Pearl-Cohn Firebirds head to TSAA state football championship

Mike Patton
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Pearl-Cohn Firebirds head to TSAA state football championship

In 1996 and 1997, Pearl-Cohn was one of the most dominant teams in the state. Sporting future collegiate stars Santonio Beard and John Henderson along with one of the best coaches in the Metro area, Maurice Fitzgerald, the Firebirds gave many teams nightmares and cold sweats. 

Fast forward 22 years and the Firebirds have a chance to hold that state championship trophy once again along with finishing the season undefeated this Saturday as they take on the Alcoa Tornadoes. For assistant head coach Damien Harris, it’s a chance to do a few different things, starting with winning a state title at his alma mater.

“That’s always been the goal ever since I got back to Pearl-Cohn. To bring that trophy back to Pearl-Cohn. There aren’t a lot of people who can say they won the state as a player and a coach.”

Harris was a member of the Pearl-Cohn team that won state titles. Those young men played with swagger, hungry for success and they were undaunted in the task at hand. Winning! Along with that, they had fun playing the game they loved.

“These guys deserve it. They have to deal with a lot on and off the field. To be able to win state and make history by going undefeated would be an honor.”

Winning a state title with these young men would be great, but Harris is definitely aware of the competition he and the Firebirds face.

“It’s going to be a tough task taking on an elite team like Alcoa. They have championship experience but, our team has worked hard and we’re prepared. I think it will be a great game.”

Along with potentially making history by winning a state title at Pearl-Cohn as a player and a coach, Harris also envisions this as a moment to lift up the city and neighborhood.

“It’s time for this neighborhood and this city as a whole to have something positive to talk about since so much negativity surrounds the 37208 area.”

This Friday, Pearl-Cohn head coach Tony Brunetti and Harris have a chance to bring the state title to Nashville once again. And for Damien, this is a chance for him to bring back not only a title, but some positive energy to his hometown.

The game starts at 3:00 pm, this Friday, December 6, at Tennessee Tech University’s Tucker Stadium.

Marketing & Advertising agency, Urban Comm, launches new division in Nashville

The Nashville Voice
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Marketing & Advertising agency, Urban Comm, launches new division in Nashville

NASHVILLE, TN.—Around 60 of Nashville’s elite and business community leaders attended a private launch of Urban Communications’ new advertising division at PH Craft Cocktail last Tuesday, Nov. 26.

The marketing and advertising firm, which has operated throughout the Southeast for more than 10 years with additional offices in Atlanta and Houston, has worked with Belmont University, Titus Young Real Estate, City of Metro Nashville-Davidson County, Meharry Medical College, and Metro Nashville General Hospital.

“Now is the perfect time to have a presence in Nashville, as the city is growing and expanding daily. We are looking forward to serving the marketplace and filling a much-needed gap in Urban and Millennial sectors,” said Shawn Crawford, a principal of Urban Comm. “As the landscape of Music City continues to evolve, we hope to position our company to be the leading provider of marketing and advertising services for corporations and businesses looking to strengthen their brands, their brand stories, and their brand positioning within urban and millennial markets in Nashville and beyond. ”

According to market research firm PQ Media, the buying impact of Urban consumers, specifically African-American consumers is on target to exceed $1 trillion by year’s end. Urban Communications is well equipped to produce campaigns that engage these very large market segments and are now accepting both corporate and small business clients—looking to bolster their brand strength and rapport within these segments.

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Urban Communications is a full-service marketing and advertising agency with offices in Atlanta, Nashville, and Houston. The minority-owned enterprise specializes in the execution of events and campaigns to engage African American and millennial consumers on a variety of platforms, including traditional, social and digital media. If your company has marketing and advertising needs, visit Urban Communications online at www.urbancomm.co or email info@urbancomm.co.

The National Museum of African American Music Celebrates Giving Tuesday, joining millions around the world participating in the global generosity movement

Articles Submitted
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The National Museum of African American Music Celebrates Giving Tuesday, joining millions around the world participating in the global generosity movement

NASHVILLE, TENN. (December 2, 2019) – Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and their world. Giving Tuesday will kick off the generosity season this year by inspiring people to give back on December 3rd, and throughout the year.

This Giving Tuesday, The National Museum of African American Music will participate in the 2019 initiative, delivering a call to action for fans, followers, and ambassadors to contribute to the museum’s ability to fulfill its mission.

Music transcends barriers, and it is our common love of music that has the power to unite us as a community and as a country. This Giving Tuesday, we ask you to join us as “One Nation Under a Groove” and donate to the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM).

NMAAM, set to open in Summer 2020, will be the only museum dedicated solely to preserving African American music traditions and celebrating the influence African Americans have had on music.  Although our building is not yet open, we have been operating as a Museum Without Walls for years.

As a Museum Without Walls, NMAAM has provided educational enrichment for hundreds of Davidson County Schools students, hosted monthly interactive community programming, and honored living legends such as Kirk Franklin, Nile Rodgers, and Patti Labelle. It is YOUR support that makes any of this possible.

“Your generosity matters, and it is critical to NMAAM’s efforts to ensure robust programming and educational exhibits,” NMAAM Assistant Director of Development Kara Duke said. “We need you on December 3rd! Help us in our mission to educate the world, preserve the legacy, and celebrate the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack.”

Those who are interested in joining NMAAM’s Giving Tuesday initiative can text theNMAAM” to 243725 or visit blackmusicmuseum.org/donate to give.

TSU Students Visit Tennessean Conference Room Dedicated to Fallen Reporter and Professor

Articles Submitted
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TSU Students Visit Tennessean Conference Room Dedicated to Fallen Reporter and Professor

Nashville, TENN – During a Nov. 22 visit to The Tennessean Newsroom, three Tennessee State University (TSU) staffers for The Meter, the University’s student-run newspaper, had a chance to view the Getahn Ward Conference room. The space includes a table with four chairs, a cabinet displaying awards won by Ward while he worked there and a white board for writing ideas.

Getahn Ward (Photo courtesy of nashvillenabj.com)
Getahn Ward (Photo courtesy of nashvillenabj.com)

Ward was an award-winning business reporter at The Tennessean who suddenly died of illness in December 2016. He was an active member of the Nashville chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. There he chaired the chapter’s Scholarship committee.

Ward was an editor of The Meter when he attended TSU in the 1990s. His experience at the student paper led him to the Tennessean.

He was also an adjunct in the Communications Dept. at TSU, teaching an introductory journalism course for many years. The Communications Dept. under the leadership of Dr. Tameka Winston named a Newsroom after Ward following his sudden passing.

The Tennessean moved earlier this year to a new and modern space at 1801 West End Ave. The newly designed Newsroom includes several small conference rooms where reporters and editors can discuss stories or work on projects.

The Tennessean and TSU raised money for a scholarship to be awarded each year in Getahn’s name.

Who is Tom Steyer?

Jason Luntz
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Who is Tom Steyer?

If you watched the recent 5th Democratic Debate on MSNBC you might have saw a new face on the stage you were not familiar with. Tom Steyer, the California Billionaire, joined the democratic primary candidates to debate his opponents and to get a chance to explain why he should be the next President of the United States.

Some voters may have wondered who exactly is Tom Steyer?

Tom Steyer is hedge fund manager, philanthropist, environmentalist, liberal activist, and fundraiser. He is most known for spending millions of dollars pushing for the impeachment of President Trump, airing television ads and building a grassroots online network.

While he has never held an elected office, he has been active in politics since retiring from the hedge fund Farallon Capital in 2012. In 2013, he founded the nonprofit group NextGen America, with a focus on combating climate change, promoting social justice, and helping to increase voter registration.

In 2017 he stepped on the national stage by creating the political group Need to Impeach. He then considered running for the positions of California governor and senator, but soon decided to dedicate $100 million or more of his money on a presidential bid.

According to his website www.tomsteyer.com, he is “committed to combating climate change, fixing our government, and, when elected president, putting people, and not corporations, in charge of our democracy.” He is also for term limits in Congress, decriminalizing illegal border crossings and expanding the Supreme Court.

After Steyer’s debate performance Quinnipiac poll placed him polling at 5%. He is also averaging between 6-8% in Morning Consult’s early state tracking.

This week his campaign announced senior staff in Super Tuesday states including Alabama, California, Colorado, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

To learn more about Tom Steyer and his policies please visit: https://www.tomsteyer.com/policies.

For the next 26 days, retailers will be after your wallet

CNN Newsource
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For the next 26 days, retailers will be after your wallet

By Julia Horowitz, CNN Business

(CNN) — Happy Friday. A version of this story first appeared in CNN Business’ Before the Bell newsletter. Not a subscriber? You can sign up right here.

Black Friday is here, and you know what that means: the holiday shopping season is in full swing. Retailers are under even more pressure than usual. With six fewer shopping days this year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the clock is ticking for stores to get customers through the door.

The stakes: To understand why December matters so much to retailers, just look at the numbers. Last year, Target brought in 30% of its annual revenue during the fourth quarter, according to data compiled by Cowen. Macy’s and Kohl’s both collected 34% of their revenue during the quarter.

Of course, for retailers, these are no ordinary times. Consumer spending remains strong, but there are other forces at play.

Just look at this piece from my CNN Business colleague Paul R. La Monica, who writes that mall owners are finding creative ways to fill vacancies:

“The giant spaces that once housed a single anchor tenant are being reconfigured to attract multiple smaller shops. Empty stores are being filled with new kinds of tenants — hospital offices, pop-up shops for digital brands and even sports centers.”

Some choice tidbits: A Sears in Ohio is being demolished and replaced by an indoor golf center, while a Barney’s in Arizona now houses co-working space and an Apple Store.

A personal favorite: Mall owner Macerich has launched a program called BrandBox that works with e-commerce companies to set up physical pop-up stores.

It’s a creative strategy, but doesn’t change that fact that people are increasingly comfortable shopping online — particularly on their phones. Per Cowen, 50% or more of digital traffic during the holidays is expected to come from mobile, which is forecast to drive 30% to 35% of online revenue. Happy scrolling.

US law complicates trade talks

President Donald Trump’s decision to sign legislation in support of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters this week isn’t likely to derail US-China trade talks — but it will complicate negotiations said to be at a crucial juncture.

Trump, eager to reach a deal, tried to couch the move, which had overwhelming support from US lawmakers. He said he had signed the bill “out of respect for President Xi [Jinping], China, and the people of Hong Kong.”

China responded by summoning the US ambassador. Beijing said Thursday that the signing of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act was “plainly bullying behavior” and was “opposed by the Chinese government and Chinese people.”

Investor insight: UBS said in a note to clients Friday that it doesn’t think the legislation will “significantly” alter the state of play.

The bank’s strategists noted Trump’s “conciliatory tone toward China when signing the legislation, signaling an intent to continue cordial trade negotiations.”

But it’s still a complicating factor in an already complex process. From analysts at Commerzbank: “Obviously, the Hong Kong bill could create another obstacle for the already struggling negotiation process.”

The grocery delivery wars are heating up in Asia

The fight to get out front on grocery delivery looks increasingly global. See here: Japanese retail giant Aeon is teaming up with UK grocery delivery company Ocado in a move that signals it wants to take on both Amazon and Walmart.

Shares of Ocado jumped nearly 13% in early trading in London. They’ve skyrocketed more than 70% this year. Other notable Ocado partners include Kroger, which signed an exclusive deal to use Ocado’s technology in the United States last year, and UK high street mainstay Marks & Spencer.

Aeon will utilize Ocado’s system of robotic warehouses and its software to compete in an increasingly cutthroat sector. Walmart and Rakuten, Japan’s largest e-commerce company, launched a grocery delivery service in Japan in 2018. Amazon is also pushing into fresh food delivery in the country.

Up next

It’s a half day of trading for US equity and bond markets. Time to tuck in to those Thanksgiving leftovers.

Coming next week: Saudi Aramco sets the final price for what’s poised to be the largest IPO of the year, if not ever.

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™ & © 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

The longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America is all lit up for the holidays

CNN Newsource
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The longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America is all lit up for the holidays

By Lauren M. Johnson, CNN

(CNN) — Deck the bridge with lights a plenty, fa la la la la, la la la la!

North America’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is showing its holiday spirit. “Lights over Gatlinburg” at SkyLift Park started on Thursday.

The bridge, which sits 140 feet over the mountain town, has been transformed into a tunnel of multicolored lights and gives visitors a bird’s eye view of other seasonal decorations below.

Not a fan of heights? Don’t worry — as long as you are okay with a decently steep gondola ride — you can still enjoy the holiday cheer from the vantage point of the SkyDeck, complete with a fire pit.

If you do walk the entire 680-foot length of the bridge, be sure to enjoy the glow of the festive decor on the glass center where you can look into the forest below.

The event is happening through January 25.

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™ & © 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.

The only Thanksgiving leftovers guide you need

CNN Newsource
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The only Thanksgiving leftovers guide you need

By Sandee LaMotte and Breeana Hare, CNN

(CNN) — Like an inbox filled with emails about Black Friday sales, the one thing you can count on the day after Thanksgiving is a fridge packed with leftovers.

For many, this is easily the best part of the entire holiday — but at a certain point, even the most devoted leftovers fans will question if that side dish is still OK to eat.

Some answers depend on your family traditions: If your relatives like to leave the Thanksgiving feast on the table for all to snack on during the football screen fest, you’re already in trouble. Bacteria grow fast.

All of the food should be wrapped up or put in airtight containers and stashed in the fridge within two hours of serving to keep food fresh and free from bacteria, says the United States Department of Agriculture.

Make your snacks from the fridge, not the table, is the advice.

Then check the guide below to find out long you can keep common Thanksgiving leftovers in your fridge and when you should toss them out.

Turkey

Keeps for: Three to four days

Cooked turkey, chicken and duck (in case you are making a turducken) will last three to four days in the fridge according to Foodsafety.gov, the go-to place to get food safety information from various government health agencies.

Do: Freeze the leftovers in foil or airtight containers as soon as possible; the fresher the turkey is when it goes in, the better. They should be good for two to six months.

Don’t: Store a leftover bird with stuffing still inside; it will take too long for the stuffing to cool and bacteria could grow. Instead, take the stuffing out and save it in a separate container before refrigerating or freezing the turkey meat.

Ham

Keeps for: Three to four days

Those popular spiral-cut hams or any store-wrapped cooked ham will last three to four days in the fridge. Cooked country hams will last a bit longer, up to a week.

Do: Wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before refrigerating. If you choose to freeze, it will be good for one to two months.

Don’t: Try to save any leftover ham that has a slimy texture — that’s a tell-tale sign it’s gone bad.

Mashed and sweet potatoes

Keeps for: Three to four days

You’ll likely have made them with cream and butter, so you’ll need to put the spuds into the fridge within two hours of preparation. If stored in an airtight container, they will last three to four days in the fridge (this applies to any sort of cooked potato dish, such as potato salad or scalloped potatoes).

Do: Consider freezing your mashed potatoes or gratins in airtight containers or plastic freezer bags within three days; they should be good for up to a month.

Don’t: Freeze any leftover raw potatoes that didn’t make it to the table without blanching them first; otherwise, they’ll be watery when rejuvenated.

Stuffing/dressing and gravy

Keeps for: Three to four days

It’s all gravy: Any broth made with meat will last three to four days refrigerated and up to two months in the freezer. Same goes for that delicious dressing, if there’s any left.

Do: Store it all within two hours of making, in an airtight container. If freezing, it will keep about a month.

Don’t: Forget and leave your stuffing in the turkey. It’s a breeding ground for bacteria.

Cranberry sauce

Keeps for: 10 to 14 days

You can keep adding that delicious homemade or store-bought cranberry sauce to your sandwiches for up to two weeks if it’s been kept refrigerated in an airtight container.

Do: Refrigerate homemade cranberry sauce within two hours of cooking. If you want to make extra and freeze, it will last for up to two months.

Don’t: Touch it if there’s an off odor, flavor or appearance (especially mold).

Green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese and corn pudding

Keeps for: Three to five days

Green bean and corn casseroles and cooked pasta dishes typically last about three to five days when properly stored in the fridge. The same goes for roasted veggies, collard greens and other Thanksgiving dinner favorites.

Do: Be sure to store any dish containing mayonnaise within two hours of making or serving.

Don’t: Freeze any macaroni salad (or egg, chicken, ham or tuna salads), says the USDA. They just don’t taste good when they come back to life.

Bread, rolls and croissants

Keeps for: About a week

Do: Keep your leftover rolls and other Thanksgiving day breads wrapped in plastic in the pantry; they should be good for a week. To last longer, wrap tightly in foil and place in a freezer bag for up to three months.

Don’t: Put breads into the fridge to help them last longer, they’ll just dry out.

Pumpkin, pecan, fruit pies

Keeps for: Three to four days

Pumpkin and pecan pies — or any other pie with an egg-based filling, such as chocolate pie — will keep for three to four days if refrigerated within two hours of making or serving.

Fruit pies can sit out for two days before you cut and serve them. After eating, loosely wrap with foil or plastic before you put the pie in the fridge.

The rule applies to store-bought pies as well — once you’ve cut it, it needs to refrigerated.

Do: Consider freezing pumpkin, pecan and fruit pies. Wrapped tightly in foil or plastic they will keep for almost three months. Defrost before warming to eat.

Don’t: Freeze any ‘airy’ pies such as custard or chiffon.

Cakes and pastries

Keeps for: Up to a week in the fridge

Cakes and pastries can actually be left at room temperature on the snacking table for up to two days; you’ll want to cover loosely with plastic wrap to keep them moist. Put into the fridge, they’ll stay fresh for up to a week.

Do: Keep slices to snack on by freezing in airtight containers; they will last two to three months.

Don’t: Keep any cakes or pastries with dairy-based frostings or fillings out on the table after dessert. They need to go immediately into the fridge.

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5 Ways to Stay Safe During the Dangerous Holiday Driving Season

StatePoint
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5 Ways to Stay Safe During the Dangerous Holiday Driving Season

The holidays can be the happiest time of the year, but unfortunately, they can also be the most dangerous, with more fatal car crashes occurring due to increased travel time, more alcohol use and excessive speed, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

NHTSA predicts that during this Christmas week, from Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at 6 p.m. through Thursday, January 2, 2020 at 5:59 a.m., 799 people will lose their lives nationwide due to car crashes. While it may be uncomfortable to consider these predictions, NHTSA’s report says that analyzing and forecasting fatalities can serve as useful warnings to the public, actually making roads safer.

“No one wants to think about what can go wrong, especially at such a joyful time of year, but as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure,” said Jon Bloom, vice president, personal auto, Erie Insurance. “The good news is that there are specific things that people can do help keep themselves and their families safe this holiday season.”

Erie Insurance offers these five tips for safer holiday driving.

• Keep your car road-ready. Proper maintenance will help keep your car in shape for whatever road conditions you encounter. In addition to getting regularly scheduled oil changes, make sure your car’s fluids are topped off and that filters, hoses and other components are in good working order. If they’re showing signs of wearing out, replace them.

• Maintain properly inflated tires. Not maintaining the right tire pressure can lead to flats and blowouts, which could cause you to lose control of your car and crash. Pay close attention to your car’s tire pressure monitoring system. If you see an alert that tire pressure is low, fill them as soon as possible.

• Be ready for emergencies. While maintaining your car can reduce your chance of being stranded along the side of the road, it could still happen. Keep an emergency kit in the car with a cell phone charger, blanket and first aid kit, along with bottled water and snacks. Also, check with your insurance agent to ensure your policy includes Emergency Roadside Service coverage so that if your car does break down, you can call for help.

• Give yourself plenty of time. With speeding being one of the top causes of car crashes, it’s important to remember that there’s no prize for arriving first. It’s much better to drive the speed limit — or even lower, depending on road conditions and build in a few extra minutes to get where you’re going, especially when driving near busy shopping malls or on holiday travel days when traffic is heavy.

• Stay sober or designate a driver. Celebrating with a holiday toast? Plan ahead and have a designated driver, or use a cab or ride sharing service to get home. Regardless, never get behind the wheel if you’ve been drinking.

While the holidays can be a particularly perilous time to drive, taking precautions can help ensure you, and others on the road, have a safe season.

Tequila Johnson named Tom Steyer’s Tennessee State Director at Campaign Kickoff

Jason Luntz
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Tequila Johnson named Tom Steyer’s Tennessee State Director at Campaign Kickoff

Nashville, TENN – This week Tom Steyer, the California Billionaire who recently announced he was running for President, kicked-off his campaign in various states around the country. On Tuesday, Nov 26 Tennesseans for Tom hosted his first Tennessee campaign event in East Nashville at Beyond the Edge.

Approximately 60 people were on hand to celebrate the announcement of community organizer and strategist Tequila Johnson as the campaign’s Tennessee State Director. “I am extremely excited about being a part of Tennesseans for Tom,” said Johnson. “To have a candidate like Tom that has always been a champion for the issues that we as Tennesseans care about, come to Tennessee and work with someone like me that is throughly invested in the state, means a lot.”

Tennesseans for Tom campaign volunteers join Tequila Johnson and Lauren Windsor (far right). Photo by: Jason Luntz
Tennesseans for Tom campaign volunteers join Tequila Johnson and Lauren Windsor (far right). Photo by: Jason Luntz

Johnson’s work has focused on creating equality and increasing civic engagement among voters of color in Tennessee. She is the co-founder and vice president of The Equity Alliance, a Tennessee-based nonprofit that equips black and brown citizens with tools and strategies to strengthen their communities and make government work better.

She has been featured in The New York Times and The Washington Post, and on CNN, MSNBC, and other outlets around the country.

Attendees of the event were able to ask questions and learn more about the Steyer campaign. While a latecomer into the Democratic Primary election season, Steyer is already polling at 5% against his opponents according to a recent Quinnipiac poll. His signature issues included term limits in Congress, decriminalizing illegal border crossings expanding the Supreme Court, breaking the influence of corporations and addressing climate change.

Meharry Medical College students celebrating the Tennesseans for Tom campaign kickoff. (Photo by: Jason Luntz)
Meharry Medical College students celebrating the Tennesseans for Tom campaign kickoff. (Photo by: Jason Luntz)

Tennessee, which has a remained a Republican strong hold for many years, has largely been ignored by the majority of Democratic candidates. Steyer follows Elizabeth Warren as the second Democrat to begin staffing in Tennessee. “The great thing about Tom is he is not afraid to invest in places that others may shy away from, and Tennessee is one of those places,” explained Johnson.

 

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