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NFL Star Shaq Mason Gives Back to Hometown with Gifts for 600 Kids at J.E. Woodard Elementary

Issue #305

21 Dec

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

☀️ Columbia Weather - Sunny w/ high of 38 / low of 23

🎁 NFL Star Shaq Mason Gives Back to Hometown with Gifts for 600 Kids at J.E. Woodard Elementary

🎁 King’s Daughters’ Students Get Everything on Their Wish List at Christmas Party

🎄 Sat/Sun: A Maury Christmas Carol

🚧 Tom J Hitch Road Closure Starting Jan. 13th

👉 Check Out The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Fun in Maury County & More Here

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

⛑ Looking For Ways to Help Victims of Hurricane Helene? Click Here

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Saturday, December 21st

Sunday, December 22nd

Monday, December 23rd

More events coming soon!

NFL Star Shaq Mason Gives Back to Hometown with Gifts for 600 Kids at J.E. Woodard Elementary

NFL star, and Columbia native, Shaq Mason brought smiles to the faces of the kids at J.E. Woodard Elementary School yesterday.

Each year the Shaq Mason Foundation selects an elementary school in Maury County to give back to the community.

Mason attended the now closed McDowell Elementary School before attending Whitthorne Middle School and Columbia Central High School, where he graduated in 2011.

After gradating, Mason played for Georgia Tech from 2011 to 2014 before being drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. The 31-year-old now plays offensive guard for the Houston Texans.

Here’s yesterday’s Facebook post from J.E. Woodard Elementary’s principal, Carol Ann Jent…

A Day to Remember, Thanks to Shaq Mason, Alicia McGuire and the Shaq Mason Foundation! 

To say today was incredible would be an understatement! As a principal, it’s the kind of day you dream of—every single student in our building receiving an amazing gift! 

The Shaq Mason Foundation absolutely scored a winning touchdown for the 600 Wildcats of Woodard Elementary! 

Shaq Mason, a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the New England Patriots and now the starting Right Guard for the Houston Texans, has proven his greatness both on and off the field. His generosity and commitment to making a difference in the lives of children is truly inspiring. 

We would love to figure out how to nominate him for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award —he truly deserves it!

Tomorrow, Shaq and his offense take on the Kansas City Chiefs at noon. 

It’s a perfect opportunity to show your kiddos the man behind the big heart and even bigger plays! As I said in my welcome this morning, I sure hope Shaq’s offense scores more than Taylor Swift’s boyfriend’s offense! 

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you, Shaq Mason, for creating a moment our Wildcats will never forget. 

Go Texans! 

King’s Daughters’ Students Get Everything on Their Wish List at Christmas Party

Marty Ness-White (Elf) and Ray Turner (Santa) and all the elves who helped with the gifts!

Marty Ness-White, from Kitchen Solvers of Spring Hill, had the pleasure of being "Smarty the Giant Elf" (since she is taller than Santa...) for the Kings Daughters Christmas Party at Tenn Pin Alley yesterday afternoon. This is an event for children who are wards of the state granting them their wish list. Yes... each kid got everything on their wishlist!

“It was such a rewarding experience to be a part of. And kudos to the owners and staff of Tenn Pin Alley! They are opening their doors back up for the kids to bowl, laser tag, and video games for a couple hours on the 26th. The joy in their eyes to hang out with Santa, all the hugs, and getting everything on their wishlist list... model planes, cowboy hats and boots, boxes of Takis lol - the elves knocked it out of the ballpark getting every item for them!”

Sat/Sun: A Maury Christmas Carol

A Classic Tale Reimagined in Columbia’s Historic Past

A fresh adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic. Set against the backdrop of downtown Columbia in 1937, this reimagined story unfolds during the hardships of the Great Depression. Familiar characters come to life as Tennesseans of all walks of life, each navigating their own challenges during a time of adversity.

Adding a rich layer of authenticity, the gifted Murphy Ridge Band will perform live, filling the play with timeless 1930s Christmas tunes that will transport audiences to a bygone era.

This heartwarming production is directed by Sherry Johnson, founder of the Building Block School for the Arts, and features an original script adaptation by Carter Crocker, an Emmy-winning writer celebrated for his work in children’s animation.

Performance Dates:

Saturday, December 21: 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM

Sunday, December 22: 2:00 PM

Location:

The Cherry Theatre, 1665 Hampshire Pike

Celebrate the season where the past meets the present, right in the heart of downtown Columbia. This is more than a performance—it’s a tradition in the making!

🚧 Tom J Hitch Road Closure Starting Jan. 13th

Beginning on January 13th at 10:00am, the Tom J. Hitch Parkway in Columbia will be temporarily closed to thru traffic to allow for repairs to the bridge crossing the Duck River. The bridge will be closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic while repairs are underway.

Tom J. Hitch Parkway will be closed between Bear Creek Pike and Iron Bridge Road.

Highway 31 thru downtown Columbia will be the preferred detour.

Construction is expected to last until summer of 2025.

For additional information, please contact the Maury County Highway Department at 931-375-6202.

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Saturday, December 21st

Miles Damaso Group, Puckett's10 AM-2 PM
TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard4-7 PM
The Velvet Troubadours, Vida Nova Coffee, 6 PM
The Def Leprechaun Band, McCreary's Irish Pub, 7-9 PM
Christmas w/ Golden Soul Revue, Puckett's7:30-9 PM

Sunday, December 22nd

TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 1-4 PM
Cord Martin & Friends, The Mulehouse, 6 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

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