Author Archive: Christine Anne Piesyk, Contributing Editor
Christine Anne Piesyk brings 42 years of experience to the pages of Business Clarksville; she has edited news, opinion, politics, business, arts/leisure, food, lifestyle, education and travel pages in both daily and weekly newspapers. Now "retired, she words as an editorial consultant, and remains a contributing editor to Business & heritage Clarksville. "
At 18, she began working with film and theatre critic Sam Hoffman, and at 27 launched The Entertainment Review as a radio medium with Jesse Garon. As a film/arts critic, she co-produced the Review for 25 years in both print and radio. The number of films she has, seen, studied or reviewed number in the thousands. "Lifelong education and a career in media have afforded me extraordinary opportunities," Piesyk said. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in individualized studies from Goddard College.
Trek the world with Trader Joe’s Cookbook
Do you love Trader Joe’s?
Fans of this world-class market are sure to love the new I Love Trader Joe’s Around the World Cookbook, a tantalizing cookbook with 140 recipes and mouth-watering illustrations to sweeten the pot: Moroccan Sweet Potato Stew (Africa), Pot Sticker Soup (Asia), and Chicken Caponata (Italy), to name a few.
Author Mercedes Twohy reveres Trader Joe’s. “Visiting Trader Joe’s can be an exotic experience,” she states. “A stroll down the aisle reveals cheeses from Italy, France and Switzerland, beers from Japan and Belgium, and cookies from just about anywhere.” These foods are the root materials (the flavors and accents) used to generate mouth-watering menu items.
Cherie Mercer Twohy, author
The ’round the world tour of I Love Trader Joe’s cookbook starts in France, with a simply — and simply delectable — French Onion Soup. Eight of the simplest ingredients for a most extravagant taste, all in just 50 minutes from prep to plating. While the recipe calls for four ounces of shredded Gruyere, as a food aficionado, Twohy believes you can never have enough Gruyere…or Champagne Chicken and Champignons (mushrooms). Forty minutes to prep and cook a meal for four. Crushed garlic, cream sauce, and criminis become sumptuous fare.
The culinary tour moves from France to Italy, and on to such exotic locales as Greece, Africa, the Middle east, Asian, the Latin American countries, wrapping up in an all-American feast.
The layout of this cookbook is lean and clean: clear titles, simple ingredients lists ripe for last minute substitutions and adaptable to personal taste, straightforward cooking directions and fairly short (much less than an hour in most cases) combined prep and cooking time. Each recipe is preceded by brief notes on taste and a quick reference to the recipe’s origin and heritage.
Not everyone has a Trader Joe’s in their neighborhood, but many of the recipes are adaptable to substitutes of equal style, taste and texture. Most cooks can easily work around alternatives and substitutions when the original is not available.
In designing the books eclectic recipe selection, Twohy has compiled a taste-tempting variety of menu items to suite traditional and vegetarian palates.
The Chicken Kabobs were the first item to be taste tested — Grade: “A” for ease of preparation and taste. In celebration of Autumn, the butternut squash was also taste-tested. It would be criminal not to tap into the abundant squash harvest, after all. The Butternut garnered another A.
What serves busy cooks well is that some ingredients — like the squash — can be acquired pre-cut and packaged ready-to-cook.
For fans of culinary arts — and Trader Joe’s — the new I Love Trader Joe’s Around the World Cookbook is the perfect holiday gift.
Chicken Kabobs
From the pages of I Love Trader Joe’s global trek king cookbook…
Chicken Kabobs (Gluten-free)
Serve this tender chicken over salad greens with a simple oil and lemon juice dressing, or in pita pockets with some hummus or a little plain yogurt with some crushed garlic stirred in.
- 1 medium onion
- ½ cup olive oil
- 4 cubes frozen crushed garlic
- pinch of saffron, dissolved in
- about 1 tablespoon hot water
- juice of 1 lemon
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2½ to 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch cubes
- Trader Joe’s Smooth and Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
In a food processor, chop the onion very finely. Add the olive oil and garlic, and combine. Transfer to a sealable plastic bag, and add the saffron and water, lemon juice, and salt and pepper. Place the chicken pieces in the bag, seal, and shake to coat the chicken with the marinade. Refrigerate for 2 hours, or overnight.
Preheat a grill or broiler. Have ready 4 to 6 metal skewers, or bamboo skewers that have been soaked in water for 30 minutes. Remove the chicken from the marinade, discard the marinade, and pat the chicken dry. Skewer 2 or 3 chicken pieces per kabob. Broil or grill the kabobs for 4 minutes, then flip the skewers over and cook until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 4 minutes longer. Serve with the hummus.
Serves: 4 to 6
Prep Time: 5 minutes, plus marinating time
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Roasted Butternut Squash with Pecans, Dried Cherries, and Blue Cheese (Vegetarian)
Can you please make this immediately? It is just about the prettiest thing you can put on a platter, and it’s just so delish. It’s one of my favorite sides in autumn—try it on top of salad greens, too.
- 1½ (12-ounce) bags Trader Joe’s Cut Butternut Squash
- 1 medium red onion, sliced
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- pinch of dried sage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, more or less
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ¼ cup dried cherries
- ¼ cup crumbled Maytag or other blue cheese
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Arrange the squash and onion in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt, pepper, and sage, and drizzle with olive oil. Roast until barely tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Scatter the pecans over the top and roast until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes longer. Remove the squash mixture from the oven, and toss with the dried cherries and blue cheese. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Councilman Nick Steward named to Tennessee Pest Control Board
Nick Steward has been appointed by Gov. Bill Haslam to the Tennessee Pest Control Licensing and Advisory Board.
This board meets to consider special licenses for individuals who meet minimum qualifications for certain categories of pesticide application. The board also set dates for meetings and licensing examinations.
Councilman Steward will be taking the oath of office today in a brief ceremony to be held 115 Center Point Dr (the Clarksville Association of REALTORS) @ 3pm CST.
The Tennessee Pest Control Licensing and Advisory Board is comprised of seven members representing the pest control industry and consumers. The board sets standards for licensing in categories of pesticide application. The board also advises the Tennessee Department of Agriculture on pest control issues and regulatory matters.
From Gov. Haslam:
Dear Nick:
Today, is my distinct pleasure to confirm your appointment to the Pest Control Board as a Public Member. In the thorough, aggressive search for candidates, your individual characteristics and professional qualifications were exceptional among the number of nominees who expressed interest. The appointment is effective November 1, 2011 and runs through October 31, 2015.
I consider it very important to ensure that Tennessee’s boards and commissions are filled with the most dedicated and qualified citizens. I believe that your participation is certain to leave a positive impact on this board and the work it does.
Thank you for your interest in state government and for your willingness to serve your fellow citizens of Tennessee in this way. Please accept my very best wishes. I look forward to working with you and all Tennesseans to make our great state an even better place to live, work, and raise a family.
Warmest regards,
Bill Haslam
Governor
State of Tennessee
Belle of Cincinnati cruises through Clarksville
Nick Kniffen pauses to share the excitement of the riverboat passage with his young son, Bradon.
The Belle of Cincinnati made an overnight stop in Clarksville Thursday with a full complement of travelers braving rain and cool temperatures during their week-long Cumberland River cruise.
Boarding the Belle for the next leg of the journey...
The cruise originated in Cincinnati, plying the Cumberland with stops in Paducah, Dover, Clarksville and Nashville (today). Along the way, travelers debarked for tours of cultural attractions in key locations –including art in Paducah and historic Fort Donelson in Dover — and overnight stays in local hotels.
Charles Pierce, on of the Belle’s guests, stood on the steps at McGregor Park this morning, dressed for inclement weather but looking forward to the next stop in Nashville. “It’s a great way to travel,” he said. In the background, a crew from B&B Boats of Cincinnati readied the classic riverboat for the next leg of its journey. On the second deck, “Banjo Bob” provided some vintage tunes to start the morning.
The riverboats stacks, turned down as the boat moored overnight, slowly raised. Tucked by a top rail a pirate flag waved, and more than a half dozen American flags graced the remainder of the top deck. Behind a battery of windows, sheltered from the elements, travelers sipped coffee as the Belle turned slowly to navigate the river currents.
The Belle of Cincinnati
The start of the day’s journey was delayed, though; the railroad bridge remained closed to accommodate a train. The Belle sat patiently, leisurely, until the trestle could be turned to allow safe passage.
Along the shoreline, Nick Kniffen and his young son, Bradon, interrupted their travels to view and photograph the riverboat.
Photos by Turner McCullough Jr.
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- The Belle of Cincinnati turns towards Nashville
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- Once clear of the bridge, the paddle wheel is lowered into the water and The Riverboat is under underway!
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- The Jolly Roger flies high on the Belle of Cincinnati
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- “Banjo Bob” welcomes travelers with a bit of riverboat music
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- Leaving McGregor Park
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- Navagatinty the Cumberland River Channel at the bridge overpass
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- B&H Photographer Turner McCullough Jr.
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- Clearing the RJ Corman RR Overpass
Semi-pro basketball to tip off in Clarksville
Clarksville Cavaliers owner John Rowe (left) and Mayor Kim McMillan unveil the Cavaliers new logo. Photo by Stanley Vincent, Jr.
The Clarksville Cavaliers, a new American Basketball Association (ABA) team, is coming to Clarksville for their debut 2011-12 season, which tips off November 19 with an away game against the Gulf Coast Flash in Gulfport, MS. The home schedule in Clarksville is being finalized with games to be announced at several venues in the city this season. The first home game will take place on December 3 at a location to be announced.
Clarksville native Trent Hassell will headline the Clarksville Cavaliers as they bring semi-pro basketball to the city. Photo by Stanley Vincent, Jr.
Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan and team owner John Rowe unveiled the Clarksville Cavaliers logo in a ceremony held at New South Coffee on Franklin Street this afternoon.
John and Angi Rowe, who own the semi-pro Nashville Soul, an American Basketball Association (ABA) team, are pleased and excited to introduce the new team to Clarksville and surrounding cities.
“Basketball is so much more than a game,” said Rowe. “It’s a way to reach into the community and make a positive impact.” Beyond the action on the court, Rowe’s game plan includes extensive outreach with a family flair and intent to appeal to a diverse audience.
General Manager and Coach Andrew Zumbahlen brings strong commitment and high energy to the team, and believes the time is right for semi-pro basketball in the greater Clarksville arena.
“I believe that ‘experience equals confidence’ and ‘confidence equals success,’ which has a positive effect on individuals and communities,” Zumbahlen said. “There is an abundance of basketball talent across the South, so we expect to be very competitive.”
Team owner John Rowe announces a new semi-pro basketball team for the city: the Clarksville Cavaliers. Photo by Stanley Vincent, Jr.
“The Clarksville Cavaliers are a professional basketball organization ready to play and willing to make a commitment to the community it has chosen as its own,” Zumbahlen said. “Our teams will create a sense of community in Clarksville and stimulate the best effort of all who are associated with the organization through civic involvement.”
Headlining the roster is Clarksville’s own Trent Hassell, who signed for the Chicago Bulls in 2001, and played for 11 seasons in the NBA. Hassell, a former Clarksville High School player, joined the Nashville Soul last year, and will move to the Clarksville team this year. He will be joined by teammates Everett Bills, Josh Bone, Rashad Clements, Jeremiah Crutcher, Keon Grant, Astral Guerrier, Jerrell Houston, Wesley Poe, Josh Sain, Cody Waddey, and Carlos Woodard.
Clarksville Cavaliers website: http://clarksvillecavaliers.com
Visit “The Cavs” on Facebook at Clarksville Cavaliers ABA
Clarksville Cavaliers Roster
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Andrew Zumbahlen, General Manager and Head Coach of the Calrksville Cavaliers - Photo by Stanley Vincent, Jr.
Bills, Everett (6’3”), Guard, #22 , College: Texas Tech / Martin Methodist. Nashville, TN native and 1st year pro
- Bone, Josh (6’3”), Guard, #23, College: SIU / Univ. of Tennessee. Brentwood, TN native and 1st year pro
- Clements, Rashad (6’0”),Guard, #8, College: Bryan College Pelham, GA native and 1st year pro.
- Crutcher, Jeremiah (5’10”),Guard, #1, College: Tennessee State University. Nashville, TN native with one season of post-collegiate experience (WBA)
- Grant, Keon (6’4”), Guard, #13, College: West TX A&M. Hopkinsville, KY native with one season of pro experience (ABA)
- Guerrier, Astral (6’7”), Forward, #52, College: Vol State / Bryan College. Nashville, TN native and 1st year pro
- Hassell, Trenton (6’5”), G/F, #44, College: Austin Peay. Clarksville, TN native with 10 seasons of NBA experience, former 2nd round draft pick
- Houston, Jerrell (6’9”), Forward, #3, College: Tennessee State Univ. Memphis, TN native with two seasons of post-collegiate experience (WBA & overseas pro)
- Poe, Wesley (6’5”), G/F, #4, College: Trevecca. Jackson, TN native
- Sain, Josh (6’5”), G/F, #24, College: MTSU / TSU. Jackson, TN native and 1st year pro
- Waddey, Cody (5’10”), G, #5, College: Motlow St / TSU. Franklin, TN native has one season of post-collegiate experience (WBA)
- Woodard, Carlos (6’6”), F,#40, College: Vol State / Pikeville College. Nashville, TN native and 1st year pro
Clarksville Cavaliers Game Schedule
Nov 19 — Gulf Coast Flash, Gulfport, MS
Nov 20 — Gulf Coast Flash, Gulfport, MS
Nov 26 — NE Arkansas Swag, Jonesboro, AR
Dec 3 — Nashville Soul — Home
Dec 4 — NE Arkansas Swag — Home
Dec 9 –Gulf Coast Flash – Home
Dec 10 –Gulf Coast Flash — Home
Dec 18 — Indianapolis Drive – Home
Dec 30 — Chicago Steam — Chicago, IL
Dec 31– Chicago Steam — Chicago, IL
Jan 6 — Missouri Rhythm — Kansas City, MO
Jan 7 — Missouri Rhythm — Kansas City, MO
Jan 14 — Indianapolis Drive — Indianapolis, IN
Jan 15 — Atlanta Experience – Home
Jan 21 –Missouri Rhythm — Home
Jan 22 — Missouri Rhythm — Home
Jan 29 — Southern IL Truth — Home
Feb 4 — Chicago Steam — Home
Feb 5 –Chicago Steam — Home
Feb 6 – Nashville Soul – Nashville, TN (MTSU – Murphy Center) 7pm
Feb 11 –Bluff City Reign — Memphis, TN
Feb 12 — NE Arkansas Swag — Home
Feb 18 — NE Arkansas Swag — Jonesboro, AR
Feb 19 — Bluff City Reign — Home
Feb 25 – Atlanta Experience — Atlanta, GA
Mar 3 — Southern IL Truth — Home
Photos by Stanley Vincent Jr.
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- Andrew Zumbahlen, General Manager and Head Coach of the Calrksville Cavaliers
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- Trenton Hassel with Sheryl Johnson
Gardeners flock to ReStore festival, plant sale
The abundance of plants available at the ReStore Fall Festival and Master Gardeners plant sale was quickly depleted by avid gardeners seeking new perennials and shrubs for fall planting.
Bright sunshine, moderate temperatures and a steady gentle breeze welcomed the Montgomery County Master Gardeners and selected vendors to the ReStore on Madison Street Saturday morning for the annual ReCreate Fall Festival and Master Gardener’s Fall Plant Sale.
By 7:30 a.m. gardeners were unloading trucks brimming with a variety of perennials and shrubs to be sold in tandem with conversation and helpful hints about the care and maintenance of the greenery. Gardeners — both experienced and beginner — came, bought and shared camaraderie; by noon, the plant portion of the event was over with virtually every plant having found a new home.
On the art and craft side of the fair, visitors were treated to a small and diverse selection of vendors: jewelry, small handcrafted furniture, pottery and lawn/garden ornaments.. Featured craftspeople included Gemini Dream Designs, creators of stone and Steampunk jewelry and hand-crafted accessories; Doug Wilson Sculptures; and a variety of work from Shippely Pottery.
A shopper eyes a double-sided garden bench created by Doug Wilson from recycled iron railings.
Habitat’s ReStore resale outlets sell reusable and surplus building materials to the public. While every ReStore outlet is a little different, most focus on home improvement goods like furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances.
In keeping with the theme and values of the ReStore, Doug Wilson brought an ecclectic array of lawn and garden items, including “shovel birds” made of recycled metals, and a selection of masks rendered from recycled metal.
Kelly LaPlante of Gemini Dream Designs offered a unique seection of hand-crafted jewelry with a Steampuunk edge.
Kelly LaPlante of Gemini Dream Designs showed a selection of jewelry with a steampunk edge. LaPlante uses recycled wire, stone and and industrial materials to create pendants and earrings.
ReStore resale outlets accept donated goods which are sold to the general public at a fraction of the retail price. The proceeds help local Habitat affiliates fund the construction of Habitat homes within their communities. ReStores provide an environmentally and socially responsible way to keep good, reusable materials out of the waste stream while providing funding for Habitat’s community improvement work.
Photos by Christine Anne Piesyk
Cutting victim flown to Vanderbilt for treatment
John Anthony Harris Jr.
A verbal altercation between two men, which turned physical, resulted in one man being air-lifted to Vanderbilt after being cut with a box-cutter.
According to Clarksville police, on October 6 at around 11:45 a.m., 911 received a call about a man who had been cut with a box cutter. The victim had driven away from the scene despite the severity of his injuries. A short time later, officers were lead to the victim’s location by another 911 call which indicated the victim was at a residence off of Edmondson Ferry and bleeding severely.
When officers arrived they found that a 24-year-old male had sustained multiple cuts to his face, neck, and chest area from a box cutter. EMS responded to the scene and the man was taken by Air Evac to Vanderbilt. In the meantime, officers located the suspect, John Anthony Harris Jr., at 2125 Amadeus Drive. He was taken to the Detective division to be interviewed.
During the course of his interview, Detective David Bramel found that Harris had met with his ex-girlfriend in the parking lot of the Shell Station at 1070 S. Riverside Drive. While there, he was approached by the female’s current boyfriend; the two began to fight and the alleged victim went to his car and sat in the driver’s seat. Harris followed him to the car and displayed a box cutter and then cut the victim on the face, neck, and chest. Both men fled from the scene in vehicles. Harris was located and had a silver folding box cutter with dried blood on it on his person. During the interview, Harris admitted to using his box cutter to cut the victim.
The last information received indicated the victim was in stable condition. The name of the victim will be released pending family notification.
Harris, 23, of 2125 Amadeus Drive, was booked into Montgomery County Jail and charged with aggravated assault with a bond of $10,000.
The investigation is ongoing and the lead investigator is Detective David Bramel.
Photos by Detective Demone Chestnut-CPD
“Occupy Clarksville” organizational meeting planned
Occupy Clarksville, a new chapter in the “Occupy” that started on Wall Street and is now sweeping across America’s cities large and small, will hold their First General Assembly on October 9 at 3 p.m. in the Ampitheatre at McGregor Park on Riverside Drive.
On Thursday, angry protestors marched in Nashville. Earlier in the week, Move On.Org and numerous unions signed onto the battle in New York City, where hundreds of protestors have been arrested.
The Occupy groups, referring to themselves as “the other 99%” of the American people, are voicing opposition to the issues facing ordinary citizens: unemployment, taxation, the spiraling economic downtown, an increasingly unpopular war — essentially, all the headline news that has left millions feeling disenfranchised. Some chapters of the Service Employees International, the New York Transit Workers Union, Strong Economy for All Coalition, Working Families Party, Alliance for Quality Education, New York Communities for Change, and the Coalition for the Homeless have all lent their support to the Wall Street.
What is most interesting about this movement, though, is the fact that this movement is firing up a debate — and potentially a massive voting block — just in time for the 2012 presidential election.
The minimalist numbers at the top of the economic ladder (including corporations) are facing an exponentially growing horde of angry citizens that is starting to look like scenes from the era of Vietnam protests; marches, signs, chants, and considerable debate that at first seemed to draw random people moving through a somewhat random and multi-faceted agenda. Social media — as it has in several countries overseas –is now being used as a tool of communication and connectedness, and that is changing the shape of this initially localized protest. Occupy groups (indentified nationwide as “Occupy (City Name)” are now found from Atlantic to Pacific coast and from northern to southern border. Clarksville is one of the newest editions.
While the movement is gaining steam in Nashville and other cities, it is a newcomer to Clarksville; hence the organizational meeting slated for Sunday afternoon.
For more information on Occupy Clarksville, visit their website or Facebook page.
Veteran J.R. Martinez ties the top of the list on DWTS
J.R. Martineztook the stage with his assigned partner Karina Smirnoff in the DTWS season 13 opening show.
The popular television show Dancing with the Stars made its season 13 debut Monday with a line-up that included one local connection: Army veteran J.R. Martinez, who took the stage with his assigned partner Karina Smirnoff. The couple survived the premiere to dance another day — next week, in fact. The Martinex/Smirnoff team tied for second place (22 out of 30 points) for their elegant and romantic Viennese Waltz.
Martinez, a former soldier with Fort Campbell’s Strike Brigade, is an Iraq war vet who sustained severe injuries when his vehicle hit a land mine. His post-military life includes work as a motivational speaker and as an actor on the now defunct ABC soap All My Children.
It was a night of fairly solid performances on the side of this classic waltz, always a joy with its elegant costuming. Contestants were split between two dances, with have assigned the waltz and the other half the equally classic cha-cha, jazzed up and offering a counterpart in the form of skimpy Vegas-style costuming.
The show held back no punches; a rehearsal clip had Smirnoff, candidly asking Martinez, who sustained burns over 40% of his body, about his injuries and he in turn quipped about his injuries, the absence of an ear lost in the land mine explosion and the obvious scarring on his face. He did it all with a smile, an acceptance of his injuries and an abundance of joy at the course his life is taking now. “Life goes on, and we’re here for a reason. And we must make the best of it every single day,” Martinez said.
Scores on DWTS are a hybrid of votes from judges and a “call-in” voting process open to the public. The combined scores determine who stays, and which couple is “out.” Martinez’s courage and joie de vivre at simply being alive, his status as a surviving war veteran, captured the hearts of millions Monday night, and that charisma obviously contributed to his scores.
Despite the expected goodwill toward this young soldier, the fact is that he managed a credible waltz with a flair and smoothness of style nicely executed. Nearly every guest or celebrity dancer on DWTS is a newbie to ballroom dance, especially in its classical forms: the soft swirl of the Viennese Waltz, the intricacy of the Fox Trot, the sultry Samba, the snappy Cha-Cha, the torrid Tango, the vibrant jive, rhythmic rhumbas and the fast-paced Pasa Roble.
The first couple to be eliminated was Meta World Peace (aka NBA star Ron Artest) and his professional partner, Peta Murgatroyd, whose opening dance fell short on every level: Murgatroyd was professional and polished; Artest was stiff, angular and completely out of his depth.
DWTS launched its new season to controversy over the presence of transgendered activist Chaz Bono, the last dancer of the show. Bono proved himself a solid competitor, and along with Queer Eye for the Straight Guy‘s Carson Kressley, who was paired with a female partner, Anna Trebunskaya, offered performances with some technical merit and even more entertainment value: both exuded personality, humor and charm that overrode missteps and intricacies in dance. Judges also took note of Nancy Grace and Ricki Lake, both of whom showed promise and will be taking another turn around the floor next week.
The Chaz Bono controversy still pops up on websites and in various comments boxes online; quite frankly, if I have a complaint (and there are few about this show) that complaint has nothing to do with the sexual/personal life of any given contestant and everything to do with bastardizing of the Latin dances and the ever-diminishing costumes. After all, this is NOT a political arena, it’s a show about dancing and showmanship.
As the daughter of professional dancing parents, and a ballroom dancer myself, I am intrigued by DWTS, but it’s a love/hate relationship. My parents had a dance floor in our cellar; I grew up with the sounds and counts of the Tea for Two Cha-Cha and the Blue Tango combined with choreographic countdowns wafting up through the boards. I grew up with a closet full of ballgowns and glittering costume jewelry when everyone else was at the high school hop — not quite in the poodle skirt era but close enough! I grew up with the intricacies and the elegance that is ballroom, but shows like DWTS have turned much of this classic form into Vegas-style entertainment imbued with blatant and sometimes offensive sexual moves and barely-there costuming. Dance is lost in it.
Jive on DWTS ranges from fun and lively to downright tacky and vulgar. The DTWS waltz and fox trot stay fairly classic and elegant; the tangos tend to hold a elegant yet sensual steam that is characteristic of the form. Jennifer Grey’s Season 12 tango is best of show in DTWS history. The remainder of the dances — those cha-chas and sambas and rhumbas — are all lost in ridiculous costuming and storylines and music that bears no resemblance to ballroom music. In fact, about 75% of DTWS music is just plain terrible; all the tunes sound alike and sound bad.
Classic forms of dance — especially in competition — merit more classic music choices and, well, more class.
I still watch, though, with frequent cringing. And I jump over every second of inane conversation that DWTS hosts Brooke Burke and Tom Bergeron have to dish out between performances and judging.
The reason to watch DWTS is the evolution of non-dancers as they discover dance.
The Season 13 cast includes the following teams:
Team CarsonAnna
Carson Kressley & Anna Trebunskaya
Team Schwaz
Chaz Bono & Lacey Schwimmer
Team ChynnaDove
Chynna Phillips & Tony Dovolani
Team GoodTimes
David Arquette & Kym Johnson
Team Valisabetta
Elisabetta Canalis & Val Chmerkovskiy
Team MakSolo
Hope Solo & Maksim Chmerkovskiy
Team Martinoff
J.R. Martinez & Karina Smirnoff
Team KristinBallas
Kristin Cavallari & Mark Ballas
Team MacGrace
Nancy Grace & Tristan MacManus
Team DRickilous
Ricki Lake & Derek Hough
Team CherBert
Rob Kardashian & Cheryl Burke
Team PetRon
Ron Artest & Peta Murgatroyd
Mayor McMillan featured in Elect Women Magazine
City of Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan
Clarksville’s first female mayor, Kim McMillan has been profiled in Elect Women Magazine, which, in describing her career and political choices, wrote that McMillan “chose to give up higher political aspirations to come home to run for mayor of her hometown.”
McMillan was poised to make a strong gubernatorial bid when she instead chose to seek the mayoralty of her hometown. With months of taking office, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and immediately launched a new and different campaign to stay healthy. “I’m not slowing down and not going to let this illness stop me from doing what I want to do,” said McMillan.
Her own health concerns as well as statitics that show a staggering rise obesity in Tennessee brought McMillan, a competitive triathalete, to renewed focus on health and wellness. She recently launched new local initiatives to promote physical fitness as top priority in her “Top Spot” city.
In this youtube clip, McMillan announces her MS diagonosis; a true profile in courage.
Riverfest’s 5th annual Regatta winners announced
The Riverfest Regatta is not your typical boat race. The boats racing down the Cumberland River Saturday morning, September 10 were made of cardboard along with a few other approved materials. Twenty-four teams competed not only for bragging rights, but trophies were awarded to the first, second, and third place teams in each division. Below are the full results:
Adult Open
1st Tribute to the Troops : 1 min, 12 sec
2nd Aqua-Not:1 min, 33 sec
Business & Industry
1st USS River Eagle: 1 min, 5 sec
2nd K-Dub: 1 min, 36 sec
3rd Caisson Creation: 1 min, 43 sec
Church/Civic
1st Tennessee Vols: 1 min, 12 sec
2nd Wildcat Pride: 1 min, 19 sec
3rd Leave it to Beaver: 1 min, 22 sec
City Department
1st Council Cruiser III: 55 sec
2nd Return From Gilligans Island: 59 sec
3rd Leave It To Beaver: 1 min, 6 sec
Awards
Ship Shape Award- Most Creative Boat Design: K2XX
Cardboard Queen- Prettiest Boat: Long Island
Team Unity- Most Spirited & Organized Team: Okole Maluna II
Team Attire- Most Creative Costumes: USS River Eagle
Titanic Award- Most Spectacular Sinking: Red River Siren
For more details on the Riverfest Regatta, please visit www.clarksvilleriverfest.com
