Images Rutherford County, TN: 2010

2010 | IMAGESRUTHERFORD.COM ®

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RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE

Video tour of historic Sam Davis Home

ELECTRIFYING THE ECONOMY Smyrna sites to manufacture Nissan electric car and battery

GOING FOR THE GREEN Businesses invest in earth-friendly initiatives

Family Matters Kid-friendly city attracts national attention

SPONSORED BY THE RUTHERFORD COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

For almost 30 years, our success has been built upon our employees’ commitment to producing brands that consumers trust and value.

We’re proud to be in Rutherford County.

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imagesrutherford.com THE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE

Celebrating 30 years!

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PICTURE PERFECT Since 1980

We’ve added even more of our prize-winning photography to the online gallery. To see these photos, click on Photo Gallery.

RELOCATION Considering a move to this community? We can help. Use our Relocation Tools to discover tips, including how to make your move green, advice about moving pets and help with booking movers.

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VIDEOS In our Interactive section, watch quick videos by our editors and photographers featuring people, places and events.

FACTS & STATS Go online to learn even more about: • Schools • Health care • Utilities

1801 Memorial Blvd.

Murfreesboro, TN 37129 (615) 278-0770

• Parks • Taxes

LOCAL FLAVOR From the simple to the sublime, the delicious offerings here are guaranteed to satisfy every appetite.

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE

www.reevessain.com

Images gives readers a taste of what makes Rutherford County tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

“Find the good – and praise it.”

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– Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder

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2010 EDITION | VOLUME 24 ®

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TENNESSEE

CO NTE NT S F E AT U R E S

RUTHERFORD COUNTY BUSINESS 28 Electrifying the Economy

8 FAMILY MATTERS Rutherford County’s child-friendly atmosphere attracts national attention.

12 GOING FOR THE GREEN Businesses invest in earth-friendly initiatives.

Smyrna sites to manufacture Nissan electric car and battery

30 Biz Briefs 32 Chamber Report 33 Economic Profile

D E PA R TM E NT S 16 RECONNECT WITH NATURE Parks and green spaces offer room to roam.

20 HEAD OF THE CLASS Promotional campaign showcases the region’s stellar education.

34 ALWAYS ON THE MOVE Innovative school programs promote physical activity and health.

4 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Rutherford County’s culture

23 Local Flavor 24 Portfolio: people, places and events that define Rutherford County

35 Sports & Recreation 36 Health & Wellness 39 Community Profile: facts, stats and important numbers to know

37 MUSIC IN THE BORO City is home to its own burgeoning music scene.

All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

ON THE COVER Photo by Jeff Adkins Gateway Island in Murfreesboro

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Quite an Honor Middle Tennessee State University – the largest undergraduate university in the state – is home to a thriving honors college program that fosters the same sense of community found at small, private colleges.

A free exchange of ideas, a welcoming attitude toward diversity, and a willingness to learn from one another help make the honors college a rich and meaningful experience. Current enrollment includes dozens of high school valedictorians and several National Merit Finalists. Honors college students can live on campus at the Honors Living and Learning Center in Lyon Hall. For more information, visit www.mtsu.edu/honors.

PHOTO COURTESY OF J. INTINTOLI, MTSU PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES

Fun Event, Serious Cause Little rubber ducks by the thousands can be found sailing down the Stones River each July. The Duck Derby is an annual fundraiser to help abused children through the Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford County.

Participants “adopt” an unsinkable yellow rubber duck for $5, and more than 8,200 of the plastic toys float down the Stones River to the finish line. Prizes are awarded to the lucky people who adopt ducks that finish in the top 10. The grand prize in 2009 included a trip to Disney World for a family of four. The 2010 event will be the 5th year for the fundraiser.

A free family fun festival precedes the race.

Visit www.duckrace.com/murfreesboro for more information.

Fun at Festivals Rutherford County is home to a host of family-friendly festivals. The most famous is Uncle Dave Macon Days, which includes national championship competitions in old-time banjo picking and more each July at Cannonsburgh Village in Murfreesboro. Other favorites include Old Timers Day in La Vergne, Depot Days in Smyrna, downtown Murfreesboro’s Main Street JazzFest, and the Friday Night Live Summer Concert Series in downtown Murfreesboro.

What’s Online e Check out the the Harvest Days and Fiber Festival at Cannonsburgh Village in our quick video. Visit imagesrutherford.com.

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Almanac

Fast Facts Q Embassy Suites Murfreesboro Hotel & Conference Center is a 10-story, $70 million facility with 40,000 square feet of meeting space that can hold up to 2,000 people for an event.

A Place Called Hope If you’re uninsured and in need of health care, you just might find it here.

The not-for-profit Primary Care & Hope Clinic in Murfreesboro provides quality, affordable health care to the uninsured in Rutherford and Cannon counties, with fees based on a sliding scale determined by income. The majority of the clinic’s patients have jobs, but they have jobs that don’t offer insurance – or they may have a condition that makes them uninsurable.

In 2008, the growing Primary Care & Hope Clinic moved into a new 23,000-squarefoot facility in the Murfreesboro Gateway district on 2.3 acres donated by the city.

Visit www.hopeclnc.org for more information.

Art Without Walls Known as a regional hub for shopping, The Avenue Murfreesboro is home to dozens of top-name retailers and restaurants in a pedestrian-friendly outdoor shopping center. It’s also a family-friendly place, featuring the Camp Avenue Children’s Park. And it’s a pretty place, too. Along with a soft play area and pedal cars, the park includes public art – five one-of-a-kind mosaic panels created by local high school art classes with guidance from local mosaic artist Leslie Roberts and The Avenue Murfreesboro. Each panel represents a different tale of Aesop’s Fables. Upper-level art classes from Siegel High School, Riverdale High School, Oakland High School, Blackman High School and Smyrna High School helped create the mosaic panels.

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Q The exact geographic center of Tennessee is in Murfreesboro on Old Lascassas Pike, a half-mile from MTSU. A stone obelisk marks the state’s center point.

Q The Sam Davis Home in Smyrna offers a glimpse of life on a Southern plantation in the mid-1800s, with guided tours of the nine-room main house, the original kitchen, smokehouse, overseer’s office and privy.

Q Murfreesboro’s Public Square offers one-of-a-kind shopping and dining on bustling Main Street.

Q The Tennessee National Guard maintains a strong and important presence in Smyrna and Murfreesboro.

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Now Showing in Our Video Gallery

Sit back and enjoy a preview of Rutherford County amenities.

Explore its landscapes, cultural offerings, food and fun.

See its downtown, neighborhoods, parks and attractions.

Experience the history, hot spots and local happenings.

Rutherford County is rated L for Livability

imagesrutherford.com

Almanac

Rutherford County At A Glance POPULATION (2008 ESTIMATE) Rutherford County: 241,355 Murfreesboro: 100,575 Smyrna: 38,073 La Vergne: 26,472 Eagleville: 491 LOCATION Rutherford County is nicknamed the “Heart of Tennessee” because it is located in the geographic center of the state, 20 miles southeast of Nashville along the I-24 corridor.

BEGINNINGS The written history of Rutherford County dates back to 1776, when the area was settled during the Revolutionary War. It was formally established as a Tennessee county in 1803.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce 501 Memorial Blvd.

Murfreesboro, TN 37133 Phone: (615) 893-6565 Fax: (615) 890-7600 www.rutherfordchamber.org

Rutherford County

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Hitting a High Note Nashville may be a short drive away, but there’s no need to leave Rutherford County to hear world-class music. The Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra provides professional classical, pops and youth-education music programming in the county and throughout Middle Tennessee. Its artists are world-class performers who have been contracted from top artist agencies in the United States and abroad. Jeffrey A. Reed is music director and conductor at Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra, and his approach to programming is to combine the best in classical with the best in popular music.

Visit www.murfreesborosymphony.com for more information about performances.

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What’s Online e Take a virtual tour of Rutherford County, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imagesrutherford.com.

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Golden Opportunities U.S. News & World Report has ranked Smyrna as one of the best places in the nation to retire, and the same can be said for all of Rutherford County. With plenty of parks, golf courses, greenways, lakes and rivers, the region is a great place for relaxation. Top-notch health-care facilities, volunteer opportunities, churches, shopping, senior citizen centers and a low cost of living all add to the attraction. The abundance of assisted living facilities also gives seniors and their families plenty of options – and peace of mind.

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Family Matters

KID-FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE ATTRACTS NATIONAL ATTENTION

STORY BY JESSICA MOZO

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hen BusinessWeek magazine recently named Murfreesboro one of The Best Places to Raise Your Kids, it came as no surprise to Rutherford County families.

People around the country are just now learning about Murfreesboro’s popular music festivals, diverse economy, vibrant parks, quaint downtown, expansive sports fields and numerous shopping venues, but Murfreesboro residents have been enjoying them all along.

“Rutherford County is a great place to raise a family because there are so many wonderful athletic and cultural programs for our children,” says Mona Herring, vice president of the Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We have outstanding parks and recreation departments as well as Boys and Girls clubs. There are activities and festivals for families

PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

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ANTONY BOSHIER

Discovery Center at Murfree Spring Left: A tee ball game at Barfield Crescent Park in Murfreesboro

What’s Online e Take a virtual tour of the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring in our quick video.

Visit imagesrutherford.com.

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year-round. Uncle Dave Macon Days, JazzFest, Free Day in May, Old Timers Day and the International Folkfest are just a few festivals where families can have fun while learning about our music and heritage.”

Families with children of any age – from tots to teens – can find something fun to do in this growing community at any time of year. The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring is a huge hit with preschoolers and elementary-age children. The hands-on museum and environmental center has kid-friendly interactive exhibits, a two-story spiral slide, 20 acres of outdoor wetlands and educational programs.

“We just opened our new Tiny Town & TotSpace, which has a soft play area and a shopping area for toddlers,” says Billie Little, executive director of the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring.

“The soft play area has a woodland theme with mirrors and spinners at a toddler’s eye level and beautiful murals.

Tiny Town has a grocery store and a music shop with drums and maracas.”

Little opened the museum in 1987 with her husband and five other couples who wanted to provide entertainment for children in the community.

“My husband is a pediatrician, and we’ve raised our three children here,” she says. “We’ve found it to be a very friendly community with a lot to get involved in.”

Smyrna is another hot spot with kids of all ages, thanks to the Gregory Mills Park Splash Pad. The 3,000-square-foot outdoor water play area is the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer day.

“It’s becoming a countywide attraction,” Herring says. “Children enjoy the geysers and water jets that shoot out of the ground, while parents are happy the splash pad has zero depth.”

The county has several other parks as well, many of which are connected by the Murfreesboro Greenway System.

“Families can get back to nature as they enjoy the beauty of Stones River and learn the history of the area,” Herring says. “Playgrounds are located at several of the trailheads, including the wildly popular Kids Castle at Old Fort Park. Kids can see a waterfall, fish, canoe or just skip a rock.”

Youth can get involved with the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra and YEAH!, a year-round after-school facility where teens can play pool, eat, study or read, create art and receive tutoring from volunteers.

And Linebaugh Public Library has story times and programs for children and teens.

Other local attractions include Cannonsburgh Village, a living history museum of early Southern life; the historic 1820s Sam Davis Home; and Oaklands Historic House Museum, an elegant mansion that was once caught in the crossfire of the Civil War.

BRIAN M C CORD

Below: Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra offers programs for children and adults. Right: A Confederate soldier re-enactor gives visitors a history lesson at the Sam Davis Home in Smyrna as part of the Heritage Days festival.

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JEFF ADKINS

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Going

Green for the

BUSINESSES INVEST IN EARTH-FRIENDLY INITIATIVES

STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALD

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cross the globe, sustainability is the buzz word, promising a new generation of innovation, conservation, environmental protection and job creation.

Rutherford County is on board, and the list of area companies with eco-friendly products, programs and facilities is growing.

The Davis Groupe announced in July 2009 that it will manufacture environmentally friendly LED lighting, initially creating at least 200 Middle Tennessee jobs.

“Everything is just falling in place.

Right now, we feel that this could grow exponentially,” says Jimmy Davis, chief manager of The Davis Groupe, which is a supplier to a host of manufacturing operations and a Tier One supplier to automotive giants such as Nissan and Toyota.

Light-emitting diodes are an electronic light source that uses 60 percent less electricity, lasts longer than conventional lighting options and produces less waste. The Davis Groupe, one of three companies involved in the LED project, will build the commercial, industrial and residential products. The other partners are NCS Power, based in

Washington state, which is handling engineering and development, and Aladdin Lighting in Clarksville, Tenn., the triad’s marketing and sales arm.

Davis says Middle Tennessee is an ideal location for the initiative, considering its central location, its proven manufacturing base and its availability of skilled white-collar and blue-collar workers.

“We’re going to get the pick of the litter when we start hiring,” he says, and he expects hiring to begin no later than mid-2010.

The Davis Groupe’s illuminating initiative is just one of many green

Jimmy Davis is chief manager of The Davis Groupe, which will manufacture LED lighting in Murfreesboro.

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JEFF ADKINS

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Solar panels to produce electricity are just one of the eco-friendly features of the new Firestone complete Auto Care store in Smyrna.

centers, and the new North Rutherford County Clerk’s Office, still under construction, will be heated and cooled using geothermal technology.

The same is true for Rockvale Middle School, which opened in 2008. The new Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, scheduled to open in winter 2010, will also boast geothermal heating and cooling.

Solar panels to produce electricity are just one of the eco-friendly features of the new Firestone Complete Auto Care store in Smyrna, which is Bridgestone America’s first green commercial space. Other features include improved indoor air quality, thanks to paints, stains, carpets and sealants that release fewer airborne pollutants; ultra low-flow fixtures that reduce water consumption by 30 percent; and a reflective metal roof that lowers heating and cooling costs.

Franke USA, which makes commercial cooking equipment, recently invested $40 million in a 250,000-square-foot, LEED-certified headquarters complex in Smyrna.

The building features a 168-panel solar roof array installed by LightWave Solar Electric in Nashville and exterior charging stations for electric cars.

Clockwise from left: A solar installation at Franke USA in Smyrna; Firestone Complete Auto Care store in Smyrna is Bridgestone Americas’ first green commercial space; the facility’s best parking is reserved for hybrid vehicles

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JEFFREY S. OTTO

success stories in Rutherford County, including the county government’s own efforts at environmental protection and education. Hired by the county in 2004 as the environmental education coordinator, Mimi Davis Keisling is charged with teaching Rutherford County residents how to reduce litter, recycle and prevent water pollution.

A new environmental education outdoor classroom was completed at the end of 2009 on the grounds of the Lane Agri-Park in Murfreesboro. A hands-on learning facility, the classroom features a watershed model to demonstrate how pollutants contaminate water supplies, a solar-energy station with demonstrations, a sanitary landfill model, stations on waste reduction and composting, and a history and storytelling area.

“We anticipate programs to operate from April through October,” Keisling says. “Third- and fourth-grade students will be a primary focus for field studies in order to reinforce the environmental objectives that are taught in school.”

In addition, Keisling presents environmental programs in the county and city schools to between 5,000 and 6,000 children annually.

The county practices what it preaches, too. It operates four recycling

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PHOTOS BY JEFF ADKINS

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Reconnect With

Nature

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PARKS AND GREEN SPACES OFFER ROOM TO ROAM

STORY BY JESSICA MOZO

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njoying the outdoors is easy in Rutherford County, where green spaces, parks and scenic walking trails abound. One of the most popular places for folks to reconnect with nature is the Murfreesboro Greenway System.

“The greenway has 10 miles of asphalt trail, and it’s open to walkers, joggers, runners, rollerbladers and bikers,” says Angela Jackson, program coordinator for Greenway and Wetlands with the Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Department. “A good portion of the greenway runs along [the] Stones River, so there are paddling opportunities in canoes and kayaks as well.”

The greenway’s purpose goes beyond providing a venue for health and fitness in a natural setting. Because its trails connect parks and neighborhoods, the greenway offers a healthy, active way for people to get from one place to another.

“We encourage people to use the Greenway for transportation to work or elsewhere, and I know several people who do,” Jackson says. “There’s also a community linkage aspect.

Several annual events and activities take place along the greenway that bring people together.”

Mothers of preschoolers meet at different trailheads along the greenway every Thursday morning for Strollercoaster, where they power walk together for an hour while pushing their children in strollers. And in June, the greenway hosts

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“People love to get outside, and we have lots of great places for that.”

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the annual Small Fry Tri, a triathlon for preschoolers.

“It’s a very cute event,” Jackson says. “They run, bike and swim, but for biking and swimming, they ride their tricycles and run through sprinklers.”

Other annual events along the greenway include Boat Day in July, Butterfly Days in August, the Greenway Arts Festival in September, the Fall Harvest Hayride in October, and Barkaroo, a festival for dogs and their owners in November.

In 2009, the City of Murfreesboro expanded the greenway by adding 2.2 miles of trails through the newly developed Middle Tennessee Medical Center campus. The Gateway Trail extension included the construction of a manmade pond and island, which is the location of a new reception center that can be rented for corporate events and private parties.

Another outdoor attraction is the Murfree Spring Wetlands, a 25-acre oasis with boardwalks, an amphitheater, water features and a playground.

“It’s a unique pocket of nature in the center of town,” Jackson says. “There are wonderful opportunities to see ducks, turtles and other animals.”

Smyrna and La Vergne also boast numerous places to bask in the great outdoors. Smyrna has 10 parks, and La Vergne has five.

“Our most popular park is Lee Victory Park,” says Mike Moss, director of parks for the Town of Smyrna. “It’s 40 acres, and it has something for everyone – picnic areas, a walking trail, ball fields and playgrounds.”

Smyrna’s Gregory Mills Park is also a draw with its historic dam, walking trail and kid-friendly Splash Pad. “Sharp Springs Natural Area covers 360 acres and has a lot of trails, disc golf, picnic areas and four fishing ponds,” Moss says. “People love to get outside, and we have lots of great places for that.”

Boaters flock to public boat launches on J. Percy Priest Lake at Long Hunter State Park, and Murfreesboro’s Old Fort Park has 16 new, lighted tennis courts in the works.

The county is also home to six golf courses.

“As Rutherford County becomes more urban, it’s even more important to carve out green spaces – places for citizens to reconnect with nature and their environment,” Jackson says.

PHOTOS BY JEFF ADKINS

Left: A golfer tees off at sunset. Rutherford County is home to six golf courses. Below left: The Murfreesboro Greenway System offers 10 miles of asphalt trail connecting parks and neighborhoods. Below right: Children play tennis on the courts at Old Fort Park in Murfreesboro. A new tennis complex at the park includes 16 total courts.

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Head of the

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‘WE KNOW’ CAMPAIGN SHOWCASES REGION’S STELLAR EDUCATION

STORY BY CAROL COWAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF ADKINS

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utherford County’s first-rate schools, innovative learning programs and excellent teachers consistently earn top marks. As a bonus, the region’s top-quality public education also plays an important role in the region’s economic growth.

The We Know Education in Rutherford County, Tennessee campaign showcases these educational assets to prospective residents, companies, investors and visitors. The campaign was launched in early 2009 by Destination Rutherford – a citizenbased, public-private partnership initiated by the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce for strategic planning and economic growth.

“We have such a great educational system here, but in the past, we haven’t marketed this as well as we might have.

Now we’re promoting it through the We Know campaign,” says Holly Weber, vice president of economic development for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. Businesses considering expansion or relocation look at education as one of the most important influencing factors, and Weber notes that the quality of schools is an accurate predictor of the area’s future workforce and a contributor to the high quality of

life that attracts prospective and relocating employees.

The We Know campaign has created a brochure, DVD and Web site to help get the word out. The chamber’s economic development department distributes brochures and DVDs to prospective companies, and local real estate agents and businesses circulate them to potential newcomers.

On the Internet, the We Know Web site, www.rutherfordeducation.com, brims with in-depth information, photographs, news articles and statistics – and visitors can view the video online as well.

The two public school systems that educate Rutherford County’s children – Murfreesboro City Schools and Rutherford County Schools – have plenty to brag about.

For example, Murfreesboro City Schools is currently ranked sixth in the state and has consistently numbered among Tennessee’s top-10 school districts, according to the Tennessee Department of Education Report Card of Schools. The district employs seven teachers who have been named to the Tennessee Teachers Hall of Fame and three who have been named Tennessee Teachers of the Year. The district as a whole has received more than

Students at Scales Elementary participate in the Take 10! program, which integrates 10-minute blocks of physical activity into academic lessons.

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$5 million in grant funding in recent years.

Its award-winning schools include Discovery School at Reeves Rogers, where curiosity-driven learning helped earn the No. 1 ranking statewide in math and English proficiency.

Other innovative city schools include Hobgood Elementary, a participant in the NASA Explorer Schools program; Bradley Academy, an arts-integrated school; and Bellwood-Bowdoin Preschool, named for nationally renowned early-childhood-education pioneer and Murfreesboro teacher Ruth Bowdoin.

“We are promoting our rankings as well as the variety of offerings at different schools and in different neighborhoods,” Weber says. “Through the We Know campaign, we try to dig deeper than the standard information to show the diversity of our programs.”

Rutherford County Schools also boasts top rankings. Scoring all A’s in state Department of Education

rankings and placing above the state average for academic achievement in all grade levels, Rutherford County Schools outperformed every other district in the greater Nashville region.

At Smyrna High School, a popular, award-winning culinary arts program prepares students to pursue higher education and careers in the food service industry through hands-on experience and community service.

“At Smyrna High, the culinary students operate a coffee shop and restaurant that is open to students and faculty,” says Tammy Sandlin, the program instructor. “We also cater on- and offsite.”

Among numerous accolades, the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the American Culinary Federation recently nominated Smyrna High School’s Culinary Arts program for its 2009 Hospitality Award, and it nominated Sandlin as Educator of the Year.

Six Rutherford County middle schools number among the top 50

schools in the state, and the Nashville Business Journal ranked McFadden School of Excellence – a K-8 magnet school focused on communications technology – the No. 1 middle school in Middle Tennessee.

Blackman High School was named one of 25 Pacesetter Schools nationwide for improving curriculum standards through the High Schools That Work program. Oakland High School offers the International Baccalaureate program, which focuses on academic achievement and community service.

Rutherford County Schools’ teachers have garnered awards such as the Tennessee Academy of Science Distinguished Teacher of the Year and a Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award.

Both school systems use the Take 10! program, which integrates 10-minute blocks of physical activity into regular classroom lessons.

Area residents also have the option of many excellent private schools.

Above left: Student Michelle Berry works on a cake decoration as part of the culinary arts class at Smyrna High.

Above right: Discovery School at Reeves Rogers recently ranked No. 1 statewide in math and English proficiency.

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Local Flavor

A Toast to Wine-Tasting RISE IN POPULARITY SPARKS LOCAL EVENTS AND AN MTSU CLASS

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ere’s a toast to wine-tasting events in Rutherford County, which are becoming more popular all the time.

Several restaurants are scheduling wine-tasting get-togethers on a regular basis, including places such as Bonefish Grill, Five Senses and Newk’s Express Café. The Blue Porch Bed & Breakfast also hosts wine-tastings from time to time, and Stones River Liquors partners with a number of local restaurants to offer wine-tasting sessions.

“Wine-tasting and a general overall interest in wine has significantly increased over the last 15 years or so,” says Dr. Tony Johnston, a Middle Tennessee State University professor who teaches a college-credit course on wine-tasting.

Johnston has a doctorate in enology and viticulture (wine and grape production), and he’s an owner/ winemaker at Monteagle Winery.

Several other wineries are within a short drive of Rutherford County, including Arrington Vineyards and Beans Creek Winery.

Johnston’s course for enrolled students at MTSU began in January 2009, and it’s designed especially to help wine enthusiasts who get lost whenever they walk into a liquor store, or are confused looking at wine lists in restaurants.

“It’s an interesting subject and ideal for today, since several Rutherford County restaurants offer several delicious varieties with their meals,” he says.

“Students must be 21 to take the course, and three wines are tasted each night that the class is held. I teach students about wine flavors and aromas. It’s not really a wine-tasting course; it’s more of a wine-identification course.”

Johnston has been teaching wine-tasting for many years at MTSU through the Continuing Studies Department, but the subject of wines has become so popular that the university started offering the credit course.

– Kevin Litwin

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Eagleville Takes Off E

agleville wants to retain its small-town charm, but it also has ambitious plans and several big projects in the works.

Renovation of the city’s library is an ongoing effort that should be completed in 2010. A 12,000-square-foot Sewell’s Grocery is slated to open in 2010, replacing the community’s grocery store that burned to the ground in 2008.

“Local resident Craig Sewell is building the store, complete with a pharmacy and a deli,” says Sam Tune, who was appointed mayor of Eagleville in April 2009. “That will certainly be a welcome addition once it opens.”

Also on deck for this city of 500 residents is the installation of a wastewater sewer system – not a romantic endeavor, but a necessary one.

“That is something that never occurred here, and we need sewers

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to eventually attract larger businesses and their tax dollars,” Tune says.

“If we want our economy to grow, we need big businesses.”

A beer ordinance passed in Eagleville in 2009, so Tune’s administration immediately established a beer board to oversee that operation.

Tune has also reinstated the city’s police board along with the fire board, and there is now a sewer board to supervise the wastewater system construction.

“In the first six months I was in office, we either established or reinstated four boards to help our city run as well as possible,” he says.

Eagleville is a quintessential small town, with rolling hills and beautiful open fields in an age of urban sprawl.

As some like to say, “the stars are brighter out here.”

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Portfolio

Minding Their Own Businesses H

ow’s this for a clever name: the Only Downtown Business Alliance.

The alliance was formed in January 2008 for one specific purpose – to promote and assist “only” the businesses that are operating throughout the downtown Murfreesboro area. The organization has already grown from five alliance members to about 50.

“We’re a group that meets monthly and focuses on information and inspiration, detailing how we can continue to keep downtown Murfreesboro moving forward,” says Bill Shacklett, president of the Only Downtown Business Alliance and owner of Shacklett’s Photography in the downtown district. “Downtown Murfreesboro continues to be a nice, scenic place to walk around, and it’s interesting because of its historic buildings. Plus there is a wide variety of retail, service and restaurant options.”

Shacklett says that while many cities across America have lost the vibrancy of their downtown areas, Murfreesboro was fortunate and smart enough in 1985 to participate in the Main Street revitalization project that kept the district alive.

“We are fortunate to have an

like to see more residential housing and loft apartment opportunities become available.

“If people start living downtown, then retail stores and restaurants will obviously flourish even more,” he says.

“Some building owners and developers are currently expressing interest in the downtown movement, and there are quite a few residences scheduled to open in downtown Murfreesboro during 2010.”

PHOTOS BY JEFF ADKINS

aesthetically pleasing downtown corridor that is very friendly to pedestrians who are shopping or relaxing at a restaurant or cafe,” he says. “It’s been encouraging that even in these slow national economic times, we still have a robust district with a lot of foot traffic.”

Shacklett says downtown Murfreesboro has always been a place where entrepreneurial spirits could blossom and thrive. Now he would

Main Street in downtown Murfreesboro is a scenic, pedestrianfriendly and vibrant place to visit.

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A Growing Trend A

side from growing vegetables in your own backyard, local farmers markets might be the best place to find fresh, locally grown produce.

Several farmers markets have been cropping up throughout Rutherford County, including one that has sprouted on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University. Students operate that small summer market and are growing items such as tomatoes, corn, onions, peppers and cucumbers. They sell the fresh produce primarily to other students and faculty members, but anyone is welcome.

The town of Smyrna has a farmers market that operates on Wednesdays throughout the summer, with fresh produce for sale along with baked goods, eggs, flowers and herbs. Stones River Market is open during each summer in Christiana, and Rutherford County has been running its own longstanding market for several decades.

The farmers market has been around since the early 1970s and used to be located in Cannonsburgh Village.

“We needed a more up-to-date facility, so we moved in 2009 to a Murfreesboro site on John R. Rice Boulevard,” says Anthony Tuggle, director of Rutherford County Extension, which oversees the market.

“All the produce is fresh, and the local farmers have to grow it themselves in order to sell it. In other words, there is no buying and then reselling before the items reach the Rutherford County market. Everything is as fresh as it can be.”

The market is open Tuesdays through Fridays from the second Friday in June through the last Friday in October.

“It coincides with the typical warmweather growing season in Tennessee,” Tuggle says. “The extension office helps to promote the market through a statewide Tennessee Fresh campaign.”

For more information, visit the Rutherford County Extension Web site at rutherford.tennessee.edu, or call (615) 898-7710.

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Portfolio

Exploring History’s Mysteries R

Sam Davis served in various combat roles and was nicknamed the “Boy Hero of the Confederacy,� and many of the items in the museum actually belonged to him along with members of his family. “I would advise people to come see the collection whether you’re interested in history or not, because it showcases part of our culture and community,�

Teague says. “It’s an absolutely gorgeous attraction.�

The Sam Davis Home also hosts a number of events throughout the year, including the Easter Eggstravaganza, a Christmas Decoration Spectacular and a School of the Soldier summer camp

utherford County is home to a number of historic sites that draw tourists from all 50 states and beyond.

Some famous Civil War encounters took place here in the 1860s, and a few of the majestic structures and battle sites from the Old South still stand today. They include the Oaklands Historic House Museum in Murfreesboro, the Stones River National Battlefield, and the Sam Davis Home in Smyrna, which is one of the most visited historic sites in all of Tennessee. “We feature 168 very well-kept and preserved acres, and a majority of this overall attraction looks just like it did in the 1860s,� says Anita Teague, executive director of the Sam Davis Home. “There is also a large museum that is very modern, having been built in the last decade. It houses an elaborate, exquisite Civil War collection.�

that teaches boys about marching, drilling and discipline. “We feature an Apple Valley School summer camp that simulates a oneroom schoolhouse for kids ages 7-11,�

Teague says. “We also schedule a summertime science and nature camp. There are a lot of things happening here throughout the year.� – Stories by Kevin Litwin

What’s Online e Get a glimpse of the Sam Davis Home and Museum in our quick video.

Visit imagesrutherford.com.

LaVergne )T S 7HAT 9OU RE ,OOKING &OR

If you’re looking for a small town feel ‌ If you want closeness to metropolitan areas ‌ If you want to live where neighbors can be neighbors ‌ If you want jobs near your home ‌ If you want a place you can call home ‌

JEFF ADKINS

Then you want La Vergne!

Visitors line up to tour the historic Sam Davis Home in Smyrna.

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Electrifying STORY BY SHARON H. FITZGERALD

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mericans who want to drive the first affordable, zero-emission electric car will be driving a Nissan.

And by late 2012, many of those vehicles will be produced in Smyrna.

Announced in August 2009, the new venture is expected to produce about 1,300 new jobs at the Smyrna facility.

“We’re very fortunate because the Nissan Smyrna facility is extremely flexible, and it means that we can produce multiple models on one line,” explains Susan Brennan, vice president of manufacturing for Nissan’s Smyrna and Decherd, Tenn., facilities. “Today, we already produce the Maxima sedan, the Altima sedan, the Altima hybrid and the Altima coupe on a single manufacturing line. Because of our flexibility, we’ll be able to add the electric vehicle to that production line.”

Nissan has dubbed its first electric car, a medium-size hatchback that comfortably seats five adults, the LEAF – an acronym for Leading, Environmentally friendly, Affordable Family car.

With a chassis designed specifically for a lithium-ion battery, the LEAF will be capable of traveling about 100 miles between charges, making the vehicle ideal for commuters and around-town drivers.

The Smyrna plant should have the capacity to handle the LEAF’s production without expanding the facility, “depending on the marketplace pull,” Brennan says. However, more good news for Smyrna’s economy is that a new plant will be built to manufacture the battery.

“So there are two different teams and two different activities,” Brennan says. “When we get into full production here, they will turn into one team.”

Nissan received a $1.6 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program for the LEAF project. Federal dollars also are earmarked to establish electric-vehicle charging stations in several selected markets, including Tennessee. The LEAF will first be constructed in Japan, with the first vehicles scheduled to roll off the line there in late 2010. Nissan will begin accepting reservations for LEAF purchases in spring 2010.

In October 2009, a team from the Smyrna plant traveled to Japan to learn the ins and outs of the battery-production process, and Brennan expects to lead another team to Japan later in 2010 to bone up on the vehicle’s manufacturing.

Nissan’s decision in 1980 to build a $760 million plant in Smyrna – and not in the Detroit area – ushered in a new era of automotive production for the Southeast and changed the economic complexion of Rutherford County.

Smyrna production began in June 1983, and by October 1984, the plant produced its 100,000th vehicle.

“Not only was Nissan the first automotive manufacturer to locate in Tennessee, but it is now at the forefront of the next generation of automotive manufacturing,” says Holly S. Weber, Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce vice president of economic development.

“This is an exciting time for Rutherford County and Tennessee.”

The Nissan LEAF electric car is slated to be produced in Smyrna by late 2012.

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Business

the Economy SMYRNA SITES TO MANUFACTURE NISSAN ELECTRIC CAR AND BATTERY

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Business

Biz Briefs BUSINESSES – BOTH LARGE AND SMALL – THAT HELP DEFINE RUTHERFORD COUNTY’S ECONOMIC CLIMATE

Scorecard BUSINESS AT A GLANCE

$5.24B Retail sales 2008

$21,695 Retail sales per capita 2008

$381.6M

PHOTO COURTESY OF DERRICK PIERCE PHOTOGRAPHY

Eating and drinking sales 2008

JO’S CUSTOM CAKES & CATERING INC. Biz: Custom cakes and catering Buzz: An award-winning graduate of the Opryland Hotel Culinary Institute, owner Jo West offers custom cakes and specialty desserts along with full catering menus.

Her business is family-owned, family-operated, and it’s known for impeccable service, excellent dishes and visually stunning displays. www.joscakesandcatering.com 30

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FLEET FEET MURFREESBORO Biz: Running and walking specialty store Buzz: This service-oriented store is dedicated to providing superior fit, function and style in fitness gear for Middle Tennessee runners and fitness enthusiasts. Locally owned and operated, Fleet Feet Murfreesboro has a knowledgeable staff that takes the time to focus on customers’ particular needs. www.fleetfeetmurfreesboro.com NEWK’S EXPRESS CAFÉ Biz: Casual café Buzz: Located at The Avenue Murfreesboro, Newk’s Express Café offers a variety of made-to-order choices for in-café dining or carryout.

This casual restaurant offers a stylish atmosphere with an emphasis on freshness and flavor. www.newkscafe.com MALCO ROXY SMYRNA CINEMA Biz: 14-screen cinema Buzz: The Malco Roxy Smyrna Cinema, with 14 movie screens, opened in 2008.

Cinema features include stadium seating, rocking-chair comfort, cup holders, an arcade, all-digital projection and advance online ticketing. The Malco Roxy Smyrna Cinema also includes a coffee bar and an expanded concession menu. www.malco.com LA VERGNE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE (PAL) Biz: Nonprofit mentoring organization Buzz: Organized by the La Vergne Police Department, this nonprofit organization works with boys and girls ages 7 to 17 years old. League organizers offer basketball, homework help, drama, music, chess club and more to area students, along with counseling, tutoring and mentoring. www.lavergne.org RUTHERFORD COUNT Y

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Business | Chamber Report

Commercializing Brainpower PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON TECHNOLOGY IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE

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hen Murfreesboro-based Mind2Marketplace hosted hundreds of participants at the Tennessee Valley Corridor Fall Partnership Event in November 2009, the summit boosted M2M’s status as a player in technology economic development. In fact, M2M’s alliance with the Tennessee Valley Corridor, a five-state technology collaboration based in Oak Ridge, was a perfect example of M2M fulfilling its mission – to help make the brightest ideas in Middle Tennessee a reality. “We saw this as a win-win for us as an organization and an opportunity to showcase Middle Tennessee and the assets that we have here,� says Sandy Ponder, M2M executive director.

Founded in 2006 by Destination Rutherford, Middle Tennessee State University and the Tennessee

Department of Economic and Community Development, M2M is the result of a challenge issued to Middle Tennessee leaders by U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon. As chairman of the House Committee on Science and Technology, Gordon urged the region “to help, nurture, encourage and support technology-based ideas and innovation and move them to the marketplace,�

Ponder explains.

Thus, M2M was born, encompassing a 40-county region. Chaired by Andrea J. Loughry, a retired Murfreesboro business executive, M2M began with quarterly meetings and an outreach strategy that has built an impressive list of partners from economic development, education, private-sector and high-tech arenas. M2M is funded primarily by MTSU and the University of Tennessee Institute for Public

Service, but it’s working toward independent, nonprofit status. The organization hired Ponder, its first full-time professional, in August 2008.

Ponder brought to the job 10 years of economic-development experience, including a stint with an organization whose charge is similar to M2M’s.

M2M has identified several economic sectors in which Middle Tennessee boasts substantial resources, such as biotechnology and life sciences, and aerospace and aviation. Committees exist for those sectors as well as education and entrepreneurship.

Ponder describes M2M as a “facilitator� or “broker� to encourage commercialization of Middle Tennessee’s brainpower. “To me, what really distinguishes this organization is the ability to connect the partners that we have, who are all doing phenomenal work,� she says. “We’re trying to leverage our rich assets, which I think betters the entire region.� – Sharon H. Fitzgerald

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JEFF ADKINS

College Prep

Andrea J. Loughry, chairwoman of Mind2Marketplace

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Business | Economic Profile

RUTHERFORD COUNTY ECONOMIC OVERVIEW With steady economic growth for more than a decade, the business climate in Rutherford County is one of the best in the nation. Its excellent location, low tax structure and competitive wages make Rutherford County a top location for corporate use, manufacturing and distribution.

Nashville International Airport (BNA) is just eight miles north of the Rutherford County line.

Port of Nashville 612 Hanger Lane, Room 124 Nashville, TN 37217 (615) 736-2173

Murfreesboro Airport 1930 Memorial Blvd.

Murfreesboro, TN 37130 www.murfreesborotn.gov Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport Authority 278 Doug Warpoole Road Smyrna, TN 37167 (615) 459-2651 www.smyrnaairport.com

TAXES

2.75% City Sales and Use Tax

Relax & Ride Regional Transit 501 Union St. 6th Floor Nashville, TN 37219 (615) 862-8833 http://rtarelaxandride.com

7% State Sales Tax

9.75% Total Sales Tax

MORE O ONLINE imagesrutherford.com utth the he More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.

Middle Tennessee’s convenient transit system serving Nashville and Rutherford County

TRANSPORTATION Nashville International Airport One Terminal Drive Nashville, TN 37214 (615) 275-1675 www.nashintl.com

Rover (615) 217-6837 www.murfreesborotn.gov Rover is Murfreesboro’s public transportation system.

visit our

advertisers Adams Place www.adamsplace.org

Doubletree Hotel Murfreesboro www.murfreesboro.doubletree.com

Motlow State Community College www.mscc.edu

Ascend Federal Credit Union www.ascendfcu.org

Embassy Suites Murfreesboro www.embassysuitesmurfreesboro.com

Murfreesboro Electric Department www.murfreesboroelectric.com

Bank of America Home Loans www.bankofamerica.com

General Mills Inc. www.generalmills.com

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic www.mmclinic.com

Black Box Network Services www.blackboxvss.com

Guaranty Trust www.guarantytrust.com

Re/Max Elite – Rhonda Pendergrass www.murfreesborohomes.net

Tri-Star Title & Escrow www.tristartitleandescrow.com

City of La Vergne www.lavergne.org

Middle Tennessee Christian School www.mtcscougars.org

Reeves-Sain www.reevessain.com

Webb School www.webbschool.com

Community First Bank & Trust www.cfbk.com

Middle Tennessee Medical Center www.mtmc.org

Roscoe Brown Inc. www.roscoebrown.com

Wilson Bank & Trust www.wilsonbank.com

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Tennessee Small Business Development Center www.tsbdc.org The UPS Store www.theupsstorelocal.com/2467 Town of Smyrna www.townofsmyrna.org

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Education

Always on the Move INNOVATIVE SCHOOL PROGRAMS PROMOTE ACTIVITY AND HEALTH

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t’s a fact: Children across the country aren’t getting enough exercise. But both Rutherford County public school districts are proving it doesn’t have to be that way.

Murfreesboro City Schools students are getting well over the state-mandated 90 minutes of weekly activity with a variety of programs geared toward physical fitness.

“To date, every Murfreesboro City School has exceeded the 90 minutes required by law,” says Andrea Cain, supervisor of Coordinated School Health for Murfreesboro City Schools. “Many schools have a physical activity segment during their morning broadcasts that feature teachers and students who lead the entire school in physical activity boosters. We have students who use Wii Fit and Dance Dance Revolution technology to promote physical activity. We have seven Wii systems and several other PlayStation Dance Dance Revolution systems within our schools that are used by students and staff to promote physical activity.”

Children in Murfreesboro City Schools also regularly participate in soccer, kickball, volleyball, frisbee, basketball, baseball, softball, jump rope and yoga.

Some schools even have their own walking tracks.

Hobgood Elementary has a one-fifth-mile track, and Scales Elementary recently constructed a quarter-mile track in the shape of Tennessee.

“Lots of our schools have walking fundraisers for their schools, which provides a healthy fundraising opportunity

as students collect walking pledges from family and community members,” Cain says.

Seven Murfreesboro schools use a program called Take 10!, which integrates 10-minute blocks of physical activity into learning objectives such as language arts, science, social studies, math and health.

“It’s a wonderful way for teachers to add physical activity into their lesson plans,” Cain says. “The children get a break from sitting at their desks, but the learning continues.”

Rutherford County Schools also use Take 10!, and the county recently purchased new equipment such as balls, jump ropes, weights, exercise bikes, Frisbees and scooters to encourage physical activity during recess times.

“Several schools are using exercise videos for school exercise breaks, especially when the weather prevents kids from playing outdoors,” says Heather Corban, Coordinated School Health coordinator for Rutherford County Schools.

“Blackman Elementary regularly uses the Fit Kids DVD in the mornings to give kids an active start to their day.”

Many county schools have running and jogging groups for both students and teachers.

“Last year, Christiana Middle School encouraged students to train for a 5K race, and they hosted a 5K race in conjunction with their annual Cougar Carnival,” Corban says.

“Students, teachers and community members ran together in the race.”

– Jessica Mozo

Students at Scales Elementary in Murfreesboro exercise during a physical education class.

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PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

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Sports & Recreation

Taking It to the Streets RUNNERS AND BIKE RIDERS FIND MORE REASONS TO HIT THE ROAD

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ain or shine, Murfreesboro resident Xavier Solis rides his bike each morning to his job at Murfreesboro Outdoor and Bicycle, a downtown store that carries more than a dozen top-name bicycle lines and bicycle accessories. “I try to use my automobile very minimally,� says Solis, a sales representative at Murfreesboro Outdoor and Bicycle, known by locals as MOAB. “I commute to work regularly by bike, and I try to mountain bike once a week and take longer road rides a few times a week.�

Solis isn’t alone. Murfreesboro and Rutherford County are home to a growing number of bike riders, thanks to the area’s bounty of places to ride and a biker-friendly community. “Murfreesboro is probably the best place I’ve lived for bike riding,� Solis says. “People in the rural areas are familiar with seeing bikers, and people are generally very friendly toward them.

And there are lots of places to ride, starting with the Murfreesboro Greenway System.�

Riders looking for longer rides at high speeds can find great roads in Woodbury, Lascassas, Christiana,

Beech Grove and Bell Buckle.

Lascassas is the host city of the Murfreesboro Bicycle Club’s annual H.O.T. 100 Ride, which will celebrate its 20th year in August 2010. The popular event begins with breakfast at Lascassas Elementary School and leads riders through Rutherford, Wilson and Cannon Counties with food and water stops and historic sites along the way.

For mountain biking, area bikers pack up their gear and drive to nearby areas such as Nashville or Sewanee.

Rutherford County is also home to a large running community. “The greenway is a great place to run because it’s easily accessible, and it has a mile-loop that runners like,� says Keith Vroman, president of the Murfreesboro Pacers running club, which has about 80 members. “There are also trails out at the Stones River

National Battlefield and up at Barfield Crescent Park, as well as hidden places only the runners know about.�

Vroman, who also serves as rack coach at Middle Tennessee State University, meets with other members of the Murfreesboro Pacers to run at MTSU’s track on Tuesday evenings and at the Fleet Feet Sports store on Saturday mornings. The Pacers also participate in several local running races and events, including See Spot Run for Habitat for Humanity; the RC Cola-Moon Pie 10 Mile Run in Bell Buckle; the Smyrna Parks 5K Run; the Fenton Payne & Fred Lovelace 5K Run; the Run Chicken Run 10K race sponsored by Chick-Fil-A; and the Murfreesboro Half Marathon. “The running community is really growing,� Vroman says. – Jessica Mozo

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Health & Wellness

Sixty Years and Counting MURFREESBORO MEDICAL CLINIC EXPANDS SERVICES WITH NEW FACILITY

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urfreesboro Medical Clinic marked its 60th anniversary in 2009, and the community health-care mainstay – a physician-owned group practice – continues to grow.

“We’re looking to expand to better serve our community by bringing in more physicians,” says MMC Chief Executive Officer Joey Peay. “We’re seeing quite a bit of need in adult primary care, and we’re coupling that with some medical and surgical 36

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subspecialties where the needs arise.”

To make room for those new physicians, MMC opened phase one of its new 200,000-square-foot, threestory office complex on Garrison Drive in 2008. So far, 78,000 square feet of the attractive building are occupied with a surgery center, outpatient rehabilitation, imaging and laboratory services, ophthalmology, gastroenterology, otolaryngology, dermatology and the Comprehensive

Breast Center, a new MMC service line that features breast MRI and minimally invasive biopsy. The remainder of MMC’s medical offerings, including internal medicine and pediatrics, remain for the time being at the Highland Avenue location near downtown where the physician group has served area residents since 1979.

Peay says occupation of the remainder of the new facility will occur gradually, with full occupancy expected in late 2012 or early 2013. The Garrison Drive building is located in the shadow of the new Middle Tennessee Medical Center, under construction and slated to open in October 2010. More and more medical office buildings and outpatient facilities are congregating around the new hospital site, thus creating a vibrant health-care complex that’s easily accessible from Interstate 24 via the Medical Center Parkway exit.

Peay says MMC’s new facility “gives us such an opportunity to utilize our space better.”

As an example, he says space simply isn’t allocated for the storage of patients’ paper charts, a square-footage hog in medical buildings of old. MMC completed the scanning of all its paper charts and the implementation of electronic medical records in 2008.

MMC has more than 60 physicians and about 425 employees in all, handling more than 21,000 patient visits monthly. While many employers have been reducing staff during the challenging economy, MMC has been in hiring mode.

“For the most part, we’ve been creating jobs,” Peay says. “We’ve been blessed that, as the economic times have been rough, we have not seen a dramatic decrease in patients. We’ve actually seen those numbers remain relatively stable.”

To enhance convenience for patients, the group practice has opened its first retail drop-in clinic called MMC NOW!, located near a Murfreesboro Kroger grocery store. Peay says MMC NOW! represents “a branding and a concept that we are going to expand.”

– Sharon H. Fitzgerald RUTHERFORD COUNT Y

Arts & Culture

Music in the Boro MURFREESBORO IS HOME TO ITS OWN BURGEONING MUSIC SCENE

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hen Jack and Diane Untz first stepped inside the Maple Street Grill on Murfreesboro’s historic public square, they knew they had found a home for their fledgling live-music venture.

The performing and songwriting couple were looking for an intimate venue with a full menu, full bar, easy parking, a central location and “a good vibe,” Diane Untz recalls.

The locally owned restaurant, with its original brick walls, soft lighting and rich wood furnishings, offered the perfect ambiance, and owners Mike and Debbie Zelenak were willing to give the Untz’s idea a try.

The result is Music in the Boro, a popular Wednesday night offering featuring performing songwriters mostly from Nashville’s vibrant music scene. Members of the Nashville music community themselves, the Untzes handpick the artists from a variety of genres, including country, R&B and jazz. Illuminated by lamplight, the musicians perform “in the round” in the center of the restaurant, a style created

by Nashville’s world-renowned Bluebird Café.

“We prefer that way to play. It’s more like a living room, and it’s more personal,” Diane explains. “We don’t feel like we’re on some sort of platform performing at the audience.

It’s more interactive.”

Music in the Boro is just one example of Murfreesboro’s ever-growing music scene. Always held on the first weekend in May, the city’s Main Street Program hosts JazzFest, a twoday free concert that attracts thousands to the square. The 2010

edition will be the popular event’s 14th year. Main Street also hosts a summer concert series on the square on the first Friday of each month. Numerous clubs across the city, most catering to Middle Tennessee State University students, also offer venues for aspiring musicians, from soloists to grunge bands.

MTSU is home to a strong Department of Music and a unique Department of Recording Industry that draws students from across the country and throughout the world.

“Right now, we have about 1,200 majors, and most of them are musicians of some sort or another,” says Chris Haseleu, who chairs the Recording Industry program. “Many of them will come and form bands, and we have songwriters, too.”

Department facilities in the College of Mass Communication building include five studios, which literally stay busy 24 hours a day during the fall and spring semesters.

Students in the many production classes complete semesterlong recording projects, and they stay on the lookout for talent to record. “I have said half jokingly that I think there are some bands in Murfreesboro that have spent more time in a studio than The Rolling Stones,” Haseleu says. “If you’re good and you make yourselves available to the students, you’ll be in the studio.”

He estimates that 50 percent of those bands are composed of students, who take advantage of the opportunity to record their work at no charge – and improve their performance skills before their next Murfreesboro show.

– Sharon H. Fitzgerald

PHOTOS BY JEFF ADKINS

What’s Online e See award-winning banjo player Rebekah Weiler pick a tune in our quick video. Visit imagesrutherford.com.

Jack Untz, left, and his wife, Diane, host Music in the Boro at Maple Street Grill on Wednesday nights in Murfreesboro.

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“Middle Tennessee State University’s Tennessee Small Business Development Center statewide network delivers educational programs to entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their small business. Our consultants work with entrepreneurs in confidential, one-on-one sessions to help them with a range of business issues including: testing a new business proposition, shaping a business plan, investigating funding opportunities and much more. Through our long-standing partnership with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration we have contributed to the economic development of our communities.”

Dr. Sidney A. McPhee President Middle Tennessee State University

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Representing America’s SBDC Network

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Community Profile

RUTHERFORD COUNTY COMMUNITY OVERVIEW Rutherford County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Tennessee and has experienced an economic boom that shows no sign of stopping. This 612-square-mile county sits at the state’s geographic center, the “heart” of Tennessee. People are drawn to the county for its moderate climate, diverse cultural offerings and recreation, top-quality health care and housing at both the executive and entry levels.

CLIMATE OVERVIEW Rutherford County’s climate is generally moderate, with four distinct seasons.

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or near Rutherford County. Visit www.rutherfordchamber.org or www.rutherfordeducation.com for a comprehensive list of education opportunities.

MEDICAL SERVICES OVERVIEW

Murfreesboro Medical Clinic and SurgiCenter, and the Alvin C. York Veterans Administration Campus.

Smyrna is home to StoneCrest Medical Center.

HOUSING

January Low Temperature

45 F January High Temperature

67 F July Low Temperature

Rutherford County is a regional hub for health care, with several conveniently located, top-notch medical facilities. Murfreesboro facilities include Middle Tennessee Medical Center,

$148,316 Median Home Value

95,392 Number of Housing Units Source: 2009 Claritas Estimate

89 F July High Temperature

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In addition to excellent public and private schools, many universities, colleges and technology centers are in

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201 E. Main St., Ste. 300 Murfreesboro, TN 37130 (615) 425-3350 Fax: (615) 425-3351 E-mail: smorgan@tristartitleandescrow.com www.tristartitleandescrow.com

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Ad Index 41 A DA M S P L AC E 1 A S C E N D FED E R A L C R E D IT U N I O N 2 6 BA N K O F A M E R I C A H O M E LOA N S 39 B L AC K B OX N E T WO R K S E RV I C E S

C2 GENER AL MILLS INC .

3 5 G UA R A N T Y T R U S T 32 M I D D L E T E N N E S S E E C H R I S TI A N S C H O O L C4 MIDDLE TENNESSEE MEDICAL CENTER

27 C IT Y O F L A V E RG N E

4 0 M OT LOW S TAT E CO M M U N IT Y CO L L EG E

2 5 CO M M U N IT Y FI RS T BA N K & TRUST

C 2 M U R FR E E S B O RO E L EC T R I C D E PA RT M E N T

38 DOUBLETREE H OT E L M U R FR E E S B O RO

3 8 M U R FR E E S B O RO M E D I C A L C LI N I C

24 E M BA S SY S U IT E S M U R FR E E S B O RO

41 R E / M A X E LIT E – R H O N DA P E N D E RG R A S S

Ad Index (cont.)

2 R E E V E S -SA I N 3 1 ROS CO E B ROW N I N C .

38 TENNESSEE SMALL BUSINESS D E V E LO P M E N T C E N T E R 41 T H E U P S S TO R E 4 0 TOW N O F S M Y R N A 41 TR I -S TA R TITLE & E S C ROW 31 WEBB SCHOOL 41 W I L S O N BA N K & T R U S T