November 2026 Murfreesboro Pulse

inside

hymn sing / fall leaves / road rally / dolly’S travel stop / alysha clark / business news / and more! November 2026 • Vol. 21, Issue 11 • free

sounds Middle Tennessee’s Source for Art, Entertainment and Culture News

From MTSU to The Voice, Kenna Elpers Hits The National Stage

beaver Fever

Murfreesboro, Get Ready, Consider Yourselves Lucky, Been Waiting all year, But Now It's Here—Let’s Go to Buc-ee’s! page 20

theater

Springhouse Theatre Company Presents Annie Nov. 13–22

Food

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Contents photo courtesy of jared ambrose / ambrose signature visuals

18 Features

15

20

kenna elpers

From MTSU to The Voice, local artist takes her dreams to the national stage.

17

road rally

Smyrna’s Carpe Artista featured in Great American Road Rally TV series, holds fundraising party Nov. 19.

18

16 in every issue

6 Events

Dolly Parton’s memory lives on at road-trip attraction.

calendar Black Barn Market, Art Studio Tour, Holiday Market, Christmas Tree Lighting and more!

Beaver Fever

concerts

Dolly’s tennesseean travel stop

20

Excitement builds for Nov. 16 opening of popular travel store.

33

Paw Paw’s Playlist

Former MTSU basketball player and WNBA star Alysha Clark turns the page with children’s book release.

f Book

Local maintenance guy Keith Gimmy

g Theater

Annie at Springhouse Theatre

14 Sounds 26 Food y music note Old-fashioned hymn sing

22 Living

nature news Fall colors visible as days grow cooler

restaurant Sylvan Park Restaurant and the Life of Eleanor Clay

28 News

business buzz King 7, Island & States, Little Hats Italian Market, Ivy on Spring, UFC

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BoroPulse.com/Newsletter Copy Editor: Steve Morley Advertising: Dominique Fields, Nneka Sparks Contributors: Jennifer Durand Delores Elliott Ashlen Jones Tammy Mogul Sean Moran

Ashleigh Newnes Matt Olszewski Andrea Stockard Meredith Thomas Bill Wilson

v mr.

Murfreeboro MTSU football coach Boots Donnelly

35 Opinion money matters Retirement savings

n health

A season of simple joy

, Live . . . well! When to hold on and when to let go

follow online /BoroPulse @BoroPulse

Publisher/Editor in Chief: Bracken Mayo Associate Editor: Sarah Mayo

Gym, Buc-ee’s, Big Bad Breakfast, Golf Boro, Habitat Restore, Kingdom Collective, Twinning Station

carry the Pulse at your business or to submit letters, stories and photography: bracken@boropulse.com

@BoroPulse The Murfreesboro Pulse

Copyright © 2026, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 714 W. Main St., #208, Murfreesboro, TN 37129. Proudly owned, operated and published the first Thursday of each month; printed by Franklin Web Printing Co. The Pulse is a free publication funded by advertisers. Views expressed in the Pulse do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. ISSN: 1940-378X

714 W. Main St., Suite 208, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 • 615-796-6248

Hello, Murfreesboro. This is the month of cold November rain! I will sing “November Rain” every day this month, and I encourage you to do the same. This is also the season of holiday markets. There’s quite a few of them around Murfreesboro this month— Events at East 96 hosts the Black Barn Holiday Market on Nov. 14; the following Saturday, Nov. 21, will see the Shabby Lane Holiday Market at Lane Agri-Park Community Center as well as the Murfreesboro Holiday Market inside the Stones River Mall; and then Middle Ground Brewing Co. will present a local Black Friday Market on Friday, Nov. 27. Shop local, first! Sure, you likely won’t find a locally produced PS5, pair of Nikes or iPhone, but you very well may discover some cool jewelry, candles, socks, soaps, honey, artwork and other fine items from the area. Get the important people in your life something thoughtful, but do keep in mind, in the midst of rampant holiday consumerism, that this is also the month of thanksgiving and gratitude. And this is the month that Murfreesboro gets its Bucee’s. I believe almost everyone can agree that Buc-ee’s opening its fueling station, snacking utopia and beaver carnival in our town is the biggest news that’s happened in the Murfreesboro area since the Ed the Zebra. Some of my personal Buc-ee’s recommendations include the Texas cheesesteak burrito, chocolate-covered coffee beans, spicy pickled Brussels sprouts, banana chips . . . they have about whatever you’d like to snack on, while seated on a Buc-ee’s double wide camping chair. The place will be a madhouse. How many people will come through Buc-ee’s on its opening day? Or in a given month? I don’t know. But the city will likely place a Flock camera over there to track exactly how many vehicles pull in there, as they do with most corners of this town. Doesn’t it make you feel safe and secure knowing that the good people over at Flock Safety have detailed records of who goes where, when, in what vehicle and how often? You can’t control everything around you. Your situation may not be perfect. You can’t always choose the people in your life. Something from time to time may even annoy or frustrate you. But you can choose to be grateful, be thankful for the people in your life, for what you have, for what you have experienced, for the opportunities that you do have. Life tip: Rather than wanting for things you do not have, or for situations to be different from how they are, desire for things to be precisely how they are, for you to be in the exact place you are right now—and I guarantee you your wishes will come true. Peace, Bracken Mayo Publisher/Editor in Chief

events calendar ››› November 2026 ››› by Andrea STOCKARD Nov. 5 & 19

including chilis, soups, stews and gumbos. Enjoy desserts and drinks, and take home a hand-painted bowl. Tickets are $30. For tickets or more information, visit rchfh.org or find Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity Murfreesboro, TN on Facebook.

Tales to Tails Tales to Tails is a heartwarming library program at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.). In this paw-some program, participants are invited to come to the library to read aloud to friendly therapy dogs in a relaxed and supportive environment. Ten-minute slots are available on Nov. 5 and 19, starting at 3 p.m. For more information, call 615-459-4884 or email smyrnays@rclstn.org.

Nov. 7 Movie Matinee Come out to Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.) on Saturday, Nov. 7, to watch Toy Story 5 (Rated PG) at 2 p.m. For more information, call 615-459-4884.

Nov. 5 & 19 Pokemon Club Trainers can learn, play, and connect through the Pokémon Trading Card Game at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.) on Thursdays, Nov. 5 and 9, from 4–5 p.m. Ages 5 and up are welcome. This is a space exclusively for casual play and learning. Attendees must bring their own cards to participate in any card trades. For more information, visit rclstn.org/venue/smyrna-public-library.

Nov. 6 Read To Succeed Spelling Bee Read To Succeed will hold its 20th Annual Celebrity Spelling Bee on Friday, Nov. 6, at The View at Fountains (1500 Medical Center Pkwy.). Past champions will return to the stage for the chance to be crowned Queen or King Bee. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and the program kicks off at 7 p.m. The event will also feature live and silent auctions, food and drinks. The Celebrity Spelling Bee is Read To Succeed’s annual fundraiser. These funds will be used to offer literacy programming and events for children and adults in Rutherford County. Visit readtosucceed.org/celebrity-bee or email info@readtosucceed.org for tickets.

Nov. 6 Veterans Salute with the TPO A Veterans Salute, presented by Dick & Martha Curl, takes place Friday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church (265 W. Thompson Ln.) honoring all who served. Through the power and beauty of live orchestral 6 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

Nov. 7 MTSU Homecoming photo by jim davis / murfreesboro parks and rec

Ongoing Christmas Parade Registration Mark your calendars for the 2026 Murfreesboro Christmas Parade on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. Floats, bands and dancers will march their way down Main Street in celebration of the cherished holiday season. The parade is always held on the second Sunday of December and starts at East Main Street by MTSU and ends on Walnut Street, one block past the Square. Registration to be in the parade is open through Monday, Dec. 7. This year’s theme is “A Country Christmas.” Categories this year include Float, Walking Group, Antique Car, Dancing/Street Performer and Horses. To register a float or for more information, find 2026 Murfreesboro Christmas Parade on eventeny.com. music, celebrate the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of the nation’s veterans. Veterans receive free admission. Find more information about The Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra at tnphil.org.

Nov. 7 Chosen for Freedom Trellis & Vine Art Gallery (27 S. Lowry St., Smyrna) hosts the release of Chosen for Freedom: A Mercy Journey, a new book by local author and artist Ebony McClary, M.S on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 4 p.m. Chosen for Freedom is Ebony’s personal testimony of moving from spiritual emptiness toward wholeness and freedom. Through her experiences with mental illness, addiction, trauma, and questions of identity, she shares what she has learned about surrender, healing, faith, and the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Learn more about Ebony as she shares more about her story. For

more information, visit trellisandvine.art or call 615-768-9503.

Nov. 7 Pop-Up Record Shop The Heart of Vinyl Pop-Up Record Shop is Saturday, Nov. 7, from noon to 6 p.m. at Middle Ground Brewing Company (2476 Old Fort Pkwy.). Peruse through the archives of classic vinyl at Murfreesboro’s local brewery. For more information, visit middlegroundbrew.com or find Middle Ground Brewing Company on Facebook.

Nov. 7 Cookin’ to Build The 19th Annual Cookin’ to Build returns to the Murfreesboro Public Square to support the Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Join for a day of delicious food, live music, and community. Sample dishes from more than 30 cooking teams,

A full week of events and activities are planned for Homecoming 2026. This year’s theme, “Blue Raider Country: Meet Me at Camp Blue,” will culminate in MTSU’s Blue Raiders facing off against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, in Floyd Stadium (1500 Greenland Dr.) on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 2:30 p.m. The Homecoming parade starts at 10 a.m. Starting on East Main Street at Maney Avenue, the parade turns left onto Middle Tennessee Boulevard and ends before Greenland Drive. This year’s Homecoming tailgate features independent singer-songwriter Grace Leer at 12:30 p.m. Other events include the alumni picnic, Paint the Halls Blue, Camp Blue Bash, Lightning’s Campfire Cookoff, and new events like a spooky haunted house. For more details and event registration, visit the Alumni Association and Student Government Association page at mtalumni.com or learn more at mtsu.edu/trueblue.

Nov. 7 Hamill Book Signing Local author Valerie Hamill will be selling and signing copies of her new book, Here’s to the Silly Ones, at Linebaugh Public Library (105 W. Vine St.) on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 11a.m–1 p.m. Hamill beautifully illustrates Seth Standley’s ode to those who can’t sit still, hate being bored and are industriously energetic— those wonderfully unexpected children who make the world brighter. A cast of continued on page 7

continued from page 6 clever mice invites young readers to embrace creativity, individuality, and the confidence to be exactly who they are. This story promotes silliness as a superpower, and is for those who want to share poetry, lyricism, confidence and a delight in the world with children. For more information, call 615-893-4131 or visit rclstn.org.

Nov. 7 Moving for Mothers’ Milk Bank Mothers’ Milk Bank Southeast invites everyone to participate in the Inaugural 5K and 1K Family Fun Run on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Sharp Springs Park (1000 Espey Dr., Smyrna). The support will help advance the mission and improve health outcomes for babies in the region. The 5K Race starts at 8 a.m with the 1K Family Fun Run starts at 9:15 a.m. The 5K course is certified and will be timed. This event kicks off a new community tradition in support of the Mothers’ Milk Bank Southeast. All 5K registrants are welcome to take part in the Kids’ 1K Fun Run at no additional cost. Every participant will receive complimentary Blue Bell Ice Cream and a commemorative T-shirt and medal to celebrate crossing the finish line. For more information, visit mymilkbank.org/5k.

Nov. 7 & 21 3D Print Orientation Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.) offers an introductory 3D print orientation on Saturdays, Nov. 7 & 21, from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Class size is limited to four patrons per class; ages 13 and up are preferred. Registration required; for more information, email smyrna3dprint@rclstn.org.

sanctified by those who fell fighting for their beliefs, to facing new challenges of preservation. For more information, call 931-580-0862, email mimicheryl67@ gmail.com or visit tennesseetrails.org.

Nov. 10 Living Sent All are invited to the November Living Sent meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m. at Wilson Bank & Trust (3110 Memorial Blvd.). Jonathan Stewart will speak about how obviously God has worked in his life many times. Jody Haslam will tell how a chance invitation to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting changed his life and allowed him to spend years sharing the gospel with untold numbers of young bowlers. A complimentary lunch will be provided. Please park on the perimeter of the parking lot to respect the host, Wilson Bank and their customers. Email bob.williams@alhambrapartners.com to RSVP.

Nov. 10 & 24 Boro Books n Brews Club Books n Brews meets Tuesdays Nov. 10 and 24 at 7 p.m. at Middle Ground Brewing Company (2476 Old Fort Pkwy.). For more information, visit middlegroundbrew.com, or find Middle Ground Brewing Co. or the Boro Books and Brews group on Facebook.

Nov. 12 Super Gross Science

Ages 13–17 can share their writing and help build a library newsletter to release each month at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.) on Mondays, Nov. 9 & 23, at 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit rclstn.org/venue/smyrna-public-library.

Participate in hands-on STEM programming exploring biology, chemistry and physics through messy, yucky experiments at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.) on Thursday, Nov. 12, from 3:15–3:45 p.m. for children in 2nd through 5th grade. This month will feature a guest program “Outbreak Detectives: The 1854 Cholera Mystery” developed and presented by the Wildhollow School. When an entire neighborhood gets sick, what might they have in common? Participants will solve the mystery one clue at a time. For more information, visit rclstn.org/venue/smyrna-public-library.

Nov. 10

Nov. 13

Tennessee Trails meeting

Fall Harvest Hayride

The Tennessee Trails Association will hold its next Murfreesboro chapter meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. at Barfield Crescent Park Wilderness Station. Watch the second episode in Nashville’s PBS Beautiful Tennessee series and explore the majesty of Tennessee’s parks, from sacred sites revered by ancient cultures for their beauty and mystery, to battlefields

Murfreesboro Parks & Recreation will celebrate the fall season with a moonlit Fall Harvest Hayride on Friday, Nov. 13. from 6–8 p.m., departing from the General Bragg Greenway Trailhead (1540 W. College St.). Activities include live music from Roland Justice, a campfire with s’mores, the hayride, and hot beverages available from a food truck. Admission is

Nov. 9 & 23 Teen Writing Club

 Send community event information to contact@boropulse.com

$5 per person or $20 per family; register or learn more at murfreesborotn.gov/m /newsflash/home/detail/5651.

Nov. 13 Lego Logic Lab Come out for LEGO building challenges where participants will solve engineering problems, practice early coding logic and complete creative building challenges on Friday, Nov. 13, from 3:15–3:45 p.m. at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.). Ages 7 and up are welcome. For more information, visit rclstn. org/venue/smyrna-public-library.

Nov. 14 Bread Tasting Event Try the breads made in-house at Oflow Bakery (115 N. Maple St.), including a variety of sourdough breads on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m.–noon. There will be specials, information on the Bread Club and more. The bread tasting is free for customers. For more information, call 615900-1676 or visit overflowb.com/events.

Nov. 14 Black Barn Market Discover a winter wonderland at The Black Barn Holiday Market & Craft Sale at Events at East 96 (9901 Lascassas Pk.) featuring 100-plus vendors offering unique gifts, handmade treasures, and holiday decor, on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Enjoy food from food trucks, live music that sets the festive mood, a petting zoo, story time with Santa and free pictures to capture the magic, and watch live artisan demonstrations. Visit blackbarnmarkets.com, or call 615904-4676 for more information.

Nov. 14 Walk & Talk Book Club Get moving and get reading with Bookin’ It, a walk-and-talk book club for adults (18 and up) on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 10 a.m. Listen to audiobooks while enjoying a leisurely walk and conversation with fellow readers. Bring your library card, comfortable walking shoes and your love of books. Call 615-459-4884 or visit rclstn.org/venue/ smyrna-public-library for more information.

Nov. 14 Crafternoon Tap into your creativity at the Crafternoon program on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 2 p.m. at the Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.) for a themed craft. Get your creativity flowing and help build listening and fine motor skills. Learn more at rclstn.org/venue/smyrna-public-library.

Nov. 14 5K Turkey Trot Join Barnabas Vision and Together as One for their inaugural Thankful Steps 5K Turkey Trot on Saturday, Nov. 14 at Gateway Island (1875 W. College St.). Thankful Steps is an opportunity to run together, encourage one another, and give back to families in the community. Proceeds will be split between Barnabas Vision and Together as One to support their missions of serving and uplifting families. As part of the race, participants will have the opportunity to share what they’re thankful for as well as enjoy a few fun surprises along the way. For more information or to register, find the Together As 1 x Barnabas Vision Turkey Trot on runsignup.com.

Nov. 14 Teen Self Care Saturday All teens are welcome to attend the monthly Self Care Saturday on Nov. 14 at 3 p.m. Watch a movie with snacks, enjoy crafts, spend time with a therapy dog, and get free hair tinsel at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.). Visit rclstn.org/venue/smyrna-public-library for more information.

Nov. 14 Petal and Pages Bingo Come out to Middle Ground Brewing (2476 Old Fort Pkwy.) on Saturday, Nov. 14, for Petal and Pages Bingo, run by Literary Roots and Coastal Cowboy Bookstore. Check in at 3 p.m. with bingo at 3:30 p.m. The cost to participate is $16 and includes one free beer or non-alcoholic beverage. There will be multiple plant and bookish prizes as well as door prizes. RSVP at literaryroots.com or find Middle Ground Brewing Company on Facebook.

Nov. 17 BAPEN Business and Professional Events for Networking (BAPEN) meets at Steak ’n Shake Murfreesboro (2091 Old Fort Pkwy.) on Tuesdays Nov. 3 and 17 (and the first and third Tuesdays of every month) from noon–1 p.m. This free networking group invites small business owners and sales professionals to share ideas and leads and to help attendees’ businesses grow. For more information, find a Rutherford BAPEN group on Facebook.

Nov. 18 Teen Trivia Teens ages 13–17 can join a monthly themed trivia game on Wednesday, Nov. continued on page 8 boropulse.com * November 2026 * 7

Continued from page 7 18, at 4 p.m. at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.). There will be snacks and a prize. Learn more at rclstn.org/venue/smyrna-public-library.

Nov. 18 Adult Writer’s Workshop Join Smyrna Public Library for a writing workshop open to ages 16 and up on Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. Bring out your creativity and ideas, and a notebook, pen or pencil, to form a beautiful written mosaic in a workshop environment. For more information, visit rclstn.org/venue/smyrna-public-library or call 615-459-4884.

tion: An Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming from 5–7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19. 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.

Visit middlegroundbrew.com for more information, or find Middle Ground Brewing Company on Facebook.

Nov. 20–22

Shabby Lane Holiday Gift Market

Art Studio Tour

Cookie Decorating

Nov. 19 Tin Foil Hat Open Mic Night

Come out on Wednesdays, Nov. 4 & 18 for stories, games, and crafts at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.) from 6–7 p.m. All ages are welcome, and don’t forget to wear your favorite pajamas.

Nov. 19

Nov. 20

The Connection

Murfreesboro Mahjongg

Champy’s World Famous Fried Chicken (1290 NW Broad St.) will host the November 2026 installment of The Connec-

Join in a game of Mahjongg at Middle Ground Brewing (2476 Old Fort Pkwy.) on Friday, Nov. 20, beginning at 6 p.m.

Pajama Story Time

Nov. 21

Nov. 21

Reserve your spot for the Tin Foil Hat Open Mic Night on Thursday, Nov. 19, from 7–9 p.m. at Oflow Bakery (115 N. Maple St.). The most convincing theory shared in the Tin Foil Hat Open Mic Night wins a free individual size cheesecake. Ten percent of the event proceeds go towards feeding the homeless and needy in the community. There will be prizes. There is a $5 minimum purchase to participate in the open mic. Visit overflowb.com/events or call 615-900-1676 for more information.

Nov. 18

Decorate cookies for Thanksgiving at Oflow Bakery (115 N. Maple St.) on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. For more information, visit overflowb.com/ events or call 615-900-1676.

scones and treats with unlimited freshbrewed tea, coffee and bubble tea. The cost is $35 per person or $25 for children between 3–8 years old, plus tax. Dress for a high tea party (semi-formal or smart casual). There will be a prize for the best-dressed. Reservations are limited. A nonrefundable $10 per-person fee is required to secure your spot. For more information, visit overflowb.com/ events or call 615-900-1676.

The Shabby Lane Holiday Gift Market is set for Saturday, Nov. 21, at Lane Agri-Park Community Center (315 John R. Rice Blvd.) from 9:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Get a head start on your holiday shopping while supporting 70 amazing small businesses. There will be free gifts for the first 200 adult shoppers, cookies with Santa from noon until 2 p.m., free pictures with Santa (using your own camera), food and more. Admission is free. To learn more, find the Shabby Lane Holiday Gift Market event on Facebook.

The annual Art Studio Tour, presented by the Stones River Crafts Association, gives visitors a glimpse into the working studios of local artisans and craftsmen. By mastering various elements, the artists produce one-of-a-kind treasures. Each year the talent grows and develops, not unlike the overall community. Come see how artwork is designed and made. The tour is a free community event always held the weekend before Thanksgiving— this year, Nov. 20–22—from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information and a full list of stops, visit artstudiotour.org/tour.

Nov. 21

Nov. 21

Holiday Market

Cozy Creations

Brianna Victory Events presents the Murfreesboro Holiday Market on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. inside the Stones River Mall (1720 Old Fort Pkwy.). Over 100 vendors will offer artisan gifts and festive food with something for everyone, from Thanksgiving decor to Christmas stocking stuffers. Free parking and free admission. For more information, email briannavictoryevents@gmail .com or call 931-952-0472, or find the 3rd Annual Murfreesboro Holiday Market on Facebook.

Teens ages 13 through 17 can register to join a cozy crafting session at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.) on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. Registration is required. For more information, visit rclstn.org/venue/smyrna-public-library.

Nov. 21 Vintage Market Come out to Middle Ground Brewing (2476 Old Fort Pkwy.) on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. for a vendor fair featuring vintage, Y2K, street wear, art and jewelry. This fair frequents a lot of college towns and will be landing at Middle Ground again this November. Visit middlegroundbrew.com or find Middle Ground Brewing Company on Facebook for more information.

Nov. 21 Afternoon Tea Party

Located in Historic Downtown walnuthousemurfreesboro.com 615-705-7897

Oflow (115 N. Maple St.) will host its next high tea party on Saturday, Nov. 21, with seatings at 1 and 3 p.m. The menu will feature three tiers of savories, 8 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

Nov. 22 Thanksgiving Hymn Sing The community will gather for a Thanksgiving Hymn Sing at Haynes Chapel (5935 Woodbury Pk.) on Sunday, Nov. 22 at 1:30 p.m., to celebrate an oldfashioned Thanksgiving through songs, music, and shared gratitude. Everyone is welcome. Haynes Chapel shapes the setting for an old-fashioned Thanksgiving Hymn Sing, linking rural life to the sacred authentic sounds of the 19th century. Get a glimpse of days gone by in this historic church setting. Refreshments will follow. For more information, email gsc714@gmail.com.

Nov. 24 Smyrna Tree Lighting Ceremony Bring the family downtown to Smyrna Depot District (98 Front St.) on Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 6–8 p.m. for Christmas music that all kids can sing along to. Light up the town for the holidays continued on page 10

Continued from page 8 and enjoy free pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as food trucks. There is no cost to attend and all are welcome. Visit townofsmyrna.org/live/christmas_tree_ lighting_ceremony.php or call 615-4599773 for more information.

for a unique networking experience featuring a live podcast and a chance to connect with business professionals, nonprofit leaders and community champions. A happy hour meetup begins prior to the main event at 4 p.m. Bring your energy, your ideas, and your love for building a better community.

Nov. 26

Nov. 27

Borodash

black friday Middle Market

Borodash is a family-friendly four-mile race that takes place every Thanksgiving Day morning in historic downtown Murfreesboro to support world-changing charities and nonprofits. The Borodash 4-mile race starts at 8 a.m. and a 2K walk will start at 8:15 at the Murfreesboro Civic Plaza (111 W. Vine St.) on Thursday, Nov. 26. Pick up your packets on Wednesday, Nov. 25 from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. at North Boulevard Church of Christ (East Campus, 1112 N. Rutherford Blvd.). Visit borodash.org, or email info@ borodash.org for more information.

Nov. 27 4th Friday Fun*Working Turn your Friday into an opportunity for connection and inspiration at Fun*Working, on Nov. 27 at 5 p.m. Meet at the Spread the Positive Studio (105 N. Maple St., Suite 1)

Middle Ground Brewing (2476 Old Fort Pkwy.) hosts a Black Friday Middle Market featuring local vendors on Friday, Nov. 27. Visit middlegroundbrew.com or find Middle Ground Brewing Company on Facebook for more information.

Nov. 29 Wreath Making Class Celebrate the holidays and make a wreath at Middle Ground Brewing (2476 Old Fort Pkwy.) on Sunday, Nov. 29, at 2 p.m. Visit middlegroundbrew.com or find Middle Ground Brewing Company on Facebook for more information.

Dec. 4 Christmas Tree Lighting On Friday, Dec. 4, gather around the historic

Hungry Hearts Church is led by dedicated Elders true to God’s Holy Sabbath. We are Torah observant, teaching and holding to the God-made rules in the first five books of the Bible as modified by God through His Holy Prophets and as magnified by Yeshua Messiah. We are filled with the Holy Spirit and use the spiritual gifts. We use some Hebrew prayers and worship tools to clear our minds and open our spirits to the Living God. Hungry Hearts Church also celebrates the Sabbath in Jackson, TN, and Corinth, MS, every Saturday, and holds a monthly service on the fourth Sabbath of each month in Cookeville, TN

Meeting at the Hampton Inn, 325 N. Thompson Ln., Murfreesboro

Saturday, November 14 at 1 p.m. Upcoming Meeting: Dec. 12

For more information, a livestream and videos, visit hungryheartsministry.com

Rutherford County Courthouse for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree. Beginning at 6 p.m., enjoy free activities like crafts, free hot cocoa and small games and choir performances, along with carriage rides for purchase. School of Rock student rock bands, Rutherford County and Murfreesboro City School Elementary Choir and Center for the Arts performers begin at 6:30. Then Santa will light the Christmas tree. From 7:30–8:30 p.m., activities will continue, including free DIY pictures inside the courthouse with Santa. To learn more, visit mainstreetmurfreesboro.org/ celebrate-christmas-downtown.

explore Civil War campaigns. Instructor Galen Walker formed The Patriot Institute in 2015 and has taught Monday Night History at various locations ever since. Visit thepatriotinstitute.org to learn more.

Tuesdays Computer Basics

Dec. 5

Learn basic computer skills, Windows, Google Docs, and Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint during a free, beginnerfriendly computer class held every Tuesday at the Technology Engagement Center (306 Minerva Dr.) at 2 p.m. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615-225-8312.

scholastic Chess Championship

Tuesdays

The Middle Tennessee Scholastic Chess Championship at Central Magnet School (701 E. Main St.) is Saturday, Dec. 5. This annual tradition is a great tournament for both new and seasoned scholastic chess players. For new players, there are two unrated sections to get their first tournament experience. For experienced players, traditional rated sections (primary, elementary, high school) determine Middle Tennessee Scholastic Champions, individuals and school teams. Rated sections require a current US Chess membership ID. The format for all divisions is a five-round Swiss pairing tournament with 30-minute time controls with a five-second delay. The early registration fee is $20 and is due by Tuesday, Dec. 1; after Dec. 1 the fee is $30. For more information, email igorzhislin@gmail.com. On-site registration and check-in will be from 7:45–8:30 a.m. with Round 1 beginning at 9 a.m.

Mondays RuCo Chess Club The RuCo Chess Club meets from 5–9 p.m. every Monday at the Two J’s Grill (3242 Memorial Blvd.) for casual play. To learn more, visit rucochessclub.com.

Mondays Puppet Story Time Come out to Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.) on Mondays from 10–10:50 a.m. for interactive storytime. Friends of all ages are welcome. For more information, visit rclstn.org/venue/smyrna-public-library.

Mondays

Sight Word Snack Attack The Sight Word Snack Attack will be held at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.) on Tuesdays at 3:15 p.m. Sight Word Snack Attack is a child-focused program that focuses on sight words with games and puzzles. A snack and water for each attendee are included. This is geared toward preschool through 3rd grade; adult participation is highly recommended. Visit rclstn.org/venue/smyrna-public-library or call 615-459-4884 to learn more.

Tuesdays & Fridays Farmers Market The Rutherford County Farmers Market continues at the Lane Agri-Park (315 John R. Rice Blvd.), featuring locally grown produce, meats, eggs, baked goods, flowers, honey and handmade items from area vendors from 2–7 p.m. on Tuesdays, in addition to its regular Friday market hours, 7 a.m.–noon. Visit rutherford.tennessee.edu/farmersmarket-2 for more information.

Wednesdays Writers Group The Murfreesboro Writers Group gathers each Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the second floor meeting room at Linebaugh Public Library (105 W. Vine St.). Writers of all styles, interests and experience levels are welcome to join this regular critique and writing community meetup to share work, offer feedback and grow their craft together. For more information and events, visit rclstn.org/event.

Monday Night History

Wednesdays

The Patriot Institute presents free Monday Night History classes every Monday night at 6:30 p.m. at Champy’s (1290 NW Broad St.). The group will continue to

Krisdale Hoggatt presents line dancing lessons every Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at continued on page 12

10 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

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Continued from page 10 Strike and Spare (1720 Old Fort Pkwy.), offering a fun and social way to learn popular line dances in a casual setting. Open to all experience levels, the event invites participants to dance, meet new people and enjoy an energetic night out.

Wednesdays Wild Wednesday Discover something wild about the natural world with the SOAC staff on Wednesdays, from 4:30–5:30 p.m. Meet a SOAC animal or enjoy a naturebased activity each Wednesday at the Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center (100 Sam Ridley Pkwy. E.). There is no cost to join. All ages are welcome; walk-up guests are welcome. Email soac.group@ townofsmyrna.org or call 615-459-9710 for more information.

Thursdays Cedar Glade Run Club Whether you’re chasing a personal record or just looking for an excuse to earn your beer, there’s a place for you at Cedar Glade Run Club. Choose your pace and your distance: a 2-mile route or a 4-mile route. All paces are welcome—walkers, joggers, and first-timers. Your first Hoppy Hour beer will be waiting when you get back. Come for the run, stay for the conversation. The run club meets every Thursday at 6 p.m. at Cedar Glade Brews (906 Ridgely Rd.). For more information, find Cedar Glade Brews Run Club on Facebook.

Thursdays Baby Time

Presented by

Come out for Baby Time at Smyrna Public Library (400 Enon Springs Rd. W.) on Thursdays from 10–11 a.m. (no meeting on Thanksgiving), a storytime adventure for caregivers and babies aged 0–24 months. Snuggle up for a gentle story, interactive rhymes, singing and sensory play that fosters early literacy and bonding. To learn more, visit rclstn.org/venue/smyrna-public-library or call 615-459-4884.

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 sets on hand. 12 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

Saturdays Smyrna Fall Market Smyrna Fall Market takes place each Saturday through Nov. 21 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at Gregory Mills Park (390 Enon Springs Rd. E., Smyrna). Shoppers can find fresh produce, handmade goods and seasonal items from local farmers, makers and food vendors. For more information, visit carpeartista.com/fall-market.

Saturdays SINGO at Nacho’s Check out SINGO every Saturday night at 7 p.m., hosted by BrainBlast Trivia at Nacho’s Murfreesboro (2962 S. Rutherford Blvd.). SINGO is the musical bingo game that will have everyone dancing in their seats; no singing is required. It is family-friendly, free to play, and there are prizes every time. For more information, find BrainBlast Trivia on Facebook or visit brainblasttrivia.com.

Saturdays Coffee & Conversation Rutherford County Historical Society aims to be a community resource for those researching their family, property or perhaps just old fun facts. The Historical Society hosts Coffee & Conversation each Saturday morning from 9 a.m.–noon at the Ransom School House Museum (717 N. Academy St.). This is a very informal, fun 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.

Ongoing F3 Workouts F3—fitness, fellowship and faith—holds free weekly workout sessions welcoming all men and ends with a “circle of trust,” emphasizing the group’s commitment to faith. 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 MMC/Gateway Island (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 at Cedar Grove Elementary (354 Chaney Rd.) at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesdays; at Thurman Francis Arts Academy (221 Todd Ln.) at 5:30 a.m. on Thursdays; and at Stewarts Creek High School (301 Red Hawk Pkwy.) at 6 a.m. on Saturdays. Sessions are rain or shine, hot or cold. Learn more at f3murfreesboro.com.

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concerts Wed, 11/4

Boro Bourbon & Brews Blues Jam Happy’s Sports Lounge Wednesday Night Jam & Musicians Hang Hop Springs Bluelight Sessions Smyrna VFW Post 8422 Sharon & Dave

Thurs, 11/5

Boro Bourbon & Brews Griffin Williams Hop Springs Creed Fisher MTSU Murphy Center Bailey Zimmerman; Waka Flocka Flame; Miller Holler; Dee Jay Silver

Fri, 11/6

Boro Bourbon & Brews Hammbone Hank’s Honky Tonk Krista Lynn Meadow Happy’s Sports Lounge Buckshot Ridge Heroes Den Eden Storm High Society JILLfm Hop Springs Paper Frogs: A Writers Round; Casey Chestnut La Cucina Italiana Tony Castellanos MTSU Wright Music Building MTSU Wind Ensemble Concert Middle Ground Brewing Co. Muddy Boots Smyrna VFW Post 8422 Shane & the Money Makers

Sat, 11/7

Boro Bourbon & Brews Breakin Steel Hank’s Honky Tonk Jack Finley Band Happy’s Sports Lounge Neon Belly Heroes Den Twang Dang Doodle Middle Ground Brewing Co. Sylvie Henderson Pop’s Bar & Grill Sharon & Dave Smyrna VFW Post 8422 Knight Moves Twin Yolk The Friendly Four

Sun, 11/8

Bar Louie Jeff Lysyczyn and Friends Boro Bourbon & Brews Jason Acy

Hop Springs ’90s Rock Tribute; Da Jam Band MTSU Wright Music Building MTSU Horn Day; Brass Chamber Ensemble

Mon, 11/9

Burger Bar Jeff Lysyczyn MTSU Wright Music Building Steel Pan Band Smyrna VFW Post 8422 Randy and Friends

Tues, 11/10

Boro Bourbon & Brews Trevor Ellis High Society Shane Douglas MTSU Wright Music Building Sorrels Oboe Studio Recital; Jaden Keith

Wed, 11/11

Boro Bourbon & Brews T.J. Powers Happy’s Sports Lounge Wednesday Night Jam & Musicians Hang Hilton Garden Inn Smyrna Jeff Lysyczyn Hop Springs Trapt MTSU Wright Music Building Clarinet Choir Smyrna VFW Post 8422 Sharon & Dave

Thurs, 11/12

Boro Bourbon & Brews Robert Abernathy High Society The Bar Tabs Hop Springs Woodstauck MTSU Wright Music Building Andrew Davis; Guitar Ensemble

Fri, 11/13

Boro Bourbon & Brews Cynical Saints Champy’s Smyrna Jeff Lysyczyn High Society Breakin Steel Gen. Bragg Trailhead Roland Justice Hank’s Honky Tonk Jesse Morgan Happy’s Sports Lounge Memory Train Heroes Den The Tune Twisters Hop Springs Josh Pray La Cucina Italiana Tony Castellanos Pop’s Bar & Grill Linn & Dave

14 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

Live Music in middle tennessee

Smyrna VFW Post 8422 Shane & the Money Makers

Sat, 11/14

Boro Bourbon & Brews User Error Hank’s Honky Tonk Jesse Black & Andrew Applegate Happy’s Sports Lounge Cam Shelton Band Heroes Den Roland Justice; Rentex Hawks High Society Zone Status Hop Springs ZZ Top Notch Middle Ground Brewing Co. Howlin’ Embers Pop’s Bar & Grill Sharon & Dave Smyrna VFW Post 8422 Southern Toast Twin Yolk The Friendly Four

Sun, 11/15

Boro Bourbon & Brews Jeff Lysyczyn Hop Springs School of Rock; Freedom Junction; Joey Fletcher; Omcat; Da Jam Band MTSU Wright Music Building Jazz Voice Recital; Flute Choir; Chamber Orchestra

Mon, 11/16

Burger Bar Jeff Lysyczyn Hank’s Honky Tonk Jesse Black Smyrna VFW Post 8422 Randy and Friends

Tues, 11/17

Boro Bourbon & Brews Loraine Moxham High Society Shane Douglas MTSU Wright Music Building Symphonic Band; Chamber Winds

Wed, 11/18

Happy’s Sports Lounge Wednesday Night Jam & Musicians Hang Heroes Den Memory Train Hop Springs Bluelight Sessions MTSU Wright Music Building Opera Scenes Concert Smyrna VFW Post 8422 Sharon & Dave

Thurs, 11/19

Boro Bourbon & Brews Craig Hendricks

Carmen’s Taqueria Jeff Lysyczyn MTSU Wright Music Building Jazz Ensemble I

Fri, 11/20

Boro Bourbon & Brews Jack Finley Band Burger Bar Jeff Lysyczyn Hank’s Honky Tonk Zach Neil & Dale Clear Happy’s Sports Lounge Charlie Allen Heroes Den Scott Hogue; Cary & Sherrie Lynn High Society Copper & Lead Hop Springs Line Dance Night La Cucina Italiana Tony Castellanos MTSU Wright Music Building Henry Wright; Joseph Flores Smyrna VFW Post 8422 Shane & the Money Makers

Sat, 11/21

Boro Bourbon & Brews Tim Turner Band Hank’s Honky Tonk Skylar Harris and Andrew Harbison Happy’s Sports Lounge Vintage Voltage Heroes Den Jeff Caron Band High Society Eden Storm Hop Springs Forever Abbey Road Luna’s Mister Floyd Middle Ground Brewing Co. Jack Crowley MTSU Wright Music Building Rebekah Rawlings Pop’s Bar & Grill Sharon & Dave Smyrna VFW Post 8422 DJ Papi Fuentes Twin Yolk The Friendly Four

Sun, 11/22

Hop Springs Match Records Showcase; Da Jam Band MTSU Wright Music Building SOAL/TEBA Chorales; MTSU Symphony Orchestra

Mon, 11/23

Hank’s Honky Tonk Jesse Black MTSU Wright Music Building Chinese Music Ensemble

 full calendar online at

boropulse.com/calendar Smyrna VFW Post 8422 Randy and Friends

Tues, 11/24

Boro Bourbon & Brews Mike Ponder High Society Shane Douglas MTSU Wright Music Building Phi Mu Alpha Recital

Wed, 11/25

Boro Bourbon & Brews Sara Simmons Happy’s Sports Lounge Wednesday Night Jam & Musicians Hang Smyrna VFW Post 8422 Sharon & Dave

Thurs, 11/26 High Society Writers Night

Fri, 11/27

Boro Bourbon & Brews Mark Anthony Band Hank’s Honky Tonk Krista Lynn Meadow Happy’s Sports Lounge JILLfm Heroes Den The Revenue Man & Chris High Society The Neighbors Jam Band Hop Springs Rubiks Groove La Cucina Italiana Tony Castellanos Middle Ground Brewing Co. Miles Damaso Trio performs A Charlie Brown Christmas Pop’s Bar & Grill Linn & Dave Smyrna VFW Post 8422 Shane & the Money Makers

Sat, 11/28

Boro Bourbon & Brews JILLfm Hank’s Honky Tonk Zach Neil & Dale Clear Happy’s Sports Lounge J Mays & Z Bro Heroes Den Dueling Pianos High Society Cooter River Band Hop Springs Velcro Pygmies Pop’s Bar & Grill Sharon & Dave Twin Yolk The Friendly Four Smyrna VFW Post 8422 Shane & the Money Makers

Sun, 11/29

Boro Bourbon & Brews

John D. Neal Hop Springs Da Jam Band MTSU Wright Music Building Messiah Sing-Along; Oscar Cervantes; Jaida Anthony

Mon, 11/30

Burger Bar Jeff Lysyczyn Hank’s Honky Tonk Jesse Black MTSU Wright Music Building Commercial Ensemble Smyrna VFW Post 8422 Randy and Friends

Tues, 12/1 High Society Shane Douglas

If You Go Bar Louie 2615 Medical Center Pkwy. Boro Bourbon & Brews 124 N. Maple St. burger bar 1850 Old Fort Pkwy. Carmen’s Taqueria 206 W. Northfield Blvd. cedar glade brews 906 Ridgely Rd. Champy’s Smyrna 835 Isabella Ln., Smyrna general bragg trailhead 1540 W. College St. Hank’s Honky Tonk 2341 Memorial Blvd. happy’s sports Lounge 302 W. Main St. heroes den 1257 NW Broad St. high society 211 W. Main St. Hop Springs 6790 John Bragg Hwy. La Cucina Italiana 451 N. Thompson Ln. Luna’s 527 W. Main St. Middle Ground Brewing Co. 2476 Old Fort Pkwy. MTSU WRight Music Building 1439 Faulkinberry Dr. Pop’s bar & grill 117 Front St., Smyrna Smyrna VFW post 8422 10157 Old Nashville Hwy. Twin Yolk 1630 S. Church St.

Sounds

Kenna Elpers

From MTSU to The Voice, local artist takes her talent to the national stage story by Matt Olszewski

F

or country singer-songwriter Kenna Elpers, the journey to national television began long before she stepped onto the stage of NBC’s The Voice. From her early performances in small-town Indiana to studying music business at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Elpers has spent much of her life building a career in country music. Now based in Nashville, the 23-year-old artist recently introduced her voice to a national audience as a contestant on the show’s 30th season. Originally from Cynthiana, Indiana, Elpers grew up with a passion for music and began pursuing performing opportunities at an early age. By age 12, she was joining her cousin Andrea Wirth, a member of the acoustic duo The Honey Vines, for performances at Lamasco Bar & Grill in Evansville, Indiana. A year later, she began booking solo performances, singing country covers and original material at venues throughout the region. Her growing experience eventually led to opportunities to open for established country acts, including Josh Turner, Dylan Scott, Maddie & Tae, and Riley Green.

In a September interview with Evansville Living, Elpers reflected on her early ambitions. “All through high school, I just wanted to be onstage,” she said. Following her graduation from North Posey Senior High School in 2021, Elpers decided to pursue music professionally, moving to Tennessee and enrolling at MTSU to study music business. Her decision brought her closer to Nashville’s music industry while providing an opportunity to learn about the business side of an increasingly competitive profession. During her time at MTSU, Elpers would perform at local venues such as Hank’s Honky Tonk and Grindstone Cowboy, developing her sound as an independent country artist, blending traditional country influences with elements of rock and emphasizing personal storytelling in her songwriting. She has performed at venues including Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe and Busch Stadium in St. Louis, while touring throughout the Midwest and beyond, according to her press kit. Those experiences eventually helped position her for one of the largest

opportunities of her career. In September 2026, Elpers appeared on Season 30 of The Voice, performing Chris Stapleton’s “White Horse” during her blind audition. The show’s blind auditions require contestants to perform while four celebrity coaches face away from the stage. Coaches turn their chairs when they want a singer to join their team. Elpers’ performance earned chair turns from Queen Latifah and country singer Riley Green, giving her the opportunity to select her coach. She ultimately chose Green, a decision that carried particular significance given their previous professional encounters. The two first crossed paths at the 2019 Vanderburgh County Fair in Indiana, where Elpers sang the national anthem and Green performed alongside Morgan Wallen. In 2023, Elpers opened for Green at a music festival in Missouri. Their reunion on The Voice represented a full-circle moment for the young singer. The connection also reflected the importance of relationships developed through years of performing, an aspect of the music business Elpers has continued to navigate

since relocating to Tennessee. Her experience on the show continued into the Battle Rounds, where contestants from the same team compete against one another in duet performances. During the Oct. 12 episode, Elpers faced fellow Team Riley contestant Joe Henley. The pair performed Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do,” originally recorded as a duet with Ella Langley. Green and guest adviser Carly Pearce worked with the performers ahead of their appearance, offering guidance on their harmonies and stage chemistry. Although the performance received positive feedback from the

boropulse.com * November 2026 * 15

coaches, Green ultimately selected Henley to advance, ending Elpers’ run in the competition. Despite her elimination, Elpers’ appearance provided national exposure and an opportunity to work alongside established musicians and fellow emerging artists. For the young artist whose musical journey began in a small Indiana community, the opportunity to appear on television also represented the realization of a childhood ambition. Growing up, she watched The Voice with her parents and brothers, imagining what it would be like to perform on the program herself. Although her time on the televised competition has concluded, Elpers plans to continue to develop her career as an independent Nashville-based musician, releasing original material and building on the experience gained from touring and television. And, something to keep in mind: Missing out on first place in major TV talent competitions didn’t block the road to stardom for Kellie Pickler (American Idol) and Miranda Lambert (Nashville Star). Lambert, in fact, is the most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music history. It’s all about what you do with the exposure and the opportunities, and The Voice has doubtlessly placed Elpers on a promising path.

Sounds

music note

Old Fashioned

Hymn Sing

Thanksgiving Hymn Sing Set for Nov. 22 at Uncle Dave’s Former Church, Haynes Chapel  Pictured, Gloria Christy and Mary Nell Miller at Haynes Chapel Church, where Miller has been a member most of her 94 years.

The community will gather at Haynes Chapel, 5935 Woodbury Pk., the church where Uncle Dave Macon once belonged, to celebrate an old-fashioned Thanksgiving through songs, music and shared gratitude. Haynes Chapel shapes the setting for an old-fashioned Thanksgiving Hymn Sing, set for Sunday afternoon, Nov. 22, starting at 1:30 p.m. Family, friends, and the entire community can gather to pause and give thanks at this special event linking rural life to the authentic sacred sounds of the 19th century. Jerry Messick will serve as song leader, with local instrumentalist Judy Woodruff Staley on piano. Stones River Bluegrass with Steve Hall and area vocalists Lisa Law, Sharon Clark, and Tammy Wright will also join the old-fashioned hymn singing. Events will be emceed by Ralph Vaughn, former president of the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. Enjoy a glimpse of days gone by in this unique church setting tucked in nature’s beautiful Tennessee hillside at the church where Uncle Dave Macon, the first superstar of the Grand Ole Opry, once belonged. Faith was an important part of Uncle Dave’s life and music, and his connection to Haynes Chapel went beyond attending services, according to church leaders. When the church needed a new organ, Uncle Dave helped raise the money for it—and then hauled the hulking instrument to the church by freight wagon. Everyone is welcome at the Nov. 22 hymn sing. Come and be thankful, renewed, and inspired. Refreshments will be served following the singing. The roots of America’s music are a web of traditions intertwined with multiple histories, sacred as well as secular, rather than one genre, according to longtime Uncle Dave Macon Days president Gloria Christy, one of the organizers of the hymn singing. In the 19th century and early 20th century, a Tennessee camp meeting was not only a worship experience, but it was also a cultural experience. The scene offered time to socialize and bring the community together. The camp-meeting tradition blurred the line between worship and public performance, giving evangelists and musicians techniques for holding attention, building participation, and turning a gathering into a memorable event. Many rural churches were formed from camp

16 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

meetings, including Haynes Chapel. Haynes Chapel Methodist Church grew from the spiritual renewal inspired by evangelist Sam P. Jones’s 1884 revival in Murfreesboro. Residents living along Woodbury Pike joined together to establish a local place of worship. In 1887, J.C. Haynes purchased an acre from W.M. Freeman and donated it to the church. Neighbors contributed labor and materials, completing the building that same year. For well over a century, Haynes Chapel has carried forward this community-rooted legacy, with a historical connection to American folk and banjo legend Uncle Dave Macon. Jones carried camp-meeting energy into rapidly growing towns and cities across the South. In May 1885, thousands gathered for his Nashville revival near 8th and Broadway. Captain Tom Ryman attended and would later commit himself to providing Nashville with a permanent place large enough for mass religious meetings. Completed in 1892, the Union Gospel Tabernacle gave permanent architectural form to the mass-revival experience. After Ryman’s death in 1904, Jones urged that the building bear his friend’s name. Macon, who would go on to become the first superstar of the Grand Ole Opry, also served as the music director for Haynes Chapel Church on Woodbury Pike. The banjo player, singer, and comedian would frequently incorporate Southern gospel tunes and shape-note hymns into his energetic shows. During this time, sacred songs appeared in secular programs, folk musicians drew on hymn traditions, Christian quartets adopted modern promotion, and radio welcomed gospel harmony. Singing schools in Murfreesboro and throughout the South were vital community and educational gatherings that thrived from the 19th century well into the mid-1950s. “Singing masters” would travel to local churches and communities to teach vocal sight-reading, basic music theory and song leading. Pupils learned to read music using shape notes, matching geometric shapes like triangles, squares, circles and diamonds to scale degrees. The Nov. 22 event aims to carry on these Southern Gospel musical community traditions. For more information, contact Gloria Christy at 615-668-0475 or gsc714@gmail.com.

Living photo by Rob evras

Road Rally

Actor John Schneider with the Carpe Artista Road Rally Car

Smyrna’s Carpe Artista featured in Great American Road Rally TV series, holds fundraising party Nov. 19 by Ashlen Jones An orange Dodge Challenger carrying the Carpe Artista logo appeared on national television with actor and musician John Schneider behind the wheel, taking the mission of a Smyrna nonprofit to viewers across the country. Carpe Artista is featured in The Great American Road Rally: Celebrity Edition, a reality series airing on The CW. The program follows celebrity teams driving classic cars 2,211 miles along Route 66 during the highway’s centennial year, with each team representing a charitable cause. The rally paired Carpe Artista with the James Burton Foundation, and Schneider represented the two organizations during the journey. His car displayed Carpe Artista’s logo, its four core values and a QR code directing viewers to information about the organizations and ways to support them. For Carpe Artista founder and CEO Ron Alley, the partnership created an opportunity to introduce the work happening in Smyrna to people across the country. “It was an exciting opportunity to share the work happening here in Smyrna with a much larger audience and build relationships with people who believe in the power of entertainment and the arts to change students’ lives,” Alley said. Carpe Artista provides music lessons, visual arts, theater, camps and community

events for children, teenagers and adults in Rutherford County. Its work is guided by the Christian faith and four core values: Character, Calling, Craft and Community. Alley said the organization focuses on career development in the arts and entertainment industry, with leadership serving as a central part of its training. It also works to reach students who may not connect with sports or traditional academics and give them a safe place to explore different art forms, identify their strengths and meet peers who share their interests. Some participants have come to Carpe Artista after experiencing bullying, abuse or other difficult circumstances, Alley said. Through creative programs and relationships, the organization seeks to give those students support, purpose and hope. The nonprofit’s connection to the television series began close to home. Carpe Artista board member Eric Richey, owner of Crusader Autoworks in Smyrna, developed the concept for the show. Richey and his business partner, Gary Bridges, formed 7 Bridges Media Group in 2022 after meeting through a Carpe Artista connection, according to Alley. The company produced the series. Alley said Richey and Bridges both had experience in entertainment and reality television and wanted their projects to include a charitable component. Their relationship with

Carpe Artista and support for its mission led to the nonprofit’s participation in the rally. The rally listed the James Burton Foundation in conjunction with Carpe Artista as a participating cause championed by 7BMG. Burton, a celebrated guitarist and bandleader who performed with Elvis Presley, founded that organization to provide guitars and music instruction to students, veterans and others in need. Alley said the pairing made sense because both organizations use music to create opportunities for people who might not otherwise have access to instruments or instruction. Carpe Artista contributed the stories of its students, families, and community programs, while the James Burton Foundation brought its work placing guitars in schools, hospitals and community organizations. Schneider, known for his role as Bo Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard and for his country music career, represented the organizations in a bright orange 2016 Dodge Challenger that recalled the television series that helped launch his career. American Idol winner Taylor Hicks and country artist Tracy Lawrence also rode with Schneider during the rally. Board Chairman Rob Evras traveled the entire route from Chicago to Santa Monica, while Alley joined the rally for four days. They used the trip to share the nonprofit’s work and develop relationships with participants and people they met along the way. One of Alley’s most memorable experiences came while riding in the Corvette pace car with rally host Ian Ziering between Oklahoma City and Amarillo, Texas. “Those conversations opened doors to explore support for our work beyond the rally itself,” Alley said. Alley also rode in the Heart Browser car with company executives and celebrity drivers Butch Patrick, who played Eddie Munster on The Munsters, and Sam J. Jones, who starred in the 1980 film Flash Gordon. Seeing a Smyrna organization represented nationally was both exciting and humbling, Alley said. He hopes the experience shows Carpe Artista students that their starting point does not determine how far their creativity, work and character can take them. The organization also hopes the exposure produces lasting results after the final episode airs, including new donors, partnerships, scholarships and opportunities for students to connect with working artists and entertainment professionals. Carpe Artista’s long-term vision includes

creating a career-path training center in Smyrna and developing a model that could eventually be used in other communities near major cultural centers. “We hope the show introduces us to other communities that would see the value of having a Carpe Artista training center in their community,” Alley said. Carpe Artista will bring the rally experience home with the Great American Rally Party on Thursday, Nov. 19, at Crusader Autoworks, 307 Hazelwood Dr. in Smyrna. Alley said the organization chose the date to hold the event before Thanksgiving and colder weather while the series is still airing. The final episode is now scheduled to air in December. The event will include celebrity guests and cars from the series, live music, food trucks, drinks and a classic car show. Auction items will include memorabilia autographed by Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift and other entertainers. American Idol winner Taylor Hicks is confirmed to attend and perform, while additional celebrity guests will be announced. General admission begins at 6 p.m. and costs $15 in advance or $20 at the door. A VIP experience begins at 5 p.m. and costs $100 in advance or $120 at the door. It includes a private celebrity meet-and-greet, a behind-the-scenes look at restoration projects at Crusader Autoworks, catered food, an open bar from 5 to 7 p.m. and a private performance by Hicks, along with appearances by other celebrity guests and Carpe Artista students. The event is limited to guests 21 and older. “A television appearance can introduce our story, but sustained community involvement helps turn that opportunity into lasting benefits for students here at home,” Alley said. “Every student deserves an opportunity to find out what they can achieve and become.” Carpe Artista and the James Burton Foundation are featured as the nonprofits in episode six of the series. Supporters can also select Carpe Artista as their designated nonprofit through Heart Browser, a rally sponsor. Alley said the company donates 70% of its click-through revenue to nonprofits selected by users, allowing people to support Carpe Artista through their regular online activity at no cost to them. Find event tickets, sponsorship information, donation options and more details at carpeartista.com/garr. boropulse.com * November 2026 * 17

Living

 Travel photos courtesy of jared ambrose

Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop Dolly Parton’s memory lives on at road-trip attraction, restaurant and store off I-65 story by Bracken Mayo

W

ith Buc-ee’s generating the bulk of the buzz in Murfreesboro this month, Tennessee travelers can keep in mind they have another notable new roadside destination worth visiting. Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop, located off Interstate 65 in Cornersville, combines the necessities of a highway stop—fuel, restrooms, a place to walk and stretch, and snacks—with a mix of Dolly Parton memorabilia, Southern cooking and country music, becoming a unique modern roadside attraction and fueling station of its own. In fact, the stop has now taken on an unexpected, somber, historical significance. The country music legend attended the grand opening herself, in June of 2026, making it Dolly’s final public appearance. Her fans, family and followers would mourn her death just two months later. But her legacy lives on in countless ways, just one being this travel stop with its shelves full of Dolly-themed merchandise, guitars hanging from the ceiling, and lots of food. About an hour south of Nashville, at Exit 22, the sprawling stop is an appealing destination for road-trippers heading toward Alabama, a convenient break for professional truck drivers, or a pilgrimage for devoted 18 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

If You Go Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop Interstate 65, Exit 22 3686 Pulaski Hwy., Cornersville, Tennessee Store Open 24 Hours

Dolly fans who want to immerse themselves in the world of one of Tennessee’s most famous daughters. Outside, a tour bus and painted decorations with butterflies and musical symbols reinforce Parton’s colorful, joyful style before visitors even walk through the doors of the country music attraction / gas station and convenience store. The operation offers motorists gasoline, diesel and electric charging stations. There’s also a dog park where canine travelers can burn off some energy. Inside, grab a quick cup of coffee—at

Restaurant Hours: Sun.–Thurs. 6 a.m.–9 p.m. Fri.–Sat.: 6 a.m.–10 p.m. 931-293-4171 dollystravelstops.com

the Cup of Ambition Coffee shop—a pastry, barbecue sandwich, or cinnamon bread, or sit down and stay a while at the restaurant. There’s also an ice cream counter and an upstairs bar and entertainment area. The store carries an assortment of Dollythemed goods, including shirts, books,

records, souvenirs, cooking supplies and decor, adorned with her signature butterfly—there are plenty of ways to take a piece of Dolly home with you. One of the biggest distinctions between Dolly’s and the familiar Beaver-themed travel stops is the opportunity to sit down for a full meal. The venue has a distinctly different feel from the Buc-ee’s convenience-store format, offering more room to sit, eat and relax, without so much hustle and bustle. The property includes a full-service restaurant serving Southern-style food (separate from the barbecue counter and coffee shop for travelers looking for something quicker or to-go). The buffet offers a solid selection of Southern comfort food you might expect at a country grandmother’s kitchen table, an assortment of casseroles, vegetables, fried pork chops and a salad bar. There was a creamy Cajun sausage-and-rice dish, along with a ground-beef casserole featuring peas

HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS 3–7 P.M. DAILY

photos BY SARAH MAYO

211 W. MAIN ST. ◆ MURFREESBORO highsocietyrestaurant.com

continued from page 18 and a hint of sweetness. Pile up the green beans, and the fried squash was quite good, even if it had softened a little by the time a visitor got to it, not quite straight out of the fryer, but still delicious. And, apple cobbler and banana pudding for dessert. Overall, the spread was satisfying and fast comfort food—a rarity for interstate travelers, considering the endless fast-foodchain sprinkled exits. All you can eat! Fuel up before embarking on a long trip, or when returning to Tennessee lacking the energy or time to prepare a proper dinner. The restaurant hosts live music throughout the week; visit the website for the performer schedule. One reviewer said the food, ice cream, service and upstairs bar were all reasons to visit Dolly’s. Others praised the atmosphere and selection of Dolly-themed souvenirs. Some of the few criticisms involve the food or merch prices. Upstairs, a bar and entertainment area provides an additional place to relax.

Another important note: Dolly’s welcomes big rigs. “We Love Truckers!” the travel stop’s website proclaims. The stop has showers, a laundry area, a lounge, and truck supplies for sale. The travel stop advertises approximately 200 parking spaces for trucks and RVs, plus another 200 for personal vehicles, situated a bit outside of the busy Nashville metropolitan area, making it a popular spot for truck drivers. For Dolly fans, however, the main attraction may be the opportunity to experience a little of the singer’s sparkle in a remote Tennessee setting. For everyone else, the food, entertainment, shopping, dog park and artwork make it an fun and interesting alternative to the usual interstate stop. If your travels take you south on I-65, consider an exit at Cornersville on the way. It’s not just gas pumps with a gift shop, in true Dolly fashion it goes almost over the top and delivers a real celebration of the life, legacy, music and Tennessee heritage of the beloved Dolly Parton. boropulse.com * November 2026 * 19

High Society Has Gone Irish!

COME AND TRY OUR NEW IRISH MENU

OPENS AT 3 P.M. TUESDAY—SATURDAY

HAPPY HOUR 3–7 P.M. DAILY

KARAOKE

TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS

Living Excitement Builds for Nov. 16 Opening of Popular Travel Stop

r e v e F r ave

 explore

be

o t e An Od e’s e c u B

By Bracken, Bracken Jr. & sarah Mayo aerial photos by jared ambrose

I’m no deceiver, I’ll make you a believer, I’m here to tell y’all ’bout the Beaver Fever!

The Mountain Dew is so cold and green, And even my Mama thinks that the toilets are clean!

Beaver Nugs and beaver hugs, The #1 pit stop for the beaver-loving thugs.

Get a glimpse of that tortilla-making station, While the ICEE station fills your cup with elation.

In 1982 Arch “Beaver” Aplin III opened a chain store, Now an empire that history can’t ignore, with a mascot people adore! Part convenience store on steroids, part fluorescent-lit theme park, Like a Disney World for rednecks with a beaver as its hallmark. Billboards from the highway say, “Come to me,” You can “Potty Like a Rockstar,” it’s the place to be! Just off the busy 24 Interstate, The people of Murfreesboro can hardly wait! To Exit 84 the travelers will go, At Joe B. Jackson, watch the traffic grow. Sure they added infrastructure, but it won’t be enough For all those people buying the Buc-ee’s stuff. Shiny new signs are now in place, With giant red letters and a buck-toothed face. Pull into the station and park with care, Hope that beaver mascot will be in there! Quality is high like a fever, sandwiches and coffee creamer, Pit stop time—come on kids, get a pic with the beaver! The smells, the stuff and staff are awesome, the gas prices are cheaper, Gas station of dreams forming a team, making me feel like Caesar! Beef brisket, breakfast biscuit, Put the cream in the coffee and then I’ll whisk it. Spittin’ beaver rhymes through my beaver buckteeth, 13 flavors of jerky all made with beefth.

20 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

Customized magnets for each location, Grab the Murfreesboro one while you’re on vacation. “Brisket on the board!” hits the perfect chord, A mighty fine job to the “Biggest Little Store.” Nuts, candy and snacks galore, Pajamas, plushies and home decor. The cashiers are sweet, the fudge is sweeter, No other pit-stop could ever beat’er. Charge your Tesla, buy a grill, But don’t pull in with 18-wheels. No seating here, don’t you know? So spend all your money, take your sandwich and go! No car wash available, but don’t you despair, One hundred and twenty gas pumps will be there! Large crowds make you want to fight or flight? Swing by late—it’s open all night! The hoopla may die down at nighttime, or maybe the circus will last a lifetime! So mark your calendars, rain or shine, November 16 at 6 a.m. is the day and time. Go to bed early and set your alarm, The beaver is bringing his Texas-sized charm.

Murfreesboro, get ready, consider yourselves lucky, Been waiting all year, but now it is here— let’s go to Buc-ee’s!

Buc-ee’s by the Numbers 11/16 58 3 Murfreesboro Buc-ee’s Opening Date, at 6 a.m.

Buc-ee’s Locations in Tennessee: Crossville, Sevierville and Murfreesboro

Buc-ee’s locations across 14 states in the U.S.

37

13 main beef jerky flavors

Texas Buc-ee’s locations as of late 2026, accounting for roughly twothirds of all locations nationwide

18–24 Different milk

and cream alternatives for coffee, plus numerous flavored syrups and dry spices to transform any regular cup of coffee or espresso

100M

Total visitors Roughly 210 million annual trips per year across its locations according to consumer data

(Plus a few turkey and zero-sugar variations) along their famous wall of jerky

120 fuel pumps at the Murfreesboro location

(Standard pump count for many of the brand’s larger sites)

16 ICEE flavors

4 ICEE machines with 4 flavors apiece per location

99¢ Large Fountain Drink

27 Buc-ee’s Trademark Cases Between 2023–26 (Frequently targeting businesses with names ending in “-ee’s”, red-and-yellow circular branding, or smiling cartoon animal mascots, such as beavers, bears, moose or rodents)

of a medium iced or drip coffee 1.50 Cost

$

8.99

$

Brisket Sandwich

2.49

$

Large Cold-brew Coffee

51 Active Federal Buc-ee’s trademarks with an additional 12 pending According to mysanantonio.com boropulse.com * November 2026 * 21

Nature News

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Fall Color Visible as Days Grow Shorter and Cooler story & photos by Ashleigh NewneS Along with pumpkin spice lattes, spooky season and sweater weather, fall leaves are another favorite part of autumn for many. From scenic drives to peaceful walks outdoors, the changing leaves bring beautiful shades of red, orange and gold to the landscape. But have you ever wondered what causes this colorful transformation? During spring and summer, leaves stay green because of chlorophyll, a pigment that helps trees turn sunlight into food. As the days grow shorter and temperatures cool, chlorophyll breaks down, allowing yellow and orange pigments to show through. Some trees also produce red pigments, creating the vibrant shades we associate with fall. Weather plays a big role in how vibrant fall colors become. Sunny days and cool nights can help produce brighter colors, while dry conditions may cause leaves to turn brown or fall earlier than usual. Because weather varies from year to year, no two fall seasons look exactly alike. As winter approaches, deciduous trees reclaim some of the nutrients stored in their leaves before they fall. And once on the ground, fallen leaves play an important role in the ecosystem. They provide shelter for insects and other small wildlife, while decomposing leaves return nutrients to the soil that help support future plant growth. From Tennessee’s tree-lined streets to forests across the country, fall foliage offers a chance to enjoy nature’s changing colors. Murfreesboro residents can experience the seasonal beauty close to home, in parks and neighborhoods all over town, while the same fascinating process unfolds in different landscapes throughout the United States. From bright yellow sweetgums to red maples, the colors of fall bring a welcome change to the landscape before the trees shed their leaves for winter. 22 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

Living

 book

Murfreesboro Maintenance Guy Keith Gimmy Turns Handyman Job Tales Into a Book Keith Gimmy, a “Murfreesboro maintenance guy,” has been collecting stories from some of the experiences he’s run into over the past several years working in residential maintenance doing handyman work. “Friends and coworkers kept telling me I should write them down, so eventually I did,” Gimmy said. This year he released You Should’ve Mentioned That: True Stories From a Life of Fixing Things, a compilation of 31 true stories “about things I’ve actually run into on the job . . . although I’ve changed the names of people and businesses to protect their privacy.” From the book, a couple of egg-related tales:

Hard-Boiled

I was sitting in the office at Brookstone one afternoon when a resident called me directly. Her neighbor’s smoke alarms were going off, and she thought she could smell smoke. I jumped in the golf cart and headed for the building as quickly as I could. Once I figured out which apartment the alarms were coming from, the situation became a lot more concerning. An elderly woman with limited mobility lived there, and nobody was answering the door. I knocked and tried the doors and windows, hoping I’d find some way inside, but everything was locked. With the alarms going off and a resident who might still be inside, I had no way of knowing whether she was simply gone or lying unconscious—or worse—on the other side of the door. Brookstone didn’t have a master key, and I didn’t have her apartment key with me, so I hauled back across the property to the office, grabbed it and raced back to the building. Somewhere in the middle of all that, I texted Rachel, the property manager at the time, to let her know what was happening. From the initial phone call until I finally got the door open was probably less than five minutes, but there was a lot going through my head during that time. When I opened the door, the alarms were blaring and a dark gray cloud of smoke covered roughly the upper third of the 24 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

apartment. There weren’t any visible flames or excessive heat, so instead of backing out and calling 911, I went inside to find out what was happening. I still didn’t know whether the resident was home, but the smoke was clearly coming from somewhere, and I headed toward the kitchen trying to hold my breath as long as I could. I found the source sitting on the stove. A cast-iron pot was on an active electric burner with smoke pumping out of it. I grabbed a nearby dish towel, pulled the pot off the burner and shut the range off, then went back outside for some fresh air. Once I’d caught my breath, I went back in and started opening windows to clear the smoke. I also searched the rest of the apartment for the resident, but she wasn’t there. With that concern finally settled and the immediate problem under control, I went back to the kitchen to see what had been cooking. Eggs. There were maybe four or five of them, or at least what was left of them. All the water had boiled away. The eggs were blackened and cracked open with dark, charred centers, and they were still smoldering a little in the bottom of the cast-iron pot. It looked like the resident had put some eggs on to boil, forgotten about them and left the apartment to run errands. Whoops.

The building dated back to 1984, with wooden cabinets directly above the range. How much longer that pot could have sat there before the situation became something much worse, I don’t know, but I was glad I didn’t have to find out. The neighbor had smelled the smoke and called me, and I’d gotten inside within a few minutes. By the time Rachel came over, everything was already under control and I was airing out the apartment. Fortunately, there wasn’t any actual damage. Once the smoke cleared, there really wasn’t anything for maintenance to repair. I updated Rachel on everything that had happened and left the resident side of the situation to her. She spoke with the woman afterward and helped her set up reminders to check things before leaving the apartment again. Rachel and I were mostly grateful that it hadn’t become something much worse, and I was grateful to the neighbor for paying enough attention to make the call. The only things that got burned were the eggs.

Eggshells

I got a work order at Brookstone for a kitchen sink that wouldn’t drain. Nothing particularly exciting about that, so I started working through the usual suspects. I pulled apart the drain underneath the sink and found it clear, then ran a 15-foot auger down toward the main without accomplishing much of anything. At that point I needed to get farther downstream. Luckily, my maintenance shop was directly underneath this particular apartment, so I had easy access to the twoinch drain line coming from the kitchen. I worked out where I thought the problem had to be and picked the easiest section of pipe to cut open. I knew I was cutting into a clogged kitchen drain. I didn’t know exactly what was waiting on the other side. As soon as I made the cut, a couple gallons of old sink water and food debris

came pouring down on me. Head to boots. There are smells that deserve elaborate descriptions. Old kitchen sink water really isn’t one of them. It smelled exactly like you’d expect several gallons of water that had been sitting behind a food clog to smell, and now most of it was on me. Once the initial downpour stopped, I started digging into the blockage and found something I hadn’t encountered before. The pipe was packed with what looked and felt like coarse grit. As I broke it apart, it came out in little flakes. Eggshells. Apparently, the resident had been routinely feeding eggshells through the garbage disposal. The disposal happily ground them into tiny pieces and sent them downstream, where they had spent what I assume was a year or more slowly accumulating inside the pipe. Eventually they packed themselves together tightly enough that my drain auger couldn’t get through them. Standing there soaked in old sink water, looking at a drain pipe packed full of eggshells, my reaction was mostly: “Huh?”. With the pipe open, I was able to use a drain bladder and water pressure to start breaking the mess loose. That’s when I discovered just how much was actually in there. The compacted shells came out in flakes and chunks, and they kept coming until I’d removed somewhere around four pounds of them. I have no idea how many eggs you have to eat before you’ve accumulated four pounds of shells inside your plumbing. I didn’t particularly want to do the math. Eventually I got the line completely clear and the sink draining normally again. Since I already had the pipe cut apart, I installed a cleanout before putting everything back together. If I ever had to come after another four pounds of breakfast, I wanted a better way in. I finished the repair, cleaned up my tools, and went home to change out of clothes that smelled like somebody else’s kitchen sink. Keith Gimmy is a Murfreesboro resident, maintenance technician, U.S. Army veteran, and barbecue and outdoor cooking enthusiast. Find You Should’ve Mentioned That: True Stories From a Life Of Fixing Things on Amazon.

 theater

Springhouse Theatre Company Presents Annie Nov. 13–22 The heartwarming classic musical Annie plays in November at Springhouse Theatre Company. This musical, written by Thomas Meehan (book), Charles Strouse (music), and Martin Charnin (lyrics), and based on the comic strip by Harold Gray, has become one of the most beloved shows in musical theatre. A winner of seven Tony awards, Annie features one of the most memorable theatrical songs ever written, the hit “Tomorrow” (you’re always a day away). The family-friendly production focuses on the charming titular orphan, played by the talented young actress Saoirse Haro, determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago. The orphanage is run by the bitter matriarch Miss Hannigan (Kristina Ramsey), who is simultaneously both cruel and hilarious. Annie makes escape attempts, sees New York City like never before, and meets Grace Farrell (Sarah Chapman) and her boss, Oliver Warbucks, the richest man in America (played by Blake West in his Springhouse Theatre debut). After the jealous, money-grabbing Rooster Hannigan (Christian Bare) and Lily St. Regis (Heidi Buyck) get involved, Annie’s life will be in danger right up until the end.

photo courtesy of Haydin Olivia Oechsle / springhouse theatre

Leapin’ Lizards!

Kristian Rarig (who helmed the Springhouse productions of The Sound of Music and The Little Mermaid) directs Annie, with Aaron Arseneault serving as assistant director. Music direction for this production is by Keanu Aiono-Netzler, and the choreography, by Springhouse artistic director Charlotte Shealy, offers entertaining fun, especially for the orphan number “Hard Knock Life.” “This cast brings so much talent and joy to every rehearsal,” Rarig says. “Their commitment to the story and to one another has made this production something special. I can’t wait for audiences to experience the laughter, hope and heart that is at the core of this production of Annie.” In addition to the unforgettable songs, Annie also features Sandy, the cutest dog in showbiz (with apologies to Toto and Lassie). Performances will be Nov. 13–22 with Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday shows at 3:30 p.m. Find tickets at springhousetheatre.com. Springhouse Theatre Company, located at 14119 Old Nashville Hwy., Smyrna, Tennessee, has served the performing arts community in Rutherford County for nearly 30 years. boropulse.com * November 2026 * 25

Food

 restaurant

The Dish Sylvan Park Restaurant 1443 NW Broad St.

A Taste of Home

Mon.–Wed.: 6:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Thurs.–Fri.: 6:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m. 615-962-8735 Meat & 3 plate: $10.50; Patty melt: $6.95; Ham and cheese omelet with biscuits and gravy: $9.75; Side veggie: $2.25; Three-piece catfish dinner: $12.95; Sausage biscuit: $2.75; Breakfast plate with country ham, two eggs and home fries: $13.95

Sylvan Park Restaurant serves up Southern meat-and-three favorites story BY BRACKEN MAYO

I

f you’re looking for the kind of independent place with a local feel—where you can get a quick lunch of catfish or meatloaf, where the sides are seasoned like somebody’s grandmother is in the kitchen, the cornbread is ready to go and the pie comes topped with a mountain of meringue—Murfreesboro’s Sylvan Park Restaurant is worth a visit. The classic meat-and-three restaurant is the sort of neighborhood spot where the locals gather for breakfast and lunch, and where the down-home Southern-style food is familiar, filling and flavorful. “Excellent catfish,” Kathy Peterson said. “Chocolate cream pie was delicious.” The dining room is one compact, welllit space, with a steady stream of people coming in to claim a table and eat during weekday breakfast and lunch hours, as well as dinner on Thursdays and Fridays. Sylvan Park doesn’t try to be overly fancy or experimental. It’s somewhere you can sit down for a straightforward plate of home cooking. The restaurant serves breakfast on weekdays from 6:30 to 11 a.m., with all the morning favorites. 26 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

photos by sarah mayo It can be an affordable way to start the day. Biscuits and gravy (for $3.95), two pancakes ($4.95), or a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit ($4.45), along with a good cup of coffee, makes a fine early meal for many who want a little something on their stomach in the morning. Or, fuel up with country ham, french toast, an omelet, home fries, fried bologna, and other substantial selections. By lunchtime, the meat-and-three offerings take the spotlight. The every-day menu includes catfish fillets, country fried steak, fried chicken, baked ham, crab cakes and meatloaf, along with a rotating selection of daily specials. Diners can choose a meat entree and three sides for $10.50. “The meatloaf and cornbread were delicious,” another pleased diner posted in a review. “Those stuck out as my favorites.” For the cheeseburger fans, Sylvan Park also cooks up some fresh, juicy burgers, as well as patty melts, fried bologna sandwiches, and hamburger steak. Choose from crispy slices of home fries or crinkle-cut fries to accompany a sandwich. The catfish fillets come out flaky inside with a crisp fried coating. There’s an

all-you-can-eat catfish dinner for $17.95, with two-piece, three-piece and a catfish sandwich options also available. Aside from the set menu, a rotation of specials change things up from day to day. On Thursdays and Fridays, for example, find turkey and dressing, along with yams. Get a little taste of Thanksgiving, all year ’round; no need to limit good food to a certain season. Sylvan Park remains open for dinner on Thursdays and Fridays; the spot closes at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. You don’t have to worry about your vegetables being under-seasoned here. The green beans and the cheesy squash casserole are incredibly tasty. The lima beans, a recent Monday special featured vegetable, were buttery and peppery. The macaroni and cheese drips with creaminess. Every day, the menu also lists turnip greens, fried corn, pinto beans, and others. There’s even cucumbers and onions, and pickled beets, if that’s your sort of thing. And that fine Southern delicacy, fried okra—better than caviar to the Tennessee country boy. And don’t leave without considering des-

sert. Sylvan Park always has various homemade pies, many containing a crazy-tall tower of meringue—accounting for roughly 85 percent of the slice’s overall height. Sylvan Park may have chocolate, coconut cream, chess and other pies. But not only pie. “My favorite thing was the banana pudding!” Dan Settle said. It’s the kind of food that has kept Southern diners in business for generations. Others with healthy appetites mention that they would like slightly larger portions, though most concur that prices are reasonable for what you get. Overall, the appeal is easy to understand. Sylvan Park offers straightforward, fairly priced, quick comfort food in a community setting. Stop in for some catfish, a burger and fries, a cup of coffee or a helping of vegetables that taste like they were cooked with care. To all the Southern boys and girls who ever made themselves a turnip greens-oncornbread sandwich, or who observed a tradition of sitting at grandmother’s table eating garden vegetables, dressing and casseroles, this is your spot.

The Heart and Soul Behind

Sylvan Park Restaurant

The Life of Eleanor Clay and the Love That Built a Tradition

T

his is the story of our mother, Eleanor Clay, known lovingly by her grandchildren as “Weez.” We are honored to share how her hard work, resilience and dedication to the restaurant industry she loves have shaped her into the successful entrepreneur she is today. Our mom turned 80 years old on May 4, 2025, and we celebrated her in a big way. More than 150 family members, friends, customers and community members came together to honor her, sharing memories and stories of how she has touched their lives, some for a lifetime. Since opening Sylvan Park Restaurant in Murfreesboro in July 2015, her kindness, friendship and generosity have left a lasting impact on the community. Customers can still see Eleanor having dinner at the restaurant every Thursday and Friday evening, and at other times throughout each week. Growing up, our mom had three brothers and one sister; today, only she and one brother remain. At a young age, she was forced to quit school in the 8th grade to help care for her siblings. When she was just 13, she and her siblings were removed from their mother’s care due to instability and other circumstances. She has often shared that she will never forget that day; the siblings huddled together in a bedroom, arms wrapped around one another, crying. Despite a childhood that could have easily led her down a different path, our mom chose strength and perseverance, determined to rise above her circumstances and build a better life for herself and her family. She married young and became the mother of four children. In 2002, she endured an unimaginable loss when our sister passed away after months of illness. Through every hardship, she continued to push forward with courage and grace. Our mom spent many years working in restaurants and managing apartments, often struggling to make ends meet while raising her children. After working for others for so long, she decided to take a leap of faith and open her own restaurant in 1981. Over the years, she owned multiple restaurants, at one point operating a chain of five across Nashville and surrounding areas. Of them all, Sylvan Park has truly stood the test of time.

In 2001, after many years of friendship, she acquired Sylvan Park Restaurant from its original owner, Lynn Chandler. Today, Sylvan Park Restaurant in Murfreesboro, located at 1443 NW Broad St., is known for its classic meats and vegetables as well as delicious burgers, crispy fried catfish, and some of the best desserts you’ll ever taste. It is truly a family-owned restaurant where everyone pitches in—even customers at times. Our older sister, Lisa, has led the way for many years, managing daily operations and preparing the incredible homemade desserts each morning. Lisa’s son, Cody, currently serves as head cook, keeping the kitchen running strong. Over the years, all of us have been involved, along with several grandchildren, including Cory, Ryan, Brandon and Chase. During the busy holiday seasons, the entire family jumps in to help with catering and preparing countless desserts. To our longtime employees who play a vital role in Sylvan Park’s success, you are and always will be a part of our family. Since opening in Murfreesboro, we’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people, loyal customers as well as new faces who quickly became friends. This restaurant has given us so much, but above all, we are deeply grateful for our customers. From the bottom of our hearts: THANK YOU! Giving has always been at the heart of who our mom is. She built a successful life for herself and our family, and along the way, she taught us the importance of helping others. Despite her own difficult upbringing, she made sure to raise us with values of kindness, respect and compassion. She has helped countless people over the years, many anonymously, never expecting anything in return. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren have all learned that if you have the ability to help someone, you should always do so. Our mother is loved and respected by so many, and we wanted everyone to know just how special she truly is. She may be just another mom to some, but to those who love her, she is extraordinary.

We love you, Mom. With All Our Hearts, Lisa (Jim), Angie (Cuda) and Jim (Kim)

King 7, Buc-ee’s, Hummus and Garlic, Island & States, Little Hats Italian Market, Ivy on Spring, Habitat Restore by Delores Elliott King 7 Korean Chicken has opened at 2033 Lascassas Pk. The new restaurant offers a variety of Korean chicken options including drumsticks, nuggets, wings, gizzards and skewers in an assortment of flavors. The restaurant also serves seaweed noodle rolls, kimchi, dumplings, cheesy street corn, Korean corndogs, and more. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Monday (closed on Tuesdays). Visit king7kchicken.com for more information and menu options. Hummus and Garlic at 1614 N. Memorial Blvd. now provides delicious and healthy protein and veggie bowls, shawarmas, wings, loaded fries, lemon velvet cakes and other desserts. Restaurant hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed on Sundays. It shares a building with the Starbucks across from Climb Murfreesboro. Visit hummusgarlic.com for more information on the growing chain, with locations primarily in Michigan and Ohio. Island & States – Filipino Restaurant & Bar will open a new restaurant concept in downtown Murfreesboro on Nov. 5. The restaurant will be located at 114 E. College St., the building that was the longtime home of Milano. The space will provide a unique boardroom and bistro experience, which features private meeting areas, lounge seating, a dining area, cafe, and a bar, according to business operators. “Our menu celebrates the best of Filipino 28 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

and American cuisine, offering a blend of traditional Filipino flavors, familiar American favorites, specialty coffee, and handcrafted cocktails inspired by both cultures,” said Mimi Kauffman. “We aim to create a welcoming yet elevated atmosphere where people can gather for business meetings, casual dining, coffee, cocktails, or a night out.” Selections at Island & States include seared beef, pineapple chicken fried rice, a variety of lumpias, pork BBQ skewers, pastas, salmon, coconut latte, apple-smoked baby back ribs, and grilled chicken marinated with calamansi, cane vinegar, garlic, ginger and lemongrass, basted with annattogarlic butter, served with steamed rice and cucumber and tomato salad. Hours will be Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. After much anticipation, Big Bad Breakfast opened the doors to its new location at 113 E. Main St., the former home of the historic City Cafe, on Oct. 27 Big Bad Breakfast is a rapidly expanding Southern-inspired breakfast and lunch concept founded in 2008 in Oxford, Mississippi. The menu boasts biscuits, eggs, coffee, flapjacks, fried chicken, bloody marys, mimosas, burgers and more, for breakfast and lunch. Murfreesboro will be home to BBB’s seventh Tennessee location, with other restaurants in Nashville, Franklin, Memphis, Chattanooga, Spring Hill and South Pittsburg. Regular hours will be 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, and 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekends. Learn more at bigbadbreakfast.com. A new downtown coffee shop, Ivy on Spring, located at 203 E. State St., opened to the public on Oct. 27. The coffee shop serves as an extension to further support the missions of the Murfreesboro-based nonprofit Greenhouse Ministries. The shop features a vendor space with products from local small businesses. Plans for the space also include coffee shopstyle live music and a meeting space.

Vui’s Kitchen’s has closed its Murfreesboro location at 4310 Veterans Pkwy. after only seven months of operation. Its Franklin and Nashville locations remain open as of now. The former Vui’s space, located next to Waldo’s Chicken & Beer, will soon house Little Hats Italian Market, which offers a variety of delicious fine meats, cheeses, contemporary Italian products, prepared sandwiches, fresh, handmade pasta cooked in-house, salads, soups, cheesecakes, cannoli, and Zeppole—a dish containing five Italian fried dough balls covered in a salted caramel drizzle and powdered sugar. Little Hats also operates market locations in Cool Springs, Hillsboro Village, Gallatin and Germantown. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. To learn more, visit littlehatsmarket.com. Ivy on Spring is currently offering a deal—a year’s worth of prepaid coffee for $75, which provides unlimited drip coffee for a year, as well as one specialty coffee every week for the year. Hours will be Tuesday–Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, find Ivy on Spring on Facebook or Instagram, or visit greenhousemin.org. Murfreesboro’s Buc-ee’s location, 3355 Elam Rd., off I-24 Exit 84, will open this month—slated for Monday, Nov. 16, at 6 a.m. Those interested in attending the grand opening, according to the Buc-ee’s website, can expect lines to form at the entrance by midnight on Sunday. It also suggests that those interested in filling their tanks should expect 20-minute-plus wait times, as that is the average time frame for opening day at most locations. Known for its enormous convenience stores, ultra-clean restrooms, extensive selection of snacks and prepared foods, and shelves packed with branded merchandise, Buc-ee’s has developed a loyal following among road-trippers. Its signature barbecue sandwiches, Beaver Nuggets, homemade fudge and wide variety of souvenirs have made the chain something of a tourist destination in its own right, rather than simply

a place to stop for gas. For many travelers, a visit to Buc-ee’s is part of the road trip itself. Visit buceeslocations.us/buc-ees-murfreesboro, for more information. Kingdom Collective has opened at 27 Public Square in downtown Murfreesboro. The new Christian bookstore and gift shop shares a space with Veda’s Flowers and Gifts, which will remain open for business in a portion of the space. Kingdom Collective offers Christian books, faith-themed apparel, decor, toys and more. Hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed on Sundays). Visit instagram.com/kingdomcollectiveboro for more information. UFC Gym has announced that it will open on Nov. 14 at 205 N. Thompson Ln. with hours from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The gym will offer Mixed Martial Arts and Jiu Jitsuinspired training courses, specialized classes, and training for all ages and skill levels. The gym also offers turf access, Olympic lifting platforms, locker rooms, showers and saunas, strength training equipment, personal training classes, group fitness classes, a gym retail store, cardio equipment, a cycle continued on page 30

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Continued from page 28 room, bag rack and more. UFC Gym will also have a youth program, kids’ club and kids’ gym for young athletes. For more information, visit ufcgym.com/ locations/murfreesboro. Habitat for Humanity ReStore plans to move to the former Dirt Cheap building in Mercury Plaza, and is expected to open early 2027. The space will provide almost triple the size of its current building, and doubles the square footage of the retail showroom floor. This will allow the nonprofit to showcase a larger inventory of home goods, furniture, appliances and building supplies. Administrative offices for the Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity will remain in the current building on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, just behind the new location. The current store location will remain open to shoppers until the new location is prepared to open. A sign has gone up for LA Fortaleza, a new Hispanic market coming to South Rutherford Boulevard in the strip also housing Nacho’s Mexican Restaurant and Little Caesar’s Pizza. Pathway Lending will administer the Neighborhood Growth Grants Program in Murfreesboro; funded by Wells Fargo to support local businesses in select communities welcoming new Wells Fargo branches, this program will award $25,000 grants to small businesses based in Murfreesboro. Eligible businesses must be located within Murfreesboro, be a for-profit business with a storefront or commercial space, and generating between $100,000 and $2 million in annual revenue. Funding may be used for general operating needs, asset acquisition, or building improvements. Pathway Lending will award and administer $25,000 grants to 15 to 20 eligible businesses in the area. The application period will close on Nov. 17. To learn more about the program application and selection process, visit pathwaylending.org/ neighborhood-growth-grants. Candles By A Dad, owned and operated by local husband-and-wife team Keaton and Ashley Davis, offers nontoxic, 100% soy wax candles with nostalgic fragrances like Tennessee Sunset, Tennessee Leaves, and Tennessee Christmas. Candles can be found at booth B23 at the Collective Boutiques, and on shelves at Elder’s Ace Hardware locations across the state, as well as wholesaler locations including Re-Invintage Home, The Country Gourmet, as well as online. “Over the past two years, our family has 30 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

concept featuring 12-foot exposed mass timber ceilings in the main living areas and floor-to-ceiling glass wall systems opening to private covered terraces for seamless indoor-outdoor living. Atrium offers 11 luxury floor plans with one-, two-, and three-bedroom options ranging from 838 to 2,796 square feet. For more information, visit atriumatfountains.com. Waste Management continues to progress on plans for a new hauling facility on Rutledge Way. A proposal includes a 20,000-square-foot garbage collection service building located on 12 acres of property zoned heavy industrial along Rutledge Way, just north of Interstate 24. It will also provide a structure for compressed natural gas equipment and utilities, as well as a onestory office and maintenance shop. Golf Boro, a Murfreesboro-based portable mini golf company, brings a unique entertainment experience to weddings, corporate events, schools, private parties and community celebrations. Founded by Brian and Michelle Rowland, Golf Boro offers delivery, setup and cleanup of portable mini golf courses at event locations. Golf Boro offers flexible course options ranging from 3-hole, 6-hole and 9-hole packages to a full 18-hole experience for larger events. Courses can be set up at wedding venues, businesses, schools, homes, and other event spaces. Customers can also add LED lighting for evening events, on-site attendants and personalized elements for weddings and special occasions. “We started Golf Boro with the idea of creating something fun and different that could be brought directly to your event,” said Brian Rowland, co-owner of Golf Boro. The company also offers wedding-themed holes and personalized course elements that allow couples to incorporate mini golf into rehearsal dinners, cocktail hours and wedding receptions. For more information, visit golfboro.com. walked through some incredibly difficult circumstances, including pregnancy loss, a complicated pregnancy, an 87-day hospital stay, and our daughter’s 46-day NICU journey. Those experiences inspired us to create the Holding Hope Project, an initiative dedicated to supporting families experiencing pregnancy complications, pregnancy and infant loss, and NICU stays,” according to information from the candle-making couple. “Through our annual Wave of Light candle collection, we honor babies gone too soon and donate a portion of the profits to support families walking through similar experiences.” To learn more, visit candlesbyadad.com. The Fountains at Gateway will bring a $92 million mass timber structure for the Atrium at Fountains mixed-use development. It will add 50 luxury condominiums, 57,000-square-feet of Class A office space, retail, dining, health and wellness services, and a multipurpose theater. According to Scott Graby, Fountains at Gateway developer and president of Hearthstone Properties, the building will be Tennessee’s largest mass timber structure,

displaying white spruce columns, beams, and exposed ceiling panels. Scheduled for completion in 2028, the five-story, 212,000-square-foot building will have three floors of luxury residences, one-and-a-half floors of corporate office space, and ground-floor retail and restaurant spaces. Access-controlled underground parking and private storage units will be available to condominium owners, while an upper parking deck will accommodate office and retail tenants and guests. A 175-seat theater on the ground floor will feature tiered seating and a 30-foot video wall to host corporate meetings, civic events, small concerts, plays, movie screenings and banquets. Plans also include an on-site holistic health collective offering services from concierge physicians, nutritionists, chiropractors, massage therapists, and integrative health practitioners. The development will feature a glassroofed atrium at the center with a 30-foot waterfall, palm trees, winding pathways, a gazebo and lush landscaping. Surrounding the atrium will be 52 European-style luxury condominium residences, with an open

Ascension Saint Thomas and Lifepoint Rehabilitation celebrated the groundbreaking of the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Rehabilitation Hospital, a new inpatient facility that will expand access to specialized rehabilitation services for patients throughout Rutherford County and the surrounding region. The two-story building will offer approximately 62,700-square-feet of hospital space on a four-acre site less than 600 yards from Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford hospital. The 40-bed facility will feature all private patient rooms and is designed to accommodate a future expansion of 10 additional beds. Lifepoint Rehabilitation will serve as the hospital’s operator through its joint venture partnership with Ascension Saint Thomas. Plans include a brain injury unit, as well as a physical therapy gym, covered outdoor therapy courtyard, pharmacy, dining areas and therapy work rooms. Construction is expected to be completed in late 2027. Twinning Station in La Vergne continues work on its 77-acre major mixeduse development along Waldron Road. The project will bring new residential and office space, retail space, restaurants, and entertainment options, and is expected to bring hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars in tax revenue. City leaders said the Twinning Station project plans to serve people living in the 11,000 homes built within a threemile radius of the site, which spans households in Rutherford, Davidson and Williamson counties. La Vergne has approved and funded widening Waldron Road from I-24 to the city line to accommodate increased traffic, as well as adding a new road at Blair Road and Waldron Road, with land set aside for a future fire station and EMS bay.

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About a year after Alysha Clark’s father died, she was sitting on the couch with her youngest niece when an ordinary conversation took an unexpected turn. Her niece asked, “Auntie, Paw Paw’s in the sky, right?” “It shook me to my core because I realized she was still trying to process where her grandpa was and what it meant that he wasn’t here anymore,” Clark said. That moment became the inspiration for Paw Paw’s Playlist, a children’s book created to help young readers understand grief through the memories that keep them connected to someone after death. Clark cowrote Paw Paw’s Playlist with Kiara Marsh, and Beth Snider illustrated the book. For many in Murfreesboro, Clark is best known as one of the most accomplished players in Middle Tennessee State University women’s basketball history. She led the entire nation in scoring during both of her seasons at MTSU, earned consecutive Sun Belt Player of the Year honors and was inducted into the Blue Raider Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. She later built a lengthy professional career and won three WNBA championships—two with the Seattle Storm and another with the Las Vegas Aces. She now plays for the Dallas Wings. Her latest project, however, offers a more personal look at Clark and the family behind her success. Paw Paw’s Playlist follows a child named Bubb as he grieves his grandfather. With help from Grandma Jan, he begins realizing that Paw Paw remains present through the foods he enjoyed, the sounds he loved, and the activities they shared. Clark said many of those details were inspired by the relationship between her father, Duane Clark, and her nephew. “They were best friends in so many ways,” she said. “My nephew loved spending time with my dad and making him proud, even from a very young age.” Some of the book’s memories reflect activities they shared, including attending her nephew’s football games. Clark also remembered her father preparing Easter baskets, “playing” Santa and finding other

photo courtesy of KEVIN HERNANDEZ / MTSU Athletics

Sports

Paw Paw’s Playlist Former MTSU basketball star Alysha Clark turns the page to new chapter with children’s book release story by Ashlen Jones ways to show the children he was thinking about them. “That really was his superpower,” Clark said. “He had a gift for making people feel special and making sure they knew they mattered.” Clark described her father as a boisterous presence who loved laughter, jokes and music. She said he was passionate about caring for people and could make almost anyone feel at home. Music was also a constant presence in their family, making a playlist a fitting way to explain how memories endure. “The idea of a playlist came from wanting to think about the memories we have of our loved ones as the songs that remain on their life’s playlist,” Clark said. “We wanted to show that when you lose someone, the love doesn’t disappear. The memories are still there, almost like songs you can return to again and again.” Through her nieces and nephew, Clark also learned that children may express grief differently from adults without feel-

ing the loss any less deeply. “There’s no one right or wrong way to grieve,” she said. “Kids showed me that in the middle of sadness, there can still be joy.” Adults often want to protect children from difficult emotions, Clark said, but being honest can help them understand what they are feeling. Sadness and joy can exist together as families miss someone while continuing to celebrate the memories they shared. “It’s okay to miss someone deeply and, in that same breath, be joyful and celebrate the memories you created with them,” she said. Clark’s decision to write for children also reflects years of work supporting young people and literacy. Her community involvement with Seattle Children’s Hospital began in 2013. She later launched an annual toy and book drive after seeing how moments of play and reading could offer comfort to children facing serious illnesses. “But then you see them being kids for a moment, laughing, playing or getting excited about a book or a toy, and not thinking about the battle they’re facing,” Clark said. “That stayed with me.” The experience showed her how books

can give children the freedom to dream and introduce them to lives, places and perspectives beyond their own circumstances. Although Paw Paw’s Playlist marks a new chapter for Clark, its story remains closely tied to the basketball career Murfreesboro residents remember. In just two seasons at MTSU, Clark scored 1,756 points. She ranks first on the Lady Raiders’ career lists for scoring average and field-goal percentage. “The games were always packed, and the community’s support was incredible,” Clark said. “You could go out around town after a game and have people congratulating you, telling you how excited they were to watch us play.” Her father was among the program’s most recognizable supporters. He attended every home game during Clark’s MTSU career. “The people at the Murphy Center knew who he was,” Clark said. “You could hear my dad from anywhere in the stands.” After her father’s death, Clark said MTSU’s basketball program and athletic department dedicated the team’s film room to him. “That meant so much to our family because it showed how much he meant to the people around us, not just to me,” she said. The resilience Clark developed through basketball helped her move through the unfamiliar process of becoming an author. The sport taught her discipline and how to respond to disappointment, pain and failure, she said, although she recognizes that losing a game or recovering from an injury cannot be compared directly with losing a loved one. “There isn’t a playbook for losing someone you love,” Clark said. “For me, this book became a way of turning pain into purpose.” One of the most meaningful reactions came after the family received a physical copy. Clark’s nephew keeps photographs and other important belongings tucked around the mirror above his dresser, much as his grandfather once did. After receiving the book, he placed it there beside an instrument. “Seeing him do that, and seeing how proud he was, really touched me,” Clark said. “It was one of those moments where I realized the book is about so much more than telling a story.” Paw Paw’s Playlist is available in paperback and hardcover through Amazon; the hardcover is also available through IngramSpark. boropulse.com * November 2026 * 33

The

Minute

with bill wilson

Bill Wilson a.k.a. Mr. Murfreesboro with Boots and Bunny Donnelly

Boots Donnelly The Man Behind the Legend, New Book Recounts Stories of Celebrated MTSU Football Coach Hey, everyone! I hope this fall weather finds you well and all your football teams

are winning. Speaking of football, I recently had the privilege of sitting down with former Middle Tennessee State University head football coach and athletic director Boots Donnelly and his daughter Bunny to discuss her new book, Boots Donnelly: How He’ll Be Remembered. I was a student at MTSU during Coach Donnelly’s tenure and that 1985 season when the Blue Raiders were ranked No. 1 in the nation in NCAA Division I-AA football. It was such an exciting time to be in Murfreesboro! Reading Bunny’s book gave me a new perspective on a man I thought I already knew a lot about. Much more than a book about football or coaching, this is a story about life, perseverance, family, and what shaped a man who helped shape our community. I highly recommend it. Here, I have recruited Meredith Thomas, who grew up in an athletic household herself, to help tell this story. By Meredith Thomas: Legends have a way of looming larger than life when we’re little. They’re the big, strong superheroes we gaze at in awe, placing them upon the golden pedestal where they may reside indefinitely. We admire them before we’re old enough to understand what the word admiration means. We just know they’re special. There’s something that makes people stand a little taller around them. Now imagine that the legend you’ve held in such high regard is actually quite well known personally to you. A parent. Your dad, no less. For Bunny Donnelly, that larger34 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

than-life figure is her father, Boots. To Middle Tennessee, he is a revered football coach, a former athletic director, and a familiar name woven into the fabric of this community and beyond. To Bunny, he’s also the man whose life began long before the victories and public recognition. He’s the father whose story she wanted to understand, preserve, and ultimately share with all of us. In Boots Donnelly, readers are taken beyond the familiar headlines and football memories to explore the man behind the legend. From humble beginnings and the hardships of his youth to a career that

helped define an era of MTSU football, Bunny traces all the experiences that shaped her father’s remarkable life. Bringing together stories of family, friends, and football, she reveals the many roles and responsibilities Coach carried throughout his life while always returning to the importance of family. A person is so much more than a profession or a list of accolades. Sometimes the most important chapters of a person’s life are the ones the public never gets to see. The challenges Boots endured in his youth offer us a glimpse into the experiences that helped shape the man, coach and father that he became. It is these moments that remind us that a person’s public accomplishments only tell part of a story. We don’t always get to know or truly understand our heroes, even when we live under the same roof with them. Reading Bunny’s book struck a particularly personal chord with me, as I also have a father who was a well-known local athlete and coach, someone who has earned tremendous respect throughout his community. My dad also has stories people want to hear that have become part of his legacy. I have recently made a more deliberate effort to record my own dad telling those stories in his own voice. Sometimes I will inquire about a specific event or familiar tale we’ve all heard a dozen times but could never recite with the same zeal. Others, I just record parts of conversations in the hopes of getting the facts straight while still being blessed with the gift of having him here to set the record straight himself. The more I inquire, the more I realize how much there is to learn about the man behind the stories. What shaped him? What has he overcome? What did he quietly carry while the rest of us saw the coach, the athlete, the father, or the man everyone seemed to know? I think that is what makes Bunny’s book such a gift. What started as a pseudo note-

taking endeavor intended for the eyes of the inner family circle only, became a much larger undertaking: documenting a life in all its complexity, including the hardships that preceded a man’s success and the experiences that shaped his character. In doing so, she created something much more meaningful not only for herself and her family, but for everyone who has known and admired Coach Donnelly over the years. We don’t often spend enough time celebrating our local legends for all that they’ve accomplished. Oh sure, we can fill stadiums, share photos, spread tall tales, and recount their greatest public or professional moments. But maybe the most important ways we can honor them is to take the time to sit down and ask questions and actually listen while they are still around to answer. At the end of the day, what could be more important, valuable or life-affirming than the gift of understanding? To understand is to make room for empathy and see someone way beyond accolades and public persona, recognizing the experiences that have made them who they are. I believe these legacies deserve more than the stories we tell after they’re gone. We have the opportunity to hear those stories directly from them, and ask the questions we might have never thought to ask before. For me and Bill, preserving our family’s stories has always been more than an effort to simply get the details right. It has served as a way for us to hold on to something precious and rare while we still can. And the most important lesson of all is this: we shouldn’t wait until it’s way too late to begin. Find Boots Donnelly: How He’ll Be Remembered on Amazon Call Mr. Murfreesboro, a.k.a. Bill Wilson, for all of your local real estate needs at 615-406-5872.

Opinion

money matters BY SEAN MORAN

photo courtesy of joslyn pickens / pexels

Retirement Savings Plan From 401(k)s to Super Catch-up Contributions

Life is busy and when we aren’t paying attention, things creep up and we go from time being on our side to missed opportunities. One area where this can be very costly is retirement planning. The results could range from inconvenient to catastrophic depending on how long you ignore things. Saving for retirement is more than just putting aside a percentage of your income, it’s being intentional and reviewing your plan as well. In this article we will talk about some of the things you can be doing, and pitfalls to avoid when planning for retirement.

Plans and Opportunities When it comes to retirement, there are many plans out there, ranging from a work plan to a business-owner plan to an IRA and everything in between. It would be easier if the contribution levels to each of these plans were the same, but they are not. If you work for a company that provides a 401(k) plan, you can likely put away $24,500. If you are age 50 or over, you can put in an additional catch-up contribution and if you are age 60-63, your catch up contribution is $11,250 instead of $8,000. Does that sound confusing? Well, if your employer doesn’t provide a plan, you may still

fund an IRA or Roth, but your maximum is $7,500 per year and the catch-up and super catch-up amounts allowed under these plans are much less than what the company plans offer. Additionally, you can only deduct IRA contributions if you make under a certain amount, and you may not qualify to contribute to a Roth IRA. These rules make it difficult to know if you are doing the right thing and if you are saving enough.

Investment Choices Depending on what plan you have for retirement, you may have different investment choices available to you. Your 401(k) plan might offer 10–12 different funds that you can pick from. Many people don’t know what to pick and end up in the default target date. While this may be a suitable choice for many, it may not take into consideration your growth and risk profiles. Are the investment choices expensive, and does your employer pay the fees or does it come from your investment returns? These are areas that people generally aren’t familiar with and sometimes need the help of an advisor to determine.

Maxing Out Contributions Many tell me that they are maxing out their 401(k) contributions, but that concept is misunder-

stood. If your company matches your contributions up to 6% of your salary, you may think that putting in 6% is maxing out your contributions, but it may be the minimum you want to contribute. If you make $100,000 and you are contributing 6%, you are putting away $6,000 and perhaps your employer is contributing another $3,000 to $6,000 on your behalf. You may be able to contribute 24.5% or even more depending on your age. If you contribute 6% you may not be putting away enough to support your future lifestyle. If one spouse stays at home or doesn’t have a work plan, are you putting money into an IRA for them? This could be another opportunity to save more and even get a tax deduction.

Potential Pitfalls There are many IRS rules that govern how much you can put away and what accounts you can put the money into. If you aren’t careful, it is possible to go over allowable limits or contribute to a Roth IRA when it isn’t allowable. I’ve even seen clients at larger firms put after-tax dollars above the IRS tax deductible limits into their account and leave them there, missing a Roth conversion opportunity that could save them taxes in the future. Consider your tax picture to determine which accounts make the most sense to fund currently to pay the least amount of tax over your lifetime. Understanding your options is an important step toward preparing for the future. Knowing which accounts to use, how much to contribute, and how to coordinate your savings can make a meaningful difference. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not tax, legal or financial advice. Everyone’s situation is different, so consult a financial advisor. If you would like to connect with me, email smoran@ redbarnfinancial.com or call 615-619-6919. Learn more at redbarnfinancial.com.

boropulse.com * November 2026 * 35

Opinion  health photo courtesy of michael wright / Pexels

More Than a Walk

A Season of Simple Joy Do Something for Others, Do Something for Yourself by Tammy MoguL Don’t you just love this time of year? The air gets crisp, the leaves put on a gorgeous show, and we start thinking about Thanksgiving and the holidays ahead. Of course, November also seems to be the month when our to-do lists multiply. There are meals to plan, houses to decorate, gifts to buy, and what feels like a million things to do! But what if we approached the holidays a little differently this year? Through my work with TM Wellness Concierge, I remind clients

that wellness is about creating a life that feels truly good to live, not following a set of rules or striving for perfection. It’s about finding sustainable, livable ways to care for ourselves, nurturing the relationships that matter, and making small, intentional choices that support our well-being over time. Our wellness journey should fit into our lives, not take them over. This is a perfect season to give some focus to personal joy over perfection and performance.

One of my favorite ways to clear my head and work out is to get outside and walk. Recently, while walking my dog at Stones River National Battlefield, I struck up a conversation with another walker. What began as a casual hello turned into a meaningful new connection. We walked together for an hour, chatting away! I went out for exercise and came home reminded that wellness isn’t just about moving our bodies. It’s also about connection, friendship, and being open to unexpected moments. We’re fortunate to have so many wonderful places to enjoy the outdoors right here in Murfreesboro. I love Stones River National Battlefield, and the Stones River Greenway and Barfield Crescent Park offer even more opportunities to get outside and explore. So invite a friend for a walk, explore a new location, or get away on your own. You never know what surprises the day might hold.

More Than the Meal Thanksgiving traditions are part of what make this season special. Maybe your family debates who makes the best stuffing, competes over the wishbone, or heads outside for a little backyard football. Sometimes enthusiasm and athletic ability don’t quite match—but that’s half the fun! I also love the idea of “Friendsgiving.” Gathering friends around a simple meal can be just as meaningful as a traditional holiday celebration. Here’s my tip: Do the things you really love to do and ask someone to bring a side dish, a dessert or even a centerpiece. People love to help, and you know you’ll enjoy the bit of a break from doing it all this year. Don’t spend hours making everything perfect. Spend time with the people. The people

who come to your home want to spend time with you. The goal is connection, not perfection. One event to put on your calendar that invites fitness and family and friend time is BoroDash on Thanksgiving morning. My family and I will be getting our morning exercise in at the BoroDash, and we hope to see you there. It’s a fun way to get moving, enjoy our community, and work up an appetite before the Thanksgiving feast. I can’t wait!

Small Habits, Lasting Benefits We don’t need an elaborate wellness plan to feel our best. A few consistent habits can make a real difference. Keep moving.

Walking and biking are wonderful, and strength training helps build muscle, support strong bones, and improve balance. Even a few short sessions each week can make a difference at every age and fitness level. Stay hydrated.

Keep water nearby, especially when cooler weather makes it easy to forget to drink enough. Enjoy your food.

I’m certainly not going to tell you to skip the mashed potatoes or pumpkin pie. Savor your favorite holiday foods without guilt and aim for balance overall. Protect your sleep.

Give yourself permission to leave a few things unfinished instead of staying up late trying to do it all. When it’s time to get in bed, remember to leave that blue light (your phone), out of your sanctuary. Savor your sleep! Make room for joy.

Spend time with people you love, get outdoors, and leave a little breathing room in your calendar. Wellness is about the small choices we can sustain—not being perfect for a week and giving up the next. You’ve got this!

Give Back, get Connected November is also a wonderful time to think about people in

36 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

our community who could use a little help. Consider participating in The Salvation Army Angel Tree, supporting a local food drive, exploring volunteer opportunities or checking in on a neighbor who might appreciate some company. Giving back doesn’t have to involve a huge commitment. A thoughtful donation, an hour of your time, or an invitation to share a meal can make a difference. These small acts can also strengthen our own sense of connection and purpose. And remember, the holidays can feel different for everyone. If you’re missing someone, navigating a change, or feeling lonely, give yourself permission to acknowledge those feelings. Reach out to someone you trust or create a new tradition that fits your life today. We don’t have to navigate every season of life on our own. This month, I invite you to choose three simple things: One thing for yourself: Take a walk, enjoy a quiet cup of tea, or make time for something you love. One thing for someone else: Call a friend, check on a neighbor, or volunteer. One thing to appreciate: Notice a small moment of joy each day. Pausing and simply noticing can feel so good! As November unfolds, I hope you’ll make time for the people you love, the community around you, and the everyday moments that make your life meaningful. Here’s to a season filled with gratitude and simple joy. Tammy Mogul is a Certified Health & Life Coach and founder of TM Wellness Concierge. She provides customized wellness and life coaching, helping individuals create a personalized roadmap to better health, greater balance, and a more fulfilling life. Learn more at tmwellnessconcierge.com.

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When to Hold On, When to Let Go

BY JENNIFER DURAND

I was looking at my tomato bush recently, when something caught my attention. A cluster of tomatoes hung together, each at a different stage of ripening. Some seemed ready to release from the vine. Others were still green, needing more time. One in particular was so heavy, it seemed like the weight of it was a burden to carry. And there, holding them all, was one thin vine. Even deeper is the root that supports the vine. You can’t see it, but it’s there. Constant, steady, and foundational, all through the process. I considered the weight the vine was carrying. All those tomatoes, each developing at its own pace, relying on that delicate stem for support and nourishment. I could almost anticipate their taste: juicy, flavorful tomatoes, picked at the right moment. But that moment hadn’t arrived for all of them. Some were ready. Some were not. Even with the apparent heaviness (or burden) the ripe tomato appeared to be experiencing, it still hung there being held back when it looked like it was ready to go. This small scene reminded me of life. How we grow alongside others yet arrive at different stages of readiness. And how often we mistake being unfinished for being behind. The tomatoes weren’t competing. Each was following its own process, supported by the same vine. Life asks us to grow without rushing, to remember what sustains us, and trust that not everything will be ready at once, or when we think it should be.

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We live in a world that emphasizes being further along. We measure success by milestones, compare our progress with others, and feel an urgency to become more, do more, or figure everything out. When that doesn’t happen as quickly as we’d like, we may wonder if we’re falling behind. But what if we are simply in a season of becoming? Growth isn’t always visible. It can mean responding rather than reacting, recognizing an old pattern, finding the courage to begin again, or letting go of what no longer fits. Sometimes we make bold changes; other times, meaningful work happens quietly within us as we reconsider what matters and deepen our understanding. A tomato cannot be hurried into sweetness. It needs time, nourishment, and the right conditions. We, too, need time to develop wisdom through experience, confidence through practice, and peace through learning what to release and what to accept. Sometimes, the experiences we wish we could bypass become nourishment for our next chapter.

The Strength of the Vine

That thin vine held the entire cluster, supporting tomatoes at different stages. It didn’t demand that they ripen together. It simply continued providing support 38 * November 2026 * boropulse.com

while the process unfolded. Perhaps we, too, need our own version of the vine. It might be someone who believes in us, a meaningful conversation, a spiritual practice, or a place to pause and remember who we are beneath our responsibilities. We may be supporting a family, building a business, or caring for someone we love, wondering how we can keep holding so much. Strength isn’t carrying everything alone; it’s recognizing what nourishes us and allowing others to support us. We were never meant to give endlessly without receiving. You might say sometimes we are the vine and sometimes we are the tomato.

Growing Alongside One Another

As I looked at those tomatoes, I thought about how easily we become impatient with the growth of others. We want someone we love to learn a lesson, make a decision, or be ready for something we believe would be good for them. Sometimes, we mistake our readiness for theirs. But just as we cannot force a tomato to ripen, we cannot hurry another person’s understanding or transformation. We can encourage without demanding, offer wisdom without insisting it be accepted, and provide a safe place to grow. We cannot always know what is happening beneath the surface. The person who seems uncertain may be developing courage. The one who appears to be standing still may be gathering strength to begin again. There is a difference between helping someone grow and trying to hurry them along. We can be at different stages of our journeys and still belong to the same cluster of life.

Have Faith in the Unseen

Not every season is meant to produce a finished result. Some strengthen our roots, deepen our understanding, and prepare us for what comes next. Some things are ready to be released. Others need to remain connected a little longer. Wisdom lies in recognizing where we are, honoring what this season requires, and trusting that we do not have to force every outcome. Part of the joy was anticipating what those tomatoes would become, even before the harvest. Life invites us to look forward with hope while remaining present for quiet development. So, when you find yourself in a season that feels slow, uncertain, or incomplete, remember the tomatoes. Stay connected to what nourishes you. Be patient with what is still blossoming. Trust that the quiet work matters, even when you cannot yet see the outcome. Offer that same patience to the people growing alongside you. You are not required to be fully ripened in every season. You are allowed to be a work in progress. Jennifer Durand is the owner and operator of The Nurture Nook Day Spa & Gift Shoppe. Call 615896-7110 or visit nurturenook.com to learn more.

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