February 2023 Murfreesboro Pulse

I IDENTIFY AS AN ULTRA-HIGH-NET-WORTH individual, a millionaire many times over, living a lavish lifestyle, enjoying the finer things in life, spending tens of millions, but the bank uses these hurtful numbers to identify my account!

The numbers on the screen do not line up with my financial identity, and it causes me great mental anguish and distress.

It’s hateful, it’s discriminatory and I demand that it stop! Use the numbers that I prefer to express my financial identity, that align with my preferences, or I’ll call the ACLU, the SPLC and the wokest of mobs to demand change and compassion . . . and love.

I know what I have deposited! Do not hold me captive to the numbers assigned at deposit; the mere results of my deposit totals do not align with my feelings inside. The resulting numbers have caused dysphoria, and I demand some extra zeros, you backward-banking bigots!

Down in Alabama, state officials said they want to take down the iconic rocket that sits near the interstate just across the Tennessee state line. Outcry ensued.

FEATURES IN EVERY ISSUE

Publisher/Editor in Chief: Bracken Mayo

ONLINE:

6

Events CALENDAR Truck & Tractor Pull, Boro Prom, Cookie Decorating, I Love Wartrace, Beginner’s Archery and more

10 Sounds

MUSIC NOTES

Nashville Praise Symphony

Tennessee Songwriters Week Battle of the Bands

Jack Popek CONCERT CALENDAR

Mindy Campbell, Glen Wagner, Love & Theft, Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra, Rewind This, Hunter Girl, Bailey Rose and more

17 Reviews

ALBUMS

The Tennessee Warblers, Small Town Songs

MOVIE Everything Everywhere

24 Art THEATER

Junior Theater Festival Into the Woods

26 Food RESTAURANT West 22 Tacos

28 News

BUSINESS BUZZ

El Patron Taqueria, Tasty Table at ReevesSain, Dunkin’, Taste of Thai, Barrett Firearms, In-N-Out, Saint Thomas Westlawn and more

Contributors: Tiffany Boyd, Jennifer Durand, Delores Elliott, Elisabeth Gay, Bryce Harmon, Laura Lindsay, Blaine Little, Chelsea LoCascio, Zach Maxfield, Sean Moran, Jay Spight, Andrea Stockard, Bill Wilson

Art Director: Sarah Mayo

Copy Editor: Steve Morley

Advertising: Nneka Sparks

BBB TIPS

Scams to watch out for BUSINESS

MOMENTUM

The lost art of taking initiative

34 Opinion

FREE YOUR CHILDREN

Are charter schools the answer?

EDUCATION

Enforce the rules from a young age SPORTS TALK

Titans bring in Ran Carthon; Chiefs and Eagles set for Super Bowl LVII

LIVING WELL

Living in goodness

MR.

MURFREESBORO

Lots to love MONEY MATTERS

SECURE Act 2.0

For over 40 years, this first stage of one of the only two surviving Saturn IB rockets (which launched humans into earth orbit, though it was the larger and more powerful Saturn V that propelled man to the surface of the moon) sat greeting visitors to the state (majestically paired with a replica second stage).

Okay, if the impressive artifact is deteriorating to the point it may fall on someone, it should probably go, but Alabama needs to get busy building or acquiring another rocket—an even taller rocket!

It’s not just a fun statue; the Saturn IB stands as a true piece of world history, a monument to one of the great exploratory feats of humanity and Alabama’s role in it.

I know, I am not even an Alabama resident, but I am one of the millions who travel to the state and spend time and money there, and this rocket is a historic landmark (aren’t those usually legally protected?) and a symbol of national pride for all Americans. With no rocket to greet us, we may just take our vacation to North Carolina or somewhere.

Though it is not yet official, Tennessee seems to be getting closer to making Daylight Savings Time permanent. But as of now the clocks will still change this year in March and in November.

To me it’s a fine contrast of seasons for it to get pitch dark at 4:45 p.m. on Christmas but to be able to run around the park until 8:30 in the summertime, or deliver papers until that time with the sun still being out.

I kind of prefer it that way, now that I think about it. I suppose supporting the twice-per-year clock change is my way of opposing change . . .

And while we are on the subject of being averse to change—I prefer that the Titans play outside. Make football outdoors again! The heat, the wind, rain, sleet and snow, the frozen tundra and the sunshine all add to the dynamic of the game.

SIGN UP for the Pulse Weekly Digital Newsletter at BOROPULSE.COM/NEWSLETTER

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

TO CARRY THE PULSE AT YOUR BUSINESS or to submit letters, stories and photography: bracken@boropulse.com

The players, and fans, should have to deal with a little Tennessee heat at a noon game in September. The punt returner should have to deal with the sun in his eyes. The field goal kicker should have to deal with high winds. The teams need to conquer the 95 degrees, or the 20 degrees, as well as their opponent. There should be a slogging-around-in-a-muddy-field type of old-school game every now and then.

Playing football inside some cushy, high-class, climate-controlled, no-wind box takes away some beauty from the game. You are no better than basketball if you play indoors!

Peace, BRACKEN MAYO

Publisher/Editor in Chief

EVENTS CALENDAR  FEBRUARY 2023  BY ANDREA STOCKARD

FEB. 2 WINTER CRAFTING: HAND WARMERS

Grab a friend or two and craft at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 10 a.m. Learn how to sew and make hand warmers to use during the winter or give as gifts. Admission is $10 per person. Ages 12 and up are welcome. For reservations, call 615-801-2606 or email mbnevills@murfreesborotn.gov. For more information, find Cannonsburgh Village on Facebook.

FEB. 4 AND 5

SUCCULENTS + SIPS WORKSHOP

Create a one-of-a-kind succulent heart topiary arrangement at the Classy Cactus Farm Greenhouse (1547 Rutledge Way, behind the Tennessee Tool Works building) on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 4 and 5. The registration fee includes all materials and plants needed. This workshop will be succulent bar-style, which means the creations are exactly what you want them to be. A plant specialist will guide participants, step-by-step, in creating a beautiful and unique arrangement with variety of decorative elements. Learn how to care for the arrangement for months to come. Couples may sign up for the double-sided heart option ($75) so each individual can design one side of the heart. A single-sided heart is $45. Classy Cactus Farm is a BYOB establishment, so enjoy your beverage of choice. The class starts at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 3 and at 3 p.m. on Feb. 5. To register, visit classycactusfarm.com/pages/ events. For more information, call 615-6377035 or email jill@classycactusfarm.com

FEB. 6

SUICIDE AWARENESS NIGHT

Blackman High School will host a suicide awareness and prevention night in its high school auditorium on Monday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m. The night is open to all Rutherford County School parents, guardians and educators, who will hear from The Jason Foundation and Trustpoint Hospital to learn about suicide risk factors and warning signs and mental well-being. Parents can also discover helpful resources and support options. For more information contact

FEB. 3–4

SOUTHERN INVITATIONAL TRUCK & TRACTOR PULL

Tennessee Miller Coliseum will come to life when the most powerful sport on dirt comes to town. The 2023 Southern Invitational Truck & Tractor Pull hosts three pulling sessions over a two-day event beginning at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3, and 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4. Admission is $20 on Friday night, $20 on Saturday and $25 for Saturday night finals. Kids 10 and under are free. For tickets or more information call (615) 406-0382 or visit southernmotorsports.net.

secondary school counseling supervisor Christine Bryan at bryanc@rcschools.net

FEB. 7

ALL ABOUT OWLS

Owls have unique abilities that most other birds of prey lack. Visit the Wilderness Station (401 Volunteer Rd.) on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 2 p.m. to learn about these amazing “superpowers,” interact with biofacts, investigate and dissect an owl pellet and meet the resident owl ambassador, Huckleberry. Admission is $5; all ages are welcome. Pre-registration is required by emailing challwalker@murfreesborotn.gov or by calling 615-217-3017. Registration ends at 10 a.m. the day of program.

FEB. 8

MTSU ANNUAL VALENTINE BLOOD DRIVE

MTSU is making room for donors at the Annual Valentine Blood Drive on Wednesday, Feb. 8. If there’s room in your heart to help save lives, MTSU will make room for you to share your much-needed True Blue blood with neighbors across the state. The event is sponsored by the

MTSU Red Cross Club student organization, and will be held from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. in Room 322 in the Keathley University Center. This blood drive is open to MTSU students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends and neighbors from across Middle Tennessee. All donors will receive a $30 e-gift card from Amazon, plus a free T-shirt, as thanks for their life-saving help. Donors can make an appointment now at rcblood. org/3GY4SBx, by using the “American Red Cross Blood” app or by texting “BLOODAPP” to 90999. Walk-in donors are welcome. The required health questionnaire can be completed in advance at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass.

FEB. 8

MTSU UNITY LUNCHEON

MTSU’s Black History Month Committee has selected the honorees for the 27th annual Unity Luncheon, to be held Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the Student Union Building. Coordinated through and hosted by the Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs, this MTSU tradition has been around since 1996, honoring “unsung heroes” within the community during Black History

Month. Honorees are age 50 or older who have resided in the Middle Tennessee area for 20 years or more and who have made outstanding contributions to their community. This year’s honorees and their honored categories are recently retired MTSU professor Marva Lucas (Education), Joe and Sybil Rich (Community Service), Michael McDonald (Advocate of Civility), Stacy Windrow (Excellence in Sports) and Vanessa Alderson (Contribution to Black Arts). Honorees will receive their awards at the catered-meal luncheon from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Tickets are available online at bit.ly/mtunity2023 and will not be available at the door. Prices are $20 for students and $35 for non-students.

The keynote speaker for the event is Memphis attorney and councilman J.B. Smiley Jr. For more information, call 615-8985812 or email danielle.rochelle@mtsu.edu

FEB. 8

LIVING SENT MINISTRIES

All are invited to the February 2023 Living Sent Murfreesboro meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 8, from 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Experience (521 Old Salem Rd.). Bob Williams shares how God has used some unlikely parts of his business to share the Kingdom of God with clients and lead them into God’s family. He touches on how you can do the same. A complimentary lunch is provided by Realtor Lynne Davis. To RSVP, email bob.williams@alhambrapartners.com.

FEB. 10

TENNESSEE VALLEY WINDS CONCERT

The Tennessee Valley Winds annual winter concert is on Friday, Feb. 10, at 8 p.m. at the Wright Music building on the campus of MTSU (1439 Faulkinberry Dr.). This concert is conducted by guest conductor Terry Jolley. The performance is open to the general public with no admission charge. Donations are appreciated. For more information, visit tnvalleywinds.org or find Tennessee Valley Winds on Facebook.

FEB. 10–25

YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU Springhouse Theatre Company (14119 Old

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

Nashville Hwy., Smyrna) presents You Can't Take it With You this February. At first, the Sycamores seem odd, but it is not long before we realize that if they are odd, the rest of the world is odder. In contrast to these delightful people are the unhappy Kirbys, whose son, Tony, falls in love with Alice Sycamore and refuses to give her up. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 10, 11, 17, 18 and 24 and at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 25. Bridges for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will provide an American Sign Language interpreter for the Feb. 24 performance. Find tickets and more information at springhousetheatre.com

FEB. 11

WINTER WONDERLAND

Come out to the Wilderness Station (401 Volunteer Rd.) on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 11:15 a.m. for Winter Wonderland. Learn how different animals in Tennessee survive the cold winters. See how various fur and adaptations work best for certain animals. There is no charge to attend; all ages are welcome. To pre-register, email krendl@murfreesborotn.gov.

FEB. 11

BORO PROM

The Boro Business Lab Presents The Boro ’80s Prom on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 7–11 p.m. at The Walnut House (116 N. Walnut St.). Come have a rad time and go back to prom with the one you love today. Don’t miss this, like, totally killer experience, for adults only. Get that hairspray and suit or bust out that mullet again. Tickets are $100 and include 4 drink tickets. All proceeds are donated to Isaiah 117 House, a local nonprofit working to provide a comforting home where foster children can be brought to wait. It is a place that is safe with friendly and loving volunteers who provide clean clothes, smiles, toys and snuggly blankets. For more information, visit boroprom.com

FEB.

11

I LOVE WARTRACE

Grab your honey or your bestie and visit the quaint little town of Wartrace for some Valentine’s fun and shopping on Saturday, Feb. 11, from noon–5 p.m. Wander through the town shopping and enjoy complimentary treats in each shop. Be sure to get your “I Love Wartrace” shopper’s card punched in each store. Complete all of the punches and turn in your completed card at a participating business for a chance to win a prize basket valued at over $200+ including a stay at the Blue Victorian Bed and Breakfast in Wartrace. Other door prizes vary by each

FEB. 11

VALENTINE’S COOKIE DECORATING

Bring the kids to Valentine’s Cookie Decorating on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., at Overflow Brews & Bakes (115 N. Maple St.). Children will create the perfect homemade Valentine’s Day cookie for Mom, Dad, grandparents or friends. Everything is supplied. There will be a cookie decorating station and a selfie station for everyone to enjoy and create an awesome day of memories, all free of charge. Overflow also offers premium coffee, baked goods, boba tea, ice cream and more. For more information, visit overflowb.com or call 615-900-1679.

shop. Participating shops include Rock House Deli Depot, Chabbi’s Sweets & Eats, Big Creek Winery & Tasting Room, The Iron Horse Pizzeria, The Shoppes at 31 Main, The Walking Horse Museum, The Sparrow’s Nest, Old Petticoat Trading Co. and Seven on Main. For more information, call the Wartrace Chamber of Commerce at 931-240-0300.

FEB. 11

S.J. BOYCE BOOK SIGNING

Linebaugh Public Library (105 W. Vine St.) welcomes local author S.J. Boyce for a book signing on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. The author will sign and sell copies of her book, The Other Side of a Murder, published in 2021. High-level executive Tanya L. Jameson has it all . . . almost. When she meets Jonathan Skagel, the firm’s handsome and charming financial director, she feels like her dream has finally come true. But Jonathan is living a dangerous double life, and when he turns up dead, Tanya finds herself caught up in the web of lies he left behind. She then enlists the help of her former childhood friend, Detective Veronica Redmond. The Other Side of a Murder is full of twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the last page. S.J. Boyce resides in the Middle Tennessee area and is a graduate of MTSU. Her second

novel will be released in spring 2023 and will be the second book in the Detective Veronica Redmond Series. Copies will be $20 each. For more information, call 615893-4131 or visit rclstn.org.

FEB. 11–12

GUN & KNIFE SHOW

Gun & Knife Shows Murfreesboro will be held at MidTN Expo Center, located at 1660 Middle Tennessee Blvd., from 9–5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 and from 9–4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12. Gun collectors and hunting enthusiasts can enjoy viewing a wide range of outdoor industry related products and services from 120 vendors, including various firearms, knives, hunting and archery supplies and other outdoor equipment. Adult admission is $14.50, children 12 & under—$7.50. For tickets and more information, visit rkshows.com

FEB. 14

LOVE BIRDS

Learn how some animals stay partners for life, and some don’t, at the Wilderness Station (401 Volunteer Rd.) on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 2 p.m. Discuss friendships that can be found between different species here in Tennessee and around the world. There is no charge to attend. To register, email krendl@murfreesborotn.gov.

FEB. 14

ANIMAL COURTSHIPS

Meet some of the Wilderness Station (401 Volunteer Rd.) animal ambassadors and discuss how they find true love at Animal Courtships on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at 6 p.m. Talk about finding a partner, acts of courtships, nesting strategies, and how involved parents are in the care of their young. The cost to join is $3 per person or $10 per family; all ages are welcome. Pre-registration is required by calling 615-217-3017 or by emailing dthomas@murfreesborotn.gov

FEB. 15

TENNESSEE TRAILS ASSOCIATION MEETING

The Tennessee Trails Association’s monthly meeting of its Murfreesboro chapter is Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 7–8 p.m. at the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (401 Volunteer Rd.). The guest speaker is Alan Brown, executive director of Earth Experience – Middle Tennessee Museum of Natural History. Earth Experience Murfreesboro (816 Old Salem Rd.) is the first natural history museum in Middle Tennessee. For more information, visit tennesseetrails.org or call or text 615-971-8894.

FEB. 16

THE CONNECTION AT CHAMPY’S

Champy’s World Famous Fried Chicken will host the February 2023 installment of The Connection: An Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming from 5–7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16. 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. Champy’s is located at 1290 NW Broad St.

FEB. 16

ROMANTIC ENCOUNTERS

The Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2022–2023 season entitled “Season of Stories” is made up of 5 chapters, one for each concert. Chapter 4: Romantic Encounters will unfold at Belle Aire Baptist Church (1307 North Rutherford Blvd.) on Thursday, Feb. 16 from 7–9 p.m. This concert features Big Band favorites, including Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, George Gershwin and Rich Rogers. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $40 for premium seating. For tickets or more information visit tnphil.org.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

FEB. 17

“LOVE THE NIGHT” HIKE WITH CAMPFIRE

Get toasty with marshmallows by the campfire and a guided hike through Barfield Crescent Park (697 Veterans Pkwy.) on Friday, Feb. 17, from 6–8 p.m. Enjoy the cool night air with your loved ones, share stories with your families and learn about night life at the park. The cost to join is $5; ages 15 and up are welcome. To register, email dthomas@murfreesborotn.gov

FEB. 18

AFTERNOON CHAMBER

SERIES

Join members of the Middle Tennessee Sinfonietta on Saturday, Feb. 18 from 1–2:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (116 N. Academy St.) for “An Afternoon Chamber Series.” Learn more about the Sinfonietta at mtsinfonietta.com

FEB. 19

FREE CLOGGING LESSONS

Cripple Creek Cloggers are entering their 56th year of teaching and performing authentic Appalachian-style square dancing with a clogging step, a strong tradition of Middle Tennessee and the region. They will welcome new members and begin teaching on Sunday, Feb. 19, at the Senior Activity Center of Smyrna (100 Raikes St., Smyrna) at 4:30 p.m. There is no charge to participate and no special gear is needed to attend. For more information on the free lessons, visit cripplecreekcloggers.org, email appdancer@aol.com or call 615-896-3559.

FEB. 21

BEGINNER’S ARCHERY

Participate in a beginner’s archery lesson at Wilderness Station (401 Volunteer Rd.) on Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 1–3:30 p.m. Go over the parts of the bow and technique and then get an opportunity to shoot. This program requires a 1-mile walk on the paved trail to the campground area. Space is limited and registration is required. The cost to participate is $10; ages 10 and up are welcome. For more information, email lrosser@murfreesborotn.gov.

FEB. 23

RIVER HIKE & EXPLORATION

Join the Wilderness Station team (401 Volunteer Rd.) for a relaxing hike down to the Stones River on Thursday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m. Along the way, stop and talk about things you find. In total, the trip will be just under 2 miles. Please dress for the weather. There is no cost to join; all ages

FEB. 11

CELEBRATION OF LOVE

Tired of doing the same old thing for Valentine’s Day? Shake it up this year! Join National Dance Clubs of Murfreeboro (710 Memorial Blvd.) for a Celebration of Love on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. This event is geared towards advanced dancers, newbies, singles and couples. Enjoy a group class, dessert bar, live band and mesmerizing show. To learn more or to reserve your spot, call 615-849-1155.

are welcome. To register, email krendl@ murfreesborotn.gov.

FEB. 25

INDOOR TRIATHLON

Participants will swim, bike and run using the indoor pool, stationary bikes and indoor track at Patterson Park Community Center (521 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.) on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 8 a.m. The triathlon consists of four competitors per heat in preset start times racing against the clock and each other. The sprint distance consists of a 750-meter swim, 20K bike and 5K run. Winners are announced at the conclusion for the top three men and women. Registration ends Thursday, Feb. 23. Admission is $30. For more information, email rbrady@murfreesborotn. gov or call 615-893-7439 ext. 6113.

FEB. 28

SUNFLOWER PLANTER CRAFT

It’s almost spring! Get together and decorate your own flowerpot at the Wilderness Station (401 Volunteer Rd.) on Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 1–2 p.m. Plant sunflower seeds for to take home and watch grow. The cost to participate is $5; ages 4 and up are welcome. To register, email lrosser@murfreesborotn.gov

FEB. 28

RCHA CHILI COOK-OFF

Do you have the best chili recipe? If so, come out and compete at the Rutherford County Hospitality Association’s 4th Annual Chili Cook-Off on Tuesday, Feb.

28, from 5–8 p.m. at Mayday Brewery. Entry fee for chili is $20 and includes two tickets for tasting. Tickets to taste are $10. All proceeds benefit the Culinary Arts Program in Rutherford County High Schools. For more information, call 629-201-1199 or email jah4r15@gmail.com

MONDAYS GRASS MASTERS LAWN CARE ACADEMY

The Grass Masters Lawn Care Academy sessions start Monday, Feb. 20, at 6:30 p.m. and continue the next four Monday nights in the Lane Agri-Park Livestock Barn Arena (315 John R. Rice Blvd.). The course covers the different kinds of turfgrasses and how to manage them, options for establishing a new lawn, renovation tips for existing lawns, weed control and fertilization. For more information, call 615-898-7710 or email Mitchell Mote at mmote1@utk.edu

MONDAYS

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. For more information or directions, visit connectnashvillenetworking.com/events

TUESDAYS

BLUES JAM

Come alone or bring some friends to Heroes Den (2805 Old Fort Pkwy., Ste. O) for Tuesday Blues Jam from 6:30–9:30

p.m. Bring your instrument or vocals and join the band. Every song is a new experience. Free and open to the public. For more information find Heroes Den on Facebook.

WEDNESDAYS NETWORKING FOR AWESOME PEOPLE

Networking for Awesome People meets Wednesdays at 9 a.m. at the Rutherford County Veterans Community Center (439 Rice St.). All you 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. For more information, fi nd a Networking for Awesome People group on Facebook.

WEDNESDAYS BORO 2 SQUARE RUNNERS

The Boro 2 Square running group meets at Mayday Brewery (521 Old Salem Rd.) every Wednesday at 6 p.m. The group welcomes runners of all paces looking to get out to run and socialize with other runners. Run distances are between 3 and 5 miles. Participants are welcome to stay and socialize following the run. For more information, visit facebook.com/boro2square

THURSDAYS

HIKE WITH A NATURALIST

Come out to the Wilderness Station (401 Volunteer Rd.) for a weekly hike at Barfield Crescent Park (401 Volunteer Rd.) on Thursdays at 2 p.m. Hike different trails each week so you can get more familiar with the park. There is no cost to join; all ages are welcome. For more information, call 615-2173017 or email lrosser@murfreesborotn.gov

THURSDAYS

MAD COW TREK CLUB

Mad Cow Trek Club running group meets Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Panther Creek Brews (714 W. Main St.). The group embarks on a route of 4–8 miles and welcomes runners of all paces and abilities. Affiliated with the Mad Cow Running Company in McMinnville, the Trek Club hosts races and free get-togethers to share its love of running with the community. All runners are welcome to stay after each run for food and drinks.

FRIDAYS COMMUNITY CHESS

Murfreesboro Community Chess meets at the Murfreesboro Barnes & Noble (within the Avenue, 2615 Medical Center Pkwy.) every Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. Organizers invite those of all ages and skill levels to this causal chess meetup each week.

BABY • KIDS • MATERNITY • HOME

MAR C H 1–4

630 LEHMAN ST., WOODBURY

MIDDLE TENNESSEE’S OLDEST AND LARGEST CHILDREN’S SALE

Wednesday, March 1 • 10 a.m.—7 p.m.

Thursday, March 2 • 10 a.m.—7 p.m.

Friday, March 3 • 10 a.m.—7 p.m.

Saturday, March 4 • 8 a.m.—2 p.m.

ITEMS ARE GENTLY USED AND PRICED WAY BETTER THAN RETAIL! MANY ITEMS HALF PRICE ON SATURDAY!

Everything from maternity to baby to kid to teen. Also household items and decor!

CONSIGN WITH US! Visit www.PACCS.net to sign up, or call 615-243-7089 for guidance

NASHVILLE PRAISE SYMPHONY, one of Tennessee’s most acclaimed symphonic orchestras, will present a night of beautiful inspirational music in Murfreesboro. Founded in 2002, Nashville Praise Symphony is a select group of approximately 50 of the finest church musicians in the greater Nashville area, conducted by Camp Kirkland.

Typical concerts include arrangements of popular hymns, praise songs, classical pieces and patriotic favorites. Child Evangelism Fellowship will present the Nashville Praise Symphony in concert on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 6 p.m. at Northside Baptist Church, 655 W. Thompson Ln., Murfreesboro.

“This is our fourth benefit concert with the Nashville Praise Symphony,” said Joy Evans, director of CEF of Middle Tennessee. “These wonderfully talented musicians give so generously of their time and abilities to help support our mission of reaching children across Middle Tennessee with the Gospel. I’m thrilled to continue our association with the NPS

MUSIC NOTES

 TENNESSEE SONGWRITERS WEEK INVOLVES HUNDREDS OF SONGWRITERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE

in 2023. With their support, this year’s concert will help hundreds of children have the opportunity to hear the Good News of God’s love.”

The work of the CEF involves several programs, including its most notable, the Good News Clubs. In partnership with local churches, Good News Clubs are held in local schools and other community venues to bring the Gospel to children who may not have the opportunity to hear about God’s love in any other way. A typical club includes a variety of activities such as engaging Bible lessons, songs, crafts and missionary stories, all focused on teaching children Biblical principles in a way that they can clearly understand.

Admission to the Feb. 25 Nashville Praise Symphony concert is free, but a love offering will be collected in support of local Good News Clubs and other CEF of Middle Tennessee ministries.

For more information, contact Joy Evans at 615244-4373 or info@cefmiddletennessee.com or visit cefmiddletennessee.com.

QUALIFYING ROUNDS IN 50 LIVE MUSIC VENUES throughout Tennessee will determine the final participants in the fifth annual Tennessee Songwriters Week showcase events, to be held Feb. 19–25. The project gives songwriters in all musical genres the chance to perform their best original works before a live audience and panel of judges.

Harvester Event Center in Smithville will host a qualifying round concert on Thursday, Feb. 2, and Common John Brewing Co. in Manchester presents its Tennessee Songwriters Week preliminary contest on Saturday, Feb. 4. Hop Springs in Murfreesboro and Carpe Cafe in Smyrna will also participate as 2023 qualifying round venues.

Select songwriters from qualifying rounds will advance to seven showcase events in Memphis, Franklin, Gallatin, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Gatlinburg and Johnson City during Songwriters Week, Feb. 19–25.

Then, one winning songwriter will be selected by a panel of judges to play their original work at The Bluebird Cafe on March 26. In 2022, Maura Streppa received top Tennessee Songwriters Week honors.

Presented by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Tennessee Songwriters Week celebrates arguably the state’s biggest export to the world—music. For more information, visit tnsongwritersweek.com.

 SIX AREA GROUPS PLAY BATTLE OF THE BANDS AT WASHINGTON THEATRE, FEB. 4

WASHINGTON THEATRE at Patterson Park will present the Murfreesboro Battle of the Bands on Saturday, Feb 4. The one-night competition will feature live performances from six local bands: Kid Romantic, Water Street, Juliet’s Apartment, Hexproof, Racecars and Outpost.

“Our goal is to help promote the local music scene with a show full of original music,” according to Dale Shackleford with the Washington Theatre. “This is our second battle; we are setting it up to be an annual competition.”

The six local bands will compete for a grand prize of $500.

Music kicks off at 7 p.m., with doors at 6:30. Tickets are $10. Washington Theatre is located in Patterson Park Community Center, 521 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Murfreesboro. For more on this and other upcoming performing arts events at the community theater, find The Washington Theatre Murfreesboro on Facebook.

 NASHVILLE PRAISE SYMPHONY HOLDS FEB. 25 CONCERT TO BENEFIT GOOD NEWS CLUBS AND CHILD EVANGELISM FELLOWSHIP

2022 WINNER MAURA STREPPA

Jack Popek 1949—2022

“Jack”) died on Dec. 23, 2022, at the age of 73.

Many in Murfreesboro were familiar with the classical guitarist from his work playing weddings and events, his regular performances at Milano on College Street for a time, and his participation in other jam sessions, online lessons and area activities.

Following his death, his friends and fellow musicians have shared their memories of and tributes to the talented musician, teacher and music theorist.

Jack was my friend, fellow band member and ardent conveyer of a fine verbal joust. Jack and I argued a great deal about politics, life, whiskey, music and any other topic which might make for conversational fodder.

Jack—who generally wore a leather jacket, sported long hair and had a swagger about him that instantly separated him from the crowd—was one of those rare individuals who could disagree with you and keep it conversational.

I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who had the passion for music that he had. I came to relish the opportunity to hear him performing, especially classical music. My favorites of these performances were Christmas videos that he would make to send home to his family in New Jersey and various other people around the country. He asked me to film, edit and upload some of these videos. He would painstakingly put together a program of classical music, tie in a Christmas theme that went with the music, and send it to his friends and family members as a Christmas gift. He had a true God-given ability to find music in every aspect of his life.

He was the type of friend you could get mad at and never question whether you’d be friends again afterwards, he was a kind of neighbor that would invite you in for a drink, even if you showed up uninvited, and he was the kind of musician who made you want to be a better player. His skill level constantly challenged me and gave me something to aspire to. I will forever miss my friend, and if there’s a band in heaven, Jack is somewhere between John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix telling them how they could perform it better. —

TONY LEHEW

LOCAL MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST JOHN JOSEPH POPEK JR. (a.k.a.

CONCERTS

WED, 2/1

HANK’S

Kenna Elpers

THURS, 2/2

HANK’S

Krystal King

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

Joe Davidian Trio

FRI, 2/3

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

CEDAR GLADE

BREWS

Captain Sam Rorex

COMMON JOHN BREWING

John Salaway

HANK’S

Delyn Christian;

Lefty Ferguson

JACK’S PLACE

Tony Castellanos

MAYDAY BREWERY

Jess Jocoy

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

Emily Loboda

PUCKETT’S

Arbor North

SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO

Rockin Country; Cooter River Band

THE BORO

ThreeBlindMice

SAT, 2/4

CARMEN’S

TAQUERIA

Joe West

CEDAR GLADE BREWS

Glen Wagner

HANK’S HONKY

TONK

American Pie; In-Cahoots

MAYDAY BREWERY

Miguel Dakota

PUCKETT’S

Aaron Bucks

SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO

Midnight Highway

WASHINGTON

THEATRE

Kid Romantic, Water Street, Juliet’s Apartment, Hexproof, Racecars, Outpost

SUN, 2/5

HANK’S

Crosstown

TUES, 2/7

GRINDSTONE

COWBOY

Mindy Campbell HANK’S

Jesse Morgan

MEMORIES

Glen Wagner

WED, 2/8

GRINDSTONE

COWBOY

Randy and Billy Montana

HANK’S

Robyn Taylor

THURS, 2/9

HANK’S

Cary & Sherrie Lynn

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

MTSU Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band

FRI, 2/10

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

CEDAR GLADE BREWS

Phil Valdez

HANK’S

Bailey Rose; Jack Finley Band

HARVESTER EVENT

CENTER

Southern Sunrise

HOP SPRINGS

Grateful Dub (Reggae-infused Grateful Dead tribute)

JACK’S PLACE

Tony Castellanos

MAYDAY BREWERY

Carter Elliot

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

Tennessee Valley Winds

PUCKETT’S

Jordan Rainer

SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO

Justice Colt Band

THE BORO

Jack; Casual Sects

SAT, 2/11

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

CEDAR GLADE

BREWS

Stephen Waid

HANK’S

Taylor Hughes; Phil Valdez

HOP SPRINGS

Hotel Garuda

HOTSHOTZ

Shane & the Moneymakers

MAYDAY BREWERY

The Dangerous Method

SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO

Pirate Radio

LIVE MUSIC IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

MTSU Wind Ensemble

Side by Side

PUCKETT’S

The Deltaz

SUN, 2/12

HANK’S

The O’Donnells

MON, 2/13

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

Conor Bell

TUES, 2/14

GRINDSTONE

COWBOY

Kyndle Wylde

HANK’S

Sir Anthony

MEMORIES

Glen Wagner

SOPHIA’S OFF THE SQUARE

John Salaway

WED, 2/15

HANK’S

Gray Daniels

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

Nick Hmeljak

THURS, 2/16

BELLE AIRE

BAPTIST CHURCH

Tennessee Philharmonic

Orchestra

GRINDSTONE

COWBOY

Love & Theft

HANK’S

Will King

HARVESTER

John Rose

HOP SPRINGS

Sicard Hollow, The Sweet Lillies, Pixie & the Partygrass Boys

FRI, 2/17

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

CEDAR GLADE

BREWS

Kat + Ned Sing Songs

HANK’S

Sara Simmons; Jeff Caron Band

JACK’S PLACE

Tony Castellanos

SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO

Escape Band

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

Kaelan Allen

MAYDAY BREWERY

Tom Davison

PUCKETT’S The Close

SAT, 2/18

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

CEDAR GLADE BREWS

Tony Hartman

HANK’S Shawn & Caralyn

Hammonds; The Cooter River Band

MAYDAY BREWERY

Sarah Lightman

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

Symphony Orchestra

PUCKETT’S

Larysa Jaye

SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO

Playmaker Party DJ THE BORO

Zentrance

SUN, 2/19

HANK’S Emily Miller

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

Deanna Little & Mei Han; Moses Hatcher; Logan

Stewart

MON, 2/20

HANK’S Open Mic Night

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

Jazz Combo

TUES, 2/21

GRINDSTONE

COWBOY

Richie McDonald

HANK’S

Jesse Black MEMORIES

Glen Wagner

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

Soprano/Alto, Tenor/Bass

Chorales

WED, 2/22

HANK’S

Phil Valdez

THURS, 2/23

HANK’S Silent Ruckus

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

Stephanie Jones

FRI, 2/24

 ONLINE AT BOROPULSE.COM/CALENDAR

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

CEDAR GLADE

BREWS

Paul Mann

HANK’S

Adam Stone; Justin Dukes

HARVESTER

Harry Clark and Maddie

Denton

JACK’S PLACE

Tony Castellanos

MAYDAY BREWERY

Miguel Dakota

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

Simon Biddle

PUCKETT’S

The Warman Trio

SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO

Jack Finley Band

SAT, 2/25

CEDAR SPRINGS

RANCH

Nathan Belt and the Buckles

CARMEN’S

TAQUERIA

Joe West

CEDAR GLADE BREWS

Vagabond Train

HANK’S

Joe Hooper; Whiskey Smoke

NORTHSIDE

BAPTIST CHURCH

Nashville Praise Symphony

PUCKETT’S

Karli & James

SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO

Rewind This!

TENNESSEE

MILLER COLISEUM

Nate Smith; Jon Langston; Hunter Girl; Brett Bone

SUN, 2/26

HANK’S

Kyle Mercer

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

Anna South; Brass Chamber

MON, 2/27

HANK’S Open Mic Night

MTSU WRIGHT

MUSIC BUILDING

Composition Studio

TUES, 2/28

HANK’S

Delyn Christian MEMORIES

Glen Wagner

If You Go

SPRINGS 6670 John Bragg Hwy.

HOTSHOTZ 1208 S. Lowry St., Smyrna

JACK’S PLACE 114 E. College St.

MAYDAY BREWERY 521 Old Salem Rd.

MEMORIES 574 Waldron Rd., La Vergne

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING 1439 Faulkinberry Dr.

NORTHSIDE BAPTIST 655 W. Thompson Lane

PANTHER CREEK BREWS 714 W. Main St.

PUCKETT’S GROCERY 114 N. Church St.

SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO 2227 Old Fort Pkwy.

SOPHIA’S 114 W. Main St., Woodbury

THE BORO 1211 Greenland Dr.

TENNESSEE MILLER COLISEUM 304 W. Thompson Ln.

ThreeBlindMice

SMOTIVATION

STORY BY CHELSEA LOCASCIO

POUR IN A HALF-GALLON of whiskey, add heaping helpings of fried foods and red meat, then remove exercise and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a heart attack. That’s what Smo had simmering for 39 years and it was inevitably served up as a quadruple bypass surgery on the operating table.

Born John Lee Smith, the country rapper from Unionville, Tennessee known as Smo has since dropped over 200 pounds (and the “Big” from his stage name).

He not only went down to a large from a size 6XL in shirts but now said he understands what it means to be happy. He’s found peace in the drastic changes to his health, lifestyle and outlook on the world. He and his wife Sara Beth have now made it their mission to help others do the same.

“It seems my direction of where my career is going has been more like health, motivational speaking and guidance rather than being a country rap entertainer,” Smo told the Murfreesboro Pulse. “Even though I’m still recording music and putting out music on a consistent basis . . . my lifestyle has kind of taken over priority in my life.”

Smo said he likely wouldn’t be alive today

if he hadn’t turned his health around. Just eight years ago he looked like he was having the time of his life—performing on stages across the West Coast and Canada, landing a record deal with Warner Brothers and filming his reality TV show on A&E. But he was feeling the worst he’d ever felt. Chest pain on March 12, 2015, halted the biggest tour of his career.

“A lot of people responded to me with like, ‘Hey, you’re too young to have that happen. And I’m like, ‘No, I just lived the lifestyle that was dished out to me,’” Smo said. “It was my domestication. It was the way that my parents raised me to eat—how society raised us all to eat—and I fell victim to that. And I guess the open-heart surgery was what it took to kind of open my eyes and force myself to make some initial changes.”

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

He started to implement the usual changes like eating healthier and quitting drinking, yielding some results, but not enough. He was tired of taking pills for his blood pressure, cholesterol and acid reflux.

Smo came home from a duck hunt on Jan. 9, 2020, and Sara Beth encouraged him to watch a documentary on Netflix called Game Changers—an aptly-named, life-changing documentary in their eyes, as it focuses on protein-rich, plant-based eating.

She was already on day one. Looking to catch up, he gave his hunting friend the

ducks they’d brought home and hasn’t eaten meat or animal products since. After just three days of going vegan, the acid reflux that had so powerfully pestered him the past 25 years was gone. A year later, he was medication free.

Despite the big win, the couple still wasn’t satisfied. They found themselves on an unhealthy path full of processed foods that were technically vegan, like French fries and cookies. Processed vegan food got the axe, and then they did the unthinkable: removed gluten from the menu.

“If you’ve never seen a grown man throw a temper tantrum in aisle five at the grocery store,” Smo said, “Take a normal man and make him shop vegan and gluten-free. I mean, I had a come-apart.”

Not long after ceasing gluten, something else was now off the table: additives like guar gum and xanthan gum. Another tantrum ensued.

“My wife was embarrassed to be with me,” Smo said. “Oh, when she took gums out of my menu . . . I was like out loud embarrassingly cussing the walls of Kroger.”

Despite the embarrassment, she stuck by him. He credits the success of his lifestyle transition to having her by his side through it all.

“I’ve got the best woman in my life which is who I really ultimately have to thank for all of my success and health,” Smo said.

The difficulty of having so much removed from their diets was met with a newfound appreciation for what they were able to add back into it. Smo developed a new relationship with food as he was learning all new plant-based recipes he found in YouTube videos and in cookbooks.

In between taste-testing, Sara Beth also learned the cleansing benefits of celery juice. Smo attributes his now-clear skin to drinking the green juice daily. He no longer

Leaner, healthier country rap artist Smo shares changes that led to shedding over 200 pounds, eager to return to stage

suffers from rosacea, psoriasis or eczema. The changes kept coming. Oils were removed from their diets, and he started swimming and going to the gym five days a week. Now he loves to run, swim and rock-climb: a complete 180 from being on the verge of a hip and knee replacement not long ago.

“People are scared to change because they’re scared it’s gonna change who they are. And that’s scary to me,” Smo said. “Because I’m scared had I not changed my lifestyle, I don’t think I would still be here right now. So, it was worth changing who I was to be who I am today.”

Young Smo wouldn’t recognize the man he is today. He was raised on good old fashioned country values: Hunt your food, then deep-fry it or smother it in butter. But his stance on killing animals has completely reversed. He wouldn’t dream of hunting ducks now and uttering the once common phrase “If it flies, it dies.”

“When you stop eating animals, you start seeing animals differently. The same way that you would look at a dog and not think about eating a dog,” Smo said. “You don’t really look at a cow and think about eating a cow.”

This shift in his perspective has been tough professionally.

CAREER CHANGES

“I built a career around [being] country, bad diets and eating meat,” Smo said. “Everybody seems to have terrible diet and lots of eating meat as like the number one thing that you’re required to do to be country. You’ve got to eat animals.”

He said not eating meat and improving his health has led to losing fans, which has been an unexpected outcome for him.

“A lot of people don’t like the skinny Smo,” he said. “They don’t like me being smaller, which is a real weird thing for me to hear coming from people who claim to be a fan. ‘I liked you better when you were fat.’ I’m like ‘Really? Because I could’ve used your help tying my shoes when I was fat, and I’m happier now. So why wouldn’t you want the happier version of me?’”

But people are resistant to change, and his music has transformed too. He no longer raps about hunting.

He made a music video for his 2019 song “Bone Splitta,” which likely would have been well received by longtime fans. However, he never released it because of the graphic hog hunt that was depicted for a song dedicated to hunting.

His new lifestyle and perspective have altered the story, but the vibe is the same.

“It has affected my decision making and it has affected the way that I stroke my brush on the canvas,” Smo said.

“’Cause I’ve always kept it real in my music. And I always will.”

He’s still the same guy, hanging out with the same people who are positive influences in his life and living on the same farm. The Smo brand is now just more refined, he said.

Despite some pushback, he’s grateful for all the positivity that’s flooded in from fans, many of whom were dealing with or are currently facing the same health concerns that he had not that long ago.

“My fan base is a lot of people that are just like me in a lot of different ways, but a lot of us struggle from obesity. And if not obesity then definitely overweight. And if not overweight, then for sure most of them are eating unhealthy,” Smo said.

Currently on a six-month social media hiatus, Smo and his wife are active on his “Smocial Media,” which can be found on his website therealbigsmo.com. There they offer guidance, recipes and even an E-Zine full of insight into their journeys.

“I just want to be a beacon of light and place for information for the people who can relate to what I’ve gone through and looking for what I’ve found,” Smo said.

He said even his daughter, who can eat anything she wants without gaining weight, is ready to listen to her dad.

You must want to change and get educated, Smo advised. Start by removing one bad thing from your diet, like snack cakes, and replacing it with fruit. Then remove gluten and oil. If you can do that, you can do anything.

His website will also soon feature a fitness gear line people can wear to the gym to stay “Smotivated.”

So, what’s next for the entertainer?

He’s not only focusing on his own wellness, but currently caring for his mother, too. And he’s still making music. He expects to start touring in the spring and debuting a new album sometime around April.

“I’m excited to get onstage and show people what I’ve built,” Smo said. “I’m eager to set that stage on fire because I’m more capable of doing it now than I ever have been.”

For more information on his health journey, recipes and music, visit therealbigsmo.com. Reach out to Smo and Sara Beth by emailing wewantsmo@gmail.com or by using the website chat, which goes directly to them.

Sounds

Read more about local music at boropulse.com/category/music

No return on investments in the past makes it harder to get funding in the future for necessary pieces of the puzzle: headliners, staging and equipment, according to the board.

For these reasons, Main Street’s Executive Board decided to no longer organize the event. They noted their gratitude to everyone who helped make JazzFest a prominent part of the community in years past and expressed a desire for the community’s love for jazz to endure.

“With the support and love from our community for the student jazz performers in our schools, the legacy of jazz will continue to move forward despite this event not occurring on the downtown square,” the Board wrote.

Main Street emphasized that it will support anyone who takes over the festival.

JazzFest 2023: The Beat Goes On

festival well, that means prioritizing our students and the headliners,” she said.

Area corporations are starting to get involved in sponsorships, with the focus on raising money for headliners. Any remaining money will go toward the Fine Arts Program at Rutherford County schools, according to Sharp.

Getting their proposed budget covered by individual and corporate sponsors is vital to the revitalization of JazzFest, says Karl Wingruber, the brand director at Saint Rose Lima Catholic School and a saxophonist for Music City Swing who has helped put on JazzFest for the past 20 years. No budget means no headliners, but the students will surely be there.

STORY BY CHELSEA LOCASCIO

For the past 25 years, Murfreesboro students and residents could rely on Main Street JazzFest as the annual jazz extravaganza that signals the beginning of summer. But longtime locals found themselves singing the blues when Main Street Murfreesboro announced it will no longer host the popular music festival following the 2022 event on the Square.

“When it was determined that they weren’t going to continue it, I think it was . . . just one of those community things that everybody enjoyed and loved,” said Tammy Sharp, Rutherford County School Board chairman. “It was kind of like a stab in the heart.”

Main Street JazzFest was an annual free outdoor community event held on the first weekend of May on the Murfreesboro Public Square. The weekend was packed with an assortment of jazz music played by local students showcasing their hard work on the same billing as professional headliners. It was an opportunity not only for musicians to play and appreciate music, but for the town to come together as a community with vendors, activities and educational music sessions.

In November, Main Street Murfreesboro sent out an email to band members and directors outlining some of the struggles related to putting on the event.

“Main Street Murfreesboro considers it an honor to have led the collective effort of embracing and showcasing jazz in our community for the last 25 years. Our greatest joy has been watching JazzFest’s impact on jazz programming in the schools as this was one of the pillars upon which the event was built,” according to a written statement from the Main Street Murfreesboro Executive Board.

Main Street Murfreesboro is accredited by the National Main Street Program, which shifted its focus post-COVID from community events to economic development and recovery for small businesses. Main Street Murfreesboro followed suit, according to the statement.

“JazzFest was one of the largest events, requiring over nine months of preparation time, accumulating the majority of expenses to carry out, and utilizing the most resources from our city government over two days,” the statement continued.

Over the past two years, Main Street Murfreesboro’s governing board reviewed the impact of their events on businesses. They mentioned that JazzFest closed the businesses on the square from Friday afternoon through Saturday night, all at the risk of weather cancellations. If there was bad weather, sponsors would not see that money back.

“Should another group step forward, we plan to continue to be a proud supporter of the event, as we value the jazz programs in local schools and are confident that this music genre will remain a staple in our community for years to come,” the statement said.

And some have stepped forward to take over the reins. Three Rutherford County School Board members—Sharp, Katie Darby and Claire Maxwell—are leading the charge. Upon hearing the news, they agreed they needed to do something, not necessarily as members of the school board, but of the community, according to Sharp.

Once their efforts ramped up, so did community interest in helping them, Sharp said. People have shown a lot of interest in their first few meetings of 2023.

“We had people show up that we didn’t know. People that were involved in [organizing previous JazzFest festivals],” Sharp said. “Because the media has done such a phenomenal job of getting it out there. People are reaching out, saying, ‘We want to help y’all do this.’ So, it’s been great.”

This wave of interest also swept in Scott Graby, owner of Fountains at Gateway on Medical Center Parkway, who agreed to host JazzFest there, at least for 2023.

WHAT ELSE WILL BE DIFFERENT?

“We don’t expect any major changes,” Sharp said. Still early in the planning process, many details have not yet been finalized. However, Sharp said it will remain the first weekend in May. One difference she mentioned was there will be no outside food vendors because of the options already available at the Fountains, such as Burger Republic, Just Love Coffee and The Sodabar.

“We want to make sure that we do the

“There’s a whole lot of positive energy just surrounding the fact that it’s going to survive, but we won’t be able to feed off of that forever,” says Wingruber. “We need some specifics on who’s going to play this thing. Right now, we’re in the process of booking all the high schools and middle schools that will definitely be participating.”

Planning for who else will be playing is in the works.

“We are looking at some local and regional talent. There are some big names that have moved to town here just in the last couple of years and so we’re starting with them,” Wingruber said.

He confirmed that he’s started negotiations with the Army National Guard jazz band from Cookeville, who have been a highlight of JazzFest in years past.

According to Wingruber, among the four headliners will be another genre, likely blues, which is a tradition among most jazz festivals. For those looking to get involved or obtain more information, Sharp posts updates and meeting information under the Facebook profile “Tammy Sharp Rutherford County School Board-Zone 1.”

MEANWHILE, ON THE SQUARE

Main Street Murfreesboro will still continue its Friday Night Live concerts this year, according to its Executive Director Sarah Callender.

“These events have little negative impact on our businesses due to them being scheduled one night a month during the summer season after business hours,” Callender said. “They bring large crowds downtown for our restaurants and bars as well. The cost of these concerts is minimal compared to JazzFest.”

These Friday concerts will continue to take place the first Friday of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the inner circle of the Rutherford County Courthouse.

New group of organizers to present student and professional JazzFest performances at Fountains at Gateway first weekend in May

Reviews

but still disciplined strumming and picking of Butler’s banjo and Beck’s mandolin. The two are seemingly dueling at the same time as completing the quartet’s chug-rhythm foundation.

The full-fledged, hyperactive picking aspect of their technique takes off in the song’s bridges, of course, where the energy peaks. In Warbler country, it’s that skillful yet loose mandolin and banjo that hold up Dalton’s crisp vocals with these backing hooligans hollerin’ harmony.

Remaining covers on Small Town Songs honor John Prine’s “Grandpa Was a Carpenter,” Dr. Mac Rebennack’s (AKA Dr. John)

THE TENNESSEE WARBLERS

Small Town Songs

Nashville bluegrass quartet The Tennessee Warblers finally released a pre-pandemic project from October 2018 that was “to be the Tennessee Warblers’ debut record of the year 2019” but, as halted by events of the last three years, it’s absolutely 2022’s debut record of the year for Valentine’s Day 2023. And, whether covering as bluegrass preservationists or venturing away from such standard practice with band originals, the 12 tracks on The Tennessee Warblers’ Small Town Songs follow that old, well-known tradition of young men’s drive to woo the women.

To preface, we’ve got the core of the band, co-writers John Beck (vocals, mandolin, fiddle) and Adam Dalton (vocals, guitar) writing The Tennessee Warblers’ first original, “Restless,” before picking up Dean Marold (upright bass) and Charles Butler (banjo, Dobro) to round out a minimally, but properly equipped bluegrass quartet that took up residency at the Sutler Saloon in Nashville four years ago. After finetuning the lineup and set-list-become-track-list, the quartet recorded in ideal ambience in the hallway of a Madison, Tennessee shotgun cabin in October 2018. Small Town Songs technically became a Nathan Yarborough/Leo Roriz mobile production, then, within that cabin overlooking the Cumberland River.

The Warblers kick off Small Town Songs with a Valentine-appropriate tune (previously recorded by George Jones and Roger Miller) “Nothing Can Stop Me Loving You,” featuring a midtempo chug provided by the acoustic guitar and walking upright bass, reinforced by the looser,

“Such a Night,” The Faces’ “Ooh La La” and Los Lobos’ “Evangeline” (which finds Butler switching to Dobro). The bluegrass staple “Moonshiner” stylistically flexes The Tennessee Warblers’ less disciplined, non-traditional “picked/strummed” combo style again, hazily invoking The Infamous Stringdusters covering Pink Floyd’s airy, pre-Dark Side of the Moon track “Fearless” (it gets jammy). A solid version of Grateful Dead’s “Valerie” finishes the album.

Warbler originals throughout Small Town Songs include “Elliot’s Ice” (surely inspired by Kevin Hayes of Old Crow Medicine Show), a main squeeze’s homage in “Mandy,” the band’s ballad “Restless” and the Daltonpenned “Lament De Superman” and “She Don’t Mind.” They ain’t exactly subtle, ladies. The whole album is somewhat sexually suggestive to a bluegrass degree, but socially acceptable and classy enough to be public. Musically, the Warblers flit between being loose and disciplined, difficult to do and remain bluegrass. That magic happens when knowing what to do is already muscle memory.

Small Town Songs can be found on Spotify, Pandora, iHeart, Amazon, Apple and Linktree, and through tnwarblers.com; the Tennessee Warblers’ gold mine, though, is found on their YouTube channel. —

BRYCE HARMON

Everything Everywhere All at Once

DIRECTORS Daniels

STARRING Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong RATED R

Yes, Everything Everywhere All at Once (Everything from here on) came out roughly eight months ago, but it’s Oscar season and this absolutely bonkers but beautiful film was rightfully nominated for 11 awards (the most of any film this year) including Best Picture and Best Directing.

If you haven’t seen it yet (as I had not) and have any interest at all, there’s no easier time to watch Everything. The film begins at a kinetic pace—and rarely lets up —at the home of the Wang family, where Evelyn is trying to get her taxes together while also planning for a lunar New Year’s party in the family laundromat one floor below. Her husband Waymond (Quan) is trying to help out while also trying to find the right time to hand Evelyn divorce papers. Their daughter Joy (Hsu) is reluctantly joining them with her girlfriend Becky, whom Evelyn willfully refers to as “Joy’s friend,” especially in front of her ailing 90-year-old father Gong Gong (Hong).

This frenetic family dynamic serves as the jumping pad for a Matrix-esque multidimensional action comedy-drama, when Evelyn is abruptly called upon mid-audit to save the universes, all of them. All of a sudden her meek husband is a nononsense super spy giving Evelyn orders while the stern auditor Deirdre (Jamie Lee

Curtis) becomes a pipe-wielding maniac.

The wild and unexpected turns that Everything takes only require a few moments of orientation before the superb direction and deft editing make something as strange and off-putting as a “literal everything bagel” and a “hot-dog finger universe” seem as natural and inevitable as rain.

This is the same directing duo (Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, aka Daniels) that made the Daniel Radcliffe and Paul Dano farting-corpse movie Swiss Army Man (so many Dans). Many trusted sources urged me to watch that movie, calling it “very funny” and “surprisingly sweet.” I still haven’t watched it, but after seeing Everything, I realize that my biggest fear of the Daniels was that they were not only gross and weird, but cynical.

If Everything Everywhere All at Once is any indication, they are anything but cynical. Yes, Everything can be gross, and yes, it is definitely very weird—a compliment in my book—but it is also a very sincere and heartfelt film.

Yeoh and Quan are absolutely phenomenal. Seeing Ke Huy Quan (The Goonies, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) acting again after such a long hiatus, and in his best role ever (I don’t say that lightly), is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

Somehow, a weirdo directing duo wrapped a simple story of a ChineseAmerican family’s intergenerational trauma in a package of Michel Gondry meets Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and made it a universal experience, and a tearfully delightful one at that. I only docked it half a star for one too many hot-dog finger scenes; they really shove ’em down your throat.

— JAY SPIGHT

Walk the Bridge

Walking trails surrounding Couchville Lake offer views of lovely lakeside scenery

STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO

Within Long Hunter State Park sits Couchville Lake, and a 2.1-mile trail encircling it. This loop, paved all the way around, makes a pleasant place to walk or run around the smaller Couchville Lake, just to the east of the sprawling Percy Priest Lake, about midway between La Vergne and Mt. Juliet.

The area attracted quite a few walkers, runners and birdwatchers, along with a few fisherpeople scattered along the lakeshore, on a recent sunny weekend afternoon.

The paved Couchville Lake Trail is stroller- and wheelchair-friendly, for the most part, though some healthy tree roots have disrupted the pavement at certain points. The trail is mostly level with little elevation change, and under heavy shade for the majority of the trail, even in winter.

While the trail loops around the lake near the shoreline for much of its duration, on the north end of Couchville Lake it actually travels over the lake. A 400-foot wooden footbridge sits over the lake and completes the loop, making a unique feature of the park. Standing on the middle of this bridge offers a lovely view of the lake below and the whole scene.

Aside from strollers and wheelchairs, the Couchville Lake Trail is open only to human foot traffic—no pets or bicycles or

other wheeled vehicles allowed.

(For cyclists looking for some riding trails, however, Long Hunter State Park does indeed offer 9 miles of bike trails on the southern end of the park, not far from the Fate Sanders Marina outside of Smyrna, in the Bryant Grove section of Long Hunter State Park.)

A sign tells those entering the Couchville Lake Tail to allow an hour for the 2-plus-mile journey around the lake, about right for a casually moving family stopping a few times to take in the natural scenes, but those keeping a jogging pace can complete the two miles much more quickly.

The water level of Couchville Lake was way down in January, but the water surface was beautiful, reflecting the setting sun.

The low water level revealed lots of large rocks along the edge of the lake, in portions often underwater; the exposed rocks gave visitors more terrain to explore on this day of shallow water.

Boaters may use the calm surface of Couchville Lake for practice on kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards, but state park officials close this small lake to swimming and motorized boats—there’s plenty of space for swimming, boating and fishing in nearby Percy Priest.

If You Go

Long Hunter State Park

2910 Hobson Pk., Hermitage, Tennessee 888-867-2757

To find the Couchville Lake Trailhead, coming from the Old Hickory Boulevard exit of I-24, turn right into Long Hunter State Park just after crossing over Percy Priest Lake on Hobson Pike. Pass the visitor center and park office, and then take a left to get to the Couchville Lake Trail parking area.

RUTHERFORD COUNTY PROPERTY ASSESSOR

ROB MITCHELL has strategically taken a new position—he still serves as property assessor, but recently Mitchell has made it his mission to promote the game of chess in the community, particularly among its youth.

He sees it as a way to increase critical thinking among people of all ages.

“Children who play chess, research has shown, their reading competency rose from 62% to 82% in one study,” Mitchell said.

Proponents of the game say that chess can enhance overall cognitive abilities, concentration, creativity, focus, problem solving, planning skills and anticipation.

Chess could potentially help people stay out of jail, Mitchell deduces, by helping them with planning ahead, strategy, sacrifice, focus, predicting a few moves in advance, and other skills applicable to the chessboard and to real life. If more people would take a moment to thoughtfully consider their current position and available moves, the potential outcomes and consequences of their actions, that could help them make better life choices and avoid impulsive, foolish decisions, making society better for all.

“By not reacting to every attack, you slow down and look at the consequences,” he said.

“I would like every school to offer an elective: critical thinking and chess,” Mitchell continued, saying that two inspirational chess movies, Life of a King and Critical Thinking, have really been influential in sparking his chess activism.

Further, he envisions a local chess mentoring system of community leaders, educators, professionals, law enforcement members and anyone who cares teaching the game to youth and those coming out of the jail or emerging from addiction.

Mitchell said Rutherford County is locking up too many juveniles and that society needs to consider that the approach of repeatedly locking up minor offenders is not teaching them to implement better life strategies and equipping them with improved critical thinking skills.

Perhaps being introduced to chess could help a few individuals with planning, focus, anticipation and strategy.

“The goal is to change people’s lives and teach them to think better,” Mitchell said. “Catch them earlier to change some ‘drawers’ from society into ‘contributors’ to society.”

He has observed that it helps with the

Chess Helps

Game improves critical thinking skills,

say; supporters of the game invited to Feb. 22 chess luncheon

STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO

promoting chess in various ways in the community, and he invites those interested in the game to Murfreesboro Community Chess meetups, held every Friday evening at Barnes & Noble at The Avenue.

“It is not just for kids; adults should absolutely be playing as well. We are getting a core group of regulars there, including families of some of my students,” Zhislin said.

Mitchell has also been in communication with State Representative Mike Sparks regarding efforts to make chess instruction and critical thinking courses a part of the curriculum in schools all across the state.

“Rob has really gotten behind this,” Sparks said.

While the legislator said he hesitates to pile on more mandatory requirements for the state’s schools, he would like to introduce some sort of a resolution recognizing chess and its critical thinking and educational benefits to bring awareness to the game and strike up discussion about teaching it in more schools.

“The area of critical thinking skills is something we are losing. We have a real problem with these kids,” Sparks said.

For now, Mitchell continues working to build local support for the chess movement any way he can, and seeks to unite those with interest in forming a community chess mentorship system, or even a local celebrity chess tournament event.

“Teaching the children to think is how we get Rutherford County to be the best it can be, how we get Tennessee and America to be the best we can be,” Mitchell said.

attention span of children and leads some to perceive that “Yes, I am smart.”

Further, aside from life lessons, a chess board can be useful in teaching fractions and geometry.

Mitchell has recruited the help of Jerry Nash, Chess in Education Commission Chairman with the International Chess Federation (FIDE, or Fédération Internationale des Échecs), to promote chess as a method of teaching.

Nash said he has seen the effects of poor decision making among college students and believes in the power of chess to enable student success and improve critical thinking skills. He advises starting chess instruction early, at a fourth- or fifth-grade level, to plant the seeds of critical thinking skills well before high school graduation and adulthood.

“When teachers introduce chess to students, they create the opportunity for students to develop the skills they need to be successful. Teachers consistently report improvements in student behavior and positive changes in the school culture,” Nash said. “When teachers learn how to teach chess, they can better achieve their calling to make a difference in their community and beyond.”

Igor Zhislin certainly shares a passion for chess, and for teaching the game to youngsters.

The former Ukrainian student champion has long been a chess leader in the Murfreesboro area. Zhislin has guided a Central Magnet School team to a national chess championship and currently leads the chess program at McFadden School of Excellence.

He said he admires the mission of

He invites any community members interested in teaching others the game of chess, helping raise funds and interest for getting the game in the schools, sharing ideas on how chess can benefit others, involving their organization in promoting the game, or just desiring to gather with other chess enthusiasts to play and discuss chess, to a Murfreesboro Chess Lunch at Carmen’s Taqueria, 206 W. Northfield Blvd., Murfreesboro, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 22.

For more information, contact Rob Mitchell at rmitchell@rutherfordcountytn.gov or 615-426-7373. Murfreesboro Community

Chess meets at the Murfreesboro Barnes & Noble, 2615 Medical Center Pkwy., every Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information on incorporating chess into a school curriculum or launching a school chess program, contact jerry@chessinschools.us.

planning, strategy, focus, proponents

Igor Zhislin

Rob Mitchell shares a Civil War themed chess set, complete with generals Lee and Grant as the kings, in the property assessors’ office

Jerry Nash

Lives Made New

Local residential program Renewed Life Ministries seeks to free men from addiction

BY LAURA LINDSAY

RENEWED LIFE MINISTRIES, located in Christiana, Tennessee, has helped many men move away from their previous lives of addiction to lead positive, rewarding lives.

This ministry focuses heavily on continuing to provide support to the men after they get through the program.

“Renewed Life Ministries is a one-yearlong, faith-based residential program for men struggling with addiction,” said Executive Director Blake Hammill. “The differential factor for men in this program is community. Most of our staff are in recovery, and we also have a lot of volunteers that come in and instill hope. There are also people who come in and help teach that the men grow fond of, and these people will be around for the mens’ whole lives.”

Hammill said Renewed Life Ministries started in 1995 in Cleveland, Tennessee, by a man named Basil Adams. Renewed Life Ministries is founded on Psalms 107:20, that God sent his word and saved humanity from destruction; and, the ministry is Christ-based, filling the men up with scripture because they believe, as Christ says, when you renew your mind you’ll be completely changed.

“Basil Adams wanted to start this program because he saw that a lot of guys were going

into treatment, going into programs and getting clean,” Hammill said. “However, there was a missed opportunity because once they got out, they didn’t have any resources.

“They didn’t have jobs, they didn’t have skill sets, and they were missing out on life skills that they needed to move forward in the future, and so Adams started Renewed Life Ministries to fulfill that.”

Hammill said men are eligible for the Renewed Life Ministries nonprofit after they have gone through a program to detox. They are referred to the program through different avenues, including word of mouth, churches, community outlets and online.

The men do not need insurance to participate in the program.

Participants have to pay $150 to enter the program (unless they do not have any money to start the program, in which case exceptions can be made). Then the participants pay $150 a week. They make this money by working while they are in the program.

Hammill said once they are in the program, the men start working quickly, which is why they need to be in a detox program first.

Once they are clean, they are screened to join and then Renewed Life Ministries gets each man a job. They work the whole time

they are in the program, which sets this program apart from others. The men also live at the residential program for a year, where they are also provided with counseling, mentorship and group work. They also serve their community, helping individuals and helping through other organizations.

“We are teaching these guys that there is a discipline with what you can do,” Hammill said.

Renewed Life Ministries goes as far as not letting the men use nicotine products (they may taper the men off nicotine with nicotine patches).

Hammill said all the men get plugged into working with the company Sledgecraft, where they work on wood projects doing tasks like painting and cutting trim.

“We also do financial management, helping them do finance and making a budget, and we are also helping with case management—going to court with them, figuring out what kind of restitution they have to make and advocating through the courts,” he said. “In a year-long program, they are going to be saving up money throughout that year. We want to build their case so they can start paying off debts so once they leave this program they will, for the most part, be up to date with their child support payments, medical bills and such.”

He said once men have been in the program for about 30 to 60 days, they start getting privileges like going out with their parents, and at 90 days they get a weekend pass, which he said gives them a chance to go with their families and have some healthy interactions, learn and then come back.

“We talk about this because a lot of triggers and lot of traumas are associated with families,” he said. “So we dig that up. All throughout this, the men are going to counseling and they have mentors who are speaking to them about all the life struggles they have.

“The men are constantly going through group sessions that involve life skills and recovery skills. We have several different pastors and people in the area speaking to the men with stories they can relate to. Sometimes that story is ‘I’ve been there, done that, now I am in recovery, and this is what my life looks like now.’ The men constantly need stories of hope.”

Also as part of a new policy just implemented, at about 90 days, Sledgecraft hires the men on from temporary placement. And then in six months, the men have an option to pursue a career of their choice.

“We know the job the guys start out with is not always going to be the career they want to proceed with,” Hammill said. “Not so long ago, we had a gentleman who decided he wanted to be an EMT, so we took him to all the trainings and did whatever we had to do to get him certified and take the test to become an EMT.”

Hammill is actually a graduate of Renewed Life Ministries himself.

“I started the program in 2013,” he said. “Even though I had some reasons I had to be there that I could have served time for if things had gone that way, I entered the program voluntarily because I knew that my life was a wreck. I had been addicted to substances for a very long time, and I knew I did not want to live my life like that because I knew it would lead to death.”

He said the continued friendships and mentorship with people he met in the program is what saved his life, and he did not want to return to former ways.

“I needed somebody to walk with me through all the initial destruction that I had done with my own hands, and show me a different way of life—a life of freedom, a life of joy and a life of purpose,” he said.

The ministry tracks how the men are doing after they complete the program; the success rate is over 80 percent staying free from addiction.

There are many ways to support Renewed Life Ministries including bringing birthday cakes and holiday gifts for the men and attending events that benefit the ministry. The next event is a concert on April 22 at First United Methodist Church. The organization also has a wish list on Amazon. For more information about Renewed Life, for men looking for help, and those interested in volunteering, visit rlmo.org or call 931-716-0733.

Renewed Life Executive Director Blake Hammill with wife Andi

Right: Blake with RLMO graduate Scott Jackson

Art  THEATER

Students from Carpe Artista, Oakland Middle Receive Honors at 2023 Junior Theater Festival

STUDENTS REPRESENTING Carpe Artista in Smyrna and Oakland Middle School in Murfreesboro won awards and earned recognition at the 2023 Junior Theater Festival Atlanta, a weekend dedicated to celebrating student-driven musical theater programs Jan. 13–15.

Carpe Artista student Gabe Moyer received a Freddie G Student Direction or Choreography award and made it to the callback to a yet-to-be announced special project promoting musical theater in schools.

Moyer, along with fellow Carpe Artista representative Roman Seyfried and Oakland Middle School students Bailie Davis and Gavin Pearson, were named Junior Theater Festival All-Stars.

At the festival, each group performed 15 minutes of a Broadway Junior musical for adjudicators.

Carpe Artista presented The Big One-Oh! Jr.

“Their use of comedy was spot-on. Their characterizations were brilliantly realized and the choreography really told the story,” said judge Holly Stanfield.

Oakland Middle School presented Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical Jr.

“This is one immaculately trained ensemble that strives for the best and has mastered the craft of storytelling,” said judge Cindy Ripley, senior education consultant at iTheatrics.

The Junior Theater Festival program applauds young people and educators creating student-driven musical theater around the globe. Its event drew 125 groups from 28 states, Canada and Australia. For more information on Junior Theater Festivals, visit juniortheaterfestival.com.

Arts Center of Cannon County Leads

Fairytale Journey Into the Woods

INTO THE WOODS, directed by Renee Robinson, continues through Feb. 11 at the Arts Center of Cannon County in Woodbury.

Journey “into the woods” with some of your favorite fairytale characters in this witty and tragic retelling by the late, great Stephen Sondheim. The story follows a baker and his wife who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

Into the Woods, rated PG, shows at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, Feb. 3, 4, 10 and 11, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 5. Tickets for adults start at $15 and are currently on sale at artscenterofcc.com, by calling 615-563-ARTS (2787), or in person at 1424 John Bragg Hwy., Woodbury, Tennessee.

Tacos for Life

STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO

In the fall of 2021, West 22 Tacos added some more tacos to the Murfreesboro culinary landscape, opening in the new Medical Center Parkway building that also houses Mayweather Boxing, Cajun Steamer and Hangout Nutrition.

The eatery, which makes its corn tortillas fresh daily, offers the standard tacos: asada, carnitas, fried or grilled fish, pastor, chicken and shrimp, along with some creative, colorful combinations.

salads, elotes (roasted corn) and guacamole.

“This place is awesome! The best tacos, street corn, guac and chips,” Abby Salmon Rapier said.

The Dish

RESTAURANT

These include a Korean BBQ taco, with shaved beef, dynamite sauce, sesame-scallions, shaved carrots and BBQ sauce; a Nashville hot chicken taco (which is really not very hot at all, especially by “Nashville hot” standards but is fairly generous with the meat), with pickles, jicama (Mexican turnip) slaw and roasted garlic mayo; Coco’s Taco, on a special flat, crunchy tortilla with adobo marinated beef, cilantro, onions, shaved cabbage, radishes and charred tomatillo salsa; and (probably this writer’s favorite sampled so far) a pork belly taco, with chipotle honey and creamy slaw topped with crispy chicharron (bits of crispy pork rinds).

West 22 Tacos LOCATION

However, West 22 has earned somewhat mixed reviews among local taco eaters. The special combinations are indeed colorful, innovative and attractive, but most are not exactly bursting with the flavor to match the expectation. And these tacos go for $4.75 plus tax apiece, so for three tacos and a drink, you are looking at almost $20 before tip.

2108 Medical Center Pkwy. PHONE

615-962-8126

HOURS

Mon.–Thurs.: 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Fri.–Sat.: 10 a.m.–9 p.m.

PRICES

Fish, steak, hot chicken, pork belly, carnitas or pastor taco: $4.75;

Surf & turf burrito: $13; Southwest chicken salad: $11; Cinnamon roll churros: $6;

Carnitas nachos: $11

ONLINE

west22tacos.com

Some customers say the expense is worth it.

Nathan Ferreira said the price per taco “reflects quality and quantity.”

“West 22 doesn’t just make delicious food, they make clever food. The menu is creative and thoughtful. Their use, particularly of textures, is impressive,” the West 22 customer said.

Another fan, Lisa, said she was not disappointed with any of the “incredible” tacos she and her husband tried and that they highly recommended the ceviche, adding that the street corn was an “absolute must-order every time.”

Others weren’t quite as impressed.

The chipotle honey had a nice blend of sweet, sour and spice and the chicharron added some good texture and zing to the pork belly taco.

West 22 offers a Surf & Turf Burrito with both shrimp and steak, as well as fajitas,

“There were hits and misses,” Mandy Johnson said, saying the cauliflower mushroom taco was “boring” and that she didn’t care for the hard, tough tortilla as the base of the (otherwise flavorful) Coco’s Taco.

“The hot chicken taco was decidedly not

West 22 Tacos throws its tortilla in the ring with Korean BBQ, birria, pork belly and other tacos

Pork Belly Taco

hot chicken-flavored,” she added.

Alicia Glover agreed that the items at West 22 “needed more spice.”

Taylor Dowling pointed out that “you can get authentic tacos in several locations throughout Middle Tennessee without spending $5 a taco.”

However, Meghann Hidenfelter found that the West 22 “tacos are big and worth every penny!”

The eatery serves cheesy birria tacos, a dish that has become popular in Murfreesboro over the past few years. These shredded beef and cheese tacos, flavored with onion, cilantro and tomatillo sauce, come with a small cup of consommé (broth) for dipping.

West 22 also offers an item called a pizzadilla, which appears to be a giant birria taco cut into strips.

Many say they “love the birria tacos” and find them amazing; again, these are fairly generous with the meat, but do not exactly offer a flavor explosion. It’s mainly some juicy (greasy?) pot roast on a tortilla.

And more than one customer has said they found the outside of the pizzadillia or birria tacos overly charred.

“Consommé should be rich and full of flavor and spices,” another diner, Ann Milord, said.

The rice at West 22 has a good lime and

cilantro flavor to it. It was one of the tastier items. And the mango shrimp ceviche sounds like it would be worth a try.

West 22 has bottles of Jarritos, like any respectable taco shop should.

And it has even developed a creation drawing from a little Mexican/Asian fusion: birria ramen, a large bowl of traditional ramen noodles served with a boiled egg in it, but with the broth and shredded beef of birria.

West 22 also serves a chorizo made from walnuts, an interesting vegan item.

If a party has trouble deciding on which tacos to try, the West 22 Macho Taco Platter contains one of each (11 tacos, I believe), served with guacamole and chips for $50. Go with a group and sample them all.

The interior of West 22 is fairly small, but the restaurant does sport a nice open patio area outside, with some lights strung up. Some games of corn hole reportedly break out here when the weather is pleasant.

And the West 22 staff has gotten lots of positive comments from diners.

“I will travel the 40 minutes to come back,” Matthew Noel reported. “Fresh ingredients, handmade corn tortillas and recipes which are delicious without a ton of salt. And the staff was genuinely friendly!”

Coco’s Taco

Birria Tacos

El Patron Taqueria, Soda Shop by Tasty Table, Dunkin’, Taste of Thai, Barrett Firearms, In-N-Out, Saint Thomas Westlawn

BY DELORES ELLIOTT

DUNKIN’ recently celebrated the opening of its newest Next Generation restaurant at 5619 Franklin Rd. The new restaurant design features a drive-thru, a front-facing bakery, new espresso machines and a new tap system to provide consistently cold drinks including iced coffee, tea, cold brew and nitro-infused cold brew.

EL PATRON TAQUERIA recently opened at 1112 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in the old Pizza Hut building just in front of Bargain Hunt. Some of the menu options include nacho con fajitas, birria tacos, margaritas, piña coladas, fresh avocado dip, fried whole tilapia and more. For more information, call 615-624-8225.

IN-N-OUT BURGER plans to open its first Tennessee location in Franklin in 2026.

Governor Bill Lee, TNECD Commissioner Stuart McWhorter and In-N-Out Burger offi cials recently announced the company’s plans to invest $125.5 million to establish the eastern territory offi ce in Franklin, which represents its fi rst expansion east of Texas. The project is expected to begin just off I-65 in Franklin around the end of 2024, and be complete by 2026. The building will be 100,000 square feet, and will provide at least 277 new jobs in Williamson County.

“I’m proud to welcome In-N-Out Burger, an iconic American brand, to the Volunteer State. Tennessee’s unmatched business climate, skilled workforce and central location make our state the ideal place for this family-run company to establish its fi rst eastern United States hub. We thank In-N-Out for creating new jobs for Tennesseans,” Lee said.

In addition to the eastern territory office, In-N-Out plans to open restaurants in the region, beginning with locations in and around Nashville. In-N-Out currently has 385 locations across Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Utah.

“I have no doubt that my grandparents, dad and uncle would be proud of this

AROUND TOWN

’BORO BUSINESS BUZZ

THE TASTY TABLE recently announced that it has plans to open at the Reeves-Sain Pharmacy under the name of The Soda Shoppe by Tasty Table. The previous location on North Church Street will serve as a private event space and kitchen for catering, but will not continue operating as a restaurant. THE SODA SHOPPE BY TASTY TABLE will offer desserts and shakes at REEVESSAIN, 1801 Memorial Blvd. For more information or to get a catering quote, call 615-482-0543 or visit tastytable.net

decision to grow our associate family and serve even more customers in Nashville and the surrounding areas. For many years, we’ve heard requests from our customers in Tennessee to consider opening locations near them, further east than we’ve ever been,” said In-N-Out owner and

president Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, the only grandchild of Harry and Esther Snyder, who founded In-N-Out in 1948.

CAMINO REAL off Cason Lane recently closed for renovations, but the restaurant does plan to reopen soon.

THE CLASSY CACTUS recently released its options for Murfreesboro’s first succulent bar, which provides a fun and unique option for parties. Those interested can get together at the greenhouse, located at 1527 Rutledge Way behind the Tennessee Tool Works building, to create an arrangement of succulents. Small succulent arrangements of four to six plants cost $40 per person, while large arrangements for seven to 10 plants cost $55 per person. Succulent soil, containers, decorative elements and plant signs are included. For more information, visit classycactusfarm.com or call 615-637-7035.

Lindsay Schultz has opened a new and used indie bookstore called THE SPINE in the Trellis and Vine building at 27 S. Lowry St. in Smyrna. The bookstore is open from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and dedicates Saturday mornings at 11 a.m. to its children’s reading time, which takes place every week.

The location also hosts book clubs, author of the month events, author spotlights, reading challenges and various workshops. For more information, visit facebook.com/thespinebookshop.

TASTE OF THAI on South Church Street recently changed ownership due to the retirement of the founders after 14 years in business. According to a social media post, the new business owners plan to keep the restaurant the same in every aspect including name, menu items and usual business hours from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed on Sunday. For more information, visit facebook.com/tasteofthaimurfreesboro.

Privately owned Australian defense company NIOA recently purchased Murfreesboro-based BARRETT FIREARMS MANUFACTURING INC. Management and staff at Barrett’s Murfreesboro manufacturing facility will continue production as usual.

Middle Tennessee State University recently broke ground for its three-story, 85,000-square-foot STUDENT ATHLETE PERFORMANCE CENTER, which will provide all MTSU students with new facilities for weight training, nutrition and sports medicine. It will also provide a new home for Blue Raider football operations. The $66-million performance center will be located near the north end zone of Floyd Stadium, and is expected to be complete before the start of the 2024 Blue Raider football season.

“It’s reassuring to know Barrett will be in good hands with a family-owned company that is focused on manufacturing and delivering world-class firearms and munitions to a global network,” said Murfreesboro entrepreneur Ronnie Barrett.

Barrett President Sam Shallenberger was promoted to chief executive officer,

CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

while Barrett Chief Operating Officer Bryan James was promoted to president as part of the acquisition.

MAIN STREET MURFREESBORO

recently awarded $10,000 in property enhancement grants to two downtown business owners ($5,000 apiece)—Keith and Shannon Beckman of BECKMAN’S PRESCRIPTION SHOP, and Rhonda Hingst, Kim Reynolds and the late Pat Patterson of VEDA’S FLOWERS AND GIFTS. In 2021, Main Street’s Board of Directors voted to approve funding for 2022 that would benefit improvements made to historical buildings in the downtown district.

“The grant application process focused on how the improvements being proposed would have a significant impact on the Main Street district, engage the public with the streetscape, thus improving the pedestrian experience within the downtown and adding value to the historic landscape,” said Main Street Executive Director Sarah Callender.

With the funds, the Beckman’s improved their business’ front steps and upgraded its handicapped-accessible ramp. Also upgraded was Beckman’s trademark mortar and pestle sign with new materials and logo, while maintaining its nostalgic design.

Veda’s improvement project included exposing previously covered windows and

The new ASCENSION SAINT THOMAS RUTHERFORD WESTLAWN hospital is expected to open in March of this year, and will provide 24/7 emergency care, lab testing and imaging services to the Rutherford County area as well as surrounding areas. The new building will be located on Veterans Parkway just off I-840. Some of the care offered at Westlawn will include treatment for bites and stings, chest pain, confusion and difficulty speaking, fatigue and fainting, head injury and other trauma, seizures, open fractures, severe bleeding, shortness of breath, sprains and broken bones, sudden numbness and weakness, sudden stomach pain and more. Westlawn will also offer lab testing and imaging services. Doctors and care teams will be available at all times and if more advanced care is deemed necessary, quick transfer to the Ascension Saint Thomas hospital will be available.

replacing them with commercial-grade glass.

Main Street Murfreesboro plans to hold a second round of property enhancement grant applications later this year for downtown businesses.

CLOSED

SWEET CECE’S at The Avenue recently closed its doors after around a decade at the location. The self-serve frozen yogurt location announced that it had lost its

lease. Some customers suggested that the reason for the sudden closure is related to neighboring Bar Louie’s plans to expand.

A few local enthusiasts recommended the frozen yogurt setup at area RaceTrac locations, which offers similar cup and topping options.

After just a couple months in business, SOUTHERN CRAVINGS on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard has closed and the space is available for lease. Restaurant owner Teresa Waters announced that she plans to offer her Southern soul food at MTSU and may continue catering around the Nashville area.

Shortly after opening its second location on Broad Street, CLAY PIT INDIAN CUISINE announced that it will close its original restaurant on Memorial Boulevard. Clay Pit will continue using the Memorial Boulevard location as a kitchen for catering orders, but directs all dine-in business and individual pick-up orders to 1312 NW Broad St., which will open seven days a week, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. with the buffet running until 3 p.m. each day.

RIDENOUR REHEARSAL STUDIOS, the concert, rehearsal and event space at 1203 Park Ave., has closed permanently, according to business owner Keith Ridenour.

as well.

FOR INFORMATION , including routes and fares, visit www.murfreesborotn.gov and click on the Public Transit button, or call 615.217.6837.

Rover Transit buses can Avenue and Stones River SportsCom, grocery stores, along the 7 ROUTES that adults and kids under 6 are For additional information, www.murfreesborotn.gov

615-21ROVER (615-217-6837).

SCAMMERS ACROSS THE WORLD are preparing to tap into your accounts, get your information, and steal your money and peace of mind.

Here, the Better Business Bureau provides a few tips to help consumers avoid some of the common recent scams. Weight loss scams, employment scams, phishing scams and puppy scams can all be avoided with vigilance.

“This is the time of year when we encourage consumers to have a plan in place to avoid being scammed,” said Robyn Householder, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. “The one thing we want consumers to remember is never to make a buying decision under pressure. Adhering to this tip can save you hundreds of dollars.”

WEIGHT LOSS SCAMS

If weight loss is your goal in the new year, beware of products or free trials that promise fast results. Anytime you see miracle claims for weight loss products, be skeptical. If a product promises you will lose 10 or 20 pounds a week, that is a red flag. Also, beware of free trials for weight loss supplements. How long is the free trial? How much will you pay after the trial is over?

EMPLOYMENT SCAMS

If you are looking for a new job in 2023, beware of employment scams in which jobs turn out to be fake. If there is a job opportunity that requires money from you upfront for job supplies, training fees and applications, it may be a scam. Additionally, be wary of big money for small jobs. If an employer is promising outrageously good wages for what seems like simple tasks such as reshipping packages, stuffing envelopes or answering phones, this is a red flag. These too-good-to-be-true offers are an attempt to steal your personal information from a fake job application and can cause problems for you that can persist for a long time.

PUPPY FOR SALE SCAMS

Purchasing a puppy is at an all-time high in popularity and can be an emotionally charged experience. Consumers are scammed by an online seller who requests money before seeing the pet in person. The puppy is never shipped or available for pickup after a payment is made to the seller. To avoid being scammed, visit and inspect the pet by arranging to meet with the prospective seller in person. Most legitimate breeders welcome the visit.

Additionally, never send money via wire transfer to people or companies you don’t know and trust. Thirdly, visit bbb.org and find out if there is a listing of the business or the breeder on the website. Finally, shop locally. Consider visiting the local animal shelter. Many shelters are looking for fosters to help relieve animal stress and reduce overcrowding at their facilities.

PHISHING SCAMS

Avoid “phishing” scams and fraudulent messages designed to grab your attention and get your personal information. Text messages saying you must click a link to verify your account, emails or calls claiming your computer has been infected may all be scams. To verify if additional information is needed for your account, contact the business directly to confirm.

Before doing business with a company, visit bbb.org to learn about their reputation. Always report suspected fraud to the BBB by filing a complaint using bbb.org/scamtracker. Consumers may also file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or by calling 877-FTC-Help.

Hey Middle Tennessee!

Do

We are now offering a new non-surgical treatment that focuses on treating the problem rather than temporarily masking the symptoms.

IMPORTANT: We are only accepting people who are serious about their health and want to be proactive. This treatment is not for everyone, but if you are serious about being proactive with your health and improving your knee problems, please give us a call.

Offer

The Knee Pain Reduction Machine is a non-invasive knee pain therapy that offers a revolutionary solution for those that live with chronic knee pain. It isolates the knee and offers safe and effective mechanical traction to decrease pain by:

BY BLAINE LITTLE

The Lost Art of Taking Initiative

INITIATIVE IS THE ABILITY TO TAKE ACTION without being directed by others or otherwise prompted. It is the willingness to identify and pursue opportunities, and to take the first step towards accomplishing a task. It is also the ability to see danger ahead and react while there is still time to avert disaster. It is a crucial tenet of business, yet sorely lacking in many organizations and individuals.

A big concern is whether someone absent of innovation will ever learn to handle problems before they arrive. If so, how? Or is someone who stands by idly watching while a calamity unfolds doomed to being a slug the rest of his life?

But it’s not entirely the individual’s fault. In the 21st century, almost everything is instant. This has eliminated a lot of anticipation. The waiting and desire to see something come to fruition puts us in an emotional state that compels us to look to the future. It’s the kids in the backseat asking “are we almost there?”

And teenagers are prime examples of what we are talking about. Psychologists tell us young people are nearly incapable of making good decisions or being proactive because their prefrontal cortex has not yet been developed. Personally, I think that is a loadof-crap argument that has been overused. Even if they cannot see the forest for the trees, they can still respect boundaries given to them.

Unfortunately, it’s not just the teens who are challenged by a lack of ambition. A great place to start with an employee who suffers from inaction is to ensure he understands the work requirements. Fuzzy job descriptions and multiple bosses will confuse even the most adept worker. But these were established on the day of hiring, so in this case, the company actually set up the employee to fail.

Specify responsibilities. Does the individual know what is expected? Any job posting will have a description. Is that the job the employee is performing? Put responsibilities in writing and be certain the team member understands them. We have all been in situations where we have been thrown to the wolves, and it’s no fun. By the way, “and additional duties as assigned,” is not an effective job description.

Knowledge and clear communication are wonderful, but a team member needs to understand the alternative. Are there key performance indicators?

It is not enough for someone to acknowledge a responsibility “falls under their purview” because they are on site that day. He needs to be clear about his consequences should things go wrong.

Cut through the fog and establish a legitimate chain of command. I have often heard of those who have more than one manager. In most cases, this is a bad idea because the two bosses usually have different priorities, and the employee is caught in the middle.

Deadlines and benchmark meetings are a great way to enforce responsibility. When a staff member has to calculate the time available versus the work to be done, they tend to gain a sense of foresight. A boss who meets with a person once a week for an update to a monthlong project not only establishes priority but the superior also makes himself available as a resource for helping to keep things on track.

If something is more systematic in nature, eliminate any overwhelm that may be involved. Multiple options can be confusing and stifle initiative. Help someone to establish a routine or system. If a monthly board meeting is a week away, its preparation more than likely follows a formula. What has been done in the past? Will it work now? Also, help employees break larger projects down into smaller phases.

The fear of making a mistake can also create a sense of overwhelm or even dread. Assure people they are responsible for their mistakes, but that they will also have the chance to clean them up. A boss can help them gain confidence by relating that no one is expecting perfection—unless it is actual rocket science or brain surgery, of course. People should learn from failure, but doing nothing at all is a double-whammy.

Moreover, learning from failures and mistakes is an important aspect of developing initiative. Failure is a natural part of the learning process, and the ability to learn from mistakes and to keep going is what separates the truly successful from those who give up. Additionally, learning and practicing new skills, such as leadership, decision-making and problem-solving, can also help to develop initiative.

Some people may be naturally inclined to be more passive and to wait for others to take the lead. Others may lack the confidence or the skills to take initiative, while some may have been conditioned by past experiences to be more passive. Assess whether a person may be better suited in a different position.

Yes, good old-fashioned laziness is also a reason why people don’t take initiative. They might be comfortable with the status quo and don’t want to put forth an effort to improve. If that’s the case, you have to ask whether you even want them on your payroll.

Blaine Little is the founder and CEO of Momentum Seminars Training and Coaching, a veteran owned business, helping companies remain profitable by investing in their people. He publicly trains and privately coaches the power skills of leadership, team building and better communication. Learn more about the power of Momentum at momentumseminars.com.

“. . . the ability to learn from mistakes and to keep going is what separates the truly successful from those who give up.”

Are Charter Schools the Answer?

exceptional job of exposing the issues of accountability within the charter school industry. Additionally, if we look at the recent arrests of the founders and former CEO of Epic Charter Schools in Oklahoma, we begin to see the grave issues with the charter school industry.

STATE LEGISLATURES ACROSS THE nation are back in session and hard at work. That means that on the education front, “school choice” is front and center. For many states, Tennessee included, charter schools are at the top of the list of legislative priorities, but the real question is: are charter schools the answer to the major issues facing education today?

First, charter schools that are funded by the government are not private schools. Any school or home school that accepts government funding is no longer private. Instead, they become nothing more than an extension of the neighborhood public school system. Once the private sector accepts government funds, they then become an extension of the same system. This is the result of the government reaching over into the private sector. It results in all forms of education becoming public, when monies exchange hands. What the government funds, it runs. Many parents are hanging their hopes on the notion that charter schools will be the answer to all the issues they believe are facing public schools. Unfortunately, that notion is like sweeping

the sidewalk while it is still snowing.

Let’s talk about oversight for a moment. Parents and taxpayers should be asking if the teachers at these up-and-coming charter schools are certified and, if so, what their credentials are.

“. . . charter schools are exempt from some regulations that apply to conventional public schools,” according to Charter Schools and Accountability in Public Education, a book released by the Brookings Institution. “State charter laws vary, but most schools are exempt from rules governing use of time during the school day and how teachers are chosen.”

Currently, 25 states across the nation do not require charter school teachers to be certified. They should also inquire as to who will hold the charter schools accountable. Will these charter schools be subject to public audits? Will their board meetings be open to taxpayers and parents?

“Many government agencies have not clarified their expectations of and oversight processes regarding charter schools,” the Brookings study continued.

The documentary Killing Ed does an

Many nonprofit charter schools are being run by for-profit organizations. Who is behind these organizations? Education is big business and these organizations have lobbyists ensuring legislation is passed that keeps the money flowing. Is the charter school industry really about the children? Or is it about money?

#FREE YOUR CHILDREN

other organizational support. Another issue, charter school funding provided by the State of New Mexico can be disbursed to the charitable foundation and subsequently used to support the foundation’s expenditures with no accountability from internal controls or other oversight outlined in policies, procedures, laws, or regulations by the State of New Mexico.

This may enable the mismanagement of those public funds.”

BY TIFFANY BOYD

Parents and taxpayers should be asking tough questions. Do charter schools cost more money per student than traditional public schools?

Parents should also familiarize themselves with Fetullah Gülen.

“In the United States, there are currently 167 charter schools that are likely linked with the Gülen Movement in 26 states and Washington D.C., making it one of the largest charter school organizations in the country,” according to debsedstudies.org

Just recently, in December of 2022, the State of New Mexico released the following risk advisory in relation to charter schools.

“The Office of the State Auditor (OSA), together with the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC), issue this joint risk advisory to alert the legislative bodies and policy advisors in the State of New Mexico of risks related to a significant lack of oversight and accountability failures concerning the technical relationships between charter schools and non-profit charter school foundations. The technical relationship between charter schools, governed throughout New Mexico under the ‘Charter Schools Act,’ and its charitable foundations, considered blended component units, is opaque and absent of oversight. Due to a significant accountability gap, there is a lack of transparency concerning the expenditure of public funds made by a charter school’s charitable foundation. There are no oversight mechanisms to account for public funds transferred as payments/disbursements/payables by the charter school to its charitable foundation, allowing for the possibility of fraud and mismanagement of public funds. As reported by LFC in a 2013 evaluation, there is a high potential for conflicts of interest regarding charter school operations provided through a charitable foundation’s programs—which may include providing suitable facilities and

According to Harvard Ed. Magazine, “after 25 years and some 6,000 schools, charters still on average produce results roughly equal those of the public schools to which they set out to be better alternatives.” Is this really a good use of our tax dollars? Is this the answer to the educational crisis facing our nation? Are charter schools truly empowering parents and giving their children better opportunities, even though they are being funded by the same government system that they mistakenly think they are escaping? Unfortunately, the answer is no. The answer doesn’t lie within government-funded education options. The best option for parents is to take charge of their children’s education by leading and directing it. It is not the responsibility of the government to educate our children unless you agree with the tenets of Marxism. I strongly encourage taxpayers and parents to ask hard questions, demand answers and make tough decisions. Ask yourself if you really believe the government has the best interest of your children at heart. If you answered “no” to that last question then maybe it is time to stop giving them authority over your children. Parents, you are equipped.

Tiffany Boyd is the founder of Free YOUR Children, a homeschool advocate, consultant, speaker and the founder and administrator of Middle Tennessee Christian Homeschool Connection. She holds a B.S. degree in interdisciplinary studies from MTSU. She is a wife of 30 years and mother to five children, grandmother to two. She is a former tenured public school teacher. She and her husband have home educated for 18 years. Contact her at freeyourchildren@gmail.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EMILY RANQUIST/PEXELS

Pay Me Now or Pay Me Later

her classmate. Now you’re trying to find the “why” behind those awful things, because you taught them better, so there must be a reason.

And oh, when the reason is just sheer, willful disobedience that flies in the face of all you believe, you’re faced with a hard truth. The only person who can deal with this is you. The parent.

Sure, extended family, teachers and youth ministers will support you along the way. They’ll brainstorm strategies, reinforce your expectations and cheer you on. But you, the parent, must do the hard work of enforcing whatever rules you have set that reflect the values you’re attempting to instill.

Disciplining our children is never fun. It’s never easy. It feels terrible.

But a major mistake parents make is laying down rules they’re not prepared to enforce. This teaches children not to respect authority, that rules are only rules when convenient or during certain moods. If parents are tired or busy, the rules are subject to debate.

what they want. This is a dangerous lesson in the long run. The child who screams to get her way becomes a disrespectful teen and potentially an emotionally abusive adult; the toddler who’s allowed to hit others when he’s mad, a physically abusive adult. Homes without rules based in shared values, and homes where rules aren’t enforced can create monstrous adults.

Insisting your child has a consistent bedtime is taxing, but do it anyway. Children who are allowed to ignore parents calling their name become teens who ignore those parents’ curfews. Instilling the value “we don’t use our hands to hurt, we use our hands to help” can be exhausting for parents of preschoolers, but it’s the first step to curbing future bullies. And even when you’ve done all these, your preteen or teen may continue slamming up against those guardrails. Hold fast. Continue to set and maintain boundaries. Because in the moment your child wants them the least, they need them the most.

BY ELISABETH GAY

“You can pay me now, or you can pay me later.”

This 1972 Fram oil filter commercial claims that, concerning vehicles, you have a choice: you can pay a little now—to replace the filter and maintain the health of the engine—or a lot more when it breaks, to fix the damage.

Kids are like that, too. There’s so much hourly, daily and weekly “maintenance” in parenting. Setting sleep schedules, promoting good nutrition, teaching hygiene, enforcing rules . . . none of these are parents’ favorite moments. And while these daily grind tasks are what we signed up for, they can feel depressingly like the sum total of life when kids are young.

The word maintenance comes from the Latin words “manu + tenere” which literally means “hold in the hand.” When we need to examine something, we pick it up for a closer look. We “take in hand” that which we value. You can’t ignore something you’re holding. You notice everything about it: how it looks, how it feels, anything that’s off.

Maintaining anything is costly and requires energy. Usually, it’s effort that doesn’t have an instant or obvious result. Changing an oil filter makes little, observable shortterm difference. But it’s the long game that matters. It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears to care for another human, too. And there’s not much instant gratification from pushing veggies or enforcing rules. Investing the emotional, mental and spiritual en-

ergy into guiding another human life along a path worth traveling can be exhausting.

When our daughter was born, our minister visited us in the hospital. He congratulated and encouraged us, and then offered to pray for us.

“Lord, please watch over this precious, eternal soul that you have chosen to bring into your creation and place in the hands of these parents . . .”

His words still knock the breath out of me.

Parenting is a holy calling, a commitment to the long game of navigating the stormy seas of ever-changing culture and guiding your child safely to the other shore.

That takes stamina, because the hardest work of parenting isn’t only when they’re young.

Sure, your 17-month-old may keep you up all night fussing, sick, or refusing to sleep. But your 17-year-old will keep you up all night for entirely different reasons.

While you won’t face the same challenges at ages 2, 12 and 22, they will stem from the same human tendencies: selfishness, disobedience, laziness. Two-year-old tantrums morph into teen drama. Whether it’s toys or lunch tables, somebody isn’t sharing. And no matter how good your Mama Bear act is, you can’t make them. Suddenly that precious, eternal soul in your care, is wounded.

And sometimes, it’s your precious child doing the wounding. Yours is the kid who said the cuss word at school, punched a kid on the playground or purposefully excluded

To some it seems easier to let them have their way. Let them eat junk instead of healthy food, watch TV or play video games whenever. But giving in to toddler tantrums teaches children that screaming (or worse, violence) gets them

Children who test limits are asking the most important questions: Do I matter to you? How much do you love me? Will you go through hell and high-water to save me from myself?

Yes, my precious child. Yes.

Let our answer always be yes.

Enforce the rules from an early age, even when diffi cult, to keep children within the guardrails

PHOTO COURTESY OF JOSH WILLINK/PEXELS

“Lord, please watch over this precious, eternal soul that you have chosen to bring into your creation and place in the hands of these parents . . .”

COLUMN BY “Z-TRAIN”

Titans Bring in Ran Carthon to Fill GM Job Chiefs and Eagles Set for Super Bowl LVII

THE TRAIN DADDY IS BACK with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard!

So, what do I have for you this issue? The Titans have a new GM. Super Bowl LVII is just around the corner and will be held in Glendale, Arizona on Feb. 12. Rihanna, the pop icon best known for her role in the blockbuster Battleship, possibly the greatest movie ever made, is set to perform the halftime show. We Americans eat and drink so much junk on Super Bowl Sunday it’s glorious, with nearly 17 million Americans calling out of work the next day.

ALRIGHT, LET’S GET IT!

The Tennessee Titans ended their 2022 season on a sour note of losing! After the Titans beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau in November and Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing decided it would be a good idea to get hammered drunk and go flying down the interstate in the middle of the night following the game, the Titans ended the season losing seven straight games since that night DUI Todd struck!

It is what it is. Two straight seasons of leading the league in injuries, as the Titans experienced, will make winning difficult.

CONGRATS TO RAN

Since that AFC South-deciding game against the Jags in the final week of the regular season, the Titans have fired a lot of people and we finally have our new GM, Mr. Ran Carthon, coming from the San Francisco 49ers. Ran brings 15 years of experience as a scout and has been with the 49ers since 2017 as

their director of pro personnel. The 49ers have had much success of late and hopefully Ran can bring some of that energy here.

Congrats to Ran, sincerely. I stand with him 100 percent as a fan of this team and I wish him nothing but success. I am happy Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk decided to hire out-of-house, and by all accounts Ran is a man to be respected. He doesn’t have an easy job by any means.

Say what you will about former GM Jon Robinson, the fact is he had six consecutive winning seasons under his belt before this year and if times get tough under Ran the fanbase will easily remember the not-so-distant time of winning a lot of regular season games. Only the Chiefs had more consecutive winning seasons than Tennessee when J-Rob was fired.

I remember the early 2010s well enough and I dread thinking about consecutive years of sucking. With that said, I understand why they fired him. This team had the feel of underachieving for years, J-Rob missed on putting together a solid offensive line this season and, fact is, the Eagles just rode A.J. Brown to the Super Bowl—and that makes me angry!

Some of my closest Titans family and I were thinking about what Ran Carthon’s nickname should be? We all called Jon Robinson “J-Rob.” We boiled it down to three final options: Ran the Man, or we could simply call him Cart, or should we make him more of a superhero and call him The Black Ranther. I voted for Cart, “in Cart we trust” has a nice ring to it.

Cart has little room for error. This Titans team needs to be shaken up and, call it fair

or not, fans of this team should demand results immediately. His first big test will be hitting on the upcoming NFL Draft. Just don’t miss on those first few rounds, please! In all seriousness, congrats to Carthon and welcome to the Titans, a team I passionately have been giving my heart to season after season for over two decades now. I just want the feeling of one championship before I die and they put me six feet under.

Now don’t get it twisted, I love Tennessee Volunteer athletics passionately. From football to basketball to baseball I am always invested. I love my Nashville Predators. I love going to Nashville Soccer Club games and I have always had a soft spot for the Atlanta Braves since I was a wee little lad. With all that said, nothing would mean more to me than the Titans winning a Super Bowl. I guess since Super Bowl XXXIV, played on Jan. 30, 2000, I’ve been hooked. I was a freshman in high school watching it with people that to this day, 23 years later, I am still rocking with.

I understand I live in the South where SEC football is king, and I love everything about Vol athletics. But for whatever reason this Tennessee Titans team is my ultimate passion in the world of sports. I feel like I just laid my heart out for you all. Daggum!

SUPER BOWL HISTORY

The New England Patriots have played in an NFL-leading 11 Super Bowls with the Steelers next up, having played in 8 of those. The Steelers and Pats both are tied with six championships. There are only four teams in the NFL that have never played in the big game: the Lions, Browns, Jags and Texans

The highest-scoring Super Bowl had a combined score of 75 points. The 49ers, led by Steve Young and the greatest receiver to ever play the game, Jerry Rice, beat the Chargers by a score of 49–26.

The lowest-scoring Super Bowl happened just a few years ago when the Patriots beat the Rams 13–3, Brady’s last Super Bowl as a Patriot.

Since the first Super Bowl in 1967, and the Packers defeating the Chiefs, there has never been a year without a Super Bowl. And it has become the biggest single sporting event in America.

The Lombardi trophy, named after legendary Packers coach Vince Lombardi, is made by Tiffany & Co. and weighs in at 7 pounds.

We Americans eat billions of chicken wings (enough to circle the circumference of Earth three times, reportedly), and millions of pounds of chips with over 100 million

pounds of avocados purchased to make that delicious dip. It’s insane, as over 100 million Americans spend billions of dollars and eat billions of calories in just a few hours. It’s amazing and beautifully patriotic. You know it was a good day when antacid sales spike 20% the following day.

Over 700 million chickens die as we feast on their wings! Over 12 million pounds of bacon will be eaten, 14 billion total hamburgers, 10 million pounds of ribs. What about cheese? Over 88 million pounds of cheese is consumed for the big game. Everyone loves pizza and about 13 million pies are purchased for this game alone. To wash all that down, 50 million cases of beer.

It’s a beautiful tradition. God bless America, and God bless the Super Bowl.

I guess I should give you my prediction for the Eagles vs. Chiefs Super Bowl (the Kelce Bowl). I dislike both teams, unfortunately. I don’t want the Eagles to win it and hear the never-ending trolling from A.J. Brown, and I don’t want Chiefs Kingdom to get any louder. Someone must win, and I can handle the Chiefs winning more than Philadelphia. Something about that Eagles fanbase just screams obnoxious.

I feel like the Eagles are better all-around, but I took the Chiefs over the Bengals for one reason: the best quarterback in the NFL leads them, Patty cakes Mahomes, and that’s the reason I take them in the Super Bowl.

Mahomes now has an extra week to rest that high ankle sprain and the Chiefs still have that taste in their mouth from the beating that the Bucs defense gave them in the Super Bowl two years ago.

So, give me Kansas City to beat the Eagles in a very entertaining game, 27–24.

Alright, it’s time for the Train to roll into the station! Much love to all my readers. It’s crazy to think the NFL season is almost over, which is always followed by a hot Tennessee summer. But time seems to be moving at an incredible pace these days, so don’t fret. Before we know it, the 2023 season will be kicking off. Choo-choo!

PATRICK MAHOMES

Live Exceptionally...Well!

BY JENNIFER DURAND

Living in Goodness

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY

our world and its civilizations still exist? How many times have you heard the phrase “our world is going to hell in a handbasket” or another similar expression? Going to hell in a handbasket means deteriorating rapidly, a situation where a complete ruin or failure is inevitable. If someone uses this phrase, they want to say the situation is quickly getting out of hand and heading swiftly downhill.

I’ve thought a lot about this expression recently and what it would mean if it were true. Is everything in our world deteriorating so rapidly that its doom is inevitable? Is that true? I believe it feels like it’s true when we are the ones directly affected by a senseless shooting, a violation of our property or privacy, children being disrespectful, education becoming more difficult to manage, or morals appearing shaky or nonexistent.

These extreme behaviors don’t seem to make sense when we are having to deal with such issues firsthand. However, I also believe the reason our world continues to exist and hasn’t completely fallen apart is because good is alive and real. It’s the yin and the yang, or the balance of being.

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” — Aristotle

I have discovered more recently that what keeps this balance in the universe is experience. Once we have taken an active part in an event, occurrence or situation, we are changed. Typically we can more easily relate to others who have been through something similar. These are the moments when the seeds of good are rooted within us and others. We become more kind, considerate and patient toward others, which in turn generates more appreciation, gratitude and humility.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched—they must be felt with the heart.” — Helen Keller

I’ve always thought of myself as kind and considerate of others. However, I also always wonder if I could be even more so in certain moments or situations. Where do I draw the line of kindness? Do I draw a line at all? In recent months a family member has had incredible health challenges. This has resulted in a need for considerable medical care, a walker (rollator), nursing care, physical therapy, change of lifestyle and so on.

All of a sudden days are filled with a different set of demands that had never existed before. You are surrounded by people who use wheelchairs, canes, walkers, oxygen tanks and other devices that enable them to function as normally as possible. You are exposed to the people who care for these people in need and observe the demands placed on them to bring comfort to those who are suffering, all while making it seem like no trouble at all.

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” — Charles Dickens

I say a quiet prayer for each person I pass who isn’t smiling, who walks slower, or doesn’t walk at all. I say a prayer of thanks for caregivers who show up to make sure those in need have someone to look after them. The prayer is that they feel the presence of Divine Love surrounding them, comforting them, elevating their consciousness to a higher level rather than a lower one. To see and feel the good filling them up full so there is no room for doubt of its existence. To have a pure calm sense of trust and peace wash over them, to keep them steady and help them feel grounded.

With these recent experiences I have noticed a deeper well of patience for others, less judgment and self-righteousness. My depth of gratitude and humility for the compassion and understanding from others has increased.

These were some of my experiences of noticing why the world is, in fact, not going to hell in a handbasket. People are good, kind, encouraging, helpful and patient. Life experiences will continue to happen, and will continue to shape us into having greater awareness of the needs of others and the abilities of ourselves. This will in turn enlarge our capacity to handle more with greater ease and keep good growing.

“It would be nice to feel that we are a better world, a world of more compassion and a world of more humanity, and to believe in the basic goodness of man.” —

Barbara Walters

Jennifer Durand is the owner and operator of The Nurture Nook Day Spa & Gift Shoppe; she is a certified QiGong and Breathe Empowerment instructor, a skin care and makeup specialist, an InterPlay leader and is licensed in massage therapy and somatic integration. Let her help you find your personal “ahh . . .” factor by visiting nurturenook.com or calling 615-896-7110.

WANDER THROUGH THE QUAINT LITTLE TOWN OF WARTRACE for some Valentine’s Day fun and shopping. Enjoy complimentary treats in each shop and get your I ❤ Wartrace shopper’s card punched in each store for a chance to win a prize basket. Door prizes vary by each shop.

PARTICIPATING SHOPS INCLUDE: Rock

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRETT JORDAN / PEXLES

Growing Up in Murfreesboro

Gave Me a Lot to Love

FEBRUARY is the month of love, so I thought it would be appropriate to discuss how love had shaped me over the years (and possibly how it has shaped you over the years) here in Murfreesboro.

According to the dictionary definition, love is an intense feeling of deep affection or a great interest and pleasure in something (for example, a love for football).

We also have biblical definitions like Corinthians 13: “For love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, does not boast, it is not proud.” And there’s the passage from Mark 12:31: “Love your neighbor as yourself . . .”

I can remember in my youth going to Campus School. I love my classmates who today are still some of my closest friends, and my teachers. I love my experiences on all of the field trips we would take, for example to the children’s theater in Nashville. I also loved going with my class to Huntsville, Alabama, to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

We all knew we were getting close when we saw that rocket near the Interstate, which unfortunately was recently announced would be taken down. I love the G-force machine where we all stood up on what looked like a carnival ride. This G-force machine spun around and around and gave us the experience of what it felt like going off into space. The ride came to a complete halt when someone threw up their breakfast. Luckily, I was not infringed upon.

One other thing I loved to do growing up was getting to go to LBL—Land Between the Lakes, near Dover, Tennessee—my first experience of camping with my friends.

I don’t remember this, but I’ve been told I wanted to call home for my mom to come

get me. Ha ha. Going to LBL was like a rite of passage that meant I could do things on my own. I remember getting to canoe with Mr. Alsbrooks, our gym teacher, and one of the chaperones.

My love of history began while at Campus School. In the early ’70s man had just landed on the moon a few years prior, and I vaguely remember Neil Armstrong walking on the moon on TV in 1969. I began to love the explorers in history.

Well, in Ms. Moser’s fifth-grade class the students got to pick an explorer to dress up like and be for the day. I chose Hernando de Soto because he founded Memphis and explored the Mississippi River, and I was a huge Elvis fan, having just seen Elvis in concert at Murphy Center. So, I let my mother help in preparing me to be Hernando de Soto. I had her use mascara to draw me a mustache and a little goatee. She made me a really cool conquistador helmet. I also had my great-

grandmother’s black cape tied around my neck to complete the costume. Nanny had worn it in the late 1800s. I’m so excited I could barely sleep the night before. On Monday, as Mother dropped me and David, my little brother, off at school I was in full regalia. I had cool boots, pants, a cape, mustache, goatee and conquistador helmet, ready to close the deal as Hernando de Soto. I knew this was going to be cool, and naturally all the little girls were going to be thinking the same thing. I opened up Ms. Moser’s classroom door—in the basement of Campus School on the left as soon as you walked in from the Lytle Street entrance—and I made my grand entrance.

As I started to walk into class, the teacher, along with the other 26 students, looked at me. Ms. Moser said “Bill, what are you doing?” and I said “Ms. Moser, I’m Hernando de Soto who founded Memphis and the Mississippi River.” She looked me with her still blue eyes and said “Bill you were supposed to dress up like him next Tuesday.” My heart stopped for a few seconds, but for the whole day I was Hernando de Soto. To this day I have friends who call me Hernando.

Another thing I loved was going on a trip to New England while in the seventh grade at Central Middle School. There were two or three bus loads full of seventh graders.

The year was 1979 and I got to experience my first Broadway play, Sweeney Todd, and see the final four of the NIT basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden. My favorite part of the trip was getting to go see the World Trade Center in New York City.

I remember the elevator being huge and it took a couple minutes for us to make our way up to the 110th floor at the top. We also got to go see Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home; Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home; the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, the Capitol in D.C., and we got to see where the Boston Tea Party took place and where Paul Revere hung out in Boston. A lot of my love of history came from that trip.

In 1980 I started high school at Riverdale. I loved going to the party tree on Sulphur Springs Road and Elam’s Mansion off of Elam Road. My high school fraternity, Phi Sigma Chi, would have kangaroo court inside the old pre-Civil War home that had been abandoned for years. One weekend night as a group went inside the house we heard “mooooooo.” There were cows inside.

We loved to go gather with friends and park with our dates at Tiger Hill, behind the Walmart on County Farm Road. There was a lookout tower on top of Tiger Hill that some people would climb up to get a better view of downtown Murfreesboro with all the lights.

We also used to go hang out at the Bill Wilson Bridge on Betty Ford Road near Lascassas. We would park our cars on the side of the road and we would cautiously walk down under the bridge. Someone would start a campfire, which we thought was cool. You knew a party was going on from all the smoke that bellowed out from under the bridge. It’s a wonder we didn’t burn the bridge down.

We loved to go to the land owned by Sarah Huey King at the corner of Greenland Drive and South Rutherford Boulevard. That home was a huge white home with a red roof. Today this area is called Kingdom Square and Scotland Chase. Along with Family Billiards and the car wash, these were a few of the places we loved to hang out. Also in high school we loved to go to dances, either at one of the high schools, the country club, or at the Ag Center, where Adams Tennis Complex is today.

These are just a few things I loved about growing up here in Murfreesboro in the ’70s and ’80s when Murfreesboro had maybe 30,000 residents.

I hope y’all have a wonderful Valentine’s Day. If no one has told you they love you, I do.

Tune into WGNS at 100.5 FM or 1450 AM each Sunday at 9 p.m. for The Mr. Murfreesboro Show or find the podcast on Apple Podcasts.

A Look at the SECURE Act 2.0

Congress passes new retirement savings rules enticing Americans to save more

BY SEAN MORAN

DURING THE COMMOTION of the year’s end, Congress passed what is being dubbed “SECURE Act 2.0” on Dec. 29. This new law adds provisions that allow Americans to save more money for retirement and set up their finances for success. It’s important to know what is in this law and how you can use it to your advantage. Here are some of the key provisions that you will want to be aware of:

Auto Enrollment and Portability

This legislation requires new 401(k) plans, as well as 401(b) plans, to automatically enroll employees in the company plan and start them off at a 3% contribution rate. This means that you will not have to opt in, but rather your retirement savings would start right away once you are eligible for enrollment. This provision will take effect in 2025. In addition, if you have a small balance in your account when you change jobs it will be easier to make it portable and have the existing custodian manage it for you. This potentially requires less paperwork and makes the plans less tempting to cash out.

Student Loan Retirement Match

So many people who have significant student loans aren’t able to save for retirement early on, because of this debt. Before this law was passed, if you chose not to make contributions to your company plan because you couldn’t afford it, you didn’t get a company match because there was nothing to match.

SECURE Act 2.0 allows companies to make a “matching contribution” to your retirement plan commensurate with your payments of your student loans. For example, if your company matches 50 cents

on the dollar for contributions to your 401(k), now for every dollar you pay on your student loans your company can put 50 cents into your retirement account.

529 Convertibility

In the past if you didn’t use up all the money in your 529 education savings plan you had to contribute that to another person for them to use or take a penalty for using it for something other than education. If you had one child and they didn’t go to college they wouldn’t get to use the money you set aside.

Now that will no longer be the case. Under the SECURE Act 2.0 up to $35,000 can be rolled over to a Roth IRA (subject to the maximum annual contribution).

RMDs

Required Minimum Distributions are amounts that retirees need to take out of their retirement accounts so that the IRS can tax the money that they have waited years, even decades, to tax while it was sitting in your IRA, 401(k) or similar plan.

Prior to the SECURE Act of 2020, the age at which you had to start taking withdrawals whether you wanted to or not was 70.5. When the 2020 law took place, it moved the age up to 72; in SECURE Act 2.0 it gradually moves the age up to 75 on a sliding scale as shown here:

Born in 1950 or earlier —

RMD begins at age 72

Born between 1951–59 —

RMD begins at age 73

Born in 1960 or later —

RMD begins at age 75

Also starting in 2024 RMDs will not be required for Roth accounts any longer.

This means you can keep Roth funds where they are indefinitely.

Qualified Charitable Distributions

A QCD is a distribution from your IRA to a charity whereby you can meet your RMD requirement, but not pay taxes on the amount donated. For example, if you were to give $100,000 of your RMD to a qualified charity, you would not have to pay taxes on that money. This could save you a significant amount of income tax, because if you were to take the RMD into your own account you would owe income tax on that amount. Assume you are in the 22% tax bracket. This means you save $22,000 by doing a QCD instead of taking the money and then donating it.

Starting in 2023 the $100,000 limit for QCDs will be indexed to inflation, so the amount you can give will go up every year. While this isn’t something everyone worries about, it’s great for those who do.

Increase in Catch-Up Contributions

You may be aware that once you reach age 50 you can add additional funds to your 401(k) or IRA accounts so that you can “catch-up” for lost time by saving more when likely you are earning more.

Starting on Jan. 1, 2025, if you are 60 through 63 you can make a catch-up contribution up to

$10,000 to your workplace plan. The current law for 2023 limits contributions into those accounts to $7,500. The one caveat is that if you make more than $145,000 in the year prior, your catch-up contributions will need to be made to a Roth account as opposed to a traditional account. Hopefully this will prompt more companies to offer Roth accounts.

For IRAs, you can currently make a $1,000 catch-up contribution if you are age 50 or over, but in 2024 that will be indexed to inflation, so it will likely go up every year.

Roth Matching

Going forward, employers will be able to make matching contributions to Roth accounts. In prior years you could only get a matching contribution on contributions to a traditional plan. The funds that are matched would be taxable, but future growth would be tax free.

(Disclaimer: Information contained herein does not constitute tax, legal or investment advice. Contact a qualified financial advisor prior to making any financial decisions. The above is a summary of the major provisions of the new law and is not all encompassing of every provision. If you need assistance please reach out.)

Sean Moran is a financial advisor with Red Barn Financial. Contact him at smoran@ redbarnfinancial.com or 615-619-6919

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM MIROSHNICHENKO/PEXELS

2091 OLD FORT PKWY. • MURFREESBORO