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Acton TriStar Children's Business Fair Returns to Spring Hill for Its 3rd Year

Issue #342

01 Feb

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

☀️ Columbia’s Sunday Weather - Sunny w/ high of 65 & low of 49

📰 Shadybrook Mall Makeover: Major Retailers Sign On for 2025 Openings

📰 Legal Battle Looms Over Relocation of Cemeteries on Former Monsanto Site

⛳️ Tiger Woods-Backed PopStroke Breaks Ground in Nashville in February

🎵 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, February 1st

Sunday, February 2nd

Monday, February 3rd

*More events coming soon!

Acton TriStar Children's Business Fair Returns to Spring Hill for Its 3rd Year

Young entrepreneurs will have the chance to bring their business ideas to life at the 3rd annual Acton TriStar Children’s Business Fair. This one-day event, set for Saturday, April 5th, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at 762 Beechcroft Rd., will showcase up to 40 youth-run businesses.

The fair provides children (age 5-17) with a hands-on opportunity to develop a brand, create a product or service, design a marketing strategy, and engage with real customers. Sponsored by Acton Academy, Acton TriStar Academy, the Acton School of Business, and generous donors and volunteers, the event encourages kids to step into the world of entrepreneurship and innovation.

About the Acton Children's Business Fair

The Acton Children’s Business Fair is the largest entrepreneurship event for kids in North America, designed to inspire creativity, leadership, and business skills. From pricing strategies to marketing and sales, participants gain real-world experience by launching and managing their own businesses.

Event Details & Participation

  • Booth Fee: A $10 fee per booth (not per person) is required. Once a business is accepted, an invoice will be sent for payment.

  • Business Limit: Up to 40 businesses will be accepted.

  • Application Process: Children must submit an application outlining their business idea, pricing, funding, and marketing plans.

  • Booth Setup: The fair will be held outdoors, with each business receiving space for an 8-foot table. Participants must bring their own table, chairs, tablecloths, and pop-up tent if needed. Electricity will not be available.

  • Rules: Children must manage their booths independently, handling setup, sales, and customer interactions. Parents may assist with applications and sit with younger children but cannot sell or promote products on their behalf.

A Tradition of Entrepreneurship

The Acton Children’s Business Fair began in Austin, Texas, in 2007, founded by Jeff and Laura Sandefer to encourage entrepreneurship in young minds. The event, which started with just seven businesses, has now grown to over 115 entrepreneurs and 1,500 attendees in Austin alone.

The Spring Hill event aims to continue this tradition, offering children a unique, real-world business experience that fosters confidence, responsibility, and innovation. Whether a child is dreaming of becoming the next Elon Musk or Oprah Winfrey, or simply eager to explore their entrepreneurial spirit, this fair provides the perfect platform to start.

For more information or to apply, visit the Acton TriStar Children's Business Fair website.

Legal Battle Looms Over Relocation of Cemeteries on Former Monsanto Site

Credit: Marilyn Whittemore Adams

For decades, the Hodge and Joyce family cemeteries remained undisturbed on the former Monsanto property in Maury County, fenced off and overgrown after the company left in the 1980s. Most of the gravestones are now broken or illegible. The land, declared a Superfund site due to past industrial contamination, is now owned by an out-of-state company planning to build a TDEC-approved tire shredding facility.

Trinity Business Group, operating through Star Hill, LLC, acquired part of the Monsanto land and previously attempted to develop a landfill there. The proposal was met with strong community opposition due to environmental concerns, especially the site's proximity to the Duck River. State legislators ultimately secured protections that blocked the landfill project.

Now, Star Hill is seeking court approval to relocate the historic cemeteries to the Concord Cemetery, a more accessible burial site on the same property. Their petition argues that the graves are currently inaccessible and that reinterment would offer a more respectful resting place. A limited ground survey detected several unmarked graves in the overgrown cemeteries.

The Maury County Historical Society has objected, arguing that the land's inaccessibility resulted from past neglect, not abandonment by descendants. They also contend that more graves may exist beyond the surveyed area, particularly given historical burial practices in the South. The society emphasizes that cemeteries serve as vital historical landmarks and should only be relocated as a last resort.

Tennessee law allows property owners to relocate graves after meeting legal requirements, but a chancery court ruling is required. It is unclear when a decision will be made.

Tiger Woods-Backed PopStroke Breaks Ground in Nashville in February

PopStroke Entertainment Group, co-owned by Greg Bartoli, Tiger Woods, and TaylorMade Golf Company, has announced plans to open a new golf entertainment venue in Nashville. Slated to break ground in February and open in early 2026, the 5.4-acre complex will be located in Century Farms, a mixed-use development southeast of downtown. This marks the first PopStroke All Seasons Prototype, offering a blend of indoor and outdoor mini golf alongside dining and entertainment options.

PopStroke Nashville will feature a traditional 18-hole outdoor mini-golf course and two additional 18-hole courses indoors, ensuring year-round play regardless of weather. The massive venue will include 52,000 square feet of indoor mini-golf, 25,000 square feet of outdoor courses, and a 9,500-square-foot two-story building with dining and bar areas.

Beyond golf, guests can enjoy a fully enclosed playground, outdoor games like ping pong and foosball, and a modern restaurant with a scratch kitchen serving craft beers, signature cocktails, and a variety of dishes. The venue will also include an ice cream parlor with 22 flavors and custom milkshakes and an expansive sports bar with jumbotrons throughout the property.

PopStroke aims to enhance the guest experience with its mobile app, allowing visitors to order food and drinks directly from their phones while playing. The venue will also feature electronic scoring and five 23-foot jumbotrons for an interactive, tech-forward experience. Monthly membership options will provide exclusive perks, including unlimited mini golf and 25% discounts on food and beverages.

Excitement from Industry Leaders

Greg Bartoli, Founder and CEO of PopStroke, emphasized the importance of bringing a year-round, all-weather golf and entertainment experience to Nashville. “PopStroke Nashville will combine our traditional outdoor putting and bar experience with a new 75,000-square-foot, climate-controlled golf and dining indoor space that will allow us to serve the community 365 days a year, rain or shine, hot or cold.”

Tiger Woods calls it a “transformative location” that represents the next step in PopStroke’s evolution. “Whether you're a seasoned golfer or just out to enjoy time with family and friends, PopStroke Nashville will deliver an experience unlike anything else,” Woods said.

TaylorMade President & CEO David Abeles highlighted the innovative design of the new location. “Innovation has always been a primary goal in our development of PopStroke locations across the country,” Abeles said. “The design of the indoor and outdoor experiences of this venue are truly one-of-a-kind and fittingly located in a unique city like Nashville.”

PopStroke Nashville is set to be a premier destination for families, friends, and sports fans, offering a unique mix of golf, food, technology, and entertainment. As anticipation builds for its 2026 opening, updates and announcements can be found at www.popstroke.com and on PopStroke’s social media channels.

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Saturday, February 1st

TBA, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 4-7 PM
Boomerang, Puckett’s, 7:30-9 PM
Backlit, Fozzy's Bar & Grill, 8-11 PM

Sunday, February 2nd

TBA, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 1-4 PM
Thomas Waves, The Rebel, 4 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

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