Local country singer-songwriters chasing the neon rainbow at Hank’s.
20 trip to the M ountains
Fun, free family-friendly things to do in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
26 coldest nights
The Journey Home coordinates men’ s and women’s shelters on freezing nights.
32 eagle scout honors
12 local youth achieve rank.
6 Events calendar
Valentine Cookie Decorating, Book It, Step Into Art, Dim Sum High Tea, Winds Winter Concert, Oreo Festival and more!
12 Sounds concerts Music notes Blue Bloods in the Round albuM SkyFlowers
23 Living nature Couples in nature
Mr. Murfreesboro
Card collector and exhibit host John McGill
25 Art Movie
Smyrna High feature film, Real exhibit Bert Gilbert and Steve Ward at Todd Gallery
28 Food restaurant La Cucina Italiana
30 News business buzz Tennessee Whiskers, White Monkey Market,
High Society, nékter Juice Bar and more
33 Opinion constitution study
Right to remain silent free your children
The FREE Act introduced in Tennessee tech talk
Your phone is listening, and taking notes sports talk
Who will the Titans draft with first pick? Money Matters Portfolio potential living . . . well! Love is alive
c
c
Delores
Paul
Byron
WhEN ThE gOiNg gETS TOugh, when the hours get long, when the body, mind and spirit get tired, if you are working towards a noble goal, may you pursue your tasks with some joy and enthusiasm and encouragement. Even if I begin to feel exhausted and start to lose steam, if things aren’t exactly falling into place, I try to keep in mind that as long as you are making moves that support your family, provide a quality product or honorable service for your customers, clean the house, improve yourself or your situation, or serve others, you should find the joy and happiness in it. Count it all joy when you fall into various trials
We have Chiefs vs. Eagles II coming up this month, another Super Bowl rematch. For almost a year, most of the time since last Super Bowl, I thought the Chiefs were on track for the threepeat. The Eagles have been so dominant, though, that I am beginning to lean Philly at the moment.
Luckily, there’s a robust community of creatives and a wide variety of musical styles here in the ’Boro— symphonic sounds from the Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra, Tennessee Valley Winds and the Middle Tennessee Sinfonietta; country music should continue to fill the air around Hank’s Honky Tonk, despite that business’ recent sale; SkyFlowers and other creators generate some electronic beats, bleeps, glitches and swells; Boro Bourbon & Brews hosts live local music nearly every night on the Murfreesboro Public Square; consider checking out some of the excellent free jazz and classical performances at MTSU; Rockin Country will be out at the Oreo Fest on March 1. For many, this community remains a pretty good spot to be. Check out the Pulse for more—it’s what’s going on. Many Tennessee home-school families and other freedom-seeking individuals—in the midst of increasing talk of accountability and standards and money, pertaining to education—have launched an effort in the Tennessee General Assembly to completely sever home-school families from governmental oversight. Many families want to protect their ability to educate their children without state interference.
This bill, when passed, will create a new, separate and distinct category of education for families who do not wish to participate in public schools, private schools, charter schools nor vouchers, and home schoolers will be exempt from Tennessee’s “compulsory school attendance, as well as from all other educational laws, rules, and requirements established by this state or by a local government or agency in this state,” according to bill language.
Stay tuned for more on the Family Right to Educational Emancipation (FREE) Act.
Elisha
Keep on learning; keep on hustling. Cook something new, walk somewhere new, read something new, draw something new, discover something new. Spend some time with the loved ones.
Hang in there for the last bit of winter; gardening time and the time change are right around the corner.
Remember to get those traditional heart-shaped pizzas and doughnuts for your love this Valentine’s.
Hit me up if you would like a Pulse T-shirt, or if you’d like to see your business or organization in the Pulse
Peace! bracken Mayo
Publisher/Editor in Chief
Feb. 4 and 28
boro books n’ brews
Boro Books n’ Brews is a book club that meets at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays, Feb. 4 and 18, at Middle Ground Brewing Company (2476 Old Fort Pkwy.). For more information, visit middlegroundbrew.com.
Feb. 5, 12 and 26
all ages story tiMe
Come out to Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W) for All Ages Story Time Wednesdays Feb. 5, 12 and 26 from 10–11 a.m. Read stories, sing songs and play games to enhance early literacy. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615-459-4884.
Feb. 6 and 20
tales to tails
Join Tales to Tails, a heartwarming library program at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W), designed to combine the joy of reading with the therapeutic benefits of spending time with dogs, on Thursdays Feb. 6 and 20 from 3–4:40 p.m. In this paw-some program, participants are invited to read aloud to the friendly therapy dogs in a relaxed and supportive environment. Ten-minute slots are available on Feb. 6 and 20 starting at 3 p.m. All ages are welcome. Advance registration is required. For more information or to reserve a spot, call 615-4594884 or email smyrnays@rclstn.org.
Feb. 8
bookin’ it
Audiobooks are a great way to read. Listen to your audiobook, then talk about it on the walk around the library in Old Rock School Park (400 Enon Springs Rd. W, Smyrna) on Saturday, Feb. 8, from noon–2 p.m. Check out an audiobook on CD or mp3 from the library, or visit Libby or Hoopla to find an e-audiobook to listen to. Themes will be released monthly; no registration is required. For more information, email smyref@rclstn.org
Feb. 8
teen advisory board
Teen Advisory Board (T.A.B.) is open to anyone ages 13–18 who is interested in
Feb. 8
book signing with local author eliana kashierski Linebaugh Public Library (105 W. Vine St.) hosts local author Eliana Kashierski for a book signing on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Kashierski will sign and sell copies of her books The Adventures of Petunia the Hummingbird and Baby’s First Plane Ride, What to Do? The Adventures of Petunia the Hummingbird is a true story about an unusual friendship between the author and a hummingbird. Baby’s First Plane Ride, which is also available in Spanish, is a book for parents that offers tips to help babies have a comfortable flight experience. Kashierski has been a teacher but is a fashion designer at heart. She is an inventor and holds two US patents. Kashierski loves nature and used to spend a lot of her time in the mountains while living near the Huascaran National Park in Peru. She always enjoys watching and talking to the birds and animals and thanks God for His magnificent creation. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615-893-4131.
creating the change they would like to see in their library and their community on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 2–3 p.m. at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W). T.A.B. meets on the second Saturday of every month at 2 p.m. to share ideas and information regarding the teen space, collection, programming and vision for the future. Snacks are provided; no advance registration is required. For more information, call 615459-4884 or visit rclstn.org
Feb. 8
valentine’s day cookie decorating at oflow OFLOW (Overflow – Brews & Bakes, 115
N. Maple St.) hosts a Valentine’s cookie decorating event on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Decorate a cookie for $5 or 3 cookies for $10. OFLOW provides all the candies, sprinkles, and icing and does the cleanup. A photo selfie booth will be set up for Valentine’s memories. No reservations needed—just show up before cookies are sold out. For more information, find Oflow (Overflow Brews and Bakes) on Facebook.
Feb. 9
creative writers Mingle
This first monthly mingle for creative writers meets on Sunday, Feb. 9, from 3–5 p.m. at the Dapper Owl Coffee Pub
(2412 E Main St.). Connect with other writers in a relaxed setting, and even sit down and write for a bit if you’re so inspired. Come and go anytime. Sponsored by the literary interest group of the Rutherford Arts Alliance, Poetry in the Boro and MTSU Write, this event is free and open to writers of all genres and experience levels (including “thinking about writing”). There will be a 10-minute program of writerly inspiration offered by this month’s host, local author Taffeta Chime, at 3:45 p.m. RSVPs are requested. For more information, visit rutherfordartsalliance.org and find “Happenings”.
Feb. 9
cedar glade classic car cruise-in
Shine ‘er up and drive ‘er in at the Cedar Glade Brews (906 Ridgely Rd.) second Sunday of the month classic car cruisein on Sunday, Feb. 9, from 1–4 p.m. Car-ticipants get a free CGB pint (1 per car). Stick around for trivia at 5 p.m. There is no sign-up required and no cost to participate. For more information, visit cedargladebrews.com or find the CGB Classic Car Cruise-In event on Facebook.
Feb.
10 and 24
lego block party
Lego Block Party is a fun and engaging after-school program at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W), where imagination knows no bounds. Designed for kids of all ages, this biweekly program on Fridays Feb. 10 and 24 invites children to come together and build amazing creations using a collection of Lego bricks. Bring your enthusiasm and creativity from 3:15–3:45 p.m.; no registration is needed. Programs close 10 minutes after start time. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615-459-4884.
Feb. 11
tennessee trails association Meeting
The Tennessee Trails Association’s monthly meeting of its Murfreesboro chapter is set for Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 7–8 p.m. at the Wilderness Station at
Barfield Crescent Park (401 Volunteer Rd.). Chapter member Joe Campbell shares his adventure hiking the Camino Frances in Spain. For more information, visit tennesseetrails.org
Feb. 11
living sent Ministries
Living Sent Murfreesboro will hold its February meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m. at Wilson Bank & Trust (3110 Memorial Blvd.). Mike Sanchez knows what it means to live sent. Sanchez built a successful HVAC company, but he gave the business to his employees when the Lord called him to full-time work at his local church. This month’s guest speaker, Leigh Walls, is the managing director of purchasing and supply management for CoreCivic, a corrections solutions and government services provider headquartered in Brentwood. Walls will be sharing her story of learning to pivot and follow God’s path and plan, even (and especially) when it doesn’t follow the plan she had envisioned. A complimentary lunch is provided by Brenda Marshall and Churchill Mortgage, and prepared by Jim Trasport of Budget Blinds of Murfreesboro. All are invited to this free luncheon. To RSVP, email bob.williams@alhambrapartners.com
Feb. 14
valentine’s day craft
All ages are invited to craft to celebrate Valentine’s Day and Library Lover’s Day on Friday, Feb 14, from 10–11 a.m. Join Youth Services at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W) and make your own library love bug. Take part in a write-your-library-a-love-letter and a passive Valentine’s card craft. All ages are welcome. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615-459-4884.
Feb. 15
diM suM high tea
OFLOW (Overflow – Brews & Bakes, 115 N. Maple St.) presents a special Dim Sum Asian-Style High Tea Party on Saturday, Feb. 15. The shop will have two seatings for the 90-minute experience at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Celebrate the Chinese Lunar Near Year festival at OFLOW with this special party offering small bites of traditional sweets and savories paired with freshly brewed tea varieties. Dress for Asian festivities—red and gold are good-luck colors for spring festival celebrations. The cost is $30 per person. To register, find an event page for the Dim Sum Asian-Style High
Feb. 21
tennessee valley winds winter concert
The Tennessee Valley Winds holds the next concert of its 40th anniversary season on Friday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m. at the MTSU Wright Music Building (1439 Faulkinberry Dr.).
Guest conductor Dr. Brad Snow and the second winner of the High School Concerto Competition, Ellie Grossman, perform the first movement of Francis Poulenc‘s Sonata for Flute and Piano. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit tnvalleywinds.org or find TnValleyWinds on Facebook.
Tea Party on the Oflow (Overflow Brews and Bakes) Facebook page or call 615900-1676 for more information.
Feb. 15
all ages crafternoon
All Ages Crafternoon is held the third Saturday of the month (Feb. 15) from 12:30–1:30 p.m. at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W). Express your creativity through arts and crafts. Some months will feature a pre-planned craft, and some months the activity will be free-form. While geared toward children, all ages are invited. Programs close 10 minutes after start time. For more information, call 615459-4884 or visit rclstn.org
Feb. 20
the connection at chaMpy’s
Champy’s World Famous Fried Chicken will host the February 2025 installment of The Connection: An Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming from 5–7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs and professionals are welcome to attend this casual, free, no-obligation networking event, where they can meet other small business owners and tap into one another’s experience
and energy. Networking begins at 5 p.m. with introductions at 6 p.m. Champy’s is located at 1290 NW Broad St.
Feb. 21
hoMeschool art class
Smyrna Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W) presents Homeschool Art on Friday, Feb. 21 from 10–11 a.m. This class explores a notable artist and their art. Afterwards, get out the art supplies and make your own “inspired by” work. In this session, learn about Vincent van Gogh. Ages 7 and older are welcome. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615-459-4884.
Feb. 21–23
southern equine expo
The Southern Equine Expo returns to the Tennessee Miller Coliseum (304 W. Thompson Ln.) from Feb. 21–23 for its second decade, presented by Mustang Leadership Partners. The expo continues to stay true to the core mission: dedicated to every horseman. The goal is to provide a valuable experience for a wide spectrum of horse enthusiasts from across the Southeast. With over 100 clinics and demonstrations, lectures and more than 90 vendors, the diversity and scope of the Southern Equine Expo attracts horse enthusiasts to Middle Tennessee from across the nation. Learn about horse
health and care, rider health, stable management and horsemanship. For more information, visit southernequineexpo.com.
Feb. 22
saturday storytiMe
Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W) presents Saturday Storytime every fourth Saturday (Feb. 22) from 3–3:30 p.m. Bring the family, enjoy a story and all the library has to offer. There is no cost to attend and no registration is required. All ages are welcome. For more information, call 615459-4884 or visit rclstn.org.
Feb. 22
novel nerds
Do you consider yourself an avid reader? Do you read across multiple genres? Do you love the library? If you answered yes to any or all of these three questions, you may be a “Novel Nerd.” Meet monthly at noon in the Smyrna Conference Room (with a virtual option if you cannot attend). Books are provided. For more information, email smyref@rclstn.org
Feb. 22
free coMedy show
Middle Ground Brewing Company (2476 Old Fort Pkwy.) presents a free
CONTiNuEd ON PAgE 8
comedy show on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 8 p.m., hosted by Mallory Brandon. For more information, visit middleground brew.com
Feb. 23
poetry in the boro open Mic
Poetry in the Boro is Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Dapper Owl Coffee Pub (2412 E Main St.). Open-mic signup is at 5:30 p.m. with the program at 6 p.m. This edition features (and especially invites) Gen X poets. More details can be found at poetryintheboro.org.
Feb. 24
hooked on yarn
Hooked on Yarn is a space for any fiber crafter (crochet, knitting, embroidery, etc.) to work on projects and talk with other artists at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W). Supplies will be provided, but you can also bring your own. This event meets every fourth Monday (Feb. 24) from 4–5 p.m. in the library’s conference room. Ages 18 and up are welcome. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615-459-4884.
Feb. 26
rutherford county Jeep crew
The Rutherford County Jeep Crew has a meet-up at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Middle Ground Brewing Company (2476 Old Fort Pkwy.). All Jeepers are welcome. For more information, visit middlegroundbrew.com
Feb. 28
after hours gaMe night
This is an after-hours program for library patrons 18 and older at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W) from 5:30–7 p.m. Each month, meet on the fourth Friday (Feb. 28) after close to play board games and have snacks. This is a great chance to be “behind the scenes” in your local library. For more information, email smitchem@rclstn.org or call 615-459-4884 to find out what this month’s game will be.
Feb. 28
hoMeschool players
Step into the spotlight with Homeschool Players, an exciting class at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W) designed to enhance reading fluency through the magic of Reader’s Theater on Friday, Feb. 28 from 10–11 a.m. This interactive program offers home school-
Feb. 24
Murfreesboro chess lunch
Who wants to play a game of chess? Come out to Carmen’s Taqueria (206 W. Northfield Blvd.) from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24, for chess, cheese dip and chimichangas. Community members interested in gathering and networking with other area chess enthusiasts to play and discuss chess, promoting the game of chess locally, sharing ideas on how chess can benefit others, or involving their business in chess events and tournaments can come to a Murfreesboro Chess Lunch the fourth Monday of each month at Carmen’s. For more information, find an event page for Murfreesboro Chess Lunch on Facebook, email bracken@boropulse.com or text/call 615-796-6248.
ers a unique opportunity to practice and improve their reading skills while having fun. This event is geared towards students with a reading level of 2nd through 5th grade. In each session, students will be introduced to a script or monologue adapted from popular children’s literature or classic tales. Warm up with theater games and at the end of class present the show; no memorization is required. Homeschool Players emphasizes teamwork and creativity, allowing students to collaborate and support one another while developing crucial reading skills. For more information, call 615459-4884 or visit rclstn.org.
Feb. 28
4th friday fun*working
The monthly “fun working” event at Spread the Positive (906 Ridgely Rd.) is held the fourth Friday of every month from 5–7 p.m., presented by Reed and Associates of Primerica. The event is focused on shining a light on what’s going right. Each month the event highlights a business making a positive impact in the local community and gives the public an opportunity to talk with them. Meet some of your favorite STP podcasters and get to know the people behind the microphone. There will be a food truck onsite, so grab a drink and a bite while you connect with the best in the ’Boro. For more
video games/video game trailer. Shop from over 150 vendors (home decor, boutiques, handmade jewelry and more) while enjoying live music from the Rockin Country Band from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. There is no admission cost to attend and parking is free. Vendor and sponsor applications are available online. For more information, find Brianna Victory Events on Facebook or visit brianna-victoryevents.com
ongoing
special kids race registration
information, find 4th Friday Fun*Working on Facebook.
march 1
greenhouse Ministries prayer Meeting
Pray for the community and the nation for an hour on Saturdays, Feb. 1 and March 1 (and the first Saturday of each month) at Greenhouse Ministries (307 S. Academy St.) from 8–9 a.m. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 ESV – “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ for you.” For more information, visit greenhousemin.org.
march 1
oreo festival
The Oreo Festival by Brianna Victory Events is scheduled for Saturday, March 1, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at Hop Springs (6790 John Bragg Hwy.), just in time for National Oreo Day. Every booth with black balloons designates that they have either Oreos, an Oreo-themed dessert, Oreo-themed items or Oreo drinks/food. The first 200 adults get a free goodie bag. The event consists of lots of Oreos, Oreo baked goods, Oreo-themed items, a free petting zoo, reptile bus interaction, inflatables, train rides, 24-foot tall rock climbing wall (make it to the top and win an Oreo prize), face painting and rolling
The Special Kids Race is set for Saturday, March 15, with new race experiences for all athletes for 2025. Run, walk or roll race distances of 15K, 10K or 5K, all with new course routes. The 10K and 15K athletes will run to the Stones River National Battlefield Visitor Center, followed by one loop through the National Battlefield itself. The 15K runners will then separate to make their way west into the Park Drive neighborhood and back to Old Nashville Highway to head home. The 10K athletes will return via the Cotton Field Trail on McFadden Lane. The 5K athletes will run to the Stones River National Battlefield Visitor Center and back, via the Cotton Field Trail, before heading to the finish line via Old Nashville Highway. All courses will start and finish at the Murfreesboro Medical Clinic on Garrison Drive. In addition to the race, there will be a fun zone, refreshments, a family fun run and activities for all ages. For more information or to register, visit specialkidsrace .com; learn more about the Special Kids organization at specialkidstn.com.
ongoing
step into art at the discovery center
The Discovery Center (502 SE Broad St.) presents the opening of a new traveling art exhibit, “Framed: Step into Art,” on Saturday, Feb. 1. This exhibit provides visitors with an opportunity to explore interactive environments inspired by famous paintings and will be on display through May 11. This is a traveling exhibit created by the Minnesota Children’s Museum. Visitors can engage with iconic works of art by stepping into immersive environments based on famous paintings. The exhibit features activities centered around iconic works including: Grant Wood’s “Dinner for Threshers,” John Singer Sargent’s “Camp at Lake
mondays
Casual Pint
Poker 6 p.m.
Chili’s Broad st.
Poker 6 p.m.
h ank’s
Ja C k Brown’s
l evel iii Trivia 7 p.m.
s myrna sP orts Pu B Poker 6 p.m.
the Goat
Trivia 7 p.m.
the Fish h ouse
Bingo 7 p.m.
T uesdays
h a PPy’s
Poker 6:30 p.m.
Je FF erson’s
Trivia 7 p.m.
m J’s Bar and Grill
Singo 7 p.m.
n a C ho’s
Trivia 7 p.m.
r ed r o B in Trivia 7 p.m. the Fish h ouse
Poker 6 p.m.
Wednesday BoomBozz
Trivia 7 p.m.
Cam P us Pu B
Karaoke 9 p.m.
Chili’s Broad st.
Poker 6 p.m.
e l toro
Trivia 7 p.m.
h a PPy’s
Sports trivia
h ot s hotz
Poker 2 p.m.
s easons
Karaoke 7–11 p.m.
station Grill
Trivia 7 p.m.
the Boulevard
Trivia 7 p.m.
T hursdays
Cam P us Pu B
Karaoke 9 p.m.
Cedar Glade Brews
Board Games 6 p.m.
Front street Pu B
Trivia
CONTiNuEd FrOM PAgE 8
O’Hara,” Diego Rivera’s “Corn Festival,” Clementine Hunter’s “Big Chicken” and Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” This exhibit is included with general admission and is free for museum members. For more information, call 615-8902300 or visit explorethedc.org.
o ngoing
f3 workouts
h a PPy’s
Trivia 6:30 p.m.
m ar G aritas
Karaoke 6 p.m.
m iddle Ground
Brewin G Co.
Trivia 7 p.m.
s myrna sP orts Pu B
Poker 6 p.m.
s myrna v F w Post
Karaoke 7 p.m.
the Fish h ouse
Bingo 7 p.m.
F ridays
615 d istri C t
Poker 7 p.m.
h andle B ar
Karaoke 8 p.m.
Cam P us Pu B
Karaoke 9 p.m.
Front street Pu B
Karaoke 7 p.m.
h ot s hotz
Karaoke
m ar G aritas
Karaoke 7 p.m.
s easons
Karaoke 10 p.m.
saT urdays
Cam P us Pu B
Karaoke 9 p.m.
Front street Pu B
Karaoke 7 p.m.
m ar G aritas
Karaoke 7 p.m.
m s. m arian’s Ca F e
Bingo 5–8 p.m.
n a C ho’s
Survey Time
Showdown 7 p.m.
s easons
Karaoke 10 p.m.
s myrna sP orts Pu B
Poker 2 p.m.
sundays
615 d istri C t
Poker 4 p.m.
Cedar Glade Brews
Trivia 5–7 p.m.
h ot s hotz
Poker 2 p.m.
s myrna v F w Post
Karaoke 7p.m.
F3—which stands for fitness, fellowship and faith—holds free, outdoor, peer-led workouts for men across the country. The free weekly workout sessions welcome all men and always end with a “circle of trust,” emphasizing the group’s commitment to faith. In Murfreesboro, F3 holds workouts on the Murfreesboro Public Square at 5 a.m. on Tuesdays; at Oakland Middle School (853 Dejarnette Ln.) at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesdays; at the Murfreesboro Medical Clinic/Gateway Island parking lot (1272 Garrison Dr.) at 5 a.m. on Thursdays; and at Old Fort Park (201 Golf Ln., at the north entrance parking lot) at 6 a.m. on Saturdays. In Smyrna, F3 meets for workouts at Cedar Grove Elementary (354 Chaney Rd., Smyrna) at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesdays; at Thurman Francis Arts Academy (221 Todd Ln., Smyrna) at 5:30 a.m. on Thursdays; and at Stewarts Creek High School (301 Red Hawk Pkwy., Smyrna) at 6 a.m. on Saturdays. The group meets every week, rain or shine, hot or cold. For more information, visit f3murfreesboro.com
m ondays
silly song and dance
Join Ms. Nicole for Silly Song and Dance on Mondays from 10–11 a.m. at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W). This is an exciting, highenergy program for all ages. Songs are geared for toddlers and preschoolers to stretch, dance and sing. Learn about shapes, colors, letters, and numbers while singing and dancing. Adult participation is encouraged. Programs close at 10 minutes after start time. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615459-4884.
m ondays technology coach
Bring your phone, tablet and laptop questions to our volunteer Technology Coach and they will help work out the answers on Mondays at 1 p.m. at the Technology Engagement Center (306 Minerva Dr.). For more information, visit rclstn.org.
Fridays
Murfreesboro coMMunity chess
Murfreesboro Community Chess meets at McAlister’s Deli (2357 Medical Center Pkwy.) every Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. Organizers invite those of all ages and skill levels to this casual chess meetup each week. Those attending may bring a board and a clock if they can, but there should be plenty of supplies on hand.
m ondays
Monday night history
The Patriot Institute presents free Monday Night History classes every Monday night at 6:30 p.m. at Champy’s World Famous Fried Chicken (1290 NW Broad St.). The instructor, Galen Walker, formed The Patriot Institute in 2015 and has taught Monday Night History at various locations ever since. Classes started back with the Greek City-States, have progressed through Greece, Rome, the Middle Ages, the Pilgrims, the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark Expedition and other topics. Monday Night History will continue exploring The War of 1812 in February. For more information, visit thepatriotinstitute.org or find The Patriot Institute on Facebook.
Tuesdays
paJaMa story tiMe
Pajama Story Time is at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W) on Tuesday evenings from 6–6:30 p.m. Children are encouraged to come dressed in their coziest pajamas and bring a stuffed animal friend while listening to stories, singing songs and having lots of fun. Programs close 10 minutes after start time. All ages are welcome. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615-459-4884.
Wednesdays
sight word snack attack
Sight Word Snack Attack is held at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W) on Wednesdays from 3:15–3:45 p.m. Sight Word Snack Attack is a program in which children are given a snack and water, and then play a round of Sight Word Bingo. Children can choose from a variety of fun sight word games to play. This activity is geared toward ages preschool-3rd grade; adult participation is highly recommended. Sight words are common words that kids recognize instantly without sounding them out. Recognizing words by sight helps kids become faster, more fluent readers. This school year focuses on 10 words at a time from the Fry Sight Word list. February words are: there, use, an, each, which, she, do, how, their and if. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615-459-4884.
Wednesdays
wild wednesday
Wild Wednesday will take place at the Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center (100 Sam Ridley Pkwy. E.) from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. each Wednesday. Discover something wild about the natural world. Activities may include meeting a SOAC animal or participating in a nature-based activity. There is no cost to participate,
but registration is suggested through Community Pass. All ages are welcome. For more information, email soac.group@townofsmyrna.org or call 615-459-9710.
Thursdays
baby tiMe
Baby Time at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W) is Thursdays in Feb. from 10–11 a.m. This story time is an adventure designed for caregivers and babies aged 0–24 months. Snuggle up for a gentle story, interactive rhymes, singing and sensory play in a supportive environment that fosters early literacy and bonding. Programs close 10 minutes after start time. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615-459-4884.
Thursdays
basic coMputer usage
Basic Computer Usage classes are every Thursday in February, from 5–6 p.m., to learn more about computer usage and the tools you need to succeed at technology at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W, Smyrna). The recommended age for this event is 13 and up. Any library patron under the age of 13 must be accompanied by an official guardian. No advance registration is required. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615-459-4884.
Fridays
c3 networking
C3 is an open networking group for local business professionals at Achieve Entrepreneur and CoWorking Center (1630 S. Church St.) held on Fridays from 8:30–10:30 a.m. The mission is to build relationships, connect local businesses with potential clients, support each other’s professional growth and educate people on how to participate in the local com-
munity. Complimentary coffee and snacks are provided. For more information, find Prohibition Home Brewing on Facebook.
Fridays
3d print orientation
Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W) will host 3D Print Orientation on Fridays in February from 11 a.m.–12:30 pm. Class size is limited to four patrons per class; ages 13 and up are welcome. To secure your spot, email smyrna3dprint@rclstn.org
Fridays
intro to tinkercad
Learn how to design 3D printables at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W) on Fridays from 12:30–1:30 p.m. This is not a 3D printer class or orientation, but a great way to better understand Tinkercad before (or after) you take the orientation. The recommended age for this event is 13 and up; children under the age of 13 must be accompanied by a guardian. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615-459-4884.
s aT urdays
historical society
coffee & conversation
Rutherford County Historical Society has been preserving and promoting local history since 1971 and aims to be a community resource for those researching their family, property or just old fun facts. The Historical Society hosts Coffee & Conversation on Saturday mornings from 9 a.m.–noon at the Ransom School House Museum (717 N. Academy St.). This is an informal and informative event. Bring old photos or questions about the past to ask members, and enjoy free coffee and donuts. For more information, visit rutherfordtnhistory.org.
concerts
Live Music in M idd L e tennessee
Wed, 2/5
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Bronwen Fair
Thurs, 2/6
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Delyn Christian
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
Sandra Dudley with MTSU Jazz Combo 1
Fri, 2/7
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Hammbone
Bur G er Bar
Jeff Lysyczyn
Grindstone Cow B oy
Izzy Grace
h ank’s h onky tonk
Leigh Hutchins Trio; Jack Finley Band
h eroes d en
The Fog
h o P sP rin G s
Leon Long
Ja C k’s Pla C e
Tony Castellanos
Pu C kett’s
Karli & James
seasons o F m ur F rees B oro
The Band Moriah
s myrna v F w Post 8422
Shane and the Money Makers
tn Cra F t ButC her
Beau Tatum
s aT, 2/8
Boro Bour B on & Brews
C.J. Conklin; Eden Storm
h ank’s h onky tonk
Mikki Zip Band; Anniston Pate
h a PPy’s sP orts l oun G e
Echo; Robert Foster h eroes d en
Bill Mizell
h o P sP rin G s
Mize & the Drive; Memory Train; Milford Academy
m iddle Ground Brewin G Co.
Vagabond Train
Pu C kett’s
Joe West Trio
s un, 2/9
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Rattlesnake & Eggs
h ank’s h onky tonk
The O’Donnells
h o P sP rin G s
Da Jam Band
m on, 2/10
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Clint Draper
Bur G er Bar
Jeff Lysyczyn
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
Ethos Jazz;
Wind Ensemble
s myrna v F w Post 8422
Randy and Friends
Tues, 2/11
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Pepper Brooks
h ank’s h onky tonk
Robert Abernathy
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
Kevin Class
the view at the F ountains
Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra
Wed, 2/12
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Holler Cat Blues Jam
h ank’s h onky tonk
Robyn Taylor h o P sP rin G s
Valentines Jazz Night
Thurs, 2/13
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Milford Academy
h ank’s h onky tonk
Cary & Sherrie Lynn
h o P sP rin G s
Doc Flannel
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
Chamber Winds; Wind Ensemble
Fri, 2/14
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Carson Mac Band
Carmen’s taqueria
Jeff Lysyczyn
Cedar Glade Brews
The Howlin Embers
Grindstone Cow B oy
Bailey Hyneman
h ank’s h onky tonk
Bailey Rose
h a PPy’s sP orts l oun G e
Mixtape ’80s Tribute
Band
h eroes d en
Phil Valdez
h o P sP rin G s
Taylor’s Thread (James Taylor tribute)
Ja C k’s Pla C e
Tony Castellanos
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
Annalisa Thomas
Pu C kett’s
Damien Horne Trio
s myrna v F w Post 8422
Shane and the Money Makers
st. Clair s enior Center
The Band Moriah
tn Cra F t ButC her
Izzy Grace
s aT, 2/15
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Tony Castellanos; Los Swamp Monsters
h ank’s h onky tonk
The Hammonds
h a PPy’s sP orts l oun G e
Phoenix Rising
h eroes d en
Mark & Tim
h o P sP rin G s
Noche de Banda
m iddle Ground Brewin G Co.
Jeff Lysyczyn
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
Wind Ensemble
Pu C kett’s
Kenny Durham Trio
s un, 2/16
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Andru Jamison
h o P sP rin G s
Da Jam Band
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
Gyuhee Kim the Boro
Zentrance; Jeff Keeran
m on, 2/17
Bur G er Bar
Jeff Lysyczyn
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Vinny Bonina
s myrna v F w Post 8422
Randy and Friends
Tues, 2/18
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Eden Storm
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
Drake Wallace Memorial
Studio Recital
Wed, 2/19
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Gray Daniels
Thurs, 2/20
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Dueling Pianos
h ank’s h onky tonk
Will King
h arvester e vent Center
East Nash Grass; Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
h o P sP rin G s
Mario Williams
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
Jazz Ensemble I
Fri, 2/21
Bur G er Bar
Jeff Lysyczyn
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Revolution
h ank’s h onky tonk
Jeff Caron Band; Sara Simmons & Kevin Key
h eroes d en
Roland Justice; Cary & Sherrie Lynn
h o P sP rin G s
Andy Branton
Ja C k’s Pla C e
Tony Castellanos
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
Tennessee Valley Winds
Pu C kett’s
Jeffrey Joslin
s myrna v F w Post 8422
Shane and the
Money Makers
tn Cra F t ButC her
Eric Lopez
s aT, 2/22
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Jeff Lysyczyn; Southbound Crows
Grindstone Cow B oy
Marci Mitchell
h ank’s h onky tonk
Krystal King
h a PPy’s sP orts l oun G e
Stones River Revival
h eroes d en
Danny White
h o P sP rin G s
Bleached Out; Karate Chad; Munkn!
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
Molly Clayton; Jonathon Oldham
Pu C kett’s
The Road Crew the Boro
Tunnel Show; Carpet-Stain; Bellysauce
s un, 2/23
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Sisters Wade Revival
h o P sP rin G s
Da Jam Band the Boro Zentrance
m on, 2/24
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Reed Swindler & Jett
Reed
Bur G er Bar
Jeff Lysyczyn
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
Jazz Ensemble II
s myrna v F w Post 8422
Randy and Friends
Tues, 2/25
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Fae Harmonies
mtsu s aunders Fine a rts
Chloe Fuller; Colin Miller
Wed, 2/26
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Scott Hogue
h ank’s h onky tonk
Jeff Caron
h o P sP rin G s
The Creative Outlet:
Networking and Open Mic
mtsu s aunders Fine a rts
Music Industry Collective
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
Sarah Eitel
Thurs, 2/27
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Carson Mac
mtsu s aunders Fine a rts
Desmond Ng
Fri, 2/28
Boro Bour B on & Brews
Tony Hartman; Silent Ruckus
Bur G er Bar
Jeff Lysyczyn
h eroes d en
Phil Valdez
h ank’s h onky tonk
Justin Dukes; Blaine
Bunting; Ashton Butler
h o P sP rin G s
The Wentzel Brothers; Mr. Grey
Ja C k’s Pla C e
Tony Castellanos
m iddle Ground Brewin G Co.
Muddy Boots
mtsu s aunders Fine a rts
Desmond Arias
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
String Band Summit
Pu C kett’s
Radio Farm
s myrna v F w Post 8422
Shane and the Money Makers
tn Cra F t ButC her
Tucker Wilson
s aT, 3/1
h ank’s h onky tonk
In-Cahoots; Tawnya Reynolds
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
MTSU Symphony
Orchestra
s un, 3/2
h o P sP rin G s
Da Jam Band
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G Dinu Fedur
m on, 3/3
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G
Jazz Combos
s myrna v F w Post 8422
Randy and Friends
Tues, 3/4
Ca J un steamer Bar & Grill
Jeff Lysyczyn
mtsu w ri G ht m usi C Buildin G Chamber Winds; Symphonic Band
If You Go
Boro Bour B on & Brews 124 N. Maple St. B ur G er B ar 1850 Old Fort Pkwy.
HAPPY HOUR DAILY, 2–6 P.M.
Sounds
OTennessee Philharmonic Orchestra Shares Symphonic Music With Murfreesboro Community Symphony Love
by laura lindsay
ne of murfreesboro’s hidden gems, the Tennessee philharmonic orchestra, brings the magic of classical music to life, right here in Rutherford County. Tpo president Jane mcnulty wants to keep this rich symphonic tradition thriving, inspiring audiences of all ages to experience the power and beauty of live orchestral performances.
“The music touches your soul,” mcnulty said. “ you are in the room feeling the percussion and the strings. There is nothing like being there.
“There are some who believe that classical music and symphonic music is on its way out. I don’t believe that. It is so important to this community to fight for it, to keep it growing and expand it to the next generation. It is important and sometimes it gets lost in the priorities of money.” so far, the Tennessee philharmonic orchestra has performed Latin and classical
concerts this season. Its February performance will be a jazz show.
“We play to our community with songs people know and will recognize,” mcnulty said. “sometimes a concert might be half and half—with one half being classical songs you have heard, and the other half maybe more pop music. We also try to stay current.”
Tpo is a professional orchestra; all musicians have auditioned to perform as part of the orchestra and are contracted and paid.
“our orchestra is a diverse group, and we try to show that through our music and our programming,” mcnulty said. “We try to make sure we are grounded and that we offer things to everyone.”
Conductor and musician Dr. Lawrence harvin founded the orchestra, originally called the University Community ensemble, in 1981. It was originally part of mTsU, though harvin changed the symphony’s name a few times to attract talent across the
county and internationally. The symphony is now recognized as the Tennessee philharmonic orchestra.
harvin served as the conductor for 35 years and still sometimes conducts now, mcnulty said.
“We don’t have a full-time conductor right now,” she said. “We have been enjoying musical guests from all over. It has been really enjoyable to bring in people with different styles. Conductors have individual style, and three conductors might conduct in three different ways.”
mcnulty said it’s not hard to find a conductor “because they enjoy leading this orchestra.”
Tpo Board of Directors president Dr. steven payne says he hopes more musicians who performed in the orchestra before the CovID pandemic can return to perform again.
“CovID did a lot of things to a lot of
people in this country, and one of things it did was affect symphony music,” payne said. “Worldwide, we have about 20 percent less orchestras now. A lot of orchestras just couldn’t make it. It’s hard to ask for money when you aren’t having any performances. It has been financially difficult.
“our orchestra has recovered from it, but not all the people who were in the symphony before [CovID] have rejoined us yet.”
payne said it is a credit to the Tpo donors and the board of directors that the orchestra was never in the red financially during the pandemic.
“Ticket sales for the year cover about 10 percent of our budget,” he said “That means that our donors are critically important to us. Any symphony and most nonprofits depend on donors.”
Donors can support the orchestra as a whole seasonally, as a sponsor for a musician, or by supporting Tpo in the Class-
room, a program that raises money for student instrument purchase, the sTeAm experience, and master classes.
M u S i C ed
Tpo in the Classroom is a thriving educational outlook program, part of murfreesboro City schools’ sTeAm (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) program for grade school students.
The program covers many topics including the history of music and the physics of sound—and then the students play the instruments, payne said.
“We try to make it to every second-grade class,” mcnulty said. “We have a wonderful director of education. Donna Wehofer is a retired teacher who does amazing things for the students. Tpo for the Classroom will be at over 20 schools this year. We hope more schools reach out to us to expand the program. It takes all of us to encourage and inspire future generations in music. That is why we visit the students in second grade, so hopefully in fifth grade they will pick up an instrument and then we will try to support them all the way.”
COM ing u P
Feb. 11
This month’s concert is the Valentine’s Concert on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. This jazz performance will be held at
The View at the Fountains of Gateway, an indoor, fourth-story performance hall overlooking the fountains, located at 1500 Medical Center Pkwy. Ste. 4D.
march 1
The following show is the Music Excellence Awards. TPO will honor the music students of Rutherford County. All music teachers (instrumental and vocal) will have the opportunity to nominate their most talented music students. This is a free concert open to the public, with a special invite to the students and their family members. The event is scheduled for Saturday, March 1 at 11 a.m. in the Belle Aire Baptist Church, 1307 N. Rutherford Blvd.
april 24
Dr. Brian Russell will conduct April’s season finale, A Spring Spectacular. Ethos Children’s Choirs, a youth choir that Russell conducts, will perform with the orchestra in the concert that will also feature their new concertmaster, Andrea Dawson. This concert is set for April 24 at 7 p.m. at Belle Aire Baptist.
To find out more about the Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra, visit tnphil.org or email info@tnphil.org. The TPO has three more concerts this season.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TPO / K EN NO RBERG
Blue
SONgWriTErS WiTh TiES to middle Tennessee state University will gather this month for the first-ever musical fundraiser for the school’s name, image and likeness (nIL) fund, which enables student-athletes to receive compensation for their participation in college athletics.
Derek mason, head football coach at mTsU, Chris massaro, director of athletics at sU, and the Athlete Licensing Company announce the Blue Bloods in the Round songwriters show at humble Baron at nearest Green Distillery (3125 Us -231, shelbyville) on Thursday, Feb. 13, from 6 to 9:30 p.m.
“This first-of-its-kind event celebrates some of the ‘blue blood’ music nobility that mTsU has fostered along with the new athletic department endeavors to revenue-share with their athletes,” mason said.
Grammy award-winning and decorated songwriters performing at the event include mTsU alums Luke Laird, Jamie moore, natalie hemby and Gordie sampson.
Jet Jurgensmeyer, film and Last Man Standing Tv star-turned-country artist, will host Blue Bloods in the Round.
The night benefiting the mTsU athletics nIL program will include two songwriter rounds; the first round will feature up-and-coming mTsU student songwriters/artists Carter elliott and Lauren Teel, as well Amelie sampson, daughter of Gordie sampson. Grady Block, currently the touring drummer for ernest and also a staff writer for Big Loud, will round out this first crop of artists.
Following the first round, “blue bloods” Laird, hemby, moore and the elder sampson will take the stage. These writers have multiple Grammy awards and nominations and over 30 number-one Billboard singles between them.
Luke Laird is a highly decorated mTsU alumnus who has won BmI songwriter of the year and is the co-owner of Creative nation music. he will perform some of his 24 number-one Billboard singles, which include “so small” and “Undo It” (Carrie Underwood), “Gonna” (Blake shelton), “Take a Back Road” (Rodney Atkins), “Drink in my hand,” “Give me Back my hometown” and “Talladega” (eric Church), “American Kids” (Kenny Chesney), “Fast” (Luke Bryan) and “head over Boots” (Jon pardi).
Laird has also written and produced songs for Tim mcGraw, Rascal Flatts, Kacey musgraves,
Toby Keith, ne-yo, John Legend, Darius Rucker and many others.
natalie hemby is a Grammy Award-winning writer who first gained notoriety by penning hits for miranda Lambert including “White Liar,” “only prettier” and “Automatic” as well as Little Big Town’s “pontoon” and “Tornado.” As a recording artist, hemby won a Grammy with The highwomen, which featured her alongside Amanda shires, maren morris and Brandi Carlisle. she released her self-titled debut album in 2019 and a second solo album, Pins and Needles, in 2021.
Jamie moore is a four-time Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer from muscle shoals, Alabama. he has a catalog of multi-genre hits and songs recorded by an impressive list of artists such as Carrie Underwood, Toby mac, Chris Lane, Bren Joy, Blake shelton and Tim mcGraw. his recent no. 1 hits “may We All” by Florida Georgia Line and “Chasin you” by morgan Wallen have been recurrent hits on country and pop radio. he has also produced R&B artist Bren Joy and motown gospel artist evvie mcKinney.
Gordie sampson is a Canadian singer-songwriter and producer from Big pond, nova scotia, who lives with his family in nashville. he has written hit songs for Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Faith hill, LeAnn Rimes, Blake shelton, miranda Lambert and Rascal Flatts. he has also released critically acclaimed albums with Canadian country act The Rankin Family and as a solo performer. sampson received a Grammy Award for penning Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take the Wheel.”
host Jet Jurgensmeyer, a nashville native who grew up performing on the stage at the famed nashville palace, will perform some of his own songs throughout the evening.
Blue Bloods in the Round is sponsored by the Athlete Licensing Company and will be promoted by mTsU student-athletes, with the athletes receiving nIL money for their posts on social media promoting the show.
Food and beverages will be available for guests to enjoy during the show at the “World’s Longest Bar” at humble Baron on the campus of the nearest Green Distillery.
Find tickets for Blue Bloods in the round at sevenrooms.com. For more information on the Athlete Licensing Company, visit athlete-licensing. com; for more information on the MTSu Athletic department, visit goblueraiders.com; for more information on the humble Baron venue, visit humblebaron.com.
Gordie SampSon
natalie hemby
luke laird
SkyFlowers
Will Taylor, a middle Tennessee-based music producer, released an independent self-titled, electric dance, hyperpop project in the summer of 2024, around the time the dance pops of Chappell Roan and Charli XCX were echoing off the walls of Bridgestone Arena and eastside Bowl, as well as the airwaves. This even local-er debut, pulled together single by single over the course of a couple of years, makes for an electronic cornucopia of romantic venting dance-pop (perhaps rivaling the chemistry of Gotye, the artist behind the “somebody That I Used to Know” track and video).
no matter if you’re into electronic dance or not, the standout instrumental “hyasynth” is a winner, tonally captivating in its repetition in ascending progression. The track mesmerizes to an optimistic, captivating degree, the dream of any globally known DJ. As for the rave-goers, it makes a pretty sick track to blow the foam out and start rubbing on one another.
“Don’t Know her” provides mixing between different speakers for a three-dimensional listening experience, an impressive and pleasant surprise—and a woulda-been shoo-in for an ’80s rom-com soundtrack.
“Fortune Teller” is dance-dance, for sure, a British, ’80s pop Rick Astley sound. But the upbeat cut’s point of deception really comes from the lyrics, as it’s the album’s breakup song.
At a distance, one might wonder if any given track on SkyFlowers is one of the motivational Chinese or Korean pop songs played over loudspeakers on their workers’ way home from work, as a sort of societal morale booster (the American equivalent perhaps being “happy” by pharrell Williams). But it’s all upbeat and it’s never too far away from a repetitively endearing mood, such as in “Tour Date,” which ultimately pop-fist-pumps We can dance, we can dance, we can dance ’til we run out of music . . .
The “duo” track of SkyFlowers, “Cherry Blossom,” features vocalist-turned-mIDIkeyboard key erin Brooke (also writer of the track) growing a song as smooth as bouquets bloom, all done with delicate hands at the mixing board, a tricky editing task considering the potential for electronic music’s timing to turn blotchy due to its intricacies. skyFlowers shines through on all channels, however, to create a digital realm which melds, flows and genuinely invokes emotions, entertainingly.
SkyFlowers’ neutropical/porch sunshine instrumental “sunburner” is a scorcher, too. oscillating keys and beat machines change forms, leaning back and forth between varieties of the effects in this head-bobber.
It’s a hopeless romantic’s album, with all the modern bells and whistles to boot, in this era of electronica music revisited in the basements and bedrooms of area folk, on Instagram reels, via the skillset of oG staple negativland, by experimental, 35-year-old nashville waiters, and even by skyFlowers. everything’s there for you.
Find skyFlowers’ SkyFlowers across the icons, collected at linktr.ee/skyflowersmusic, as well as at skyflowersmusic.bandcamp.com. — bryce harMon s ky f lowers
Honky Tonk Her O e S Sounds
Local Country Singer-Songwriters, and groups Chasing the neon Rainbow at Hank’s Honky Tonk
by Matthew olson
nuMeROuS aRTiSTS Have gRaCed THe STage aT HanK ’S over the years, honky tonk hustlin’, trying to make it in music City. here’s a look at some of the artists that have played consistently at the venue, making significant contributions to the local music scene with their own versions of “three chords and the truth.” Look for these and many others to continue bringing their unique sound and energy to hank’s, located at 2341 memorial Blvd.
new owners take over hank’s
Ken Strode’s recent decision to sell Hank’s Honky Tonk to Dale and Heather Clear signifies a shift from one side of the bar to the other.
The Clears, who were regular patrons of the establishment, had developed a deep appreciation for the bar’s atmosphere and community.
The Clears are originally from Indiana. The couple moved to Tennessee about 20 years ago for Dale to pursue a career in the music business, specifically playing guitar for various country artists. Some of the notable artists he has worked with include Kellie Pickler, Chris Young, Craig Campbell and Andy Griggs. This experience in the country music industry has fueled his aspiration to establish a music venue.
The new proprietors are upgrading the venue’s audio and video capabilities, expanding plans to include both music and sports events and viewings, and planning to continue Hank’s tradition of live music performances and good dining in a fun and inviting space.
Robyn Taylor
Taylor used to live in Cannon County, where she wrote a lot of her original songs about the area. “Hills of Tennessee” and “Smith and Wesson” are examples of her songs about living out in Woodbury. When Taylor started playing Murfreesboro, she says, she appreciated feeling comfortable at Hank’s playing both classic and newer contemporary country tunes.
Kenna elpers
Elpers moved to Nashville from Southern Indiana to pursue a music business degree at Middle Tennessee State University. The artist has been playing music since age 13 and has been performing at various venues, including Hank’s, since moving to Middle Tennessee. She recently released a single titled “Saturday Night Season” with country artist Craig Campbell and has an upcoming duet with Jagger Whitaker called “End of a Bottle” coming out this February. Elpers recorded a music video at Hank’s for her song “Whiskey’d Me Away.” She graduated from MTSU in December and has been playing regular gigs at Hank’s, describing it as a supportive and family-like venue.
emily Miller
Emily Miller is a country artist originally from West Chester, Ohio. Since graduating from Belmont University in 2018, she has continued to pursue her career in country music, actively performing at Middle Tennessee venues and beyond.
delyn
Christian
Onstage, local troubadour Delyn Christian sports a harmonica belt, enabling him to switch instruments seamlessly while playing guitar. At 64 years old, Delyn has 50 years of experience in live music, having started performing in bars at the age of 14. His repertoire includes tribute shows honoring artists such as Joe Cocker and John Prine, as well as his original compositions.
Recently, he became part of a new band called The Bar Tabs. He has been playing at Hank’s since its opening, one of many local artists committed to the venue.
Silent Ruckus
Len and Ben Cobler are a father-and-son team who play as a two-piece cover band called The Silent ruckus. They perform a wide variety of music ranging from ’90s country music and classic rock to modern country, spanning artists from george Strait to Toto.
The O’donnells
The Cooter River Band
Named after a Jack Russell Terrier named Cooter and a rescue dog named River, The Cooter River Band also performs regularly at Hank’s. The band, consisting of Cary and Sherrie Lynn, Michael James, and sometimes Kenneth Pruitt, play acoustic shows at Hank’s on the third Saturday of every month; Cary and Sherrie Lynn generally perform as a duo the second Thursday.
Bailey Rose
Local contemporary country music singer-songwriter Bailey Rose picked up steam around 2013 following the release of her debut album Can’t Let Country Die. Rose continues to gain traction, release new music and perform.
The O’Donnells are a local musical family trio consisting of Darryl, Klinton and Julie O’Donnell. They have developed a unique sound with tight harmonies that blends various musical influences, primarily focusing on country music while also incorporating elements of gospel and other roots music forms.
Phil valdez valdez plays what he describes as real country music, with a style encompassing artists such as Merle haggard, gene Watson and Keith Whitley. When not playing acoustic at hank’s, the rich-voiced country crooner can be heard gigging with his Fender Telecaster.
izzy grace
A country artist who plays Hank’s every third Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m., Grace has two original songs, titled “Lost My Country” and “Land of the Free” available on major streaming platforms including Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music. Izzy appreciates Hank’s for its intimate atmosphere, where patrons and artists can interact closely with each other and with staff. She describes the new owners as passionate about music and dedicated to connecting with their customers.
The Jack Finley Band
Country-rock outfit The Jack Finley Band has been performing together for eight years and has been a regular ever since being the first band to play Hank’s. The band plays about two to three shows a month, including regular gigs at Hank’s and other Murfreesboro venues. The band has a strong connection to the venue, as Hank’s founder Ken Strode inspired them to form and has been a good friend.
A Trip to the
Mountains
Fun, Free Family-Friendly Things to d o in g reat Smoky Mountains n ational Park
by bracken M ayo
MOST in THe aRea Have LiKeLy HeaRd OF THe gReaT SMOKy MOunTainS national park, even if they do not travel there regularly. The people of Tennessee proclaim the park as a must-visit feature in the state. The Great smoky mountains, one of the southeast’s crown jewels, draws millions of visitors annually with its breathtaking vistas, diverse wildlife and rich history. But what to do when you get to this massive piece of preserved mountainous land? here are some recommended destinations and excursion ideas, lest you get overwhelmed by the majesty of the 800-square-mile park in east Tennessee and Western north Carolina.
1 Pi C ni C and Rive R Fun
Pack a lunch and enjoy a scenic drive through the park. Along the way, stop by one of the many pull-offs or areas labeled “Quiet Walkway” to relax by the river. These tranquil spots—many located just a few paces from convenient parking— are perfect for picnicking, wading in the cool mountain waters and skipping rocks. Kids will love exploring the shallow streams while parents soak in the natural beauty and wild air.
2
Suga RL and S v i S i TORS Cen T e R: T R ai L TO CaTa R a CT Fa LLS and O W n By Ca B in
Start your Smoky Mountain adventure at the Sugarlands Visitors Center, just outside Gatlinburg. This park hub offers resources like maps, nature exhibits and helpful park rangers. Behind the center, take the easy half-mile trail to Cataract Falls, a serene 25-foot waterfall. Trails continue to the historic Ownby Cabin, a well-preserved log home built in 1860, one of many historic structures standing in the national park. This short hike is great for young children and park newcomers not far from town and civilization, while still offering a chance to spot a variety of plants, creek sides and wildlife.
3 n e WFO und g a P
Ove RLOOK Straddling the Tennessee-North Carolina border, Newfound Gap Overlook provides one of the park’s most iconic views of the sprawling mountain terrain. This scenic spot is accessible by car and has a large parking area, offering sweeping vistas of the Smokies. Interpretive signs share historical insights about the area, making it a great educational stop for families as they take in the view at the state line.
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Og L e H OM e P L a C e/ T W in C R ee KS T R ai L
History and nature blend beautifully on the Twin Creeks Trail. Begin an excursion at the Ogle Home Place, an 1800s homestead featuring a cabin, barn and other evidence of the Chero kee Orchard Road farm just outside of Gatlinburg. Take the Twin Creeks Trail about a mile from the Ogle site, past peaceful streams and remnants of stone walls, to the “House of the Fairies,” a whimsical stone springhouse nestled in the hillside. This magical spot is a hit with kids and offers a further glimpse into life in the area’s past. For a shorter House of the Fairies visit, park at the Twin Creeks Science and Education Center to access the wonderfully de signed rock springhouse directly.
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C L ing M an S dOM e (Ku WOH i)
For families up for a brief challenge, the walk up Clingmans Dome is worth the effort. The half-mile paved trail is steep, leading to the highest point in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, now officially known as Kuwohi, offering expansive 360-degree views from an observation tower standing 45 feet above the peak’s natural high point. Take breaks as needed on this journey to the true top of the Smokies, and reward yourselves with a picnic near the parking lot afterward.
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T R ai L
The hike to Laurel Falls is another excellent family-friendly excursion (with the Laurel Falls Trailhead located about four miles away from the Sugarlands Visitors Center). This 2.6-mile round-trip trail is paved, making it quite manageable for those who prefer stable footing, and even those pushing strollers. The highlight is the stunning 80foot Laurel Falls, cascading in two tiers, a popular photo op, and even known to be the site of the occasional marriage proposal. While the path is generally safe and easy, do keep an eye on adventurous youngsters as your group approaches the falls to steer them away from some steep drop-offs near the rocks.
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eLKMO n T
Step back in time with a visit to Elkmont, a oncethriving logging community and later a bustling resort destination. This area features historic cabins of various colors, shapes and sizes, as well as scenic trails. Pull right up and explore this abandoned community and its fascinating history. Aside from the village, the Elkmont Nature Trail makes a great quick walk for hiking beginners. 8
The Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail is a one-way loop drive showcasing the park’s lush forests and flowing streams. A cascading network of drips and trickles flowing down a rocky wall, known as the Place of a Thousand Drips, makes a highlight of the tour. This feature is so close to the road, those peering out of car windows may even feel the mist from this lacework of miniature waterfalls as the water tumbles down the mountain rocks. The cascading waterfall creates a mesmerizing sight, especially after rainfall, when sunlight causes the airborne water droplets to sparkle. The Roaring Fork drive also provides access to several popular trailheads and historic structures.
CONTiNuEd ON PAgE 22
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Li TTL e gR een BR ie R
S CHOOL and Wa LK e R
Si ST e RS Ca B in
Dive into Appalachian history by visiting the Little Greenbrier School and Walker Sisters Cabin. Begin your journey from Metcalf Bottoms or use the parking area on Little Greenbrier Road. The schoolhouse and cabin offer a glimpse into the simple yet resilient lives of early settlers. The surrounding trails are mainly peaceful and easy.
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Cade S C Ove
A visit to Cades Cove is a must for a Smoky Mountains trip. An 11-mile loop road winds through a picturesque valley, offering opportunities to see wildlife like black bears and deer right from the car and ample opportunities to pull off and explore a wealth of historic sites, including old churches, cabins and mills—over 80 historic buildings still stand in the area. This isolated Tennessee community once had a population of over 600.
Creature Couples
in HOnOR OF vaLenTine’S day, let’s celebrate some of middle Tennessee’s most devoted creatures. These animals don’t just inspire us with their beauty and behavior, their enduring partnerships offer a glimpse into the cooperative spirit of the natural world. By protecting their habitats, we can ensure their love stories continue for generations.
Take the American beaver (Castor canadensis), nature’s ultimate team player. As cooler temperatures settle over middle Tennessee’s waterways, these industrious mammals prepare for their breeding season. January and February mark a time of renewal for beaver pairs, who mate for life. Together, they construct intricate lodges and dams, transforming landscapes and creating wetlands that benefit countless other species. protecting riparian zones safeguards their engineering efforts—and strengthens the entire ecosystem. high above the waterways, the bald eagle (haliaeetus leucocephalus) soars—a symbol of resilience and dedication. These majestic raptors form lifelong bonds, returning to the same nest year after year. With each passing season, their nest grows larger, a testament to their commitment to family; some nests reach as wide as 10 feet. protecting our lakes and rivers ensures these iconic birds have the resources they need to hunt, nest and raise their young.
A flash of crimson against bare branches, the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) brings a pop of color to Tennessee’s winter landscape; the sweet duet of a bonded pair echoes through the cold air. even in the
bleakest months, these backyard lovebirds remind us that devotion endures. Keep an eye out, and you might see the male cardinal feeding the female while she nests. planting native shrubs and trees provides food and shelter, ensuring their melodies continue to brighten our mornings.
As dusk falls, the haunting trills of the eastern screech-owl (megascops asio) drift through the trees. These small owls form monogamous bonds, raising their chicks in tree cavities or man-made boxes. stealthy and watchful, they work together to defend their young from predators. preserving mature forests—or even installing nest boxes—provides them with safe homes, helping these loyal hunters thrive.
Down on the forest floor, the box turtle (Terrapene carolina) slowly makes its way through the underbrush. Though they may not mate for life in the strictest sense, box turtles often return to the same partners season after season. These reptiles face many challenges—habitat destruction, roads and careless human activity. But small actions make a difference. native plant gardens provide food and shelter, while mindful driving and mowing saves lives. While these five species highlight the beauty of lifelong partnerships in the wild, they are far from the only examples. From the barred owl and eastern bluebird to the pileated woodpecker and Canada goose, Tennessee is home to many creatures that rely on enduring bonds to survive and thrive. The animals help to remind us that love and cooperation are deeply rooted in nature and are just as essential in our own lives.
Minute
The with bill wilson
Card Collector
John Mcgill began hosting baseball card shows in 1987 at local Ramada inn, where they continue there to this day
hEy EvEryBOdy, I hope everyone’s doing well. since this is the month we celebrate love, I’m gonna share with you one of my passions from over the years.
I don’t know why, but I’ve always loved baseball cards, football cards and basketball cards. I guess because I was not an athlete I could live through my favorite athletes. one way of showing my love for the game or a particular athlete was buying their sports card.
I would ride my bike down to Frank’s IGA at the corner of minerva Drive and Bradyville pike or to Town & Country market right across the street and buy 50-cent packs of cards hoping to score an Aaron, mays, Rose or Carlton. sometimes I would go to Tolliver’s pawn shop or the Bellwood market on Broad street.
I also remember as a kid my father would take my younger brother and me and go to the Great escape in nashville. he would give us $100 and, instead of buying the new cards of the 1970s, we bought up a lot of the older cards like the mickey mantle, Ted Williams, stan musial, Willie mays and hank Aaron cards, just to name a few.
I had the opportunity to sit down with John mcGill, who actually started one of the first baseball card shows in Tennessee. John has lived in murfreesboro all his life. he started his card shows in 1987 at the Ramada Inn on south Church street, where they are still held to this day. mcGill got the idea from ed Gaddy, who had a sports
card shop called e. Gad’s at harding mall in nashville. Jay Deaton (of Bellwood lore) helped John promote the first show. someone selling cards at the card shows could price their cards by looking at the “CCp,” which stands for current card prices. Collectors would use Beckett, a magazine for pricing sports cards. John told me back in the day you could buy a whole box of cards for $8; today, that same box of cards could cost $1,000 or more.
I asked John what was his key to the success of his card shows for the last 38 years, held at a single place, the Ramada Inn. he let me know the main source of promotion is the Ramada’s marquee out front on the busy street. The card shows are still held the first and third saturday of each month. For many years all John had to do was change the dates.
I asked John to tell me some interesting stories from over the years. he said one time he had set up at the madison Flea market and this fellow came in and tried to sell him some baseball cards . . . but it so happened that they were John’s baseball cards! The guy had stolen them at the Ramada Inn show. John assured me no one was arrested and that this thief was not a resident of murfreesboro.
murfreesboro had several pro athletes who hailed from here, all featured on their own cards. We all likely know of major League Baseball pitcher David price. Kenny Gerhart played at oakland high school and at mTsU and played for the Baltimore orioles. Before that, Chuck Taylor played on several teams in the majors and recently local pitcher Collin snider made it to the big leagues.
murfreesboro native Robert James played
for the Buffalo Bills, following his time at holloway high school and Fisk University. If you’re wanting to buy cards or to have your collection evaluated, stop by the show at the murfreesboro Ramada Inn (1855 s Church st.) the first or third saturday of each month. sports-card trading is a billiondollar industry, and the value still appears to be going up. The key to these cards’ value are condition and scarcity. For more information or to display and sell your card collection, call John mcGill at 615-893-1140. now, go out and do something nice for somebody, and remember to get your sweetie some chocolate and tell them how much you love them.
Call Bill Wilson for your local real estate needs at 615-406-5872.
s myrna h igh s chool a nnounces Production of s econd s tudent f eature f ilm
FOLLOWiNg ThE SuCCESS OF iTS dEBuT FEATurE FiLM, The Strings
Attached, Rock School Studios—the film division of Smyrna High School’s Video Production Program—announces the launch of its second student-led feature film project, Real This new production will further showcase the abundant talent and creativity of these high school filmmakers as they continue to push the boundaries of student cinema.
Real is a thought-provoking drama that explores the line between technology and humanity in a world where technological advancements often outpace ethics. At its core, the film tells the story of high school student Dante and his unexpected companion, Ben, offering a powerful commentary on what it is to be human.
“After the incredible response to the first film, we’re excited to raise the bar and tackle a compelling new story that highlights the extraordinary talent, vision and collaboration of our students,” said video production instructor Kyle Dietz.
The new feature will once again be entirely student-produced—from scriptwriting and pre-production to cinematography, directing and post-production. Guided by industry professionals and educators, this project offers students real-world experience, preparing them for potential careers in film and media.
Production on Real began in November 2024, with filming taking place at various locations in the Smyrna area. A special two-night red carpet premiere is scheduled for April 22 and 23, 2025, at the Smyrna Malco Cinema. The film will screen for several weeks at Malco before heading to Amazon Prime.
For more information, visit shsproductions.net or follow the film on social media @REAL_Movie25
concerns, delusions, and conspiracies: todd gallery h osts a rtwork of Bert g ilbert and s teve Ward
MTSu’S TOdd ArT gALLEry will host Concerns, Delusions, and Conspiracies, an exhibit showcasing the work of Bert Gilbert and Steve Ward, through Feb. 14.
View this innovative opening exhibition for the spring 2025 semester 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.
b ert g ilbert ’s rich history in craftsmanship began in his father’s basement workshop, where he created toy boats, wood carvings and intricate alarm systems during his childhood. He earned his bachelor of arts in sculpture and painting from Indiana University in 1983. After dedicating many years to family and business, he returned to art at age 50, reigniting his creative passion by participating in iron casting workshops at Sculpture Trails in Solsberry, Indiana. Gilbert’s artistic practice emphasizes metal due to its durability and textural qualities.
s teve ward is known for his innovative approach to contemporary materials and forms. With a solid foundation in traditional sculptural techniques, Ward often blends these methods with modern technology to create dynamic installations that challenge viewer perceptions, exploring themes of identity, nature and the interplay of environmental elements.
Admission to the Todd Art Gallery is free and open to the public. For more information, call 615-898-5532 or email toddartgallery@mtsu.edu
clockwise from above: director gavin Averhoff reviews a scene on set; Assistant camera Miley Singharath slates a scene; director gavin Averhoff and Cinematographer Xavier Miller discuss a shot.
tWarm Welcome c old n ights
he Journey home continues to run its Coldest nights program throughout this winter season, providing shelter on freezing nights for those at risk of sleeping outside in the cold. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to serve the homeless and other at-risk individuals in the Rutherford County community.
The organization’s community outreach offers services that encourage individuals to build economic stability, faith, independence and integration into community life. on nights when it gets below freezing, The Journey home partners with some local churches to provide an indoor space for those who need a roof over their heads. The Coldest nights project, initiated by The Journey home in 2008, provides shelter to unsheltered adults, many with various mental health conditions and financial struggles. In the project’s first year, the organization faced logistical challenges when seeking viable shelters for individuals, using area hotel rooms as places of refuge.
But the project would eventually be able to operate men’s and women’s shelters located at First Baptist Church and st. paul’s episcopal Church. Lisbeth Couser, Journey home’s director of marketing, has been with the organization since 2020, but remembers the obstacles the nonprofit overcame to get to where they are now.
“In 2009 we asked First Baptist Church if they would allow us to set up a shelter for men in their church when it was below freezing, which they allowed,” Couser said. “We started operating in the church and in 2011 added st. paul’s episcopal Church to provide shelter for our women on Coldest nights.”
Jim Trasport, a member of what The Journey home calls the “Cold patrol,” joined the initiative’s hypothermia prevention program after volunteering at one of the
the Journey home coordinates shelters on freezing nights
by e lisha n elson
church’s senior centers. The program was offered as a grant through The Journey home that the ministry provides.
“I wanted to help serve meals. I don’t prepare them but help serve them, check everyone in, and make sure that everybody gets at least one meal, and their seconds,” Trasport said.
he works with the men’s shelter at First Baptist Church, providing blankets to those spending the night and assisting them with setting up cots, towels and other sundry items that they need to spend the night at the church. The shelter for the men, previously a gym for First Baptist Church, has been converted to a shelter with access to showers and toilets, separated by curtains to provide privacy to individuals.
“I find that when you treat somebody with respect and give them dignity, they in turn do the same thing. They’re very appreciative of the community,” Trasport said.
The program offers a supper at 5:30 p.m., with the shelter opening later for community
members seeking a place to stay for the night.
“We have suppers, at The Journey home and at First Baptist Church, with volunteers helping to prepare those meals,” Couser said. staff members begin checking in shelter-seeking individuals at 7 p.m., and the church doors are open until 9 p.m., housing them until 7 a.m. the following day.
The initiative relies on community support from volunteers and hosts the program on evenings when the temperature is expected to fall below freezing. Two different weather services are used to determine when the shelter is open.
The individuals who stay at the shelter typically have complex needs, such as healthcare needs, mental illnesses, and a need for permanent housing.
“We aren’t exclusively seeing homeless individuals seek shelter at our churches,” Trasport said. “The other night, I met a man who was in transition into finding an apartment, and after hearing about the shelter he
took his three cats to find a place to bring them for two or three days until he could find a place to stay. While we ask people with pets to leave them in their vehicle where some shelter is provided, it sure beats them being out in the street on freezing nights.”
The Coldest nights program is expected to continue throughout the winter season, likely up through the first few weeks of march.
Along with the goal of connecting clients with sustainable housing solutions that offer stability to break out of the cycle of homelessness, The Journey home supplies knowledge and tools useful for an independent life.
“It’s a need 365 days a year. The thing we want is for everybody to be in some kind of sustainable housing,” Couser said. “Anytime you’re living outdoors, you are vulnerable to the elements of living outdoors, whether it’s overheating or freezing to death, or maybe you have a medical condition. A lot of our unsheltered adults have medical conditions such as heart trouble or diabetes or some other serious health problem, and living outside is not a very good way to take care of those types of health conditions.”
coMing up: The Journey Home is hosting a fundraising event on March 10 at the MTSU Student Union Building Ballroom called Journey 25, focusing on community action to raise funds for those experiencing homelessness in Rutherford County.
Those looking to assist in the program can volunteer and help with cleaning up after the meal groups. donations such as sheets, warm gloves, blankets and clothing are also needed to support individuals during the cold months. To volunteer or donate or for more information about The Journey home and the Coldest Nights program, visit lovegodservepeople.org.
Food restaurant
Passion for Pasta
find culinary artistry at l a c ucina i taliana
Flavorful, warm, authentic Italian fare has arrived in murfreesboro with the opening of La Cucina Italiana. proprietor Darlin Daniel Deras opened the establishment on bustling Thompson Lane to offer his take on sicilian classics.
Almost anyone should be able to find something suitable to their taste and mood from the extensive but well organized, unintimidating and informative menu, which includes a variety of pastas, chicken dishes, salads, sandwiches, soups, seafood, steaks and even some Cuban selections, a nod to the previous restaurant occupying the 451 n. Thompson Ln. location (which was of a Cuban persuasion).
At the current restaurant, La Cucina Italiana, the linguine scampi is a popular choice for pasta and seafood fans, featuring shrimp along with a garlic white wine scampi sauce and julienne zucchini.
For an absolute symphony of deliciousness try the Cavatappi Al Forno Cremoso, a magnified mac and cheese of sorts. Cavatappi is a spiral noodle, and this fantastically rich, cheesy, greasy bacon pasta creation accompanies them with parmesan, onion, diced bacon, cream, melted mozzarella cheese and just enough green peas in there
to say you had some vegetables along with all of the decadent pasta, cheese and butter.
“The Bolognese and marsala were spot on,” Bill Rawnsley posted following a meal at La Cucina Italiana.
other house pasta dishes include the pasta pescatori—a seafood medley of shrimp, mussels, clams and calamari—the Linguine Bolognese with the classic meat and tomato sauce, Rigatoni Alla vodka, and
The Dish
l a c ucina i taliana
451 N. Thompson Ln., Ste. A, Murfreesboro
Mon.–Sat.: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sun.: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
Cavatappi Al Forno Cremoso: $15.39; Linguine Scampi: $17.49; Chicken Sorrentino: $18.49; Apple and g orgonzola Salad: $12.39; r igatoni Alla vodka: $14.39; vegetable Minestrone: $6.19
615-546-4444
lacucinaitaliana451.com
pasta Gorgonzola, another special cavatappi dish, this one with sausage, peas and sweet onion in a gorgonzola cream sauce.
“The gorgonzola pasta was very creamy and delicious, and the spare rib with risotto was really tender and flavorful,” posted one impressed customer, s tratos. “ everything was really authentic and obviously cooked from scratch with a lot of care and talent. Top it off with the best homemade
tiramisu we’ve had in 20 years.”
This patron also recommended the ham croquettes.
Deras spent many years honing his craft at an Italian establishment on Long Island, learning the art of creating traditional sauces and preparing pasta, chicken and seafood dishes. now, he brings these recipes from palermo, Italy, to middle Tennessee. his skill has not gone unnoticed—one local Italian family from new york proclaimed La Cucina as the best Italian food they have found in murfreesboro.
Among the establishment’s chicken dishes, find the Chicken sorrentino—chicken breasts topped with prosciutto, very thin slices of fried eggplant, mozzarella, a beef-based demi-glace and plum tomatoes, all atop a bed of mashed potatoes—an elegant explosion of flavors with a comforting potatoesand-gravy feel, and a very filling dish.
The Chicken Involtino, served on risotto and small chunks of vegetables, may not have quite as impressive of a flavor profile but is still a hearty option, particularly for fans of mushrooms.
The shrimp oreganata makes for a garlicky, buttery, herby indulgence, with crusted shrimp atop a large portion of sau-
story by bracken Mayo
photos by sarah Mayo
chicken sorrentino
c avatappi al forno cremoso
téed spinach, while “the short ribs are to die for,” another customer posted.
other families say they appreciate the affordable chicken tenders, grilled cheese and Jr. cheeseburger options for kids.
As mentioned, the La Cucina Italiana chef decided to include on his menu some Cuban standards, including maduros (sweet plantains), fried green plantains served by themselves or loaded up like nachos, empanadas, Cuban sandwiches, croquettes and tamales.
Those looking for burrata—balls of fresh mozzarella cheese filled with a creamy interior—can find them at La Cucina Italiana, the delicacies served with the caprese or accompanied with meatballs.
“The chicken Francese [with white wine and lemon butter sauce] was good and the bread was good,” said one recent diner, nancy King, though she added that she would like a better quality calamari, and that “The meatballs were delicious but the burrata was so cold it made it less
appealing; make sure the burrata is room temperature.”
Though “overall, I would go back,” King said.
Daras, who also owns and operates a paletas shop in springfield, La michoacana, takes pride in his culinary creations and will surely continue to impress with his dishes and to welcome customer feedback.
Local diner samantha Bowers said she appreciated the “cool mix of Italian and Latino food. Incredible chicken spring rolls [buffalo chicken rolled with carrot-celery slaw, served with blue cheese dipping sauce], beef empanadas and Rigatoni Fiorentina. The tres leches cake was the best I have ever had. Great service as well,” she said.
From clams and mussels to cheeseburgers and Cuban sandwiches, light salads to rich pastas, meatballs, marsala, ribeye or ropa vieja, whatever you’re in the mood for, give mr. Daras and his team a chance to lead you on a culinary adventure at La Cucina Italiana.
apple and gorgonzola salad
shrimp oreganata
Tennessee Whiskers, White Monkey Market, high Society, nékter Juice Bar, Fairfield, City Cafe
by delores elliott
ThE WhiTE MONKEy MArKET will open for regular hours on Feb. 12. Jeremy and Kellie myers initially launched White monkey to assist families with estate sales and have now opened a full-time market at 2859 middle Tennessee Blvd. They have leased that house, owned by another local family and small business owner, and have held periodic estate sales there.
“We felt led to open the market full time to support the growing population of the murfreesboro community and to better serve those individuals who enjoy shopping upcycled, vintage and estate items,” Jeremy myers said. “This allows folks who enjoy shopping estate items to shop them in murfreesboro even when there isn’t an estate sale available.”
The market will feature an assortment of goods including vintage, primitives, locally sourced goods, baked goods, jewelry, clothing, gifts, records and other items from local family estate collections.
“many have asked if we will continue doing our traditional estate sales out in private homes as well. The answer is a big fat yes,” myers said. “We love assisting local families that are in difficult transition. There is more on the horizon from the White monkey Brand. so be on the lookout for more.”
hours for the White monkey market are Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. visit facebook.com/whitemonkeyes for more information.
Tommy Dang and Christie shedd expect to open their new establishment, high SOCiETy FOOd BAr ANd LOuNgE, in February. The new concept will come to 211 W. main st. with hours from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. The building, which previously housed murfreesboro Axe, will now feature a blend of Asian and Cajun cuisines, according to the restaurant owners.
high society will serve shrimp and grits, fish, gumbo, curries and pho, with the possibility of a sushi menu in the future.
The front section of the 5,000-square-foot building will serve as the main restaurant
around town
’boro b usiness buzz
and foster based organization focused on saving stray cats in our community, has formed in Murfreesboro.
Catfeine Cat Cafe (517 Cason Ln.) will host a fundraiser launch party for the new nonprofit cat rescue organization on Saturday, Feb. 15, from 6–8 p.m. This party will also be like a kitten shower where Tennessee Whiskers will share its wish list to help it get started.
Tennessee Whiskers has set a goal to save 100 local cats in its first year. It costs around $250 to fully vet and care for a healthy cat, according to the organization. This includes vaccines, spay or neuter services, testing, a microchip, flea meds, dewormer, food, litter and basic supplies. So it will launch a GoFundMe campaign to raise the $25,000 needed to meet that goal. It has registered to be a 501c3 organization, so all donations will be tax deductible.
The five cat ladies behind Tennessee Whiskers Cat Rescue include Danielle Harrett, Lori Kean, Taura Byrd, Wanda Channell and Nicole Campanella, with cat daddy Chris Conro volunteering to serve as the organization’s treasurer
“There are countless requests every day for help with cats in need and limited support or resources available in our area,” Byrd said. “They need more help!”
While Byrd is also the founder and operator of Catfeine Cat Cafe, Catfeine will remain a separate entity from the rescue, but will serve as a foster home for Tennessee Whiskers.
“Our community has always been so supportive of Catfeine for the last six years,” Byrd said. “This felt like the right next step to further our reach in helping more cats in need.”
Additionally, Catfeine will continue to collaborate with other area rescue partners that align with its values and mission.
“We love and support our other local rescues and only strive to be an additional resource for our community.”
For more on Tennessee Whiskers Cat Rescue, including information on volunteering, serving as a foster home and donating, come out to the Feb. 15 event or visit linktr.ee/tennesseewhiskers or tennesseewhiskers.com.
space, including a bar and a small stage, with a vIp lounge in the middle section and the kitchen in the back.
“It’s a different concept,” said shedd.
“We’re going to be opening every morning at 6 a.m. and closing every day at 3 a.m.”
Dang has a history in restaurants on the
NéKTEr JuiCE BAr has opened in murfreesboro, offering smoothies, juices, acai bowls, wellness shots and detox drinks. Find the new location of the juice franchise at 1306 Westlawn Blvd. B4, off of veterans parkway near I-840. hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. saturday and sunday.
FirST BAPTiST ChurCh MurFrEESBOrO, located at 738 e. Castle st., has recently acquired property around the area to create more parking space for the church as the congregation continues to grow.
As part of its full plans, six homes and a barber shop are expected to be demolished to provide space along east Castle street and south Bilbro Avenue. The new space will consist of 220 new parking spaces, as well as a quarter-mile walking track, a conference center that will house more classrooms, fellowship and conference rooms, a commercial kitchen, daycare center and multimedia creative suite. The project is expected to be completed by the end of June.
The new MurFrEESBOrO WATEr rESOurCES building has opened at 316 Robert Rose Dr., behind home Depot and Walmart, at the corner of Gateway Blvd. The new building houses financing, customer service, engineering, storm water and GIs departments, providing more room for employees as the city continues to grow. It also features options for customers to pay water bills inside or via drive-thru. For additional information, visit murfreesborotn.gov/2635/ Water-Resources.
The murfreesboro planning Commission has recently approved plans for a new FAirFiELd iNN By MArriOTT. The new four-story, 65,000-square-foot hotel will be located on a 2.69-acre lot at Robert Rose Drive and Lothric Way and will offer 122 rooms.
Gulf Coast, while shedd owns the two mi patria restaurants in murfreesboro. Both have owned and operated nail salons and have been involved in multiple other small businesses.
For more information, find high society on Facebook or call 629-295-3982.
TiTAN MATEriAL hANdLiNg, which offers forklift sales, rentals and repairs, has announced plans to relocate from its current space at 651 middle Tennessee Blvd. to a 3.14-acre site at 333 W. Rutherford Blvd. The site plan was approved for a 5,334-squarefoot office space and 18,012 square feet of warehouse space in addition to 27 parking spaces. Titan offers a variety of forklift types including industrial, electric and diesel as well as aerial lifts and platforms, telehan-
TENNESSEE WhiSKErS CAT rESCuE, a volunteer
dlers, pallet trucks, tow tractors and more. visit titanmh.com for more information.
closings
CrAzy C’S LiquidATiON, located at 1005 W. College st., recently suffered a fire that began within the building. Firefighters arrived on scene to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the warehousestyle building. The building was vacant at the time of the incident and mFRD crews worked quickly to bring the fire under control and extinguished it without any injuries. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
As a result, Crazy C’s will be closed for repairs, but will reopen soon, according to the business. Find Crazy C’s Liquidation on Facebook for updates.
murfreesboro’s historic CiTy CAFE has officially closed after 125 years in operation. The cafe serves as Tennessee’s longestoperating restaurant, with an original opening date of Feb. 10, 1900.
The restaurant, which has seen multiple ownership changes over the years, has been a well-loved community gathering place, known for its southern hospitality and comfort food.
“This economy has literally broke us. We have tried so hard to stay ahead but, when you have more going out than coming in it catches up with you,” according to a January social media post from current City Cafe owners Teresa and Rollin Kellogg.”
The post included the mysterious comment “We don’t know what is going to come of the Cafe from here,” leading to much local speculation, opinion, offers to buy, conjecture, and even a few GoFundme pages to raise money to purchase the business (although those behind those pages evidently had no communication or agreement with the restaurant’s owners).
shortly after City Cafe announced its closure, local business owner Austin Robinson (who operates CpR Cell phone Repair) posted to Facebook with a cash offer of $10,000 to take over the lease and rights to the business name, assets and inventory with intent to keep all current staff onboard.
“I have reached out via a few different avenues to get in contact with the current owner, however, they have been unsuccessful. my wife and I have been business owners in the ’Boro for the past 10 years. I do not want to see a piece of history go under,” he said in his post.
numerous other local residents have expressed interest in purchasing the business and continuing the legacy, though Robinson, and the rest of the murfreesboro public, are
still awaiting a response from the restaurant’s owners regarding a potential sale.
Bridg ESTONE A ME ri CAS , a subsidiary of Bridgestone, recently announced a decision to close its La vergne Truck and Bus Radial Tire p lant effective July 31, 2025. According to a recent press release, the closure will help the company by optimizing its business footprint, strengthening its competitiveness and enhancing the quality of the company’s U. s operations. Bridgestone also announced capacity and workforce reductions at its Des moines agriculture tire plant, with additional workforce reductions in U. s . sales and operations.
“Closing this facility will impact the lives of 700 Bridgestone employees,” said Rutherford County mayor Joe Carr regarding the La vergne announcement. “This decision will affect the community in a myriad of ways.”
This facility has provided employment for many in the La vergne community for decades and it was the first Bridgestone plant in the United states.
Additional operations in its Latin America facilities are also expected to have cost optimization efforts, along with reductions in workforce and production capacity as part of Bridgestone’s “business rebuilding 2nd stage” outlined in the mid Term Business plan (2024–2026).
SOuThErN SOuL CuiSiNE, located at 535 nW Broad st., appears to have closed. An official closing has not been announced, although locals have reported that restaurant owners have not been responding to catering calls and doors have been locked.
The BOJANgLES restaurant at 2263 memorial Blvd. has closed. The building’s signs have been removed and passersby have observed crews painting the building blue.
The Church street Bojangles location remains open.
quiNN’S MErCANTiLE remains closed. The spring street business that sold gifts, home goods, clothing and candles said it closed temporarily in september, but stayed closed through the holidays up to February. some who know business owner Tracy Toy said this was due to health issues.
The store’s website has been disabled, and inquiries from customers regarding a possible reopening have gone unanswered. Those behind the stones River market, which used Quinn’s porch as a produce drop-off point, announced in January that they had to relocate due to the closing of Quinn’s.
Over 30 Years Experience
news
12 l ocal youth
a chieve e agle
FrOM B ui L di N g PLAygrO u N d S that spark children’s joy to preserving Civil War history, remarkable young leaders have left a mark on Rutherford County through each of their journeys to eagle scout rank. The Trail of Tears District of scouting America announces these outstanding youth have not only achieved scouting’s highest honor but have collectively invested 1,760 hours in transforming our community. Their service projects, ranging from international military support to local environmental conservation, demonstrate the impact young people can have when guided by the values of leadership, service and civic responsibility. each of these new eagle scouts has written their own chapter in a legacy of excellence, completing extensive leadership training and earning at least 21 merit badges while developing projects that will benefit their neighbors for years to come.
e arning e agle s cout achieve M ents in 2024:
nathan spurgeon, a senior at stewarts Creek high school and member of Troop 3200, sponsored by the Lions Club, has earned the rank of eagle scout. The son of Chris and April spurgeon, nathan completed his eagle project at Life Lift Church, where he coordinated the refurbishment of playground equipment, including restoration of wooden play structures and ground improvements. Under scoutmaster michael Grove’s guidance, nathan’s project provided 183 service hours to his community.
Joseph piel of Troop 197 has achieved the rank of eagle scout. A junior at providence Christian Academy and son of Robbie and Catherine piel, Joseph organized a “shepherd’s Closet” clothing and toy drive benefiting Fellow Church murfreesboro during Christmas 2023. Under scoutmaster Charles hazlett’s leadership, his project contributed 198 service hours to the community.
nathaniel adam rinehart of Troop 1180, chartered by shepherd’s Rise, has attained the rank of eagle scout. nathaniel’s project focused on improving the DavisThomas Cemetery, contributing over 87 service hours to preserve this historic site. nathaniel is the son of Josh and Dana Rinehart; his father, Josh, serves as scoutmaster.
david andrew ker, son of erik Ker and Danni Clark, has earned scouting’s highest rank as a member of Troop 197. Under scoutmaster Charles hazlett’s guidance at Fellowship United methodist Church, David designed and installed a fire pit and paver area benefiting Branches. his project encompassed 225 service hours.
lincoln thomas tune of Troop 441 has achieved the eagle scout rank. A senior at Rockvale high school and son
of Jonathan and Christina Tune, Lincoln constructed a gaga ball pit and completed grounds improvements at Turning point Church. Under scoutmaster Adam holt’s leadership, his project provided 175 service hours of community service.
Marina rooley, representing Troops 2019 and 497, is a Rockvale middle school student and daughter of Karrie and James Rooley. marina created a sustainable vegetable garden for Greenhouse ministries to support the faith-based organization’s food pantry. multiple scoutmasters, including Jacki neal, melissa Lyle, mindi Bell, Kali Alonzo and Kevin phillips, mentored marina through her 126-hour service project.
george Moisant of Troop 1108, now a freshman at mississippi state University and 2024 graduate
of oakland high school, created a historical photo display at oakland high school. The son of George and Katie moisant, he completed 100 service hours under scoutmaster David Kirkham’s guidance.
kyle rainey, a senior at Rockvale high school and member of Troop 320 in Rockvale, has achieved the eagle scout rank. The son of Keith and Kimberly Rainey, Kyle designed and constructed a greeting card holder for the Uso Deployment Center in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Under scoutmaster Thomas Boeh’s leadership, Kyle’s international service project contributed 52 hours to supporting military families.
Jude bell of Troop 374, a sophomore at siegel high school and son of shawn and Debby Bell, restored a section of stones River park to its Civil War-era appearance by removing invasive species. Under scoutmaster Dan shafer’s guidance, his historical preservation project provided 193 service hours.
dJ richards, currently a freshman at motlow state Community College, is the son of Dennis and Charlene Richards. DJ constructed a Little Free Library at smyrna First United methodist Church. Under scoutmaster Chad young’s leadership, DJ’s literacy promotion project contributed 172 service hours to the community.
ethan rushton of Troop 106 is a senior at Central magnet high and son of Greg and Tricia Rushton. ethan enhanced his school’s courtyard by constructing benches and planters. Under scoutmaster Gil Caban’s guidance, his project provided 113 hours of service.
christian laflamme, of Troop 422, chartered by smyrna vFW 8422, constructed a gaga ball pit for his alma mater, John Coleman elementary. This smyrna high student is the son of Tim and heather Laflamme. Under scoutmaster scott peebles’ leadership, Christian completed 136 service hours.
For more info, contact Trail of Tears district of Scouting uSA at info@totscouting.org.
opinion
Constitution Study
by paul engel
Blowing
h oles in the f ifth a mendment
Americans must speak in order to have the right to remain silent?
WE
hAvE A righT to remain silent, correct? What if I told you that in 2013 the supreme Court upheld a decision basically stating that is not true. you only have the right to remain silent if you verbally claim the right in the first place, otherwise, according to sCoTUs, your silence can be used against you. Let’s take a look at this case and this violation of your rights.
Anyone who has watched a crime drama, or has been arrested, knows about the miranda warning.
The requirement set by the U.S. Supreme Court in Miranda v. Alabama (1966) that prior to the time of arrest and any interrogation of a person suspected of a crime, he/she must be told that he/she has: “the right to remain silent, the right to legal counsel, and the right to be told that anything he/she says can be used in court against” him/her.
— miranda Warning – The Free Legal Dictionary
There’s more to the miranda decision, but this is what every American “knows”: They have a right to remain silent. But where does that come from?
No person shall . . . be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.
– U. s. Constitution, Amendment v
Constitutionally, you have the right not to be compelled to be a witness against yourself in a criminal case. since anything you say could be used against you, you generally did not have to talk to law enforcement, or any government agent for that matter. however, as is so often the case, the right to not be compelled to self-witness was relabeled the right to remain silent. While at first that sounds like the same thing, we’ll soon find out it is not.
Berghuis v. t hom P kins
In the Berghuis v. Thompkins case, mr. Thompkins had been arrested and advised of his right in accordance with miranda, at which point two officers interrogated him about a shooting where one victim died. As recorded in the case:
At no point did Thompkins say that he wanted to remain silent, that he did not want to talk with the police, or that he wanted an attorney. He was largely silent during the 3-hour interrogation, but near the end, he answered “yes” when asked if he prayed to God to forgive him for the shooting.
— Berghuis v. Thompkins, 560 U. s. 370 (2010)
At trial, mr. Thompkins moved to suppress his statement, claiming he had invoked his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and that his statements were involuntary. The question of mr. Thompkins’ motion made it all the way to the supreme Court, which held that the state court’s decision to deny Thompkins’ motion was correct.
Thompkins’ silence during the interrogation did not invoke his right to remain silent. A suspect’s Miranda right to counsel must be invoked “unambiguously.” . . . If the accused makes an “ambiguous or equivocal” statement or no statement, the police are not required to end the interrogation.
— Berghuis v. Thompkins
The Berghuis court relied on the case Davis v. United states. however, while that case did involve miranda rights, it did not involve the right to remain silent.
Petitioner, a member of the United States Navy, initially waived his rights to remain silent and to counsel when he was interviewed by Naval Investigative Service agents in connection with the murder of a sailor. About an hour and a half into the interview, he said, “Maybe I should talk to a lawyer.” However, when the agents inquired if he was asking for a lawyer, he replied that he was not. . . . A military judge denied his motion to suppress statements made at the interview, holding that his mention of a lawyer during the interrogation was not a request for counsel.
— Davis v. United states, 512 U. s. 452 (1994)
I contend that there is a fundamental problem with the decision in Berghuis. miranda does not protect a single right, but multiple rights. These rights are different not only in form, but in function. The right
to an attorney is a positive right; it identifies something the government must provide to the accused. This right is protected by the sixth Amendment.
The right to remain silent, more accurately the right not to witness against yourself, is a negative right because it’s what the government cannot do to you: compel you to witness against yourself. This is protected by the Fifth Amendment. so when the Berghuis court found: Thompkins waived his right to remain silent when he knowingly and voluntarily made a statement to police. The court was partially correct in that, by voluntarily making a statement to the police, he was waiving his “right to remain silent” under miranda. however, the court made an egregious mistake when they held:
Such a waiver may be “implied” through a “defendant’s silence, coupled with an understanding of his rights and a course of conduct indicating waiver.”
— Berghuis v. Thompkins no, Thompkins did not waive his right to remain silent, he simply did not exercise it for a time. Later, he did exercise it, recognizing that the police could not compel him to witness against himself. This leads us to salinas v. Texas and the hole the court claims to have punched through the Fifth Amendment.
s alinas v. t exas
The case of salinas v. Texas starts with mr. salinas being questioned by police. Petitioner, without being placed in custody or receiving Miranda warnings, voluntarily answered some of a police officer’s questions about a murder, but fell silent when asked whether ballistics testing would match his shotgun to shell casings found at the scene of the crime. At petitioner’s murder trial in Texas state court, and over his objection, the prosecution used his failure to answer the question as evidence of guilt. He was convicted.
— salinas v. Texas, 570 U. s. 178 (2013)
This abuse of the Fifth Amendment was upheld by a 5–4 decision by the supreme Court, the opinion for which was written by Justice Alito.
To prevent the privilege against self-incrimination from shielding information not properly within its scope, a witness who “desires the protection of the privilege . . . must claim it” at the time he relies on it.
— salinas v. Texas here again we see the illiteracy often demonstrated by the courts. First, what’s
at issue is not a “privilege,” it’s a right to immunity. The government is not required to give you silence, they just cannot force you to speak. second, this right has nothing to do with self-incrimination, but with selfwitness. If you don’t wish to divulge information about yourself that has no incriminating value, that is your right, protected by the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United states. Apparently this fact is lost on at least five of the nine justices on the supreme Court. perhaps mr. salinas did not know if the ballistics would match? There are several reasonable explanations for his silence. maybe someone else had access to his shotgun, and may have committed the murder. perhaps someone collected spent casings from his shotgun and either planted them at the scene or had previously dropped them. mr. salinas may have been shooting with the victim at another time, accidentally leaving his spent casings behind. perhaps the ballistics tests were just not that reliable. All of those assumptions would be reasonably valid reasons why mr. salinas did not wish to witness against himself.
c onclusion
Can you name one other right where you are required to announce that you are exercising it before you are allowed to do so? If the police come to your home, should you be required to invoke your right against unreasonable searches before you deny them consent to search your home? When the FBI attempts to intimidate you into censoring “misinformation,” should you be required to invoke Freedom of speech and press before saying no? In either case, should your refusal to allow entry or to comply with censorship demands be considered evidence of your guilt? The answer to all of these questions should be a hearty and forceful no!
I do not know if mr. salinas is guilty or not, but I know that the courts abused their position not only against him, but against all of us. The opinions in salinas v. Texas, from the state court on up, has blown a hole in the Fifth Amendment as surely as if the court had used mr. salinas’ shotgun. however, it has been recommended to me to not merely to exercise my right to remain silent, but to clearly state that I am doing so beforehand. And if you find it ironic that you have to speak before you can safely remain silent, then you are apparently smarter than a supreme Court justice.
opinion
by tiffany boyd
t he f ree act
g roundbreaking “ f amily r ight to e ducational e mancipation” l egislation i ntroduced in tennessee
ThE SPECiAL SESSiON in Tennessee ended as we expected—the education Freedom scholarship Act passed. our state and many others have officially adopted an agenda whose goal is the destruction of true private education.
I would like to commend the legislators who held their ground and voted no. They listened to their constituents—many of whom seemed opposed to the legislation— and stood firm under immense pressure from their Republican counterparts who bowed the knee to big money and lobbyists.
As we have been warning about the dangers of school choice for years, we fully anticipated the passage of this in our state. Therefore our team here at Free yoUR Children worked to draft legislation that would offer true educational freedom in Tennessee.
It is important for us to have legislators who are dedicated and supportive of our educational, parental and constitutional rights to sponsor our bill. senator Janice Bowling and Representative Todd Warner exemplified those qualities by representing their constituents during the special session. We are thankful for their willingness to support and truly empower parents by recognizing our constitutional rights and sponsoring this alternate legislation.
As legislators were working to pass the education Freedom scholarship Act, they consistently affirmed that this voucher bill would “put parents in the driver’s seat of their child’s education.” We listened as they emphatically proclaimed that parents were the most equipped to make educational decisions for their children.
We hope that our legislators in Tennessee truly meant what they said. one of their
main talking points was the empowerment of parents. True empowerment is what our bill, the FRee Act, provides without the trappings associated with government money surely to result from the recently passed “school choice” bill.
According to Will estrada, senior legal counsel of home school Legal Defense Association, currently there are 11 states that require no reporting for home schoolers— Alaska, Idaho, Texas, oklahoma, missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, michigan, new Jersey and Connecticut. Currently, The homeschool Freedom Act in Wyoming (hB 46) has passed out of the house. Tennessee is only one of two states to potentially secure educational autonomy through legislation. This would be groundbreaking for Tennessee. home-school families drafted The Family Right to educational emancipation (FRee) Act (sB 494/hB 552) as a way to provide parents in Tennessee, who so desire, true educational autonomy and freedom. The bill creates a new, distinct category of home schools that are not subject to the data collection, reporting or assessment requirements applicable to existing independent home-school programs and public schools, and exempts such home-school students and parents from compulsory
school attendance requirements. every legislator who claims they believe that parents are the best equipped to make educational decisions for their children should lend their support to this effort. This is true school choice. We are simply asking that our Constitutional rights be recognized as they have been in other states. This bill will protect home schoolers and establish Tennessee as one of the truly free home schooling states. Find more on the bill (sB 494/hB 552) at capitol.tn.gov or read its full text at boropulse.com
The national Republican platform states that Republicans plan to “ . . . ensure safe learning environments free from political meddling, and restore parental Rights. We commit to an education system that empowers students, supports families, and promotes American values.” They go on to assert, “We trust parents!”
As the Libertarian platform espouses, “parents, or other guardians, have the right to raise their children according to their own standards and beliefs, provided that the rights of children to be free from abuse and neglect are also protected.”
The Constitution party platform says, “We sUppoRT The pARenTAL RIGhT
To pRovIDe FoR The eDUCATIon oF
TheIR ChILDRen:
· We support the unimpeded right of parents to provide for the education of their children in the manner they deem best, including home, private or religious.
· All legislation from any level of government that would interfere with or restrict that liberty should be opposed.
· Compulsory attendance laws should be repealed.”
If Republicans, Libertarians and Constitutionalists are committed to upholding their own platforms, the FRee Act should be supported by each and every one. our bill draws a line in the sand. True conservatives and liberty-minded individuals will be defined by how they vote on this piece of legislation. If they truly support home
“The National Republican Platform states that Republicans plan to ‘ . . . ensure safe learning environments free from political meddling, and restore Parental Rights. We commit to an Education System that empowers students, supports families, and promotes American Values.’ They go on to assert, “We trust Parents!”
schooling and parents in the state of Tennessee, it will reflect in their vote. our bill does not seek to limit parental choice. It is an additional home-school category, free from any governmental oversight or interference. parents will still have the option to enroll in the various other legal home-school categories if they so choose. It is important to note that Free yoUR Children is a Christian ministry; however, the FRee Act is a bill that will benefit all home-school families that desire freedom. Freedom applies to every parent.
“It is a great honor to carry an education freedom bill that protects home schoolers across this great state of Tennessee,” Representative Warner said. “This is a true school choice bill for families in Tennessee.”
We invite supporters of parental rights and schooling freedom to come and be a part of something historic in our great state of Tennessee. Do you want to establish a state where true educational freedom and constitutional rights are recognized? now is the time. We need your help to get this bill passed. Reach out to legislators today and ask them to vote yes on hB0552 /sB0494. sending personal emails and calling is a great way to let them know that you support this bill. It is also critical that parents and supporters show up in person as the bill moves through committee. please commit to joining us. subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on social media platforms and visit freeyourchildren.com for updated information on the bill and for calls to action.
The Free yoUR Children ministry is committed to protecting educational, parental and Constitutional rights in Tennessee and across the nation. We are honored to have had the opportunity to have drafted legislation that seeks to do just that. A special thank-you to our team members who have worked tirelessly for families throughout this process.
Tiffany Boyd is the founder of Free yOur Children, a homeschool advocate, consultant, speaker and the founder and administrator of Middle Tennessee Christian homeschool Connection. She holds a B.S. degree in interdisciplinary studies from MTSu. She is a wife of 30 years and mother to five children, grandmother to two. She is a former tenured public school teacher. She and her husband have home educated for 18 years. Contact her by emailing freeyourchildren@gmail.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OLIA DANILEVICH / PEXELS
tech talk
by byron glenn
your p hone
Just l istening— it’s taking n
ThE rECENT NEWS about TikTok being banned in the United states sparked worldwide conversations. many of those conversations were around the question “who has access to our data, and why do they want it?”
Data, in its simplest form, is information. It can be personal information— name, age, address, birthdate, email address, etc. It could be behavioral—websites you visit, time spent on an app, search history, shopping habits, location tracking, etc. It can be social—friend connections, likes, reactions, comments, shares, how long you have watched a video, group memberships, etc. It could be financial—your purchase history, banking details, income information, shopping patterns and the like. It could be technical—what phone you use, device Ip addresses, browser type, Wi-Fi connections and other such data.
ways to increase your digital protection:
• use strong, unique passwords
• Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible
per Reuters, Apple agreed to pay $95 million in cash to settle a proposed class action lawsuit claiming that its voice-activated siri assistant violated users’ privacy. however, after the settlement, Apple said it has “never used siri data to build marketing profiles, never made it available for advertising, and never sold it to anyone for any purpose.”
• Lock your phone with a strong PiN or biometrics
• use different email addresses for different purposes
• don’t open suspicious attachments
• Limit personal info shared on social media
• Turn off location sharing
• Check privacy settings monthly
Would you believe me if I told you that companies have built their businesses based on having information about you? Companies want your data for targeted advertising, product development, behavior prediction and market research.
• Avoid accessing banking sites on public Wi-Fi
• don’t shop online on public networks
• Turn off auto-connect to Wi-Fi
Are your devices listening to you? Well, yes and no. your location history, shopping patterns, and friends’ interests are important in determining what content appears in your feed. If several friends in your network suddenly become interested in fitness, algorithms assume you might be, too. Understanding this digital fingerprinting
data stored in some countries. When protecting and oversharing data, I often hear people say “Byron, who cares? They already have my data!” Although it’s true that “they” have your data, that is a dangerous mindset. Think of it like this: your phone’s basic tracking is like leaving footprints in the ocial media tracking is like giving someone a detailed diary of your thoughts, relationships, behaviors and beliefs; this is why your data is “digital gold,” and everyone wants it. I remember growing up and hearing “this is going on your permanent record.” As a
good rule of thumb, your data is the product of a free service. no security is perfect, but something is better than nothing. And once information is online, assume it’s permanent.
Byron glenn is the Sales and Marketing Manager with Business System Solutions; he is a speaker, business consultant, nonprofit co-founder, and Murfreesboro Tech Council board member. if you are looking for iT-managed services for your business, you can visit bssconsulting.com or call 615400-8595.
“Apple does not retain audio recordings of siri interactions unless users explicitly opt-in to help improve siri, and even then, the recordings are used solely for that purpose,” Apple said, adding that it will continue developing technologies to make siri even more private.
A similar lawsuit for users of Google’s voice Assistant is pending in the san Jose, California, federal court. The same law firms represent the plaintiffs as in the Apple case.
your data is not just floating “in the cloud,” but in physical locations, in various data centers as well as in your own device storage. For example, meta (Facebook) stores your data across multiple locations, both locally and internationally, with backup copies. The location where your data is stored affects who can access it. Different locations have various security levels. other countries have different privacy laws, and their government may access
Who Will the Titans Take With First Overall Draft Pick?
+ What Will You Eat During Super Bowl LIX?
Th E Tr A i N dA ddy i S BACK with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard! The nFL season is almost a wrap. What a miserable season for my Titans. It’s time for this team to regroup as the draft nears and figure this out, because right now it’s bleak.
The Titans have the first pick in this year’s draft and, unfortunately, there isn’t a clear answer for who to select. If there was a wow quarterback, I think the Titans would have no problem drafting him. Unfortunately, it’s a weak QB class and, outside of Colorado’s shedeur sanders and miami’s QB Cam Ward, the first-round prospects are lacking.
Tennessee has been on a hunt for a franchise QB for a long time, recently taking Levis in the second round of the draft and malik Willis in the third. The last QB who brought some stability to this team was Ryan Tannehill. It wasn’t always pretty, but it worked for a time. I miss the days of King dominance and play-action football.
The last QB this team took in the
first round of a draft was in 2015, with the #2 overall pick in marcus mariota. Back in 2011 they selected Jake doodoo Locker in the first round and in 2006 the Titans selected vince young with the #2 overall pick. It really has me missing the days of my favorite player ever, the legendary steve mcnair. I have seen some people compare Cam Ward to mcnair. Cam is a QB who has legitimate rushing ability followed up with a big arm. Ward’s true ability comes from being able to make big plays in troubled situations. now, that could result in boneheaded turnovers and hero football—cough cough, Will Levis—or that could result in exciting football and a new face of the franchise. Don’t forget, mcnair was a top-three pick but he wasn’t a full-time starter until his third season. We all want quarterbacks now and forget that it sometimes takes time to develop them into pro signal callers. What about sanders? The son of the legendary prime Time. When looking at both of these QBs from
my viewpoint, sanders seems the safer bet. I know that’s not a popular thing to say, as Titans social media has made it clear they prefer Cam. I just can’t ignore the fact shedeur has been one of the most accurate QBs in the game these past two seasons. he throws a good ball and seems to thrive better under pressure than what we saw from Cam. I love Cam’s size and athletic ability, but I fear another version of Will Levisstyle decision-making.
maybe drafting a QB isn’t the smart move. The Titans could draft one of the two players whom many consider the best in this year’s draft— heisman winner Travis hunter, who played both sides of the ball at receiver and cornerback. he is a ballhawk with a high IQ of the game. Abdul Carter out of penn state has the potential to be a generational defensive player and certainly the type of player the Titans need. he is the elite athlete coming out of this nFL draft and his pass-rushing ability could translate into a game changer. I must admit it seems criminal not taking a QB or trading the pick away when you have the draft’s top pick. maybe they will find someone willing to trade the bank away for this pick. Any team with this many holes would be smart to seriously consider trading the pick to add more depth. my gut tells me the Titans will take one of the two QBs.
That’s enough Titans talk for now, let’s talk about the big game, another super Bowl involving the Chiefs as
they look to become the first nFL team to win three straight Lombardi trophies.
We have a rematch of super Bowl LvII two years ago, the Chiefs vs. the eagles. Last time the Chiefs beat the eagles in an entertaining 38-35 victory.
This year the big game will take place at the superDome in new orleans. I am conflicted about who I want to win this game! I hate both teams. Regarding the Chiefs, I hate their success! I guess you could say I am jealous of their success, fair enough.
But regarding the eagles, it’s captured on social media every season: bad behavior after a win and bad behavior after defeat, makes no difference. I saw plenty of bad behavior online after they defeated Washington in the nFC Championship game. I personally know some great fans of philly sports, but that doesn’t outweigh how horrible the entire fan base can be.
The fandom has for whatever reason embraced treating other people horribly. It’s not like this everywhere. Go hit up a tailgate at Arrowhead and you will get that same passion of fandom and love of team minus the treating-of-everyone-like-poop part. The same can be said of how Titans fans treat opposing fan bases. philly fans call it passion, but the simple truth is it’s passion that has turned toxic over the years.
I could continue to ramble about things like pat mahomes chasing Tom Brady’s records or the annoying cuts to Taylor swift every time her boo Kelce touches the ball.
I could cry about missing A.J. Brown. In one of the dumbest moves in Titans history, we traded a superstar on draft night for a bum player in Treylon Burks. Fun fact: since the trade, A.J. Brown has more super Bowl appearances than Treylon Burks has receiving touchdowns! no, I won’t ramble about all that. Let’s keep it chill and talk about food.
To the chefs of Tennessee— yeah, the entire state!—how hard
is it to put meat, onions, peppers and cheese on fresh bread and serve me a proper cheesesteak?
As much as I just hated on philadelphia, they sure know how to make a beautiful cheesesteak. I have done intense research on cheesesteaks anywhere within an hour of nashville and the results overall were awful. I found one winner though—It’z a philly Thing, out in Bellevue, serving legit cheesesteaks. I got a steak and a chicken cheesesteak to go along with some of the best cheesesteak egg rolls ever!
It would be nice to see more cheesesteaks in Tennessee.
What food will you have at your super Bowl watch party?
According to my research, 1.25 billion chicken wings are eaten during the game, equaling 162 million pounds of chicken. That’s 7% of chicken wing sales every year in America.
potato chips, yep! nearly 20 million pounds of chips are purchased. Forget a veggie, give me a chip. I guess if you want to be healthy, avocados are a fan favorite; 140 million pounds of avocados are purchased for that delicious guac.
We wash all that food down with over 300 million gallons of beer, equating to 50 million cases of beer, enough to fill up an olympic-size pool 2,000 times over. For non-alcoholic drinkers, over $2 million is spent on super Bowl soda alone.
During the super Bowl about 10% of Americans grill food, second only to the 4th of July. Count me in the 10%. It’s estimated that 14 million burgers are grilled.
This year at my place we will have burgers and brats, numerous dips and plenty to wash them down with.
The monday after the super Bowl needs to be a national holiday, a day of healing, rest and self-reflection. super sunday to mild monday . . . it has a nice ring to it.
Alright, the Train is rolling into the station! hope you all have a great February and enjoy the big game. Choo-choo!
by sean M oran
Unlock Your Portfolio’s Potential Exploring Mutual Funds, ETFs and Direct Indexing
F
OR a LO ng T i M e , people have invested in mutual funds as a way to create diversification in their portfolios. In the early 2000s, exchange Traded Funds (eTFs) emerged as a similar, but often more advantageous, investment structure, rapidly growing in popularity. now, direct indexing is gaining traction as a potentially more efficient strategy. This article explains each of these investment vehicles and why you might consider them for your portfolio.
What a re e TFs?
These investment vehicles address a fundamental challenge: enabling diversification for investors with limited capital. Diversification, spreading investments across various assets, is crucial for mitigating risk. Investing in only a few stocks exposes an investor to significant losses if one or two perform poorly. however, directly purchasing a diversified portfolio of individual stocks can be expensive, especially when dealing with highpriced shares.
Imagine having $1,000 to invest. Directly buying shares of several companies, especially large, well-known ones, becomes difficult. Currently Tesla stock trades around $430 per share, Apple around $230, and microsoft around $430. With $1,000, you couldn’t purchase a single share of all three companies.
The investment vehicles we will discuss here solve this problem by pooling money from numerous investors, creating substantial buying power. For instance, if 10,000 individuals invest $1,000, the collective buying power is $10 million. each investor then owns a share of the fund representing a fraction of each underlying holding.
The Traditional a pproach mutual funds were the original diversification solution. A fund manager pools money from investors and uses it to buy shares of various companies. As new investors join the fund, additional shares are purchased. Conversely, when investors sell their shares, the fund sells some of its holdings to provide them with cash.
This system works well when inflows and outflows are relatively balanced. however, if a significant number of investors sell their shares simultaneously, the fund manager may be forced to sell holdings, potentially at unfavorable market prices, to meet redemption requests.
A key drawback of mutual funds is their tax implications. Because everyone’s money is pooled, any sales within the fund trigger capital gains or losses. These are then distributed proportionally to all fund shareholders, even if they didn’t personally initiate any sales. This can result in unwanted tax liabilities for investors.
Another limitation is that mutual funds are only bought or sold at the end of the trading day. When you place an order, you don’t know the exact price you’ll receive until the market closes and the fund’s net asset value (nAv ) is calculated.
e xchange Traded Funds
eTFs were designed to address some of the shortcomings of mutual funds. eTFs also pool investor money to purchase assets. however, eTFs trade on stock exchanges like individual stocks, allowing investors to buy and sell them throughout the trading day at the current market price. This feature provides greater flexibility and transparency. It also offers potential tax advantages. Because eTFs are traded on exchanges, investors can control when they sell, giving them more control over when they realize capital gains or losses. Generally, not selling eTF shares avoids triggering capital gains or losses.
Furthermore, eTFs often have lower fees compared to actively managed mutual funds. many eTFs track specific market indexes, such as the s&p 500, which reduces the need for active management and associated costs.
d irect i ndexing
Direct indexing represents the next evolution in this space, offering benefits centered around customization, control and tax management. Imagine wanting to invest in only 150 or 200 of the companies within the s&p 500. With a traditional eTF or mutual fund tracking the entire index, you have no choice; you own a proportional share of all 500 companies.
Direct indexing allows you to select the specific stocks you want to own and buy fractional shares of each. This allows for highly personalized portfolios, tailored to your values, investment beliefs or specific financial goals.
The most significant advantage of direct indexing is its tax efficiency through a strategy called tax-loss harvesting. If some of the stocks you own perform poorly, you can sell them to realize a capital loss. This loss can then be used to offset
capital gains from other investments, reducing your overall tax liability. This level of tax optimization is not possible with mutual funds or traditional eTFs.
Conclusion
With a range of investing options available, you have more opportunities than ever to invest in a way that aligns with your specific needs and preferences. each of these investment vehicles offers distinct advantages and disadvantages. If you need assistance navigating
these choices and determining the best strategy for your financial situation, consulting a qualified financial advisor is highly recommended. p lease reach out if I can be of assistance.
disclaimer: This information is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a financial professional before making any investment decisions.
if you would like to connect with me, please call 615-619-6919 or email smoran@redbarnfinancial.com.
HOME BREWING
Live Exceptionally...Well!
by Jennifer durand
THe TOPiC OF LOve has always been of interest to me, throughout my whole life. What is love? What inspires love? how do you know it’s love? how long does love last? Why do some have what seems such a perfect love relationship, while others struggle to find it, or never find it?
I have discovered along the way that all interpretations are subjective. There isn’t a “one size fits all” kind of love, for sure. some will be similar, but love is as individual as each person and as unique as each thumbprint.
people; some of their stories are interlinked as the plot progresses. It starts with a narrator who, when he finds himself doubting the existence of love and compassion and feels gloomy about the state of the world, thinks of the arrival gate at the London heathrow Airport: the pure, and uncomplicated love of lovers, friends and families that are greeting their respective loved ones. Then he is reminded that love does exist. happiness and joy are expressions of that love.
“If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.” — From the movie Love Actually
In the quest for the meaning of love and why we crave it or want it I have felt the profound effects of learning to love oneself. It is quite difficult to find in another what you do not possess within yourself. We often see something in someone else that sparks an interest, then we often start to like the idea of them in our lives, without looking at who they actually are.
“Divine Love alone provides the purest form of love.” — Jennifer Durand
Learning to live authentically is knowing yourself. What do you like? What don’t you like? many times you have to get uncomfortable (out of your comfort zone), stretch beyond what you think you can, by trying new things, putting yourself in new groups or situations.
Building relationships of any kind takes time, patience and being willing to feel awkward, until you don’t. Like anything in life, until you lean into something unfamiliar it can be frustrating, or make you want to give up before you really get started. even the best of the best at a skill can feel these feelings when they are in uncharted territory.
It also shows the pitfalls and loss that occurs when we step outside of love, how this forever changes a relationship. you know the phrase “you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s lost”? This gives us a glimpse inside of the tenderness and fragility of love. It sits at the top of qualities, right next to trust. once you’ve tarnished either, it is usually impossible to ever return to where you were or what you had. you might not lose someone completely, but it will forever affect what once was. I also love the tale of “Beauty and the Beast.” What started out as a harsh situation of captivity turned into a beautiful love story. Why? Because kindness showed up, for both characters. When we exercise kindness (itself within the tribe of love), it softens a situation—a gentle approach, a caring spirit, a desire to see another happy even if it means sacrificing our own desires.
“Love inspires, illuminates, designates and leads the way.” — mary Baker eddy
sometimes love grows unaware. Friends who know each other inside and out suddenly (maybe even years later) realize their feelings for each other have shifted and they don’t want to be apart. or, there have been families or cultures who have arranged unions based on practicality. sometimes the arranged partners have not even met one another. The active ingredient was the desire to carry on tradition. many couples started with respect for the other, accepting the situation. If you know the foundation of your relationship, you always have that to be your center when things get tough, just as love is the center for those in other relationships. From mutual respect, love can certainly grow.
“The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves and not twist them to fit our own image. otherwise, we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.” — Thomas merton
There is a 2013 romantic comedy movie called Love Actually that delves into different aspects of love through 10 different stories of a variety of
There is so much to write on the subject of love, but for now we know that love lives. Love is alive in each one of us. It might be small, faint or almost nonexistent, but you were born of love, the Divine Love. Love may be vibrant, rich and fully awake inside of you. For all the many forms of love there are, we see it expressed each day, from a small gesture such as a mother making breakfast for her spouse or children, a husband brushing his wife’s hair, giving the bigger half of the sandwich to your sibling or sharing a toy. We see it when someone says “thank you” or offers a genuine compliment. We also see it when people stand by each other’s side through triumphs and tragedies. Find the love inside of you, and share it with others every day.
Live in love.
Jennifer durand is the owner and operator of The Nurture Nook day Spa & gift Shoppe. visit nurturenook.com or facebook.com/nurturenook dayspa or call 615-896-7110 for more information.
