A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

6:00 pm | Friday, May 1st

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM FRANKLIN, TN

Act Too Players is hosting this Free Event at Pinkerton Park.

The Act Too Players (ATP), Williamson County’s premier training program for all youths is mounting a two day event this Friday and Saturday (May 1^st and 2^nd) at 6pm in the back of Pinkerton Park near the trail entrance for the Fort Grainger trail. This production was originally slotted as to be our “Shakespeare in the Parking Lot” with the show happening behind the Act Too Players studio.

Bring your blankets and lawn chairs to come watch our kids and teens bring this show to life!

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a comedy play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and Hippolyta. These include the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of six amateur actors (mechanicals), who are controlled and manipulated by the fairies who inhabit the forest in which most of the play is set. The play is one of Shakespeare’s most popular works for the stage and is widely performed across the world.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is being directed by Denice Hicks who is the Artistic Director of the Nashville Shakespeare Festival. This production is being performed by youth members of Act Too Players.

For more information about Act Too Players visit www.ActTooPlayers.com

Iroquois Steeplechase Kicks Off Online Auction

4:26 am | Friday, May 1st

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NASHVILLE, Tennessee – The Iroquois Steeplechase announced that its annual online silent auction kicks off today and will run through Monday, May 11.

Proceeds raised from the online auction will benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. As the official charity of the Iroquois Steeplechase, the Children’s Hospital has received nearly $10 million from the event proceeds since 1981.

“We’re very excited to feature so many amazing items from our partners and sponsors in the auction this year. From paintings and rugs, to jewelry and accessories, there is something for everyone,” said Libby Cheek, executive director of the Iroquois Steeplechase. “It’s a wonderful way to show your support for and give back to the Children’s Hospital.”

Items available for auction include:

Three oil on canvas paintings from the 2015 Featured Artist Phillip Crowe. Crowe’s “The Finish Line” immortalizes the essence of horse racing and captures the emotion and connection between a man and an animal. Crowe also created two smaller paintings, “Flat Out” and “Last Turn,” that embody the movement and swiftness of the racers in the Steeplechase event. These paintings are on display in Absolution at The Mall at Green Hills now through May 8. These paintings may be bid on separately. The starting bid for “The Finish Line” is $12,000, while the bidding prices for “Flat Out” and “Last Turn” start at $2,000 each.

Two wool rugs from The Nashville Rug Gallery. The 6’1” x 9’ Nepalese and 10’3” x 13’8” Turkish rugs are bound to spice up any room. Choose one of these beautiful rugs, which are on display at DIGS Interiors on Bandywood Dr. in Green Hills through May 8. The rugs can be exchanged for the value of the final paid price. The Nepalese rug has a starting bid of $2,800. The Turkish rug’s starting bid is $7,800.

Christine A. Moore Millinery has donated a Race Day Ladies Hat from her collection for bidders with style and flare. While Christine A. Moore designs a vast range of hats, she is best known for her wonderful racing styles, and NBC has referred to her as “the hat designer to the Triple Crown.” The starting bid of this hat is $325.

Jewelry set from Kendra Scott Jewelry, which includes a pair of earrings, a bracelet and necklace for those that love to accessorize. The beautiful jewelry brand has become a household fashion name to women and celebrities around the world. This jewelry set has a starting bid of $145.

Visit Music City has provided a backstage pass for two, which provides admission to 36 local hot spots and venues including the Carnton Plantation, Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville Symphony, Nashville Zoo at Grassmere and more. The pass also offers discounts at 16 local restaurants including Bar-B-Cutie Restaurant, Jimmy Kelly’s, Kitchen Notes and Music City Pizza. The starting bid is $650.

Jack Daniel’s bag toss game, perfect for outdoor fun with family and friends. The set includes two boards and eight beanbags and has a starting bid of $125.

A package with face and body products from Private Edition for beauty connoisseurs. Private Edition offers a wide selection with some of the finest beauty products on the market. With a starting bid of $100, this package includes a 75-minute Omorovicza waterbed facial and a professional spray tan.

A beach getaway to South Walton, Florida, provided by Visit South Walton, FL. This getaway package includes a four-night stay in a three-bedroom convo at any of the South Walton Wyndham Vacation Rental properties, a gift card to Seagar’s Prime Steaks and Seafood, a gift card to Serenity by the Sea spa and a Visit South Walton beach pack for everything needed to hit the beach. The entire package is valued at $3,575.

A pair of the official 75th Anniversary Iroquois Steeplechase Boots from Peter Nappi. Peter Nappi boots are designed in Nashville and handmade in Tuscany, with the ability to wear beautifully with time and age. These riding boots have a starting bid of $500.

Four passes to the Music City Food + Wine Festival. This package includes four all-access passes to the Grand Taste Event and the Harvest Night Dinner and Concert. Merchandise items from Music City Food + Wine Festival and $50 worth of Uber credits to be used September 19-20 are also included. Bids for this package start at $1,650.

For information on how to purchase items up for bid, visit http://www.32auctions.com/iroquoissteeplechase2015 or contact the Iroquois Steeplechase office at 615-591-2991. Winning bidders may collect their items beginning May 12 at the Iroquois Steeplechase office located at 203 Third Ave. N. in Franklin. For delivery, additional shipping fees are applied.

About the Iroquois Steeplechase

Held on the second Saturday of every May at Nashville’s Percy Warner Park, the Iroquois Steeplechase is the premier spring race in American steeplechasing and Music City’s traditional rite of spring – typically attracting more than 25,000 spectators. Since being designated in 1981 as the official charity of the Iroquois Steeplechase, the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has received nearly $10 million from the event proceeds. For information on advance ticket purchases, corporate and hospitality tents, and tailgating and RV spaces, visit www.iroquoissteeplechase.org or call (615) 591-2991.

O’More Alum Spotlight

4:21 am | Friday, May 1st

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Walk into any Marshalls store and head over to the women’s section. Odds are that the dress you’re looking at is one that Miranda Internicola (an alum of O’More) has hand selected for the store. As a senior allocation analyst for TJX Companies, Inc.–the giant off-price department store chain that also includes sister company T.J. Maxx–she’s charged with creating the unique blend of special size collections at 880-plus Marshalls locations around the country.

“Our buyers purchase the right product, and then I step in with placing that product at the right store at the right time and price,” she says. “It’s about analyzing market trends and perceived value.”

Miranda works directly with TJX buyers in her role, sifting through thousands of pieces in company warehouses to find the products she’ll ship to different stores. She’s responsible for considering two components when selecting garments and collections: 1) is it what Marshalls’ customers are looking for, and 2) does the price point make sense?

It’s a lot of responsibility for a recent college graduate, but one Miranda relishes. She says she finds that the job’s challenges hold daily rewards.

“It’s so competitive–not only do you have to keep in mind the company’s off-price mindset, but you also have to find trends that are in the department stores right now,” she says. “I love touching a sample, challenging the buyer on that retail price, getting them to bring it down and then going to stores to see what we’ve created. You get to see someone wearing a garment that you’ve played a part in.”

Miranda, who has worked in retail since high school, says her constant source of upbeat energy lies in doing what she enjoys.

“I’m really passionate about off-price fashion. There are so many opportunities for growth,” she says. “I just love what I do, and making a difference on a store level.”

Though she’s well on her way to her end dream of becoming a buyer for the corporation, this is one businesswoman who proves the old adage that hard work pays off.

“I’m the definition of working your way up,” she laughs. “I helped opened a T.J. Maxx store in Mt. Juliet [Tenn.] when I was 16 years old and continued working in stores through college.”

By the time she interned in the company’s Boston headquarters, Miranda had worked for T.J. Maxx for six years. She spent the summer before her senior year at O’More helping a product specialist: adjusting hems, rearranging the darts, sewing buttonholes and maintaining general brand quality control. Because of it, Miranda landed a job as an allocation analyst immediately following graduation.

Though much of her work now is searching out perfect, already-purchased garments through outside buyers, she’s not limited to picking and choosing. Miranda often plays a direct role in creating those pieces on the Marshalls’ racks.

“Sometimes I find samples that may be successful in our markets. We do a lot of our own productions from our headquarters, so we may send that sample overseas to mass produce on our own label,” she says. “That’s where my background with O’More comes into play.”

She points out the business classes she took at the College as an important influencer in her role now.

“It’s interesting how O’More marries the two sides: fashion and business. They do a good job with it,” she says. “As you are doing your design for your collection, you’re also creating a business proposal. It helps me now as a future merchant to understand quality and cost of goods.”

Miranda says the O’More instructors’ high regard for their students was a unique factor that’s not lost on her.

“Hands down, my favorite part of O’More was the intimacy of the classroom setting. You aren’t intimidated when you walk in, and it’s easy to get one-on-one attention,” she says. “The teachers are genuinely interested in your personal success. It’s about developing your talent, teaching you from the ground up and expanding on it each year.

“O’More successfully equips its students to be strong business partners after graduation.”

O’More College of Design

3:41 am | Friday, May 1st

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The O’More Student Fashion Show promises to display fabulous talent and gorgeous designs! This is a night you don’t want to miss! Visit http://www.omorecollege.edu/Academics/2015FashionShow.aspx for tickets.

Eat the Street Food Truck Festival

6:28 pm | Thursday, Apr 30th

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Eat the Street Food Truck Festival, Franklin’s first food truck-themed fundraiser, returns for its fourth run on May 8, 2015.

The annual event, which benefits the 21st Drug Court and attracted an estimated 10,000 attendees last year, will be moving from Main Street to the recently
completed Bicentennial Park on 3rd Avenue, making it the City’s first event to be held at the new park.

The City of Franklin sees the new Third Avenue North extension as a great location to host special events. “We’re excited that Eat the Street will be a pioneer,” stated Mayor Ken Moore. “It’s such a special location – you’re still in downtown Franklin and close to many parking options, including two free parking garages.”

“The fact that is the first event to be held at the Bicentennial Park only adds to my excitement.” said Phil Newman, president of the board of directors of the 21st Drug Court and co-chair for Eat the Street. “I’m grateful that the City of Franklin and the Board of Mayor and Aldermen continue to support the 21st Drug Court by allowing us to host Eat the Street, which is our most important fundraiser of the year. The money raised through sponsorships, vendors’ fees and private donations enables us to continue to provide participants in our program with the services, treatment and supervision they need on a day in and day out basis to successfully manage their recovery.”

More than 20 food trucks and carts have already signed up for the event, with several more slots to be filled. Businesses interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities and benefits should contact Phil Newman at pnewman@pnmlaw.com.

The Friday, May 8 event will run from 5 – 9 p.m. For more information, visit www.eatthestreetfranklin.com, like on Facebook at facebook.com/EatTheStreetFest or follow on Twitter
https://twitter.com/ETSFranklin.

Touch A Truck

12:00 am | Thursday, Apr 30th

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Trucks, equipment, and vehicles of all shapes and sizes will gather at Jim Warren Park where children of all ages, with parent supervision, will be welcome to touch, climb-on, and explore these amazing pieces of equipment. Music, inflatables, and fun will also be available to round out the free family event. Food will also be available for purchase so you can make a whole evening of this!

Fire Trucks, Police Cars, Tractors, Back hoe, tow trucks, and more! Don’t miss out of this great event.

We welcome participation in this event from community businesses and individuals. If you are interested in bringing a vehicle to the City of Franklin Parks Touch A Truck please click here for the application to apply.

please email parksinfo@franklintn.gov or call 615-794-2103 with any additional questions.

3X3 Art Show

6:00 pm | Saturday, Apr 25th

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The Copper Fox Gallery, Leiper’s Creek Gallery, and David Arms are joining hands again. 3X3 (three by three) represents three galleries, three shows and equals one magical evening in the country.

Saturday, April 25th • 6-9pm in Historic Lieper’s Fork

McGavock Dinner

6:30 pm | Friday, Apr 24th

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The McGavock Dinner is our special way of honoring major donors of The Battle of Franklin Trust. At this annual black tie event held at Carnton Plantation, guests will enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a gourmet dinner. Reservations are required. Please contact Morgan Harris at (615) 794-0903 or morgan@battleoffranklintrust.org for more information.

Franklin Battlefield Update

7:25 pm | Tuesday, Apr 21st

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Reclamation on East Side of Columbia Will Become Part of 20-Acre Downtown Park

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – A decade-long effort that began with the demolition of a Pizza Hut on the east side of Columbia Avenue in downtown Franklin, Tennessee is culminating in the removal of a former Domino’s Pizza building next week. Now the public is being invited to celebrate the reclamation with one last slice of pizza.

Parcel by parcel, preservationists in partnership with the City of Franklin have purchased and cleared seven tracts that comprise core battlefield, where the Carter Cotton Gin stood during the Battle of Franklin. On the other side of Columbia Avenue, final fundraising efforts are underway to secure approximately three acres adjacent to the Carter House. All told, Carter Hill Battlefield Park will comprise 20 acres, within walking distance of downtown Franklin.

Wednesday at 11 a.m., supporters will gather to witness the start of demolition on the old Domino’s building, and reflect on the unprecedented success in battlefield reclamation that has occurred in Franklin.

WHO: John Schroer, Commissioner, Tennessee Dept. of Transportation, Dr. Ken Moore, Mayor, City of Franklin, Dr. Caroll Van West, Tennessee State Historian, Patrick McIntyre, Director, Tennessee Historical Commission, Mike Grainger, Chairman, Civil War Trust and Other special guests
WHAT: A ceremony recognizing the reclamation of seven parcels of core battlefield property on the east side of Columbia Avenue that will become part of the 20-acre Carter Hill Battlefield Park. A backhoe will begin the demolition of the old Domino’s Pizza building, and the public is invited to enjoy one last slice of pizza on the site.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 22, 11 a.m.
WHERE: 1225 Columbia Avenue, Franklin, TN 37064
WHY: The effort to reclaim the Franklin battlefield started in 2005, and has since gained national recognition for its unprecedented success.

To learn more, visit www.franklinscharge.com.

Leadership Franklin Announces Graduates of 2015 Class

4:31 pm | Tuesday, Apr 21st

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Graduates are executives and senior community leaders selected to represent a cross-section of Franklin and Williamson County. As in years past, this class participated in group projects that were aimed at serving the Franklin community. In 2015, these projects benefited the Franklin community in law enforcement, history, education, and quality of life.

Graduates of the 2014-2015 Leadership Franklin Class are:

Aaron Kirchner, Owner, Franklin Athletic Club

Alba Gonzalez-Nylander, Managing Partner, AJ Media Services, LLC

Britt Rothrock, Professional Non-profit Fundraiser and Entrepreneur

Chaz Corzine, Partner, The MWS Group

Corey Napier, Managing Director of Middle Tennessee, Waddell & Associates; Mayor, Thompson’s Station

Dennis Georgatos, Vice President of Operations, Skanska USA Building, Inc.

Ed Smith, President, Williamson College

Greer Redden, President, Independence Trust

Jayne Bibb, Community Volunteer

Jimmy Moody, III, Store Manager, Moody’s Tire and Auto Service

Jon Finkel, Director – Infiniti Client Experience and Network Development, Nissan North America, Inc.

Jose Rodriguez, Owner, R&Co. Building Construction, LLC

Kenny Benge, Senior Pastor, St. John’s Anglican Church

Kerri Hudson, Public Information Coordinator, Williamson County Parks and Recreation

Laura Beth Stubblefield, Senior Director of Media and Communications, Propeller, LLC

Patsy Watkins, Family Consumer Science Agent, UT/TSU Williamson County Extension

Philip Feemster, Vice President, Franklin Synergy Bank

Shelley Moeller, President/Owner, Harpeth True Value

Susan Smallwood, Owner, 12south events & 12south design

Taylor Irwin, Financial Advisor/Account Executive, TBH Global Asset Management, LLC

Leadership Franklin is a non-profit community leadership organization dedicated to educating, informing and empowering leaders to improve the quality of life in Franklin and Williamson County. Participants meet once per month for eight months, for a series of classes aimed at presenting and analyzing a particularly important segment of the community. For more information about Leadership Franklin, visit www.leadershipfranklin.org.