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Whew, the long, hot month of July has finally passed. Welcome, August!
While we still have quite of bit of warm weather to go, we do have a few things for which we should be thankful. First and foremost, the constant screeching of cicadas has finally ended, resulting in much-welcomed audible relief.
Second, school is starting back, bringing either joy or sadness, depending upon whether one is a par ent, teacher or student.
Finally, August heralds the return of America’s real pastime – football. From high school games to preseason NFL matchups, the pigskins will soon be flying over gridirons all across our nation.
In addition to the traditional end of summer events, August also marks the beginning of a new year of Hendersonville Lifestyle. This month marks the start of our 9th year covering the people, places and events that make our City by the Lake such a wonderful place to call home. In recognition of our anniversary, I would like to express my gratitude to all the special folks who have made Hendersonville Lifestyle so successful – our advertisers, our readers and the best production team around.
This year, our August issue is dedicated to some of life’s greatest pleasures – our kids and pets. Every day, they make our lives fun, exciting, and always interesting. This month, we are delighted to bring you several stories about good things happening for our kids and pets in our City by the Lake.
First, we take a short trip to visit to one of Hendersonville’s premier preschools, where we introduce you to its team of teachers and caregivers, and some of the cutest kids around.
Next, we visit with one of our city’s newest businesses that is dedicated to pampering and nourishing our four-footed friends in style.
Finally, we meet up with a local coach who is committed to passing along valuable life skills to his clients through the magic of the basketball court.
As always, we bring you the latest in some of the community and business happenings that make our city such a wonderful place in which to live, work and play.
So grab our latest issue, pack a picnic lunch, load up the cooler with your favorite libations, and come along with us as we cruise through August 2024.
Stay cool, H’ville!
PUBLISHER
Lynn Bowles | lynn.bowles@citylifestyle.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Rick Murray | rick.murray@citylifestyle.com
COPY EDITOR
Debbie Murray | debbiemurray1989@gmail.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Rick Murray
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Rick Murray
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Mary Albers
LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain
LYNN BOWLES, PUBLISHER @HENDERSONVILLELIFESTYLE
Sumner Regional Medical Center and Ascension Saint Thomas have announced a new partnership to advance healthcare for all Middle Tennesseans. The new healthcare entity, Highpoint Health, brings together the organizations’ clinical expertise, best practices, and talented caregivers to collaborate in new ways that improve access to clinical programs and specialty care for patients.
We share a vision of transforming healthcare by improving health outcomes, enhancing the patient experience, and improving access and convenience.
Highpoint Health System patients have access to the same care providers and locations they know and trust, while gaining new opportunities to receive care from Ascension Saint Thomas’ network of nationally recognized service lines, clinical programs, physicians and caregivers.
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Bernie Taupin poses with Cheryl Stritchik at his Monthaven art show opening on Jun. 12. 2: The annual Old Hickory Lake Triathlon returned to Hendersonville on Jun. 16. 3: A happy athlete transitions to the run during the Jun. 16 Old Hickory Triathlon. 4: A runner slides into home during the The Music City Sports tournament on Jul. 2. 5: The Music City Sports SE National Championship tournament returned to Hendersonville on Jul. 2. 6: A fireworks show marked the end of the annual Hendersonville Freedom Festival on Jul. 3. 7: Local Eagle Scout Channing Woodall poses with his capstone project at the Hendersonville Library. Photography by Rick Murray
We are thrilled to introduce Lydia Brooks, the newest member of our team at Vita Aesthetics. Lydia’s journey to becoming an aesthetician began with her personal struggle with acne during her teenage years and young adulthood. This experience ignited her passion for skincare and a desire to help others achieve their best skin, regardless of their concerns. Lydia is dedicated to working closely with her clients to ensure they feel confident and love the skin they are in.
Welcome, Lydia!
$25 off any facial with Lydia through August 31, 2024
Highpoint Health Wound Care – Sumner with Ascension Saint Thomas has received the prestigious Center of Distinction award by Healogics®, the nation’s largest provider of advanced wound care services. For the sixth year in a row, Highpoint Health Wound Care achieved outstanding clinical outcomes for 12 months and maintained a patient satisfaction rate higher than 92%. This recognition is a testament to the exceptional care demonstrated by the center’s physicians, leaders and clinicians.
The Tennessee Small Business Development Center (TSBDC) at Volunteer State Community College recently named Emma Holland and Fabi Cordaro, owners of the Collab, as the winners of the 2023 Rising Star award. This award is given annually to a select small business who has achieved success by taking advantage of resources provided by the TSBDC. Scan
The Hendersonville Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Peters Heating & Air Conditioning at its 208 Louise Avenue location in Hendersonville on Jun. 27.
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.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY RICK MURRAY
BETTER
“I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.”
Linda Creed and Michael Masser. The Greatest Love of All
Children are our greatest gifts – they carry the heritage of every generation before them, and they bear the legacy of the future. However, as precious as they are, children are born innocent, and they require a great deal of care and nurturing to help prepare them for life.
No one understands this responsibility more than Audra Curry, the president of the Learning Academy in Hendersonville. The Learning Academy is a state-licensed childcare and education facility that serves infants, toddlers, preschoolers and pre-kindergartners. From Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m., Audra and her team of compassionate caregivers work hard to prepare local children for the challenges of kindergarten and beyond.
“Preparing our children for the future is a privilege that we take seriously each day,” says Audra. “The responsibility is great, but so are the rewards, such as watching a child’s face light up when he or she accomplishes something for the first time, and seeing the look of relief on a parent’s face when they find us and see us as their child’s home away from home.”
Audra’s journey into childcare and early childhood education began over thirty years ago when she was studying business education at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. To help pay her college expenses, Audra began working at a nearby childcare center where she helped take care of infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
“Working at the childcare center changed my life by allowing me to experience the wonderful feeling of being able to make a difference in the lives of children and their families,” says Audra. “After I graduated from college, I left childcare for a while to pursue a different career. However, before long, I realized how much I missed caring for and teaching children, and I soon returned to childcare for good.”
For the next twenty years, Audra worked for a rapidly growing preschool company in Murfreesboro where she held numerous roles, ranging from assistant director to director. She eventually became part of the management team that was responsible for opening new locations across Middle Tennessee, including Smyrna, Laverne and eventually, Hendersonville.
During 2013, the company decided to make some strategic business changes, including selling its Hendersonville location. Upon hearing about the planned sale, Audra saw an opportunity to make the jump from director to business owner.
“I was excited by both the prospect of owning my own business and being able to make an impact in children’s lives in a community like Hendersonville,” says Audra. “After talking through the details with my husband, Curt, we both agreed that the time was right, so we purchased the Hendersonville center and opened The Learning Academy on Sept. 3, 2013.”
Since that time, The Learning Academy has helped ease the journey from diapers to kindergarten for youngsters all across Hendersonville. The center has also eased the minds of working parents by providing a safe, nurturing facility for their children.
“At The Learning Academy, we strive to have a ‘family feel’ to our environment,” says Audra. “Our amazing team members truly care about our children, and they work hard to form and maintain strong, loving relationships with them and their families.”
The center has also thrived due in part to its emphasis on developing the ‘whole’ child.
“Our approach to preschool learning and kindergarten readiness involves helping children master critical skills in the four major developmental domains – physical, cognitive, language and social-emotional,” says Audra. “We use the top-ranked Creative Curriculum system to engage children’s interests in different learning areas, and we supplement it with age-appropriate handwriting and reading programs.”
While The Learning Academy stresses learning on a year-round basis, it also incorporates healthy doses of fun, particularly during summertime. From May to September, the children enjoy a variety of fun activities, including in-house field trips and visits from special guests.
Each year, as children approach kindergarten age, Audra and her team employ special strategies to help them prepare for change.
“Transitioning to kindergarten can be very stressful,” says Audra. “We incorporate special classroom instruction and ‘cafeteria practice’ to simulate the feel of kindergarten so that children can develop independence and self-help skills. We also share resources with their families to help them ease any transitional anxiety.”
Ultimately, Audra attributes much of her success to the partnership between her staff and the families they serve.
“We are proud to be an extended part of a child’s family and village,” says Audra. “Together, we help shape all of our futures.”
The Learning Academy, Inc.
101 Business Court, Hendersonville, TN 37075
615.909.2026
PreSchoolHendersonvilleTN.com
“AT THE LEARNING ACADEMY, WE STRIVE TO HAVE A ‘FAMILY FEEL’ TO OUR ENVIRONMENT."
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Melinda Calvert Founder & Principal
Everyone knows that life can be stressful. From demanding jobs to traffic snarls to overbooked calendars, the daily grind can take its toll. Fortunately, there are things that can be done to help tame the pressure cooker that is everyday life.
Relaxation methods span a wide gamut, from blowing off steam in daily workouts to stealing away to the soothing calm of a quiet reading nook. However, for many people, only one thing helps them to recharge their inner batteries – spending time luxuriating in their favorite day spa.
Like their human caretakers, pets also endure the rigors of daily stress. As such, they too deserve some time to “get away from it all.”
Fortunately, Hendersonville now has the perfect place to take pets for a day of treats and pampering – Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming.
Located by the plaza in the Streets of Indian Lake, Woof Gang is a one-stop “pup-topia” for dogs of all sizes and breeds. Standard spa services include full grooms, mini grooms and luxury baths. Additional services include nail trims, teeth brushing, dematting, ear cleaning, nail painting and flea/tick medicated shampoo treatments. Woof Gang is also well known for its wide range of pet supplies, including a line of all-natural foods and treats.
Locally, Woof Gang is owned and operated by Joelle Millar, who was inspired to start her business after encountering long waits to get her 3-year-old Sheepadoodle Kash groomed.
"Our company focuses on quality, not quantity, and the well-being of pets always comes first."
“My husband and I recently retired from 20 years in the restaurant industry, and we were looking to invest in another business that was a bit less demanding,” says Joelle. “At the same time, we were having difficulty obtaining timely grooming appointments for Kash. We soon realized that the shortage of groomers presented a great business opportunity for us. After all, we live in ‘doodle nation,’ so the demand for pet services is only going to increase.”
After her epiphany, Joelle began researching pet care and grooming franchises to determine the right fit for her. She soon selected Woof Gang Bakery, which is the top ranked grooming business in the country.
“Woof Gang is a neighborhood pet store built upon a foundation of pet nutrition and innovative spa-quality grooming services,” says Joelle. “The company focuses on quality, not quantity, and the well-being of pets always comes first. Ultimately, Woof Gang checked all the boxes for us, and we decided to move forward.”
Joelle became a Woof Gang franchisee in March 2023, and soon opened her first store in Brentwood. Subsequently, she opened her second store in Hendersonville in July 2024.
“When we were scouting for Hendersonville locations, we were immediately drawn to the Streets of Indian Lake.
The area has a warm community feel that is built around upscale shopping options surrounding an open center green space,” says Joelle. “In addition, the Streets has a lot of appointment-based businesses and plenty of dining options that give pet parents something to do after they drop off their fur babies with us.”
Currently, Woof Gang’s grooming services are only available for dogs. However, Joelle hopes to expand the services to include cats in the near future.
“Our groomers are trained to handle all types of dogs, and they are each capable of handling between five and nine pups per day, depending upon the breed, coat condition and pet size,” says Joelle. “We are seeking a cat groomer so that we will soon be able to offer spa services to our feline friends.”
Now that her Hendersonville store is open, Joelle invites all area pet lovers to bring in their fur babies to experience the luxury of Woof Gang. The boutique is open seven days per week, and its store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., and on Sunday from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming
300 Indian Lake Blvd., Suite A140, Hendersonville, TN 37075 615.800.8961 WoofGangBakery.com
Whether you’re visiting one of our growing number of locations, or using our First Anywhere app from your home, work or even on vacation, when it comes to banking anywhere, we put you first.
The end of the year is quickly approaching. Are you leveraging the
or
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY
BY RICK MURRAY
“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Michael Jordan
At first glance, this famous quote by former NBA legend Michael Jordan appears to be just another sports adage. However, a careful analysis of the words reveals a much deeper meaning. Although he framed his message in terms of the game of basketball, Michael was actually talking something much more important – the game of life.
Local basketball coach and trainer Anthony Holder understands and embraces Michael’s sentiments. As the owner of The
Basketball Laboratory, LLC, Anthony spends his days working with young people to help them develop their fundamental basketball skills. However, along with sharing his hoops wisdom, Anthony also takes the time to impart important lessons about winning, losing and life.
Recently, Hendersonville Lifestyle spent some time with Anthony to learn more about how he helps develop the players of today into the leaders of tomorrow.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?
“I played basketball for four years at Gallatin High School, followed up by two more years at Motlow State Community College. Since then, I have been coaching for over eight years and personal training for seven years.”
WHY DID YOU START YOUR BUSINESS?
“Becoming a coach was the fulfillment of a dream for me. I love the game of basketball, and I love teaching youth and helping them develop their skills. Opening The Basketball Laboratory provided me with the ability to reach more kids.”
WHAT IS YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE?
“I coach boys and girls of all skill levels, from those just learning the basics to kids who want to play basketball in college or beyond.”
WHAT SKILLS DO YOU TEACH?
“I teach fundamental basketball skills, focusing on such things as agility, balance, foot
work, quickness and jumping. I also emphasize the importance of strength and endurance.”
HOW ARE YOUR SESSIONS STRUCTURED?
“I offer both individual and group training. Individual training begins at $55 per hour, with lower hourly pricing available by purchasing a multi-session package. Group training is $25 per player per hour, and it is limited to five players per session.”
HOW CAN PARENTS HELP WITH THE TRAINING?
“Parents can help in different ways, including providing encouragement for player development, and holding their kids accountable for homework outside of training sessions. Working together, we succeed together.”
WHAT MAKES YOUR APPROACH DIFFERENT FROM OTHER COACHING PROGRAMS?
“While I stress the fundamentals, I also help my players develop confidence – both on and off the court. I can’t promise that kids will get scholarships to play basketball in college, but I do promise that every one of them will become better players. They will pick up a lot of good life lessons, and they will learn to always keep pushing forward to achieve their goals.”
The Basketball Laboratory, LLC 1044 Avondale Road, Hendersonville, TN 37075 629.279.0498
CoachHolder@gmail.com
"I HELP MY PLAYERS DEVELOP CONFIDENCE – BOTH ON AND OFF THE COURT. THEY WILL PICK UP A LOT OF GOOD LIFE LESSONS, AND THEY WILL LEARN TO ALWAYS KEEP PUSHING FORWARD TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.”
ARTICLE BY NICOLETTE MARTIN
We’re saying goodbye to plastic wrap, Ziploc bags and aluminum foil, and hello to reusable wax food wraps you can wrap around anything your hungry (or full) heart desires.
• Beeswax beads
• Fabric
• Pinking shears
• Parchment paper
• Baking sheet
01. PREHEAT your oven to its lowest setting.
02. CUT FABRIC into desired shapes. Using pinking shears so the fabric doesn’t fray, you can cut your fabric into any shape or size you’d like. Consider what size or shape of food you store the most and use that as a guide.
03. PREP + MELT. Cover your baking sheet with parchment paper and place the cut fabric on top. Sprinkle with beeswax beads and place in the oven to allow beeswax to melt for 5-10 minutes.
04. KEEP IT COOL. Remove fabric from baking sheet (careful, it’s hot!) and allow wax to harden and cool.
FOR REUSE, wash in cool water (you don’t want the wax to melt!) with mild dish soap and let air dry.
Tutorial adapted from ApartmentTherapy.com.
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KIDS AND POPSICLES ARE THE PERFECT SUMMERTIME PAIR
As temperatures rise, children race to the freezer for this frosty treat or wait anxiously for the approach of the musical ice cream truck. Making homemade popsicles is a fun, kid-friendly activity.
ingredients:
Makes 18 to 24
• 2 quarts Concord grape juice
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 12 whole cloves
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 3 tablespoons whole allspice
directions:
Put all of the ingredients into a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to barely a simmer and let it cook for 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and pour the juice through a cheesecloth-lined strainer into a bowl or pitcher to remove the spices. Allow the juice to cool to room temperature, and then refrigerate until well chilled. Pour mixture into popsicle molds. Freeze until firm.
