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P.O. Box 364 Franklin, TN 37064
615.236.9961 info@robertsonmediagroup.com
Dear Readers,
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The month of May is upon us and I can tell you that I personally feel like May is the greatest month of the year! It’s always full of fun, the weather is finally becoming temperate and flowers are blooming. But more importantly – May is the month when I celebrate the most every year. I celebrate lots of birthdays of friends, families, myself; I celebrate graduations and in my case, the end of the first magical year of school for my Kindergartener; I celebrate in our community, Preservation Month, the 78th running of the Iroquois Steeplechase and the 70th Franklin Rodeo; and last, but not least, I celebrate this year, eight years in business as Your Williamson. When I started my own publishing company eight years ago, it was with trepidation and foot dragging and, yes, complete and total no clue whatsoever what I was doing going into business all by myself! BUT – with determination, drive, a sheer force of will to never begin to acknowledge defeat or failure as an option and a whole lot of prayer, I got through that first year and really…every year since.
presses and sigh – sometimes audible and felt only to me – of pride. Pride not just in an incredible publication, but a little pat on the back for myself and a big applause for my team. As a woman overseeing a team of all women (except Johnny, of course)! It gives me pride to know that we are a small business, we are a women lead business AND in a world where the media has gained all kinds of notoriety and some of it not so good – we continue to publish great material and provide exceptional coverage of our amazing community and it’s residents.
When we curate our content monthly based on the wealth of options available to us, it is with love and sincere admiration for each and every interesting and worthwhile subject matter. Nothing is taken for granted and nothing is not given the utmost respect and attention to detail when we put together a magazine for you.
No matter what successes we see as a team, there is always that buck stops here mentality when you own your own business, and the burden of ownership and responsibility of employment of others and the obligation and commitment to always do what we say and say what we mean when it comes to our customers, never shuts off. I have laid awake more nights than I can count – okay, nearly every night – thinking about my business, my team members and my own family’s well-being, and how to make payroll, meet all financial obligations, find ad sales reps, write one more editorial and make sure that our magazines get delivered on time. It’s an endless hamster wheel sometimes, when I am never quite sure what month it is or whether my theme is eating, drinking, medical, women, men, bridal or holiday!
But then I see and open a new magazine hot off the
We hope you have enjoyed the last seventy-eight issues, and will enjoy, God willing, the next several hundred more. Thank you to my small but mighty team without whom, none of my dreams would be possible. The magazine is but one of three great loves of my life; to the other two – my husband, and co-Publisher, and to my children – thank you for allowing me to do what I love even when it makes me crazy or takes me away from you. And to our advertisers – without your support, this magazine would cease to exist. You are in fact what makes a great community magazine about Williamson County a reality every month – so another huge round of applause for you!
To the residents of Williamson County – thanks for being our stories and for reading those stories. I hope you never tire of them as we will never tire of you.
Thank you!
Shelly Robertson Birdsong | Publisher
MAY 16-18
Here are a few events to add to your Social Calendar this month. Visit yourwilliamson.com for more events.
Percy Warner Park | iroquoissteeplechase.org
More than 25,000 spectators from around the world will come out for the 78th Iroquois Steeplechase, the premier spring event in middle Tennessee. The day is packed with entertaining and exciting activities for all ages. The best horses and riders from around the world race over a well-manicured turf track. The event benefits Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Friends of Warner Parks and other nonprofits have been recipients of charitable funds throughout the years.
Williamson County Ag Center | franklinrodeo.com
The Franklin Rodeo is produced by the Franklin Noon Rotary Club and is one of the longest running charity events in middle Tennessee and one of the largest rodeos east of the Mississippi! The Franklin Rodeo is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) which brings world champion and top-ranked contestants to Franklin each year. Celebrating its seventieth anniversary, this event is fun for the entire family!
Leiper’s Fork Distillery | williamsonheritage.org
The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County’s Second Annual Cornhole Tournament, produced by Next Gen Heritage Foundation and Leiper’s Fork Distillery, serves as a family-friendly community event and an opportunity for the Heritage Foundation’s Next Generation membership group to recruit new members. Next Gen is comprised of members ages twenty-one to forty. In addition to the tournament, there will be live music, a kid’s area, food trucks, tours of Leiper’s Fork Distillery and whiskey tastings.
Performing Arts Center announced their 2019/2020 season!
had an amazing turnout bringing the first dunk tank to Main Street Festival!
Vintage Affair was a huge success again this year!
Our annual Summer edition will feature lots of cool summer fun for the hottest months of the year! Enjoy our special feature on “The Gentlemen of Williamson County,” with plenty of profiles, content and other great stories, all with the gentlemen in mind!
Photography by Melissa DelRossi & Paige Atwell
A day of fashion in support of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, the annual Friends and Fashion event celebrated its 29th year at Music City Center in downtown Nashville this year. The event was a huge success as guests enjoyed shopping and auctions and a great luncheon, followed by a fabulous fashion show. Walking alongside professional models, current and former patients stole the show as they walked the runway showing off the latest spring trends. To find out more about the Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, visit their website at childrenshospitalvanderbilt.org.
BY JENNY REIMOLD
Racing season has arrived and if there is ever a time where bold fashion statements are encouraged, it is during this welcoming of spring. In a season where hats serve as the focal point of an outfit, it is important to plan your race day outfit to showcase your spring headwear. As last year’s “Best Dressed” winner at the Iroquois Steeplechase and after taking first place in The Hampton’s 2017 Easter Bonnet Parade, I have a few crafty tips on how you can create award winning looks on race day!
Having lived in Florida until last year, our Easter and Kentucky Derby party tradition always involved Lilly Pulitzer dresses for myself and five daughters. After striking out in finding coordinating hats, I began creating my own, over-the-top, fashionable bonnets and hats with floral blooms and craft hats found at Michaels. With no sewing skills and armed only with a hot glue gun and floral wire, my idea to design thematic derby hats and bonnets became a surprisingly huge hit! So much so, that local news anchors and celebrities began asking me to design these thirty-minute, party wear creations for them.
If you’re looking to make a statement this derby season and don’t want to spend hundreds on a derby hat that we’ve all seen before, create your own! My kids loved being a part of this process as well, selecting and choosing their own themed looks.
1. Start by purchasing straw hats or Easter bonnets with a STIFF brim. Hat décor needs something to rest on so if your brim is floppy, you will only be able to decorate a small portion of your hat. I always buy the straw hats at Michaels that people craft for
their front door. They come in a large size for adults and a small size for smaller children.
2
. Choose a theme… I have designed hats centered around Lilly Pulitzer, Disney movies, a golden goose, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Derby race itself, spring and flamingos. Any theme will do. Purchase small toy objects in your theme to add to your hat later… small horses, toy figurines, mini flags, smaller plush animals or dolls are really the award-winning pieces that make these hats stand out from the rest.
3. Buy a floral foam ring, floral wire and wire cutters. Place the ring over top of the hat to serve as the base for your florals. Secure the ring with the floral wire by simply poking the wire, starting underneath the brim of the hat, and twisting on top like a twisty tie.
4. Add ribbon! Hot glue one band of ribbon at the base of the hat, then cut two strips and poke each end through the side of the hat to create chin straps. Tie a simple knot at the top and let the other fall loose to tie. Make sure you test out where to put the ties…I suggest just in front of where your ears hit the hat.
5. Purchase roughly eight floral stems with large blooms, about six tall, wispy springs of flowers and approximately ten small coordinating blooms to serve as the main part of your hat. Begin by cutting the blooms off just below the head, leaving some
JENNY REIMOLD
Your Everyday
wire as an anchor and just stick those in the foam board, evenly, around the hat. Then, add some taller sprigs in the back and fill in with small flowers. You will want to arrange some of those florals on the main part of the hat that sits on your head. For those pieces, use wire bent in a “U” shape, starting from INSIDE the hat, and poke through to the top, securing your flower. Just twist the ends of the wire around a small portion of the hat like a twisty tie and cut the remainder off.
6. Add leaves. Cut single leaves from your stems and fill in the empty holes in your foam board.
7. Now add the fun stuff…using that same twisty tie method, begin securing all of your thematic objects with the wire. It is important to always begin inside the hat so that ends of the wire are on top of the hat, not inside where your head is. This was the rookie mistake I made in creating my first set of hats.
8. Top off your hat with any last-minute, final touches and practice wearing it. These hats can take a few minutes to adjust to as it becomes a bit of a balancing act…. as we all know, being fashionable isn’t always easy!
If you’ve created your own hat or have questions about the creation, reach out to me on Instagram (@jennyreimold ) or tag me in your own creation! Racing season is a party; dress like it!
Photography by Melissa DelRossi
Patrons, supporters and long-time partners of the Iroquois Steeplechase gathered to kick off this year’s event at Andrews Transportation Group in Brentwood. Guests enjoyed treats by TomKats Hospitality and got to hear more about the seventy-eighth annual event from the Steeplechase team. This year’s Child Ambassador, Jack Fancey, was also present and spoke about his experience with the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, which benefits from Steeplechase each year. The evening concluded with the unveiling of the child artist painting by local student Mimi Fuller. To learn more about Iroquois Steeplechase, visit iroquoissteeplechase.org.
• Take a refreshing dip in our junior Olympic-sized or wading pools
• Treat your taste buds in our refreshed Member Grill
BY JULIE JORGENSEN
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mamas, grandmamas and aunties out there! This month, we’re getting serious about ingredients lurking about in the products we put on ourselves and our babies regularly, and the potentially-sketchy effects they can have on our respective health. None of this is meant to scare y’all— the hope is that maybe we shed some light on how to make mindful choices and maybe pause before dousing ourselves in that bottle of perfume we got for Mother’s Day.
Let’s start with the basics and do a quick rundown on fragrance. The very word, when included in personal care products, covers a litany of chemicals, many of which have a questionable-to-potentially-nasty impact on women’s health. Given that the cosmetic industry in the United States is wildly unregulated, companies can hide scary ingredients like phthalates under the generic term “fragrance” without disclosing any additional information to the consumer. Phthalates, widely used in plastic products, are often added to personal-care products like nail polish, hairspray, and— you guessed it— perfume. If y’all have been paying attention to previous discussions about this sort of thing, you may remember that anything we put onto our skin can be detected in our bloodstream in a matter of seconds. Phthalates, sneaky little things that they are, mimic or disrupt naturallyproduced hormones in our bodies, which can wreck our fragile endocrine systems. What does this mean? Studies have linked phthalates to increased risk of infertility, breast cancer and even birth defects. Gross. Even worse, a product could have “phthalate-free” stamped on the front of the package, but if the ingredient list on the back contains the word “fragrance,” guess what? It probably contains phthalates! That’s enough to awaken the inner angry mama bear in just about anybody.
So, what’s a health-savvy gal to do? First, download the Environmental Working Group’s Healthy Living app. Scan a few of your beauty
products and see how they register on the app’s scales that indicate concern regarding allergic reaction, potential carcinogenics and ingredients that could cause developmental delays. The higher a product’s score, the higher the potential to have a negative impact on your health. You can even scan your food! Then, it’s time to purge and toss at your discretion. I scanned some of the “natural” products in the drugstore years ago and was absolutely floored— and not in a good way. Next, do a little homework. Trust me, your body will thank you. The Healthy Living app has tons of low-health-impact options for everything from shampoo to baby food. Shop accordingly. Additionally, think twice before reaching for that bottle of perfume. Now don’t get me wrong— I love a delicate, well-crafted fragrance. My grandmother got me into loving perfume when I was young. I thought it was so glamorous to do the whole “spray and walk through it” technique last thing before she would walk out the door to go somewhere. I’m not saying to break up with your signature scent. But maybe just spritz clothing before putting them on instead of spraying directly onto your skin. Look for fragrance-free products and/or those that source their respective scent from essential oils and are naturally derived. Finally, share your knowledge! Let your girlfriends know when you find that perfect body wash/ lipstick/ shaving cream that’s also towing the line when it comes to healthier living. I’ll toast to that— cheers, friends!
Photography by K. York
The fourth annual Erika’s Night Out, benefiting Erika’s Safe Place, was held at Liberty Hall at The Factory at Franklin. The evening began with a moving testimony by a young woman who bravely shared her story and praised the program at Erika’s Safe Place for teaching her the coping skills that allowed her to overcome her situation. Erika’s Safe Place is a nonprofit that serves at-risk adolescents who suffer from addiction, self-harm, anger, family issues, educational needs and low self-esteem. All proceeds of the event went towards the 2018-2019 operating expenses and scholarships for low income families. It was a night of dinner, dancing and bidding on auction items to raise the funds to insure this program can continue to intervene and protect our youth. To learn more about the organization and this event, visit erikassafeplace.com.
BY DANI WILLIAMSON
I am thrilled to be the new health contributor for Your Williamson. My goals for this new column are to speak to the residents of Williamson County on a practical, approachable level while teaching them something new. I am a firm believer that our bodies are designed to heal themselves and that we must give the body what it needs to heal. I hope to relay the message that no one is broken. Together, we can work hard to get them the life back that they deserve to be living. I hope to empower, educate and encourage our readers to take control of their health and once and for all choose not to settle for less than optimal.
I was born on a navy base in 1966. Immediately after graduating college at Western Kentucky University, I sold what little I had and left for New York City with a one-way plane ticket, $500 and a degree in fashion merchandising. I moved into the salvation army and quickly got a job as a fit model for a large design house. I lived in New York for three years before returning to Kentucky to work in my father’s hamburger restaurant. During that time, I got married and opened Mum’s the Word Maternity Shop in downtown Paducah.
I was married for eleven years, and after that divorce, I knew that I needed to do something more secure to take care of myself and my children. I found myself in the food stamp/medical card office applying for state aid. That day was the most humiliating day of my life. Ultimately, I was on food stamps and a medical card for myself and my children. I was embarrassed every time I had to go to the grocery or renew benefits every six months. I will never forget the day in January 2006 when I was standing at the mailbox in Paducah and opened a letter from the state of Kentucky telling me that the kids and I would be receiving $56 more a month in food stamps. I was thrilled. The very next letter I opened was from Vanderbilt School of Nursing congratulating on being admitted to the nursing program! I have both letters framed side by side in my office as a reminder to me and my patient’s daily that even though you may be down, we all have a choice to get up and turn our life around.
Being on food stamps, unemployed and in school full time raising two children away from my hometown were the hardest days of my life. I was told the first semester at school by one of my professors that, “this program is not for single parents, I suggest you go part time or drop out.” I chose neither of those options, since I had sold everything we owned to move to Nashville alone and determined to make it through. I found a way…and the rest is history.
After graduating nurse practitioner school with $200,000 in student loan debt, I was fired from my very first job. But as it turned out, being fired from that job was the best thing that has ever happened to me professionally. I was devastated and humiliated, but was soon hired at Cool Springs Family Medicine and began the journey of truly practicing medicine.
I am now the proud owner of Integrative Family Medicine in Franklin. I focus on gut, thyroid, hormone and adrenal health with my patients. My approach embodies a physical, emotional, mental and spiritual process to healing. I believe that God designed our bodies to heal themselves, we simply must give our bodies what they need.
I truly feel like my story of health and healing my own body through my life experiences and struggling with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Lupus, has been a constant source of inspiration and hope for every patient that walks through the door of my business, and now I hope to share it with you too!
We have a growing health community on Facebook that I started five years ago. My public page, Dani Williamson Wellness, is where I hold a weekly Facebook Live on Sunday evenings at 7 p.m. CST called Sunday Night Service. We have various guests and health topics ranging from sexual dysfunction to the best ways to detox your body. My YouTube channel and Instagram are under the same name and are both loaded with all kinds of health topics and education.
In Health, Dani
DANI WILLIAMSON Integrated Family Wellness
Dani is a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing Nurse Midwifery and Family Nurse Practitioner program. She incorporates the art of medicine by balancing traditional and integrative therapies and encourages her patients to step out of the realm of “normal” and reach “optimal” health. You can follow her on social media @daniwilliamsonwellness or visit them her at her office at 330 Mallory Station Road, B3.
Photography by Melissa DelRossi
United Way of Williamson County recently hosted their inaugural Run for the Health of It 5k/8k at Franklin Bicentennial Park. Participants enjoyed a scenic run along the Harpeth River and through downtown Franklin. Though the weather was rainy, spirits and energy remained high as runners geared up for the race. Thanks to vendors like Tiny Little Donuts and Advocare, participants were kept fueled and hydrated for their run. Proceeds from the event went to support United Way of Williamson County programs, promoting health and wellness, education and financial stability. To learn more about United Way of Williamson County, visit their website at uwwc.org.
Dr. Weikert recieved a B.S. from Indiana University and his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, where he completed his residency in Ophthalmology. Dr. Weikert is board certified in Ophthalmology and is an active member of the American Academy of Opthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. His areas of expertise include cataract surgery, lens refraction cataract surgery, dropless cataract surgery, intraocular lens implantation and sports ophthalmology. He is currently the Team Ophthalmologist for the Tennessee Titans and has just completed over 20 years as the Team Ophthalmologist for the Nashville Predators.
Please call us to set up your appointment with Dr. Weikert at your earliest convenience!
There are some designer brands that have such a signature style, it is impossible not to recognize them. Lilly Pulitzer has that unmistakable style. What began in 1959 in Palm Beach, Florida, has grown to become one of the most beloved brands over the past sixty years. With bright colors, bold patterns and complimentary silhouettes, Lilly Pulitzer clothing is a staple that every lady should have in her closet. Here are some of their latest styles that you will want to snag this season!
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MAISIE STRETCH SHIFT DRESS
We love the custom lace trim at the neckline, body, and sleeves and know it will be perfect for any occasion this Spring and beyond.
LULA DRESS
The Lula dress packs a lot of style in an easy, knit body. The tiered flounce sleeves and fresh new prints make it the perfect dress for transitioning to spring.
ELSA SILK TOP
The Elsa has become a Lilly favorite with its loose fitting body, beautiful smocking at the neckline and signature gold buttons at the placket. Paired with South Ocean Skinny Pants and lace along the side seam.
CASCADING PETALS HOOP EARRINGS
Dainty petals adorn the hammered gold hoops for a fun and flirty accessory perfect for the season.
REVERSIBLE SHOPPER TOTE
Two totes in one, this bag features two foil metallic prints and reverses from a printed canvas to a saffiano leather making it the perfect bag for a shopping run turned beached day.
DUSK RACERBACK TOP & BAL HARBOUR PALAZZO PANT
With a racerback neckline and adjustable spaghetti straps, this lined camisole is destined to become your go-to top for completing any outfit. Paired with the Bal Harbour Palazzo Pant. A pull-on rayon pant which adds a cool to the touch feeling in the fabric. The movement and flow of these pants are unmatched.
BUTTERCUP STRETCH SHORT
We love everything about the shorts from its woven jacquard fabric, signature scallop hem, functional front pockets and back welt pockets. Paired with the Elsa Top.
TISBURY SHIFT DRESS
The Tisbury Shift dress is a lot of detail packed perfectly into a straight silhouette. We love the engineered border and the ruffle collar that bring a soft femininity to the classic french terry body.
Sling-back sandal in-toe with its cork heel, woven braid detail and 1/2” platform. 9 10 11 12 13 14 9 10 11 12 13 14
HOLLIE TUNIC DRESS
The Hollie is your perfect everyday dress with its easy, tunic body and flirty flounce sleeves with a classic Lilly lace trim.
CALIENTE STATEMENT HOOP EARRINGS
The Caliente statement earrings feature a gold, hammered post with pearl and fabric drops and gold metal hoops.
CICELY OFF THE SHOULDER DRESS
Tiered fit and flare, bi-color lace dress. The off the shoulder sweetheart neckline and smocked sleeves create a playful yet chic silhouette.
JAN TWO PIECE SKIRT SET
Get a fresh update on traditional patchwork with this two-piece skirt set with peplum flounce top.
AMINA DRESS
The Amina Dress is travel-friendly and resort-ready. Sleeveless and bra-friendly, the inverted pleat gives you just the right amount of swing so you are comfortable no matter where the day takes you.
GARDEN GEM STATEMENT EARRINGS
Bold blooms and metal tassels help to create these fun statement earrings that add a pop of pretty to any outfit.
KRISIE WEDGE
LANGSTON TOP
Easy, drapey and in our best-selling Lileeze fabric, this woven top has 3/4 breezy tie sleeves. Go ahead, show off your favorite bracelet stack! Paired with the South Ocean Skinny Cropped Pants with a dot lace and fringe detail.
PEARL ROMPER
The Pearl Romper combines the high neckline of the Pearl Shift with the body of the Donna Romper for a style that will move with you and your busy social calendar.
SEA VIEW BUTTON DOWN TOP
We love the versatility of the Sea View Button Down. Wear traditionally with jeans or un-do a few buttons to tie in a bow. Paired with the Callahan Short with Beach Twill fabric
UPF 50+ TAMMY DRESS
The Tammy Dress is a classic shirt dress in the softest Palm Beach french terry, perfect for Spring onward. We love the cuffed sleeves for a subtle detail on an everyday must-have.
QUILTED LEATHER CRUISIN CROSSBODY BAG
The Cruisin Crossbody is done in a metallic quilted leather and features a hanging bamboo tassel and gold Lilly logo.
SLOANE DRESS
The Sloane is a cool, fit and flare maxi dress with head-to-toe shades of blue and subtle, soft hints of pink among layered flowers. The v-neck and ruched waistband are flattering and feminine, making this a truly effortless knit maxi.
Thank you to Lilly Pulitzer of the Mall at Green Hills for dressing our gorgeous cover models and Distinctively Southern Ladies.
Shop at your local Lilly Pulitzer store, retailer or online at lillypulitzer.com.
Lilly Pulitzer Mall at Green Hills 2126 Abbott Martin Road Nashville, TN 37215 615.645.0526
Lilly Pulitzer at Belk Cool Springs Galleria 1800 Galleria Boulevard, Suite 5000 Franklin, TN 37067 615.771.3200
Photography by Paige Atwell
It was a beautiful spring day for this year’s Go Red For Women Luncheon. Hosted by the American Heart Association of Greater Nashville and sponsored by Saint Thomas Health, the event was held at Marathon Music Works in downtown Nashville. The day kicked off with a health and wellness expo, showcasing a variety of health, informational and vendor stations and finished up with a luncheon featuring country artist Stephanie Quayle. Go Red For Women was created fifteen years ago to help raise awareness among women about heart disease. To learn more about Go Red For Women and the American Heart Association, visit goredforwomen.org.
YOUR Williamson proudly presents our 2019 Distinctively Southern Ladies! These women exude powerful impact in our community in so many ways. They are business owners, non-profit leaders, artists, volunteers and role models. They, daily, make a difference in the lives of all those lucky enough to be around them. And they are always striving to do more. They are a shining example of what it means to be a distinctively southern lady.
You may have known Jill Burgin as the friendly and hard-working Mayor of Brentwood, but now, she will be serving as Main Street Director for the Downtown Franklin Association. As a twenty-eight year Williamson County resident, Jill is thankful to have served on the Brentwood City Commission, two terms as vice mayor and one term as mayor. “I would like to think that my contribution has been to serve as a politician who does not like politics,” said Jill. “I have tried to maintain my perspective as a parent, as a resident and as a working person while on the city commission and focus on what is right for the community rather than on what might earn more votes. In my experience, people respect this approach because they know it takes courage to look at a room full of people who may not agree with your initial decision and vote your conscience on an issue. But when some of those same people come up to you six months later and tell you they understand your rationale and respect you for voting that way, it makes it worthwhile, especially when a project turns out to be a positive for the community.” Jill prides herself on her “unceasing optimism” and is inspired to move forward everyday by the great women that came before her. “It would be hard to beat the wit and intelligence of Dolly Parton when she said, ‘I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb…and I also know that I’m not blonde.’ I think that’s a perfect way to say… Don’t let others think they can decide who you are and what you can do. You’re in charge of your decisions, your image and your efforts in this world. Let your works speak for you.”
When you think of the many wonderful ladies of Franklin, it would be hard not to think of Linda Moore. “I think to be a lady, you must have good manners and a lady of distinction must have shown that she has these in her daily life,” explains Linda. “Be nice, respectful, kind, giving, polite and show this by example.” Linda is the wife of Mayor Ken Moore, mother to five children, grandmother to six grandchildren and dog-mom to Jack and Mike. While she enjoys fulfilling these daily roles with grace, she also has a passion for frequent traveling, healthy cooking and all things Franklin. She’s dedicated a bulk of her time to maintaining its hospitality and history through restoration and preservation. Her favorite project to date is her work on the Franklin Theatre, but her most recent work includes restoration projects for Harlinsdale and the Hayes home. “I have always thought of Franklin as a piece of heaven on earth with a lot of charm,” says Linda. “It is a friendly, safe town with a lot of history and wonderful memories for me having grown up here. I feel it is my job to work harder, be better, do more. And my love for Franklin is my inspiration!”
Today, you might know Carrie Drury as the Executive Director of A Vintage Affair (AVA). And although she’s only been in her current role for seven months, she’s been involved with the organization for nineteen years. “I feel like AVA is a part of my family and when the position came available, I showed interest because I feel devoted to its cause,” said Carrie. A Vintage Affair was founded in 2001 by Carrie’s father, Ralph Drury, to raise funds for Williamson County nonprofits serving women and children in need. Since its inception, the organization has distributed $2 million in direct support to the community. “I know these charities well, I live with them, work with them, they are friends who have become like family,” explains Carrie. “I have visited their organizations and believe in each cause. I want to work harder than ever to lead the charge and continue the contributions from AVA that help the lives of so many in need.” When Carrie isn’t working with these organizations or planning A Vintage Affair events, you can find her at the Harpeth River, where she loves to kayak, enjoy nature and appreciate a slower pace of life. “When I was contacted about being nominated as a Distinctively Southern Lady, I replied back and asked if it was a joke. Those that know me, know I am a little bit of a tomboy and to be called a lady, took me back a bit,” says Carrie. “Distinction is something that sets someone or something apart from others, and I am certainly that! I believe a lady displays self-respect, class, appreciation, kindness, confidence without being arrogant, courtesy, a true sense of herself, she empowers other women, stays calm in a crisis and inspires other women.”
After retiring from twenty-five years in the airline industry, GeorgeAnn Dingus was looking for an opportunity to use her skills she had gained as a marketing manager for Southwest Airlines. Today, GeorgeAnn is the Vice President Business & Brand Development for Iroquois Steeplechase. “I saw the opportunity to work on an iconic community driven event like Iroquois Steeplechase irresistible, and I loved the idea of raising funds to benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt,” explains GeorgeAnn. Being a middle Tennessee resident since 1986, she’s always had a deep appreciation for the event. Her contributions to the organization include designing, managing and helping implement yearly changes and additions that help the event continue in a very competitive market, while still holding true to all its pageantry and tradition. She helps create and enhance sponsorships, community relations and brings in new areas and events to help attract attendees. “I am very passionate about positioning the Iroquois Steeplechase so the impact it has on the community will continue for many years to come,” says GeorgeAnn. “I hope my greatest accomplishments are still ahead. I was blessed to be one of the women who achieved in jobs that were typically filled by men, and I am proof that working hard and treating others as you would want to be treated leads to success. Working with leaders who encouraged me to succeed, sometimes through trial and error, made me want to inspire others to lead as well!”
For Stacey Rhodes, being a lady means something different to everyone. But for her, it is “someone who is comfortable with herself, who is kind, generous and supportive of others. She is respectful, helpful, encouraging and nonjudgmental.” As a business owner, wife and supporter of many local causes, she certainly exemplifies just that. Stacey graduated from O’More College in Franklin. Shortly after, she worked as an interior designer, for a music production company and retail. In her words, she did “anything that inspired her.” In 2002, she opened Stacey Rhodes Boutique, where she worked with several artisans to offer a collection of original art, handmade jewelry and accessories. In 2005, she relocated to The Hill Center in Brentwood, where she expanded her inventory to include clothing, footwear and additional accessories. After nearly tripling her business, she moved across the street to what is now her current shop on Franklin Road. “I jumped at the chance to work with the landlord to bring the dilapidated building back to life,” said Stacey. “I am proud to say I had the vision, along with my landlord, to help in the revitalization of downtown Brentwood with the renovations we did to our building to improve the aesthetic of our main thoroughfare.” In addition to this project, Stacey has also been a long-time supporter of many local schools, causes and nonprofits. “Williamson County is beautiful, a great place to live, work and raise a family,” says Stacey. Stacey owes her seventeen years of success as a business owner to her wonderful family and clients that surround and support her. “My customers inspire me,” explained Stacey. “I want to stay true to their expectations and offer them the very best. To always keep evolving.”
You may have heard the name Mimi Collins Fuller in association with the 78th Iroquois Steeplechase. She was selected as this year’s featured artist for the event. “It is such an honor and I am so excited to be a part of Steeplechase this year,” said Mimi. “I painted three horses jumping over a banner that says Iroquois Steeplechase and it was my first assignment this year in art class. We had the option to enter it into the contest and I decided to enter my art as a joke, and I turned out winning the contest. I was so surprised because I did not think it was my best work.” Art has been a passion of Mimi’s since she was in kindergarten, with painting being her personal favorite medium. She enjoys Picasso, tennis and spending time with family and friends. As a student at Franklin Road Academy, Mimi works hard every day to achieve her future goals. “I always think about my future and if I push myself now, I am setting myself up for success.” To Mimi, being a lady means always being kind and treating others the way you’d want to be treated. “Since I am in middle school as an eighth grader, the fifth, sixth and seventh graders look up to eighth graders and I like to set a good example for them.”
The advice she holds most dear and that inspires her is from her grandmother, who always reminded her “to never give up on anything you ever do.”
Allena Bell has been a shining light in Williamson County for twenty-three years. In fact, if you bump into Allena around town, you’re sure to be met with a smile and friendly conversation. “It gives me great joy to welcome people into the fabric of Franklin,” says Allena. “For example: I am quite known by my family to engage in many conversations at Costco. My Children call it ‘long grocery shopping experiences.’” Allena is the board treasurer for the executive board at Franklin Special School district. She also serves on the board of Franklin Tomorrow, Youth Leadership Franklin and the Williamson County Education Foundation. “I enjoy seeing nonprofit boards strengthened through policy,” explains Allena. “I am a networker - I love people, find value in serving others and connecting them together.” In 2015, Allena was selected by the Tennessee School Board Association as a Master Ambassador for Franklin Special School District as result of her outreach efforts to increase community awareness and understanding of public education issues. Standing on the shoulders of great women herself, Allena hopes to continue to leverage her love of service, leadership and Williamson County to inspire the next generation to be even better and continue to help our community thrive for years to come. “Experienced leadership is a highly valued gift to any community,” says Allena. “I am on a quest to encourage more women to become involved in leadership roles.”
Bari Beasley loves Williamson County. In fact, she’s dedicated a fulltime career to protecting and preserving its charm and success. Before joining the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County two years ago as CEO, Bari worked for years in nonprofit management and higher education. Most recently, she traveled extensively while working for a large, global, Nashville-based nonprofit. It was then that she realized her deep appreciation for the Williamson County community and her yearning to use her skills to progress it, and that’s exactly what she does at the Heritage Foundation. “My days are very busy in this role as the CEO of the Heritage Foundation, but my work brings me great joy,” says Bari. “I connect daily with incredible people, through my staff, board, volunteers, donors and members. Through the Heritage Foundation, our family has really gotten integrated into the fabric of this community, and it has truly been a gift.” With over fifty years of continuous, successful leadership and growth in their arsenal, the Heritage Foundation has only continued to thrive under Bari’s leadership. Their team has worked diligently to expand on past wins, increase corporate partnerships, expand funds and staff and create even more opportunities for the community to get involved. Most recently, they were just able to save and purchase the former O’More School of Design Campus. “I’m inspired by my family… We are a team in our efforts to make a difference in this community,” says Bari. “And, I’m inspired by my daughter, Alexandria. She is four-years old and tells me she hopes to someday be a CEO like her Mom. I feel inspired to be a good example and role model for her.”
Photography by Mackenzie Luttrell
Guests gathered at Carnton to celebrate the annual Legacy Dinner, which honors donors who have helped the Battle of Franklin Trust transform over the past year. The event began with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner provided by Catering by Suzette. The meal featured fried chicken with country ham corn stuffing and filets of sirloin with hickory rub morel mushrooms. Battle of Franklin Trust CEO Eric A. Jacobson delivered remarks about the growth of the Trust and thanked patrons for their support in the past year. After dinner, Legacy Awards were given to Greg Wade and Tim Kearns to honor their efforts in interpreting, preserving and supporting the trust and to thank them for believing in Franklin’s story. To learn more about the Battle of Franklin Trust, visit boft.org.
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 Chevy Corvette.
3940 Carothers Pkwy, Franklin, TN walkerchevrolet.com • (615) 591-6000
The legendary Chevrolet Corvette will have you looking for the twisty roads and is a proven winner, on the track and the street. Engineered to be the ultimate drivers’ car, the Corvette is an expression of pure performance. It’s flowing lines and integrated aerodynamics help it to achieve incredible performance through striking looks, as well as amazing performance bang for the buck.
The Corvette features a driver-oriented cockpit with intuitive instruments to help you stay focused on the road, providing an ideal driving experience. This car will give the true driver something to grin about, balancing agility and power though the turns, and not just leaving you with a cloud of tire smoke.
BY MARLENA KARLSSON
The moment I saw Only You with Robert Downey Jr. and Marisa Tomei, it set off a dream in me to travel to the little town of Positano, Italy in the Amalfi Coast. The cliff-side homes nestled right against the most beautiful backdrop of mountains blesses every view with serene sea vistas. The idea of drinking a glass of wine and watching the sun slip down into the sea at the end of the day as boats are being cradled by the ocean with my true love was the most alluring thing to me.
On our twentieth anniversary, my husband and I were finally able to make this dream into a reality. Our driver zipped along the small roads that crooked back and forth down the mountain into the town of Positano. Hiring a driver was a genius idea on behalf of my husband as I would never had the courage to drive this practically one lane road with break-neck turns over the mountains!
We finally arrive to the moment when the view of the Amalfi Coast became visible and my eyes could hardly believe that twenty years of longing for this moment had arrived. My perfect little city draped in bougainvillea appeared at once. This delicate, leaf-like pink, red and white flowers covered entries, walkways, homes and even decorated the inside of restaurants and hotels. Bougainvillea was the flower I wore in my hair when we got married so it holds a place in my heart. It was everything I’d ever dreamed of seeing.
We walked through the winding cobblestone streets that led to family-owned shops and charming markets. Artists were at every corner painting as if there were no other souls around to distract them. They were capturing her spirit - Italy, in the way only an artist truly could. I longed so much to be beside them painting my own version of paradise on my canvas.
Restaurants offered enticing cocktails and the most wonderful lemon gelato with lovely views of the water. I noticed that people would eat for hours with the intention of completely enjoying and TASTING the meal. They were experiencing every nuance of flavor from the fresh olives, cheese, brick oven pizza, pasta, bread and wine. Time stood still to savor each meal.
Our servers would never rush you through the meal or bring the check until we requested it. We enjoyed the traditional Italian music and the artists would always take requests which would inevitably lead to someone playing the old tune, O Sole Mio. Cliche yes, but it still made me smile to hear it echoing through the salty air.
The pace of our visit was completely guided by our food experiences.
We walked, held hands, took pictures, paused for lunch, laughed like kids and paused again for a gelato. We would return home to our apartment to watch the sunset from our balcony and dress for dinner. A four-course dinner would always finish with the famous Limoncello: an Italian liqueur cured primarily of fresh grown lemons, sugar, water and vodka, produced in the Amalfi Coast. The incredible flavor of fresh lemons were the most delicious, I could eat them as a dessert. Leaving the restaurant, the owner of the establishment would smile gratefully and say, “buenas noches.”
“She is our city of stairs,” I was told by a local affectionately describing Positano. Wow, was she right! Our step counter clocked us as close to 15,000 steps a day. I think half those steps were stairs! Fortunately, there are porters at the top and bottom of the city happy to get you around for a few euros. Ultimately, walking is the best way to experience the city.
Our time in Positano satisfied a long time dream of mine but the memories will continue to play in my mind of lovely pause in life to experience the wonderful flavors, enjoy romantic walks and reflect on an unforgettably colorful Amalfi Coast view. Arrivederci!
It’s no secret that the bourbon industry has historically been heavily dominated by male focused marketing. But today, you’ll find there is an undeniable, strong female presence on the horizon. And if there’s one woman that knows its progress as well as she knows her pours, it’s Peggy Noe Stevens.
As a Louisville, Kentucky native, Peggy grew up in a city where bourbon wasn’t just a drink; it was immersed in the culture. Fresh out of college, Peggy started her career in the hotel industry, where she focused on convention services and event planning. While designing menus and creating perfect pairings, it was here that she became well versed in the food and beverage industry.
BY PAIGE ATWELL
A few years later, Peggy was recruited by a big-time bourbon company, BrownForman, where she officially started what would become a thirty-year career in the bourbon industry. Seventeen of which she spent at Brown-Forman, working her way up the ranks.
In the 90s, while working as the Guest Services Director at Woodford Reserve, Peggy used her background in the culinary industry to conduct pairings for tastings and eventually became the first female master bourbon taster in the world.
“I didn’t know I was the first until after the master distiller trained me,” explained
Peggy. “There is no formal training school if you want to become a master blender, or a master taster or a master distiller, it’s really working your way up in the ranks and being identified by whatever company you’re working for to say, ‘hey we want to train you further to represent the brand.’”
Despite her unprecedented success in the industry, Peggy still had dreams of starting her own business. Shortly after, she created Peggy Noe Stevens & Associates, an image branding company.
Not long after launching and in the midst of working with multiple distilleries, Peggy noticed that there was a large, untapped market within this industry: Women. In fact, in a variety of tasting events, experts found that women tended to have a more curated palate for the beverage than men.
“It was predominantly male, and women would kind of hang in the back of the room and ask questions later,” said Peggy. “The industry as a whole really wasn’t marketing directly toward women.”
So in 2011, while still running Peggy Noe Stevens & Associates, Peggy gathered a group of Kentucky, bourbon-loving women and created the Bourbon Women Association. It was the first female consumer group in the industry.
The Bourbon Women Association strives to be “an independent resource and inspirational forum, bringing women of all age groups together to share their bourbon affinity.” Memberships are open to
1 oz. bourbon
½ oz. triple sec
7 dashes Angostura bitters
7 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
5 ounces domestic sparkling wine, chilled Orange twist, for garnish
In a mixing glass three-quarters filled with ice, combine the bourbon, triple sec and bitters. Stir until chilled, about thirty seconds. Strain the mixture into a Champagne flute. Top with the sparkling wine. Rub a long, curlicue orange twist around the rim of the cocktail and let it hang off the side of the flute.
any woman that has interest in bourbon or learning more about it, and includes access to multiple events throughout the year.
In fact, you can now get the same experience in middle Tennessee. A Kentucky native, General Manager and Marketing Director of Leiper’s Fork Distillery and Bourbon Steward, April Weller-Cantrell was thrilled to start Bourbon Women’s Tennessee branch.
“I don’t know if it’s two Kentucky girls or two girls that are really strong-willed but Peggy and I became really good friends immediately,” said April. “I had told her from the moment she was down here, knowing about Bourbon Women, as fast as it’s growing, Tennessee should definitely be the next branch. So we worked really hard to make it the next branch.”
While they’re still working diligently to grow and progress as a branch, the Tennessee Bourbon Women Association has plenty of opportunities to be involved. “What’s been great for the industry with Bourbon Women is that we’ve created this platform to start a conversation,” explains Peggy. “You’re not just joining one thing; you’re joining a community of women. “
As a member, you’ll enjoy sips and shops, bourbon tastings and tours, national conventions and most importantly, networking with other strong, bourbon-enthused women. In Bourbon Women, there is room for everyone to grow, and according to Peggy, if there’s one common denominator to success amongst them, it’s resiliency.
“There are going to be great days and there are going to be terrible days,” said Peggy. “The most successful women I’ve met in my thirty years, and there have been a lot, bounce back from defeat. They take on challenges that scare them to death and they overcome them or achieve them. When there is a setback or something that is a disappointment, they don’t let it bury them. I think for any woman in any profession, resilience is a core competency.”
To learn more about Peggy Noe Stevens and Bourbon Women, visit peggynoestevens.com or bourbonwomen.org. To learn more about the Tennessee branch of Bourbon Women and how to get involved, visit bourbonwomen.org/tennessee_branch.
BY SHELLY ROBERTSON BIRDSONG WITH EMILYPOST.COM
The scion of social and etiquette must-do’s, Emily Post’s name is synonymous with the ways to behave properly in any situation. And although Miss Post lived in another era, when good manners and civility were the norm rather than the exception, her rules and advice are as applicable today as they were 100 years ago. But just who was the woman, or should I say lady, who has become the go to resource when you want to put your best foot forward? As part of our issue all about the ladies – I also was curious to know more about the consummate lady.
Emily Post was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 3, 1872, and educated by governesses and at private schools in Baltimore and New York. She spent her summers at Bar Harbor, Maine, and Tuxedo Park, New York which her father Bruce Price, a prominent architect, had been commissioned to design and develop. The season of her debut (that’s when young ladies were introduced to polite society in case you were wondering), Emily Price met Edwin Post, her husband-to-be, at a ball in one of Fifth Avenue’s elegant mansions. Following a fashionable wedding and a honeymoon tour of the continent, Mrs. Post’s first home was in New York’s Washington Square. When her two sons were old enough to attend boarding school, she turned her attention to writing. Her romantic stories of European and American society were serialized in several popular magazines, and many were successfully published in book form. She became a “traveling correspondent,” crossing the United States by car and touring Europe on the eve of World War I. Her stories were published in Vanity Fair, Collier’s and McCall’s
Upon publication in 1922 her book, Etiquette: In Society, In Business, In Politics and At Home, topped the nonfiction bestseller list, and the phrase “according to Emily Post,” soon entered our language as the final word on the subject of social conduct. Mrs. Post, who as a girl had been told that well-bred women cannot work, was suddenly a celebrity and an outstanding American career woman, a position she maintained throughout her lifetime. Her numerous books, a syndicated newspaper column, and a regular network radio program made Emily Post a figure of national stature and importance.
Emily Post’s successor, Elizabeth Post, completed her first revision of the basic etiquette book in 1965 and until 1995 updated four major editions, in addition to other books on the subject of etiquette. For more information on Emily Post and to find the answer to all of your etiquette quandaries, go to emilypost.com.
Photography submitted by FiftyForward
Community volunteers and Nashville leaders Betsy Schubring Crossley, Vicki Hearn Horne, Lelan Statom and Cigna-HealthSpring were honored as FiftyForward marked its thirtieth annual Crown Affair. The Crown Affair, the nonprofit’s signature fundraising event, raises funds to benefit the more than 20,000 individuals (older adults, families and children) impacted by FiftyForward each year in Middle Tennessee. This year, the event was chaired by Teresa Corlew and Laura Smith, both of whom are former FiftyForward board members and active community volunteers. Held at the FiftyForward Patricia Hart Building in Nashville, the event featured a cocktail reception and silent auction followed by dinner and awards. For more information on the organization and future events, visit fiftyforward.org.
9309 Norwegian Red Dr. Nolensville, Tennessee
Located in The Farm at Clovercroft, this home has everything you could ever want! Enjoy the outdoor fireplace, as well as the secondary outdoor living space. You will love the decorative accents such as the built-ins, wooden beams, and new lighting! Schedule your showing today!
BY TIM KEARNS
Given that May is the “Ladies Edition” of Your Williamson, I thought it might be time for a refresher course on how to make the ladies in your life feel special! Personally, I could use a reboot and some new ideas, so I reached out to a few fellow Southern Gentlemen that absolutely know how to treat a lady. I asked them to share with me actions, words or deeds that they use to show love to their favorite ladies.
One commonly repeated theme is respect! Bernie Butler’s comments are: “Respect leads to things like opening doors, pulling out chairs for them, writing notes, always sitting close when we’re watching television, holding hands when walking together, not forgetting the little things she asks me to do just because I’m busy, looking for ways to show her I love her in her love language…generally creating an environment where they know they are loved and cared for.” That one hit the nail on the head!
Showing you care can be done through a variety of gestures; gifting flowers for no reason, dropping off your lady at the door of the restaurant while you park the car, holding the umbrella over her even if that leaves you a little wet, the welcome home or leaving for work kiss. Speaking of that, here’s words of wisdom from Ryan Brannigan: “In our home, it is the simple things that seem to mean the most. Every morning before I have to leave town, I make my wife a cup of coffee and set it beside the bed and give her a kiss and tell her I love her before I leave. No one, except God, knows what the day will bring, and this has always meant the world to her.”
Here are thoughts from Rick Hargis: “A true Southern Gentleman always puts the needs of his special lady first. It is not the amount of money you can spend on extravagant gifts that matters; it is the little things done day in and day out that show her how special she is to you. Write her a love note with your finger when you steam up the shower glass or bathroom mirror, so she will see it when she showers! Bring her a favorite beverage and breakfast snack to enjoy in bed. Tell her everyday how special she is and how much you love her. Do not just say I love you; say I am so in love with you!”
Big Mike Multon says: “Making my wife feel special is defined by taking kid responsibilities and decision making off her overflowing plate, helping around the house, and never, I mean never, complaining while doing it. It’s the little things that make the difference in a marriage, and luckily my wife gives me a large room for error in fulfilling this need!”
Michael Pons really knows his wife: “It’s a little thing, but each morning, I make my wife a cup of hot tea with a wedge of lemon in it and hand it to her as soon as she steps out of the shower. She seems to appreciate it.”
Danny Anderson says, “It’s something I enjoy, but I do cook breakfast for my wife every Saturday and Sunday and take it to her in bed. She doesn’t cook and I love breakfast – just saying.”
Thoughts from Marty Shaw: “I also like taking care of something that she was too preoccupied to do herself, like doing the laundry. No, those little things don’t really impress her, but what she is impressed by is the fact that I was thinking about her and that I enjoyed thinking about her. She is pleased with the effort, but she is far more impressed by the thoughtful nature that preceded it. In that respect, she is very wise. Now when I surprise her with a special getaway to somewhere exotic or fun, she enjoys it even more, not because I did it for her, but because she gets to spend that time together with me, unimpeded and undistracted. I’m not sure she knows that I enjoy spending time together with her as much as she seems to enjoy spending time with me, but perhaps that is just one part of the mystery of love, and we are not meant to know.”
This little exercise of reaching out for thoughtful gestures from some Williamson County Southern Gentlemen gives me solace in a time when broken relationships and divorce seems to be the norm. I’m going to put some of these ideas to use on my wife! Use the opportunities this month, like Mother’s Day, to tell the ladies in your life just how much you love and value them.
| Power of the Purse Luncheon
Photography by Britney Hubbard
The Women’s Fund hosted their annual Power of the Purse Luncheon and silent auction on Friday, April 12th at Music City Center in downtown Nashville. The event featured guest speaker, Vicki Saunders, founder of SheEO where she encourages financial success and promotes female entrepreneurship. The afternoon began with a silent auction of gorgeous designer purses and accessories, with brands varying from Tory Burch to Gucci. The proceeds of the event supported the goals of The Women’s Fund by providing donations to organizations that help women and girls in middle Tennessee. To learn more about this annual event and The Women’s Fund, visit cfmt.org.
BY PAIGE ATWELL
From butter and biscuits, to manners and the religious use of y’all in everyday vocabulary, it’s undeniable that there is an unparalleled hospitality to southern culture. And truth be told, it’s difficult to explain its charm unless you’ve experienced it for yourself. Lucky for you, southern sisters Laura Beth Peters and Lainie Stubblefield invite you to pull up a chair, pour a glass of sweet tea and take it all in firsthand.
As Williamson County natives, Laura Beth and Lainie have always shared a passion for all things southern. In fact, some might even call them experts.
“We love the south, and that is one of our favorite things to talk about,” explained Lainie. “So, with an increase of people moving to middle Tennessee from all over the nation and world, we wondered if maybe it was time to share our love for the region with all the new comers.”
On Thanksgiving weekend of 2018, the dynamic duo launched their first episode of their Steel Magnolias Podcast, where they landed in the top six of the iTunes Podcast charts. Since then, they have continued to expand their audience and topics to meet the increasing demand of their listeners that are yearning to get a taste of life in the south.
of life, are appealing no matter where you live. So we have listeners all over the country. We definitely love talking about southern cooking and southern homes so our audience skews highly female, or maybe we should say, our audience is comprised of fellow ‘steel magnolias.’”
While the name certainly associates itself with the movie, the concept of a steel magnolia is more of the inspiration behind the podcast and its title. According to Laura Beth and Lainie, a steel magnolia is the epitome of a southern woman. It exemplifies both “traditional femininity, as well as an uncommon fortitude.” It is that unique combination of strong-willed fervor, mixed with grace and charm that make them one of a kind.
Each Tuesday, listeners from all across the country can tune in to new episodes that cover a variety of topics. From outdoor entertaining and guest bedrooms, to cast iron cooking and pimento cheese, you’ll feel as if you’re sitting at the table with these two during each episode.
“We appeal to those that love southern culture whether they live here or not,” explains Laura Beth. “Many of the best characteristics of southerners such as kindness, hospitality, faith and a general slower pace
“Southern women are hospitable. We take it seriously to make someone feel welcome,” says Lainie. “A southern woman opens her door in hospitality and tends what she has been entrusted with to the best of her ability.”
“I think that’s the main reason people want to live here; beyond great schools and a wonderful climate. People feel welcome here,” adds Laura Beth. “Between good cooking, our welcoming homes and our words, these are the primary ways we offer up kindness and show love to our family and friends.”
To learn more about Laura Beth and Lainie and to hear their latest podcasts, visit steelmagnoliaspodcast.com.
The Williamson County Fair marked the start of its fifthteenth anniversary year with a celebration to honor nearly 200 board members, honorary board members, chairmen, sponsors and volunteers. Dr. Charlie Hatcher, commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, gave the keynote remarks following a welcome by Fair Chairman Rogers Anderson. The Fair’s nine days of fun will run Friday, August 2nd through Saturday, August 10th, with more than twenty-five educational exhibits and attractions geared toward children and adults alike. To learn more about the Williamson County Fair, visit williamsoncountyfair.org.
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$765,000 / 3,149 SQ FT
Photography by K. York
The 2019 A Vintage Affair kicked off the three-days of events with the Meet the Vintner Dinner at Sperry’s in Cool Springs. The intimate dinner featured a five-course meal prepared by Sperry’s with selected wines of the Patland Estate Vineyards in Napa Valley. Quincy Taylor with Patland Vineyards shared the flavors of each wine with patrons and what made them the perfect selections for the pairings. The event is always memorable with great food, fine wine, caring people and one-of-a-kind silent auction goods. To learn more about A Vintage Affair, visit avintageaffair.org.
Photography by Melissa DelRossi
A Vintage Affair Goes Country, the second event of the AVA week in April, was held at the historic Eastern Flank Battlefield at Carnton. It was a perfect evening, where guests enjoyed some delicious local BBQ, wine and whiskey, beer and cigars and, of course, live country music to set the tone. A Vintage Affair is a nonprofit group dedicated to raising funds for Williamson County women and children in need. The proceeds from these events focuses on improving the lives and situations of fellow sisters and children, though extends to any Williamson County members in need. To learn more about A Vintage Affair, or to become a sponsor, visit them at avintageaffair.org.
Photography by K. York
A Vintage Affair’s Main Event wrapped up three fun-filled days of enjoying fine wines and raising money for local charities benefiting women and children of Williamson County. A VIP reception was held at the Block House, featuring wine tastings and fine cigars, hors d’oeuvres and signature cocktails by Gray’s on Main before the doors opened at Liberty Hall for the evening’s Main Event. Local restaurants provided tastings of their finest foods along with wine and spirits. It was an evening of entertainment by the Top Tier Band, along with a silent auction, wine auction and a live auction with one-of-a-kind items and adventures. A Vintage Affair celebrated their nineteenth year in 2019. To learn more about A Vintage Affair, visit avintageaffair.org.
In May, the Franklin Rodeo rolls into town, and this year will be its seventieth anniversary! The Franklin Rodeo attracts spectators to exciting competitions between skilled cowboys and cowgirls, with seven Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeo events each night, including Bareback Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Tie Down Roping, Barrel Racing and Bull Riding.
If you’re not a rodeo competitor or familiar with the rules and regulations, you may wonder how rodeo events are judged and scored. Here are the guidelines according to the PRCA, which is the largest and oldest rodeo-sanctioning body in the world, to some of the events taking place at the upcoming Franklin Rodeo. More information about the PRCA can be found at prorodeo.com.
"hazer," who is another mounted cowboy who gallops his horse along the right side of the steer and keeps it from veering away from the bulldogger.
To stay aboard the horse, a bareback rider uses a rigging made of leather and constructed to meet PRCA safety specifications. The rigging, which resembles a suitcase handle on a strap, is placed atop the horse's withers and secured with a cinch. The rider must have both spurs touching the horse's shoulders until the horse's feet hit the ground after the initial move from the chute. This is called "marking out." If the cowboy fails to do this, he is disqualified. As the bronc bucks, the rider pulls his knees up, rolling his spurs up the horse's shoulders. As the horse descends, the cowboy straightens his legs, returning his spurs over the point of the horse's shoulders in anticipation of the next jump.
The objective of the steer wrestler is to use strength and technique to wrestle a steer to the ground as quickly as possible. When the cowboy, also known as the “bulldogger” for this event, reaches the steer, he slides down and off the right side of his galloping horse, hooks his right arm around the steer's right horn, grasps the left horn with his left hand and, using strength and leverage, slows the animal and wrestles it to the ground. His work isn't complete until the steer is on its side with all four feet pointing the same direction. To catch the sprinting steer, the cowboy uses a
Team roping requires close cooperation and timing between two highly skilled ropers - a header and a heeler - and their horses. Similar to tie-down ropers and steer wrestlers, team ropers start from the boxes on each side of the chute from which the steer enters the arena. The steer gets a head start determined by the length of the arena. The header ropes first and must make one of three legal catches on the steer around both horns, around one horn and the head or around the neck. Any other catch by the header is considered illegal and the team is disqualified. After the header makes his catch, he turns the steer to the left and exposes the steer's hind legs to the heeler. The heeler then attempts to rope both hind legs. After the cowboys catch the steer, the clock is stopped when there is no slack in their ropes and their horses face one another.
The bull rider may use only one hand to stay aboard during the eight-second ride. If he touches the bull or himself with his free hand, he receives no score. But unlike the other roughstock contestants, bull riders are not required to mark out their animals. While spurring a bull can add to the cowboy's score, riders are commonly judged solely on their ability to stay aboard the twisting, bucking
mass of muscle. To stay aboard the bull, a rider grasps a flat braided rope, which is wrapped around the bull's chest just behind the front legs and over its withers. One end of the bull rope, called the tail, is threaded through a loop on the other end and tightened around the bull. The rider then wraps the tail around his hand, sometimes weaving it through his fingers to further secure his grip.
MAY 16TH, 17TH & 18TH
7PM EACH NIGHT, GATES OPEN AT 5:30PM WILLIAMSON COUNTY AG EXPO 4215 LONG LANE FRANKLIN, TN FRANKLINRODEO.COM
As a woman who spent most of her life on the beaches of Florida, I had always imagined raising my children in the same sunny location. Although I sent my kids to surf camp and observed manatees off our dock, the rise in crime and daily grid lock on the way to school was stressful. My husband, Nolan, a man who grew up on 100 acres of land and was nearing the end of his Major League Baseball career, felt the same way. It was after our first grader tried sounding out the name of an erotic superstore, that we started the real discussion of finding a more ideal place to raise our seven children.
Little did we know, Hurricane Irma would come weeks later in September of 2017, and force us into a mandatory evacuation. With the entire state heading up the Eastern coast, we found a very kind family in Franklin that rented their home to us while they found other lodging. Their house, that backed up to a horse farm, allowed our children to experience the outdoors like they never had before. Our generous welcome into Tennessee became the catalyst to leaving the beach for the clean, country life I felt my family needed.
Just three months later, we purchased a beautiful, 6,000 sq. ft. antebellum home and moved our family to Franklin over Christmas break. With two teens, now sixteen and fifteen, and five children under eight years old, this home on a cul-de-sac seemed to be the ideal place to raise our children. Our home, which once sat empty for nearly a decade, had been newly renovated while I then designed, repainted and remodeled a few other areas to accommodate our large family. With a little
BY JENNY REIMOLD
bit of work and visions of glory, this once red brick house, the eye sore of the neighborhood, had been given a “heart” again... And then “Hollywood” came knocking.
Shortly after the move, our realtor approached us with the idea of allowing HGTV’s Property Brothers to film our home for the “dream home” segment of their show. As a fan of the popular series, I was honored to be given the opportunity. So on the last day of school in May of 2018, and with a wake-up call at 4:00 a.m., a home that housed seven children became TV ready by the time Jonathan and Drew Scott arrived at 7:30 a.m.
After documenting our remodel and TV experience on my Instagram (@jennyreimold), a serendipitous chain of events would occur that would change our life. House Beautiful Magazine stated: “Viewers were so smitten with Jenny’s home that it actually opened the doors to a whole new career.” People Magazine included: “Since the episode aired, Jenny has received so much positive feedback about her house, she’s managed to make a burgeoning business out of her eye for design. In
addition to her new status as HomeGoods’ national style expert, which she calls ‘a dream role as the brand authentically represents who I am as a functional and practical designer and mother,’ she’s also taken on some freelance interiors projects.” My degree in Journalism/Public Relations also opened the doors to be offered the opportunity to write for HGTV, House Beautiful Magazine and Your Williamson.
As opportunities grew, I also found that using my Instagram platform to share our story of adoption and advocate for children in foster care was of a much greater importance. Our youngest child, Asher, age two, is a handsome African American boy, born to a teenage mother in Florida. His infectious smile and adoration from siblings have allowed us to share our experience and champion support for birth mothers and the adoption process, especially trans-racial adoption. Being a vocal supporter of adoption and foster care led to volunteer work with Bloom Family Designs, a non-profit that creates bedrooms for children in foster care or those being adopted, cost free, to nominated families. Our family has also volunteered with GratiDUDE Ranch, a local farm in Leiper’s Fork that donates birthday parties to children in foster care
and hosts special events to benefit the cause. More significantly, sharing our home and our story has directly led to the adoption of several children and to the creation of two more foster care homes.
It is hard to not believe that perhaps God had a greater plan when we felt called to move to Franklin. While the HGTV shoot was a true honor, I believe there was a greater plan in place for our TV experience. This July, our family will be featured in Parents Magazine, which will bring national attention to the needs of children in foster care and those in need of adoption. It will highlight the work of Bloom Family Designs and GratiDUDE Ranch to inspire others to become more involved in their own communities.
Our family moved to the “suburban country,” where neighbors welcomed us with banana bread and the local high school offered an American flag for our front porch. We watched a few days of snow fall and went sledding down a hill for the first time. I hung up a wooden swing on an apple tree in our yard and volunteered at an Easter event for foster care children. Our children have been welcomed into a community where moms driving passenger vans are seen in every car line and where adoptive families of mixed races are found in every school. We took a giant leap of faith in moving to Franklin and my family could not be better for it. This all-american town is good for our souls and its residents are good for our spirit!
BY RICK WARWICK
Although Percy Warner Park’s Iroquois Steeplechase takes place in Nashville, Williamson Countians played a large role in its inception and performance. Major leaders of the event from the very beginning were Brentwood’s own father and son teams – Mason and Calvin Houghland, John Sloan, Sr. and George Sloan. Other Williamson Countians who have played their part on the turf and behind the scenes were Brown and Mark McMillan, Charlie Burke, Vernon Sharp, Jr., Albert Menefee, Jr., Henry Hooker plus scores of others interested in fine horseflesh and the sport of racing.
In the 1930s, a group of fox hunting enthusiasts decided to build a permanent Steeplechase course. While surveying prospective locations, the group found themselves at a valley in Percy Warner Park, which was donated to the city of Nashville a decade or so before. The land included hills and terrain changes where jumps could be installed and a hillside where spectators could view the whole course from above. In 1937, the Works Progress Administration provided backing for the funding, as well as manpower to build the race course. The course was designed by William DuPont, Jr. Work began in 1938 and was finished in time to run the inaugural event in May of 1941. As the accompanying 1941 photograph will illustrate, the field and course has grown and improved over the last seventy-eight years
The volunteers needed to put on the race came from the pasture race circuit members and local fox hunters. Together, they created the Volunteer State Horsemen’s Association (now Foundation), which
still serves as the governing body of the race today. The event was named after the nineteenth century horse Iroquois, who was the first American bred horse to win the Epsom Derby, the preeminent race in England. Iroquois was later a sire at the Belle Meade stud farm. Over the years, proceeds from the event have benefited Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
In the early years, country boys could enter the exciting mule races, which allowed local farm families to enjoy the event alongside their neighboring gentlemen farmers and Nashville socialites. The fourmile course offered four-foot jumps and flat racing for four-year-old and older steeds. The purse was $150,000.
In 1941, WSM Radio mobile vehicles provided a live broadcast of the event for those unable to attend Steeplechase. Today, crowds of well-dressed couples parade about, similar to the Ascot scene from My Fair Lady, enjoying their mint juleps and white wine, seeing and being seen. Most likely, they prefer showing-off rather than actually watching the races.
Rick has lived in Williamson County since 1970 and has been serving our community for many years. He currently serves as the County Historian at the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County.
BY KYLE SHULTS
Williamson County Association of REALTORS® knows there are few industries remaining today that have not seen a drastic change in the role that women play, and real estate is certainly not immune to these changes. Historically, women have been involved in real estate almost since its inception in 1794, and its establishment as a legitimate business in the 1840’s. In real estate’s early days, women filled office and clerical roles, but by the 1880’s, women were already moving into the positions of agents and brokers, though at a relatively slow rate.
Today, nationwide, women brokers dominate the residential real estate market. Sixty-three percent of all REALTORS® are female. Among broker licensees, fifty-eight percent are female, compared with sixty-seven percent of sales agent licensees. Among part-time sales agents, seventy percent are female, while sixty-four percent of full-time sales agents are female. Most of those females have a college education and are home owners. They have frequently had careers in other fields before real estate, the most common being in management, business and financial professions, followed by sales and retail as reported by the National Association of REALTORS®.
“The best careers for women tend to be those that allow them the opportunity for flexible hours and to consistently learn new skills. Being a REALTOR® allows you to do both. The flexible schedule enables you to be there for the people you care about and gives you the opportunity to participate in your community by giving you the freedom to volunteer and engage in community events that might be impossible with different work hours,” said Kyle Shults, WCAR board president.
When you are a REALTOR®, learning becomes a part of your career. As a REALTOR®, you have the opportunity to be educating yourself constantly. WCAR gives their members access to learning the newest innovations in real estate and how to reach optimal potential in your career.
If you would like more information on becoming a REALTOR®, please visit wcartn.org and see our new pre-licensing classes. 2891
KYLE SHULTS
WCAR Board of Directors President Your Real Estate | wcartn.org
2 beds | 1 bath | 1243 sqft
All brick, retro ranch in Donelson. Original hardwood floors, large living areas, new paint in most rooms and fantastic fenced back yard!
Photography by K. York
The Hard Bargain Association held their annual Hard Bargain Dinner and Fundraiser at the Williamson County Enrichment Center in Academy Park. Guests enjoyed dinner and bidding on silent auction items before Executive Director Brant Bousquet addressed the crowd. He expressed the importance of this celebration as the fifth and final house built on Bungalow Court in the Hard Bargain area had been completed. The Bungalow Court project started with the planning stage in 2003 to meet the needs of local citizens needing affordable housing. Through grants, fundraising and donations, one home was renovated and five houses were built. The completion of this project marked a very special milestone for the association. For more information, visit hardbargain.org.
One of the most fun things to do as a decorator is start with a blank canvas. When you are truly able to start from scratch in a room, it allows for tons of creativity and also an overall design that flows and works without having to incorporate existing pieces. We have all tried to “work around” something in a room that just does not fit. I was very excited to be asked to create a family room from scratch and the results are super functional, extremely comfortable and, if I do say so myself, absolutely beautiful!
You know I always start with function. Whenever I do a consult with a client the first question I ask is, “How do you want to use the space?” For this family, the room is to be used for relaxing and watching TV, movies and spending time together. With five kids, two dogs and parents too, we needed a functional place for all of them to sit, lay and lounge. The answer was a sectional. But not just any sectional, we needed one that was extremely comfortable and could hold everyone. I designed this one in modular pieces that can
BY JENNIFER PARKER
be connected and chose a fabric that is washable and also slipcovered so it’s very cleanable. I love this blue, and the linen cotton weave has a deep beautiful color without being too dark, and also won’t show every little spot. It’s truly the focal point of the room. When doing such a large piece in one color, you need to make sure you have some different colors to coordinate. I happen to love blue and a splash of orange together, and the pillows and welting pull all of this in perfectly. I had the pillows made custom from fabrics chosen to compliment the window treatments. I like things to be tied in together in a family space but not too “matchy.” I think it’s the layers of color and texture that make a room look more curated. By adding the floor lamps, a large vertical art piece and sofa table behind it, we were able to create symmetry in a room that is not perfectly symmetrical. The cream curtain panels on the windows behind the sectional help to frame and soften the space. Keeping with the clean lines, I also chose a shagreen entertainment cabinet to add some layers of color and texture. This piece also functions to store books, games
and technical equipment needed for the large TV above it.
Another element we wanted to incorporate in the room was a table and chairs for eating overflow when entertaining, homework and playing games. For the scale of this space, and also because the room is angular, I went with a round table with a stone and tin texture and paired that with velvet, upholstered chairs in a wood trim. I love the mix of these textures together and the function of the table. Don’t forget to consider the shapes you place in a room and make sure they are not all the same, otherwise the room can feel like a shoebox. A good mix of shapes texture and color always make a room feel more interesting and intentional.
You know I love lighting, and the fixtures for this room are some of my favorites. We chose a large barrel wheel fixture for above the sectional. Not only does it fit the space beautifully, it creates enough light for this large room. The fixture over the round table is a particular favorite. The actual shade is solid alabaster, and the round ball in the center is painted ceramic stone. This fixture fits the space perfectly and also looks like a sculptured art piece. It’s one of those pieces you will not see in every home and brings a fun personality to the space.
We needed to close off all of the windows but have something that could function to let lots of light in as well. The plantation shutters we installed allow the family to block out all the light when watching movies, but open during the day for maximum exposure of natural light. I love the wide plank shutters in solid wood, painted to match the trim in the room. The doors are covered in custom pull ring roman shades, in a fabric to coordinate with the pillows on the couch. This helps to tie everything together, and also extend the custom look we were going for.
This newly blended family had a stunning collection of photographs from their recent wedding, and that just screamed gallery wall to me. In this case, it was photographs I had custom printed, framed and matted. I chose identical frames and mattes to help keep it looking congruent and mixed just two sizes so that there was an elegant consistency, and it all functions as one art piece. Displaying photographs of family in this room personalizes it and celebrates a memorable day. I truly believe rooms should reflect who lives in them and celebrate who they are.
There are small notes of brushed gold in the frames and various accents in the room, yet it still feels comfortable and elegant. You know I have to have a touch of green in every room so the ivy and floor plant in a wicker container add that touch and also helps to warm and soften the space. Do not underestimate bringing in a few live plants to complete a room. The result for this family room is an elegant, yet functional and comfortable family space to create memories, entertain and enjoy spending time together. I hope this room gives you some inspiration to create gathering spaces for your family, and as always let me know if I can help you bring a touch of function and beauty to your own home!
BY KRISTA EHRET
Women are notorious for doing everything for everyone except themselves. With work, husbands, children, friends and organizations, we tend to dole out all of our time and energy and leave ourselves at the bottom of a very long list. For so long, there has been a stigma with taking some time to focus on yourself. It’s been considered “pampering” and a luxury that wasn’t for the normal, working mom.
However, times are changing and we’re hearing the term “self-care” pop up more and more and learning how important it is to make it a priority. Self-care is defined as “the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health.” It can be as simple as a mental health break in the form of a hot bath, a beginning of the summer pedicure, or a weekly yoga class. It’s doing anything that’s just for yourself and is mentally or physically healthy.
After recently spending a full day with three of my closest girlfriends, I realized that being with these ladies is a form of self-care. Several hours of laughing, venting, reminiscing and more laughing is a great form of free therapy. I ended the day feeling happy and refreshed. Why not combine the concepts of “girl time” and “self-care” into one fun girls’ night-in? Chances are, if you’re in need of some “me” time, your friends are as well. I plan to try this out soon myself, so here are a couple of tips that I’ve come up with:
Main Event Ideas. While a movie night is always fun, you don’t get the chance to chat and connect. For this type of evening, try to pick an activity that enables some conversation and bonding time (it sounds cliché, but you need it). We’re lucky to live in an area where there are so many options. You can host a yoga class, wine tasting, mani/pedi or massage all in the comfort of your own home. I would avoid anything that requires too much “work” like a cooking class. We cook enough as it is. I also wouldn’t include anything where there’s pressure to buy a product at the end of the session (skin care parties, etc). If bringing an aesthetician or trainer into your home is a little too pricey, there are plenty of ways to DIY with homemade face or foot masks, workout videos on Amazon Prime, or even a puzzle. The point is to have fun and refresh mentally in a healthy way.
Keep it Cozy and Low Maintenance. For all other details, just keep things simple. Pick an area of your home that is comfortable with minimal clutter (don’t worry about cleaning the whole house). Get some relaxing aromatherapy going with essential oils or candles. Put out some cozy things like soft blankets, throw pillows and a candy dish with dark chocolates. You always need food and drink when you entertain, but don’t go all out. The point is for things to
be easy, even for the hostess. Buy pre-made healthy snacks such as a veggie tray, cheese tray, hummus and spinach dip, pita chips, chef salad, etc. Offer some sparkling seltzer water, wine and maybe even champagne. Focus on easy set-up and easy clean up so you don’t immediately have to snap out of relaxation mode post event.
Routine is Key. Don’t let this get-together be a once in a blue moon occurrence. Pass the torch and let someone else host. Monthly would be ideal, but every two to three months is probably more realistic. Plan ahead, as girl time/ “me time” is the first thing to get forgotten when schedules become too busy.
Practicing self-care is a great gift to give yourself this Mother’s Day. It’s not selfish, it’s vital. It takes a few times before the guilt subsides, but it will subside. Remember the airplane instructions in regard to the oxygen masks? You have to take care of yourself before taking care of those around you. Giving yourself this chance to breathe makes you better for the masses waiting not so patiently for your time and attention.
BY PAIGE ATWELL
“we are not obligated to complete the task, but neither are you free to desist from it.”
Serving as President of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for over twenty-five years, Ellen Lehman knows need when she sees it. In fact, she can still recall the first time she heard the words ‘community foundation.’
After attending Harvard University, economics school, working in New York for four years and later pursuing business school, Ellen decided to move back home to Tennessee. In September of 1991, she found herself serving on the boards of two nonprofit organizations that were “ran by lovely people doing great work.” At the time, endowment funds were a new concept on the horizon. As exciting as it seemed, Ellen quickly saw that while the leadership and good intentions were there, these organizations were not prepared to handle that kind of money.
“I was having lunch with a friend and was complaining about the fact that it wasn’t fair or wise for them to be taking this additional responsibility,” explains Ellen. “She leaned over, wagged her finger in my face and said, ‘You need to start a community foundation.’ I followed her back to her office, and she gave me a bunch of books and I went home and read them. That was about how magical it really was.”
Three years later, after she had spent some substantial time in the nonprofit realm, Ellen quickly realized that while we were in a wealthy, generous community, something was off about the way people were giving.
“I realized there was not a level playing field,” says Ellen. “We don’t love our sons more than our daughters, but the way people were giving, the organizations that served men and boys were bringing in more money and had more programs. It wasn’t intentional, but the playing field wasn’t level.”
So, in 1995, twenty-five women, along with “two enlightened men” founded The Women’s Fund. This organization would ensure that there would always be money to support women and girls amongst the forty counties within The Community Foundation.
Despite naysayers who believed the program was too radical to work in the south, The Women’s Fund managed to gather $4,000 to give for their first round of donations. Split into eight, $500 increments, these gifts went towards programs
such as survival and housing initiatives, Girl Scouts, the National Hemophilia Foundation, women empowerment workshops and the American Red Cross.
“We wanted to make sure that we sent the message that this was for women of all walks of life,” said Ellen.
Since that first gift, The Women’s Fund has made grants totaling $1,658,845 to more than 130 nonprofit organizations that assist, promote and address specific needs and the over all wellbeing of women and girls.
If these funds were pertinent in 1995, they have certainly become nothing short of crucial now. A lot of things have changed in the past twenty-five years, and The Women’s Fund is hoping to prepare for the needs that are sure to arise in the future.
“We have found a lot of need. Truly, we have found a lot of things that we could never have imagined,” says Ellen. “Who would ever have thought that Tennessee would become a hub for human sex trafficking? The reality is that we’re never going to fix all these problems, but we just have to keep doing our best.”
The Women’s Fund continues to make it their mission to show people the importance of lending a helping hand. One of their newest initiatives is Girls Give, which will help train the next generation of girls and young women on the importance of participating in philanthropy, because if there is anything her years of experience has taught her, it’s that the greatest thing we can do to make a difference is to give back.
“Whether it’s holding the door open, knitting a cap for a baby in the NICU, sometimes the smallest gifts are really the ones that are the most meaningful,” says Ellen. “It is important for people to realize you don’t have to have a lot of money; you just have to have a big heart. There are no shortage of opportunities to help.”
To learn more about The Community Foundation and The Women’s Fund, visit cgmt.org.
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The Downtown Franklin Rotary Club,established in 2017, presented checks of $7,500 each to My Friend’s House and Friends of Franklin Parks at its April 15th meeting. The funds were dispersed from the Downtown Franklin Rotary Foundation and were raised through the club’s annual chili cookoff and its Kentucky Derby party. Since its founding, the DFRC has been one of the fastest growing clubs in the country. The club meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the Williamson County Enrichment Center. More information can be found at downtownfranklinrotary.com.
The City of Franklin Board of Mayor and Alderman approved recently the use of blue roll-out containers to replace the blue bag recycling program. The Sanitation and Environmental Services Department is in the process of developing this opt-in, voluntary program to begin in early 2020. Citizens interested in participating will be able to sign up online and will be charged $4.00 a month for twelve months to cover the administration fee for the blue roll-out container. After the first year, there will not be an added fee. The sixty-four-gallon blue roll-out container will remain the property of the city. The blue roll-out containers will be collected the same day as the trash on a resident’s usual collection day. When the blue bin program starts, the city will accept clean, dry and loose recyclables in the containers. The City will accept paper and cardboard, plastics one and two, aluminum and steel cans. Glass will not be accepted, and neither will Styrofoam or plastic bags. The Sanitation Department is working to have a clean recyclable stream, so when in doubt, throw it out. It is also important to rinse cans and plastics before throwing into the blue bin. The city will soon announce a website where residents can go to register and learn more information. The blue bag recycling program began in July 2010. It is a voluntary program and participation through the years has averaged over sixty percent. The City looks forward to an even higher participation with the blue bins.
The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County has hired Shannon Lapsley as director of special projects and campus planning. Lapsley will be the lead project manager on the restoration and rehabilitation of the Franklin Grove Estate & Gardens property, the former campus of O’More College of Design, in downtown Franklin. She will be an integral leader for the campus advisory committee, named in February. Lapsley will also help with other special projects at the Foundation.
For the past five years, she served as the director of development at Vanderbilt University Medical Center to raise funds that positively impact patients, their families and continued research and education in the medical field. Lapsley is currently a board member at Youth Villages, a member of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Tomorrow’s Leader Council as well as a volunteer at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. She can be reached at slapsley@williamsonheritage.org. For more information about the Heritage Foundation, visit williamsonheritage.org.
The Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department is proud to announce a newly, redesigned wellness center and group fitness studios at the Fairview Recreation Complex, 2714 Fairview Boulevard. With phase one of the facility renovation complete, a new, state-of-the-art, 5,000 + square foot wellness center now sits on the west side of the building and features an assortment of new cardio and weight training equipment. A 4,000 square foot group fitness studio and 2,000 square foot Indoor cycling studio; along with new Men’s and women’s locker rooms, with shower facilities, completes the addition. With over fifty-five pieces of equipment; the Fairview Recreation Complex Wellness Center is now one of the county’s largest fitness amenities and offers an exceptional, comprehensive wellness experience with an assortment of precor, hoist, matrix and endurance machines. For additional information on the new facility amenities of the Fairview Recreation Complex, group fitness schedules, personal training information and admission and pass pricing options visit our website at wcparksandrec.com.
The Scoop continued
United Way of Williamson County (UWWC) recognized its corporate and civic partners and community volunteers during an annual community and volunteer celebration breakfast, held in April. The celebration was sponsored and hosted by Tractor Supply Company to recognize partner companies for their workplace campaign efforts, which support United Way’s charge to advance health and wellness, accelerate learning and education and expand financial stability across Williamson County. Partner companies have so far raised $4.4 million in contributions during the 2018–2019 giving year. Highlights of this year’s winners include the following: Tractor Supply Company received the #1 Company Award for the fifthteenth consecutive year; Publix Super Markets won the Summit Award, which recognizes a company that provides outstanding support through contributions, volunteerism, involvement with committees, and raising awareness about United Way’s mission; StrategyCorps and GM Spring Hill Manufacturing won the Best Campaign Award for overall excellence in supporting the annual United Way campaign with special events, agency tours, and nonprofit speakers; Poplar Grove Elementary, Poplar Grove Middle, Bethesda Elementary, Woodland Middle, Renaissance High, and Williamson County Schools won Education Awards for the amount of funds raised and participation levels in the annual workplace giving campaign; Blake Stinnette (PwC, LLP) received the Bill King Award; Paige Russell, a Brentwood High School senior, received an Affinity Group Award for her leadership and volunteer service with United Way’s Youth Advisory Council; Patrick McBride (SVMIC) and David Kelly (Southeast Financial Credit Union) received an Affinity Group Award for outstanding leadership in Emerging Leaders United, United Way’s leadership and professional development group; Martha Wolfe received an Affinity Group Award for outstanding participation in the Patricia Hart Society, United Way’s women’s initiative. The full listing of award categories and winners, including the Circle of Caring Awards, is available at uwwc.org/campaignawards.
The Battle of Franklin Trust is seeking donors to help support the final phase of reconstruction work on the Carnton springhouse. The first two phases of the project are now complete after the damaged roof was removed and additional masonry work was completed. The final phase includes constructing a new roof. The springhouse was constructed in the early 1800s and served as the primary source of fresh water for all who lived at Carnton. It was also where food products like milk, cheese, vegetables and other perishables were stored. It is likely that at least one or two of the enslaved people who lived at Carnton in the years before the Civil War worked in the springhouse on a regular basis. It was just one of many job functions filled by those who were enslaved. The spring which leeches into the springhouse is one of at least three on the site that flow into McGavock Creek, which in turns flows into the Harpeth River. The Carnton springhouse was initially restored in 1987, but then damaged by the Middle Tennessee flooding in May 2010. At one stage, water nearly covered the entire building. Through the generosity of donors, Rock City Construction and Peffen Cline Masonry Group, the project is close to completion. If you are interested in donating to the final stage of the project, please contact Laurie McPeak at 615.794.0903 or laurie@boft.org. For more information about the Battle of Franklin Trust, visit boft.org.
The Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) recently named its 2019-2020 Executive Board. The Board is comprised of veterinarians from across the state. The newly elected officers are: President – Danny Walker, DVM, University of Tennessee at Martin; President-Elect – Matt Povlovich, DVM, Tennessee Equine Hospital, Thompson’s Station; Vice-President – Tai Federico, DVM, Riverview Animal Hospital, Chattanooga; Secretary/Treasurer – Margaret (Midge) Phillips, DVM, Clovercroft Veterinary Hospital, Franklin; Immediate Past President - Russell Reel, DVM, Morristown Animal Hospital, Morristown. Since 1909, the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association has been committed to advancing the science and art of veterinary medicine. Large and small animal practitioners, students and veterinary school graduates make up TVMA membership. For additional information, please visit tvmanet.org.
Photography by K. York
The A Golden Gallop Parade theme “What’s Golden about Brentwood,” kicked off the first of three big events this year that will celebrate the City of Brentwood’s fiftieth anniversary. Spectators lined the streets of Maryland Farms to see the parade of floats, antique cars, horses, marching bands, scout groups and dance teams march in celebration. Jim Redd, the eldest founder of the city, served as the parade’s grand marshall. Despite the rain and the dreary skies, the crowds gathered to honor the city of Brentwood’s history and celebrate all that is golden about the place they call home. To find out more about upcoming events for Brentwood’s fiftieth anniversary, visit brentwoodtn50.com.
Photography by Melissa DelRossi
The Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee recently held their eighth annual Great Futures Gala event at the Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville. The night included a very lively auction, as well as silent auctions, fine food and entertainment from Little Big Town. Throughout the night, children of the Boys and Girls club came up to speak about how the club helped shape them and their lives. Proceeds of this wonderful event fund youth development programs at the Middle Tennessee Boys and Girls Clubs. For more information on The Boys and Girls Club of Middle Tennessee, visit bgcmt.org.
As a small business owner, you want to hire employees who are agile and adaptable as circumstances change. The smaller your business, the more critical this becomes. You need a team of people who can live without a clear job description and who won’t get stressed by the constant flow of events typical in a small, fast-growing company. There is a downside to hiring these kinds of employees, however. Agility goes hand in hand with ambition, and your agile, ambitious team members will want to be pushed to grow through constant challenges. In a small business, that path can be hard to visualize. How, then, do you keep ambitious people motivated on a small team? Here are five tips:
1. Let Your Team Help Define What the Company Becomes
Give people the freedom to pursue new challenges and opportunities, even if they are outside the core business. If new directions emerge from these pursuits, create new positions and roles to go with them.
2. Help People Get Excited About Uncertainty
It is typical for entrepreneurs not to know what the company’s next big thing will be. This can be frustrating to team members who
BY JEFFREY O’HARA
want a clear sense of what their next career steps will be. Tell employees honestly that you don’t know exactly what’s next, but that this is what makes the job exciting. Part of the fun of entrepreneurship is that you never know what’s around the corner, but you do know you’ll seize good opportunities when you see them. Getting your team to buy into this vision is the key to motivation. In fact, your employees have to believe the next great idea may be their own!
3. Invest Both Money and Time in Your Team
Many companies are reluctant to devote resources to developing their teams, but your team is your biggest asset. How can employees support your company if you don’t support them? There is no shortage of opportunities for investing in your people: continuing education programs, local seminars, inspirational conferences and so on. If travel is involved, ask employees to develop a list of expected takeaways from the event to justify the investment. Broadening one’s range of both knowledge and network contacts can only be helpful to both the employee and the company.
4. Give Employees New Challenges and the Permission to Fail
Some people on your team may not yet have
built up the confidence needed to bring new ideas to the table. Others might be so caught up in the day-to-day they can’t step back and look at the big picture. As a leader, it is critical for you to come up with new challenges for these employees. Will those challenges contribute directly to people’s quarterly bonuses? More often than not, the answer will be no. However, if enough new ideas work and are properly celebrated, your team will buy in.
5. Force People Out of Their Comfort Zones
When they succeed, have a big celebration to inspire confidence. Don’t hesitate to remind them — both when they succeed and when presenting the next challenge — that they didn’t think they could do it, but you knew they could.
The greatest feelings in business come not from financial success nor from recognition, but from seeing people I have developed succeed in their careers and accomplish things they did not realize they were capable of. Hopefully you will also get to experience this joy yourself.
Photography by Melissa DelRossi
The 2019 Outlook Williamson was recently held at The Factory at Franklin. This is a signature event hosted by Williamson, Inc., for local businesses and community leaders to discuss the economy, trends and why Tennessee and the Williamson County area is the place to be! Guests enjoyed a delicious breakfast and live entertainment as speakers shared information about the growth of Williamson County. To learn more about Williamson County and future chamber events, visit williamsonchamber.com.
Horses and equine culture have long been part of Franklin, Tennessee’s soul. No horse more so than Midnight Sun, the famed Tennessee Walking Horse Grand Champion that called Harlinsdale Farm home. Now visitors and residents alike will see many more horses around downtown, assuming they can figure out a few clues along the way. The first project to be approved by the newly formed Franklin Public Arts Commission, the Midnight Sun Scavenger Hunt, was publicly unveiled last month at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm.
“We are excited for this exciting new addition to the downtown area,” said Visit Franklin President & CEO Ellie Westman Chin. “This will be a fun way for visitors and locals alike to explore the extensive history throughout downtown Franklin in a fun and active way.”
Ten bronze horse statues - each slightly smaller than a football - have been strategically hidden and permanently installed at various locations with historic significance in the downtown Franklin area. Searchers will follow clues to find the miniature horse replicas all while learning a little about Franklin’s past in a fun, family-friendly way.
The bronze statues were commissioned by Visit Franklin, with the help of local supporters, and created by renowned sculptor Janel Maher of Franklin whose other works can be found in collections across the United States, Europe, and South America. Midnight Sun was chosen as the namesake of the project to honor what the World Champion horse meant to the equine community around Franklin, and the entire Tennessee Walking Horse community.
“We wanted these statues to be true works of art that would add to the character and charm of Franklin,” noted Ellie. “Janel Maher did
an incredible job of creating a lasting image with each of these bronze statues, and we are very proud to make it the first project of the Public Arts Commission.”
Franklin Mayor Ken Moore added, “the work of the new Franklin Art Commission adds to our quality of life and the visitor experience. Starting with Midnight Sun gives it that historic touch that is Franklin.”
Initial community partner investors in the Midnight Sun Scavenger Hunt included: A. Marshall Family Foods, Chartwell Hospitality, Danny Anderson, Franklin Synergy Bank, Mars Petcare, Paula Harris, Stewart Parking Solutions, Tennessee Equine Hospital, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, and The Parker McCoy Group.
Midnight Sun is the most famed Tennessee Walking Horse Grand Champion in the United States. The stallion from Harlinsdale Farm in downtown Franklin quickly became one of the leading sires of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed and went on to become World Champion of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in 1945 and 1946. He was such a renowned champion that since 1949, only four horses that have won the annual Tennessee Walking Horse World Championship were not of the direct Midnight Sun bloodline. Midnight Sun lived twenty-five years, twenty-one of which were at Franklin’s Harlinsdale Farm. When he died in November of 1965, he was buried on the farm at a gravesite that is still visible today.
For information on Franklin and Williamson County, visit visitfranklin.com.
BY KELLY FIELDS
2018 brought a booming business economy — and no one experienced the benefits of this boom quite like women business owners. With this welcome trend showing no signs of slowing down, read on to uncover why females are at the forefront of the future of small business.
The Market Is Male-Dominated No More
Back in the 70s, women-owned businesses accounted for less than 5% of all companies in America; now that number has reached 40%, with women leading the charge for over twelve million companies across the country. And beyond that, women-owned businesses are currently seeing greater percentage revenue gains than businesses as a whole.
Wealth Management Is Wising Up
Women tend to think about finances differently than their male counterparts. With women wanting their money allotments to mirror their values, financial advisors are taking notice by providing a greater array of investment options. If you’re searching for a financial advisor that understands the needs and nuances of a woman-owned business, look no further than the trust services and asset management teams at Franklin Synergy Bank.
Growing Grant Opportunities Abound
Thanks to an increasing awareness of women’s contributions to the marketplace, grants specifically for women business owners are available in greater numbers than ever — plus, unlike a loan, they never need to be paid back. Check out the Women’s Business Center of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s website to uncover grant opportunities for you.
Lending Is Becoming a Level Field
Loans are often an essential component to getting a business off the ground, and women business owners are seeking to take advantage of this resource like never before. Last year, the number of womenbacked businesses that applied for funding grew. Bolstered by the strong economy, women increased the amount of their borrowing to fund expansions or investments in their businesses.
With SBA loan offerings, wealth management, merchant services, online business bill pay, Business Synergy Savings and our small business-centered Simplicity Business Checking, Franklin Synergy Bank has a wide range of products specifically to meet the needs of business owners.* Visit franklinsynergybank.com or one of our local branches to see how far you can take your woman-owned business.
KELLY FIELDS
We’re in the Money
Kelly Fields serves as a Private Banker out of Franklin Synergy Bank’s Westhaven Community Branch. 615.656.5583
At Franklin Synergy Bank, we understand that a bank is only as good as its ability to deliver the services you want at the speed you need.
a new brand of banking today.
615-236-BANK (2265) | franklinsynergybank.com
Photography by K. York
The Heritage Foundation of Williamson County’s Main Street Festival returned to downtown Franklin to celebrate the thirty-sixth annual event. Crowds shopped the unique goods of artisans and crafters and enjoyed festival-favorite food and drink. The entertainment was exceptional, with an array of performances held on different stages throughout the festival. New additions to the festival this year were the Heritage Foundation’s heritage classroom hands-on history experience, the bark lounge, the photo challenge scavenger hunt, the Little Miss and Mister Main Street Pageant and the very popular Bavarian Biercaus beer garden and Leiper’s Fork Distillery’s Whiskey Lounge. And we must mention that our very own, highly entertaining Your Williamson Dunking Booth, was a crowd favorite! The festival is one of the state’s most anticipated events around and it brings crowds of nearly 100,000 people to Franklin for the two-day event. To learn more about The Heritage Foundation and upcoming events, visit williamsonheritage.org.
BY GINGER JONES
Unless you’ve been living under a rock since blogging, Google and social media came onto the scene, then you’re probably all too familiar with all the mistakes you can make as a mom. New mom, working mom, mom of an only child, single mom...you name it, there are so many ways we can find how any of us can mistakenly ruin our children for life. Nothing brings out the judgy side of people like a good ‘ole debate on sleep training, discipline or the eating habits of children. So, how about a twist on all the regular “mistakes moms make” articles. I don’t know about you, but I could stand to let myself off the hook every now and then. So here are mom mistakes I think it is okay to make.
1 - Worrying when you know you shouldn’t. So, we worry. It’s just what mom’s do. I am not saying that you should worry about every little thing, but if you find yourself stressed over something now and then, know it is normal. Nothing makes us question ourselves and our abilities like motherhood.
2 - Losing your cool in front of your kids. You are human. It happens. Of course, it’s not something we set out to do, but given a crazy day at work, a broken washing machine, getting stuck in traffic, coming home to fighting children and milk spilled on the floor, you would have to muster a lot of zen to not be a little agitated. It’s ok. Just take a deep breath, apologize for losing it, and then think about some ways you can prevent those small life stressors from piling up and making you crazy the next time.
3 - Overscheduling or underscheduling your child. As your child gets to the age where he can participate in extracurricular activities, it can be overwhelming to know which ones. Your overzealousness may result in signing up for more than you realized. Alternatively, I know plenty of well-adjusted adults who didn’t play a sport or have any organized
activity during school. Give yourself time to find out what works for your child and your family.
4 - Being overly focused on consequences. This one is especially for moms of toddlers and young kids. When your children first start showing signs of gaining their independence, it can be maddening. And the mom frustration grows the more strong-willed your child is. When you first begin to implement behavior management strategies, it is easy to focus more on the negative consequences before you learn the delicate dance of positive and negative reinforcement and what level of those work for your child.
There is no such thing as a perfect mom, no matter how much we strive to be. Perfect parenting isn’t real parenting. We will all make mistakes (and probably beat ourselves up about it too much). How about we learn to learn from those mistakes quickly, give ourselves some much-deserved grace and get onto the business of loving our kids and loving ourselves well. Let’s face it; making mistakes doesn’t make you a bad parent; it makes you normal.
I would love to follow along on your journey on social media, where we can share our crazy #momlife moments. My instagram is @gingerjones and I look forward to meeting you!
Hello there, adventure seekers!
Ollie Pup here and I am loving this warmer weather! If you are itching to get out and about with your pups to enjoy the beautiful days together, here are some local dog parks to enjoy!
Just remember to have your dog’s vaccinations up to date, watch your pup to make sure they are getting along with others and keep your pups on a leash at all times when not inside the safety of the dog park.
Wiggle bottom and slobbery smooches to you and yours!
Ollie Pup
BARKWOOD DOG PARK AT TOWER PARK 920 Heritage Way Brentwood, TN
BLAKE’S BARK PARK
3680 N Chapel Road Franklin, TN
EDWIN WARNER DOG PARK 50 Vaughn Road | Nashville, TN
FREEDOM RUN DOG PARK 2098 Turning Wheel Lane | Franklin, TN
K-9 KORRAL DOG PARK AT HARLINSDALE FARM 239 Franklin Road | Franklin, TN
MAGGIE’S BARK PARK 138 Claude Yates Drive | Franklin, TN
NOLENSVILLE DOG PARK 2310 Rocky Fork Road | Nolensville, TN
NUTRO DOG PARK
4441 Columbia Pike | Thompson’s Station, TN
See more of Ollie and his adventures at facebook.com/OlliePupBoxer, on Twitter @OlliePupBoxer and follow @OlliePupBoxer on Instagram.
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Visit for exclusive content, party pictures, events, giveaways and all things Williamson County!
When the new Williamson County Entrepreneur and Innovation Center (EIC) opens on the campus adjacent to Franklin High School this fall, high school students will now have a unique opportunity to learn from the experience of leaders in the business community. In August, 130 students from across Williamson County Schools will participate in the inaugural semester. Now it’s time to recruit the mentors who will serve them.
“We’re looking for 200 business people who are willing to share their insights with students, on a number of levels – as instructors, as speakers and as advisors,” EIC Executive Director Dr. Kari Miller said. “Our objective is to represent the communities that all ten of our high schools serve, and to offer perspectives from a diversity of industries and walks of life.”
For students, the EIC represents a valuable opportunity for those in the ninth through the twelfth grades to gain hands-on experience in entrepreneurship and innovation by starting a business, launching a product, or offering a service. Accepted students will attend the EIC part-time each day, with the ability to gain high school credit through two unique entrepreneurship courses or to assist with a student entrepreneurial venture without earning high school credit.
Dr. Miller says she’s been impressed with the number of students who are already running successful businesses and are looking to take the next step, as well as those who recognize the shifting economy and emerging opportunities for the future.
“We’ve attracted the interest of students who are photographers, bakers, fashion designers and landscapers,” she said. “We’ve also heard from students who have ideas that could change the world. This is
a wonderful opportunity for everyone involved, and we anticipate that our mentors will find as much reward in the experience as the students do.”
Mentors from the business community must complete a comprehensive survey, submit a resume and references and undergo a background check to be considered for acceptance. A communitybased business support organization, called the EIC Catalyst Network, is partnering with WCS leadership to bring the school district’s vision to life, and is assisting in the mentor recruitment process.
EIC Catalyst Network Board Chair Jay Chawan, managing partner of Brentwood-based office interiors company GBI, says the EIC is looking for representatives of industries ranging from technology to law, manufacturing, retail and beyond.
“The objective is to expose students to the realities of the business world, which is something most students traditionally don’t gain true perspective on until they enter the workforce,” Jay said. “To that end, we want corporate leaders, small business owners, natives and transplants – a diversity of ages, backgrounds and experiences – to get involved.”
To learn more about the Catalyst Network or to apply to become a mentor, visit eiccatalystnetwork.org. For more on the Williamson County Schools Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, go to wcs.edu/district/departments/tla/eic/.
BGA INDUCTS JUNIORS AND SENIORS INTO PRESTIGIOUS CUM LAUDE SOCIETY
Battle Ground Academy has inducted eight juniors and seven seniors into the school’s Cum Laude Society. Membership to Cum Laude is one of BGA’s highest honors for academic excellence and scholarship. The 2019 Senior Inductees: Laura Abbott, Nate LaRock, Jenna Diab, Max Byram, Graham Mayer, Nolan Davidson and Jessica Wang. The 2019 Junior Inductees: Bailey Anderson, Micah Ball, Justin Chen, Cole Dennis, Katelyn Helberg, Sophia Valenti, Jackson Weber and Evelyn Zhu. BGA previously inducted nine current seniors last year: Annie Arvizu, Abigail Baur, Christina Conrady, Fletcher Daniel, Caleb Fleming, Ian Gray, Kristin Hulsey, Reed Locke and Ridley Randolph. Founded in 1906, the Cum Laude Society is dedicated to honoring scholastic achievement in secondary schools. Established in 1889, Battle Ground Academy is a co-educational, college preparatory school for grades kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn more at battlegroundacademy.org.
FRANKLIN HIGH STUDENTS WRITE THEIR WAY TO WASHINGTON D.C.
Two Franklin High School juniors will travel to Washington D.C. this summer where they will be honored for their writing skills. Jinsun Kim and Sam Walsh each earned an all-expense paid trip to the nation’s capital after being named winners in the Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation (MTEMC) Washington Youth Tour Creative Writing Contest. Each year, eleventh grade English teachers at Franklin High assign their students an essay based around the contest’s requirements. They choose the best essays in each of their classes and submit them to be judged. Prizes are awarded for the top papers at school, county, area and state-wide levels.
Jinsun and Sam were selected to win $100 and join only fifteen students in the MTEMC service area to travel to Washington D.C.
Future scientists at Pearre Creek discovered all the right solutions at this year’s Elementary Science Olympiad in Murfreesboro. The students took home more than twenty-five individual awards in addition to an overall fifth place trophy at the competition. This was the school’s first time earning a trophy for overall performance. Listed below are the students who placed within the top five in their categories: Pearson Harrison, Drew Keown, Sophie Strohm, Melissa Revis, Drew Keown, Aidan Turpin, Will Bobbitt, Carson Harris, Jake Keown, Finley Adiar, Samuel Michael, Carson Dillard, Sophia Belle, Caroline Hendren, Hudson Oaks, Aislyn Conrad, Anna Clare Wadsworth, Sadie Salvatore, Grier Staton, Lily Morton, Sophie Strohm and Melissa Revis.
BY PAIGE ATWELL
Karen Kingsbury was five-years-old when she wrote her first book. While it may not have been a bestseller, it certainly ignited a path that would spark a lifelong passion for story-telling. But if you had told this young girl that she would one day become the author of not one, not two, but over seventy novels, she would have probably called your bluff. In fact, as a freshman at Pierce College, she would have told you she was going to be a prosecutor.
That is, until she took Journalism 100. After three weeks in the class, Professor Bob Scheibel, an experienced journalist and advisor for the school newspaper, uttered two sentences that she would never forget.
“Two things. First, you will never, ever stop writing. And second, you’re on staff.”
And just like that, her future was set.
In 1988, Karen married her husband Donald. The two lived in a rented, $100-a-month garage apartment with no air conditioning or heat while Donald finished up his teaching credentials and Karen worked at a newspaper.
After moving to the Los Angeles Daily News, Karen and Donald celebrated their six-month anniversary and found out that they were expecting their first child.
“I figured I’d never know this baby- too busy working long days at the newspaper,” said Karen. “Donald simply rejoiced and said, ‘We need to pray. God will show you a way to write at home.’”
Shortly after, Karen sold a true murder story she’d covered for the newspaper to People Magazine. After it ran, a literary agent in New York contracted her, thinking it would make an interesting book. As it turns out, so did a lot of other publishing houses.
Three days before she was due to return to work from maternity leave, the agent called to tell her that there was a bidding war for her proposal. Her first check alone was $12.49 more than she made in an entire year.
“Over the next few years, I wrote four true crime books – not my favorite topic,” explained Karen. “After that, I couldn’t write about another murder. I begged God to show me what was next, how I might find my way back to that long-ago Plan A – being a novelist.”
In 1995, Karen wrote her first novel: Where Yesterday Lives. After thirty rejection letters from publishers, Multnomah Publishers wanted her
book and two more (at least).
Since then, she hasn’t stopped. She’s written more than seventy novels, with the last dozen having topped national bestseller lists. Currently, there are more than twenty-five million copies of her books in print.
“God puts stories on my heart like movies,” said Karen. “They are vivid and real, and the characters feel like people I know. I love writing the story. But I also deeply love hearing from readers whose lives have been changed by reading the books.”
Along with being a mom, wife and #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, in 2011, Karen added another title to her arsenal: Williamson County Resident.
“We moved here in 2011 from the Pacific Northwest, and I remember having a very specific feeling that first year: I had come home,” said Karen. “When I’m home, I drive through the streets of Franklin and Brentwood and I can’t stop smiling. I love the people and the parks, the manicured grasses and vast blue skies… I thank God daily that Williamson County is my forever home!”
While she’s had quite the successful career to say the least, it is far from being finished. Karen just released her newest novel, Two Weeks, and several of her books are currently being adapted into major Hallmark films. Meanwhile, her Baxter Family series is also being developed into a TV series, and she’s also working as an adjunct professor of writing at Liberty University. And if you were to ask Karen, she would easily confirm with you that she will, indeed, never, ever stop writing.
Photography by K. York
The second annual Pooch-A-Palooza Dog Show and Expo was held at Nolensville Bark Park. It was a beautiful afternoon for the pooches to come out and show off their talents in competitions, including Best Costume, Best Trick, Best Retriever and Best Bark. Adorable, adoptable dogs and cats from Williamson County Animal Center were on site hoping to find their forever homes. Vendors like 4Paws Pastries had the attention of all the pooches. The event was organized by Williamson County Parks and Recreation. To learn more about their events, visit wcparksandrec.com. SOCIAL | Pooch-A-Palooza
BY PAIGE ATWELL
Victoria Reed has a passion for performance. More specifically, what she would call “patriotic entertainment.”
Before moving to Franklin, Victoria lived in New York City. In 1966, she was hired to sing on a USO Christmas tour to veteran’s homes and hospitals. She remembers that she had never experienced such patriotism as she did while watching veterans sing God Bless America. Shortly after, she was hooked.
She spent ten years traveling the globe bringing entertainment to active duty military and veterans. In 2006, she started her own company, Red, White & Blue Music, which specialized in presenting patriotic performances. In 2009, she became the entertainment director for the National WWII Museum in New Orleans before finally joining the Williamson County community in September of 2018 as the director of performing arts for the Williamson County Performing Arts Center.
Looking for ways to serve and be involved in the community, Victoria created The Belles of Franklin: a local, women’s patriotic performance group.
“The mission of the Williamson County Performing Arts Center at Academy Park is to provide quality entertainment,” explains Victoria. “Academy Park is designed to showcase local talent, to engage the opportunities for arts culture to enrich, educate and entertain our community. The Belles certainly contribute to this mission by serving as musical ambassadors and role models. The Belle’s also provide an opportunity for young women to display their talents and to honor the veterans of Williamson County.”
Victoria worked diligently for a month to select the music and compose dialogue for their 2019 show. In total, The Belles put in about eighty hours rehearsing and preparing for their season. The result is an elaborate, lively and, of course, patriotic show consisting of everything from country and folk, to inspirational and national anthems.
And if one thing has been proven in their performances thus far, it’s that they’re certainly crowd-pleasers.
“Although the Belles are new, the response has been very favorable,” says Victoria. “All the troupe members have or are working toward a degree in music and performance. They sing in close three-part harmony and I think audiences really enjoy the blend and selection of repertoire.”
Auditions for the Belles are held on an as needed basis, and they are always on the lookout for fresh, enthusiastic talent. While the ability to sing and dance are obvious essentials, what’s even more important is a passion for service and community. The Belles strive to serve as polished, professional role models and hope to encourage other women to put their best foot forward in whatever they set out to do.
“I think it is important for every community to honor their veterans and music is a way to connect and communicate with people of all ages,” says Victoria. “Music touches a chord within us that resonates with our heart, mind and spirit. It can help us to forget our troubles for a moment and lifts us to another dimension. To touch the hearts and souls of the citizens of Williamson County is the magic The Belles of Franklin hope to achieve through their music. Williamson County is home to such a vibrant artistic community and the Belles of Franklin are proud to contribute to it as musical ambassadors.”
The Belles of Franklin are available to perform at your next event! For booking information, please contact Victoria Reed at 615.454.7545. To keep up with their performance schedule, visit academyparktn.wcparksandrec.com.
There never seems to be a shortage of arts and culture events to attend in middle Tennessee! Here are just a handful of upcoming art exhibits, music events, plays and more that we can’t wait to see!
June 4th-9th | Tennessee Performing Arts Center | tpac.org
Experience the acclaimed new production of the legendary musical Miss Saigon, from the creators of Les Misérables. In the last days of the Vietnam War, seventeen-year-old Kim is forced to work in a bar run by a notorious character known as the engineer. It is there that she meets and falls in love with an American G.I. named Chris, but they are quickly torn apart by the fall of Saigon. For three years, Kim goes on an epic journey of survival to find her way back to Chris, who has no idea he’s fathered a son. This new production features stunning spectacle and a sensational cast performing the soaring score, featuring Broadway hits including The Heat is On in Saigon, The Movie in My Mind and Last Night of the World.
May 31st- June 3rd | Schermerhorn Symphony Center nashvilleballet.com
Experience Carmina Burana as never before in this multimedia sensation featuring updated choreography from Nashville Ballet and an original film that will bring this bawdy, medieval text vividly to life. With its epic score for full orchestra, adult chorus and children’s chorus, Carmina Burana is a feast for the senses, and this is your chance to witness the debut of Nashville Ballet and Nashville Symphony’s exciting new production.
May 23rd-26th | Schermerhorn Symphony Center nashvillesymphony.org
Harry Potter™, Ron Weasley™ and Hermione Granger™ are back in this unforgettable concert event. Relive the magic with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix™ displayed on a giant screen in highdefinition, accompanied by the magic of the Nashville’s Symphony’s symphonic orchestra. Experience Harry and his friends racing through the Department of Mysteries, practicing Defense Against the Dark Arts in secret and enduring Professor Umbridge™ with Nicholas Hooper’s iconic score!
May 31st- June 15th | Pull-Tight Theatre | pull-tight.com
Pull-Tight theatre will end its season with something entirely fresh and new: Big Fish, a musical that opened in 2013 based on the novel by Daniel Wallace and the film by Tim Burton. Edward Bloom is a traveling salesman with a lot of larger-than-life stories. When his son, Will, is about to have a child of his own, he becomes determined to find the truth behind his father’s epic tales. Join the magical journey as figures from Edward’s past come to life onstage.
May 17th-June 2nd | Studio Tenn | studiotenn.com
The biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes alive this spring in Studio Tenn’s musical retelling of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat! Blessed with vivid dreams that foretell the future, Joseph, Jacob’s favorite son, finds himself the center of a comedic tale of family, betrayal and service to a hilariously Elvis-like Pharaoh. A truly timeless Old Testament tale, the Tony Award winning Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat spans a multitude of musical genres from country-western and calypso to bubble-gum pop and rock and roll. You won’t want to miss this season’s best kind of feel-good, warm-hearted and irresistibly spectacular season finale!
Our annual ladies’ issue is the perfect time to celebrate the most important women in our lives: Moms! If there is anybody that deserves a day dedicated to all they do, it’s them! Here are a few fast facts you may not know about this annual holiday.
In the majority of languages throughout the world, most words for “mother” starts with the letter “M.”
¼ of yearly purchased flowers are bought on Mother’s Day. In fact, studies show that receiving flowers has a multitude of health benefits.
Mother’s Day is the most popular day of the year for phone calls.
most popular day in the world
Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day an official holiday by signing it into law in 1914.
We are looking for professionals to join our team in Sales & Marketing, Writing & Photography. Be a part of THE community—social—business—lifestyle publication in Sumner and Williamson County.
We want to meet you! Contact us at info@robertsonmediagroup.com with your resume and cover letter.
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Needs To Be Checked Off!
Sandestin packs in the fun with complimentary amenities, resort events and family friendly activities for everyone. With a variety of accommodations from the beach to the bay, you’ll find the perfect choice for your getaway!