M AG A ZIN E
january/february 2015 | vol 2 | #1
The Collierville Arts Council presents
hAirSprAY
(page 10)
Join Main Street Collierville for
SUnSet on the SQUAre Summer Concert Series (page 16)
The Town of Collierville’s 30th Annual
inDepenDenCe DAY CeLebrAtion
with Pyro Pros, David & Tammy Townsend (page 24)
pLUS!
New & Expanding Businesses (page 36) West Tennessee Promise Gala (page 42) Hope House Ladies Night Out (page 48) Fair on the Square (page 50) Morton Museum Lunch n Learn (page 52) Collierville Schools Light it Up Blue (page 54) Collierville Farmers’ Market (page 56) Two Day Suitcase: Water Valley, MS (page 58) and so much more!
BYHALIA ROAD
Chestnut Hill
Bailey Station Elementary
Our newest community in the rapidly growing South Collierville area.
hoMeS FroM $399,999 | 15 eXCLUSiVe hoMe SiteS •
eXCLUSiVe FiniSheS
POPLAR AVENUE HOUSTON LEVEE ROAD
CUStoM eXteriorS
Collierville Elementary
Baptist Memorial Hospital - Collierville
W
IN
15 EXCLUSIVE HOMESITES | FURNISHED MODEL COMING SOON | HOMES FROM $400,000 new FLoor pLAnS • CheF’S DreAM KitChen
Schilling Middle
Chestnut Hill
Our newest community in the rapidly growing South Collierville area. Chestnut Hill 15 EXCLUSIVE HOMESITES | FURNISHED MODEL COMING SOON
| HOMES FROM $400,000 Visit Our Model Under Construction with a Scheduled Completion: July 2015
New High School Location 4415 Chestnut Hill Drive Collierville TN 38017
Sycamore Elementary
Collierville High
Bailey Station Elementary
Shea Rd
Frank Rd
Come out and visit our newest development in South Collierville. Large family size homesites, custom exteriors, exclusive finishes and designer interiors. Convenient to HWY. 385, fine dining, shopping and award-winning schools.
Baptist Memorial Hospital - Collierville
57
Bray Station Rd
www.yourmagnoliahome.com | 901.309.0710
Carriage Crossing
FLEMING ROAD
SHELBY DRIVE
Collierville Middle
Poplar Ave
Peterson Lake Rd
AD 4415 Chestnut Hill Drive E RO VILL Collierville TN 38017 COLLIER
72 385
Levee Rd
Visit Our Model Under Construction with a Scheduled Completion: July 2015
BYHALIA ROAD
3 CAr GArAGeS • 3,000-4,500 SQUAre Feet
CHESTER ROA D
Collierville Elementary
57
2
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
3
contents
9
10 12 16
24
30
Cast members Wilson Good, Emily Collins, Alan Toney, & McKenzie Wilkes from the Collierville Arts Council production of “Hairspray” enjoy a Sunset on the Square concert after doing a promotional performance.
MA G A Z I N E
ON THE COVER
Featured Events Events Calendars Main Street Collierville’s Sunset on the Square Summer Concert Series 30th Annual Independence Day Celebration Behind the Pyro: David & Tammy Townsend Learn Playfully! One Town | One School
july/august 2015 | vol 2 | #4
32 34
GO! GET UP & DANCE!
party
JOIN THE
Sign up to receive a
FREE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION
each time we publish an issue. Look for the email signup at 4 TourCollierville.com July/August 2015 www.tourcollierville.com.
16
35 36 37
GO! SEE HOW YOUR TOWN IS GROWING!
38
Collierville Map Moving Dirt, Economic Development Better Together
41
GO! ENJOY A GREAT PARTY!
42
46
West Tennessee Promise Gala (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) Night at the Museum (Morton Museum)
48 50 52 54 56 58
64
Ladies Night Out (Hope House) Fair on the Square (Twentieth Century Club) Lunch n’ Learn (Morton Museum) Light it up Blue! (Collierville Schools) Farmers Market Two Day Suitcase: Water Valley, Mississippi
PONTIFICATIONS
le
Ta
aD
TourC
rive
vil r e i l ol
ke Your Hive
for
PUBLISHER
Amber Lombardo
INTERACTIVE & GRAPHIC DESIGN Meg Skirius
24
GRAPHIC DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY Katie Burriss
ASSISTANT
Ryan Watson
CONTRIBUTORS
Kevin Baltier, John Duncan, Dr. Russell Dyer, Dr. Laura L. Freeman, and Cathy Jo Mattson To subscribe to one year (6 issues) of TourCollierville Magazine, send payment of $35 to: Webz Advertising 185 N Main St | Collierville, TN 38017 or visit www.tourcollierville.com to pay online.
34
48
ADS@TOURCOLLIERVILLE.COM
58
To inquire about advertising
42
ART@TOURCOLLIERVILLE.COM
For questions regarding ad art submission. PHOTOS@TOURCOLLIERVILLE.COM
To request a photographer at your event or purchase a photo from our archives. TourCollierville Magazine is published 6 times annually and is available at select locations throughout Collierville. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without express written consent of the publisher. Š 2015 Webz Advertising 185 N Main St., Ste. 105 Collierville, TN 38017 OFFICE 901 451 WEBZ ONLINE webuzz.biz FACEBOOK webzmedia July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
5
Main Street Collierville’s Sunset on the Square Summer Concert Series is in full swing now. Each summer, June through July on Thursday nights, our community gathers to enjoy music, foodtruck food and produce from a gentle farmer you can almost always catch on the square when you’re looking for a fresh tomato. Summers here revolve around Thursday nights.
Margin
Letter from the Publisher
The night we were shooting at the concert series, the Collierville Arts Council had arranged for a sample of the cast from Hairspray to entertain us with a couple of numbers. If you’re not on their email list, you need to be. I work the ticket office and, on occasion get to pretend I’m house manager. Invariably I hear the awe and surprise at just how amazing these shows are. The quality of music, the harmonies, the costumes, the theatrical talent and special effects, the scenery. It all astounds me. A Christmas Story is coming up in December. Plan now to get there. It’s an audience favorite. Come July third the crowd gathers at Cox Park for the town’s 30th Annual Independence Day Celebration. Thousands and thousands of folks bring lawn chairs for the opening concert. This year the threat of rain had organizers in a bit of a dither about cancellation but, after a gully-washer in the morning, the weather pattern slipped north and south of us - leaving us to enjoy our pronto-pups. With muddy sneakers, David Townsend and his crew of pyro pros greeted us - beat up from a day of uncertainty and a truncated prep time. Big smiles, however, since their phone apps showed we were out of weather’s way. These events - the concert series, the Independence Day Celebration, the community theater productions - they all wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for volunteers. We throw around that term without really digging into what
6
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
it means. “If you want something done, give it to a busy person,” Nancy Bassett once said to me. (Truer words, Nancy, truer words.) And the cumulative effect over a long period of these efforts is what makes Collierville truly great and truly special. As residents we have a sort of amnesia to the path from where we’ve come. Our town is just beautiful and engaging and we just think it’s always been that way. Well, in many ways it was but in countless other ways, it is because of the devotion of a litany of people - volunteer and civil servant - who brought us here. I recently traveled to Water Valley, Mississippi on assignment for our agency work. I started with a three hour appointment (thinking that was pretty substantial!). I stayed three days. Mostly the magnetism was because it reminded me about a community that is actively going through its revival. It is pulsating with devoted citizens who invest both sweat and equity to make it something more. To me, it is Collierville 30 years ago. One of the clients who sent me to Water Valley offered me a position recently. As of July 1st I am the Director of Programs for the Mississippi Heritage Trust and I’m excited about it. I grew up in Mississippi living these stories and now I get to help them restore the buildings that tell them. My home state needs me so I hope you can understand my choice to help. My amazing staff has stepped up under the leadership of Meg Skirius and seem to have been waiting for the opportunity to have me around a little less. If I’ve done anything right, it was hiring people smarter than me. Meanwhile, I live and work here and continue to chronicle life here. If you have a story idea, let me hear from you (amber@webuzz.biz). Be calm and buzz on.
COMING UP
Sept/Oct 2015
Wellness, Body & Beauty Halloween Guide Fall Festivals Culinary Tour Retail: For the Foodie
Nov/Dec 2015
Holiday Home Decor Places of Worship Shopping Guide Holiday Home Tours Retail: Holiday Gifts, Parties & Attire
Jan/Feb 2016
Bridal Features Wedding Profiles New Year’s Goals Healthy Lifestyles Romance Retail: Valentine July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
7
Jean & Boot Co. www.hewlettdunn.com
111 N Center St | Collierville, TN | 901-853-2636
% 0 1
Unlock your potential. With a wide range of specialties and treatments, the health professionals at Natural Potential Chiropractic have what you need to help you achieve your wellness objectives.
Dr. Jeff Carr Dr. LinDsey Carr
Dr. Carr is committed to bringing you better health and a better way of life by teaching and practicing the true principles of chiropractic wellness care.
Call today, and jumpstart your journey to wellness! exercise therapy
injury rehabilitation
20 28 W P op la r 8
TourCollierville.com
|
S ui t e 10 5
July/August 2015
|
muscle balancing
C o l l i er ville , T N
pre-injury evaluation
postural restoration
|
9 01 . 86 1 . 07 1 6
|
and more
n atu r alpote n tial chi ro practi c.co m
You can always count on seeing Chester & Artie Jean Webb take every opportunity to dance together at the 30th Annual Independence Day Celebration, page 24.
GO! GET UP AND DANCE!
go
9
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
featured events
Starts: Apr 30 Thursdays 8am - 1pm
COLLIERVILLE FARMER’S MARKET
KIDS SUMMER FILM FEST
Collierville United Methodist Church www.colliervillefarmersmarket.org Locally grown produce, flowers, eggs, meat, milk, baked goods, and more. For more information, visit their website.
Malco Theatres | 901-850-0522 www.malco.com June 30-July 1 The Croods July 14-15 Chipwrecked July 21-22 Ice Age - The Meltdown July 28-29 How to Train Your Dragon
thru Sep 30 Fridays 8am - 1pm
CARRIAGE CROSSING FARMER’S MARKET Shops at Carriage Crossing| 901-854-8240 www.shopcarriagecrossing.com Visit our Facebook page for updated event information along with vendor list. thru October Saturdays 7am - 1pm
MEMPHIS FARMERS MARKET
Central Station www.memphisfarmersmarket.org The Memphis Farmers Market is a weekly, non-profit outdoor marketplace featuring local farmers and artisans. The market showcases locally sourced produce and food items, as well as locally produced kitchen and garden arts and crafts from the Mid-South region.
Like us on
FACEBOOK to stay updated effortlessly. facebook.com/tourcollierville Email us your event details to be included in our
EVENTS CALENDARS
Email events@webuzz.biz. 10
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
thru July 29 10am
thru July 24
SUMMER READING 2015 Collierville Burch Library | 901-457-2600 www.colliervilelibrary.org All children grades 5 and under are welcome to register. Come into the library to sign up.
thru July 29 10am & 1pm
SUMMER KIDS PROGRAM Morton Museum | 901-457-2650 www.colliervillemuseum.org Transport kids to the Wolf River, prehistoric Collierville, the Civil War, and turn of the century Collierville with lots of hands-on fun, learning, and discovery. July 8: Wolf River Watershed Travel back to Collierville more than 10,000 years ago! Discover Collierville’s nature by examining fossils and live animals from the Wolf River! July 15: Turn of the Century Collierville View images of Collierville from 100 years ago and become the photographer! July 22: Native American History The C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa will take us back nearly 3,000 years to explore Native American history and culture in Collierville. July 29: Civil War Step back to the life and struggles of a Civil War soldier through hands on discovery and interactive learning.
thru July 30 7pm
SUNSET ON THE SQUARE CONCERTS Collierville Square | 901-853-1666 www.mainstreetcollierville.org Beginning June 4 make Thursdays your night to enjoy the scenery of historic Collierville at sunset for their Summer Concert Series 2015! The show will always start at 7 p.m. on each Thursday from June through July. July 9 Blind Mississippi Morris July 16 Hudson - Saleby July 23 Def Tonz July 30 Josh Treldkeld thru August 2 7:30pm
LEVITT SHELL CONCERT SERIES
READING READINESS STORY TIME Tuesdays | 10:30am | July 7, 14 TODDLER STORY TIME Wednesdays | 11:30am | July 1, 8, 15 TINY TOTS STORY TIME Thursdays | 11:30am | July 2, 9, 16
presents
July 10 - July 19
HAIRSPRAY
Harrell Theatre www.harrelltheatre.org It’s 1962 in Baltimore, and the lovable plussize teen Tracy Turnblad has only one desire -- to dance on the popular Corny Collins Show. When her dream comes true, Tracy is transformed from social outcast to sudden star. She must use her newfound power to dethrone the reigning Teen Queen, win the affections of heartthrob Link Larkin, and integrate a TV network, all without denting her ‘do! Fridays at 7pm; Saturdays at 7pm; Sundays at 2:30pm; and Saturday, July 18 at 2:30pm
Levitt Shell/Overton Park | 901-272-2722 www.levittshell.org Experience more than 50 free concerts and events each year in our beautiful, open-air facility. Perfect for the whole family, just grab a chair or blanket and join us on the lawn. Let the entertainment begin! Please see July 14 - July 19 their website for the all star line-up.
July 10-19 Keith Salter Jordan Wells choreographed by Christi Hall directed by
music directed by
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL
thru Sep 18 various times
LIVE AT THE GARDEN
Botanic Garden | 901-636-4100 www.memphisbotanicgarden.com July 17 Rob Thomas August 15 ZZ Top September 4 Martina McBride September 18 Daryl Hall & John Oats Tickets available through Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com, or at Memphis Botanic Garden box office. thru Sep 25 at dark
CARRIAGE CROSSING MOVIE MANIA Shops at Carriage Crossing | 901-854-8240 www.shopcarriagecrossing.com July 10 Annie (PG) July 24 Sleeping Beauty (G) August 7 101 Dalmations (G) August 21 Big Hero 6 (G) September 11 Wreck-It-Ralph (PG) September 25 The Lego Movie (PG) July 2 - 16
STORYTIME
Burch Library | 501 Poplar View Parkway 901-457-2600 | colliervillelibrary.org These age-appropriate story times are full of stories, music and movement.
The Orpheum www.orpheum-memphis.com It began as one man’s story… became everyone’s music… and is now Broadway’s musical. MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy’s journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and many more. Motown shattered barriers, shaped our lives and made us all move to the same beat. July 3 6:30pm
30TH ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION H.W. Cox Park | 901-457-2777 www.collierville parks.org Come join the celebration at H.W. Cox park with music, food vendors, and much more.
book by
Mark O’Donnell & Thomas Meehan lyrics & music by Scott Wittman & Marc Shaimain
Fireworks at 9:45pm. July 23 5:30-7:00pm
CARNIVAL & OPEN HOUSE The Goddard School | 901-861-0108 www.goddardschool.com Tour the school, meet the teachers, and enjoy fun activities! Infant through Pre-K
HARRELL THEATRE 440 W Powell Rd. • Collierville, TN
www.harrelltheatre.org Adults $20, Seniors & Children $15
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
11
photo by Kimberly Hill
2015
July
Time Warp Wednesdays
Morton Museum (every Wednesday)
June
28
Mates of State Minglewood Hall
5
29
Farmer’s Market Agricenter
6
Imagine Dragons Tour Members Night Memphis Zoo
12
Spirit of Havana Art Exhibit
Memphis Botanic Gardens
19
Flea Market Agricenter
Toad the Wet Sprocket Minglewood Hall
Gun & Knife Show
26
Agricenter
SUNDAYS:
Kids Eat Free IHOP
FedEx Forum
Smoky Mountain Sunrise Art Exhibit
13
Botanic Gardens
Outdoor Explorers Camp
Memphis Botanic Gardens
20
30
Citizens Police Academy
7
Motown the Musical The Orpheum (July 14-19)
Kids Summer Film Fest
14
27
MONDAYS:
Kids Eat Free IHOP
1
Malco Collierville
Solar Tour Agricenter
21
Autozone Park (July 1-3)
2
Hairspray
Redbirds vs. Nashville Autozone Park (July 8-12)
8
.Farmers Market
Botanic Garden (every Wednesday)
15
Malco Collierville
Redbirds vs. Harry Connick, Oklahoma City Jr. The Orpheum
Kids Summer Film Fest
Redbirds vs. Oklahoma City
Bikes On Beale Beale Street (every Wednesday)
22
Harrell Theatre (July 9-19)
Sunset on the Square
9
Collierville Square
Sunset on the Square
Collierville Square
History of Baseball in Collierville Exhibit
16
Morton Museum
H.W. Cox Park
3
Annie Outdoor Movie Carriage Crossing
Storytime: Puppies
10
Morton Museum
Farmer’s Market
Carriage Crossing
The Goddard School
Sunset on the Square
23
Collierville Square
The Orpheum
17
Carriage Crossing
Storytime: Shop ‘till you Drop!
24
Morton Museum
Kidstown Consignment Sale Agricenter
July/August 2015
Christmas in July Shopping Extravaganza
11
Agricenter
Widespread Panic Snowden Grove
18
Pink Palace
Redbirds vs. Iowa Autozone Park (July 24-27)
25
Menopause the Musical
Peabody Roof Party
Storytime: Back to School
TUESDAYS:
WEDNESDAYS:
THURSDAYS:
FRIDAYS:
SATURDAYS:
McAlister’s, IHOP, Chick-Fil-A (one meal per adult) & Perkins
IHOP
Captain D’s, IHOP & Moe’s Southwest Grill
weather permitting
McAlister’s, IHOP & Perkins
Autozone Park (July 28-31)
28
Kids Eat Free
29
Malco Collierville
Kids Eat Free
30
(every Thursday)
Kids Eat Free
31
Morton Museum
Bluegrass on the Square Kids Eat Free
TourCollierville is a project of
TourCollierville.com
4
Mud Island River Park
Kids Summer Film Fest
IHOP
12
4th of July Celebration and Fireworks Display
Indiana Jones Storytime: Grandparents and the Raiders of the Lost Ark Morton Museum
Sleeping Beauty Carnival- Open Outdoor Movie House
Summer Kids Summer Movie Series: Hook Program Morton Museum
Independence Day Celebration
For details www.tourcollierville.com
© 2014 Webz Advertising 185 N Main St | Collierville, TN 38017 amber@webuzz.biz | 901-451-9329
The Orpheum (Aug 1-2)
1
Kids Eat Free
HERO TRAINING Coming in the September/October edition of TourCollierville Magazine
month of July Adult Special unlimited
Boot Camp Classes Mon-Fri | 5 – 10:30AM $125 per month (with 1 YeAr ContrACt)
D1 Memphis 85 Market Center Dr Collierville • 901-316-1499
99 Market Center Dr Collierville • 901-861-9610 Collierville PT • 901-861-9970 9085 E. Sandidge Center Cove Olive Branch • 662-890-2663 Olive Branch PT • 662-890-1710
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
13
Mudpie Mondays
Harrell Theatre
Memphis Botanic Gardens
Mid-South Hunting and Fishing Extravaganza
Elvis Week
2
Agricenter
9
3
(Aug 8-16)
Back to School Collierville Schools
10
Randy Burns Art Exhibit
Redbirds vs. Albuquerque
16
17
Memphis Botanic Gardens
Buyer and Cellar
Playhouse on the Square (Aug 21-Sept 6)
23
Wicked Plants The Exhibit Pink Palace (June 6-Sep 7)
30
SUNDAYS:
Kids Eat Free IHOP
Autozone Park (Aug 15-18)
The Art of Video Games Exhibit Brooks Museum (Jun 6 - Sep 13)
24
Jill Scott
The Orpheum
4
Food Truck Garden Party Memphis Botanic Gardens
11
Solar Tour Agricenter
18
Vine to Wine at the Garden Memphis Botanic Gardens
25
H2Oh! Splash
Billy Elliot the Musical
31
1
Children’s Museum of Memphis
MONDAYS:
Kids Eat Free IHOP
Playhouse on the Square (Aug 14-Sep 6)
photo by Michael Allen
2015 A Christmas Story Auditions
Aug Farmers’ Market
Memphis Botanic Gardens
5
Sisterhood Showcase
Cook Convention Center
12
Summer Kids Program
Morton Museum (every Wednesday)
19
Farmer’s Market Agricenter
26
Redbirds vs. New Orleans Autozone Park (Aug 31-Sep 3)
2
September
Sunset on the Square
Collierville Square
6
13
Redbirds vs. El Paso Autozone Park (Aug 19-22)
20
The Producers Theatre Memphis (Aug 21-Sep 13)
27
Memphis International Film Festival
Food Truck Friday
7
Dixon Gallery and Gardens
14
The Orpheum
Farmer’s Market
Carriage Crossing
Big Hero 6 Outdoor Movie
21
Carriage Crossing
Dragon Football Center Hill
Summer Movie Series: Gone with the Wind
28
The Orpheum
White Station
July/August 2015
Agricenter
Day with Iron Man
15
Children’s Museum of Memphis
Memphis Comedy Fest Cannon Center
Memphis Gift and Jewelry Show
22
Cook Convention Center (Aug 21-23)
Memphis Farmers Market
Central Station Pavilion (every Saturday)
29
Delta Fair
The Orpheum
5
FRIDAYS:
SATURDAYS:
weather permitting
McAlister’s, IHOP & Perkins
3
McAlister’s, IHOP, Chick-Fil-A (one meal per adult) & Perkins
IHOP
Captain D’s, IHOP & Moe’s Southwest Grill
Kids Eat Free
4
Bluegrass on the Square Kids Eat Free
TourCollierville is a project of
TourCollierville.com
Memphis Flea Market
Dragon Football
IHOP
14
8
Agricenter
Summer Movie Series: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
THURSDAYS:
For details www.tourcollierville.com
Mid-South Hunting and Fishing Extravaganza
Malco’s Ridgeway Four (Sep 3-6)
WEDNESDAYS: Kids Eat Free
Carriage Crossing
Dragon Football Jamboree Tim McGraw Shotgun Rider Summer Movie Tour 2015 Series: Young Snowden Grove Frankenstein
TUESDAYS:
Kids Eat Free
101 Dalmations Outdoor Movie
© 2014 Webz Advertising 185 N Main St | Collierville, TN 38017 amber@webuzz.biz | 901-451-9329
Agricenter (Sep 4-13)
Kids Eat Free
w w w . t w o r l d . c o m / m i d s o u t h
When you’re ready to buy or sell a business. over 300 franchises • 15+ years experience Barry Chapman | 901.756.0757 | barry.chapman@tworld.com | 1661 International Drive | Suite 400 | Memphis, TN 38120
help wanted
NOW HIRING advertising account executives, admin assistants, photographers, graphic designers
| web | photo www.webuzz.biz print
Please submit your resume to hive@webuzz.biz or call 901.451.9329.
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
15
S
16
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
e h t n o t e s n
e r a u q S
u S
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
17
18
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
Each summer, June through July, the Historic Town Square fills to capacity with neighbors and friends to celebrate our tight-knit community. Anticipation fills the town as the lineup is announced each year and preparations are made to assure the town’s kids have plenty of lush green grass to play in. Chester and Artie Webb (93 and 88 years young, married for 68 years) never miss an opportunity to swing. They are known for getting this party started for all of the concert’s 24 years. Laura Todd, Executive Director, looks forward to celebrating 25 years in 2016. While she makes it look easy as she greet guests and makes announcements, the picture behind the scenes is one filled with logistical prowess. With the help of sponsors, the Town of Collierville, her board of directors and countless volunteers, the concert continues to thrive year after year. This year’s line up included: Bryan Hayes & the Retrievers, Eric Hughes, AIMS Gang, Six Degrees, Blind Mississippi Morris, HudsonSaleeby, Def Tonz and Josh Threldkeld. Each year Main Street also includes specially designated “Bike Night” and “Cruise In” for guests to showcase their toys.
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
19
1
Summer Concert Series
Main Street Collierville Thursday, June 25, 2015
20
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
2 3
4
5
1: Best Tailgate Winners: Dustin May, Carden May, MaryJane May, Janell OLeary, Liam OLeary, Sean OLeary, Yenci Toldi, Campbell May, Lily Kate OLeary, Leah Powell, Austin Powell, Kayla Jackson, & Helen Toldi. 2: Josh, Trish, & Linnie Simpson, Teresa Blanton, Maggie, Braxton, & Ellen Long. 3: Matt, Alexis, Avery, & Allie Fulton, Clayton, Janet, Caleb, & Emily Sellers. 4: Hailey & Phillip Smith, Ashley Arcuri, Caroline O’Heath, Jase Walker, Adriana Arcuri, Selena Silvestro, Molly & Miles Merves. 5: Katherine, Marcia, & Michael Jack, Bill & Laura Todd, Barry & Jennifer Vescovo. 6: Austin Adams, Cameron Vogelsang, Ashlen Adams, Addison Adams, John Caylor, & Marky Mark.
6
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
21
1
2
3
4
5
22
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
6
7 8
10
1: Mary Margaret Grant, Heather Foreman, Mary Haddow, & Laura Phelps. 2: Jim, Bobbie, Mark, & Sonya Baskin. 3: Eric, Linda, Ariel & Ashlyn Gay, Wendy & Bobby Nations. 4: Lucy, Cory, Liam, Jody, & Beckham Clements. 5: Lesley, Shea, & John Richardson. 6: Linda & Jerry Maxey. 7: Matt VanCleve, Laura Todd, Beth Sharpe, & Joe Sarrio. 8: Julie & Jamie Hill, Jane Lutey, Ashley & Kyle Adams, Suk Lee & Julian Windsor. 9: Matt LeVier, Lisa Gilbert, & Latonia Brooks. 10: Stephanie, Nick, Catherine Ann, & Nicholas McGavic. 11: Kelly, Heather, & Kyler McGugan.
9
11
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
23
24
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
30
TH
ANNUAL INDEPENDENCE DAYon
i t a r b e l e C
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
25
Independence Day Celebration H.W. Cox Park Friday, July 3, 2015 1
26
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
2
3
5
6
4
1: Amanda Henderson, Christopher Brown, Zahara Dodson, Kyla Elliott, & Myriah Dodson. 2: Chris & Joy Leerskov, & Emilee, Brandon, Grayson, & Wyatt James. 3: Jenny, Jonathan, Julia, & Jacob Howell, Lydia Escamilla, Will Baxter, lecel, Jacob, John, & Hope, Tim, Sam, Olivia, & Lucas Vencel, and Tim Schille. 4: Anna Laura & Je Hatchett & Savanna & Ava Walden. 5: Billy, Lisa, & Ric Seay, Carrie & AnnaMaria Haycook, & James Townsend. 6: Erin & Pattie McGory, Colby Kissel, Kim Rozier, & Trish Brennan. July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
27
1 3
6
28
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
4
2 5
7
8
9 12
10
11
13
15
14
16
17
1: Clark, Johnston, & Edwards Families. 2: Betty Doughty, Stacey, Claire, Darrell, & Sydney Greene. 3: Kim Schuerman, Julia Lassiter, Joyce Carter, Dale Smith, Christy Schuerman, Emily Hall, Haley Williams, & Jordan Culderera. 4: Anna, Shavita, Zamarion, Jessica, Lilian, Mykia, & Angeana Jones, Zahara & Myriah Dodson, & Kyla Elliott. 5: Norm, Kim, Kelsey, Karie, & Tyler Kennel, Dany Keiser, & Jeremy Baird. 6: Gretchen BoutonTolander, & Russ & Ryann Tolander. 7: Maggie, Lora, Jamie, & Julie Lucas, Judy Brown, Lori & Logan Skelton, & Penny Marchionda. 8: Eduardo, Diana, Alec, & Savannah Espinola. 9: Sheila & Adrian Prescott & Willie Fentress. 10: Mistie, Jessica, & Matthew Crocker & Aubrey & Lane Neely. 11: Sandy & Carter Tate & Valerie & John Lindsey. 12: Ryan, Andrew, Ellie, & Stephanie Adamson. 13: Aaron, Mary, & Adeline Shilling, Maggie & Allison Ewin, Annalise, Tony, & Jennifer Argiro, Annie, Allison, & John Bushnell, & Maret Roberts. 14: Kenny & Kim MacFeggan, Caroline Hymel, & Whit Brown. 15: Alex, Emily, Landon, & Grayson Johnson. 16: Megan, Page, & Halle Coburn, Paige, Maddie, Luke, Jum, Judy, & Lyla Petersen, Lesley, Blaine, Sam, & Grayson Tooley. 17: Christian Repsher, Nancy France, Kathleen Hughes, & Anna Toldi. July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
29
PYRO PROS DAVID & TAMMY TOWNSEND, are Licensed Pyro Technicians at Pyro Shows. Tammy originally worked for the Collierville Parks Department as the Special Services Director and began her pyro career shortly after leaving. While there she sparked a friendship with the owner of Pyro Shows (the vendor for the town’s firework shows) since they both were from east Tennessee. Taking a teaching position left Tammy with summers o - which happened to be the busiest part of the year in the pyro world so she came on board as the area liason which soon developed into Tammy learning to handle and shoot fireworks. David joined the following year.
30
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
Tammy is a third grade teacher at Collierville Elementary School. She has been a teacher for 10 years and previously worked for the Town for 10 years. She is a RRCA Certified Running Coach and also coaches the CMS Cross Country team.David is a Lieutenant over Training and Public Relations with the Collierville Police Department. He has been with the Department for 20 years. He also coaches his daughter’s softball team and CMS Cross Country team in addition to being the lead shooter in the Collierville show.
Jason Downer (with Integrated Communications) and Chris Lively (a Collierville Police Department patrolman) assist with the July 3 show at Cox Park.
Shows they’ve helped produce include: Bellevue Baptist Church, Town of Collierville, City of Germantown, City of Millington, City of Memphis, Memphis Redbirds, Southern Heritage Classic, Sunset Symphony, the Memphis Air Show, Nashville New Year’s Eve celebration, and the grand opening of the Nashville Convention Center. The team frequently receives special requests from friends to label a round in their honor. Pictured is an ode to Ed Coleman, Executive Director of the Miss Collierville Scholarship Organization, being set for the last Memphis in May Sunset Symphony performance on May 23, 2015. July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
31
Learn playfully!
With all the current focus on accelerated learning, parents may be tempted to do too much of a good thing, jettisoning playful games and enjoyable family events in favor of boring early learning programs. As with adults, too much input from the outside can cause children to tune out. Young children have a fierce drive to learn, and they are thrilled with their new discoveries. This is a wonderful time to strengthen the foundation for a child’s lifelong love of learning. The key is to do it in a way that respects and responds to each child’s interests, pace and temperament, and not to some external need to keep up with the Joneses or their kids. One well-documented trait of children who do well in school is that they love to learn. Activities that build love of learning are money in the bank for a child’s educational success. You don’t want to squelch that drive to learn by substituting joyless, skill-pushing memory activities for real exploration, discovery and learning. 32
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
So what do you do? Follow your child’s cues. Other than fatigue, cues are all emotional. Children show interest or disinterest, curiosity or frustration, boredom or enjoyment, impatience or pleasure, anger or delight. Pay attention to your child’s moods and heed his cues. Sometimes parents find this hard to do. If you are engaged in some activity you think is really worthwhile, it’s easy to push the envelope until your child seriously wants out. There is no gain in this. Much better to move on to something else or just give things a rest when your child begins to show disinterest or fatigue. You know all the signs. No one is as expert as you at reading your child. For young children, the best learning is filled with a blend of wonder, giggles, excitement, interest, concentration, a touch of manageable frustration, concerted effort and laughter – all signs of the most positive emotional states. Lessons learned and achievements mastered in these states are gilt-edged in three ways:
The child learns something new. The child learns more about how to learn. The child enjoys learning.
So don’t feel pressured by society to over program your child. Do what you enjoy as a family and learn through play. ____________________________________ by Cathy Jo Mattson The Goddard School, on-site owner Excerpts from “Me, Myself and I” by Dr. Kyle Pruett
The Goddard School located in Collierville offers a year-
round program for children from six weeks to six-yearsold. Children are encouraged to develop at their own
pace in a warm environment supported by a team of
dedicated teachers. The Goddard School FLEX Learning
Program™ is based on a unique learning continuum that
encompasses developmental guidelines, formative assessments and child-focused lesson plans that are delivered
in a creative and fun environment with a child-centered
approach to meet each child’s individual needs. For more information on why The Goddard School located in Col-
lierville is the place for fun and learning, please contact Cathy Jo Mattson at 901-861-0108.
Purposeful Choices WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP SESSION
3670 S Houston Levee Rd | 901.316.5184
tArGet KeY bUSineSS LeADerShip CoMpetenCieS on A proFeSSionAL & perSonAL LeVeL throUGh the FoLLowinG eXperienCeS: • Learn a strategic perspective in building a strong professional profile & network • Develop paths for career & business growth • Strengthen professional leadership competencies & presence
WHEN
Sept. 22, 2015 | 1 - 6pM Sept. 23, 2015 | 8:30AM-12pM
WHERE
National Civil Rights Museum
COST
$600 per attendee
Memphis, Tennessee
(includes 1:1 coaching session after workshop)
We are turning
One!
ENROLL WITH US TODAY Laura
Mary Jo
901.275.5488
901.857.6892
laura@winwithhr.com
mj@carsongreil.com
Come celebrate with us! Enjoy storewide discounts, & receive a free gift (with any $150 purchase)
Come visit the Bargain Tent! sales
•
giveaways
•
new arrivals
August 15 | 10am - 8pm July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
33
ONE T OWN | ON E S CH O OL Conceptual Renderings of the Proposed High School
New Collierville High School facility edges closer to groundbreaking. Collierville Schools is the premier choice for quality education in Collierville. We are a Level 5 district as noted by the Tennessee Department of Education, and our academic achievement rates are near the top for all Tennessee school districts. As we move into our second year as a municipal school district, our school leaders are planning ahead to meet new challenges. One challenge we are meeting is the need for additional space at Collierville High School (CHS). The projected enrollment at CHS by 2019 is greater than 2600 students, which is well beyond maximum capacity. Diligent planning by our Board of Education as well as the Board of Mayor and Alder34
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
men have led to our plans to build a new Collierville High School campus. This new campus will be located at the intersection of Sycamore Road and Shelby Drive close to Sycamore Elementary. The new campus for CHS will allow for 3000 students and have space available to expand, as needed. The current CHS campus on Byhalia Road will be converted to a third middle school to alleviate crowded conditions at our current two middle schools. At the new CHS campus, we will offer state of the art facilities that will help our teachers and students continue to excel and meet our standards of excellence. New facilities for fine arts, Career and Technical Education, STEM, and labs will enhance our curriculum for years to come. Also, all athletic facilities will be on one campus to alleviate the need to travel for home games and to allow for better student participation. The campus is being designed through a partnership between Fleming Architects and Renaissance Group. The public will be engaged throughout this process to seek input on the building, design of available space, and other needs. The goal of the
district is to make this school a source of civic pride, but our first priority is to ensure all students feel welcome and a part of the school community. Collierville Schools appreciates the support of our elected officials, as well as the public, as we continue to assess the needs of our students. That support is critical as we continue to strive for excellence in all we do as a community. There is nothing more important than a quality education for our students and we believe Collierville is on a path to be known as the foremost location for education in our state. Please visit onetownoneschool.com for more details on the building of the new high school as well as presentations, FAQs, etc. To learn more about the progress being made towards building a new high school visit www. onetownoneschool.com. To find your alderman’s contact information, visit www.collierville.com. ____________________________________
by Dr. Russell Dyer
Chief of Staff, Collierville Schools
Images: Fleming Architects & Renaissance Group
GO! SEE HOW YOUR TOWN IS GROWING!
The proposed high school site is just one of the countless developments shared, page 36
go
35
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
HOUSTON LEVEE ROAD
rive
ke Your Hive
for
MaGaZIne DIStRIbUtORS
E 1
21 Crosswind Elementary School Collierville High School
FRANK ROAD
Historic District & Square Locations:
22
Biblical Museum Brook’s Collection
BYHALIA ROAD
19
City Hall Cheesecake Dyer’s Hamburgers Hewlett & Dunn Main Street Collierville Morton Museum
Bailey Station Elementary School
20
Sass It Up
10
Silver Caboose Square Beans
2
13
6
1/17
Webz Advertising 2
Library, Town Hall & Chamber
3
Collierville Parks & Rec / Harrell Theater / DAC
4
Courtyard Marriott
5
D1 Sports / OrthoOne
6
Edward Jones, Kevin Baltier
7
Goddard School
8
Gould’s Spa and Salon
9
Hampton Inn
10
Huey’s
11
Jim’s Place
12
MarketPlace at Carriage Crossing
13
Natural Potential Chiropractic
14
Pink Nest
15
Solutions Medical Center
16
Starbucks
17
State Farm, Preston Carpenter
18 YMCA 36 TourCollierville.com
17
7
9
25
W
14 16
IN
8
CHESTER ROA D
18
15 8
5
10
11 14 26
®
25
Schilling Farms Middle School
8 7 BYHALIA ROAD
NU
aD
Ta
FOREST HILL IRENE ROAD
VE
e
ill v r e i rColl
Tou
WOLF RIVER B OULEVAR
385 4 9/11 SHELBY DRIVE
12
Collierville, 13
12
July/August 2015
S El
RD
MOvInG DIRt
Johnson Park
by John Duncan, Director of Economic Development
NEW & UPCOMING BUSINESS
1 2
SHELTON ROAD
3 4
2
Tara Oaks Elementary School
Collierville Elementary School
16 4
COLLIERVILLE
3
ARLINGTON R
D
5
269
6 7
8
POPLAR AVENUE
24
9 10 11
15 2
1 18
72
23
6
3 Suggs Park
Collierville Middle School
, Tennessee 5
Sycamore lementary School
12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
5 Guys Burgers & Fries Bazaar | Specialty olive oils & vinegars come to the Town Square. Beehive Sewing Studio Collierville Auto Center | Expanding to vacant building next door, this center offers an upscale selection of used luxury cars, trucks and SUV’s. Collierville High School Proposed Expansion | On 136 acres of land, the new campus would accommodate over 3000 students with room for growth. This open air, campus style facility would be one of the largest high schools in Tennessee & offer a variety of academic, club, sports & engagement opportunities for the student body. Dickens Built Get Air Sports Memphis | Opening Fall 2015, this Utah based high end trampoline center will bring high energy fun for all ages to Collierville. The Goodard School | Expanding their facility to better serve the families of the Collierville area. H&M Helena Chemical Company Hickory Tavern | High end sports bar–restaurant will firmly place their flag at Carriage Crossing. 7500 sf of burgers, wings, salads, specialty entrees & libations with a unique patio concept will add to the restaurant scene in Collierville. Hinton Park Magnolia Preserve On Tap Growlers O’Reilly Auto Parts | Auto parts retailer, with over 4100 stores nationwide, brings parts & accessories to Collierville. Panda Express Pyro’s Fire Fresh Pizza The Quonset Shepherd’s Creek SkyBox Bar & Grill The Stables St. Patrick’s Presbyterian Stratton House B & B University of Memphis Upscale Convenience Store Zaxby’s | Bringing their alternative to fast food to the west edge of Collierville, Zaxby’s promises something for the entire family. July/August 2015 TourCollierville.com 37
Better Together. LAURA L. FREEMAN, PHD,
MATT VANCLEVE
AMBER LOMBARDO
is a Human Resources Professional
is the owner of Alliance Law and
with a proven track record of pro-
Counseling, a general practice that
has helped businesses and organiza-
viding a wide range of HR strategies
includes estate planning, trust and
presence through eective brand de-
and initiatives to support business plans and operational objectives.
Recognized by many as a passionate HR Expert, Talent Builder, Change
Agent and Team Builder, Laura uti-
lizes proactive and simple solutions to solve even the most complex people issues. Laura has developed her
broad-based experience in human
resources management in public and private companies (domestic and in-
ternational) serving the manufacturing, restaurant, hotels, and service-
based industries, as well as non-profit organizations. Laura started her own
HR consulting company, Win With HR, and provides guidance to business
owners around the many facets of human resources.
38
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
probate administration, civil dispute resolution, contracts and organiza-
tional formation. Matt completed his
legal studies at Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, FL where he
graduated Cum Laude and was rec-
ognized for his outstanding pro-bono work. While at Florida Coastal, Matt worked in the school’s legal clinic
and as a research assistant and legal writing teaching assistant. In addition to his legal career, Matt served
as 2014 Chairman of the Board for the Collierville Chamber of Commerce
and 2013 President of the Board for Main Street Collierville. He also
serves as a Trustee of the Tennessee Alpha Scholarship Foundation.
tions build powerful and engaging
velopment for over 18 years. She is the owner of Webz Advertising, publisher of TourCollierville Magazine and Director of Programs for the Mississippi
Heritage Trust (a statewide partner
of the National Trust). Her work has garnered over 70 industry awards ranging from local to international
recognition. Amber co-founded Thrive: America, an education initiative to en-
courage responsible energy indepen-
dence in the United States. A graduate
of the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science and Mississippi State
University, her work has appeared in countless publications, most notably
National Geographic Traveler, TourCollier-
ville, Southern Living, Where to Retire and Southern Bride.
going demeanor and gentle smile, he chats up the crowd that has gathered to muddle
over business affairs of the day. This is the afternoon version of a coffee club and heis the barista.
One of the most powerful tools in a
business owners’ arsenal is the wisdom of trusted associates. The ability to draw on
the years of experience represented around the table cuts right through the noise, cuts
right to the point and gives friends insight without suffering the blows of lessons learned.
After working for 25+ years in Corpo-
rate America as a human resource professional, the decision to leave and start my own business seemed to be a no-brainer.
My five children were now through college and I had learned so much about running a business or at least I thought so. I read
many books on starting your own business,
talked to people about my new venture, and understood some of the financial impact of
not having a regular bi-monthly paycheck would have.
My first step was to develop a business
plan. My plan looked good on paper and did provide me with a road map but could I execute on it? I do believe you can read every business book and attend all the webinars in the world... but in the end you’re still
going to have to get started. You’re going to have to act on your plan.
So to get started, I wanted to develop
the time was the president of the chamber. Because of my HR expertise and his legal
background, Matt and I thought we could
partner in some capacity with each other.
After meeting with Matt a few times, once again, I started learning more about running a small business and how working
with other small business owners enriched me personally and professionally.
I had an “aha” moment about six
months after starting my own business. It
does take a village to start and successfully grow your business. This was even more
evident when Amber, Matt, and I began to meet together.
We would always begin talking about
how to build our businesses but the con-
versation spilled over to every aspect of
owning a small business. Whether we met at a coffee shop, for lunch, or at someone’s
office we each went away with some tidbit
of business knowledge that we could use in our own businesses. Creating and sus-
taining a successful business is a series of
everyday steps. Learning these steps from other business owners is invaluable. Thus, the business concept around Infuse was born.
Amber, Matt and I wanted to create a
casual opportunity where other business owners could get together and talk about
BUSINESS LEADERS
challenges, and their successes. It is where
BUSINESS LEADERS
what has worked in their business, their
business leaders/owners help each other,
a web page but I did not know how to do
it’s that simple. This is a casual reception,
the phone and called the IT department and
listen to others that have walked in your
this. In my corporate job, I just picked up
good food and drink, and opportunity to
got what I needed. I did realize that it was
shoes and are successful business owners.
not that way now but fortunately for me,
Having learned I need to take action
I found a great local advertising business,
every single day to make my business
web page but the real value came in the
right-on-target advice has come from other
Amber Lombardo. Every time we talked I
and infuse your business with words of
business owner.
owners.
Webz Advertising. Not only did I get a great
successful and grow. The most helpful and
friendship of another small business owner,
business owners. We hope you will join us
learned one more thing about being a small
wisdom from other community business
Going down my “to-do” list, I joined the
Collierville Chamber another new venture
for me as a small business owner. Through
BOOSTING YOUR BUSINESS
ville is a cocktail craftsman. With an easy-
the chamber I met Matt VanCleve who at
infuse
The bartender at Jim’s Place in Collier-
building
MONTHLY MEETINGS BEGIN THURS | SEPT 3 | 4:30PM | FREE JIM’S PLACE • COLLIERVILLE LIGHT COCKTAIL RECEPTION RSVP REQUIRED WWW.INFUSE.BIZ | 901 451 9329 AMBER@WEBUZZ.BIZ
____________________________________
the creators of TourCollierville Magazine
by Laura L. Freeman, PhD.
owner, Win With HR
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
39
Th e B rook s
110 E. Mulberry St. Collierville, TN
C ol leC T ion
901-853-9767 brookscollection.com
where today’s trends become tomorrow’s traditions
Serving Collierville, Shelby & Fayette Counties, & North Mississippi for
30 years!
hoMes
BRIDAL ISSUE
|
land
|
hisToriC
properTies
Mary Jean Smith broker | owner 118 n. Main | Collierville, Tn | 38017 901.359.2520 cell 901.853.8666 office maryjeanhsmith@hotmail.com
Coming January 2016 Call 901/451-9329 to inquire about including your special celebration.
www.maryjeansmith.com www.banyantreerealtors.com Licensed in Tennessee & Mississippi
Collierville’s Historic Town Square
loC aTed on
40
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
GO! ENJOY A GREAT PARTY!
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Annual West Tennessee Promise Gala was one hot ticket, page 42.
go
41
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
1
West Tennessee Promise Gala
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Saturday, May 9, 2015 photos courtesy of KimbaWayne Photography
1: JDRF 2015 Youth Ambassadors. 2: Ann Wagner. 3: Andy Wagner. 4: Youth Ambassadors: Owen, Chase, Aly, Cheyanne, & Hannah. 5: Bekah Starker. 6: Honorary Chairman David Pickler.
42
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
2
3
4 5
6
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
43
1
2 3
1: Gavin Foyle, Kierstan Szalay, & Ahmed Latif. 2: Rachel Drewry. 3: Pat Registar. 4: 2015 Youth Ambassadors. 5: Drew, Amy, & Harper Murrah. 6: Maren Clark & Chase Vinson.
44
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
4 5
6
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
45
Night at the Museum
Morton Museum Friday, May 29, 2015
46
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
S a l e s . S e r vi c e . Inst al l at i o n. Doug Joyner | 901.854.6501 | autoentry@outlook.com | Collierville, TN
TOWNSHIP REALTY knows REAL ESTATE
KeVin VAUGhAn, prinCipAL broKer MArY LYnn niChoLSon, AFFiLiAte broKer 155 Old Byhalia Road • Collierville, TN 38017 Office 901.292.3210 • Cell 901.413.4846 July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
47
Hope House Ladies’ Night Out BankTennessee Thursday, May 7, 2015
photos courtesy of Abby Gardner
48
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
49
1
2
Fair on the Square Historic Town Square Sunday, May 3, 2015
50
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
3 4
6 7
8
5 9
10
1: Izzy Patten. 2: Mellodee Hooker, Natalie Cleavelin, Annabelle Gray, Shannon Patterson, Kelly Johnson, & Jessi Beaven. 3: Lloyd, Jennifer, & Brett Shipman. 4: Ann Costello, Avery Odom, Sophia Reves, Macy Odom, & Pat Mundy. 5: Marilyn, Melody, Hamilton, Lilliana, & Benjamin Burchett. 6: Wayne, Holly, Ethan, & Nathan White. 7: Stacy & Eliott Pritchard & Caroline Curry. 8: Cheryl & Vann Moore & Madison Akins. 9: Heather, Brianna, & Caila Milton. 10: Lauren Ryan, Kennedy Ryan, McKenzie Tate, Cornita Patrick, Alexis Canada & Breanna Wells.
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
51
Lunch n’ Learn
Morton Museum Thursday, June 25, 2015
1: Gail & Jack Bobicz & Susan Sullivan. 2: Rachel Carpenter, TK Linn, & Bobbye Turner. 3: Carolyn & Michele Winder. 4: Charlotte & Caroline Slater & Michele Hyduke. 5: Juli Valley, Rosemary Coopwood, Rosemary Hart, & Harriet Sweetser. 6: Ashley Carver & Laurie Williams.,
1 2
52
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
3 6
4 5
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
53
Light it up BLue
Collierville YMCA Saturday, April 25, 2015 1 2
4
54
TourCollierville.com
5
July/August 2015
3
6
7
8 9
11
10
1: Sycamore Elementary, DEC Team. 2: Collierville Elementary Teachers. 3: Sycamore Elementary Teachers, Ms. Wilson, Mr. Myles, Ms. Williams, & Ms. Lofties. 4: Officer Brian Hailey. 5: Collierville Elementary Teachers, Lara Hynes & Devon Jaffe. 6: Joyce Keohane. 7: Central Office. 8: Sycamore Elementary, Ms. Anthony’s 3rd Grade Class. 9: Collierville High. 10: Sycamore Elementary, Ms. Downey’s 4th Grade Students. 11: Collierville High.
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
55
1
Collierville Farmers Market
2
Collierville United Methodist Church Thursday, June 25, 2015
3
56
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
4 5
7
8
9
6
1: Kathryn Lee, CFM Board Secretary & Rachel Wall, CFM Board President. 2: Clay Wallace & Clay Crawford, Jones Greenhouses. 3: Brian Banks, H&H Farms. 4: Frank & Lisa Hart. 5: Emily Bibb, A New Life. 6: David Conner, Fresh from the Farm. 7: Don Willadsen, Paradise Seafood. 8: Cris Watson, Renaissance Farms. 9: Heather, Addison, & Austin Adams, Faith Farms.
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
57
water valley TWO DAY SUITCASE
M I S S I S S I P P I
58
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
I scheduled three hours and stayed three days. Collierville’s square was christened “Best Main Street” by Parade Magazine last year - a highlight for someone like me who lives to promote communities... validation that I work in the very best downtown in the very best country. A recent trip to Water Valley, Mississippi reminded me of a few things, however, about when I first moved to Collierville in February,
2002. As we drove into our new hometown there was an obvious “newness” about it. New businesses with cheerful employees, a renewed historic square pulsating with people, new friends relocating from all over the world, new real estate, new opportunity to grow a company I birthed in Mississippi. Water Valley and its people reminded me, though, that these privileges are the result of a devoted group of citizens taking risks. Their story follows.
As featured in: The New York Times Food & Wine Magazine Oprah Magazine The Washington Post Garden & Gun Magazine Preservation Magazine July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
59
“This town promises to know you, through your struggles and your triumphs, and when you have passed on, it will remember you… The B.T.C. did not revive Water Valley. Instead, Water Valley has revived us. My family and Dixie and Cora and the other myriad souls who have opened up small businesses on Main Street are living lives that would not be possible anywhere else... in the kind of town where… the ladies at the drugstore will gladly hold your baby if you need to, say, give a radio interview.” Alexe Van Beuren, “The B.T.C. Old Fashioned Grocery Cookbook”
WATER VALLEY, MISSISSIPPI 73 miles (1 hr, 20 min)
Take US-72 E, .9 miles. Get on
US-78 E from Cacye Rd. Drive
11.2 miles. Take MS-7 55.4 miles to Central Street in Water Valley. Continue to N Main Street.
60
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
Mickey Howley (pictured above right with Kagan Coughlin) told me that I wouldn’t “get it” in three hours. “Nah,” I thought. “I’ve been doing this a long time. I’m efficient and take great notes. I can study other articles and get a sense of the place enough to compose my piece.” I was wrong and admitting it has never felt quite so satisfying. “You have to come on a Thursday so you can have crawfish and a glass of Yalobusha beer at the Crawdad Hole,” he said. “Book a room at the Blu-Buck Mercantile.” I chuckle. “Mercantile,” I repeat in my mind, as if that’s the most interesting of all the words contained in that last sentence. “Ok,” I say. You got it. A writing assignment for the Mississippi Main Street and Mississippi Heritage Trust organizations seemed a great excuse to extend a 3-hour meeting into an overnight stay so I hopped on AirBNB (a first for me - you gotta check it out) and coordinated
my accommodations with a very cheerful and responsive fellow, Kagan Coughlin. “Can’t wait to meet you,” he said. “Here’s my cell number if you need anything.” I had a couple of meetings in Jackson earlier that day and felt overdressed as I walked the cracked sidewalks from the Blu-Buck to the Crawdad Hole. Camera slung over my shoulder, folks got a little odd as I, obviously an out-of-towner, worked my way to the bustling Crawdad counter, unsure about how to place an order. People would smile shyly. Some gave a reserved “how ya’ doin’?” I spotted Mickey and walked over to greet him. He immediately began introductions to anyone and everyone within a 5 foot radius. Asked if I was thirsty and disappeared. I began working the radius on my own. Snooky and Mary Lou Williams were one of the first. Great big smile on a distinguished silver-haired man. Permanent
Start with a craft beer flight at a tour of the Yalobusha Brewing Co. 102 S Main St | Water Valley (855) 925-6273 www.yalobrew.com
BREWS & BLU pressed, plaid shirt, neatly tucked in. Wide, warm eyes like you read about in Nicholas Sparks books. Then there was Sumi and her husband, Dale. They own Valley Vinyl – an honest-to-goodness record shop across the street. They’re a chatty couple and hold me hostage for a good fifteen minutes when Mickey reemerges with two frosty glasses imprinted proudly “Yalobusha Brewery” and a gigantic bowl of crawfish, potatoes and corn. As people wiggle and make room at one of the picnic tables lit by nearby gas pumps, he commences his lessons on eating crawfish. He’s a Nawl’ins guy. Small talk aside, I start with the questions. “Tell me about the restoration work you are doing... How will the tax credit cap impact downtown development... As a gallery owner and Main Street director, how do you balance...” Mickey is responsive and enthusiastic but is interrupted
every other sentence. It seems there’s some concern about the Farmers’ Market on Saturday. “The tomatoes haven’t come in yet,” said Kerry O’Donoghue. “Bring your bread or some of those preserves instead.” Mickey responds. She nods okay with a pensive expression and walks away. Thirty minutes of interruptions later and I get the feeling Mickey is the go-to guy for all kinds of conundrums in this town. I quietly munch my crawfish and listen. It’s a slow, steady, sticky process. The spices catch up with me so, after polishing off glass one, I head to the counter for glass two. Mouth on fire. (I’m convinced Andy, owner of Yalobusha, and Justin, owner of the Crawdad Hole, have quite the racket going on.) A group of musicians join us on the cracked concrete slab next to old gas pumps. Singing Appalachian Bluegrass favorites, they pick and strum and sway,
Then relax in modern comfort carved into the high ceilings, thick brick walls, and unparalleled ambiance of the historic Blu Buck Mercantile Hotel. 420 S Main St | Water Valley www.airbnb.com (search Blu-Buck)
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
61
occasionally leaning in towards a dancing child as if mesmerizing them to play along. A birthday party for a little girl at the next table floods the make-shift dancefloor, bouncing balloons and swirling sequin skirts. Jared Spears, on guitar and the group’s lead singer, wears a soft blue cotton shirt, long sleeves and old work boots that transport me back to Clarke County, Mississippi and cicada-filled nights on Aunt Alice’s blue front porch. Exhausting my best efforts to wash my hands using the sweat from my beer glass, I look around for a restroom. “Ladies - Locked for your protection” is proudly hand-painted above the door. I’m not sure I get that even today but on my second glass of Yalobusha beer it seemed especially curious. Conversations become more joyful and the music layered unlike I had previously noted. Children dance, parents chatter and old folks tap along, sitting in their old folk lawn chairs. Kerry now seems excited to bring her preserves, listing off the flavors she recalls from her pantry. The tomatoes will wait. At some point, the Crawdad Hole closes the sales counter and the musicians wind their way to their typical “you don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here” songs. I retire to the Blu-Buck and sleep like I did before having babies. Coffee. As I meander down the street at 7am the next morning, I’m looking for coffee. Instead I find Snooky. “The B.T.C. opens at 8,” he says, and invites me into his insurance office. “I haven’t sold insurance in years but I kept my office anyway.
ITINERARY The B.T.C. Grocery Yalobusha Brewery Tour & Tasting The Crawdad Hole The BluBuck Mercantile My Blue Heaven Saturday Farmers’ Market Yalo Gallery Bozarts Gallery Turnage Drugs YaloRun Textiles 62
TourCollierville.com
July/August 2015
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Water Valley Main Street | Mickey Howley, email Water Valley Chamber of Commerce | Name, email [website addresses]
I come here every morning, do my thing, then lock up and head home. I have to keep my eye on this place.” I chuckle. “Are you from here?” I ask. “Nope,” he says, “I’m from Philadelphia.” “How do you feel about all of these other people moving here and changing things?” I ask him. “So long as they only come two or three at a time I figure we’ll be okay.” I later learn that he’s from Philadelphia, Mississippi (2 hours down the state) and moved here a half a century ago. We spend the next half hour looking through his accordion collection and talking about the wall of framed Time Magazine covers featuring every president since Kennedy. Most of them are autographed. “Some of ‘em didn’t much like the article, I guess, so they sent signed photographs instead.” I spend a good ten minutes studying the dozens of pictures from their cabin at the Neshoba County Fair. He clearly has a family he loves dearly and who knows how to have a good time. I make it to the B.T.C. a few minutes before 8 and the doors are already open. Alexe waves me in and tells me I am welcome to sit down. They’ll be open in a few minutes but in the meantime I can help myself to a cup of coffee. I find I’m not exactly sure what she means by “open” - but I like it. When I left the B.T.C. around 2:30pm, I had solved the state’s historic tax credit problems with Kagan and Mickey, been offered FedEx St. Jude Classic golf tournament tickets by Richard & Mary Grouber (a couple visiting from Memphis), eaten things I couldn’t pronounce, purchased one
of Alexe’s cookbooks and met at least half the town’s children. “Daddy - mommy said to tell you the cow is doing better. Oh, and Thad Cochran is here for lunch,” Caspian says, Kagan’s 6 year-old son. “I’m gonna run to Turnage for a purple cow.” In that 6+ hour coffee break I learned more about Water Valley than could ever be contained in an article. I learned that communities are about where we commune. That’s the magic in Water Valley. For every individual that stopped what they were doing to sit with me and talk about “life in the valley,” I grew one friend closer to understanding the society I grew up in. Alexe talks candidly in her cookbook about Eddie Rogers who frequently dropped off spare produce at no charge because he loved what she was doing and wanted it to survive. Mickey speaks as if it’s just no big deal to purchase and rehab an old building. “Hey, it’s dry!” he exclaims. having rehabilitated five family homes in post-Katrina New Orleans, soaked and molding. This is a town where brother and sister, six and eight, can walk down the street to the drug store for a shake because the smallness of this nationally-acclaimed town looks after its kids like a tight-knit village. It’s a place where state politicians, photographers and writers retreat to clear their heads and investment bankers quit lucrative careers, buy a farm, a cow, an old building and get to work shaping a society. “Kagan,” I asked over his reclaimed wooden table, “is my room available tonight, too?” I hadn’t gotten to the brewery for a tour and
Mickey had convinced me to stay for the opening Saturday of the Farmers’ Market, apologetic about the tomatoes. “I’ll provide chicory coffee for the whole bunch if you say you’ll stay.” The next morning I decided to flip through the cookbook while lounging and waiting for the BTC to open. It was a pageturner - seriously! Alexe writes beautifully about their experience moving from Washington DC, Kagan’s high-pressure job in financial software, rescuing their building from destruction and having a wild-haired notion to open a specialty-foods grocery and cafe that serves quinoa (she ultimately hired a character-of-a-cook named Dixie who insisted she add southern staples - so don’t let the health food scare you.) When I read her article about why she named the grocery “the B.T.C.,” the last piece of the puzzle fell into place in my mind and I drive back home contemplating what kind of change I can be. Not back for what was supposed to be a three hour meeting to talk economic development stats. Not bad at all.
water valley TWO DAY SUITCASE
M I S S I S S I P P I
sponsored by
308 E. Pearl St. | Suite 101 Jackson, MS 39201 www.msmainstreet.com 601/944-0113 Mission: To provide leadership, guidance and counsel to Mississippi Main Street communities through organization, promotion, design and economic development to make our cities and towns better places to work, live and play.
_____________________________________ by Amber Lombardo, Director of Programs Mississippi Heritage Trust
P.O. Box 577 | Jackson, MS 39205 www.mississippiheritage.com 601/354.0200 Mission: To save and renew places meaningful to Mississippians and their history.
July/August 2015
TourCollierville.com
63
“IT IS A GOOD THING TO BE RICH, AND IT IS A GOOD THING TO BE STRONG, BUT IT IS
BE LOVED OF MANY FRIENDS.”
~EURIPIDES
pictured: Riley Moore and Austyn Storz at Sunset on the Square
A BETTER THING TO
dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole
-roger caras