet and Greet with Renee Layher was recently held at PANDORA in the Mall at Green Hills. The meet and greet allowed customers to have a one on one talk with Renee, getting advice on the perfect selection of jewelry.

Renee Layher is a well-known and very experienced celebrity stylist whose list of clients are some of the best known in the music business.

Renee’s list of clientele speaks for itself and includes The Band Perry, Kelly Pickler, Brooks & Dunn, Little Big Town and Martina McBride. PANDORA is known for its unbeatable jewelry and charms that match any occasion.

Joseph Purpura, Renee Layher, Rae Purpura & Donna Steiner

Evan Johnson, Renee Layher & Francheska Desravines

Renee Layher & Imogene Seay

Anne Ericson, Lauren Patapoff & Ann Teasley

After the last cork was popped...

the 2013 Franklin Wine Festival reached a nine-year milestone of $1,000,000 raised for the kids of Special thanks to:

Ajax Turner Beverages • Athens Distributing • Bank of America • Bass, Berry & Sims • Best Brands • Boonedocks Distribution • Brand Imaging Group • Burr Furman • Brentwood Home Page • Cool Springs Wines & Spirits • Copy Control Management • Delta Dental • ESS • Fifth Third Bank • Franklin Home Page • Grafik Solutions • Greater Nashville House & Home • Horizon • ICON International • Jackson National • Joy’s Flowers • McQuiddy • Mix 92.9 • Nashville Lifestyles • Nissan • OMNI Beverage Company • RAZOR Nashville • Sedan On Demand • ShutterBooth • Southwest Airlines • Sperry’s • Star Distributing • StorPlace Self Storage • Sys-Logic Technology Solutions • tn media • T.W. Frierson • Visit South Walton • Williamson Herald • Whole Foods Market • Wirtgen America • YOUR Williamson

20 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

www.FranklinWineFestival.com | 615.522.5659

www.mentorakid.org

YOUR BEST SELF

CONNIE HALEY

Feasting on Gratitude Thanksgiving is almost here! I love everything about this holiday, especially the intention – giving thanks. Surrounded by family, good friends and food, it is easy to have an attitude of gratitude for what matters most. But, what if we could extend the Thanksgiving mind set and binge on gratitude all year long? How different would our lives feel if we focused on what was going well, as opposed to what was broken?

What if we were grateful for what we had instead of what we lacked? What if we appreciated the good things about our friends and family instead of their annoying quirks?

Our lives flow in the direction of our thoughts. There is a direct connection between how we feel and what thoughts we focus on.

Cultivating thoughts of gratitude takes practice, but it is the gateway to a joy-filled life. With effort, we can channel our attention to what is positive in any situation. We can mentally refocus to find the “silver lining”, even during stressful times. Acknowledging and showing appreciation for the people and events in our lives is the most efficient (and in our control) way to live a life that feels abundant.

Nurturing a positive outlook doesn’t mean we never get annoyed with other people, feel upset or desire things we don’t have. Rather, it is an awareness that when these feelings present themselves, we have a choice between staying stuck in negativity or finding the positive spin and looking for solutions. Consistently choosing the latter will help create a mental firewall against inevitable challenges of life.

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If you would like to start experiencing the benefits of gratitude there are numerous ways to incorporate this practice into your daily life.

Brain storm potential ideas, or try one of the following: • Use the first or last few minutes of the day, in bed, to mentally count your blessings • Make a list of things or people that you are grateful for on a 3x5 card and read it daily • Do something nice for someone else when you are feeling out of sorts • Think of a past event that you worried about, but turned out fine • Select a memory that floods you with positive emotion and focus on it when you feel upset • Take a walk outside and notice the beauty of nature • Emulate your children. They find joy and wonder in the most ordinary things The goal is to select and practice any action that truly puts you in a state of thankfulness. Start with something easy to incorporate on a daily basis, and build from there. I promise that this is not just one of those “pretty ideas”! Putting this concept into practice will actually re-wire your brain to view events in a more optimistic light. The end result will be a life with less fear, resentment and overload and an increase in contentment, energy and gratitude.

Please contact me at conniehaleylifecoaching.com to schedule your free 20 minute coaching call, or with any comments, questions or topics you would like to see discussed in this column. Visit my Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/ConnieHaleyLifeCoaching.

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 21

YOUR BEAUTY & STYLE

CONFESSIONS OF A BEAUTY JUNKIE

SKIN

DEEP Gobble gobble, y’all! Normally at this time of year I love to write about all the things for which we are thankful, and we do have so, so much. But before you get ready to load up that belly with all of your favorite Thanksgiving treats, pause for a second and ask yourself: am I putting as much thought to what goes on my body, as I do what goes in it? The conscious-food/farm-to-table/local/ organic (or gluten-free, or vegan, or whatever) craze sweeping the nation begs the question, and the answers can be a bit shocking. Don’t believe me? Grab some turkey and settle in, friends.

Now I’m all about getting as aggressive about fighting the signs of aging without resorting to what I think are drastic actions see: Botox, Still Scared to Try. That said, the idea of slathering on toxic substances with a devil-may-care attitude does not make me happy. For example, I used to LOVE Creme de la Mer and went through several jars of it before I found out that its primary ingredient is mineral oil. Y’all, that’s straight-up petroleum, like, what they make gasoline out of, and I was putting it on my face! For shame. What’s the big deal with mineral oil? Besides the whole gasoline thing, it literally sits on top of your skin and forms a film, preventing anything and everything from permeating into your pretty face. Don’t believe me? Go buy some mineral oil at a drugstore. Pour some into a cup, then pour some water into another cup. Put a saltine cracker into each cup, and wait; pay some bills, text your friends, feed the dog. Now look at each cracker.

The one in water: soggy and falling apart, as you’d expect. The one in mineral oil will look exactly the same as it did when you started this little experiment. How do we expect to apply fancy, overpriced skincare (with fancy, overpriced ingredients) to work when the mineral oil contained keeps everything sitting on the surface? Quick answer: it never will. Oh, and? Anything that you slap onto your skin, which just happens to be your body’s biggest organ, can be detected in your bloodstream in seconds. Anybody want a petroleum byproduct flowing through her veins? Ick. Here’s some additional mind-boggling info: there are only eleven banned cosmetic ingredients currently in the US (Europe has banned thirteen hundred to date); and the last time that

22 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

a law governing the safety of cosmetic ingredients was passed was in 1938. Um, what?! So what’s a smart beauty junkie to do?

I’m not pretending that there aren’t a myriad of beauty-product companies that actually give a flying rat’s hiney about what goes into their products. There are, and a quick spin through Whole Body in Green Hills (or some online perusing) will show you plenty. The dilemma is finding something that actually works. There’s no reason that us gals should have to settle for ineffective eye creams and subpar serums just to keep things on the up-and-up from a toxicity standpoint. For this reason, I am eternally grateful for my friend Paige for introducing me to Beautycounter and its collection of bootykicking products.

Paige is a super-smart gal who was also appalled at the amount of garbage present in “all-natural” and “pure” products. Convinced that her family deserved better, she learned of Beautycounter from a good friend and fell in love with the thoroughly-researched, nontoxic array of bath and skincare products. The best part of this story is that the products address all skin types with the greatest of ease.

Seriously, y’all should see Paige’s skin. Amaze. After trying, literally, every product currently available, I’m hooked; and I feel good about it! There’s something to be said for falling in love with a product line with the motto “everyone counts” - how awesome is that?

So stop and think to yourself, “Do I really know what’s in this?”, as you reach for your eye cream. Read the ingredients on your jar of nighttime moisturizer-- can your pronounce half of what’s listed? When in doubt, toss it out; and go the non-toxic route. You’ll be doing a good thing for yourself, your future and your family, which is something for which to give thanks! Be beautiful, Williamson County!

Love, The Beauty Junkie

Beautycounter: paigecleveland.beautycounter.com or mailto:paigekt@mac.com

Share YOUR Special Day! Let us include your Bridal Profiles, Birth Announcements, Anniversaries and Special Personal Events in the next issue of YOUR Williamson.

Special Announcement Rates Available Contact us at sales@yourwilliamson.com for more information and specific issue deadlines

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 23

FASHIONABLE YOU

SCARVES

Scarves

Soft & Stylish

Story & Styled by Julie Jorgensen Photography by Andrea Davis

We love all of the scarves on display in our favorite Franklin boutiques this time of year! With the endless array of shapes, materials and prints, putting a look together can seem like a challenge, right? Relax ladies. We have you covered!

Black, ivory, and all shades of gray are always a big hit in the colder months. This beautiful combo pulls several shadows together, all while keeping you warm and fashionable in the process! We doubled up the ombre’ scarf and threw the neck-warmer on top.

Ombre’ loop sweater-knit scarf, $85; and infinity neck-warmer, $75; both by Paula Bianco, both at Emmaline.

We love a high-low mix for painting the town or having cocktails with your girlfriends. This luxe fur/ horse-print combo has the look down pat. Loop the print scarf around your neck twice, layer the fur underneath, and off you go!

Some scarves are worth the splurge and demand that outfits be built around them (not the other way around). Keep the focus on this amazing piece by laying it around your neck and shoulders, making an asymmetrical half-knot, and flaring out the ends to show off that beautiful hem!

La Fee’ Verte Rabbit-fur infinity scarf, $250; and Chan Luu dip-dye scarf, price upon request; both at Emmaline. Rose equestrian-print infinity scarf, $25; and nude tank top (used throughout), $18; both at Jondie.

Richami Olivo plaid scarf with contrast hem, $359, at Haven.

24 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

For you snowbirds or anyone who misses the warm weather this time of year, this pretty print reminds us of the beach with its beautiful coral-reef detail. Show it off by placing it over your shoulders, then sweeping one end up and over the opposite shoulder.

Leigh & Luca hand-printed scarf, $205, at Haven.

Puzzled by prints? Please don’t be!

Keep everything in the same family of colors, in this case beautiful blues, and pile them on. Drape one over your shoulders, towards your back, then bring the ends back around and make a half-knot. You can even wear two together to make them look like one gorgeous print-plentiful scarf!

When the temps really start to drop, turn to a heavier wool that reminds us of a stadium blanket, but much more fabulous! Tie in a thinner patterned scarf in the same colors to really polish this look; fold the print scarf in half lengthwise, drape around your neck, then tuck the loose ends through the loop and pull.

All-weather scarves: blue batik and mixed-print, each $25, all at Jondie.

Shawlsmith print scarf (around neck), $72, at Emmaline. Rita Liefhebber hand-dyed wool scarf (around shoulders), $199, at Haven.

We love the contrast of pastels against black this time of year, especially against an otherwisesimple outfit (think a dark sweater dress and black tights). With the focus on the scarf, you can get creative with your styling.

Shawlsmith viscose print scarf, $64, at Emmaline.

Pair paler shades with cozy neutrals for an easy look that goes everywhere. When you get bored with one look, switch it up with ease thanks to a tube-shaped scarf that does doubleduty as an infinity shawl collar!

Winter infinity knit twoin-one scarf, and Summer print scarf, both $25, both at Jondie.

YOUR EFFORTLESS STYLE

KATIE RUSHTON

YOUR EFFORTLESS STYLE: WINTER AND HOLIDAY LOOKS

In addition to styling the Heroes in Heels fashion show, I also styled a fashion show for the New Neighbors Club at the end of October. The New Neighbors held their annual fashion show at Brentwood Country Club. Fourteen members of the club modeled for the show, and each individual modeled a fall look and a holiday look from Belk.

These ladies were fun to work with, and I especially loved getting to put them in some holiday party looks, since the holidays are just around the corner.

Steven Ravesh Pumps in Purple Nubuck; $149

• ADD A LITTLE SPARKLE: The Holiday Season is one of the best times of the year to add a few “sparkle” pieces to your wardrobe. Try a knee length sequin dress or an embellished sparkle tank top under a sleek blazer.

It’s hard to believe that October has already come and gone. It was such an honor to style last month’s YOUR Williamson fashion shoot featuring real Breast Cancer Survivors. I loved putting together looks that showcased their inspirational stories and personal style. Last month, I also had the wonderful opportunity to style another Breast Cancer Awareness Month event for the Maryland Farms YMCA’s After Breast Cancer program. The Heroes in Heels fashion show was held at the Factory in Franklin and featured 25 Breast Cancer Survivors as models that were participants of

26 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

• GO BOLD: Expand your typical Holiday color pallet with a rich, bold color like a deep fuchsia or royal blue. Try mixing a bold colored pump with a black dress or skinny jeans for a pop of personality and color.

• RETHINK THE LBD: The Little Black Dress is here to stay but switch it up a little for the Holiday season. Try a dress with longer sleeves and a cut above the knees. Accessorize with a bold statement necklace to add a little sparkle and shine!

Whether it’s a low-key girls night out, a fancy charity event, or a casual holiday soiree, I would love to help you find the perfect look for any holiday occasion. I offer a variety of styling and personal shopping services to help my clients take care of all their Holiday Fashion needs. For more Holiday Fashion advice or to schedule a personal styling appointment visit me online at www.effortlesstyle.com!

Your Personal Fashion Expert, KATIE RUSHTON

Donna Morgan Long-Sleeved Velvet Sheath Dress; $154

But now that October is over, and the weather is starting to get cooler, it’s time to start reassessing your fall wardrobe and start putting together the key pieces you’ll need for stunning winter looks! Deciding on the perfect outfit and accessories can be overwhelming, so here are a few simple tips to perfect your personal Holiday Style:

Ralph Lauren Sequined Dress in Navy; $169

the ABC program. As a stylist, it is my passion to help my clients look great on the outside and feel confident on the inside; and working with these inspiring women was an absolute dream come true!

Heroes in Heels Story & Photography by Cameron McBride Breast cancer survivors modeled Belk fashion at the Factory’s Jamison Hall on October 3rd for Heroes in Heels presented by the YMCA. Before the show, Studio Gaven prepped the women and their families for the catwalk by styling their hair and make-up. The evening began with a cocktail hour, featuring pink martinis and pink tables full of hors d’oeuvres.

The fashion show allowed the inspirational women to showcase the clothing and their stories. The evening concluded with an emotional finale with each survivor holding a sign revealing their year(s) of survivorship. The annual fundraiser benefits the YMCA’s After Breast Cancer program. You can learn more about the Y’s ABC program by visiting ymcamidtn.org.

Katie Richards & Gaven Smith

Emily White, Bob Knestrick & Beth Vernon

Rachael Hurt, Kali Righter & Brandi Blodgett

Jacquie Glover & Kristen Hershey-Schell

Lori Vendl, Gwen Grottola, Denise Hunt, Fran Harmon & Jennifer McEwen

Kylie & Shelley Kolz, Callahan Dylan Miller

Holly Sanders & Larry Brooks

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 27

YOUR HEALTH & WELLNESS

WMC

Although Small, The Prostate Can Cause Big Trouble As Men Age As we leave the month of October, which is synonymous with breast cancer awareness, we head into November, which is becoming more widely known for bringing awareness to cancer of the prostate.

SOME FACTS ABOUT PROSTATE CANCER: • It is the leading cancer in men over 50 • It is the second-most common cancer in men

Most people have heard of prostate cancer, which is the second-most common cancer in men and the leading cancer in men over 50. It is a cancer that is hard to prevent, it’s not hereditary (although family history is important), it generally comes with age, and there are no clear early warning signs.

• There are no early warning signs • Symptoms such as pain, difficulty urinating or sexual dysfunction typically show up beyond the curative phase • The PSA test is a good way for men over 40 to monitor their prostate health • It is not hereditary, but family history is important to note

People ask me all the time what the early warning signs are for prostate cancer and I hate to tell you that there are none. That’s the dilemma. In the early, curative phases, it is essentially asymptomatic. By the time you have symptoms of prostate cancer, such as pain, difficulty urinating or sexual dysfunction, it has advanced beyond the curative phase and at that point we are only able to treat the symptoms. Other fairly common prostate issues such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostatitis are not precursors to cancer, nor does having one of them increase your risk of getting prostate cancer.

Joel Locke, M.D. Urology Associates of Franklin

But that doesn’t mean that we can’t be proactive in early detection.

The PSA test, or prostate-specific antigen test, is a blood test. If you have an elevated PSA, it doesn’t mean you have prostate cancer, it just means we need to closely monitor your PSA levels. If those levels are consistently high, we would do a transrectal ultrasound and biopsy, which gives us more information.

Few men under age 40 need to have the PSA test. A man between the ages of 40 and 54 with a strong family history, African American men or men with an abnormal prostate exam, should be paying attention.

Between the ages of 54 and 75, we recommend every man have an annual PSA test, which can even sometimes be bi-annually if PSA levels are extremely low. During your 50s and 60s is when we begin to become aggressive about it. It’s not something to be ignored. But it’s very unusual to see prostate cancer in men under age 45.

If there are family members either on the mother or the father’s side who have had prostate cancer, it does increase your risk and you will need to be monitored. We call that a familial propensity, but that is different than being genetically passed from generation to generation.

28 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

Grace Healthcare Fall Fest Story & Photography by Shelly Birdsong Grace Healthcare of Franklin hosted its first Fall Fest to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association in September. Fall Fest included an arts and crafts sale, a bake sale, healthcare vendors and booths. There was also food, live music, jumbo inflatables, games, pet adoption, contests, raffles and so much more! Grace Healthcare of Franklin provides skilled nursing care, rehabilitation and respite care all at one location.

Their facility is located in the heart of Franklin’s vibrant, historic downtown area. For more information on Grace Healthcare of Franklin, visit www.gracehcfranklin.com.

Andrea Warren, Kathy Tennyson, Carol McArthur & Charlotte Overby

Willowbrook Home Health – Patsy Smithson & Mary Grant Avalon Hospice – Jeremy Johnson & Sue Burdorf

Anna Robertson & Brittany Leedham Daylen, MaKenya, Cason, MaKayla & Kentrez

Kari Fry & Eva Evans

CARIS Healthcare Stephanie McKee

Arcadia Home Care & Staffing – Michelle Hughes & Cody Dennis

Karen & Jack Farmer

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 29

Fleming’s Wine Tasting Photography by Adam Sanner Fleming’s and Schramsberg 46 Diamonds four course wine dinner was held in October at Fleming’s in Nashville. Guests enjoyed appetizers, a first course, a main course and dessert all paired with a great selection of wines. Fleming’s teamed up with Schramsberg, a premier sparkling winery in the Napa Valley to create the Extra Dry Sparkling Wine North Coast, 2009.

With hints of the flavors of autumn, these wines will go perfectly with your holiday meals!

Diane & Tony Taylor

Jim Lancaster, Jay Daigle, Laura Gornicki & Justin Baskins

Christine New, Sarah Jones & Krystal Harris

Justin Baskins

30 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

Chuck Jones, Kevin New, Kenneth Harris & Jamie Stevens

Frank Callis & Cheryl Hunter-Grah

A POSTCARD

A special interview with Marti Veto, Stacey Suzanne Watson, and Leslie Horn

from Italy to Franklin

Am re! with

Recently, a group of 16 women from 7 states traveled to Tuscany on a private group tour arranged by a local travel expert. In an interview with YOUR Williamson they share some high notes from their adventures.

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 31

COME FLY WITH ME

TO TUSCANY

YW: Tell me a little bit about yourselves.

Leslie Horn: I’m from Memphis and have lived in Franklin for 11 years.

In my time here I’ve opened Luv2Travel, an affiliate of Travel Experts, a Virtuoso Agency.

Having designed trips for multi-generational families, cruisers, honeymooners, spring breakers, private expeditions, etc., I’ve always dreamed of planning specialty travel for women. The idea of bringing women together for a travel adventure, creating bonds and making memories, sounded like a dream come true!

My good friend, Marti Veto, who has her ancestral roots in Italy, and is always ready to revisit the country, was perfect to help me organize a fabulous Italian adventure in Tuscany. Marti would gather the women, and I would plan the adventure.

32 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

and Florida.

From food and wine tastings, villas, biking, special diners, private art gallery showings and jewelry tastings, I was the lucky one who got to experience a “trip of a lifetime” and travel with 15 fabulous women from Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Arkansas, New Jersey

Marti Veto: I am an avid italophile. My grandfather immigrated to the United States, as a boy. No one in my family had returned to the “Old Country”, until my sister and I visited in 2004. Since then, I’ve been back four times, including a 6-week sabbatical in 2007, when I found living first cousins of my father in Altamura, Puglia. “La cucina” (the kitchen) is my hobby and my passion. The only thing I enjoy more is PEOPLE! So when Leslie approached me with her idea to take a girls’ trip to Italy, I said, “Let me think about it over a quick sip of Chianti!”

As I began to think about gals who might enjoy this adventure, I went a little crazy.

Leslie and I started off with a gala party at my home to share the itinerary with interested friends. I called people from all walks of my

life: family, former colleagues, childhood friends, and neighbors. I wanted to take them all! But practicality has a way of working things out. And, as Leslie told me we would need 12 to have a tour group, I began to wonder if 12 of us would be able to coordinate family schedules, work obligations, and discretionary funds to finance the trip.

The contingent from Franklin included Leslie, Stacey, Martha Thuma, her daughter Lisa Coffman, Marcia Franks and Susan Hilgendorf and me. We had a mother and daughter, we had sisters, Tricia (Lombardo) Harris and Treva (Lombardo) Horner, and we had two women celebrating their 70th birthdays; Connie Dickinson and Susan Hilgendorf. From Memphis we had Daphne Large and Lisa May, from New Jersey, Shawn Tomasello and Kim Metcalfe, from Arkansas, Debbie Murphy, and from Alabama, Terri Gossett Allen, a childhood friend of mine from K-12. Stacey Suzanne Watson was the 16th to say “Yes!” Stacey Suzanne Watson: My hesitation was not in traveling with this group of women.

My hesitation was that this would be my third time to plan a trip to Italy. First in1999, again

in 2006, I’d been well along in my plans when life intervened. In one of my all-time favorite books, Shem Creek, by Dorothea Benton Frank, the author paints a picture comparing the hospitality of the American South to that of Tuscany. It struck a chord of familiarity in its theme of language, food and history that resonated with me.

When Marti approached me, I felt like God was offering me a third opportunity to finally experience first hand the treasures of Italy. At the party I met the women, heard the plans, and knew that this was a good fit for me. This trip was much more than a good fit. It was a fabulous adventure that has rekindled my desire to travel and my love of art.

YW: What was your favorite part of the trip?

Stacey: I can’t pick a favorite part, as the entire trip was amazing, but here are my top 3. First, The Uffizi Gallery, where I was delighted to find that I could recall everything that Mrs. Walberg taught me in 11th grade Art History.

Seeing originals of Botticellis’ Primavera, Raphael’s Madonna della Seggiola, and Leonardo da Vinci’s The Annunciation made what I learned in high school come alive!

My second favorite is Guiseppina’s cooking school. Located in Certaldo, the school is situated in an ancient winery. It stays cool all summer and is the perfect setting to learn, taste, and share the “delicioso” and delectable flavors of Tuscany. Here we learned to make fresh pasta, tiramisu, chicken cacciatore, and fried zucchini blossoms…all while nibbling fresh pecorino, olives, salume (cured meats), and of course, drinking vino.

Third is the Cathedral at Siena. Designed and completed between 1215- and 1263 A.D. built on the site of an earlier 9th century structure, the history of Christianity is told in a most artistic and elegant way. From the inlaid marble mosaics in the floors, to the hand-painted windows in the dome, this one building offers fine examples of Medieval and Renaissance art.

And how can I omit, “CORTONA?” The view of the valley, formerly swampland, traversed by Hannibal and his war elephants as he clambered over the Alps in 218 B.C. is like reaching back into time.

Of course, at the heart of all this visual pleasure was the joy in seeing it and talking about it with women of various ages, religions, and life experiences. I’m looking forward to

our next trip together.

Marti: For me, having seen many of these places before, the best part was enjoying it with girlfriends, and with a new girlfriend, Pam Mercer, owner of Tuscany Tours. Pam connected us, through Leslie, with the most impressive guides, who engaged us with their passion and personalities. I learned more on this trip than I had learned on previous trips traveling on my own, without a guide.

We traveled on a bus from Florence to Cortona, to San Gimignano, to Siena, to Rapolano della Serre, and back to Florence.

Every day on that bus, we told stories, laughed raucously until we cried, and melded into a travel group that will always look forward to traveling together again and again.

One favorite part was biking through the region of Chianti. The weather was perfect, the guides were great and the ones of us who didn’t feel like pedaling had a great time riding the support vehicle with our handsome Italian driver. Sailing past vineyards laden with purple grapes and golden leaves, seeing the famous Rooster emblem of Chianti on something other than a wine label, just made it all seem like a very small world. As indeed it is!

We lunched at an 11th century private villa, where a beautiful Italian lady opened her home to us. Platter after platter of fresh vegetables, pasta and cheese were paired with wines from the family estate. Finishing the meal was their private label Vin Santo and biscotti. By the time we got back on our bikes, we had several hundred new calories to burn!

The very best part for me was the reunion with so many friends. Many I hadn’t seen in years. And with none had I ever experienced this kind of ‘quality time’ away from the distractions of everyday life.

As we sat around the grounds of the Castello delle Serre on the last evening, I felt an abundance of riches. To be there with the magic of Italian life so very near, and the contented faces of a group assembled by random but divine intervention, my heart was singing. In Italian, we say, “tu se il mio tesoro”…a romantic phrase that translates, “you are my treasure.” Here, I felt the blessings of two treasures…the treasure of Italy, and the treasure of friends.

lodging was the famous, Tornabuoni Beacci, a 4-star hotel located on the exotic Via Tornabuoni. Strategically situated between Tiffany and Burberry, this is the Rodeo Drive of Florence. Salvatore Ferragamo’s international offices are right across the street and housed a museo de scarpe…Museum of Shoes. The current exhibition? A collection of Marilyn Monroe’s favorites!

“Taste of Florence,” a walking tour of Florentine cuisine, was a highlight for everyone. We visited butchers and tasted cinghile (wild boar), bakeries, an olive oil and balsamic tasting, an open vendor food market, and an organic gelateria.

In Cortona, we had a unique experience called a jewelry tasting. At DelBrenna, we dressed in black and all chose pieces we would enjoy wearing to dinner. Being handed a chilled prosecco with real 14K gold flecks set the tone for a “Hollywood night.” We then enjoyed an amazing dinner with guest appearances by the wine maker, the chef and the jewelry storeowners, Sebastian and Megan.

The evening was a big success from every perspective, including a happy jewelry maker who had his biggest night!

From my perspective, the trip provided an opportunity to experience the itinerary through the eyes of my clients. As a travel professional, I send my clients to the best of the best. This time, with a fabulous group of women, I was able to participate while observing the work of my favorite tour operators.

I look forward to helping everyone create magical “trips of a lifetime” adventures! And especially our next girls trip to Provence in 2014!

Ciao, Bella!

Leslie Horn, Owner Luv 2 Travel, affiliated with Travel Experts, your virtuoso agency 615-545-1817 travelxperts.com/leslie-horn

Leslie: Well, no girls’ trip would be complete without fabulous shopping! In Florence, our

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 33

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CharacterEyes Art Show Story & Photography

by K York Dr. Jim and Anita Tilly of CharacterEyes held their annual art show, reception and silent auction to benefit BRIDGES Domestic Violence Center in October. The watercolor exhibition included paintings by Gail McDaniel and student artists. The exhibit was displayed for the entire month of October in recognition of October being Domestic Violence awareness month.

B.J. Osborne

Brittany Lane, Daisy, Bob & GiGi Mallory, Jeff Landers

34 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

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Judy Metzman, Jon & Iris Rotker

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YOUR EDUCATION

NEWS FROM OUR WILLIAMSON COUNTY SCHOOLS

WILLIAMSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

YOUR Educational Hero of the Month

GIVING A HELPING HAND IN THIS SEASON OF THANKSGIVING

Kevin Keidel Principal of Brentwood High School

by Susan Charest Nolensville Elementary School parents, students, and staff recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month during their annual Walk to School Day October 18th.

Fairview Elementary School completed a food drive in which students collected more than 4,400 items for the Helping Hands Charity in Fairview.

Kevin Keidel is entering his twelfth year as principal at Brentwood High School. His educational philosophy of placing children first has helped place Brentwood High School as the number one comprehensive high school in Tennessee for the last several years. Mr. Keidel’s “emphasis on excellence” challenges all students to compete in the classroom and has led to an average ACT score of 26 from last year’s seniors and over 1750 AP tests taken. Along with academics, Mr. Keidel promotes the arts and athletics. He can be seen at most of the art performances and athletic events. In the community, Mr. Keidel volunteers as a youth baseball and basketball coach and attends many community events in Brentwood and Williamson County. As a leader, Kevin Keidel encourages teachers to push themselves and attempt new methods and strategies. His instructional leadership, character, care of children, and ever-present smile make him a role model for all members of the Brentwood High School Community.

Please join us in congratulating Principal Keidel for being recognized and beloved in our community.

Please let us know of your school news and/or any nomination (administrator, teacher or student) for a chance to be featured in Your Williamson Educational Hero of the Month. Please email Susan at susan@yourwilliamson.com.

36 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

Helping Hands helps provide food, clothing and resources to families in need.

The Independence High School and Centennial High School DECA chapters hosted a Pink Out Football game where all proceeds were donated to the Susan

State of the Art

LODGING

G. Komen foundation.

Middle College High School will hold the Run for Relief event on Saturday, November 16th at Harlinsdale Park in Franklin. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Oasis Center and Middle College High School. Registration is $20 per person before November 1. To register, go to http://www.active.com/5k-race/franklin-tn/run-for-relief5k-2013.

Senior Samantha Starr said the idea of the event was created to have runners to write down their problems on a balloon before the race and then metaphorically let go of their troubles once it’s over.

Page High School collected canned goods to restock the shelves at Graceworks Ministries and College Grove Methodist Church. It was part of an annual community service event sponsored by the Page High Drama Club called Trick or Treat so Kids Can Eat.

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“We collect food items the whole month of October and donate them to our local food banks and needy Page High School families,” said Page High Theater Arts Director Michelle Tripp. “Many of our students will trick or treat for canned food items on Halloween, and they really get a lot by doing that.”

Centennial High School football players helped in the fight against pediatric cancer during the month of October by unloading 12,000 pounds of pumpkins for the Cooper Trooper Pumpkin Patch that supports families of children diagnosed with pediatric cancers. “We are here today to understand the value of working for an important cause,” said CHS Football Coach Brian Rector. “Working to unload these trucks and set up the pumpkin patch is another opportunity to learn about the importance of teamwork and to fulfill our team’s mission of courage, commitment and character.”

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You’ll catch the eyes of everyone around you and you’ll be the talk of the town as you glide around on your Segway PT. For more information about Segway of Tennessee, call 615.244.0555 or visit us online at segwayoftennessee.com Segway of Tennessee 734 Fesslers Lane Nashville, TN 37210 November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 37

Pumpkinfest in Downtown Franklin Story & Photography by K York It was that time of year for one of our community’s favorite festivals. The Historic Downtown Franklin Association and festival goers celebrated the 30th annual Pumpkinfest along the streets of downtown Franklin on the last weekend of October.

There were costume contests, entertainment, arts and crafts, and many children’s activities, along with the fabulous chili cookoff. Always a fun event for the whole family!

David, Shanon, Stephen & David McIntosh

Maddox & Sadie McCullough

Lexie Buechel

Addie DeCoster & Audrey Dannemiller Carrie & Joshua Zimmerman

Teresa Demonbreun

Ryan, Sophia & Trent Pinnix

Cade, Stefan, Cody & Lizanne Speligene

Nikole Alexander & Charlee Hodges

Kyle, Elliot & Jennifer O’Leary, Christin & Maddox Sanders

Ben Pupa & Paula Thomson

38 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

David, Emery, Maddie & Melanie Hill

Kelli Andrews & Justin Byrne

Andrea Tarpley, Emma, Eliana & Erica Turner

Chris, Gavin & Kristen Pandrun

Wayne, Lori & Teagan Neeley

Victoria Farnsworth & Gabbie Whitaker

Julie Lindsey & Sabra Stark

Jordan & Tad Delius with Hagrid Bearden Family Starnes Family

Kristen, Katie & Rob Haire

Jerry & Debbie Smart

Janet Clough

Melissa, Ethan, Sophie & Carolyn Combs

Adine, Brynlee, Amery & William Howard

Cindy Patton

Justin Brady & Kyle Smith

Kallan Holder & The Hypnopompics

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 39

Sponsored Event

11th Annual Franklin Tomorrow Chili Cook-Off

Story & Photography by K York

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The gates opened at 10:30, and the lines formed as the crowds sauntered down Third Avenue South, with their trays in hand for those tasty samples of delicious chili.

It was the 11th Annual Franklin Tomorrow Chili Cook-Off held during Pumpkinfest. Fourteen teams competed for the People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice Awards, as well as Best Décor. Congratulations to the 2013 winners!

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Franklin City Club Susan Hilgendorf & Teresa Anderson

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40 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

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November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 41

Dog & Pony Show Story & Photography

by K York The Thompson’s Station Dog and Pony Show festival and concert was held at the Thompson’s Station Park with over 7,000 people in attendance.

The free event featured many pet- friendly activities which included a dog and owner look alike contest, arts and crafts, carnival games, kids jump zone, food vendors, a chili cook off, Garrett’s Hero 5K run and live music all day long.

It was a fun filled day for the entire family. Proceeds benefit park projects of the Thompson’s Station Community. Local animal shelters were on site for pet adoption.

Xae Secrest

Dogs Rule with Pedigree & Mars volunteers

Bryan, Anberlin, Grayson & Cadence Lewis

Kevin & Lauren Kizer with Kane

Sue Ellen Huff with Hank

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THE FACTORY AT FRANKLIN Liberty Hall, 230 Franklin Rd Franklin TN, 37064

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Memorability.

THE D

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WESTHAVEN

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Memorability... at Westhaven, it’s when a stroll down the sidewalk evokes fond memories of holidays past.

Every season displays its own unique beauty at Westhaven, but there’s something truly magical about the holidays.

Here, “City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style” is more than a line from a cherished tune … it’s what greets you, just outside your own front door.

In this special place where neighbors really do know their neighbors and holiday gatherings are reminiscent of a Currier and Ives print, we invite you to create and recall your own holiday memories.

Take a closer look at Westhaven, and you’ll discover the difference is memorability.

A

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COMMUNITY

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WESTHAVEN REALTY OFFICE OPEN DAILY | MON-SAT 10-6, SUN 1-6 | 1001 WESTHAVEN BOULEVARD, SUITE 100 | FRANKLIN, TN 37064 ©2012 Southern Land Company | Broker participation welcomed. Prices, plans, dimensions and specifications subject to change without notice. Void where prohibited by law. Some restrictions apply.

13th Annual Chili in the Fork Story & Photography by Andrea Stockard Fall was set into motion this year with the beloved 13th Annual Chili in the Fork Chili Cook-off. Patrons embraced October’s first chilly weekend while sampling chili from leading local restaurants including Puckett’s Grocery & Restaurant of Leiper’s Fork, Country Boy Restaurant and Joe Natural’s Farm Store & Café at the Lawn Chair Theatre behind Leiper’s Creek Gallery. Guests mingled while enjoying live music provided by jazz and cowboy instrumentalists Loco Vibrato, country blues artists The Austin Brothers and country rock and bluegrass local favorites Raven Cliff. For additional information, please visit www.visitleipersfork.com.

Jerry & Kathleen Cox

Melissa & Wiley Chandler

Pam & John Pohlman, Julie Williams Jake Tidwell, Brian & Tamra Nye Heidi Germano, Sharnice Rayford & Tiffani Hartwick

Danielle & Matthew Dunn

Aaron Graves & Riley Merdink

Angie & Eric Bernard, Chrissy & Ian Bold

44 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

Nickie & Ursula Jennings

Addie Carroll

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YOUR CHARITABLE SELF

NASHVILLE RESCUE MISSION

SPENDING

THANKSGIVING

at the Nashville Rescue Mission

by Andrea Stockard Thanksgiving is one of the most celebrated holidays in the United States, giving families all over the country the excuse to come together, while sharing a large family-prepared meal inside a warm, cozy home. With more than 4,000 homeless men, women and children in the Middle Tennessee area, the Nashville Rescue Mission, a non-profit, Christ-centered shelter in downtown Nashville, encourages everyone to help feed the homeless this Thanksgiving, while granting themselves selflessness and giving others the simple joy of hope.

The Mission’s Annual Great Thanksgiving Banquet begins at 8 a.m. the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 27th, and holds its greatest number of volunteers, where guests can assist in providing around 5,500 meals of turkey, cornbread dressing, green beans, mashed potatoes, and more to the homeless community. Guests can share in friendly smiles, caring arms and warm conversation with those in need, while preparing food, serving food, carrying trays and more. Volunteers can also help serve food Thanksgiving Day at the Thanksgiving Dinner Nov. 28th at noon.

“There are some really great people here that we help,” stated Robert Bogle, Chief Development Officer of the Mission. “There are families and church groups who make it a tradition to come volunteer every year. I’ve had a lot of people say they expected to come and give but left feeling like they got a lot more than they gave.”

Not only does the Nashville Rescue Mission focus on providing shelter and food to the homeless community of Middle Tennessee, they also service full-blown recovery centers teaching life skills and job skills to help give those in need the opportunity to get off the streets and back into the work field. The Mission provides computer skills classes, Bible study classes, GED classes and other skill set opportunities.

“Everyone always thinks that homelessness means your stereotypical person on the streets but that’s not always the case,” Bogle explained. “Homelessness could mean anyone like you or me. They could have a job skill, lose that and find themselves here. We help retrain and retool them for the work place.”

Volunteers can sign up to help with these skill classes, as well as help pass out meals on a daily basis. It is predicted by the Mission that they will serve 650,000 meals in the year 2013.

This year volunteers can also take part in Tracy Lawrence’s “Mission Possible” Turkey Fry Nov. 25th, which in its seventh year has brought in an estimate of 6,000 turkeys and helped provide more than 35,000 meals to the Mission.

“We really appreciate our volunteers,” said Bogle. “We’re only limited by our dreams and how many dollars and cents unfortunately everything is. Hope starts with a meal. Our ultimate goal is to transform these people’s lives.”

For more information or to volunteer, please visit nashvillerescuemission.org.

46 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

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Habitee Golf Challenge Story & Photography by Cameron McBride

Brian Smith & Chuck Jaeger

On October 14th, Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County hosted a golf tournament at the Governor’s Club of Tennessee. The tournament ended with dinner, a silent auction, and an awards ceremony. All of the proceeds supported Habitat for Humanity’s mission of creating affordable housing for families of our community.

Chris Smith & Lynn Elliott Bill Paris, John Besser, Beau Rowley & Paul Shanafelt Kim Randell, Jennee Galland, Ted Bleymaier & Becket Moore

Grant Leaver & Wyatt England

Ron Kirsch & Jennee Galland

Chris Smith & Vince Dunavant Lynn & Karon Elliott

Brad Bernard, Tim Knight, Chris Beck & Mike Fisher

48 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

Erik Jones, Tim Sanders & Bob Bowser

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 49

50 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 51

AROUND YOUR TOWN

WITH FRIDRICH & CLARK

WILLIAMSON COUNTY REAL ESTATE

GOING TO SCHOOL IN 2013 When 2013 dawned ten months ago, the real estate market was still a bit uncertain, even here in Williamson County. Questions about interest rates and the overall economy kept buyers and sellers wondering if this was the best time to act.

Based on the results from throughout the county the answer was “yes,” with home sales reaching record levels for the year to date. The combination of good homes, a strong local business environment and one of the most desirable places to live and raise a family continue to make this a vibrant place for homebuyers. One of the biggest reasons is our educational system across the county. So for this year-end report we decided not to look at subdivisions and regions by themselves but to report on the market from a school-focused perspective. And in this county, schools are strong.

They continue to be a driving force for the majority of people looking at the Williamson County market, with three local high schools ranked in the top ten high schools in the state by U.S. News and World Report. These three school districts led Williamson County real estate transactions in 2013 and we foresee sales in these markets to continue to boom into the spring of 2014. Real estate remains strong throughout Williamson County, and to learn where the market is growing, look to the schools!

BRENTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

RAVENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL

• #4 in state, #227 in United States • Total sales: 383 • Average sales Price: $676,982 • Highest sale: $2,550,000 (private hill site) • Inventory: Low inventory of homes in the Brentwood school district created a seller’s market.

• Purchase Price: 97.4 percent of asking price • Average year homes built: 1993 • Entry-level price: There are homes in this market for under $300,000, but many were sold “as-is” and needed contractors immediately • Homes more than $1 million sold: 52 • Many sales had multiple offers in which buyers paid higher than asking price

• #5 in state, #474 in United States • Total sales: 561 • Average sales price: $501,428 • Highest sale: $2,258,000 (The Governor’s Club) • Inventory: New construction and newer homes provide a variety of available inventory, with many new construction properties located in Nolensville.

• Purchase Price: 98.6 percent of asking price • Average year homes built: 2004 • Entry-level price: 71 homes under $300,000 were sold, with most being in Nolensville city limits • Homes above $1 million sold: 12

• #8 in state, #1,012 in the United States • Total sales: 425 • Average sales price: $488,897 • Highest sale: $5,000,000 (Hidden Creek) • Inventory: The vast range of this district provided inventory at varied prices, but only five sales were new construction.

• Purchase Price: 95.7 percent of the asking price • Average year homes built: 1988 • Entry-level price: 133 homes were available under $300,000, with 30 of those sold under $200,000.

• Homes with updates and upgrades experienced less time on the market than others that needed work.

The Brentwood High School district offers proximity to Maryland Farms and Cool Springs, as well as easy interstate access for commutes to Nashville and Davidson County. Many current homeowners once lived just north of the Williamson County border in Davidson County and made a move to Williamson County. This location allows work and play with new neighbors as well as old friends. The location also provides an easy commute to the nearby private schools (Brentwood Academy, Christ Presbyterian, Oak Hill School and Lipscomb Academy).

52 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

New homes and neighborhoods with open floor plans are abundant in the Ravenwood district. This location offers great proximity to ball fields, parks, and the Brentwood Trail system that provides paved surfaces perfect for biking, running, walking, and rollerblading on pedestrianonly pathways. Easy access to the interstate provides smooth commutes to Cool Springs and Nashville.

Mary Kocina and Sean Simons are realtors with Fridrich & Clark Realty, LLC. Long-time residents of Williamson County, they focus on the real estate market in this county, combining local knowledge and experience in real estate sales.

This district is quite large and also connects to the Davidson County border. The Northern part of this district is finding that more homeowners still work and play in the areas of West Nashville, like the 3,132 acres of the Warner Parks. This area also provides close proximity to some of Nashville’s private schools (Ensworth and Christ Presbyterian Academy). The Southern part of the school district places homeowners close to historic downtown Franklin and long established neighborhoods.

Westhaven continues to be the leader for new construction, with 69 in new sales in 2013.

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Caddyshack for RPAC Golf Tournament Story & Photography by K York The Williamson County Association of Realtors recently held their second annual RPAC goofy golf tournament at Toll Gate Village in Thompson’s Station. This wacky putt putt tournament is better known as Caddyshack for RPAC. Like the beloved and hilarious golf film, you never know what to expect in this tournament! It is a fun filled afternoon of laughter and leisure playing miniature golf, networking and raising money to support the Realtors Political Action Committee.

Laura Zeitlin, Deanne Cotthoff & Doug Tommie

Andy Clough, Candy Vaught, Susan Hershey, Laurie Marks & Angela Bolton

Chris Elrod, Cindy Long, Jeannie Timmons & Vicky Crigger

Sue Stacy, Lisa Wright, Kurt Steckel, Tammy Gardeazabal & Hope Brazzell Matt Daniel, Bob Downing, Terry Armstrong & John Taylor

Julie Arnold, Terry Cross, Mike Nastri, Austin Garcia & Amber Stormberg Lisa Culp Taylor, Melissa Clough, Marti Veto & Matt Ligon

Bob Parks Brentwood Bombshells

54 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

Jill Arnold, Kim McIntyre, Duane Enoch & Kelly Landry

Laura Dahl, Blanca Feldman, Debbie Chamberlain & Bernice Burns

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 55

A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA

DINING OUT

Dining Out On... Thanksgiving!

Our New Tradition

by Andrea Davis Family traditions are a special part of the holidays, and Thanksgiving is definitely a holiday full of traditions. In my family, it has always been a morning spent watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thanksgiving dinner at noon and the afternoon and evening centered on football. This seems to be a pretty common itinerary in most families. However, marriage, children, moving to a new town and other life altering events can sometimes result in new traditions. At first, this can be a difficult reality to face, but in the midst of hours spent preparing a meal that is over in about 15 minutes, you may find yourself asking, “Is this rational?” I found myself asking that question three years ago and made the decision to make a change. My family’s new Thanksgiving Day tradition is lunch at Monell’s at the Manor in Nashville. Monell’s serves the traditional Thanksgiving spread and then some. Starting at 10:00am, patrons line up to get their name on the list for the bountiful feast. There is most likely a wait, but if you are prepared, it is not so bad. There is plenty of seating outside and hors d’oeuvres for everyone. Wine becomes available for purchase at noon, and sometimes they have live music. There is ample space for children to run around. Mine love to watch the airplanes fly into the airport, which is right by the Manor.

When you are finally seated, there is already food on the table.

Monell’s always has different types of salads, slaw, biscuits, cornbread and their delicious homemade peach preserves ready to eat. As usual, if your family does not fill up a table, others will be seated with you. It is always fun to meet new people and find out what has brought them to Nashville on Thanksgiving Day. You might even end up at the table with Santa like my family did the first time we celebrated there. It is a great experience all around, and the best part - no clean up after the meal. You can go home, turn on the game and take a nap with no worries of whose going to do the dishes.

I know this approach to Turkey Day is not for everyone, but if you are finding yourself unable to enjoy the holiday because of all the preparations, consider this alternative. You may find that allowing someone else to cook the feast, set the table and clean up the mess is exactly what you need to make Thanksgiving a happy memory!

OTHER AREA RESTAURANTS OPEN FOR THANKSGIVING: Sperry’s Puckett’s Grocery Maggiano’s

Ruth’s Chris Buca Di Beppo Loveless Café

56 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

Cracker Barrel Ellendale’s Merchants

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HOSPITABLE YOU

SOUTHERN SOIREE

Keeping Your Cool This

THANKSGIVING So you’ve been selected as the lucky one to host Thanksgiving this year? While this is one of our favorite holidays, we realize that daunting task of attempting to cook a meal for 15 people while yelling over the football game and dodging unruly pint size nieces and nephews can be quite overwhelming. Here are a few ideas that will help you keep your cool this November 28th!

Wrangle those run-a-muckers.

Lots of kiddos in the family? Unfortunately, Macy’s marching bands and inflatables will only keep them at bay for so long, so be prepared! If the weather is nice, plan outdoor activities such as flag football or a corn hole tournament. If indoors is the only option, set up a designated room with board games and crafts. You’d be surprised how much time a “quick” game of Monopoly can use up.

Designate the Dishes.

Do not put unfair pressure on yourself to prepare the entire meal solo. Select two or three staples that you are comfortable preparing and specifically tell each family member what they are to bring. Do not let them choose or you will inevitably end up with a can of cranberry sauce and an assortment of 13 pies.

Football Fanatics.

If you are like some and find yourself among a frenzy of football fans, it’s honestly easier to accommodate than fight it. Select a meal time that is before or after the games. During which time, the TV goes off (mute does not count) and cell phones are put away.

Out with the Old.

Leftovers are almost inevitable when it comes to having a large feaststyle meal. While a month of turkey sandwiches can be quite appealing, there is a reason that we only gorge ourselves like this once a year. The average Thanksgiving dinner can run upwards of 1500 calories. Yikes! Maybe that 4th helping of dressing isn’t such a good idea. We recommend stocking up on cheap Tupperware containers and sending each guest home with an assortment of all the offerings as their parting gift.

Reinforce with Rentals. Realistically, most of us are probably not equipped with a formal dining room to accommodate an army of dinner guests. Before you bust out the card table circa 1982, consider utilizing a rental company. This may sound frivolous at first, but is actually pretty reasonable. Rectangular 8’ tables can be rented at Southern Events here in Franklin for around $10 each and comfortably seat 8. Have fun with this and throw in some nice chivari chairs and festive linens. They even have pint-size chairs and tables which would make for a precious kid’s table! They also offer an assortment of lanterns and mercury glass votives that would create a stunning strolling centerpiece. Throw in some nice chargers, napkins, and maybe even place cards and you’ve got a Pottery Barn worthy display.

Most Importantly, Relax and Have Fun.

Despite the distractions, this day is about being with friends and family. Count your blessings and appreciate the fact that you have been given this precious time together. Mistakes turn into memories and years later the stories that are told aren’t those of perfection but rather of the mishaps. Eat, Drink, & be Thankful!

Cheers to appreciating the old traditions, creating your own, and enjoying every minute!

Krista Cook & Lauren Hartman

Southern Soiree

58 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

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FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS

Walking into the Anderson’s home at any time and especially during the holidays, gives you a feeling of what a cozy family Thanksgiving and Christmas is supposed to feel like. This house, belonging to local Real Estate agent Danny Anderson and his wife Teresa, events coordinator for Vanderbilt University, is one that surely everyone has noticed while traveling down Murfreesboro Road out of Franklin. It is just one of those houses that you simply linger on even if ever so briefly because it sparks the mood of nostalgia and home.

The farmhouse was built in 1933 by the Yates family and was originally five rooms and an attic. The lot was part of a farm that encompassed all of the Charlton Green subdivision. The house sits at the entrance to this subdivision and was owned by the Yates family, until three years before the Anderson’s purchased it. The house is simplistic and to scale, something the Anderson’s love about it. Although, there are many more rooms and some additions to the original house, it still flows logically and each room contains a different look and feel uniquely to this family. One of the unusual features about the house is its windows, which are longer than normal; and there are forty two within the house! “This makes for very little wall space,” laughs Teresa. Yet, every available wall is used for treasured paintings and other artwork collected over a lifetime by this family. The Anderson’s redid the kitchen, and the original hardwood flooring is now decoratively painted and gorgeous. The stone fireplace in the living room is also original and reportedly installed during the Depression for $19 with sandstone brought all the way from east Tennessee in a horse drawn wagon. It, along with the very unique Portuguese coal stove that resembles a wedding cake with its ivory and lemon yellow tiers, are prominent fixtures in this comfortable, yet elegant room. When the Anderson’s bought the house almost twenty years ago, it was the perfect house for their teenage son, Reid, also a realtor with his father at Bob Parks Realtors. Reid’s room can be reached by a narrow staircase to what was the attic. Now a masculine loft perfect for hiding out! Reid, no longer lives with his parents here but his memories and reminders of his childhood linger. Including antique coke and snack machines, which still work!

60 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

THE ANDERSONS

Home

The Perfect

Story by Shelly Robertson

The farmhouse was built in 1933 by the Yates family and was originally 4 rooms and an attic.

Holidays

for the

The large lot makes for a wonderful yard for entertaining on the rear patio, which held the original old cistern. There is also an original barn, now converted to a usable garage.

As the holidays approach, Teresa and Danny love having a little bit of holiday cheer in every room; and, even though traditionally they travel to see family on Christmas, they still make sure their home has holiday cheer from Thanksgiving through New Year’s during the season for them to enjoy for several weeks each year. When Reid was born, they started the tradition of gifting with a Nutcracker every year. With nearly thirty years worth of Nutcrackers, their collection is a sight to behold and a prize possession of Reid’s, but he still lets Mom and Dad enjoy them in their home for now! There is also a handcarved Anri nativity that was carved in the Italian Alps.

Danny has it displayed with the Christmas china set dining room table and his collection of silver goblets, which Teresa has given him over the years. They set an elegant table ready for the many special meals to be served in coming weeks.

This house truly exemplifies what makes this family unique with their own history and their own traditions that they celebrate throughout the year but treasure most, when they are surrounded by the beauty and spirit of the holidays. Want to make this your home for the holidays?

This home is currently offered at $699,900 by owner/agent Danny Anderson with Bob Parks Realty Franklin Office. You can contact them at 615. 790.7400.

This house truly exemplifies what makes this family unique.

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 61

FROM OUR TABLE TO YOURS

THE CHEF & I

Business in Williamson County:

DELICIOUS ENDEAVORS

by Erica Rains and Executive Chef Chris Rains/Photography by Sarah Bailey

62 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

People that live in Williamson County have a certain smile that is recognizable when asked by out-of-towners about their community. We get it. We help each other. We appreciate the outdoors and community events and supporting local business. We love to eat and love to make it count when we do. Restaurants and other culinary businesses often do so well in Williamson County because of the amazing clientele that shares a passion with the chefs, owners, and business partners that run these food businesses. And business is delicious!

Sarah Bailey and I hit the road on a research and photo tour of culinary establishments from restaurants to farms and everything in between all over the county to explore. It was no surprise to us how excited many people were to tell us their stories of how they ended up here, whether they were born here or just ‘had a hunch.’ Williamson County does that to people - draws them in and welcomes them to stay.

In the spirit of giving thanks, business owners and employees are always grateful for the opportunity to serve the people in this community, and an incredible circle of good business is the result. Those who are served by these fine folks are inspired to do their own due diligence in continuing to create an environment that has gained Williamson County national attention as of late, and that can’t be ignored. If you live, work or eat here - you are spoiled, and should enjoy it!

Check out these restaurants, food purveyors, farms, and other culinary businesses:

Humdingers (Grilled Fish & Piri-Piri Chicken) 330 Franklin Road, Suite 906D 615.835.3201 humdingersrestaurant.com “We’re thankful to be part of the strong Brentwood community within Williamson County, as they are all about supporting local businesses and it’s a tight-knit family feel.

The community is excited about our concept of fresh, local, healthy, gluten free, no MSG – something for everyone. It’s a wonderful atmosphere and environment that has allowed us to meet great people. We love Williamson County!” - Sunshine Post Gulf Pride Seafood The Factory Building #9, 230 Franklin Rd. 615.599.4923 www.gulfprideseafood.com gulfprid@bellsouth.net As restaurant owners, The Chef & I have enjoyed the products and service with Gulf Pride. Aside from supplying local culinary companies with top notch seafood, they also have a mean fish taco and do a great lunch.

Isshin Japanese Restaurant 2080 Fairview Blvd, Suite 102 615.799.8168 From beautiful sushi presentations to a happy & helpful staff, Ishiin was a great Japanese restaurant that rivals and beats many in Nashville. We highly recommend a trip out to Fairview – the sushi is totally worth it.

Tap Root Farm 4104 Clovercroft Rd. 615.594.3210 taprootfarm.com susan@taprootfarm.com In addition to providing Tennessee certified all-natural beef, the 300 acre cattle farm provides a wide range of entertainment and educational opportunities for families including farm tours, summer camp, ranch rodeos (including ‘Spitfire’, the mechanical bull), horseback riding, and more. Be sure to check out their food preservation classes in the summer as well.

The Chef and I 6900 Lenox Village Drive, Suite 14 615.730.8496 thechefandisupperclub.com erica@thechefandicatering.com The Chef and I Supper Club opened in January of this year, and the word is spreading about the interactive four course brunches, wine dinners, cooking classes, cooking challenges and live radio broadcasts. Many Williamson County clients are really enjoying the level of interaction, different from many demonstration kitchens in the sharing of knowledge, tips, recipes and cooking techniques.

From cattle farms to sushi restaurants, the culinary impact of local business in Williamson County has been a great oneputting the area on the map and gaining recognition in all areas. Whether you are here for a lifetime or a weekend, check out what makes Williamson County so delicious. Bon Appetit!

Erica and Chris Rains have owned a large catering company in Middle Tennessee for five years and have now opened their interactive supper club in Lenox Village on Nolensville Road near Old Hickory Blvd. Try their new weekly cooking classes! (615.730.8496). They both have a passion for food and the people that they serve, and strive to raise the bar locally in the culinary world with innovation and a certain level of product, presentation and service. And remember, life is short. It might as well be delicious.

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 63

British Car Show Story & Photography by K York

Follow us on twitter at @YourWilliamson

The British Car Club recently showcased some of the “classiest cars on the planet,” at their annual car show held at the Parthenon in Nashville. It was a beautiful fall afternoon to stroll alongside a Rolls Royce, an Aston Martin, a TR3, a Jag, an Austin Healey or a MGB. And these owners were happy to share stories about their prized possessions! The Nashville British Car Club is a non-profit group dedicated to the restoration, preservation and enjoyment of British cars.

FRANKLIN’S HOLLY TROLLEY 2013 TICKETS ON SALE!

Tickets can be purchased online at www.tmagroup.org or at the Transit Center at 708 Columbia Ave. 615.920.4956 615.628.0270

Carl George

Tony & Anne Townson

The Segars

Zack Yanta & Chandler Clay Dana Ames & Ben Wood

Jordan Hicks & Ellen Weber

64 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

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IN THE CLICK

THANKSGIVING

What Are You Thankful For? It is the season for being thankful, and who better to express what means the most than our little ones?

YW went on the hunt for some heartfelt gratitude out of kid’s enjoying Pumpkinfest!

Reagan Sheridan: “Mom and unicorns.”

TJ Fusco: “My family, my friends and my dog Piper.”

Devin Sharma: “My family.”

Riley Sheridan: “Family.”

Sophie Huskins: “Zoe, mommy, & daddy.”

Alli & Zoe McNeill: Zoe is thankful for “my aunt”.

Audrey Davis: “Bacon & family.”

Koehn Meazzo: “God and family and toys! Oh, and for the world!”

Sarah Stewart Harding: “Toys and my mom and my dad and my sister.”

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 65

66 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

SPECIAL SECTION

BUSINESS IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY

Williamson Count y BUSINESS IN

by Shelly Robertson In this issue, we salute business in Williamson County! The economy and vitality of our county has made it a beacon for business to start and to create here. With an amazing educational system, prime residential and commercial real estate, beautiful architecture with a nod to preservation in many ways, a down-home, family minded atmosphere with an appreciation for culture, dining and the arts, Williamson County offers a tantalizing location for prospective business coming into or starting in our area. And while we appreciate and hope to see more of the likes of NISSAN, Jackson Life, Verizon, Tractor Supply Company and so many others, our small business owners can

WE ARE

OPEN!

tell a story of starting from the ground up and making their dreams a reality here in our county. We profile five such businesses, and they offer some insight and some direction to those who also have that entrepreneurial spirit. Last year the three Chambers of Commerce of Williamson County unified in a county wide and county led initiative of business leaders and the membership to form the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce. One Williamson has been going strong in the last twelve months and we spoke to President, Matt Largen about what the Chamber means to business in our county. We also look at some of the facts and figures behind why business is so good here!

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 67

SPECIAL SECTION

BUSINESS IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY

ARDE MOTORCARS A Story of Living the “American Dream”

The Arde (Arde Afrakhteh) of Arde Motorcars truly has a story of someone living the “American Dream.” On December 12, 1977, he arrived at JFK airport, after leaving his home in Iran. Surrounded by Christmas lights, he said to the airport staff, “You didn’t have to do all this for my arrival.”

Arde has a great sense of humor. He only had $800 and a suitcase, so he thought. The suitcase was lost, during his flight. So with very little money and the clothes on his back, he flew from JFK to Mississippi to attend the University of Southern Mississippi, in order to learn to speak English. He says it took him seven months studying day and night to become fluent. Soon after, he transferred to Middle Tennessee State University, where he graduated with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. He went on to receive a master’s degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. However, he paid his way through college by selling European cars and has never stopped. He has been so successful that he has not needed to use his degrees.

Driving from Murfreesboro to Franklin and Brentwood to play soccer for the City of Franklin and also MTSU back in the late 70’s and early 80’s, Arde told himself that this was the area where he wanted to reside and start his own dream European automobile business. Arde opened his first dealership in

68 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

unparalleled service and fair pricing coupled with a no-nonsense approach. Thirty years of experience and a dedication to client service enables Arde to quickly and efficiently make luxury car purchases a pleasant experience.

Offering these types of vehicles requires dedication, expertise and above all love and personal touches. “It’s sort of like being a chef in a French cuisine restaurant,” Arde says with a smile. “I really and truly cherish my life in America, and I am so honored to be a part of this great culture.”

Brentwood in 1987 and was the first to sell European automobiles there. His business has only grown since then. “I work seven days a week and really enjoy it,” Arde says.

Years of adoration for luxury and sport motorcars, a straightforward approach to clients and a commitment to building strong relationships with some of the top automobile companies in the U.S. has enabled Arde to offer his devoted base of clients with some of the most desirable and pristine examples of luxury and sport automobiles in Tennessee.

Arde strives to provide his clients with a personal one on one experience, friendly

Arde has been married to his devoted and beautiful “Tennessee Lady,” Angela, for the past twenty years. They have two beautiful children - a daughter, Aliya, and a son Armon. “My family has been the most wonderful gift from God and has made my journey more purposeful in my beloved home state of Tennessee and the greatest county in the United States,” Arde says. “A life of ups and downs and challenges could not be any more rewarding.”

For more information on Arde Motorcars:

Arde Motorcars 798 Old Hickory Blvd.

Brentwood, Tennessee 615.376.3550 www.ardemotorcars.com

Privileged to help.

Cool Springs 650 Frazier Drive Franklin, TN 37067 615-778-9950

Belle Meade 5109 Harding Pik Nashville, TN 37205 615-353-0809

Let us cook for you on Thanksgiving!

Bruce Smith, Agent 1896 General George Patton Drive Franklin, TN 37067 Bus: 615-373-2320 bruce@brucesmith.biz

Both locations open from 11:00 am - 8:00 pm Thursday, November, 28 Call to make your reservation

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My staff and I look forward to many more with you.

Thank you for your continued support and business.

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IN YOUR BEST INTEREST

FIRST FARMERS

Successful Businesses Know How To Make Taxes Work For Them

Williamson County is a great place for business.

Today there are more than 6,000 businesses in the county -- everything from large corporate headquarters, to medium-sized regional companies to small mom-and-pop storefronts.

Interestingly, more than 20% of these businesses are entrepreneurial ventures.

But all of them, whether large or small, have one thing in common right about now. They should be focusing on their tax planning for 2014. Because after January 1, there’s little a business can do to lessen their tax bite for the year.

Of course, minimizing your tax burden is only one of a number of strategies that can improve your company’s financial future. But it’s also one where many businessmen and women can realize quick gains. Following are three opportunities that may work for you.

1. A great option for the self-employed is to defer income until next year. Income is taxable for the year in which it is paid and can be earned in one year but not paid until the next. To lessen this year’s tax bite, consider deferring December’s paycheck or bonus to 2014.

That way, taxes aren’t due until next year, giving you additional time to accumulate the resources needed.

It's r too v ne e o late t ur e yo pursu on. passi

2. Max out the retirement accounts. If it’s just you in the business, a SEP IRA can help you defer up to 25% of your income (maximum of $51,000.00 for 2013). For those with a 401k, the max contribution is $17,500 ($23,000 age 50 and over) for 2013.

These investments compound tax deferred which can really add up over time. Think of it this way, the tax you save and keep in your retirement plan is yours and continues to grow over time. With tax rates increasing, the amount of savings could be quite large.

3. If you have reportable gains for 2013, sell investments with a loss before the end of the year. Realized losses can be used to offset gains By making a few smart moves, in 2013, you’ll set yourself and your business up for the possibility of a much more financially successful 2014. And that’s truly in your best interest!

Charlie Woodall, investment officer for First Farmers Investment Services, helps clients build personal wealth through investments such as mutual funds, stocks, fixed income securities, fixed and variable annuities and insurance products.

School of Visual Design

School of Fashion

Interactive Design

Fashion Merchandising

Learn more at www.omorecollege.edu or follow us on 70 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

IPI does not offer or provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your attorney and/or tax advisor for such services. The products offered by Investment Professionals, Inc. are not insured by the FDIC, the NCUA or any other agency of the government, are not deposits or other obligations for the bank or guaranteed by the bank and involve investment risks, including possible loss of principal amount invested. © 2013 Investment Professionals, Inc.

SPECIAL SECTION

BUSINESS IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY

FREEMAN’S

FLOWERS & GIFTS Serving Williamson County’s Floral & Events Industry Owner Shea Freeman - Patrick shares the story of how her multi generational business has stood the test of time and competition.

Williamson County offers so many opportunities for new businesses to come to our area, as there is a climate of support amongst everyone. Whatever type of business is being offered I know that I always try to recommend as many of my fellow owners

There are so many reasons why Williamson County is one of the top places to start or relocate a business, and here are just a few major rankings and designations we have received that show that we are getting noticed across the nation!

Best Big Cities For Jobs #2 Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN Forbes (May 2013) Best High Schools in the US Brentwood High School #4 in TN, #227 in the nation Ravenwood High School #5 in TN, #474 in the nation Page High School #15 in TN, #1,316 in the nation Independence High School #17 in TN, #1,476 in the nation US News & World Report (April 2013)

We bought the flower shop in 1970 from another family that began the business in 1850 here in Franklin. I tell everyone that I have been in the flower business for forty three years, and I am forty three years old! We operated on West Main Street for forty years and sold the property when we saw an opportunity to grow our business by moving to the Westhaven community. We have been blessed with our original customers following us and also with making new friends and meeting new people, as the west side of Franklin grows.

One of the most challenging things to overcome as a small business has been the immense growth of Franklin over the years. With people being able to literally buy flowers at every turn and the growth of many floral shops in Williamson County, I feel that we have developed ourselves as a niche business by selling absolute top of the line flowers, along with personal service and the ability to see someone else’s vision. We strive to be versatile in every way, so that if our client has something traditional in mind or some completely unique ideas, we are willing to listen and work with them to help fulfill their ideas for a perfect setting or occasion.

WILLIAMSON COUNTY NATIONAL RANKINGS

#1 Healthiest County in Tennessee – Williamson County University of Wisconson Population Health Institute and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Report (March 2013) Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For Mars, Incorporated (95) CNNMoney (February 2013) Top 10 Cities for Historic Preservation Franklin (4) The Preservation Network (September 2012) Best Places to Live Franklin (52) CNNMoney (2012) Most Business-Friendly Cities in Tennessee Brentwood #1, Franklin #2 Beacon Center of Tennessee (November 2012)

as possible. Whenever possible. We can not survive without the support of one another, and Williamson county business owners are wonderful in the fact that we are fiercely loyal to each other and to the concept of buying and selling locally, as much as possible.

Freeman’s Flowers & Gifts 188 Front Street, Suite 112 Franklin, Tennessee 615.794.6880 freemansflowersandgifts.com

Top 10 Best Places to Live Where the Jobs Are CNNMoney (August 2012) Best Places to Live Franklin (66th) – Money Magazine (2010) One of the Best Cities for Startups Franklin (8th) ZoomProspector.com and Bloomberg Businessweek (2010) America’s Richest Counties Williamson County (17th) (Median Income: $88,316) – Forbes (2010) Nation’s Recession Resistant, High-Growth City Spring Hill, (3rd) – Gadberry Group (2009) November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 71

SPECIAL SECTION

BUSINESS IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY

TAYLOR MADE SMILES Cosmetic and Family Dental Practice; Opened in 2004

Your Williamson asked owners Dr. Missy Taylor and husband Courtland about their business located in downtown Franklin.

greater opportunity to for success and growth in all areas of business.

We are blessed to practice in an area where people are able to complete their treatments and achieve that Million Dollar Smile if that is what they are after! That transformation from someone who may have been unsure about themselves or felt self-conscious with their smile and giving them a smile they are proud of is what makes this job one of the best in the world.

I don’t believe all business opportunities allow you to transform someone’s life and that is why I love Williamson County.

At Taylor Made Smiles we have prided ourselves on the “homey” atmosphere and the fact that our office does not feel like another trip to the dentist. We have used our own experiences and received the training necessary to provide a different environment for most of your dental needs.

Taylor Made Smiles was founded upon the belief that everyone deserves the best possible dental care regardless of their situation. When I was a child my father was one of a few dentists in rural Mississippi. I was blessed to witness the compassion he extolled to his patients and the positive interactions he was met with daily away from his office. That was always my goal to be like my father ad provide the same level of care and professionalism he has for many years!

The single biggest challenge we faced had to be leaving an established dental practice in Mississippi to start our own. When we moved to Franklin we knew no one. The community in Williamson County was great and we took every advantage presented to us as a way to connect and share who we were and how we could help. I think the biggest part to our success has been the connections

72 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

we have established with our patients. The establishment of that bond is what has allowed us to service generations of Williamson County families.

I think the biggest advantage to opening and operating a business in Williamson County is the people. The real measure of how great an area we live in can be found in events like October’s Pumpkinfest where you have major corporations based in Williamson County, financially contributing to the success of these events, and the people of this community come out and dress up and get involved in making it successful! The growth in our area continues to be the best in Tennessee and one of the best in the nation. This allows a much

Calling Williamson County home has been the best decision I could have ever made not only as a business person but as a family.

We have two young children and are honored that they will both grow up with Williamson County in their minds. I cannot think of another area where the traditions of the South are practiced and opportunities for the future are constantly being harnessed in the same breath.

Taylor Made Smiles 214 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 615.595.8585 www.taylormadesmiles.com

YOUR COMMUNITY PARTNER

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

A YEAR IN REVIEW Founding Members Council Chairman’s Circle $25,000 and up Jackson National Life Insurance Mars Petcare Nissan North America Vanderbilt University Medical Center President’s Circle $15,000 to $24,000 Williamson Medical Center Human Capital Group Executive Circle $10,000-$14,000 Barry Alexander Automotive, Boyle Investment Company Community Health Systems, Delek US Holdings FirstBank First Tennessee Bank Spectrum Properties/Emery TriStar Health Directors Circle $5,000-$9,000 BancorpSouth, Bone McAllester Norton PLLC, Brentwood Academy, Comdata, Grand Avenue, Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin PLLC, Journal Communications, Pinnacle Financial Partners, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Puckett’s Restaurants, Saint Thomas Health Systems, SPARK-Lipscomb’s Idea Center, Tractor Supply Company, SunTrust Banks, Inc., Williamson County Convention & Visitors Bureau Partner’s Circle $2,500-$4,000 Andrews Cadillac/Land Rover Nashville, Interior Design Services Inc, Kraft CPA’s, Lattimore Black Morgan & Cain, Reliant Bank Founding Member $1,000 to $2,400 Amy Cross Nance, Attorney, Aspen Grove Asset Management, Belmont University Center for Executive Education, Better Business Bureau of Williamson County, Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber Board of Directors, Budd Melone & Company, CapStar, Card Marketing Services, Century II, Cheatham, Palermo & Garrett, CIMplify, Dan & Gena Ryan, Dickinson Wright PLLC, First Farmers and Merchants Bank, Flow Construction, Franklin Synergy Bank, Franklin Tomorrow, Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, The Heritage Foundation, Investment Planners, Junior Achievement, Lee Company, Mayor Ken Moore, McArthur Sanders Real Estate, Metro Nashville Airport Authority, Metropolitan Bank, PICA Group, The TMA Group, Tim Shaver & Associates, Trustcore-Randy Lee, Well Planned Events, Windstream

Matt Largen, Governor Bill Haslam & Judith Largen

Healthy Living Expo

Taste of Williamson

Taste of Williamson

Healthy Living Expo

County Mayor Rogers Anderson, Pam Von Ehr & Senator Jack Johnson

Dr. Wright Pinson, CEO of Hospitals and Clinics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nancy Conway and Cheryl Stewart Golf Classic

Golf Classic Mixer

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 73

YOUR COMMUNITY PARTNER

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MATT LARGEN

Q& A with the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce President

by Shelly Robertson

Matt Largen has been President of the newly unified Williamson County Chamber of Commerce for nearly a year now. His background with the Economic Development office for the county made him already an expert on what makes business in the WC tick. Your Williamson sits down with our Chamber President to find out what his thoughts are on business in Williamson County - Past, Present and Future:

YW: What would you say is the single greatest reason given for a business opening in or relocating to WC?

ML: Access to talent is the number one reason companies locate or expand in Williamson County. Companies want to ensure they can relocate their existing talent to an area; recruit talent from across the globe to an area, and find a pipeline of existing and emerging talent in an area. Williamson County excels in all three.

YW: What types of businesses seem to be the most viable here?

ML: Successful businesses with solid fundamentals and plans for growth thrive in Williamson County. What’s great about Williamson County is that an environment has been created that welcomes and invites investment, regardless of size and scale.

We know that roughly half of the largest publically traded companies in the Nashville region call Williamson County home, and that 24% of the fastest growing companies in the entire state of Tennessee are from one county, Williamson County.

YW: How have some of the larger corporations locating here (Jackson Life, Nissan, Mars) impacted our community and economics overall?

ML: The number one thing that large

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employers bring is jobs, and a lot of them. We value every company in Williamson County and every company brings uniqueness to our county and provides valuable goods and services. Large companies bring both a large number of jobs and opportunities for advancement for our citizens. Corporate headquarters are particularly valuable to a community because they provide a path from the mailroom to the executive suite. They also have a high multiplier effect, which means that the more corporate headquarters that relocate to Williamson County, the more opportunities our small business community has to do business with them directly or with their employees. Finally, our large corporate citizens are known for being very generous with their resources to meet our philanthropic and volunteer needs in Williamson County.

YW: Are there negatives to big business coming to town?

ML: Growth brings its own special set of challenges, and I like to say that the problems we face around traffic and congestion are by-products of our success. We have to work as a region to address certain workforce needs like the lack of depth and talent in our information technology workforce. However, that issue is a national issue. What’s great about Williamson County and the Nashville region is that we are working to address the issues in a number of ways, including our work in the Williamson County Schools and with Columbia State and regionally with the WorkIT Nashville initiative.

YW: We see so many businesses opening… but we also see business closing? What do

you think is the prevailing reason that a business closes or cannot sustain in our market?

ML: We track new business starts and closings each month in Williamson County and know that far more businesses are opening here than closing. We know companies want to get into this market and access the purchasing power of our residents. I think the biggest reasons that businesses close are because of flawed business plans and extreme competition in the market.

YW: What do we offer that other areas of the state/country do not offer?

I am careful not to buy into our own hype and elevate Williamson County above other communities in Tennessee, but I will say we are a blessed community with exceptional leadership! We have amazing public and private sector leadership. As a community that has been blessed, we have a responsibility to be a blessing to others.

And leaders in our community take that mission very seriously by volunteering and donating to a variety of non-profits in the Nashville region.

YW: What advantages or disadvantages do small mom and pop businesses see now in a climate of so much growth?

The fast majority of our membership consists of small employers, so we have to make sure our programs and initiatives directly benefit those small businesses. Williamson County was the fastest growing county in Tennessee in the last decade, and is projected to grow significantly in the next decade. Even in growth mode, there are still pressures on employers around economic uncertainty related to health care and taxes, increased productivity with fewer employers, and tighter margins. At our new member orientation, I tell people that we treat their investment in the Williamson County Chamber seriously, and take the approach that a new member has taken their entire marketing budget and applied it to a chamber membership.

That means we have a solemn responsibility to make sure those dollars are used in the most efficient way possible that will help them grow their business.

YW: Overall – what do you hear are the major challenges to businesses in the 21st century and what is our Chamber doing to help? What does Williamson County do to help?

ML: The major challenge to businesses in the 21st century is growth, like it was in the 20th century and like it will be in the 22nd century.

Our job is simple and twofold, to provide the tools and services to help a company grow their business and to grow the economy of Williamson County. The single best thing we can do for our members and future members is to make sure our economy is strong and that the business environment is conducive to growth. We help companies grow by connecting companies to each other, which inevitably leads to spontaneous capitalism. Specifically, we offer programs like First Friday that provides professional development for our small business community the first Friday of every month.

We have a vibrant young professional programs with our partners at Belmont University and Lipscomb University. We have an exceptional Women in Business Program with speakers who enlighten and uplift. And in 2014 you will see some new programs and initiatives around education, the number one priority of Williamson County.

The mission of the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce is simple. We take an innovative approach to building a prosperous business community. We have come a long way in the last year, but also know we have a long way to go.

Register now for the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 19, when members and guests will learn about the organization’s new branding concept and see the new logo reflecting the expanded mission of the year-old county-wide organization.

The evening cocktail social will start at 5 p.m., with dinner and the program beginning at 6 p.m. in Jamison Hall at The Factory at Franklin, 230 Franklin Road. Attendees can toast the past year of the new Chamber’s success and look ahead to the future. Volunteers and board members also will be recognized.

Tickets may be purchased individually or by tables.

The cost is $50 for members and $75 for guests and late registrants. VIP tickets and tables, which include special items, are available for $100 per person.

The Chamber also is offering a limited number of $1,500 sponsorships for this festive event, which will bring together the county’s top business and community leaders. Sponsorships include two VIP tickets, promotion at the event and other benefits.

More information and online registration is available at williamsoncountychamber. org. Contact Abby Fraebel at abby@ williamsoncountychamber.org or 615-771-1912 for more information.

The annual meeting is being presented by Saint Thomas Health.

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 75

SPECIAL SECTION

BUSINESS IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY

PEAR TREE AVENUE & PANDORA Retail Gift Shop in Brentwood & Cool Springs

We asked husband and wife team Calvin and Blythe Houghland owners of locally beloved store Pear Tree Avenue to tell us their individual perspective on their business: From Calvin: My wife, Blythe, and I are having a blast with our latest (and final) careers. Despite the hard work and long hours, we have found retail to be challenging, exciting and fun.

We have also discovered that we enjoy working together and that we make a pretty good team.

We opened a gift shop in Brentwood in October 2005 that we named Pear Tree Avenue. It was an immediate hit and has become quite a popular spot.

In July 2008 we discovered PANDORA jewelry, and after the first week, we knew that it was going to be a huge hit and that we wanted to be involved as much as possible. Three months later, we opened a second Pear Tree Avenue in the Cool Springs Galleria - primarily to sell PANDORA. We became one of PANDORA’s first franchisees in September of 2009 when we opened a concept store in the Mall at Green Hills selling PANDORA product exclusively.

We opened another in Knoxville in 2010, Chattanooga and Virginia Beach in 2011 and 6 more in 2012. We opened in Mishawaka (South Bend), IN on the 19th of October of 2013.

From Blythe: Growing as quickly as we have brings it’s own challenges. Our administrative office located in Maryland Farms has grown from an office staff of 3 people (Calvin and myself included) to 9 in just 1 ½ years. It is a comfortable and relaxed environment that helps us attract and retain the best talent available.

76 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

THE MALL AT GREEN HILLS COOL SPRINGS GALLERIA PEAR TREE AVENUE BRENTWOOD

From 2009 to present we have opened eleven Pandora stores around the country with all operations being handled in our Brentwood office. Next year we will be adding three more stores. What could be our biggest challenge has actually been our greatest blessing. A company is only as good as the folks who keep it running on a day to day basis. We have a wonderful team of loyal, dedicated, hard working individuals who are committed to the growth and success of our business. God has blessed us with the opportunity to be a partner with such a wonderful company, PANDORA Jewelry. Calvin and I made a promise to each other that we would pay the blessing forward whenever and as often as possible. One way we do this is to set our stores up for success with in depth succession plans. We have seen part-time sales associates grow and develop into Assistant Managers, Store Managers and District Managers. We believe that the success, growth and development of our staff who is at the forefront with our customers leads ultimately to the success of our company. And I would say we are in very good hands.

Williamson County is the home of growing businesses, new businesses and open arms for all those who wish to come aboard. Calvin and I are proud to call this home.

Pear Tree Avenue, LLC & PANDORA 237 Franklin Road Brentwood, Tennessee 615.221.1010 www.peartreeavenue.com

Whether it’s your dream house or your first house, Our experts will find the best mortgage for YOU!

Call 615.221.2040 today!

5109 Peter Taylor Park Drive Brentwood, TN 37027

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November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 77

RIBBON CUTTINGS

NEW BUSINESSES

Congratulations

to New Williamson County Businesses!

Please contact us today to purchase your rack!

Purchase a rack or multiple racks and expand your ad campaign all over the county. Unlimited exposure opportunities in highly trafficked target demographic locations.

Limited number of racks for sale – order yours TODAY!

Franklin Synergy Bank Berry Farms 40 Moss Lane, Suite 100 Franklin, TN 37064

The Joint & Spine Center at TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center 391 Wallace Road Nashville, TN 37211

OsteoStrong, LLC 206 Cool Springs Blvd., Bldg. B, Suite 205 Franklin, TN 37067

Harpeth True Value Home & Garden Center Grand Re-Opening 203 Downs Blvd.

Franklin, TN 37064

Quantum Medical 508 Autumn Springs Court Suite 1D Franklin, TN 37067

Women Rock for Charity 9000 A Church Street Brentwood, TN 37027

Auto Art of Franklin 310 Beasley Dr Franklin, TN

Grove at Shadow Green 2000 Toll House Circle Franklin, TN 37064

Physical Therapy Specialists of TN Ribbon Cutting & Open House 3326 Aspen Grove Drive, Suite 306 Franklin, TN 37067

Thank you to the Williamson County Chamber of Commerce for providing our Ribbon Cutting pictures.

Cool Springs Eye Care’s Sports Vision Center The Competitive Edge 3252 Aspen Grove Drive Franklin, TN 37067

Please contact:

sales@yourwilliamson.com

Join the Chamber!

Please visit www.williamsoncountychamber.org for more information.

100 Years and 15 Minutes from Nashville!

Arts & Antiques, Clothing, Jewelry, Crafts & Gifts, Food & Dining, Home Decor, Entertainment, Classes, and so much more!

230 Franklin Rd. Franklin, TN 37064 Phone: 615-791-1777 www.factoryatfranklin.com Abide Studio • Act Too Players • Advantage Models & Talent • Always In Bloom • Amish Excellence • Annette Charles Fashion Boutique • Antiques at The Factory • Art Row at the Factory • Artisan Guitars • Boiler Room Theatre • Boxwood Bistro • Constant Cravings Catering • Dave’s Barber Shop • Eric Lankford Metal Art • Essy’s Rug Gallery • Franklin Farmers Market • The Glass Touch Gulf Pride Seafood • Happy Tales Humane • ISI Defensive Driving • J Kelley Studios • Jeremy Cowart Photography • Journey Church • J Chastain PhotoImagine, Fine Art Gallery • Little Cottage Children’s Shoppe • Little Cottage Toys • Liz & Bella’s Gift Shoppe • Mark Casserly Architectural Woodworking • Music City Dog House Natures Greenlife • Nature’s Art • O’More College • Robinson Taekwondo • Saffire Restaurant • Second Impressions • SouthBranch Nursery • SouthGate Studio & Fine Art • Springtree Media Group Stonebridge Gallery • Stoveworks Restaurant • The Sweet Shoppe • Third Coast Clay • Times Past & Present • The Viking Store • Tuscan Iron Entries • Vintage Remedies • Wedding 101

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November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 79

80 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

SPECIAL SECTION

BUSINESS IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY

WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL Funeral Home and Cremation Services

In her own words: Pam Stephens tells about her family business here in Williamson County.

are over. The one true asset of our firm is the trust that each family gives us to take care of their loved one. Our goal for our business is to educate families to have conversations with your family on how each person wants to be remembered. Every person deserves to have their story told about their lives.

Funerals are for the living to be able to memorialize and personalize a service for their loved one. You have all heard the story of “The Dash,” it’s not the year of birth or the year of death but the dash of how you lived your life that matters. It is our job to guide each family in good decisions and make sure that story is told and commemorated on that day.

Ours is a family business started by my parents Clyde and Nellie Stephens in 1980.

The funeral home was built on the property of Williamson Memorial Gardens, which was developed in 1959 and eventually bought out by the Stephens Family in the early 70’s. My brother David and I are licensed funeral directors, and my brother Gary manages the cemetery. Now a third generation is working in the business; Mandi Marlin, Chris & Casey Stephens all licensed funeral directors.

The biggest challenge of starting a business is the fear of failure. In our case, the loyalty to the existing firm. With hard work, long personal hours, community service and heartfelt personal service, success was to follow. In 1995, I joined the firm and I have followed Clyde’s footsteps of being involved in community projects along with industry association leadership roles. Both my father and I are past board of directors of the Williamson County Franklin Chamber of Commerce.

Clyde was honored with one of Williamson County’s Legends Awards. I served on the Unification Feasibility Study for the groups of Chambers and I am active on the Board of Directors for Franklin Synergy Bank and the Williamson Medical Foundation. Community involvement is key to success in business in this community.

I also currently serve as the President of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association (second female in 110 years). Clyde served as President of the TFDA in 2004-2005. We are the only father and daughter officers of this association. And we have both served as Presidents of the Cemetery Association of Tennessee and again the only father

and daughter officers of this organization.

Mandi, Casey and Chris are also involved in industry associations. Chris is currently a Board of Director for the Cemetery Association of Tennessee. As active members of the industry associations, this enables our firm to stay abreast of current issues including legislative, state of the art technology and codes of ethics and professionalism. Being involved with organizations and activities within our industry has also lead to success.

Being in Williamson County has been a blessing to our entire family. In the early years, we knew every family we served. As time has progressed and the county has grown, we are honored to serve families at the worst time of their lives and then become a part of their family by the time the services

In 2000 we branched out into Maury County and started Spring Hill Memorial Park and Funeral Home (on the Maury/Williamson County line).

By being able to serve families properly in Williamson County, we were able to grow our business in the next county.

In 2013 we added the crematory to our business. Now with the expansion and addition to our businesses, The Stephens Family and Staff of Williamson and Spring Hill Memorial are able to completely take care of all of your needs for funeral, burial and cremation services.

Williamson Memorial Funeral Homes & Cremation 3009 Columbia Avenue Franklin, Tennessee 615.7942289 5239 Main Street Spring Hill, Tennessee 931.486.0059 www.williamsonmemorial.com

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 81

IN YOUR BACKYARD

PROJECT STARFISH

Project Starfish: Granting a Water Wish

by Susan Charest

“While wandering a deserted beach at dawn, stagnant in my work, I saw a man in the distance bending and throwing as he walked the endless stretch toward me. As he came near, I could see that he was throwing starfish, abandoned on the sand by the tide, back into the sea. When he was close enough I asked him why he was working so hard at this strange task. He said that the sun would dry the starfish and they would die.

I said to him that I thought he was foolish. There were thousands of starfish on miles and miles of beach.

One man alone could never make a difference. He smiled as he picked up the next starfish. Hurling it far into the sea he said, “It makes a difference for this one.” I abandoned my writing and spent the morning throwing starfish.”

heavy buckets of H20 to her home from the well of a generous neighbor.

Her water issue would not have been resolved if it weren’t for the house visit made by PS. The good work of Project Starfish enabled water to flow into her home once again– and she’s so thankful!

This popular essay excerpt from The Star Thrower by Loren Eiseley has inspired many to focus on making a difference in one life – and not being discouraged by the multitudinous needs that circle the earth, competing for your attention and perhaps, paralyzing you to not share your provisions for fear of scarcity.

For more information on what the goods hands of Franklin Rotary at Breakfast are doing, and how you could lend a helping hand, please go to: clubrunner. ca/Portal/Home.aspx?accountid=5975.

Also, on Facebook: facebook.com/pages/ Franklin-Rotary-at-Breakfast-FranklinTN/135513429555

Ten years ago, this story inspired The Rotary Breakfast Club at Franklin to create a service project named Project Starfish to provide water to Williamson County homeowners. It’s hard to imagine that a basic need of clean water or indoor plumbing exists in our community; however, it becomes a sobering reality if you tour the rustic, rural areas that surround the south of Franklin.

Bob Dietrick, Co-Chair of Project Starfish said that its mission is to serve homeowners with water-related issues where it is beyond their ability to pay. These issues may include repairing wells for drinking water, helping bring city water to homes, repairing water lines, repairing septic systems and helping tie homes into city sewer lines. The PS team includes, Dan Coley, Steve Lewis, Jimmy Moody, Len Safford, Dick Tennent and Kurt Thompson. This team learns of a need by soliciting water companies for homeowner complaints or by traveling on foot down the winding rural roads of Williamson County and knocking on homeowners’ doors. Bob recalls a story of a homeowner that had her well damaged by the construction of a road, and never complained. She persevered for over 2 years – carrying

Project Starfish has made over 30 families in Williamson County thankful by solving water related problems. In this spirit of awareness and in this season of thanksgiving, let us be thankful for water that’s life giving. Let’s conserve it – for it doesn’t come from a bottomless well. Let us be aware that a life that doesn’t live far from your own, perhaps down the winding rural road of Williamson County, may be in need of this essential gift.

This neighbor may simply be waiting on a wish to be granted or a prayer to be answered. Let us have eyes to see and hands to make a difference in a neighbor’s life by sharing from the well of our provisions…saving one starfish at a time.

To request water assistance through Project Starfish, please contact Bob Dietrick at 615.642.7612.

The Franklin Rotary at Breakfast mission is to provide Service above Self to community and to the world. Some of their services include literacy (providing all 3rd grade students in Williamson County with a dictionary – I used our son’s gifted dictionary to check the spelling of “multitudinous”), partnering with GraceWorks Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Project Starfish, Project Starfish International (working with The Shalom Foundation to provide water purification systems in Guatemala), and college scholarships. Their annual fundraiser, Franklin Rotary Golf Classic, which is hosted in October at Vanderbilt Legends Club, funds all of these services mentioned.

Closer to Home Story & Photography by K York Michele Pillar, founder of the non-profit organization, Closer to Home, brought Mac Davis, Kix Brooks, Allen Shamblin and Dana Glover to the stage at Green’s Grocery for an intimate evening of star-studded entertainment. This event raises funds to help the community’s neighbors when they fall on hard times. The very generous patrons enjoyed a delightful meal, a glass of wine and music that moved their soul, while helping their neighbors. Neighbors helping neighbors - it just does not get any better than that!

Kix Brooks

Jill Arnold, Beth Ingram & Rebecca Preyer

Kenny, Shelly & Caroline Young, Holly Givens

Johnny & Emily Hamilton

Allen Shamblin

Alan Shamblin, Michele Pillar, Bruce & Marty Hunt, Dana Glover

Willis Johnson & Ken Moore

Kim & Brad Williams

Martha & Mike Hueneke

Ashleigh & Tom Kendrot

Terry Frank & Amy McDaniel

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 83

Sponsored Event

Franklin Wine Festival

Story & Photography by K York

Lynette & Christy Greene

The Factory in Franklin played host to the 2013 Franklin Wine Festival on behalf of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. The area’s finest chefs with selections of 300 wines from around the world were available for sampling. Celebrity wine pourers live and silent auctions, three stages of live music and the crowning of the King and Queen of the Vines delighted the crowd.

Dave & Peggy Mazur, Mary & Brian Peterson

Donna Robinson, Sonya Hairston, Brooks Parker, Matt Ollis & Ryan Carter

Angela Evans & Kathy Heaton

Angela Whitfield, Kayla Payne, Ann Claire Clauer & Ann Loyd

Kathy & Jim Cornwell

84 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

Vicki Yates, Jonathan Martin & Deja Knight

Susan McCauley, Tina Brunkenhoefer & Gracie Lofland

Nan George & Deb Fowler

Adam Duncan & Candice Van Bibber

Fairy Batey, Tracey Beene & Cristi Watson

Suzanne & Alyssa Brindley

Debbie & Scott Snoyer

Brandon & Kate Bracey, Keri & Matt Engesath

Ellen Hobbs, Kayla Bowling, Ben Hobbs & Blair Hobbs

Christie Raden, Reecca Talley & Martha Hutchinson

Angeleo Ferrante, Jona Dickerson & Dave Whitley

Kendra Killian & Monty Hicks Sarah Beatty & Carlyle Carroll

Don & Stephanie Donnelly, Pam & Ric Bush

Liz Leedle, Jon Leahman, Paula Shackelford & Ben Leedle

Katie & Clint Melvin

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 85

YOU IN THE NEWS

SCOOP

FRANKLIN ROTARY AT BREAKFAST CLUB 23RD ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC A COMPLETE SUCCESS

Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division golf team won the October 14th Franklin Rotary Golf Classic at Legends. The 23rd annual fundraiser for the Franklin Breakfast Rotary Club included 140 players on 35 teams playing to support Rotary’s diverse charities. Each year the Rotary Club invites the Ft. Campbell team along with local police and fire fighters. The Annual Golf Classic provides the money for the year to benefit local charities. These include, for example, The Boys & Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Feed America First and Grace Works, plus scholarships to students for colleges, and other activities. The club also distributes dictionaries to nearly every 3rd grader in the County. 100% of the net proceeds from the golf tournament is used to fund charities. The annual event is broadly supported by local businesses and citizens of Franklin, in addition to the golf teams.

SOROPTIMIST OF FRANKLIN AWARDS $6,000 TO SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WOMEN

Soroptimist of Franklin recently presented Columbia State Community College with a $6,000 check to fund six $1,000 scholarships for women in Williamson County. The scholarships were funded from proceeds of the group’s 5th annual first Saturday in May Stables & Silks fundraiser held at the Tennessee Equine Hospital. Proceeds benefit scholarships to help women working to obtain a higher education while working to provide for their families. Recipients of these scholarships often do not fit traditional scholarship criteria. The proceeds also funded support to Bridges Domestic Violence Center.

Soroptimist of Franklin is the local chapter of Soroptimist International, an organization working to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world. Women interested in learning more about SI Franklin may email the club at SIFranklin@comcast.net and visit the website at SIFranklin.org.

MARTI VETO APPOINTED NEW EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE WILLIAMSON COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

The Williamson County Association of Realtors® Board of Directors is pleased to announce the hire of Marti Veto as its new Executive Vice President. Marti is a proud resident of Williamson County and very active in the community. The announcement comes after a three-month nationwide search to find a business leader who could quickly address the Association¹s opportunities and challenges. Under Marti¹s leadership, the Williamson County Association of Realtors® will continue to focus on serving its 1,700 Realtor® members through education and training, advocating for homeownership and protecting private property rights.

The Association¹s immediate goals include continuing to grow membership, increasing the Association¹s presence in the community, and growing the positive development and economic impact of real estate throughout Middle Tennessee. A native of Somerset, Ky., Veto came to Franklin from San Francisco, where she worked in the biotech industry.

In 2009, she was recruited to lead the Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce, leading the organization until they joined the newly unified Williamson County Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, she founded Marti Veto Strategic Communications, a marketing consulting firm.

WILLIAMSON MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION NAMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS The Williamson Medical Center Foundation has named five local business people to its Board of Directors. Joining the existing board are James Parker, Jim Lackey, Mary Kate Brown, Pam Stephens and Richard Herrington. These five Williamson County community members bring strong relationships and fundraising experience with them to this post. The mission of the Williamson Medical Center Foundation Inc. is to serve as a charitable and development arm to support WMC in providing top-tier health care services. The Foundation is designated as a 501 (c)3 charity that seeks charitable gifts of all types. Williamson Medical Center, a 185-bed hospital fully accredited by The Joint Commission, provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care including emergency services, with credentialed physicians in 53 specialties and sub-specialties. The community-focused hospital offers a wide range of wellness services, screenings and classes. For more information about Williamson Medical Center, visit www.williamsonmedicalcenter.org.

86 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

YOU IN THE NEWS

SCOOP

JUDGE DENISE ANDRE HONORED BY PEERS AT FALL CONFERENCE IN GATLINGBURG, TN

General Sessions Court Judge Denise Andre was recently chosen by her peers to serve as Middle District Vice President of the Tennessee General Sessions Judges Conference during their Fall Conference in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The General Sessions Judges Conference is comprised of 153 judges throughout the state of Tennessee.

Judge Andre was elected to serve as Williamson County General Sessions Judge, Division 1, in 2006. In addition to her criminal and civil dockets, Judge Andre is the founder and presiding judge of the General Sessions DUI Court, an intensive program for multiple DUI offenders, which is committed to reducing the number of alcohol related crashes and repeat offenses in Williamson County.

HARPETH ASSOCIATES APPOINTS SCOTT BLACK EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Harpeth Associates, LLC is pleased to announce that Scott Black has joined Harpeth as Executive Vice President. Harpeth Associates previously announced in April that it plans to develop an hotel, retail and residential complex on the northern most section of the 16 historic blocks in Franklin, TN, bounded by Bridge and Main and 1st and 2nd Avenues. Scott Black brings a background of experience and accomplishment to his new post. A Tennessee native, he joined Bristol Development Group and served as Vice President of Development from 2004-2010. In 2010, he served Nashville’s Convention Center Authority as the Manager of Budget Finance and Administration for the design and construction of their new two million square foot facility. Since October 2011, he has been with The Tennessee Department of Transportation, holding the post of COO from June 2012-Oct 1 2013. Mr. Black, his wife and two daughters live in Franklin, where he has been active in civic affairs; he is ViceChairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Franklin Housing Authority.

HIGH HOPES RECEIVES $100,000 GRANT FROM HUMANA FOUNDATION

The children of High Hopes have a lot to look forward to in 2014: not only a new preschool and clinic, but a beautiful new inclusive playground. The Humana Foundation awarded a $100,000 signature grant to High Hopes at a celebration luncheon on October 10th. The grant will be used to build a landmark inclusive playground called H.O.P.E., Humana Outdoor Program for Education. The grant is provided through Humana Communities Benefit, a charitable giving program developed as an outgrowth of Humana’s commitment to corporate citizenship, sponsored by The Humana Foundation. Through the program, Humana awards a one-time $100,000 grant to a nonprofit in the Nashville area focused on improving health experiences or building healthy communities. High Hopes, Inc. is a non-profit inclusive preschool and pediatric therapy clinic that loves, nurtures, and educates children with and without special needs from infancy through prekindergarten.

High Hopes gives children of all intellectual, physical and mental abilities the opportunity to learn and grow together in an environment that provides a strong foundation for future academic and social success. For more information go to highhopesforkids.org.

THE JONES COMPANY TO BUILD 10TH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY HOME The Jones Company, has begun work on their 10th home for Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County. The project, which is in partnership with Crye-Leike, will result in a brand new home for the Lemus family of Williamson County. The Habitat for Humanity Fall Build for 2013 will mark The Jones Company’s 10th project with the organization. Construction is underway on the new home, which is expected to be completed in time for Frank Lemus and his son Frankie to enjoy Thanksgiving in their new home. The year 2007 marked the beginning of Habitat’s ‘Building New Traditions’ program, which was a four-year, $5,796,000 affordable homeownership initiative under which the Williamson County Habitat worked to improve the architectural style of Williamson County Habitat homes, acquire and develop both residential lots for individual homes and residential tracts for small distinctive Habitat neighborhoods in Williamson County, and build and sell 46 affordable Williamson County Habitat homes in partnership with hard-working, lower-income families living or working in Williamson County. For more information about the homeownership program, please visit www.habitatwilliamson.org.

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 87

READ BETWEEN THE LINES

LANDMARK BOOKSELLERS

Southern as a Second Language Franklin’s own Lisa Patton has done it again. The third and final installment of Leelee Satterfield’s adventures from Memphis to Vermont and then back again, Southern as a Second Language, has arrived and is sure to please all of Lisa’s fans who have been anxiously awaiting its release.

Not only do Southerners talk slowly, but sometimes the whole language is hard to understand. No one realizes that more than Memphis belle Leelee Satterfield. Since she debuted in Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter, Leelee has entertained tens of thousands of readers.

Watching her tackle life and love in Vermont was only the tip of the iceberg, when it came to antics, charades, mischief, and romance.

Now that she’s back in Memphis and starting a new relationship with Peter, the Yankee chef from her New England inn, you’d think she’d sit back and enjoy her newly crafted life back home in Dixie. But that just wouldn’t be as much fun.

Opening up a new restaurant with Peter isn’t as easy as she had anticipated, especially when it comes to the differences between the North and the South. When Leelee’s ex-husband, Baker, returns unexpectedly, everything else goes haywire. Throw her three crazy best friends into the mix, and you have the perfect recipe for a sassy, Southern delicacy.

Southern as a Second Language is an endearing and chuckle-inducing tale that keeps us guessing up to the very last page how it all works out in the end. Whether among maple trees in Vermont or magnoliafilled Memphis, Leelee’s charm, heart, and laughter will delight readers in any climate.

We are so proud of Lisa, her books, and so thankful for friendship and support of our bookshop. You can always find all of her books, signed, right here at “Landmark Booksellers, a booklover’s paradise!”

Joel & Carol Tomlin Landmark Booksellers (open 7 days a week – 10 to 5)

88 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

Holidays with the

Nashville Symphony The Irish Tenors Christmas Show

4th Show !

Added

December 5

The Snowman December 7 The Ann & Monroe Carell Family Trust

PIED PIPER CHILDREN’S SERIES

Handel’s Messiah December 11-13 CONCERT SPONSORS

A Holiday Experience with

KEM & Friends

Christmas with

Amy Grant & Vince Gill December 19-21

Matinee show added on Dec. 21!

December 22

CONCERT SPONSOR

Presented without orchestra

BUY TICKETS AT:

WITH SUPPORT FROM

NashvilleSymphony.org | 615.687.6400 November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 89

ARTS & CULTURE A LA CARTE

ANDREA DAVIS

WITH ANDREA DAVIS

Your Williamson’s gal about town for everything arts, culture & leisure

ART: Ryan Musick Photographer Ryan Musick and I met while we were both showing art at this year’s Bluegrass Along the Harpeth on the Franklin Square. He came with one piece of art, “Bingo’s Banjo” (pictured lower left). However, someone else took it home. With so many bluegrass enthusiasts gathered together, it was no surprise that it sold. It was truly a standout piece amongst all the art, and I knew right away that I wanted to feature Ryan in my column.

@YOURAndreaDavis facebook.com/artsandculturealacarte artsandculturealacarte.blogspot.com

Ryan calls himself “a gypsy kid.” He grew up in South Carolina but has moved from coast to coast. This is his second stop in Nashville. After moving back to South Carolina for a while, he returned on the day of the flood and has been here since then. Ryan feels that the artistic culture here is a good fit for him.

Photography has only been a professional career for Ryan in the past year.

He has had his hand in many things, such as massage therapy, architecture and assisting in the buying of rugs from Mexico. He has always had an artful eye and appreciated the beauty in his surroundings.

He photographed as a hobby, until he realized that he was capturing something really special. When Ryan moved back to Nashville, he was fortunate enough to apprentice under artist Jack Spencer. Jack taught him the difference in art and photography and how to print well. “Jack is a genius,” Ryan said, “And I feel lucky to have worked with him.”

Ryan works in three different forms of photography. He photographs musicians; he does commercial work in architecture and advertising; and he does fine art. His first fine art photograph was “Six String Lottery” (pictured right). He decided to let go of all of the technical aspects of photography and just see what happened.

The result was obviously beautiful, so he continued on to the banjo.

He has also photographed Mickey Raphael’s harmonica and Jeff Coffin’s saxophone, but the banjo is his favorite. He is not stopping there, though. He already has another instrument in the works.

Since photography has become a career for Ryan, he feels honored to be hired to do it. He really enjoys working on his own time with no art director. “Although I appreciate assistance in a commercial shoot,” Ryan said, “being able to do it myself is amazing but most difficult because I’m my own worst critic.” In my opinion, criticism is not needed. His work is music to my eyes!

You can see more of Ryan’s work at www.ryanmusick.zenfolio.com.

90 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM November 2013

ARTS & CULTURE A LA CARTE

ANDREA DAVIS

MUSIC: Emmylou Harris This past summer, I attended the Second Annual Woofstock held at Fontanel to benefit Emmylou Harris’ non-profit organization Bonaparte’s Retreat and Crossroads Campus. I was already a fan of Emmylou’s music, but her passion for the organization was truly inspiring and made me admire her even more. Emmylou was kind enough to invite me to her home to discuss more about the organization and of course, talk music.

Emmylou established Bonaparte’s Retreat in 2004 with the goal of rescuing dogs deemed unadoptable from the Nashville Humane Association. She named the organization after her dog, Bonaparte, who she had rescued many years prior. She says Bonaparte was a great “bus dog.” He toured with her for ten years. She says it’s amazing how many artists tour with their dogs. Her music partner Rodney Crowell also tours with a dog. Emmylou says that makes for three dogs, a band and a crew on one bus. She loves it, though. “All I need is a bunk and a TV to watch baseball,” Emmylou said.

Bonaparte was with Emmylou for ten years, until he died. Emmylou did not think she would get another dog, but after seeing a commercial about shelter dogs on TV, she looked at her large flat backyard and decided to become a satellite of Nashville Humane. Then she started thinking about dogs at Metro Nashville Animal Care and Control because they are a high kill facility. The first dog she got from Metro was Bella, and she ended up keeping her.

She wrote the song “Big Black Dog” about Bella but says it’s really about all dogs.

Emmylou is only able to keep a limited amount of dogs because Bonaparte’s Retreat is in her own backyard. “We really need more fosters because the more fosters we have, the more we can get from Metro,” Emmylou said. “Once they get here, they stay until they have a home.” Bonaparte’s Retreat and Emmylou pays for all dog care expenses anyone willing to foster incurs. “I’m a working girl, and I will be until the day I die,” Emmylou said. “I have to be. Vet bills are expensive.” Emmylou does not mind the work all because she loves being on the road and the comradery that comes with it.

Emmylou has done so many amazing things in her music career. It would be impossible to write about them all, so I chose to ask her about a band she was in called the Nash Ramblers and, specifically, a show they did at the Ryman. “My idea of a live album is to do all new material, and the first time we played the songs we would record it,” Emmylou said. “We were looking around for a venue. At that time, the Ryman was closed down. There was even some talk about demolishing it. We got permission to have a limited audience for 3 nights.” Shortly after the show, it was decided to not tear down the Ryman. Emmylou says she does not know if the Nash Ramblers had anything to do with it, but I’m sure they did.

Emmylou says that her favorite place to play is the Ryman. “I love it because of the sound,” she said, “But I will play on a porch. I just love to play music.” Well, she can play on my porch anytime!

There are a couple of local opportunities to see Emmylou perform before she takes some time off next year to write a new record. November 16th at The Cannery-An Evening With Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell will be an Epilepsy Benefit. On December 14th, she will be at Miracle on Music Row benefiting Bonaparte’s Retreat. It will be held at O.Liv Bar in Edgehill.

To find out more about Bonaparte’s Retreat and how you can foster a dog, go to www.bonapartesretreat.org. For more information on Emmylou and her upcoming shows, go to www.emmylouharris.com.

November 2013 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 91

ARTS & CULTURE A LA CARTE

ANDREA DAVIS

THEATER: We Will Rock You If you love rock and roll as much as I do, or even a little bit, then there is no doubt that you love the phenomenon that is Queen. From 1973, when they released their first recording, until the death of lead singer and keyboard player Freddie Mercury in 1991, Queen was one of the most popular rock groups in the world. They have released a total of eighteen number one albums, eighteen number one singles and ten number one DVDs worldwide, making them one of the world’s best-selling music artists. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, the band is also the only group in which every member has composed more than one chart-topping single. Those singles and their albums, over the top performances and their influence on rock and roll have made them legendary.

In 1996 at the Venice Film Festival, Robert De Niro approached Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor and asked if they had ever considered creating a musical based on the band’s work. Six years later, with De Niro and Jane Rosenthal’s company Tribeca Theatrical Productions on board as one of the producers, We Will Rock You opened in London’s West End. Featuring more than 24 Queen songs, this “rock theatrical” – now in its 11th year in London – has since played in some 20 countries and sold over 15,000,000 tickets worldwide. The first North American tour has just launched and will be at the TPAC November 12th-17th.

I am counting down the days!

British comedian, author, playwright, actor and director, Ben Elton, was chosen to write the musical. In an interview, Elton said, “The reason [Queen] wanted to speak with me is because I principally work in comedy; comedy with content. Queen has always had an immense sense of fun, never taking themselves too seriously. You can see it in everything Freddie did and the costumes they wore; they were very aware of the sort of theatrical silliness of performance. So, they wanted a comedy, and I was kind of lucky that they thought ‘let’s talk to Ben’.”

Elton wrote the musical as a satire. It’s set in a futuristic world, the iPlanet, where all entertainment is controlled by the industrial machine that produces it. He says it’s not just for Queen fans, though. It appeals to all audiences. In an interview with Queen’s drummer and guitar player, Brian May and Roger Taylor, May agrees. “We were conscious that if we just played to Queen fans, even in England, it would be over in a couple of months,” May said. “So, by and large, we’re playing to people who are not Queen fans.” In that same interview, Taylor said, “I just hope the audiences leave the theater with a feeling of having been uplifted, having laughed a lot and having been ROCKED!” For tickets to We Will Rock You, go to www.tpac.org.

A LA CARTE MONTHLY MENU INTO THE WOODS at the Franklin Theatre Story by Andrea Davis After one of the performances of INTO THE WOODS at the Franklin Theatre, I was able to go backstage and meet some of the cast. I wrote about the show in last month’s issue, so it was fun to see it come to life on stage.

Executive Producer Jack Speck is pictured with his wife, Emily, who played Rapunzel. Little Red Riding Hood, played by Marissa Rosen, was just as cheery off stage as on. Nan Gurley who played the witch and Susannah Smith White who played Florinda were both much kinder in person, unlike their characters. INTO THE WOODS was another great Studio Tenn production! For upcoming shows, go to www.studiotenn.com.

ART LIGHT at Cheekwood…………………….Ongoing until Nov. 10 30 Americans at The Frist…………………..Ongoing until Jan. 12 More Love at Cheekwood….……………….Ongoing until Jan. 5 *Franklin Art Scene is the First Friday of Every Month from 6-9pm *Nashville Art Crawl is the First Saturday of Every Month from 4-9pm

MUSIC Lupe Fiasco at War Memorial Auditorium….….…..……..Nov. 3 Keb Mo’ at Studio Gallery at Fontanel…………………..….Nov. 4 Marc Cohn at The Franklin Theatre……….…………….…Nov. 6 Straight No Chaser at The Ryman……............................….Nov. 7 O.A.R. at War Memorial Auditorium….….…..…………Nov. 10 Iron and White at The Ryman……...............................…..Nov. 10 Lynyrd Skynyrd at The Ryman……...............................….Nov. 11 Krewella at War Memorial Auditorium….….…..…………Nov. 12 Ed Kowalczyk at The Franklin Theatre……………….…Nov. 14 The Four Freshman at The Franklin Theatre………….…Nov. 16 Janelle Monae at The Ryman…………………………….Nov. 17 Charlie Daniels Band & Friends at The Ryman….……….Nov. 25 Macy Gray at The Franklin Theatre………………………Nov. 30

THEATER Studio Tenn’s Into the Woods at The Franklin Theatre……Nov. 1-Nov. 3

We Will Rock You at TPAC…………………………Nov. 12-17 Menopause The Musical at TPAC……………………Nov. 22-23 The Producers at Boiler Room Theatre……………Nov.1-Nov. 16 For more information on these events or to submit events for the calendar, please send an email to andrea@yourwilliamson.com.

Watch for the new Community Calendar coming soon to www.yourwilliamson.com.

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Walk of Remembrance Story & Photography by K York SHARING of Middle Tennessee held their annual walk at Pinkerton Park in October to honor the parents and families who have lost children. It is a poignant opportunity to be with other families who want to honor the lives of their babies who left this world too soon.

Families shared in their grief, lending support to each other and remembering their loved ones through reading poetry, listening to the soothing sounds of Blair’s West and with the tearful release of balloons as each baby’s name was read.

Charest family

Mary, Robert & Bradley Burns

Maggie & Deven Bleem

Event Volunteers

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YOUR Williamson October Issue Launch Party Story & Photography by Rachel Weishaupt The YOUR Williamson October Issue Social was a fun filled night at Jonathan’s Grille in Cool Springs. The event included delicious food, drink specials and the celebration of the success of the October issue. Guests wore their favorite football team jerseys for a chance to win great and giveaways. A portion of the night’s proceeds benefited Susan G. Komen and Breast Cancer Awareness. Check out more of the future YOUR Williamson events on our Facebook page!

Contestants for the Wear Your Jersey Giveaway

Josephine Getz & Charlie Kaser Kristen Motil, Richard Dion & Leslie Davis Ramona & Gary Witzgall

Jodi & Eric Rall

Mike Alexander & Patricia Apple

Rachel Weishaupt & Wyatt Nickle

Nan Puetz & Andrea Davis

Barbara, David & Angela Votta

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Katie & Brian McLarty

Dana Ausbrooks & Angela Hoover

Sally Mink & Erin MacDonald

Annette Valenti & Josephine Getz

Pat & Dianne Petty

Codee Yaw & Dean Weishaupt Rachel Weishaupt, Andrea Davis & Cameron McBride

Amber, Wyatt & Lou Nickle

GOT WILLIAMSON? We do.

Now more than ever. With the launch of our new website, look for exclusive and ongoing content from the community you love.

Make sure to subscribe to our weekly eblasts online.

www.yourwilliamson.com

YOUR COUNTY

FACTS & TRIVIA

YOUR RANDOM WILLIAMSON COUNTY FACTS Your monthly dose of Williamson County facts and trivia!

254,000,000 The number of turkeys raised in the United States in 2012.

$521,275

1954

The year the Nashville Rescue Mission opened its doors to the homeless and hurting.

The dollar amount of emergency food & needed nutrition that GraceWorks Ministries provided to hungry families in 2012.

5

The number of Rotary Clubs in Williamson County - Brentwood Morning Club, Rotary Club of Brentwood, Cool Springs Rotary, Franklin Rotary at Breakfast, and Franklin Noon Rotary.

1924

The year the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began. It was first known as “Macy’s Christmas Parade” although it took place on Thanksgiving.

Sources: cnn.com; nashvillerescuemission.org; graceworksministries.net; williamsonherald.com; pressroom.macysinc.com

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Experience

Taylor

made

smiles

the difference Around the corner from Franklin’s downtown square, you’ll find Taylor Made Smiles. Step inside and you’ll see that we’ve completely changed the way dental services are delivered. We combine today’s most advanced dental technology with patient care in a welcoming, elegant atmosphere.

The goal of our practice is to reveal your smile’s full potential. That means whether you’re seeking preventive, family, or cosmetic treatment, we want to make sure your teeth are as healthy and beautiful as possible.

Accepting New Patients, Most Insurances Accepted 214 Bridge St • Franklin, TN 37064 • 615.595.8585 www.taylormadesmiles.com

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Our Family Welcomes Your Family to the All-New Infiniti of Cool Springs.

Carmine Grassi Owner/Executive Manager

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211 Comtide Ct., Franklin, TN 37067 | 888.395.5101 | infinitiofcoolsprings.com