YOUR WILLIAMSON NOVEMBER 2020

A DISTINCTIVELY SOUTHERN PLACE

NOVEMBER 2020

EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY Me Oh My, I Love Pie! with Triple Crown Bakery

STYLING YOUR EVERYDAY Holiday Decorating Magic

YOUR COMMUNITY PARTNER with Williamson, Inc.

BUILDING A LUXURY HOME SHOULD BE A LUXURY EXPERIENCE

Stephens Valley 405 808 Carsten St. - Nashville 5 BD / 4.5 BA / 3,588 SF

Everbright 214 214 Everbright Ave. - Franklin 4-5 BD / 5 Full & 2 Half BA / 4,618 SF

For more information visit:

livealegend.com 615-376-9354

Witherspoon 58 9283 Fordham Dr. - Brentwood 5 BD / 5 Full & 3 Half BA / 6,418 SF

Generosity of space. Millions of twinkling lights and our soaring 48-foot Christmas tree.

Hundreds of enhanced cleaning protocols. Boundless family-friendly holiday events, from tubing, ice skating and Breakfast with Charlie Brown™ & Friends to our brand-new I Love Christmas Movies™ immersive pop-up experience featuring ELF™, THE POLAR EXPRESS™, and more!

November 13 – January 3 | ChristmasAtGaylordOpryland.com Peanuts© 2020 Peanuts Worldwide LLC · ELF and all related characters and elements © & ™ New Line Productions, Inc. (s20)

POLAR EXPRESS 2020 and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s20) 4THENOVEMBER

LUXURY CONDOMINIUM

Osprey Pointe at Sandestin Soar on in! Osprey Pointe, the newest offering at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is ready for your next vacation.

Conveniently located in the heart of the resort you’ll find easy access to everything from beach to bay in a serene and quiet location where you can take in the lush landscaping, nearby nature preserve and stunning bay views.

Conveniently located in the heart of the resort you’ll find easy access to everything from beach to bay in a serene and quiet location where you can take in the lush landscaping, nearby nature preserve and stunning bay views.

866-259-3585 • Sandestin.com/accommodations/osprey-pointee BEACH TO BAY RENTALS | 4 GOLF COURSES | BIKING | TENNIS | WATER SPORTS | STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING

YOUR WILLIAMSON | NOVEMBER 2020 . VOLUME VI – ISSUE 91

FEATURES

24 Eat, Drink & Be Merry Me Oh My, I Love Pie! with Triple Crown Bakery

28 Styling Your Everyday Holiday Decorating Magic

45 Come Fly With Me Royalton St. Lucia Resort & Spa

52

Your Community Partner: Williamson Inc.

60 Days Gone BY 156th Anniversary of the Battle of Franklin

ON THE COVER: THANKSGIVING PIE GOODNESS FROM TRIPLE CROWN BAKERY PHOTOGRAPHY BY: ANNA ROBERTSON HAM 6 NOVEMBER 2020

24

We look forward to working with you!

Here in Williamson County, roots run deep. And at Walker Chevrolet in Franklin, those roots began in 1926 in this community. As a local, family-owned dealership, Walker Chevrolet takes pride in putting our relationship with the customer first. Get a classic American brand from a local, family-owned dealership at Walker Chevrolet. Visit walkerchevrolet.com or call 615.591.6000 to get started on buying your new Chevrolet.

3940 Carothers Parkway | Franklin, TN | 615.591.6000 | walkerchevrolet.com

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S MONTHLY

COMMUNITY

10 Letter from the Publisher 12 Social Secretary 44 Bone Vivant

70 Did You Know?

20 LIFESTYLE 16 Fashionable You with KBStyled 18 Beautiful You Timeless Beauty Tips

16

13

In Your Backyard

40

Pours & Palates

42

Your Charitable Self

56

I Am Williamson County

62

Your Kids

64

Your Education

Holiday Happenings

Where to Eat for Thanksgiving Ways to Give

Ralph Drury

with Mindy Spradlin

Direct Instruction with Thales Academy

65

News From The Schools with Williamson County Schools

20 The Lady Entertains with Southern Events 32

Interior Thinking

with Parker Haven Interiors

38 A Little Something Extra Make Life Beautiful

SOCIAL 19

Ladies Think Pink

22

Harpeth River Swing

34

Parks’ Realty Franklin Open House

57

Update Williamson

58

A Southern Gentleman Is...

32

with Tim Kearns

66 Read Between the Lines A Tennessee Yankee 68

Arts & Culture

BUSINESS 50

It’ s Your Business

59

We’re in the Money

Misty Westebbe Photography with FirstBank

615.309.8200 castlehomes.com

YOUR JOURNEY HOME BEGINS HERE. CUSTOM HOMES ■ REMODELING ■ INTERIOR DESIGN

Custom Homes with Guaranteed Pricing

YOUR STAFF Shelly Robertson Birdsong

MONTHLY

It Starts With You & Me

Johnny Birdsong

OWNER & PUBLISHER

OWNER & PUBLISHER

Anna Robertson Ham MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Jennifer Franks

CREATIVE SERVICES

Ron Cheatham OPERATIONS

Publisher’s Letter

Paige Atwell

MANAGING EDITOR

Tracey Starck

is a children’s movie song to get us started…

“We can be bold, We can be brave, Let everyone see, It starts with you and me.”

Jackson Ryan

Shelly Robertson Birdsong Publisher | shelly@robertsonmediagroup.com

CREATIVE SERVICES

DISTRIBUTION

“You And Me”

From “Descendants 2” soundtrack Looking back at yesterday I thought I gave it everything But still there’s so much road ahead of me When I looked into your eyes I guess I didn’t recognize Who we are and all that we can be

Your Williamson and Distinctively Southern Wedding are publications of: Robertson Media Group, LLC

404 Bridge Street | Franklin, TN | 37064 Office: 615.465.6046 yourwilliamson.com distinctivelysouthernwedding.com

A DISTINCTIVELY SOUTHERN PLACE

Please send all content & coverage requests to: info@robertsonmediagroup.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Your Williamson & Distinctively Southern Wedding are publications of Robertson Media Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in part or whole, without written permission from the publisher, is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of Your Williamson, Distinctively Southern Wedding or Robertson Media Group, LLC, its employees, and/or it’s representatives. All information printed in this publication or online, is compiled in such a way as to insure accuracy. However, Your Williamson, Distinctively Southern Wedding and Robertson Media Group, LLC and its agents, assume no liability and/or responsibility for the accuracy of claims in advertisements, articles, photographs etc. published directly or submitted.

Sometimes it’s hard to find yourself But it’s worth it in the end ‘Cause in your heart is where it all begins Dear Readers, Count on a Disney movie to make my ears perk up and listen – listen to the lyrics of a song in one of my daughter’s newest favorite movies – “The Descendants.” It has pretty much been the backdrop to my life in recent months, because like most children, she can watch it over and over and over... We play the soundtrack in the car and even Calhoun (not quite two years old), loves the songs.

Anyway, it wasn’t until last night, as I sighed with some level of gratitude not to be listening to the news, that I listened to this song. And like I often do, in life and in this letter, I took meaning in the moment from a song. Our country is still in the throes of a pandemic and post-election. We are morally, systemically and culturally divided as a people in so many ways and certainly divided along political lines in a much more profound way than I have ever seen. Yes, this song resonated. The movie storyline includes enemies, people who are different, people who are perceived to be something that maybe they aren’t, acceptance, understanding, grace, compassion and empathy. “If we all can do our part, We know that it can be the start, To bring about the difference that we need,” sounds about right, in this moment, in this time. As we begin the holiday season amidst so much turmoil, can we maybe think about that as a possibility?

Maybe what we as a nation, as a people, need,

We gotta be bold We gotta be brave We gotta be free We gotta get loud Making that change You gotta believe We’ll look deep inside And we’ll rise up and shine We can be bold We can be brave Let everyone see It starts with you and me There’s something special that I’ve learned It’s together we can change the world Everybody’s got something that they can bring When you take a look inside yourself Do you wish that you were something else?

But who you are is who you need to be Sometimes it’s hard to find yourself But it’s worth it in the end ‘Cause in your heart is where it all begins If we all can do our part We know that it can be the start To bring about the difference that we need I promise we can work this out I promise we can see it through Don’t you know it’s up to me It’s up to me and you?

It starts with you and me

THE VIEW FROM THE ALTAR WAS AS ENDLESS AS OUR LOVE.

Sunset Images Photography

THERE IS

ONLYONE

8 8 8 -5 19 - 0 4 3 4 • H ilto nS a n d e s tin B e a c h . co m YOURWILLIAMSON.COM • # H ilto nS a n d e s tin 11

MONTHLY

Social Secretary

YOUR SOCIAL SECRETARY NOV 30

DEC 4-5

Here are a few events to add to your Social Calendar this month.

Visit yourwilliamson.com for more events.

GET CONNECTED The annual #PumpkinCarving demonstration by Leipers Fork Carving Club was hosted by Danny Anderson and Parks!

Battle of Franklin Annual Illumination Ceremony Carter House & Carnton | boft.org

On November 30th, The Battle of Franklin Trust will display luminaries at dusk to honor the casualties inflicted during the Battle of Franklin 156 years ago. Specialized battlefield tours will be held at Carter House November 27th - 30th at 9 a.m., 11a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.. The Illumination ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. at Carnton. Brief remarks will be delivered and the names of some of the casualties will be read aloud.

This year, the luminaries will be placed inside Carnton and Carter House.

Carnton and Carter House will be open to the public for free walk-through tours from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. The 9 a.m. Carter House tour and the 2 p.m.

Carnton tour will be through reservation only and must be made fourtyeight hours in advance. All tours are available for pre-purchase and are limited to twenty people. The Illumination Ceremony is free and open to the public.

Franklin Christmas & Holiday Events franklintn.gov

The City of Franklin is planning special 2020 Christmas celebrations in December. This year is a little different from past years and the City is planning to celebrate the holiday season and keep citizens safe. On December 4th and 5th, the City of Franklin Parks Department will host a festive Christmas drive through at Eastern Flank Park. Families can pile in the car and drive through the park to see Christmas lights, characters and more! The hours will be 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The City has decided to bring The Shindellas back along with the Freedom Intermediate School Choir and other special guests for a fun virtual tree lighting program to air on the City’s social channels and Franklin TV on Thanksgiving evening. Citizens are invited to come downtown later that evening and throughout the holiday weekend to see the beautifully lit Christmas tree on the square. Stay tuned to the City of Franklin website for updates about the Franklin Christmas festivities.

Our social media followers have a chance to #WIN a night stay and dinner for two at Whitestone Country Inn! Check out our Facebook and Instagram for details.

Celebrate the Holidays The Holiday Issue of YOUR Williamson will feature decor, gift-giving, food, entertaining and so much more! It’s everything that you need to make it a memorable holiday season for you and your family.

Reserve Space By December 2nd | sales@yourwilliamson.com

COMMUNITY

In Your Backyard

Holiday Happenings It’s (almost) beginning to look a lot like Christmas! So, make some plans for some of these upcoming holiday events taking place! From virtual to in person - there will be some festive happenings throughout the season for the entire family to enjoy!

Gaylord Opryland’s A Country Christmas Gaylord Opryland Resort’s 37th annual A Country Christmas program opens on November 13th and runs through January 3rd. For more than three decades, Gaylord Opryland has become legendary for providing magical holiday events and activities for winter visitors to experience, and this year will be no different. Whether staying at the resort or visiting for the day, Gaylord Opryland’s A Country Christmas promises an abundance of exciting, interactive and immersive experiences and activities suitable for all ages. Holiday events will include: “I Love Christmas Movies,” an exclusive multisensory pop-up exhibition in collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products allowing guests to experience beloved holiday movies; The Oaks Ridge Boys “Christmas in Tennessee” Dinner Show will feature a delicious holiday meal prepared by the resort’s culinary team followed by the Oaks and

their band performing; Acres of airy indoor atriums decorated with millions of twinkling holiday lights, towering Christmas trees and thousands of shimmering ornaments; Peanuts gang at Breakfast with Charlie Brown & Friends; Snoopy Dog House Decorating competition and Snoopy Christmas Scavenger Hunt; At Pinetop, an outdoor Appalachianesque village, enjoy live performances, tubing, ice skating and lessons, ice bumper cars, Reindeer Encounters, festive beverages plus an all-new, live Rockin’ Christmas On Ice Skating Show featuring champion skaters, big jumps, fast spins and awe-inspiring throws and lifts. Learn more about all of the holiday events, tickets and more at christmasatgaylordopryland.com.

City of Franklin Plans Christmas Holiday Events The City of Franklin is planning special 2020 Christmas celebrations in December. This year is a little different from past years and the City is planning to celebrate the holiday season and keep citizens safe. On December 4th and 5th, the City of Franklin Parks Department will host a festive Christmas drive through at Eastern Flank Park. Families can pile in the car and drive through the park to see Christmas Lights, characters and

more! The hours will be 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The City has also decided to bring The Shindellas back along with the Freedom Intermediate School Choir, and other special guests, for a fun virtual tree lighting program that will air on the City’s social channels and Franklin TV on Thanksgiving evening. Citizens are invited to come downtown later that evening and throughout the holiday weekend to see the beautifully lit Christmas tree on the square.

Visit franklintn.gov website for updates about the Franklin Christmas Festivities.

Citizens Christmas Parade This Franklin Christmas Parade is planned, organized, funded and put on by the everyday people of Franklin and is taking place on December 5th from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. in downtown Franklin. Celebrate this wonderful time of year with neighbors and give the kids and students an avenue to show how hard they have been working this year on their music, talents and club involvement. Clubs, bands, dance groups, color guards, cheer squads, scout groups and more are encouraged to participate! There is no participation fee to enter a group in the parade but donations are being accepted.

Learn more at citizenschristmasparade.com.

Current Listings

SOLD 2027 Roderick Circle Franklin Forrest Crossing

PENDING 108 Meadowgreen Ct Franklin

SOLD 337 Passage Ln Franklin Tywater Crossing

SOLD 4418 Mordecai Ave Murfreesboro Puckett Station

SOLD

SOLD

PENDING

2938 Stewart Campbell Pt Spring Hill Brixworth

3039 Blossom Trail Ln Franklin Blossom Park

138 Bertrand Franklin TN Highlands of Ladd Park

SOLD 414 S Main St Mt Pleasant

PENDING 208 Morning Mist Ln Franklin Westhaven

PENDING 102 Fitzgerald Franklin Westhaven

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

1874 Portview Dr Spring Hill Ridgeport

1222 Jewell Ave Franklin Westhaven

112 Fitzgerald Franklin Westhaven

322 Passage Franklin Tywater Crossing

14 NOVEMBER 2020

Happy Thanksgiving

Thank YOU for letting me help you sell or buy a new home this year!

movingwithkelly.com RealtorKellyDougherty @movingwithkelly

kelly dougherty

REALTOR®

c: 615.804.6940 | o: 615.790.3400 | Kellyd@VillageTN.com

YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 15

LIFESTYLE

Fashionable You

Inspiring Influencing

&

TURNING PASSION INTO PROFIT

BY PAIGE ATWELL

Brooke Webb knows a thing or two about running a business. In fact, she’s spent years building her own. You may know her as the influencer behind her lifestyle brand, KBStyled, but what you may not know is how it all got started.

Being a southern girl at heart, it should come as no surprise that Brooke found her way to Franklin. Born in Fort Mill, South Carolina, Brooke attended Clemson University before later moving with her now husband, Peter, to Newport Beach, California. Years later, they made the move to Phoenix, Arizona, where they had their two children, Reins and Addison. Eventually, they decided to make the move to Tennessee to be closer to family and have called Williamson County home ever since.

“My personal style is influenced by the colorful cultures and rich history of our southern culture and my home style is influenced by southern hospitality, which we are known for here in the south.”

16 NOVEMBER 2020

“Franklin reminds me a lot of where I grew up, so my roots run deep with southern tradition,” explained Brooke. “My personal style is influenced by the colorful cultures and rich history of our southern culture and my home style is influenced by southern hospitality, which we are known for here in the south.”

While style hasn’t always been her day job, it was without a doubt her passion. In 2014, Brooke was working in Human Resources for Bank of America by day, but by night, she was taking notes on what would soon become a booming industry.

“I quickly noticed how women on Instagram were inspiring and influencing other women by simply sharing their own personal style,” shared Brooke. “At the time, my best friend from college was running a successful food blog, so after speaking with her,

“KBStyled is truly a lifestyle brand and my hope is to encourage women of all ages and stages of life to style their lives beautifully.”

Style Q&A YW: What essential items do you think every woman needs in her closet and why?

I started dabbling in blogging by contributing a style post to her blog every other Friday. Brands started to take notice and were reaching out directly to my friend asking to collaborate with me. She encouraged me to start a blog of my own and even helped me get it off the ground by teaching me some of the ins and outs of blogging. So, in November of 2014, KBStyled was created and over the next few years became the brand/business that it is today.”

For four years, Brooke would spend her days working long hours at her corporate job, only to come home and spend the night creating content for her blog. Working until 2 a.m. eventually paid off, so much so that in 2018, after eleven years in corporate America, she and her husband decided it was time for her to pursue blogging full-time.

“It was a smooth transition and a welcomed one...after all, I was working both jobs for nearly four years and somehow managed to keep my head above water and still keep my primary focus on my family,” said Brooke. “After much discussion with my husband, we realized that KBStyled was no longer just a hobby/passion project...it was a full-time business that enabled me to collaborate with so many incredible brands while making a really great income.”

Since then, Brooke has continued to grow her blog into a booming business. And with over 177,000 Instagram followers, she’s able to share and do things she’s passionate about not just on a local level, but with followers all around the world.

“KBStyled is truly a lifestyle brand and my hope is to encourage women of all ages and stages of life to style their lives beautifully,” said Brooke. “KBStyled readers will find a variety of content from personal style, to home decor, to entertaining ideas/tips, to recipes, travel, family content and so much more.”

To learn more about Brooke and KBStyled, visit her website kbstyled.com, or follow her on Instagram @kbstyled.

BW: High waisted skinny jeans (love Good American Good Legs high waisted denim for a super flattering, curve hugging fit), a killer moto jacket (you can easily dress this up or down...pair with your favorite jeans or wear with a dress), a beautiful maxi dress (dresses are so feminine, timeless and effortless) and a great pair of statement earrings (statement earrings elevate your look)!

YW: What are some of your favorite fashion trends you’re seeing for fall this year?

BW: Knitwear...think long cardigans and comfy cozy sweaters. Floral prints (especially dresses and coats) and animal prints are still big this fall. Cozy, comfortable sets that can be worn at home and also worn out to run errands. Slouchy boots and combat boots are a footwear trend that I’m loving.

YW: What are some of your favorite places to shop at locally?

BW: Gin-o, Posh and Molly Green!

YW: Heading into the holidays this year, what style trends are you most excited about?

BW: I imagine we will be spending more time at home this year during the holidays, so I’d have to say I’m excited for all things cozy...cozy sets and sweaters.

YW: What are your top three style tips and why?

BW: 1. Don’t let the size of a piece of clothing determine whether or not you buy/wear it...not every piece of clothing is created equal. If you love the item...buy the size that fits you best- which may mean sizing up or down.

2. Always press or steam your clothes...you’ll look more polished and put together.

3. Less is more does not apply when wearing accessories...have fun with them! Layer them and when you think you have on one too many pieces...add another!

YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 17

LIFESTYLE

Beautiful You

Timeless Beauty Tips

BY PAIGE ATWELL

Happy November! While we’re all excited about Thanksgiving food, holiday shopping and cooler temps, there’s another reason to celebrate November that you may not know about;it’s National Healthy Skin Month! To pay homage, we’re sharing ten of the best timeless skincare tips!

HYDRATE When it comes to maintaining healthy skin, hydration is a must. After all, there isn’t much that water can’t fix, right? Drinking plenty of water is arguably one of the easiest ways to improve your skin. It not only helps to hydrate from the inside out, but it also increases brightness and elasticity. Experts even recommend splashing cold water on your face after washing it or exfoliating, as it’s been proven to tighten pores.

ALWAYS WASH YOUR FACE This one should go without saying, but truth be told, after a long day (or night), this tip can be hard to forget. Most make up is filled with oils and wearing it on your skin for an extended period of time can cause break outs and irritation. It’s important to let your skin breath, which is why you should always wash it off your face when you’re done for the day. And no, using a make-up wipe isn’t the same thing.

EXFOLIATE Washing your face is a great, simple way to get rid of any dirt and oils, but for a deeper, more effective cleanse, you

18 NOVEMBER 2020

should exfoliate. When done properly, exfoliation clears dead skin cells to make way for new ones, leaving your skin with a natural, healthier glow.

There are plenty of exfoliation scrubs you can buy at beauty stores, but you can also whip one up at home with things like yogurt, honey, almond mill or powder or brown sugar!

MOISTURIZE No matter your skin type, we can’t stress this one enough! Believe it or not, moisturizing not only prevents skin from getting too dry, but it also prevents it from getting too oily.

You’ll see benefits from moisturizing your skin immediately, but it’s important to know that its helpful to your skin long-term as well.

Moisturizing prevents wrinkles, reduces your chances of having certain skin problems and it will help you maintain a healthy glow. When moisturizing, be sure to cover both your face and neck area.

WEAR SUNSCREEN No matter how badly you want that tanned glow, it is so important to limit sun exposure and wear sunscreen daily. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to lather up in SPF 100 each and every day. In fact, most foundations and powders now have SPF in them, so you might already be wearing it! There are also plenty of moisturizers, primers and setting sprays that are great to use to get your daily dose of SPF. In the long run, keeping your skin protected from the sun will keep it looking younger and reduce your chances of skin cancer.

EAT HEALTHY Much like staying hydrated, maintaining a healthy diet will benefit you from the inside out! Not only will you feel good, but your skin will look good as well! Unhealthy diets are one of the main causes of breakouts and blemishes.

Vitamins and nutrients that are found in healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables and fish are crucial to maintaining bright and radiant skin long term.

UTILIZE ANTIOXIDANTS Antioxidants such as Vitamin C will do wonders for your skin. Not only do they help repair damaged skin, but they also make your skin look brighter and more youthful over time.

Most importantly, antioxidants help combat free radicals that come into contact with your skin every day, such as air pollution.

EXERCISE Believe it or not, sweat is great for your skin.

It’s a natural way to purge your skin of any impurities while also hydrating it. In addition, getting your blood pumping increases circulation, which carries important oxygen and nutrients to skin cells that keep them healthy.

GET SOME SLEEP You would be shocked at how much a simple good night’s rest can help your skin. A lack of sleep and proper rest leads to more stress, and that can lead to break outs and other skin issues. In addition, sleeping gives your body the time it needs to naturally repair itself, so don’t skimp on those six to eight hours!

FIND WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU Perhaps the most important thing to know about skin is that everyone’s is different! No one has exactly the same problems or look, so therefore, it’s crucial to find products, tips and routines that work best for you. Don’t be afraid to try different things; you might be surprised at what actually helps!

SOCIAL

Ladies Think Pink Golf Scramble for the Cure

Photography submitted On October 7th, twenty-eight women in pink could be seen on The Grove fairways in College Grove. They came together to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Center. As October is breast cancer awareness month, they played to raise awareness about breast cancer. As of January 2020, 3.5 million women are being treated for breast cancer in the United States. Together, these pink appareled women raised $2150! What started as an idea to raise money for the cure while enjoying golf and camaraderie, ended with laughter and the promise to make this an annual fundraiser. Congratulations to all of these women. They are all winners as they support women fighting this disease. Sponsors and supporters included Chef Tom and Chef Ed for Grab ‘n go Breakfast, The Grove Golf Pro Doug Oubre and Asst. Pro Hannah Skelley, Deon Brown, Maria Kretschmer for her donation of a magnum of wine plus wine tastings for four from Ackerman Family Vineyards of Napa, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Callaway Golf.

Special thanks to event Co-chairs Jeanie Frautschy and Barb Knott.

Go pink!

Kerry Zebick, Linda Golobic & Tammy Weber

Jane Hoffman & Delaina Churchill

Stacy Frisk, Vickie Hardt, Sharon Rosenhagenn & Kim Cleveland

LIFESTYLE

The Lady Entertains

Dressing Up Your Holiday Decor!

WITH SOUTHERN EVENTS & NYK + CALI PHOTOGRAPHY

The holidays might look a little different this year, but you can still set a stylish table for your guests with holiday rentals from Southern Events! We’ve curated some of our favorite tips for making your holiday tablescapes sophisticated yet unique.

Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving for family and friends or having a festive holiday gathering in December or January, count on Southern Events to help you make your middle Tennessee holidays special!

Holiday Theme:

Warm + Cozy

We love the idea of coming home for the holidays – especially this year – so make your holiday rentals extra special. Greet guests with warm wood farm tables, soft velvet linens and glowing candles in glass vases for a cozy ambiance they’ll love.

20 NOVEMBER 2020

GO BOLD Rules have long been thrown out this year so have a little fun with your holiday table during the holidays! Try a bold, untraditional color for your holiday linen rentals like a spiced pumpkin orange or deep Mediterranean blue, and combine with our luxurious new linen textures such as our etched velvets, rustic Havana and polished Kennedy linens.

Southern Events Party Rental Company southerneventsonline.com info@southerneventsonline.com 615.595.8508 YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 21

Land & Lots, First Time Home Buyers, Design & Custom Homes.... Just plain Real Estate.... It’s what I do!

SOCIAL

17th Annual River Swing

Photography Submitted

6011 Leiper’s Fork Pvt. Lane Franklin SOLD

o Lula Lane | Franklin SOLD

12.62 acres offered at $619,000, 3.5 miles from Leipers Fork Village. Approved for two dwellings - a 5 bedroom and a 4 bedroom. Beautiful views and utilities are on property. Platted and recorded with Williamson County.

Ready for building permit.

Approximately 5 minutes to Downtown Franklin and to the Village of Leiper’s Fork.

Rare 2 Acres near Downtown, approved for a 4 bedroom home. Platted and recorded, ready to pull a building permit.

Offered at $619,000

Offered at $199,900

5040 John Hager Rd | Hermitage SOLD at $349,000!

Three sales currently pending as Buyer’s Agent!

Lauren Sullivan

#1

Cell: 615.289.8610 PARKS Realty

106 East Main Street, Suite 200 Franklin, Tennessee

BEFORE

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Rated Gutter Guard Eliminate Gutter Cleaning & Maintenance

Due to the pandemic, what started as the Harpeth River Hootenanny seventeen years ago, this year, became Harpeth Conservancy REIMAGINED - the 2020 River Swing. In lieu of the normal 700+ person party, the organization held an online auction and a small, private, physically distanced, outdoor gathering for corporate sponsors and patrons who continued to support the mission without a large gathering. The support of the long-time corporate donors, auction donors and bidders raised almost $170,000 to support Harpeth Conservancy’s vision of clean water and healthy ecosystems for rivers in Tennessee championed by the people who live here. Founded in 1999 as the Harpeth River Watershed Association, Harpeth Conservancy’s mission is to restore and protect clean water and healthy ecosystems for rivers in Tennessee by employing scientific expertise and collaborative relationships to develop, promote and support broad community stewardship and action. Learn more at harpethconservancy.org.

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FEATURE

Eat, Drink & Be Merry

Me Oh My, I Love Pie! WITH TRIPLE CROWN BAKERY

It has been said that everything tastes better when it is made with love. You definitely will find that to be true at Triple Crown Bakery. A group of experienced and passionate bakers that love what they do and create everything from scratch. Owner, Alena Vaughn, was classically trained at The California Culinary Academy in San Francisco and has worked in hotels and restaurants. Her husband and co-owner is a Marine Corps Veteran and helps with all the bookkeeping and inventory.

Triple Crown Bakery is not your average bakery. They offer cakes, cookies, desserts, and breakfast pastries that reflect their inspirations and experiences from around the world. With travels to Scandinavia, France, Switzerland and Japan, Alena likes to bring unexpected pastries to Franklin, Tennessee. One of their best sellers is a Pavlova, which is New Zealand’s national dessert consisting of baked crispy meringue, whipped cream and fresh berries.

During breakfast hours, you can enjoy their delicious brioche cinnamon rolls, homemade poptarts, muffins, scones and quiche. Their dessert case is filled with little works of art like flourless souffle, key lime tarts, cheesecakes, tiramisu and peanut butter bombs. They also have an extensive selection of gluten free items. If cookies are your favorite treat, they have big, soft, chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, double chocolate, snickerdoodle and sugar sprinkle. One of their most favored cookies is their French Macaron, which they have weekly in assorted flavors.

Aside from all the pastries in store, they make an enormous amount of custom cakes and cookies. From weddings, to birthdays, music industry and corporate events, their talented cake decorators can accommodate the cake of your dreams. If cake is not your favorite, they have done pie bars and cookie buffets for a little bite-sized treat. They do book up, so make sure you give them plenty of notice!

Triple Crown recently made a huge move from their previous location on Columbia Avenue to a new - larger location at 118 4th Avenue North. There, in an expanded place, they will be able to offer even more experiences! For example, since they serve tea from London teamaker Harney & Sons, you will be able to enjoy sitting in their garden or in their tea room, with a pot of tea, and a scone or cookie. When permitted, they will be having afternoon teas by reservation on Sundays, with the traditional tower of sandwiches scones and desserts. Sounds scrumptious!

You can also find their pastries around Franklin at local coffee shops that include High Brow, Honest Roasters and Coffee & Coconuts. In the meantime, enjoy these recipes for Triple Crown’s favorite holiday pies. You can order any of these, made from scratch for you and your guests this holiday season - online at triplecrownbakery.com.

24 NOVEMBER 2020

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JENNY CRUGER PHOTOGRAPHY

Recipes FUDGE PIE 2 Cups Evaporated Milk 36 oz Semi Sweet Chocolate 6 Tablespoon Butter 3 Cups Sugar 6 Tablespoons All Purpose Flour 6 Large Eggs 2 Tablespoon Vanilla 2 ž Teaspoon Kosher Salt Heat the Chocolate, Milk and Butter over a double boiler or microwave until melted and smooth. Whisk in sugar and flour, add eggs 1 at a time whisking just till blended after each addition.

Whisk in Vanilla and Salt. Pour into the unbaked pie pan, bake 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until it rises and feels firm.

PERFECT PIE DOUGH 2 and 1/2 Cups All-purpose Flour 1 Teaspoon Salt 6 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, Chilled and Cubed 3/4 Cup Vegetable Shortening, Chilled 1/2 Cup Ice Water Mix the flour and salt together in a large bowl. Add the butter and shortening. Using a pastry cutter, or food processor, or your hands, cut the butter and shortening into the mixture until it resembles coarse meal. Measure 1/2 cup of water in a cup. Add ice. Stir it around. Drizzle the cold water in, 1 Tablespoon at a time, and stir. Do not add any more water than you need to. Transfer the pie dough to a floured work surface. Using your hands, fold the dough into itself until the flour is fully incorporated into the fats. Form it into a ball. Divide dough in half. Flatten each half into 1-inch thick discs. Wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate till firm. 1 hour. Makes 2 pie shells APPLE PIE FILLING 1 Cup Apple Juice 1 Cup Brown Sugar 1 Cup Butter 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon 12 Apples, Peeled and Sliced 1 Cup Granulated Sugar 4 Tablespoon Cornstarch Heat Apple Juice, Brown Sugar and Butter in saucepan, add apples and cook till tender.

In a small bowl, whisk the granulated sugar and the cornstarch together and add to the pot. Cook 3-4 minutes or until the mixture becomes nice and thick. Cool to room temperature.

Pour into an unbaked pie shell and top with another pie crust, or add a crumb topping. Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown and filling is bubbly 35-45 minutes.

YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 25

Our Fudge Pie is the richest, most fudgy, decadent pie we make. Again, a southern tradition.

CRUMB TOPPING 1 ½ Cups Dark Brown Sugar 1 ½ Cups Sugar 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon ¼ Teaspoon Salt 6 oz Butter, Melted 2 ½ Cups + 2 Tablespoons Cake Flour Mix all the dry ingredients together, add the melted butter. Crumble and mix with your hands. Top onto an unbaked pie.

PECAN PIE FILLING 3 Cups Corn Starch 1 ⅓ Cups Brown Sugar 8 Large Eggs ¾ Cups Flour 4 Teaspoon Vanilla 2 Teaspoon Salt 3 Cups Pecans, Chopped

Our Apple Crumb starts with fresh sliced apples cooked down with brown sugar and butter, and topped with a buttery crumb.

Mix all ingredients except pecans in a bowl until smooth. Add Pecans, and pour into an unbaked pie shell. Bake 325 degrees 45 minutes to an hour, until the middle is firm.

Our Maple Pumpkin Streusel is a Pumpkin custard pie with a hint of maple syrup, and topped with a streusel studded with pecans.

Come see us at our new location!

118 4th Avenue North Franklin, Tennessee 37064 615.721.8488 info@triplecrownbakery.com Tuesday - Saturday: 8am - 4pm Sunday - Monday: Closed

Our Pecan Pie is a classic ooeygooey southern tradition of pecans baked in a sugary syrup.

Welcome to The Amish House!

Make yourself at home.

We work with Master Amish Craftsmen to provide you solid hardwood furniture that is made to order. At The Amish House, our customers get to select their wood, size and stain colors options. Choose any hardwood from Cherry, Maple or Oak to name just a few. Have a custom piece in mind? Bring us your idea and we can make it come to life. Don’t settle for particle board with cheap veneers, get the very best. Visit us at The Amish House to see your possibilities.

Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions.

We look forward to helping you furnish your home with the very best!

Warm Regards, Kurt & Lisa Fuchs Owners | The Amish House

THE AMISH HOUSE Handcrafted Furniture Made by Master Amish Craftsmen | No Particle Board | No Veneers Made to Order – Pick Your Wood, Size & Color | Furnish Your Home with the Very Best

7278 NOLENSVILLE ROAD | NOLENSVILLE, TN 37135 | 615.487.4090 | THEAMISHHOUSE.COM

FEATURE

Styling Your Everyday

Christmas Decorating Magic Jenny Reimold is no stranger to our Styling Your Everyday columns.

She is the go-to for advice on everything from home decor, clothing, beauty, household hacks and everything in between. Jenny’s home is photographed for HGTV often, showcasing her talents for everyday styling as well as holiday decorating and she is always finding new fun themes to incorporate each year. Here are her holiday decorating tips and tricks to hep you create your perfect tree, tablescape and more.

BY JENNY REIMOLD | PHOTO CREDIT: EVIN PHOTOGRAPHY

28 NOVEMBER 2020

1. To create a “statement� Christmas tree, develop a theme and then incorporate large pieces into the tree to highlight your holiday theme. Think of your favorite Christmas movie, seasonal element or childhood memory and brainstorm all of the things that support that theme. Plush characters, wooden signs, cut outs and movie figurines all work for a larger than life tree.

2. For tablescapes, style three table runners horizontally across your table for a new look. Add elements of nature, like wood slices, as chargers and use ornaments as place setting toppers.Â

3. Give children their own unique tree in a playroom or bedroom by draping brightly colored LED lights in a tree and then add whimsical decorations, like unicorns, for a different twist on Christmas.

4. Create “mini moments” in your home if you’re on a tight budget or want to add a bit more holiday spirit to an empty corner. Instead of one giant Christmas tree, group two smaller trees together, string a few lights and keep ornaments minimal for a clean and fresh holiday look.

5. Style your table with festive sweet treats. Local baker, Michelle Wilson @meeshsbakeryfranklin, and caterer, Judy Beaudin, @scumptious_judyb, made coordinated Christmas cookies and thematic cakes to welcome guests to the table. Consider lightening your load and outsourcing some of the holiday baking to local businesses.

JENNY REIMOLD, DESIGNER & MEDIA STYLIST Styling Your Everyday

Writer and Franklin resident, Jenny Reimold, is a local designer who serves as HomeGoods’ “Style Expert.” Her work has been featured in House Beautiful, HGTV, People Magazine online, Property Brothers and Good Morning America. To follow her work, visit her Instagram @jennyreimold.

FEATURE

Styling Your Everyday

WITH PATTY BEARDEN

Patty Bearden began her holiday decorating career many years ago volunteering with church and schools, working with a florist and, for the past ten years, helping with Harpeth True Value’s Christmas Store. She helps put together the trees, wreaths, florals and decorates homes and businesses (inside and outside) as well. Her decorating season for homes and businesses begins in November and goes through a few days before Christmas. She works with the client’s existing decor and also adds in new. She has picked up many tips over the years, but here is her best advice when decorating your Christmas tree.

1. For artificial trees, it is very important to fluff each branch individually.

2. Add more depth and interest to your tree by adding artificial branches of another green. Can event be snowy branches or berry branches for accent colors.

The Christmas Store Is Stocked!

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Come see us November 12th - 14th for special Christmas Discounts!

3. Add large objects within the tree like a bell, deer, snowman, etc.

4. Use roping or cording on your tree to add a special touch. Gold, silver, red or green glitter roping is a great finishing touch.

5. The “icing on the cake” is the ribbon. You can use up to three patterns if you would like. You can also do a large bow as your tree topper or just run strands of the ribbon through the branches.

Located at the corner of Columbia Avenue and Downs Boulevard 203 Downs Boulevard • Franklin, TN 37064 615.794.3641 • harpethtruevalue.com Monday-Saturday - 8am-5pm • Sunday - Closed

PATTY BEARDEN

Patty Bearden Designs Marketing & Design - Harpeth True Value Contact Patty today to discuss how she can help you get your home holiday ready! Call her at 615.973.2481 or email her at

jkbearden@comcast.net.

LIFESTYLE

Interior Thinking

Falling for Fall

BY JENNIFER PARKER

32 NOVEMBER 2020

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOLOMON DAVIS STYLING ASSISTANCE BY MIRIAM WIGGINS

As it usually takes a “hot” minute for fall to reach our beloved Williamson County, I am happy to say it’s finally here. One of my favorite seasons erases the heat of summer and brings in lush colors and comfy vibes of fires and cozy evenings. As 2020 has all of us spending more time at home, what better way to celebrate fall than warming up your outdoor spaces with some beautiful decor.

I decorate for Halloween every year, and have learned in my decorating work that this holiday can easily be transitioned to a fall and Thanksgiving decor. The result can be a longer timeline for your investment, and also by changing out a few things you are able to enjoy your decor longer.

My preference is pre-purchasing pumpkins that already have a clear coating on them for several reasons: It saves time, they look great and it makes them last four times as long so your decor can stand the test over multiple weeks into the fall. And don’t forget your mums need a ton more water than you think they do.

In the heat of early October they wilt fast, but will stay fresh into November if they are well watered, and then you water less as the weather gets cooler.

Using spaces in our home, to gather with just a few friends outdoors has become our new entertaining space of choice. Our front porch has served us well in this pandemic and allowed a sense of “normalcy” in these uncertain times. Just add a few heated throws and it’s a space we can use most any evening, even the chilly ones.

Celebrate fall this year by creating your own outdoor spaces to enjoy- and certainly extend the life of your decor as long as you can, as it’s an investment for sure. Wishing you a beautiful, safe and enjoyable Williamson County fall!

JENNIFER PARKER

Interior Thinking jennifer@parkerhaveninteriors.com Jennifer is the owner of Parker Haven Interiors. She thrives on helping her clients design their homes, to style their life, with feeling, function and form.

SOCIAL

PARKS Realty Franklin Open House

Photography by Kevin Schmidt Parks Realty Franklin recently celebrated their move into new office space located in The Harpeth Square retail and office complex on East Main and First Avenue. Having been in temporary space for many months after moving from their previous Main Street location, finally getting to show off their new digs was exciting! Agents from both the Franklin and Brentwood offices, as well as many special friends and clients, enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of socializing and touring the new space. For more information on Parks, go to parksathome.com and visit them at 106 East Main Street in downtown Franklin.

Lottie McCormick & Brenda Tindall

Marabeth Poole & Margaret Orton

Dannie Hunt & Cindy Denson

Donna Savage & Shannon Hickman

Kelly Watson, Jenni Barnett, Lisa Culp Taylor & Megan Jones Campbell

A DISTINCTIVELY SOUTHERN PLACE

Williamson County isn’t just a place

it’s a lifestyle!

YourWilliamson.com explores everything that makes this such a wonderful place to live • Your Community • Your Lifestyle • Your Business • Your Social Visit our website for exclusive content, your party pics, community calendar and more!

34 NOVEMBER 2020

PARKS On Main 415 Main Street Franklin, TN 615.790.7400

Franklin

Your Real Estate Professionals of Middle Tennessee

PARKS On Main | 106 East Main Street | Franklin, TN 615.790.7400 | ParksAtHome.com

Your Real Estate Professionals of Middle Tennessee

Darci Caesar 615.947.6038 Danny Anderson

Christopher Close Lisa Davis 615.490.2004 615.982.9404 Reid Anderson Jeannie Bankins 615.406.3426

615.790.7400

Cindy Garner

310.499.8146

Kim Henderson

Loy Hardcastle

Greg Fritz 615.587.0366 615.347.1732

Reid Anderso 615.406.342

Danny Anderson 615.790.7400

Loy Hardcastle 615.881.9053 615.948.3704

Mary Grace Gardner 615.948.3704 615.506.4419

Sandy Melz 615.609.7424

Margaret Flowers Orton Sarah Beth Litzenberg 615.604.2590 615.712.4312

Greg Fritz Tammy Fitzpatrick 615.347.173 615.335.0405 Connie Dunlop Cindy Denson 615.400.4747

615.587.0366

Kim Henderson 615.881.9053 615.403-1055

Josh Kile Lisa Davis 423.309.680 615. 982.9404

Lauren Sullivan 615.289.8610

Melissa Taylor Lisa Culp Taylor 615.427.1412 615.300.8285

Scott Hudson

Brentwood ParksAtHome.com

Brentwood

Brentwood Office 8119 Isabella Lane, Suite 105 Brentwood, TN 37027 615.370.8669

Kathy Danner 615. 815.5856

Susan Gregory 615. 300.5111

Candace Revelette 615. 456.4022

Teresa Chiles 931.607.7513

Dawne Davis 615.945.7139

Debbie Hovsepian 310.701.7477

Candace Revelette 615. 456.4022

Kim Day Shacklock 615.838.8850

Luanne Story 615.714.7511

Nathan Throneberry 615.542.5822

Susan Gregory 615. 300.5111

Cindy Stanton Marla Richardson 615. 482.2224 615. 397. 3403

Lisa Culp Taylor Chris Fulle 615.300.8285

Nelle Anderson

8119 Isabella Lane, Suite 105 | Brentwood, TN 37027 615.939.8323 615.370.8669 | ParksAtHome.com

Tammy Morris 615. 596.3900

Cindy Stanton 615. 482.2224

Kim Day Shacklock 615.838.8850

615.587.026

Jan Small-Be 615.934.044

ARE YOU PLANNING ON BUYING OR SELLING YOUR HOME? It's a great time to buy or sell your home - the real estate market is still hot as we move into the winter season. Our team has the experience & knowledge to make the entire process easier for you. Give us a call at (615) 775-3830!

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106 E. MAIN ST. / FRANKLIN, TN 37064 / (615) 790-7400 / #00059191

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9307 CORCORD RD.

5 BEDS / 3 FULL & 1 HALF BATH $699,000 / 4,115 SQ FT

4 BEDS / 3 FULL & 1 HALF BATH $679,900 / 3,302 SQ FT

LIFESTYLE

A Little Something Extra

Make Life Beautiful WITH SYD & SHEA MCGEE

Part of being the best in business, starts with a dream. A will to succeed. One recent memoir that brings those two things into focus and culminates in the ultimate success story is Make Life Beautiful by Syd and Shea McGee. Be inspired to focus on your goals and achieve your dreams with Make Life Beautiful, the business memoir from interior design and social media powerhouses (and soon-to-be Netflix stars!). Syd and Shea McGee started Studio McGee as a spare bedroom side project in 2014 and have since become one of the fastestgrowing and in-demand interior design firms in the country with a staff of more than seventy .

This past spring, they launched a multi-year partnership with Target, which sold out in days upon releasing the first collection in April (in the middle of a pandemic, no less). And this fall, the McGees officially announced their Netflix-produced reality series, Dream Home Makeover, slated for release this fall, which will invite viewers to follow Shea’s design process as she creates incredible spaces for clients on both ends of the budget spectrum.

In Make Life Beautiful, the McGee’s share a deeply relatable story about their lives that goes so much deeper than the #housetour stories they share with their 1.3M+ followers on Instagram - bringing readers into the fold of their young family and revealing the full spectrum of highs and lows they’ve experienced on their journey to becoming one of the most successful design businesses in the country, Make Life Beautiful tells a heartfelt, no-holds-barred story about chasing a dream and creating the life you want.

For the one million-plus followers who turn to Syd and Shea McGee for advice on building a beautiful home and life, Make Life Beautiful is a behind-the-scenes look into how the couple transformed Shea’s small room of fabric samples and big dream of becoming a designer, into one of the most successful and fastest-growing interior design businesses in the country.

“There’s nothing more beautiful than taking a leap and devoting your life and your heart and your work to helping other people enjoy beauty in their own homes,” says Julia Marcum, co-founder of Chris Loves Julia, Good Influnce_r and Proper Tee. “We’ve all come to know and love and yearn for the Studio McGee look but hearing the humble ‘how’s’ behind the empire is even more moving and motivating. This isn’t about just making your home beautiful - this is about making your LIFE beautiful. Shea and Syd are talented (obviously), but they’re also dreamers and supporters and risk-takers and pioneers and somehow, still completely down-to-earth.”

Both long-time and new fans will not only gain insight into how the McGee’s built such a successful company but also be inspired to apply design principles to their lives. The book includes inspirational topics to help readers build an authentic life including: • How to renovate your life • How to visualize the outcome • How to listen to your gut • How to elevate the everyday Do you want to live the best version of your life? Read this book to follow Syd and Shea’s lead and learn how to make life beautiful. It is an essential story for entrepreneurs, interior designers, working parents, couples building a family AND a career, self-starters and anyone chasing their dreams.

The book is available from Harper Horizon at harpercollinsfocus.com - a new non-fiction imprint of HarperCollins Focus.

38 NOVEMBER 2020

Franklin’s Favorite Place to Shop!

Incredible selection of carefully curated home furnishings, accessories and art.

Custom upholstery and design services available.

Weekly “Open House” door prize drawings throughout the holiday season!

301 Lewisburg Avenue | Franklin, TN 37064 | 615.790.8908 | www.zulaandmachome.com

LIFESTYLE

Pours & Palates

Holiday Dining Options

Where to Eat on Thanksgiving

After a long year, you deserve a break! Kick up your feet and let one of these local restaurants do the cooking this year. For more information regarding their hours, menus and reservations, please visit their websites listed below.

All Puckett’s Locations

Scout’s Pub

Capitol Grille

puckettsgro.com Open 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Serving all you can eat, family style meal with traditional dishes and southern favorites. Offering pre-ordering for to-go family meals through November 21st.

Accepting reservations via phone and online through OpenTable.

scoutspub.com Open 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Offering their full menu plus Thanksgiving specials. Accepting reservations via phone or online through OpenTable.

capitolgrillenashville.com Offering a three-course meal.

Seating available at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Americana Taphouse

Del Frisco’s Grille

delfriscosgrille.com Seating’s available from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Accepting reservations.

marriott.com Open 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Fleming’s Steakhouse

monellstn.com Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

First come, first serve seating.

Meals are $26 per person.

americanataphouse.com Open 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Offering their full menu plus Thanksgiving specials. Accepting reservations via phone or online through OpenTable.

Sperry’s Cool Springs sperrys.com Open 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Accepting reservations.

Mere Bulles

merebulles.com Open 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Accepting reservations.

40 NOVEMBER 2020

flemingssteakhouse.com Opening at 11 a.m.

Offering a three-course menu for adults and children plus cocktail specials.

Offering pre-order for to-go family meals.

Accepting reservations.

Deacon’s New South

deaconsnewsouth.com Open 4 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Offering full dinner menu plus a la carte thanksgiving offerings with suggested wine pairings. Accepting reservations via phone or online through OpenTable.

JW Marriott Monell’s

The Loveless Cafe

lovelesscafe.com Open 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. for dine-in.

To-go meals and sides available for pick up.

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ES TAT E

68

22 years on Scenic 30-A, I can help!

22 years C A L L Mon E , Scenic ( 8 5 0 ) 9 7HWY 4 - 8 8 8 30-A 5 Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate Linda@thesmileof30a.com | LindaMillerLuxury.com 5297 E Scenic Hwy 30-A #102, Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

David Votta

cell: 615-330-8638 office: 615-371-2424 DV@DavidVotta.com www.DavidVotta.com 1585 Mallory Lane; #103 Brentwood, TN 37027

“Once David connected us to Linda, we knew we were in great hands. Her experience in the area satisfied our desire to purchase.

Now We Are Smiling!”Happy Buyer from Tennessee, 2014

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Contact David 615-330-8638 or DV@DavidVotta.com

YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 41

COMMUNITY

Your Charitable Self

The Season of Giving

BY PAIGE ATWELL

In a year that seems to have been filled with more downs than ups, it feels good to finally say, happy Thanksgiving! While there is always something to be thankful for, we would be amiss if we didn’t take time to reflect on the loss this year has brought as well. In either our November or December issues, we always like to talk about ways we can give back to the community through nonprofits during the holidays. This year, promoting that is more important than ever. Like so many other businesses and organizations, nonprofits have struggled through the pandemic to secure funding, host events to raise awareness and retain the proper number of employees and volunteers needed to make day-to-day operations possible. So, as we celebrate the season of giving, consider donating time, resources or support to one or more of these incredible organizations.

Williamson County Casa

williamsoncountycasa.org Thousands of children are abused or neglected every day in the United States. Through no fault of their own, these children are cast into a complex, chaotic and uncertain environment of courtrooms and foster care. They are alone and often times they are scared. Williamson County CASA helps children in this situation every day by speaking on their behalf in courtrooms, identifying safe homes for them to live in and listening to their stories.

GraceWorks Ministires

graceworksministries.net GraceWorks Ministries, Inc. was founded in 1995, when area concerned citizens and faith leaders came together and decided Williamson County needed a central place to send people who needed help with food, clothing and financial assistance. By pooling church resources with private and public sectors, GraceWorks was able to provide more help for many needs to better serve our 42 NOVEMBER 2020

community, rather than duplicating efforts.

Today, GraceWorks has expanded upon these relationships to establish a referral network with other agencies to provide help for immediate needs and long-term resources.

One Generation Away

onegenaway.com OneGenAway is a non-profit 501(c)3 that works to bring fresh, healthy food directly to people in need. They strive to eliminate food deserts in the low-income neighborhoods in America. They serve the home-bound elderly, school childre and the working poor of our country by rescuing food seven days a week from local grocery stores and restaurants such as, Whole Foods, Costco, GFS, Publix, Outback Steakhouse, Aldi and many others.

Then, each month, OneGenAway, with the help of many volunteers, brings food right to neighborhoods in need by arriving with truckloads of good food… mobile food pantries… delivered right to the streets of neighbors in need on Saturday mornings all around middle Tennessee and beyond.

growth, end animal neglect and abuse and be a positive force in the community.

Davis House Child Advocacy Center

davishousecac.org The mission and purpose of Davis House is to combat child abuse by coordinating services to children and families in crisis and providing community education focused on prevention and early intervention. They were established as a 501(c)3 not for profit organization in 1999, and began serving children in Williamson, Hickman, Lewis and Perry counties in Tennessee in 2000. All of their services are provided at no cost to the children and families they serve.

My Bag My Story

snootygiggles.com Snooty Giggles Dog Rescue is an inclusive dog rescue center. There are no breed restrictions, no size limitations or age requirements. They help whomever they can no matter their circumstances through programs such as short and long term foster care and adoption, medical surgeries and procedures or just providing extra love.

mybagmystory.com My Bag My Story exists to provide duffel bags for kids in foster care. Your purchase of a bag will fund another for a child entering state custody. They believe that having his or her own bag allows a child coming into state custody to maintain dignity and have a sense of pride and self-worth. The sale of their backpacks to the general public will fund the production of a functional, durable, gender-neutral duffel that a child entering the foster care system can use to transport his/ her belongings. The public will be proud to carry one of their bags because they know their purchase also provides a child from a hard place the first step in feeling valued and cared for.

Williamson County Animal Center

Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury

Snooty Giggles Dog Rescue

adoptwcac.org Williamson County Animal Center makes Williamson County better for animals through adoption, education, enforcement and pet population control. Their goal is to increase the save rate, find a good home for every adoptable pet, slow pet population

hfhwm.org Habitat for Humanity of Williamson and Maury Counties (HFHWM) is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization and ecumenical Christian ministry that partners with local families in need and donors to build stable, safe homes and sell them with an affordable

mortgage. Through this, they build stronger communities and life-changing opportunities for hardworking families in Williamson and Maury County.

A Vintage Affair

avintageaffair.org Ralph Drury has two main passions: helping those in need… and exquisite wines. When he helped initiate a wine charity event that raised nearly $50,000 for the Mercy’s Children Clinic in 2001, he realized there was a unique opportunity to connect these two passions. Nineteen years later, A Vintage Affair continues to grow as the most unique nonprofit for women and children around.

They work hard each year to put on first-class wine charity events with the goal of giving the majority of it away to those who need it most — the women and children of the Williamson County Community, regardless of race or creed.

United Way of Williamson County

unitedwaygreaternashville.org United Way of Williamson County believes that together, we can win if we live as one.

If we make our neighbors’ struggles, our struggles.United, we can be the hand-raisers, the game-changers, the problem solvers.

Together, we can create a community where every person and every family thrives.

Together, we can break the cycle of poverty.

Together, we can give kids an equal chance.

Together, we can meet our neighbors’ basic needs. Together, we can build strong, healthy communities. But change doesn’t happen

alone. If united we fight. United we win.

The Well Outreach

springhillwell.org The Well Outreach began as a food pantry in a local church in 2006, with the goal of showing God's love by giving food to those in need. In 2009, The Well Outreach incorporated as its own entity, hoping to expand its reach to more of the community. It is now supported by the amazingly generous community in Spring Hill and surrounding areas. Numerous individuals, churches, civic organizations and businesses contribute on a regular basis to ensure that no household in Spring Hill, Thompson Station, College Grove, Santa Fe or northern Columbia is without food assistance when needed.

Saddle Up!

saddleupnashville.org Saddle Up!’s mission is to provide children and youth with disabilities the opportunity to grow and develop through therapeutic, educational and recreational activities with horses. Saddle Up! is the place where all children are equal in the saddle. It’s middle Tennessee’s oldest and largest riding center offering equine-based programs exclusively for children with disabilities.

Tennessee Children’s Home

tennesseechildrenshome.org Tennessee Children’s Home is committed to improving the lives of those we influence through quality services in a Christian atmosphere. Those served by Tennessee Children’s Home will learn to live healthy

physical, mental, social, and Christian lives. Tennessee Children’s Home has four campuses, all of them providing safe harbor, treatment and a Christian environment for displaced families and youth.

Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tennessee

bgcmt.org Boys & Girls Clubs are places–actual neighborhood-based buildings–designed solely for youth programs and activities.

The Boys & Girls Club of Middle Tennessee serves to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. They do this by helping all young people succeed through curriculum based targeted programs and high yield activities designed to help members reach their priority outcomes: academic success, good character and citizenship and healthy lifestyles.

Best Buddies Tennessee

bestbuddies.org/tennessee/ Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-toone friendships, integrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Best Buddies is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

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7 Reasons You Should Find a Fantastic “New” Old Friend During Adopt a Senior Pet Month this November

“November is National Adopt a Senior Pet Month and since senior pets can be among the most at-risk in shelters, this is a great time to talk about why an older dog or cat just might be the best choice for your next furry friend,” said Best Friends Animal Society CEO Julie Castle.

Best Friends offers the following reasons a senior dog or cat might be the right fit for you:

Families often think it’s best to bring a puppy or kitten into the home, so the pet can “grow up with the children.” While this sounds good on paper, this combination often results in a frustrated family. “Puppies and kittens can be kind of wild and have no manners until they’re old enough to be trained. Their sharp teeth and claws often result in fearful children and rough handling, making for a strained relationship,” Julie said. “Many families discover that a better choice is to adopt an older animal with a history of doing really well with children.”

A benefit for anyone adopting an older dog is that they generally come with good manners, Julie noted. “They’ve spent years living in a home, learning social skills and usually know some basic obedience commands. This makes the transition into your home much easier.”

Most adult dogs and cats are already house- or litter-trained. Senior pets are far less likely to be destructive to the belongings in your home. “Puppies can be naughty and chew up shoes and furniture for years, but older pets are past that phase and just want to hang out with their people and their toys or find a cozy spot in the sun to curl up for a nap,” she said. A great benefit to adopting an older pet is that you know exactly what you’re getting. Their size, weight and personality are already developed, so you can choose them for who they are, rather for what you hope they’ll be when they grow up.

It’s often easy to find older purebred pets looking for new homes through shelters or breed rescue groups.

Senior pets are generally easier to have around. Give a senior pet a second chance and you’ll share a lifetime of unconditional love.

Since many shelters start labeling pets as “seniors” at five years old, that can add up to a lot of happy years together. Get started by visiting bestfriends.org now to find a rescue or shelter near you.

See more of Ollie and his adventures at facebook.com/OlliePupBoxer, on Twitter @OlliePupBoxer and follow OlliePupBoxer on Instagram.

FEATURE

Come Fly With Me

WARM UP YOUR WINTER IN THE CARIBBEAN Nestled in the lush landscapes set upon one of the most picturesque islands in the Caribbean, Royalton Saint Lucia welcomes each guest on a vacation in upscale style and comfort. Discover modern facilities, warm staff and an exhilarating locale, rich with culture and world-class cuisine, which creates the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable All-In LuxuryÂŽ escape.

Designed for travelers of all ages, this modern resort features three distinct sections offering a family friendly vacation experience in the general resort, Diamond ClubTM for premium butler service as well as exclusive pool, beach and dining areas and Hideaway, an adults-only oasis.

YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 45

WHAT IS ALL- IN LUXURY: All-in Luxury® features include elegantly styled suites with a balcony of terrace in every room, world class reservation free dining and exceptional amenities within this luxury property. Royalton St Lucia’s All-in Luxury® concept includes 352 modern luxury rooms and suites boasting twenty-four-hour room service with Royalton signature DreamBedTM with high thread count sheets, All-In ConnectivityTM with free high-speed Wi-Fi resort wide for all your devices, in-room Bluetooth speakers, USB charging stations, and free calls to North America and most of Europe, the Royalton signature rain shower, satellite television with specialty channels, and Sports Event GuaranteeTM. The All-in Luxury® concept includes daily entertainment and nightly shows, non-motorized watersports, and a fitness center with modern equipment.

The resort includes unlimited reservation-free dining, premium drinks and handcrafted cocktails, non-motorized watersports, fitness center with modern equipment, and daily entertainment and nightly shows.

While on your All-in Luxury® vacation, enjoy the many included daily activities and nightly entertainment as well as non-motorized watersports such as snorkeling, kayaking and an introductory scuba diving lesson. Families will also appreciate the on-site splash park.

RELAX WITH FAMILY: Royalton St Lucia’s Kids Adventure Program includes the Clubhouse Kids Club where children ages four to twelve can enjoy innovative daily activities at the supervised kids’ clubs, featuring games, cartoons and a playground. The Hangout Teens Club offers teens ages thirteenseventeen, the opportunity to enjoy their own space in a lounge with video games, billiards, table tennis, and free Wi-Fi. MAKE IT A BUSINESS TRIP WITH PERKS: If you’re planning a business meeting or incentive trip, their professional event planners will be on-site to ensure no detail is overlooked. Air-conditioned conference and banquet facilities can comfortably host meetings, events, private dinners and functions.

IT’S TIME TO SPA: The Royal Spa is the ideal place to relax and rejuvenate while on vacation. Spend a few hours getting pampered with their comprehensive spa packages or drop in for a thirty-minute express treatment. The Royal Spa has a hydrotherapy circuit and a full range of massage, body and facial treatments. The beauty center offers luxurious manicure, pedicure, waxing, make-up and hairstyling services.

Or get ROYALTON FIT TM Royalton Saint Lucia enhanced their All-in Luxury® concept to include Royalton FitTM, a program that brings guests a variety of fitness and wellness classes taught by professional and certified instructors. Royalton FitTM offers nearly 120 classes a week, through fitness programming tailored to all levels of fitness, guests can look forward to classes that include Aqua Fit to Cross Fit, TRX, cycling, yoga, Zumba and so much more. Royalton Saint Lucia offers guests a host of inclusions to support wellness that ranges from a dedicated gluten-free area in the buffet, to smoothie stations and in-suite wellness features.

LUXURY DINING: Treat your taste buds to a flavor sensation as you feast on eclectic cuisines from around the world at their eight restaurants.

HIDEAWAY AT ROYALTON ST LUCIA: Discover Hideaway at Royalton Saint Lucia, the perfect place to open yourself up to an elegant adults only vacation experience. Savor gourmet cuisine, artfully prepared cocktails and enjoy the impossibly blue ocean, doing as much or as little as you’d like. Delight in the freedom of spontaneity with the perfect mix of daily water sports, fitness programs, yoga on the beach, or mixology classes beside the pool and unforgettable evenings of sunset champagne toasts, worldclass dining and incomparable entertainment. All-in Luxury® features 166 elegantly styled luxury suites, world class reservation free dining and exceptional amenities within this luxury property.

Unwind in your preferential accommodations where suites feature aromatherapy to greet you each time you enter, a spacious Jacuzzi tub for two to enjoy, Royalton premium DreamBedTM, high thread count sheets, twenty-fourhour room service and a selection of in room premium spirits. Hideaway guests are promised elevated privacy and a premium butler service plus extras which include afternoon hors d’oeuvres, exclusive á la carte restaurants, and personalized beach bags.

Some luxury additions offered exclusively to all Hideaway guests are personalized check-in and check-out, in room aromatherapy, custom hideaway beach bag, upgraded room service menu, afternoon hors d’oeuvres served poolside and exclusive bar and beach area with waiter service. While relaxing poolside or by the beach, enjoy complimentary five-minute shiatsu/thai massages, fresh towels and water spritzers.

Exclusive to Hideaway is the Dorado Seafood & Grill, where you can watch the sun rise over the ocean in the morning or relax in the cool evening ambiance of this elevated beach- front restaurant. Specialties are fresh smoothies, light ceviche and garden salads with fresh seafood and grilled items.

ROYALTON WEDDINGS: Royalton Saint Lucia offers multiple wedding packages each tailored for a couples’ taste and budget. Royalton offers six wedding packages: Free, Love, Dream, Paradise, Just the Two of Us and a Vow Renewal.

The Royalton Wedding team is experienced in coordinating religious ceremonies from planning to execution. Royalton offers special

Hindu ceremonies, Jewish ceremonies and Catholic ceremonies. A couple can add different experiences to truly customize their special day. Additions such as the Bridal Party Spa Experience, Grooms Experience, Romantic Dinner for Two, Late Night Food Station, Welcome Party Experience and Candy Bar Experience are available at an additional cost.

Royalton Luxury Resorts also offers a romantic honeymoon package for any couple that has been married within the past six months. This package includes a VIP welcome, newlywed room upgrade, couples’ massage and private dinner with a butler.

SAFETY ASSURED VACATIONS: Advanced sanitation measures, new physical distancing guidelines, a 360º Clean Approach and an International Safety Assurance Team are in place to prioritize well-being across every area and touchpoint of Royalton Luxury Resort properties. To help protect both guests and staff members, the new and enhanced Safety-Assured Vacations protocols will adhere to the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the local and national Ministries of Health.

BEAUTIFUL ST LUCIA: Saint Lucia is a sovereign island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean, boasting beautiful Caribbean blue waters and a lush inland featuring towering mountains, rain forests, and fertile valleys, filled with acres of banana plantations. The Pitons—twin peaks that soar high above the ocean floor on the southwest coast; distinguish St. Lucia from the other islands in the Caribbean.

Saint Lucia has a relatively large and lucrative tourism industry, attracting an estimated 350,000 visitors per year.

Epitomizing modern elegance, award-winning Royalton Luxury Resorts offer All-In Luxury® vacations in some of the world’s most popular tropical destinations including Antigua, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia, Mexico, Grenada and Cuba. Boasting an array of world-class all-inclusive features including the premium, handcrafted DreamBed™, unlimited reservation-free luxury dining, a Sports Event Guarantee™ and more. Many of the resorts cater equally to families and couples alike, with industry-leading supervised kids and teen activities offered at no additional cost combined with family-friendly accommodation and dining options

48 NOVEMBER 2020

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BUSINESS

It’s Your Business

BY MISTY WESTEBBE

I have always loved photography, but more than that, I love telling each family’s story. I love all the different stages that I get to photograph. My husband and I own Misty Westebbe Photography in Franklin, and when you bring your newborn to me to photograph the tiniest moments, I get to share in your joy! Then as your family grows, I get to see the new additions and the changes of each and every one as they grow. Family shoots through these changes are so much fun!

To me, there are no hard stages, only new adventures! Then when they are graduating and their life is taking such a leap, I feel the emotion of change with you, as I capture them and who they are as a young adult.

I am a mother of two and grandmother of seven. This has truly helped me along the photography journey to know the stages that parents and children are passing through. Each day is a blessing and an opportunity for a beautiful memory, we just have to embrace it as a gift from God! Through this journey of a love for photography, I continue to learn new techniques through classes and workshops. In 2019, I received my CPP certification from PPA. I love that as I do what I love, I can strive to learn and grow each and every day.

I grew up in Southwest Arkansas. Certainly, just a country girl at heart. There has always been a camera in my hand! I love all of Gods beauty, from amazing scenery to the simplest falling down barn, it is 50 NOVEMBER 2020

all about finding the beauty in everything and striving to replicate what the eye sees with my camera. This has now been a full-time business for fifteen years and I have to say I love every moment!

It’s so special to have our entire property be tons of possible backdrops for photos. What we thought was going to be a treehouse turned into the Nashville music cabin. Our ‘57 Chevy was our first prop that we purchased for the property here five years ago, and it’s been so used for all ages! The inspiration for our Hobbit house was our trip to Greece where we stayed in cave dwellings on the isle of Crete and it inspired us to come home and dig into our hillside and build a cave dwelling.

It’s really sweet at Christmas time.

As I walk through the property and I bring families through, it’s a very sweet moment. Everything around the property is reclaimed and we have so much fun taking things that are old and being thrown away and creating something new and fabulous out of them. In fact, we have so many that there are more than I could ever do in one shoot, so you will have to come multiple times to capture it all. Give me a call to book your session today!

Misty Westebbe CPP 615.281.0612 misty@mistywestebbephotography.com mistywestebbephotography.com

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FEATURE

Your Community Partner

Your Community Partner PRESENTED BY WILLIAMSON, INC

Every year, YOUR Williamson is proud to feature as our Community Partner – Williamson Inc. – the Chamber of Commerce of Williamson County. Every year, we take a look back at the economic status and activities in our community via the chamber and its many programs, events and initiatives. In the year of a pandemic, as is the case in every community across the country, the business and economic climate has been difficult in many ways. We are fortunate to live in Williamson County, Tennessee, where the status of business is STILL, very positive and encouraging. And thanks to the chamber’s ability to pivot and continue to work through the pandemic parameters for doing business, networking, holding events and in general operate as normal, they have had a very successful and eventful year.

Here is what has been happening and what continues to happen at Williamson Inc. – if you are not already – become a member! Join the chamber and be a part of the Best of Business in Williamson County!

Williamson, Inc. is proving that socially distanced doesn’t mean socially disconnected!

Throughout the pandemic, Williamson, Inc. has demonstrated their dedication to the community in many ways. Since the first local case of COVID-19 was confirmed, the organization has hosted ninety-one events in 150 business days. These events ranged from business resources and mental health to networking and inclusion. Twenty-five businesses have celebrated their opening or expansion with Williamson, Inc., with all twenty-five ribbon cuttings offering virtual attendance and twenty of those being held in person and open to the public. “Connections build relationships and relationships lead to opportunity. We are an indispensable resource for the Williamson County business community because we have found ways to continue to allow our members to connect,” says Matt Largen, CEO Williamson Inc.

Williamson, INC. Events WHAT WILLIAMSON, INC. EVENTS SHOULD YOU BE ATTENDING? THE ORGANIZATION HAS A VARIETY OF MONTHLY RECURRING EVENTS THAT ARE AN ESSENTIAL ADDITION TO YOUR OUTLOOK CALENDAR.

First Friday: Business professionals looking for a catalyst to a successful month, First Friday is what Williamson, Inc. refers to as “Your Small Business Toolkit” and is free and open to the public. This event is the first Friday of every month and speakers are hand chosen to discuss relative topics for small business owners. Free and open to the public.

Policy Talks The last Friday of every month is celebrated at 7:30AM with local elected officials. The conversation is moderated and questions from the audience are encouraged. This event is streamed on WCTV, WCTV Youtube channel and WAKM 950. Free and open to the public.

Member Connect!: Leads Exchange Everyone is wondering how to maintain and create connections since handshakes were replaced with “Your mic is muted”. This biweekly opportunity is offered virtually or in person to accommodate anyone’s comfort level. Always reaching capacity, this event hosts an intimate group of 25-30 business professionals wanting to build their network. This event is a perk of your Williamson, Inc. membership.

Women in Business: This program was built not only to connect female professionals but to educate and engage them in the

community. Williamson, Inc.’s Women in Business program hosts a yearly half day summit and offers multiple speaker and networking events throughout the year. These events are open to the public and free or discounted as a perk of your Williamson, Inc. membership.

Young Professionals: Although everyone is welcome to attend YP events, most attendees range from 26-40 years old. Throughout the pandemic, Williamson, Inc. young professionals have been ordering takeout from local restaurants and participating in virtual meetings, meeting in person while practicing social distancing and hearing from local speakers.

Williamson 101: This open house and networking event offers an intimate networking opportunity and valuable information on getting involved in the community. This event is free and open to the public.

Worried about missing an event? Have Williamson, Inc.’s newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday by subscribing at bit.ly/ WilliamsonWeekly or visit williamsonchamber.com/events.

Did you miss Williamson, Inc.’s Update Williamson event or other events? Check out our YouTube channel for archived content.

(615) 794-7415 • TENNESSEEVALLEYHOMES.COM

FEATURE

Your Community Partner

An Interview with President Matt Largen

BY SHELLY ROBERTSON BIRDSONG

Every year for our annual Business in Williamson County special feature, we take time to speak with the Williamson, Inc. President Matt Largen about the status of business and economic development in our county and region and what impact the Chamber of Commerce has had in growth and success in the previous year. 2020 has obviously been a year like no other in recent memory due to COVID 19. The impact of that not just from an economic standpoint but also from a social and community one, is huge. Let’s hear what Matt had to say about the year that was 2020 in Williamson County.

YW: Before COVID – what was the main focus and goal for 2020 for Williamson Inc.? How and when did you as a leader and your staff, determine the need to pivot into something different in order to address COVID? ML: Our number one goal for our members has always been, and will always be, to provide relevant information, content and connections that help their company and organization prosper. We were created through unification of multiple chambers of commerce over eight years ago, to better serve the Williamson County business community, so service is in our DNA.

ML: From an economic development standpoint, the biggest success was the continued growth of companies likes Mars Petcare and Tractor Supply Company that expanded employment during COVID. In addition, 2020 saw the official move of Mitsubishi Motors to their new North American headquarters at McEwen Northside in Cool Springs. We are now one of four counties in America with at least two automotive headquarters. Thnks, a tech company from Manhattan, moved their headquarters to downtown Franklin in 2020, continuing our focus on attracting technology companies with high-paying jobs for our residents.

YW: Despite obvious challenges, there does seem to be a lot of new businesses opening in WC. What do you attribute that continued energy to and can it sustain if the pandemic and its effect on business continues long term? What exciting business news can you report as far as why it’s STILL a great idea to open a business, relocate a business and be in business in WC? ML: We are very fortunate, and we are very resilient.

What makes our economy truly resilient is the leadership of our county and the decisions made over thirty years ago that are paying off today. Over thirty years ago our county leadership, including county Mayor Rogers Anderson, decided to build our economy on the strength of our schools and create what would become a magnet for corporate headquarter investment along the I-65 corridor. Those corporate headquarters brought high-paying careers to our community, and those high-paying careers have created an explosion of opportunity for our small business community.

We began adjusting our programming the day the first case was announced in Williamson County on March 5th. Our economic development team launched a COVID-19 Response Google Document which created an open forum for business leaders to discuss response and containment efforts. That same day, we held our first conference call with local human MATT LARGEN resources managers from thirty-five Williamson County-based companies. The call was an opportunity The unemployment rate in Williamson County is for our largest employers to allow to learn from each other in what 3.6%, the second lowest in the region and nearly three percentage became a rapidly changing environment. Our team also worked with points better than the statewide unemployment rate. The latest job local mayors to write the first reopening guidelines and advocated growth numbers available show that Williamson County had the 12th for businesses to remain open if they could meet certain public safety highest job growth rate in the nation at 2.6%. Our most recent sales criteria. Every business is essential to the business owner and their tax collection number show a year-over-year increase, even through customers, so we worked to redefine what it meant to be an essential COVID-19. Our average home price has increased since COVID-19 business and make sure all businesses could reopen if they met the and housing inventory is down. Most telling, Williamson, Inc. cut guidelines. Finally, we realized quickly that our small businesses the ribbon on fifteen new businesses in October with ten ribbon needed a lifeline to keep their businesses open. We focused our efforts cuttings scheduled for November and December. Of the Inc. 5000 on helping companies apply for the Paycheck Protection Program fastest growing businesses winners in the past five years in Tennessee, (PPP), which provided short-term funding to keep people employed.

25-30% are from Williamson County, which accounts for only 3% We transitioned one of our team members to a PPP caseworker and of the state’s population. As the nature of work continues to evolve, hosted multiple virtual events providing our businesses direct access Williamson County is poised to take advantage of opportunity, to the SBA, the government agency responsible for managing the especially as it relates to work from home. In fact, Williamson program.

County ranks 7th on National Association of Realtors list of top “Work from Home” counties. People continue to take a risk on their YW: What has been the biggest challenge/biggest success for business and our community. Our economic momentum is clear.

Williamson, Inc. and the Economic Development Division, in 2020?

Williamson County remains a great place to invest.

Something beyond COVID?

FEATURE

Your Community Partner Continued

SOCIAL

Update Williamson

Photography submitted YW: How can members, old, new and prospective, get the most bang for their buck out of joining Williamson, Inc.? Why is it still important to join now even when in person events and the ever important aspect of membership – networking - is not currently possible?

ML: During COVID-19 we became an indispensable resource for our members and the community. Moving forward, we continue to serve at an individual member-to-member level by interpreting the current business landscape and providing a path forward for our members.

We have moved some of our programming to virtual events to provide opportunities to connect, and continue our smaller, in-person events, like ribbon cuttings and member connect leads exchanges, with safety measures in place.

The biggest reason it is important to join Williamson, Inc. now is the care and attention our team provides to every single member. I am incredibly proud of our team through COVID. They live up to the core values we set for ourselves and our high standards collectively and individually every single day. Their commitment to each other, our organization, and our community is something special, and it is manifested by the way they treat our business community.

YW: Tell us about Williamson Inc.’s new office. What does this mean both as space for your staff to work in but as a resource for the community at large?

ML: We are excited to have a much larger conference room for the community to rent, likely starting in December, with safety measures in place. We specifically designed and built a conference room that nearly doubles capacity from our old space so more community organizations and businesses can take advantage of the space. The conference room will also allow us to hold hybrid virtual and inperson events beginning in January. We are in one of the newest Williamson County mixed-used developments, McEwen Northside.

YW: As the head of the Chamber in Williamson County, what message do you want to share to members of the community and business owners?

ML: Please continue to show that we are a great community because we are a good community. Practice patience, extend kindness, and offer grace all of the time. One of my favorite quotes in the last few years I have heard is “when you examine or evaluate an issue or situation, evaluate it through your lens last.” Put yourself in the shoes of others every chance you get and make civility a priority every time you are online. To me, civility is the culmination of small, individual actions throughout the day directed towards someone else or some other group. Civility is not a by-product of culture; civility is something we decide to do every time we have a chance to build a bridge instead of burning one to the ground.

Our Schools, Our Economy, Our County was held on October 20th, at the Field at Franklin. There was something for everyone at Williamson, Inc.’s first large-scale in-person event since COVID-19. The interactive event was designed to highlight how the Williamson County economy is resilient and uniquely suited to prosper in a post-COVID economy. Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson provided his annual State of the County address and Williamson County Schools Superintendent Jason Golden and Franklin Special School District Superintendent David Snowden provided their yearly State of the Schools address. Additional speakers included: Hal Lawton, President and CEO, Tractor Supply Company; Keith Bulluck, Owner, Just Love Coffee Café- McEwen; Brendan Kamm, Co-Founder and CEO, Thnks; Chris Cochran, CEO, Freightwise, Inc.; Lacy Beasley, President, Retail Strategies; Misty Woodford, Williamson County Association of Realtors (WCAR); Site Location Consultant Shannon O’Hare, Senior Managing Director, Cushman and Wakefield; Tom Atema, Owner and CEO, AP Live and Bob Rolfe, Commissioner of the State of Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. Attendees were able to purchase refreshments from local food trucks including Franklin Bakehouse, Cracker Barrel and Juice Bar. Attendees brought lawn chairs and sat outside of their cars for the duration of the event.

COMMUNITY

I Am Williamson County

WILLIAMSON MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION HONORS RALPH DRURY FOR SERVICE ON BOARD The Williamson Medical Center (WMC) Foundation recently honored local businessman, Ralph Drury for his twelve years of service on its Board of Directors. Drury was presented with a commemorative champagne chiller as a thank you for his time on the board and for funds raised through his annual charity event, A Vintage Affair.

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than $700,000 for the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at WMC and can be credited for funding more than 95% of NICU equipment at the hospital.

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ALTER SPRIN

Get out and

“We are profoundly grateful for the contributions Ralph has made since joining the WMC Foundation Board in 2008,” said Steve Smith, foundation director. “Ralph has been instrumental in ensuring world class healthcare offerings remain available in Williamson County, and he has had an everlasting impact on WMC both through his input as a board member and support as a donor.”

Drury is also a founding member of Mercy Children’s Clinic, Franklin City Club and The Hundred Club of Franklin. He is a member of Williamson, Inc., and former board member of organizations including the Downtown Franklin Association and Heritage Foundation. He will retire from the WMC Foundation Board at the end of the 2020 term.

In 2001, Drury founded A Vintage Affair, a nonprofit organization that leverages boutique wine and spirits to raise funds for local charities in Williamson County. A Vintage Affair has provided more

For additional information on the WMC Foundation, visit williamsonmedicalcenter.org/foundation-home-page.

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Be a part of Williamson County’s COMMUNITY—SOCIAL—BUSINESS—LIFESTYLE publication and online resource.

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Celebrates 9 Years!

A DISTINCTIVELY SOUTHERN PLACE

DI GRAS ALL

BLACK TIE AFFAIR

BRIGHTSTONE

SONGWRITERS NIGHT

HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

WILLIAMSON INC.

MUSIC & MEMORIES

AMERICAN GIRL DOLL FASHION SHOW

WINE DOWN MAIN STREET

KINGS’ CHAPEL TOUR OF HOMES

TURKEY TROT

STUDIO TENN GALA

GOLF CLASSIC

TAKE THE CAKE

A DISTINCTIVELY SOUTHERN PLACE DECEMBER 2015

A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE WINTER 2015

A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

15 ning uide

MARCH 2015

COMMUNITY PARTNERS WITH A HEART

A DISTINCTIVELY SOUTHERN PLACE

BLACK TIE AFFAIR

Go Red For Women

AUGUST 2015

MUSIC COUNTRY GRAND PRIX

EAT THE STREET

Celebrate Black History in Williamson County

GET REACQUAINTED WITH AN OLD FRIEND

2015

Bridal Guide

STABLES AND SILKS

CHUKKERS FOR CHARITY

Unveiling the new Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa

SERIOUSLY SEERSUCKER

TAG BY SWAG

HOLIDAY SPLENDOR

Fashion at the Belmont Mansion

A DISTINCTIVELY SOUTHERN PLACE OCTOBER 2015

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL

A DISTINCTIVELY SOUTHERN PLACE SUMMER 2015

HIGH SCHOOL PROM FASHION

RNATIVE NG BREAK

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Kindergarten Fashion

ST. PATRICK’S DAY DINNER With Miss Daisy

THE BOYS OF SUMMER

IN YOUR BACK YARD

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HEALTH& WELLNESS

The Sea Pines Resort

and Mrs. Claus

Your Guide to ALL THINGS HOLIDAY!

FABULOUS FALL!

Special Feature

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Philanthropy All Around Us G E N E R O S IT Y & G I V I N G I N W I L L I AM S O N C O U N T Y

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Total Eclipse, The Sight of A Lifetime

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Merry Christmas From our family to yours!

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Harpeth Square Project Comes to Fruition

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

Dating Your Spouse

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Be Wooed By Jason Wu

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404 Bridge Street | Franklin, Tennessee 37064 615.465.6046 | yourwilliamson.com

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LIFESTYLE

A Southern Gentleman Is...

….Always Thinking of Others!

Helping local nonprofits is a great way to support the causes that matter to you and impact your community. While many equate this with financial support, there are plenty of other ways you can help. Whether you’re an individual or an organization, you can significantly help nonprofits in the progress towards their goals. Winston Churchill once said; “From what we get we can make a living, what we give however, makes a life.” When we give our time and resources to something greater than ourselves, we have the power to change the lives of others and ourselves. The more we support the causes that matter to us, the better our communities can become. This month’s YourWilliamson magazine is bringing philanthropy and nonprofits to the forefront.

Each of us can do a little to help our local nonprofits without even opening our checkbooks!

Wondering where to start? Here’s a list of ten possibilities:

Nonprofit staff and volunteers pour hours and passion into their work. You’d be surprised how meaningful and heartfelt your story will be. Your experience might even become a powerful testimony that helps them spread the word about not only what they do, but why they do it.

doing similar work. A personal introduction removes barriers and makes collaboration more efficient and thus, cost-effective.

Similarly minded nonprofits often choose to co-brand an effort, events, fundraisers, etc.

cards for services. In many cases, these gifts are the ones that last long after the wrapping and bows are cleared away.

Do you know a blogger, podcaster, or other influencer whose topic relates to the organization’s cause? Your personal introduction could result in a guest post or other opportunity to multiply the organization’s efforts.

9. Think of an influencer in network who should 4. Give one of their products your about the organization as a gift this holiday season. know and make an introduction.

Many nonprofits have swag, products or gift 5.Volunteera few hours of your time and expertise.

Sure, there may be posted volunteer opportunities, but do you have a special skill or interest area that doesn’t quite fit? Let that organization know! Send a quick email to explain your idea and area of expertise. This is also a great way to fill those empty hours if you’re retired!

1. Follow them on Facebook, 6. Review the organization or Twitter, Instagram, YouTube its products on Yelp, Amazon, or Pinterest.

Your vote of confidence isn’t only social proof indie sites, etc. that the organization’s cause is meaningful.

By following the organization, you influence the organizations reach and visibility. To go the extra mile you can share and comment on their posts, or post yourself on social media about your experience with the organization.

2. Forward one of their emails to a friend to help build a new connection.

In nearly every conversation about a nonprofit, an “aha!” moment occurs.

Someone would say, “You know who you should meet?” These amazing connections unlock new possibilities. Next time you receive an email from your favorite organization, consider: Who in your circle needs to know about these resources or initiatives?

3. Email them a story about your experience with their offerings.

58 NOVEMBER 2020

BY TIM KEARNS

Well-placed reviews influence people at decision-making moments. Your review counts. If you write one, multiply your impact by cross posting it on a couple sites.

You could also use Etsy, which is an online marketplace focused on locally sourced items.

7. If you’re making purchases on Amazon, use Amazon Smile.

As many of us are spending less time in malls and more time ordering online consider Amazon Smile. At no cost to you, a portion of the revenue from your purchases goes directly to over one million potential nonprofits of your choice.

8. Make an introduction between people you know at two similarly minded nonprofits or companies.

Partnerships are powerful. Help your favorite nonprofits connect with others who are

10. Support the organization financially.

Remember, even small donations help. It’s easy to get into the mindset that only large dollar amounts make a difference. However, keep in mind that $10,000 equals only 400 gifts of $25, or 100 gifts of $100. Together, we can do much more than most of us as individuals can do on our own.

There are many great nonprofits in and around Williamson County. This year has not been kind to most nonprofits who are dependent on in-person events, fundraisers, attendance and donations. Those nonprofits need the revenue to make improvements, pay employees, make acquisitions and help others.

As venues and efforts begin to slowly open and try their best to return to some semblance of the “new normal” reach out and support them financially or physically.

During this time of year with the Thanksgiving holiday upon us, I want to focus on gratitude for the life I have and the people who are in it. I hope all the southern gentlemen out there and their families have a blessed and safe holiday season!

TIM KEARNS A Southern Gentleman Is...

Tim is a Williamson County business owner who lives, works and plays all within the county limits. He has been a triathlete for thirty-three years and married to Bess Kearns for thirty-two years. All of his commitments are for the long haul!

BUSINESS

We’re In The Money

Thank You! We’ve almost made it through 2020! Who could have imagined what a strange year this would be? Election year, global pandemic.

This year has been marked with change and many firsts for our country and community. As we near the holiday season it’s a good reminder to focus on what we are grateful for. On behalf of FirstBank, we want to say a great big heartfelt thank you to the community.

• To our veterans – Thank you for your service. This is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have so selflessly served our country. We applaud your willingness to serve and appreciate you every day!

• To our customers – Franklin Synergy Bank, my home for the last nine years, recently completed its merger with FirstBank. We can’t promise perfection, but I can guarantee we will do everything we can to make sure you are taken care of. Change can be hard for everyone. But I am proud to say that Franklin Synergy Bank was a local bank and our partnership with FirstBank still fits that community banking model. We are empowered to make local decisions because the FirstBank leadership recognizes that we know our community best. You will continue to see the same faces when you stop into any branch. Thank you for sticking with us through this transition.

• To our Family and Friends in Williamson County and surrounding areas – This year has been marked by divisiveness at times. Differing opinions are what makes life interesting, but my goal is always respect and tolerance of different views. Now is the time to focus on something that we can all agree brings a positive spirit to the world.

I am involved in several philanthropic organizations in the County.

One very dear to my heart is Youth Leadership Franklin. Youth Leadership Franklin is a leadership program designed to help future leaders cultivate their leadership skills and promote an increased awareness of the Franklin community. The program is open to all high school sophomores and juniors living in or attending school in Williamson County. While the program has changed for 2020 due to COVID-19, we will be back in force next year to help further the youth in our community. There are so many great organizations to support. I challenge each of you to pick an organization that means something to you this season and give back what you can – your time, a monetary donation. In this trying year, it is a win-win for both you and the organization.

Let’s start this holiday season focused on how we can help others.

With that in mind, please reach out to me for any of your financial needs or if you have an interest in learning more about Youth Leadership Franklin.

WILL POWELL Williamson County President | FirstBank

Mr. Powell is a Franklin, Tennessee native and a graduate of Battle Ground Academy and the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi. He can be reached at will.powell@ firstbankonline or 615.236.8315.

Brentwood | Berry Farms | Cool Springs | Carothers Downtown Franklin | Fairview YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 59 Nolensville | Spring Hill | Westhaven

FEATURE

Days Gone By

156 th Anniversary of the Battle of Franklin STORY AND PHOTOS COURTESY OF BATTLE OF FRANKLIN TRUST, AMERICAN BATTLEFIELD TRUST

In honor of the 156th anniversary of the Battle of Franklin, our Days Gone By column features a retelling of the infamous battle that made our town historic. For those who know this history and for those who do not, it is always so profound to read about those few hours that took place right here in our backyard. Make sure to come out to enjoy the Illumination and ceremony to mark the anniversary as well as special guided tours of the battlefield, Carnton and the Carter House. On November 30th, The Battle of Franklin Trust will display luminaries at dusk to honor the casualties from the Battle of Franklin 156 years ago. Specialized battlefield tours will be held at Carter House on the 30th at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

The Illumination ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. at Carnton. Brief remarks will be delivered and the names of some of the casualties will be read aloud. This year, the luminaries will be placed inside Carnton and Carter House. Carnton 60 NOVEMBER 2020

and Carter House will be open to the public for free walk-through tours from 5-7 p.m. The Illumination ceremony is free and open to the public. To learn more about the tours and for more information and tickets sales, go to boft.org

Schofield, was sent from Georgia by Major General William Sherman to middle Tennessee with orders to slow Hood’s advance.

Meanwhile, Major General George Henry Thomas organized defenses just outside Nashville.

THE BATTLE OF FRANKLIN November marks the anniversary of the Battle of Franklin, one of the last great battles of the American Civil War. Fate and circumstance placed the formerly small town of Franklin in the path of two great armies in late November 1864. General John Bell Hood, at the head of the Confederate Army of Tennessee, which numbered just over 30,000, marched his army toward Nashville after having lost Atlanta in September. His hope was to retake the lost Tennessee capital, which had fallen to U. S. troops in early 1862. A Federal army, commanded by Major General John M.

Schofield’s small army of about 27,000 was nearly flanked, or cut off, near Spring Hill, on the late afternoon and early evening of November 29, 1864. The Confederate forces missed a tremendous opportunity to deal Schofield a serious blow. Spring Hill ultimately set the stage for Franklin, and it haunted the memories of many for decades.

Federal troops began to arrive on the outskirts of Franklin around dawn on November 30, 1864. Because the two bridges spanning the Harpeth River north of town were impassable, engineers hurriedly worked to prepare the

bridges for a withdrawal. Meanwhile, the blue-clad soldiers began to throw up earthworks south of town. Around the same time, after discovering the enemy had slipped away, the Confederates initiated a hurried march north from Spring Hill in pursuit of the Federal army.

Federal Brigadier General Jacob D. Cox set up his headquarters at the Carter House after waking the family around sunup. By noon, the bulk of the Federal army was organized into a defensive line which spanned just over a mile in length and was anchored on the Harpeth River on both flanks. At 2 p.m., orders were issued calling for a withdrawal to Nashville to begin at 6 p.m. The Confederate troops began to arrive on the southern edge of the Harpeth Valley, about two miles from Franklin, around 1 p.m. Within the hour, Hood decided to launch a frontal assault, believing that Franklin was his last opportunity to destroy Schofield before the Federal army got to Nashville.

The day itself was beautiful. The skies were clear that afternoon and the temperature pushed to nearly sixty degrees. But at 4 p.m. everything changed, as roughly 20,000 Confederate soldiers began their advance toward a similar number of Federal troops.

Artillery fire soon began shrieking toward the Southern line and gaping holes were ripped into the gray and butternut ranks. The Confederate attack quickly morphed into a headlong charge. The two armies came into close contact shortly before 4:30 p.m. and the fighting became brutal and fiendishly savage. Waves of Southern troops were shot down, even as some of them ruptured the center of the Federal line. Scores of Federal troops were shot and clubbed as howling and jubilant Southerners plowed forward. Casualties were severe and mounted quickly. The sun set soon after the battle reached its apex and it was completely dark only a few minutes after 5 p.m., except for the flashing of the guns.

By that time, a frantic yet valiant stand by some newly recruited Federal troops, and a counterassault by a brigade of Federal veterans, had stemmed the Confederate breakthrough. For those Southern troops who had pushed deep into the Federal defensive perimeter and then suddenly found their opportunity ripped away, the nighttime hours were ones filled with bloodshed and untold agonies. A Mississippian recalled how the Federal troops shot his comrades down like “animals trapped in a pen.” In places the bodies of the dead were heaped upon

one other three and four deep. Some of the wounded were pinned beneath the dead and others cried and moaned and prayed throughout the long night.

During those short but awful hours, as the battle raged and swirled around them, the Carter family took refuge in their basement.

Some two dozen men, women and children, including a neighboring family who lived just across the Columbia pike, waited as the horrors of war engulfed them.

At Carnton, wounded Confederate soldiers were arriving by the dozens not long after the battle began. It soon became the largest field hospital in the area and surgeons were set up in almost every room of the house and some worked outside. By the middle of the night some 300 wounded filled the home, with hundreds more on the grounds.

Around midnight the Federal army began to withdraw from the smoldering and gruesome battlefield. Left behind was a small town and a battered Confederate army. Altogether, some 10,000 American soldiers became casualties at Franklin and about three-fourths of that number were Confederates. Six Confederate generals were counted among those killed or mortally wounded. Some 2,300 men died at Franklin, about 7,000 were wounded, and roughly 1,000 were taken prisoner. When recollecting the battle years later one soldier said simply, “It was as if the devil had full possession of the earth.”

In the decades after the war veterans from both sides, some congressmen, and even a few Franklin locals made genuine efforts to establish a national or state park so as to commemorate the terrible conflict. Alas, it was not to be. Although, some two dozen such bills were introduced into Congress, only to die in sub-committees.

Over time the story of Franklin, like others, was lost. In fact, what happened at Franklin is not all that dissimilar to what happened to the battlefields outside Atlanta and Nashville. But what has happened in Franklin over the last several years is truly unique. Over 200 acres of a battlefield that most considered “lost” forever has been saved and reclaimed. Nearly $15 million has been spent to save this hallowed ground from the ravages of time.

To learn more about the Battle of Franklin, or to visit local historic sites- Carnton and The Carter House, go to boft.org.

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Your Kids

WINTER HOURS FAMILY FUN WITH MINDY SPRADLIN

I’m not sure about you, but in a family of two adults and four kids, the months of November and December are usually NUTS for us! Parties, gift exchanges, performances, and activity after activity often dominate our schedules. It’s sometimes beautiful chaos, and sometimes it’s just plain chaos.

More than once I’ve found myself feeling stressed and worn out in the midst of what should be the season of gratitude and glory.

This year, with many frustrating COVID-19 restrictions and precautions in place, I believe we have a unique opportunity set up for us. It’s an opportunity I was initially hesitant to embrace, but one I now believe will be a great gift.

For many years, my mom has taught me to ask myself one simple question when disappointment would strike, or things wouldn’t go as planned. “What does this make possible?” she would say.

Those are hard words to hear in times of frustration, hurt and defeat. Often times, I’d have to set her question to the side and allow myself to process through my emotions before I could pick it up and think on it. But time and time again, it has proven to be a question that allows me to get out of my own way, think bigger and broader, and grab a hold of opportunities I would have otherwise completely missed.

I believe that very question, “What does this make possible?” is begging to be answered right now as we step into the uncharted waters of navigating a holiday season potentially filled with canceled plans, disappointment and a fairly empty calendar. If we allow ourselves to sit with the question for a bit of time and dare to even answer it, I think we’ll find we have a beautifully wrapped gift waiting for us to open: The gift of simplicity and connectedness with our family, specifically our children.

We have the opportunity to trade in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, even for just this year, and replace it with intentional, meaningful time and togetherness with our families. I encourage you, as I am encouraging myself, to slow down, listen to your intuition and ask what your family needs this holiday season.

Are there new memories or traditions you can create with your children this year? Are there old ones you can build on? What has frantic-ness robbed you of in the past that you can reclaim this year?

Here are a few ideas to get your minds moving: 1. Head to a local bookstore such Landmark Books, Bound Booksellers or even Barnes and Noble. Let each child, toddler or teen, pick out a Christmas book. Read them aloud together in the coming weeks.

62 NOVEMBER 2020

2. Look up a recipe for chocolate crinkles, bake them together, and enjoy!

3. Make or prepare holiday cards and contact a local nursing home about dropping them off for residents. Many elderly people are alone this year and would greatly enjoy a sweet note of love.

4. Make a Christmas movie bucket list of

10+ movies. Have no guilt about snuggling up on the couch with those you love most and watching as many movies as you can.

5. Simply just BE with one another, fully present and fully connected.

As the anticipation and excitement of this special season begins to build, I’m unsure of how it will all unfold. How will this year be the same as years past? How will it be different? Just as others have said, “the only thing certain right now is uncertainty.” And truer words were never spoken. But when disappointment and sadness creep in at the first sign of things not panning out as I had hoped, I’m going to remember my mom’s words, “What does this make possible?”, and I hope you will too.

MINDY HYATT SPRADLIN Mindy Hyatt Spradlin is a native of Williamson County, a mom of four, and an outspoken advocate for children. She is an entrepreneur, owning and running Little Sprouts Upscale Consignment Sale, as well as a top leader with doTERRA Essential Oils.

Order your Thanksgiving centerpieces today!

615.591.7990 | alwaysinbloominc.com 227 Franklin Road | Franklin, TN 37064

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Your Education

Effective, Efficient, Evidence-Based Education DIRECT INSTRUCTION AT THALES ACADEMY

BY RACHAEL BRADLEY, ADMINISTRATOR, THALES ACADEMY FRANKLIN

Last spring, in the middle of the pandemic, I packed up my family and moved from North Carolina to Tennessee to help open a new school in Williamson County–Thales Academy Franklin. Thales Academy is a college preparatory network of K-12 independent schools based in North Carolina, and Thales Academy Franklin is Thales Academy’s tenth campus, and its first campus in Tennessee. Thales Academy works hard to provide the highest quality education possible for our students. At the K-5 level, we achieve this by using Direct Instruction (DI), a fastpaced, highly structured teaching methodology originally developed in the 1960s by an individual named Siegfried Engelmann. Direct Instruction is designed to maximize student learning for every child and now boasts over fifty years of positive research.

Direct Instruction’s design allows children to be engaged, on task, and truly enjoying the learning process, and it is a model that produces impressive educational progress and happy, fulfilled students. When I first began teaching over fifteen years ago, I often became frustrated when I observed students struggling due to a lack of structured, consistent, proven curriculum. I was quickly sold after I witnessed the mastery and confidence students achieved with Direct Instruction. Listening to a room full of kindergartners reading within a handful of months, solidified my belief in and passion for Direct Instruction, and I continue to be impressed seeing math concepts internalized and expanded upon with actual understanding. Students learn logical facts that serve as real, foundational building blocks, broadening their knowledge over time rather than simply cramming and soon forgetting.

I also appreciate that Direct Instruction’s structure allows Thales Academy teachers to meet students where they are in the learning process. Students are skill-grouped according to their baseline ability level, but we continually assess progress and shift students to other groups as needed. Students may accelerate at any time, if it is so indicated by classroom progress and performance, which allows for students who excel in Math or Reading to be placed appropriately, thereby 64 NOVEMBER 2020

also reducing boredom and frustration in the classroom. Similarly, students who may need extra help are placed in a group of others at the same skill level, ensuring every student gets exactly the type of support they need. Direct Instruction is data-driven and mastery-based, which ensures no students are “falling through the cracks,” and regardless of level, the pace is engaging, every lesson includes review of old material, and new concepts are introduced in a way that creates logical bridges and ensures retention. I especially love the sense of success Direct Instruction creates for students. DI’s consistency and structure build students’ self-esteem and inner confidence in their ability to learn as well as a joy for learning. These positive intangibles serve as critical foundations in students’ educational journeys, paving the way for them to be self-assured, critical thinkers who are independent, self-motivated, and set up for long-term success.

At Thales Academy, we work to create lifelong learners. Our mission is to provide the highest quality education at the most affordable price to as many students as we are able to serve. Direct Instruction and its efficiency and effectiveness serve as a bedrock in the foundation of success for our students.

Ancient philosopher, Plutarch, noted: “The correct analogy for the mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting.” We are proud to use Direct Instruction at Thales Academy because we have found that its ability to create lasting sparks is unrivaled, and when done well, it is a truly transformational tool in education. For more information on Thales Academy visit: thalesacademy.org.

RACHAEL BRADLEY Administrator of Thales Academy Franklin Rachael Bradley is Administrator of Thales Academy Franklin. She brings over eighteen years of early childhood education experience and many years of firsthand Direct Instruction practice to Thales. She, her husband, and their son are excited to be a part of the Williamson County community.

COMMUNITY

News from the School

FOR MORE NEWS AND INFORMATION ON OUR LOCAL SCHOOL SYSTEMS – GO TO WCS.ORG, FSSD.ORG AND BATTLEGROUNDACADEMY.ORG BGA KINDERGARTNERS PRESENT ARTWORK TO DOWNTOWN FRANKLIN ASSOCIATION In October, the BGA Lower School kindergarten classes presented orange artwork and downtown Franklin stories and illustrations to be displayed in downtown merchants’ storefronts in support of “Paint the Town Orange.” Thirty students visited downtown Franklin’s iconic Pumpkin Tree to donate their artwork to Heritage Foundation’s Downtown Franklin Association. The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, TN, and its division the Downtown Franklin Association have partnered with Visit Franklin and City of Franklin to “Paint the Town Orange” this October in celebration of autumn in historic Franklin’s Main Street District. Franklin will be aglow all month long with shades of orange everywhere including the Heritage Foundation’s iconic “pumpkin tree,” familyfriendly fall photo backdrops and seasonal activations throughout downtown Franklin.

RAVENWOOD HIGH GIRLS SOCCER WINS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP The Ravenwood High girl’s soccer team is ending their season as state champions for the second time in a row. The Lady Raptors played against Franklin High for the TSSAA Class AAA title. The championship match went into overtime, and with the score still tied at 0-0, the game was decided by penalty kicks. Ravenwood High scored four of their penalty kicks, earning them the win. Last year was Ravenwood High’s first state championship. “The team this year is made up of such an incredible group of young women led by eight fantastic seniors,” said RHS head coach Jessica Mancini. “This has definitely been an interesting season, but they have continued to stay positive the entire time and were grateful for each and every game that we got to play. This group worked so hard and are more than deserving of winning the state championship this year. I could not be more proud of them and what they have accomplished.”

CLASS OF 2020

95 ACCEPTED

%

TO AT LEAST ONE OF THEIR TOP THREE COLLEGE CHOICES (85% accepted to their top choice)

WINSTEAD ELEMENTARY STUDENTS VOTE Students at Winstead Elementary learned about the voting process and participating in their own school-wide election. Fifth-grade student council members helped at polling sites by checking voter registration cards, passing out stickers and directing the voters where they needed to go. Two students represented the presidential candidates and made classroom visits to encourage voting and ask for support. “Our goal was to provide students an opportunity to see the real-life voting process in an election,” said WSES math coach Becky Bolden. “The students loved getting to participate in something that so closely resembled reality and were very proud to say that they voted. They especially loved getting a visit from Donald Trump and Joe Biden, who were portrayed by fifth grade student volunteers.”

Apply now for 2021-22 at

battl egroundacademy.org

EDUCATION ELEVATED

LIFESTYLE

Read Between the Lines

A TENNESSEE YANKEE:

FOOD, FACTS, FOLKLORE, HAINTS, AND THE HOUSE THAT LOVED ME

BY PAM LEWIS

Preservationist and historic register property owner and music industry veteran, Pam Lewis, shares her life and the restoration journey when she rescued the Harrison House (located off of Columbia Pike in historic Franklin), from development, within the pages of her premiere book A Tennessee Yankee.

In a humorous, personal account, the first-time author presents a potpourri of memoirs: Color and black and white photos, period and favorite recipes, historic accounts about the Civil War and specifically her adopted home as a Yankee in her beloved town of Franklin, Tennessee. Purchased in 1993, but built in 1826, it served as a spy headquarters, army field hospital in both 1862 and 1864, and most famously, was the command post for Confederate General, John Bell Hood.

A Tennessee Yankee is chocked full of sage advice, details, facts and recipes - all of them linked forever by her love for her community, for history, for good food and for an old house that she has lovingly guarded for many years now.

The book starts by giving an insight into how Pam Lewis came to be the guardian of Harrison House.

Then the recipes begin. Ever wonder what Stonewall Jackson’s men’s favorite was? It’s in here. Even her hometown hero, President Andrew Johnson, well a couple of his favorites are in here as well.

The Jefferson Davis Family favorite holiday fruitcake, everyone loves fruitcake, right? There are favorites of James Longstreet and even ole Abe Lincoln. This book is worth its weight in gold just for the recipes!

“I wanted to tell my story of how buying an old house can change and enrich life by opening up unimagined doors and opportunities.

There are countless books about the war, soldiers and military strategy by noted historians and well-respected academics. But I wanted to show another aspect of the war, my modern day experiences and the stories of families, townspeople and slaves who were so pivotally affected, as well as the enduring impact of that time period,” Lewis reveals.

But there is so much more...

Calling the completion of the book, “getting out of my comfort zone,” and part of “my bucket list,” she combed through countless letters, recipes, archives and a plethora of books. “It was important for me to complete this project before the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Franklin; and it was a joyful journey of discovery.”

Lewis, an active preservationist and fundraiser will be donating a portion of the proceeds from the book sales to various preservation causes.

Other sections include children’s games, schooling and books.

Another of her favorites is the section on Christmas customs and history. A book written in a home which saw so much suffering would not be complete without mourning customs of the Civil War. How about some home remedies? They are here too along with facts and more facts.

“I hope my little account will perhaps amuse, inform and encourage an interest in history and preservation. I’ve realized that we’ve lost so much already. It’s crucial we conserve, preserve and interpret our historic and natural resources. Over the last twenty years living here, it’s clear to me that I am just passing through as steward and the Harrison House, and its story, will be here long after I am gone. This is the legacy. It isn’t just bricks and mortar; it represents a crucial chapter in our shared history. Moreover, the home has become a healing sanctuary and treasured old friend.”

66 NOVEMBER 2020

Lewis shares her experiences of owning and living in a haunted house. She shares many of the happenings around the home during the war and the many records she has uncovered including journals mentioning the house. It would not be complete without a few facts about the Harrison’s who gave the home its name and owned the plantation surrounding it.

The book is currently available for purchase at Amazon.com, and can also be found at the following locations: Nashville - PLA Media, The Belmont Mansion, The 5 and Tenn (inside The Omni Hotel).

Franklin - The Carter House, Carnton, Landmark Books and The Lotz House.

SOCIAL

Raise the Roofs ‘With a Twist’

Photography by Adam Sanner Photography Guests at the ninth-annual Friends of Franklin Parks (FOFP) “Raise the Roofs” event on September 27th, were able to enjoy the beauty of The Park at Harlinsdale while learning about the City’s parks system from the comfort of their vehicles. In order to prioritize the safety of participants, this year’s event looked a little different than usual.

Participants entered Harlinsdale in their vehicles and were then given a map to follow for a driving tour around the grounds to hear more about past, future and current parks projects. They were able to view horses and equestrians along the way before concluding their drive by picking up a picnic meal from A. Marshall Hospitality to enjoy at home during the Virtual Viewing Party. Funds raised from this year’s event will support FOFP’s mission to continually enhance and connect the public parks and trail system, in addition to benefiting the organization’s two main projects this year: restoration of the Hayes House as well as the Harlinsdale bridge and connecting trail to Chestnut Bend. For more information about Friends of Franklin Parks, visit friendsoffranklinparks.org.

Equestrian friends Anne Goetze

People on the Porch

Jenny Housely Hamilton & Emily Bowman, Faye & Clay Harlin Niya Moon

Suzy Heer

Franklin Polo Academy

City of Franklin Parks Department

Driving tour of Harlinsdale

Check out our online photo galleries!

Now you can view, share, purchase and download images from any event we cover.

Look for your smiling face!

yourwilliamson.com/event-photos YOURWILLIAMSON.COM 67 ALL WI LLI AM SON. ALL THE TI ME.

LIFESTYLE

Arts & Culture

Helping the Show Go On Supporting the Arts in the Midst of a Pandemic

BY PAIGE ATWELL

Founder of The Healing Power of Art & Artists Renee Phillips writes, “Decades of research have provided more than a sufficient amount of data to prove that arts education impacts everything from overall academic achievement to social and emotional development and so much more. Research has proven the arts develop neural systems that produce a broad spectrum of benefits ranging from fine motor skills to creativity and improved emotional balance. Quite simply, the arts are invaluable to our proper functioning individually and as a society.”

There are a lot of things we miss, and a lot of things to look forward to once life gets back to (somewhat) normal. For a large part of the middle Tennessee area, what we’re missing most is the one-of-a-kind artistic experiences that this area brings each and every year. From Broadway shows at Tennessee Performing Arts Center and original and enchanting productions at the Nashville Ballet, to the exciting and robust performances of Studio Tenn and Pull-Tight Theatre, there is simply no greater place to immerse yourself into the arts.

2. REACH OUT TO GOVERNMENT LEADERS

Over the past several months, they’ve closed to keep us safe, so now it’s time that we help them. While we may not be able to purchase tickets to shows or be there in person, there are several ways we can help support the arts community during this time. In a letter of unity published by OZ Arts Nashville, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Children’s Theatre, Nashville Opera, Nashville Repertory Theatre, The Nashville Shakespeare Festival, Nashville Symphony, Studio Tenn and Tennessee Performing Arts Center, leaders in the arts community laid out the following ways that we as a community can do our part. Here are three ways you can currently support our local arts community:

Although in-person gatherings have been limited, the arts community is still creating engaging content and inspiring audiences online. In a time when we can’t be together physically, we are endeavoring to connect from a distance. Please like, follow, and subscribe to local performing arts organizations on social media and engage directly with the creative ways they are connecting with fans during this unique season. By interacting, commenting, liking, and sharing content, you are introducing more people to the valuable contributions that arts organizations add to our community.

1. DONATE

All of the organizations endorsing this appeal rely on the support of both patrons and donors to further their mission to serve the community through the arts. If you purchased a ticket to a show that has been postponed or cancelled because of COVID-19, please consider donating the price of your ticket back to the performing arts organization. If you would like to support the organization directly, one-time or recurring donations are both welcome contributions and excellent ways to help. These organizations are all 501(c)3 non-profit organizations, and all donations made to support them are tax-exempt charitable contributions. You can find out more information about how to support these companies through their individual websites.

68 NOVEMBER 2020

As ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic continue to play out, immediate and bold action will be required by all communities to provide relief for affected individuals, companies, and industries. Our rich cultural history and thriving arts scene are critical components of what make Nashville and its surrounding communities so desirable for people from across this country who are looking to start a new business or find a new community to call home. As local, state, and federal leaders create legislative relief resources, we ask that you serve as an advocate for the support of local fine arts organizations alongside other impacted arts and entertainment workers, venues, and companies such as: Arts Action Fund: artsactionfund.org Tennesseans for the Arts: tn4arts.org Metro Arts: metroartsnashville.com 3. CONNECT ONLINE

Stay in the know and signup for our weekly e-newsletters by visiting

yourwilliamson.com Also, follow us on social media to enter contests, hear about special promos and upcoming events!

To help get you started, here are a list of some local arts companies that could use your help. Whether it’s making a donation, advocating on their behalf or supporting them online, let’s all do our part to lift up our beloved arts community and help prepare them for a strong 2021 season.

Daniel-Christian agents are here to help with your real estate needs!

Kathleen Bates Dianne Christian Jenna Cowart Matt Daniel Alyson Deans Susan Deaton Ally Gray

Country Music Hall of Fame countrymusichalloffame.org/donate Frist Art Museum fristartmuseum.org/ways-to-give Nashville Children’s Theatre nashvillechildrenstheatre.org/donate Nashville Ballet nashvilleballet.com/donate Nashville Opera nashvilleopera.org/support Nashville Repertory Theatre nashvillerep.org/donate Nashville Symphony nashvillesymphony.org/contribute Oz Arts Nashville ozartsnashville.org/donate Pull-Tight Theatre pull-tight.com/donate/ Tennessee Performing Arts Center tpac.org/support The Belcourt belcourt.org/support/ The Nashville Shakespeare Festival nashvilleshakes.org/donate Studio Tenn studiotenn.com/support

Ally Heithcock Robert Kotto Ashley Roberts Heather Williamson Jeff Woodford Misty Woodford Lisa Wurth-Evans *Not pictured: Jenna Cowart, Susan Deaton, and Robert Kotto

615.790.6107 www.Daniel-Christian.com 203 2nd Avenue South in the historic district of downtown Franklin

MONTHLY

Did You Know?

Did You It’s Mickey Mouse’s Know?

Birthday!

- TRIVIA -

Disney’s most iconic character turns 92 this year. To celebrate, here’s everything you need to know about the world’s most beloved mouse!

While Mickey Mouse’s look has been consistently updated over the years, all the creators agree that Walt Disney himself inspired his personality traits.

Mickey’s full name is Mickey Theodore Mouse.

Mickey Mouse’s birthday is celebrated on November 18 because it was that day in 1928 that he made his debut in Steamboat Willie.

Mickey’s first words are now his most famous phrase: Hot dog!

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