December 2024 Murfreesboro Pulse

RaganSmith

Shaping Murfreesboro and Beyond, With Visionary Design and Engineering

RaganSmith, a Tennessee-based design and engineering powerhouse, has been a large part of shaping the landscape of Murfreesboro and other areas throughout Tennessee with a wide variety of community-defining projects in its portfolio.

From the transformation of the Town Creek area currently underway to the firm’s work along Medical Center Parkway, RaganSmith combines technical expertise and a community-driven approach to deliver innovative design solutions. The firm, which employs 180 professionals across offices in Nashville, Chattanooga, Murfreesboro and Franklin, prides itself on providing a full spectrum of services.

“We take land from concept to completion,” says Colin Johnson, vice president with RaganSmith and head of the firm’s Chattanooga office. “We provide consulting services for every step of that process.”

Company offerings include help with land plan-

ning, design, civil engineering, surveying, environmental services, roadway projects, landscape architectural design and other needs, and the RaganSmith team ensures every detail is handled with care and creativity. Whether it’s parceling off a family farm or laying the groundwork for a new NFL stadium, the firm brings the same passion and precision to each of its projects.

RaganSmith continues “riding the momentum that [company principal] Kevin Guenther has helped establish with strong visionary planning,” Johnson says. When they were looking for their Murfreesboro office to expand more into the engineering field, RaganSmith brought in Eric Parl as its local civil practice leader.

With its expansion into Murfreesboro in 2016, RaganSmith sought to embed itself into the community. The firm has more recently settled into a local office space located within Fountains at Gateway, an already iconic mixed-use development that RaganSmith had helped to envision.

“It’s best to be a part of the community you’re working in,” Parl says. “We want to be part of the vision that the people of Murfreesboro have for their community.”

That vision is evident in the firm’s ongoing work as part of the team for the Town Creek daylighting project, which aims to revitalize Murfreesboro’s Broad Street by restoring natural water flow, enhancing the urban environment and creating a space where residents and visitors can connect with nature. The project is just one of many on which RaganSmith has partnered with city government and Griggs and

Maloney to help bring transformative ideas to life.

RaganSmith’s work in Murfreesboro also includes the original gateway plan for the Medical Center Parkway corridor, Historic Downtown Master Plans, and the citywide Future Land Use Plan, and the company remains involved in various ongoing planning projects with the City of Murfreesboro.

“We’ve also been working with Middle Tennessee Electric on some of their substation and power projects,” Parl adds.

Regionally, RaganSmith also served as land engineer for the new Tennessee Titans stadium and continues work on the Nashville Yards project, a mixed-use urban development which houses the new Amazon headquarters and a Hyatt Hotel.

“We’re working with Cool Springs Galleria on a redevelopment there,” Parl notes, adding that his firm has also been involved in “numerous residential subdivisions and industrial sites in surrounding counties.”

For Parl, the passion for architecture and design began early. Childhood memories of building with Legos and playing Sim City inspired his career path, eventually leading to his current role in Murfreesboro at RaganSmith, the firm that hired him in 2013.

“The passion is there on a daily basis,” he says.

For any landowner with a vision—whether it’s restoring a creek, crafting a residential neighborhood, designing a shopping center, expanding a roadway, splitting the family farm into individual lots or conceptualizing a massive sports arena—RaganSmith offers the engineering expertise and full slate of consulting services to help make that idea a reality.

Kevin Guenther and Eric Parl

14

allen & brIght

Instrumental duo spreads Christmas cheer with smooth string sounds.

20

local l I ght DI splays

Local Realtor Tony Crabtree expands on area Christmas lights map.

22

l I ghts on trotters

Grimes family hosts annual Christmas display, raises funds for CureGRIN.

24

beaman park

Hikers explore the woodland hills and hollers just outside of Nashville.

32

fam I ly tra DI t I on Tennessee home-school families seek to protect parents’ right to educate.

6 Events

calenDar La Vergne Snow Rink, Drive-Through Christmas Lights, Grinch Cookie Decorating and more!

17 Reviews album The Lilliston Effect moVIe Heretic

18 Sounds

musIc notes

A Charlie Brown Christmas live performance; Ringing in the New Year with Jake Leg Stompers, Mixtape ’80s Tribute

24 Living explore Beaman Park

nature news

Kristin Hopkins leaves a legacy with Natural Resources Department mr.

murfreesboro

Christmas Past: Shopping on the downtown Square

30 Food restaurant BombMi

32 News

busIness buzz

Scooter’s Coffee, Music City Kartplex, First Watch, Hawaiian

Bros, Love’s Pizza, Toki House, Raising Cane’s Schlotzsky’s and more busIness news

Better Than Vintage busIness momentum

Safe & Sound Soap Co. tech talk Boro Dev Agency

39 Opinion free your chIlDren Satanic Temple and school choice sports talk Merry Christmas to all! lIVIng . . . well! How to prevent stress money matters Guide to efficient giving

c

EvERy wEEk FOR ThE PAST FOuR yEARS

I would have a weekly call with Mr. Thom Christy to record the Pulse Radio Report for WQJZ.

I had no indication that a routine mid-November recording would be our final one.

The following weekend, Thom injured his head from an accident at his home and did not recover.

I tried to keep my mind occupied when 4 p.m. rolled around that next Tuesday, knowing there would be no more recording sessions with Thom.

Each week, Thom would ask me for a “word of wisdom.” I’m not certain why he began this tradition for this report primarily focused on local music, business, events and news, but I did my best to come up with an inspiring or thoughtful quote every week.

During our final recording—due to air the week of Thanksgiving and which I suppose will be the “lost Pulse Radio Report” that never made it to air due to his passing—I offered as the word of wisdom (thanks to the suggestion from Sarah): In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Jesus Christ.

I imagine it has been difficult for Thom’s family and friends to remain in a spirit of thankfulness during this time of heartbreaking loss, but I dedicated my Thanksgiving week to Mr. Thom Christy. I am grateful for his support of my business and vision, and I have reminded myself over the past days that I am blessed to have known this champion of music, small businesses, community, spiritual health, charity, independent media and noble endeavors.

Thom volunteered a great deal of his time to getting community information on Murfreesboro’s little jazz station, 103.9, and numerous other individuals in town also had weekly recording appointments with him.

“Please celebrate the life he lived and please pray for his wife, Gloria,” according to a statement from the family. “Once we navigate through this time we will put out information for a celebration of life in the new year.”

And that is this week’s Pulse Radio Report.

Many in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina continue to manage great difficulties and loss, as well.

The unprecedented hurricane that hit the Appalachians truly devastated much of that area. Hundreds died and dozens more are still missing.

Losing a loved one would probably be the worst thing to go through related to the storm—homes can be rebuilt, other cars and clothing can be acquired—but many families have some serious property loss ordeals to deal with.

Not only are people’s homes gone, some of their land has disappeared. What if you were paying a mortgage on a property and not only was the home destroyed, but much of the land washed down the hillside in a mudslide or is underwater due to a redirected river? These Americans continue to try and rebuild their lives and towns out there.

We never know when a disaster may strike or when someone will live their last day.

I know this probably was not my most joyful writing, but may your month be filled with joy and peace. Make some memories this holiday season.

Visit, laugh, decorate the tree, play in the cold, make some cookies, see some lights, go somewhere new, sing some carols, play some games. Enjoy life, your family and your friends.

Peace and Blessings, bracken mayo

Publisher/Editor in Chief

iN EvERy iSSuE

Through Dec. 14

whIte monkey chrIstmas market

White Monkey Estate Sales presents the White Monkey Christmas Market at 2859 Middle Tennessee Blvd. for three weekends, Fridays and Saturdays through Saturday, Dec. 14. White Monkey Estate Sales is joining with area artisan vendors, antique dealers, bakeries, crafters and local businesses with estate collections of Christmas items. Their market house in Murfreesboro will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland full of surprises. Find baked goods, handmade jewelry, candy, all-natural self-care products, handmade ornaments, artisan gifts, candles, primitive and vintage Christmas decor and Santa collectibles, hand-crafted wooden art, plants and more. There will be a festive area for Christmas photos and an outdoor gathering area with seating and a warm campfire. Shoppers can enjoy complimentary hot coffee and a sweet treat. For more information, call 615-8185954 or find the White Monkey Christmas Market on estatesales.org.

Through Feb. 2

wI nterfest I ce r I nk at the founta I ns

Fountains at Gateway (1500 Medical Center Pkwy.) hosts its annual outdoor ice rink, Winterfest, through Sunday, Feb. 2. Initial hours are 4–8 p.m. on Thursdays, 4–9 p.m. on Fridays, 12–9 p.m. on Saturdays and 12–8 p.m. on Sundays (closed Monday–Wednesday). Admission includes tax, skate rental and 90 minutes on the ice. Ages 13 and up: $15; Kids 4–12: $12; Kids 3 and under: free. For more information and upcoming hours of operation, visit fountainswinterfest.com

Dec. 5

tpo chrIstmas concert

The Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra presents its annual Christmas Concert on Thursday, Dec. 5, at Belle Aire Baptist Church (1307 N. Rutherford Blvd.). For tickets and more information on the Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra, visit tnphil.org

Dec. 5

brew busIness mIxer Brew Business Networking continues

Dec. 6

rutherforD county chrIstmas tree lIghtIng

On the first Friday night of December, holiday revelers gather around the historic Rutherford County Courthouse on the Murfreesboro Public Square for the annual lighting of the Rutherford County Christmas tree. Main Street organizes this event, featuring entertainment, caroling, the lighting of the tree and a visit from a very special bearded gentleman. Bring your family downtown for dinner, view the live nativity, shop in unique stores and enjoy an hour-long program full of choir music, dancing, acting and Santa. There are free crafts and games for children, face painting, creating reindeer food, scavenger hunts and carriage rides (cost $20) and plenty of hot cocoa. Pictures with Santa run from 5:30–8:30 p.m. For more information, visit mainstreetmurfreesboro.org/celebrate-christmas-downtown.

the first Thursday of each month at Middle Ground Brewing Co. (2476 Old Fort Pkwy.) on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 4:30–6:30 p.m. There is no cost to attend and network. For more information, visit middlegroundbrew.com or find Middle Ground Brewing Company on Facebook.

Dec. 5 anD 12

tInker tec, merry makers

Make fun gifts for loved ones on Thursdays Dec. 5 and 12 at the TEC (306 Minerva Dr.) from 3:30–4 p.m. Read books and participate in fun activities. Tinker TEC is aimed at children 5–7 years old, but all are welcome. For more information, call 615225-8312 or visit rclstn.org.

Dec. 5 anD 12

tec wInter storytIme

Children ages 0–4 (although all are welcome) are invited to the TEC (306 Minerva Dr.) Thursdays Dec. 5 and 12 from 10:30–11 a.m. for a special winter story time. Read books, sing songs and color fun pictures. No advanced registration is required. For more information, visit rclstn. org or call 615-225-8312.

Dec. 6

nIght of possIbIlItIes

Possibility Place will present its annual Night of Possibilities fundraiser on Friday, Dec. 6, from 7–8:30 p.m. at Lifepoint

Church Smyrna Campus (506 Legacy Dr., Smyrna). Experience the joy of Christmas while enjoying a special performance by the Pals of Possibility Place. Delicious desserts, coffee and hot chocolate will be available and the Mistletoe Market and a silent auction will be open for Christmas shopping needs. Possibility Place seeks to provide possibilities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through job training, building friendships, and help with independent living skills and healthy lifestyle habits. For more information on the Night of Possibilities, email lauren.possibilityplace@gmail.com or visit possibilityplacetn.org/night-of-possibilities.

Dec. 6

tec holIDay open house

Enjoy the tree lighting on the Square, then come to the TEC (306 Minerva Dr.) for makerspace fun, a video game tournament and grown-up story time with the Bookmobile on Friday, Dec. 6, from 6–8 p.m. This free event showcases all the TEC has to offer. Ages 18 and up are welcome; no advance registration is required. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615225-8312.

Dec. 6–Jan. 3

la Vergne snow rInk

The popular free snow rink will be back this winter from Dec. 6 through Jan. 3 at Veterans Memorial Park (115 Floyd Mayfield Dr., La Vergne). Entry is first come, first served. Participants are allowed one hour of skate time that rotates out every hour. Skates are available for free, if needed. The snow rink will not be open Friday, Dec. 13. For complete hours and more information, visit lavergnetn.gov/643/winter-festival

Dec. 7

who were the wIse men anD what DID they see?

Nashville Biblical Studies Fellowship presents “Who Were the Wise Men and What Did They See?: The Wonders of the Birth of Christ” on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at Greenhouse Ministries (307 S. Academy St.). The event consists of biblical presentations and lunch. No ticket or reservation is required. What was

the star the wise men saw? Why did they come to worship Jesus? Biblical and astronomical records can give clarification. Come see for yourselves what rocked King Herod and all of Jerusalem. For more information, call 615-405-4994 or email setthehookntn@gmail.com.

Dec. 7

la Vergne wInter festIVal anD paraDe of lIghts

The fourth annual Winter Festival will be held at Veterans Memorial Park (115 Floyd Mayfield Dr., La Vergne) on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 3–8 p.m. The 14th annual Parade of Lights begins at 5 p.m. at City Hall (5093 Murfreesboro Rd., La Vergne) and ends at Veterans Memorial Park, where the tree lighting ceremony and fireworks show take place. This year’s theme is “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” The grand marshals are La Vergne officers Ashley Boleyjack and Gregory Kern, both survivors of a 2023 officer-involved shooting. All parade participants are being asked to decorate their cars, floats or signs with lights for the event which will take place after dark. Following the parade there will be Christmas carols, vendors, hot cocoa, treats and music. Get pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 6:30–8 p.m. For more information, visit lavergnetn.gov/237/parade-of-lights or call 615-793-3224.

Dec. 7

mIlls-pate chrIstmas hanDmaDe market

Gearing up for Christmas? Come shop with us at the Christmas Handmade Market, featuring booths inside and outside with local artisans offering their handmade items on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at Mills-Pate Arts Center (7120 Old Nashville Hwy.). For more information, visit mpactn.com and click “Events”.

Dec.

7, 14 anD 21

the grInch anD cookIe DecoratIng at oflow OFLOW (Overflow – Brews & Bakes, 115 N. Maple St.) hosts photos with the Grinch and holiday cookie decorating on Saturdays Dec. 7, 14 and 21 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Decorate a cookie for $5 or 3 cookies for $10. OFLOW provides all the candies, sprinkles, and icing and does the cleanup. If you are nice, you can get a photo with the Grinch (bonus points with the Grinch if you show him your cookie!). For more information, visit overflowb. com or find Oflow (Overflow Brews and Bakes) on Facebook.

Dec. 6–22

DrIVe-through chrIstmas lIghts

Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) will come to life once again with a free drive-through Christmas light display on the first three weekends in December, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Dec. 6–22, from 5 until 8 p.m. For more information, contact Cannonsburgh Village at 615-890-0355.

Dec. 7

hotcakes anD holly

The Rotary Club of Murfreesboro invites the community to enjoy its 21st Annual Hotcakes & Holly Pancake Breakfast at Middle Tennessee Christian School (100 E. MTCS Rd.) on Thursday, Dec. 7, from 7:30–11 a.m. This holiday tradition includes Santa Claus and Christmas music. It is the club’s largest fundraiser, with proceeds benefiting a diverse set of community initiatives including the Polio Projects and Dictionary Project that benefits all Rutherford County third graders. The pancake breakfast also provides donations to other nonprofit organizations. Tickets are $15, and can be purchased from club members or at the door (children age 12 and younger are admitted free). Carryout meals will be available for those not wishing to dine at the school. Sponsorships are available. Vendor booths are available for $65 (includes two tickets). For more information, visit murfreesbororotary.org or find Rotary Club of Murfreesboro on Facebook.

Dec. 7

chrIstmas concert

Brass Band of Nashville invites the public to a free Christmas concert on Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. at Vine Street Christian Church (4101

between 7:45 and 8:30 a.m., with Round 1 beginning at 9 a.m.

Dec. 7–8

bethlehem marketplace

Enjoy a free walk-through drama reenactment depicting how the village of Bethlehem may have looked the morning after Jesus’ birth at the 40th Annual Bethlehem Marketplace at Southeast Baptist Church (708 Minerva Dr.) Saturday and Sunday Dec. 7–8, from noon–5 p.m. The atmosphere and surroundings take guests back 2,000 years with characters dressed in historic costumes such as Roman soldiers, prisoners, weavers, merchants in shops, census-takers and more. There will also be live camels and other animals. In years past, the presentation has drawn as many as 8,000 guests over the weekend from all across the country. There is no cost for admission, and nothing is actually for sale. No reservations are required. Tour time averages about one hour, even at times of peak crowds. Experience-goers will be entertained in the sanctuary with Christmas music from local school choirs, groups, individuals and videos while waiting their turn to enter Bethlehem. For more information, visit sebaptist.org/ bethlehem-marketplace

Harding Place, Nashville). Admission is free, donations will be accepted. Visit brassbandofnashville.org to learn more.

Dec. 7

mIDDle tennessee scholastIc chess champIonshIp

The Middle Tennessee Scholastic Chess Championship at Central Magnet School (701 E. Main St.) is set for Saturday, Dec. 7. This annual tradition is a great tournament for both new and seasoned scholastic chess players. New players can compete in one of two unrated sections to get their first tournament experience. For experienced players, traditional rated sections (primary, elementary, high school) determine Middle Tennessee Scholastic Champions. Rated sections require a current US Chess membership ID, but no knowledge of chess notation, playing with a clock, or previous tournament experience is necessary to play in the unrated section. The format for all divisions is a five-round Swiss tournament using 30-minute time controls with a fivesecond delay. An early registration fee of $20 is due by Tuesday, Dec. 3. For more information, email rundbergj@rcschools. net or igozhislin@gmail.com. Onsite registration and check-in will take place

Dec. 7, 14 anD 21

free photos wIth santa

Families can capture the magic of the holidays by getting pictures with Santa on Saturdays, Dec. 7, 14 and 21 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. inside the historic Rutherford County Courthouse. Bring your own camera to take pictures. Free and open to the public.

Dec. 8

ceDar glaDe classIc car cruIse-In

Shine ‘er up and drive ‘er in at the Cedar Glade Brews (906 Ridgely Rd.) second Sunday of the month classic car cruisein on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 1–4 p.m. Car-ticipants get a free CGB pint (1 per car). Stick around for trivia at 5 p.m. There is no sign-up required and no cost to participate. For more information, visit cedargladebrews.com.

Dec. 10

busIness

after hours

The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce will hold its December Business After Hours networking event at Williamson Family Farm (3250 Wilkinson Pk.) on Tuesday, Dec. 10, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Admission is $15 for chamber members

and $25 for non-members. For more information on this and other Chamber of Commerce events and ribbon cuttings, visit rutherfordchamber.org and find Events.

Dec.

10

tIny tec, merry makers

Make fun gifts for loved ones on Tuesdays Dec. 3 and 10 from 11:30 a.m.–noon at the TEC (306 Minerva Dr.). Read books and participate in fun activities. Tiny TEC is aimed at children 2–4 years old, but all are welcome. No advanced registration is required. For more information, call 615225-8312 or visit rclstn.org.

Dec. 11

cocktaIls anD conVersatIons

Cocktails and Conversations meets every other Wednesday night from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at The Goat (2355 Adwell St.) for a fun networking mixer. This is a great opportunity to meet other local business professionals and connect in the community. Everyone is welcome to attend. The December meeting will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 11. For more information, find a Cocktails and Conversations group page on Facebook or call or text 615-557-4827.

Dec. 12

carol ghattas book sIgnIng

Linebaugh Public Library will host local author Carol Ghattas for a book signing on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. The author will sign and sell copies of her books, including her newest releases The Life I Now Live and When Serving Gets Tough. Ghattas is no stranger to Linebaugh, as she served as the branch manager at the library for over 12 years before retiring in 2023. She has been writing books for over 30 years, many out of her 20 years of experience in overseas missions work. The Life I Now Live is the fourth of Carol’s novels set in the Muslim world and written under the pseudonym Um Daoud. The story provides an insider’s view into the culture and complexities of life for those who consider stepping outside the bounds of religious norms, and helps Christians better understand and pray for those who daily live out their faith in Christ despite their struggles. When Serving Gets Tough: A Thirty-Day Devotional for Missionaries offers encouragement and wisdom for anyone struggling with the demands of cross-cultural service. Connect with Ghattas through lifeinexile.net. Linebaugh Public Library is

Dec. 8

m urfreesboro c hr I stmas para D e

Save the date for the 2024 Murfreesboro Christmas Parade, scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. The theme of this year’s parade is “A Vintage Christmas.”

The parade starts at Middle Tennessee Boulevard and Main Street near MTSU, and ends on Walnut Street just past the Murfreesboro Public Square.

located at 105 W. Vine St. in Murfreesboro. For more information, call 615-8934131 or visit rclstn.org.

Dec. 14

breakfast wIth santa

Santa Claus is coming to Murfreesboro on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 9–11 a.m. at The Realtor Event Center (311 Butler Dr.). Enjoy a free yummy family breakfast and snap some magical moments with Santa himself. Plus, Santa’s helpers will be on hand to spread some holiday cheer with games, face paint, balloons and fun. In the holiday spirit, the center is supporting Portico. Bring baby wipes, diapers or a baby bottle filled with change to donate. Register for a free ticket at santaelam.com.

Dec. 14

canDlelIght tour of homes

Usher in the holiday season with a special Christmastime tour of homes presented by The Halliburton Family and featuring Oaklands Mansion dressed in all of its holiday splendor on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 4–8 p.m. This special holiday tradition takes you through Murfreesboro’s East Main Street Historic District, to some

(7120 Old Nashville Hwy.). Tickets for the holiday concert are $20. For more information, visit thegiftofsong.net or mpactn. com and click “Events”.

Dec. 14

FreDDy’s Big Dream author book reaDIng OFLOW (Overflow – Brews & Bakes, 115 N. Maple St.) presents another book reading of Freddy’s Big Dream author by Warren Price on Dec. 14, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. See what the little frog is all about (and the Grinch approves all the green). For more information, visit overflowb.com or find Oflow (Overflow Brews and Bakes) on Facebook.

Dec. 14

santa at wIlDwooD

Santa Claus will be at The Wildwood Reserve Barbershop (1330 NW Broad St.) on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 1:30–4:30 p.m. Come and get your holiday haircut and visit with the big guy. For more information, call 615-962-8366.

Dec. 14 anD 15

mIDDle tennessee

sInfonIetta presents The NuTcracker

historic homes on adjoining streets and then to Oaklands Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.). The MTSU Raider Express will make the rounds or guests are also welcome to drive themselves and park on the street. At Oaklands, Murfreesboro Little Theatre members, Oaklands Mansion staff and board members will share short stories and information about the historic structure. In the front parlor, Santa will greet guests of all ages for photographs. Elaine Winters and Rob Pearcy from The Home Sweet Home Band will play Christmas standards and old holiday favorites. Oaklands Museum Shop will also open for unique holiday shopping and local food trucks will be parked outside. Christmas face-painting will be available for kids of all ages in Maney Hall. Admission is $30 per adult and $10 per student ages 6–12 (free for ages 5 and under). For more information, call 615-893-0022, visit oaklandsmansion.org/candlelighttour or email events@oaklandsmansion.org

Dec. 14

the most wonDerful tIme of the year

The Gift of Song Presents The Most Wonderful Time of the Year on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. at Mills-Pate Arts Center

The Middle Tennessee Sinfonietta and SoZo Dance Academy’s 4th annual presentation of The Nutcracker takes place on Friday, Dec. 14 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m. at Smyrna High School Theatre (100 Bulldog Dr., Smyrna). The Middle Tennessee Sinfonietta is directed by Jeffrey Keever and the SoZo Dance Academy is led by Anna Claire Rosson. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at buytickets.at/mid dletennesseesinfonietta. For more information, visit mtsinfonietta.com, call 864-7063647 or email info@mtsinfonietta.com.

Dec. 17

tennessee Valley wInDs chrIstmas concert

The Tennessee Valley Winds holds the next concert of its 40th Anniversary Season on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, at 7 p.m. at the Washington Theater inside Patterson Park Community Center (521 Dr. Martin Luther Dr.). This Christmas concert is free and open to the public. The second winner of the High School Concerto Competition will be announced. For more information, visit tnvalleywinds.org or find Tennessee Valley Winds on Facebook.

Dec. 19

kIDs maker eVent

Come make a holiday ornament at the TEC

Dec. 10

tuba chrIstmas

The 38th annual Tuba Christmas Nashville concert is set for Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church (8th Ave. and Broadway, Nashville). Come early to get a good seat and hear some Christmas Dixieland music from a five-piece band starting at 10:30 a.m. There will be at least 100 tubas for the 11 a.m. concert. If you play tuba or euphonium, you’re invited to play in the ensemble; there is only one rehearsal on the morning of the concert. There is no admission or reservations required. For more information, visit tubachristmas.com or find Tuba Christmas Nashville on Facebook.

CONTiNuEd FROM PAgE 8

(306 Minerva Dr.) on Thursday, Dec. 19, from 3:30–4 p.m. Ages 2–9 are welcome. For more information, call 615225-8312 or visit rclstn.org

Dec. 19

the connectIon at champy’s

Champy’s World Famous Fried Chicken will host the December 2024 installment of The Connection: An Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming from 5–7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs and professionals are welcome to attend this casual, free, no-obligation networking event, where they can meet other small business owners and tap into one another’s experience and energy. Networking begins at 5 p.m. with introductions at 6 p.m. Champy’s is located at 1290 NW Broad St.

Dec. 20

eVeryboDy Drum some

Everybody Drum Some will offer a relaxing and fun hands-on rhythm experience beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 20, at St. Patrick’s Anglican Church (7103 Baker Rd.). All ages and all skill levels

are invited to come explore the joys of recreational music-making on a wide variety of drums and percussion instruments. Come play some drums and enjoy a stress-free evening of rhythm and community. There is no charge to participate or spectate, but donations are welcome. For more information call or text Ross at 615-631-7458, find Everybody Drum Some on Facebook or Instagram, or visit everybodydrumsome.com.

Dec. 22

procrastInator’s craft faIr

Enjoy local artisans with unique handmade items and great beer at the Procrastinator’s Craft Fair on Sunday, Dec. 22 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at Cedar Glade Brews (906 Ridgely Rd.). For more information, find the event on Untappd, find Cedar Glade Brews on Facebook or call 615-900-3707.

Dec. 23

murfreesboro chess lunch

Who wants to play a game of chess? Come out to Carmen’s Taqueria (206 W. Northfield Blvd.) from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. on

CONTiNuEd ON PAgE 10

Monday, Dec. 23, for chess, cheese dip and chimichangas. Community members interested in gathering and networking with other area chess enthusiasts to play and discuss chess, promoting the game of chess locally, sharing ideas on how chess can benefit others, or involving their business in chess events and tournaments can come to a Murfreesboro Chess Lunch the fourth Monday of each month at Carmen’s. For more information, find an event page for Murfreesboro Chess Lunch on Facebook, email bracken@boropulse.com or text/call 615-796-6248.

Dec. 27

4th frIDay fun*workIng

The monthly “fun working” event at Cedar Glade Brews is held the fourth Friday of every month from 5–7 p.m., presented by Reed and Associates of Primerica and Spread the Positive at Cedar Glade Brews (906 Ridgley Rd.). The event is

focused on shining a light on what’s going right. Each month the event highlights a business making a positive impact in the local community and gives the public an opportunity to talk with them. Meet some of your favorite STP podcasters. There will be a food truck onsite, so grab a drink and a bite while you connect with the best in the ’Boro. For more information, find 4th Friday Fun*Working on Facebook.

o ngoing

thomas eDIson’s secret lab at DIscoVery center

The Discovery Center at Murfree Spring (502 SE Broad St.) continues hosting the traveling exhibit Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab all month long. Created by the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in collaboration with Genius Brands International, this immersive and educational exhibit is inspired by Genius Brands’ popular animated series. Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab is included with general admission to

the Discovery Center and offers interactive programming exploring science, technology, engineering and mathematics concepts. The exhibit features characters from the animated series, including Thomas Edison and his group of friends, as they tackle various scientific challenges and solve problems using various scientific principles. Visitors will have the chance to operate the six simple classical machines, explore a giant interactive periodic table of elements, delve into the basics of coding and more. The exhibit runs until Sunday, Jan. 12. For more information, visit explorethedc.org, call 615-890-2300 or email juhl@explorethedc.org.

o ngoing

f3 workouts

F3—which stands for fitness, fellowship and faith—holds free, outdoor, peer-led workouts for men across the country. The free weekly workout sessions welcome all men and always end with a “circle of trust,”

emphasizing the group’s commitment to faith. In Murfreesboro, F3 holds workouts on the Murfreesboro Public Square at 5 a.m. on Tuesdays; at Oakland Middle School (853 Dejarnette Ln.) at 5:30 a.m. on Wednesdays; at the Murfreesboro Medical Clinic/Gateway Island parking lot (1272 Garrison Dr.) at 5 a.m. on Thursdays; and at Old Fort Park (201 Golf Ln., at the north entrance parking lot) at 6 a.m. on Saturdays. In Smyrna, F3 meets for workouts at Cedar Grove Elementary (354 Chaney Rd., Smyrna) at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesdays; at Thurman Francis Arts Academy (221 Todd Ln., Smyrna) at 5:30 a.m. on Thursdays; and at Stewart’s Creek High School (301 Red Hawk Pkwy., Smyrna) at 6 a.m. on Saturdays. The group meets every week, rain or shine, hot or cold. For more information, visit f3murfreesboro.com

m on D ays

technology coach

429 N Thompson Ln Murfreesboro, TN

your phone, tablet and laptop questions to our volunteer Technology Coach and

Center (306 Minerva

For more information, visit rclstn.org. m on D ays

connect murfreesboro

Join Connect Murfreesboro each Monday from 9–10 a.m. at BoomBozz Craft Pizza & Taphouse (2839 Medical Center Pkwy.) for a casual networking event designed to connect professionals, build relationships, drive referrals and help grow businesses. Please prepare a 60-second pitch about who you are and what you do, as well as a specific referral request for attendees on what can be done to help promote your business. The approximately 20-minute period at the end of each meeting is reserved for members to set up one-on-ones and socialize. For more

information or directions, visit connectnashvillenetworking.com/events

We D nes D ays networkIng for awesome people

Are you looking to meet and connect with other local business owners? Do you want to grow your network and pick up some skills along the way? Networking for Awesome People meets each week on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. at the Achieve Entrepreneur and CoWorking Center (1630 S. Church St.). All participants need to bring is a good attitude. Each attendee gets about a minute to explain what they do and what they need, followed by a discussion question of the week. Networking for Awesome People encourages open discussion to help everyone grow. For more information, find a Networking for Awesome People group on Facebook.

Fri D ays

C3 is an open networking group for local business professionals at Achieve Entrepreneur and CoWorking Center (1630 S. Church St.) held on Fridays from 8:30–10:30 a.m. The mission is to build relationships, connect local businesses with potential clients, support each other’s professional growth and educate people on how to participate in the local community. Complimentary coffee and snacks are provided. For more information, find Prohibition Home Brewing on Facebook.

Fri D ays

murfreesboro communIty chess

Murfreesboro Community Chess meets at McAlister’s Deli (2357 Medical Center Pkwy.) every Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. Organizers invite those of all ages and skill levels to this casual chess meetup each week. Those attending may bring a board and a clock if they can, but there should be plenty of supplies on hand.

s aT ur D ays

coffee & conVersatIon

The Rutherford County Historical Society has been preserving and promoting Murfreesboro’s local history since 1971. The RCHS aims to be a community resource for those researching their family, property or perhaps just old fun facts. The Historical Society hosts Coffee & Conversation each Saturday morning from 9 a.m.–noon at the Ransom School House Museum (717 N. Academy St.). This is an informal, fun and informative event. Bring old photos or questions about the past to ask members, and enjoy free coffee and donuts. For more information, visit rutherfordtnhistory.org.

s un D ays

breakfast

wIth a Veteran

Join local veterans for coffee or breakfast and conversation on Sunday mornings from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at Joanie’s, located on the Public Square in downtown Murfreesboro.

concerts Live Music in M idd L e tennessee

We D , 12/4

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Vinny Bonina

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Kenna Elpers

Hop s prings

Omega Delta Psi

MT su s aunders Fine a rTs

Horn Studio recital

MT su w rig HT Music Building

Steel Pan Ensemble

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

Open Mic with Sharon

Thurs, 12/5

Belle a ire Bap TisT cH urc H Tennessee Philharmonic

Orchestra

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Shannon McCue Trio

c ar M en’s Taqueria

Jeff Lysyczyn

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Sir Anthony Hop s prings

Surfer Girl; Coyote Island; Beach Fly

s easons o F Mur F rees B oro

Karaoke with DJ Ray Ray

Fri, 12/6

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Hammbone

c edar g lade Brews

Jeff Lysyczyn

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Delyn Christian; Bill Ashmore & The Last Stand

Happy’s s porT s l ounge

Rubiks Groove

Heroes d en

Mark Seekamp and Tim

Lowery

Hop s prings

Omega Delta Psi presents Americana for Appalachia

Jack’s p lace

Tony Castellanos

p ucke TT’s

Garrett Boys

s easons o F Mur F rees B oro

Cooter River Band

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

Shane & the Money Makers

s aT, 12/7

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Jason Acy; Carson Mac

c iT y c a F e

Everette Brown Trio

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Slice of American Pie; In Cahoots

Har V esTer eV enT c enTer

Ghalia Volt; Joey Fletcher Band; The Tiger Beats

Heroes d en

Milford Academy

Hop s prings

Uncle Ted, Fahrenheit 5

p ucke TT’s

Joe West Duo

s easons o F Mur F rees B oro

Rockin Country Band

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

Cooter River Band

s un, 12/8

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Emily Miller

Hank’s Honky Tonk

The O’Donnells Hop s prings

Da Jam Band

MT su w rig HT Music Building

MT Choral Society

m on, 12/9

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Seth Farley

Burger Bar

Jeff Lysyczyn

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Open Mic Night with Toast

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

Randy and Friends

Tues, 12/10

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Dustin Martin

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Robert Abernathy

We D , 12/11

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Eddie Ray Arnold

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Robyn Taylor

s easons o F Mur F rees B oro

Karaoke with DJ Ray Ray

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

Open Mic with Sharon

Thurs, 12/12

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Glenn Brown

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Cary & Sherrie Lynn

Hop s prings

Carter Elliott; Anna Shinholster

s easons o F Mur F rees B oro

Open Mic with Joe OK

Fri, 12/13

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Memory Train

Burger Bar

Jeff Lysyczyn

c edar g lade Brews

The Secret Commonwealth

g rindsTone c ow B oy

Craig Campbell Family & Friends Christmas Show

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Bailey Rose;

Jack Finley Band

Happy’s s porT s l ounge

Memory Train

Heroes d en

Phil Valdez

Jack’s p lace

Tony Castellanos

Middle g round Brewing c o.

Milford Academy

MT su w rig HT Music Building

Southeastern Women in

Music Symposium

p ucke TT’s

Troy Kemp

s easons o F Mur F rees B oro

Zone Status

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

TH e Boro

Los Swamp Monsters; Cow Punx

s aT, 12/14

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Eden’s Storm

c iT y c a F e

Everette Brown Trio

FronT sTree T p u B

Jeff Lysyczyn

Happy’s s porT s l ounge

Ballistic

g rindsTone c ow B oy

Craig Campbell Family & Friends Christmas Show

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Aniston Pate; Mikki Zip Band

Heroes d en

Glenn Brown

MT su w rig HT Music Building

Southeastern Women in Music Symposium

p ucke TT’s

David Isenberg Trio

s easons o F Mur F rees B oro

Whiskey Smoke

sMyrna Hig H s c H ool

The Nutcracker with the Middle Tennessee Sinfonietta

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

Shane and Tony VFW

Christmas Party

TH e Boro

Three Blind Mice;

Blue Willow

s un, 12/15

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Izzy Grace

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Emily Miller

Hop s prings

Da Jam Band

MT su w rig HT Music Building

Southeastern Women in Music Symposium

sMyrna Hig H s c H ool

The Nutcracker with the Middle Tennessee Sinfonietta

m on, 12/16

Burger Bar

Jeff Lysyczyn

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Open Mic Night with Toast

MT su w rig HT Music Building

St. Rose Bands

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

Randy and Friends

Tues, 12/17

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Michael Pape

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Jesse Black

was H ingTon TH eaTre

Tennessee Valley Winds

We D , 12/18

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Christian Chapman

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Izzy Grace

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

s easons o F Mur F rees B oro

Karaoke After Dark with

DJ Ray Ray

Thurs, 12/19

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Vagabond Train

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Will King

s easons o F Mur F rees B oro

Open Mic with Joe OK

Fri, 12/20

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Silent Ruckus; Carter Elliott

Burger Bar

Jeff Lysyczyn

c edar g lade Brews

Bradford Loomis

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Sara Simmons;

Jeff Caron Band

Happy’s s porT s l ounge

Southbound Crows

Heroes d en

Roland Justice

Hop s prings

Clever Girl; Rock Like No

One Else; Safety Third

Jack’s p lace

Tony Castellanos

p ucke TT’s

The Mighty Train Wrecks

s easons o F Mur F rees B oro

Cooter River Band;

Rockin Country Band

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

Shane & the Money Makers

s aT, 12/21

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Delyn Christian and the Bar Tabs

c iT y c a F e

Everette Brown Trio

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Hailey Dawn;

The Cooter River Band

Happy’s s porT s l ounge

Revolution

Heroes d en

Mark Seekamp and Tim Lowery

Hop s prings

Tin Roof Cats; Steady Rotation; Trevor Clark

p ucke TT’s

Radio Farm

s easons o F Mur F rees B oro

No Escape

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

In Cahoots

TH e p rinT sH op

Jeff Lysyczyn

s un, 12/22

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Cindy Ellis & Steve

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Brothers in Black

Hop s prings

Da Jam Band

m on, 12/23

Open Mic Night with Toast

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

Randy and Friends

Tues, 12/24

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Shane Douglas Duo

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Delyn Christian

Thurs, 12/26

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Nick Bentley

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Silent Ruckus

Fri, 12/27

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Mark Mojo Johnson Trio

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Ashton Butler; Justin Dukes

Happy’s s porT s l ounge

New Binge

Heroes d en

Phil Valdez

Jack’s p lace

Tony Castellanos p ucke TT’s

Silver Queen

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

Shane & the Money Makers

s aT, 12/28

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Holler Cat

c a J un sTea M er Bar & g rill

Jeff Lysyczyn c iT y c a F e

Everette Brown Trio

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Krystal King; Whiskey Smoke

Happy’s s porT s l ounge

Echo

Heroes d en

Glen Wagner p ucke TT’s

Kenny Durham Trio

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

Shane and Tony jam s un, 12/29

Boro Bour B on & Brews

Carter Elliott

Hop s prings

Da Jam Band

m on, 12/30

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Open Mic Night with Toast

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

Randy and Friends

Tues, 12/31

Boro Bour B on & Brews

The Wentzel Brothers

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Jack Finley Band

Happy’s s porT s l ounge

Graham Anthem Band

Hop s prings

Mixtape ’80s Tribute Band p ucke TT’s

Jake Leg Stompers s easons o F Mur F rees B oro

If You Go

Burger Bar

Jeff Lysyczyn

Shane & the Money Makers

Open Mic with Sharon

Hank’s Honky Tonk

Echo; Reflections

sMyrna VF w p osT 8422

Shane and Tony NYE Party

Sounds

Allen U Bright

Local duo spreads Christmas cheer with smooth string sounds

by e l I sha n elson

Lo Ca L instrumenta L duo Allen & Bright has released a new Christmas album, Christmas Vol. 3, as well as the Complete allen & Bright Christmas collection. From a mix of contemporary Christmas songs and traditional hymns to a Chet Atkins-inspired “Jingle Bells” tune that ends with a bossa nova flair, the collection covers a wide range of styles in acoustic covers that embrace the holiday spirit.

Lance Allen and Avery Bright began their collaboration as a musical duo back in 2017, while working on Allen’s string Poet project. The two originally met in a recording session in Nashville and shared a passion for acoustic music. Bright, who had seen success as a musician working with artists including Dolly Parton, U2 and One Republic, found a complementary connection

with Allen, an artist recording and releasing music of his own. The duo began to create music under the Allen & Bright moniker.

“I’ve been an artist a little longer than Avery; in 2017 I hired him for my string Poet album,” said guitarist Lance Allen. “Avery and I hit it off and I hired him several other times for other projects, and I was having some success with my releases on Spotify.”

The twosome get together every week or so to work on their collaborations, a rich sound comprised of fingerstyle guitar and bowed strings.

the Complete allen & Bright Christmas consists of 37 tracks, an assortment of Christmas songs and covers from the duo’s newest holiday album, Christmas Vol. 3, and other renditions of classics from throughout their discography, featuring the two inject-

I have the guitar and sometimes I can guide him along if I feel like something would sound a little more interesting than what he’s coming out with. It’s a true partnership kind of thing.”

Allen’s fingerstyle arrangements are a staple of his instrumental guitar work, stemming from inspiration from other artists who helped pave the way for the style.

“My influence of Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel’s guitar playing really blended well with our music,” Allen said.

“I was introduced to Chet Atkins’ music and a guitar player named Phil Keaggy as a teenager, and he played the fingerstyle guitar method. I took off from there and heard about Tommy Emmanuel; he’s one of the big influences of that style.”

Through 37 tracks, Allen & Bright have created a unique acoustic spin on each cover, every classic performed with a pleasing blend of strings.

ing their unique playing styles into traditional hymns and Christmas carols, turning them into melodious instrumental tracks.

“A lot of it starts with fingerstyle guitar arrangement . . . the melody with some basic jazz chords over the melody, and we use that as a template,” said Allen regarding the process. “In the studio we create the parts, and sometimes we add a little bit of an original thing, not necessarily the song, but something original from us, and it sort of morphs into the song.

“Me and Avery have a lot of experience in the music world, and when we get together we can talk the same language, and if he suggests something I’m usually able to play it in the same way I can sing a melody that the violin should sound like. Or, usually, when he’s recording his parts I’m sitting in the studio and

Allen’s favorite track on the album, he said, is “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Although they added violins, the duo ended up taking them out of this particular piece, deciding to release the guitar-only version of the tune.

The duo’s upcoming projects for 2025 include a new Lance Allen original called “Tennessee Maid,” inspired by “The Tennessee Waltz.” Allen adds, “We also plan to do some more cover songs in the first part of the new year such as instrumental renditions of Creedence Clearwater Revival and other classics.”

Find The Complete Allen & Bright Christmas collection, containing all the duo’s Christmas songs in one spot, and their other work on Spotify and Pandora.

Reviews album

the lIllIston effect

Blues march

Like walking in late to the dive bar straight in the middle of a blues band’s funky groove, as a wailing sax pumps into an already on-fire guitar solo, for The Lilliston Effect it’s all about the opposite end of the spectrum from any overbearing seasonal minor-key maelstroms that take control this time of year. It’s about the upbeat for the Nashville-area jazz quintet as it opens its third studio album, Blues March, a breath of fresh air released out of East Nashville’s The Bomb Shelter.

The Lilliston Effect is comprised of blues journeymen John Paul Lilliston on guitar, with Ron Gomez and Matt Sibilia on bass and drums, respectively, Geno Haffner on keys and organ, and Don Jacobsen on sax. With “Hip Stitch,” following the aforementioned self-titled opener, it seems the latest album sets a theme similar to the soulful stylings of G.E. Smith and Leon Pendarvis’ saturday night Live bands. Musicianly discipline and camaraderie become evident early as The Lilliston Effect’s individual solos and instrumental stylings within a piece steadily, soulfully

movie

diRECTORS Scott beck and bryan Woods

STARRiNg Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, chloe east

R

Longtime writing and directing duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods had a massive hit with their initial breakout, a Quiet Place heretic is a bit of a departure in style, a small-scale horror/thriller released by A24, that proves the pair can’t quite shake their love of cleverness for its own sake.

To start, Hugh Grant is phenomenal as Mr. Reed. When two Mormon women knock on his door to preach conversion, his welcoming and bumbling British charm belies something sinister. Sister

swap out comfortable control of the melody. The band continues through a checklist of blues structures on its Blues March, such as “Long Walk Home Blues,” a little rockabillyswing with hints of Cuban mambo on the piano, as well as the “no-blues-in-the-title” songs such as sitcom-themed “The Slouch,” a full-on sax tune mixing the blues feel of the Kings of Rhythm with the Peanuts band.

“The Doo Wop Blues” stands as Lilliston’s old-school, doo-wop swing with high-end guitar sounds sliding up and down the frets for a surfer melody and Hawaiian beach feel pretty enough to take your baby out for a sunset drive. “Blues Vera Cruz” is a lowerregister Dick Dale-type surfer tune with some spooky hints, perfect for a Tarantino soundtrack. Elongated lead guitar punches pierce through with an exotic flavor strengthened by the sax accompaniment; the song has a cool little Egyptian vibe to it at the end.

“Toppers” continues the snL jam feel, but more as if the band was jamming at the after-party in a club in the middle of the night,

Barnes (Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (East) explain that the church dictates that for them to come in out of the rain there must be a woman present, but seem powerless to heed their ringing alarm bells when Mr. Reed claims his wife is just inside baking a blueberry pie. Once inside, Mr. Reed disappears into the house for extended lengths of time, paired with creaking house sounds and power outages, and when he returns he not only seems even more knowledgeable about Mormonism than the women, but he also asks odd and uncomfortable questions. When the two women finally realize they are the unwitting subjects of a strange game, it’s far too late.

The uneasy back-and-forth between Mr. Reed and the Sisters Barnes and Paxton is where the film works best. The tension builds, but later that the constant religious history lessons begin to feel like a lecture trying to disguise as a decent thriller. heretic takes a few unexpected turns, and the flaws are made less glaring by the talent and technique on display. Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East hold their own against Grant, and the cinematography and sound design coalesce into a palpable atmosphere of dread and intrigue.

The film’s biggest weakness is Beck’s and Woods’ tendency to ignore the whys and hows of ideas they find cool. Like Mr. Reed’s carefully constructed puzzle box of a house, the plot details don’t quite ring true. Though one thing the film absolutely nails, is that sometimes the worst thing in the world is an older man lecturing you. — jay spIght

while the swing number “Coda” harkens back to The Blues Brothers Band, with a Hammond working beside a Stevie Ray Vaughanstylized lead guitar line and horn section.

If it hasn’t been stylish and disciplined enough already, “Over the Top Pt. 1” takes the “starting right in the middle of a wideopen live jam” and “great foundation for comfortable solos” notions to the next step, immediately contrasted by a burning reggae groove on “Chatters.”

“Going Down” is a good highway drive song on Blues March, but you’d probably be alone here (instead of taking your baby out for a sunset drive), as the mood sets an outing meant more for a drug deal or knife fight.

If there was a Howlin’ Wolf homage on this album, it’d be the blues drive of “The Lilliston Boogie,” a surprisingly controlled, seemingly chaotic upbeat smashing of all the instruments together.

Find The Lilliston Effect’s Blues March at linktr.ee/thelillistoneffect — bryce harmon

He R eti C

Sounds

c oming up in m urfreesboro m usic:

 Local jazz ensemble t he mI les Damaso t r I o will return to Middle Ground Brewing Co. for an encore performance of the entire A Charlie Brown Christmas album. The Saturday, Dec. 21, ticketed show kicks off at 8 p.m. Stay tuned to the events section of the Middle Ground Facebook page for ticket details.

 Welcome 2025 with classic Nashville country sounds from the jack fI nley ban D . The local group plays Hank’s Honky Tonk, 2341 Memorial Blvd., on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31.

 t he jake l eg stompers bring their unique brand of “chicken-fried, pre-war, hokum-billy jug music” to the Murfreesboro Public Square on New Year’s Eve. Catch the vintage vibes at Puckett’s on Dec. 31. The show begins at 8 p.m.; no cover. Make reservations for this and other shows at Puckett’s on Opentable or at puckettsrestaurant.com

 To rock in the new year with the music of the 1980s, mIxtape ’80s trIbute banD returns to Hop Springs for a New Year’s Eve party. Find advance tickets for $20 on Ticketweb. Hop Springs Beer Park is located at 6790 John Bragg Hwy.

Living Where to Find Local Christmas Light Displays

Local Realtor Tony Crabtree expands on area Christmas lights map

by j o DI e kI nzer

Mu RFREESBORO R EALTOR

Tony Crabtree has spent the past couple of years compiling a map of the best places to see Christmas light displays and other festive decor in Rutherford County. This can be a perfect resource for families looking for fun and inexpensive entertainment around the holidays. Viewers can observe all of these displays from the comfort of their vehicles.

Tony explained to the Pulse how he got this idea.

“It’s cold outside. You can’t go to the playground, and you can’t go to the pool. At the time when I started the project my kids were 6, 4 and 2. There’s just nothing to do when you have young kids like that, so you’re constantly like, ‘Okay, I guess we’ll watch another movie,’” Crabtree said.

But even after the Crabtree family watched Elf five times one Christmas season, they were still looking for fun, festive activities.

There is an added element to the 2024 experience.

“One thing we’re going to do this year is a scavenger hunt where we’re going to put signs in some of the yards. Each house address will have a different letter that answers a riddle, and you have to go to each house to fill in the blanks. Once you do that, you’ll submit this form, and it’ll take you to a website to donate to a place called the Tennessee Children’s Home, which is an organization that directly gives to foster families. All that money goes straight to families in Rutherford County who are helping to foster kids who don’t have a home.”

“I was trying to figure out how to make a list of where all these places were, because driving around to see the lights was just something that my kids, especially my girls, really enjoyed about Christmastime,” the local Realtor said. “So we put together this list, and I just would start searching. . . . There’s this Facebook group that came out with lights from all over, even the Nashville area.”

While Tony is responsible for creating and maintaining the map, finding locations for the map has become a community effort. Submit unlisted displays by sending in a photo or video of the display along with the address. Crabtree will add fitting displays to the map throughout the season.

Even a $5 donation will enter those who solve the riddle for a chance to win a prize. Crabtree is still on the hunt for businesses to donate giveaway prizes or gift cards. “Anything you’d like to give helps,” he said.

Being a Realtor, Crabtree knows the importance of secure housing for families and for the overall well-being of communities.

“Over the past few years, families who are in foster care have really been just near to me and dear to my heart,” Crabtree said. “It takes sacrificial love to care for a child that is not yours. It’s a really beautiful thing.”

 fInD the full map at crabtreehomestn.com/christmaslights

Share your favorite photos using the hashtag #borochristmas2024. To donate prizes or submit updates to the map, email Tony at tony@crab treehomestn.com. when requesting additions to the list, be sure to attach a photo or video of the display.

Some of the local Christmas lights for 2024 include:

1920 higgins Ln. (one of Tony’s personal favorites)

305 Beverly Randolph dr. 7922 Spire St. 107 Cannock St. 6527 Forrest Ln. 416 Bell Buckle wartrace Rd., Bell Buckle 648 Laurel Ln. 103 gateway dr. 1910 Falsetto Ln. 1438 Trotters Ln., Rockvale 110 Slidell Ct., Rockvale

3016 Richlands Richardson Rd. 2407 Tinnell Ct. 2405 Ruston Ct. 2332 Londonberry St. 2556 Choctaw Trce. Cannonsburgh village 841 Lexi Ln. 1737 Marian Ln. 2119 Patriot dr. 2050 Sugartree dr. 1516 Neutrino dr. 3031 Fallswood dr.

Leibach's Lights on the Lane, 1737 Marian Ln.

Living

Lig HT s on T R o TT e R s

ThE gRiMES FAMiLy has strung over half a million Christmas lights across their yard and, for the second year in a row, are inviting the local community to walk through and enjoy the “Lights on Trotters” display.

Shannon and Aaron Grimes and their older son Tanner, 14, put the lights up this year.

“Aaron is the mastermind of how we set up the light display,” Shannon Grimes said.

The Grimes’ younger son, Carson, age 8, has a rare genetic mutation called GRIN1. He struggles with vision and epilepsy, among other impairments, but this doesn’t impede his enjoyment of his family’s holiday lights.

Shannon Grimes says Carson really loves the lights, and the family likes to share this joy with others.

“Aaron and I have been doing Christmas lights for almost 20 years. It has progressed ever since,” she said. “We used to do Christmas lights to music a while back before everyone else started doing it. Our display was called ‘Rocking Christmas Lights.’”

After Carson was born, the family stopped putting up the lights, Grimes said.

“At first we didn’t know anything was wrong with Carson, and then he started declining. He was actually put on hospice for nine months before we had a diagnosis. He went from taking a bottle to aspirating and choking on everything. Christmas was on the back burner at that point.

“Carson has a rare genetic condition called GRIN1. It actually happened spon-

“We thought about what Carson would like. We had always done a large light display, and Carson absolutely loves lights. We thought ‘he can stroll through this display— we can wheel him through this display, and he would absolutely love it.’ And we love doing it. It is our passion.”

taneously at conception. Aaron and I don’t carry it. He was one of 50 with it when he was born and now that number has grown tremendously because of science and the ability to detect very rare genetic mutations. He has muscle weakness and is completely tube-fed now,” she said. “He has nursing care now during the day when he is home, and he receives regular respiratory treatments around the clock.”

g rimes family hosts annual Christmas lights display, raises funds for Cure g R i N

In 2020, the Grimes family moved into their new house on Trotters Lane in Rockville.

As the holiday season approached, they decided they wanted to do a new light display.

“We thought about what Carson would like,” Shannon said. “We had always done a large light display, and Carson absolutely loves lights. We thought ‘he can stroll through this

display—we can wheel him through this display, and he would absolutely love it.’ And we love doing it. It is our passion.”

Visitors are welcome to stroll through the walk-through display this season. They can park on the street, and then walk through the Grimes’ driveway and sidewalk, which is handicap accessible.

“Last year we had half a million lights, and this year there will be more,” Grimes said.

This year the Grimes family is fundraising for CureGRIN, which is a parent-led foundation. There is not a lot of knowledge about GRIN yet. According to curegrin.org, GRIN is a genetic disorder that parents can notice when infants begin to miss developmental milestones. Children can often be diagnosed before the age of 2. However, without a genetic diagnosis, some individuals are incorrectly diagnosed with cerebral palsy, autism and other genetic neurodevelopment disorders such as Angelman syndrome. It is usually not a hereditary disorder. The CureGRIN Foundation provides support to individuals with the disorder and their families through education and information. Its mission is to find treatments and cures through research, education and support.

guests can visit “Lights on Trotters” through Jan. 1. The display at 1428 Trotters Ln. in Rockville is open for visitors Mondays through Thursdays from 5–9 p.m. and Fridays through Sundays 5–10 p.m. The walk-through display is free, though donations for CuregRiN are welcome. For more information find the Lights on Trotters Facebook page.

story by l aura lI n D say

Living  explore

Beaman Park

If You Go

b eaman p ark

Open every day, dawn to dusk b eaman p ark

n ature c enter

5911 Old hickory Blvd., Ashland City, TN

Tues.–Fri.: 12–4 p.m. Sat.: 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

615-862-8580

b eaman p ark

c reekside trailhead

4111 Little Marrowbone Rd., Joelton, TN

e xplore the woodland hills and hollers just outside of n ashville

In the northwest corner of largely urbanized Davidson County sits acres of now-protected natural land known as Beaman Park, not only a sanctuary for nearby Nashville city dwellers to enjoy, but now a draw for hikers around the region to visit and view the steep ridgelines, valleys and creeks of the area terrain.

Designated as a Tennessee State natural area in 2013, the 1,600-plus-acre site has become a popular spot for walks and outdoor time with children and dogs. Beaman Park contains over 15 miles of hiking trails.

Get a taste of the wilderness; only 15 miles away from downtown Nashville’s bustling Broadway, Beaman Park offers a remote sense of spacious, serene solitude that feels like a world away from the big city. Those needing a break from an urban setting, if only for a few hours, can trade the traffic and honky-tonks for trees and creeks.

Start a journey from the Beaman Park Nature Center, a small museum, activity center and meeting place that promotes and exhibits Western Highland Rim native flora and fauna.

Staff at the Nature Center described the trails and terrain to a group of visitors as a

fire burned in the fireplace on a cool afternoon. The center also has a microscope available where folks can view snake skins and other various bits of the forest—acorns, snail shells, nuts, leaf samples and such—up close. Outside of the Nature Center, visitors find a small boardwalk and a pollinator garden, while a nearby trailhead connects to the rest of the park, via the Sedge Hill Trail. This trail travels 0.6 of a mile, mostly downhill, to a creek, where a large bridge crosses the water and connects to the popular Henry Hollow Loop Trail. If hikers wish, they can soon embark upon the 12-mile monster of a trail known as the Laurel Woods Loop (or, those up for a 6-mile journey could, via a connector, take on approximately half of that trail).

The Henry Hollow Loop, though, at exactly 2 miles, is about right for many walkers, itself containing some elevation change and scenery. From the bridge, taking the Henry Hollow Loop to the right follows Henry Creek for a piece before turning uphill, passing the Creekside Parking area, continuing along the ridge at a higher elevation, passing near another parking area called Highland, and eventually heading back down the hill to the creek.

story by b racken m ayo photos by sarah m ayo

Motorists may access the Creekside and Highland trailheads and parking lots via Little Marrowbone Road, and can enjoy easy creek access from here, while the Nature Center parking area sits on Old Hickory Boulevard.

“The initial stretch of Henry Hollow Loop runs roughly parallel to Henry Creek, a scenic, quiet creek with patches of wildflowers sprouting from its banks during my visit in late spring,” an area outdoor enthusiast posted on her blog, emilytakesahike.com, following a trip to the trail originating from the Creekside lot and traveling in a clockwise direction.

The 2-mile loop presents a good balance of level terrain, elevation gain ascending the hillside, and traveling back downhill. Although the climbs uphill can be taxing, many visitors say the park is quite kidfriendly, as—at least on the Henry Hollow Loop and Sedge Hill Trail—it doesn’t appear to contain many significant, steep cliffsides directly near the trail.

The topography of Beaman Park “consists of ridges and hollows supporting forest vegetation that is characteristic of

the Western Highland Rim,” according to the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation. “Outcroppings of shale and siltstones create patches of post oak woodlands with native perennial grasses in the herbaceous layer; these hillside ‘barrens’ are considered to be a rare plant community type. They host a variety of interesting herbaceous plants, including the formerly federally threatened Eggert’s sunflower.

These distinctive woodland zones have open canopies and often occur on mid-to-upper slopes, usually south- or southwest-facing, exposing the barrens to the drying effects of the afternoon sun.”

The area also hosts a population of shortleaf pine, an uncommon tree in Middle Tennessee.

Visit Beaman Park and take in the towering ridgelines and expansive oak forests of northern Davidson County. It gets dark early down in those valleys in the winter months, so plan a trip accordingly.

The longer Laurel Trail offers a full day of adventure for seasoned hikers; alternatively, a day at Beaman Park can simply consist of a quick splash in the creek for youngsters.

Kristin Hopkins Leaves a Legacy With Murfreesboro Natural Resources Department

by a shle I gh n ewnes

kRiSTiN hOPkiNS, the facility coordinator for Murfreesboro’s Natural Resources Department, is stepping into a new and exciting role with the Southeastern Grasslands Institute, leaving behind a legacy of transformative work. Her efforts in Murfreesboro have elevated the city’s natural spaces and fostered a culture of collaboration and environmental stewardship within our community.

Every now and then, someone truly remarkable comes along—someone whose passion and determination ripple through a community, making it stronger and more connected. Kristin is one of those rare individuals.

During her time with the city, Kristin spearheaded numerous initiatives that will shape the community for years to come. From launching a program to restore the city’s native plant population (the Murfreesboro Indigenous Plant Project, or “MIPP”), to addressing the litter problem at Murfree Spring (the Osprey litter boom), introducing an adult educational chapter of the Tennessee Naturalist Program to the Wilderness Station, creating youth-focused initiatives such as the Youth LED Program and establishing a formal volunteer structure for Outdoor Murfreesboro, Kristin consistently turned ideas into improvements.

Kristin’s leadership was rooted in teambuilding and encouragement, inspiring action and progress in those around her.

“Kristin empowers her team members to build on their strengths and figure out how they can

best contribute to the success of a project or initiative,” says Lauren May, natural resource assistant program coordinator.

One of Kristin’s most notable accomplishments was tackling the litter issue at Murfree Spring. Despite facing constant complaints and criticism, Kristin researched solutions, built alliances and secured departmental support.

“At the launch event, surrounded by community partners, I was amazed at what she had accomplished—so humbly and behind the scenes,” recalls Volunteer Program Coordinator Jo VerMulm. The Osprey litter boom is a floating device designed to catch and collect litter and debris in waterways before it spreads downstream. Strategically placed at Murfree Spring, it prevents trash from accumulating in sensitive natural areas, making cleanup efforts more efficient and helping to protect the local ecosystem. With successful data collected from the litter boom at Murfree Spring, it is a huge step in the right direction in mitigating the litter issue in the natural areas and waterways citywide.

Kristin’s colleagues consistently highlight not just her many accomplishments but her character.

“Kristin’s passion for Murfreesboro’s natural areas and native plant communities will be evident for years to come along our streams, in our parks, and in those she shared her knowledge and dedication,” says Stormwater Manager Josh Upham.

VerMulm adds, “I’ll miss her no-nonsense approach, her humor, and her ability to build partnerships.”

Rachel Singer, assistant director of Parks and Recreation, says that Hopkins worked to make sure that local development did not come at the expense of our wild areas, and that she was “always advocating for thoughtful conservation efforts that will allow the land to continue to thrive.”

As Kristin moves on to the Southeastern Grasslands Institute, her legacy in Murfreesboro is clear. Her ability to lead with conviction, tackle challenges head-on, and inspire both her team and the community has transformed the city’s approach to conservation. The improvements in Murfreesboro’s natural spaces stand as a testament to her hard work, and her impact will continue to shape the community for years to come.

by

bIll wIlson

Christmas s hopping on the h istoric s quare

Brown’s, Ruby’s, Goldstein’s, Aultman’s Jewelers and Merchants of Murfreesboro’s Past

a s a kid growing u P here in m urfrees B oro in the 1970s, Christmastime was a special time. You could hear Christmas music up on the Square coming out of the speakers at the courthouse. Another big thing was when the city employees would put up Christmas decorations, with lights leading up to and all around the Square.

Growing up, the Square, to me, was Murfreesboro. This is where most people shopped, especially at Christmastime.

One of my favorite stores was Brown’s Shoe Store, which had a basement. I remember a slide from the main floor down to the basement where the sales clerk would slide shoes down for you to try on. I also remember their golden goose display, which had something to do with shoes.

You could buy your grandmother clothes at Ruby’s. Both of my grandmothers loved Ruby’s. If Ruby’s wasn’t your place, then you just walked down to Goldstein’s. They had an escalator. I’m pretty sure this was the swanky place to shop on the Square.

There was a J.C. Penney at the corner of College and Maple. You entered through the doors on College Street and then went down a few steps to the main floor. The manager’s office was upstairs and had some windows so they could keep an eye out for shoplifters, I guess.

Now, if you were really in the giving mood and wanted to give your loved one jewelry, there were several places to choose from. First, you could go to Mullins Jewelers. If that did not work for you, you could go across the way to Bell Jewelers. There was also Aultman’s Jewelers. This is where I had my first charge account and Mrs. Bean always helped me out.

Before my time there was Cecil Elrod’s French Shoppe. There was Mr. Arbit’s store, The Hub. The Hub had these wolf mannequins on the second-floor window, and they used to scare the crap out of me as a kid!

If you needed something from the hardware store, we had Haynes Hardware and Holden Hardware. This is where we got our keys made. And when it snowed, these were the places you would get your cool sleds. But the key to that would be that it had to snow, which it didn’t always do.

These are just some of the places where I remember shopping during Christmastime on the Square. The Square was the meeting place for the community, way before Hickory Hollow, Stones River Mall, area outlet malls and other modern shopping centers. Folks went to the Square to shop for just about anything. Personally, this is what I miss about Murfreesboro. We’ve gotten pretty darn big, but look on the sunny side: it’s best to be progressive and have problems dealing with growth, if only all of the traffic could be fixed. But that problem did not happen overnight, and it’s not gonna be fixed overnight.

So there’s my two cents on the old days of Christmas shopping on the Murfreesboro Public Square. I hope everybody has a merry Christmas and a happy new year. Remember to go out and do something nice for somebody.

Call Bill wilson for your local real estate needs at 615-406-5872.

Food  restaurant

T He BoMB!

Vietnamese food truck

b omb mi blasting out a sian flavors in murfreesboro

story by b racken m ayo p hotos by s arah m ayo

For those unfamiliar with Vietnamese cuisine, the bahn mi generally consists of a French-style baguette—crisp on the outside, soft and fluffy inside—split and filled with ham, shredded pork, Vietnamese sausage, chicken, meatballs or other meats, accompanied by neatly chopped colorful vegetables.

Find these Southeast Asian sub sandwiches in Murfreesboro from the BombMi food truck. In the immediate future when the weather is nice, look for the truck parked at the corner of Broad and Church streets, in the site of the former car lot not far from the Square.

“We make all of our own sauces,” says BombMi owner Mike Thiphavong as his wife, Lisa, pickles carrots behind him in the food truck.

These sauces include a popping Vietnamese orange sweet sauce, served with the egg rolls, while BombMi serves a peanut sauce with its fresh spring rolls.

“The spring rolls were incredibly fresh and I loved the peanut sauce that they were served with,” one pleased customer said. “The sandwich was pretty hefty and had a good sized portion of meat, which was expertly marinated with a delicious sauce.”

The truck’s “Wicked Wings” drip with

flavor—and come with some fresh jalapeño slices for those who want some heat along with the dish’s crisp, garlicky sweetness.

All of the bahn mi (translated from Vietnamese as “wheat bread”) come with toppings of cilantro, cucumber, pickled carrots, daikon (white radish), jalapeño peppers and pâté; BombMi varieties include the Clas-

The Dish

restaurant

BombMi vietnamese Subs Mobile Food Truck locatIon & hours vary daily prIces

Classic bahn mi: $9.95; Crispy egg rolls or fresh spring rolls: $7.95; wicked wings: $15.99; korean BBQ bahn mi: $11.95; Shrimp po boy and fries: $15.99 onlIne 615bombmi.com

sic—with cured pork and Vietnamese pork sausage along with the veggies and pâté—as well as Korean BBQ, chicken, grilled pork or fried tofu sandwich options.

“The owners of BombMi are super friendly and can throw down in the kitchen. The flavors are great,” a local eater, Jackie, posted to Yelp after having a classic banh mi

and the salt and pepper shrimp, saying she was delighted to see the new culinary option in the local “Asian food desert.”

After just launching its truck earlier in 2024, BombMi continues building a fan base in the area.

“We have a good following; we are blessed,” Mike said. “A lady just drove from Shelbyville. She heard we were open today and came to get some tacos.”

Yes, BombMi places an Asian spin on the street taco.

Another BombMi customer, Kim, said she used to live in Atlanta, a city with a bit of a Vietnamese food scene, and that she was so glad to see some authentic Vietnamese food in Murfreesboro. Her usual is the tofu bahn mi.

“What I think would have elevated the banh mi is if they put some Vietnamese mayonnaise and more pâté,” said a different customer, who said he grew up in a larger Vietnamese community eating banh mi. “There was so much of the white bread fluff that adding more pâté or mayonnaise to cut some of the dryness of the white bread would balance it all out.”

Although the diner, Daniel, did say he found the sandwich to be a good value for the price and the service was friendly.

shrimp po boy

spring rolls

After trying the Korean BBQ sandwich, Joe LaFerriere, a big supporter of area independent eateries, said he “loved the flavors in this sandwich and the roll was soft on the inside with a nice crunchy crust. The Korean BBQ meat was perfectly seasoned and not too sweet while the veggies were plentiful and very fresh and crispy. This is a solid bahn mi and I can’t wait to try some of the other versions . . . especially the special pork belly version.”

For something a little more Southeast U.S., the Southeast Asian-themed truck also offers a fried shrimp po boy sandwich with fries.

“Every day we are off, the phone is ringing off the hook, ‘Where y’all at?’” Mike says on a cool but sunny day on the busy Murfreesboro street corner.

Although BombMi has earned some

solid local reviews and loyal customers, operating a food truck has its challenges, inclement weather included.

“People think ‘Oh, you’re a food truck. You have low overhead.’ No, we have a lot of overhead. Gas, propane,” says the BombMi proprietor. “The cost of beef is way up.”

But perhaps in the future Murfreesboro can expect a brick-and-mortar BombMi location. Mike shared his vision of one day opening a BombMi location in a traditional restaurant space one day, a comfortable spot for the whole family.

“The flavors and crisp on the rangoons, shrimp and wings were on point!” said yet another happy customer, Gina.

Check social media for daily updates from the truck; find BombMi FoodTruck on Facebook.

bahn mi wicked wings egg rolls

News family t radition

tennessee home-school families seek to protect parents’ right to educate their children

by bracken mayo

i hAvE BEEN iN OR AROuNd hOME SChOOLiNg FOR ThE MAJORiTy OF My LiFE

For most of my years, either I was a homeschool student, my siblings were home-school students, or my children have been homeschool students, with my younger boy still at the beginning of his educational journey. My four siblings also continued the tradition, all opting to home-school their children as well.

The Tennessee Constitution states that: “The General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance, support and eligibility standards of a system of free public schools.”

It does not, however, state that anyone shall be forced to participate in that system. While public education can be a valuable element in the lives of many many Americans (a taxpayer-funded babysitter, social club, social experiment, or psych ward of sorts, for others), thousands of families in Tennessee opt to take on the responsibility of educating their children, for a wide variety of reasons. Some students function better with individual learning rather than in a large group setting. Other families home-school for moral or religious reasons, not wanting to subject

young impressionable minds to the establishment’s indoctrination and politically correct narratives of the day. Some families want the ability to travel, thinking perhaps seeing and experiencing the world for oneself could provide a better education than seven hours a day in the cold confines of any government building. Others aim to specifically train their children for a particular skill, trade or career, whether that be taking over the family business or put on a track to become a cook, woodworker, figure skater, automotive repair professional, concert oboist, race car driver or other specialization. Families do not owe anyone an explanation of the reasons that they choose to home-school.

And studies have demonstrated that those who have gotten an education at home report higher levels of mental health, and a lower likelihood of abusing drugs and alcohol.

“Anxiety and depression levels were found to be below the general population’s, and homeschoolers were found to be generally happy compared to the U.S. population at large,” according to a 2012 study on mental health among grown home-school students and home-schooling parents.

least a high school diploma or a high school equivalency credential approved by the state Board of Education,” according to the Tennessee Department of Education.

Independent home-school students (not registered with an umbrella organization) must take the TCAP assessment in grades five, seven and nine.

Still, there seems to be a growing attitude that government knows best, and families have some need for government to set rules for them to follow, even though home schooling has shown to lead to better or equal outcomes compared to the public school system.

Additionally, the Tennessee Board of Education—an unelected board of appointed bureaucrats—has the ability to “promulgate the rules”; in other words, set state educational requirements without the representatives of the people even voting on them.

This led to some confusion related to some recent rules from the board regarding the length of a school day: is it four hours of study per day? Is it six and a half? Are there particular hours when home-schoolers are not learning throughout each day . . . ? How do we distinguish what “learning time” is, and what if the government and the parents disagree upon that?

As it stands, regulations upon Tennessee home-school families are fairly mild. Parents submit attendance records stating that the student has completed 180 days of “schooling” per year to their church-related umbrella school or to their local public school district. Parents or legal guardians may be required to provide proof of enrollment.

“Parent-teachers whose students are in grades nine through twelve must possess at

This framework of oversight, along with the proposed mess of a school voucher bill (containing language that could impose further restriction upon home schoolers), as well as cries from legislators for more “accountability,” have motivated some Tennessee home-school families to seek legislation protecting parents’ right to direct the education of their children.

What sort of bright ideas might the Board of Education come up with next?

In other states, home schoolers have become subject to further regulation, at-home

science and spelling time at the mayo home

visits, state control over curriculum, voucher or scholarship money with government strings attached.

Many home-school families don’t necessarily want input on how to make home education more similar to government education and are adamantly opposed to government dictating what that strategy should look like in their own homes. Why would you want the more successful system to more closely resemble the inferior one?

The government-run organizations don’t always demonstrate a pattern of good decisions. Now they want increasing power over counseling, diagnosing and influencing children.

Consider the idea that the government schools, and their cramming-for-the-test approach, cause undue anxiety in children.

“Public schools that expect the smallest children to sit still and quiet for 7 hours a day, that give kids 25 minutes for lunch and an hour total for recess, question why small children act out, and now tell the parents of 5-year-olds that this is ‘concerning behavior’ and a problem with the child, and to seek solutions from the child’s pediatrician,” one home-school mother said. “The same godless entities that force-masked and quarantined children for a year and a half for a disease that we knew all along only mildly affects children, are completely unwilling to admit that they are often the cause of anxiety and stress that leads to behavioral problems, and now claim they should be fully equipped with the dollars and staff to diagnose and manage the full social-emotional and mental needs of children. That’s completely backwards and quite scary.”

While proponents of big government and big education want home-school families to report to the state, those in favor of educational freedom view the correct power structure as one in which children answer to their parents, the parents answer to God. The end. Government is not in that equation.

If it were in the equation, it would report to the people, not the other way around!

Surely, some will argue the point with words like “accountability,” “standards” and “what about the test scores?”

I will respond with words like “freedom” and “mind your own business and leave my family out of your globalist agenda and Big Brother surveillance-state way of thinking.” Government’s job is to protect my freedom, not to lead the indoctrination of our children.

Well . . . what if Mary Sue is behind in her spelling?

Maybe Mary Sue is great at playing violin, baking, mathematics or is a chess grand master. Leave her alone!

But, but . . . aren’t home schoolers miss-

ing out on “socialization?” Can they function in a group setting?

Please, let’s not act as if all of those who go through the government schools have the social skills.

Others will say that home schoolers are “weird,” whether that judgment is from actual interaction with actual home-school students, or simply imaginary preconceptions.

Okay, if we want to get into stereotypes, many home-school families may opt for being slightly “weird” over the alternative, and view many of those participating in the government institutions as conformist, brainwashed, worker-bee drones.

Others who oppose true education freedom will conjure up some horrible situation in which a home-schooled child is chained to their bed or dwelling in a hypothetical impoverished drug lab.

“What about the kids?” they will say.

Keep in mind, we’re not talking here about doing away with child abuse laws nor meth laws. Those laws still apply. Prosecute those who abuse their children or cook meth in a home with children.

But home schooling is not a crime, and shall not be regulated by the government.

State Senator Janice Bowling seems to agree, stating her willingness to sponsor legislation this coming session to protect family’s rights to educate their children and prevent further regulation and government encroachment into home schooling.

Look for the Family Right to Educational Emancipation (FREE) Act this coming year in the Tennessee General Assembly.

This legislation recognizes the fundamental right of parents to direct the education, upbringing, and care of their children without interference or undue regulation from the state, and exempts children receiving educational instruction from their parent or legal guardian from all state reporting requirements—testing and attendance included.

“No state or local agency shall infringe upon the rights of parents or legal guardians to make decisions concerning their children’s education, including but not limited to the selection of curriculum, course of study, and method of instruction,” according to draft bill language.

We shall soon see how the rest of the legislators receive this idea and whether they truly stand for real schooling and parental freedom.

Tennessee will remain a supportive place for home schoolers.

homeschooling parents and freedomminded community members who wish to learn more about supporting the FREE Act, can email bracken@boropulse.com.

around town ’boro b us I ness buzz

Scooter’s Coffee, Music City kartplex, h awaiian Bros, First watch, d illard’s, QuikTrip,

Schlotzsky’s

by D elores ell I ot t

RAiSiNg CANE’S has officially opened its third location in the Middle Tennessee area, with two previous locations in Smyrna and Nashville. The new chicken restaurant is open 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, and offers a double drive-thru as well as a lobby for those interested in dining in. Find more information at raisingcanes.com

SChLOTzSky’S plans to open its Murfreesboro restaurant, located at 4433 Veterans Pkwy., on Dec. 6. Schlotzsky’s offers sandwiches, pizzas, flatbreads and salads. For more information or to place an order, visit schlotzskys.com

REPLAy TOyS has relocated from Memorial Boulevard to the Stones River Town Centre. The new location provides more wall and floor space, as well as a much larger parking area at the mall. The new store location is open Sunday 12 to 6 p.m., Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Visit facebook.com/replaytoysboro for more information.

ThE QuikTRiP CORPORATiON has announced plans to open a new location on a 15-acre piece of land at Joe B. Jackson Parkway and Butler Drive, just across from

Buc-ee’s. The QuikTrip kitchen offers burritos, sandwiches, ice cream and pizzas.

LOvE’S PizzA has opened at 1728 W. Northfield Blvd. in the Kroger shopping center.

Specialty pizzas include the pepperoni suicide pizza, Nashville hot chicken, seven cheese, Jamaican, white, a steak, bacon and

SCOOTER’S COFFEE has unveiled plans to build a drive-thru coffee kiosk on South Church Street near I-24, just between the 7-Eleven and the interstate. Scooter’s was founded in 1998 in Nebraska, and is known for its premium coffees, smoothies and fresh-baked pastries.

Popular menu items include the Caramelicious, a blend of smooth espresso, caramel and frothy steamed milk, a fan favorite for those who enjoy sweet, indulgent drinks.

Scooter’s Signature Coffee Blends provide a rich, smooth flavor and consistency, giving customers the perfect balance of boldness and smoothness, while smoothies blended with real fruit and cold brews are great options for customers looking for something refreshing.

Scooter’s also offers a variety of baked goods including muffins, cookies and breakfast sandwiches.

Visit scooterscoffee.com for more information.

FiRST wATCh has opened a second Murfreesboro location in addition to its current location on Medical Center Parkway. The new breakfast restaurant is located at 2977 S. Church St. and features a variety of healthy meal and drink options made with fresh ingredients daily, as well as a brunch bar and a heated, covered patio. First Watch is open from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Visit firstwatch. com for more details.

ranch pie; gyro feast, and the Love’s Special, with alfredo sauce, Cajun shrimp, chicken, spinach, parmesan and mozzarella.

Love’s also offers wings, calzones, salads, subs and extensive pasta and dessert menus.

ChiPOTLE MExiCAN gRiLL, the popular chain offering tacos, burritos, salads and bowls, has opened its new Murfreesboro loca-

tion at 2963 S. Church St. near First Watch.

TOki hOuSE has opened at 5241 Veterans Pkwy. near Publix. The new restaurant serves poke bowls, sushi burritos, tuna, salmon, chicken, shrimp tempura and other options. Operating hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. For more information and the full menu, visit tokihousemurfreesboro.kwickmenu.com

SuPER 9 wiNE ANd SPiRiTS has opened at 3035 New Salem Hwy. with a wide variety of liquor, wine and beer. Holiday sets are currently available. Follow Super 9 Wine and Spirits for information on featured brands and tasting events.

7-ELEvEN has announced plans to open a convenience store and fuel center at Epps Mill Road and Capital Way, just off of I-24 Exit 89.

The LiLy gRACE APARTMENTS, located at 600 Dusan Blvd., has announced plans to renovate after recently coming under new management, Castello Equity Partners. Visit lilygraceapartments.com for information on the Murfreesboro apartment complex.

The State of Tennessee announced in November that 18 Tennessee Main Street and Downtown communities, including MAiN STREET MuRFREESBORO OF RuThERFORd COuNTy, have received Downtown Improvement Grants.

“Tennessee’s downtown districts are the key focal points for cities and towns statewide and help to drive business, tourism and leisure,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “Congratulations to the communities receiving funding through the latest round of TNECD’s Downtown Improvement Grants. We look forward to seeing the continued prosperity our communities experience because of the economic growth these grants will bring.”

More than $4.76 million in Rural Economic Opportunity funding was awarded to improve structures in designated Tennessee Downtowns and Main Street communities. Grants were awarded to organizations that illustrated the need for improvements and the ability to execute an effective design plan for building facades, wayfinding signage, gateways and streetscapes. As part of the program, each new grant recipient must match 25% of the funding received.

“This is the first time Murfreesboro has applied for the Downtown Improvement grant and for us to receive the entire requested $300,000 for multiple building

MuSiC CiTy kARTPLEx has opened at 3225 Hwy. 231 North in Shelbyville, just outside of Murfreesboro. The Kartplex features 2,600 feet of track for racing rental or owner karts, and provides the necessary safety equipment for those who don’t have their own. Some karts operate at speeds above 50 miles per hour, and can support up to 400 pounds.

“Music City Kartplex is excited to bring a premier outdoor motorsports entertainment complex to Tennessee. This 34-acre complex will welcome amateur and competitive kart racers alike,” according to information from the company. “Enjoy the thrill of high-speed kart racing!”

Music City Kartplex transformed the historic Twin Fountains Raceway at the site, breathing new life into a space that had been a part of Middle Tennessee’s racing history since 1997. The Kartplex will launch a racing league in the spring of 2025 and its Kart Pro Shop offers a variety of parts, accessories and expert maintenance. At a half mile long, the circuit has multiple configurations, so every session provides a new and exciting experience. Phase two of the project, coming in 2026, will include an additional 0.9-mile competitive racing track, owner kart garages and a track-side restaurant, aiming to eventually host national-level competitions at the Middle Tennessee track.

Current hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 12 to 7 p.m., Friday from 12 to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m.

Visit musiccitykartplex.com for more information.

CONTiNuEd FROM PAgE 34

improvement projects in our historic downtown is something to be proud of,” said Sarah Callender, executive director of Main Street Murfreesboro. “Downtown property owners were given the opportunity to submit a pre-application to Main Street Murfreesboro. These requests helped build our case to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to explain why we needed the Downtown Improvement grant. I guess we made a pretty good case!”

The grant funds will be allocated to the different property owners through Main Street Murfreesboro’s Design Committee. Projects must begin in 2025 and be completed by the beginning of 2027. All projects must involve exterior improvements to historical buildings downtown, maintaining the authenticity of the buildings to align with Main Street’s preservation initiatives.

closIngs

diRT ChEAP’s parent company, Channel Control Merchants, has filed for bankruptcy after nearly 30 years, and will close all 68 outlets, including its Murfreesboro location at 902 Martin Luther King Jur. Blvd. While the company has not announced specific closing dates for all stores, sales anticipating the closures have started to clear out existing inventory.

Dirt Cheap brands itself as an extreme value retailer, which provides major brand returns and excess inventory a second chance. The company is known for reselling overstock and liquidation merchandise from other retailers.

Officials with Dirt Cheap faulted Target for their troubles, claiming that the retail giant had given B-Stock Solutions, a Dirt Cheap competitor, better prices for higher quality merchandise on the secondary market. Target, Dirt Cheap’s foundational supplier, allegedly offered the discount retailer lower quality goods at a higher price.

Filings show that Dirt Cheap owes Tar-

get’s Salvage Department store nearly $16 million. Amazon is also owed roughly $5.5 million by the retailer, making bankruptcy the best solution for the company.

diLLARd’S has announced that its Murfreesboro location at the Stones River Mall will close by Jan. 17. The recent announcement comes as the result of rising property rent prices despite having a place within the local mall since the 1990s.

While many Murfreesboro residents are sad to see the high-end department store coming to an end, Dillard’s has also announced that its other locations will remain open, and its current employees will be offered the opportunity to transfer to one of the other stores in the area.

According to information from Avison Young, which has been attempting to sell the 146,000-square-foot retail property, Dillard’s has been paying $55,000 per month in base rent. Although Dillard’s did over $18 million in sales in fiscal year 2022, the company opted to vacate the building.

ThE TASTiNg ROOM, located at 618 S. Lowry St. in the former Omni Hut building in Smyrna, has closed after just four years at the location.

Although some fans of the restaurant are sad to see it close, The Tasting Room will begin offering online cooking tutorials. “We’ll be posting tutorials to help you recreate some of our special menu items at home,” The Tasting Room posted on its Facebook page. “We have fully enjoyed serving Smyrna and Rutherford County. Thank you to all of our customers for dining, drinking, and trying new and exciting flavors with us. This has been a fun journey for all of us, and we are sad to have to leave.”

Learn more at thetastingroomtn.com

After MuRFREESBORO AxE closed in the summer, a November auction liquidated the remaining kitchen equipment in the 211 W. Main St. space “in preparation for a new restaurant opening in its place,” according to information from Sims Commercial Realtors and Auctioneers.

hAwAiiAN BROS iSLANd gRiLL will open a new restaurant at the Clari Park development at Medical Center Parkway and Willowoak Trail near the Whataburger. Hawaiian Bros offers authentic Hawaiian plate meals, which feature a rice base topped with marinated teriyaki, slow-roasted pork and other meat options, and a side of macaroni salad, pineapple or potatoes.

One of the restaurant’s best-known items is the Spam Musubi, which features rice seared with Spam and glazed in teriyaki sauce, all wrapped in dried seaweed.

The menu is an homage to the Hawaiian plate lunch.

“In the 1880s, as Hawaii’s pineapple and sugar plantations grew, laborers from Asian nations with diverse culinary traditions came to the islands. Their lunches typically consisted of a plate of rice and leftover meat from the previous night’s meal,” according to Hawaiian Bros. “By the 1950s, the ‘plate lunch’ had grown in popularity and was popping up at roadside stands. Today, it remains an essential part of Hawaii’s homegrown culture.”

Visit hawaiianbros.com for the menu and more information.

City Shuts Down Mobile Vintage Shop

Better Than vintage found without proper license, permit

by m atthew o lson

MuRFREESBORO’S uNiQuE

Better Than Vintage shop, a charming reinvention of a small RV-turned-mobilestore, has recently been asked to vacate its location on Franklin Road. This development has stirred interest among residents and raised questions about the regulations governing mobile businesses in the city.

The shop, which had become a quaint fixture in the parking lot of Re-Invintage Home on Franklin Road, offered a novel retail experience from Kayla Skyers and Victoria Wilegus by operating out of a renovated recreational vehicle. Its blend of vintage charm and modern entrepreneurship had attracted attention from shoppers and passersby.

Better Than Vintage operated as off-grid as possible, using solar-powered lights and looking into the purchase of a generator.

Local reaction to the news of the conflict between the business and city officials has been mixed on social media, with some residents expressing disappointment at the loss of a distinctive shopping option, with others curious about the specifics of the violations that led to this decision.

The situation came to light when the Murfreesboro Planning Department received a complaint about the shop’s operation at 3781 Franklin Rd. Upon investigation, it was discovered that the business lacked a city business license and a special use permit for a temporary vendor. Additionally, the shop’s location in a federally regulated floodway raised safety concerns.

The Planning Department provided the owner with application forms for a special use permit, required for temporary vendors in Murfreesboro. They also supplied copies of the relevant zoning codes and explained

the application process in detail.

According to Murfreesboro Public Information Officer Mike Browning, once approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals, a special use permit is valid for 70 days at each location. A business may submit applications for multiple locations if needed.

The Planning Department, in collaboration with the Buildings and Codes Department, also addressed concerns about the camper’s condition in an aim to ensure both regulatory compliance and public safety.

While the shop has temporarily relocated to address the concerns, the owners now

have a better understanding of the steps needed to operate legally within the city and the situation can serve as an educational opportunity for other mobile or temporary businesses within Murfreesboro.

Better Than Vintage had a lease agreement in place with Re-Invintage Home and was paying a monthly rent of $400 to occupy space in their parking lot on the property owned by Joe Swanson.

However, four months into their agreement to operate on the property, city zoning inspector Eddie Smotherman informed the business that it would need to vacate the

premises within a matter of days.

“Technically, because we don’t own the property,” Kayla explains, “if we don’t leave, they can tow the camper and take it.”

The Better Than Vintage inventory includes 1,000–2,000 pieces of vintage clothing. Moving this inventory, along with the heavy camper itself, has proven to be a significant logistical hurdle.

“It’s not like we can just pop up around town. We have to find a place to stay,” Kayla says.

The business has found temporary homes for portions of its inventory at local shops like Vintage Gypsy Beauty, Zenful Art and Boro Health and Wellness Spa. It remains to be seen whether the shop will find a new location within Murfreesboro or if this marks the end of its unique presence in the city.

In a world increasingly dominated by chain stores and franchises, the unique character of towns is often shaped by their local businesses. Terry Lee, owner of ReInvintage Home, emphasizes the importance of supporting these establishments to foster community pride, individuality and the distinct flavor of a town.

“Nobody wants to be in a town where the downtown isn’t thriving, and ours is and I’m incredibly proud of that,” Lee says.

“But I think the city could do a better job of supporting all their locally owned businesses, not just the ones that are down there on the Square.”

For now, the business is still operating as an online store. Keep up with Better Than Vintage on Facebook and Instagram for more details.

For more information about business licenses, zoning regulations and special use permits in Murfreesboro, contact the City Planning department at 615-893-6441 or visit murfreesborotn.gov.

bus I ness momentum

by bla I ne l I ttle

Safe and Natural Savannah Reed of Safe & Sound Soap Co.

w h ET h ER OR NOT yO u S u PPORT all of the ideas of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., you have to admit he has started a national buzz about what Americans are putting into and on their bodies. He has us rethinking cooking oils, sugar, and other food additives many Americans consume regularly. Even fluoride, which has been touted for decades by dentists as a cavity preventative, is now suspect.

But his message is less about banning items than helping consumers to truly understand what it is we consume. Most would agree there is a lack of transparency, or at least understanding, when it comes to ingredients and how they got on the store shelves.

One young local entrepreneur who has been sounding the alarm about the chemicals we use is Savannah Reed. Reed is the owner of the Safe & Sound Soap Company, which has a rather extensive line of soaps, sprays and scrubs. She started simply by seeking out a better laundry detergent.

“There are products out there marketed as ‘natural’ but they have several added ingredients that honestly are not natural,” the entrepreneur told the Pulse. “Yet some of the better products I tried were not that effective in getting your clothes clean, or smelling fresh.”

Keeping to a pledge of being truly allnatural, some of the Safe & Sound Soap items have as few as five ingredients, but they are still effective. I asked about the potency of her soaps.

“Essential oils are basically really concentrated oils from plants. Think of lavender being boiled down until you have a pure oil from the plant. They’re not watered down and the aroma is very strong,” Reed says. These oils are called “essential” because they capture the essence or fragrance of the original plant.

Rarely does anyone start a business where every item is created from the ground up. Yet, that’s exactly what this businesswoman

did in August of 2023. She first learned to make a natural laundry detergent from her mother. Since then, she has developed a much more extensive line of products to include air fresheners and cleaning sprays. She first began retailing at farmers markets and would get instant feedback from customers there. Still, she tests everything on herself to confirm a product’s effectiveness before making it available for purchase.

Some challenges she discovered were getting the word out about Safe & Sound as well as finding a niche market. But there is a big gap in the market for what she does. Reed also does a lot of networking. Currently, Savannah has much of her stock at the Sunshine Nutrition Center, Bart’s Kitchen and Bakery, as well as at other retailers in Rutherford and Cannon Counties.

As always, I asked the business owner what advice she has to give to anyone else in business.

“If you want to start something, you have to start somewhere. Just jump in there, identify the issues and find a way to resolve those issues.”

That’s wise advice from a young lady, but it hits the bullseye. Most who have a desire to become a business owner never take the first step due to fear or over-analyzing where is best to begin. There is often no time or place better than where you are.

Reed intends to expand her business by increasing her product line, which now includes car fresheners, as well as bringing in additional retailers. She also recently built up her website so customers can find out more about what she does and purchase her merchandise there.

Check it out at safeandsoundsoapco.com or contact her directly at 615-483-1671.

Blaine Little is the founder and CEO of Momentum Seminars Training and Coaching. Learn more at momentumseminars.com.

T e CH Ta L k

by byron glenn

Local Tech Startup Turns Meetup Group Into a Business

iN TOdAy’S digiTAL AgE, having a web presence is more critical than ever, from customer reviews to Google My Business. A local startup development team is helping bridge the gap between ideas and applications for business owners.

As a software engineer, Shaun Willis, the Chief Engineer Officer of Boro Dev Agency, has dedicated his career to identifying problems and developing practical solutions. His journey began when he co-founded the Boro.Dev meetup, which eventually led to the establishment of the Boro Dev Agency.

boro Dev co-founder shaun willis won the 2024 murfreesboro tech council software engineer of the year award 

Founded in 2021, Boro Dev Agency has experienced tremendous growth by positioning itself as a full-service tech partner and on-demand resource for custom software and AI development.

“We focus on meeting the needs of our clients,” stated Kurt Willis, chief sales officer with the company.

At Boro.Dev meetups, developers, and community members frequently approached Shaun about job opportunities and project involvement. Kurt says that this interaction sparked the idea of developing the agency: “We recognized the vast supply of elite talent and specialists from diverse professions.

“We approached building the agency differently than others,” Kurt says. “Instead of finding demand and then figuring out how to meet it, we focused on building a community first, understanding their needs, and helping them succeed.”

Boro Dev Agency specializes in creating applications that address unique business challenges. Their services range from website creation and custom applications to developing bespoke AI tools, such as custom AI chatbots and tailored AI sales teams.

Boro Dev Agency employs product managers, project managers, fractional Chief Technical Officers, and designers to assist companies with branding and website de-

sign. The team includes developers with over 25 years of experience as well as junior developers who have recently graduated from software development boot camps. Not wanting to drive to Nashville for every meetup, Shaun and a few others sought a software development community in Murfreesboro, but found none. They then decided to create one, which has grown to over 600 developers in Middle Tennessee.

“We aim to develop their skills and establish the region as a technology center,” says Shaun. “We welcome all levels of expertise and offer support to each member.”

Boro.Dev holds monthly meetups and quarterly conferences to keep their community informed. These meetups, generally held the fourth Wednesday of each month, serve as a platform for members to share new trends and insights.

Those interested can attend the next meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 12:45 p.m. at the Just Love Coffee Cafe at The Fountains at Gateway (1440 Medical Center Pkwy., Suite A).

Co-founders Shaun willis, Tyler vaughn and kurt willis lead the Boro dev Agency. interested parties can contact kurt via email at kurt@borodevagency.com or 615208-2338 or visit borodevagency.com

Learn more about the Boro.dev meetup, at meetup.com/borodev

Byron glenn is the Sales and Marketing Manager with Business System Solutions. Learn more at bssconsulting.com or call 615-400-8595.

kurt willis

tyler Vaughn

by t I ffany boy D

Opinion # free Your C hi L dren

FREE yOuR ChiLdREN was notified by a follower in November that the Satanic Temple had released a statement regarding The Hellion Academy that would be opening in Tennessee Middle School in Bristol, Tennessee. I immediately addressed the issue in a livestream on the Free YOUR Children Facebook page. The school responded with the following:

Dear tMs Parents/Guardians: there was a post on social media yesterday about a release time course at tennessee Middle school. in response to questions we are receiving, please see the message below from Director of schools Dr. annette tudor. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

Our school system previously received a “released time course” request from the hellion academy of independent Learning (haiL). Bristol tennessee City schools processes such requests under state law at tenn. Code ann. § 49-2-130, which explains that:

a “‘released time course’ means a period of time during which a student is excused from school to attend a course in religious moral instruction taught by an independent entity off school property.” therefore, parents must choose to allow their children to participate in haiL, yet those students will not and cannot receive any “released time course” instruction while at school. haiL is and will at all times remain

an independent entity as defined by state law and will remain an independent entity that Bristol tennessee City schools neither supports nor endorses, Our school system respects the rights of parents to make decisions related to their children, and we will leave it up to parents to determine if they want their children released from school under tenn. Code ann. § 49-2-130 for haiL activities. thank you, Luke Douthat Principal

tennessee

Middle school

The Satanic Temple is capitalizing on a bill that was passed in Tennessee, HB 2542/ SB 2473. The bill requires a public school to excuse a student from school to attend a released time course if requested by the student’s parent or legal guardian, even if the local board of education has not adopted a policy on released time courses, and authorizes local boards of education to transport students attending a released time course to and from the place of instruction if the entity providing the instruction reimburses the LEA for the services.

Sometimes bills have unintended consequences. What many people fail to realize is that public schools must operate with equality per the First Amendment. Wellmeaning legislators are pushing the Bible to be taught in schools while failing to realize the consequences of these actions. This is a

direct result of the push to place Christianity into the government institution of public school. How many times have you heard Christians say that we need to put the Bible back into public schools? I’ve lost count. Remember that if and when that happens you are going to be required to put all other ideologies into those schools as well. The Satanic Temple recognizes this and in turn is using the Constitution to sue and win.

In Pennsylvania the Temple was awarded $200,000 dollars.

“Under the settlement, the district must give TST and the ASSC [After School Satan Club] the same access to school facilities that other comparable organizations receive,” according to the American Civil Liberties Union. “The agreement also prohibits the district from retaliating against TST, the ASSC, their volunteers, and their members based on their viewpoint or ‘the exercise of their First Amendment rights.’ The district has agreed to pay $200,000 in attorneys’ fees and costs to TST’s attorneys.”

Additionally, Memphis -Shelby County Schools agreed to pay $15,000 to settle a suit filed on behalf of the Satanic Temple. You may be asking, “What does this have to do with school choice?” After Free YOUR Children posted about the Satanic Temple’s HAIL Club in a Tennessee school, the post exploded with comments expressing anger that it was being allowed. If you are a Christian conservative who is angered about the HAIL Club being allowed in public schools, you need to understand this: if school choice passes in Tennessee, not only will clubs with ideologies that you may not agree with be opening in public schools, your tax dollars will be funding schools that teach ideologies such as these. Let me say that again. Your tax dollars will be funding schools with ideologies that are in direct conflict with your beliefs, such as the following, already up and running: Muslim schools, LGBTQIA+ schools, Hindu schools, and the list goes on. It will only continue to expand at the expense of the taxpayers. No matter your opinion, if school choice passes in your state, this is what school choice looks like. Those choices are choices for everyone, not just Christians.

My intention of the post regarding the Satanic Temple’s HAIL Club was not to create rage clickbait. I am not surprised in the least that this is happening. It was expected. I have watched this unfold now for years. The intention of the livestream and the post was to inform. I have no need

to create clickbait. The system constantly gives me the content I need to continue to grow my ministry and my following.

As I have said before, we are in a battle for the souls of our nation’s children. Unfortunately, most people are complacent and pay little attention to what is going on in education or in their legislatures. They simply listen to the media and politicians who vomit propaganda they have been spoon-fed by lobbyists until the issues land in their own yard or their own school system. None of this is new. It will continue until the populace decides to do its research, get engaged and act.

Free YOUR Children seeks to educate families on what is happening in terms of parental, educational and Constitutional rights not only in Tennessee but in the nation at large.

If you do not want your taxes funding additional schools with ideologies you do not agree with, then you must stand against school choice. If you choose not to stand, you will fund it. The goal of school choice is to advance communism and destroy true private education. It is not conservative and it is the exact opposite of choice. It destroys choice. When the government is in control of all educational choices, there is no freedom. Did you know that every time vouchers have been placed on the ballot, the initiative fails? We the people do not want our tax dollars funding private education. Why then are politicians pushing this initiative when the people have been clear on their position? Follow the money. Those who are funding their campaigns likely have a vested interest in the money they will make off of the backs of taxpayers and those politicians likely have grander political aspirations. They are making decisions based on what is best for them and in turn not representing their constituents. Hold your elected officials accountable. They work for you.

What the government funds it runs, and equality applies. Be careful what you wish for.

Tiffany Boyd is the founder of Free yOuR Children LLC, host of Free yOuR Children radio show, a homeschool advocate, consultant, speaker, journalist and education researcher. She holds a B.S. degree in interdisciplinary studies from MTSu. She is a wife, mother to five children and a grandmother. She is a former tenured public school teacher. She and her husband have home educated for 20-plus years. Contact her at freeyourchildren@gmail.com.

Merry Christmas to All!

ThE TRAiN dAddy iS BACk with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. all aboard! I am excited for this one, the annual Merry Christmas shout-out! This has become tradition and is without doubt my favorite article of the year.

merry christmas to the mayo family—the family that makes this publication possible, the Editor in Chief Mr. Bracken Mayo and his amazing wife, the Associate Editor and Art Director Sarah Mayo! We can’t forget their two sons; their older one, Bracken Jr., has helped fill a rack or two with fresh copies of the Pulse. Bracken and Sarah run this business with an integrity that is rare, and they truly love what they do. They gave me this platform to write about sports all the way back in 2008, and I cherish it. But, being honest, I cherish even more the lifelong friendship I know I will have with the Mayo family for years to come. That’s enough of this mushy crap!

merry christmas to my dude nick westbrook-Ikhine! The Titans wide receiver has been a bright spot on a bad team. NWI signed with the Titans as an undrafted free agent

in 2020, a dude who flew under the radar but was consistent enough to always have a spot on the 53-man roster. NWI is making noise now, though, with nearly as many touchdowns as receptions. For the first time in his career, fantasy football managers are putting in bids to add the receiver to their rosters. That’s how you know you made it. The national stage now sees Nick, and that scares me because he becomes a free agent after this season. I sure hope Ran Carton finds a way to keep him a Titan.

merry christmas to coach heupel!

Someone in Tennessee who deserves praise for being a badass is Josh Heupel. He has taken the UT program from the dumpster to the top of the best conference in America. It’s exciting times on Rocky Top as we are playoff bound! Whatever happens, I know this team is in good hands and the trajectory is pointing at a National Championship. It’s a new era of college football with NIL and all this money and pros and cons along with it. It’s obvious though that Tennessee athletics, from football to basketball to baseball, all look ready to lead the charge there.

merry christmas to president Donald trump!

This past Nov. 5 I turned 40 years old on election night, and my dad was four days healed from just having completed successful prostate removal surgery due to cancer. We grilled some steaks, ate some cake and played games with the family. It was a beautiful evening. But the cherry on top was my birthday wish coming true, with Trump being elected president! Thank goodness we won’t have four years of the insanity that would have been Kamala and Tim Walz. Nobody freaked me out more than Tim’s strange “turn the page” wife. I am thrilled she won’t be around anymore. My 40th birthday was certainly one to remember.

merry christmas to women in sports!

Regardless of who you voted for and reasons you may or may not like President Trump, at least you know female athletics will be better protected. We have been on a recent pathway of delusion where feelings take precedence over common sense. I know it’s hard for some to define what a woman is, and I couldn’t care less outside of the realm of sports. Biology matters in sports! This topic won’t go away anytime soon, but it’s a step in the right direction for athletics. Sounds good to me!

merry christmas to my homie eddie george!

The Titans legend may have retired from playing, but he isn’t done with the game, having taken over in 2021 as head coach for Tennessee State University. This season Coach George led the TSU Tigers to their first 9-win season in over a decade, and first place in the Big South–Ohio Valley Conference Football Association. The former Heisman Trophy winner and Titans legend who rushed over 10K yards for the franchise isn’t done achieving greatness.

merry christmas to king Derrick henry!

I knew it would hurt when we broke up. I knew it would hurt when you had a successful season

with the Ravens and continued doing kingly things. I still root for your success even though I root for the Ravens’ destruction. It’s a catch-22, I know. The two best backs in the NFL continue to impress in Henry and Saquon Barkley. The race for this season’s rushing champion will be very close and probably closer to 2,000 yards than we may expect. My hope for King is he continues to dominate for the Ravens these next few years. I also hope the Ravens do not win the Super Bowl. Then when King is done, he comes back home to Tennessee.

merry christmas oakland high school football team!

Murfreesboro’s very own super team is the most dominant team in the state, now for a decade running. The Patriots are headed back to the 6A State Championship, where they will face the Houston Mustangs on the big stage in Chattanooga. The Patriots earned state champion honors in ’84, ’98, ’08, ’18, ’20, ’21 and ’22. Will they add ’24 to the impressive resume?

merry christmas to colt anderson!

You might be thinking, “who?” He’s the Tennessee Titans’ firstyear special teams coach who certainly puts the “special” in special teams. Someone needs to intervene if Coach Callahan can’t say bye-bye to his buddy from Cincinnati. His special teams units are historically bad! The numbers speak for themselves. Fire Colt Anderson because he sucks as a Titans football coach, but I do wish him a Merry Christmas all the same.

merry christmas to big willy levis!

Keep fighting, Levis. The passion is obvious, and I see the potential. It’s there! Levis has been improving and you can see it clearly. I am not sold yet on him being a franchise QB, but he may give them enough of a reason to justify another season of building around him. His situational awareness is a problem. It’s possible he has a jelly bean for a brain, but watching Titans

football lately, Levis hasn’t really been the problem—the offensive line has been. Once this season wraps up there will be some very interesting debates on what direction this team should go in the off-season as we gear up towards another high draft pick.

merry christmas to tony Vitello!

There is no better college baseball coach in America and the Vols are fortunate to have Tony V. The culture is a little wild at times, but it’s amazing and it’s a winning formula. Coming off a national championship season for the Vols in Omaha, the future is bright for the team and their young coach. Back-to-back nattys incoming.

merry christmas to rick barnes!

Tennessee basketball has been at the top of the game since Barnes came to Knoxville, and that’s saying a lot given the dysfunction prior to his arrival. Rick Barnes was already a well-established brain of the game and what he is doing here clearly is working. On the heels of making an Elite 8 run last season, this team is hungry. It’s early in the season, but as of right now this team looks like a contender with some stars returning and some great new additions from the portal. Tennessee basketball is a team to watch as we creep towards March.

merry christmas to you, the reader!

I wish you and your family a wonderful December. I know that I tend to say ridiculous things in these articles but, being genuine, I do it because I know somewhere out there somebody may learn something or, better yet, may get a proper laugh from something goofy I said. So thanks for reading.

The Train is rolling into the station! It’s the perfect time of the year to live life following my motto, the 5 F’s–Faith, Family, Football, Food and Friends! Live life following that motto and it will be a satisfying life full of smiles and rewards.

Choo-choo!

Live Exceptionally...Well!

by jennIfer DuranD

i have often said that stress doesn’t disappear from our lives, but how we manage it is within our control. You may not be able to avoid every situation or interruption to your life flow, but what can you do to minimize unpleasant or stressful outcomes? Learning to anticipate possible problems is a start. Is this a negative way of thinking? Absolutely not! It is a proactive approach to anticipating a potential need and handling it before it ever becomes an issue.

“If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.” — Abraham Maslow

This metaphor suggests that having a limited perspective can result in inadequate solutions to complex problems.

There are plenty of life experiences that will give you the ammunition you need to learn how to minimize disappointments or circumvent undesired outcomes. In a wonderful book called upstream by Dan Heath, the author identifies the typical cycle of responses to problems. We are often stuck putting out fires, dealing with emergencies, handling one problem after another, keeping us “downstream” and never actually making our way “upstream” to

and Avoid, Alter, Adapt or Accept

h ow to Prevent s tress Get Upstream

fix the systems that caused the problems in the first place. Some examples are cops chasing robbers, doctors treating patients with chronic illnesses, and call center reps addressing customer complaints. But more times than not, crimes, chronic illnesses and customer complaints are all preventable. The book dives in to looking at why our emphasis seems to be on our efforts being reaction-based rather than how to prevent such problems in the first place. It also shares fabulous accounts of looking upstream—or at the root cause—and resolving longstanding problems, eventually eradicating the need to put out the continuous fires, previously the unquestioned and accepted behavior.

The Four A’s of stress management: When deciding which option to choose, it’s helpful to think of the four A’s: Avoid, Alter, Adapt or Accept. Since everyone has a unique response to stress, there is no “one size fits all” solution to managing it. You can probably think of a few scenarios where you’ve applied one of the Four A’s of stress management. Maybe you are uncomfortable around certain people and you choose to avoid them and not to put yourself in their company at all costs. Or maybe you alter your

seat at the table to not have to deal with the discomfort. Perhaps you adapt and decide to make the best of the situation knowing it is short-term. Maybe you learn to accept the differences and simply go on about your business. Whatever you choose, you have identified a would-be problem and have chosen to manage and minimize, if not eliminate, it.

“It’s not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.” — Hans Selye

A few examples of preventing stress are: If you don’t like cleaning up a big mess, perhaps you a.) don’t throw a big dinner party; b.) have it catered; c.) do a potluck with all disposable dishes; d.) recognize that you enjoy the merriment more than you dislike cleaning up and learn to compromise the outcome. Or, you could always line up volunteers to help. Maybe you are afraid of public speaking. You can avoid doing any, practice overcoming your fear, feel the fear and do it anyway, or find someone else to take your place. To manage the stress of taking on more tasks than you have time to do, don’t take on more than you can manage. Alternatively, you could delegate, learn to say “no,” or just do the best you can with what you’ve committed to and do less the next time around.

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” — William James You have a deadline to get a project done but you wait until the last minute. To avoid such a situation in the future, you can prioritize tasks, choose not to procrastinate and create unnecessary pressure, enlist help if possible, or have an accountability partner to help keep you on task. These are simple things that we’ve all done, and you can see that you have a choice in how you can prevent, handle or manage possible stressors. Look ahead, think of possible outcomes and be prepared. You wouldn’t host a concert without having access to bathrooms, a place to sit, trash receptacles, adequate parking and so on. In that situation you are being proactive to ensure as smooth an outcome as possible. Visualize the entire activity in your mind. Every detail, each item

needed, and conveniences to make it as presentable as possible. Once you’ve forgotten an important feature, you know you will never forget it again. The experience will make you wiser. So, remember to look at each opportunity as an adventure of discovery. This is one major approach that will help you prevent or limit stressors in your life.

“Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses prevent them.” — Albert Einstein

Remember the value of proactive thinking to avoid issues before they arise.

Jennifer durand owns The Nurture Nook day Spa & gift Shoppe; she is a certified Qigong and Breathe Empowerment instructor, a skin care and makeup specialist. visit nurturenook.com or call 615-896-7110 to learn more.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREA PIACQUADIO / PE x ELS

ways to give more

No matter your personal finances, there are ways to make your money go further in making a difference.

does Your Company offer a giving match?

A lot of companies will match your giving if you ask. Many have giving programs that match your dollars. Look at your benefits package or ask your HR team. You may be surprised.

donor-advised fund?

as we Come to the end of the Year, we all look to December for the holidays as Christmas and Hanukkah approach, and many of us find ourselves in the giving mood. If we are people of faith, we should be giving, and I encourage you to give to your favorite charities. Even if you aren’t a person of faith, you likely still feel the desire to help others this season. I recently completed the Certified Kingdom Advisor training and was surprised to learn that, according to a recent Barna research study, only 5% of Americans and 12% of born-again Christians tithe (give at least 10% of their income to the church). Is it because we truly don’t have enough money, or are we prioritizing the wrong things? I ask this not to condemn anyone, but to provoke thought and contemplation on the matter. Even if you can’t afford to give a full 10% right now, are you headed in that direction? Here are some ideas that might help.

Prioritize

spending

Live, Give, Owe (debt and taxes), Grow. Those are the 5 areas of spending. We can only use money for these categories; there is nothing else. For most people the “live” part consumes all of their money. Lifestyle spending for the average American exceeds income. When we spend all of our income and have to pay taxes, we are left with debt to cover the difference. Consider giving and taxes first. It’s not a switch that you can flip instantly and it all work overnight, but a process. Once you know you have enough, it makes giving much easier and more fulfilling.

More likely than not you are probably asking “what is a donor-advised fund?” They are an underutilized resource and a great way to amplify your giving. Like a brokerage account or an IRA, this account is designed for efficient giving. People use them because you get a tax deduction in the year you put the money in the fund, even if the money hasn’t been distributed to the charity yet. The IRS allows this type of account to help people get a tax deduction for their giving. Because of the large increase in the standard deduction in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, most people don’t itemize deductions. A married couple filing jointly, now gets a standard deduction of $29,200 for 2024. That means if you add up all your itemized deductions and they are less than that amount, you will simply take the larger number. Imagine you have a mortgage deduction of $10,000, property taxes of $8,000, and you donate $10,000 to charity. Your total itemized deductions are $28,000. It’s better to take the standard deduction to lower your taxable income by $1,200. However, if you decide to set up a donor-advised fund and put in

your donations for 2024 and 2025 all this year, then your itemized deductions would be $39,000. This gives you an opportunity to itemize and save more. Next year you can simply make your donations from the donor-advised fund and take the standard deduction. Across the two years, you have saved money on taxes this way for the same amount of giving. Ages 72 or older are required to take money out of your retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs. These are called required minimum distributions (RMD). Retired and don’t need your RMD? Many people will take this money out of their account, pay taxes, and then donate the money. You don’t have to do that! Instead, contact the custodian of your retirement account, ask them to send the money directly to your favorite charity. You satisfy the RMD requirement and you don’t pay a dime in taxes on that RMD. Make sure you note this for your CPA, so they know that the distribution went directly to the charity and they don’t report it on your tax return.

Remember, it’s better to give than receive, and when you can save money on taxes, you can give more. If you need help with these strategies or other areas of your finances, please reach out.

diSCLAiMER: The information in this article is not tax, legal or investment advice. Please consult your financial advisor and your CPA for specific tax questions that apply to your situation.

Contact Sean Moran with Red Barn Financial at smoran@ redbarnfinancial.com or call 615-619-6919.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREA PIACQUADIO / PE x ELS