All Fired UpIt’s easy to be artsy here

A PleAsUre For bUsiness

Southern hospitality helps attract companies to county

sPonsored by the Mt. JUliet/West Wilson CoUnty ChAMber oF CoMMerCe

Mt. JUliet/West Wilson CoUnty, tennessee

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Mt. Juliet tire CenterFull-Service Automotive FAcility

Locally Owned and Operated

11472 lebanon rd. • mt. Juliet, tN 37122 • (615) 754-6434 • www.mtjuliettirecenter.com

Voted Best Lifestyle/ Retirement Community

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Introducing the Livability.com Top 10 Lists New lists every month | Not your average lists | Not your average website

Top 10Summer Fairs

VICTORVILLE, CASan Bernardino County Fair

ROCK SPRINGS, WYSweetwater County Fair

VANCOUVER, WAClark County Fair

SHREVEPORT, LAThe State Fair of Louisiana

MT. JULIET, TNWilson County Fair

CROWN POINT, INLake County Fair

LOUISVILLE, KYKentucky State Fair

PUYALLUP, WAThe Puyallup Fair

WEST DES MOINES, IAIowa State Fair

SYRACUSE, NYNew York State Fair

Mt. Julietmade the list.Top 10 Summer FairsSee more Top 10 lists at Livability.com.

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dePartments

6 Almanac

14 biz briefs

16 Chamber report

17 economic Profile

18 local Flavor

22 sports & recreation

25 health & Wellness

26 education

28 Community Profile

29 through the lens

Mt. JUliet / West Wilson CoUnty, tennessee

®

editoriAl ProJeCt MAnAger mitch Kline

Content direCtor lisa battles

ProoFreAding MAnAger Raven Petty

Content CoordinAtor Jessica WalKeR

stAFF Writer Kevin litWin

CoPy editor Jill Wyatt

ContribUting Writers caRy estes,

chRis Russell, KaRen schWaRtzman

senior grAPhiC designers lauRa GallaGheR,

Janine maRyland, KRis sexton, viKKi Williams

grAPhiC designers Rachael GeRRinGeR, tayloR nunley

senior PhotogrAPhers Jeff adKins, bRian mccoRd

stAFF PhotogrAPhers todd bennett, antony boshieR

Color iMAging teChniCiAn alison hunteR

integrAted MediA MAnAger bRyant GRantham

Ad ProdUCtion MAnAger Katie middendoRf

Ad trAFFiC AssistAnts KRystin lemmon, PatRicia moisan

ChAirMAn GReG thuRman

President/PUblisher bob schWaRtzman

exeCUtive viCe President Ray lanGen

senior v.P./sAles todd PotteR

senior v.P./oPerAtions casey hesteR

senior v.P./Client develoPMent Jeff heefneR

senior v.P./bUsiness develoPMent scott temPleton

senior v.P./AgribUsiness PUblishing Kim holmbeRG

v.P./bUsiness develoPMent chaRles fitzGibbon

v.P./externAl CoMMUniCAtions teRee caRutheRs

v.P./visUAl Content maRK foResteR

v.P./Content oPerAtions natasha loRens

v.P./trAvel PUblishing susan chaPPell

v.P./sAles heRb haRPeR, JaReK sWeKosKy

Controller chRis dudley

senior ACCoUntAnt lisa oWens

ACCoUnts PAyAble CoordinAtor maRia mcfaRland

ACCoUnts reCeivAble CoordinAtor diana Guzman

sAles sUPPort CoordinAtor alex maRKs

sAles sUPPort ProJeCt MAnAger saRa quint

systeM AdMinistrAtor daniel cantRell

Web CreAtive direCtor allison davis

Web Content MAnAger John hood

Web ProJeCt MAnAger noy fonGnaly

Web designer ii RichaRd stevens

Web develoPMent leAd yamel hall

Web develoPer i nels noseWoRthy

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PhotogrAPhy direCtor JeffRey s. otto

CreAtive serviCes direCtor chRistina caRden

PUbliCAtion design direCtor muRRy Keith

CreAtive teChnology AnAlyst becca aRy

dAtAbAse MAnAger/it sUPPort chandRa bRadshaW

AUdienCe develoPMent direCtor deanna nelson

distribUtion direCtor GaRy smith

exeCUtive seCretAry KRisty duncan

hUMAn resoUrCes MAnAger PeGGy blaKe

reCePtionist linda bishoP

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For More inForMAtion, ContACt:mt. Juliet/West Wilson county chamber of commerce

46 W. caldwell st. • mt. Juliet, tn 37122Phone: (615) 758-3478 • fax: (615) 754-8595

mtjulietchamber.com

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contents

Features

8 CoMMUnity thAt CAresResidents, agencies make a difference

12 A PleAsUre For bUsinesssouthern hospitality helps attract companies to county

20 All Fired UPit’s easy to be artsy here

anniversaryissue

10th

8

2012 edition | volUMe 10

on the Cover Katie shea paints the ceramic mug she created at fired up. Photo by Jeff adkins

ImageSmtjulIet.com 3

What’s online imagesmtjuliet.com

Visually explore Mt. Juliet in our online photo and video galleries

Flip through the pages of this magazine and easily share articles using Facebook, Twitter or email.

Photos & Videos

digital magazine

Facts Get the most up-to-date info on cost of living, top employers, schools, population demographics and more

liVing hereLearn the basics about local neighborhoods, schools and health care providers

4 mt. julIet

Digital Edition

share with a Friendeasily share an interesting article, stunning photo or advertisement of your business on Facebook, twitter or via email.

haVe a Blog or weBsite?embed the digital magazine in your site to add compelling, local information.

do more than JUst read aBoUt itexperience the community through video and find links to other sites for additional information.

imagesmtjuliet.com

®

IMAGESMTJULIET.COM 9

Linda McClanahan says activities are what the Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center is all about, with

a main purpose of alleviating isolation and loneliness among the elderly.

“We’ve gone through quite a few upgrades in the last year or so, including changing our name from Mt. Juliet/West Wilson Senior Citizens Center to the Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center,” says McClanahan, executive director at the center. “We now have 80 programs in areas such as arts and crafts, theater, music and community service opportunities. It is an ideal venue for older adults to gather for social, recreational and educational programs.”

McClanahan says about 150 seniors ages 55 and older visit the center each day.

“The membership fee is $20 a year and most of our programs are free,” she says. “Membership is open to anyone from anywhere. Ours is a place where friends meet, so I invite everyone to stop by the facility on Mt. Juliet Road and see what the center has to offer.”

Baseball and HorsesThe senior center is one of many

sites and programs that help to make a difference and improve the quality of life in Mt. Juliet and West Wilson County. Another such entity is the Challenger League, which enables boys and girls ages 5-18 with physical and mental disabilities the opportunity to play baseball. Players can participate in tee ball, coach-pitch or player-pitch, and the league recommends that no score be kept during games.

Mt. Juliet is also home to

RESIDENTS, AGENCIES MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Community That Cares

STORY BY KEVIN LITWINPHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

Left: Playing the fiddle at the Good Old Time Country Music Show at the Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center Right: Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center members enjoy the Good Old Time Country Music Show.

IMAGESMTJULIET.COM 9 8 MT. JULIET

Welcome to Mt. Julietan IntroductIon to the area’S people, placeS and eventS

Play at the Parkopen from dawn until dusk, the frisbee golf

course at sgt. Jerry mundy memorial Park

offers an opportunity for mt. Juliet residents

to enjoy free recreation and entertainment.

Players can hone their skills on the recently

created course, working to toss their frisbees

as close to the appointed markers as possible.

in addition to frisbee golf, sgt. Jerry mundy

memorial Park features a full-length

multipurpose field that can be used for

a variety of sports, as well as a walking

track, playgrounds and pavilions.

no driving RequiredProviding stress-free, less expensive and more environmentally

friendly transportation, the music city star debuted in 2006 as

tennessee’s first commuter rail line. the 66-mile round-trip train

stretches from lebanon to nashville’s Riverfront Park, with other

stations in donelson, hermitage, mt. Juliet and martha.

Riders can expect to pay from $2 to $5 each way. the train has

11 double-decker cars that transport passengers to nashville each

morning and return them to Wilson county stations every evening.

the mt. Juliet station is at 22 e. division st. to see current train

schedules, visit www.musiccitystar.org.

almanac

blessed community

in mt. Juliet and West Wilson

county, congregations range

from large to small, with more

than 40 churches available to

accommodate the community.

serving more than 2,000

families, victory baptist church

is the largest in the area. another

large church is st. stephen

catholic church, with nearly

1,500 families.

medium-sized congregations

can be found at cook’s united

methodist, Joy church

international and life assembly,

and examples of smaller churches

include church alive and

Providence united methodist.

although each church is

different, it’s common for

the congregations to come

together and support local

causes such as the Room in

the inn program.

6 mt. julIet ImageSmtjulIet.com 7

the fairest of the fairs

as the largest fair in tennessee, the

Wilson county fair keeps more than

540,000 area residents and visitors

coming back for more each year.

one of the top draws is an area

called fiddlers Grove, which includes

a collection of historic buildings that

have been assembled from

throughout the county. multiple

stages provide plenty of music, while

everyone from photographers to beer

brewers can show off their skills at

the numerous niche competitions.

as for attractions, visitors can

enjoy racing pigs, dog shows,

cooking classes and a demolition

derby. to learn more, go to

www.wilsoncountyfair.net.

PoPUlAtion (2010 estiMAte)mt. Juliet: 23,671

Wilson county: 113,993

loCAtionmt. Juliet is in middle tennessee,

17 miles east of nashville.

beginningsmt. Juliet was formed in 1835 and

was the last town incorporated in

Wilson county.

For More inForMAtionmt. Juliet/West Wilson county

chamber of commerce

46 W. caldwell st.

mt. Juliet, tn 37122

Phone: (615) 758-3478

fax: (615) 754-8595 www.mtjulietchamber.com

mt. Juliet at a glance

What’s online Take a virtual tour of Mt. Juliet, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imagesmtjuliet.com.

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WILSON

109000

2424

840

40

70

231

Lebanon

Murfreesborofrfrefurff

Mt. Juliet

231232323223

Mt. Juliet

6 mt. julIet ImageSmtjulIet.com 7

ImageSmtjulIet.com 9 8 mt. julIet

ImageSmtjulIet.com 9

linda McClanahan says activities are what the Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center is all about, with

a main purpose of alleviating isolation and loneliness among the elderly.

“We’ve gone through quite a few upgrades in the last year or so, including changing our name from Mt. Juliet/West Wilson Senior Citizens Center to the Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center,” says McClanahan, executive director at the center. “We now have 80 programs in areas such as arts and crafts, theater, music and community service opportunities. It is an ideal venue for older adults to gather for social, recreational and educational programs.”

McClanahan says about 150 seniors ages 55 and older visit the center each day.

“The membership fee is $20 a year and most of our programs are free,” she says. “Membership is open to anyone from anywhere. Ours is a place where friends meet, so I invite everyone to stop by the facility on Mt. Juliet Road and see what the center has to offer.”

baseball and horsesThe senior center is one of many

sites and programs that help to make a difference and improve the quality of life in Mt. Juliet and West Wilson County. Another such entity is the Challenger League, which enables boys and girls ages 5-18 with physical and mental disabilities the opportunity to play baseball. Players can participate in tee ball, coach-pitch or player-pitch, and the league recommends that no score be kept during games.

Mt. Juliet is also home to

residents, AgenCies MAke A diFFerenCe

Community that Cares

stoRy by kevin litWinPhotoGRaPhy by JeFF Adkins

left: playing the fiddle at the good old time country music Show at the mt. juliet Senior activity center right: mt. juliet Senior activity center members enjoy the good old time country music Show.

ImageSmtjulIet.com 11

Southern STARRS, a nonprofit, no-fee organization that offers therapeutic horseback riding activities to children ages 3 and over. The horseback facility at Lone Willow Farm in Lebanon is also open to adults with mental or physical disabilities, or who have suffered life-altering trauma.

Animal ActsAlso a key part of the caring

community is the Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter, which is run by the city under the jurisdiction of the police department. The shelter oversees an animal control program and an adoption initiative for dogs and cats.

“We have a 93 percent adoption rate thanks to programs such as community adoption fairs, and we work with local businesses to set up adoption events at their sites,” says Eddie Blackwood, director of the Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter. “There are also humane education programs scheduled during the year at schools throughout Wilson County.”

The shelter also works closely with the state to oversee a rabies control program that keeps track of animal bites within the city limits. It also has a database of all large animals that are owned by residents in Mt. Juliet.

“The shelter has a contract with a local veterinarian clinic whose employees come by and do medical rounds every Tuesday and Thursday,” Blackwood says. “We also have a shelter officer on call 24/7 for anything that might arise related to animals in Mt. Juliet.”

From top: challenger league baseball; heather cooper plays baseball on horseback with the help of Southern StarrS volunteers. right: Southern StarrS volunteers lead a therapeutic horseback riding session at lone Willow Farm in lebanon.

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business

southern hospitality usually is perceived as being directed toward other people. But Kenny

Martin, the economic development director for the city of Mt. Juliet, says he wants that same hospitality to also extend toward businesses that locate in Wilson County.

Having that type of attitude means companies aren’t simply recruited to come to Wilson County and then left to fend for themselves. They are treated just like any other neighbor, with

friendliness and genuine concern for their well-being.

“Once we get your business here, we don’t forget about you,” Martin says. “We’ll visit with you and do everything in our power to make sure you’re successful. Because if you’re successful, that sends a positive message to other businesses thinking about moving to the community.”

“It’s the attitude of going above and beyond what we have to do. If your business needs something, you can pick up the phone and talk

to the mayor or the city manager or the chamber director. You’re going to hear from somebody, and we’re going to do everything we can to get it right.”

tennessee’s Most business-Friendly City

That approach is one of the reasons Mt. Juliet was named Tennessee’s Most Business-Friendly City in 2010 by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research (TCPR). Cities were ranked in the categories of economic vitality, business tax

soUthern hosPitAlity helPs AttrACt CoMPAnies to Wilson CoUnty

A Pleasureforbusiness

mt. juliet city hall

12 mt. julIet ImageSmtjulIet.com 13

burden and community allure.The economic vitality of the

county comes partly from its steady population growth in recent years. The city nearly doubled in population from 2000 to 2010 (to approximately 24,000), while Wilson County’s population increased 28.4 percent (to approximately 114,000). During that 10-year span, Wilson County was Tennessee’s fastest-growing county and 29th fastest-growing in the United States.

The TCPR also praised Mt. Juliet for its low business tax rate and lack of a local property tax. TCPR President Justin Owen says, “Mt. Juliet has shown an unmatched commitment to creating an economic climate that is both welcoming to new business and nourishing to existing enterprise. The city’s inviting tax and regulatory policy has paid off.”

Jupiter band instrumentsA prime example of the area’s

appeal to companies was the decision in 2010 by KHS America/Jupiter Band Instruments to move its headquarters to Mt. Juliet from Austin, Texas. The company relocated to a 100,000-square-foot building, brought along 22 workers from Austin and added another 30 employees.

“From the very beginning, right from day one, every effort was made to make those of us who are new to the community feel at home,” KHS President Tabor Stamper says. “The economic development organizations and chambers of commerce all went beyond our wildest dreams to make this move as easy as possible. We cannot be more grateful for that.”

It is, Martin says, simply the way Mt. Juliet and Wilson County do business when it comes to dealing with businesses.

“We don’t take it lightly when people pick our community to bring in their business,” Martin says. “We want to make sure they realize that Mt. Juliet and Wilson County are Southern hospitality at its finest.”

employees clean a trumpet (top) and adjust a guitar (bottom) at the new KhS america/jupiter Band Instruments facility in mt. juliet.

12 mt. julIet ImageSmtjulIet.com 13

business

Biz BriefsBuSIneSSeS – Both large and Small – that help deFIne

mt. julIet’S economIc clImate

scorecardbUsiness At

A glAnCe

$331 millionAnnual retail sales

$16,336retail sales

per Capita

$47 millionAnnual hotel

and Food sales

2,698total number

of Firms

source: u.s. Census QuickFacts

ProvidenCe AniMAl hosPitAlBiz: Veterinary servicesBuzz: At Providence Animal Hospital in Mt. Juliet, pets are pampered while receiving the full health examinations and treatments, including full medical, surgical and dental care. The clinic offers competitive prices and qualified veterinarians, and was honored with the second most green friendly Animal Hospital in the United States award for 2010-2011.www.providenceanimalhospitaltn.com

John deAl CoAtingsBiz: Adhesive manufacturerBuzz: John Deal Coatings began its business in 1967 as a supplier of pressure-sensitive adhesive coated films for the screen printing industry, and has since seen a substantial expansion. Now, using state-of-the-art coating equipment, the company provides quality adhesive products for automotive, medical, computer disk-drive, specialty label and general industrial industries. www.jdcinc.com

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tennessee CheeseCAkeBiz: Cheesecake producerBuzz: What started out as a one-woman, kitchen-run operation has grown into Tennessee Cheesecake. After the popularity of her cheesecakes in 1981, Valerie Wilson turned her hobby into a business. The handmade cheesecakes are baked in Mt. Juliet and are available in a variety of f lavors. www.tennesseecheesecake.com

environMentAl sCienCe CorPorAtionBiz: Environmental laboratoryBuzz: The Environmental Science Corporation is an environmental lab, nationally certified from one location, which is unique in the industry. The lab works with clients to perform organic and inorganic analysis, biological analysis and more.www.envsci.com

PUMP it UPBiz: Children’s party venueBuzz: Whether it’s a birthday, school field trip or fundraiser, everything’s a party at Pump It Up. Party packages come in 90-minute and two-hour time slots, each complete with giant inflatables in a private arena. In addition, Pump It Up also hosts overnights, prom events and more. www.pumpitupparty.com

14 mt. julIet ImageSmtjulIet.com 15

business

chamber reportchamBer excIted to add moBIle app

Mark hinesley says the

mt. Juliet/West Wilson

county chamber of commerce

is focusing heavily on

communications in 2012.

“We have invested financially as

well as with time and our personnel

in an entirely new content data

management system called

Weblink,” the chamber’s president

says. “it is a customer resource

management software package

that helps us personalize the

communication out of our office

to our members, with programs

and services to specifically target

their individual needs.”

hinesley says the days of

communicating with membership

via paper mail-outs is basically

over, although he knows of other

chambers that still use that

method.

“it’s a new day for

communications, and our

chamber board tries to look

somewhat ahead so that we

remain relevant to our

customers,” he says. “as a result,

we are nearing 2,000 friends on

our facebook page along with

700 on linkedin and many on

twitter. Plus, nowadays we have

about 100 of our 450 members

who receive updates and

information from the chamber

via text messaging.”

A is For APPthe chamber is also utilizing

a qR (quick response) code that

provides a quick way to direct

people to the chamber’s website

and social media outlets.

“and even more exciting news

occurred in september 2011 when

we signed a contract to have a

mobile device app designed for

our chamber, and that app has

been fully integrated into our

www.mtjulietchamber.com

website,” hinesley says. “People

can download that app for free

onto their smartphone or iPad, and

have the chamber directory, event

reservations, phone numbers and

more at their fingertips.”

speaking of its website,

hinesley says one new service

available to members is a

members only section where

coupons can be posted. the

coupons can be targeted

to newcomers moving into

the area or to other fellow

chamber businesses.

stAying AheAdhe adds that the chamber

will continue to provide more

and more online and social

services to further connect,

advocate, promote and support

its membership.

“i can’t believe that only a few

short years ago i was excited

about getting a fax machine, and

today we continue to try and stay

ahead of the curve and adapt to

changing technology and

communication preferences,” he

says. “our members seem to like

what we are doing, and we will

continue to keep upgrading

everything that we do.”

– Kevin Litwin

16 mt. julIet ImageSmtjulIet.com 17

Comprehensive sleep Center& pulmonary praCtiCeAccredited by: The American Academy of Sleep Medicine

vijay pethkar, m.D.Specializing in:

Sleep Apnea • Restless Legs • Narcolepsy COPD • Asthma • Emphysema

780 N. Mt. Juliet Rd. • Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

615-758-9273 www.comprehensivesleep.net

Competitive Pricing

Overnight Turntime

Exchange Available

Call or Faxfor Scheduling

5005 Market Pl.Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

(615) 758-5005Fax: (615) 758-5501www.tennairco.com

TennesseeAircraft Co. Inc.We overhaul TPE-331 and PT-6 fuel nozzles.

CRS QTFR-573L

tAxes

2.25%county Sales tax

7%State Sales tax

9.25%total Sales tax

toP eMPloyers

Wilson county School System

1,500 employees

cracker Barrel 893 employees

university medical center

800 employees

performance Food group

760 employees

jones Bros. Inc.

600 employees

WorkForCe

73% White-collar jobs

27% Blue-collar jobs

edUCAtion

30%associate degree

19%Bachelor’s degree

9%graduate degree

eConoMiC resoUrCes

joint economic & community development Board of Wilson county

(615) 443-1210

www.doingbiz.org

city of mt. juliet (615) 754-2552

www.cityofmtjuliet.org

trW automotive

505 employees

lebanon Special

School district

480 employees

nashville auto auction

475 employees

lojac Inc. 410 employees

lochinvar 400 employees

inCoMe

$29,221per capita Income

$58,915average annual household expenditure

trAnsPortAtion

music city Star east corridor

commuter rail project

www.cityofmtjuliet.org

nashville International airport

1 terminal dr., ste. 501

nashville, tn 37214

(615) 275-1675

www.nashintl.com

bUsiness CliMAtemt. Juliet’s convenient access to interstate and railway

transportation make the city an ideal spot for businesses and

industries that rely on tourism or the transportation industry

for shipping or receiving goods.

eConoMiC ProFile

16 mt. julIet ImageSmtjulIet.com 17

A southern-style meat-and-three

menu is available to customers

every day who eat at courtney’s

Restaurant, plus there is live music

with dinner every Wednesday,

thursday, friday and saturday.

“our focus is value, including the

large food portions we serve and the

quality of every meal, plus our live music

is free with dinner,” says tom courtney,

owner of the mt. Juliet restaurant with his

wife, lisa. “We have some amazing music

here. our house band is lester Ray sears

& tennessee border, who are well-known

on the nashville music scene. but our

food offerings are primarily what keep

people coming back.”

the two-year eatery serves dishes

like fried catfish, meatloaf, and chicken

and dressing, with side dishes such

as macaroni and cheese, white beans

and okra.

“We even have jambalaya and five-

layer lasagna,” courtney says. “it’s a

restaurant where customers come back

often. We even have 450 likes on our

facebook page.”

market, Wine and Pubmt. Juliet is also home to a mt. Juliet

farmers market, which is open three days

a week in the warm-weather months. in

addition, the community hosts the annual

a toast to tennessee Wine festival that

since 2003 has brought top wineries and

their products to mt. Juliet in mid-may.

about 15 wineries and 2,000 people are

in attendance, with participants able

to sample and purchase tennessee-

produced wines.

meanwhile, one of the liveliest eateries

in these parts is corner Pub between the

lakes, which offers fresh food and a cozy

atmosphere. the family restaurant has a

variety of meat-and-three options that

include barbecue, green beans, roast

beef and baked apples.

meat and greetanother top stop for dining patrons

is houston’s meat and Produce, which

is actually a butcher shop, a small

grocery store and quaint restaurant

with seating for 20.

“We’ve been a butcher shop for

25 years, so we offer diners the freshest

meats possible in all meals,” says chris

houston, co-owner of houston’s with

his father, Jerry. “those best meats

include barbecue and smoked ribs that

we prepare for take-out customers on

the weekends, since the diner portion

of our business is only open monday

through friday.”

houston says a lot of the restaurant’s

menu items are from recipes handed

down from his grandmother and mother.

“it’s good home-cooking in a relaxing

lunch and dinner setting,” he says. “come

see us for meals during the week and

then the best ribs you can possibly find

on the weekend.” – Kevin Litwin

make yourself at homeSouthern home cooKIng IS popular here

local flavor

What’s online

Still hungry? For more of the food scene in Mt. Juliet, visit

imagesmtjuliet.com.

Clockwise from top: tom and lisa courtney, owners of courtney’s restaurant; the buffet with Southern-style meat-and-three items at courtney’s restaurant; lemon pepper chicken served with green beans and macaroni and cheese at houston’s meat and produce

18 mt. julIet ImageSmtjulIet.com 19

Photos by Jeff adKins

18 mt. julIet ImageSmtjulIet.com 19

Culture and creativity come

together in mt. Juliet, where

residents find a range of artsy

ways to get involved and the local

culture scene continues to grow.

home oF charlie daniels and the bradley barn

Grammy-winning singer and

fiddler charlie daniels opens all

of his concert appearances with

the same introduction.

“When we go on stage, we

always tell people ‘We’re the

charlie daniels band from mt.

Juliet, tennessee.’” home to

daniels since 1971, the city

features a park (with a playground

and walking trail) named after him.

the historic bradley barn

recording studio in mt. Juliet has

its own story. several years after

legendary country music producer

owen bradley and his brother,

harold, built and sold the first

studio on what was to become

music Row in nashville, he created

a world-class studio inside a barn

in the beautiful mt. Juliet

countryside. bradley did this

in order to have a work location

closer to home, but from the early

1960s and into the 1980s, it thrived

as one of the most successful

studios in country music history.

West Wilson community arts alliance

the West Wilson community

arts alliance provides the exciting

pop to the arts and culture scene.

organized in 2005 by the mt.

Juliet/West Wilson county

chamber of commerce, the

WWcaa is a nonprofit arts

advocacy and funding group

that works to promote,

strengthen and support the

town’s cultural arts presence.

as a result of its efforts, mt. Juliet

now boasts choral dynamics,

encore theatre company, the

a culture kickmuSIc, art and hIStory hIghlIght mt. julIet culture

arts & culture

top left: a guest paints the ceramic mug she created at Fired up. right: owner Scott harris, right, and instructor

aaron Brown help students with their paintings at the art mill. Photos by Jeff adKins

20 mt. julIet ImageSmtjulIet.com 21

cedar creek band and the fine

arts Guild.

mt. Juliet-West Wilson county historical society

the mt. Juliet-West Wilson

county historical society takes

pride in telling the rich history of

mt. Juliet culture by discovering

and collecting historic material

that is special to the area. since its

beginning in 1975, the society has

published the mt. Juliet cemetery

book and the ancestry book of

George Washington cantrell.

Wilson county Fairdrawing people from across the

country, the Wilson county fair is

held for nine days each august on

240 acres at the James Ward

agricultural center in nearby

lebanon. from humble beginnings,

the fair welcomed more than

505,000 people in 2009.

the event is more than just fun

and games. attendees rev their

engines for the fair’s tractor pulls,

automobile giveaways and

demolition derbies year after year.

those who prefer something more

reflective enjoy photography

contests, wine tastings and even

civil War re-enactments. throw in

a barbecue cook-off and a banjo-

picking contest and everyone in

the family has a reason to smile

and come along.

music city starthe music city star Regional

Rail makes it easy for residents to

seek out cultural opportunities in

nearby lebanon and nashville, as

well. since 2006, the rail system

has operated on 33 miles of track

between lebanon and nashville,

with a stop in mt. Juliet.

around toWndot and stell’s offers a unique

shopping experience for those

looking for the perfect gift for the

hard-to-shop-for friend or a little

treat for themselves. started by

a mother-daughter duo, the shop

has been operating in the area for

eight years, and carries an

extensive collection of home,

yard, lawn, patio and garden

items. at the art mill in lebanon,

guests become the artists with a

step-by-step guide to create their

own masterpiece. it’s great for

groups who need something new

to do or individuals looking to

unleash their creative side.

another place that allows you

to be the artist is fired up in

Providence, where guests get to

paint and design their own piece

of unfinished pottery.

– Chris Russell

For more infoWilson County Fair www.wilsoncountyfair.net

Music City Star Regional Rail www.musiccitystar.org

Dot and Stell’s www.dotandstells.com

The Art Mill www.theartmills.com

Fired Up www.firedupprovidence.com

6039-TR12260M_TGB_Livability.indd 1 3/22/10 11:40:09 AM 20 mt. julIet ImageSmtjulIet.com 21

22 mt. julIet

recreation in mt. Juliet and West Wilson county occurs

at the lake, the park and even at fiddler’s Grove historic village, and that’s just for starters.

old hickory lake/cedar creek recreation area

old hickory lake and cedar creek Recreation area are mainstays for good times in mt. Juliet. there are ample opportunities at old hickory for fishing, boating and swimming, while cedar creek gets in on the

fun with a 59-site campground and recreation area that includes a group picnic shelter, playground, swimming beach and boat launch.

mt. Juliet youth sPorts

the nonprofit mt. Juliet soccer association places great emphasis for kids ages 4 to 18 on an environment of learning and encouragement, while at the same time helping them enjoy a clean and competitive soccer match. meanwhile, mt. Juliet youth football and cheerleading

Just looking for FunreSIdentS have multIple recreatIon optIonS

sports & Recreation

features competitive tackle football and cheerleading opportunities for children ages 5 to 12, and the mt. Juliet baseball league and mt. Juliet softball league offer tons of playing opportunities for children ages 4 to 18. the mt. Juliet challenger league was established in 1989 and extends playing opportunities to children with physical and mental disabilities. the league is open to children ages 5 to 18 and employs a buddy system during games.

cedar creek sPorts center

cedar creek sports center

brings entertainment with two

18-hole miniature golf courses as

the main attraction. cedar creek

also features go-karts, bumper

boats, a driving range, video

games and more.

Fiddlers grove historical village

fiddlers Grove at the James

e. Ward agricultural center has

a mission of preserving Wilson

county buildings, artifacts, oral

and written histories. the site has

been a tourism destination since

1991 to keep heritage alive, and

more than a dozen buildings are

accessible. many weddings are

performed in the village’s melrose

church year round, and schools

throughout Wilson county plan

several annual field trips to the

attraction.

cedars oF lebanon state Park/long hunter state Park

state parks are great ways to get away from it all, and close to mt. Juliet are cedars of lebanon state Park and long hunter state Park. cedars of lebanon appeals to the outdoor types with a 900-acre area featuring hiking trails,

22 mt. julIet

campsites, and picnic and swimming areas. long hunter provides a great location right next to the 14,000-acre J. Percy Priest lake.

charlie daniels Park and other local Parks

charlie daniels Park and its own Planet Playground are ready to entertain kids 365 days a year. the nearby mt. Juliet community center has a basketball court and meeting room, and features exercise classes. sgt. Jerry mundy memorial Park has state-of-the-art fields for flag football, soccer, baseball and frisbee golf games, as well as a walking track.

– Chris Russell

left: Skateboarding at the mt. juliet community center right: planet playground at charlie daniels park

Providence Dental CareCaring Professionals Providing Exceptional Dentistry

(615) 758-6800Cosmetic Veneers Bridges and Crowns Root Canal Treatment Gum Treatment Conscious Sedation Invisible Braces Implants and Dentures Beautiful, Soothing Environment Game Room and Toys HDTVs in Every Operatory Wi-Fi Accessible Coffee, Tea and Hot Cocoa Bar

Financing Available Most Insurances Accepted

Ask Us About Our Teeth Whitening for Life …

Larry W. Lafever, D.D.S. • Joshua K. Gunnels, D.D.S.

684 N. Mt. Juliet Rd. • Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 www.providencedentalcare.net

24 mt. julIet ImageSmtjulIet.com 25

Providence Placeof Mt. Juliet

An Assisted Living Community

Providence Place has been setting the standard for over a decade, providing much more than the

average assisted living facility.

The Gardensat Providence Place

An Assisted Living Specializing in Memory Care

Unmatched Building Design • All Inclusive Monthly FeePersonal Daily Care • Meals • Housekeeping • Laundry

Activities Including Bus

(615) 758-4800

Stop by for a tour to see what sets us apart from the rest.

1020 Charlie Daniels Pkwy. Mt. Juliet, TN 37122

www.providenceplaceseniorliving.com

(615) 758-9300

1016 Charlie Daniels Pkwy. Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 gardenspp@aol.com

www.providenceplaceseniorliving.com

good health care isn’t hard to find in mt. Juliet,

as the area features facilities equipped to meet

each patient’s needs. With easy access to full-

service hospitals, a heart care center and facilities

offering long-term assistance, area residents can

enjoy peace of mind.

university medical centerPeople want to be assured that the hospital near

them is staffed with the best doctors and medical

personnel available. they get that at university

medical center in nearby lebanon, accredited by the

state of tennessee as well as the Joint commission

on accreditation of healthcare organizations. the

facility features 245 beds with more than 270

physicians on staff serving all of Wilson county.

big news came in 2009 when construction was

completed on a four-story, $26 million patient tower.

the 77,000-square-foot structure includes 60 new

private patient rooms, and offers rehab and physical

therapy, a surgical floor and an orthopedic center.

the top floor is reserved for future growth.

umc hospital offers emergency health-care

services 24 hours a day along with inpatient and

outpatient medical and surgical services, intensive

care and telemetry services, among several other

specialties.

summit medical centeralmost 40 different medical specializations are

covered at summit medical center, just 5 miles

away from Providence marketplace in mt. Juliet.

the hospital offers a full array of services, including

emergency, medical, surgical, obstetric, oncology,

psychiatric and diagnostic services, so patients

know they are in capable hands.

featuring the area’s first hospital-based, 64-slice

ct scanner, summit medical center also offers

a cancer treatment program approved by the

american college of surgeons commission on

cancer. this approval is given to only one in four

hospitals that treat cancer, in recognition of the

high quality of cancer care it provides.

saint thomas heartopen since 2008, mt. Juliet’s saint thomas heart

offers cardiology services to help relieve chest pain,

coronary artery disease, cardiovascular disease and

other ailments.

high-Quality care close to homemt. julIet reSIdentS enjoy convenIent health-care optIonS

health & Wellness

the facility is part of tennessee’s largest,

private cardiology practice, which serves more

than 130,000 heart patients in a 69-county region,

spanning middle tennessee and into southern

Kentucky and northern alabama.

long-term careResidents seeking long-term assistance can select

from a variety of local facilities focused on providing

top-notch care.

Providence Place of mt. Juliet offers independent

living for seniors, while the Gardens at Providence

Place caters to people suffering from alzheimer’s.

additionally, maristone provides retirement living,

catered assisted living and adult day services, and

carrick Glen senior living community features an

assisted living facility, as well as independent villas.

– Chris Russell

24 mt. julIet ImageSmtjulIet.com 25

26 mt. julIet

yes, this will be on the test:

mt. Juliet schools stand out

for providing a good education

in a small-town environment.

mt. Juliet area Public schools

the Wilson county school

system serves mt. Juliet and is

committed to providing a top-

quality learning experience for

each of its 15,400 students

enrolled in the 18 schools. there

are 12 elementary, two middle

and four high schools, and the

district offers a wide array of

honors courses, sports teams

and opportunities for students

to grow. Wilson county school

system is accredited by the

southern association of colleges

and schools and faculty turnover

is low – allowing students,

teachers and parents to form a

close bond that is instrumental

to the education process.

mt. Juliet area Private schools

friendship christian school

and mt. Juliet christian academy

are two options for parents who

want their children to experience

a private school environment. fcs

serves kindergarten through

grade 12 and has an enrollment of

550 students. it offers daily bible

classes and a foreign language

study program that begins in

kindergarten, and its students

average 23.1 on the act. mJca

teachers are certified by the

association of christian schools

international and also offers

an individualized college

counseling program.

mt. Juliet area colleges

cumberland university is one

option for high school graduates

who want to take their education to

the next level. less than 20 miles

from mt. Juliet, cumberland offers

20 majors, four master’s degree

programs and a rich history that

dates to its founding in 1842. and

when students need a break from

the books, they can check out the

championship cumberland

bulldogs baseball team, winners of

the 2010 naia national title. other

top-tier colleges nearby include

vanderbilt university, tennessee

state university and belmont

university in nashville, along with

tennessee technological university

in cookeville and middle tennessee

state university in murfreesboro.

– Chris Russell

a class of their ownSmall-toWn educatIon IS BIg In mt. julIet

education

26 mt. julIet

What’s online For more information about Mt. Juliet-area schools, visit imagesmtjuliet.com.

students work in a chemistry lab at Cumberland University.

Ad Index 15 CedarStoneBank

17 ComprehenSiveSleepCenter&pulmonarypraCtiCe

27 donelSonChriStianaCademy

24 eliteaudiology&hearingCare

C4 FirStFreedomBank

C2 mt.JuliettireCenter

24 providenCedentalCare

25 providenCeplaCe

17 tnairCraFtCompanyinC.

2 univerSitymediCalCenter

23 WilSonBank&truSt

16 WilSonCountyConvention&viSitorSBureau

CliMAte overvieW

located in middle tennessee,

mt. Juliet experiences hot

summers but very mild winters

with little snowfall on average.

the area’s topography allows

for a lengthy growing season

for fruits and vegetables, and

all but the least hardy flowers

do well in the region.

90° Fjuly average high

24° Fjanuary average low

54”annual rain Fall (vs. national average rain Fall of 37”)

tiMe zone

central

visit ouradvertisersCedarStone Bankwww.cedarstonebank.com

Comprehensive Sleep Center & Pulmonary Practicewww.comprehensivesleep.net

Donelson Christian Academywww.dcanet.org

Elite Audiology & Hearing Carewww.eliteaud.com

First Freedom Bankwww.firstfreedombank.com

Mt. Juliet Tire Centerwww.mtjuliettirecenter.com

Providence Dental Carewww.providencedentalcare.net

Providence Placewww.providenceplaceseniorliving.com

TN Aircraft Company Inc.www.tennairco.com

University Medical Center www.universitymedicalcenter.com

Wilson Bank & Trustwww.wilsonbank.com

Wilson County Convention & Visitors Bureauwww.visitwilsoncounty.com

MAritAl stAtUs:

69% married

31% Single

ethniCity:

91% White

4% Black

2% hispanic

3% other

trAnsPortAtion

30 minutesmedian travel time to Work

Cost oF living

$75,166median household Income

$189,500median home price

$787median rent for a two-Bedroom apartment

hoUsehold inForMAtion

Age:

36median resident age

28% 19 and under

51% 20-54

21% 55 and over

snAPshotWilson county is the fastest-growing county in tennessee and the

29th fastest-growing in the united states. mt. Juliet is experiencing

rapid growth in residential and retail development, but it still

retains the small-town feel valued by its residents.

CoMMUnity ProFile

28 mt. julIet

ImageSmtjulIet.com 29

through the lens

these are a few photos i shot

last week for images of mount

Juliet. this magazine will focus on

the quality of life in the area and

features a story on great local

churches. the arts, local flavor,

recreation and education are also

covered in the annual publication.

From our Photo blog: mt. Juliet

Posted by bRian mccoRd

more online See more favorite photos and read the stories behind the shots at throughthelensjci.com.

now that you’ve experienced mt. Juliet through our photos, see it through the eyes of our photographers. visit throughthelensjci.com to view our exclusive photographers’ blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.

get the story behind the Photo

firstfreedombank.com