April 2019 Murfreesboro Pulse

IN MUSIC

RECORD STORE DAY  WATOTO CHOIR  BORO FONDO  BIG V  AYE MAMMOTH  MURFREESBORO SYMPHONY APRIL 2019 / VOL. 14, ISSUE 4 / FREE

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

RUTHERFORD COUNTY CAT RESCUE FINDS HOMES FOR LOCAL FELINES

Take A Hike

BORO ART CRAWL BACK ON THE SQUARE, APRIL 12 SEE MAP INSIDE!

EXPLORE THE BEAUTIFUL STATE PARKS IN TENNESSEE

2019 JAZZFEST WITH DEJANU AND MORE SET FOR MAY 3–4

Your Nashville Symphony

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April 18 to 20

maY 9 to 11

WITH THE NASHVILLE BALLET

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Contents ON THE COVER: (Clockwise from top left) Fall Creek Falls State Park, Cedars of Lebanon State Park, Henry Horton State Park and Old Stone Fort State Park; (Below) Pickett State Park Photos by David Duplessis, tennesseephotographs.com

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36

14 FEATURES

IN EVERY ISSUE

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4 Events

MAIN STREET JAZZ FEST

CALENDAR Special Kids Golf Tournament, Photo Connect Contest, Boro Adventurefest, Easter Egg Hunts and more!

May fest includes Jennifer Bruce and DejaNu, Cosmic Collective.

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TAKE A HIKE!

Explore the beautiful state parks of Tennessee, many a short drive away.

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8 Sounds CONCERTS Prince Tribute, Jackson Harrison, Embassy, Mixtape, Jewel Machine, Sarah Martin

ILOVEKICKBOXING

High-energy workout routines and instructors keep you motivated.

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MUSIC NOTES Watoto Children’s Choir, Murfreesboro Symphony, Record Store Day, Boro Fondo

OAKLAND COURT UPGRADE

Redevelopment proposed for local public housing neighborhoods.

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24 Art

36 News

EVENTS Boro Art Crawl Patterson Park Gallery Patty Carroll at Baldwin Gallery THEATER The Producers; The Pillowman MTSU SPRING SHOWCASE “Spring Awakening,” Runway Show, Wing Fling, songwriters night POETRY National Poetry Month

32 Movies REVIEWS Captain Marvel; Us

CATS FOR KEEPS

ALBUM REVIEWS Aye Mammoth; Matt Lund and the Waggerers

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14 Living 34 Food

Rutherford County Cat Rescue finds fur-ever homes for felines.

EAGLE COMMUNICATION

Entrepreneur Ron Young helping business connect.

GARDENING The yield increase of composting Advertising: Don Clark, Leslie Russell-Yost Art Director: Sarah Mayo

Publisher/Editor in Chief: Bracken Mayo

Copy Editor: Steve Morley

NEW RELEASES Penguins, The Public, Shazam! and more!

RESTAURANT

Slick Pig

Contributors: Jennifer Durand, Jordan Hall, Joseph Kathmann, Laura Lindsay, Rick Malone, Zach Maxfield, Liane Ojito, Edwina Shannon, Jay Spight, Andrea Stockard, Ladiah Marche Thomas, Semaj Thomas, Phil Valentine, Kory Wells, Andrew Wigdor, Michelle Willard

BUSINESS BUZZ Murfreesboro Armory, Steakhouse Five, Crumbl Cookies, The Great Escape and more

41 Sports

SPORTS TALK Titans sign Cameron Wake, Ryan Tannehill; Predators set for playoffs

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Opinion PHIL VALENTINE Many media outlets disappointed in Mueller report LIVE . . . WELL! A Higher Purpose SPIRITUAL MATTERS Resurrection Season READING Ecce Deus: Essays on the Life and Doctrine of Jesus Christ

Copyright © 2019, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130.

Proudly owned, operated and published the first Thursday of each month by the Mayo family; 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

10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 • 615-796-6248

SPREAD THE POSITIVE, a group headed by local podcaster Trent Denson, held a great event this past month, bringing together a really impressive collection of all sorts of people working in some unique way or another to improve the town, make life better and spread positivity. I think this group has done a lot to encourage and motivate the perpetuation of good vibes and personal, financial, educational, physical and spiritual growth.

The Mayos recently got to take in The Empire Strikes Back, the second installment of the original Star Wars film trilogy, at the fantastic Schermerhorn Center as the Nashville Symphony Orchestra performed the score live. Fantastic. We salute you, Vader, as the triumphant trombones announce your arrival. Wait! Do not give in to the dark side. Stay positive.

Come to The Ascent with me sometime and climb those walls and the boulder. I’m telling you, whether you are a newcomer to climbing or an expert, whatever shape you are in, you can find a challenge to overcome and a way to push yourself to improve. Climb your rock!

March basketball has been Madness as usual, buzzer-beaters and blowouts. Exciting stuff.

Thanks to the good folks at Sunshine Nutrition for keeping the family stocked up on herbs and vitamins and supplements as we try to stay well and functioning.

Thanks to Big Creek Winery Tasting Room, Float Alchemy, Epicurean Olive Oil, Juice Bar, Nacho’s, Wall Street, The Alley on Main and CJ’s Fine Dining.

Thanks to all of the Pulse’s loyal supporters for making this publication possible. Thanks to Fox and Goat for supplying those beautifully roasted coffee beans.

Thanks to Sarah, my loyal, loving and talented partner and wife. It is truly one of the more amazing and treasured things in the history of my life to have someone supportive and reliable, in sickness and in health, year after year, edition after edition, page after page.

Stop by the Pulse headquarters at 105 N. Maple St. during the upcoming Art Crawl on the evening of Friday, April 12, to take in John Dixon’s latest art exhibit.

There should be lots going on on the Square that night.

The Great Escape is now open in Murfreesboro. My original NES from the mid-’80s still fires right up, so I may have to go and peruse their Nintendo cartridge selection. I think I need some Mario 2 and Tetris on the big screen.

Boro Adventure Fest, Paws and Pearls, the Thai-Lao Food Fair, Firefly Awards, See Spot Run, Earth Day Celebration and much more are coming up in April.

It has been good to hear of Ron Young’s career in business; I always enjoy speaking with local entrepreneurs and absorbing advice and knowledge wherever possible. Read about his company, as well as the Hot Chicken and Art Show, the Watoto Children’s Choir, the new Washington Gallery at Patterson Park, Rutherford County Cat Rescue and some of the fine Tennessee State Parks in this issue of the Pulse. Enjoy!

Stay healthy. Stay positive. Stay grateful.

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Events

CALENDAR / APRIL 2019

BY ANDREA STOCKARD

APRIL 4

Broad St.). Also join them for Chubby’s Bike Night the first Thursday of every month (April 4, May 2) at 7 p.m. For more information, find Chubby’s Fallen Riders Foundation Middle Tennessee on Facebook.

CENTRAL MAGNET STUDENTS BOOK SIGNING Four students from the English class of Central Magnet School (CMS) teacher Cynthia Head will sell and sign copies of their works at Linebaugh Public Library (105 W. Vine St.) Thursday, April 4, from 3:30–6 p.m. Brady Bryson, a 15-year-old sophomore, wrote What I Am Made Of. He tells of his experience with divorced parents, step-parents and a variety of diverse siblings, which strengthened his relationship with Christ. Poets Senait Desta, Ethan Christopher and Chelsea Butner partnered together for Just Poems. They all use poetry to express their emotions, and they hope that poetry inspires others to do the same.

For more information, call 615-893-4131.

APRIL 7 AUTHOR JOHN F. BAKER AT OAKLANDS MANSION

APRIL 5 & 6 SPRING KICK-OFF AT THE FOUNTAINS The Spring Kick-off event at The Fountains at Gateway (1500 Medical Center Pkwy.) will feature live music by progressive bluegrass group The Band of Kelleys, food trucks and a petting zoo on Friday, April 5, beginning at 5 p.m. On Saturday, April 6, beginning at 7:30 p.m. watch the hit movie The Greatest Showman on the event lawn. Admission is free. For more information, call 615-890-4651.

APRIL 6 HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTIONS The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), in collaboration with Rutherford County and City of Murfreesboro governments, will hold a free Household Hazardous Waste Collection on Saturday, April 6, at the City of Murfreesboro Solid Waste Department (4765 Florence Rd.), from 8 a.m.–12 p.m. noon.

Accepted items include driveway sealant, roofing tar, pesticides, fertilizers, pool chemicals, mercury thermostats, medicines and drugs. Electronic waste can be dropped off Monday–Thursday, and Saturday from 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. at 1140 Haley Rd. For more information, contact 615 542-4633 or mkeisling@rutherfordcountytn.gov.

APRIL 6 PAWS AND PEARLS Come out to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Paws & Pearls on Saturday, April 6, at 4 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

APRIL 5 & 6 AMELIA’S CLOSET POP-UP SHOP Join Amelia’s Closet’s Generosity Pop-Up Shop (810 NW Broad St., Suite 10) with “all seasons of quality women’s items” Friday, April 5 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturday, April 6 from 9 a.m.–noon. Items are priced from $5-$20. Amelia’s Closet offers “professional appeal and hope to deserving women as they open the employment door.” Amelia’s Closet is located at 810 NW Broad St., Suite 10. For more information, call 615-584-9029 or visit ameliascloset.org.

The Grove at Williamson Place (3250 Wilkinson Pk.). The evening kicks off with Whine Time, featuring hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants, caterers and music featuring Gay and Larry Pinkerton and friends.

Enjoy dinner prepared by Goodness Gracious at The Mill, followed by a live auction with Keith Strain of Parks Auction along with friends from Maples Realty & Auction. Dance the night away to music by The Pilots. Proceeds benefit programs of the Beesley Animal Foundation, whose goal is the prevention of unwanted cats and dogs through their affordable specialty spay and neuter clinic, educational programs, aid to families, and an outreach program for underserved cats and dogs. For more information, visit beesleyanimalfoundation. org and click on Paws & Pearls.

APRIL 6 SINGLES MINGLE Join Singles Mingle on Saturday, April 6, at Everwood at the Avenue Apartments (915 Robert Rose Dr.). at 7:30 p.m. If you are single and ready to mingle, bring all your single friends and get ready for hot topics and a night filled with games and free food and drinks. For more information, contact authorjohannwilkerson@gmail.com.

APRIL 7 CHUBBY’S RIDE Join Chubby’s Fallen Riders Foundation Middle Tennessee for the 3rd Annual Chubby’s Ride on Sunday, April 7, with meet up at noon, starting and ending at Sloan’s Motorcycle and ATV (2233 NW

The African American Heritage Society of Rutherford County and Oaklands Mansion welcome author, John F. Baker Jr., as he sells, discusses and signs his book The Washingtons of Wessyngton Plantation on Sunday, April 7, at 2 p.m. in Maney Hall (900 N. Maney Ave.). Baker continues to reside in his hometown, a few miles from Wessyngton Plantation, a town still populated by hundreds of descendants of its slaves, and has done dozens of interviews and researched more than 11,000 documents to trace the ancestry of more than 300 African Americans enslaved on Wessyngton. For the past 30 years, he has unraveled his family history and conducted seminars on tracing American and African American genealogy at universities and institutions. Tickets are $15 and include light refreshments and a self-guided tour of Oaklands Mansion; purchase them in the museum gift shop during regular business hours or by contacting 615-893-0022 or info@oaklandsmansion.org.

APRIL 7–13 FOOD FOR FINES Take care of overdue library fines with canned goods from your pantry. For one week, April 7–13, not only will overdue library patrons be getting rid of some fines, but they will also be giving to a good cause, the Nourish Food Bank (Rutherford County). During National Library Week (April 7–13), every branch of the Rutherford County Library System is participating.

Charges for lost or damaged items or referral fees cannot be waived. Each can donated waives one dollar in fines. Please bring only new, unopened cans within expiration date. Donations are still welcome even if you don’t have fines. For more information, call 615-893-4131 or visit rclstn.org.

APRIL 9 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce will present its April Business

After Hours event on South Walnut Street between West Main and West Vine streets from 5–7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9. Bring plenty of business cards to this informal social-networking event designed to connect you with business professionals from across Rutherford County. Admission is $10 for members and $20 for future members.

APRIL 14 ST. THOMAS DAY OF GIVING Join the St. Thomas Rutherford Ambassadors for a Family Day of Giving as they pack care kits to support the St. Louise Clinic. Items needed include toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrushes, baby wipes and diapers. The kit packaging is from 1–3 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, in the St. Thomas Rutherford McDonald Conference Room (1700 Medical Center Pkwy.). For more information, contact 615-396-4996 or jordan.webb@ascension.org.

APRIL 10 LIVING SENT At the April Living Sent gathering, Steven Solomon presents the application message at the Experience (521 Old Salem Rd.) on Wednesday, April 10, from 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m. Solomon learned valuable life lessons during his tour of duty with the U.S. Army in Iraq and Afghanistan; he is currently one of the morning hosts at WFCM radio in Smyrna. Chris Truelove, Executive Director of Special Kids Therapy and Nursing, shares his God Story as well, and Doubletree by Hilton in Murfreesboro provides a free lunch. For more information, visit experiencecc.com.

APRIL 13 BACKSTAGE BASH The Center for the Arts’ presents its Backstage Bash on Saturday, April 13, at Center for the Arts (110 W. College St.) beginning at 6:30 p.m. with the after-party beginning at 8:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Center for the Arts’ 2019 Arts Advocate of the Year Award Andrea Loughry. Tickets are $100 per person or $175 per couple, and $25 for an after-party ticket only. Cocktail attire and masks are encouraged. For tickets visit boroarts.org, the Center for the Arts Facebook Page or call 615-904-ARTS (2787).

APRIL 13 ADVENTURES IN AGRICULTURE Participate in Adventures in Agriculture on Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at the Lane Agri-Park (315 John Rice Blvd. #10) with the Rutherford County Agriculture Community. Get hands-on education on local agriculture while farmers share their knowledge of animals, crops, homegrown foods and handmade products with parents and children. Admission is free and open to the public. Canned food donations for the Rutherford County Food bank are welcome at registration.

Take part in animal exhibits, food displays gardening information and a fishing rodeo in the stocked pond; children can simulate harvesting crops and learn heritage skills, such as making butter and spinning yarn.

For more information, visit adventuresinag. com or contact aiarutherford@gmail.com.

APRIL 17 TIP YOUR WAITER

APRIL 11

PHOTO BY KEVIN SMITH/PHOTO CONNECT MURFREESBORO

PHOTO CONNECT MURFREESBORO Photo Connect Murfreesboro meets the second Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. to bring together and inspire Murfreesboro-area photography enthusiasts.

The group meets at the Technology Engagement Center, 306 Minerva Dr., on Thursday, April 11, for a session on photo printing with Rich Seiling. All photographers are welcome whether professionals or hobbyists. Photographers can connect, teach, learn, exchange resources and promote photography in Murfreesboro.

For more information, find Photography Connect Murfreesboro on Facebook or contact photographyconnectmboro@gmail.com.

APRIL 13 ILOVEKICKBOXING HEALTH FAIR iLoveKickboxing, Aspiring Health Clinic of Chiropractic, Blue Cup Monkey Oil Life and Float Alchemy will partner on a Health Fair on Saturday, April 13, from 11:30–1:30 p.m. at iLoveKickboxing, 833 Memorial Blvd. Many local businesses share their knowledge and love for the well-being of the Murfreesboro community and provide ways to improve health and educate the public about what Murfreesboro has to offer. Receive supplements, chiropractic clinics, kombucha, cryotherapy and more. Other participating businesses include Juice Bar, Transformation Life Centers, Float Alchemy, Aspiring Health Clinic of Chiropractic, DoTERRA Essential Oils, Simply CBD, Strong Body Nutrition, and Juice Plus. For more information, find the event page for ILoveKickboxing Health Fair on Facebook.

APRIL 13 SMYRNA EASTER EGG HUNT Children from 1–12 years old are divided into their age groups to have a chance at finding the Prize Eggs on Saturday, April 13, from

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1–2 p.m. at Lee Victory Recreation Park (110 Sam Ridley Pkwy E., Smyrna). For more information, find a Facebook event page for the Town of Smyrna Annual Easter Egg Hunt.

APRIL 13 BORO ADVENTURE FEST Escape for a day outside to join a community of adventure seekers, explorers, risk takers and nature lovers. Experience live music, vendors, outdoor skills classes, a kids’ zone, food truck and rock-climbing Saturday, April 13, from noon–4 p.m.at Walter Hill Recreation Area (5636 Lebanon Rd.). For more information, call 615-217-3017 or find Boro Adventure Fest on Facebook.

APRIL 14 MUSIC & FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL Check out some of the area’s food trucks, Cousins Maine Lobster, Chivanada, Music City Brisket and The Kamasouptruck at the Music & Food Truck Festival featuring live music, local vendors, a beer tent and kids’ play area on Sunday, April 14, from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. at Cousins Maine Lobster (1932 Almaville Rd. #200, Smyrna). Entry is free.

For more information, find an event page for Music and Food Truck Festival on Facebook.

Participate in Tip Your Waiter, the 15th annual luncheon event to benefit the Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center at their annual fundraising event at the Stones River Country Club (1830 NW Broad St.) on Wednesday, April 17, from noon–1 p.m. This enjoyable and unique luncheon centers around raising funds to assist the agency in providing healing and protective services to the community. The fast-paced luncheon keeps its tradition of providing musical entertainment featuring The Cruizin Keys dueling pianos this year. Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center is the only free service provider to victims in the community who need healing and protective services. April is also the National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Individual tickets to the event can be purchased at the Tip Your Waiter Eventbrite page. For a table, contact 615896-7377 or reception@dvpshelter.org, or visit dvpshelter.org.

APRIL 18 THE CONNECTION Local small business owners will gather for The Connection: An Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming from 5–7 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, at the headquarters of Willow Balm and Wicked Stepsister Productions, 2230 Southgate Blvd. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs and professionals are welcome to attend this casual, free, no-obligation event, where they can meet other small business owners and tap into one another’s experience and energy. A discussion will encourage participation from those in attendance, asking them to articulate their vision for their business and calling for examples of some of the business challenges and solutions they are experiencing. The series will continue the third Thursday of each month.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 BOROPULSE.COM

* APRIL 2019 * 5

hard to fight and prevent child abuse every day begins at 11:45 a.m. and the walk to the Child Advocacy Center (1040 Samsonite Blvd.) begins at noon. Complimentary shuttles will run from the Child Advocacy Center to Civic Plaza from 10:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. This free event concludes with a celebratory reception and grill-out picnic at the center. For more information and to register, visit cacrutherford.org.

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APRIL 20 BARN DANCE Enjoy live music, great food, drinks and dancing at the historic Barn Dance Saturday, April 20, from 6–10 p.m., at The Historic Sam Davis Home and Plantation (1399 Sam Davis Rd., Smyrna). Enjoy bluegrass, country and a little of everything in between. Cost is $15. For more information, call 615-4592341 or visit samdavishome.org.

APRIL 27 PIONEER DAYS

APRIL 23 MURFREESBORO TECH COUNCIL MEETING The Murfreesboro Technology Council will have its April meeting on Tuesday, April 23, at Data Suites Murfreesboro, 1020 W. College St. The April program, Colocation: The Next Steps of Networking, begins at 6 p.m. The Murfreesboro Technology Council focuses on economic development in the Rutherford County area in order to bring technology companies to the area. For more information, contact 615-545-2789 or info@murfreesborotechnology.com or visit murfreesborotechnology.com.

APRIL 23 FIREFLY AWARDS Locally Owned Murfreesboro and Smyrna Independent Merchants Association will present the Light Up Local Firefly Awards on Tuesday, April 23, at Hollinghead Aviation at the Smyrna Airport, 300 Doug Warpoole Rd., Smyrna. The evening will feature local food, music and the presentation of the Firefly Awards. Through the people’s choice awards celebration, this event will highlight the importance of supporting independent businesses by showcasing locally owned businesses in both Murfreesboro and Smyrna in carefully selected categories. Dress is casual and organizers encourage those attending to wear a shirt from their favorite local business. Find tickets to the Light Up Local Firefly Awards on Eventbrite.

APRIL 25 NIGHT AT THE MOVIES: WITH MURFREESBORO SYMPHONY Don’t miss the finale of the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra’s Main Stage Season for 2018–19 on Thursday, April 25, at 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church (265 W Thompson Ln.). Enjoy songs from movie classics like Star Wars, Frozen and The Sound of Music. For concert tickets and more information on the MSO, visit murfreesborosymphony.com or call 615-898-1862.

APRIL 26 6 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

APRIL 20 MURFREESBORO EASTER EGG HUNT Children of all ages can hunt for eggs and exchange them for prizes at the EGGchange booth Saturday, April 20, beginning at 1 p.m., at Richard Siegel Community Park (515 Cherry Lane Dr.). Age-appropriate hunts go on throughout the day so that everyone has a fair chance. Visit with the Easter Bunny and play carnival-style games. Admission is free. For more information, call 615-907-2251.

FAIRWAY TO HOPE Join Fairway to Hope for a Golf Tournament benefiting Doors of Hope on Friday, April 26, at Champions Run Golf Course (14262 Mt. Pleasant Rd., Rockvale). Cost to play is $125 for an individual golfer and $400 for a team of four; this includes lunch and driving range fees, contests and prizes. Lunch and registration begin at 11:30 a.m. with the driving range opening at noon and shotgun at 1 p.m. To register call 615-900-0634 or find Fairway to Hope on eventcaddy.com.

APRIL 26 SPECIAL KIDS 20TH ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC Join local nonprofit Special Kids Therapy & Nursing Center for its 20th Annual Special Kids Golf Classic on Thursday, April 25, and Friday, April 26, presented by Ole South Properties, at Indian Hills Golf Course (405 Calumet Trace). This four-person scramble with prizes from Indian Hills and other local businesses offers a free lunch and the option to play in the Thursday or Friday afternoon tournaments. Registration is $600 per team of four or $150 per individual. For a $250 sponsorship, organizations can have their company name listed on a tee sign at one of the 18-holes.

Funds raised from the tournament support pediatric therapy and nursing services for children with special needs at Special Kids Therapy & Nursing Center, a Christian therapy and nursing center for children with special needs. To learn more, call 615-8934892 or visit specialkidstn.com/golfclassic.

Join Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. for the 43rd Pioneer Days Celebration. Activities include live music, clogging, pottery and blacksmith demonstrations, hayrides, crafters, art exhibit, vendors and food trucks. For more information, find the event page for Pioneer Days at Cannonburgh Village on Facebook or the Cannonsburgh Village Facebook page.

APRIL 27 EARTH DAY CELEBRATION

For sponsorships, contact 615-893-4892 or rbraziel@specialkidstn.com.

APRIL 26 MOONSHINE IN THE MANSION Oaklands Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.) invites the public to its inaugural Moonshine in the Mansion on Friday, April 26, from 6–9 p.m. Explore the mansion and grounds and enjoy Short Mountain Distillery’s “shines” while savoring fresh, seasonally inspired pairings by Chef Jonathan Austin. Meet the distillers and enjoy samples from The Tasty Table and Short Mountain Distillery’s “Prohibition Tea” while learning about the history of moonshine in Middle Tennessee. In 1920, prohibition shut down the relationship between farming and distilleries, but the heritage of whiskey making lived on, nowhere more so than Short Mountain in Cannon County, Tennessee. This unique event supports Oaklands Mansion and its mission, which is rooted in education and preservation.

Advanced admission is $35 and runs until April 11. Gate admission is $40. Purchase tickets at oaklandsmansion.org.

APRIL 26 HOMETOWN HEROES WALK FOR CHILDREN The Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford County presents its annual Hometown Heroes Walk for Children on Friday, April 26.

Registration begins at 11 a.m. at Murfreesboro Civic Plaza. An awards ceremony and presentation honoring the heroes who work

Celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 27, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Murfreesboro’s Historic Square with Everybody Drum Some and more. For more information, visit the Murfreesboro Earth Day Facebook Page, or contact 615-494-0407 or marketing@medtn.com.

APRIL 27 TOAST TO TENNESSEE “Uncork the Fun” at Middle Tennessee’s premier wine festival, the 16th Annual A Toast to Tennessee, Saturday, April 27, from noon–6 p.m. at Wilson County Expo Center (945 E. Baddour Pkwy., Lebanon) featuring Tennessee wines, local artisans, specialty foods and wine and food seminars. Stroll from booth to booth shopping for handcrafted items from local crafters and artisans, enjoying music and sampling Tennessee wines. For more information, visit atoasttotennessee.com.

APRIL 27 THAI-LAO FOOD FAIR Join the Thai-Lao Food Fair on April 27 and 28 11:30 a.m.–7 p.m. for all-you-caneat Thai food for $15 at Wat Amphawan of America, 4880 Barfield Crescent Rd. For more information, find the Thai-Lao Food Fair 2019 event page on Facebook.

APRIL 27 JAZZY BLUE SILENT AUCTION & SCHOLARSHIP EVENT Dress in your finest “Roaring ’20s” attire for an evening of jazz, fun, food and mystery at

the Jazzy Blue Silent Auction & Shannon L. Martin Scholarship Event presented by the Sigma Chi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. at Clarion Inn Ballroom (2227 Old Fort Pkwy.) on Saturday, April 27, from 6–9 p.m. Shannon L. Martin became a member of Zeta Phi Beta in 2001 in Nashville, Tennessee and a graduate of MTSU and an exemplary, helpful educator in Rutherford County and the Huntsville, Alabama school system. Event proceeds benefit graduating high school seniors of Rutherford County. Tickets can be purchased on the Jazzy Blue Silent Auction & Scholarship Event Eventbrite page.

APRIL 27 MURFREESBORO LIONS CLUB PANCAKE BREAKFAST Join the Annual Murfreesboro Lions Club Pancake Breakfast Saturday, April 27, from 7–11 a.m. at the Lions Clubhouse in Cannonsburgh (407 Hickerson Dr.). The famous “Pancake Crew” prepares pancakes, sausage patties, orange juice, milk and coffee. Contributions at the door are a minimum of $9 for adults, $4 for children 6–12, and children under 5 are free. Proceeds benefit the Murfreesboro Lions Sight Program, which funds the purchase of glasses for elementary school children.

The Lions have been providing eye exams and glasses since 1933. For more information, call 615-8932582 or any member of Murfreesboro Lions Club.

APRIL 28 14TH ANNUAL SEE SPOT RUN See Spot Run is MTSU’s walk/run for people and their dogs to benefit Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity and an MTSU build of a Habitat for Humanity house. Join strollers and sprinters alike Sunday, April 28, with registration at 6:45 a.m. in Peck Hall with the run beginning at 8 a.m. Running with your dogs is encouraged. The 5k course is both flat and fast with CHIP Timing for all runners. Entry fee is $30 before April 25 (by noon) and $35 thereafter and includes a dry-fit shirt for participants and awards to the top age group finishers. Retractable leashes are prohibited. For more information, visit mtsu.edu/sos/see-spot-run. php or call 615-898-5812.

someone you love or just yourself. A fee of $25 includes all materials, a great selection of beads and a sample of essential oil.

Water, soft drinks and tea are provided.

Tickets can be purchased on the Aromatherapy Bracelet Workshop Eventbrite page or the Float Alchemy Facebook page.

For more information, call 615-933-1116.

MAY 4

ONGOING

CHRISTIANA SPRING FEST

JUNIOR 4-H CAMP REGISTRATION

Big Creek Winery Tasting Room and Miller’s Grocery will present Spring Fest on Main Street in downtown Christiana on Saturday, May 4. The event begins at noon and will feature local vendors of all sorts, live music, food from Miller’s Grocery (eat there or carry out and enjoy a picnic), tastings of Big Creek Wine and more fun. David Cathro will kick off the music, followed by Travis Cox at 3 p.m. and Lane Shackelford at 5:30 p.m. There is no charge to attend the festival. For more information, find an event page for Spring Fest, or the page for Big Creek Winery Tasting Room, on Facebook.

MAY 5 AROMATHERAPY BRACELET WORKSHOP Join Float Alchemy (131 Cason Ln.) Sunday, May 5, for an Aromatherapy bracelet workshop just in time for Mother’s Day. Diana Rosage Riley (Essentials by Design) teaches how to create a one-of-a-kind aromatherapy bracelet to use with essential oils. Bring a friend, mother, daughter,

Registration continues for this year’s Junior 4-H Camp at the Clyde M. York 4-H Center in Crossville for fourth- through sixth-graders June 24–28. Cost of $310 includes transportation and T-shirt. Register at the Rutherford County Extension Office (315 John R. Rice Blvd., Suite 101) Monday–Friday from 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Payment of half the camp cost is due when registering. For more information or to apply for a scholarship, visit rutherford. tennessee.edu (click under the 4-H Youth tab) or call 615-898-7110.

ONGOING AL-ANON Attend Al-Anon meetings, a fellowship program for the families and friends of alcoholics, weekly at 435 S. Molloy Ave. (off of Bridge Ave.). Meeting times include 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sundays; 6:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and noon on Saturdays. For more information, contact 270-293-5201.

MONDAYS ONGOING FITNESS CLASS Sports*Com (2310 Memorial Blvd.) hosts ongoing New You Class classes on Mondays at 10:15 a.m. All classes may include mat/ floor work, stretching, body weight exercises, light weights, bands, foam rollers and massage balls. Topics include back health in April, May and June; foot health in July, August and September; and myofascial release in October, November and December. For more information, contact 615-895-5040 or adavidson@murfreesborotn.gov. Admission is $4 or free with facility pass.

TUESDAYS HEART OF TENNESSEE TOASTMASTERS The Heart of Tennessee Toastmasters is an international organization devoted to helping others advance their communication and leadership skills. Through participation in a variety of roles at each meeting, learn better listening skills, critical thinking, goal setting and public speaking. Meet at 7 p.m. on the first, third and fifth Tuesdays of each month at Keller-Williams Realty (450 St Andrews Dr.). For more information on the group, visit heartoftennessee.toastmastersclubs.org.

WEDNESDAYS BORO2SQUARE RUNNERS Boro2Square Runners is a running group for individuals interested in running and socializing with other runners. Weekly runs begin at 6 p.m. each Wednesday, starting from

the Boulevard Bar and Grill, 2154 Middle Tennessee Blvd. Distances covered are 3–5 miles, with runners of all paces welcome to participate. For more information, visit facebook.com/boro2square.

WEDNESDAYS WRITERS GROUP The Murfreesboro Writers Group, comprised of local writers who seek to improve their work through mutual critique, meets every Wednesday at Linebaugh Library (105 W. Vine St.) from 6–8 p.m. You might hear science fiction, poetry, alternate reality, memoir, fantasy, mystery, literary fiction, or more.

For more information, find Murfreesboro Writers Group on Facebook, email sayhello@ murfreesborowritersgroup.com, call 615-8934131 or visit rclstn.org.

WEDNESDAYS WELCOME TO THE WILDERNESS! Ages 1–4 (with adult) are invited to Welcome to the Wilderness! at the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (697 Veterans Pkwy.) from 9:30–10 a.m. Introduce your child to the wonders of nature in this fun-filled class starting each week with unique songs and a discussion about the animal of the week. Reinforce each topic with a simple craft and a nature hike or fun activity while learning about the wildlife that lives in Tennessee. Cost is $3 per person.

Registration is required. Please call the Tuesday before class to register at 615217-3017, or for more information, contact outdoormurfreesboro@murfreesborotn.gov.

THURSDAYS STROLLERCOASTERS Walk the Greenway for an hour each week with your child and stroller Thursdays from 9–10 a.m., and then stay and play at the Old Fort Park Kids’ Castle (1024 Golf Ln.).

Meet other parents and caregivers while getting in shape, exploring the Greenway and spending time with your child. Anyone can join at any time; no membership or registration is necessary. For all ages. For more information, contact 615-217-3017 or outdoormurfreesboro@murfreesborotn.gov.

THURSDAYS CHESS CLUB The Murfreesboro Chess Club meets each Thursday at 6 p.m. at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 907 E. Main St. Chess players of all levels are invited to come meet and play against other local chess enthusiasts. For more information on the club, call 615-713-9256 or email murfreesborochess@gmail.com.

BOROPULSE.COM

* APRIL 2019 * 7

APRIL 2019

CONCERT CALENDAR

THURS, 4/4

Americana Sunday Jam, Billy Plant, Levi Massie

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

MAYDAY BREWERY

HANDLEBARS

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

MTSU Wind Ensemble

World Famous Thursday Night Blues Jam

HANK’S

Jordan Carter

MAYDAY BREWERY

Jackson Harrison

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Dustin Bloom

PUCKETT’S GROCERY

Kyle Mercer

Jackson Harrison

Jennifer Davis, Amelia Lufkin, String Studio I

MON, 4/8 MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Alex Gater, Keya Mabiala

TUES, 4/9 BURGER BAR

Sarah Martin

FRI, 4/5

HANK’S

BURGER BAR

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Kyle and Jimmy

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

CJ’S

Drew Sims

COCONUT BAY CAFE

DJ Ceiz

HANK’S

Delyn Christain, Sarah Martin

HOP SPRINGS

The Hackey Sacks

MAIN STREET MUSIC

Purple Masquerade

MAYDAY BREWERY

The Truehearts

MEDIA RERUN

The Obsessed

Don Mealer MTSU Singers

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Shane Douglas

WED, 4/10 MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Commercial Ensembles

THURS, 4/11 HANDLEBARS

Thursday Night Blues Jam

HANK’S

J Kyle Reynolds, Joe Hooper, Phil Valdez

MEDIA RERUN

Harvey McLaughlin, Dirty Poors, Sparkling Wide Pressure

MILANO II

Jack Popek

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Evan Reichenfild, Kayla Schindler, Andrea Dawson, Adam Clark

PUCKETT’S GROCERY

Karianne Jean

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Shane & the Money Makers

SAT, 4/6 CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

COCONUT BAY CAFE

DJ BroCo

THE BORO

Radical Arts Open Mic

THE CROSSROADS

Knuckle Dragger, Mortius

FRI, 4/12 BURGER BAR

Kyle and Jimmy

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

CJ’S

Drew Sims

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Karaoke with Hitman Walker

HANK’S

Lauren Christine, Jack Finley Band

HANK’S

Brad Dix, Evan King, Zach Neil, Dale Clear

HOP SPRINGS

Johnny & June tribute with A.R. Cash

HOP SPRINGS

Mixtape (1980s tribute)

MAYDAY BREWERY

MILANO II

MJ’S

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

The Tim Turner Band

Shane & the Money Makers

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

High School Clarinet Choir, MTSU Chamber Orchestra

Jack Popek Evan Reichenfeld, Kevin Mendez, Chinese Ensemble

SHACKLETT’S PHOTOGRAPHY

Embassy Supernatural House of Worship

PUCKETT’S GROCERY

Matt Nicholls

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Double Down

SUN, 4/7 CJ’S

Lana Mason

HANK’S

Crosstown

HOP SPRINGS

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Shane & the Money Makers

THE BORO

Los Swamp Monsters

SAT, 4/13

MAYDAY BREWERY

Mark Henes

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Jacinda Drenckpohl, Allison Cooper, MTSU Symphony Orchestra

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Tony and the Attitude

TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Harlee Martin

SUN, 4/14 CJ’S

Lana Mason

HANK’S

The O’Donnells

HOP SPRINGS

Americana Sunday Jam, Janine LeClair and Macy Tabor

MAYDAY BREWERY

Jackson Harrison

MEDIA RERUN

Life In Vacuum, Shell of a Shell, Ryoki Center

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Women’s Chorale Nathaniel Paul, MTSU Brass Chamber Ensembles

BURGER BAR

Sarah Martin

HANK’S

Liz Bentley

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Shane Douglas

WED, 4/17 MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

MTSU Percussion Ensemble

THURS, 4/18 HANDLEBARS

Thursday Night Blues Jam

HANK’S

Ryan Bexley

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Christine Barham, MTSU Guitar Ensembles

FRI, 4/19 BURGER BAR

Kyle and Jimmy

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

CJ’S

Drew Sims

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Escape Band

HANK’S

Sara Simmons, Hamrick & Haynes

HOP SPRINGS

Triple Threat Band

MAIN STREET MUSIC

MEDIA RERUN

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SMYRNA VFW 8422

HANDLEBARS

THE BORO

HANK’S

SAT, 4/20

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

CJ’s 352 W. Northfield Blvd.

615-546-4164

THE BORO

Carmen’s Taqueria 204 W. Northfield Blvd., 615-848-9003

Shane & the Money Makers Unlawful, Jewel Machine

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

COCONUT BAY CAFE

DJ Gina

HANK’S

Colleen Lloy, Wes Loper

Tom Davidson

Boro Fondo Blast-Off

Murfreesboro Symphony Thursday Night Blues Jam Bailey Rose Daynah Charlow MTSU Strings and Friends Radical Arts Comedy

FRI, 4/26

HOP SPRINGS

BURGER BAR

MOAB

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

She Wears the Pants Mr. Magenta, Fugly Screw & the 2x4s, Trane, Year of October, Pep Goes Punk

MURFREESBORO LITTLE THEATRE

Anthony J, Vladopus 9, Funeral Fever, Julian & The Tree Climbers

Kyle and Jimmy Joe West

CJ’S

Drew Sims

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Zone Status

HANK’S

Blake Esse, Hank Cawthorne

MAIN STREET MUSIC

HOP SPRINGS

SMYRNA VFW 8422

MAIN STREET MUSIC

Burning Las Vegas

Mickey Gannon and Rockin’ Country

THE GREEN DRAGON

TUES, 4/16

Blonde Redhead 626 N. Maple St. 615-217-1728

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Jack Popek

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

MTSU Concert Band

THURS, 4/25

IF YOU GO

MILANO II

MON, 4/15

MAYDAY BREWERY

Vinyl Radio

Party with The Down Squad and more

THE BORO

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

LIVE MUSIC IN THE ’BORO

Dangerous Method Casey Jo & the Friday Night Daddies, These Heathens, Huttch, Finger Lakes, The Dune Flowers, Dance Troupe

David Bowie tribute Rubiks Groove

MAYDAY BREWERY

John Boyle

MILANO II

Jack Popek

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Shane & the Money Makers

THE BORO

Regular of the Obscene

THE GOAT

Ben Cesare

SUN, 4/21 CAMPUS PUB

Jamie O’Neal, Josh Stevens, Delaney Dean, Gold Rock Johnson, Gil Costello, Ethan Terestrial, Trash Cats, and more

CJ’S

Lana Mason

HOP SPRINGS

Americana Easter Sunday

MAYDAY BREWERY

Jackson Harrison

THE BORO

Cacophony, Abated Mass of Flesh, Off Hand, Skeetzo 'N Krysis, Aye Mammoth, and more

MON, 4/22 MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Tuba Studio, Student Woodwind Chamber

TUES, 4/23 BURGER BAR

SAT, 4/27 CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Graham Anthem Band

HANK’S

A Slice of American Pie, George Dunn

HOP SPRINGS

Triple Threat

MAYDAY BREWERY

The Lilliston Effect

MEDIA RERUN

Creatio, The Jewel Machine, Ryan Biter, Ryan Meeker

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Shane & the Money Makers

THE BORO

SQUARE

SUN, 4/28 CJ’S

Lana Mason

HANK’S

Clayton Mann Band, Emily Miller

Sarah Martin

HANK’S

HOP SPRINGS

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

MAYDAY BREWERY

Delyn Christian MTSU Symphonic Band

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Shane Douglas

WED, 4/24 MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

MTSU Concert Orchestra

Americana Sunday, My One and Only Jackson Harrison

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Trey Robertson

TUES, 4/30 BURGER BAR

Sarah Martin

Burger Bar 1850 Old Fort Pkwy.

615-895-5555 Campus Pub 903 Gunnerson Ave. 616-867-9893

Coconut Bay Café 210 Stones River Mall Blvd. 615-494-0504 First United Methodist 265 W. Thompson Ln. 615-893-1322 Green Dragon 714 W. Main St. 615-801-7171 Handlebars 2601 E. Main St. 615-890-5661 Hank’s 2341 Memorial Blvd.

615-410-7747 Hop Springs 6790 John Bragg Hwy. 615-628-8776 Main Street Music 527 W. Main St. 615-440-2425 Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Hwy. 615-479-9722 Media Rerun 2820 S. Rutherford Blvd., 615-907-0901 Milano II 114 E. College St. 615-624-7390 MJ’s 1253 NW Broad St. 615-546-5117 MTSU Wright Music 1439 Faulkinberry Dr. 615-898-2469 Murfreesboro Little Theatre 702 Ewing Blvd.

615-893-9825 Puckett’s Grocery 114 N. Church St. 629-201-6916 Shacklett’s Photography 105. S. Church St. 615-893-2369 Smyrna VFW 8422 10157 Old Nashville Hwy., Smyrna, 615-459-9832 The Boro Bar & Grill 1211 Greenland Dr. 615-895-4800 Trinity United 2303 Jones Blvd.

615-896-0413 Van’s Bar And Grill 2404 Halls Hill Pk. 615-624-7767

 View the Concert Calendar online at BOROPULSE.COM/CALENDAR

Sounds

Read more about local music at

boropulse.com/category/music

MURFREESBORO MUSIC STORES GET READY FOR RECORD STORE DAY APRIL 13 RECORD STORE DAY on Saturday, April 13, has grown into a way for communities to support and celebrate with their local indie record stores.

Many stores hold special events, sales, concerts, activities, food and more to celebrate the holiday.

“This is a day for the people who make up the world of the record store— the staff, the customers and the artists—to come together and celebrate the unique culture of a record store and the special role these independently owned stores play in their communities,” according to recordstoreday.com.

Look for limited releases this year from Cheap Trick, Modest Mouse, Anderson .Paak, Madonna, The Raconteurs, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Queen, DJ Khaled, Mumford & Sons, Pearl Jam, Prince and hundreds of other artists. Many of these releases are limited, so hit all of the record stores possible that day to shop the widest selection.

With the recent opening of The Great Escape, Murfreesboro now has at least four local stores offering sweet vinyl.

Celebrate with them on Saturday, April 13, and all throughout the year:

MUSIC NOTES

WATOTO CHILDREN’S CHOIR FROM UGANDA TO VISIT MIDDLE TENNESSEE IN APRIL FOR SERIES OF PERFORMANCES THE WATOTO CHILDREN’S CHOIR, a choir of 17 orphans from Uganda, will continue its six-month U.S. tour with April stops in Middle Tennessee.

The choir—which has performed in the White House, Buckingham Palace, before the United Nations and on Chris Tomlin’s album Hello, Love—features a brand new concert titled We Will Go! The choir’s April schedule includes a Saturday, April 6, performance in Murfreesboro at New Heights Chapel (2650 St. Andrew’s Dr.) at 6 p.m.

Since 1994, Watoto Children’s Choirs have traveled the world, shining a light on the plight of Africa’s orphaned children. Each year, the choirs advocate for millions of African children currently orphaned by AIDS, poverty and war. The experience of traveling with a choir helps the children to develop confidence and boldness. The choirs are part of the leadership training program of Watoto Child Care Ministries, which currently cares for more than 3,000 children living in family settings rather than an institution.

Along with energetic singing and dancing, the children will share inspiring stories of how their lives have been changed and how they have been called into a life of purpose to transform their communities. The show is an expression of joy from children who have been rescued after losing one or both parents to live in one of three Watoto villages. Their stories are journeys from despair to hope and from fear to faith.

“I am excited to be a part of We Will Go,” said Esther Kahangi, who was rescued by Watoto Ministries after being abandoned at a hospital as a premature baby who spent her first weeks in critical care. “I know that I am a wonder because I am chosen by God as His child.”

Brian Houston, Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church, calls seeing the Watoto Children’s Choir live an “extraordinary experience.”

“It lights up the place to see these beautiful kids, and when you hear their stories and learn about where they have come from, you can’t help but think of all God has done,” Houston said.

In addition to the April 6 concert at New Heights Chapel, the Watoto Children’s Choir will also perform April 7 at Freedom Church in Gallatin and at Woodmont Hills Church in Nashville, and on April 14 at Nolensville First United Methodist Church.

For more information on the choir and on Watoto Child Care Ministries, visit watoto.com.

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CENTURY 21 MUSIC & MORE 125 Lasseter Dr. 615-890-9168 This location will have live bands, sales on their records and a 9 a.m. kickoff.

MEDIA RERUN 2820 S. Rutherford Blvd.

615-907-0901 Find discounts on current vinyls along with the new vinyls that come in. Media Rerun will offer live music as well.

THE GREAT ESCAPE 810 NW Broad St. 615-900-1937 This legendary Nashville-based used media shop now has its Murfreesboro location open, and will get the RSD party started at 7 a.m. on April 13.

They will have a DJ, new releases and sales.

WAXFACE RECORDS 748 E. Northfield Blvd.

629-201-5956 This store, the one in Murfreesboro totally dedicated to only vinyl, has been taking requests from customers over the past months as to what releases they’d like to see on RSD, and will open that day at 9 a.m.

MURFREESBORO SYMPHONY TO CROWN SEASON WITH MORE MOVIE CLASSICS THE MURFREESBORO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA will end its 37th season on Thursday, April 25, mirroring the way it started. “Night at the Movies – The Sequel,” featuring first-time, main-stage, guest conductor Cesar Leal.

“This has truly been a great season for us. More people have attended than in a very long time for our mainstage concerts,” said MSO board of directors president Jane McNulty.

Leal, a Columbian-born musicologist and the current artist director and conductor of the Sewanee Symphony Orchestra will be conduct the April concert.

Leal has led ensembles across the US, Panama, Columbia, France and Ukraine.

Among the pieces to be performed on this final night of the season are selections from Barber of Seville, symphonies 5 and 7 by Ludwig van Beethoven, music from Frozen, The Sound of Music and Star Wars, to name a few.

“We’re working hard to give the community the very best of music. More and more people are realizing that we have a professional symphony orchestra in town and have made it part of their seasonal traditions,” McNulty said. “The veteran’s concert in November and Christmas concert in December are huge events.”

The concert takes place at First United Methodist Church, 265 W. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro at 7 p.m. For tickets, visit murfreesborosymphony.com.

ALBUMS

BY JORDAN HALL

AYE MAMMOTH Birth of a New Fire

MATT LUND AND THE WAGGERERS

Aye Mammoth recently released a concept EP called Birth of a New Fire. The Murfreesboro metal sludge trio has produced a sizable output of material over the pat few years, including last year’s Starless Midnight, centered around ominous doom and apocalyptic themes. Birth of a New Fire represents the band’s admirable attempt at making subtle creative transitions towards a more melodic rock sound.

The three puppeteers pulling the strings are Micah Loyed, Paul Haggard and Phil Stem, citing influences including rock ’n’ roll classics like Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath, Motörhead, Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy. With Haggard on bass and Stem on drums, Loyed serves as the lead vocalist and guitarist, and also fills in the blanks with synths.

The lyrics are enjoyable, but I find the mix of the album displays a lack of punch from the drums.

A powerful drum mix is a key element this EP is missing; some mixing tweaks could add even more energy behind the lyrics.

One of the biggest drawbacks of this release is its lack of tempo variation. The first three tracks are all locked in at 120 bpm, moving along to very similar rhythmic patterns. “War in the Eyes” kicks it up a notch with a faster tempo, featuring a punk-rock vibe different from the previous songs.

Unfortunately, there are some erratic timing issues that detract from Aye Mammoth’s trademark groove on this one; it just doesn’t have the band’s typical rhythmic fingerprint.

Aye Mammoth’s Beasts Infernal and Starless Midnight both feature solid sludge grooves. Birth of a New Fire doesn’t quite match the quality, but if you want to check out something powerful, dangerously feral and deliciously abrasive, give Aye Mammoth a listen.

Catch the band performing with Aedeagus and Lobo at Media Rerun on May 4! Birth of a New Fire is available for free at ayemammoth.bandcamp.com.

Get ready for the sizzle of sweet country blues. Matt Lund, songwriter, teacher and multi-instrumentalist, is now the lead virtuoso of The Waggerers. This ambitious side-project is an authentic mixture of the assorted bones that make country music popular.

Lund used his well-rounded sense of musicianship to recreate a little of Nashville’s trademark twang, capturing the energy of various sub-genres under the wide umbrella of country.

Lund is also an experienced music educator. He currently teaches jazz guitar and directs the Commercial Music Ensemble at MTSU, aside from the great work he does at Sky Studios in Brentwood.

Upon listening to the intricate embellishments of the opening track on the Matt Lund and The Waggerers album, “Pickin’ and Grits,” you’ll hear it all.

Lund is joined by fellow professionals such as Tyler Enslow from The Cosmic Collective and an impressive gang of guitar players including Josh McKee, Tyler Reese, Matt Berry and Schuylar Shoates. Proficient fiddle players are somewhat rare, but luckily, Bethany Olds fit the job description and jumped onboard. Drummer Duane Norman (Crystal Gayle) held down the rhythm. Together, all of these seasoned musicians deserve praise for helping Lund create the sound of The Waggerers.

The record features a modest collection of songs, primarily instrumental, though a few songs, such as “I Like Country Now,” feature vocals. The instrumental tracks are surely enjoyable; however, I found that the tracks with vocals don’t live up to that level of quality. We get a wide variety of country flavors but without the vocal heart and soul that would nudge it toward perfection.

The tracks are mixed surprisingly well. Every track is a near-crystal mix. The guitar picking is articulate. Slide guitar swoops and flutters over a bed of gritty blues. It’s an exceptional Southern pleasure.

Matt Lund and The Waggerers

A CLASSIC OUTSTANDING

AVERAGE BELOW AVERAGE

AVOID AT ALL COSTS DEAD

Sounds

Read more about local music at

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COSMIC COLLECTIVE

YAMIL CONGA

JENNIFER BRUCE AND DEJANU

Jennifer Bruce and DejaNu, Yamil Conga and Cosmic Collective to perform at 2019 JazzFest, May 3–4

M

ain Street JazzFest, set for May 3 and 4 on the Murfreesboro Public Square, has announced its 2019 main stage schedule for Saturday.

The annual Murfreesboro tradition features a mix of local school jazz bands and professional touring jazz musicians,

12 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

along with food, kids’ activities and more.

Attending the concerts is always free for the public.

The 2019 festival will feature Jennifer Bruce and DejaNu, the Cosmic Collective, Yamil Conga’s Nashville Latin AllStars, Music City Swing, First Fruit Jazz Project and other acts.

The Cosmic Collective is a transmuting ensemble of jazz musicians anchored on multi-instrumentalist bandleaders Nikki Elias and Tyler Enslow. The group’s effervescent chemistry evolves from performance to performance contingent upon the accompanying sidemen and the setting, making each show a unique and

personal experience.

The Cosmic Collective has been featured on Greg Pogue’s ACME Radio Nashville Jazz Show, headlined several festivals, and frequently performs at Rudy’s Jazz Room and Gray’s on Main, among various other venues.

Jennifer Bruce and her jazz quartet DejaNu provide a new spin to songs from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. The group gives a jazzy twist to pop songs from Paul Simon, Carole King, Stevie Wonder, Burt Bacharach, Hall & Oates, the Everly Brothers and many more.

Bruce, a self-proclaimed old soul, has a rich, sultry, soulful voice with a bluesinfluenced power. She started her career at the age of 10 performing at Disneyland and on USO tours in California. She has done extensive work in the recording studios of Nashville and has toured the country with a variety of groups.

She was a featured vocalist for three years aboard the General Jackson Showboat.

Jennifer Bruce and DejaNu released their second album, Old Wine in New Bottles, in 2018, and band members have worked with a wealth of notable musicians

over the years including Boots Randolph, Engelbert Humperdinck, Sandi Patti, Michael W. Smith, Brenda Lee, Steven Curtis Chapman, Crystal Gayle, Tony Orlando, the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Brian Setzer and Lorrie Morgan.

Saturday, May 4

MAIN STREET JAZZFEST LINEUP on the Bob Scales Main Stage

12 p.m. – Rutherford All-County Band 1 p.m. – MTSU Jazz Ensemble #1 2 p.m. – Cosmic Collective featuring Nikki Elias 3 p.m. – Music City Swing 4 p.m. – MTSU Jazz Faculty Jazztet 5 p.m. – First Fruit Jazz Project 6 p.m. – Yamil Conga’s Nashville Latin AllStars 7 p.m. – Jennifer Bruce & DejaNu Yamil Conga will also appear at an artist showcase that day at Center for the Arts at 3:30 p.m.

MUSIC NOTES BORO FONDO FEST RETURNS FOR PACKED WEEKEND OF BANDS AND BIKES APRIL 19–21 ON APRIL 19, BORO FONDO WILL KICK off its seventh festival. The bike tour brings a colorful community of cyclists together to experience local music and art. Throughout the festival, participating cyclists get to witness a series of electrifying live performances from some of the best bands in Murfreesboro.

Passionate folks from all over the region gather to bask in the glow of great bands and talented artists under the Tennessee sun and in venues throughout Murfreesboro. Grab your wheels and get weird!

The main bike ride begins on Saturday, April 20, at The Green Dragon, but everyone is encouraged to get a head start at the pre-show.

On Friday, April 19, at 6 p.m., Media Rerun will host a concert featuring The Vamptones, The Down Squad, The Strumms, Death Card and El Escapado. The event is free for all ages, though donations will be accepted to raise funds for next year’s Boro Fondo festival.

Over 60 different bands and musicians are scheduled to perform during the weekend.

Still Satellite, Knuckle Dragger, Aye Mammoth, Nuclear Bubble Wrap, Jamie O’Neal, Antler Hopkins, Neptune the Mystic and many others belong to a seemingly endless lineup. There’ll be plenty of bands to hear and a ton of art to see, and best of all, this community music and arts festival is completely free to the public.

Saturday’s tour can lead participants to MOAB, Murfreesboro Little Theatre, Vann’s Bar and Grill and to house venues around town, while Sunday features a packed day of bands at Campus Pub and The Boro.

The organizers and loyal followers who stand behind Boro Fondo are proud of the progress they’ve made over the years. The festival presents fragments of local artistry in the best way possible. The cycling community also plays a big role in the festival’s success. Awareness is raised around pedestrian and cyclist safety.

For more details about the lineup and festival schedule, visit borofondofest.org or facebook. com/borofondofestival. — JORDAN HALL

FORREST YORK LEADS NEW COMMUNITY RECORDING PROJECT, ASKS MUSICIANS TO SEND SUBMISSIONS MURFREESBORO GUITAR SHOP OWNER AND RECORDING ARTIST FORREST YORK has issued his latest community recording project.

He has recorded a guitar track—a mid-tempo, atmospheric tune in D major washed with a little delay and reverb—and uploaded it to SoundCloud. York invites interested instrumentalists to record parts to accompany his music and to send the recordings to him.

“I want a little of everything—weird stuff, beautiful stuff, odd instruments, traditional instruments.

It needs drums and percussion,” York said. “You tell me what it needs!”

Listen to the track on SoundCloud or on boropulse.com.

Once he has a sufficient amount of submitted musical material “I’ll mix them all together,” York said. “Set your tempo to 100 bpm.”

York used a similar method for the track “Shepards Pie” on his Rainy Season record; find that song on Spotify.

For more information or to submit recorded tracks to the project, email forrestyorkguitars@gmail.com.

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CEDARS OF LEBANON STATE PARK

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID DUPLESSIS, TENNESSEEPHOTOGRAPHS.COM

EXPLORE THE BEAUTIFUL STATE PARKS IN TENNESSEE

BY ANDREW WIGDOR

he first day of spring has come, and with it for many, the motivation to get outdoors and explore nature has also arrived. Luckily enough, Middle Tennessee is home to many beautiful state parks that provide residents with opportunities for hiking, biking, camping and more.

“From West Tennessee to East Tennessee, there’s a really wide spectrum of outdoor experiences,” said Josh Gibson, communications manager for Tennessee State Parks. “There’s this huge diversity, and the parks are free to enter and enjoy, so why wouldn’t you do it?”

Taking the chance to explore, hike, walk or bike through these huge natural areas can greatly benefit one’s mental and physical health.

Below, we have highlighted some of the best state parks in the Middle Tennessee area and the opportunities they provide.

One of the largest and most visited parks in the state, Fall Creek Falls spans 26,000 acres on top of the Cumberland Plateau. The park is home to gorges, streams, trails and the main attraction: Fall Creek Falls.

This waterfall stands at 256 feet and is one of the tallest waterfalls in the Eastern United States. Fall Creek Falls has 222 campsites in five areas of the park, and its more than 56 miles of trails can be utilized for long and short hikes. Fall Creek Falls is located in Van Buren and Bledsoe Counties and may be entered from Highway 111 or Highway 30. Visitors say this park offers great hiking trails that are accessible for adventurers of all ages.

A part of the Cedars of Lebanon State Forest, this park in Wilson County is named for the red cedar trees located throughout the forest. According to the Tennessee state park website, the trees in the area reminded early American settlers of cedar forests depicted in the Bible that grew across Mount Lebanon.

The park, founded in 1955, spans 1,139 acres.

It has 117 campsites, all equipped with tables, grills and electric and water hookups. Cedars of Lebanon also has a modern group lodge on its grounds that can hold up to 80 people, along with 30 tent and pop-up campsites. The park’s visitor center is located at 328 Cedar Forest Road in Lebanon. Most visitors describe the park as peaceful and beautiful.

Take A Hike

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SOUTH CUMBERLAND STATE PARK

A park known for some of the best hiking and backpacking opportunities in the nation, South Cumberland sprawls across 30,000 acres of land in Grundy, Franklin, Marion and Sequatchie Counties. For extremely adventurous hikers, the park is home to the trail known as the “Fiery Gizzard Trail,” 12.5 miles long, one-way. On the Gizzard, travelers can view rock formations, waterfalls, streams and more. The trail is rated by Backpacker Magazine as one of the country’s top 25. The park also boats many more miles of hiking trails, cave entrances and a visitor center with interactive exhibits. More than 100 campsites are also located within the park, and picnic pavilions for large parties can also be reserved. Many visitors of the park note the vastness of the space available to explore and how well-maintained the trails and park areas are.

14 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

FALL CREEK FALLS STATE PARK

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OLD STONE FORT STATE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

This park is named for Old Stone Fort, a Native American structure built 1,500 to 2,000 years ago for ceremonial purposes. The main hiking trail within the park follows along the wall of Old Stone Fort, and visitors can see the original entrance of the fort. Hikers have the opportunity to learn more about the structure through 12 interpretive panels. The park is also home to several waterfalls and a museum, which includes prehistoric Native American replicas, dioramas, photos and a small theater. The park is located in Coffee County, Tennessee, and the museum is located on Stone Fort Drive. Many visitors applaud the park and museum for its commitment to educating the public on the history of Old Stone Fort.

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EDGAR EVINS STATE PARK 

HENRY HORTON STATE PARK 

Located in Chapel Hill, this state park was built on the estate of former Tennessee governor Henry Horton in the 1960s. The remains of a mill and bridge that were used by the family of Horton’s wife for over 100 years can be viewed in the park. The park features an inn, cabins, RV campsites, tent campsites and more lodging options. The area is also home to the Buford Ellington championship golf course, known as a very challenging course due to the trees surrounding it and the many bunkers. Additionally, Henry Horton contains the Henry Horton Trap and Skeet Range, with five skeet fields and two trap fields. Visitors say the area is great for families and that it is kept very tidy.

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 BURGESS FALLS STATE PARK

Burgess Falls State Park, a day-use park located on the Falling Water River outside of Sparta, contains four magnificent waterfalls cascading down a total of 250 feet in elevation. A three-quarter-mile trail leads past the smaller falls and the remains of an old bridge to an overlook above the most spectacular of these waterfalls, which plunges 136 feet into the gorge below. Many visitors say the hike is not too strenuous, but has some hills, and the breathtaking view of the waterfall is well worth the trip. Also find fishing and picnic areas, a playground and a butterfly garden at Burgess Falls State Park.

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Located in White and Warren Counties, this park sits at the meeting place of Caney Fork, Collins and Rocky Rivers. The area includes the Caney Fork Gorge, which contains limestone paths, deep pools and scenic overlooks, below the Great Falls Dam. A 30-foot horseshoe waterfall, the Great Falls offers visitors a great view and is located below a 19th century cotton textile mill that used to be powered by the falls. Rock Island also features whitewater sections that draw in professional kayakers from across the country. Visitors often note the breathtaking scenery available at the park.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DUPLESSIS, TENNESSEEPHOTOGRAPHS.COM

ROCK ISLAND STATE PARK 

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PHOTO BY IVORY DOOR STUDIO

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LONG HUNTER STATE PARK

Located in Davidson and Rutherford Counties, Long Hunter gives visitors a wide array of opportunities such as fishing, hiking, boating and camping. It sits on the shores of Percy Priest Lake, and there are more than 20 miles of hiking trails in the park. The park is also home to Sellars Farm State Archaeological Area, which contains a Native American mound that is protected by Tennessee government. Visitors say that the park’s trails are great for leisurely walks.

RADNOR LAKE STATE PARK 

Protected as a Class II Natural Area, this park offers unique wildlife viewing opportunities and environmental education programs for visitors. The day park, which lies just outside Nashville, is home to owls, herons, species of reptiles and mammals such as otters. Hundreds of wildflower species can also be viewed and photographed in the park. The Walter Criley Visitor Center provides interpretive exhibits, wildlife displays and historical artifacts. Multiple trails are available for those wishing to experience the animal and plant life in the park.

Visitors praise the park as a great location to view nature.

PICKETT CCC MEMORIAL STATE PARK

Within the 19,200-acre Pickett State Forest, this park provides hiking trails, a recreational lodge, cabins and more. The park, located in Pickett County, northeast of Jamestown, originated when Stearns Coal and Lumber Company donated 12,000 acres of land to the state of Tennessee in 1933, and the Civilian Conservation Corps developed the land into a recreational area from 1934 to 1942. The park now acts as a memorial for the work that those in the CCC accomplished during this period. It also features the Pickett CCC Museum, which displays interpretive exhibits on the contributions of the CCC to state parks and natural areas around Tennessee. The more than 58 miles of hiking trails at the park vary in difficulty, with some areas accessible to young children and others that only experienced hikers should attempt. Many visitors say this is a great location if you are looking for a less crowded hiking environment.

PHOTO BY STEVE WARD

Located in DeKalb County, on the shores of Center Hill Lake, Edgar Evins provides 6,000 acres, including cabins, campsites and an observation tower that offers a unique view of the lake. The park is also home to many different forms of wildlife, including three different owl species, bald eagles and more.

There is also a marina in the park with a restaurant and gift shop. Park visitors say the view of the lake is stunning and commend the many amenities offered.

Living

Stay motivated with high-energy workout routines and instructors at

iLoveKickboxing STORY BY SEMAJ THOMAS / PHOTOS BY BRACKEN MAYO

E

nergy is everything when it comes to working out. It motivates, pushes and takes everyone in the room to the next level! That said, it is important to surround yourself with trainers and other trainees who can help motivate and push the fundamental aspect of energy.

If you find yourself looking for a highenergy group workout in the area, and a little motivation from an energetic trainer or two, give the Murfreesboro iLoveKickboxing location a try.

At iLoveKickboxing, which opened in 2018 at 833 Memorial Blvd., the training crew definitely surprised, motivated and taught me throughout the workout that I experienced there. I learned the correct formation for simple moves, such as a front-kick, sweeping and jabs, and then even went on to learn more complex moves, such as an uppercut, the heel, crescent kick and the oh-so-difficult back kick.

Julie Kowalchuk moved to Murfreesboro from New York to operate the local iLoveKickboxing franchise, and the energy

from her team of instructors remains high the entire workout time, as they encourage everyone to give it their all.

Before attending the class, I read a little about the iLoveKickboxing approach to gain more understanding of what the program was all about, and I came across their core values; one of them that truly stood out to me was the first one: warming up.

Warming up is very important in working out or physical activity. It helps get the blood

flowing in your body and prevents injury.

The loud music at the beginning of class helped everyone get pumped and energized for the warmup, and once everyone, including myself, really got into it, we all built up a good sweat after just the first few minutes of the workout session. For a moment I thought to myself, “If this is the warmup, what is the real workout going to be like?!�

From there we continued on stretching, a long period of bag work (segmented

into smaller brief combinations), partner drills, conditioning and then, finally, the cool-down.

The majority of the clients at iLoveKickboxing are women, but the group will also welcome men who dare to give the workout a try.

While participants do receive some detailed instruction on properly delivering different punch and kick techniques, the goal of iLoveKickboxing is not to necessarily prepare people to step in the ring at a competitive kickboxing tournament. Rather, these workouts are ideal for anyone of any fitness level who wants to get in better physical shape, feel better about themselves and have a group of accountability partners motivating them to keep on pushing.

To learn more, give iLoveKickboxing a visit at 833 Memorial Blvd. or visit ilovekickboxing.com or call 615-2958388 for more information. Ask about their special trial offer, which provides gloves and three classes for $9.99.

BOROPULSE.COM

* APRIL 2019 * 17

Living

Farmers Market Education Series

BY EDWINA SHANNON

The Yield Increase of Composting SPRING HAS SPRUNG. The inner gardener in each of us is looking for an outlet. I am happy to suggest that it is possible, even for apartment dwellers and those who work throughout the daylight hours, to satisfy this quest to grow plants. In an ideal situation, people could work outdoors under a beautiful blue canvas of sky. There would be an area of land that you worked and produced with, a partnership between human and earth. For those without a spot of land, the need to produce from the earth can be met with container and tower gardens. The adventuresome can delve into aquaponics.

For what purpose are you getting dirt in your nails? Are you wanting to improve the nutritional quality of the food that you and your family eat? Are you needing to grow an unusual vegetable or fruit that you crave? Are you looking to beautify your dwelling?

Whatever your reason for growing plants, the plant you grow is reflective of the soil from which it grows. The question is, are you planting in a healthy soil? Can you recognize healthy soil? Does it need fixing? It can pay off to invest some initial time and effort to improve the growth conditions of the plant, which directly affects the results—flowers and fruit.

The Grow Network provided some webinars for those interested in food production.

Tom Bartels from Durango, Colorado, focuses on “using natural systems to increase nutritional density per square foot while reducing labor.” It is achieved by minimally working the soil while honoring the natural law of return.

What happens below ground is the key to success. Gardening pulls most from the top 8 inches of soil but should have access to feet below the topsoil. Is your soil aerated or compacted? Soil is alive, and the roots of a plant 18 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

have relationships with the bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes and microarthropods in the soil structure. Oxygen is needed.

Bartels’ first technique uses a broadfork and double digging. The broadfork is used to aerate the soil. It respects the structure of the soil.

The 10-to-16-inch tines are pushed into the soil by standing on it and the handle is rocked a third of the way to the ground. That is it. No dirt flipping; no bringing weed seeds to the surface. Double digging moves the top 4-to-8 inches of soil. Standing on a ¾-inch-thick piece of plywood as a deck, the topsoil removed is placed on top of the previous section.

Compost and green mulch is placed into the area removed. The dig from the next section will cap the compost mulch with its topsoil.

After the garden had been improved for several seasons, Bartels showed usage with a garden spade and garden fork, I would guess because the soil needed less improving. Compost was always added to the new digs. Finally, the least disturbance and less work was accomplished after several years of concentrated soil improvements. The soil must have over 10 percent organic matter to qualify and must have use of cover crops. It is a no-till method where compost gets added to decomposing cover crops and the productive crops gets planted within the compost and decaying plants. It is a soil food web, sponsored by composting, supplied by human efforts, honoring the natural law of return, regenerative gardening. See more at growfoodwell.com.

Ah, the power of returns . . .

I continue along with webinars and looking for high returns with a little investment.

For one, I take, “Worm Composting in Trenches for Massive Garden Productivity,” given by Canadian Bentley Christie of Red

Worm Composting blog fame. This is not your expected vermicomposting hurrah. I respect gardeners who have vermicomposting bins. It is a commitment and I just know that it is not for me. I will be bored feeding worms in a bin. In fact, I expect to fail, so I continue with my kitchen scraps and nature’s gifts going into my compost piles.

In order to maintain this method you will need a good, continual source of compostables. They can be obtained from schools, restaurants, halls, caterers, living facilities or cafeterias. You would make a commitment to take their compostables. Could be a win/win.

Start relatively small. The basics are the same as a vermicomposting bin. Dig a hole next to the area where vegetables or plants will grow. The trench should not be walked on. It should be about 3 feet deep, 1-to-3 feet wide and about 6 feet long, with room for expansion on at least one end. Does it need to be lined? If the soil is exceptionally sandy (drains fast) or has moles, yes, line with a pond liner. Stay away from poly-weave plastic tarps. Create a false bottom. Woody debris and brush works. (Think hugelkultur base.)

Add absorbent materials like cardboard, paper waste, straw and hay.

Then you need to set up the active zone, which is a balance of bedding and food. Use compostable kitchen scraps, grass clippings, aged horse manure (never on top) and green compost. Stay away from chicken manure, as its salt and ammonia content is lethal for composting worms. You could add rotted hardwood chips; this helps with aeration.

Comfrey is a favorite green compost because of its high nitrogen content. Water each layer as it goes into the trench. There will be a lot of settling, so layer it higher than the growing row it abuts.

The trench can get hot. For worms, the ideal temperature is 58–86° F. You can add existing vermicomposting worms (Eisenia fetida/E. andrei) on top of the pile. They are a mild worm and do more composting faster than the earthworm. You will need to protect worms from heat, cold and dryness.

Cover is necessary; use straw, hay and/or green manure. Once the freeze comes, cover with a tarp.

This is a hungry system. It needs to be expanded either by adding more on top or expanding on the sides. Tomatoes, leafy greens, squash and corn are great vegetables to plant next to a first-season trench. Plants will remove moisture from the trench. The trench may need watering as well as your plants. Find more at redwormcomposting.com.

Upcoming Events at the UT Extension Ag Center

The facility at 315 John R. Rice Blvd. is a great resource for gardeners and farmers.

APRIL 13 Adventures in Agriculture Free exhibits, games and a trolley ride from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Demonstration on proper crepe myrtle pruning, soil testing, small animals, food safety and 4H activities.

APRIL 18 Organic Home Vegetable Gardening Free class in the Community Center by Extension agent Mitchell Mote and Rachel Painter at 6 p.m. Covers how to do organic vegetable gardening, build soil, species selection, plant nutrition and garden pest control. Register by calling 615-898-7710.

APRIL 30–MAY 21 Tennessee Master Horse Program Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6–9 p.m. $150 family cost. For information and registration, call 615-898-7710

MAY 3, 10, 17 AND 24 Master Food Volunteer Training Education towards safe food handling, nutrition, food prep and preservation from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The program includes 30 hours of training followed by 30 hours of volunteering. $120. Register by calling 615-898-7710

SATURDAY, MAY 4 Growing Vegetables Upstairs boardroom at Linebaugh Library at 9 a.m. Free class by Master Gardeners on soil, sun and water needs, garden structures, typical and “wow” vegetables.

Register by calling 615-893-4131.

FRIDAY, MAY 10 Rutherford County Farmers Market 7 a.m. to noon at Lane Agri-Park Community Center. Free class at 9 a.m. Produceronly market

SATURDAY, MAY 11 Master Gardener Plant Swap 9 a.m. to noon at Lane Agri-Park Community Center. Bring your extra vegetable plants, flowering plants, bulbs, corms, trees or houseplants. 1 plant = 1 swap.

Plants need to be labeled with plant name and growth habits. No small seedlings, seeds or invasive plants.

Living CHANGES IN FEDERAL FUNDING for public housing are motivating redevelopment across the nation, and Murfreesboro is no exception. In response to the evolving landscape of affordable housing, the Murfreesboro Housing Authority has launched a multi-phase, multi-year plan for the redevelopment of Oakland Court, a public housing neighborhood with 76 homes on approximately 20 acres of land between North Academy and Maney Avenue.

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the 1.2 million units of public housing in the United States’ Public Housing program have a documented repair backlog of nearly $26 billion. HUD’s website also states that the program loses 100,000 units annually due to demolitions and dispositions, a direct result of the constant need for repairs. In an attempt to resolve the issue of inadequate federal funding, the voluntary Rental Assistance Demonstration program has been instituted by HUD. RAD aims to provide Public Housing Agencies and owners of HUD-assisted housing with access to stable funding through an “established industry of lenders, owners and stakeholders,” according to HUD’s website. Agencies such as the Murfreesboro Housing Authority are able to establish long-term contracts that allow for the financing of improvements and renovations through public and private debt and equity, in order to avoid consequences such as demolition.

“This program is beneficial at this time to look at what is known as public housing and to reposition what we currently have,” said Thomas Rowe, the executive director of the Murfreesboro Housing Authority.

“You can go through any public housing development, and you can know exactly that it is public housing,” Rowe added. “We want to reface our development so people can’t ride through and [see it carry] a stigma that that’s public housing. For years, we have not been given adequate funding to maintain the units.”

Rowe said that the current housing units have sewer lines collapsing under slabs and other prominent maintenance issues that cannot be remedied without additional funding.

“Our goal is to bring them up to today’s standards,” Rowe said.

If the funding is eventually secured, the 20 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

PHOTO BY MERBA KNIGHT/WPLN

Murfreesboro Housing Authority Launches Planning Process for Redevelopment of Public Housing Neighborhoods

BY ANDREW WIGDOR

plan calls for 76 homes at Oakland Court to be completely replaced with new homes, for 74 new homes to be added to the neighborhood and for general improvements throughout the neighborhood. The funding will be through secured loans and Low Income Housing Tax Credits issued by the Tennessee Housing Development Agency, if all necessary applications are approved.

The Housing Authority plans to also redevelop Mercury Court and Parkside, two other public housing neighborhoods in Murfreesboro, within the next six to eight years if funding continues to be secured.

MHA is striving to finalize the master plan for Oakland Court by July of 2019, and, once funding is secured, 30 families currently living in the neighborhood will be temporarily relocated for 12 to 18 months.

During that relocation, Phase I of the plan will be completed, with 76 new homes

being built where the existing 30 stood.

Then, with the new homes finished, the 30 who relocated will move into the 76 new homes, along with the 46 residents who stayed in the neighborhood during the first phase. The projected time frame for Phase I’s completion is December 2021.

In Phase II, 74 new homes will be constructed, for a total of 150 homes in the Oakland Court neighborhood. After this portion of the plan is completed, families who live in the Mercury Court public housing neighborhood on Hancock Street will move into the new housing on Oakland Court. At that time, the 15 acres at Mercury Court will be redeveloped and will include more affordable and mixed income housing, along with possible commercial development.

The plan’s first steps are simply reaching out to residents and stakeholders in the area and listening for feedback. This process has

already begun, and two meetings were held with the public and stakeholders in March.

Rowe stated that, due to the increased number of cars that would be present after the addition of more housing units, the biggest concern he’s been made aware of is traffic. Some locals, however, see the development possibly causing more issues than it would solve.

“Didn’t those homes just recently get new gutters, roofs, windows?” asked David Criswell, a Murfreesboro businessman.

“Seems kinda silly to tear them down now.”

Shawn Wright, another Murfreesboro real estate professional, agreed, saying, “This is a terrible idea . . . We just spent tons of money renovating these. Why tear them down and build newer houses that create more maintenance? If anything, why not sell these with contractual obligations to tear them down and build a home with [certain restrictions]?

Others say rather than grouping all of the public housing units together in one area, they may like to see the families live in neighborhoods scattered all over town.

“A thought that causes me conflict is whether or not we should continue to segregate lower income people into these housing complexes,” said Bill Jakes. “I much prefer the concept of housing allowances or vouchers from the federal government that allow someone to live in a regular neighborhood.”

However, Allie Becker, a resident who lives near Oakland Court, said she sees the benefit of renovating the area.

“As for segregating them, I don’t really see it that way,” Becker said. “I am a homeowner who lives a block from these homes. My kids have gone to school with the kids who live there. Many of them wave and say hello when we’re out for walks. These people are our neighbors, and for the most part, they’re good neighbors. They also offer more than just housing in the way of daycare, gardening plots and other amenities. So having them in an area where they can easily access these things makes sense.”

For more information on the Murfreesboro Housing Authority, its plans and its mission to provide decent, safe and sanitary housing for area families who need it, visit mha-tn.org.

Living Rutherford County Cat Rescue continues its mission to find fur-ever homes for felines

BY LAURA LINDSAY

Cats for Keeps S

ince Rutherford County Cat Rescue became a 501(c)3 in 2015, its small group of volunteers have spayed or neutered hundreds of stray cats, contributing to a large reduction of cats in the county animal shelter and preventing several thousand occurrences of euthanasia.

Irma Lowe, Renee Rosson and Jennie Joslin started the group in 2014.

RCCR primarily aims to spay and neuter cats, said Colleen Bowles, who has volunteered with the group since 2015. The effect of spay and neuter multiplies.

In 2014, Rutherford County Pet Adop22 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

tion & Welfare Services, the animal shelter known as PAWS, adopted out 382 cats, and 65 percent of the cats—or 1,617—that were brought in were euthanized, according to a PAWS report from that year.

In 2018, PAWS’ euthanization rate fell to 5–6 percent, according to Lindsay Frierson, public relations and media specialist with PAWS. The cat rescue organization provides support to PAWS when cats need specialized care, and helps with surgeries and medical treatment for cats found injured or sick.

“PAWS can’t take on little kittens [who

are not yet weaned] or cats that are not adoptable for whatever reason,” Bowles said. “They just don’t have the means to do this and so they have reached out to rescues to try to help and to help with those mamas that come with babies.”

In 2018, more than 1,000 cats brought to PAWS were transferred to the care of rescues.

“We are able to save animals when we have someone who can assist us and also help when an animal is sick,” Frierson said.

Most of RCCR’s focus is on wild cats.

“We seek donations through GoFundMe and we also have a PayPal link,” Bowles said. “A lot we will do comes from requests for help. Like a time a lady found a kitten behind a warehouse who was less than six months old and whose leg was broken in three places. Unfortunately, it was too much to try to repair the leg and it had to be amputated. We do several of those over the course of a year and the cats are fine afterward— cats are resilient. We post to our Facebook page asking for donations and telling them the situation, and we have had great responses from the community.

This is how we run.

“The cats can’t speak for themselves so we try and help them,” Bowles added.

“We mainly do TNR, which is trap, neuter, release. We have four or five volunteers who work on this in their spare time. We run off our Facebook page. We get tons of messages each day, from people needing to re-home their cats. We can’t help with this because we don’t have a facility. We help when people find a cat and don’t know what to do with it [or] find kittens or find a bunch of strays in their area and want

help in trying to control them.”

She says they work with various other organizations in the community to find homes for these cats. Several of their rescues go to PetSmart for adoption, and RCCR has also partnered with Catfeine Cat Cafe, which opens April 5 and is a place to socialize with cats you can adopt.

Cats can also be viewed and adopted from the RCCR Facebook page.

There is a need for adoption of adult cats and senior cats. Adult cats are great because they have already established their personalities, Bowles said. Senior cats are good for older adults who want company and not the most active kitten. Right now there is an 8-year-old cat named “King” listed on the RCCR Facebook page who is a good cat, and one the group would love to find a good home for.

RCCR is also looking for homes for barn cats who like to be mousers and need a secure building to go to at night to stay away from predators.

The rescue is always in need of foster homes for cats and kittens, donations and for more volunteers to help with operations and support.

For more information on Rutherford County Cat Rescue or to adopt or donate, find them at facebook.com/ rutherfordcountycatrescue or visit rutherfordcountycatrescue.org.

Art

 EVENTS

Clockwise from top: Jewelry by Sarah Henderson; Bourbon Street by Frederick Jones; Artwork by Mike McDougal; Rabbit by Janice Reeves; “When it Hits”

by John Dixon

Artists Come Together Once More for Boro Art Crawl, April 12 The April Boro Art Crawl celebrates the season of Earth Day with a variety of visual and multimedia artists on Friday April 12, 6–9 p.m. in downtown Murfreesboro.

The Boro Art Crawl is a free community event. It features local and regional artists at boutiques, cafes, offices and other buildings on and around the Murfreesboro Public Square.

Refreshments are served at most venues and organizers encourage attendees to check out local restaurants and stores during the night. Proceeds from all art purchases go directly to the artists.

In April, view art by Michael Martin, Claudia Lopes and Mike McDougal at The Walnut House, Phil Wag-

Dr. Barbara and Leroy Hodges Open First Exhibition at New Patterson Park Gallery The Washington Theatre and Patterson Park Community Center host the premiere of “Spring Into the Arts,” an exhibition of modernist paintings by Murfreesboro-based artists and community advocates Leroy and Dr. Barbara Hodges. Spring Into the Arts is the first exhibition to open at the new art gallery and community project space in the lobby of the Washington Theatre. Featuring an extensive selection of paintings the artistcouple has produced both together and independently over the last several years, the exhibition celebrates their robust arts practice and contribution to Murfreesboro’s creative community. The show surveys the Hodges’ work related to community, time and music, with particular emphasis on work that denotes the regeneration, renewal and metamorphosis associated with various phases of life.

24 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

ner at Boro Town Cakes and find the the jewelry of Royce Vaughn at Simply Pure Sweets.

John Dixon will return to the lobby of the Murfreesboro Pulse headquarters at 105 N. Maple St. to exhibit a colorful array of his detailed, psychedelic works exploring geometry, psychology and animals.

Other participating venues include Exchange Boutique, L & L Contractors, Jimmy Fox Farmers Insurance, Liquid Smoke, Mayday Brewery, Next Home Realty, ReVintaged Lemon, Simply Pure Sweets, Sugaree’s, Veda’s, City Hall Rotunda, Onyx, Hernandez Mexican Deli, Bradley Academy Museum and Terri Leigh’s Boutique.

The Boro Art Crawl is held the second Friday of every other month.

For a complete list of venues, see the Boro Art Crawl map on page 25, or visit boroartcrawl.com.

“This exhibition signifies the passion, joy and hope found with springtime. The observer determines the story as it relates to their life,” the Hodges said in a statement. “It is our hope that the viewer finds these artworks to be inspiring, uplifting and empowering.”

Working with intense, colorful and poignant palette choices the Hodgeses’ respective creative practices converge in the exhibit with a shared vibrancy of color and subject matter. Working between a number of modernist stylistic references—from drip and slash painting, cubism and color fields to abstraction—the two artists cover a breadth of technical mastery with paint.

Spring Into the Arts is open through April 27. The artists invite everyone to attend the opening reception on Saturday, April 6, 3–5 p.m. at the gallery.

Patterson Park Community Center is located at 521 Mercury Blvd.

Art

 EVENTS

Big V to Participate in April 12 Rutherford County Hot Chicken and Art Showcase ON FRIDAY, APRIL 12, FROM 6 TO 11 p.m., the Rutherford County Hot Chicken and Art Showcase will offer a rich blend of art, food and hands-on experiences at The Gateway Village on Thompson Lane.

This special showcase will feature a tasteful collection of festivities amidst displays of art designed by a dozen gifted visual artists. An exciting lineup of special guests has been invited to make exclusive appearances.

Taiisha Bradley, a Murfreesboro-based publicist with over 20 years of experience in PR and communication, has created this event to promote her and her clients’ passions, and to satisfy her natural itch for making strong connections.

“I feel like this is my purpose,” says Bradley. “I support people.”

The showcase was born out of Bradley’s love for art, and a desire to bring Murfreesboro an urban-inspired event. It’s a different vibe she hopes will spark more variety in the future.

Vito “Big V” Tisdale, a former member of the rap group Nappy Roots, is one of the special guests. The multiplatinum-selling rapper is also a youth arts philanthropist who plans to speak to kid CEOs and entrepreneurs featured at the showcase. He’s a strong believer of big dreams and hard work, which happens to be at the heart of his clothing line, Working Class.

Priorities changed after Vito left Nappy Roots. Today, he’s a proud family man who wants to empower younger generations to 26 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

make wise life decisions.

Tisdale drops beautiful nuggets of life advice by the dime, telling people things like, “It’s so easy to smile but a lot harder to frown.” V pushes kids to find a good focus, hold it tight and never let go.

Nashville-based visual artist Preston Mitchell also plans to make an appearance at the April 12 Rutherford County Hot Chicken and Art Showcase, as does Shawn Whitsell, a director of stage and film entertainment who will present spoken word performances at the event.

Following the theme of youth empowerment in the community, Bradley also invited a special nonprofit organization called Sankofa Achievement Center. The organization specializes in helping troubled youth come closer to self-realization and academic and social excellence.

Taste delicious eats from local vendors such as Boro Town Cakes, King of Pops, The Alley on Main, B. Chill Lemonade and Grandma’s Hands Desserts. For adults, Big Creek Winery Tasting Room and Brunch Money will be there to offer tastings of their finest. All of the vendors and fun onsite activities at the showcase will help create an engaging experience for people of all ages.

All ages welcome. This event is free, but RSVP is required. To claim free tickets for the event and for more information about vendors, guests and featured artists, visit taiishabradley.com/events.

— JORDAN HALL

MTSU Baldwin Gallery Hosts Photos by Patty Carroll THROUGH APRIL 17 MTSU WILL HOST “Anonymous Women: Camouflage and Calamity,” an exhibit by Chicago-based photographic artist Patty Carroll.

The Baldwin Photographic Gallery will feature more than 25 of Carroll’s largescale works from her ongoing project of highly intense, saturated color photographs. Through luxe studio installations made for the camera, Carroll confronts the complicated and changing relationship between women and domesticity. By camouflaging female mannequins with drapery and domestic objects, she creates a dark and humorous game of hide-and-seek. The series has been exhibited internationally and has won multiple awards. Carroll’s photographs have been shown internationally in many one-person exhibits in China and Europe, as well as in the U.S. Baldwin Gallery, located on the second floor of the Bragg Media and Entertainment Building, is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays when university classes are in session. The exhibition runs through April 17.

For more information on the Baldwin Gallery, visit baldwinphotogallery.com.

For more information on Carroll, visit pattycarrollphotography.com.

Photographers Can Enter Focus on the Boro Competition FOCUS ON THE BORO will accept images for its 2019 competition through May 3. The competition is open to photographers of all ages, styles and experience levels who live in Rutherford County. Each photographer may submit up to three images in any of the categories: people, landscape, still life, animals, flora, architecture, sports/action, abstract/special effects and Murfreesboro. There will be separate awards for youth (ages 17 and younger) and adults. Submit images at culturalartsmurfreesboro.submittable.com. Judges will select images to be part of a Focus on the Boro display shown in the Murfreesboro City Hall Rotunda from June 3 to July 5. All exhibits in the Rotunda Gallery (111 W. Vine St.) are free and open to the public. Results of the final judging will be announced at a community reception on Friday, June 14.

For more information about the Focus on the Boro photography project, contact photoconnectmboro@gmail.com.

Art

 THEATER

The Producers Brings a Broadway Scheme to Center for the Arts Stage CENTER FOR THE ARTS PRESENTS the Mel Brooks’ classic movie turned Tony Award-winning musical The Producers, March 22 to April 7.

This hilarious comedy set to music, which originally starred Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, follows two men as they seek to pull off the greatest scheme in Broadway history.

Co-directors Chris McLaurin and Natalie Quinn, who last directed the award-winning Pirates of Penzance at the Center in 2017, are thrilled with the progress of the show.

“The cast is one of the most talented, dynamic and outrageous casts I’ve ever seen,” says Quinn.

McLaurin says “I’m thrilled to have our original 2017 production staff back together.

Sure, we have our dysfunctional moments, but this is art—who wants functional art?”

Dysfunction is the name of the game as Max Bialystock (John Frost) teams up with mousy, meek, mild-mannered accountant Leo Bloom (Tucker Young). After an observation from Leo that you can make more money with a flop than with a hit, the pair set out to produce the worst show Broadway’s ever seen. With a play written

by Franz Liebkind (Jared Taylor), they approach world-renowned theatrical director Roger DeBris (Russell Forbes) and his common-law assistant Carmen Ghia (Ryan Fiero), who are given permission to make the play as “gay as anyone could want.”

With the production team set, the wheels begin to turn on the production of Springtime for Hitler.

They return to Max’s office and are met

by Ulla (Poem Atkinson), who is ready to audition. She sends the boys stumbling

over their words as she flaunts what she’s got, and is immediately cast as the female lead. But her budding romance with Leo could jeopardize the producers’ partnership. Finally, it’s opening night, but a wrench is thrown into the works when their new show turns out to be a hit, and Max and Leo are left to deal with the repercussions of success.

Come join the cast of unforgettable characters in this laugh-out-loud story of

two unlikely friends weathering the challenges of failure and fame.

Tickets start at $14 and are currently on sale at boroarts.org, by calling 615904-ARTS (2787) or at the Center for the Arts Box Office, 110 W. College St., in downtown Murfreesboro. This production is rated PG-13. The Producers runs through Sunday, April 7, with showtimes at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays.

Little Theatre Explores Disturbed Imagination of The Pillowman MURFREESBORO LITTLE THEATRE presents The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh in April.

Directed by Brendon Taylor, this show features Katurian, a writer of short stories that often depict violence against children. Two detectives have arrested Katurian because some of his stories resemble recent child murders.

The story is told between his interrogation and the tales he’s crafted from his disturbed imagination, a result of his dark childhood.

The production runs April 5–7 and 11–14 with showtimes at 7 p.m. Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays.

This show is intended for mature audiences.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for students and seniors and $5 for MLT members.

Murfreesboro Little Theatre is located at 702 Ewing Blvd., Murfreesboro. For reservations or more information, visit mltarts.com.

28 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

PHOTO BY KRISTINE SHARP

MTSU PHOTO BY J. INTINTOLI

MTSU Spring Showcase Features Wing Fling, “Spring Awakening,” Songwriters Night, Runway Show and Martha Boyd Ethical Leadership Week keynote discussion with Janet Miller of Colliers International APRIL 13: The 16th annual Kappa Delta Wing Fling APRIL 13: College of Behavioral and Health Sciences’ Textiles, Merchandising and Design Runway Show Visitors also can attend a Department of Physics and Astronomy Star Party and aerospace alumni barbecue April 5, catch a Makerspace tour April 9, take in the “Coach Dean Hayes—A Lasting Legacy at Home and Abroad Exhibit” all week in the James E. Walker Library, watch the Blue Raider baseball team play Western Kentucky (April 5–7), Vanderbilt (April 9) and UAB (April 12–13) or have lunch and hear tales from outer space with Murfreesboro resident and former NASA astronaut Robert “Hoot” Gibson on Monday, April 8.

Rhonda King, alumni relations assistant

jects include air traffic control, concrete and construction, aerial videography with a drone, Harry Potter-themed lectures, philosophy of the mind, folk and fairy tales and language and literacy in education.

King said the Office of Alumni Relations will be offering personalized tours of campus.

“Let us know what you want to see and we will custom design a tour for you,” she said.

For more information and a full schedule of events, call 615-898-2922 or visit mtalumni.com.

MTSU PHOTO BY ANDY HEIDT

THERE ARE NUMEROUS ACTIVITIES, classes, sporting events and more available to alumni and university friends during the upcoming MTSU Spring Showcase April 5–13.

Working in collaboration with many campus departments and programs, the Office of Alumni Relations will offer the spring showcase, allowing university alumni and friends to sample what’s taking place on campus this spring.

Activities and events include: APRIL 5–7: The MTSU Arts production of “Spring Awakening” APRIL 5 & 12: College of Media and Entertainment Student Songwriters and Bands Nights APRIL 12: 50th anniversary celebrations for Chi Omega sorority on April 6 and Sisters of Alpha Delta Pi (Epsilon Tau chapter) APRIL 9, 10 & 13: School of Music concerts APRIL 10: Jones College of Business Tom

director, said Showcase “is a universitywide effort to engage alumni and the community members in today’s MTSU. “We invite you to sit in on a class or lecture, see a play, enjoy a concert, gaze at the stars, cheer on the Blue Raiders and more,” she added. “From fashion to outer space and Harry Potter to chicken wings and many things in between, there is something for everyone during this year’s Spring Showcase.”

And there’s quite an array of open classes alumni and the general public can sit in on, especially in the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Basic and Applied Sciences. Sub-

BOROPULSE.COM

* APRIL 2019 * 29

Art

 POETRY IN THE BORO BY KORY WELLS

Observe Poetry Month with Books from MTSU English Faculty, Independent Poetry Festival, Staging the Page APRIL IS NATIONAL POETRY MONTH.

From reading new work by local poets to attending a festival, there’s no shortage of local ways to mark this observance.

DISCOVER A NEW BOOK

BY A LOCAL POET Several poets with local connections as Murfreesboro residents or MTSU faculty have new books recently published.

Gaylord Brewer, an MTSU English professor and likely our county’s most prolific poet, has recently published his tenth poetry collection, The Feral Condition, with Negative Capability Press.

Matthew Leavitt Brown, also with the MTSU English department and founder of several community writing projects for veterans, domestic violence survivors and immigrants, has published Thou Art That with Cherry Grove Collections. Brown talks about his new book in an interview on MTSU’s On the Record program.

Local poet Amie Whittemore continues the trend of making MTSU English proud; “Poem for My Former Niece,” a poem from her book 30 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

PHOTOS BY JIM DAVIS/MURFREESBORO PARKS AND REC

Glass Harvest, was recently featured on The Writer’s Almanac, and her poem “Frail Migration” recently won a Reader’s Choice Award at Cold Mountain Review.

In the wider community, but still inside our city limits, Navita Gunter, a Poetry in the Boro regular and recent feature, has just released her new chapbook N2Words, and will be signing copies at Linebaugh Library on Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

And newcomer Mike James, who had a poem featured in last month’s column, has a new book of prose poems released in March, Jumping Drawbridges in Technicolor from Blue Horse Press.

Google any of these authors or book titles to sample or buy their work from Amazon, Barnes and Noble or the publisher.

ATTEND A POETRY FESTIVAL On Sunday, April 14, Poetry in the Boro will forego its usual monthly event to participate in the Nashville Independent Poetry Festival, an event designed to “cultivate the intersections of poetry, our community, and each other.” Vendors will in-

clude Parnassus Books, McKays, Third Man Records and Books, The Porch Writers’ Collective, small presses, DIY book-makers and more. Numerous poets are performing, including Murfreesboro Poet Laureate Kory Wells. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Admission is free, but VIP ticket packages are available. Be sure to look for the tanka writing station offered by Poetry in the Boro. All this goodness takes place at the Bongo Eastside Lot (109 11th St. S., Nashville) from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

GO FOR A WALK That’s right, go for a walk. Maybe you’ll write a poem in your head while you walk, as was Wordsworth’s habit. Or maybe you’ll happen on a short poem that tops the new interactive art installation—a weaving station—on the Breezeway Restorative Trail at Gateway Island. A collaboration involving the Better Boro Project, the Rutherford County Chamber

of Commerce, and other Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation and Cultural Arts Murfreesboro staff, the station includes a poem by Murfreesboro Poet Laureate Kory Wells.

ALSO IN APRIL Wells and actress/director Jamie Stevens are joining forces to offer the workshop “Staging the Page: Cultivating Your Poetic Voice” on Saturday, April 27, at Murfreesboro Little Theatre. A two-hour session from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will help participants determine how they can make the most of a poem they submit on both the page and in spoken delivery.

Optional activities include a group lunch break (separate cost) from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and rehearsal time with the workshop leaders from 2:30 to 4. A minimum $25 donation is requested and will benefit Poetry in the Boro and MLT. Check Facebook for more information, or email Poetry in the Boro at poetryintheboro@gmail.com.

BOROPULSE.COM

* APRIL 2019 * 31

Movies

REVIEWS

with his character: the 70-year-old actor looks like he’s roughly 40 in this film, and it’s rather disconcerting. Until he runs. Or fights. Or does anything requiring strenuous physical exertion. But that’s besides the point! Fortunately directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck don’t assign him much in this regard, so Fury mostly just has a sly remark to offer every now and again, and strikes a friendship with a cute kitty, Goose. That cat is the real MVP of this film, not gonna lie.

The filmmaking here is also pretty good.

There are a few shockingly intimate moments in the second act, and there’s even some

silence during these emotional peaks! The intimate moments scattered throughout were a welcome change of pace, despite the disengagement they may create for some (such as certain members of the audience with whom I saw this film, who were visibly bored during these scenes). The emotionally intimate moments are a staple of directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, (co-directors of It’s a Funny Story and Sugar) and really allow them to flesh out the characters and emotional foundations of this story. Many Marvel movies simply blaze past this so we can have another action scene.

That said, the faults of this film start with its villain. We have squarely returned to the realm of the forgettable in Marvel’s villain problem. You can see the “twist” with the character coming from a mile away, and the villain basically has 15 minutes to make an impression onscreen, with very little to do to make a lasting impression.

Outside of it being the first female-led Marvel film, there’s not a whole lot to differentiate Captain Marvel from the other nearly two dozen Marvel films that preceded it. See Captain Marvel for the fact that Brie Larson is wonderful, but don’t expect much other than a fun time.

— JOSEPH KATHMANN

ered”) are lumbering, grunting, mischievous little monsters in red jumpsuits, all carrying long, pointy scissors with which to “untether” themselves. It’s here where Peele shows his love for slasher flicks as the Wilsons battle against their respective counterparts in some of the most exciting and downright fun horror in years. Peele has referenced being inspired by films like Jaws, The Shining and

Rosemary’s Baby—all classic touchstones— and Us pulls off those classic vibes, but Peele also injects his quick-witted comedic timing to relieve some of the tension. There is an especially hilarious boat. I’ll say no more.

If there is one thing keeping Us from that perfect score though, it’s the logistics of some of the reveals in the final act. The online fan theories are a blast to read, but I’m still not sure if it all makes sense. That uncertainty, however, makes me want to watch Us again rather than dismiss it, and it makes me even more excited for the Jordan Peele-hosted reboot of The Twilight Zone, as Us is basically like a longer horror-filled episode of that show.

Aside from that, there are almost too many good things to say about Us, from all the great performances (Lupita Nyong’o and Evan Alex, who plays her comfort-mask-wearing son Jason, especially), to the masterful and thematic use of mirror shots, to the haunting children’s choir score, to the tightly woven lines of visual elements and deeper themes that I’m still trying to work out, to that boat. But the best thing I can say about Us is this: it’s damn fun.

— JAY SPIGHT

CAPTAIN MARVEL DIRECTOR Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck STARRING Brie Larson, Jude Law, Samuel L. Jackson, Annette Bening Ben Mendelsohn PG-13

Captain Marvel is a charming film. It has some witty dialogue, a few surprisingly intimate moments (for a Marvel film) and decent action sequences. But, the incredible one-two punch of Thor: Ragnarok and Black Panther, two films which brought powerful new voices to the overbearing Marvel formula, feel like an eternity ago following a string of bloated (Avengers: Infinity War) and hopelessly mediocre (Ant-Man and the Wasp) films. The eye-roll-worthy selfreferential humor is in full force throughout this origin story, and a rather disappointing villain (after Killmonger and even Thanos himself ) left me yearning for so much more.

Those complaints aside, Captain Marvel is . . . fine. The film’s title character (Brie Larson) stars in Marvel’s first female-led superhero

movie, and Larson brings an abundance of the wonderful brand of quick witticisms and eyebrow-raising charm we’ve come to know and love. This film basically answers the question “what would happen if Envy Adams [Larson’s character in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World] became a superhero?” and I’m so happy it does. I had lofty expectations for one of my favorite actresses in the business, and she didn’t disappoint, even if I know she’s capable of a lot more (see Larson’s truly unforgettable performance in Room).

Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) is himself, but I’m more amazed by the magic of movies

US DIRECTOR Jordan Peele STARRING Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss RATED R

Us is only the second feature length film written and directed by Jordan Peele. Following the breakout hit Get Out, the popularity of Us is proving Peele to be a preeminent voice in horror.

Whereas Get Out was a sociopolitical tale of suspense, Us trades in those same elements (though not entirely) for a more personal and psychological type of fear.

When the Wilson family takes a trip to their beach house for summer vacation, Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o) becomes uneasy, recalling a night in her childhood when she got separated from her parents on the boardwalk of that same beach. While lost, Adelaide saw something that traumatized her for life:

herself. Now, Adelaide is seeing worrisome signs and premonitions everywhere, and when the power goes out one night, the Wilsons see the silhouette of a family standing outside the house. That family turns out to be evil, murderous versions of themselves.

Us is the literal interpretation of the phrase, “I am my own worst enemy.” The other Wilsons (they call themselves “the teth-

A CLASSIC

32 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

OUTSTANDING

AVERAGE

BELOW AVERAGE

AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD

OPENING IN APRIL PLAYING THIS MONTH

APRIL 5 The Public; Pet Sematary Shazam!; The Best of Enemies

APRIL 6 Hellboy

APRIL 12 Mia and the White Lion Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy

APRIL 17 Penguins

APRIL 19 Under the Silver Lake; Little Woods The Curse of La Llorona

APRIL 26 Avengers: Endgame The Aftermath; The Intruder

Food

See more photos from this month's restaurant feature at BoroPulse.com/Category/Food

Smokin’ Meats Clockwise from left: brisket with mac and cheese and cole slaw; chopped pulled pork with potato salad and baked beans; pulled pork sandwich; smoked wings and green beans; ice cream!

After 24 years in business, Slick Pig still serves the best slow-smoked meats in Murfreesboro STORY BY LIANE OJITO

O

ne look at the Slick Pig and you know they mean business, smoky business. One taste and you know you will be back again. Their hickory wood scents the air as you walk up to the doors— two doors: one for dine-in diners, the other for take-out and catering.

The menu is straightforward and authentic, just like the food. Quite the opposite of fast food, their selections are marinated for hours and smoked for many hours after that (though the time from ordering to receiving your plate is pleasantly brief ). Choose from wings, chopped chicken, turkey, chopped pulled pork, ribs or brisket, and rest assured your meat is the real thing, real color, real texture and real flavor. Once you’ve decided on that, then choose whether you want a sandwich or platter. Next, choose your side from a vast assortment of traditional selections: potato salad, coleslaw, baked or white beans, mac and cheese, crinkly fries, cornbread, Texas toast, hush puppies and more.

Slick Pig offers great specials on certain days of the week, particularly the pulled pork sandwich that is only $1.50 on Tuesdays. Yes, you read right, $1.50. (This incomparable special cost only 99 cents for many years before the restaurant finally decided it needed to make a slight price increase.)

On Wednesdays, find a full all-you-caneat catfish buffet for $11.99.

34 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO

The Dish

At a recent visit to Slick Pig I was taken aback by the crowd of diners that were lunching well beyond lunch hours. The restaurant obviously does many things right to keep the people of Murfreesboro returning, ranging from suits to uniforms and first responders to college kids. Customers order at the counter, take a cup to fill with selfserve fountain sodas or tea selections and count on the food being ready quickly.

My group sampled the smoked wings, pulled pork sandwich, brisket and chopped pork, and all were absolutely delicious. The chopped meat is piled high and the pieces so perfectly small they absorb the sauce.

A variety of sauces are on the table to choose from: Big D’s, which I found to be a thick, mildly sweet smoky sauce; the Slick, a thinner but also sweet mild sauce; and the Hot, flavorful but not too hot to enjoy on the meat. The wings contained such a rich, smoky flavor, they didn’t require any added sauce at all.

Though I’m usually not a fan of coleslaw, this one was remarkably fresh, crisp and not drowning in sauce. The white beans are your Southern classic . . . possibly made with tea.

The crinkly fries were nice and crispy, and the potato salad was my favorite side, though there are so many more I’ve yet to taste.

This local treasure is a mom-and-pop business, mastering marinades and smok-

RESTAURANT

Slick Pig

LOCATION

1920 E. Main St. PHONE

629-201-6916 HOURS

Mon.–Sat.: 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

PRICES

Half smoked chicken: $6.99; 2 pc. catfish with slaw and fries: $8.99; Half rack of ribs with two sides and drink: $12.95; 10 smoked wings: $9.79; Fried bologna sandwich: $2.99; Redneck taco: $5.99 ONLINE

slickpigbbq.com

ing since 1995 when Jerry, Teresa and John Robinson opened it on Main Street near the MTSU campus. Matt Nelson, the general manager, joined the Slick Pig family in 2002.

He says he’s sure he’s had at least a “chicken wing and brisket” every day since he started.

The restaurant underwent a renovation in 2016 to allow for their growing take-out and catering business, in which customers can buy entire smoked turkeys, hams, chicken and much more.

If you need something sweet after a savory, smoky, meaty meal, visit the ice cream counter, offering several hand-scooped options along with sugar-cups and waffle cones.

I’m sure once you try Slick Pig, you’ll know where to go for smoked meats in Murfreesboro.

Visit the slickpigbbq.com for more info and please let us know if you visit, what you taste and what you think.

Eat well, Murfreesboro!

Business He also emphasizes the importance of each business having detailed plans, goals and operating procedures in place. The best voice and internet service isn’t going to make a poorly-run business succeed.

“Why spend the money if you’re not going to change the procedure?” he challenges.

Ron Young and Eagle Communications

Helping businesses stay in touch in a world that demands quick communication

BY BRACKEN MAYO

M

any business owners and managers may not exactly look forward to communicating with the sales staff and technicians from internet and phone companies. That process can be time consuming, taking valuable time from usual business operations. Plus, many find some of the terminology and technology confusing.

Murfreesboro businessman Ron Young, and his company, Eagle Communications, can help alleviate some of this difficulty for many businesses.

For one, Young says he wants others to realize that, while certain huge operations may be the most visible, consumers do indeed have a wealth of choices when it comes to voice and internet services.

Eagle Communications can offer businesses voice service from over 100 different VOIP (voice over internet protocol) carriers. Eagle can help with running cables and organizing wires in a building of any size, plus, Eagle will manage the voice and internet service installation and handle tech calls and troubleshooting.

“My carriers can’t fire me,” Young says, 36 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

emphasizing that his loyalty is to his business clients and not necessarily to simply increasing sales for the carriers he represents.

Young says he will try and find the right fit for each client, and to not oversell the customer on services their particular business may not need. He has worked with phone systems for Three Rivers Family Dentistry, The New Blue Betty, the Nurture Nook and many other small, local businesses in addition to huge automotive manufacturing facilities.

“I bring Fortune 500 expertise, but small business pricing,” Young says.

He also wants to minimize communication downtime for Eagle’s customers, knowing that time is money.

“I’m there in a natural disaster, during installation, during tech service calls,” he says.

Some see the work Young does as heart surgery of sorts. The business world runs on communication and data. The speed and reliability of that is crucial. When Young takes the “heart” out of a manufacturing facility to replace or repair equipment or service phone or internet connectivity, “I have to get those veins reattached ASAP,” he says.

Murfreesboro Pulse: Tell us how Eagle Communications got its start.

RON YOUNG: I was a director of an internet company in Michigan during the beginning of the public internet so was always interested in early technology.

I worked with a lot of the large carriers, such as Ameritech (showing my age), MCI, BellSouth and AT&T. I found that there was always a gap between carrier and customer as all they really cared about was getting the service installed and really never focused on the clients’ needs. Most of the time it is the “sale of the day” that the reps were told to sell. I also realized that the gap between companies that sold phone systems had the same issue and the client was not trained in the product that they were sold.

So in order to fill that gap a client has to be well informed and trained to use the functions and features to assist them in being more productive and understand what tools they have in their arsenal to stay ahead of their competitors. So when I created my business plan I focused more on a consultative approach. I wanted to give customers options of a choice of providers and phone systems so I could truly find the right solution based on budget and goals.

What challenges have you overcome in starting and growing?

Trying to keep up on newer products and services is the largest challenge, and finding the correct business partners and vendors that have a customer support goal. The largest challenge was to understand the Tennessee market, because there is a lot of small business in the area. Controlling growth has also been an issue, especially in the last couple of years. I have had to step back and revise, streamline and implement new software and hardware to stay organized.

What businesses and people were an inspiration for you or helpful in growing your company?

Most of the people I worked with in Michigan always strove for a quality product and were very knowledgeable in the industry

as it grew. We were testing VoIP in the mid-’90s and using cellphones to surf the internet and stream video in the late ’90s.

To this day I reach out to the head engineer that was working with me in Michigan.

Jim Affricano of Affi Enterprises has also been an inspiration. He taught me the benefits of running a debt-free company and staying cash flow positive.

What’s your favorite part of running your business?

Meeting new people and businesses and helping them succeed by providing a solution specified for their needs.

It feels good as Eagle Communications has grown to have the ability to give back to local charities that we truly believe in such as First Shot Foundation (a local children’s charity) and Purple Paws (animal charity). I also like the freedom of running a business.

What is your advice for local business owners?

Write a solid business plan and stick to it.

Have policies and procedures even for yourself. Know what you are good at and stay true to yourself. Surround yourself with successful people and get a mentor. Review your business plan every six months and adjust as necessary so you can continue your growth. Keep your focus and stay streamlined, so you can handle business as it comes in. Once you have accomplished that that you will be able to train new employees to have the same passion as you do.

Develop relationships; people buy from people, they do not buy from a company.

Make sure you have good support of family and friends who understand your passion.

Run a business, don’t just be self-employed. Once you understand the difference you will succeed.

Always under-promise and over-deliver.

How are you getting the word out about your business?

We are rated A+ from the Better Business Bureau and are the Torch Award Winner from 2016. We get a lot of business from our reputation. Referrals are another source and meeting new people at networking events to create new relationships. The best way to get the word out about your business is to be honest with people.

For more on how Eagle can help with your communication needs, call 615-278-9896 or email ron@eaglecommunications.net.

AROUND TOWN ’BORO BUSINESS BUZZ

Murfreesboro Armory, Steakhouse Five, Crumbl Cookies, The Great Escape, Royal Indian Cuisine, Munch, F45 Fitness

BY MICHELLE WILLARD The Outpost Armory will build a new stateof-the-art shooting facility and retail store at 1191 Beasie Road, adjacent to I-24 and New Salem Highway.

Called MURFREESBORO ARMORY, the 24,000-square-foot facility will give both beginner and experienced shooters a safe and secure environment to practice the shooting sports.

“We believe that Murfreesboro is long overdue for a firearms facility of this caliber,” said coowner Gary Semanchik (maybe, or maybe not intending a pun).

The 17 climate-controlled shooting lanes—comprised of seven 15-yard pistol lanes, seven 25yard rifle lanes and three 100-yard indoor rifle lanes—are built with the latest technology to improve the shooters’ experience and ensure the safety of participants. The facility will be the only 100-yard indoor shooting range in Tennessee.

The Outpost Armory is a family-owned and operated gun store that carries a wide selection of firearms, ammunition, gear and supplies. The new retail area will boast an even larger inventory of firearms and shooting accessories. It will also include a custom showcase of Barrett Firearms, the world leader in largecaliber precision rifles.

Once construction is complete, The Outpost Armory will move from the Buchanan Road exit (Exit 89) location into the newly constructed facility, built

by Semanchik along with Ryan Semanchik and Kennan Sanders.

Murfreesboro’s other shooting range, ON TARGET GUNS AND INDOOR RANGE, recently announced it has new 38 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

STEAKHOUSE FIVE, a new high-end steakhouse concept, has leased 3,552-square-feet of space and will open at Fountains at Gateway in early summer, announced developer Scott Graby, president of Hearthstone Properties.

Created by Mitchell Murphree, executive chef and owner of Five Senses, his new venture will feature premium quality meats and local produce as well as fresh seafood.

“My grandparents raised livestock, my family ran a country ham business and I was a member of the UT Knoxville meat

owners. That shop closed March 9 through April 2 for major renovations, an updating of the facility and the addition of new stock.

If you need a place to keep your guns and valuables, or other precious family heirlooms, Spartan Safe, a multi-state operator of Liberty Safe stores, announced the opening of LIBERTY SAFE OF MURFREESBORO. “When you purchase a safe, you are choosing to protect not only your family but also your community,” Chase Browning, COO of Spartan Safe, said about the opening of the store at 2812 S. Rutherford Blvd.

FOOD NEWS Another new concept is coming to town with  CRUMBL COOKIES, which Crumbl will deliver to your home, warm.

In what sounds like a dream come true, Crumbl offers two staple cookies—chocolate chip and sugar—with a weekly rotation of other flavors.

In other cookie news, THE COOKIE STORE in Stones River Town Centre announced it will move to center court in the former Best Buy Mobile location and will be adding “The Coffee Creamery” concept.

judging team. You could say an appreciation for meat has been with me since I was born,” Murphree said, adding that Five Senses recently celebrated its 15th anniversary.

Steakhouse Five will be located on the ground floor of One Fountain Plaza, the four-story office building at Fountains at Gateway.

The restaurant will seat up to 100 guests inside as well as 20 on the adjoining patio overlooking the pocket park. The steakhouse is slated to open in mid-2019.

THE COFFEE CREAMERY will serve a full line of hot and cold coffee drinks along with 12 flavors of dipped ice cream and fresh real fruit smoothies.

The current Cookie Store will be rebranded into THE BIG TWIST PRETZELS, which will serve hand-rolled pretzels, pretzel bites, and specialty pretzels along with sandwiches, personal pizzas, nachos, hot dogs, popcorn and chips.

Speaking of moving, BORO TOWN CAKES is moving from its longtime location on North Church Street, owner Lisa Rouse said. The bakery is moving next to Boro

Town Cakes Too on West Lytle Street, which is a larger space for baking wedding and special occasion cakes. BORO TOWN CAKES TOO has served grab-and-go sandwiches, salads and other lunch fare since October.

MUNCH has opened on Medical Center Parkway in the former Tasty Table and Artful Doughnut space. Munch sells healthful, protein-rich prepared meals. Each meal includes a high-quality protein, grain or carb, and vegetables that are packaged for quick warming in adequate portions.

ROYAL INDIAN CUISINE has opened in the former Subway location next to Your Burger on Thompson Lane.

The restaurant offers a blend of traditional and innovative Indian cuisine in a lunch buffet and regular menu.

There’s a sign up on the old Jack in the Box on Lowry Street in Smyrna for HIBACHI EXPRESS but I can’t yet find more information about it. My guess is that it will serve fast casual Japanese fare.

MORE NEW BUSINESSES F45 FITNESS has opened a new franchise CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38

in Murfreesboro. This gym features a new training technique with innovative, challenging and systemized team training workout. Located at 820 N. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro, all workouts at the gym are team-based functional training for 45 minutes. No program is ever repeated, making every workout a unique experience.  THE GREAT ESCAPE has opened a new store in Jackson Heights in Murfreesboro. The Nashville staple specializes in buying and selling vinyl LPs, video games, DVDs & Blu-rays, toys, comic books, CDs, collectible card games and more.

DYE HARD SALON has opened on West Main Street, near Green Dragon and Austin Audio. The salon specializes in the latest fashion hair colors as well as haircuts, hair color, formal updos, facial waxing and hair extensions.

Nashville women’s clothing boutique VINNIE LOUISE has opened a third location on the Square in Murfreesboro. According to its website, the shop is “committed to finding one-of-a-kind, affordable items.” Find out more at vinnielouise.com.

MISTER B’S held an official grand opening and ribbon cutting for its new Express Car Wash on Friday, March 22. Find the new Murfreesboro location at 3914 Cedar Glades Dr. (Fortress Boulevard and Manson Pike intersection).

PALMETTO MOON is opening a store in The Avenue. No opening date has been announced but it will open this spring near Kay Jewelers.

If you need a gentler way of handling of your pet’s remains, BELOVED WATERS PET AQUAMATION opened in February in Smyrna. This water-based method accelerates the natural process of decomposition. The process uses 90 percent less energy than traditional cremation. For more info visit belovedwaterspet.com.

If you’ve ever used a porta-potty, you know the experience could be better. That’s where Damian & Lisa Baker come in with VANNGO LUXURY MOBILE RESTROOMS. This isn’t your typical porta-potty.

You should really check them out at govanngo.com.

MIDTOWN BARBERSHOP opened March 15 on W. Lytle Street in Murfreesboro. According to

midtownbarber.com, the master barbers there use traditional barbershop equipment to give modern cuts and straight razor shaves. Walk-ins are welcome.

CLOSINGS CORNER One of Murfreesboro’s oldest restaurants will soon close. O’CHARLEY’S Senior Director of Marketing Jeff Hingher confirmed in March that the restaurant at 1006 Memorial Blvd. closed for good on March 24 after 33 years serving hot rolls to Murfreesboro.

He explained the closure was a part of a “strategic and important process” of restructuring the overall business. O’Charley’s announced it was closing 14 underperforming locations, which include restaurants in Brentwood, Spring Hill and Murfreesboro.

Hingher confirmed the location wasn’t as busy as it once was. This surprised me because it seemed to get more traffic than the one on Old Fort, which is consistently empty.

Nashville-based O’Charley’s was founded by Charles “Sonny” Watkins in 1971. The first restaurant opened on 21st Avenue South near Vanderbilt University. Now the company has more than 200 locations in 17 states in the South and Midwest.

Another restaurant announced its impending doom this month. On March 20, DEEZIE’S HOT CHICKEN announced that its Murfreesboro location will close March 30. The restaurant opened in 2015 at 452 Thompson Ln. The restaurant did say its food truck will still be rolling and catering is on the menu. Does this mean the Nashville Hot Chicken fad is cooling off ?

CHARLOTTE RUSSE will be closing all of its stores, including the one in Stones River Town Centre. The online store has already closed. The brick and mortar stores are offering stock at up to 80 percent off.

LIFEWAY CHRISTIAN RESOURCES will be shuttering all of its 170 physical stores, which includes that one at 1960 Old Fort Pkwy. in Murfreesboro. The Southern Baptist publishing company had hoped to keep some stores open but in the halcyon days of Amazon, it proved impossible. The Nashville-based company will continue to sell Bibles, books, Christian music and other faith-based fare online.

SPORTS

TALK

COLUMN BY “Z-TRAIN”

titanman1984@gmail.com

Titans Add Wake and Tannehill, Preds Ready to Make Another Playoff Run THE TRAIN DADDY IS BACK with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard!

First, let me first give a shoutout to my brother Adam, a.k.a. The Chizzle. There was a lot of March Madness smack talk, and while I out-picked Adam by two total games—I had to point that out—he defeated me on the points and won the bracket victory. Congrats: A-Chizzle!

It may be the off season for the Tennessee Titans, but some exciting moves deserve discussion. April signifies the end of the NHL regular season and the beginning of the Nashville Predators’ playoff journey, so let’s talk Smashville hockey.

But first, a random story about a man named Matthew “Mack” Robinson (1914–2000), an American track and field athlete who later became a janitor. In the 1936 Olympics Mack broke the world record for the 200-meter sprint. Why then is he a no-name? Because Jessie Owens also broke the record and finished just ahead of Mack to win gold.

Later in life Matthew Robinson had a little brother named Jackie who grew into a man named The Great Jackie Robinson. What a story!

By most accounts Mack had a happy life, even though his greatness was overshadowed by other historical legends in his life. You’re entirely welcome for the history lesson.

Let’s get into the beef of this enchilada: Titans talk! The Titans recently made some moves and they

were genius. The recent free agency moves give the Titans much more freedom as they prepare for the 2019 NFL draft. I love the addition of Adam Humphries, an undrafted wide receiver out of Clemson.

This kid catches a lot of short- to mid-range passes and turns them into bigger gains. He takes big hits, makes catches, has speed and is unselfish, a perfect fit for Tennessee.

Teams like the Patriots, Saints and Broncos wanted him, yet the Titans got their man. Marcus Mariota needs Humphries. Unlike with Marcus, we know what we’re getting with Humphries, a boost as a slot receiver and a clutch playmaker for Marcus on third-down conversions.

Get ready, because this sneaky white boy from South Carolina is about to become a fan favorite.

The Titans also added Old Man Wake! The 37-year-old outside linebacker may be old for his position, yet Cameron Wake still is outperforming nearly all the league’s young talent. Last season Wake totaled 36 tackles and 6 sacks with the Dolphins. His age may be a risk, but it’s worth the gamble considering the potential value.

Cameron Wake legitimately has the chance to put up double-digit sacks this season. Young passrushers in the NFL are making two times the amount the Titans are paying Wake and have yet to hit that kind of production. This brings instant upgrade to the Titans defense.

The Titans also added a cheap,

yet proven, insurance policy. Former Dolphin quarterback Ryan Tannehill recently signed with the Titans for a one-year deal worth $7 million, with the Dolphins set to pay $5 million of the contract due to some draft pick trades and other negotiations.

The value doesn’t get any better.

Tannehill isn’t considered the starter, and it’s still the Mariota show, yet $2 million for an accomplished signal caller is a win. I truly hope Marcus balls out and shuts the haters up this season. Yet Marcus has missed eight games in four seasons due to injuries. If Marcus gets injured then thank God we have Ryan Tannehill and not the worst backup in the league, Blaine Gabbert.

I am excited about this team. I am even more excited after Coach Vrabel recently made it clear that Derrick Henry will get more touches. Duh? The team was at its best in its final four games when Henry ran for 585 yards on 87 carries.

The Madness of March is wrapping up, and it wasn’t the finish I had predicted for Tennessee, but we got some great games. The SEC represented the tournament well.

With April ahead, we look forward to some Smashville hockey playoff time! Predator fans should be grateful. Never take for granted how special it is to have a team that consistently makes the playoffs: five straight appearances and 12 of the last 15 years making it. It’s not easy making the playoffs in the NHL. After the last two seasons, which

included a Stanley Cup run and a Presidents trophy, this season has been up and down. Yet the Predators are at the top of their Division, have clinched a playoff spot and are gearing up for some tough hockey.

This team is as talented on paper as any season in Nashville history. The fact remains they have been underperforming with sloppy defense and have been consistently horrible on the power play. This team needs help outside of its top line. The talent is there, and the playoffs can awaken that greatness.

My expectation for the Predators is that they reach the Western Conference Finals. It’s a tough task, yet anything else truly is failure. The West is stacked, yet unlike the East

and the dominance Tampa Bay has shown, no one is running away with it. The Predators have too much talent and no excuses. They need to remind the NHL that Smashville is unkind to visitors. Say a prayer that the Predators don’t draw the Blues in the first round, a tough first round if that’s the case. I am excited to watch Viktor Arvidsson continue his record-breaking season. I need Pekka to inspire these men!

Let me hit you with some quick hits before we wrap this article up.

LeBron James will miss the NBA playoffs for the first time since the 04–05 season. The Lakers on the other hand have now missed six consecutive playoffs. Jordan is the GOAT, and that’s FACT. One more: the U.S Women’s Soccer Team has sued The U.S Soccer Federation for gender discrimination. The long fight has now taken an ugly turn, three months before the team will defend its World Cup title in France. The women want equal pay, same as the men. This is ludicrous—the men’s league is more popular worldwide and brings in vastly more income. It’s like the WNBA wanting to be paid the same as NBA players. Ha! This is not gender discrimination. The men’s leagues captivate fans while the women’s leagues have trouble filling up stadiums. Sorry, that’s just the truth of it. Choo-choo!

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* APRIL 2019 * 41

Opinion Many Media Outlets Disappointed Mueller Report Did Not Prove Collusion Between Trump and Russia

I

think everyone can agree, regardless of political ideology, the Trump-Russia issue turned into a big mess.

The news media detest not knowing. In place of good, solid information on just what may have transpired between the Trump campaign and Russia, or just what may not have transpired, they chose to fill in the blanks with rampant negative speculation. By the time the Mueller report was turned in, they had convinced themselves—and half of America—that Donald Trump was a Russian agent. It all turned out to be nothing.

But don’t just blame the news media. Their fires were stoked by the likes of John Brennan, former CIA director and rabid Trump hater. During his mea culpa with Morning Joe on MSNBC he said, “I don’t know if I received bad information, but I think I suspected there was more than there actually was.” You think?

Then he pretended to be “relieved” that his president was not a Russian agent. Disappointed is more like it.

Morning Joe himself echoed Brennan’s faux sentiment. “It is good news that the president of the United States did not conspire with Russia to influence the 2016 election.”

Not to Joe and rest of the getTrump media. This is almost worse than Election Night 2016. To the rest of us it’s confirmation of something we already knew.

So how do the media redeem themselves? Short answer? They don’t. And they won’t even try. Their hatred for Trump is so deep that they’ll never admit that they made up the story of Russian collusion and plugged in willing stooges like Brennan to give the lie weight. Glenn Greenwald from The Intercept, a big lib and no fan of Trump, was beside himself on Tucker Carlson’s show. He tore into CNN and MSNBC in particular for banning voices like his because he wouldn’t toe the line on the TrumpRussia collusion story. He called it a “fraud that they perpetrated on their audience” and accused both networks of being “state TV” or “CIA TV” for

VIEWS OF A

CONSERVATIVE

PHIL VALENTINE

philvalentine.com

giving people like Brennan so much air time.

What happens now? What should happen is Republicans in the Senate, the only place they have any investigative power, should be holding hearings to determine how such a colossal fraud could have been perpetrated on the American people. They can start with the coup attempt by former FBI agent Peter Strzok and his boss, Andrew McCabe, among others. The irony is Mueller was looking at Trump’s firing of James Comey as a possible obstruction of justice. As it turns out, this whole debacle of an investigation based on a bogus dossier was going on right under Comey’s nose. Either he was part of the coup attempt or he was too inept to see it. Either way he should’ve been fired the day Trump took office.

From my vantage point here’s what appears to have happened: there were certain persons inside the FBI and Obama’s Justice Department who were so determined to keep Trump from becoming president that they ignored real crimes committed by Hillary Clinton, and instead fabricated fake crimes by Trump.

They used a dossier they knew was fake to petition a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act court to allow them to spy on the Trump campaign.

Nixon was run out of office and several of his men went to prison for a petty break-in looking for dirt. This appears to be a widespread conspiracy to fix an election that may include a former FBI director and a former president. That’s been the real scandal all along. Now maybe we can focus on that instead.

“From my vantage point here’s what appears to have happened: there were certain persons inside the FBI and Obama’s Justice Department who were so determined to keep Trump from becoming president that they ignored real crimes committed by Hillary Clinton, and instead fabricated fake crimes by Trump.”

42 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

Phil Valentine is an author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host with Westwood One. For more of his commentary and articles, visit philvalentine.com.

Live Exceptionally...Well!

BY JENNIFER DURAND

A Higher Purpose DURING A RECENT MEDITATION session I was thinking about the special talents of people. Some people are gifted with the ability to write, to speak, to motivate, to be conversational, to build and create things, to manage chaos, to calm the atmosphere, to heal and so on. Then my mind wandered to the movie characters of mutants and those with extraordinary powers or abilities. It occurred to me that, just like the movie characters, we all have something that we are good at or that is a special ability compared to others. Sometimes it takes a while for it to blossom, or to be able to see clearly just how we can use what we are good at in service to others, but it is inevitable that our talents will be needed and useful.

“There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It’s why you were born, and how you become most truly alive.” — Oprah Winfrey In the book of Ephesians in the Bible (4:7, 8 and 11) it says, “Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. He saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men . . . And he gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” Also, found in I Corinthians 12:4–13 and 28 “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another diverse kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

All of those thoughts collided during this meditation session to remind me that we are

called upon at the right time to use the gifts and talents bestowed upon us. Many times we must remain patient until the time comes when our gifts are called upon to provide whatever is needed in a given situation.

Recently my brother shared a story about how our cousin, who is an auto mechanic, helped many family members over the years by working on their cars and charging very little, if anything. While my brother was grateful for this loving gesture, he always wanted to compensate my cousin but was always turned down, as this cousin did it to be loving. One day, my brother who is an IT specialist, got a call from this same cousin who said he was in need of some computer assistance. “Finally,” my brother exclaimed, “after all these years of helping me, the time has come for me to return the favor.” My brother was so excited about being able to “give back in a meaningful way.”

This also reminds me of the kindness of giving and receiving with grace. People in many cultures, when given a personal gift, feel compelled to reciprocate by giving something personal of theirs in return.

Kindness inspires kindness.

Perhaps you are fortunate enough to make use of your special gift every day— like teaching, healing, building, creating, entertaining. Whenever you are called upon, however, is the right time. The perfect need being met right when it is needed. Maybe you are a listening ear to a stranger or an interpreter who resolves confusion and puts a mind at ease. Maybe you see the world through a different lens as a photographer, artist or singer. Maybe you help someone who is unconscious and they will never know of your selfless act. Maybe you help a child by paying attention and, as a result, changing the course of their life forever.

All this points to our usefulness, our sense of purpose and our divine gifts that the world needs. You are unique, special and you make a difference, whether you realize it or not.

“No man or woman is an island. To exist just for yourself is meaningless. You can achieve the most satisfaction when you feel related to some greater purpose in life, something greater than yourself.” — Denis Waitley Jennifer Durand is the owner and operator of The Nurture Nook Day Spa & Gift Shoppe. Learn more by calling (615) 896-7110 or visiting nurturenook.com.

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* APRIL 2019 * 43

SPIRITUAL

MATTERS

consummation in the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday

BY RICK and His resurrection on Easter MALONE morning. Like Advent, Lent is a journey, not to the manger but to the cross. It commemorates the suffering the Savior endured on our behalf. This journey helps prepare our hearts to appreciate the gravity of Christ’s sacrifice. But Lent does more than just honor that suffering. It beckons us to walk along with our Savior in His suffering. It is a season of repentance for us and a call to participate in giving up our lives to God, as He gave up His life for us.

Christ brought His new life into this world that we might take that new life up by laying our old life down. And what an exchange this is! The old life we lay down is the life of our selfish desires: our aspiration to be our an infant. It turns our eyes to look forward own God, to be “the master of our fate and to Christ coming again at the end of this captain of our soul.” But the new life Christ current age, when He will bring the fullness gives us is the life of humility and love and of His salvation to completion. When Jesus servanthood toward others. In this exchange, came two thousand years ago, He secured we no longer hold the position of the most the gift of life by conquering death through important person in our world. Christ has the cross. Now this Author of life has as His taken that position in our lives, and His selfmission to share that life with the world. sacrificing way of life is to now live itself out And when He returns, He will bring the springtime of a new creation into this world. in us. As Jesus told his disciples in the upper room on the night before He died: We and this old creation, which currently “A new commandment I give to you, that suffer under pain and sickness and death, you love one another: just as I have loved will be ushered into the fullness of the new you, you also are to love one another. 35 By life He brings. As the Apostle Paul says in this all people will know that you are my his letter to the church at Rome: disciples, if you have love for one another” “For the creation waits with eager longing (John 13:34–35). for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For But, oh, how dimly is the light of this the creation was subjected to futility, not willnew life seen in us! We invariably worm ingly, but because of him who subjected it, in our way back to the foot of that throne of hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free our life, seeking to ascend it once again. We from its bondage to corruption and obtain cannot help ourselves, for such is our fallen the freedom of the glory of the children of nature. It is only His grace that keeps at God. 22 For we know that the whole creation bay the evil deep within us. This means we has been groaning together in the pains of are in need of always living a life characterchildbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first- ized by repentance, and the Lenten season helps remind us of this necessary disposifruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait tion. For we are always inclined to place eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption idols above God. And we are always in need of our bodies” (Romans 8:19–23).

The second significant season of the Chris- of being directed to the foot of the cross instead of our own throne. tians faith is the season of Lent which has its

Resurrection Season THE SEASONS ARE CHANGING again, and the beauty of nature expresses its creative splendor through the emergence of colors that splash onto the grey pallete of winter. The cold, lifeless months of the previous season have ended. And winter’s melancholy tones make way for the vibrant hues of springtime as nature displays a resurrection of life. Almost overnight, buttercups and hyacinths make their appearance onto the stage, and soon after, the plump buds of peach trees burst open into a flowering freedom after months of being held in the darkness of winter. At this time of year all nature seems to return to life.

This season ensures an ever-changing theater of interest for the senses. The sights and sounds of the outdoors awaken us to beauty that is all around. As we touch the tender new growth and smell the fragrance of blossoming flowers, we experience the power of new life, and we are drawn into an excitement that only this season can bring alive in us. Other seasons have their own unique appeal, but spring alone possesses the beauty of nature being made new.

Just as certain seasons seem to carry a greater meaning than others, there are two seasons of the church calendar which hold special interest and excitement to Christians all over the world. The first is the season of Advent, which has its climax in Christmas.

This season gives us the opportunity to celebrate the birth of the Savior, when God brought His own divine life into this world.

During the four weeks of Advent we find ourselves on a journey to the manger, not unlike the wise men who journeyed to see the newborn King. This journey helps prepare our hearts for His arrival in a fresh and new way each year. But Advent does more than just commemorate Jesus coming as 44 * APRIL 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

“It is only His grace that keeps at bay the evil deep within us. This means we are in need of always living a life characterized by repentance . . . For we are always inclined to place idols above God. And we are always in need of being directed to the foot of the cross . . .”

Lent leads us to the cross, because it is there we find this new life. For by the cross, Jesus destroyed the power death had over us, and as Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, He ushered the life of His spiritual kingdom into this realm. It is this resurrected life He shares, to be lived out in us.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved . . . 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:4–5 and 10).

And so, we have a beautiful connection between these two seasons of Advent and Lent. At first glance they appear to be two separate stories, or journeys. But they meet each other in perfect harmony, where we find they are part and parcel of the same story. For this resurrected life is the very same life the infant child came to share with the world, and this spiritual kingdom is the very same kingdom the infant child was born to rule over. Like a beautiful sequel in a saga, the divine Author of the nativity writes the fulfillment of that story in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

But this Author is not done writing His story of redemption, for He is writing that story in each of our lives as He brings the power of that resurrection into our hearts.

We must remember that resurrection only comes through death. We will all die one day, and out of that death God will bring new life again. But God is working resurrection in us even now. Just as Jesus offered Himself up to death and then rose out of that death, God is also putting our old self to death in order to bring His new life into us.

He is putting our old passions and desires into the empty tomb of Christ in order to bring His passions and desires into a new life in us. And so, Paul says in Galatians: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Our lives are not unlike the changing seasons. As things in our lives pass away, new things come to life. All of this is in God’s providence, for He brings us into our winters so that He might usher us into the beauty of His springs. And on the final day, when seasons and time itself will end, we will enter the beauty of His eternal springtime. myspiritualmatters@gmail.com

 RECOMMENDED READING “This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America. Within the U.S., you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.” — books.google.com

Ecce Deus

Essays on the Life and Doctrine of Jesus Christ

BY JOSEPH PARKER (1867)

Ch. XIII

These Sayings of Mine Christ was pre-eminently a talker. “Never man spake like this man,” was the testimony of his enemies. After reading the doctrines of Plato, Socrates, or Aristotle, we feel that the specific difference between their words and Christ’s is the difference between an inquiry and a revelation. We feel as if at any moment they might push a speculation too far, or suddenly turn off at a wrong angle—as if they were groping their way along dim and perilous paths, throwing gossamers over the dark rivers and tempting men to walk over the substantial bridge; again and again they run the risk of exalting a riddle into a problem, or settling a definition into law. With this the method of Jesus Christ most strikingly contrasts. There is, account for it as men please, an authority in every tone; his language is clear, and if short it is final; it never betrays the faintest sign of hesitancy on the part of the speaker; if it were an immediate revelation from heaven, there could not be a sharper outline or a firmer emphasis.

Thus much may be said simply as a matter of criticism, without any pre-judgement of the doctrine. It has been suggested that he spoke with “the authoritative tone and earnestness of a Jew,” but this suggestion, if meant for an explanation, is pointless: Christ was not the only Jew who had spoken; and if “authoritativeness of tone” be characteristic of Jewish teaching, it should be borne in mind that Christ was openly and repeatedly contradicted by men who spoke with “the authoritative tone and earnestness of a Jew,”—by the doctors of the law, by the teachers and leaders of the people, by men who held the historic parchments of the land; so that in all fairness “tone” should be set against “tone,” and it should then be explained how the “tone” of the peasant overpowered the “tone” of great councils of or solemn sanhedrims. The case, too, is more strongly in favor of Christ, when it is remembered that he abrogated institutions which had existed for ages under the special sanction of God. Moses, it will be allowed, spoke with “the authoritative tone and earnestness of a Jew,”

yet Christ abolished much that Moses had inaugurated. Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel spoke with “the authoritative tone and earnestness of a Jew,” yet they spoke of another, not of themselves; but Christ was his own theme and his own expositor. His immediate disciples would not be wanting in “the authoritative tone and earnestness of a Jew,” yet every one of them did his wonderful works, not in his own name, but in the name of Christ. Looking, therefore, simply at the facts, it must be admitted, even in a fuller sense than that conveyed by his enemies, that “never man spake like this man”— not even Moses, not the great seers of Israel, not Elijah on Carmel, not John in the wilderness, nor the contemporary disciples—he was what he distinctly claimed to be, separate from all, because greater than all.

The manner in which Christ’s followers have reported him is truly marvelous, a point which calls for serious thought on the part of all who wish to go carefully through the incidental and tributary evidence. In our own day it is so common to have reports of speeches that we think little of them; though in many cases so wonderful, yet they have come to be regarded as matters of course. But the disciples were not shorthand writers; we do not find that one of them was elected clerk, and that in the evening of each day he made entries in a common journal which all could read and revise; yet they report his discourses often in the first person, and preserve all the sharpness and vivacity of dialogue, retort, extemporaneous definition, and appeal. We feel throughout that we are reading the works of a talker, not of an author; all the sharp edge of free speech is singularly preserved, so much so that with the least effort of imagination we can be present at the delivery of every discourse, or at every passage at arms, between Christ and his opponents. A strange yet pleasant feeling of nearness to the event steals over every reader of the evangelic story; no lengthening shadows of distance diminish the reader’s interest—everything is at hand! In reading The Laws we are always conscious of the presence of an artist. Plato has, indeed, arranged all the parts taken by the Guest, Clinias, and Megillus with great skill, determining the proportions and balancing the conversation with a very fine appreciation of the requirements of the dialogue: yet throughout the elaborate production we feel that it is all art, all the work of one master, who in the retirement of his home apportioned and decided everything so as to work out the particular object he intended

to compass. On the other hand, in reading the Gospels we feel that everything is lifelike, spontaneous and unfinished, yet suggestive and provocative of thought beyond anything that has ever come from the tongue or pen of man. Yet those Gospels contain no prepared speeches, no formal compositions—nothing but “sayings,” often jagged, broken, unconnected, yet singularly full of life. The youngest author could make a better mechanical arrangement, but the oldest could utter no such electric words. Plato’s Definitions are practically forgotten, but the Nazarene’s words intermingle with universal civilization; and this is the more remarkable as they were not formally arranged. A great composer said that he was spending a long time over his work because he intended it to live long, but this Galilean peasant talks extemporaneously, as if simply answering the question of the hour; yet his words float over all generations, and are prized by men today as if they had been addressed exclusively to themselves. This is, perhaps, the most wonderful characteristic of the words of Jesus. Can this be accounted for by “the authoritative tone and earnestness of a Jew?” Is it not rather to be accounted for by “the authoritative tone and earnestness of the Son of Man?” These “sayings” are not local lamps, but suns set in the firmament commanding the range of all nations. The Nicomachean Ethics are certainly distinguished by a marvelous comprehension of the peculiarities of human nature; yet who will say that the words of Aristotle are quick with the same intensity of life that is characteristic of the “sayings” of Christ? They are, no doubt, wise, critical and often most practical; yet the minuteness of definition and the tedious redundancy of detail give them a scholastic air which is little adapted to the tumultuous life of all nations.

The best philosophies of the ancient civilization descend so much into detail as to leave no scope for the play of life on the part of the reader. Everything is numbered, labeled, docketed—there it is, take it, or be a fool. Plato, as before pointed out, was so voluminous in his details, going from statesmanship, philosophy, science and rhetoric to early rising, hunting, dancing, money-lending and Sicilian cookery, as to give one the idea that he undertook to do the work of a domestic gas fitter rather than to bring men into the light of the sun. He is so minute as to place a lamp at the corner of every street, at the entrance of every house, and in every room of every habitation. He was a very skillful gas fitter, and very careful; he ran his trial-light over every tube and every tap, but it may be doubted whether, after all, he was more than a painstaking gas-fitter—a high character, too, considering the general darkness of his time. Now, Christ, instead of intermeddling with artificial or secondary light, at once, with something more than “the authoritative tone and earnestness of a

Jew,” announced himself as “the Light of the world”—not Holman Hunt’s “Light of the World,” who resembles a belated and forlorn traveler carrying a lantern, but a man who had the light in him, and through whom it gleamed like the sun through a summer cloud.

Plato lighted his age with gas, Christ lighted the world with the sun; the one was local, the other universal; the one changeable; the other permanent. The heathen philosophers gave directions, Christ gave life. Aristotle expounded diametrical conjunction; Christ said, “As ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them.” Cicero wrote excellent advices on friendship; Christ said, “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Plato wrote wise prescriptions for particular diseases; Christ infused his own life into men. The Pythagoreans wrote for favorite circles; Christ sent his gospel to “all nations.” Aristotle quotes from Plato, Plato refers to Homer, and the pages of Cicero about with quotations and allusions; but Christ quotes immediately from the Father, and by so much speaks the universal language.

Christ does not appeal to men as the heathen philosophers did. They ask opinions, court criticism, and even the wily and garrulous Socrates gives men an opportunity of differing from him; but Christ, with “the authoritative tone and earnestness” of the Son of God, says, “This is absolute; believe it and be saved, or reject it and be damned.” He says that he came from the Father, that he speaks the word of the Father, and that he is returning to the Father. So there is nothing between him and God; immediately behind him, though invisible, lies infinitude, and he sets himself up as the medium on which the voice of the infinite is broken into human sounds. When a man says, “I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world; again I leave the world, and go to the Father,” he simply excludes controversy; there is no common ground between him and his interlocutors; and when his words are sustained by such mighty deeds as abound in the life of Christ, one of two conclusions is inevitable—either the man is speaking the most sublime truth, or he is uttering the most awful falsehoods. He cannot occupy any middle position. No man may make himself “equal with God,” and yet pass in society merely as a good man. The morality of language would be violated. All human relations would be disorganized. The term “God” might be used to palm off the most infamous charlatanism, and all exactness of language would be supplanted by the exaggerations of an inflamed and incoherent ideality.

At the risk of speaking paradoxically, it may be said that the sayings of Christ are divine because they are so human, and are human because they are so divine. “He knew what was in man,” and this knowledge of human nature was his great weapon alike of atCONTINUED ON PAGE 46 BOROPULSE.COM

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45 tack and defense. The intense humanness of Christ’s life is perhaps most seen and felt in his never-failing sympathy with all the conditions of human experience. When he tells men not to think about what they are to eat, it is because he himself is thinking about that subject for them., and is prepared to feed them with his own hand: when he calls man to courage, he means them to draw upon his own power: when he says, “Seek first the kingdom of God,” he is prepared to make up all that is wanting for the daily life. He repeatedly referred to his miracles in order to stimulate the faith of his followers—“How many baskets full of fragments took ye up?” He thus made recollection the ground of hope by teaching that divine power was not exhausted by the performance of a single miracle. There is a kind of power which exhausts itself in one great effort, but it is not living power; it is mechanical, not dynamical; and though it be seen in human history, it is a spasm of weakness, not the throb of a healthy heart. Christ told men that the power which had worked one miracle could work another, and that what was given was but a hint of the resources that were untouched.

This could not but substantially aid the effect of his teaching respecting that all-exciting and ever-pressing subject—TO-MORROW. To most men, “to-morrow” had been a spectra, but Christ showed it might be an angel. When

men looked forward to it with fear, Christ inquired, with the slightest tremor of reproach in his tone, “How many baskets full of fragments took ye up?” Christ never held history in contempt. He made yesterday the prophet of tomorrow. All this personality of appeal, combined with all the practical demonstration of carefulness of human comfort, showed that Christ never talked at men, but always to them. His humanness was his power. Apart from it he never could have been so great a talker. Men would have become weary, but in his company they were insensible of the flight of time. Men that heard him only on one set of subjects left him, but those who had heard him on the deepest question said, “To whom can we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” The heart lived on such music.

There is one peculiarity about the “sayings” of Christ which is not claimed by the great philosophers, and which cannot be accounted for by “the authoritative tone and earnestness of a Jew;” that is to say, Christ’s “sayings” determined the destiny of all who heard them, and this peculiarity he specially pointed out as enduring for ever. To have heard these “sayings” is to have incurred the gravest responsibility. A man may read the Ethics of Aristotle, and treat the reasoning with contempt without endangering his fate; but no man can read Christ’s “sayings” without finding “saved” upon one side and

“damned” upon the other. Is this dogmatism on the part of Christ? Undoubtedly. God must be dogmatic. If God could hesitate, he would not be God. Do we stumble at the solemn words, “He that believeth shall be saved; he that believeth shall not be damned?” Why should we? An agriculturist says practically, “Go ye into all the world, and say to every creature that there is a particular season for sowing seed: he that believeth shall be saved—shall have a harvest; he that believeth not shall be lost—shall have no harvest.” There is thus a gospel of agriculture: why not a gospel of salvation? Men’s disbelief of God will damn them in farming; why not in religion? Does God speak decisively in the one case and hesitatingly in the other? There must be a climacteric point—a point of saving or damning—in all the declarations of God, because he has spoken the ultimate word on all the subjects which he has disclosed. The truth upon any matter, high or low, is the point of salvation or damnation. The man who merely points out the right road to a traveler is in a position (with proper modification of the terms) to say to that traveler, “He that believeth shall be saved; he that believeth not shall be damned:” in other words, “Go thus, and you will reach the object of your journey; but go so, and you will never reach it.” This is the position which Christ assumes, “He that be-

lieveth in me hath life; he that believeth not me hath not life.” Is such a projection of his personality consistent with his being simply one who spoke with “the authoritative tone and earnestness of a Jew?” In the “sayings” of Christ, special prominence is given to a peculiar form of teaching known as Parables. The entire history of religious thought might be written under the twofold division of the dogma and parable. We are passing through what may be emphatically characterized as the parabolic era, taking its tone and order of procession fro the transitional and most excited state of the intellectual world. In periods of intellectual quiescence, it is found that the religious world is settled firmly upon theological dogma; but in periods of great intellectual agitation in scientific and philosophical inquiry, the religious idea passes into what may be called the parabolic phase; not that dogma is, or can be, destroyed, but that the mental nature is engaged upon problems rich, truly or deceitfully, in their promise of results. This is illustrated vividly in Christ’s own method of teaching. First he gave doctrine, then he gave parable; the first met the positive want of the religious nature; and the second stimulated all that was best on the ideal side of the intellectual nature.

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