🌱 Pride Parade Grand Marshals Announced + Summer School Registrations

Hi all. It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Patch newsletter. Come along to find out the most important things going on in town these days.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: An afternoon thunderstorm. High: 81 Low: 64.
• Friday: A thunderstorm in spots. High: 78 Low: 63.

🏡 Are you looking for a new and effective way to advertise your real estate business? If you've maxed out your lead generation with Zillow and Google, we have a fresh solution for you. Our exclusive sponsorship offers a unique opportunity to reach potential clients and stand out in the market. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories in Nashville today:

1. Olivia Hill and Eric Cox have been announced as the Grand Marshals of the 2023 Nashville Pride Parade. Both Hill and Cox have been chosen as the individuals who will take the lead in engaging with the community and setting the foundation for this year's parade to be successful. There will be over 120 entries featured in the parade, from marchers to floats, vehicles, and more. The Stonewall Stage all-drag line-up has also been announced, with more than 40 performers already named. (WSMV 4)
2. More than half of the third graders in the Metro Nashville Public Schools system have signed up for summer school ahead of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program scores being released this Friday. The new law passed in 2021 requires all third graders to pass or meet expectations on the English Language Arts section of the test in order to move to the fourth grade — and history has shown that most students do not meet this standard. It has been encouraged to sign students up for the summer program as a precautionary measure so a seat is reserved in case the student does not pass. Registration for the summer program is open until the end of the school year; transportation and meals are included with the school at no cost. (WKRN News 2)
3. Metro Nashville police officers are requesting assistance from the public in identifying and locating the suspect of a bank robbery on Dickerson Pike. This past Tuesday afternoon, a man reportedly approached the teller at Truist Bank and passed her a note demanding she hand over money or she would be harmed. After receiving this money, the suspect fled the bank on foot through a creek near Hillside Road and has not been located yet. If you have any information about the incident or believe you recognize the suspect in the picture, please contact the authorities immediately. (WKRN News 2)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Nashville Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Nashville Patch newsletter possible.

Today and tomorrow in and around Nashville:

Thursday, May 18

• Copper Branch Songwriters Showcase At Copper Branch Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurant (5:00 PM)
• Live Music At Hard Rock Cafe (6:30 PM)
• Arts Bellevue: Vue In The Round At Ford Ice Center Bellevue (7:00 PM)

Friday, May 19

• Pop-Up Shoe Store At 261 Indian Lake Blvd, Hendersonville (10:00 AM)
• Alive At Manna From Heaven Dinner House (5:30 PM)
• Deacon's New South & George Dickel Tennessee Whiskey Week Paired Dinner At Deacon’s New South (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Metro Nashville Police Department welcomed 45 new officers to the force as they officially graduated earlier this week. Most of these graduates were part of the 100th training class since 1975, while six were veterans transferring from other agencies. (Metropolitan Nashville Police Department via Facebook)
• Metro Nashville Public Schools is celebrating all of the staff who will be retiring at the end of this school year. More than 200 members of the Public Schools family will be finishing their commitment to Nashville students and schools once the school year is completed. (Metro Nashville Public Schools via Facebook)
• The Nashville Public Library wants to congratulate Marnie Huff, who was awarded "2023 Adult Educator of the Year." Marnie has dedicated the past 17 years to being an enthusiastic teacher of adult English language learners. (Nashville Public Library via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Free Stuff And Great Perks Every Week (May 23)

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you soon.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.