January 12, 2023

for project

BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS

A multi-building mixed-use project is being eyed for Belle Meade Plaza Shopping Center and its accompanying Kroger.

According to a document submitted to the Metro Planning Department, the future development would include nine buildings, ranging in height from one story to 15 floors. The buildings would offer retail, residential and hotel space.

Nashville-based Adventurous Journeys (AJ) Capital Partners seeks to acquire the property, which includes a retail and office building hugging the White Bridge Road viaduct and recognized as the home of Agave’s Mexican Restaurant and Belle Meade Premium Cigars, among other businesses and the Kroger structure.

The document references up to 120 for-purchase residential condominiums and up to 380 for-rent apartments. The project also could offer a mixed-use building with 120 hotel rooms, with the multiple buildings featuring about 75,000 square feet

collectively of retail.

According to the document, three buildings will front Harding Pike, with four buildings ranging from 11 to 13 floors and two buildings (neither more than two stories) set back from the street. The document suggests minimal surface parking will be included and that all garage parking will be underground — thus maximizing the urban form and function of the future development.

In addition, the images reference extensive landscaping and full incorporation of Richland Creek as a water feature and river walk. The plan will involve a partial rerouting and restoriation of the creek, with flood mitigation to be undertaken. A platform rising above Richland Creek will be part of the effort. About 50 percent of the site’s 10.5 acres will be devoted to green space.

According to the document, AJ Capital (which also offers an office in Chicago) will

ask the Metro Planning Commission to rezone the property to specific plan (which will also require Metro Council approval). A Feb. 9 planning commission meeting is scheduled.

Of note, AJ Capital will seek LEED ND certification and Well Building Institute certification for the project, highlighting the environmentally friendly component the company wants to incorporate. If those certifications are landed, the project would represent one of only a handful of such in the state.

AJ Capital officials declined to comment.

Opened in 1961, the two-level modernist building offers a main address of 4544 Harding Pike and sits on roughly 10.57 acres. The building includes about 205,500 square feet and was one of Nashville’s first mixed-use buildings (retail on level one and office on floor two) oriented in a suburban manner, with the structure separated from the street by surface parking.

Republicans propose cutting Metro Council in half

BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT

Tennessee Republican leaders are seeking to cut the size of the Metro Council in half in a move seen as retribution for Nashville’s rejection of a push to host the 2024 Republican National Convention in the city.

House Majority Leader William Lamberth and Senate Finance Committee Chair Bo Watson, both Republicans, filed the so-called Small Government Efficiency Act on Monday. It would cap the size of metropolitan and municipal legislative bodies in Tennessee at 20 members. Though Nashville is not mentioned in the announcement, the Metro Council is the only such body in the state larger than the new maximum.

The bill as written does not prescribe how the city would reduce the size of the council, currently made up of 35 district representatives and five at-large representatives.

“When government grows beyond a certain size, it hinders economic growth, taxes are inevitably raised and the standard of living for the average citizen is diminished,” Lamberth said. “Government functions best closer to the people. This legislation will strengthen local democracy and competency by improving the ability of local elected leaders to effectively represent their communities.”

Some people around Metro have pushed for a smaller council before, and in 2015 Nashville voters rejected a proposal to shrink the body. A smaller council, some argue, could result in a more professionalized body made up of members with bigger-picture instincts. Fewer councilmembers would also mean, despite Lamberth’s claim about government functioning “best closer to the people,” that each councilmember would represent more constituents.

Vice Mayor Jim Shulman, who runs Metro Council meetings, is opposed to the reduction and is seeking

PHOTO COURTESY OF METRO NASHVILLE

Meade Kroger

Nashville’s May family owns the property, seemingly having paid $14.5 million for it in January 1997, according to Metro records. The property also includes the Kroger structure, with the grocery business to eventually relocate to the former Belle Meade Theater building and, specifically, the space last occupied by a Harris Teeter (read here).

Sources said the property could command a minimum of $80 million.

Nashville-based Robin Realty manages the property for the Mays, with family members unavailable to comment. Other tenants include Wells Fargo Bank, Ninki, Pho Ann, CVS, Starbucks, Office Depot and Katy’s Hallmark Shop,

The property sits within Metro Councilmember Kathleen Murphy’s District 24. A community meeting is slated to be held this week.

“While the project meets the Nashville Next community plan, community input is still very important and should be reflected in the final plan,” Murphy emailed the Post. “This has been the best proposal for this area that has been brought to me and I am very impressed with the amount of conservation proposed, restoration of the creek and reduction in the impervious surfaces.”

Murphy said the Kroger is not being forced to move, as its space had become outdated and the company has an existing lease on the unused space last home to the Harris Teeter (Kroger acquired Harris Teeter).

“This project will maintain a number of retail options while bringing in housing and mix-use buildings that we need on our corridor instead of our neighborhoods,” Murphy said. “We will be having another community meeting in the coming weeks that will specifically focus on [traffic] flow and parking.

The document notes Barge Cauthen & Associates (civil engineering), Hawkins Partners (landscape architecture), Hastings Architecture (design) and Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture (design) are participating. All but the latter, which is headquartered in Chicago, are based in Nashville. In addition, the local office of KCI is overseeing traffic studies, and Fayetteville, Arkansas-based Blew & Associates is handling surveying and mapping duties.

Though called Belle Meade Plaza Shopping Center and Kroger at Belle Meade, the property apparently does not fully sit within the municipal boundaries of the satellite city from which the name derives.

Editor’s Note: On Thursday, Jan. 5, a community meeting was held on the proposed project, and another community meeting focused on potential traffic and transportation impacts will be held at Montgomery Bell Academy on Saturday, Jan. 21, beginning at 2 p.m.

1,952 guns reported stolen in Nashville in 2022, majority from vehicles

STAFF REPORTS

Hillsboro High School has been named as one of 300 finalist schools across the nation for the Samsung Solve For Tomorrow competition aimed at promoting STEM education.

According to a news release, technology company Samsung hosts the annual competition for 6-12 grade public school students in which students are “asked to consider how science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) can be used to create change in their communities.”

With the help of their teachers, students can apply to the contest and compete to win up to $100,000 in prizes for their school, plus the opportunity to work with Samsung employees to develop their prototypes.

By being named a finalist, Hillsboro High will receive a $2,500 prize package which includes Samsung products and classroom resources to complete their activity plan submission.

The school will then submit their

project for consideration, and Samsung will recognize one winning school from each state with a $12,000 prize package including Samsung products and classroom resources, plus the opportunity to work with a Samsung employee mentor.

From those 50 state winners, one school will be awarded with the Sustainability Innovation Award, showing consideration for environmental impact, which includes a $50,000 environmental sustainability prize package.

10 schools will then be named national finalists and if chosen will receive a $50,000 prize package including Samsung products and classroom resources. National finalists are eligible to win an additional $10,000 in technology for the Community Choice Award through social media voting and the Samsung Employee Choice Award.

Samsung will also name three schools as national winners, who will be chosen to receive a $100,000 prize package.

1,952 guns were reported stolen in Nashville in 2022, with more than 70% of those thefts occurring from vehicles, according to year-end data from the Metro Nashville Police Department.

MNPD said in a news release that 1,378 of those guns were stolen from vehicles, an increase from the 1,303 guns reported stolen from vehicles in 2021.

“Going hand in hand with vehicle burglaries is vehicle theft,” the news release reads. “A review of last year’s stolen vehicle reports in Nashville shows that 74% of the automobiles taken in 2022 (2,687 of 3,622)

were easy targets because the keys were left inside or made available to thieves.”

That record-number of gun thefts from vehicles in the city came to be early in Dec. 2022.

MNPD took several steps in 2022 to curb the number of guns that could potentially be stolen, including hosting a gun buyback in August which saw 76 firearms, 45 of them pistols, exchanged with citizens for $50 Kroger gift cards, but the department continues to warn the public about the ongoing risks and challenges with stolen firearms.

PHOTO BY HILLSBORO HIGH SCHOOL PTSO/FACEBOOK

Court decision to strike down Lee’s denial of records request is excellent news for democracy

BY BILL FREEMAN

The Davidson County Chancery Court’s recent decision to require Gov. Bill Lee to consent to requests for public records is good news — not only for the groups seeking the legal decision, but for democracy as a whole.

As multiple news reports have detailed, our own FW Publishing filed a lawsuit against the governor’s office one year ago in order to obtain records detailing Lee’s no-bid contract with the multinational corporation McKinsey & Co. during the pandemic. The governor’s office denied our request, using a legal loophole to refuse to make these records available to the general public. Chancellor Patricia Moskal agreed with our argument

and has required Gov. Lee’s office to comply with our request. I would like to thank her for her thoughtful consideration of our argument, but the real winners in this court case are the general public and democracy as a whole.

The Washington Post’s slogan rings true here: “Democracy dies in darkness.” What makes that expression even more apt in this instance is that the slogan was popularized by the Post’s investigative journalist Bob Woodward — made famous for his role in revealing the Watergate scandal to the world.

If Gov. Lee had won the day, the records of this controversial $3 million no-bid

contract would have remained hidden from public scrutiny. It is the job of the general public and of the news industry as a whole to ensure that our government is operating fairly, efficiently and above board. When requests such as ours are denied, suspicion grows. The chancery court agreed with FW Publishing, but the fact remains that Gov. Lee has used this same legal maneuver to deny more than 60 records requests while in office. It is the responsibility of the news industry to question our government when it actively attempts to hide material that, by rights, should be available to everyone.

This situation reminds me of other recent attempts to shield information from the public by our elected officials — most notably former President Donald Trump and Tennessee’s senior U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn. Everyone knows of Trump’s refusal to hand over any document that might put him in a negative light or benefit him personally down the road. Despite an FBI raid and stories of flushing sensitive material down the toilet, Trump’s most ardent fans have still not been dissuaded from following him in lockstep. Even our own Sen. Blackburn, who has stood by Trump’s side and supported Lee throughout his campaigns, is famous — or should I say infamous — for her refusal to provide documentation on expenses for a trip to Los Angeles while employed by the state of

Council

Tennessee. In the 1990s, she burned expense receipts that had been questioned by the governor’s office at the time and then mailed the ashes back with a note reading, “Copy of L.A. expense report as requested!”

It’s hard to believe that Lee’s refusal to provide the above records is the mildest example we have of our far-right GOP leaders’ efforts to deny release of records that don’t put them in the best light. Gov. Lee simply hid behind a legal loophole. Trump lifted confidential and classified material in broad daylight and hoarded it at Mar-aLago. Blackburn has long been accused of funding her family members’ lifestyles with campaign donations, as well as multiple campaign issues that have warranted audits and led to serious findings by the FEC.

It may not rise to the level of Trump’s and Blackburn’s misdeeds, but Lee’s attempt to hide behind legal maneuverings to avoid public scrutiny of no-bid contracts doesn’t sound like the person who campaigned with his personal faith front-and-center. It doesn’t sound like the man who promised to lead our state with honesty and forthrightness.

Bill Freeman

Bill Freeman is the owner of FW Publishing, the publishing company that produces the Nashville Scene, Nfocus, the Nashville Post and The News.

Governor Bill Lee

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Davidson County Courthouse

PHOTO BY ERIC ENGLAND

Forest Hills suing Tennessee Historical Commission for right to rename Confederate-themed streets

BY MATT MASTERS

The City of Forest Hills is suing the Tennessee Historical Commission in an effort to be able to rename several residential roads which were named after historic

BY MATT MASTERS

figures from the American Civil War and the defeated Confederate States of America.

The lawsuit was first reported by the Tennessee Lookout, and specifically stated in

the Dec. 2022 suit are Confederate Drive, Robert E. Lee Drive and Court, Jefferson Davis Drive and Court, and General Davis Court, all of which were named by private developers in the 1960s.

Those streets are now part of the Tyne Valley Estates subdivision, which contains what are often called “luxury homes.”

“The City wants to give the residents of Forest Hills the opportunity to change the names of the streets listed above, and rename them with names that reflect the plant and animal life in the City of Forest Hills,” the suit reads.

According to the Tennessee Historical Commission’s website, the Tennessee Heritage Protection Act of 2016 “prohibits the removal, relocation, or renaming of a memorial that is, or is located on, public property,” and applies to any memorial that existed prior to Jan. 1, 1970 as well as any memorial that was “lawfully created, erected, named, or dedicated” after that date.

In 2022, the Tennessee Historical Commission held a hearing and denied the city’s petition, ruling that the streets in question are “memorials’ as defined by the Act.

Now the city is asking the Davidson

County Chancery Court to review the denial, arguing that the city should not have to seek the permission of the Commission in order to rename the streets.

“The City respectfully states that the Commission has erred in its interpretation of the Heritage Act,” the suit reads. “The Commission has interpreted the Heritage Act in such a way as to prevent the City from permitting its residents to decide whether to change the names of the subdivision streets without first obtaining a waiver from the Commission.”

“The Commission held in error that subdivision streets which were not constructed on public property, or named or dedicated by the public, but were named by private parties and constructed on privately owned land, are nonetheless ‘Memorials’ under the Heritage Act because the named streets were later dedicated to the public for use.”

According to the Davidson County Chancery Court Clerk, no hearing date has been set for the case.

PHOTO

Headline Homes: Top sales of 2022 STAFF REPORTS

Each month, we put together a list of the 10 most expensive home sales in Nashville and the surrounding area. Now we’re tallying the 10 biggest sales of the entire year (December figures are still outstanding).

Former politician Bill Frist and baseball star Mookie Betts were among the big names to make this list.

Each sale that made the annual list came in north of $9 million. June and November both tallied two homes on the final top 10.

1. 703 Bowling Ave., Nashville 37215 (October)

Buyer: Michael D. Sontag, trustee for 703 Bowling Avenue Trust Sale price: $18 million Seller: William H. Frist Buyer’s and seller’s agent: Steve G. Fridrich, Fridrich & Clark Realty

This not-so-humble abode was purchased by an anonymous trust, but sold by one of the more notable Tennessee names: former Republican U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. On four acres outside, landscape architect Ben Page designed a three-hole golf course, pool, pool house, rose garden, koi pond and more. In the nearly 13,000 square feet inside the house, there are six bedrooms, eight bathrooms and just about every amenity one could think of. The layout was done by architect Daniel Lee and the home was designed by Barry Dixon.

2. 4080 Wilson Pike, Franklin 37067 (November)

Buyer: McM Properties Holding LLC Sale price: $14 million Seller: Jeremy Gomer Seller’s agent: Tim Thompson, Tim Thompson Premier REALTORS Buyer’s agents: Tess Thompson Singer and Brent Thompson, Tim Thompson Premier REALTORS

While the home on this Williamson County farm is just shy of 3,000 square feet, it makes up for the lack of indoor space with around 278 acres outside. The listing says this property has been family-owned for decades. The property includes a large barn and covered storage area (“perfect for agricultural, development, livestock or equestrian pursuits”) and multiple ponds and a stream. It was purchased by a property management and holding company. Will we soon see a major housing development here or do we think they’ll go with some livestock pursuits?

3. 1950 Chickering Road, Nashville 37215 (November)

Buyer: Bryan Howard, Trustee, Aquarius Farms Trust Sale price: $13.5 million

Seller: Douglas Henry Joyce, Trustee of Kathryn C. Joyce Trust Seller’s agent: Richard B. French, French King Fine Properties

Buyer’s agent: Unknown

This 8,900-square-foot home on Chickering Road has direct access to Warner Park. This high-dollar home also comes with some acreage, though 22 acres just doesn’t seem like enough after seeing 278 acres in the [November] No. 1 slot. There’s already a six-stall barn, two run-in sheds and a storage building outside. Inside, there’s a main-level primary suite with new marble throughout. The additional three bedrooms all also include en suite bathrooms. There’s also a recently added guesthouse that gives the property an extra 846 square feet.

4. 3675 Bear Creek Road, Thompson’s Station 37179 (September)

Buyer: Christopher Cortazzo, Trustee, Christopher Cortazzo Trust Sale price: $11,475,000

Seller: Linda G. Thomas Family Trust Seller’s agent: Frances Garner, The Wilson Group Real Estate Services Buyer’s agent: Jamie Parsons, Benchmark Realty, LLC

This home is slightly pricier than the $11 million home at the top of August’s list, and the buyer is hidden under a trust for high-profile celebrity real estate agent Christopher Cortazzo. It sits on 143 acres near Leiper’s Fork, about 15 minutes from downtown Franklin in Thompson’s Station. On the acreage, there’s an apple orchard, azalea garden, creek and several pastures. The 6,700-square-foot main home is described in the listing as an “expansive French Chateau” and there’s a second 2,500-square-foot guest house built in 1914 on the property as well.

5. 530 Jackson Blvd. (July)

Buyer: CTN Holdco LLC Sale price: $11,350,000

Seller: C. Stephen and Milah P. Lynn Sellers’ agents: Lisa Fernandez-Wilson and Laura Stroud, French King Fine Properties Buyer’s agent: Steve G. Fridrich, Fridrich & Clark Realty

This month’s top seller is an estate known as “The Last Dance” — it clocks in at a whopping 22,004 square feet. The “Greek Antebellum Revival” home, which sits on five acres, features a grand foyer with a “three-story elliptical staircase,” a two-story colonnade, limestone balustrades and more fancy words I had to Google. There are six bedrooms, eight bathrooms and five half baths. That is 13 toilets. That is so many toilets.

Also on the property: in-law quarters, a pool, a spa and a tennis court with a basketball hoop and full-court lighting “for night games.”

Seller C. Stephen Lynn is the former CEO of Sonic, Shoney’s and Back Yard Burgers. He and his wife Milah purchased the home from Herbert Schulman in 1995 for $1 million. The Lynns put the home up for auction for $16.3 million in 2016 — it

was featured in the Wall Street Journal.

Buyer CTN Holdco LLC is a Delawarebased limited liability company.

6. 8134 Mountaintop Drive, College Grove 37046 (August)

Buyer: Musical Moose LLC Sale price: $11 million Seller: Mountaintop Drive Trust Seller’s agent: Robert Shiels, Grove Realty, LLC Buyer’s agent: Marabeth Poole, PARKS Holy indoor basketball court, Batman! This house in Williamson County seems like it has it all, and it had probably better with a sale price of $11 million. In addition to the full basketball court, this house has five bedrooms, a chef’s kitchen, 7.5 bathrooms, an infinity pool and spa with a ridgeline view.

It’s no private island, but it’s still lovely for the price.

7. 5836 Hillsboro Pike (June)

Buyer: Sun-Drop Terrace LLC Sale price: $10,633,000 Seller: Paul and Carla McCombs Sellers’ and buyer’s agent: Karen Russell, Partners Real Estate, LLC

According to the listing, this 11,034-square-foot home is “built like a fortress” and “an entertainer’s dream,” which makes me think of the movie The Purge. All the fancy houses in that movie are outfitted with expensive total lockdown security features and then they have big parties on purge night.

There are five bedrooms, nine bathrooms, five fireplaces and, outside, a little stream that flows into a koi pond. There’s also a two-bedroom/two-bathroom guest house with its own putting green.

Seller Paul McCombs appears to be a neurosurgeon. Buyer Sun Drop Terrace LLC is a Tennessee-based limited liability company that was established in 2017. Sun Drop is also a citrus-flavored soda. Fresca is superior.

8.

2407 Hidden River Lane, Franklin (February)

Buyer: Foxhedge Realty LLC Sale price: $10,000,000

Seller: Markus Betts

Seller’s agent: Steve Fridrich, Fridrich & Clark

Buyer’s agent: Lindsay Wells, Fridrich & Clark

Inside this 19,561-square-footer sits a two-lane bowling alley, golf simulator and exercise room “larger than most schools.” So who would live in such an extravagant, sporty home? None other than Nashville’s own MLB All-Star Markus “Mookie” Betts.

Betts grew up in Nashville before going on to play professional ball for the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. It was here in Music City that he was named Class AAA All-City Player of the Year. But baseball

isn’t the only sport in which he excels — as the home’s bowling alley suggests, Betts is also a talented bowler. He was also named Tennessee Boys Bowler of the year in 2010. Buyer Foxhedge Realty LLC is the same LLC that appeared in Headline Homes in 2019 after purchasing 127 acres in Leiper’s Fork.

9. 404

Whistler Cove, Franklin (January)

Buyer: John and Rebecca Figueroa, cotrustees, Figueroa Family Trust Sale price: $9,900,000

Seller: Geoffrey and Melissa Smith Sellers’ agent: Kim Brannon, Zeitlin Sothebys International Realty Buyers’ agent: Ami Kase, Zeitlin Sothebys International Realty Sellers Geoffrey and Melissa Smith purchased this home in 2016 for $1,540,000. What happened in the past six years to result in the $8 million boost?

According to the listing a “complete two-year renovation transformation by custom builder Forte Building Group in collaboration with Durden Architecture.”

The main home comes in at just over 8,100 square feet, but the property also features a party barn with a fully equipped apartment, a four-car garage and “outdoor living spaces” outfitted with a pool and spa, a fire pit and fireplace.

10. 4760 Sharpsville Road, Murfreesboro (June)

Buyer: Christopher R Redlich, Jr., Trustee, Christopher R. Jr., Revocable Living Trust Sale price: $9,297,000

Seller: Peppers Properties LLC Seller’s agent: Erin Krueger, Compass Tennessee Buyer’s agent: Christy Reed, Fridrich & Clark Realty

Known as Five Peppers Farm, this 90-acre equestrian farm features a riding area, a ninestall barn, a hay barn and an office. I hope the office is for the horses. At the center of the sale is a 14,096-square-foot house that features more than 30 rooms (?!?), a pool and two outdoor kitchens. There’s also a twobedroom/two-bathroom guest house with a full kitchen.

Let’s count the rooms, shall we? Five bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a sitting/music room, a formal dining room, a living room (with double-sided fireplace), a kitchen, a walk-in pantry, a breakfast area, a sunroom, an office, a gun safe (is that a room?), a game room, a movie room, a gym, a dance/yoga studio, a study/art room and more.

There are stone archways, copper accent walls, onyx chandeliers, 150-year-old barn wood from Pennsylvania and a pool grotto with diving rocks, too.

Buyer Christopher Redlich Jr. is the founder and former chairman of Healing Healthcare.

This story first appeared in our sister publication Nashville Post.

Five free and cheap family things to do in middle Tennessee

BY AMANDA HAGGARD

This week in our list of free and cheap events, there are no two events alike. With your smaller dancing queens, you can head to Williamson County for a free ballerina experience. There’s something for the craftier of our family members. The budding scientists will find a froggy event in East Nashville quite ribbiting, I mean, riveting. Near the frogs, a painter will display her work focused on nature in a family-friendly (and free) exhibit. And if you want to head downtown, the whole family can check out a ukulele performance and learn all they need to know about the tiny instrument.

As part of our series on free and cheap things to do with the family, here is our weekly roundup of places to spend time together over the next week:

BALLERINA STORYTIME EXPERIENCE

At ROOTS Academy in Williamson County, they’re hosting a magical Ballerina Storytime experience for 3 and 4 year olds. Attendees can watch as a professional ballerina tells a story through dance and movement. The event is free and also includes the chance to snap a photo and create a keepsake to take home after the event.

KIDS CRAFT: BEADED SNOWFLAKE

At Turnip Green Creative Reuse in Nashville, there’s a crafting class on Jan. 12 for just $5 per person. Kids can learn to use their fine motor skills while creating a beaded snowflake. Adults must accompany their children, and the event is suitable for young children and beginning crafters.

FROGWATCH

At 1 p.m. on Jan. 14, the Nashville Wildlife Conservation Center is coming to Shelby Bottoms Nature Center to discuss which frogs and toads are in the chorus calling from the trees and ponds in Shelby Bottoms. The event will outline the basics of identifying frog and toad calls and show why it is important to learn about which frogs and toads live in the community.

ART EXHIBIT: ‘NEIGHBORS’ BY CATHERINE BARGNESI

Speaking of neighbors in Shelby Bottoms, there’s also a family-friendly art exhibit called Neighbors opening on Jan. 13. Catherine Bargnesi created a collection of wildlife paintings inspired by Shebly Bottoms. “My daily walks at Shelby Bottoms almost always have two or three awesome creatures to appreciate, so I’d say that is my inspiration and a part of my life I’m always so thankful for,” Bargnesi says. “I’ve lived in East Nashville for over 20 years, painting since about 2009, and found refuge in the park right away.” The paintings will be on display until the end of March 2023.

UKULELE PETTING ZOO

At the main Nashville Public Library downtown, the Ukedelics will be on hand with several ukuleles to check out. They’ll perform a show between 10-11 a.m. and discuss the basics of the instrument. Attendees will have the chance to play the ukuleles a bit as well.

Rep. Mark Green to chair homeland security committee

Tennessee Republican plans to target Biden border policies at helm of House body

BY MATT MASTERS

COURTESY OF US CONGRESS

Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn, also a Republican, spent part of Monday visiting Eagle Pass, Texas, which shares a border with Piedras Negras, Mexico.

The political spotlight has intensified on the southern border following the extension of Title 42, a public health initiative implemented at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that has allowed the federal government to more rapidly expel millions of migrants seeking asylum, meaning that some asylum seekers never have a chance to apply for protected status.

Mark Green

U.S. House Republicans picked Rep. Mark Green (R-Clarksville) to serve as chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security for the 118th Congress.

Green, whose redrawn district now includes parts of Nashville, was selected for the position by the House Republican Steering Committee on Monday and said in a news release that “ending the border crisis [President Joe] Biden created is our top priority,” adding that “no community in the U.S. will be unaffected” by illegal immigration .

“We will empower our brave [Customs and Border Protection] personnel with the necessary tools to accomplish the mission,” Green said, pledging to hold Biden and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas “accountable” for what he called “their complete dereliction of duty in failing to respond to this crisis.”

Green has long been critical of Democratic immigration and border policies, reiterating the familiar Republican claim that Democrats have implemented and strive for an “open border,” something that Mayorkas and the Biden administration have disputed.

Reuters reported a rise in the number arrests of migrants by border patrol agents in spring 2022, and law enforcement officials nationwide have seen a rise in seizures of fentanyl, especially in the southern border states.

Green’s appointment occurred one day after Biden paid his first visit to the country’s southern border, where he met with U.S. Customs and Border Protection police in El Paso, Texas.

Pres. Biden also met with Mexican

In December, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the policy is to remain in place, despite plans from the Biden administration to end the measure.CBS News reported that the Supreme Court could make a final ruling on Title 42 as early as this summer.

Last week, Mayorkas pledged to continue to “fully enforce our immigration laws in a safe, orderly and humane manner,” and that “individuals without a legal basis to remain in the United States will be subject to prompt expulsion.”

“We will comply with the court orders that require us to continue enforcing the Title 42 order, and we will also use this time to enhance and increase our use of expedited removal under Title 8 [pre-pandemic code related to border enforcement] where permitted to do so,” Mayorkas said.

“We have no choice but to address these challenges head-on. … It’s time to get to work and fulfill our Commitment to America,” Green said.

Green, a former Tennessee state senator, beat out Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw for the top committee spot. In November, Green defeated Democratic challenger Odessa Kelly to represent the newly redistricted 7th Congressional District.

wIn 2017, then-President Donald Trump nominated Green as Secretary of the Army, but Green later withdrew from contention amid pushback over anti-gay and anti-Muslim statements. The Jan. 6 Select Committee published text messages showing that Green communicated with Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows about efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In the past, Green has sponsored legislation establishing three-term limits for members of Congress; this is his third term in office.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Monday in Mexico City, where they reportedly spoke about immigration between the neighboring nations at the North American Leaders’ Summit.

PHOTO

JARRARD NAMES NEW PRESIDENT

Brentwood-based health care industryfocused communications firm Jarrard Inc. announced Tuesday that Anne Hancock Toomey has been named president.

According to a release, Toomey succeeds David Jarrard, who has served as the firm’s president since its founding 16 years ago and will continue as chairman of its executive committee.

Toomey, a company co-founder, has been chief development officer for five years and has more than 20 years of experience in health care communications. Previously, she was a public affairs adviser with the health care practice of The Ingram Group. Prior to that, she served as director of marketing and communications for specialty hospital developer Surgical Alliance.

Toomey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Wake Forest University and is a graduate of AmeriCorps. She serves on the boards of Faith Family Medical Center, Persist Nashville, Renewed and The Harpeth Hall School’s National Advisory Council.

Jarrard formerly served as CEO of The Ingram Group, as partner at MP&F, as a vice president at Whittle Communications and as a reporter at The Tennessean.

Jarrard, Toomey and partners Kevin Phillips and Molly Cate founded the company.

“Anne’s leadership ensures the continued rapid expansion of our firm, which has experienced significant growth as the health care industry recognizes the great value of effective communications to their success,” Jarrard said in the release. “As a co-founder of the firm and longtime leader of business development, Anne embodies the legacy of the firm’s foundational strengths and also has real-time awareness of the needs of our clients and the deep gifts of our colleagues to serve them.”

Since beginning operations in 2006, Jarrard Inc. (formerly known as Jarrard Phillips Cate & Hancock, Inc.) has served

BUSINESS BRIEFS

nearly 1,000 clients in 45 states. The firm is home to more than 80 employees in 13 states, with an office in Chicago.

In 2020, Jarrard Inc. became a division of Chicago-based Chartis, clients for which include health care providers and payers, health services organizations, technology and retail companies, and investors.

WALLER MERGING WITH MIAMI LAW FIRM

Nashville law firm Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis is merging with Miamibased Holland & Knight, with the firm to operate under the Holland & Knight name.

The firms agreed to close the deal during the first quarter of the year, according to a press release. Combined, the firm will have nearly 2,000 attorneys in 35 offices.

Waller has approximately 300 attorneys in Nashville, Chattanooga, Birmingham and Austin.

“Early in our discussions with Holland & Knight, we saw a compelling opportunity to join a national platform with a deep bench of talent and experience,” Waller chair Matt Burnstein said in the release. “Our clients are enthused about gaining access to top lawyers in many geographies we do not currently serve, and our attorneys and staff will fit wonderfully within the Holland & Knight culture. This is a tremendously exciting move for our firm.”

Holland & Knight managing partner Steven Sonberg specifically cited Waller’s health care practice as a benefit of the merger.

ARDENT ANNOUNCES REMOTE CARE PARTNERSHIP, NEW C-SUITE ROLE

BY HANNAH HERNER

Locally based acute care hospital operator

Ardent Health Services announced growth in its remote patient monitoring efforts as well as a new senior leadership role this week.

Ardent announced Wednesday that it is partnering with remote care management company Cadence to implement a remote patient monitoring and virtual care program across its locations. According to a press release, the technology provides care as needed from home to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions including care for hypertension, congestive heart failure and diabetes, with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to launch later in 2023.

The partnership began at Utica Park Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and will be deployed in multiple markets in the next year, according to a press release.

Cadence counts Ardent as its third Nashville partnership, having signed contracts with LifePoint and Community Health Systems in the past 18 months. New York-based Cadence raised $41 million for its launch in 2021, including support from Nashville-based venture capital companies.

Ardent has 30 hospitals and nearly 200 sites of care in six states, according to a press release. In December, Ardent launched virtual nursing at one of its locations in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

On Tuesday, Ardent announced Brad Hoyt would serve as chief medical information officer, a new role which will be part of the company’s senior leadership team. Hoyt will lead clinical information systems and electronic health record optimization, according to a press release. He previously worked in internal medicine for 26 years at Ardent-affiliated health systems in Oklahoma, including Utica Park Clinic and Hillcrest HealthCare System.

He is an alumnus of Rice University and Baylor College and has served on the Ardent Physician Advisory Council since its inception, according to the release.

“Unlocking the power of clinical data and technology to direct how we deliver care is essential to building the health system of the future, and we are fortunate to have Dr. Hoyt lead these efforts,” said Marty Bonick, president and CEO of Ardent. “His steadfast commitment to clinical excellence and his expertise make him a strong addition to our leadership team as we continue to enhance Ardent’s clinical performance with techenabled platforms.”

In September 2022, the company announced it would move its headquarters from Green Hills to Seven Springs. The same month, a United Arab Emirates-based health care provider acquired a minority stake in the company.

ASCENSION SAINT THOMAS NAMES NEW PRESIDENT, CEO

BY HANNAH HERNER

Ascension Saint Thomas announced Friday that Fahad Tahir will serve as president and CEO of the health system, effective immediately. He replaces Tim Adams, who served in the role since 2018 and will now serve as regional operating officer and senior vice president for Ascension, overseeing the parent organization’s actions in 10 states.

Tahir has been with Ascension Saint Thomas since 2014, and most recently served as chief strategy officer since December 2020. He previously held the role of president and CEO of the hospital system’s Midtown and West campuses, and he oversaw the modernization of the Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown hospital, according to a press release. Tahir is an alumnus of Johns Hopkins University and Loyola University and serves on the boards of the Catholic Health Association of the United States, American Heart Association of Tennessee and Nashville Public Radio.

“The health system’s footprint across the state has seen significant expansion under Tim’s five years of leadership,” said Craig Cordola, executive vice president and chief

operating officer for Ascension. “As an innovator with a track record of success, Fahad is well-suited to lead our next phase of growth as we continue serving Middle Tennessee.”

SAN

FRANCISCO

COMPANY PAYS $72M FOR APARTMENT COMPLEX

BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS

UA San Francisco-based apartmentfocused real estate investment company active in the local market has undertaken another transaction — this one for $72 million.

According to a Davidson County Register of Deeds document, an LLC affiliated with Hamilton Zanze now owns the 224-unit Rivertop Apartments in West Davidson County. Opened in 2019 and located near both a Walmart and Ray Steven’s CabaRay Showroom, the garden-style apartment complex overlooks the Cumberland River and offers a main address of 5800 River Road.

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The seller was CF Riverton Multifamily DST, a trust in which Hamilton Zanze was affiliated with New York-based Cantor Fitzgerald. Following the deal, Hamilton Zanze now owns the property in full.

Birmingham-based LIV Development developed the site (read here) and sold to CF Riverton Multifamily DST in late 2019 for $57.12 million, Metro records notes.

This is the second such West Davidson County transaction Hamilton Zanze has undertaken with CF during the past three weeks. In mid-December, the company paid $77 million for 865 Bellevue Apartments (read here).

In both deals, the seller was a trust comprising Hamilton Zanze and Cantor Fitzgerald, a financial services firm that provides investment banking services, prime brokerage and commercial real estate financing.

The $72 million purchase price for Rivertop Apartments is the equivalent of about $321,430 per apartment unit.

According to its website, Hamilton Zanze owns 132 properties in 17 states and 30 markets, with a collective 22,821 units.

The Post was unable to determine if brokers were involved in the transaction.

This story first appeared in our sister publication Nashville Post.

Have a promotion you wish to submit to Business briefs? Send to news@gcanews.com

Ann Hancock Toomey

SPORTS

TSWA names All-State honorees for fall sports

STAFF REPORTS

The Tennessee Sports Writers Association named all-state teams for each fall sport.

Below are all of the Nashville-area all-state honorees:

SOCCER:

Class AAA

D: Reagan Tate, Hendersonville, Sr.

MF: Maddie Padelski, Nolensville, So.

MF/F: Camden Prosser, Stewarts Creek, Sr. Class AA

GK: Gabbie Rainey, Page, Sr.

D: Shelby Clark, Central Magnet, Sr.

MF: Julia Ann Hamilton, Central Magnet, Jr. MF: Abby Thornton, Page, Sr. F: Gracie Segundo, Page, Sr.

Class A

D: Bella Henderson, Merroll Hyde, Jr.

MF: Mary McIllwain, Merrol Hyde, Sr. Division II-AA

D: Olivia Prim, Father Ryan, Sr.

D: Mary Wood, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Sr.

MF: Katie Shea Collins, Pope John Paul II, Jr.

F: Mamie Carman, Lipscomb Academy, So. Division II-A

D: Lindsey Summarell, Battle Ground Academy, Sr.

D: Ava Pormeroy, Nashville Christian, Sr.

MF: Keaton Mitchell, Battle Ground Academy, Sr.

F: Eva Schreiber, Battle Ground Academy, Sr.

VOLLEYBALL:

CLASS AAA

OH: Kaira Knox, Nolensville, So.

OH: Ashley Miller, Brentwood, Sr. OH: Mia Reese, Hillsboro, Sr. S: Dylan Sulcer, Brentwood, Sr. L: Bella LePore, Ravenwood, Sr.

CLASS AA

OH: Mia Finley, Central Magnet, Sr. CLASS A

OH: Meah Thompson, Eagleville, So. S: Audrey Tribble, Eagleville, Jr. Division II-AA

OH: Elizabeth Aylward, Harpeth Hall, Sr.

OH: Emily Holmes, Father Ryan, Jr.

S: Hannah Scott, Ensworth School, Sr.

L: Katie Barrier, Ensworth School, Sr. L: Katie McClary, Father Ryan, Sr. Division II-A

OH: Mackenzie Huntington, Battle Ground Academy, Sr.

OH: Kaden Sanders, Goodpasture Christian, Sr.

MH: Gillian Baisden, Battle Ground Academy, Sr.

MH: Ryan Nevils, Goodpasture Christian, Sr.

MH: Lily Watson, Middle Tennessee Christian, Jr.

S: Kyra Hampton, Battle Ground Academy, Sr.

S: Haley Hudson, Middle Tennessee Christian, Jr.

S: Tayler Ruffin, Goodpasture Christian, Sr.

L: Sloane Cantrell, Middle Tennessee Christian, Sr. L: Isabelle Northam, Battle Ground Academy, Sr.

FOOTBALL:

DIVISION II-A

QB – Jared Curtis, Nashville Christian, Fr. QB – Garrett Weekly, Friendship Christian, Sr.

RB – Eli Wilson, Middle Tennessee Christian, Jr.

RB – Ashton Jones, Donelson Christian, Jr. WR – Brock Montgomery, Friendship Christian, Jr.

OL – Devin Lively, Friendship Christian, Sr.

OL – Devin Ray, Nashville Christian, Sr. OL – David Lyles, Donelson Christian, Sr.

OL – Jesse Perry, Middle Tennessee Christian, Jr. ATH – Tyson Wolcott, Friendship Christian, Jr.

DL – Jaden Potts, Nashville Christian, Sr. DL – L.J. Tolbert, Donelson Christian, Sr. DL – Car’Lando Barton, Friendship Christian, So.

LB – Brooks Jones, Middle Tennessee Christian, Jr.

LB – Brady Russell, Donelson Christian, Sr.

DB – Tylor Smiley, Friendship Christian, Sr. ATH – James Warmbrod IV, Nashville Christian, Sr. P – Landon Williams, Friendship Christian, Jr.

DIVISION II-AA

QB – Hank Brown, Lipscomb Academy, Sr. RB – Ty Clark III, Franklin Road Academy, Jr. WR – London Humphreys, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Sr. WR – Junior Sherrill, Lipscomb Academy, Sr.

TE – Bo Burklow, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Sr.

OL – John Wayne Oliver, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Jr. OL – Joe Crocker, Franklin Road Academy, Sr.

OL – Brandon Solis, Lipscomb Academy, Sr. OL – Chauncey Gooden, Lipscomb Academy, So.

DL – Tony Carter, Lipscomb Academy, So. DL – Donovan Nevils, Battle Ground Academy, Sr. DL – Glenn Seabrooks, Davidson Academy, Jr.

LB – Crews Law, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Jr. LB – Edwin Spillman,

Lipscomb Academy, Jr. LB – Bryan Longwell, Lipscomb Academy, Sr. DB – Kaleb Beasley, Lipscomb Academy, Jr. DB – Ondre Evans, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Jr.

Division II-AAA

QB – Marcel Reed, Montgomery Bell Academy, Sr. QB – George MacIntyre, Brentwood Academy, So. RB – Johnothan Moore, Montgomery Bell Academy, Sr. WR – Claiborne Richards, Montgomery Bell Academy, Sr. OL – Caleb Dorris, Ensworth School, Sr. OL – Davis Greene, Brentwood Academy, Sr. K – George Laster, Brentwood Academy, Sr. DL – Gabe Fisher, Montgomery Bell Academy, Sr. DL – Eriq George, Montgomery Bell Academy, Sr. DL – Hank Weber, Brentwood Academy, Jr. DL – Jamarr Jones, Pope John Paul II, Sr. LB – A.J. Barbat, Brentwood Academy, Jr. LB – Deuce Scott, Brentwood Academy, Sr. DB – Josh Mailander, Pope John Paul II, Sr. P – London Bironas, Brentwood Academy, So. CLASS 2A

RB – Zech Prince, East Robertson, Sr. OL – Tanner Cheatam, East Robertson, Sr. CLASS 3A

QB – Zacc Beard, East Nashville, Sr. RB – TreQuan Waters, East Nashville, Sr. WR – Frank Gordon, East Nashville, Sr. OL – DeMarco Ellis, East Nashville, Sr. LB – LaDon Pointer, East Nashville, Sr. DB – Rolando Braxton, East Nashville, Sr. CLASS 4A

WR – D’Arious Reed, Pearl-Cohn, Jr.

OL – Jerran Jackson, Pearl-Cohn, Sr. DL – Nathan Robinson, Greenbrier, Sr.

CLASS 5A

QB – Coby Walton, Nolensville, Sr.

QB – Colin Hurd, Page, Sr.

WR – Chance Fitzgerald, Nolensville, Sr.

WR – Boyce Smith, Page, Sr.

OL – Aiden Bussell, Mt. Juliet, Sr.

OL – Ronan O’Connell, Page, Jr.

DL – Taylor Wein, Nolensville, Sr.

DB – Osize Daniyan, Mt. Juliet, Sr.

CLASS 6A

QB – Shivan Abdullah, Cane Ridge, Sr.

QB – Kade Hewitt, Oakland, Sr.

RB – Darius Johnson, Beech, Sr.

RB – Demitrius Bell, McGavock, Sr.

WR – Ben Marshall, Blackman, Sr.

WR – Justin Brown, Blackman, Sr.

OL – Keith Bowman, Oakland, Sr.

OL – Eli Freeman, Lebanon, Sr.

OL – Buster Overstreet, Beech, Sr.

DL – Cameron Floyd, Oakland, Sr.

DL – Jayden Marable, Smyrna, Sr.

DL – Isaac Oglesby, Riverdale, Sr.

LB – Arion Carter, Smyrna, Sr.

LB – Caleb Herring, Riverdale, Sr.

LB – Nathan Hepborn, Oakland, Sr.

DB – Mose Phillips III, Cane Ridge, Sr.

DB – Jeremiah Collins, Oakland, Sr.

ATH – Eric Taylor, Oakland, Sr.

P – Jacob Taylor, Oakland, Jr.

CROSS COUNTRY: BOYS

DIVISION II-A

Drew Johnson, Donelson Christian Academy, Sr. Austin Cason, University School of Nashville, Sr. DIVISION II-AA

Luke Thompson, Brentwood Academy, Jr. Carter Johnson, Brentwood Academy, Jr.

GIRLS

A-AA

Sophia Boutros, Page, So. Gabrielle Boutros, Page, So. AAA

Claire Stegall, Nolensville, So. Larkin Johnson, Centennial, Fr. Rachel Haws, Brentwood, So. Lydia Cromwell, Brentwood, So. DIVISION II-A

Auldyn Plant, University School of Nashville, Sr. DIVISION II-AA

Bella Guillamondegui, Harpeth Hall, Sr. Annamaria Bacchetta, Harpeth Hall, So.

GOLF: BOYS

CLASS AA

Jackson Herrington, Dickson County, Jr. Tyler Williamson, Greenbrier, Sr. DIVISION II-A

Eliot Brashear, Battle Ground Academy, Sr. DIVISION II-AA

Blades Brown, Brentwood Academy, Fr. Tommy Frist, Ensworth School, Sr.

GIRLS

CLASS

AA

Sophia Dipaolo, Franklin, Sr. DIVISION II-A

Bella Bugg, Battle Ground Academy, Sr. DIVISION II-AA

Reagan Robinson, Father Ryan, Sr. Savannah Cherry, Ensworth School, Jr. Ava Bankston, Lipscomb Academy, Sr.

Zoolumination at Nashville Zoo is the country’s largest Chinese lantern festival

BY BRENDA BATEY PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE NASHVILLE ZOO

There is something delightful at the Nashville Zoo everyone can enjoy to help relieve the gloomy days of winter.

Zoolumination, the country’s largest Chinese lantern festival, boasts more than 1,000 brightly lit, authentic, custom-made silk Chinese lanterns displayed throughout the nearly three miles of zoo pathways. And some of the zoo’s animals who enjoy the night life will be on view.

Visitors can expect one-of-a-kind lantern structures exquisitely constructed featuring animals, colorful scenes, picturesque walkways, mythical beasts, and more.

Fantastic, whimsical and larger-than-life lanterns at Zoolumination include dragons, whales, foxes, tigers, an entire Chinese village, and more.

Guests can walk on a pathway underneath a bright blue dragon that spans more than 80 feet in length and see the biggest lantern, which is 50 feet tall.

“Nashville Zoo partnered with Zigong Lantern Group to develop and implement

this event,” said Zoo President and CEO Rick Schwartz.

“Approximately 35 Chinese artists, welders and construction staff arrived last summer to help design and construct each lantern. The production process took approximately three months and all lanterns are illuminated by environmentally-friendly LED lights,” Schwartz added.

Most of the zoo’s animals retire for the night before dark. However, Andean bears, Sumatran tigers and flamingos are active until 8:30 p.m. and visitors to Zoolumination also can enjoy viewing these beautiful creatures.

In addition, “Unseen New World” will be open all evening. This exhibit showcases amphibians, reptiles, fish, and fruit bats, as well as an expansive array of freshwater and saltwater fish, turtles, lizards, and snakes from different parts of the world and different climates.

The Nashville Zoo is involved with animal conservation, and visitors will be able to glimpse several creatures in the species

Fantastic, whimsical and larger-than-life lanterns at Zoolumination include dragons, whales, foxes, tigers, a Chinese village, and more.

survival program, such as alligator snapping turtles, eastern hellbenders and stream-side salamanders.

Specialty food and beverages are provided for purchase throughout Zoolumination pathways and include hot cocoa and cider, beer, margaritas, specialty cocktails, coffee, and soda.

Quills Cafe and Screaming Gibbon Pizza Kitchen will be open and festive sweet treats and classic zoo snacks will be served

at concession stands until around 8 p.m. nightly.

Zoolumination will be open from Thursdays through Sundays through February 4. Single-night admission to Zoolumination is $19 for adults and $15 for children (ages 2-12). Members save $2 per single admission ticket. Children under age 2 are not charged a fee. Advanced tickets are required and it is a rain-or-shine event.

California

In-N-Out Burger officials announced Tuesday the company will invest $125.5 million to establish an Eastern territory office in Franklin.

The effort will yield 277 jobs and represent the Irvine, California-based In-NOut’s first expansion east of Texas, according

to a release.

Construction will begin by late 2024 on a 100,000-square-foot office building for In-N-Out, with work on the facility slated to be completed by 2026. The Eastern territory office will house positions that support operations management, human resources and IT, among others.

The release does not note an address of the future headquarters.

In addition, In-N-Out plans to open some of its fast food restaurants in the general Nashville area by 2026. Currently, In-N-Out has 385 locations throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, Oregon and Colorado. Once opened, the Tennessee restaurants will be In-N-Out’s first establishments located east of Texas.

Billed as California’s first “drive-thru” hamburger stand and home to about 27,000 employees, In-N-Out was founded in 1948 by Harry and Esther Snyder and remains owned and operated by the Snyder family.

The release does not note any incentives the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development may be providing to In-N-Out.

“For many years, we’ve heard requests from our customers in Tennessee to consider opening locations near them, further east than we’ve ever been,” Lynsi Snyder-

Ellingson, In-N-Out owner and president, said in the release. “This expansion is significant for our company.”

Since 2018, TNECD has supported more than 20 economic development projects in Williamson County, resulting in 4,200 job commitments and $200 million in capital investment.

This story first appeared in our sister publication Nashville Post.

TWO FACES

Oh boy, are we in the Fifth Congressional district in big trouble. After Republicans managed to split our district, the only thing I can think of is---- a mess. Now we find out that our representative Andy Ogles is a typical two-faced politician. When “ole two face” was running for office he endorsed non other than Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House. Now that “ole two face” got elected he is throwing McCarthy under the bus by supporting Rep Jim Jordan of Ohio for that job. Now after the fourth and fifth rounds of voting, he decided to vote

for U.S. Donalds of FL. But when he was hanging out with Rep. Blackburn we should have figured it out, we in the Ninth are screwed. Just my opinion. Oh yea, neither of them should be Speaker, it should be Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

Sorry “ole two face”, you are a mess I just hope when you actually take the office your decisions are thought of and final. You Republicans have messed up our district enough without having someone who can’t make up their mind.

Thank You.

YWCA to hold Academy for Women of Achievement Celebration at Music City Center

BY BRENDA BATEY

The YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee will celebrate the 31st Academy for Women of Achievement (AWA) on January 26 at 5 p.m. at the Music City Center.

Seven women and one organization who have worked to improve the community in many ways will be recognized. This year’s cochairs are Sallie B. Bailey, Ana Escobar, and Jerry Williams.

The AWA honorees are: Jean Ann Banker, community volunteer; Hannah Paramore Breen, founder, Paramore Digital; Angelita Blackshear Dalton, judge, Davidson County Criminal Court; Sherry Deutschmann, founder and CEO, BrainTrust; Mary Ann McCready, founding owner and business manager, FBMM Entertainment Business Management; Sharon W. Reynolds,

president and CEO, DevMar Products, LLC; Denine Torr, vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy, Dollar General; and corporate honoree HCA Healthcare/TriStar Health.

This year’s honorees join a group of 184 women and 33 organizations previously inducted into the AWA. They are leaders in the legal, advocacy, medical, business, education, and philanthropy fields.

The selection committee, comprised of business and community leaders and YWCA’s Executive Committee, chose the individual and corporate honorees from an impressive list of nominees.

“Our theme for this year’s Academy for Women of Achievement program is ‘United with Purpose,’ in recognition of our power to create a stronger, more generous, and

more just community by working together,” said YWCA President and CEO Sharon K. Roberson.

“The honorees are women united in our mission to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all,” she said.

Proceeds from the AWA event help fund YWCA programs and services, including the Weaver Domestic Violence Center.

Individual tickets are $225 and corporate tables are $1,800. They can be purchased on YWCA’s website (www.ywcanashville.com/ awa).

The Academy for Women of Achievement was launched locally in 1992 by YWCA to increase community awareness and appreciation of the diverse contributions of women in the workforce

and the community.

Women are honored for their community service, professional achievement, integrity, leadership, and dedication to the lives of others and the quality of life for all.

For 124 years, YWCA Nashville and Middle Tennessee has helped women, girls, and families in Nashville and Middle Tennessee build safer, more self-sufficient lives.

Programs include Domestic Violence Services, Girls Inc., AMEND Together, Dress for Success, Family Learning Center, and Social Justice & Advocacy.

For more information, visit ywcanashville.com.

Jean Ann Banker

Community Volunteer

Hannah Paramore Breen

Founder, Paramore Digital

Angelita Blackshear Dalton Judge, Davidson County Criminal Court

Sherry Deutschmann Founder & CEO, BrainTrust

Mary Ann McCready Founding Owner and Business Manager, FBMM Entertainment Business Management

Sharon W. Reynolds President & CEO, DevMar Products, LLC

Denine Torr Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy, Dollar General

Sweet and Spicy Kale and Tofu Curry

BY EDIBLE NASHVILLE

In January I eat a lot of kale. With a little forest of it in my yard, I eat it all year, but with little else in season in the winter, I rely on it more. It goes great in most any soup—brothy or creamy. As I live on soup in the winter, it has found its way into most of my meals over the past month. It’s also cheap this time of year–always a plus. So here is my latest (and greatest) iteration of kale: a creamy curry with chunks of tofu and kale, immersed in a sweet, spicy coconut milk broth. It’s rich, wholesome, warming and perfect for cold January days. It’s also terribly addictive. I slurped down the entire pot alone (not all in one sitting) and am reloading the ingredients for another batch pronto. Serve over basmati rice. If you’re new to red curry paste, it comes in small jars in the ethnic section of the supermarket. It’s spicy, so use accordingly.

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, slivered

1 (12-ounce) package firm tofu

1 (14-ounce) can coconut milk

1 1/2 cups water

1 tablespoon red curry paste

1. Heat oil in a large skillet. Add onions, sauté 5 minutes. Add tofu, sauté 5 minutes. Combine coconut milk , water, curry paste, soy sauce, sugar and ginger.

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon each brown sugar and minced ginger

1 cup tomato sauce or canned tomatoes

4 cups chopped kale

Stir well. Add to skillet. Add tomatoes. Cook 10 minutes. Add kale and cook 15 minutes to blend flavors. Serve over rice.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Edible Nashville. For more recipes and all things local food, follow Edible Nashville on instagram @ediblenashtn and their website ediblenashville.com. And look for their beautiful magazine around town. To subscribe to the magazine that comes out 6x/year, go to ediblenashville.com.

ACROSS

1 Iconic sportswear logo that was commissioned for $35 in 1971 7 Stories that can get pretty hot

Northernmost capital in continental South America 15 ___ Achebe, “Things Fall Apart” author 16 Vintage car, in German ... or veteran, in English 18 In a spooky way 19 Get out fast 20 G.I. food packs 22 Six-time M.L.B. All-Star Mookie 23 Famine’s counterpart 25 High school, in Danish ... or building for indoor sports, in English

The Cards, on scoreboards

Teeny

One hearing things?

“___ you serious?”

When doubled, like a good situation

Relatives, slangily

Scarfed down

Competition, in French ... or agreement, in English

Tooth holder

Unspecified amount

Certain real estate purchase

Verizon sale of 2021

Hummer maker

Regard

___ Gatos, Calif.

Plywood, in Dutch ... or theater with several screens, in English

Smidgen

Spend a lot of time in front of the mirror, say

Engrave with an acid

Queens stadium eponym

Inflame

Vacation, in Swedish ... or half of an academic year, in English 60 Boosted 61 Light punch

So-called “wisdomkeepers” 63 Savory South Asian pastry DOWN 1 Says “Hah!,” say

Place for some bills

Flying a commercial airline, often 4 Hall’s partner in pop

Grade school subj.

Jon who played Don in “Mad Men”

Big name in hardware stores

Something to pass, legally 9 Exhausts

Kick off

Something grown in a lab

“Because that’s what I want!”

Twilled suit fabric

Reina’s chess “mate”

Glasses annoyance

An identical one isn’t 100% identical

That is to say

Set up a temporary base

Amaze

Overheat, as a circuit

34 Do something35 It might say “Scam Likely” 36 Scrooge McDuck vis-àvis Donald

Rejections

Blog, perhaps

Current unit

Ingredient in some holiday cookies

Get all A’s, say 44 Was defeated by 45 Vegas casino with bars named Dublin Up, Lucky and Blarney

ANSWER TO PUZZLE

Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 9,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/ crosswords ($39.95 a year).

Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/ studentcrosswords.

PUZZLE BY KAREN STEINBER

INVITATION TO BID

CITY OF BELLE MEADE STREET RESURFACING IMPROVEMENTS

The City of Belle Meade will accept sealed bids for the 2023 street resurfacing improvements project for 4 locations. Please contact Larry Smith, Public Works Director or Nathan McVay, Assistant Public Works Director at 615-297-6041 or lsmith@citybellemeade.org or nmcvay@ citybellemeade.org for questions or information. Bids will be received at Belle Meade City Hall, 4705 Harding Road, Nashville, Tennessee 37205 until 10:00 AM, CST, on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at which time said bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

Specifications and plans will be available at Belle Meade City Hall by 9:00 am Monday, January 16, 2023 or online at https://citybellemeade.org/finance/.

The City reserves the right to waive informalities and to reject any and all bids.

City of Belle Meade Beth Reardon, City Manager (615) 297-6041

SOCIAL

MODE Properties’ Luxury Automotive Experience

BY BRENDA BATEY

MODE Properties’ held a luxury automotive experience at Carlock Motorcars, where guests were able to admire vehicles which included cars by Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Maserati.

A red carpet led to the showroom and live music was performed by Nashville’s Viva La Strings quartet. As they perused the gorgeous cars, everyone enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres prepared by Park Café.

Brennan Burke and Grant Sory

Brittney Shaheen and Alex Valley

JT Thompson and Susan Andrews

Kelsea Tortorella and Ashley Caetano

Tony Silvia, Michael O’mell, Caresse Hyneman, and Erica Whitney

Joel McKay and Davis Odle

Roger and Connie Price

Keith and Janna Landry

Nashville Viva La Strings

Clay Carlock and Campbell Carlock

Jackie and Tyler Henton

Matt Eden and Axel Reed

Eric and Lisa Shepard

Ryan and Faith Carter

Matt Eden, Melina Jansen, and Somali Patel

Judy Weiss and Grant Sory

SOCIAL

Tennessee Innocence Project Event

BY BRENDA BATEY

PHOTOS BY RAY SANDUSKI

Almost 550 guests joined the Tennessee Innocence Project (TIP ) at the Music City Center for an evening with dinner and music at the Inspired by Innocence fundraiser.

The Tennessee Innocence Project, the only full-time innocence organization in the state, is a non-profit law firm working to free wrongfully convicted Tennesseans.

The event celebrated the organization’s four exonerees who have been freed since it opened in 2019.

Guests lit up the Music City Center with tea lights – 95 lights representing one year wrongfully served in prison by each of the exonerees, Shane Garrett, Joyce Watkins, Charlie Dunn and Claude Garrett.

An additional 318 lights were lit, each symbolizing one year lost in prison by the organization’s 12 current clients waiting to be exonerated.

The event included a keynote address from Roger Mitchell, Jr., who serves as professor and chair of pathology at Howard University College of Medicine and is the immediate past chief medical examiner for Washington, DC.

Mitchell discussed the importance of forensic science and how errors can lead to wrongful convictions. He called on the crowd to take action against injustice.

The dinner, catered by Music City Center, included a Bibb lettuce and apple salad, lemon thyme marinated chicken, smoked mashed potatoes, and carrot top garlic pesto.

Dessert was layered dark and white chocolate martini and red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.

The décor included florals by Lauren Lea Manhein.

To continue the evening, stories of the Tennessee Innocence Project’s exonerees and current clients were shared through music. Singer-songwriters Jon Mabe, Zac Maloy, Marcus Hummon and Bill Ditenhafer wrote

and performed songs which highlighted the emotional struggles of the wrongfully convicted.

TIP awarded its second annual “Rule of Law Award” to Bass Berry and Sims PLC and the firm’s Pro Bono Member, David Esquivel. Through Esquivel’s leadership and Bass’s commitment, the firm has dedicated $2.5 million dollars in pro bono services to TIP.

The award honors those heroes who courageously work to uphold the Rule of Law in the most fundamental sense. The inaugural 2021 recipient was the late Judge Gil Merritt, who died in early 2021.

The Tennessee Innocence Project has three primary areas of focus: investigating and litigating wrongful conviction cases for those in Tennessee prisons to obtain exonerations; training law students and attorneys about how to litigate these cases and how to prevent future wrongful convictions; and effecting changes that facilitate the discovery of wrongful convictions and remedies to the wrongfully convicted.

To learn more, visit www.tninnocence.org.

John and Rita Maggart

Margaret Dodson, Scott Gallisdorfer, David Esquivel, and TIP Executive

Director Jessica Van Dyke

Tanya Barry, Nathaniel Dunn, Joyce Watkins, and Ed Kendrick

Joey Fuson, and Tony and Nikki Maynard

Lucinda Smith, Greg Smith, Jan Read, and Stan Kweller

Cindy Chappell and Josh Brand

Keynote speaker Roger Mitchell

SOCIAL

Phil Ponder Art Display Dedication

BY BRENDA BATEY

PHOTOS BY DON CLAUSSEN

Nashville law firm Tune Entrekin and White honored Phil Ponder with the dedication of “Ponder’s Pass” – a display of his artwork in the firm’s new Capitol View office.

Numerous business and non-profit leaders, friends and government officials attended the event.

Ponder is known for his paintings of the Nashville landmarks, especially the everchanging skyline.

Ponder and his family were on-hand for the unveiling and he signed copies of his book, “Phil Ponder.”

Using watercolors and his own mathematical technique, Ponder’s detailoriented work often represents buildings down to the exact number of bricks.

A Navy veteran, former Metro

Councilman and retired Genesco employee, Ponder did not begin painting in earnest until he retired in 1989 and now has more than 700 works to his name.

He has painted historical buildings, homes, mansions, schools, churches, lighthouses, and other public places from all across the U.S., as well as internationally. He also paints trees, flowers, balloons, trains, insects, and animals.

The event was catered by Chef’s Market and included a charcuterie station, assorted hors d’oeuvres, cake bite truffles, and beverages.

Guests included: Jim McLean, Desha Hearn, Leighton Bush, Patty Skrivanek, Candace Croom, Bob DeLaney, Tim O’Connor, Joseph Rusnak, and Peter Strianse.

Phil Ponder’s family: Debi Ponder, Dot Ponder, Phil Ponder, and Stephanie Ponder Randolph

Hal Hardin and Phil Ponder

Kathy Floyd-Buggs and Jim Shulman

Tom Brothers, Tom White, Bill Herbert, Bobby Joslin, and Shawn Henry

Nicole Bess, Erica Ellis, and Tom White

John Lasiter, Stephanie Randolph, Leighton Bush, Brenda Wynn, and Randy Purcell

Lesa Skoney, Alex Schramkowski, Sam Blanton, Nicole Bess, and Emily Guthrie

SOCIAL

Jim Hoobler’s Book Lunchtime Lecture

BY BRENDA BATEY PHOTOS BY MELINA LUDWIG

Historian, author and retired Tennessee State Museum curator Jim Hoobler returned to the museum’s Digital Learning Center to present a lunchtime lecture and sign copies of his latest book, “This Used to Be Nashville.”

Hoobler walked visitors through some of Nashville’s most iconic and historic locations, as he told stories of what those locations “used to be” and how they are utilized today, emphasizing the role of repurposing buildings in their preservation.

“This Used to Be Nashville” is available in the Tennessee State Museum Store and a recording of the fascinating lecture can be seen on the museum’s website at TNMuseum. org/videos.

First settled in 1779, Nashville has grown into what the New York Times calls America’s “It City.” From frontier outpost to cosmopolitan city of today, Nashville has a rich history and is now one of the country’s most visited tourist destinations.

In addition to permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, the TN State Museum offers numerous programs, including classes in crafting, story time, gallery tours and much more.

For more information, visit tnmuseum.org or call 615-741-2692.

Ashley Howell and speaker Jim Hoobler

Joyska Nunez-Medina and Morgan Byrn

Tammi Edwards and Lee Curti

Dan Pomeroy, Zada Law, Bob White, and Miranda Fraley-Rhodes

Terry Clements, Nancy Clements, and Danny Proctor

Ralcon Wagner, Sandra Shelton, George Zepp, and Rich Murphy

Jim Hoobler

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