Vol. 1, Issue 6 July/August 2011
RETURN OF THE TOMATO East Nashville’s invitation to party
Carol Williams
HOW EAST NASHVILLE GOT ITS GROOVE BACK
On the Run
WIDE-OPEN EAST COUNCIL RACES
DAVE E RICH FOR DISTRICT
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MOVING EAST NASHVILLE FORWARD
VOTE:THURSDAY,AUGUST 4 EMAIL: @ TWITTER: @DaveRichFor6
FACEBOOK: Dave Rich For District 6
PAID FOR BY THE CAMPAIGN TO ELECT DAVE RICH FOR DISTRICT 6, LORI SCHWARTZMILLER TREASURER | PHOTO CREDIT: JAN FIREK PHOTOGRAPHY
Publisher Lisa McCauley Editor Chuck Allen Associate Editor Daryl Sanders Art Direction Daddy D Design Ad Design Curt Perkins Contributing Writers Helen Gaye Brewster Jaime Brousse Elizabeth Chauncey Francie Hunt Eric Jans Carole Anne King Theresa Laurence Alan Murdock Curt Perkins Lynn Taylor Photographers Chuck Allen Brydget Carrillo Stacie Huckeba Theresa Laurence Mike Loyco Carolyn Manney Alan Murdock Wendy Whittemore Webmaster Laura Ewen Advertising Contact: Lisa McCauley lisa@theeastnashvillian.com 615-582-4187 www.theeastnashvillian.com Š 2011 Kitchen Table Media, LLC The East Nashvillian is published bimonthly by Kitchen Table Media, LLC. No protion of this magazine may be reproduced without the epress permission of the Publisher. All rights reserved.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Carol Williams How East Nashville got its groove back By Jaime Brousse Mothers helping mothers Three new chapters of MOMS Club By Theresa Laurence Get to know your neighbors At East Nashville’s Night Out Against Crime By Helen Gaye Brewster The return of the Tomato East Nashville’s invitation to party By Carole King Books worth snatching from your kids (So you can read them) By Francie Hunt Kevin Gordon East Nashville guru of storytelling and song By Curt Perkins Dogs just want to have fun How to avoid a dog days bummer By Elizabeth Chauncey Give your house that “new home” look Cost-effective ways to improve your abode By Lynn Taylor Not your grandmother’s container garden The joy of gardening for a fraction of the work. By Alan Murdoch Above photo by Wendy Whittemore Cover photo by Stacie Huckeba.
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On the run Districts 5, 6 and 7 will all have new reps By Eric Jans
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Where would ketchup be without the tomato? Nowhere, man, that’s where. So it is, too, with art come sultry August in East Nasty. Without that juicy red fruit your art just isn’t. Yes, my friends, once again Mother Earth has returned to that special place in her orbit which can mean only one thing — TOMATO SEASON! And what better way to celebrate both tomato season and our unique East Nashville state of mind than the annual Tomato Art Festival. It’s fun for the whole family; young and old, blond, brunette, and especially — redheads! Carole Anne King invites us into the land of a fruit that acts like a veggie in our cover story. Even those of us who spike our fruity veggie drinks with too much of the hard stuff still can’t help but notice our more-than-fair-share of ßber talented songwriters and ! ! " For a long view of the neighborhood from someone who’s acquainted with triumph and tragedy, Jaime Brousse’s story about local activist Carol Williams is fantastic. I ! # !
fully be realized until we’re all long gone. It’s a nice respite from the I-want-it-all-andI-want-it-now me, me, me-ism that plagues our cultural present. Which reminds me — ’tis the season for politics. Okay that might sound a bit cynical, but I would wager the only people left who are completely lacking in cynicism towards all things political are probably also lacking a pulse. Here at The East Nashvillian " $ % ! local the elections for the Metro Council. The ever intrepid Eric Jans has put together a set of questions for candidates in the 5th, 6th, and 7th districts. Their answers may help you decide for whom to vote, or vote against. www.theeastnashvillian.com
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& ! ' ( % ) * % * ! & +! , - % .&. # grab a bloody Mary or a tall glass of iced tea and, as always, enjoy the reading.
Chuck Allen
chuck@theeastnashvillian.com
Candidates who responded to The East Nashvillian questionaire: (top row, L-R) Scott Davis, Hans Schmidt, Stephen Downs and Anthony Davis; (bottom row, L-R) Dave Rich, Peter Westerholm, Randy Reed, and Bob Borzak.
ON THE RUN
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n August 4, we head to the polls to vote for mayor, vice mayor, five council at-large seats and one council seat from each district. Interestingly in the three East Nashville districts (5, 6 and 7), there are no incumbents running since Mike Jameson and Erik Cole have been term limited and Jamie Hollin is not seeking reelection. So the field is fresh and we need to start considering who will lead us. It’s important for neighbors to be involved in who will be representing us for the next four years because there are so many issues that will affect us. For instance, the Metro council will likely be tackling legislation about the redefinition of homebased business regulations and the redevelopment of Nashville’s main corridors (like Gallatin Road) and base zoning like the Specific Plan District Zoning in East Nashville. Other citywide items that will likely be considered by this new term of Metro officials include infill around the new
Music City Center, a possible new baseball stadium, the redevelopment of such areas as the state fairgrounds site, and mass transit. Choosing a candidate that will help guide us through these issues is important. Redistricting took place earlier this summer and changed East Nashville’s lines dramatically. District 5 stayed close to the same boundaries, which are north of Main Street up to just past Trinity Lane and west of Gallatin Road to I-65/I-24. Business districts inside District 5 include Main Street, Gallatin Road, Dickerson Road, Trinity Lane and the area around the Holland House. Scott Davis, Priscilla Eaton, and Pam Murray are running in that race. District 6 has a more dramatic boundary change, losing downtown and gaining land east of the Shelby Golf Course. The Cumberland is a major boundary, and District 6 is south of Main Street and East of Gallatin Rd. The northern boundary is Straightway and Carter. District 6’s business district includes Five Points as well as Shelby Street,
Woodland Street and Main Street/Gallatin Road. Running in District 6 are Bob Borzak, Dave Rich, Hans Schmidt and Peter Westerholm. In District 7, the boundaries shifted the most dramatically and are now north of Straightway past Briley Parkway, staying east of Gallatin Road and bordered by the Cumberland River. Besides Gallatin Rd the main business district inside District 7 is Riverside Village. In that race are: Anthony Davis, Stephen A. Downs, and Randy Reed. The East Nashvillian sent out questionnaires to each of the candidates. There were five questions that we asked them to answer in 50 words or less. Not all of the questionnaires were returned by press time, but here are the responses that we received. (The answers were not edited except for length.) Don’t forget to vote on August 4. For more information on council districts, maps, early voting times check out: http:// www.nashville.gov.
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By Eric Jans
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Scott Davis (District 5) — I’m running for metro council in order to address the needs and concerns of all the people that live in my district. I will be a public servant that solves problems for the people of District 5. I have one message for the people of District 5 — “I work for you.� Bob Borzak (District 6) — As a long term neighborhood advocate in East Nashville, I already have extensive experience in dealing with complex neighborhood issues. I am uniquely qualified to assume the leadership role as Councilman, devoting whatever time is necessary to initiate and support planning programs that best serve the needs of this community. Dave Rich (District 6) — I love East Nashville and want to support our neighborhood’s growth and progress. As a councilperson, I intend to act as a steward of the neighborhood’s interests, protect our rich history and unique culture, and advance the needs of East Nashville. Hans Schmidt (District 6) — My neighbors want a representative who will continue the strong tradition established by past council members of accessibility and responsive advocacy on issues important to our historic neighborhoods. I have a demonstrated commitment to public service and the skills and experience to be an effective advocate for District 6. Peter Westerholm (District 6) — I’m running for metro council to promote smart growth policies within the urban core: balancing development with preservation, accommodating growth of residents and businesses, providing more transit and housing options for more people, revitalizing blighted areas, and remaining a welcoming place for people young and old, old and new. Anthony Davis (District 7) — I am running to be a great leader for Inglewood and East Nashville. I feel as a business owner, and neighborhood activist, I am best fit to continue the leadership from Erik Cole here in District 7. I plan to take great care first and foremost of my local constituents. Stephen Downs (District 7) — I am running for councilman in the new 7th district because I know that with your support I can make a difference in this community. I urge you to remember that I am and will be a voice that is at your disposal, and that is what we need now. Randy Reed (District 7) — A lot of government services have been cut back. I want our services restored and improved. We can make East Nashville better. There is no reason we can’t. East Nashville was once the Belle Meade of Nashville. We can make life better here and have neighborhoods to be proud of.
3. What is the biggest issue facing Nashville that you Scott Davis (District 5) — The biggest issue facing Nashville that I cannot wait to tackle is the water and sewage issues. In District 5, I have addressed these issues by organizing neighbors and local businesses to help clear sewage drains and refuge filled ditches that block the flow of storm water. Bob Borzak (District 6) — Support planned business growth that results in new revenue allowing metro to adequately fund essential services such as education, transportation, public safety, updating infrastructure and storm water management, the provision and expansion of green spaces and provide affordable housing opportunities without the need for raising taxes. Dave Rich (District 6) — The most important issue is sustaining positive growth in East Nashville. The development of the East Bank of the Cumberland will be an enormous part of the future of our neighborhood. I want to encourage responsible business development while improving education, keeping our neighborhoods safe, and investing in infrastructure. Hans Schmidt (District 6) — In spending our tax dollars, the next metro council must balance economic investment in large-scale building
2. What sets you apart from your fellow candidates in Scott Davis (District 5) — I sit on the board of two business councils focusing on bringing economic opportunities to East Nashville. I am cochair of my neighborhood association. I volunteer weekly in neighborhood schools. In the past two years, District 5 has had six neighborhood cleanups. I am the only candidate who has participated. Bob Borzak (District 6) — Experience; a 25-year record of public service and active leadership in the East Nashville community: PTO president, LSNA president, Rediscover East Zoning/Codes Committee chair, Urban Design Committee member, NOTICE program coordinator, Crime Prevention advocate, board member of Friends of Shelby, supervisor on site for Nashville Habitat for Humanity. Dave Rich (District 6) — As an attorney, I meet and listen to clients, identify their interests, carefully consider the issues and articulate their positions. The strengths that allow me to succeed as a professional will help me represent and act as an advocate for the needs and interests of the citizens of East Nashville. Hans Schmidt (District 6) — Drawing on my experiences as a native Nashvillian, Peace Corps Volunteer, litigation attorney and neighborhood association president, I have the ability to analyze complicated policy questions and to be diplomatic about managing diverse constituencies as we work through solutions to the issues facing our growing city. Peter Westerholm (District 6) — I have a strong background in both zoning and budgeting, and a history of dedication to the community. My involvement on boards, commissions, and volunteer work has given me a broad base of understanding the challenges we face, and the skills to work with others to gain a viable consensus. Anthony Davis (District 7) — I feel I am a much stronger and more professional representative for Inglewood, Rosebank, and Madison than the other candidates for District 7. Also, I feel working hand in hand with Mayor Dean will ensure a successful four years of positive growth in our area. Stephen Downs (District 7) — Anthony is new to our councilmatic system. I can articulate things that will come before the council and analyze what is before the council. I simply listen better than Randy. I will not get off track of important issues facing us as a rising city. Randy Reed (District 7) — I was raised in East Nashville and retired here. I know how Gallatin Road and our neighborhoods looked and have watched it deteriorate. Recently things have started to turn around but council members need to help. As a police officer for 37 years, I know how to deal with complaints. projects in our rapidly growing city without losing focus on the need to fully fund public education and other critical infrastructure projects that enhance the unique neighborhood quality Nashville enjoys. Peter Westerholm (District 6) — Growth is the biggest concern for Nashville, because it will impact every quality of life indicator. It’s important that we address many of these challenges (transit, infrastructure, pollution, economic development) in a coordinated effort, along with the framework for bringing the vision to reality. Anthony Davis (District 7) — Nashville has many issues ongoing, but a brief snapshot would be: baseball stadium and other solid capital projects, more vibrant schools as well as school choices, mass transit, and a bike/pedestrian friendly environment throughout Nashville. Stephen Downs (District 7) — The biggest issue facing Nashville is maintaining, and growing a budget that will keep all programs fiscally strong while striving to create, make, and evolve, a city to its fullest potential in terms of family values, economic worth, and with objectives that move us forward as a city. Randy Reed (District 7) — Crime effects all of us, from the nurse getting home late and worried about her surroundings to thieves stealing from our out buildings and front porches. But we have other problems, from flooding in low lying areas and ground water problems to power outages and brush pickup.
4. How do businesses and neighborhoods impact the district and interact with each other (i.e. describe their
ing your neighbors and how do you plan to address
Scott Davis (District 5) — Businesses are very important to our neighborhoods. Local businesses in the neighborhoods of District 5 employ a large number of the residents. Businesses help provide assistance with neighborhood events and gatherings. My goal is to continue to develop strong ties between businesses and the residents of district five. Bob Borzak (District 6) — The Cumberland River is central to Nashville’s identity and downtown Nashville is the heart of the city. With the completion of the Music City Center and phase one of the Cumberland Park, it is essential that East Nashville develop a business plan that will focus on this opportunity. Dave Rich (District 6) — Our community needs positive and productive relationships between residents and merchants. Businesses have a responsibility to support neighborhoods where they prosper. Likewise, our neighborhoods benefit from the vital tax revenue, services and jobs businesses provide. As a councilman, I would strive to balance the interests of business and our neighborhoods. Hans Schmidt (District 6) — In District 6, we actively support small, locally owned and operated businesses nestled on “commercial corners� throughout our neighborhoods. Like traditional urban neighborhoods of the past, this mixing of commercial and residential uses within the same space helps facilitate close relationships between residents and the business owners who serve them. Peter Westerholm (District 6) — Businesses and neighborhoods provide the character of a district, and should complement each other in crafting that community identity. Neighborhoods want places to shop and work that are convenient and inviting. Businesses want customers they can establish lasting relationships with, and serving a local clientele often makes good business sense. Anthony Davis (District 7) — These two groups tie together to shape the district and how residents feel living here. We need great neighborhoods, but great business surrounding the area, too. With District 7, it’s largely Gallatin Road other than a couple small commercial areas (i.e. Riverside Village). We must continue to grow and improve. Stephen Downs (District 7) — Businesses and neighborhoods are synonymous in terms of complimenting one another. I am the person who each side wants in their corner and I can say my expertise in conflict resolution allows me to negotiate admirable resolutions for both sides while maintaining friendships, which is important and critical in business. Randy Reed (District 7) — The quality of business reflects on neighborhoods and vice versa. As we improve homes, that affect business and hopefully, attract more of the kinds of business that neighborhoods will support. We need a variety. You should be able to take care of most of your needs without going across town.
Scott Davis (District 5) — We face several public health, economic, educational, and infrastructure concerns. I will address these issues by listening to constituents, and then use the combination of public health facilities, schools, and the Nashville Health Council to address these concerns. I will focus on bringing positive businesses and development to Dickerson Road. Bob Borzak (District 6) — Continue financing education programs with a proven record of success such as the pre-K program and stop funding those that are failing. Streamline the application/approval process for rebuilding/new construction in planned development areas. Address the issue of recidivism that threatens the safety of our residents and businesses. Dave Rich (District 6) — It’s impossible to answer this question in 50 words. Nevertheless, in addition to improving public schools, infrastructure, and safety in East Nashville, we must concentrate on development of our riverfront, cleaning up the Main Street/Gallatin Road corridor, and modernizing our mass transit system to accommodate East Nashville’s growing needs. Hans Schmidt (District 6) — Public safety, public schools, and neighborhood quality of life issues are priorities for our district. I will advocate for more funding for those departments that provide these essential city services. Where needs exceed resources, we must develop strong relationships with our community organizations to help fill those gaps. Peter Westerholm (District 6) — In District 6, we must continue revitalization of the riverfront, the Gallatin Road Corridor, and other areas of opportunity for infill development into a higher and better use. Crime and quality of schools remain top concerns, and I’ll work to bring the resources and innovations necessary to continue progress. Anthony Davis (District 7) — Business development – we need continued small business growth on Gallatin Road, as well as in our smaller commercial developments like Riverside Village. Walkable and biking friendly neighborhoods. Transportation – mass transit! Gallatin Road is ready for more options. Education — working with parents and school officials to improve our school choices. Stephen Downs (District 7) — The seventh district will be challenging and rewarding, and because it is new, it will take several community meetings to assess the main issues in the district. I will say the more immediate issues of concern are property tax relief for the elderly and disabled, sidewalks, storm drainage, and crime. Randy Reed (District 7) — We have service issues in our neighborhood from storm water to brush and debris pick up to power problems. One of the issues is to make Gallatin Road more pedestrian friendly. We have a lot of areas not safe to walk, let alone walk a dog or ride a bicycle.
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arol Williams didn’t want to live in a trashy neighborhood. Then her attorney husband suggested their family move to a dilapidated fixer-upper near a murder scene he had recently investigated. “This was one of those zones that was so high crime, you didn’t come to it,” she says. “But Charlie saw this house, and he wanted it.” That was 1975. The neighborhood was never the same, and neither was Carol Williams. It was nearly a year before the home was livable. The Williams family purchased their 1888 home on Russell Street for $9,000 — far below the median home price of $35,000 — and they began to erase the damage brought on by generations of neglect. A dozen layers of wallpaper came down and decades of grime were scrubbed, lifting the lingering stench from a recent squatter. It’s hard to imagine Williams as a pregnant mom with a full-time job willing to take on such a big challenge. East Nashville was not always a bustling zip code of hipster bars, distinctive restaurants and young families willing to invest money and time spent watching HGTV into an up-and-coming urban neighborhood. Back then, there were no festivals, running clubs, or 37206 bumper stickers. Carol remembers the couple had to invite doubting bankers into their home to personally go over renovation plans to secure financing. “We had to fight every inch to get anybody to loan us any money to put in the house, because [the banks] said anybody that had money enough to fix up
this house would not live in this neighborhood.” Even those not well-versed in East Nashville history may know the most exclusive neighborhood in the city was nearly destroyed in the Great Fire of 1916, but they may not know the rest. An extravagant mansion, encompassed by a sprawling wooded estate and one-time home to a women’s college, was leveled to make way for Nashville’s largest public housing project in the 1940s and 50s. While the James A. Cayce Homes offered stable housing to an under-served population walking the The Activist As A Young Girl A young Carol Williams poses in front of her home on Shelton Avenue in Inglewood. (Photo courtesy of Carol Williams)
poverty line, unfortunately it also brought the threat of increased crime. The construction of a noisy interstate along the East Bank in the 1960s served as a physical barrier that further isolated the neighborhood. Problem properties and absentee landlords were the norm when the Williams family arrived in the 1970s, and they were one of the few young homeowners in Edgefield. A few doors down, a family of 14 rented a home without electricity. What started as a home-improvement project soon became a block-improvement project. No stranger to hard work, Williams logged extra shifts in a local cafeteria to pay for her teaching degree at Peabody College (now a part of Vanderbilt University). The Williams set their sights on the biggest issue facing their home — literally, one they dealt with every time they looked out the front window: cleaning up East Park. Today, visitors headed to Five Points pass by a park with a tidy playground, wellgroomed softball fields and wide-open green space. Still home to a few transients, East Park isn’t perfect, but it is the perfect spot for a Hot Chicken Festival, and a nice alternative to battling the firework-gazing masses downtown on the Fourth of July. The park’s current image has more in common with its 1920s heyday than the rough-and-tumble eyesore that bordered the Williams’ property. The original cutstone bandstand was razed in 1956, and the park deteriorated into a makeshift homeless shelter and dumping ground. A prefabricated steel hut served as a donation site for old clothing and mattresses. Not
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Photo by Carolyn Manney
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surprisingly, by the time the Williams family braved the run-down tennis courts, the area’s most booming businesses were drugs and prostitution. She and her husband sought the help of the few other homeowners on their street. As word spread that someone was finally taking charge, neighborhood meetings eventually drew crowds of 80 people. Almost by accident, Williams had become an activist, and she was good at it. In 1978, Edgefield became a Historic Zoning Overlay district, and the Metro Historical and Zoning Commission gained oversight on any demolitions or renovations. East Park eventually got its makeover — the city added sidewalks, lighting, trashcans, landscaping — and more recently, a new community center. “Once we organized, we became a social force, a political force — and with the two together, we were recognized,” Williams says. “Historic zoning was the first step, the initial step to saving East Nashville. It gave us the voice we needed and from there on, we fought hard. It was not easy, but it was worth it.” Edgefield continued to improve, but life for the Williams family was still far from the white picket fences of idyllic American suburbia — the neighborhood would have made most Belle Meade housewives — even most Bellevue housewives — squirm. Petite, pretty, and married to a prominent attorney, Williams was not the typical young mom. “My kids have been exposed to life, on every level,” she says. Occasionally, homeless people slept on their porch. Instead of calling the cops, she set her fears aside, and got to know them. “They were our friends, we knew their names.” A portrait her son sketched of a homeless man the family knew well hangs in her kitchen still today. While such experiences may have scarred some people for life, it had the opposite effect on her three children. Each moved out of state as a young adult — each eventually returned to East Nashville to settle down and raise their own families. A story about Williams’ life, and the evolution of East Nashville, could not be told without the events of April 16, 1998. For Williams, the tornado that tore through town with 150-mile-per-hour winds was a near-death experience that marked a turning point in her life. “That day the tornadoes were bouncing all around Nashville,” she recalls. “I had
been to the Y in Brentwood to work out, we had taken shelter in the locker room there. But then when I came out, the warnings had been lifted. So I ran another errand and was on my way back from the Germantown area, and here it came.,”Williams was at the corner of 1st Street and Woodland when she spotted the tornado and pulled over. “My car was being lifted, so I jumped out of the car and hit the ground and hung on to a chain link fence. At that time, the stadium was being built, and the insulation was flying off the stadium, and I wrapped my head in insulation. So I was on the ground until it passed.” When the storm cleared, thousands of East Nashville structures — homes, businesses, churches stretching from Edgefield
“Once we organized, we became a social force, a political force — and with the two together, we were recognized,” Williams says. to Eastland Avenue and beyond — needed repair. Roofs were blown off; debris and downed trees littered the streets. When things were cleaned up, a different place emerged — one with condos, new restaurants, and long-needed improvements fueled by the influx of insurance money. An army of volunteers helped put East Nashville back together, arguably stronger than it was before the storm. Williams would draw from her survival of the tornado to find strength in the years to come. “In some ways, it became symbolic of lying in the middle of darkness,” she says. “It was the beginning of one change after another.” After 25 years in East Nashville without a violent incident, Williams was robbed and assaulted in broad daylight outside her Edgefield home in 2001. Soon after, her brother, a close friend, died suddenly. In 2005, her daughter survived a liver transplant. Six months later, Charlie, her husband of 40 years, committed suicide. He had long struggled with depression, stemming from childhood abuse and a daunting diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. “He tried for years to do everything he could, and the fact that he was willing to get
help [for his depression] was comforting to me,” Williams says. “I find great peace in the fact that he did go for help.” She hopes that by being open about his death, more people will seek help themselves. The loss of her husband has compelled her to keep fighting for causes close to her heart, and close to her home. “We all grew from the experience of his life and of his death. So anything that benefits East Nashville, or East Nashvillians of any income — from the poorest of the poor to the professional — I want to be a part of making it better,” she says. “If anybody calls and there is a need, that’s where I want to be, no matter how big or how small.” Right now, she sees a need in Shelby Park. Despite decades of urban improvement under her belt, Williams has lofty, long-term goals for the park she’s known since she was a little girl. As the president of the nonprofit Friends of Shelby Park and Bottoms, Williams says part of her motivation is wanting to restore the park to the well-manicured hills she rolled down as a child, and maintaining one of her husband’s favorite spots. The group worked with Metro Nashville to create a 20-year, $27-million master plan for the park. It includes taking advantage of Shelby Park’s proximity to downtown and prime riverfront location. “To have an urban space of over 1,000 acres including the Bottoms, this close to downtown is a gift that many cities don’t have,” she says. “If you travel in other cities, they utilize the river — you can walk and bicycle along the river. We in Nashville are a little behind that.” Thanks to a $1 million allowance in Mayor Karl Dean’s budget, work will begin in the fall on safety improvements to traffic flow and parking. Williams would also like to see more playgrounds, but says bigger changes will require bigger donations. Friends of Shelby is working with Metro to apply for grant money, and the group holds their annual fundraiser, the Hot Chicken Festival, in East Park on the Fourth of July. Still, there’s a long way to go. “We need $26 million more,” she says. Undeterred by the financial hurdle, Williams hopes the 20-year master plan is realized in half that time. She knows it doesn’t take a miracle to make things happen — it takes a group of people who care. For a neighborhood built on a tradition of transformation, much of it on her watch, more change ahead seems entirely possible.
A 25 year track record of public service and proven leadership in the East Nashville community plus the willingness to dedicate whatever time is necessary to do the job. I’m asking for your vote on August 4 to help me put my experience to work for you.
Vote for Experience! Vote for Bob Borzak, Metro Council District 6 Learn more about Bob at:
borzakdistrict6.com
MOTHERS HELPING MOTHERS
Story and photograph by Theresa Laurence
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magine you are a new mom in a new city far from family and you’ve made the life-changing decision to be a fulltime, stay-at-home mom. Once you and your baby adjust to life together, and a somewhat normal sleeping routine, you are probably ready to reenter the world outside your home. What do you do next? Where do you go? Where do you find other moms like you? Well, if you live in East Nashville, you can join one of three newly established branches of the International MOMS Club. In the club, moms can find daytime support, playgroups for their kids, free babysitters, and much more. “Being a stay at home mom can be very isolating — I don’t think people are wired for that,� Bonnie Bogen, who founded the MOMS Club of East Nashville in 2008, says. A mother of two, Bogen is a former nonprofit development coordinator, who has not received a paycheck in her name in six years. “The core reason this exists is to serve full-time, stay-at-home moms who
have no other support during the day. “Making the switch from full-time working woman to full-time mom can be difficult,� she continues. “It’s hard to transition from doing something completely for yourself to basing your life around what this little person wants.� The MOMS Club, which stands for Moms Offering Moms Support, has been around for nearly 30 years and boasts over 2,100 chapters in the U.S.Three of the newest chapters are right here in the neighborhood: The MOMS Club of East NashvilleLockeland (for Lockeland Springs and also covering East End, Shelby Hills, etc), The MOMS Club of East Nashville-Inglewood (for all of Inglewood and also covering the Rosebank area and Fortland Farms) and The MOMS Club of East Nashville-Eastwood (covering Eastwood Neighbors and areas west of Gallatin extending to Dickerson Road). The decision to split or “sister� the MOMS Club of East Nashville into three new chapters has been almost a year in the
making. When the current board took office last July, there were 48 members. In less than a year, membership nearly doubled, bringing the current total to 91. “The international MOMS Club suggests that the optimal number for a chapter is between 30 and 40 members and I think there’s some wisdom behind that,� Bogen says. She will serve as administrative vice president of the new Eastwood chapter. East Nashville MOMS Club leaders noticed participation among members tapering off as the numbers swelled. With the new, smaller clubs, “I’m looking forward to knowing people in my chapter better,� she adds. Like her neighbor Bogen, Alice Mary Smith, the outgoing president of the MOMS Club of East Nashville and vice president of membership for the new Eastwood chapter, had reservations at first about joining a “MOMS club,� because it sounded a little “too clique-ish.� As founding members of the East Nashville MOMS Club, the neighbors were able
to work within the well-organized national guidelines and adapt the club to the unique culture of the neighborhood. Activities include story time at the East Branch library, walking at Shelby Bottoms, having brunch or attending a gardening club at a member’s home. MOMS club members also perform at least one major service project each year, and host several big annual events open to the entire community, like a Valentine’s Day dance. “The activities are in line with our values of simple, low-cost family fun,” Bogen says. When Smith was invited by Bogen to join the fledgling MOMS club in 2008, “I didn’t know I had a need for it,” she says. “But I do, and it’s the most rewarding thing. I just love it. It’s a real community of people helping each other.” For example, when strong storms swept through the neighborhood in late May, MOMS Club members quickly took to their online message board to ask for and receive assistance with clearing downed trees and sharing refrigerator space. In less urgent situations, MOMS club members are constantly exchanging ideas and advice in person and online about everything from cloth diapers to home pest control.
“Being a stay at home mom can be very isolating — I don’t think people are wired for that.” — Bonnie Bogen, MOMS Club of East Nashville founder Many members of the MOMS clubs of East Nashville are transplants to the area, and have found within the club a real sense of family here. “It feels like some of the MOMS Club kids are cousins,” Smith says. The moms who have no other part-time job or childcare spend a lot of time together during the week, and many become close friends. “Even if the only thing you have in common is that you’re a mom and you live in East Nashville, you’ll probably get along,” she says. “I’ve been able to have adventures with the boys (Evan, 4, and Asher, 2), like going to farms, that I would not have done without other moms around.”
Bogen and Smith both know moms who decided to have another child because they felt empowered by other moms in the group. “I probably would have given up, and not continued to stay home” without the club, says Bogen, the mother of Matthew, 4, and Hannah, 1. One of the highlights of the MOMS club is the babysitting co-op which allows members to find other moms to babysit for them free of charge. It works like this: When a new member joins the co-op, she is given tickets based on the number of children she has. When she needs a sitter, she emails the group and finds someone who can watch her child, and pays her with tickets. She earns tickets back by babysitting for someone else’s child. No money ever changes hands. “Being a stay at home is a big financial sacrifice for many of us,” Bogen says, and the babysitting co-op is one way to help ease that burden. Within the club, “we do some really remarkable things on a shoestring.” For more information on the MOMS Clubs of East Nashville, email momsclubeast@gmail.com or visit www.momsclubeast.blogspot.com.
Get to know your neighbors at East Nashville’s Night Out Against Crime By Helen Gaye Brewster
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n typical East Nashville fashion, Gracie Vandiver became an activist without ever meaning to. And that led to her involvement with East Nashville’s Night Out Against Crime which will be held on Aug. 2 at Eastwood Christian Church. After the flood, Vandiver was a victim of crime. Her home was burglarized and she and her husband lost irreplaceable items, including her engagement ring. And that’s what caused her to take action. She went to the Eastwood Neighbors Association and learned that a Crime and Safety Committee had already been approved. Gracie and neighbor Manuel Delgado became the cochairs of the committee and set goals of creating crime awareness and neighbor awareness. They came up with the idea of yard signs to help get the word out. Working with Alison Slamon on the graphic design, they created the signs being seen around East Nashville: A pair of watchful eyes with the words, “Something Suspicious? Don’t Wait. Call 862-8600.” They worked with Metro police for permission to use their emblem and phone number. Then, the signs were printed by Kevin Anthuis at 5 Points Digital Imaging. 150 of the signs have been sold so far with the money being used for crime prevention, including East Nashville’s Night Out Against Crime.
Night Out Against Crime is a nationwide and citywide series of volunteer-driven events aimed at bringing neighbors together. Vandiver and the other East Nashville organizers are planning a fun, informal event that allows neighbors to enjoy time together and take home goody bags filled with information about crime prevention, safety and emergency preparedness. Presented by Lockeland Springs Neighborhood Association and Eastwood Neighbors Association, the night is designed to create crime awareness and a sense of community, bring neighbors together, and give exposure to East Nashville businesses. Plus, it is an opportunity for the media to focus on the good in East Nashville rather than crime. This year’s event, from 5 to 9 p.m. on the church grounds at 1601 Eastland Ave., will be sponsored by NCA Alarms, Mother Knows Best Media, Delgado Guitars, Cheveallier Design Studio, Nashville AMP Photo by Chuck Allen
www.theeastnashvillian.com
Photo by Mike Loyco
Show, and Fanny’s House of Music. Neighborhood associations, groups, and businesses are working together to make it an evening that is not only fun and informative, but that also allows residents to get to know each other better. Associations from Historic Edgefield, the newly formed Rosebank Association, and the Concerned Citizens of South Inglewood are taking part. Cub Scouts Pack 1548 is helping assemble the 300 goody bags. Nothing brings neighbors together like free food, and this year’s Night Out Against Crime will have complimentary hot dogs, chips and water. Neighbors also will be able to enjoy food samples from East Nashville restaurants and Jenny from Pied Piper Creamery will have ice cream scoops for $2. Coupons for free scoops are available at her shop. It wouldn’t be an East Nashville event without music, so area artists, including Eric Brace and Peter Cooper, and Jon Byrd will provide the musical entertainment. There also will be speakers from Nashville Emergency Communications Center offering info on Smart911, and Alan Murdock will talk about ReDiscover East. There also will be a variety of booths to check out, with the Davidson County Sheriff ’s Office, Nashville Emergency Communications Center, The Neighborhoods Resource Center, and Urban Green Lab among the exhibitors. Heather Gillich with Shelby Bottoms Nature Center plans to showcase community gardening and discuss the link between community gardens and lower crime rates. Cub Scout Pack 1548 will have information and conversation on scouting along with a fun food treat. And they didn’t forget the kids, who will be able to play in a fenced and supervised playground and have fun in a bouncy house. There will be prizes along with all this fun., including gift certificates to neighborhood restaurants and businesses, as well as other give aways. ‘Vandiver is quick to point out that Night Out Against Crime couldn’t happen without the cooperation of the neighborhoods. “There’s no way it would happen without any one of us,” she says. “The people involved all do what they say they’re going to do and that’s why it’s happening.” For more information, visit the East Nashville’s Night Out Against Crime page at on Facebook (www.facebook.com/EastNashville2011NightOutAgainstCrime).
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By Carole Anne King
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The Tomato Art Fest began as an art show theme in 2004, dreamed up by Meg and Bret MacFayden, owners of Art & Invention Gallery on Woodland Street, as a way to inspire artists and give people a “cool” reason to come outside and enjoy the sticky days of August. The Tomato Art Fest began as an art show theme in 2004, dreamed up by Meg and Bret MacFayden, owners of Art & Invention Gallery on Woodland Street, as a way to inspire artists and give people a “cool” reason to come outside and enjoy the sticky days of August. Now in its eighth year, The Tomato Art Fest in historic East Nashville’s Five Points area (which is touted by Budget Travel magazine as “Nashville’s version of New York’s East Village”) continues to be a free — and free-wheeling — costume-friendly, imaginative and colorful event that draws thousands of attendees. Organizers expect more than 20,000 people at this year’s event on Saturday, Aug. 13. Activities begin at 7 a.m. and go on throughout the day, with the last band going on at 8 p.m. The reason for its exuberant growth and popularity is clear to Meg. “It has an intimacy that other festivals lack,” she says. “It’s not about just showing up. Everyone, whether they’re organizing a crazy contest or dying their hair with red food coloring, or simply jumping into the parade line on a whim — they’re making it what it is.” Here’s the recipe: take the tomato (technically a fruit, but considered a vegetable) and use it for a cheeky symbol of unity. Voila! You have a motto — The Tomato … A Uniter, Not A Divider, Bringing Together Fruits And Vegetables — that encompasses the attitudes and philosophy of Nashville’s most eclectic neighborhood. Now invite all the neighbors to bring their own ingredients and run with it. The result is a saucy, kaleidoscopic, family-friendly festival that has received kudos from both local and national press with mentions in Southern Living magazine, Family Circle, and Epicurious to name a few. Locally, it was voted “Best Festival” four years in a row in the Nashville Scene’s readers poll.
www.theeastnashvillian.com
t may be the most homegrown and organic neighborhood block party ever invented.
Smart Growth Starts Here
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Smart Growth Starts Here addresses the challenges we face as a neighborhood: how ǁĞ ďĂůĂŶĐĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ ƉƌĞƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ͕ how we accommodate the growth of residents ĂŶĚ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐĞƐ͕ ŚŽǁ ǁĞ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ŵŽƌĞ ƚƌĂŶƐŝƚ ĂŶĚ ŚŽƵƐŝŶŐ ŽƉƟŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͕ ŚŽǁ ǁĞ ƌĞǀŝƚĂůŝnjĞ ŽƵƌ ďůŝŐŚƚĞĚ ĂƌĞĂƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚŽǁ ǁĞ remain a welcoming place for people young and ŽůĚ͕ ŽůĚ ĂŶĚ ŶĞǁ͘
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Sustainable, Livable Neighborhoods Vibrant, Safe Streets Effective, Responsible Government More Transit and Housing Options For more information about me and my ‘Smart Growth Starts Here’ vision for our city, please visit my website at:
Westerholm for Council 1502 Long Ave, Nashville, TN 37206 paid for by westerholm for council -‐ treasurer wes aull
www.peterwesterholm.com
Vote August 4, 2011 Early Vote Begins July 15
“What Bret and I care and love the most is community,” Meg says. “We love building community, helping people feel a part of the community. That’s what our motto is all about. The Tomato Art Fest brings together community in a way that’s really fun.” And for her, simple things are really the best. Take, for example the neighborhood parade that kicks off the day. “The parade is so wonderful and goofy,” she says. “It starts out in front of Fanny’s and picks up people along the way, all of them smiling and happy. I love that people think it’s fun to dress up in red clothes. It’s so delightful it almost makes me cry.” All things tomato and then some! Silliness and whimsy are what the Tomato Art Fest is all about, from the art to the
activities and contests. For a complete list of the festival’s unique offerings visit www. tomatoartfest.com. Here are a few highlights: The Tomato 5K, sponsored by the Margaret Maddox YMCA, kicks things off on Saturday morning with a special Children’s Fun Run at 7 a.m. The 5K begins at 10th and Woodland Street at 7:30 a.m. Participants can register online until June 30 for only $25. From then until August 12 at 11:59 p.m. the cost is $30. Runners are welcome to register in person on race morning for $35. A New Orleans-style “second line” parade starts at 9 a.m. Neighbors in all manner of costumes fill the first line marching band as well as the second line dancing behind. Don’t be shy — jump right in and join the fun anywhere along the meandering neigh-
borhood route! Ends at corner of 11th and Woodland near the main stage. The Wet Burrito Contest, sponsored by Nuvo Burrito, encourages competitors to eat a burrito while being sprayed by a water hose. Do you have the stamina to be the “fastest face filler” or best of show? Winners will receive “prizes and glory.” Bored with dressing up Barbie dolls? Take fashion to another level by adorning and decorating a real tomato for the Beautiful Tomato Contest sponsored by Alegria. Into creative costuming for yourself ? Enter the kids’ costume contest at Fanny’s House of Music at 1101 Holly Street. Got a tomato-based cocktail recipe that deserves recognition? Enter the Bloody Mary Contest sponsored by 3 Crow Bar at 1020 Woodland Street to compete for the crown of Best Bloody Mary.
www.theeastnashvillian.com
The Tomato Arts Fest brings out tens of thousands of people to East Nashville for a variety of festival activities, including entertainment such as music and belly dancing, fashion shows and a 5K run. (Photos by Wendy Whittemore except top photo by Stacie Huckeba.)
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“What Bret and I care and love the most is community,” Meg says. “We love building community, helping people feel a part of the community. That’s what our motto is all about. The Tomato Art Fest brings together community in a way that’s really fun.” And for her, simple things are really the best. Take, for example the neighborhood parade that kicks off the day. “The parade is so wonderful and goofy,” she says. “It starts out in front of Fanny’s and picks up people along the way, all of them smiling and happy. I love that people think it’s fun to dress up in red clothes. It’s so delightful it almost makes me cry.” All things tomato and then some! Silliness and whimsy are what the Tomato Art Fest is all about, from the art to the
activities and contests. For a complete list of the festival’s unique offerings visit www. tomatoartfest.com. Here are a few highlights: The Tomato 5K, sponsored by the Margaret Maddox YMCA, kicks things off on Saturday morning with a special Children’s Fun Run at 7 a.m. The 5K begins at 10th and Woodland Street at 7:30 a.m. Participants can register online until June 30 for only $25. From then until August 12 at 11:59 p.m. the cost is $30. Runners are welcome to register in person on race morning for $35. A New Orleans-style “second line”parade starts at 9 a.m. Neighbors in all manner of costumes fill the first line marching band as well as the second line dancing behind. Don’t be shy — jump right in and join the fun anywhere along the meandering neigh-
borhood route! Ends at corner of 11th and Woodland near the main stage. The Wet Burrito Contest, sponsored by Nuvo Burrito, encourages competitors to eat a burrito while being sprayed by a water hose. Do you have the stamina to be the “fastest face filler” or best of show? Winners will receive “prizes and glory.” Bored with dressing up Barbie dolls? Take fashion to another level by adorning and decorating a real tomato for the Beautiful Tomato Contest sponsored by Alegria. Into creative costuming for yourself ? Enter the kids’ costume contest at Fanny’s House of Music at 1101 Holly Street. Got a tomato-based cocktail recipe that deserves recognition? Enter the Bloody Mary Contest sponsored by 3 Crow Bar at 1020 Woodland Street to compete for the crown of Best Bloody Mary.
www.theeastnashvillian.com
The Tomato Arts Fest brings out tens of thousands of people to East Nashville for a variety of festival activities, including entertainment such as music and belly dancing, fashion shows and a 5K run. (Photos by Wendy Whittemore except top photo by Stacie Huckeba.)
Be sure to get in on the Bobbing for Tomatoes Contest, sponsored by Wags and Whiskers at 1008 Forrest Avenue. No registration needed for the RedHead Competition, just show up with your tomato red locks. This contest is open to all redheads — men, women, boys, girls, and those whose red hair is just NOT REAL! Check out vintage looks at the East Nashville Fashion Show, put on by The Hip Zipper. Pet lovers will like the “faux paw� doggie fashion contest, coordinated by the Lockeland Springs Neighborhood Association. ed wares While the Tomato Art Fest is free, more than 150 food and creative vendors will be on hand with the best that East Nashville has to offer. So bring a few bucks for crafts, jewelry, art and photography, pottery, Tshirts and more. And plan to eat your way up and down the streets. Local businesses and nonprofits will have informational booths as well. “The fest continues to grow each year and with it the number of vendors eager to participate. We generally get double the applications for the number of booths we can accommodate. So the choosing gets harder and harder,� vendor chair Jack Davis says. “We’re thrilled with the expanded crop of vendors this year and think festival-goers will be, too!� All sorts of kiddy fun
www.theeastnashvillian.com
The festival always has plenty of children’s activities. Never mind potential meltdowns — many of the offerings start early to beat the heat: Fried Restaurant at 7 a.m. with more than coffee. Kids can dive into crafty projects starting at 7 a.m. ! 12th and Holly Streets will have activities for children. " " # ! $
ages 10 and under to make their own tomato-inspired ice cream sundaes using Red Velvet Elvis ice cream and bright green vanilla syrup. The messy fun starts at noon. We grow music over here
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“The Tomato Art Fest is all about original, homegrown music. So we are particularly keen to showcase local talent from
You can strut your stuff in the second line parade or win prizes in contests, such as the wet burrito challenge, or even bob for tomatoes. (Photos by Wendy Whittemore except above photo by Stacie Huckeba.) East Nashville and the surrounding Nashville area to align ourselves with the spirit of the festival,� music chair Dana Delworth says. Festival planners expect more than two
dozen singers, songwriters and bands to entertain throughout the day on two different stages. (A third stage is a strong possibility; details are being worked out). New this year is an acoustic stage sponsored by
The Green Wagon located at Forrest and 11th Streets. Performers (confirmed so far) include parade leaders Half Brass, Ned Van Go, The Red Caps, Bodhicitta Bellydancers, Totie Meets the Phantom, and Roy Agee’s KISS Tribute brainchild. More artists are being added every day according to Delworth, who promises that the lineup is, once again, “super East Nashville local.�Expect the first performers to begin around 10 a.m., with
the last taking the stage around 8 p.m.
Make a donation
Come pitch in
What started out as a modest neighborhood event eight years ago has grown tremendously, even gotten a bit sophisticated with official street closings, Metro Parks assistance and other security measures. While the festival is still hosted by The Art & Invention Gallery and brought to life by a merry band of energetic and dedicated volunteers, there are costs involved when you invite more than 20,000 people to come play with you. Those inclined to help “Team Tomato� make this enduring gathering a success are welcome to make a secure online donation at the festival’s website.
True to its homegrown spirit, the Tomato Art Fest relies largely on the work of many, many volunteers. Event day will need extra volunteers to help set up and tear down, to pick up trash and to be runners between booths. Interested? Fill out the volunteer form at www.tomatoartfest.com to get started.
MacFaydens to hatch new businesses
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www.theeastnashvillian.com
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n their more 11 years as part of the East Nashville business community, Bret and Meg MacFadyen have seen plenty of small businesses open in the area. But many of them did not succeed due to lack of density, significant overhead costs and timing. The husband and wife team aim to change that with their latest endeavor, The Five Points Collaborative (An Idea Hatchery). Located at 1108 Woodland Street, the Five Points Collaborative is comprised of eight modular buildings constructed independently of each other in a variety of sizes. The project’s small rental spaces are designed to encourage start-up businesses, giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to explore and experiment with a business idea “without breaking the bank,� Meg says. “Think of it as an incubator for small business.� The MacFadyens founded The Art & Invention Gallery next door, along with The Tomato Art Fest and I Dream of Weenie hotdog stand. “Our goal is simple: to broaden the business base of East Nashville beyond restaurants and bars — we want the neighborhood ’s day-life to be just as strong as the nightlife,� she says. “We want to help put new ideas in a brick and mortar structure in Five Points, to help new businesses learn and solve problems, to create a community of independent thinkers, to graduate businesses as they grow and need more space, and to invite other entrepreneurs to join us. Most of all, we hope to capture the energy of innovation and new ideas — otherwise it will be lost to our neighborhood, and perhaps even our city.� The MacFaydens see their “hatchery� idea as a model for Nashville, one that preserves the opportunity for future development of a property while providing an interim opportunity for micro businesses to flourish. “It’s an ideal solution for developing empty lots in vibrant, or up-and-coming, parts of Nashville. By hosting several of these modular structures on one piece of property, property owners are able to create an instant business community for a reasonable cost. The modular structures can be easily moved (or sold) if a property owner should choose to build a permanent structure on their land at a later date. “We’ve learned that something grand can grow from a simple idea, as long as the creative spirit is allowed to flourish,� Meg concludes.
Want first dibs on the art? Want to be able to SEE it without the crush of thousands of sweaty festival-goers? Then make your way to Five Points on Aug. 12, the Friday night before the festival for the popular Tomato Art Fest Preview Party. A $25 admission gets art lovers in the door at The Art & Invention Gallery to enjoy this year’s crop of tomato art, live music, food and Bloody Marys. When all the ingredients come together Tomatoes take their own sweet time ripening on the vine and unless you need a green one for fried okra, they’re worth the wait. Party details are a lot like that, too. Sometimes they don’t come together until the eleventh hour. (And sometimes a press deadline happens well before they can be confirmed.) So follow the Tomato Art Fest on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest updates and check out the official website at www.tomatoartfest.com for complete information about events, contests and lineups for the music stages. Never been to East Nashville or felt compelled to don a papier machĂŠ tomato head on a hot August morning? What are you waiting for? You’ll find directions and maps on the website, too, along with plenty of photos from last year’s fest for inspiration. For a fun, neighborly, arty good time head to Five Points (the conjunction of Woodland and South 11th Streets) on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. for the Tomato Art Fest! “We’re so grateful that so many people are willing to come play year after year.â€? Meg says.
Stained Glass Accessories 1701 Fatherland Street Nashville, TN 37206
615-226-0555 Custom Commission work Repairs and Supplies Classes available Come visit our gallery – We have the works of over 50 artists displayed – or – Visit us on the web at www.stainedglassaccessories.com
Books worth snatching away from your kids (so you can read them) By Francie Hunt Photograph by Chuck Allen
“She says that if you spend too much time house cleaning that you miss out on important things like sunsets and bike rides and picnics” from Grammy’s House by Laura R. Clifford.
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aura Clifford began writing a few years ago when she turned 60 and realized she wanted to spend the third trimester of her life doing something creative and meaningful. Grammy’s House is the first book in a seven-book series about baby boomer grandparents and their antics. Clifford has a Masters in special education, but most of her inspiration for writing has come from her own grandchildren and her desire to encourage more children to enjoy the outdoors. She believes that if children learn to love nature, they will be compelled to take care of God’s creation. Clifford has lived — off and on — in East Nashville since 1978 and has enjoyed reading to children at Lockeland Design Center, where her five grandchildren, who also live in the neighborhood, attend. The first-time author is an endearing, quintessential grandmother figure who took the bold step of recreating herself in her later years. She never envisioned herself as an artist or writer before, but after considering many options such as retirement, relocation, traveling, mission work, going back to school, or volunteering, she was drawn to starting a childrens’ book series. The self-published Grammy’s House reads from the granddaughter’s voice and the perspective is absolutely charming and humorous to both adult and child read-
Grammy’s House is East Nashville resident Laura Clifford’s debut children’s book
ers. You are guaranteed to conjure sweet memories of your own grandmother when reading this book. Clifford enjoys reading Mercer Mayor books, The Berenstain Bears by Jan and Stan Berenstain, and Miss Twiggley’s Tree by Dorothea Warren Fox to her grandchildren. For adults, she recommends Last
Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv. Grammy’s House is available for purchase at Fairytales Children’s Bookstore, which recently won the Women’s National Book Association’s Pannell Award which recognizes and acknowledges the work of booksellers who stimulate, promote and encourage children’s and young people’s interest in books. The bookstore was praised for the “comprehensive approach it takes to involving kids in reading, from creative play and storytelling, to music, and visual arts.” It also was noted that “its daily story time offers many ways for kids to engage with reading and books.” Its attention to parents — their need to “relax and rejuvenate” in
the store — was also commended. Another local read is The Cycling Wangdoos by Kelly Pulley. It’s an adorable rhyming book about a family of six riders on a long tandem bike where they learn about the importance of teamwork. Find out what happens when some riders decide to take a break until only one rider does all the work. East nasty kiddos are lucky to have Pulley do a book reading and signing at Eastside Cycles in Five Points in July. The Hunger Games is another favorite summertime young adult read this year. It is a sci-fi story where children of the future play a reality television game where they must literally kill their competition until there is only one victor. If a child is able to read it, he is probably old enough to handle the subject matter. The other two books in the series are Catching Fire and the final book just released late last year, Mockingjay. Francie Hunt lives and works in East Nashville and serves on the Nashville Public Library Board.
right around the corner from where I live now.” How has East Nashville has changed since then? “Feels like things keep getting better. If you would’ve told me in 1995 that in a few years I was going to be able to get a pint of Guinness less than three blocks from my house, or have my pick of several great restaurants within my own zip code, I might have suspected you of eating the wrong mushrooms. I just don’t want this area to lose its distinctive identity and character.”
Kevin Gordon: Storytelling and Song
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Photograph by Brydget Carrillo
f Nashville music has a mantra, it might be this: storytelling and song. And when it comes to that particular mantra, Kevin Gordon is unquestionably a guru. Sinewy grooves prop up character studies and narratives of love and loss in a gritty Americana landscape where love’s redemptive power is always present, but somehow distant. It’s sometimes easy to hear his influences — a bit of Jimmy Reed groove, some rockabilly, blues and soul, an evangelical gospel thump and growl. But the final product is eclectic and completely individual. It is no surprise that Gordon’s songs are featured in major motion picture and television soundtracks. His songs have been recorded by the likes of Keith Richards, Levon Helm, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Irma Thomas, Webb Wilder, and Kate Campbell. Over the course of 20 years of writing, recording and touring, Gordon has built an impressively consistent catalog of songs, a critically-acclaimed stack of albums, and a reputation for dynamic live performances that make first-time listeners life-long fans. Gordon has a new album coming out this
year called Gloryland, and it is a treat. It is produced by Joe McMahan, and special guests include Sarah Siskind and Lambchop’s Scott Martin and Ryan Norris. Currently, as a special treat for his fans, he is offering a free download of the track “Watching the Sun Go Down” from his last album O Come Look at the Burning on his website (www. kevingordon.net). Recently, Gordon sat down with The East Nashvillian to talk about music, art, and life in East Nashville.
“It’s never been easier to record, distribute, and promote. I’m pretty much all DIY, with the exception of making records. Great for retaining control; not so great for your free time. I feel closer to my fans than I ever have — communication, via twitter, Facebook, et al., is so immediate now. I’d be better at it if I were more of a narcissist, though — I can’t imagine blogging every day, or tweeting every three minutes. No matter who you are, the smaller details are not always that fascinating. And a lot of valuable mystery gets lost in the process.”
You moved to East Nashville in 1995. What made this part of the city your choice then?
You utilized quite a bit of fan-sourcing in order to help fund your upcoming release. How do you feel about that process? Was your approach different from what you’ve seen other artists try?
“We were renting in what is now called Sylvan Heights at the time, -but were looking to buy. Sylvan Park was already pretty hot at that point — we looked there, and we looked here on the East side. At that time you could get the same square footage for half the dough over here. That made it an easy decision. I had a number of friends over here already, and dug the vibe, so it felt comfortable. The place where I stayed when I first started making exploratory trips down here from Iowa circa 1990 is
“I resisted the whole idea for about a year — and I still have mixed feelings about it. I don’t like that so much of the rhetoric surrounding the phenomenon is framed in language that’s usually reserved for charities (or political campaigns) — “donate, support, contribute.” This is a business it’s a way of raising capital while engaging your fans with the project, emotionally and financially. It’s a pre-release sale when it comes down to it. But the tighter connection with my fan base has been such an
www.theeastnashvillian.com
By Curt Perkins
The music industry has changed quite a bit since your first release Cadillac Jack’s #1 Son in 1998. Has that changed the way you approach your music and/ or fans?
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Hans DISTRICT 6
Hans Schmidt for Council District 6
Safe Neighborhoods
Fiscal Responsibility
* As President of the Lockeland Springs Neighborhood Association, Hans understands the importance of building and keeping close ties between our community groups and our local police precinct.
* Hans will work for efficiency and transparency in Metro's budget and procurement processes, and he won't tolerate unethical behavior or frivolous government spending.
Responsive Leadership
Strong Public Schools
* From Zoning and Codes issues to equal protection for all Nashvillians, Hans will work diligently to continue the momentum in East Nashville and throughout our www.HansForNashville.com city.
* As a Metro public schools graduate, Hans understands the importance of equal access to quality public education for all of our children, and he will demand accountability for the taxpayer dollars spent in our schools.
Paid for by Hans Schmidt for Metro Council District 6,Tomianne Schmidt,Treasurer Photo by grannisphotography.com
By Elizabeth Chauncey Photograph by Wendy Whittemore
W
hile getting the dogs out in great weather can be especially enjoyable, this time of year brings with it a lot of valid concerns for animal safety. Here are just a few tips, as well as some fun activities, to keep the season pleasant for everyone. Fleas & ticks — Tis the season. There are numerous ways to control fleas and ticks, and since these can be passed among people as well as animals, it’s a good idea to prevent them as much as possible. Ticks also carry diseases that afflict dogs as well as humans, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Talk to your vet about conventional products for preventing fleas and tics. Homeopathic recipes are also an option. Mosquitos — Because mosquitos cannot be prevented, it is of utmost importance that you give your dog a heartworm treatment regularly. Heartworms are caused by the single bite of an infected mosquito. Over the course of a few months, the larvae mature into adult worms that lodge in the dog’s heart and multiply causing heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is a slow death sentence if not detected and treated.Treatment of heartworms is expensive and/or a very long process depending on how you and your vet decide to attack it. Preventing the condition however, is simple as a regular treatment — monthly pills, monthly topicals, and there is also a six-month inject-
able product. These treatments will kill the larvae before they are able to mature and attack your dog’s heart. It is highly recommended that you do a heartworm test at the same time as your annual canine vaccines and if treatment is required be sure to investigate all avenues of treatment to determine which will be best for your pet and the extent of their condition. Cats also are susceptible to heartworm disease and there is a monthly treatment to help kill the larvae. However, cats are not routinely tested unless symptoms are present because they often have a much smaller heartworm burden, making the test unreliable. There is no treatment for a cat once it tests positive. There are monthly treatments that will help control fleas and ticks, as well as kill heartworm larvae and typical intestinal parasites. There also are homeopathic options. Hot vehicles — A study by the Animal Protection Institute showed that even moderately warm temperatures outside can quickly lead to deadly temperatures inside a closed car. The study compared an outside temperature of a shaded area with the inside of an automobile in three states with four windows cracked. When it was 90 degrees outside in the shade, the thermometer inside the car registered 108 degrees. Another study from Stanford University showed that even on comparatively cool days, such as 72 degrees, a car’s
Hot pavement — While including your dog in all the fun, animal-friendly outdoor festivals seems harmless enough, the pads of their paws were not meant to protect their feet from scorching temperatures. Pavement can get hot enough to cook an egg — would you make your dog stand in a frying pan on the stove? Their paws are one of the few ways dogs can expel heat from their bodies, not to mention the damage it does to their pads, much as hot pavement or sand does to our bare feet. For shorter dogs, being closer to the heat source (pavement) means even more discomfort and ultimate danger. Please consider leaving your canine friends home in the air conditioning or check out some kind of doggie bootie to help protect their paws. Doggievogue.com has doggie mesh sandals, reflector dog boots and dog socks with rubber bottoms. Lakes and rivers — Even a dog that can swim and loves to swim will get tired
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Dogs just want to have fun
internal temperature will rocket to 116 degrees within 60 minutes. Since a dog’s normal body temperature is between 101 and 102 degrees, a rise of 3 degrees to 105 is enough to put your dog in a dangerous situation, 108 degrees can be life threatening. Dogs can’t sweat so in order to keep their bodies from overheating they must pant. If they can’t expel heat fast enough their body temperature rises. If they can’t reduce their body heat, their oxygen demand goes up to where the dog cannot keep up. Heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and intestines start breaking down on a cellular level at a fast rate so that even with immediate attention the animal can have internal damage that will affect their long-term health. While leaving an animal in a car is not in itself a crime in Tennessee, according to Assistant District Attorney General Shannon Poindexter, Tennessee state law provides it is a misdemeanor to “intentionally or knowingly fail unreasonably to provide necessary food, water, care or shelter for an animal in the person’s custody or transport or confine an animal in a cruel manner.� Police officers or Metro Animal Care & Control Officers have the authority to “interfere to prevent the perpetration of any act of cruelty as defined herein upon any animal in his/her presence.� If you genuinely believe an animal is in distress, call the police and/or MACC and ask for an officer to be dispatched to the scene.
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eventually. Anytime you are taking a dog to swim they should have a life preserver on. It will not impede their ability to swim but can save their life if they stop swimming. You will also want to keep in mind your dog will be susceptible to parasites from any body of water they come in contact with. Have your vet check out any out-of-the-ordinary symptoms after a trip to the lake. ID Tags — You hear a lot of reasons pets don’t have collars or tags — things like “They never leave the yard,� or “They just had a bath,� Unfortunately, dogs don’t let us know before they escape and remind us to put their collars back on. It will happen when you least expect it. PLEASE put collars on immediately after baths. And even if you think it will never happen, with summer winds loosening fencing, as well as scary thunderstorms and fireworks, dogs are especially prone to escaping when they otherwise might not. For East Nasvillians, the closest place to purchase an engraved dog tag with your phone number on it is Inglewood Hardware on Gallatin Road. Overheating — Dogs with short noses (pugs, bulldogs), those that are overweight,
very young or very old dogs, long-haired dogs or those dark in color are at greater risk of overheating than other dogs. After a day in the park or even a short run, a dog that isn’t interested in drinking water may in fact be in the process of overheating. Signs of heat stroke include heavy panting, dark red gums, thick saliva, dry mucus membranes, dizziness or disorientation, inability to stand, collapse and/or loss of consciousness. Heat stroke in dogs can develop into a potentially deadly situation in as little as 20 minutes. If your dog shows any of these signs, it needs immediate medical attention. You can help cool your overheated dog on the way to the vet by placing cool (not cold) wet towels on its body, particularly around the head, stomach and foot pads. Cold water (or full submersion) can constrict the blood vessels and cause further overheating. Offer your dog water to drink, but do not force it into their mouths. ed periods of time — There are wonderful local organizations that are bringing attention to issues like dogs being chained
for extended periods of time without appropriate shelter, food and water. I suggest you check out their Facebook pages or websites and find out how you can get involved in making a difference if this is something you care about. Dogs Deserve Better, Unchained Hearts and Middle Tennessee Pet Resource Center are just a few. Also, please don’t hesitate to call Metro Animal Control if you notice a dog confined, either in a pen or on a chain, without access to shade, food and water. When you are witness to an endangered life it becomes your business and you can make a difference. 1st Annual Canine Summer Splash! — Nashville Paw magazine presents a day of doggie paddlin’ fun for pooches and their people on Saturday, Sept. 9, at the Margaret Maddox YMCA in East Nashville (2624 Gallatin Pike). $10 per dog; humans get in free. For more information, visit www. nashvillepaw.com/caninesummersplash.
Elizabeth Chauncey is the founder of East C.A.N. (East Nashville’s Community Action Network). She has three dogs and runs a staging business called Spaces by Chauncey (www.spacesbychauncey.vpweb.com).
eventually. Anytime you are taking a dog to swim they should have a life preserver on. It will not impede their ability to swim but can save their life if they stop swimming. You will also want to keep in mind your dog will be susceptible to parasites from any body of water they come in contact with. Have your vet check out any out-of-the-ordinary symptoms after a trip to the lake. ID Tags — You hear a lot of reasons pets don’t have collars or tags — things like “They never leave the yard,” or “They just had a bath,” Unfortunately, dogs don’t let us know before they escape and remind us to put their collars back on. It will happen when you least expect it. PLEASE put collars on immediately after baths. And even if you think it will never happen, with summer winds loosening fencing, as well as scary thunderstorms and fireworks, dogs are especially prone to escaping when they otherwise might not. For East Nasvillians, the closest place to purchase an engraved dog tag with your phone number on it is Inglewood Hardware on Gallatin Road. Overheating — Dogs with short noses (pugs, bulldogs), those that are overweight,
very young or very old dogs, long-haired dogs or those dark in color are at greater risk of overheating than other dogs. After a day in the park or even a short run, a dog that isn’t interested in drinking water may in fact be in the process of overheating. Signs of heat stroke include heavy panting, dark red gums, thick saliva, dry mucus membranes, dizziness or disorientation, inability to stand, collapse and/or loss of consciousness. Heat stroke in dogs can develop into a potentially deadly situation in as little as 20 minutes. If your dog shows any of these signs, it needs immediate medical attention. You can help cool your overheated dog on the way to the vet by placing cool (not cold) wet towels on its body, particularly around the head, stomach and foot pads. Cold water (or full submersion) can constrict the blood vessels and cause further overheating. Offer your dog water to drink, but do not force it into their mouths. 'RJV FRQ¿QHG LQ WKH VXQ IRU H[WHQGed periods of time — There are wonderful local organizations that are bringing attention to issues like dogs being chained
for extended periods of time without appropriate shelter, food and water. I suggest you check out their Facebook pages or websites and find out how you can get involved in making a difference if this is something you care about. Dogs Deserve Better, Unchained Hearts and Middle Tennessee Pet Resource Center are just a few. Also, please don’t hesitate to call Metro Animal Control if you notice a dog confined, either in a pen or on a chain, without access to shade, food and water. When you are witness to an endangered life it becomes your business and you can make a difference.
Opening JULY 2011 Visit our New Location 5 Points Collaborative 1108-B Woodland St. (across from the 37206 Post Office)
1st Annual Canine Summer Splash! — Nashville Paw magazine presents a day of doggie paddlin’ fun for pooches and their people on Saturday, Sept. 9, at the Margaret Maddox YMCA in East Nashville (2624 Gallatin Pike). $10 per dog; humans get in free. For more information, visit www. nashvillepaw.com/caninesummersplash.
Elizabeth Chauncey is the founder of East C.A.N. (East Nashville’s Community Action Network). She has three dogs and runs a staging business called Spaces by Chauncey (www.spacesbychauncey.vpweb.com).
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Give your house that “new home� look
Other options are books with landscape plans and observing yards that you love in your own neighborhood.
By Lynn Taylor
These next two items are very important, but you may not be too excited about it.
Photograph by Chuck Allen
D
o you want a new home, but cannot sell or renovate your current home at this time? Here are a few cost effective ways to get the feel of a new home, without the big expense: Interior a professional is a powerful way to get that fresh feeling.
hired for a consulting visit or a block of time depending on your budget. the most effective. native to create order and better function in your home. They can help prioritize the clutter and simplify your life. They also can be hired for a consulting visit or a block of time depending on your budget.
Fresh colors can give a room a new look.
other possibility. A deep “spring cleaning� really does change the feeling of your home. It also can be a real treat for your family and start new habits. Everyone just feels better in a clean environment.
Painting the entire house or changing the color of the front door and window sash are all good options. Simply power washing and paint touch ups help many houses. beauty of your home. You can hire a professional landscape designer to create a master plan, which you can execute in budget friendly phases or hire it to be completed.
! mood, how about hiring an experienced home inspector to find all the little maintenance issues that need attention. Many times these repairs do not cost much, but left unattended, can be costly later. " # for old houses. I recommend having your ducts cleaned and sealed properly. This will help with the dust level in your home, which is always welcome to those with allergies. You could take it to the next level and have your crawl space sealed also recommended for those with allergies. Finally, as with all improvement projects, I recommend keeping your receipts. Experienced home design professionals are an upfront expense. Their experience will keep you from wasting time, money, and going down the wrong path. They will have years of experience, which always helps in finding the right solution for your home.
Not your grandmother’s container garden Story and photographs by Alan Murdoch
O
You should consider container gardens for a myriad of reasons, such as, when it is really hot outside in July and August, not much will be blooming except your container plants. But the ultimate reason to consider a container garden is you get the same enjoyment as a larger garden with a fraction of the work. Practically, container gardens can serve as miniature vegetable gardens. Carrots, tomatoes, lettuce and every herb imaginable are excellently grown in containers. Container gardens in the form of potted flowers give a burst of color to a drab front porch which is a lot less expensive than repainting the porch. A container garden can give friends and guests a sense of your personality before entering your home and can even set the tone for the evening. Of course a well-tended container garden bodes much better than a dry, poorly growing one. Container gardening not only shows your creativity to others, it can enhance it. Let’s start with the simpler ideas and tips and work our way toward the art forms of container gardening.
tainer garden (easy level) Sometimes simpler is better, especially if you need a quick dash of color for a party or special occasion and you don’t have much time. Here is what to do to save the day an hour before that special event: 1. Pick up the prettiest hanging basket you can find. 2. Detach the plastic hangers, remove entire plant and soil in one swoop. 3. Insert plant into pot, add potting soil as necessary. 4. Add calypso white bacopa. 5. Water plant.
At Greymont Estate (above), potted plants are used in a variety of ways. A pineapple (below) can be a beautiful “welcome plant� for your front porch.
Annual flowering bacopa added to any flower arrangement is magical and gives a sense of maturity and illusion that your flowering mecca has been there all spring and summer. Who knew that creating the best potted plant for your front door could be as simple as locating a hanging basket at the Farmers Market and sticking it in a pot? At the historic Greymont Estate in Green Hills, potted plants are used in many ways. They mark entrances and paths, make a covered parking area look like a grand entrance, and provide color in the transition zones of the property where perennial color may be lacking. The container gardens at this property range from simple elegance to
carefully crafted centerpieces. How could a container garden benefit your property? The welcome home container garden (medium level) A consistently watered container garden is certainly a welcome site at the front door, but how about an authentic “welcome plant� at the front door? To residents of warmer states, the pineapple symbolizes hospitality and is the ultimate welcome mat at anyone’s door. Pineapples are beautiful on a front porch. There are major misconceptions about pineapples: Most people think pineapples Continued on Page 42
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kay, I know what you’re thinking: container gardening is for your grandmother. But if you think that, you are missing out. It is understandable if you have some misconceptions about container gardening. Who can forget Aunt Sue’s handily potted aloe vera plant strategically placed on the kitchen sink, ready to smear all over your body whenever you scuffed your knee. Well, there are certainly better and even exciting examples of container gardening, some of them simple, some of them down-right expressionistic and here’s the dirt on them all:
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grow on tall trees like coconuts. They actually grow low to the ground. They also think they have to order their pineapple plant from Hawaii. That would be wrong too. Growing a pineapple is as simple as heading to the grocery store and is a great summer project for kids. Here’s how: 1. Choose a healthy looking pineapple with nice and pretty leaves at the top 2. Cut off the crown and soak in water for a day or two 3. Place the crown in a shallow pot with a couple inches of potting soil 4. Water frequently, especially when it is hot and use a general fertilizer monthly during warm season 5. The pineapple will mature quicker in full sun, but also likes filtered shade 6. Increase the size of the container as the plant grows (transplants nicely) The crown of your pineapple eventually becomes the base of the plant. A pineapple fruit can possibly appear within a year, but most likely two. Don’t fret about that. It’s a pretty lily-like plant in the meantime. Bring your “fruit in waiting� in during the
winter and don’t wait too long to place it outdoors in the spring. Place your pineapple plant near a well-lit window to continue the growth cycle while indoors. bowl garden (advanced-but-not-dif Hachinoki is a container plant art form and hobby that predates the “classical bonsai� movement. Hachinoki and similar gardening styles have made a comeback in recent years. The main difference between Hachinoki gardening and bonsai is the container. The bonsai tree is grown and cultivated in a shallow tray for the purpose of intentionally dwarfing and shaping the plants. Hachinoki is not limited to a particular size container and has much more freedom in design and creativity. You will see hachinoki gardens in long cement troughs, in the open knot of a downed log, and even in wooden salad bowls (with holes for drainage). You can create a Hachinoki garden in an interesting metal ale container from a vintage shop or in an elegant bowl or pot, or even have a
short-lived garden in the shell of a pumpkin. The usage of a bowl is great because your containers require less attention as they hold more soil and moisture — and more plants. The key to a great bowl is having varied height and textures with a ground cover that spills over the side. Hachinoki is a less tedious but more creative process than bonsai — ideal for those who don’t have the patience or time for a full-fledged bonsai project. If you let your plant specimens go, some of them could eventually grow to be full grown trees or shrubs, thus having some bonsai knowledge is helpful. In this art form, you create little worlds in a container or bowl. You can take a futuristic approach to your design or create an ancient miniaturized world in a bowl by using the Asian principle of “recreating nature using nature.� In addition to a young evergreen tree, you can add interestingly shaped rocks and ground covers to create small worlds that mimic much larger ones — even if those worlds exist only in your imagination.
Container gardens can add a burst of color to your patio or porch.
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POSITIVE SPORTS EXPERIENCE › Upward Soccer Camp is a great way to get out and play, while also growing in › Games, skills training, drills, contests, life lessons and healthy competition all add up to an exciting camp day. › Every camper gets an equal opportunity to play and learn FOR MORE INFORMATION !!! " Matt Dunlap: (615) 268-7364 Director of Upward Sportstm Sabrina Jones: (615) 250-1140 x137 Elementary Childrenʟs Ministries
CAMP SCHEDULE Upward Soccer Camp is for 4-year olds through 6th grade! Camp will be conducted on Wednesday evenings from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, beginning Wednesday, July 20 and ending on Wednesday, August 10 (4 evenings). Note: Child must be 4 years old by July 1, 2011. **Each camper will receive the following: Upward Soccer Camp T-shirt, soccer ball, water bottle, camp poster and weekly awards. REGISTRATION INFORMATION › The registration cost per child for soccer camp is $30. › Deadline for registration is July 7. › Second child (siblings) - only $25. › Registration form available at www.nfcn.org/upward. › Mail or return to 510 Woodland St., Nashville, TN 37206.