An afternoon of Beatles’ tunes, local talent and community fun
Mark your calendars and pack your picnic blankets—Dragon Music Sunday is back! Join us on Sunday, October 5 at 3:30 p.m., for an outdoor celebration of music, community and fall fun at the 18th annual Dragon Music event.
The Dragon Park Picnic Shelter will serve as the main stage, where HWEN resident Nathan Philips will serve as MC.
Kicking off the afternoon is the Metro Schools Jam Band, made up of talented young musicians from across Metro Nashville Public Schools.
Next up is the headlining act: Beatledudes, a powerhouse trio of Nashville musicians who share a deep love for the music of the Beatles.
Steve Allen, formerly of the rock/ power pop band 20/20, brings decades of experience and infectious energy to the stage. After moving from Los
Your Hillsboro West-End Neighborhood Association Board is composed entirely of volunteers who donate their time, energy and talent to make our neighborhood a better place for everyone.
How can you help? Get involved in some of the events discussed herein! Other neighborly things we can all do:
● Report potholes, streetlight outages and other maintenance requests via
Get ready for Dragon Music Sunday!
Photograph provided Beatledudes will highlight Dragon Music Sunday on October 5!
Angeles, he joined Nashville’s favorite and longest-running tribute band, The Long Players.
Nashville’s Rick Schell, a veteran of the Americana and country rock scene, has performed with artists like Steve Earle, Pure Prairie League and Allison
Hub Nashville at hub.nashville.gov
● Pick up your dog waste and put it in YOUR trashcan! Mutt mitts are located throughout the ‘hood.
● Place trash and recycling bins at the curb on the appropriate day and retrieve them in a timely fashion after collection.
● Get out and meet your neighbors! The people are what make
Moorer.
Rounding out the trio is Ralph Friedrichsen, a gifted bassist and vocalist who has toured with Jo Dee Messina, Suzy Bogguss and The Paul Thorn
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Hillsboro West-End such a wonderful community.
● As invested members of this neighborhood, speak up if you see something amiss.
What do you love about living in HWEN? Let us hear from you at hwen.org@gmail.com
2025 HWEN Co-Chairs Lee Vinson and Phil Ryan
By Miriam Mimms
Autumn is looking good!
Fall is the perfect time to beautify! The HWEN Beautification team pitches in to meet our goals to preserve and improve the neighborhood, exercise greater control over the environmental forces that influence our ways of life, and foster neighborhood identity and sense of community. Read on . . .
On Saturday, September 27, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. everyone’s invited to the Fall Plant Swap. Bring what you can—or nothing at all—and take what you like. We’ll have cold beverages and conviviality to spare, so bring a friend. Hosted by Russanne Buchi-Fotré, 3005 Blakemore Avenue (off Natchez Trace) and co-chaired by Susan Schipani and Miriam Mimms, experienced and wanna-be gardeners can share seeds, houseplants, perennials, and green-thumb tips. This event will feature a How-to Compost Workshop by Nashville Waste Services department. But wait, there’s more . . . an Earth Machine backyard composter will be given away to one lucky gardener! (For info on waste and recycling, visit www.recycleright. nashville.gov or email recycleright@ nashville.gov.) See you at the swap!
Waste and Recycling app hubNashville 311 app
This app can answer questions about waste / recycling in Metro. Use it to view your collection calendar, sign up for reminders, or nd a drop-o recycling site
Use this app to report missed trash or recycling pickups or to request or return a cart.
If you’d rather drop off your kitchen scraps elsewhere, we continue partnering with Trinity Presbyterian Church to host a community compost center. Enter on Sharondale near Hillsboro Pike and follow instructions on the signs. No plastic bags, meat or bones.
Our Root Nashville neighborhood tree captain, Lisa Wyatt, reports that the free tree campaign ran through August 31. Those who placed orders can expect delivery sometime in late fall to early winter. For more information, contact Lisa Wyatt at lisalynnwyatt@gmail.com.
The Alleyway Pollinator Pathway Project took off with a buzz when we packaged and distributed 300 packets of high-quality native wildflower
seeds. Thanks to an Earth Day Grant, attendees of the Arboretum launch, Garden Tour, and Spring Plant Swap received packets at no charge. By encouraging folks to sow the Southern Pollinator Mix in their alleys and backyards, we hope to create a pathway of tiny landing spots for pollinators throughout our urban core.
If you’re a dog walker, you’ve probably seen (and hopefully used) the Mutt Mitt stations on our sidewalks. These green metal boxes dispense bags for collecting dog waste, to be disposed of properly in your trash receptacle (not back in the Mutt Mitt station). Thanks to the many neighbors who have supported this project to help make our sidewalks clean and safe: box installer Greg Asadourian and tenders
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Photographs provided
Learn how to backyard compost at the Fall Plant Swap on September 27th.
Mutt Mitt stations can be found in ten HWEN sidewalk locations.
Nashville
Protect your vehicles and property
By Colin Rushing
Notwithstanding chatter you might see on Nextdoor, crime is generally down in Nashville overall, and in the Midtown Hills Precinct specifically. According to recent reports from Metro Nashville Police, every category of crime is down year over year except for shoplifting and larceny. Thefts of automobiles are down considerably – potentially a direct result of MNPD’s special initiative to address vehicle theft, which launched last year, and has resulted in more than 1,000 arrests.
Notably, however, one category remains flat – theft from motor vehicles – and that will likely be a persistent issue in HWEN. As a densely populated neighborhood, adjacent to several major roads, and in which street parking is common and necessary, our community will unfortunately always be
a target of thefts from cars.
Importantly, thieves are often checking cars for firearms: year to date, more than 500 guns have been stolen from cars in Nashville, representing the huge majority of firearm thefts in this city. A number of these thefts have occurred in HWEN.
Fortunately, the best way to address this is fairly simple. While thieves may break windows to gain entry to cars, they are often just checking door handles to see which cars are unlocked. MNPD’s advice is thus to always lock your car, never leave your keys in the car, and always secure your valuables –including especially any firearms.
Eakin Elementary: Neighborhood school with global vision
By Mattie Crumbo, Ed. D.
Eakin Elementary is a vibrant International Baccalaureate (IB) World School located in the heart of our neighborhood. With a rich tradition of academic excellence, Eakin fosters globally minded, compassionate, and curious learners. Our passionate educators create inclusive classrooms where students are challenged, celebrated, and supported every step of the way. As a public school serving grades K–5, we are proud to welcome students from across the neighborhood and beyond.
With approximately 550 students, Eakin is honored to be recognized as both a Level 5 School and a Reward School, distinctions awarded by the state for high academic achievement and student growth. Our class sizes average 1:20, with lower grades averaging 1:18, allowing students to receive individualized attention in a nurturing environment. Eakin’s inquiry-based curriculum encourages critical thinking, creativity, and global citizenship.
Beyond the classroom, students participate in a wide range of clubs, after-school programs, and leadership opportunities, helping them discover their strengths and explore new inter-
ests. Our dedicated staff and active Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) work hand-in-hand to create a supportive and engaging school culture where families are true partners in the learning journey.
If you’re a prospective family, we warmly invite you to consider Eakin for your child’s education. As your zoned neighborhood public school, we are proud to serve our community with excellence and care. We offer regular school tours, and our friendly staff is happy to answer questions and help you get connected. Whether you’re new to the neighborhood or planning ahead, we’d love to welcome you into the Eakin family.
We also encourage our neighbors and
Band. Together, they channel their lifelong Beatles fandom into every note.
Special thanks to HWEN resident and Dragon Music Sunday volunteer Jessica Kimbrough for finding this amazing headliner act. Beatledudes don’t currently call HWEN home, but they’ll probably want to move once they see how much fun we have in the HBV!
In addition to great music, Dragon Music Sunday will offer fun for all ages. Play on the playground, grab a complimentary ice cream, and buy a
community members to get involved and support the meaningful work happening at Eakin. Whether it’s reading with students, volunteering in our school garden, offering your expertise to support a club, or making a financial contribution to enhance school programs, your involvement makes a lasting impact. Eakin thrives because of the strong support of our surrounding community, and we welcome your time, talents, and partnership.
To learn more, schedule a visit, or explore ways to get involved, please visit https://eakin.mnps.org/ or reach out to our Family Involvement Specialist, Rachel Hippel, at Rachel.Hippel@mnps.org.
2025 Dragon Music Sunday commemorative T-shirt and poster—all proceeds support the Hillsboro-West End Neighborhood organization.
Please thank your HWEN board members and Dragon Music Sunday volunteers when you see them. Fun, community events like this just wouldn’t happen without their hard work and dedication.
Don’t miss this chance to relax with your neighbors, support a good cause, and sing and dance along to some of the most beloved songs of all time. We’ll see you there!
DRAGON MUSIC from page 1
Dr. Crumbo
Study shows current zoning hinders needed growth
By Burkley Allen |
Metro’s Planning Department has wrapped up the initial phase of the Housing and Infrastructure Study. Findings were not surprising: we need more housing, and infrastructure needs to be better coordinated to keep up with growth. The new information was that our current zoning can be an impediment to building the kind of housing that is actually needed – reasonably priced, small and medium sized housing for aging baby boomers and single young people, Nashville’s two fastest growing demographics.
Further review of planned infrastructure improvements is underway in coordination with the following plans: Water, Sewer, and Stormwater Master Plans by Metro Water Services; Multimodal Mobility Master Plan by Nashville Department of Transportation, WeGo, and Nashville Planning Department; and Regional Transportation Plan by Greater Nashville Regional Council.
Next steps are to create two new types of zoning district RN and RL, which would allow low-rise, moderated density residential housing like quadplexes, cottage courts, and townhomes. These would not be applied anywhere, but neighborhoods could work with council members to apply for zoning changes in areas where they might be appropriate, like along major streets and near commercial centers. The DADU
(Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit –mother-in-law cottages) overlay process would be simplified to expand where small mother-in-law cottages could be added as a secondary unit. Planning is also creating an attainable housing program that will specifically tie income qualifications for a portion of the units to some density increases. This was enabled by recent state legislation.
This whole process will continue to proceed slowly in small steps with many opportunities for public input along the way. For those who have not partici-
pated on the front end, there are several ways to catch up with the study. The full study and the Draft Recommendations Memo, and staff ’s recent presentation to council committees can be found at https://engage.nashville.gov/ s50752. The March Initial Findings Report including the Executive Summary, the Full Report, and a recording of a recent presentation provide detailed analysis on the complex and interrelated challenges faced by Nashville: Engage Nashville - Housing and Infrastructure.
By Tom Cash |
Much of District 18 is in US House congressional District 7 and recently Representative Mark Green resigned his seat to pursue private business opportunities. This means the seat is currently vacant and a special election has been scheduled by the Tennessee Secretary of State.
Special elections fall on irregular dates and often have much lower turnout, so I hope you’ll mark your calendars and participate since each vote is so important. The primary is Oct 7 and
the general is December 2. Both parties have multiple candidates competing so I hope you’ll research the race, make sure you’re registered, and get out to vote! Deadlines to register are Sept. 8 for the primary and Nov 3 for the general. More registration info can be found at GovoteTN. gov. There will be early voting in the days prior to Election Day
See you at the polls!
VILLAGE SITTING
Babysi ing – Fun, dependable care
Pet Si ing
Walks, cuddles and f dings
Garden Si ing
Watering and plant care
*Th as and Ellen e Am ican Red Cross Safe Si -c tified!
Burkley Allen
Tom Cash
Join neighbors at Annual Meeting - Monday Nov. 3
Join us for the 2025 Hillsboro-West End Neighborhood Association Annual Meeting on Monday, November 3, at the Moxy Hotel, 1911 Belcourt Ave. Festivities begin at 6:30 PM and are open to the entire community—a great chance to meet neighbors, enjoy snacks, and mingle. Arrive early and your first drink is on us!
We’ll elect our new HWEN Board and present two special honors:
● Betty Nixon Award – for outstanding community impact
● Elizabeth Paris Good Hood Award – for excellence in the built environment
See sidebar for nomination info.
Looking to get more involved? Join our all-volunteer team! We work on projects ranging from zoning advocacy to streets and sidewalk safety, and beautification to the preservation of our beloved Dragon sculpture at Fannie Mae Dees Park. HWEN also plans and
You can help us honor deserving neighbors who have made signi cant contributions to HWEN. Nominations are now open for:
The Betty Nixon Good Neighbor Award, given to someone whose hard work and e ort have resulted in a better HWEN. (A resident of District 18, Betty Nixon was a three-term Metro Council member, an inspiring leader in historic preservation, and one of the few women to run for mayor of Nashville. She died at age 80 in 2016.) Forward your nominee’s name and contact information, and describe why they should be considered, to hwen.org@gmail.com).
organizes neighborhood events throughout the year such as Dragon Music Sunday, the Community Yard Sale and the annual Garden Tour.
The Elizabeth Paris Good Hood Award, named in 2010 to honor late board treasurer and member, Elizabeth Paris, celebrates signi cant improvements to our neighborhood’s built environment and landscapes. (A neighborhood advocate, astrophysicist, and La Leche League leader, Elizabeth Paris died of cancer at age 41 in 2009.) Forward your nominee’s name and contact information, and describe why they should be considered, to Phil Ryan at philip.w.ryan@gmail.com
Deadline to submit all nominations is Sept. 22, 2025. Winners will be announced at the 50th Annual HWEN Meeting on Monday, November 3, 2025.
Whether you’ve lived here for decades or just moved in, rent or own, there’s a place for you. Let’s celebrate our neighborhood together—see you there!
HWEN Garden Tour enjoyed fine weather, record crowds
By Miriam Mimms
The 4th Annual Hillsboro-West End Neighborhood Garden Tour, held on Mother’s Day, was again a huge success! Now in its fourth year, the popular event drew more than 600 ticketed attendees to our neighborhood on Sunday, May 11. The tour’s ticket and ad sales made it the single largest revenue generator of the year, all in support of HWEN’s yearround initiatives.
Evoking our community’s historic roots, “Gardens, Then and Now” featured nine unique, residential gardens, with first-ever trol-
ley service generously provided by Gray Line of Tennessee. Our own Metro Nashville Fire Department Engine No. 16 made a special appearance, to the delight of all, and a guided tour of the newly-certified HWEN Arboretum at Fannie Mae Dees Park rounded out the afternoon.
Katie Forrester, Martin Egli, Sohee Park, Jenny Cleckner, Russanne Buchi-Fotré, Cecilia Dodd, Mark Boughton, Emily Oppel, Trey Mitchell. Do you love dogs? Join the Mutt Mitt team by contacting miriammimms@comcast.net.
newly-certified
Lee Vinson and Miriam Mimms co-chaired the 2025 tour, which would not have been possible without the dozens of volunteers who helped make the day run smoothly: Lori McCurry, Michelle Becker, and Derek Wolfe (logistics), Shawn Maxwell and Bob Regan (trolley docents), Gina Napoli and Ginger Hauser (after-party), and
Have you visited the HWEN Arboretum? Fall is the perfect time to take a leisurely stroll through this living “museum of trees” situated within the city block including Eakin Elementary, Harris-Hillman School, the Martin Professional Development Center, and
the many garden docents and experts positioned at gardens throughout the neighborhood.
Fannie Mae Dees “Dragon” Park. Certified by the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council and launched in May, it features sixty distinct tree species labeled with common and botanic names, plus a QR code to a webpage with map and information.
Photograph by Miriam Mimms The boxwood garden at Karin and Robin Eaton’s Glen Oak.
Belcourt Theatre celebrates centennial
By Cindy Wall
This past spring the Belcourt Theatre, in the heart of Hillsboro Village, turned 100. First opening its doors on May 18, 1925 and called the Hillsboro with a screening of D.W. Griffith’s AMERICA, it had a capacity of 1,100 and was a home for silent film, vaudeville, community theater performances and concerts.
It was founded by cinema pioneer and Vanderbilt graduate M.A. Lightman (and constructed by his father Joseph Lightman’s contracting company) as part of his evolving chain of theaters — one that still exists today as MALCO Theatres, Inc. based in Memphis.
After a competing movie theater opened just a block away, the then-Hillsboro was primarily a stage for community theater groups into the 1960s under varied names and identities — and for a brief period in 1935-1936, the stage was home to the Grand Ole Opry (also celebrating its 100th this year).
Movies returned to the Belcourt in 1962, and a second screen was added in the late ‘60s (making it the first “twin theater” in the state). Over succeeding decades, the Belcourt had multiple owners and varied management — and in the late ‘90s, a local grassroots group called Belcourt Yes! organized to save
the theater when its future was uncertain. They formed a nonprofit, eventually purchased the building, and set the Belcourt Theatre on the course that’s led to its role today as Nashville’s nonprofit film center — and the city’s oldest neighborhood cinema.
Throughout this year and into 2026, the Belcourt is celebrating its centennial with selected films and educational events that help tell its story, its many connections to the neighborhood and city, and the larger story of film culture in Nashville. This comprehensive history, the Belcourt’s first, has been led by public historian and archivist T. Minton.
An ongoing series, Nashville: A City On Film, features select offerings that link to local people, places and milestones — including past titles ranging from Robert Altman’s NASHVILLE, set-at-the-Ryman NEIL YOUNG: HEART OF GOLD, and local classic EXISTO — to the upcoming Oscar-winning MARTY, directed by Nashvillian Delbert Mann and THE YEARLING, starring Nashville-born Claude Jarman Jr.
Ongoing Belcourt 100 seminars are exploring themes that include: Nashville in Hollywood’s Golden Age on September 13 at 11:00am; Beyond the Footlights (the pivotal era when the Belcourt was home to the city’s first professional commu-
nity theater organizations) on October 4 at 11:00am; and future topics including the Opry’s time at the Belcourt, cinema culture in Nashville, the city’s Black film/theater culture, and Nashville’s theater moguls.
To stay up-to-date on all the Belcourt’s centennial events — and its full range of film programming — visit belcourt.org
HWEN is a 501(c)(3) nonpro t organization, was founded in 1975 to preserve the historic character, enhance community and promote engagement within our neighborhood. The neighborhood itself began in 1910, when a new streetcar line out to Blair Boulevard sparked a wave of homebuilding in the area.
Most houses were built in 1910-1935 in styles favored by the urban middle class of the day — Craftsman, Tudor Revival, Foursquare, and English cottage. Today HWEN boasts the largest co-
hesive collection of early 20th century homes in Nashville. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and much of our neighborhood is protected by historic zoning.
Any adult residing, owning property, or employed within the neighborhood and who agrees with the general purposes of Corporation is a member with the right to vote at its meetings and eligible to serve as a member of the Board of Directors and as an o cer.
