Meet John Rutherford Local President of UAW 1853
By Jason Zasky
“In my role, you’ve got to have people skills, and you’ve got to have thick skin,” begins John Rutherford, President of UAW Local 1853, an Amalgamated Local union that represents a diverse workforce from General Motors, Adient, Ryder, and Leadec Industrial Services, among other companies. Rutherford — with the help of fellow Officers Michael Prehoda II (Vice President) and Erica Pater (Financial Secretary) — represents more than five thousand local workers, who also count on him and his team to educate them about issues relevant to their interests.
"Members usually want two things,” he explains, those being “representation and information,” so Rutherford & Co. not only advocate on behalf of workers but also communicate with them continuously. That includes holding monthly meetings at the UAW Local 1853 Union Hall at 125 Stephen P. Yokich Parkway in Spring Hill, less than a half-mile from the General Motors Assembly Plant. It also includes communicating via social media, as with Local 1853’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Sometimes it’s as simple as a mass group text, to relate how a Saturday production has been cancelled, to name but one example.
More broadly, though, Rutherford and his team are working to make sure members understand the mission of the UAW.
"The workforce is turning younger, so we are focused on educating up-and-comers on what unions are for and what we represent,” explains Rutherford, who says he draws on his broad-based experience to help him relate to the needs and desires of workers.
"I started at General Motors when I graduated from school, and I’ve been a member in good standing with UAW since I was 19 years old,” he advises, noting that he had filled all manner of line worker jobs at GM, initially at the company’s Lordstown Assembly Plant in Ohio, before he moved to Spring Hill with his wife and three children in 2017.
“Over the course of my career at GM, I worked in every department — including chassis, trim, body shop, and paint shop — but my last job in Spring Hill was called PDRs,” he says, referring to Paintless Dent Repair. “I can relate to how the jobs are done and how they are put together. I have been a safety rep, too, which also helped to broaden my horizons.”
Of course, for most of the last year, Rutherford has been serving as UAW 1853’s Local President, having been sworn in back in June 2023 after being elected by membership to a three-year term.
"I walk the floors (of our union hall) and try to get my face out as much as I can. I worked the lines for over 23 years, so I try to stay humble in that aspect and never forget where I came from. I think it’s very important that you see the people that elected you, and that they see you and know where you are. I have an open-door policy,” he emphasizes.
That said, serving as Local President and representing thousands of people is not an easy job.
“I won’t say it’s thankless because it’s not, but sometimes you have to be the guy who delivers bad news, if there is bad news,” he explains. “If good things are happening, you get credit for it, but if something doesn’t go someone’s way, they are going to blame me," he says.
“People skills and having an open mind are two of my biggest assets,” he relates, that and a willingness to rely on the help of the men and women he works alongside.
"My father and grandfather taught me that in leadership roles, you are only as good as the people around you. So, I feel it's very important to surround yourself with good people because it takes more than me to make this whole machine function right,” he adds.
That's especially true in the case of a strike, of which he has seen three in the course of his 24-year career, the latest just last year, mere months after he was sworn in as President.
"I was very proud of our team. It was gratifying to see how things can work when everybody comes together for the same cause. It was a cool moment in my career and as UAW President,” he says, with the outcome seemingly ending well for 2024 and beyond.
"GM has committed a lot of money, and they are all-in with Spring Hill, and I think we have a bright future,” says Rutherford, before reminding that the local assembly plant is capable of building both gasoline and electric vehicles, making it flexible in terms of adapting to future needs.
Meanwhile, Rutherford and his family are all in on Spring Hill as well. In fact, his wife Nicole owns and operates Bella Roots Salon & Boutique on Belshire Village Drive in the Lowe's Shopping Center.
"Spring Hill has been very welcoming to us,” says Rutherford, much like UAW 1853 is always there for its members, not to mention the local community.
“We’re here to help out any way we can,” he emphasizes, noting that he and his “family-oriented” members are “always doing things” on behalf of a diverse array of charities, including Toys for Tots and the Boys & Girls Club.
“I’m really proud to be a member (of UAW 1853) and everywhere I go we deliver when people are in need. We all came from nothing,” he concludes. “We are blue-collar and hard-working, and we know when you need help, it's nice to receive help.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION: https://region8.uaw.org/uaw-local-1853/
Keeping history alive through artifact collection
By Jason Zasky
"I've got over 10,000 bullets," says longtime Spring Hill resident Bill Stanfill about the core of his collection of Civil War artifacts, amassed over a lifetime of metal detecting in Middle Tennessee. "I started out when I was a kid, and I really got into it after my brother-in-law took me metal detecting one day, and I dug up a bullet. I was hooked after that," he says, recalling his first find, which took place on the land where Kohl's department store stands today, part of The Crossings of Spring Hill shopping center.
These days, Stanfill doesn't go out hunting for artifacts anywhere near as often as he used to—a concession to age and the fact that for the past two decades, he has owned and operated Middle Tennessee Paintball, which is found on Kedron Rd. in Spring Hill.
"When I started, I was in my thirties, and sometimes I would go out hunting three or four days a week. But now I am in my sixties, and it's fallen off a little bit due to health issues. But I went out two weeks ago for the first time in three or four months and immediately found a bullet," he adds, saying it was a stark reminder of how much he enjoys his hobby.
As for where he chooses to go metal detecting, Stanfill says he often uses an 1877 map to guide him and the other individuals who typically accompany him.
"It's a map that has the old roads, houses, stores, and cemeteries on it. The roads have changed, but the creeks are the same, so I play off the creeks," he says. On other occasions, Stanfill and his fellow hobbyists look to sites along Route 31—or "anywhere they scrape dirt to put up a new building," he says.
"I have been everywhere from Franklin all the way down to Pulaski, but 80 percent of my finds have come from right here in Spring Hill," he says, noting that in addition to bullets, his collection of artifacts includes everything from buttons to belt buckles to breastplates.
Notably, Stanfill says most land developers are happy to give him permission to hunt for artifacts.
"Once I explain what I want to do, they usually say, 'go right ahead.' I always give them a bullet first, and tell them, 'This is what I'm after,'" he adds, before emphasizing that "permission is something that you definitely want before you go out metal detecting."
Stanfill also emphasizes exercising caution before digging because the last thing one wants is to damage any underground lines.
"When I get a signal with my metal detector, I go a few feet on either side of that signal to make sure that I'm not going to hit anything I shouldn't. If it keeps signaling, you know it's a gas line or a power line and you don't want to dig," he says matter-of-factly before noting that the typical find in this area is four to six inches underground.
As for his favorite artifacts, Stanfill says he is partial to personal items that can be connected to an individual soldier.
"I have a watch fob that has a soldier's initials engraved on it," says Stanfill, not to mention a wedding ring, the kind of relic that makes him "feel closer" to the combatants that fought in Spring Hill, as well as elsewhere in Middle Tennessee.
That said, it's no surprise that Stanfill—who was born in Nashville but currently lives on property that was owned by his grandparents—is a student of Civil War history.
"I've probably got almost as many books as I've got relics," he says with a chuckle, and counts The Confederacy's Last Hurrah by Wiley Sword, and Company 'H': A Confederate Soldier's Memoirs by Sam R. Watkins, as two of his favorite Civil War books.
Moreover, he recently gave a talk at Spring Hill Public Library about the Battle of Spring Hill, an engagement that took place on November 29, 1864. And since late November, he has been exhibiting artifacts from his collection at the library, all part of his effort to keep Civil War history alive—for this generation and beyond.
"It's fun getting young people into this hobby because that means it's passing on from one generation to the next. When you dig up a bullet, button, or belt buckle, the last person to have possession of it fought in the Civil War," he reminds, marveling at the thought.
"It's my passion to get these Civil War relics out of the ground before they are covered up," he concludes. "I'm all about preserving this history before it gets covered up with asphalt or a house, because that is definitely happening."
Your Friendly Neighborhood Batman and Spiderman
By Jason Zasky
Meet Nashville Batman Rob Harris and Spring Hill Spiderman Isaiah Brooks
“I don’t see the Joker much here in Spring Hill,” quips Rob Harris—aka the Nashville Batman—about making the adjustment from Gotham City to Spring Hill, the latter of which he has called home since 2000. For most of the past two decades, Harris has been making public appearances as Batman, doing everything from birthday parties to visits on behalf of the Middle Tennessee Make-a-Wish Foundation.
"I'm a musician and an actor, but any day I get to put on the cape and cowl and get to spread a little joy and put a smile on kids' faces is always a good day for me," says Harris, who notes he has been a fan of Batman his entire life, ever since watching the late 1960s Batman television series that starred Adam West as Bruce Wayne/Batman.
Harris says he makes the vast majority of his appearances in the fall and winter months as wearing his Batman suit is a “very hot pursuit”—no pun intended.
"If you remember the Batman TV series, Adam West and Burt Ward (Robin) would jump on the bat poles and be in costume by the time they got to the floor of the Batcave. It doesn’t work that way for me. My wife or one of my three grown daughters have to help me get into the suit,” says Harris, noting that the process takes upwards of 45 minutes.
Nor does Harris have transportation befitting his superhero status, and he freely admits he would “love to roll up to a birthday party in a Batmobile.”
On the other hand, transportation is no longer a problem for Isaiah Brooks—the Spring Hill Spiderman—not since the Spring Hill community raised $20,000 to buy him a brand-new Honda Civic as a Christmas gift. By that point, the then-teenaged Brooks had been making appearances around Spring Hill for several years, having purchased an adult Spiderman costume on Amazon.
“I got the idea when I was working at Taco Bell on Port Royal Road in Spring Hill,” recalls Brooks. “I thought about how cool it would be to buy a Spiderman suit and stand on a street corner and get people's reaction.” That led to a gig at a local car wash, “and once I started seeing how much kids loved it, I just went from there,” he says.
These days, Brooks has several dozen Spiderman costumes in his closet and makes up to six half-hour appearances in a day, delighting children and adults alike with handstands, cartwheels, and back flips.
And, for the past several years, he and his girlfriend have done a Spidey Saves Christmas fundraiser of their own.
“Last year we raised $2,000 and made goodie bags for the homeless, which I handed out in Nashville while wearing my Spidey suit,” he recalls, before admitting that Hulk—not Spiderman—is his favorite superhero.
Likewise, Harris really finds it very rewarding to give back to the community, and says that visits to Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital are especially moving.
“If parents invite you to come and spread a little joy, it's an amazing honor and privilege,” he says, “though it can also be heartbreaking, because sometimes those kids aren’t going home.”
Notably, Harris often plays the “good guy” in real-life as well. For one, he is an ordained pastor who works with Standing Stone Ministry, a non-profit that provides free pastoral care to pastors who are struggling.
And in his work as a television actor, he typically plays positive role models—or characters who are fighting for justice.
"I usually play a detective or law enforcement of some kind," he says about his recent work on the TV show Snapped, which films in Knoxville and airs on the Oxygen channel.
“I really like being the ‘good guy,’ he concludes. “That’s one of the reasons I like Batman so much.”
CONTACT:
Rob Harris (Batman)
Isaiah Brooks (Spiderman)
https://www.instagram.com/springhill_spiderman/
Guitarist shares his story; On the road with Kenny Loggins
By Pam Windsor
It’s a busy time for Scott Bernard as he heads out on tour with Kenny Loggins. He’s played guitar with the music legend for the past 15 years, and at 75, Loggins says his “This Is It Tour” will be his last. Bernard has been helping with the setlist.
“The problem is Kenny has so many hits, and we only have an hour and a half to play,” he explains. “You have to play ‘Danger Zone’ and ‘Footloose,’ you have to play ‘Danny’s Song,’ and ‘House at Pooh Corner’ and everything in between. So, we’ve been trying to pare it down and still represent every facet of his career.”
Bernard is especially excited the tour will feature a show close to home.
“We’re going to be playing FirstBank Amphitheater in Franklin in May. So, we’ll finally get a Nashville gig. It’s been a few years since I played in Nashville with Kenny.”
As he prepares to join Loggins and the rest of the crew for the final tour, Bernard says it’s been an incredible ride.
“Playing those hits every night is pretty amazing. And to have been with Kenny for 15 years, it’s been a good run in the music industry.”
Bernard never dreamed he’d end up in Loggins band when he and his wife, Stephanie, moved to Nashville from New Iberia, Louisiana, 24 years ago. Growing up in a musical family, he was just 9 years old when he learned to play guitar so he could join one of his older brother’s bands. He recalls his early musical influences.
“It was all Beatles, all 70s pop radio when I was a kid,” he recalls. “And my brothers got me into the whole A&R rock of the 70s with Kansas, Boston, ELO, and Foreigner. But in 1985, I made a decision to follow Christ and started playing Christian music. And I thought that would be my thing when I moved here.”
Bernard began playing Christian music but was also asked to perform with country artists. Early on, he played shows with singer/songwriter Paul Overstreet, and later spent several years working with Christian artist Nicole C. Mullins. He continued working in both genres, meeting more people, which led to an invitation to fill in for Loggins’ regular guitar player. He ended up getting a permanent gig.
When he’s not touring, Bernard does session work, he’s a singer/songwriter with some of his solo work available on streaming platforms, and he and a group of fellow musicians are part of a Toto tribute band called Child’s Anthem. They made a series of music videos that are popular in Europe.
“It’s a great group of guys, and we try to nail the stuff as true as we can. We have European fans that have asked us to come and play in Europe. But because we’re session players, it’s hard to get us all together for a gig, but we try.”
This summer, Child’s Anthem, will play a single show as the opening act during Night Ranger’s current tour.
Bernard does a lot of recording work from his home studio, which allows him to work his schedule around his family. He and his wife, who moved to Spring Hill in 2003, have two children, a 17-year-old daughter, Gabriella, and a son, Jude.
“When we first moved here, there was very little here,” he says. “And we’ve grown as Spring Hill as grown. It’s a great place, and this is where I want to raise my family, for sure.”
He says he’s grateful for an amazing family and the many incredible opportunities life has given him.
“I’m 100 percent sure it’s all been God’s plan. I’m thankful for the path and know I could never have don’t this all on my own. I am truly blessed.”
And as the Kenny Loggins chapter comes to an end, he’ll be ready to see what comes next.
For more information go to: https://scottbernardmusic.com/
Plarning the day away
By Pam Windsor
By Pam Windsor
It’s amazing what can happen when dedicated, like-minded people come together to help others. A group of women at the Spring Hill Community Senior Center can attest to that. Since last September, these women have gathered together twice a month to turn plastic grocery store bags into works of art that have a practical use. The process begins by creating “plarn.”
“When I started working here in January,” says Michele Tufano, a part-time Recreation Assistant,” I had never heard that word before. And when I saw what they were doing, I said are you kidding me? I was blown away.”
Plarn is plastic yarn. It’s made with the small plastic bags you bring home from the grocery store.
“Our dozen-plus volunteers take the plastic bags, fold them in half, and cut the bags into strips,” says Fran Gospodarek, a member at the center. “The strips are joined together to make balls of plarn. And the volunteers who know the art of crocheting, then crochet them into mat and pillow sets.”
The mats measure approximately 3 feet by 6 feet and have ties or straps added to make them easy to carry. Every mat comes with a companion pillow. Creating each set not only takes a lot of time and effort, but it also takes a considerable number of bags.
“As you can imagine, many plastic bags are required,” says Gospodarek. “At least 1000 for each set.”
The sets are all donated to help the homeless in the greater Nashville area. In addition, the Spring Hill group works with Shower Up, which provides mobile shower units and personal hygiene necessities to those in need.
It’s a way to do something for others and falls under the heading “love thy neighbor.” To help carry the message behind it, the volunteers attach small wooden hearts with the word “love” to each and every mat.
The Spring Hill Community Senior Center is open to people over 55 and is free to join. Members have access to a number of activities and can play cards, take part in ballroom dance classes, join a book or travel club, and much more. They can also learn the art of making plarn. Organizers welcome new volunteers to help with either turning the grocery bags into the yard or crocheting the actual mats and pillows. The group meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month from 1 pm to 2:30 pm. The center is located at 563 Maury Hill Street.
“They all work together so well, with each taking part in the different steps,” Tufano says. “There’s a lot of laughter, joy, and friendship, and they’re excited about what they’re doing and ready to welcome new people to the group.”
For more information, call (931) 487-0027, extension 109.
