September 28, 2023

Freddie O’Connell sworn in as Nashville mayor

BY ELI MOTYCKA

Freddie O’Connell is officially the mayor of Nashville, thanks to a minutes-long swearing-in Monday morning from former Mayor David Briley, who is currently serving as a Circuit Court judge.

O’Connell briefly addressed reporters in Briley’s fifth-floor courtroom before heading downstairs to his new office, the mayor’s suite on the first floor. He told reporters that the tense city-state relationship is a top priority and promised a good working relationship with the Metro Council, the mayor’s lawmaking counterpart where O’Connell served for eight years as a district councilmember representing District 19 downtown.

“I have several former colleagues returning to a body that I work very well with,” O’Connell told reporters about his relationship to the city’s legislative body. “I have spent good time over the course of the

summer campaigning with several of those members. A lot of the council understands the important priorities of the city that range from safety to affordable housing to how we move around the city.”

Over the past four years, the Metro Council frequently clashed with the mayor’s office under John Cooper. Latefiled legislation and compressed policy timelines often frustrated the 40-person body. In Nashville’s strong-mayor system of government, the chief executive sets major city priorities, specifically the annual budget. The large, often fractured chamber must act in complete concert to match the power of the mayor’s office. During brief remarks before 8 a.m. on Monday, O’Connell promised philosophical alignment with the council on policy areas and a mutually respectful working relationship.

O’Connell told reporters

BY LENA MAZEL

Street View is a monthly column in our sister publication Nashville Scene in which they take a close look at development-related issues affecting different neighborhoods throughout the city.

Over the past two years, Lipscomb University has been on a significant property-buying spree. In 2022, Scene sister publication the Nashville Post reported that Lipscomb purchased a property at 4101 Belmont Blvd. for $1.9 million in August, three nearby single-family properties for an additional $1.95 million in September, two properties on Ferndale Avenue for $1.38 million in October, and a home on Morrow Avenue for $949,000 in December. This year, Lipscomb’s buying spree continued: In February, it bought a Glen Echo Road property for $3.26 million, and in August, it bought another home at 1309 Grandview Drive for $909,500.

Notably, Lipscomb bought every one of the above properties from RER Partnership, a group that includes Lipscomb alumnus Bruce Church. According to Post reports, Lipscomb has spent about $7 million buying RER properties in the past two years. (In late January, Lipscomb also bought a property on Ferndale Avenue from board of trustees chair David Solomon. Lipscomb officials did not respond to the Scene’s specific questions about their connection to RER and the Church family. )

As the university continued purchasing properties from RER, it also amended its master plan to expand its campus. In April, Lipscomb petitioned Nashville’s Metro Council to convert two areas of R10 and CN zoning adjacent to the campus to institutional overlay zoning. The R10 zoning currently limits the land’s use to low-density residential buildings — typically one or two homes per lot — whereas institutional overlay zoning would give the university more flexibility to develop properties differently, though the school would still have to go through a planning process with Metro to do so. An amended plan that didn’t include the properties west of Belmont Boulevard passed on third reading and was signed by Mayor John Cooper in July.

Lipscomb spokesperson Kim Chaudoin tells the Scene that the updated institutional overlay is a routine process required by the Metro Planning Commission every 10 years. Lipscomb created its original master plan in 1988; the city adopted it in 2003. Since then, there have been amendments in 2006, 2012, 2018 and 2023.

Lipscomb’s campus is currently about 112 acres — a bit larger than Belmont University’s (92 acres) and about a third the size of Vanderbilt’s (340 acres); Vanderbilt has also expanded significantly in recent years. Lipscomb’s latest proposed master plan includes new areas of

Lipscomb University

PHOTO BY ERIC ENGLAND

Freddie O’Connell is sworn in as mayor, Sept. 25, 2023 POOL PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TENNESSEAN

Freddie O’Connell

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that Gov. Bill Lee already reached out personally on election night. A positive working relationship between the city and state could save both governments massive legal headaches, as several efforts by the state to intervene in city politics have or will be ruled on by the courts. State overreach became a key campaign issue during the mayor’s race as candidates promised they had the relationships and temperament to stand up to aggressive policymaking by state Republicans. While Lee technically heads the party (and was overwhelmingly reelected in November), he’s demonstrated limited

Lipscomb

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institutional overlay zoning south of Grandview Drive and east of Granny White Pike.

When the 2023 master plan suggested expanding institutional overlay zoning to three properties west of Belmont Boulevard, local residents spoke in opposition.

Russell Willis is the president of the Avalon Neighborhood Association, a group of neighbors who have worked with Lipscomb since the original master plan’s adoption in 2003. Willis says Avalon opposed the university’s multiple requests to expand the institutional overlay zoning west of Belmont Boulevard.

“The university initially proposed expanding west of Belmont back in 2004 but agreed to withdraw that request when Avalon opposed the request,” Willis says. “The university made a second effort several years ago, which Avalon opposed. That expansion request was denied by Metro.”

This summer, when Lipscomb tried again, Avalon again opposed the expansion. A group of Green Hills residents created an online petition, and Avalon sent a written objection to the university. In a Metro Planning Committee meeting on May 11, residents raised concerns about developing in local floodplains and giving the community enough chance to give input on the IO zoning. (Some of the initial scheduled meetings happened shortly after the Covenant School shooting, which impacted the community response process.)

Willis, who has been involved with the Avalon Neighborhood Association since its inception, says communication with the university has overall been “fairly good,” but that the latest planning process was the first time Lipscomb didn’t contact the group about proposed changes prior to community meetings — something he says “had been the standard practice for the past 15-plus years.” At the planning meeting, some residents said Lipscomb had not notified them about proposed zoning changes, but university spokesperson Brent Culberson says it sent all residents within 1,250 feet of the campus written notifications and also posted about it

influence among leaders in the state House and Senate.

O’Connell confirmed that Wally Dietz will continue as Metro legal director. Dietz has helped shape the city’s legal response to state preemption. Metro finance director Kelly Flannery is out after three years, paving the way for a new chief deputy for one of the office’s most important departments. Alex Apple, O’Connell’s campaign spokesperson, will be communications director.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

New Metro Council convenes for orientation

BY ELI MOTYCKA

Darby, who work across the 40-person chamber. Mayor-Elect Freddie O’Connell will make close to $210,000 as mayor and command a roughly 30-person office. When state lawmakers moved to slash the size of the city council, they argued that a smaller chamber would lead to a more professionalized legislative body with higher salaries and dedicated staff for representatives.

Henderson hopes that a thorough orientation will help pave the way for Metro’s first council meeting of the term on Oct. 3.

on Nextdoor.

While Lipscomb is a major landowner in Nashville, the campus’s expansion wouldn’t necessarily affect the city’s housing shortage in direct ways. The university typically buys parcels with single-family homes in R10 zoning or similar: not areas zoned for highdensity projects.

Metro’s 2021 Affordable Housing Task Force report estimated that the city would have to produce 5,250 new affordable units every year to keep up with demand; the same study estimated that the city built only 1,344 affordable units per year.

In its own high-density student housing, Lipscomb’s least expensive double dorm rooms are $4,126 per four-month semester, or about $1,000 per month.

Regardless of the campus’s impact on local housing, Lipscomb’s Green Hills neighbors won’t see any significant changes anytime soon. “The additional properties that were added to the institutional overlay are already owned by the university, and we plan on continuing with their current usage,” Chaudoin says. She also confirms that Lipscomb has removed the properties west of Belmont Boulevard from its institutional overlay application.

At the Metro Planning Commission meeting and elsewhere, neighbors of Lipscomb acknowledged some perks of living close to a university, like proximity to green spaces and other facilities. And community advocates say Lipscomb’s willingness to take on community input has made growing pains easier. “History has shown that engagement with Avalon and interested neighbors has improved every master plan proposed by the university,” says Willis.

As with many universities, Lipscomb’s property acquisition seems far from over. But as the school grows and changes, its track record of community engagement hopefully signals a collaborative future. And for now, a sleepy enclave west of Belmont Boulevard won’t welcome a new dorm — or a parking garage.

Nashville’s new city officials filed into the Metro Council chambers on Sept. 21 for the first day of orientation, led by Vice Mayor Angie Henderson. All electeds were briefed on council procedure, open meeting laws, Metro departments, IT and technology, and other administrative norms. Orientation ran about an hour behind schedule, bumping Thursday’s mock council meeting off the afternoon schedule.

Thursday’s convocation was also a chance for Henderson, who beat incumbent Vice Mayor Jim Shulman in a narrow contest last month, to set a tone for the next four years. She budgeted particular attention to state preemption and the city’s relationship with the Tennessee General Assembly.

“We have to build relationships with the state and those lawmakers,” said Henderson. “We cannot just be cowering down here, with a certain cohort of lobbyists putting a gun to our heads and going up to the state to preempt us.”

The new Metro Council, which will preside over the city through 2027, includes 17 new members. The orientation runs from midday on Thursday through Saturday afternoon, capped by a reception with councilmembers and Metro department leaders. Thursday proceedings were also a chance for members to mix and mingle, learning formal chamber procedures alongside informal expectations and etiquette set by Henderson.

“If you are not a main sponsor — or if this is not an issue of concern in your district — you do not have to speak about that on the floor if it is not contributing to the debate,” Henderson told the room. “If you’re just kind of getting up to say what has already been said, that’s not constructive and that makes the meeting go longer. Nobody needs that kind of identity. We don’t need to go there again.”

Friday’s events are set to take place at Vanderbilt, and Saturday’s will take place at Music City Center.

Many councilmembers work full-time jobs outside their roles representing about 20,000 constituents apiece across the city. The job comes with a $25,615 yearly stipend (up this year from $23,100) and 12 council staff members, led by council director Margaret

“We’re focusing specifically on procedure and encouraging new members to ask as many questions as possible,” Henderson said. “We will go over sunshine laws and spend a big chunk of time on land use and zoning, which is a large part of what district councilmembers will be working on during their term.”

Orientation was also an opportunity for Henderson to set informal expectations for her chamber.

An orientation schedule includes presentations from Metro ITS director Keith Durbin, planning director Lucy Kemkpf, NDOT director Diana Alarcon, finance director Kelly Flannery, Parks director Monique Odom, WeGo director Steve Bland, Metro auditor Lauren Riley, Metro Water’s Scott Potter, Codes interim director Byron Hall, and several other staff members.

Council staff attorney Hannah Zeitlin briefed the chamber on Thursday afternoon about state law and preemption. She followed legal director Wally Dietz, who spoke about ongoing litigation against the state. He referenced upcoming litigation related to the state’s recent attempts to control the Metro Sports Authority, the key city go-between related to April’s deal with the Titans for a new $2.1 billion domed stadium on the East Bank.

“Local governments like Metro are creatures of the state, and state laws typically take precedence over local laws,” Zeiltin told members. “What are the options if Metro has been preempted? Unfortunately, not much.”

Zeitlin explained Metro’s legislative territory related to state and federal law, specifically addressing preemption to the body at the request of Henderson. Zeitlin explicitly addressed five categories of law — guns, inclusionary zoning, landlord-tenant relations, sanctuary cities and immigration, and discrimination — that have become legal thickets for Metro following laws passed by the state government. Zeitlin referred to the Tennessee General Assembly’s preemption on local gun laws as “one of the broadest preemptions in the Tennessee Code,” and thoroughly explained 2016 state law that has stymied Metro’s attempts to require affordable housing from developers.

“That is just outside our authority now,” Zeitlin told the chamber.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

Metro Courthouse and City Hall

PHOTO BY ERIC ENGLAND

Covenant School parents attend White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention announcement

BY MATT MASTERS

Covenant School parents and several Tennessee politicians joined President Joe Biden last week for the announcement of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

The new executive initiative “will focus on implementing executive and legislative action” related to gun violence and will be overseen by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Gun violence survivors and gun violence prevention advocates attended the Sept. 22 announcement at the White House.

“Every time I’ve met with families impacted by gun violence as they mourn their loved ones, and I’ve met with so many throughout the country, they all have the same message for their elected officials: ‘do something,’” Biden said, while touting the 2022 passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

“We know true freedom is not possible if people are not safe. This epidemic of gun violence requires urgent leadership to end the fear and trauma that Americans experience every day,” Harris added.

Biden policy advisor Stefanie Feldman has been named director of the Office of Gun Violence Prevention, while gun violence prevention advocates Greg Jackson and Rob Wilcox will serve as special assistant to the

president and deputy directors of the office.

“They have turned their pain into purpose and dedicated their careers to being advocates for change – that important work will continue as they join my team in these new roles,” Biden said.

Biden also reiterated his call for Congress to pass new gun reform legislation including banning “assault weapons” and high-capacity magazines; requiring safe storage of firearms and background checks for all gun sales; eliminating immunity for gun manufacturers regarding legal liability; and support for his Safer America Plan, which in part, seeks additional funding for law enforcement and court systems.

The announcement also included remarks from the first Gen Z member of Congress, 26-year-old Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost, who became a gun violence prevention activist following the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

“We continue to build bridges for a safer future one (bipartisan) pier at a time,” Covenant Families for Brighter Tomorrows co-founder Melissa Alexander said in a social media post.

In July, a group of Covenant School parents and community

Representatives from Covenant Families for Brighter Tomorrows attended the Biden administration’s announcement of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention on Sept. 22, 2023/Courtesy of Covenant Families for Brighter Tomorrows.

Cooper leaves O’Connell with unfinished business

BY ELI MOTYCKA

official documentation, as its go-between entity to run the new site — similar to the Predators’ Powers Management at Bridgestone Arena. O’Connell, who just wrapped two terms as the Metro Council’s District 19 representative, was a chief critic of the stadium deal when it came in front of the council in the spring. He repeatedly affirmed his commitment to a long and fruitful partnership with the Titans over the next few years.

THE GLOBAL MALL AT CROSSINGS

Early on Jan. 31, reporters started getting texts from TJ Ducklo. “Call me,” said the mayor’s spokesperson. There was a surprise press conference downtown, scheduled for midmorning. Ducklo told media they wouldn’t want to miss it: The mayor had news.

Police and fire unions had endorsed Mayor John Cooper for reelection just days before. At the time I called Cooper’s reelection “the city’s worst-kept secret,” a foregone conclusion for a man who had set up big projects on long timelines and was actively fundraising into a campaign account. Eighteen hours before Cooper bowed out of the 2023 race, Ducklo, then the mayor’s communications chief, was rounding up reporters for an off-the-record roundtable about Metro’s response to the new state legislative session.

At 11 a.m., Cooper broke the news that he wasn’t seeking a second term, a starting pistol for a long and crowded mayor’s race that finally wrapped up on Sept. 14. Cooper came into office touting his background in business and penchant for real estate, a streak that has Nashville embroiled in an array of ambitious projects that Cooper leaves at various degrees of completion. It will be up to incoming Mayor Freddie O’Connell to separate the exciting opportunities from the dead ends and the sunk costs from the salvageable. Here are the big ones in order of significance and unfinished-ness.

TITANS STADIUM DEAL

While technically inked, Metro’s $760 million pledge toward a new Titans stadium will require nearly constant collaboration between the team and the city until (and beyond) its ribbon-cutting. The two have entered into a “living deal” on the East Bank, where both entities will together spend lots of money raising a futuristic mixed-use campus around the arena. The Titans officially registered Tennessee Stadium LLC, referred to as StadCo in

Despite few details and loose commitments, Cooper and his deputies cajoled the council to close on a $46 million acquisition of the Global Mall in April 2022. After the city bought the mall, Vanderbilt University Medical Center would stand up an extensive health care outpost à la 100 Oaks, went the story. Cooper brandished a letter of intent with VUMC and chose the site for his 2022 State of Metro address.

“I cannot identify a time in recent memory where Metro bought public land specifically to become a landlord soliciting commercial tenants,” O’Connell wrote to his constituents at the time. “This is an unprecedented investment approach, and it seems to carry unusual risk.”

Negotiations began to drag almost immediately. “We are hopeful that VUMC will continue to participate in the project in a scaled-down footprint,” Deputy Mayor Sam Wilcox told WKRN in August. Metro’s most recent drafted plans show no VUMC presence at all, instead pitching the space as a combination of artist housing, community green space, transit infrastructure and mixeduse buildings. District Councilmember Joy Styles, who represents the area, continues to preside over the community input process.

NASCAR AT THE FAIRGROUNDS

Bristol Motor Speedway ran up against a tight end-of-term timeline — alternately seen as an unfortunate miscalculation of the Metro meeting calendar or a strategic scheduling scheme by Councilmember Colby Sledge — forcing the regional track operator to halt its Fairgrounds Nashville push in August. At July’s marathon community meeting, at least one pro-track Calvert Street lobbyist was overheard saying they’d be back in force to secure the $117 million fairgrounds renovation after both the council and the mayor’s office turn over in the fall.

WHARF PARK

Perhaps more than any other project, Wharf Park was John Cooper’s white whale. Guided by a vision for transformative riverfront urbanism, Cooper pushed the council to acquire 88 Hermitage Ave. for $20 million in June 2022 after opposing a plan to purchase the same parcel from the

state for $11 million in 2019, while he was an at-large councilmember. Cooper got a lot of flack for buying high but justified the purchase as a one-two punch of historic preservation and inspired city planning that would add a waterside jewel to the Metro Parks system. At the time, O’Connell called it a “strategic acquisition” that should have been bought the first time for half the price. Public meetings ended in January with a promise to post Metro’s final draft master plan, which isn’t up yet. Promotional PowerPoints envision a landscaped greenway snaking down to the Cumberland — 14 acres fully refurbished for an estimated $70 million. About $24 million of that goes toward a city boathouse, Cooper’s gift to Nashville’s rowing community.

PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING

Direct allocations for city improvements typically come every year via Metro’s Capital Improvements Budget and the mayor’s Capital Spending Plan. Participatory budgeting started under Cooper with $2 million for North Nashville and Bordeaux in 2021 to find and fund critical neighborhood infrastructure via a parallel process that included project proposals and open voting. Two more rounds followed, culminating in a $10 million pot this year pulled from American Rescue Plan money. Critics — like O’Connell’s friend and supporter Whitney Pastorek, who resigned from the PB steering committee in May — call the process an overly burdensome sea of red tape that delays city improvements. Proponents, like Fabian Bedne of Cooper’s office, emphasize the philosophical and practical benefits of direct democracy. O’Connell has promoted PB on his newsletter but said in January that he’d like to track participation to see who’s actually making decisions.

PSC SCRAPYARD

The city’s most literally unfinished business might be Carl Icahn’s real estate play on the former site of PSC Metals. The billionaire has orchestrated a lucrative hostage situation on the East Bank, where he owns about 45 acres of land abutting Metro’s future mixed-use campus. No vision of a clean redevelopment includes the mountains of metal and scrap currently residing on Icahn’s land. In 2022, Cooper told The Tennessean his strategy was (roughly) to wait for Icahn to die. The city holds little leverage, and negotiations between the two parties have gone nowhere. State economic official Stuart McWhorter is angling with Icahn’s son, Brett, according to the latest buzz, teasing the possibility of a city-state combo deal that could give O’Connell easy relief from the East Bank’s current biggest burr.

JEFFERSON STREET CAP

Remember when a Jefferson Street cap would repair the harms of decades of racist

urban policy in North Nashville? The Metro Council paused the project when it withheld critical funding in 2021 in response to wary residents who saw the cap — an expensive and expansive concrete plaza that would cover I-40 between Jefferson and Scovel Street — as a table-setting for increased speculative real estate capital and subsequent displacement. At an eye-popping $120 million, the project was contingent on $72 million in federal grant money to complement $48 million from the city. While deadlines have passed and momentum has stalled, the Nashville Department of Transportation’s Cortnye Stone tells the Scene that Metro got a $3 million federal allocation to continue planning improvements in the Jefferson Street corridor throughout 2023 that may or may not include a cap.

POLICE SHORTAGES

Failed conservative mayoral candidate Alice Rolli made police her No. 1 campaign issue in the runoff, emphasizing the city’s deficit of Metro Nashville Police Department officers and referring to a general morale crisis among MNPD’s rank-and-file. The city’s police have indeed struggled with turnover and vacant positions. Three years later, the Metro Finance Department is still waiting on reimbursements from FEMA worth $7 million for “Tornado Watch,” a police overtime program in tornado-affected areas that ran through September 2020 and cost the city $13 million total. If that doesn’t come through, it could be an additional black eye for MNPD management teeing up additional funding requests for a new training facility and automated license plate readers, which O’Connell already challenged as a councilmember. O’Connell has repeatedly expressed his faith in MNPD Chief John Drake, an indication that he will leave MNPD to sort itself out.

CLIMATE CHANGES

Cooper signed onto the Global Covenant of Mayors, an environmental coalition that focuses on city-level solutions, almost immediately upon taking office in 2019. His emissions goals were way behind recommended national targets and lacked step-by-step planning, but for a second, it looked like something. Early enthusiasm turned into sporadic gestures — like a strongly worded letter last summer opposing the TVA’s fossil fuel expansion — and Metro climate work has since fallen to sustainability chief Kendra Abkowitz. O’Connell passed a suite of climate bills in 2019 (which he dubbed a “Green New Deal for Nashville”) as a senior councilmember. He’s shown enough interest and knowledge to make effective climate-friendly interventions from city hall. As mayor, he could do a lot more. This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

Supporters for Mayor O’Connell on election night PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Lessons from former governors at 3686 Festival Haslam, Bredesen speak at Launch Tennessee event

BY NICOLLE S. PRAINO

The 10th annual 3686 Nashville Entrepreneur Festival wrapped up Thursday after three days of panels and pitches.

Wednesday was the main day of the event put on by Launch Tennessee and held at the Wildhorse Saloon downtown.

The crowd of more than 800 people filled the seats on both the first and second floor of the space for a taping of an episode of the You Might Be Right podcast hosted by former Govs. Bill Haslam and Phil Bredesen. The governors interviewed Brad Smith, the founder and CEO of Russell Street Ventures, and Sarah Bellos, founder and CEO of Stony Creek Colors, in an episode that will be available later on their podcast.

“I like doing the live ones. We’ve done a couple of them,” Bredesen told the Post after the recording. “There’s more energy in the room in those kind of situations. I think it’s something we’ll probably experiment more with going forward.”

Haslam’s administration established Launch Tennessee, a public-private entrepreneurial booster.

“For me it’s a little flashback,” Haslam

said. “We started this when I was in office, so it’s fun to see how it’s grown. As Gov. Bredesen will tell you, you start some things and they fizzle out and other things that live on, so it’s nice to see it continuing to not just live on but to be healthy and to attract people who really want to learn and to grow their businesses here.”

Throughout the rest of the day, entrepreneurs were able to listen in on sessions focused on getting technology to market, hiring, fundraising, customer engagement and specific panels on startups in music, health care, climate and financial industries.

As an entrepreneur himself, Bredesen said having a conference like this is useful for learning and connections.

“Just talking to people who have been through it and have had the existential threats to their business come and go is really helpful,” he said.

His advice for business owners: Never get too comfortable.

“I’ve always thought that if you have a growing, successful business, and if you put your feet up on the desk, and light up

a cigar, and tell yourself how well things are going, and how smart you are, you can usually find that’s the time when it started going down the backside,” he said. “So, just remembering there’s a lot of factors that flow into having a successful business, some of them are yours but some of them are accidents and fate and everything else. And being a little humble about it: Make sure you keep your eye on the ball.”

Haslam said getting the right people on your team is key to growth. He said he sees a continuing upward trend for businesses and development in Nashville.

“I think the things that have made Nashville an attractive place to live and to work and to build a business, those things aren’t changing,” he said. “We have some obvious issues we need to address, but I think the things that make this an attractive place are going to continue to be that.”

Bredesen noted that while the development in Nashville continues, other areas of the state may not be so lucky and also need attention.

“We also have lots of smaller communi-

ties across the state that have lost some significant businesses in the last generation,” he said. “I think startups are a very good way to bring opportunities to some of these smaller communities. I hope that Launch Tennessee will not only focus on Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville but also look to some of the surrounding communities where there’s a lot of really good people who will work hard and need some opportunities.”

Launch Tennessee’s current goal is to reach entrepreneurs in all 95 counties, and the organization currently works in 72. There are seven entrepreneur centers across the state and currently has a community partner program focused on the Southern Middle region.

The end of the 3686 conference was a pitch competition featuring five finalists. ATS Innovations from Shelbyville makes a glove that combines therapies for arthritis, and SweetBio from Memphis offers wound care with collagen and manuka honey products. The Nashville businesses included as finalists were Giggs, a connection hub for production and touring professionals; Potluck, a party planning app to simplify who’s bringing what; and VetVerifi, which offers proof of vaccination for pets.

Each of the finalists is eligible to receive a $150,000 investment from InvestTN, pending further review from Launch Tennessee’s capital team. But for competition bragging rights, VetVerifi was named the winner with SweetBio as the runner-up.

Cutline: Former Govs. Haslam and Bredesen sit on opposite sides of the stage during the live podcast recording of You Might Be Right.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Nashville wins lawsuit over racetrack preemption

BY ELI MOTYCKA

A three-judge panel sided with Nashville on Thursday, agreeing with the city’s argument against a new state law that sought to pave the way for upgrades at The Fairgrounds Nashville aimed at bringing NASCAR back to the track. The law, a push by lobbyists to secure a city contract for regional racetrack operator Bristol Motor Speedway, would have lowered the threshold for approving major improvements to the fairgrounds to 21 Metro Council votes, down from 27.

The city’s response — led by Metro legal director Wally Dietz and city attorney Allison Bussell — argued successfully that the law violates the Tennessee Constitution’s Home Rule Amendment, which protects jurisdictions from being specific targets of the Tennessee General Assembly. In other

words, it is too preemptive in that the law is sufficiently narrow to target a single jurisdiction without allowing the city final say. Nashville sued in May, two weeks after Gov. Bill Lee signed the legislation into law, telling the court that the specific voting threshold tweak “applies and will only ever apply” to Nashville. The NASCAR push has since stalled, but proponents indicate they will revive efforts sometime during the upcoming council term.

Nashville has faced a rash of targeted legislation from state lawmakers in the past year, including moves to halve the size of the city council, establish a superseding airport authority and wrest control of Nashville’s Sports Authority. City lawyers have sought relief, citing constitutional protections against targeted lawmaking,

which has led to dual airport authorities and widespread frustration among members of the Metro Council. The fairgrounds ruling is the latest success for the city, which, according to Dietz, is considering filing another suit to shield the Metro Sports Authority from state takeover.

Gov. Bill Lee, state House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally were all named by Nashville in the suit, which asked the court to stop the law from going into effect.

“Clearly, the General Assembly may pass laws that are local in form and effect,” reads the court’s judgment, which granted relief to the city against the law, legally titled Chapter 364. “But the Tennessee Constitution commands that if it does, the legislation must include a provision

for local approval. Chapter 364 does not include a local approval provision. Therefore, the Court concludes Chapter 364 violates the Local Legislation clause of the Home Rule Amendment.”

Suits by outgoing Councilmembers Colby Sledge and Bob Mendes and current District 30 Councilmember Sandra Sepulveda were consolidated by the court with the city’s case earlier this summer.

“Any lawyer with a license knows that the reason appellate courts exist is because trial courts — even three-judge trial courts — get it wrong,” said Jamie Hollin, attorney for driver Howard Tucker, who has sought to support the 21-vote threshold in court. “And that’s the case here.”

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

Former Govs. Haslam and Bredesen sit on opposite sides of the stage during the live podcast recording of You Might Be Right.

PHOTO BY NICOLLE S. PRAINO

Covenant school parents

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members launched two nonprofits, Covenant Families for Brighter Tomorrows and Covenant Families Action Fund.

Public discussions about gun violence prevention have taken place with elected officials and community leaders throughout Nashville since the end of the August special legislative session on public safety, which resulted in no meaningful gun safety reform.

“This is something that we’ve been fighting for all summer, and to see them recognize that this is a public [health] crisis and to take action really meant a lot to us,” Action Fund President Sarah Shoop Neumann said.

Seven states -- Washington, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Illinois, North Carolina, New York and California -- all have offices focused on gun violence, something that Shoop Neumann said she hopes Tennessee adopts.

In March, North Carolina’s office was created following an executive order from the governor.

Shoop Neumann said they are focused on finding middle ground away from the extremes of political rhetoric surrounding gun reform and public fears of strict gun control.

“It has nothing to do with any of that,” Shoop Neumann said. “We just want kids not to die.”

President Joe Biden speaks in the Rose Garden on Sept. 22, 2023, at the announcement of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WHITE HOUSE

Is Tennessee fed up with Marsha? Gloria Johnson is determined to find out.

BY BILL FREEMAN

We will soon be given another opportunity to elect representatives who we hope will fairly and accurately represent us in Washington, D.C. In the upcoming election for one of Tennessee’s two seats in the United States Senate, state Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) recently declared her candidacy. Pitting herself against Republican incumbent Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Johnson aims to be a hardworking, honest alternative. As her campaign materials say so clearly, “Gloria is running for U.S. Senate because she knows it is time to shift power back to where it belongs: with working and middle class families.”

As her campaign has also clearly made it known, Johnson is aiming directly at Blackburn’s voting record and policy platforms: “Tennesseans are fed up with corrupt, ‘do nothing’ politicians, like Marsha Blackburn, who has taken millions from the pharmaceutical industry, the NRA and the insurance industry while voting against lowering our drug costs, against bipartisan gun reform, and for denying coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.”

I have long been impressed with Johnson’s

background and experience, as well as the matter-of-fact manner she brings to the Tennessee General Assembly. If you were to draft a wish list of what we need in our elected officials, Johnson checks an awful lot of boxes. A heart for children and families? Check. Johnson built her career as a special education teacher in Tennessee’s public schools and retired after 27 years of service. Experience as an elected official who is thoroughly familiar with the ins and outs of government? Check. Johnson has been elected to our state House of Representatives four times. Determination to do the right thing? Double check. Johnson garnered national attention for speaking her mind on the floor of the state House and becoming one of the renowned “Tennessee Three.” Johnson’s straightforward, no-nonsense way of conducting business and ensuring our government is working for us and not against us would be a refreshing change in Washington.

The contrast between Johnson and Blackburn could not be more stark. We all know where they share commonalities: They’re both college-educated white women raised in the South.

But that’s where the commonalities end.

While the South was being ripped apart during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, Marsha Blackburn was entering beauty pageants in her native Laurel, Miss. Where was Gloria Johnson? She was the daughter of an FBI special agent tasked with investigating the murderous criminal activities of the Ku Klux Klan. While Marsha Blackburn was learning to pose, smile and wave, a young Gloria Johnson was sleeping in the hallway of her family’s Knoxville home at night to avoid potential gunfire — the Klan’s possible retribution for her father’s bravery.

While Marsha Blackburn was learning to push the “hard sell” as a door-to-door salesperson, where was Gloria Johnson? She was a special education teacher in Knoxville’s public schools, working to ensure that all children could learn and achieve in a safe environment.

It’s no wonder that Gloria Johnson, the little girl who grew up seeing firsthand the ugliest sides of people, became the woman who spent her career as a no-nonsense public school teacher and took up the mantle of public service after retirement. This is the

same woman who had no patience for our extreme, far-right state representatives who refused to take action on common-sense gun reform following the horrific Covenant School shooting.

Time will tell if enough Tennesseans are indeed fed up with corrupt politicians to vote Marsha Blackburn out of office, but Gloria Johnson certainly aims to see if that time is now.

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.

Gloria Johnson

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

TICKED OFF!

ELECTION DAY RESPONSE

Dude, regarding your last paragraph, “Europe doesn’t allow this behavior so why does Nashville.” You don’t live in Europe, man. To get the things done you mention, it takes a bipartisan government, and we don’t have that. Get off your butt for all elections and throw the bums out that vote against your standards. Hopefully you can find one.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

I’m a Big Fan of Casual Attire, but Sen. Fetterman has carried it a bit too far come on that whole baggy pants, shorts down to your ankles and hooded or non-hooded sweatshirts are really a VERY BAD LOOK!

I’m sure there is a dress code even in the Senate and Congress so let’s get with the Dress Code, no need to look like a “SLOB”, Fetterman you can do better!

PROTESTERS AT THE CAPITAL

Regarding comments in September 7 issue,

1. Bipartisanship in this state? Really? It doesn’t exist in our state government.

2 Where were you when the “protests” occurred on January 6, 2020 when we needed you?

CAR ACCIDENTS

Seems like the intersection of Old Hickory Blvd and 70S has had an increase in vehicle accidents. Shopping centers/gas stations may need to shut down driveways that empty out onto Old Hickory Blvd. Drivers use those driveways to avoid wait at traffic lights. That should be stopped. Maybe more policing?

The comments in the Ticked Off column do not reflect the views of FW Publishing.

Send your comments to tickedoff@thenewstn.com

Featuring 30+ bake-at-home recipes from local Nashville restaurants and bakeries

Parkinson’s Mental Wellness for Patients, Families and Caregivers

Lunch will be provided.

Date: Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Location: Franklin First United Methodist Church Register: www.petersonforparkinsons.org

Totally Rad Toyhouse is peak nostalgia

BY HANNAH HERNER

L.J. Landrum and Matthew Powell help people identify which toys have a place in their store, and which just have a place in the owner’s heart.

Earlier this year, the business partners moved Totally Rad Toyhouse from its original home, which opened in Woodbine in 2019, to a new location at 6309 Charlotte Pike. With the move, they were able to combine warehouse and retail spaces.

Collectors themselves, Landrum and Powell keep it real with their customers. Sometimes that means suggesting a customer sell a prized toy on their own rather than going through a middleman like Totally Rad.

“I always tell people, especially collectors that bring me a collection, ‘If you think you’re going to regret selling it, don’t bring it to me,’” Powell says. “I’ve done it before. I’ve

sold collections and regretted it.”

What money they may lose due to that earnestness, they gain back in, for instance, a rare Japanese toy worth $300, or a $400 sale of a single My Little Pony figurine. (The male ponies are hard to come by.)

“This woman walked in and she had just gotten her inheritance or something, and she dropped like $2,500 on ponies that day,” Landrum recalls.

The store focuses on vintage toys from the 1980s and earlier. Transformers and G.I. Joe figures fly out of stock, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are, well, evergreen. People love Jem and the Holograms, He-Man and Care Bears. In the summer of Barbie, however, they’ve had more sellers than buyers.

“Every grandmother got their granddaughter a Holiday Barbie every

year thinking, ‘It’s a special edition — better hang on to it,’” Powell says. “Unfortunately, so many grandmothers did that — they produced so many of them — they’re just not hard to come by. They’re actually worth less now than they were when they bought them.”

The same is true for Beanie Babies. The shop has a disclaimer that they don’t accept sales of the slightly stuffed plush, and yet they still get multiple calls a week from folks claiming they own valuable bears. Most aren’t worth very much.

“Just because somebody listed it on eBay for $50,000 doesn’t mean it sold for $50,000,” Powell says. If so, he says, it was probably money laundering.

A rule of thumb in the toy world is rarity. The highest resale value often goes to toys

Five free and cheap family things to

BY AMANDA HAGGARD

For this week’s free and cheap family events, we are fully outside and into the fall happenings. We start with two cultural events: Nashville Greek Festival and Hispanic Heritage Festival. These are a good chance to celebrate your culture or learn something new about another community. The Nashville Farmers Market is hosting a huge fall festival on its grounds. There you can head inside if you need to, but it’s the perfect time of year to enjoy the park next door. And over at Bells Bend, they’ve got a couple of outdoor events, one you might dig and another that’ll keep you up later than usual.

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:

NASHVILLE GREEK FESTIVAL

The Nashville Greek Festival is slated to offer food, music, dancing and educational opportunities at a three-day festival at 4906 Franklin Pike. This festival will be a “rich, multi-sensory experience of Greek hospitality and culture” and a time to learn about Greek heritage.

HISPANIC HERITAGE FESTIVAL

The Nashville Zoo is partnering with Conexion Americas to host Hispanic Heritage Festival, for a celebration of culture and community. The festival will include dance performances, a puppet show and music. The zoo will offer animal shows and tours of the Grassmere Historic Home

made at the end of the run, when kids began moving on and manufacturers made fewer.

The toy-collector industry is geared toward “boy” toys, but the demand is there for “girl” toys too, Landrum says.

“I don’t like saying ‘girl’ toys, ‘boy’ toys, because of how we live in society now,” Landrum says. “If a boy wants to come in here and buy a Barbie, I think that’s rad. But when you’re looking at nostalgic toys, that’s the only way you can say, ‘This was geared toward girls. This was geared toward boys.’ I think the collector world is sort of geared more toward men, but the girl stuff is the hardest to get and keep. If we get it in, it sells super fast, and it’s rare that it comes in.”

Landrum’s personal collection is of what she calls “green girls” — wicked witches, She-Hulk, Gamora, Poison Ivy. She’ll pick up some nostalgic favorites, like Rainbow Brite or Fraggle Rock. Powell’s personal favorites are He-Man, ThunderCats and SilverHawks. Without going too deep into imagining the sentience of the toys, they picture the figures as being happier when they are not stored away in an attic somewhere and can have a second life.

“We were the first generation to have so much thrown at us as far as cartoons and toys and things,” Powell says. “It was such a big part of our childhood. Nobody thought 40 years later, a lot of us would be like, ‘Man, I’d really like to have a Voltron sitting on my desk like I had as a kid.’”

Toy collecting is becoming more and more mainstream, the pair points out. In a post-Marvel Cinematic Universe society, Powell says, the toys aren’t just for nerds. A stop in the store allows people to participate in another trend: healing the inner child.

“It’s going back and trying to hunt down things that you either had as a child that you remember or for something that you really wanted that you’ve never got, and kind of feeling that little void that’s always been missing.”

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

to in middle Tennessee

in Spanish at various times throughout the day as well as a specialty menu.

ARCHAEOLOGY DAY

Bells Bend Park is hosting Tennessee Council for Professional Archaeology’s Archaeology Day for folks aged 8 and up as part of Tennessee Archaeology Awareness Month. This event is free and will include an education on archaeology and the tapestry of Tennessee’s archaeological history.

2023 FALL BALL, Y’ALL FESTIVAL

On Sept. 30, the Nashville Farmers Market will host its annual Fall Ball, Y’all festival. The autumn harvest party will include live music from Greenwood Rye, a

pumpkin patch and photo op, fall-themed crafts, on site tractors from Parman Tractor, a pie baking contest, a kids’ zone, fall produce, fall vendor specials, Spitfire’s photo booth, and more. The event is free, and you can head next door to the Tennessee State Museum for a stroll through while you’re in the area.

FULL MOON HIKE

At 7 p.m. on Sept. 29, the whole family can come out for a Full Moon Hike lead by Jon Dodson of Outdoor Nashville. Dodson will lead the group through a night jaunt to “bask in the glow of Bells Bend Park.” The group will hike roughly three miles and Dodson will help folks spot some prominent constellations if the sky is clear.

Matthew Powell and L.J. Landrum

PHOTO BY ANGELINA CASTILLO

New vice mayor taps new Metro Council committee chairs

BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT

New Vice Mayor Angie Henderson on Monday named new committee chairs for the first year of the new four-year Metro Council term — among the most substantial of the council president’s powers.

Henderson named Delishia Porterfield, a former district councilmember who earlier this month won an at-large seat, chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, a powerful post on the 40-member council. Porterfield was vice chair of the committee last term under then-Vice Mayor Jim Shulman, who passed her over for the following year’s chairmanship.

“We worked really hard to make sure that working people and minorities had a fair share of that budget,” Porterfield said of her vice chair term. “That work would have continued. Unfortunately I was not given that opportunity.”

OTHER APPOINTMENTS:

Transportation and Infrastructure: Sean Parker

Charter Revision: Sheri Weiner

Public Facilities, Arts and Culture: Joy Styles

Public Health and Safety: Erin Evans

Rules, Confirmations and Public Elections: Sandra Sepulveda

Government Operations and Regulations: Russ Bradford

Henderson is recommending consolidating the affordable housing, education and human services committees into existing standing committees. She also said that she is establishing an ad hoc committee focused on ongoing redevelopment of the East Bank. The chair of the Planning and Zoning Committee will be elected by the council next month.

Parker, Sepulveda, Bradford and Evans all endorsed new Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s campaign when he was still one of several viable candidates.

Styles, Bradford, Parker and Sepulveda all backed Henderson in her run against Shulman. Weiner, meanwhile, endorsed Shulman.

The council, led by Henderson, conducted a three-day orientation last week, and the body’s first meeting is scheduled for next week.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

John Overton High student arrested for threats against school

STAFF REPORTS

A freshman at John Overton High School was arrested on Monday following two active shooter threats, both of which were deemed to be false.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the School Safety Division’s Rapid Response Team cleared the school and found no weapons.

OCT 20th & 21st FALL FARM DINNER

The unidentified student was charged in juvenile court with making a threat of mass violence, making a false report, and abuse of the 911 system.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident, but no further information has been made public at this time.

The Omni Nashville celebrates 10th anniversary on Saturday

STAFF REPORTS

One of downtown’s most notable hotel’s is celebrates it’s 10 anniversary on Saturday.

The Omni Nashville Hotel has been plugged into Music City’s scene since it’s opening on Sept. 30, 2013. On Saturday, the venue will host a slate full of activities to celebrate the 10-year milestone.

Starting at noon, a lobby party will take place until 3 p.m. featuring a birthday cake, live music, and the culmination of a 10-day Instagram contest.

Early entrants in the contest have won overnight stays for guessing that the hotel has hosted 3.1 million guests, has laundered 21.5 million pounds of linen, valet parked 939,156 cars and relaxed

31,230 aching backs with massages at its spa over the past decade

Prior to the party, the anniversary activities will get started early Saturday morning when 30 employees will represent the hotel in the 3-mile St. Jude Walk/Run at Nissan Stadium.

The Omni Nashville Hotel’s “Say Goodnight to Hunger” initiative has donated 493,926 meals to Second Harvest. Every hotel stay generates a meal for Second Harvest to benefit Nashville and Middle Tennessee’s hungry. You can learn more about the initiative at www.omnihotels.com/ about-omni-hotels/say-goodnight-to-hunger.

Local writer honors remarkable true story with new musical

BY AMY STUMPFL

At a time when our nation seems hopelessly divided, it’s rare to find a story that has the power to unite and inspire. So when Sue Fabisch Errico first heard about the North Platte Canteen of the 1940s, she knew she was on to something special.

“We were looking at colleges with our youngest daughter in November of 2020,” says Errico, an accomplished writer and songwriter, perhaps best known for Motherhood the Musical – which was developed locally around 2008, and continues to play internationally. “We were at Freed-Hardeman, and the president of the university was speaking at chapel, talking

about this incredible true story of the North Platte Canteen. It was such a beautiful, heartwarming story of community. I just loved it, and I kept thinking: ‘How have I never heard about this before?’”

It all started in 1941, when a 26-yearold store clerk named Rae Wilson heard that a train carrying her brother and other local servicemen would be stopping in their hometown of North Platte, Neb., before heading off to war. Wilson quickly organized a group of women to provide food and a bit of hospitality during the soldiers’ brief stopover. A huge crowd gathered at the station to welcome the local boys, but when

the train arrived, it carried a completely different regiment.

The people of North Platte graciously gave these soldiers the gifts that were originally intended for their own sons and brothers – sparking a movement that would continue for four-and-a-half years, eventually involving more than 55,000 volunteers.

“There was something so special about these women, and the way they banded together to make something happen with no expectation of reward or what was in it for them,” Errico says. “I remember that really stuck with me – especially in 2020, with everything that was happening in our country at the time.

“And you have to remember, there was a war going on,” she adds. “Everything was being rationed, and it’s not like these people had a lot to give. But they saw the need, and they jumped in to help. There were so many little sacrifices that went into it. This was before the days of paper plates and cups, so when the guys arrived at the station, they gave them a fresh cup of coffee in one of their own cups. They made sandwiches, and packed them in tins. So the guys would take the cups and tins with them, and then when they got to the next station, they would send everything back to North Platte on the next train. Can you imagine? And they did that for four-and-a-half years. There were so many of these wonderful little nuggets – I knew we had to do something with them.”

Errico reached out to her friend and co-writer Johnny Rodgers, who had worked with her on Motherhood the Musical. And together, they’ve developed The North Platte Canteen – A Musical Miracle, which will receive a staged reading in Franklin on Sept. 29 and 30.

For those who’ve never attended a staged

Restaurant Week Green Hills kicks off Oct. 2

STAFF REPORTS

Restaurant Week Green Hills returns on Monday, Oct. 2 and will run through Sunday, Oct. 8.

Both local restaurants and national chains in the area will be offering deals and exclusive menu items throughout the week.

In total, 14 restaurants will be participating in the event, which is sponsored by the Alliance for Green Hills and Vertis. The majority of the venues can be found in and around The Mall at Green Hills.

The full list of participating restaurants includes:

Cava Crow’s Nest

The Cheesecake Factory Chopt

Doughbird

El Palenque

Emmy Squared

Harth

Nordstrom Grill

North Italia

Santo

Sports & Social Green Hills

Taziki’s Cafe

True Food Kitchen

For more information, including about any potential deals, visit shopgreenhills.com/ pages/restaurant-week.

reading, it’s basically a rehearsed readthrough of a script, without elaborate sets or costumes. And while it’s not quite a full production, audiences can certainly expect to get a good sense of the narrative and characters, while providing valuable feedback to the playwrights.

“The actors will still have their scripts in hand, but they’ll be moving around on stage,” Errico says. “There’ll be minimal sets, so you’ll definitely get a feel of where the characters are – whether at the station, or other locations. They’ll be singing all of the songs live – and let me tell you, we have some stellar performers.”

Directed by Leslie Milstead, the cast features a number of familiar faces, including Emily Eytchison as Rae Wilson, along with Annie Rice, Savannah Grace Meinert, Erin Laming, Corrie Maxwell, Eva Muterspaugh, Carter Miller, Art Peach and more.

“From the beginning, we felt like all the elements were there – rich characters, a really lovely story – we just needed to put it all together,” Errico says. “But we’re at a point now where we need an audience. We need to get a sense of what people will really respond to – are they going to laugh here, or cry there? Are there places we need to tighten up?

“The cast is terrific, and it’s just such an inspiring story,” she adds. “We’re eager to get it in front of an audience, and see where it goes from there.”

The staged reading of The North Platte Canteen – A Musical Miracle takes place Sept. 29 and 30, at the new Franklin Special School District Performing Arts Center, at 1030 Excellence Way in Franklin. The event is free, but reservations are required. To learn more, visit https://npcanteen.com/.

The North Platte Canteen – A Musical Miracle

The Mall at Green Hills PHOTO BY DANIEL MEIGS

Preds’ O’Reilly, Forsberg build chemistry as camp gets underway

BY JOHN GLENNON

The Predators’ decision to trade Ryan Johansen and buy out the remaining three years of Matt Duchene’s contract last June means O’Reilly is head-and-shoulders above Nashville’s other center candidates in terms of track record and experience.

Signed as a free agent in July and preparing for his 15th season, the 33-yearold O’Reilly is just nine games shy of 1,000 in his NHL regular-season career.

He wasn’t especially productive in 40 games with St. Louis last season, totaling just 19 points (12 goals, seven assists). But the Predators — and Forsberg, no doubt — are hoping his play with Toronto following a late-season trade was an indication O’Reilly is still capable of generating offense. In a combined 24 regular-season and playoff games with the Maple Leafs, O’Reilly had 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists).

he’s doing on a daily basis, [I’m] just trying to watch and learn from him. All the small details like touches around the boards. That is so hard to play against. So I’m really excited to have him on our side.”

An 11-year veteran with 511 points in 616 games, Forsberg is easily the most accomplished wing on the roster, so he’s a natural fit next to O’Reilly.

Forsberg’s 2022-23 season was cut short by a concussion last February, which forced him to miss the final 32 games. But Forsberg is healthy now and is only one season removed from his career-best campaign of 2021-22, when he totaled 84 points (42 goals, 42 assists).

Count O’Reilly among Forsberg’s admirers.

really cool to see.”

It’s uncertain who might be the third member of a line featuring Forsberg and O’Reilly.

Physical forward Cole Smith was the third on Thursday, but keep in mind the Predators divided their roster into three practice groups. Other possibilities to fill out the line might include a younger prospect like Luke Evangelista, Juuso Parssinen or Philip Tomasino, or a veteran like Gustav Nyquist.

Whichever player lines up next to O’Reilly should benefit, according to Predators captain Roman Josi.

One of the Predators’ very first drills on the first day of training camp sent center Ryan O’Reilly and left wing Filip Forsberg down the ice side by side.

Get used to hearing those names together.

Combinations are always subject to change, but it’s hard to imagine the Predators not starting the season with those two veterans on the same line.

“I think it’s been great [gaining chemistry with O’Reilly],” Forsberg said. “You hear all the good things about him before he comes in here and from ex-teammates and players around the league that you know. Once you get to know him, he’s awesome, an unbelievable guy.

“At the rink, he’s so driven … Obviously you can see why he’s so good. All the details

“There’s just so many things [he does well],” O’Reilly said. “You know what he does with the puck. But it’s just more the way he handles it. You think he’s off balance when he’s still got full control. Or you think the D-man has him and he just pulls the puck past him.

“His radius of control is like nothing I’ve seen … [It looks at times like he’s] extended and such. But he’s got full control of the puck and able to shoot from these extremely awkward positions and rip it. It’s

“He’s one of the hardest-working guys I’ve ever played with,” Josi said. “I already know that ... He’s one of those guys that’s the first guy on the ice, first guy at the rink, last guy to leave.

“You play against guys and you are like, `Wow, this guy is pretty good.’ Then you see him in practice and you kind of understand why he’s so good at different things. Because he works on those things. I think that’s not only good for me, but a lot of young kids.”

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Filip Forsberg PHOTO BY CASEY GOWER

Sunday Roast Chicken with Citrus

BY EDIBLE NASHVILLE

With the days getting shorter, dark nights are perfect for a cozy roast chicken dinner. Pair the citrusy chicken with a sweet potato gratin (recipe at ediblenashville.com) and an arugula salad. Serve the chicken with

some of the pan juices, roasted citrus, and a crusty baguette for sopping. You’ll find sweet potatoes and arugula abundant at The Richland Park Farmers Market as well as homemade baguettes.

ACROSS

1 Ballpar k quartet

6 Reacts to something gross

10 Greek god that sounds like 66-Across

14 Roll with the punches

15 Chess piece with the second-highest value

16 Mardi Gras follower

17 Salad dressing with chopped liver

20 CPR pro

21 M&M’s color replaced by blue

22 New kid on the block

23 “You betcha!”

27 They might be pitched by the Rockies

28 Sandwich with wild rice

31 “Why, what an ___ am I!”: Hamlet

32 Logicians’ creations

33 Actress De La Garza of “FBI”

35 Vessel for violets

36 “The Bare Necessities” bear

38 Stud alternative

INGREDIENTS

1 (3-5 pound) chicken

4 mandarins, oranges, or clementines

1/2 cup fresh orange juice

1/4 cup lemon fresh juice

Fresh thyme sprigs

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Drizzle some olive oil in the bottom of a roasting pan. Cut citrus into halves & chunks. Slice one lemon thinly.

2. Place the chicken in the roasting pan. Using your fingers gently loosen the skin over the breast of the chicken, and place lemon slices and thyme sprigs under the skin.

3. Stuff the inside of the chicken with the shallots, a few sprigs of thyme & chunks of citrus. Tie the legs together using

3 cloves garlic

3 shallots

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

kitchen twine. Rub the outside of the skin with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper and fresh thyme leaves.

4. Place all the citrus pieces around the chicken along with the garlic cloves and thyme sprigs. Pour the orange juice & lemon juice into the pan. Roast for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thicken part of the breast reads 165 degrees. Baste the chicken every so often with the pan juices.

Follow Edible Nashville on instagram @ediblenashtn and their website ediblenashville.com. To subscribe to the magazine that comes out 6x/year, go to ediblenashville.com.

42 “Get Out” director Jordan

44 F ind a new purpose for

45 End of a two-player Har lem Globetrotters play

48 Desser ts with split peas

51 “Top Chef” airer

53 Under lings forced to do unpleasant work

54 Word before job or track

56 One channel that airs “NCAA March Madness,” with “TV”

57 Sor t of

60 Egg dish with a lemon turnover

64 ___ code

65 T imbuktu’s home

66 Zodiac sign that sounds like 10-Across

67 Where one needs GPS to find The Gap?

68 Opposite of sans

69 Some overly long Facebook posts

DOWN

1 ___ Didrikson Zaharias, Olympic track-and-field gold medalist who went on to win 10 L.P.G.A. major championships

2 F irst lady’s husband

3 Square snack items

4 Binge-watching units, for short

5 Ones with chiseled jawlines, often

6 W.N.B.A. star Brittney

7 D.C. “Squad” member

8 End of a White House address

9 Injure, as a knee

10 Naproxen brand

11 Saskatchewan’s capital

12 Puts on the books

13 Changing it converts “convert” from a verb to a noun

18 Jacobs of fashion

19 Off one’s game

24 Get into hot water?

25 Shanghainese, e.g.

26 Capital that was once par t of Denmark

28 “The Challenge” networ k

29 60 minuti

30 Chinese path

34 “Hello” singer

36 Source of some wax

37 “Ah, so it goes”

39 Adds insult to injur y

40 Drunk-skunk connector

41 Governor Moore of Maryland

43 Lyric poem

44 Alternative to highoctane

45 Mentor of Anakin and Luke

46 Cantankerous

47 Makes the grade

49 Source of a scandalous comment

50 “But wait — there’s ___!”

52 The “V” in C.V

55 Bombeck who said “Onion rings in the car cushions do not improve with time”

58 Editor’s “my bad,” maybe

59 Gas company with toy tr ucks

61 Sat ___ (GPS in the U.K.)

62 Bullfight cheer

63 Important stretch

ANSWER TO PUZZLE

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Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.

Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/ studentcrosswords.

PUZZLE BY MICHAEL LIEBERMAN

Pilgrimage Festival sells out in 9th year

BY MATT MASTERS

The Ninth annual Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival returned to Franklin’s Park at Harlinsdale Farm on Sept. 23 and 24 for a sold-out show that saw thousands of attendees and dozens of musical acts across three

stages, including headliners Zach Bryan and The Lumineers.

Read select reviews of the festival in our sister publication Nashville Scene

The crowd erupts for Zach Bryan. PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Margo Price PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS Tash Neal PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Dozens of food and drink vendors were on hand with hot and cold treats.

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS Zach Bryan PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Mike Farris and The Fortunate Few

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

The War and Treaty

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Attendees enjoy the sun and the shade at the 2023 Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival. PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Ashley McBryde PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

General James Robertson Chapter of the DAR kickoff luncheon

BY BRENDA BATEY

PHOTOS BY BRENDA BATEY

The General James Robertson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) held an officers’ kickoff meeting and luncheon at Hillwood Country Club to map out plans for important upcoming events.

Everyone enjoyed basil chicken salad with fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and crostini and a selection of mini desserts.

Event Chair LaRawn Scaife Rhea gave a report about the celebration for the chapter’s 100th anniversary. The celebration will be a Christmas luncheon at Belle Meade Country Club on Thursday, December 14.

The General James Robertson Chapter was established in 1923 by Maria Kirkman “Queenie” Woods Washington, who was born August 16, 1868 in Nashville and married George Augustine Washington, a descendant of President George Washington.

Working in tandem with the chef at BMCC, Rhea is planning the luncheon meal, which will be prepared from recipes from a cookbook written by Queenie Washington, discovered by Rhea in her cookbook collection.

There is a formal portrait of Queenie Washington that hangs at Belle Meade Country Club, where the earliest chapter meetings were held in 1923.

Chapter members also discussed plans to observe the 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to Nashville in May, 1825, which celebrated his service as a hero of the American Revolution.

When Lafayette arrived in Nashville,

thousands of citizens waited to greet him. There was a procession to the public square, where forty Revolutionary War veterans from all over Tennessee cheered Lafayette. Lafayette also spent time at The Hermitage and, during his visit, Andrew Jackson displayed two pistols from his collection which were originally gifted by Lafayette to George Washington in 1778. Additionally, service projects supporting the needs of active U.S. service members and the school community were discussed.

Lyn James gave a report on the maintenance by chapter members of the grave of General James Robertson, for whom the chapter is named. Robertson is interred at the Nashville City Cemetery.

Robertson, who was born June 28, 1742 and died September 1, 1814, was an explorer, soldier and Indian agent, and one of the founding fathers of what became the state of Tennessee. An early companion of explorer Daniel Boone, Robertson co-founded what is now Nashville, and was instrumental in the settlement of Middle Tennessee.

Registrar Mae Ambrose, Membership Chair Bea Thompson, and Treasurer Beth Hamilton gave reports.

Committee members other than those pictured include: Denise Davis Arnold, Deborah Brewington, Debbie Bryan, Chris Follahsbee, Ruth Cannon, and Elaine Youngblood.

Nancy Nunally, LaRawn Scaife Rhea, Anne Gernert, and Amy McKelvey

Mary Ann Mudd, Mae Ambrose, Martye Jeffords, and Trish Woolwine

Mary Prue Alley, Bea Thompson, Lyn James, and Ginger Stephenson

Myra Leathers, Beth Hamilton, Marees Choppin, and Lisa Whitten

Chukkers for Charity 2023

STAFF REPORTS

PHOTOS BY PEYTON HOGE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

The 27th Annual Chukkers for Charity polo match presented by Medical House Calls was held at Riverview Farm to a sold-out crowd. The signature event raised record funds for Rochelle Center and Saddle Up!, organizations that provide essential services to people with disabilities in Middle Tennessee.

The Colonial Hill Farm team won the match 13-8 which included players Orrin Ingram, Aaron Barrett, Wes Finlayson, and Armando Huerta, against the Iron Horse Farms team that included players Wesley Uys, Zulu Scott-Barnes, Tim Kyne, and Stevie Orthwein. Wesley Uys was named the most valuable player and received a timeless collection watch donated by King Jewelers. Zulu Scott-Barnes’ horse, Lantana, was awarded best playing pony and given a blanket provided by Tennessee Equine Hospital.

Attendees enjoyed a tropical-themed day, “Passport to Paradise,” with a silent auction and a tropical Tiki Hut VIP lounge. Guests could also take advantage of the IV hydration therapy station hosted by Medical House Calls. At halftime, patrons helped repair divots on the field and kids enjoyed the annual stick horse race.

This year’s attendees donned islandinspired outfits. The Best Dressed Women were Troy Solarek, Nicky Dudley, and Rebecca Kain; Best Dressed Men were Mark Locher and Mike Riley. The Most Over the Top was awarded to Amy Hobbs; Most Authentic Couple, Jim and Fiona King; Best Dressed Couple, Leslie and David Hacket. The first-place tailgate decorating prize went to Eliza O’Neil.

This year’s co-chairs were Nina Lindley and Falon Viet Scott, avid volunteers for the event and charities. This much-anticipated

annual event, which has raised more than $2.6 million since 1996, made a record contribution to the community impact of Saddle Up! and The Rochelle Center in 2022, and is set to break that record again this year. Chukkers for Charity is Tennessee’s largest and highest-grossing charity polo match. The event was hosted by Orrin Ingram and Stefanie Latham at Riverview Farm.

In 1968, long-time area educator W.R. Rochelle, began Rochelle Center for the agency offering support for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Saddle Up!’s mission is to provide children and young adults with disabilities the opportunity to grow and develop through therapeutic, educational and recreational activities with horses.

For more information about Chukkers for Charity visit chukkersforcharity.net

Ephraim Lober

PHOTO BY BRENDA BLACK

Stick Horse Race PHOTO BY MICHAEL GOMEZ

Auden Hanfen and Amanda Herra Hanfen Chuck and JoEllen McDowell

Emily Reynolds, Linda Childs, Ellen Reynolds, and Kristy Williams

Angela Sneed, Brooks Sneed, Billy Broomhall, and Amy Kenda

Debbie Chadwick, Nina Lindley, Falon Veit Scott and Audrey Kidd

Jim and Fiona King and Leilani and Johnny Gray

Fletcher Foster, Gabe LaDuke and John Dyke

Cindy Axford and Martha Popp

Co-chairs Falon Viet Scott and Nina Lindley

Damien Hodge and Kenya Littlejohn Hank Ingram and Kate Barnes

Players moving down the field PHOTO BY BRENDA BLAC K

Margret Wilks, Jessica Kurdy, Mary Alden Brett, and Sharon Hail

James and Lexie Armstrong Joni Werthan and Mod Black

Lisa Thompson and Rebecca Kain

Lori and Gavin Duke

PHOTO BY BRENDA BLACK

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