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This month's issue is all about joy, resilience and the special bond we share with our kids and pets—the ones who fill our days with wonder, laughter and love.
Stories have the power to uplift and connect us, and this edition is no exception. In this issue, you'll meet River, a remarkable dog who proves that vision isn't required to see the beauty in life. River faced a severe infection in both eyes early in life, ultimately leaving him blind. His journey from uncertainty to unconditional love inspires everyone he meets. He reminds us that sometimes, it's not what we lack—but how we rise—that defines us.
We're also taking you to a local Highland cattle farm where joy roams freely. These gentle giants with their shaggy coats and soulful eyes aren't just adorable— they're therapeutic. Whether you're visiting for a family outing or a bit of country calm, it's an experience that brings out the best in everyone.
And let's not forget our next generation of leaders and learners. Sumner Academy continues to shine as a beacon of academic excellence and community spirit. Their commitment to nurturing curious minds and kind hearts shapes a future we can all be proud of.
Gallatin is a place where kids are raised with strong values, pets are considered family and kindness is passed from neighbor to neighbor like a well-loved leash. So, whether you're chasing toddlers or playing fetch with your pup, we hope this issue brings you a sense of warmth and inspiration, and reminds you of the magic that lives right here in Gallatin!
NICOLE BELL, PUBLISHER
PUBLISHER
Nicole Bell | nicole.bell@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Scott Bell | scott.bell@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Renee Donnell | renee.donnell@citylifestyle.com
PHOTO EDITOR
Stacey Norman | stacey@plumpoppyphotography.com
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Estee McIllwain
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Nicole Bell, Scott Bell, Angela Broockerd, Renee Donnell
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Sumner Academy, Abbye Chizever, Janie Jones, Addie Lee Photography
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Jenna Crawford
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
Certified in Non Surgical Decompression yearly
Treating with #1 Rated True Decompression Table
Using the only FDA Cleared Equipment
Treatment using the Harvard Protocols
Unmatched experience in our area
Vice President of International Disc Education Association
Contributing Author to Spinal Decompression Textbook
Recognized as Top 10 Decompression Doctor in America
Pinched
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Sean Patton inspires at B3 Summit Series, sharing leadership insight 2: Goddard School students welcomed Gallatin Police officers for a fun, engaging visit about community safety 3: The Voice finalist Thunderstorm Artis kicks off Third Thursday on Main with soulful summer sounds 4: Small Town Pop Co.’s balloon mural made Bee Day at Gallatin Farmers Market extra special 5: Honey + Suede celebrates their grand opening with style, community love and beautiful boutique vibes 6: Leadership Gallatin wraps up an inspiring year of growth, service and community connection 7: Dax Shepard is ready to roll in style with Botero Carts
Want to be seen in the magazine?
We’re excited to welcome ROOFMAN as a new Gallatin Lifestyle partner! Locally owned and operated by Matt Campbell, ROOFMAN provides top-tier roofing and restoration services throughout Middle Tennessee. From inspections and repairs to full roof replacements, their experienced team delivers quality craftsmanship with honesty and care. Whether it’s storm damage or routine upgrades, ROOFMAN is a trusted name for protecting what matters most—your home.
Botero Carts recently celebrated its grand opening with a celebratory ribbon cutting, officially joining Gallatin’s thriving business community! This family-owned company brings a sleek, high-performance edge to the golf cart market, offering some of the best custom models around. Visit Botero’s stylish new warehouse or shop online to find the perfect cart and get ready to cruise in comfort and flair.
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VITA Aesthetics is celebrating five fabulous years of glowing skin, boosted confidence and next-level self-care. Since day one, their expert team has helped our community shine—inside and out—with customized treatments and heartfelt care. Cheers to a milestone that reflects their passion, growth and the radiant beauty they bring to Gallatin every day!
“We have worked with David Wilkinson Construction on our screen porches for a very long time now. We install these to separate our homes from other builders. We believe that this helps sell the homes faster and adds more value for the homeowner. The quality of the work is as good as it gets, as well as any follow up you may ever need. We consider David Wilkinson Construction a trusted partner of ours to help build and deliver the product we expect to our customers.”
-Wesley
G., Local Home Builder
The Blind Pit Bull Who Sees With His Heart
ARTICLE BY RENEE DONNELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABBYE CHIZEVER
River is not your average Pit Bull—his journey of resilience and triumph is truly remarkable. River was scheduled to be put down at a Dallas animal shelter due to a severe infection in both eyes that left him blind and in immense pain—his
eye pressure was more than double what it should have been. With the high cost of treatment and the need for surgery to remove both eyes, the shelter couldn’t keep up, and River wasn’t a top adoption candidate.
But his story didn’t end there—this was just the beginning for him. An anonymous volunteer shared his photo, and a rescue in Tennessee saved him just in time from critical status at the shelter. With the help of a kind man who drove him from Texas to Tennessee, River’s journey took a new direction. While staying with his foster mom, Bethany Van Meter stumbled across a photo of River, and the rest was history. “My husband and I have rescued animals for over twenty years. We were aware he would be unique, but we felt positive that we could help him,” she remembers.
River settled into his new forever home with ease—remarkably, he navigated with surprising confidence and mastery of his surroundings despite being blind. “The only tangible thing we did for him at first was walk him on a leash inside our fenced-in backyard and inside our house so he could feel and memorize his way around,” says Bethany. “He memorizes locations very quickly. He also uses his other senses, which are extremely heightened, to navigate his world.”
It’s clear that River is a part of the family, from stealing food and doing tricks to memorizing his parents’ routine. Bethany explains, “We always say our bedtime prayers upstairs. One evening, we started saying them downstairs, and River began walking upstairs because he knew that’s where we always say them.”
Not only is River a beam of light and resilience to his family, but he also touches the lives of all who encounter him. “People of all ages are forever changed after meeting him. They’re completely mesmerized by his adaptability, sheer will to overcome, forgiveness, intelligence and perseverance. He brings joy because he is joy.” In addition to blessing those who meet him, River also leaves a lasting impression on those who read about him.
His dog-mother, Bethany, has written several children’s books inspired by River and his love. The first of the collection, “I See With My Heart,” reflects River’s ability to love fiercely and freely despite his inability to see. “River doesn’t need eyes to see the beautiful hearts in others,” says Bethany. “Just one disability is no match for all of the abilities he does have.”
“During readings,” Bethany remarked, “I let the kids ask no less than a thousand questions, as I know that’s how they learn optimally. At the end, though, I ask them questions about what they could learn from River, and my husband and I often shed a tear or two because of their responses. I hope children of all ages learn to overcome, persevere, dream big and love even bigger.”
A lot of people believe that a blind animal would have no purpose or enjoy a fulfilling life, but River’s
joy and encouragement to others prove that belief to be incorrect. Bethany happily explains, “River has very few flaws. Truly! I would recommend to anyone considering adopting a special needs animal like River to do it! They are honestly the most grateful creatures to walk this earth. It’s sacrificial and hard work, but it’s so worth it.”
River’s journey, from having infections in both eyes and having them removed to preparing to be put down yet being saved and given a second chance at life, is a beautiful and heartwarming story that is an encouragement to us all. “River wouldn’t be here today if there weren’t certain people who stopped to be boldly kind to him. That’s my favorite lesson he teaches—to be boldly kind.”
River Van Meter | rivervanmeter.com
Book your fall escape today—paradise (and a latte) awaits!
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ARTICLE BY ANGELA BROOCKERD
BY JANIE JONES
PHOTOGRAPHY
There’s something truly special about inviting your child into the kitchen—not just for the cookies or cupcakes, but for the confidence, creativity, and connection that come with it. Cooking with your children isn’t just a fun way to pass the time; it’s an opportunity to build lifelong skills and memories that stick.
Sure, teaching a young child how to crack an egg or measure flour can test your patience—but hang in there. With a little trial and a fair amount of error, they’ll start to develop the fine motor skills that allow them to prep a recipe all on their own one day. The best part? They’ll gain confidence along the way, one scoop, stir, and sprinkle at a time.
Cooking together also taps into something a little magical—memory. The smell of cookies baking or chili simmering on the stove can instantly transport us back to childhood. That’s not just nostalgia talking—science backs it up. Our sense of smell is closely tied to autobiographical memory, especially memories formed early in life. So those sweet, savory scents? They’re more powerful than you might think.
The key is to start simple. Let your toddler play with mixing bowls, spoons, and measuring cups. These little moments of pretend play actually help build the fine motor skills needed for real kitchen tasks. Begin with small jobs—scooping flour, flattening cookie dough with a rolling pin—and gradually add more steps as your child becomes more confident.
It won’t be perfect. The flour might fly, the sugar might spill, and the measurements might be slightly off—and that’s okay. Embrace the mess, stay patient, and focus on the fun. A dash of encouragement and a sprinkle of praise go a long way in keeping your little chef engaged and excited.
Over time, you’ll see the magic unfold: a child who’s not only learning how to cook but also growing more independent, capable, and proud of what they’ve created. And who knows? Maybe one day, they’ll pass those same recipes—and memories—on to their own kids.
• 1 cup and 2 tablespoons white flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup oatmeal
• 4 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 tablespoons buttermilk
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• Optional: add 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg or cinnamon
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Put the oatmeal in a blender or food processor and pulse for about a minute, until it’s reduced to a rough powder. Add the ground oatmeal to the whole wheat and 1/2 cup of the white flour, baking soda and salt to the bowl of an electric mixer affixed with a paddle attachment, and turn on to mix. Add butter and blend on medium speed until the butter has been incorporated and the mix looks a little like wet sand. Add the buttermilk, vanilla, honey and almond extract and blend. If the dough looks too wet to roll, add the remaining flour 1/4 cup at a time until the dough forms a ball and pulls away from the sides of the blender.
3. Turn the dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap and flatten into a disc. Cover completely and chill in the fridge for at least one hour, up to overnight.
4. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and place dough on a lightly floured surface (using the remaining 2 tablespoons of flour). Roll out until 1/8 inch thick. Cut out with desired cookie cutters and bake for five to seven minutes, based on your preference. Five minutes will get you a softer cracker, while seven will get you a crisp cracker.
Enjoy!
ARTICLE
BY
RENEE DONNELL
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SUMNER ACADEMY
Sumner Academy: Where Learning
Nestled in the heart of Gallatin, Sumner Academy has established itself as a cornerstone of academic excellence and character development for students from Pre-K through 8th grade. With a strong commitment to nurturing both intellectual growth and personal integrity, the school offers a well-rounded, rigorous curriculum in a supportive, close-knit environment. Sumner Academy blends traditional values with innovative teaching, creating a foundation that empowers young learners to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
A wide variety of attributes make Sumner Academy stand out above others, from intentional and personalized education and learning techniques to their
valuable “hidden curriculum”—lessons on being a good friend, listener and responsible community member. Sumner Academy promotes safety, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. They foster an environment where children are willing to make mistakes, take risks and even fail, yet do so in a place where they are able to learn from their errors and gain support and encouragement from educators who care.
When it comes to Sumner Academy’s staff, there is a defined process for hiring teachers. A demonstrated love for being around children is a top priority—seeking educators who draw inspiration from their students. The school thrives by promoting an environment where all are willing to learn and grow, even the staff. They continually assess themselves as an institution, harboring a growth mindset. Modeling responsibility and innovation is not always an easy task, but Sumner Academy’s educators and administrators aim to hold themselves to the same standard as their students.
Personalized learning goes a long way at Sumner Academy. They intentionally remain a smaller school, with twenty-six students as the maximum per classroom. In their lower school, there are two teachers in each classroom, allowing individual students to be known as people and
also learners, since strengths and challenges are readily apparent in a small setting. This makes it possible for the teachers to adjust classwork, homework and expectations from their students based on their individual needs. Each student will learn the same thing as everyone else, but the personalized teaching approach allows the depth and speed at which they learn to vary. Having two teachers in a classroom also allows one-on-one education when necessary.
In their middle school, small class sizes and intentional teaching schedules ensure teachers connect with every student each class period. middle school lessons are interactive, not stationary with a teacher standing in front of the class talking the whole time. By incorporating movement and various stations, students are offered self-paced learning. Time is also set aside each day for tutorials—providing the chance for
students to obtain one-on-one insight and education from teachers, ask questions about assignments and ultimately continue on with their day fully equipped and prepared for the tasks ahead of them.
With such an intentional and individualized program, Sumner Academy is able to emphasize a strong academic curriculum that is often above grade level, challenging students while also maintaining a manageable workload. Small class sizes enable teachers to maintain high standards for their students while also offering individual attention. Character building programs are an integral part of the school; being able to teach important values, such as respect, responsibility and empathy, is a top priority. Positive reinforcement, restorative practices and clearly defined behavioral expectations foster emotional maturity and resilience. Clear rules, consistency and daily routines provide security and stability for each student to thrive.
In addition to their extraordinary faculty, Sumner Academy partners with others in the community who pursue excellence, such as the parents of their students. Frequent communication and collaboration with families ensure that students are supported from all sides. From consistent conferences and open grade books to progress reports and direct communication with teachers, parents are provided ample opportunities to walk alongside their children and partner with the school to achieve the best possible education for their children.
For over 50 years, Sumner Academy has been an important part of our community, working continually to serve and give back. From students
donating time and materials to local veterans organizations and the United Way to helping local families in need during the holidays, community support and serving are just one more quality that makes Sumner Academy shine in Gallatin. They are passionate about continuing to seek out ways to partner with the community and further their involvement in developing opportunities that stretch even further than the school walls.
Sumner Academy fosters academic excellence, character growth and strong relationships through personalized, purpose-driven education. With dedicated faculty, engaged families and deep community roots, the school creates a nurturing environment where every child is seen, supported and challenged. It’s education shaped by values, partnership and a true commitment to student success, both in and beyond the classroom.
Sumner Academy 464 Nichols Ln, Gallatin sumneracademy.org
WHERE HERITAGE CATTLE, HEARTFELT MOMENTS AND HAPPY MEMORIES COME TOGETHER
ARTICLE
BY NICOLE
BELL
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADDIE LEE PHOTOGRAPHY
What began as a dream to fill the quiet space of an empty nest quickly blossomed into a joyful purpose—one that now brings smiles, connection and curiosity to hundreds of visitors each year. Tucked into the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee, Mill Creek Farms is home to a charming herd of Scottish Highland cattle— shaggy, horned and full of personality.
Bridgett, the owner and founder of Mill Creek Farms, was inspired by a lifelong love of animals and a desire to raise cattle with a purpose beyond beef—making Highland cattle the perfect match. “They’re an incredibly easy breed to fall in love with,” she says. Starting with two initially, the adventure quickly grew into a full herd and, soon after, an unexpected new adventure: farm tours.
Guests of Mill Creek Farms are greeted like old friends. After learning what brought each visitor to the farm, the tour begins, typically with some of the haltered calves, who love attention (and treats). Visitors brush, feed and snap selfies with the calves while learning about the breed’s care, history and heritage. The tour continues with cuddly babies and the main herd, each cow bringing their own quirks and charm to the experience. The visit ends at the on-site gift shop, often with wide smiles and full hearts.
But why Highland cattle, and what makes them so lovable? Beyond their striking looks, they’re gentle, sociable and surprisingly picky. Lola, for example, prefers name-brand Fig Newtons. “Most guests can’t stop smiling. Some even shed tears,” says the owner. “What I’m really farming is joy.”
Tours are appointment-only to ensure the herd’s comfort comes first. “We don’t force interaction—if a cow’s not in the mood, we respect that.” That commitment to animal well-being makes the experience even more meaningful.
Mill Creek Farms also hosts seasonal events like Mother’s Day with the Cows, Christmas Eve visits and art sessions with its resident photographer. Over time, many guests return, volunteer or even begin Highland herds of their own.
Farming is truly a labor of love with purpose and heart behind everything we do.
More than just a petting farm, Mill Creek offers an immersive, heartwarming glimpse into the life of these cattle, sustainable farming and the beauty of slowing down to enjoy God’s creations. “We hope guests leave with more than just photos—our goal is to share the joy, dedication and love that goes into this life.”
Mill Creek Farms millcreekfarms-tn.com
AUGUST 9TH
20th Annual HEAT Kids Triathlon
Sumner County Family YMCA, 102 Bluegrass Commons Blvd, Hendersonville | 7:00 AM
Celebrate the 20th Annual HEAT Kids Triathlon on Saturday, August 9th at 7:00 AM! Juniors (ages 6–10) and Seniors (ages 11–15) will swim, bike and run in age-specific race divisions. It’s a fun, active way for kids to challenge themselves and enjoy the thrill of a triathlon competition in a supportive, community-centered environment.
AUGUST 12TH
Downtown Gallatin Square | 5:30 PM
Get ready for a spirited showdown as Gallatin High, Station Camp and Liberty Creek face off in the first-ever Gallatin Pep Rally on Tuesday, August 12th in downtown Gallatin. This high-energy community event will feature school showcases, DJ entertainment, relay games and more all culminating in the battle for the coveted Gallatin Spirit Trophy. Let the friendly competition and school pride begin!
AUGUST 16TH
The Middle Tennessee Food Truck Festival
Veterans Park, 140 Scotch St, Hendersonville | 4:00 PM
Mark your calendars for the Middle Tennessee Food Truck Festival on Saturday, August 16, at Veterans Park in Hendersonville! Enjoy 20+ food trucks, live entertainment and family fun from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Admission is free, and a canned food donation will benefit Feed Sumner, which supports families in need across Sumner County. Come hungry and give back!
AUGUST 23RD
Water Lantern Festival
The Parthenon at Centennial Park | 4:30 PM
The Water Lantern Festival offers a magical, emotional evening of reflection and connection. Write hopes, dreams or messages to loved ones, then release your lantern onto the water. Watch thousands of glowing lights drift and dance—an awe-inspiring reminder of love, memory and community coming together in the most beautiful way.
AUGUST 23RD
Music Under the Stars
White House Municipal Park, 420 TN-76, White House | 6:00 PM
Get ready for an unforgettable evening as Conspiracy Theory takes the stage for their first performance in White House at the Music Under the Stars Summer Concert Series! Enjoy live music, food from A&J's Pick Me Up Truck and a family-friendly atmosphere! Bring your chairs, blankets and friends!
AUGUST 23RD
Portland Farm to Table Dinner
Main St, Portland | 7:00 PM
Join us in Portland for the 8th Annual Farm to Table Dinner. Enjoy locally sourced cuisine served beneath twinkling lights in a charming outdoor setting. Tickets are $100. Check-in and appetizers begin at 7:00 PM, with dinner served at 7:30 PM. Savor the flavors and celebrate community and connection!