Bellevue, TN June 2024

Author Jeff Zentner Bellevue's Bestseller

Manly Issues

Welcome to our annual Gentlemen's Issue. And I know what you're thinking: "Gentlemen have issues all the time!"

Ahahahahaha!! Sometimes the jokes practically write themselves!

Back to the issue at hand: Our monthly themes, generally speaking, are selected to align with the events and traditions associated with each particular turn of the calendar. So, with Father's Day looming (June 16, for those of you following along at home), June is the ideal time to showcase some of the guys who help make Bellevue function.

You probably know a man, perhaps one who lives in your house, who has told you, "Don't call a plumber; I can fix that leak." It's only after several days go by that you probably wish you had called Stark Plumbing, where Daniel Stark would have been right over to address that particular issue and solve it once and for all.

While Nashville is a great place to live, severe weather is one of the hazards of living here. And those seasonal extremes can take a toll on your roof. When it comes to protecting the investment that protects your greatest investment, you should know about Worth Roofing Co., where Terry Woodall has been repairing and replacing roofs for decades.

How many times have you driven past Harpeth Valley Golf Center on Old Harding Pike? If you're a golfer, you probably know the place well. If not, you should consider stopping by. Stan Smoot has established a sports and recreation venue that's a destination for those who are passionate about golf, and a fun place to hang out for those who wouldn't know a sand wedge from a sandwich.

Daniel, Terry and Stan could choose to live just about anywhere in Middle Tennessee. But they chose the Bellevue area for many of the same reasons you did. We hope you enjoy reading about them this month.

And now, on to the next issue!

ED ATLAS, EDITOR @BELLEVUECITYLIFESTYLE

June 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, Sarina Kurrimbukus

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

inside the issue

Bellevue’s Bestseller

Jeff Zentner, author of five novels including two New York Times notable books, is Bellevue’s biggest fan

At Stark Plumbing, Daniel Stark makes customer’s lives

Zentner.

Sharon Asby

city scene

WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN

1-7: The 4th Annual Get MOVE’n 5k raised funds for MOVE Inclusive Dance, a dance studio for people with disabilities.

Photography by Sarina Kurrimbukus.

8-14: Bellevue-Harpeth Chamber of Commerce members turned out to hear Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell speak at The Loveless Barn. Photography by Ed Atlas.

business monthly

Cledis Burgers & Beer Coming to Bellevue

Shane Nasby, acclaimed chef, restaurateur and Bellevue resident, has announced that he'll be opening a new location for his popular Cledis Burgers & Beer at 7648 Highway 70 South. Named in honor of his late grandfather, Cledis will feature Nasby's cast iron smash burgers and sides, innovative desserts and an impressive array of cocktails and local brews. The restaurant is slated to open this fall. The original Cledis is at 1011 Elm Hill Pike. Cledis.com

T. Graham Brown Inducted into Grand Ole Opry

Grammy-nominated artist T. Graham Brown was inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry on Friday, May 3 with Opry member Vince Gill presiding. They were joined onstage by Opry members John Conlee, The Isaacs, Don Schlitz, Jeannie Seely, and Mark Wills. Brown, a Bellevue resident, performed several of his biggest hits, including “I Tell It Like It Used To Be” and “Darlene,” before being joined by Jimmy Fortune on "Wine Into Water."

MNPD tabs Sgt. Amanda Kozen as West Precinct Community Coordinator

Sgt. Amanda Kozen recently was named West Precinct Community Coordinator by the MNPD. At West Precinct, which serves Bellevue, Kozen will work to ensure the community's needs are met by the police. She will be the point of contact for neighborhood concerns as well as participate in local events like Coffee With A Cop. In addition to daily tasks, Sgt. Kozen supervises the precinct’s Quality of Life and Community Engagement team.

Photography by Cledis

ARTICLE BY KELLIE WALTON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHARON ASBY

JEFF ZENTNER, AUTHOR OF FIVE NOVELS INCLUDING TWO NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOKS, IS BELLEVUE’S BIGGEST FAN

BELLEVUE’S BESTSELLER

“I

Like many Nashville-origin stories, Jeff Zentner moved to town to pursue music. Creativity and writing were always passions, but reality called Jeff away from life as a professional musician and led him back to a classroom. He went on to attend Vanderbilt where he earned a law degree.

Despite its unconventional penning, The Serpent King would go on to rack up a list of impressive accolades. Among them: an American Library Association William C. Morris Award, a New York Times Notable Children’s Book, and a spot on numerous “Best Of” lists around the country.

WROTE ALMOST ALL OF THE SERPENT KING ON MY IPHONE ... ON THE BUS.”

“I also started volunteering at Tennessee Teen Rock Camp and Southern Girls Rock Camp, teaching kids how to play guitar,” Jeff added. “Out of that experience, I really came to love the way that young adults connect with the art that’s meaningful to them. The way they really cling to it, make it part of their identity, and weave itself into their being.”

With this newfound inspiration, Jeff began pursuing ways to create art for young adults outside of the music industry. He soon discovered the young-adult book category and set off on a new adventure writing novels.

“I came up with an idea for a young adult novel called The Serpent King,” Jeff shares. “I was working for the Tennessee attorney general at the time, and I would commute by bus from West Meade to downtown Nashville. I was riding the bus for almost an hour every day each way, and I wrote almost all of The Serpent King on my iPhone, with my right thumb, on the bus.”

Since then, Jeff has published three other young adult books— Goodbye Days, Rayne and Delilah’s Midnight Matinee, and In The Wild Light Recently he released his debut novel for the adult market, Colton Gentry’s Third Act, a tale about a canceled country music star who returns to his hometown where he’s reconnected with an old flame. Before its release, the book was recommended on the Today Show as a best new romance .

With so much success as a novelist, it may be shocking to learn Jeff has no formal training as a writer.

“I just read a lot of books growing up as a kid … just tons and tons of books,” he says. “That, counterintuitively, scared me off of writing. I grew up in a pre-internet era. I put books on such a pedestal, that I imagined authors being these otherworldly beings who were very different from me.”

For this reason, Jeff first funneled his creativity into music. It wasn’t until a friend found success as an author that

CONTINUED >

his eyes were opened to the option of writing novels of his own. Jeff says that failing at music, in a way, made him not afraid to try something new.

“Nobody seems to care very much that I didn’t achieve what I wanted to achieve in music,” he says. “I kind of realized that nobody’s keeping track of my failures, and I didn’t really have anything to fear by trying to write a book. I just did it.”

As a big fan of the Bellevue Library (which even makes an appearance in one of his books), Jeff knew the Bellevue area was where he wanted to be. After his books were published and began taking off, he and his wife were able to purchase a home in the area that, come to find out, was once owned by Vince Gill.

“The Bellevue Library is one of my favorite bookish places in the world,” he says. “I love to just sit there and write or read. I’m a big fan of that.”

“TO ME, IT’S PARADISE. I LOVE BELLEVUE SO MUCH.”

In addition to the library, Jeff loves the accessibility Bellevue affords him to some of his favorite places, including being within walking distance to “some of the best pizza I’ve ever had anywhere in the world” at Desano and his favorite barbeque in the city at Honeyfire. He enjoys being within driving distance of McKay’s Bookstore, Harpeth River State Park, Percy Warner Park, and Bowie Nature Park.

“I think Bellevue is the most underrated neighborhood in Nashville,” Jeff adds. “To me, it’s paradise. I love Bellevue so much.”

Despite his debut adult novel just hitting shelves at the end of April, Jeff already has many more projects in the works. Keep up with all of his news and announcements and learn more about works already published at JeffZentnerBooks.com and on Instagram, @JeffZentner.

Family

Stephens Valley Church cordially invites you to a patriotic concert on June 30 from 6:00pm-7:00pm, featuring full orchestra & choir + audience sing-alongs!

AT STARK PLUMBING, DANIEL STARK MAKES CUSTOMER’S LIVES MORE LIVABLE

A ‘Plumb’ of a Job

ARTICLE BY EMMA BALKENBUSH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ED ATLAS

Photo by Sarah Stark

“I’ve learned ... that people just want you to be nice, fair, honest and do good work.”

Daniel Stark knew from a young age that a desk job wasn’t for him. He often had trouble sitting still and preferred to be doing something with his hands. He started learning about plumbing in high school and quickly realized he had a knack for it. He’s also never been one to shy away from crawling into tight spaces that others might not be keen on entering.

“I’ve always been that guy that just likes to get out there and get things done and doesn’t mind getting dirty,” he says.

Stark views his career as a plumber as much more than simply fixing a leak in someone’s home. Whether he’s working on a pipe replacement, doing a bathroom remodel, or repairing a shower for a local charity, his goal always is to help make someone’s life better.

“It’s a really great feeling to be able to help people, and give them peace of mind, and I take it very personally, getting to take care of them in their home,” he says.

Originally from Huntsville, Alabama, Stark and his wife moved to Nashville in 2012. Since then, he’s worked his way up through different plumbing companies while learning all the different aspects of the trade. In 2021, he took everything he learned and launched his own business, Stark Plumbing. Based in Bellevue, Stark Plumbing specializes in residential services from everyday household plumbing problems to fixture upgrades and bathroom remodels.

“I love getting to meet new people every day and hearing their stories,” he says. “I’ve learned a lot about customer relations over the years and think that people just want you to be nice, fair, honest and do good

work.” As his business grows, customers express their appreciation through word-of-mouth referrals.

Stark says he likes to focus on getting to the root of a plumbing issue rather than just doing a quick fix. “I like to diagnose the problem to really figure out what’s going on so you don’t have to see me again,” he says.

Starks says one of the best parts of having his own plumbing business is his ability to give back to his community. Whenever possible, he says he enjoys helping people who may be struggling financially.

“If I’m able to, it’s good to be able to help someone who really needs it, especially with plumbing because it can be expensive and I can do it efficiently,” he says. “That really means a lot to me because I want people to help others.”

Stark has also offered his services to Shower The People, a Nashville nonprofit that offers free shower and laundry services to people experiencing homelessness.

“They’ve had a few issues with the water system on the bus they use for showers that we’ve been able to help fix, which we are happy to do because they are doing good things in the community.”

Stark says he understands customers might not always be happy to see him, as plumbing issues can certainly be frustrating, but he hopes to make their day better by providing quality and honest work.

“At the end of the day, I want to treat it as if it’s my home and walk away knowing they are not going to have another problem.”

StarkPlumbingTN.com

CONTINUED >

It’s a really great feeling to be able to help people, and give them peace of mind, and I take it very personally, getting to take care of them in their home. “ ”

Because It’s Worth It

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ED ATLAS

There’s a reason why Terry Woodall emphasizes integrity and quality work

Terry Woodall admits to not being a particularly good student, at least in the classroom. At home? That’s another story. There, he learned from the best. “My mother and grandmother always were working 2-3 jobs and both owned businesses. So, I knew how to work,” he says.

After graduating from Nashville Christian School, he earned his contractor’s license and went to work doing small jobs. Working in the trades is something he was destined to do.

“You have to be highly motivated and ready to work because the trades are physically demanding,” he says. “But they’re also an incredibly rewarding and gratifying career.”

Woodall has worked exclusively as a roofer for the better part of three decades. Two years ago he rebranded his business to Worth Roofing Company to underscore the inherent worth of a contractor with a proven record of quality, service and integrity. The company has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Woodall says that’s especially important at this time of year as homeowners assess roof damage that may have been the result of seasonal storms.

“I work with insurance companies on behalf of my clients, and I advise them if they have a valid claim at the time I inspect the roof,” he says. “Filing a claim can adversely affect your premiums, even if it’s denied. My advice: Do not file until we have evaluated your roof.”

Woodall has repaired or replaced 10,000 roofs. Worth Roofing takes on jobs throughout the Nashville area with a significant presence in Bellevue, Kingston Springs, Pegram, Franklin and Brentwood. Woodall says most jobs can be completed in one or two days.

But even the busiest contractors need downtime and for Woodall, that means relaxing at home in Pegram and on a farm he owns in Kentucky, where he likes to hunt.

“I enjoy the challenge of bow-hunting deer and turkey,” he says. “Whatever I don’t use I will donate to Hunters For The Hungry which provides fresh meat to families in need. Or I’ll give it to any local person who wants it.”

When the “Golf Bug” Bites

HARPETH VALLEY GOLF CENTER IS THE MANIFESTATION OF STAN SMOOT’S CAREER GOALS

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY ED

ATLAS

Harpeth Valley Golf Center owner, Stan Smoot

“The Golf Bug doesn’t bite everyone, but when it does, it bites hard,” says Stan Smoot.

As the owner of Harpeth Valley Golf Center, Smoot should know. He was bitten at a very young age.

“My dad introduced me to the game when I was five,” he says. “He was a successful dentist, and I was a very lucky kid who got to grow up on a nice, private course at Brentwood Country Club.”

Smoot was an exceptional junior golfer and a top player at Hillsboro High School. But he was anything but an entitled youngster.

Rather than attend college, he tended to family obligations. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, other than I didn’t want to waste their money,” he says. So, after a stint in the early 1980s working on the family farm in McMinnville, he leveraged his athletic skills to pursue a career as a golf professional.

After serving a four-year apprenticeship at a local club, Smoot earned his PGA membership. Nearly four decades later, he’s still in the game.

“I worked as a club pro but realized that wasn’t my cup of tea,” he says. “I wanted to teach.”

In early 2001, Smoot got an opportunity that would prove to be a life-changing event not only for him, but for Bellevue as well.

He and a partner acquired the old Bellevue Valley Driving Range that had fallen into disrepair. Where others saw a rundown patch in a floodplain, Smoot saw a place where he could teach and grow the game he loves.

Eventually, he bought out his partner, signed a 50-year lease for the private tract, and built a 9-hole par-3 course.

“Getting to where we are has not been easy; we’ve been through the grinder,” he says. “After the 2010 flood, I questioned whether I was doing the right thing. We were down for two months. It crushed us.”

For the next decade, there was a challenging hill to climb. Progress was steady, but slow.

Then came Covid.

“We were freaking out,” he admits. “We were scared, like any other small business, that we would have to shut down.”

The course remained open and Smoot and his staff – which includes eight PGA-certified teachers - took every precaution imaginable and followed the instructions of local authorities. For 30 days, there was a lot of uncertainty. Then things began to change.

“Little by little, our business started picking up again,” says Smoot. “The uncertainty and the fear - of the disease and saving the business - was slowly subsiding.”

What happened was a golf boom, born of a public that was anxious to get out to do something. Anything. And what better to do than to enjoy some fresh air while hitting a bucket of balls and playing a few holes with your friends?

“Before we know it, our business is going crazy,” says Smoot. “By late April or May, we realized we were in a good spot. In 2020, golf reported a 40 percent increase, nationally. Ours was 100 percent. We doubled our business over 2019.”

Smoot credits Harpeth Valley Golf Center’s ongoing success to the same attributes that lured people to 7620 Old Harding Pike four years ago.

“We provide an escape by creating an environment that’s enjoyable and family-friendly,” he says. “We work hard and we’ve hired good people and trained them well. We listen to our customers and we’re open to change.”

In recent years, Smoot has added food trucks and built a deck where patrons can enjoy a meal, cold beer and live music during the milder months.

“We have to grow to keep up with the demand, but not at the expense of the good vibe and relaxing atmosphere,” he says. “Our customers tell us that every day.”

HarpethValleyGolf.com

“We provide an escape by creating an environment that’s enjoyable and family-friendly.”

Our Favorite Bourbons

The “Best Bourbon” Is Truly Up To The Individual and Occasion

ARTICLE BY ANTHONY ADAMS

We were recently asked to suggest the Best Bourbon under $150 and as I reflected on my list of favorites, providing a single answer wasn’t as straightforward as it appeared. Think of it like this. If we asked 100 people in our community what their favorite restaurant is—the answers would be varied based on the individual’s personal palate or even the moment you asked them in!

Here is our list of favorites that will have you covered at any price point and occasion.

BLANTON’S SINGLE BARREL BOURBON

Blanton’s is recognizable on sight due to the round bottle with a brass horse and jockey for a stopper. Taken from the center-cut or middle sections of the famous Warehouse H. The taste profile is sweet, with notes of citrus and oak. The creamy vanilla nose is teased with caramel and butterscotch, all underscored by familiar baking spices such as clove, nutmeg, or cinnamon.

— BlantonsBourbon.com ($100-$150)

BASIL HAYDEN’S RYE BOURBON –AGED 10 YEARS

In a sea of cask-strength offerings, Basil Hayden’s stays true to its 80 proof roots. The high rye content of its mash bill charges the nose and palate with notes of caraway and spice, while 10 years in the barrel have added leather and an attractive nuttiness. If you aren’t looking for high proof, this is a remarkable bourbon.

— BasilHaydens.com ($75-$100)

PINHOOK ‘BOURBON WAR’ VERTICAL SERIES 5 YEARS

Pinhook pulls 150 barrels from a special lot to create this straight bourbon whiskey with a lively nose of butterscotch,

cinnamon stick, licorice, and vanilla. These aromas set the stage for a robust palate of cherry, chocolate, toasted brown sugar, and chicory. With the additional 5th year of age, what was tropical fruit transitions to darker fruit flavors and what was brighter candy is now rich and caramelized; hints of smoke now start to appear for the first time.

— PinhookBourbon.com ($75-$50)

EAGLE RARE 10 YEAR

Eagle Rare 10 Year lives somewhat in the shadow of its 17-yearold elder sibling, but don’t let that shy you away. This is a sweet and mellow bourbon with definite signs of maturity and its orange peel and toffee aromas are a little shy, but the palate serves sturdy sweet and spice notes and a toasty finish.

— EagleRare.com ($30-$50)

OLD FORESTER 86 PROOF

While others in Old Forester’s impressive lineup claim the hearts of bourbon geeks (such as the 1920 Prohibition Style), this bottle stands head and shoulders above everything at this proof and price point. It oozes aromatic charm and follows with a palate that is lithe but in no way lacking flavor.

— OldForester.com ($20-$30)

MCAFEE’S BENCHMARK OLD NO. 8

Sometimes you find a $20 laying around or just need a good mixing bourbon. Benchmark Old No. 8 is made at the same distillery as Blanton’s and the ever-coveted Pappy Van Winkle! The nose bears caramel notes with a delicate stone-fruit backdrop. A robust and sturdy palate with some fine leather notes mingling with dry tobacco, a touch of oak, and a hint of dried cherries. The finish is smooth and calming.

— BuffaloTraceDistillery.com (Under $20)

realty report

JUNE 2024

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

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.

VARIOUS DATES THROUGHOUT JUNE

Nashville Sounds Baseball

FIRST HORIZON PARK, 19 JUNIOR GILLIAM WAY | 6:35 PM

The Nashville Sounds are in town for 12 dates in June. Game times are 6:35 p.m. except for Sundays which begin at 2:05 p.m. Sounds vs. Louisville Bats, June 4-9; Sounds vs. Durham Bulls, June 18-23.  Every Friday is Fox 17 Fireworks night. A complete list of promotions and ticket information are available online. www.milb.com/nashville

JUNE 6TH-9TH

CMA Fest 2024

NISSAN STADIUM, ASCEND AMPHITHEATER AND DOWNTOWN VENUES

CMA Fest, the longest-running Country Music festival in the world, hosts numerous stages filled with throwback tunes, up-and-coming acts, today’s biggest stars and much more. A portion of proceeds from CMA Fest will support the CMA Foundation and its mission to shape the next generation through high-quality music education. CMAFest.com

JUNE 21ST

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.

Call to book your tour today!

nhcplaceatthetrace.com

629-888-5526 | B @nhcplaceatthetrace 8353 Highway 100 | Nashville, TN 37221

Nashville’s Trusted Painting Contractors

“Harpeth Painting went above and beyond while renovating our new work facility. They were extremely flexible with construction delays, and their team moved quickly once they were able to get in, from set up to finishing touches. They executed our vision exactly how we imagined it.”

—Julia F. | Customer