Pets are kids, too.
Whoever suggested that a difficult task with lots of moving parts and pieces is like "herding cats" never did a photo shoot at a dog park. But there we were on Fourth of July weekend, herding feverishly, without a cat in sight.
While no cat worth its nine lives would go near such a place, the same can't be said for legions of Bellevue residents and their furry friends. The Edwin Warner Park Dog Park, or "the dog park" as it's commonly known, is like a club where everyone is welcome. The clientele, both canine and human, is about as diverse and eclectic as what you're likely to find anywhere. The vibe is chaotic and calming, sweet and hilarious, and underscored by the boundless joy brought to you by the most innocent creatures on earth.
That explains why it was at the top of our list when planning our annual Kids & Pets issue, the issue that celebrates the most innocent amongst us. Because no matter how wrapped up in your world you become - and it's easy to do - seeing things through the prism of a child (or a pet) can bring you down to earth quickly.
That's how it is for Destiny Smith. She attended classes at Dance In Bloom and before she knew it, she became the owner of the studio where some of her former students have become instructors.
Dipti Patel followed a similar path. While on vacation years ago, the daughter of immigrants discovered Kumon Math And Reading Centers. She enrolled her own two children - who are now college graduates - and eventually became the owner of the Kumon center in Bellevue.
Then there's Sydney Bridenstine of Olive Branch Speech Therapy. A lifelong speech enthusiast, Sydney found a way to channel her passion into a mobile practice that helps young children conquer speech difficulties at very early ages, setting them up for a lifetime of success.
We hope you enjoy reading about them this month.
ED ATLAS, EDITOR @BELLEVUECITYLIFESTYLE
August 2024
PUBLISHER
Doug Waterman | doug.waterman@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Ed Atlas | ed.atlas@citylifestyle.com
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Sharon Asby | sharon@thenashvillephotographer.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Ed Atlas, Emma Balkenbush, Kellie Walton
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Sharon Asby, Ed Atlas
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Zach Miller
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen
mor e. With incoming or der, at time of pur c hase only.
Expir es 8/30/24. Of fer not v alid in all r e gions.
the issue
Dance in Bloom
Bellevue’s tenured dance studio welcomes dancers from twoyears-old through
This Is Her Happy Place
Seeing children excel academically brings joy to Kumon Learning Center’s Dipti Patel
Like A Walk In The Dog Park
The Dog Park at Edwin Warner Park
The Dog Park, located at 50 Vaughn Road, is a popular recreation destination for Bellevue residents and their canine companions.
(L-R): Sam Atlas with Roxey, Kelsey and Taran Magee with Malla, Kristen and Gunner Bung with Lilly.
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1-7: The Sixth Annual Stephens Valley BBQ & Bluegrass festival was held on Saturday, June 15. Photography by MediaTree Advertising
While traditional stretching methods attempt to make you more “flexible,” we work to adjust the stretch reflex. This way, the Stretch Zone Method gradually increases your active range of motion.
Consider how a car seatbelt works. If pulled too quickly, the belt locks. If the belt is forced, you are just stretching the material itself, and that’s where injury happens. When a car seatbelt is pulled smoothly and controlled, the belt will fully extend. It’s the same with your body’s stretch reflex.
Cole Crocker Elevated to President of Bellevue-Harpeth Chamber of Commerce
Cole Crocker is the new president of the Bellevue-Harpeth Chamber of Commerce, succeeding David Hart who reached the end of his 18-month term. Under Hart’s tenure, the Chamber’s membership grew by more than 20 percent, now boasting over 250 members. Crocker has been a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, most recently serving as Sponsorship Committee Chair and Picnic Co-Chair. He’s a Nashville native and a financial advisor at Strategic Financial Partners in Franklin.
Photography by Bellevue-Harpeth Chamber of Commerce
BNA Introduces Guest Pass Program for Post-Security Shopping & Dining
Nashville International Airport has launched BNA PASSport, a new offering for non-ticketed guests to access dining, retail and entertainment at the airport beyond the checkpoint. Visitors can explore various activities at BNA that not only include shopping and dining but also plane-watching, art exhibits, and the opportunity to meet a loved one at the gate. Guests must register before being granted access. Complete details and an application form are available online at FlyNashville.com.
Photography by Nashville International Airport
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(across from McKay’s Bookstore)
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MEET SYDNEY BRIDENSTINE OF BELLEVUE’S OLIVE BRANCH SPEETH THERAPY
Let’s Talk About Speech Therapy
Sydney Bridenstine (far right) and her family on a visit to Edwin Warner Park.
ARTICLE BY KELLIE WALTON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHARON ASBY
“
“It really feels like a calling, it feels like this is exactly what God created me to do.”
Imagine if you couldn’t communicate successfully. It would affect your entire life from school and work to building relationships and making connections. Communication is truly a superpower, but sometimes, people need a little support to communicate clearly and effectively.
“I knew I wanted to be in a field where I was helping, and I knew I loved being around kids,” says Sydney Bridenstine, owner of Olive Branch Speech Therapy. “I had a friend approach me and say, ‘Have you heard about the communication disorders major?’ She was talking about how you help people learn to communicate, and I thought that sounded so interesting.”
Speech, she shares, is something she’s been passionate about since she was a child herself.
“Looking back on my childhood, I was correcting my friends’ speech when I was a kid,” Sydney laughs. “I remember there was this boy who couldn’t say the word ‘girl’ so I coached him on it. I also always had trouble with my name, people thought it was ‘Cindy’ and I would have to coach them.”
Being from Chattanooga, Sydney completed the Tennessee trifecta by attending graduate school at the University of Memphis and ultimately landing in Nashville. She worked for the Rutherford and Davidson County public school systems as a speech-language pathologist, but once she welcomed her first child, the stars aligned and she went out on her own as a private practice.
“It’s just been slowly and steadily growing since then. It’s been such a blessing every step of the way, and I never really anticipated that it would all work out this way,” Sydney shares.
Olive Branch Speech Therapy is an entirely mobile practice with therapists serving all of Davidson and
Williamson counties, and supporting a handful of area schools as well. Speech services range far and wide but include articulation (how to make speech sounds), language therapy (understanding and expression of words), stuttering, and even feeding challenges and alternative communication.
While the team is always ready to answer questions specific to each child’s needs, there are a few developmental milestones to consider, particularly that children should start using words between nine and 18 months. Sometimes, it takes a little extra support to get the communication flowing.
“Being able to see the kids reach their maximum potential, and be able to communicate with their family, is incredibly rewarding,” Sydney shares. “When I can come in and create a support system and help a child communicate what they need, all of a sudden it just opens up their entire world and they just take off.”
The transformations Sydney and her team are able to facilitate are remarkable. She recalls a two-year-old who wasn’t able to use any verbal words, but after a few months of play-based speech therapy, she’s now speaking in full sentences (nonstop!).
While Olive Branch Speech Therapy deploys therapists across Middle Tennessee, Sydney is based right here in Bellevue. Together with her husband and three children, she enjoys supporting the community and watching the area flourish.
“We’ve been blown away by how friendly everyone is out here,” Sydney shares. “It’s so family-friendly, and we feel incredibly safe out here. Now that we have some good shopping and some good restaurants, we feel really lucky.”
For more information or to book an evaluation, visit OliveBranchSpeech.com
Dance In Bloom owner Destiny Smith with some of her younger students.
DANCE IN BLOOM
Bellevue’s tenured dance studio welcomes dancers from two-years-old through adulthood
Taking dance classes offers lessons far beyond pointed toes and perfect posture: it teaches coordination, develops fine motor skills, encourages teamwork, and provides a wonderful outlet to channel creativity and fun. For more than 20 years, Bellevue’s Dance in Bloom has been instilling all these values in its dancers.
“We start at age two-and-a-half,” shares studio director Destiny Smith. “That’s a really great age to help introduce the world of dance… not only how to dance, but also how to take a dance class.”
From toddlers all the way through high schoolers, Dance in Bloom offers classes in a range of disciplines including tap, jazz, ballet, modern and contemporary, and even some tumbling.
Destiny grew up dancing, and found herself in Nashville after her position related to the Department of Defense ended following September 11, 2001. She was seeking a new job, and ultimately landed in Middle Tennessee.
“Dance in Bloom had just opened, and I thought it would be fun to take some dance
CONTINUED >
ARTICLE BY KELLIE WALTON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHARON ASBY
classes,” she shares. “After doing an adult jazz class and performing in a show, the owner asked if I would be interested in teaching a class.”
After a few years of teaching, the owner decided to pursue nursing and offered Destiny the opportunity to take over the business. The stars aligned, as she had just left her corporate job and welcomed her first child.
“When you’re already feeling all the things, dance gives you a way to express it and cope,” she adds.
Destiny has remained at the forefront since she accepted the position in 2007 and has since welcomed a group of 10 instructors with varied backgrounds who focus on their respective disciplines.
“There are a lot of dance studios where it’s just the director and the owner,” she adds. “We are a solid team, we work very well together, and we have very little turnover.”
In fact, a few of the instructors have been affiliated with the studio since they were toddlers themselves. Teachers Hannah Rayhab Parsons and Maddie Williams each joined the studio at just three years old, and have now returned to teach at the studio as adults.
“I see the impact my teachers had on me when I was growing up, and now, I see the impact I have on my own students,” Hannah shares. “I see them grow not only in their dance technique, but also in their personal lives.”
Maddie adds, “Being able to work at Dance in Bloom as an adult is truly fulfilling my little ballerina dreams that I had as that 3-year-old that started dancing here. It is what I have wanted to do my whole life, and I am so grateful to work here.”
At Dance in Bloom, the fun isn’t limited to kids. The studio also offers a tap class for adults–it’s an open enrollment, open level class that accommodates everyone from beginners to seasoned pros. Adult tappers are invited to perform in the spring recital if they wish.
If you enjoy dance as a spectator rather than a performer, you can catch Dance in Bloom participating in community events like Light the Nations, the Bellevue Community Picnic, and the revamped holiday parade later this year.
DanceInBloom.com
Dance in Bloom
Dance in Bloom is located in One Bellevue Place and offers a range of classes for tiny dancers all the way through adulthood. Disciplines include ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip-hop, modern, lyrical, contemporary, and acrobatics and tumbling. Dancers participate in two performances annually: a winter showcase, and a spring recital with full-production event staging, sound, and lighting. Plus, you can find Dance in Bloom dancers performing at community events all year long. In addition to choreographed dances taught during weekly classes, Dance in Bloom offers an adult tap class, with all experience levels welcome.
Dance In Bloom instructor Maddie Williams (left) and Destiny Smith.
SEEING CHILDREN EXCEL ACADEMICALLY BRINGS JOY TO KUMON LEARNING CENTER’S DIPTI PATEL
PLACE
Dipti Patel at the entrance of Kumon Learning Center in Bellevue.
ARTICLE BY EMMA BALKENBUSH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHARON ASBY
There’s nothing that makes Dipti Patel happier than seeing a child learn. As the owner of the Kumon Math and Reading Center of Bellevue, she gets to watch her students make strides every day, setting them up for success later in life.
“It feels like Christmas gifts all the time, when they bring me their progress report, and they are going from Cs and Ds to As and Bs; it’s an amazing feeling,” Patel says.
Kumon is an after-school academic enrichment center specializing in math and reading.
Students can start at the center as young as three years old. Patel has served as the owner of Kumon of Bellevue for the last 20 years after enrolling her own children in the program. She first discovered the center while visiting family in Florida and watching her young nieces solve difficult math problems in their heads because they went to Kumon.
“Kumon is really about giving kids an opportunity where they can do whatever they want in life, given the right tools and environment,” she says.
“MY EXPERIENCE NOT DOING WELL IN SCHOOL MADE ME WANT TO HELP STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING.”
Patel says her passion for education and helping kids reach their full potential stems from a difficult relationship with school while growing up. She was born in Canada to immigrant parents, and her family frequently moved throughout her life. Because her education was disrupted every three or four years, she couldn’t build a solid foundation, which would lead to years of struggling in school.
“I was a weak student, and because my parents were immigrants and did not have an education, they weren’t able to help me when I didn’t understand my homework,” Patel said.
Patel would go on to graduate from college in upstate New York with the support of her uncle and his family.
“My experience not doing well in school made me want to help students who are struggling because I get it, and I know what that feels like,” Patel said.
While she’s lived in many different cities throughout her life, Patel has called Nashville home for the last 30 years. Before becoming the owner of Kumon of Bellevue, she worked in Metro Public Schools as a substitute teacher and taught second grade for five years. Being the owner of Kumon gives her the ability to
continue helping kids grow while outside of a traditional classroom setting.
While students at Kumon strengthen their math and reading skills, they also develop study habits and life skills, such as independence and confidence. She wants parents to know the center is not just for students who may be falling behind in math or reading but for students who are advancing in their classes as well.
Patel says the center has had a tremendous impact on her own children, Dilan and Kaitlin, who are college graduates and are pursuing careers in biology and psychology, respectively.
“They both started Kumon at a really young age, and I never had to sit down with them and do homework, not even once, and that to me was priceless because that was opposite of what I had,” Patel said.
She credits her husband, Nim, with being instrumental in her ability to pursue her dream of helping kids reach their full potential.
“I wouldn’t be where I am without him because of all of his love and support,” she says.
Kumon.com/Bellevue
The Patel family: Dilan, Dipti, Nim, Kaitlin. Photo provided.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ED ATLAS
IT’S LIKE A WALK IN THE DOG PARK
THE DOG PARK AT EDWIN WARNER PARK IS A POPULAR SPOT FOR PEOPLE AND PETS.
Bellevue is known for its parks.
With an abundance of waterways and greenways, hilltops and river bottoms, forests and fields, there’s no limit to what you can explore or no better place to escape.
There’s also the Edwin Warner Dog Park, a dedicated space exclusively for your canine companions. Located at 50 Vaughn Road near Old Hickory Boulevard and across from the sports complex, The Dog Park is a vast expanse with ample room for dogs that like to run and play as well as calm corners for those who prefer peace and quiet. Not too much different from the rest of the parks when you stop to think about it.
Michelle Southard and Phil, her 4-year-old Irish Wolfhound.
Camille Bauer, who has lived in Nashville for four years, moved to Bellevue a year ago and she considers the dog park to be a major amenity. It’s where she brings her yellow lab, Kenny.
“As soon as I got here, and was closer to the dog park, I started bringing her,” says Bauer. “I just love how big it is and everyone is always really friendly. I love Bellevue in general and the dog park is kind of an extension of that. It’s kind of a mosh pit of people from Belle Meade and Bellevue. It’s just fun. It’s nice to come sit here because it’s very peaceful, too.”
Kenny, who celebrates her second birthday on August 3, is one of those dogs that enjoys playing with all visitors, no matter if they are of the 4- or 2-legged variety. She’s happy to play with pups of all breeds but just as content to go for a leisurely stroll or bask in the sunshine.
One of the stars of the dog park is 4-year-old Phil, the very tall and handsome purebred Irish Wolfhound who claims Michelle Southard of Bellevue as his human. Michelle and Phil visit the dog park 2-3 times a week during the summer and 4-5 mornings a week during the winter.
Southard says that the park isn’t just for the dogs. “I think probably half of my friend group are people I’ve met at the dog park,” she says. “It’s a good community to be a part of and when you come at the same time every week it’s easy to meet people. And who doesn’t like to talk about their kids?”
Camille Bauer and Kenny, her 2-year-old yellow lab on a recent visit to the Bellevue dog park.
The dog park is busiest during the milder months, especially in the late afternoon when people return from work and their pets are ready to get out of the house. Sunny and dry winter weekends are peak periods as well.
During summer heat waves, the dog park can be quite slow. But if you’ve never been to the dog park, that might be a good time to get acclimated. A tall tree line provides late afternoon and early evening shade along the park’s west edge. There’s ample bench seating and a water fountain exclusively for the dogs. First-time visitors should know within a few minutes if the dog park is a good fit for them and their pet.
The dog park is open daily from dawn to dusk and is completely enclosed by a fence with a mesh or “chicken wire” reinforcement so that smaller dogs remain within the boundaries.
Nashville.gov/departments/parks/parks/dog-parks
BEING CONSIDERATE
To ensure a fun and safe experience for all, common sense and courtesies are encouraged and appreciated at the dog park. Pick up after your pet. Restrain your dog if it becomes anxious. Above all, if your dog is overly rambunctious or the least bit aggressive, seek a less stimulating environment.
nhcplaceatthetrace.com
629-888-5526 | B @nhcplaceatthetrace 8353 Highway 100 | Nashville, TN 37221
events
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
VARIOUS DATES THROUGHOUT AUGUST
Nashville Sounds Baseball
FIRST HORIZON PARK, 19 JUNIOR GILLIAM WAY
The Nashville Sounds are home for 12 dates in August. August 6-11 Indianapolis Indians; August 20-25 Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Game times are 6:35 p.m., 6:05 p.m. on Sundays. Every Friday is Fox 17 Fireworks night. Tickets and a complete list of promotions are available online. www.milb.com/nashville
VARIOUS DATES THROUGHOUT AUGUST
Nashville Symphony
SCHERMERHORN SYMPHONY CENTER, DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE
From classical to pop, the Nashville Symphony plays something for everyone in August. Wednesday 14: Buddy Guy: Damn Right Farewell Tour; Sunday 18: KEM; Wednesday 21: The Concert: A Tribute To ABBA. August performances listed here are by the artists and without the Nashville Symphony. NashvilleSymphony.org
AUGUST 1ST-31ST
Nashville Area Concerts
VENUES THROUGHOUT NASHVILLE
RYMAN AUDITORIUM: 1-4, Vince Gill; 9, America; 18, Joe Bonamassa; 23, Allen Stone; 25, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts; 28, Steve Earle; 29, Terri Clark; 31, Squeeze. NISSAN STADIUM: 3, Kenny Chesney. BRIDGESTONE ARENA: 9-10, Chris Stapleton; 14, Five Finger Death Punch; 20, Earth Wind & Fire and Chicago; 28, Sammy Hagar. ASCEND AMPHITHEATER: 3, Thirty Seconds To Mars; 13, Creed; 20, Wallows.
AUGUST 16TH
Full Moon Pickin’ Party
PERCY WARNER PARK, 2500 OLD HICKORY BLVD. | 6:00 PM
The Full Moon Pickin’ Party in Percy Warner Park has been a Bellevue tradition for 26 years. Patrons enjoy live bluegrass music, local food trucks, cold brews, and more. Bring an acoustic instrument for discounted admission and join a pickin’ circle. Dogs on leashes welcome. Lawn chairs encouraged. Admission includes complimentary soda, water and up to three beers (21+). WarnerParks.org
AUGUST 23RD AND 30TH
High School Football
LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS | 7:00 PM
LAWSON LIGHTNING: Friday 23 vs. Cheatham County, Friday 30 vs. Sycamore. NASHVILLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL EAGLES: Friday 23 vs. Davidson Academy, Friday 30 at Innovation Academy. ENSWORTH TIGERS: Friday 23 vs. Union City, Friday 30 at Montgomery Bell Academy.
AUGUST 24TH AND 25TH
Stephens Valley Church Pizza Supper and Youth Lecture Series
STEPHENS VALLEY CHURCH, 6000 PASQUO ROAD
August 24 at 5 p.m.: Pizza and ice cream for youth and parents followed by Christopher Yuan, author and biblical lecturer, who will speak on the identity crisis in today’s world. August 25: Yuan will speak at 9:15 a.m. and will be joined by his mother, Angela, at the 10:40 a.m. worship service as they share his journey to a life of Christian faith. StephensValleyChurch.com
realty report
