MARCH
2016 •
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BANKERS. NEIGHBORS.
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MARCH
2016 •
3
It’s Your Time to Celebrate with up to a $100 Resort Credit! Make any occasion special at Gaylord Opryland Resort From finding a new job to your child receiving straight A’s, we’ll help make your celebration getaway extra special by offering a $50 resort credit per night.* Luxurious spa treatments, delicious dining, unique shopping and fun entertainment options provide everything you need for a joyous occasion.
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MARCH
2016 •
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in this issue ev e n ts 11 12 18 20 23 28 30 32 38 46 50 54 57 58 65
Smith Custom Construction and Castle Rock Mortgage Open House Business After Hours Advanced Cosmetic Surgery Center Mardi Gras Open House Altra Federal Credit Union Small Business Connect Seminar Blues in the Night Champagne & Chocolates 7th Annual Fundraiser Educating Our Entrepreneurs Beachaven Winery Champagne Release Party Austin Peay State University 7th Annual Polar Plunge Austin Peay State University Symphony Orchestra Moore Magnet Family Read Night Austin Peay State University 2nd Annual Grad Gala Clarksville High School’s Wildcat Market Day Keller Williams Realty Awards Banquet The Belle Hollow Valentine’s Dinner Bash
Business After Hours
12
Beachaven Winery Champagne Release
32
Moore Magnet Family Read Night
50
Keller Williams Awards Banquet
58
de p ar tm e n t s 14 26 37 41 44 48 49 52 60
The Art of Living: St. Patrick’s Day Celebration March Calendar of Events 2016 Tennessee Academic Scene Give Care Share: Living the Young Life May We Suggest: Spring Fever People You Should Know: Austin Peay State University President Alisa White People You Should Know: Director of Schools Dr. B.J. Worthington From Pre-K to College: Does the School Make the Grade? The Good Life: Columbus, Mississippi — A Favorite Destination
ON THE COVER Bradlee Brown & Amber Glenn
©
VIP Clarksville Magazine is a registered trademark. The entire contents herein copyright Sixteen Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of Sixteen Media, LLC, VIP Clarksville Magazine, its employees and/or representatives. All information printed in this publication is compiled in such a way to ensure complete accuracy. However, Sixteen Media, LLC, VIP Clarksville Magazine and its agents assume no liability and/or responsibility for the accuracy of claims in advertisements, articles, etc. • VIP Clarksville Magazine is published ten times per year by Sixteen Media, LLC. www.VIPClarksville.com • info@vipclarksville.com
MARCH
2016 •
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letter from the publisher
VOLUME I
•
ISSUE II
PUBLISHER ASHLEY WATSON
VIP FOUNDER JEFF WATSON
EVENTS EDITOR
T
hey say that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb but with all of the winter weather we’ve had over the past few months, I’d say we’re due some lamb-like weather from beginning to end! As the official beginning of Spring rolls into view, I’m looking forward to warmth and sunshine as the herald of a hopeful new season–one full of renewal and growth and promise…and with Spring Break just around the corner, there’s sure to be plenty of fun! We’re happy to present this March issue to you as our first annual Academic Issue, a highlight of the ever-growing, ever-changing educational system that’s building the futures of Clarksville’s next generation of world changers. This issue is stacked with feature stories on some of the latest academic events happening in and around the Clarksville area, from the 7th Annual Austin Peay University Polar Plunge to a very special night of books and bites at Moore Magnet School’s Family Read Night. As a mother of two high school students with active involvement in Young Life, I’m excited to feature this fantastic organization and the ways that it so greatly impacts the lives and futures of high school students not only here in Clarksville, but all over the world. Each of the volunteers and mentors who offer their time and their love to our kids have had immeasurable influence in the world around them, and I know you’ll be touched to read about the unsung heroes in our midst. Many thanks are due to our readers and our advertisers as this second issue of VIP Clarksville Magazine goes to press. Without the outpouring of enthusiastic support and encouragement of you, our new family, this magazine wouldn’t be possible; and I look forward to many more issues ahead!
STACY LEISER
ADVERTISING LYDA KAY FERREE SHANNA MORRIS KAY SITES ASHLEY WATSON
ART DIRECTOR LYDIA BOHS
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS ISABELLA CHRISTENSON LYDA KAY FERREE STACY LEISER SHANNA MORRIS LIESEL SCHMIDT ADAM SELLERS JESSIE SHIRLEY AVA VIENNEAU WENDY WELCH JEROME WHALEY
DISTRIBUTION
Ashley Watson
JASON FRANKLIN
V I P C L A R KSV I L L E M AGA Z I N E EVENTS@VIPCLARKSVILLE.COM INFO@VIPCLARKSVILLE.COM WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/VIPCLARKSVILLEMAGAZINE VIP Clarksville Magazine is free to pick up at any of our numerous distribution locations. We’ll be on racks at many local restaurants, bookstores, hotels, bank, salons, boutiques — and the list is growing! Be sure to watch our website and Facebook page for a complete list of locations to pick up the next issue. 8
MARCH
2016 •
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Clarksville VIPs at Smith Custom Construction Open House
and
Open House
Brandon Ferguson, Richard Smith & James Ferguson
Story by Stacy Leiser Photography by Shanna Morris
L
ocal real estate agents were invited to an open house to welcome Clarksville’s newest builder to the scene. Held in a home currently on the market at 1851 Camelot Drive in the Camelot Hills neighborhood, the Smith Custom Construction Open House was co-hosted by Castle Rock Mortgage. Real estate professionals were eligible to win many prizes at the open house, including $1,000 and a listing worth $190,000. They were also treated to lunch catered by chef Nicholas Nicoletta and a preview of the “quality, broad vision, care and thought put into every home” built by Smith Custom Construction. In addition to high standards for its homes, the company prides itself and keeping price points modest. Smith Custom Construction’s offices are at 2503 Wilma Rudolph Blvd. You may reach them by phone at (931)572-8584.
Brad VanKirk & Kathey Dines
Amanda & Rob Harris
Richard Smith & Brandon Ferguson
Nicholas Nicoletta & Venessa Eckhardt
Mariah Riggins & Theresa Riggins
Valerie Dirks & Roxie Ferguson MARCH
2016 •
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Clarksville VIPs at Overtime Sports Bar & grill
Business
AFTER HOURS By Stacy Leiser
H
eld the third Thursday of every month, Business After Hours is more than a chance to see and be seen. It IS certainly that, but it also affords the opportunity to make valuable business connections and new friends, all without the constraints of having to set up a meeting to do so. The February edition of the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours was held at Overtime Sports Bar & Grill, 3025 Mr. C Drive, near Governor’s Square Mall. Clarksville is the third location — its first in Tennessee — for Overtime Sports Bar & Grill, with others in Bowling Green and Franklin Kentucky. In addition to big TVs showing sporting events and bar food that you’d expect to find in a sports bar, Overtime offers something unusual: periodic comedy nights. The most recent event featured comedians Alex Reymundo and Chad Riden, who were touring with the comedy caravan. February 18 marked Overtime Sports Bar & Grill’s first time hosting Business After Hours, an event that typically draws hundreds of local professionals. Among the crowd were Overtime Sports Bar & Grill General Manager Mason Gordon, judicial candidates Ted Crozier and Judge Jill Ayers, City Judge Charles Smith, and larger-thanlife radio personality Scott Chase. According to the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ ClarksvilleAreaChamberOfCommerce, the evening went off without a hitch. “What a beautiful night for Business After Hours at Overtime Sports Bar and Grill!” the website says. The next Business After Hours will be as green as it gets, held on St. Patrick’s Day, 5-7 p.m. March 17 at James Corlew Chevrolet, 722 College St. For more information about Business After Hours, or to find out how your business can host the event, call Kayla Boesch at (931)245-4342, or reach her by email at Kayla@clarksville.tn.us.
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MARCH
2016 •
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The Art of Living
St. Patrick's Day Celebration A Shamrock Soirée By Lyda Kay Ferree, The Southern Lifestyles Lady
W
ho says you have to be Irish to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? After all, most scholars now say that St. Patrick himself wasn’t even Irish. He was born near Dumbarton, Scotland in 387 A.D. At age sixteen, the youth was captured by Irish marauders and sold as a slave to a Druid chief in Ireland. For six years he worked as a swineherd and mastered the Celtic language before escaping back to Scotland. He entered religious life at the monastery of St. Martin at Tours, France. In his eighteen years there, he became a priest, then a bishop. He was sent back to the Emerald Isle in 432 by Pope Celestine I. Patricius, as the Pope named him, was not welcomed kindly by the Druids. Eventually he purchased his freedom from his former owner and converted to Christianity. For thirty years, Patricius labored among the Irish in spite of many persecutions. He died on March 17, 463 (or 465), leaving us to wonder if he really did drive the snakes out of Ireland. On March 17 we celebrate the anniversary of St. Patrick’s death in the fifth century, and for hundreds of years the Irish have observed St. Patrick’s Day as a religious holiday — a day of celebration that offers a momentary break in Lenten fasting. Until the 1970s, all pubs in Ireland were required by law to close their doors on March 17. It wasn’t until the mid-1990s that the Irish government began a campaign to use St. Patrick’s Day as a way to increase tourism in Ireland. Around 1726 the tradition of honoring St. Patrick came to America with celebrations in the heavily Irish neighborhoods of Boston. Since 14
that time, the popularity of the holiday has spread like a patch of wild clover! Now there are more St. Patrick’s Day parades held in the United States than in Ireland. But that’s not surprising because millions of Americans claim Irish heritage. Whether your family tree has roots in Ireland or not, you may don your green because everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!
Wearing of the Green The shamrock evolved as the national symbol of Ireland because Patricius used it to illustrate the concept of the Holy Trinity. Pick up some shamrock plants or Irish bells at a nursery. They look lovely on your table in little pots or fill a group of vases with tinted water and place a single shamrock in each. Ask your guests to wear green.
Irish Music Festive Celtic music will liven up the party and get your guests in the mood to dance a celebratory Irish jig! For traditional Celtic tunes, check out Irish favorites — the Chieftains. Irish singer Enya sets a mellow mood, while native bands such as U2 and the Corrs provide a pop-music slant. My favorite is the beloved and hauntingly beautiful Irish ballad, “Danny Boy.” Its sweet melody and touching lyrics always bring a tear to my eye.
Decorations
AN OLD IRISH BLESSING
Add ambiance to the room with green, white
May the road rise to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, And rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
and orange candles; green or shamrock-patterned tablecloths and napkins; and shamrock cutouts to scatter across the table.
Festive Favors Give your guests their own pot of gold with a pretty bag of gold coin candy. Fill green organza gift bags (www.papermart.com) with chocolate coins (www.candywarehouse.com). Print an Irish blessing like the one below on ivory cardstock to make decorative tags to attach to the tabs.
Bless You The Irish are known for their blessings. Consider adding this uplifting saying to an invitation or party favor to inspire your guests.
Savannah’s Hibernian Society Savannah, Georgia’s Hibernian Society has been honoring St. Patrick’s Day since 1812, and their celebration is one of the South’s most notable. Each year nearly half a million people flock to Savannah to partake in the city’s historic and grand St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Boasting the second-largest parade in the country after New York, Savannah hosts a legendary party where everything is green and everyone may be Irish for a day. (Source: St. Patrick’s Day in Savannah by Polly Powers Stramm and Janice Shay)
St. Patrick's Day Soirée: Menus & Recipes
If you’re hosting a party but have limited seating, consider a more casual, buffet-style set-up. Choose beverages, appetizers, entrees or desserts that go a long way such as key lime pie refreshers, mini smoked salmon latkes or Reuben rolls, broccoli and cheddar scones, and triple layer chocolate mints. A March afternoon tea menu might include Irish tea cakes, Irish potato cookies, pineapple nut muffins, Irish soda bread, scones with clotted cream, savory tartlets and Benedictine tea sandwiches. An easy way to entertain might be to invite family and friends for crème de menthe cake and Irish coffee. If you want a more intimate setting, serve an elaborate Irish-themed dinner party with a festive flair: fish and chips; glazed corned beef, corned beef and cabbage or smoked sausage and cabbage; and Irish soda bread. Irish tri-color flag cake or Tipsy Squire Trifles would be excellent menu choices. For a simple Irish supper serve split pea soup with Irish soda bread. The finale for each of these meals: Irish coffee (See recipes below). Erin go bragh! MARCH
2016 •
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The Art of Living
LUCKy-TINI
Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Add 2 ounces chilled strongbrewed coffee, 2 ounces Bushmills Irish whiskey, and 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar. Cover and shake. Strain into martini glass. Serve with a shot of your favorite flavored Baileys Irish Cream on the side and garnish with an Oreo Mega Stuf cookie. Source: “Sandra Lee Cocktail Time Magazine”
BENEDICTINE TEA SANDWICHES
Miss Jennie Benedict, a well-known Louisville caterer at the turn of the century, is credited with creating this classic sandwich spread. IngredIentS: 12 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature 1 small onion, grated 2 medium cucumbers, peeled and seeded Mayonnaise Salt to taste 1 pound wheat bread, crust removed and cut out like diamonds dIreCtIOnS: Grate cucumbers and combine with the cream cheese. Blend in onions and salt to taste. Stir in a little mayonnaise just to make the mixture spreadable. Spread the mixture evenly over pieces of bread that have been cut out with cookie cutter. Garnish with a thin slice of cucumber or parsley. Makes about 45 small open-faced sandwiches. Source: “A Year of Teas at the Elmwood Inn” by Shelley and Bruce Richardson
SPLIT PEA SOUP
IngredIentS: 1 large onion, chopped 1 cup celery, chopped 1 cup peeled carrots, chopped 2 tablespoons butter 1 smoked ham hock 1 1/2 cups dried split peas 8 cups chicken broth Salt and pepper to taste Three strips bacon, fried and crumbled
dIreCtIOnS: Saute onion, celery, and carrots in butter until tender. Add ham hock, peas, and broth. Bring to a boil. Simmer covered for about 1 hour 25 minutes. Remove ham hock. Puree 5 cups of soup in a blender and return to pot. Add salt and pepper. Serve in bowls and garnish with crumbled bacon. Yield: 8 servings. Source: “Ambrosia; A Deep South Mixture of Homes, Recipes and History” Published by The Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg, Mississippi
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CORNED BEEF/CABBAGE
Makes 8 servings IngredIentS: 3 1/2 to 4 pounds packaged corned beef brisket 3 carrots, peeled and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces 2 small onions, peeled and quartered 3 stalks celery, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces 1 bunch fresh parsley 2 large sprigs fresh thyme 1 head green cabbage (about 2 pounds), cut into 8 wedges 1 1/2 pounds unpeeled small red potatoes, quartered 1 cup sour cream 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt Chopped fresh parsley (optional) dIreCtIOnS: Combine corned beef, carrots, onions and celery in Dutch oven. Tie parsley and thyme together with kitchen string; add to Dutch oven. Add water to cover beef by 1 inch; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook about 2 1/2 hours or until almost tender. Add cabbage and potatoes to Dutch oven; cover and cook about 30 minutes or until beef, cabbage and potatoes are tender. Meanwhile, combine sour cream, horseradish and 1/2 teaspoon salt in medium bowl; mix well. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Remove herbs from Dutch oven and discard. Remove beef to cutting board; let stand 10 minutes. Slice beef across the grain. Arrange on serving platter with vegetables; season vegetables with additional salt to taste. Sprinkle with parsley if desired. Serve with horseradish sauce. Source: “Irish Pub Food”
Reuben Pie
Recipe of Lyda Kay Ferree
Ingredients: 1 9-inch deep-dish pie shell, unbaked 1 tablespoon caraway seeds 1/2 pound deli corned beef, shredded 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/4 cup Thousand Island dressing 3/4 cup sauerkraut, drained 1 1/2 cups grated Gruyere cheese 3 eggs, beaten 1 cup half-and-half 1 tablespoon grated onion 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard 1/2 teaspoon salt Kosher dill spears for garnish Prep time: 15 minutes.
Source: “Hosting Without Hassle: A Complete Guide for Easy Entertaining at Home” by Daisy King of Nashville, TN.
Irish Coffee Recipe of Linda Wood Former owner of the Celtic Moor Specialty Store in Jackson, TN.
Ingredients: 12 oz. of hot coffee 1 tablespoon of sugar 1 oz. Jameson Irish Whiskey Heavy whipping cream Directions: Whip cream until thickened. Place sugar in bottom of a warmed mug (preferably an Irish coffee mug). Pour hot coffee into the mug. Add Jameson Irish Whiskey and top with about 1/2 inch of whipped cream. Don’t stir. The cream will blend while drinking.
MARCH
2016 •
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Clarksville VIPs at Advanced Cosmetic Surgery Center
Mardi Gras OPEN HOUSE Story & Photography by Brianna Burress Advanced Cosmetic Surgery Staff
D
Leslie Stott & Brandy Rucker
Hailee Isom
Lorena Mitchell
Destiny Jackson, Victoria Ellis & Lori Titus
McCullen Calvery
Kim Hood, Sherry Key& Brandy Rucker
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r. Mitchell Kaye and the Staff of the Advanced Cosmetic Surgery Center held their quarterly Open House at their downtown Hopkinsville, KY location on February 4. At the Mardi Gras Open House guests had the opportunity to meet and talk with Dr. Kaye and staff, as well as take advantage of Open House specials on skincare products and injectables. Product representatives came from Louisville and Nashville to support this event creating great specials and door prizes for the evening. Guests also had the opportunity to support local businesses, enjoy complimentary refreshments and drinks, and enjoy an evening out with friends. Dr. Kaye and his staff would like to say “ Thank You” to all vendors and guests in attendance! Dr. Kaye’s office will be having a Grand Opening event for the new Tennessee location of the Advanced Cosmetic Surgery Center of Tennessee, located at 1502G Tiny Town Road in Clarksville in the upcoming months. To stay up to date about monthly promotions, event specials, and more like the Facebook page of the Advanced Cosmetic Surgery Center of Tennessee. Checkout our website: www. AdvancedCosmeticTN.com.
Dr. Kaye, Chrissy Lally & Dan Smart
MARCH
2016 •
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Clarksville VIPs at Miss Lucille’s Cafe
Small Business Connect Seminar
Story & Photography by Shanna Morris Eli Swift, Brittany Hale & Donna Meisner
T Destiny Jackson & Katobwol Stallworth
Mike Nickel & Stephen Springer 20
Mike Nickel & Emily Medvecky
John Hallmark & Emily Medvecky
his event was an educational experience hosted by Altra Federal Credit Union Altra invited guest to attend “Small Business Connect Seminar,” which focused on small business finance basics. The evening consisted of complimentary refreshments followed by the seminar with a guest speaker held at Miss Lucille’s Cafe. Altra Federal Credit Union teamed up with keynote speaker Steve Springer, who is a CPA and principal of a local accounting firm Stone, Rudolph, & Henry, PLC. He specializes in small business accounting and shared information to help small business owners determine and understand business cash flow and provided guest with essential finance information. The entire presentation was informative, thought provoking and educating. Springer spoke for about an hour and presented a slide show before opening the floor for questions. Mike Nickel, Vice President of Business Lending for Altra Credit Union said, “Every business, no matter what size or longevity needs to understand cash flow analysis.” Altra Federal Credit Union and Stone, Rudolph & Henry, PLC successfully provided everyone in attendance with an educational evening focused on finance basics.
MARCH
2016 •
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Clarksville VIPs at The Roxy Theater
Story & Photography by Jessie Shirley
B
lues in the Night is a story of 3 women in the 1930s in Chicago who all fall in love with the same man. The story is told through classic blues music. Blues in the Night, directed by Tom Thayer, was paired with the Roxy’s Martini Night as a Valentine’s package. Patrons enjoyed gin and vodka martinis, coffee, and punch with many hors d’oeuvres and could view art by Larry Martin during the hour prior to the show at the Roxy Regional Theatre in downtown Clarksville. For more information, see Roxy’s website, www.roxyregionaltheatre.org
Kristen & Mike Hopkins
Savannah & Austin Alderman
Alan & Alisha Johnson
Elizabeth Coleman & Sidney McCourtney
Steve & Beth Klatt
Kelly & Jamey Arnold
Anthony & Jacqueline Linsenby MARCH
2016 •
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Blues in the Night
COMING SOON
Anne Marie & Curtis Harris
Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat March 5, 12 & 19 2pm
Lauren Mund & Truman Jepson
Thrill Me The Leopold & Loeb Story March 21, 22, 28 & 19 7pm Larry & Kay Martin
The Magnificent Ambersons March 25, 26, April 1 8pm April 2 2 & 8pm Jason & Emily Griffith 24
MARCH
2016 •
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MARCH CALENDAR OF EVENTS 1-28
Baseball, Softball, T-Ball & Blastball Registration www.cityofclarksville.com/parksrec
2-3
Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss 10:30am
Customs House Museum & Cultural Center
www.customshousemuseum.org
2
Toddler Splash
10am-12pm Indoor Aquatic Center www.cityofclarksville.com
3
First Thursday Art Walk 5-8pm Downtown www.artwalkclarksville.com
4
6th Annual Young Woman’s Leadership Symposium 8:30am-1:30pm Austin Peay State University MUC Ballroom www.apsu.edu
5
Jamaica’n Me Run 6am Registration 10K Run 7am 10K Race 7:30am Registration 5K Run 8:30 5K Race 9:30am 1 Mile Fun Run Beachaven Winery
All Star Reunion Dancing Stars 7pm www.altrusaclarksville.org
Salvation Army Pancake Breakfast 7-10am Salvation Army - Kraft St. (931)624-2647
Veterans Recreation Fair 11am-2pm Kleeman Center www.cityofclarksville.com
The Cat in the Hat 2pm Roxy Regional Theatre www.roxyregionaltheatre.org 26
Eventing with the Artists
Weekend Wine Run
6:30-8pm Silke’s Old World Breads www.facebook.com/Silkes-Old-WorldBreads-115656341797693
9am Check-In Begins 11am Race Begins Beachaven Winery www.weekendwinerun.com
Dining with the Stars Gala
Family Day: Tell Me Your Story
benefiting LEAP Organization 7pm Riverview Inn www.leaporg.net/event
6
12th Annual Bridal Expo
1-5pm James E. Bruce Convention Center www.bruceconventioncenter.com
8-13
Little Lambs & Ivy 19th Annual Spring/Summer Consignment Sale
Customs House Museum & Cultural Center
www.customshousemuseum.org
The Cat in the Hat 2pm Roxy Regional Theatre www.roxyregionaltheatre.org
6pm Cocktail Hour 7pm Dinner & Awards Ceremony 8pm Music & Dancing Hilton Nashville Downtown
8
Bella Medical Spa RSVP (901)245-0500 www.facebook.com/bellamedspa www.bellamedspa.com
IHOP National Pancake Day FREE Short Stack of Pancakes benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals 7am-7om www.ihoppancakeday.com
Let’s Put Clarksville on the Map with Google 9am-12pm Old Glory Distilling Co. events.gybo.com/events/138/register
10
Girls’ Night Out Southern Designer Showcase Meet & Greet Refreshments, Music & Discounts 5-8:30pm Belk (931)648-2246
12
USO Fort Campbell 5th Annual Ten Miler, 5K & Fun Run
7am Registration - 8am Kid’s Course 8:50am Fun Run - 9:10am USO Ten Miler 9:15am USO 5K - 10:15am Awards Ceremony 5K 10:30am Awards Ceremony Ten Miler
8-10am Robert Clark Park recpro.cityofclarksville.com
Wettest Egg Hunt
10am-4:30pm Indoor Aquatic Center www.cityofclarksville.com/aquatics
The Cat in the Hat 2pm Roxy Regional Theatre www.roxyregionaltheatre.org
Candlelight Ball
16
First Baptist Church
Clean-Up on the Greenway
2pm
121 Union Hall Rd. www.tnconsign.com
A Decade of Young Life
7am 10K Race 7:30am Registration 5K Run 8:30am 5K Race 9:30am 1-Mile Fun Run 10am Awards Beachaven Winery
Vitalize Peel Event
17
ST. PATRICK’S DAY Clarksville Chamber Business After Hours 5-7pm Hosted by James Corlew Chevrolet Cadillac www.clarksvillechamber.com www.jamescorlewautomotive.com
18
Community Career Fair
Daymar College - Trenton Rd. Campus 10am-2pm For more information, contact Linda Ebel (931)55-7600 djennings@daymarcollege.edu
33rd Annual V.I.C.E. Night (Very Important Charity Event) Hosted by Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club 6-11pm Valor Hall - Oak Grove, KY publicity.fcsc@gmail.com
19
Go Green 10K & 1-Mile Fun Run 6am Registration 10K Run
20
Gateway Chamber Orchestra Presents Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue 3pm George & Sharon Mabry Concert Hall - Austin Peay State University gatewaychamberorchestra.com/events.php
21-22
Thrill Me - The Leopold & Loeb Story 7pm Roxy Regional Theatre www.roxyregionaltheatre.org
25-26
The Magnificent Ambersons 8pm Roxy Regional Theatre www.roxyregionaltheatre.org
28-29
Thrill Me - The Leopold & Loeb Story 7pm Roxy Regional Theatre www.roxyregionaltheatre.org
29-April 1
Spring Break Model Trains Run & Art Activities 10-11am 2:30-3:30pm
Customs House Museum & Cultural Center
www.customshousemuseum.org
April 1-2
The Magnificent Ambersons 8pm Roxy Regional Theatre www.roxyregionaltheatre.org
April 2
3rd Annual Daddy Daughter Date Night 6:30-9:30pm Wilma Rudolph Event Center www.cityofclarksville.com.datenight
March 4 - April 30
A Woman’s Touch: Celebrating Tennessee Crafts
The Customs House Museum rounds out its Tennessee Crafts celebration with A Woman’s Touch. This exhibit features female artisans from across the state of Tennessee. Sponsored in part through grant funding from National Endowment for the Arts.
March 10 - May 1
James Alexander: Sculptural Thinkings
Trained as both an architect and as a sculptor, James Rodger Alexander utilizes form to articulate and delineate space. Both his large scale sculptural installations and small scale sculptural pieces focus primarily on one reoccurring issue: the resolution of the conflict between opposing forces. These opposing forces may be literal and physical or conceptual and philosophical. The recognition of dualities and the quest for a resolution is the consistent element in his work. James Rodger Alexander is currently Professor of Ceramics at Alabama State University at Birmingham. He earned his MFA in Sculpture and Ceramics from Louisiana State University, and also holds both the Bachelor of Architecture and Masters of Architecture in Urban Design degrees from Cornell University.
March 1 - May 1
Elizabeth LaPenna: Expressions in Color An abstract artist working in acrylics and mixed media, Elizabeth LaPenna approaches each piece from an intuitive perspective, inspired by spirituality and nature. LaPenna is an award winning visual artist whose work is held in both private and corporate collections throughout the United States. A Chicago transplant, raised in upstate N.Y., she is currently based in Nashville, Tennessee.
March 4 - May 8
School Days: From the Collection
What was it like to attend the Clarksville Female Academy? Items from our collection take a look at the schools and graduations of Montgomery County from the late 1860s to the 1930s. MARCH
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Clarksville VIPs at Customs House Museum & Cultural Center
7th Annual Fundraiser
Story & Photography by Stacy Leiser
Eamonn O’Shea, Samantha Lockhart, Jamie Durrett & Clinton Wesson
Britney Campbell & Blossom Murdock
Shelby & Matt Silvey
Henry Rives
Amber Anderson
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op, fizz, drink was the theme of the night as more than 100 revelers joined to celebrate decadent food and delightful drink at Customs House Museum & Cultural Center. The occasion was the museum’s 7th Annual Champagne & Chocolate fundraiser, complete with live music by 8th and Marion Jazz Combo and sweets by The Looking Glass, The Sweetest Batch Cupcakery, Wicked Good Sandwiches and others. Held in the Orgain Gallery, Champagne & Chocolate was set against the backdrop of an extensive collection of historic American flags, political banners, and memorabilia including an umbrella featuring presidents McKinley and Roosevelt. The exhibit “Of Stars & Stripes: From the Collection of Dr. John Olson,” is on display through Feb. 28. Eamonn O’Shea said he enjoyed his first Champagne & Chocolate experience. “It’s a classy event. I like the flags,” he said. “More people should come to this.” Jamie Durrett was thrilled to win an original painting by Terri Jordan in the silent auction, her third Jordan painting in three years of attending Champagne & Chocolate. Other artists who donated pieces for the auction include Tom Rice, Raeanne Rubenstein, Anthony Scarlati, Anne Goetze and Miranda Herrick. Durrett said the entire evening was well done from start to finish. “It’s good food and excellent company. I loved the entertainment,” she said. “Henry (Rives) and the 8th and Marion group are top-notch.” Amber Anderson, chairwoman of the event, said Champagne & Chocolate raised about $7,000 to support Customs House Museum’s exhibits and educational programming. For more information about the museum and its offerings, call (931)648-5780 or visit their website, www.customshousemuseum.org.
The
We’re Participating!
Welcome Home Loan Program
Cindy Chambers & Janese Cleary
Joan & Ernie DeWald
Program Details Welcome Home is designed to assist low to moderate income families in achieving homeownership. First time homebuyers and repeat homebuyers are eligible. Homebuyers are to pay a minimum of $500 out-of-pocket expense towards their purchase. Grants up to $5,000 are available for down payment and closing assistance.* Funds are available for reservation beginning March 1, 2016. Connie & Harold Rives
Alex & Jessica Goldberg
*Grant is subject to borrower qualification and approval. This is not an offer for an extension of credit or a commitment to lend.
For additional information, contact us today! Jason Hass
jasonhasshomeloans.com NMLS #628399 Main Office (931) 801-7344
Rod Hawkins
Karen Parr-Moody, Patti Marquess, Frank Lott & Heather Snyder
rodhawkinshomeloans.com NMLS #628400 Dover Road (931) 980-0819
Yolanda Stewart
yolandastewart.com NMLS #40460 St. Bethlehem (931) 809-0115
Chad Winn
chadwinn.com NMLS #628415 Hilldale (931) 237-3015
Matt McWhirter
mattmcwhirter.com NMLS #874403 Sango (931) 220-9752
Michelle Dickerson & Stacey Streetman
Randy Spurgeon & Terri Jordan
Member FDIC NMLS #518158 MARCH
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Clarksville VIPs at Old glory distilling Company
By Stacy Leiser
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e didn’t stop when Hobby Lobby took off, and Hobby Express saw its radio-controlled drones and airplanes flying through Tennessee skies. He didn’t stop when his Elicit Brands Swiftwick socks became a leader in the market, as favorites of both endurance athletes and of doctors, used as compression socks in the medical field. Isn’t that plenty for one guy? No, Mark Cleveland is no laurel-rester. At Old Glory Distilling Company on Feb. 11, he announced to a group of ambitious people that he is now entering the hotel business. The keynote speaker for the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce Educating Our Entrepreneurs seminar, Cleveland is working on plans for a 117-room boutique hotel at 400 Lafayette Street in Nashville. The grand opening is planned for December 2016. Cleveland is but one of many motivating examples presented to entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs-to-be at the half-day seminar, which addressed the more elusive but critical components to entrepreneurship. Educating Our Entrepreneurs brought in experts to provide the inside scoop on business licensing, franchising, taxes, insurance, codes and permits, risk management and professional organizations to join to maximize your exposure. The seminar also covered legal concerns — particularly how to best avoid having those concerns become catastrophes! Elizabeth Black, Communications Director for Montgomery County, said the event was eye-opening for her. “We learned what entrepreneurs are doing in this town — barriers, what works, what doesn’t work,” she said. “Overall it was a great education for me about what small businesses face in our community, good and bad.” Representatives from Pathway Lending discussed capital and technology resources, and there were panel discussions on small business development as well as marketing, social media and sales. “There was a lot of social media emphasis — ways to market on a budget,” Elizabeth Black said. She said the seminar was interesting and informative. “I would recommend it,” she said, “to anyone interested in learning ways to better your business.”
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Clarksville VIPs at Beachaven Winery
Beachaven Winery
Story & Photography by Ava Vienneau
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fter 30 outstanding years of winemaking, Beachaven Vineyards and Winery released a new vintage of Champagne! This bubbly wine is significant to Beachaven solely because Judge William O. Beach and his partner Ed Cooke opened the winery in 1986 with only Champagne on the shelves! It has been four years since they have produced Champagne and it was well worth the wait! Hundreds of customers flocked to the front doors on Valentine’s Day to get a taste despite the snowy weather condition!
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2 016 Tennessee Academic Scene By Lyda Kay Ferree
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n the spring, parents are gathering information about schools their children might attend next fall, and they are filling out applications for enrollment. Prospective college students are selecting a college, university or technical school to attend next year. VIP Clarksville Magazine is pleased to present its special section on the Clarksville area Academic Scene. In his State of the State and Budget address on February 1, 2016, Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee stated that “Tennessee is at the forefront of innovation in public higher education.” Most of that growth will come in our community colleges and TCATs. The six individual boards proposed for the University of Memphis, Tennessee State University, Austin Peay State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University, and East Tennessee State University will now have the ability to focus on the unique potential of each of those schools. Our four-year schools, private institutions and proprietary schools will all play a role in meeting the Drive to 55 Capacity Fund, which will help schools meet the growing demand for degrees and certificates. Governor Haslam said that much of Tennessee’s job growth is due to our state’s new reputation for achievement in K-12 education and higher education. Tennessee is the first state in the nation to offer high school graduates two years of community or technical college free of tuition and fees. “And we’re doing that without raising any taxes,” he added. The state budget proposed $50 million for the outcomes based funding formula for public higher education in Tennessee. Between operations and capital investments, higher education will receive $390 million
in new dollars. “It’s our chance to show the rest of the country that…tuition is kept low, and the price of education is affordable for Tennessee families.” “Right now, the spotlight is on Tennessee,” Governor Haslam said. “Who would have thought a decade ago that Tennessee would have significant positive attention around education? Strategic investments, increased accountability, and higher standards have changed the game,” he said. In Tennessee our public schools have roughly 1 million students. At one time Tennessee continually ranked near the bottom in national education rankings, but now our state has made great progress in education in just a few short years. Tennessee is proposing $10 million to fund the second round of Labor Education Alignment Program (LEAP) grants. Continued support for LEAP will mean more opportunities for communities to align the degree and course offerings with the needs of their local workforce. The state is also asking for $20 million for the Drive to 55 Capacity Fund, which will help schools meet the growing demand for degrees and certificates. “I personally believe that investing in education is the smartest thing we can do for economic development,” said Governor Haslam. “But I also believe it’s a smart long-term investment.” He added that Tennessee has been a national leader in investing in K-12 during this administration. We are also outpacing the national average increase in teacher salaries. We’ve raised our public education standards and expanded education options for children. “A high quality education is a top priority in Tennessee,” stated Governor Haslam.
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Clarksville VIPs at Austin Peay State University Foy Fitness & recreation Center
Story & Photography by Isabella Christensen
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n an afternoon that is always one of the coldest of the year, Austin Peay State University hosted their 7th annual “Polar Plunge.” Brave participants that voluntarily took the plunge also donated food items to “Save Our Students (S.O.S) Food Pantry.” With an outdoor temperature under 40 degrees & ice cold water, students and other participants took the plunge into the freezing water. This annual event draws more participants every year to the Foy Pool at ASPU for campus community support and supplies S.O.S food pantry. Participants may have experienced a chilledto-the-bone moment, but left with warm hearts knowing they were able to help those in need.
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Give | Care | Share
Young Life Ice Cream Olympics
Living the By Leisel Schmidt
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hough the first five years are often called the formative years, there’s no denying the important role that the high school years play in determining the shape and direction of a person’s life. These are the years when big goals are reached and big decisions start coming into play. There are more responsibilities as adulthood creeps closer and closer, and every step taken becomes a determining factor in the future ahead. With so many important things happening in these years, high school students face a number of unique challenges that can make them extremely impressionable to outside influences. Unfortunately, not everyone has the foundation of a good family life or strong faith that can make navigating life during high school easier; and so they start searching for someone or something to fill that role. These are the teenagers that often slip through the cracks, left to make crucial choices on their own and wonder what their future will ultimately look like. MARCH
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Young Life Mudfest
For Gainsesville, Texas youth minister Jim Rayburn, these teenagers were the mission field when he began Young Life in 1940, seeing a need in them that he knew could only be filled by knowing and feeling the love of Jesus in their lives. Since those founding days, Young Life has become a dynamic part of shaping the futures of high school students all over the United States and even throughout the world, operating in more than 90 countries across the globe to shine the light of Christ and offer a guiding hand to these teenagers who find themselves at a pivotal point in life.
"This is a safe space to be a kid"
Young Life girls at Camp - Carolina Point in Brevard, SC
Northeast Young Life girls 42
“Young Life has always been founded on the belief that every high school person deserves the right to know who Jesus Christ is, what He did for them, and how they can be in a personal relationship with Him,” says Clifford Shirley, Area Director of Clarksville Young Life. During the ten years that the organization has been working in Clarksville, it has made a tremendous impact in the area’s youth, offering one very important thing to the students who come to them looking for a place to belong. “This is a safe space to be a kid,” says Shirley. “It’s a place to laugh and have fun and learn about who Jesus is, who they are, and what the two have to do with each other.” What makes Young Life so impactful, in Shirley’s estimation, is the people themselves, the way that they live and show the love of Jesus to the students they reach. “Young Life is nothing without people because they are the ones giving a face to the love of Christ. These are people loving people, people knowing people. People being in friendship with people,” Shirley explains. “As the founder of YL said, ‘Young Life is about Christ and kids, in that order,’ and that’s a mission that we maintain. We’re driven by caring adults who are willing to show up in the world of kids to let them know they not only love them, but genuinely like them and want to share Christ with them when they’re ready to receive that.” Though in many ways it might resemble such mentorship programs as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Young Life offers mentorship with more, recognizing the fact that offering a guiding hand needs the strength of firm faith to sustain it in the future. “We introduce kids to Jesus,” Shirley continues. “Our mentorship is focused in Christ, which ultimately helps guide them throughout their lives to make wise choices.” Just as the love of Christ is freely given to those who seek it, Young Life is offered without cost. Its reach truly is one of outreach, and the volunteers involved make themselves available by
Give | Care | Share
Young Life Camp at Sharp Top Cove in Jasper, GA
actively going out into the community to be among the teenagers who need them the most. “Our volunteer leaders go to where the kids are so that they can build a relationship with them on their terms and on their turf. It gives them more common ground and opens up doors so that when the time is right, they can share the gospel of Christ in a way that the kids will be more receptive.” Naturally, at Young Life they recognize the importance of being real — these are real teenagers with real struggles, and they’re not going to be reached effectively simply by being preached to. There’s a deeper connection that needs to be made in order for them to feel understood, to open those doors, to begin that inner growth process that will change their lives; and that’s a realization that has been foundational in Young Life since day one. They follow the example of Christ, meeting the need by being willing to be where the need is, showing up where and when it matters the most. It’s personal, becoming a real relationship between the youths who need guidance by adults who have been through the challenges of life for themselves and continue to live through challenges every day and have learned to call on the name and strength of Christ to keep them grounded. Young Life lives the message that it offers, and that’s why is has so greatly changed the futures of so many young people all over the world for more than 75 years. As these young lives take shape, they also shape the world around them. These are the faces of our tomorrows, so take the time to know them. The life ahead of them may not be easy, and they may have a need that you can fill simply by showing up for them and offering them what was once offered to you at the very time when you needed it the most. A young life is a pre-
cious thing, a treasure that should never be lost or overlooked — and you might just be the very person to find it and make it shine. For more information on getting involved with Young Life, call (931) 472-8257 or visit the website at www.clarksville.younglife.org. Program participation is open to all high school youths at area clubs. Visit the website to learn more about times and locations to become part of Young Life.
CHS Young Life Guys at Valentine’s Day “Love Club” MARCH
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Clarksville VIPs at APSU Mabry Concert Hall
Symphony Orchestra Story & Photography by Brianna Roth
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t’s a Sunday afternoon, and the Mabry Concert Hall at Austin Peay University is sparsely filled. Their orchestra is having a recital showcasing their talented students. I start to people watch, filling time before it begins. The seats are occupied with supportive parents and family members, as well as fellow students. Their excited chatter passes across the auditorium in whispered tones. As the lights dim, and a few remaining stragglers sit down, the orchestra walks on stage. You can hear the adjusting of video recorders and cameras as people anxiously wait for them to start. The first note is played, all is silent. Everyone in the hall sat enchanted by the romantic sounds and awed by such talent. Lisa Hogan, one of the students showcased among the talented group, performed an opera piece that pulled at your heartstrings. Her voice echoed in the hall, the emotion filled tones bouncing back to the audience. When Lisa’s voice carried the last note, the audience burst into applause. She gracefully exited the stage only to return when the applause didn’t subside. To bring the recital to a close, the orchestra played Tchaikovsky’s 5th symphony. They brought Tchaikovsky’s piece to life in a way that had several people on their feet clapping enthusiastically when it ended. Outside in the main lobby, many students were met with “Congratulations!” and “You played beautifully!” from their loved ones. Everyone who attended left Mabry Hall with a smile. I have to say it was a great way to end a Sunday.
Bradlee Brown & Amber Glenn
Lisa Hogan
Emma Lauchlan, Roy Binkley, Austin Binkley & Rachel Powell
Catherine Jones, Jane & Rick Robinson
Joe Johnson, Jake & Danica Parra MARCH
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People You Should Know
Austin Peay State University President
Alisa White By Stacy Leiser
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resident Alisa White keeps her eye on the prize. To achieve personal excellence, she emulates people she admires. “In my professional life, I’ve had mentors who had really different skills,” said Dr. White, inaugurated as President of Austin Peay State University in 2014. “In higher education, you get the best minds in the country to work with. I learned from people who were really successful.” The cornerstone of success? Character. “People really care about the character of people they work with,” she said. “It’s important to the relationship.” Dr. White said she participates in as many APSU activities as she can, including athletic, academic and arts events. APSU has 350 full-time faculty members, 800 employees total, and serves more than 10,000 students. She can’t be everywhere at once, but you won’t find Dr. White holed up in her office for long. “I try to get out because I need to know the people that make the university work,” she said. “I have a phenomenal team. They do the heavy lifting.” Dr. White spent much of her career in Texas, but after coming to Austin Peay, she quickly realized this fast-growing university makes its own brand of magic. “The people who know Austin Peay know it is very special,” she said. “There is something very special about this culture. My hope for the future is that not be the best kept secret, but that everybody knows it.” Where did you grow up? All over the country. My dad is a minister, and we moved around every 4 years or so. I lived in Texas, Montana, Arizona, West Virginia, and Tennessee by the time I graduated from high school. What was your favorite thing to do as a child? As a teenager? Now? As a child: read. I was the kid who read with a flashlight under the covers when I was supposed to be sleeping. Now: spend time with my husband (Elliott Herzlich) and friends. We love concerts, plays, good restaurants and good conversations.
Openness of the community to new people. Very accepting. We’re a patriotic town. I am proud of Fort Campbell. Areas of beauty: river, downtown, parks, etc. You have a doctorate in philosophy, and have extensively studied education, advertising and creative behavior. How do your various areas of expertise come together in leading a dynamic university environment? My Doctor of Philosophy degree is in Mass Communication, which is focused on communication theory. Effective communication is key to successfully leading any organization. My academic background required a lot of quantitative preparation as well, which comes in handy when analyzing data and budgets relevant to university administration. What qualities make a great university professor? I look for professors who are passionate about their disciplines and who care about students and their success. Professors work long, unstructured hours, and they have to be good time managers. They have to keep up with the latest knowledge in their fields, prepare course materials, grade assignments, advise students, assess academic program outcomes, conduct research to build their fields, and much more. I loved teaching, but don’t miss having to grade tests and papers until 1 o’clock in the morning. What advice would you give to a new student who feels intimidated at the prospect of pursuing a college degree? A college degree is earned one course at a time. Rather than be intimidated by the long road ahead, think about succeeding one semester at a time. What’s a valuable piece of advice that helped you along the way? Don’t give up. I have always enjoyed working hard and working with others who are excited about the same things I am. Like-minded people can achieve great things. How would your best friend describe you? Loyal to a fault.
Who most influenced the adult you have become today? I made a decision to follow Christ that changed the direction of my life in my early 30s. It influenced less what I did than who I became. Many people have influenced my life over the years. I study people. People I admire and revere are those I try to emulate. People who act in ways I don’t respect demonstrate behaviors I try to avoid. And in some ways, my past actions have influenced who I am today. I think about my choices and try to avoid making the same mistakes twice.
What three words would you choose to describe yourself? Honest. Strategic. Appreciative.
Other than Austin Peay (obviously!) what are three things you love about Clarksville?
Do you have a motto in life? Transformation occurs when the potential that is visible to some becomes visible to all.
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What’s something about you that most people would never guess? I love to play games. And I hate to lose!
Director of Schools
People You Should Know
Dr. B.J. Worthington By Stacy Leiser
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nter Dr. B.J. Worthington’s office, and you’ll feel either like you are tiny or like he is enormous. Poster-sized yellow notes hang all over the walls, full of reminders of best practices, planning principles, and inspiration to excel. After all, as Director of Schools for Clarksville-Montgomery County School System, Dr. Worthington has an outsized job. He’s the guy ultimately in charge of making sure 32,500 public school students have positive school experiences and graduate empowered to reach their potential. He also oversees 4,200 employees working in 39 schools spread out across the county. So there’s good reason for his post-it notes to be 3 by 3 feet instead of 3 by 3 inches. Dr. Worthington is a visionary leader, bursting with big ideas, but he has nothing of the gruff giant or the elite intellectual in his demeanor. He says being the leader of Montgomery County’s second largest employer -- behind only Fort Campbell -- doesn’t feel like a crushing responsibility. He immediately points the praise at his employees, saying he has teams of people doing excellent work every day to keep the school system not only running smoothly but improving year after year. Dr. Worthington’s list of awards and accomplishments is long, but one that stands out in its dramatic impact on the local culture is the 100 percent graduation initiative. Since adopting that goal in 2004, Montgomery County’s public school graduation rate has risen from 76 percent to 96.5 percent. Asked for one word to describe how he hopes graduates emerge from CMCSS, Dr. Worthington didn’t hesitate. “Prepared,” he said.
Where did you grow up? Pikeville, Tennessee. What was your favorite thing to do as a child? As a teenager? Now? Play basketball. I just love it. Who most influenced the adult you have become today? My parents, in terms of my work ethic and consideration for others. Why have you chosen to make Clarksville your home for the past 30 years? My wife, Jill, and I moved here 30 years ago because of the job opportunities in the school system. The holding point was the school system. We also found a church we love, Trenton Crossing Church of Christ, and a community we love in Clarksville. It’s a unique community. Its diversity
binds us together. What made you decide to go into education? Job availability for graduates in my biology degree were few, so I decided change my major to secondary education. Since I had always loved sports, the job provided me with an opportunity to coach. What’s one memory you have of your first year teaching? The first few days were overwhelming, but I had great support in the school, people who helped me. What was the biggest surprise of your first year teaching? The amount of time that it took to prepare a lesson and that you could not just focus on a lesson, but you had to plan on a larger scale for a whole unit. The resources were limited. So much of my planning and organization were on my own, and being a new teacher, I had few resources available to me. What qualities make a great teacher? Care and concern for the learner, knowledge of content, and organization. What advice would you give to a new teacher who feels intimidated at the prospect of leading a classroom? There is no complete preparation for your first classroom experience, because you have complete ownership of the learning experience for a group of students. My advice would be to listen and spend the time necessary to create a rich learning environment. In our district, I would suggest to take advantage of all of the many available resources. What’s a valuable piece of advice that helped you along the way? Don’t be afraid to ask for advice. How would your best friend describe you? Intense What three words would you choose to describe yourself? Passionate, visionary, blessed What’s something about you most people would never guess? I was an all-tri-state basketball player in high school. Do you have a motto in life? Do the right thing. MARCH
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Clarksville VIPs at moore magnet School’s Library
FAMILY
REA D NIGHT Alea, Levi, Audra & Elijah Green
Story & Photography by Stacy Leiser
I Kaden & Jordy Rocheleau
Ari Wilson 50
August & Tenille Shriver
Raygen Mason & Charlie Marshall
t was a gourmet event, to be sure, but the delicacies up for tasting were readable, rather than edible, in nature. Outside, the wind whipped and temperatures dipped, but inside Moore Magnet School’s library on Thursday, Feb. 25, children and their parents “dined” on literary delights in a cozy atmosphere. Librarian Michelle O’Bryant and Media Assistant Sonia Koester had decked the tables in red checked tablecloths, and arrayed books on each table by genre. One table held adventure books, while another held biographies. Fables and mysteries had tables of their own, as did historical and realistic books. When they arrived at Moore Magnet School’s Library Book Tasting Event, children were given their own customizable menus. They were encouraged to “taste” a variety of contenders, then record their favorites in their menus. “They go to the different tables, which are arranged by genre, and they pick an appetizer, an entree and a dessert,” Sonia Koester said. Alea Green, 6, had a big audience as she read aloud from the book The Adventures of Snail at School by John Stadler. Her two brothers, Levi, 3, and Elijah, 3 months, listened intently as Alea read about the mischievous snail’s antics at school. When the young reader struggled with a word, her mother, Audra Green, didn’t jump in and read it for her, but instead encouraged Alea as she took her time sounding out unfamiliar words like “Whoosh!” “What was Snail doing while he was getting books at school?” Audra Green asked her daughter. “Getting in trouble!” Alea said, laughing. Ari Wilson, 6, was thrilled to find a biography about Jeff Kinney, the author of his favorite book series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid. “We’ve got that one in our bag,” Ari’s mother, Tamara Wilson, said about the Kinney biography. “The program worked so well, he asked if we could go ahead and check it out.” Librarian Michelle O’Bryant said the event was valuable because it quickly opened children’s minds to books beyond their favorite few. “This gives them a way,” she said, “of sampling new books that they otherwise may not know about.”
Nyla & Kayla Sutton, Cataleya Hall
James & Alyssa Speegle
Tamara & Ari Wilson
Jessica Pentecost, Michelle O’Bryant & Maia Pentecost MARCH
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From Pre-K to College: Does the School Make The Grade? By Leisel Schmidt
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hether you’re facing enrollment in a Pre-K or making a list of your top picks for colleges, finding the right school can be quite the challenge. Fortunately, with the number of schools available and the types of programs on offer, one is sure to suit…just get ready to do your homework. As early as children are learning technology these days, they’re savvy in ways that we may never have imagined possible; and all of that seems to be seeping into the halls of academia. Laptops and tablets have become learning tools even in pre-schools, and children are being taught skills that were once taught at higher grade levels. The education system as a whole has been redefined and redesigned, offering a staggering number of schools with different structures of learning, different demographics, even different end goals. Charter schools, private schools, public schools…even virtual schools are on offer, so finding the right one really comes down to one ultimate question: What are your needs? For some students, their particular need lies in being given more focused attention, so finding a school with a smaller structure may be important. You’ll want to know things like class size, even in seemingly smaller schools. If the actual class sizes are too big to allow for more individualized attention from the teacher or instructor, you may want to start looking somewhere else. You’ll also need to think about how the student learns. Younger students may need a school that takes a more creative approach or one that offers specialized classes for students with those types of needs. If there are schools more driven toward artistic programs, athletics, or even technology, you’ll want to know, especially if your student excels in one of those areas or seems dedicated to taking that path in life. Each step you choose in the academic ladder builds on the next, and schools feed into one another. When you’re choosing a school, think about its feeder schools, as well. Once students graduate to the next level, where will they most likely go, based on past history? If the route of a particular school is one that doesn’t mean your goals, find the ones that do so that you feel like you’re on the way to a bright future from day one. Put them to the test. If you’re interested in a school, check into their ranking in the state and in the school district to see where they lie. Never dismiss the grades they get, because that can factor into their ability to get into higher level schools later on. Naturally, a school can look great on paper, but it’s crucial to consider how it operates in real time. What are the staff and faculty like? How do they treat the students; and how do they treat you, as the parents? Do they show favorability toward certain demographics? Will your child feel like an outsider, or does the school offer an equal playing field? School politics can be a huge stressor, and students spend a majority of their days in that environment; being bullied by other students or even singled out by teachers can be emotionally damaging, which means that their ability to learn and thrive will be at stake — regardless of how good the school looks from the outside looking in. Raise your hand and ask the questions that matter. Think about the big picture, in all aspects of your family life. What kind of finances do you have to work with, and can you meet tuition fees for the duration of their student career? What are your beliefs, and do you feel as though your student will be accepted or stigmatized in a particular school? Does your student have physical, emotional, or other special needs that will be handled properly within the school’s environment? Find out the answers to your questions not only by visiting the schools, but by asking people in your community about their own experiences. As schools become more and more competitive and the drive to get accepted into the “right” ones, making the best choice for your child can seem like an impossible challenge; but by preparing well and doing your homework, you’ll be securing a better academic future for your student…and earning your very own A-plus as a parent.
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Clarksville VIPs at the Morgan University Center Ballroom
2nd annual
GRAD GALA Story & Photography by Adam Sellers
The Gov & Vice President for Student Affairs Sherryl Byrd
The Gov & Austin Peay Cheer Team
Military Student Center Representative Nyesha Ballard
Student Affairs Representative Angela Lawler & Registrar Telaina Wrigley
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undreds of the 1,120 Austin Peay students set to graduate in May 2016 gathered in the Morgan University Center Ballroom for the second annual Grad Gala. The event provides students the opportunity to resolve any graduation requirements, such as clearing any debts and signing up for additional courses that may have been glanced over. Austin Peay affords students the opportunity to sign up for the 8 week program at the Fort Campbell Campus to meet such course requirements, something unique to the university. This helps to ensure there will be no surprises on graduation day. In addition to securing one’s courses for graduation, the event also provides students with tools to ready themselves for life after graduation. In the many booths present students could find information on Austin Peay’s diverse array of graduate programs, have professional photos taken for career-building Linked-In accounts, and have their resumes looked over for improvements. Representatives of the school’s specialty programs, like the Military Student Center, were in attendance for military students to reserve seats in their graduation ceremonies. Caps, gowns, and class rings were also fitted and ordered at the Grad Gala. Grad Gala, formerly the “Grad Finale,” was renamed and revamped by Telaina Wrigley and the Registrar’s office last year to encourage greater student participation in the graduation ceremony. Their efforts were quite successful. A surprising 17 percent increase in student participation was observed between the fall of 2014 and the fall of 2015. She was happy to be able to verify that she’s on go to graduate, Medical Technician Heather Burkeen said, “and everyone was really helpful.”
Interim Director for African American Cultural Center Kenneth Maddox
Director of Career Services Amanda Walker
Hispanic Culture Center Representative Karina Taufi
Financial Aid Representatives Kelli Parker & Wendy Bumbus MARCH
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Clarksville VIPs at Clarksville High School
Market Day benefiting Ali Alberstadt, Linda Alberstadt, Tammy Cunningham & Kate Cunningham
Story by Adam Sellers & Stacy Leiser Photography by Adam Sellers
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tuff can make stuff happen, as Clarksville High School’s Wildcat Market Day proved. From handmade jewelry to fitness performance supplements, boutique clothing lines to specialty home fragrances, plus some one-of-a-kind yard sale finds, the community came together on Saturday, Feb. 27 to show support for CHS’s proactive Project Prom initiative. Project Prom has been a part of CHS history for the past 26 years. Though events and committee chairs change every year, the group and its goal remain true: “Parents take the initiative to provide a safe environment for kids so that they don’t make harmful decisions on the night of prom,” said CHS senior Ali Alberstadt. Project Prom provides activities, games, and a changing array of entertainment throughout the night following prom, while teenagers get to hang out and socialize with their friends in a safe environment. The vast majority of vendors present were drawn in by personal contacts and a desire to help with the mission — making safety fun for prom night revelers. As one of many events that Project Prom puts together, the market was orchestrated to raise funds to provide a “fun, safe environment for kids after prom,” Project Prom Co-Treasurer Linda Alberstadt said. The Project Prom Committee is a group of parents of CHS seniors. They spearhead many events throughout the school year, such as a barbeque, teacher lunches, and letter and donation campaigns. Do you want to do your part to help out, while indulging in the most festive breakfast food in existence? The CHS Seniors Pancake Breakfast is 8-10 a.m. March 12 at the 2127 Lowe’s Drive Chili’s. Diners will get two pancakes, bacon and a drink for $6, most of which goes to Project Prom. On April 23, the 320 CHS seniors and their dates will make their way to the luxurious Wilma Rudolph Event Center for their prom. Afterwards, they are afforded the time to change and relocate to the school from 12-5 a.m. In past years, seniors have been met with $15,000-$20,000 worth of food, games, and prizes. After sacrificing time throughout the year to raise funds, parents of CHS seniors will come in on April 22 to begin setting up for Project Prom. While their children are having the best night of their high school careers, parents will be making sure everything is arranged and ready for their arrival at Project Prom, many hours in advance. Their dedication and love does not go unnoticed. CHS senior Kate Cunningham said it’s “great that our parents care enough to fundraise such a large amount for us to have a fun ending to our senior year.”
Rhonda Mosier
Misty Norris
Paris Carnell & Angela Posey-Jeffries
Tracy Hutson & Leslie Sullivan
Amanda & Brandon Forbes MARCH
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Clarksville VIPs at The Wilma Rudolph Event Center
2015
Awards Banquet Bobby Bhojwani, Angel Johnson, Simron Bhojwani & Jennifer Fialkowski
Story by Stacy Leiser Photography by Jerome Whaley
T Wade & Kathy Sensing
Lennis & Valerie LaBarge
Katie Shogan & Chad Winn
Ariel & Jon Anderson
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he Wilma Rudolph Event Center served as an elegant and expansive backdrop for an annual celebration that is all about spreading the love. Real estate professionals from Keller Williams gathered there Thursday, Feb. 25 to share music, a meal, and awards that were a year in the making. The 2015 Awards Banquet honored standout real estate agents in a variety of categories. “This is something we do every year to honor our agents for all their hard work,” said Angel Johnson, who was the chairwoman of the event. “This year was extra special because we honored our CORE group that started it all. They are Mark Kelly and Valerie Hunter-Kelly, Sherwin and Norma Clift, Sheila Runyon, Marion Jewell and Larry Harless.” At tables decked in brilliant red, partygoers dined on roast beef au jus, chicken cordon bleu, steamed vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes. After awards were presented, the dance floor filled with exuberant real estate professionals, jamming to the sounds of The Beagles. The band was “absolutely amazing!” Angel Johnson said. Lennis LaBarge, dressed in Keller Williams red to match his wife, Valerie LaBarge, was impressed with both the venue and the music. “It is spacious. People had elbow room,” he said about the Wilma Rudolph Event Center. “And we had a live band! That was good.” Angel Johnson said the evening’s success was due to hard work by many Keller Williams agents, as well as sponsors who made the event possible. Sponsors of the Keller Williams 2015 Awards Banquet were Piper Construction, Pillar to Post Home Inspection, Reda Home Builders, C. Blackwell Construction, Grant Construction, Singletary Construction, Foundation Title and Escrow, F&M Bank, Residential Home Warranty Services, 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, American Home Shield and Jennifer Householder Photography.
After the honeymoon...
Where houses become homes
Jonathan & Ariel Anderson, Mark & Felicia Grant, Jennifer Fialkowski, Bobby & Simron Bhojwani
Marcia Campbell
furniture design accessories
Kathy Sensing & Valerie Dirks
Lexy Martoccia, Sarah Rumsey & Jenni Barnes
Valerie Hunter-Kelly & Jason Hass
327 Warfield Blvd • Clarksville, TN Dorothy Havens & Raeann Winn
C.J.Ingle & Rhett Barnes
931-648-8422 MARCH
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Story by Lyda Kay Ferree, The Southern Lifestyles Lady Photography courtesy of Visit Columbus 60
The Good Life Columbus, Mississippi: A Favorite Destination
teenth century structures in the state, a virtually complete record of American building styles from the 1820s through the 1900s,” stated Carpenter. Tours of these architectural gems abound. Whether taking a guided walking tour or winding through the scenic area by car or carriage or the double-decker bus, visitors may experience 19th century living first-hand. Founded in 1821 on the banks of the Tombigbee River when cotton was King, Columbus in Lowndes County thrives on its rich heritage and Southern charm. The city offers an extraordinary mix of history, natural beauty and cultures. Its revitalized Main Street, bustling with family-owned businesses, treasure-filled emporiums and culinary delights, is fun to explore. Changes are taking place in downtown Columbus. Soon there will be a Discovery Center and the Children’s Museum in the former Elks Club. Columbus’ location on a bluff overlooking the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway — nicknamed the Tenn-Tom — offers numerous opportunities for outdoor recreation. One of the top sports fishing spots in the nation, Tenn-Tom is a 234-mile stretch that connects Middle America with the Gulf Coast. It is ideal for scenic boat tours, water skiing or leisurely strolls or jogs down the River Walk that runs along the river. Since my last visit to Columbus several years ago, a Tenn-Tom Water Museum and Research Library has been built behind the Welcome Center. Columbus is one of three cities in “The Golden Triangle,” and it has joint projects with its neighbors — West Point (home of Old Waverly Golf Club) and Aberdeen. Columbus is proud to be recognized as one of Mississippi’s 15-20 Certified Retirement Communities because of its affordable cost of living, low taxes, low crime rate, quality medical care, recreation, educational and cultural opportunities, and most importantly, a warm, welcoming community. Contributing heavily to the economy of Columbus is the Air Force Base, which has trained pilots for World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. The base began as a training facility in the early 1940s for fighters and bombers. In 1946 the base became inactive until 1951. “Today the base, with 3044 employees (1400 are active duty military) trains one-third of the Air Force pilots in the United States,” said Rick Johnson, public affairs officer for the base. Note: Reputedly, Clark Gable trained there in the forties.
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n 2008 the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Columbus, Mississippi (pop: 23,000) one of “America’s Distinctive Destinations.” “Columbus will undoubtedly surprise you with its diverse and abundant cultural resources,” said Richard Moe, past president of the National Trust. “As one of the best kept secrets in the state of Mississippi, it is an unrivaled destination for anyone who enjoys Southern architecture, savors down-home cooking, and seeks an escape to the great outdoors.” “Columbus continues to be a favorite destination for cultural heritage tourism,” said Nancy Carpenter, Chief Executive Officer of the Columbus-Loundes Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Columbus Heritage Foundation. “It’s not unusual for us to have visitors from all 50 states and 19 countries,” said Carpenter. The birthplace of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Tennessee Williams, Columbus is home to three National Register Historic Districts that boast an impressive 650 properties. While other cities were ravaged during the Civil War, Columbus was a hospital refuge, which explains why the antebellum and Victorian homes and their contents were spared. “Columbus has one of the greatest concentrations of nine-
THE 2016 COLUMBUS SPRING PILGRIMAGE The Columbus Spring Pilgrimage has evolved from a tour of homes more than 75 years ago to today’s delightfully diverse Southern history, architecture, culture, food and fun. The annual Spring Pilgrimage attracts over 15,000 visitors. This award-winning event is widely recognized as one of the best and most authentic home tours in the South. In addition to the properties and three National Register Historic Districts, the 2016 Pilgrimage embraces and celebrates all of the town’s flavors. The antebellum mansions of Columbus are impeccably maintained and as resplendent as ever. Many home tours feature recreated period costumes, which add excitement and even more authenticity to this historic event. It’s an experience visitors will long remember! Driving and walking tours and Columbus informational brochures are available at the Tennessee Williams Home and Welcome Center located at 300 Main Street. This Victorian structure is the first home of renowned playwright Tennessee Williams, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for “A Streetcar Named Desire” and “Cat on a Hot in Roof.” MARCH
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The Good Life
SPECIAL EVENTS HOME AND GARDEN TOURS 15 historic homes and gardens on 12-day tour along with carriage and double decker buses—3rd St. South. (800)920-3533 or (662-329-1191) Adults: $30 per person Senior Citizen/Military: $25 Students (K-12): $12 Groups of 20+: 10% discount Prices are per tour per person. Carriage rides March 31, April 1, 2,3, 7, 8, 9 from 9 am until; Sunday: 12 noon until. $5 per person. Double decker bus rides: $5 with purchase of tour ticket or $8 without purchase of tour ticket (Bus does not run on Blue Tour).
KICKOFF PARTY Monday, March 28. Crawfish and shrimp boil with live music. Tennessee Williams Home Lawn at 300 Main Street.
TALES FROM THE CRY PT Wednesday, March 30, April 1, 4 6 and 8 from 7-10 pm. Graveyard tour that recreates the lives of noted personalities interred at the historic cemetery. Adults: $5 per person. Students: $3 per person. Tickets available at cemetery. Tales from the Crypt is an award-winning project of history students from the Columbus-based Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science.
HALF MARATHON 5K Run Saturday, April 2. 7 am: Half Marathon 8AM: 5K Run www.columbushalfmarathon5k.com Register at www.racesonline.com.
CATFISH IN THE ALLEY Saturday, April 2. 10 am-6 pm. Enjoy fresh fried catfish and live blues in Columbus’s historic Catfish Alley. Catfish cook-off in downtown Columbus.
ARTISANS ALLEY Saturday, April 2. 10 am-3 pm. Handcrafted period articles and food items. Tennessee Williams Home at 300 Main Street.
CHANTICLEER
Sunday, April 3. 7 pm. “The world’s reigning male chorus” and Grammy Awardwinning ensemble performs at The W Campus.
GARDEN PARTY Saturday, April 9. Stroll through Colonnade Garden with mint juleps and cheese straws. $15 admission. 620 Second Street South.
PILGRIMAGE TICKETS 117 3rd Street South (behind Tennessee Williams Home and Welcome Center) (800)920-3533 or (662)329-1191 www.visitcolumbusms.org 62
AREA ATTRACTIONS Tennessee Williams Welcome Center: This was the first home of playwright Tennessee Williams, who was born in Columbus in 1911. He spent his beginning years in an old (1875) Victorian home that was the rectory for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Williams’ grandfather, Reverend Walker Dakin, served as minister for the church. Williams’ home was saved from demolition and restored and has been designated a National Literary Landmark. Accommodating staff. Helpful literature and Southern merchandise for sale. Complimentary coffee and bottled water. Restrooms. Historic Home Tours: Some homes are open daily. Inquire at the Welcome Center. Friendship Cemetery: The site of the first Memorial Day celebration in 1866. Thousands of casualties from the Battle of Shiloh were buried in this cemetery. The W (formerly Mississippi University for Women): The oldest public college for women in the United States and home to 23 National Register properties. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eudora Welty attended the “W.” Waverly Plantation Mansion: A National Historic Landmark (circa 1852) and one of the most photographed homes of the South. From its octagonal shaped cupola to its self-supporting curved stairway, Waverly is unique among antebellum plantation homes in the South. Note: Waverley was the inspiration for the settings in Eudora Welty’s “Delta Wedding.” Be sure to visit owner Robert Snow’s antique shop next door to the mansion. Phone: (800) 920-3533 or (662) 494-1399. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. year round.
WHERE TO DINE There are over 135 wonderful restaurants in Columbus. • Café on Main Lemon icebox cake is signature dish, excellent lunch dishes. • Coffeehouse on 5th Cozy coffee shop offering sweet potato muffins & scones. • Harveys Restaurant Prime rib, steaks, salads, and pastas. • Jackson Square Grill Classic Americana cuisine. • J. Broussard’s Cajun cuisine. Make sure J. Broussard’s is on your trip! • Sweet Peppers Deli Delicious sandwiches, salads, and desserts. • UMI Japanese Steakhouse Voted BEST last 4 years in Mississippi Magazine.
• Zachary’s Specialty biscuits, specialty salads, pasta and homemade soups.
WHERE TO SHOP • Beard’s Antiquities on Fifth • Bella Interiors • The Mill: Design + Home • The Purple Elephant • The Shops at Brickerton • Waverley Plantation Mansion
WHERE TO STAY Columbus has over 1500 B&Bs and hotel rooms. BED & BREAKFASTS • The Amzi Love Home (c. 1848) and Lincoln Home Bed and Breakfast Inn (c. 1833) • Avakian-Shadowlawn • Backstroms Country Bed and Breakfast • Burnt Oak Lodge • The Jackie O’ House • Puckett House HOTELS • Courtyard Marriott (new) • Fairfield Inn & Suites (new) • Hampton Inn & Suites (new) • Hyatt Place Columbus (new) • Quality Inn • Ramada • River Chase Inn
UPCOMING CALENDAR OF EVENTS SEPTEMBER
*Tennessee Williams Tribute
OCTOBER
*Eudora Welty Writer’s Symposium
NOVEMBER
*Decorative Arts and Preservation Forum & Antiques Show and Sale
SAVE THE DATES:
Pilgrimage 2017: March 27-April 8 Pilgrimage 2018: April 2-April 14 Pilgrimage 2019: March 30-April 13
WHAT TO KNOW
The Colum bus Conven tion & Visi to rs Bureau 117 Third Street South, P.O. Box 789 Columbus, MS 39703 Phone: (662)329-1191 or (800)327-2686 Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8 am-5 pm Email: nancy@visitcolumbus.ms.org Website: www.visitcolumbusms.org Social Media: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Tennessee Wi lliams Home & Welcome Cen ter 300 Main Street. Staff is available. Hours: Monday-Saturday: 8:30 am-5:00 pm Phone: (662)328-0222 Note: Columbus is 172 miles from Memphis, TN; 259 miles from Nashville, TN; and 52 miles off the Natchez Trace Parkway.
“The homes in Columbus are such a treasure to the entire state. We are very fortunate that so many home owners are willing to open their homes and their hearts to visitor from around the world. Our Spring Pilgrimage is an exemplary historic home tour that is of ten emulated in other cities.” —Nancy Carpenter, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the Columbus-Loundes Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Columbus Heritage Foundation
RECIPE FOR WHITEHALL MINT JULEP Before she became a celebrated short story writer and novelist, Eudora Welty, who died in 2001, collected stories and recipes for the Federal Writers Project “America Eats.” Here’s her mint julep recipe by way of Mrs. T.C. Billups of Columbus, Miss. • Have silver goblet thoroughly chilled. • Take half lump sugar and dissolve in tablespoon water. • Take single leaf mint and bruise it between fingers, dropping into dissolved sugar. • Strain after stirring. • Fill the goblet with crushed ice, to capacity. • Pour in all the bourbon whiskey the goblet will hold. • Put a sprig of mint in the top of the goblet, for bouquet. • Let goblet stand until FROSTED. • Serve rapidly.
Welty adds: “Who could ask for anything more?” MARCH
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Clarksville VIPs at the Belle Hollow
Story & Photography by Jessie Shirley
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ouples mixed and mingled over drinks and chocolate covered strawberries at The Belle Hollow to kick off the Valentine’s weekend. With the ambiance of a wedding reception, dinner was served and the entertainment began with a funny performance and a game for everyone to play from their own table. After dinner the band played, the photo booth was open, and the dance floor was inviting.
Jenny & Chris Cristurean
Dana & Trent Knott
Jennifer & Jason Magnuson, Elizabeth May
Kara Zahn, Donna Meisner, & Emily Desbain Alan & Shirley Goins
Gary & Lou Anne Barber, Marion Scarbrough & Russel Shupp
BJ Lee, Ho Sang Lee & Jennifer Lee
Sharon & Walter Wegner
Marydith Young & LaRae Davenport MARCH
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the Belle Hollow Valentine’s dinner Bash
Amanda & Michael Bell
Tanechia & Avery Jackson
Brandon & Michaela Watts
Marie & Drew Oneal 66
NOW SERVING: • Active Duty • Single Soldiers • Military Retiree • DoD Civilians • Federal Agency Civilians MONTHLY RENT INCLUDES: • Basic utilities* • 24-hour emergency maintenance • Pet-friendly community • Free use of community center amenities ***
CALL TODAY!
888-310-9934 MARCH
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