BORO ART CRAWL IS BACK JUNE 9
Map Inside!
PAGE 27
JUNE 2017 / VOL. 12, ISSUE 6 / FREE
Townhome development sparks petition to save the wetlands
Middle Tennessee’s Source for Art, Entertainment and Culture News
CULTIVATE CO-WOOFING Dogs in the Workplace, Dogs at Dinner, Dogs in the Park
IN MUSIC
CREATURE COMFORT / JEWEL MACHINE / FOLK FEST / BOOMSTICK / EAGLEMANIACS / NO OTHER NAME
Contents
WORD FROM THE EDITOR
Cover Photo: Trish Dittmer’s dog Tuffie Below: Roxann Covington’s dog Buddy Photography by Brenton Giesey
28
12
Folk Fest Schedule Inside!
10 IN EVERY ISSUE
FEATURES
9
ROAD TO BONNAROO Creature Comfort earns a chance to play 2017 Bonnaroo set.
10
JUST DRUM Everybody Drum Some hosts drumming event at Old Fort Park for Make Music Day, June 21.
18
SUNNYSIDE FARMS Area family agriculture business grows in the light of faith.
28
TAKE YOUR DOG TO WORK DAY Dogs in the workplace, dogs at dinner, dogs in the park.
38
THIS MONTH
Balloon Fest, Ride4Tay, Farmers’ Markets, and more!
8 Sounds LOCAL CONCERTS
½ Watt Astronaut, Jake Leg Stompers and more! MUSIC NOTES
International Folk Fest Music Tree; Wartrace Music Fest and more! ALBUM REVIEWS
Boomstick; The Jewel Machine
MIRACLE FIELD Rubberized turf allows all to play ball.
BOOK
Caius and the Great Troll Adventure
Composting and Vermicomposting
22 Art THEATER
Cultural Arts Murfreesboro completes first community mural
RESTAURANT RECIPE
Fruit with balsamic
44
EXHIBITS
Opinion
Boro Art Crawl is back, June 9.
26 Movies MOVIES
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2; Alien: Covenant
THE STOCKARD REPORT
Another Arnold supporter fired.
VIEWS OF A CONSERVATIVE
Some believe murder victim Seth Rich was Wikileaks source.
LIVING ROOM CINEMA
Representation
MONEY PULSE
NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM
Bankruptcy and home financing LIVE . . . WELL
Staycation
Packed DUI and suspended license dockets BUSINESS BUZZ
Legally Blonde; Arsenic and Old Lace
40 Food Jazzmatazz
DISPLAY
20 Living 34 News GARDENING
SAVE THE WETLANDS Neighbors protest townhome development near Oaklands Park.
50
4 Events
Champy’s Chicken; Ichiban; Heart of Vinyl; Cup Pop
48 Sports BLUE RAIDERS
Four have NFL shot SPORTS TALK
Preds make Stanley Cup final round
VISIT US AT BOROPULSE.COM FOR MORE! Contributors: Dylan Skye Aycock, Kathy Cranmer, John Connor Coulston, Greg Crittenden, Dakota Green, Bryce Harmon, Joseph Kathmann, Zach Maxfield, Kevin McDaniel, Justin Reed, Edwina Publisher/ Art Director: Advertising: Shannon, Jay Spight, Lucas James Stepp, Sarah Mayo Editor in Don Clark Justin Stokes, Andrea Stockard, Sam Chief: Copy Editor: Leslie Russell-Yost Stockard, Norbert Thiemann, Elizabeth Bracken Mayo Steve Morley Tullos, Phil Valentine, Michelle Willard
To carry the PULSE at your business, or to submit letters, stories and photography: Bracken@BoroPulse.com 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130 615-796-6248
Copyright © 2017, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Proudly owned, operated and published the first Thursday of each month by the Juneo family; printed by Franklin Web Printing Co. The Murfreesboro Pulse is a free publication funded by our advertisers. Views expressed in the Pulse do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. ISSN: 1940-378X
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HAPPY JUNE! Here’s one for your June playlist, June Carter Cash that is—“Keep on the Sunny Side,” Well there’s a dark and a troubled side of life There's a bright and a sunny side too But if you meet with the darkness and strife The sunny side we also may view Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side Keep on the sunny side of life You can read about a local agriculture business keeping on the “sunnyside” on page 18. Congratulations to all of the recent graduates. Go make something excellent. Keep the families of victims of recent local shootings in your thoughts and prayers. While we know it is awful that the young people are shooting one another, the thing about gangrelated crime is that one can generally avoid it if they refrain from relating themselves to a gang. But we never know with accidents, terrorism or whatever the unforeseen circumstance may be, when our time in this world will come to an end, or when a family member or friend does not return. Make time for those who are important to you. Maybe spend time with them at the upcoming magic show at Oaklands Mansion, at the June 3 Bites and Brews event, at this month’s hot air balloon festival in Murfreesboro, or at one of the other plentiful family activities coming up in the area. June’s annual International Folk Fest brings dance groups from Lithuania, Canada and Mexico to Rutherford County. Drummers unite in Old Fort Park on Make Music Day, June 21, for another community rhythm event. Bell Buckle hosts its traditional gathering of RC and MoonPie fans; and there’s some gator meat over at Jazzmatazz. U2 will travel to Bonnaroo this year; yes, it will be a “Beautiful Day” when the boys in the four-decadeold, delay-saturated Irish rock outfit come to the land of Bonnaroo, “Where the Streets Have No Name” (really, the streets at Bonnaroo have great names!). I’m going “With or Without You”! As usual, the Bonnaroovians have plenty to say about the festival’s band lineup, but each year the ’Roo organizers score a major featured act that has not yet performed at the annual Coffee County extravaganza of music and art, giving thousands of live music fans reason to make the trek out to the farm, year after year. In its 19th season on the ice, your Nashville Predators are in the Stanley Cup finals! Oh my, if the Preds bring the Stanley Cup home to Nashville . . . Keep on turning the pages of this month’s Pulse and you’ll find everything from forties and fowl to farmer’s markets, China Lights to Legally Blonde, dog-friendly patio dining options to space movies. Discover something new this month; Murfreesboro contains many many organizations and people who would like to help you improve physically, mentally, spiritually, artistically, financially and agriculturally.
Peace, BRACKEN MAYO Publisher/Editor in Chief
Events COMPILED BY
ANDREA STOCKARD
JUNE 1
JUNE 3
NURTURE NOOK 15-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
RELAY FOR LIFE
Join the Nature Nook Day Spa (624 N. Walnut St.) Thursday, June 1, from 11 a.m.–noon for a 15-Year Anniversary Ribbon Cutting. For more information, visit nurturenook.com.
JUNE 1, 8 AND 22 ALL AROUND THE WORLD Learn and appreciate other cultures around the world with different cuisines and crafts at Bradley Academy (415 S. Academy St.) Thursdays June 1, 8 and 22 from 1–2 p.m. Participants will record their experiences in a journal. All ages are welcome. For more information, call (615) 962-8773.
JUNE 2 SECRET GARDEN PARTY Join the Secret Garden Party at the elegant home of Ellen and Paul Wilson on East Main St. on Friday, June 2, from 6–9 p.m. to benefit the Murfreesboro Discover Center, a 30,000 square-foot museum providing education and exploration for families. (The gardens are also open to visit Saturday and Sunday, June 3 and 4, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.). This year’s Garden Party honors Billie and Joe Little. For information, call (615) 890-2300 or visit explorethedc.org.
JUNE 2 TASTE OF SMYRNA The 7th Annual Taste of Smyrna invites the community to come and enjoy live music, kids play zone and great food at the TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center (200 StoneCrest Blvd., Smyrna) Friday, June 2, from 6–8 p.m. Tickets are on sale at FirstBank on Lowry Street, Smyrna Senior Citizens and Smyrna YMCA. For more information, call (615) 300-5709.
JUNE 2 AND 16 CRUISE IN On Fridays June 2 and 16 from 6–8 p.m. the Christian Hot Rod Association hosts a CruiseIn at New Vision Baptist Church (1750 N. Thompson Lane) offering concessions, car and Bible trivia for prizes, door prize drawings, ’50s and ’60s music and donations benefiting A Soldier’s Child Foundation. For more information, contact (224) 339-0221 or towngirl652008@yahoo.com. 4 * JUNE 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM
Support the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life at Middle Tennessee Christian School (100 E. MTCS Dr.) Saturday, June 3, from noon–midnight. This year alone, 1.6-million people in the U.S. will be newly diagnosed with cancer. This event helps us to honor those who have fought this dreaded disease and lost, and to celebrate those who are still with us. For more information, contact (615) 218-0732 or ml.logue@hotmail. com, or visit relayforlife.org/rutherfordtn.
JUNE 3 BITES AND BREWS ’Boro Bites and Brews, held at the Murfreesboro Medical Clinic (1272 Garrison Dr.) on Saturday, June 3, from 5–9 p.m., offers a night of craft beer sampling, fun and food trucks. Proceeds benefit the Business Education Partnership Foundation. For more information, visit borobitesandbrews.com.
JUNE 4–8 MTSU RUGBY CAMP Get hands-on rugby experience at the MTSU Rugby Alumni Foundation’s 5-day camp (2111 E. Main St.) with a three-time World Cup coach Sunday–Thursday, June 4–8. Enhance your rugby skills, get a video breakdown of your technique over the course of the camp and gain valuable nutrition strategies. For more information, contact mh5e@mtmail. mtsu.edu or jody.hensley@mtsu.edu.
JUNE 5 MANIC MONDAY MAMA’S HOME COOKIN’ Join Ignite Missions and Ministry and Give A Little Christmas for Manic Monday on Monday, June 5, from 6:30–9 p.m. (and the first Monday of every month) at Wesley Foundation Campus (216 College Heights), as songwriters are encouraged to come entertain while everyone enjoys home-cooked meals. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. For more information, contact ignite.missions.ministries@gmail.com or visit ignitemissionsandministry.com.
JUNE 24
Murfreesboro Hot Air Balloon Festival
The inaugural Murfreesboro Hot Air Balloon Festival presented by Acklen Park Productions lands on the lawn of Oaklands Mansion (900 N. Maney Ave.) Saturday, June 24, from 5–9 p.m. with a kids zone, VIP area, craft beer tent, live music and a beautiful hot air balloon glow at dusk. For more information, contact lowney_matt@ hotmail.com or visit acklenpark.com. Monday, June 5 (and the first Monday of every month), from 7–8 p.m. For more information, call (615) 898-7710.
JUNE 6-9 HISTORY THROUGH THE ARTS CAMP Ages 7–13 are invited to learn about history in a fun and exciting way at History Through the Arts Camp at Bradley Academy (415 S. Academy St.) Tuesday– Friday, June 6–9, from 8 a.m.–2:30 p.m. while taking a hands-on approach in learning how to relate past historical events to our everyday lives through art, music and theatre. Admission is $3 each day. For more information, call (615) 962-8773.
JUNE 7 STRESS RELIEF CHAIR MASSAGES Join Cultivate Coworking (107 W. Lytle St.) for a relaxing chair massage with Annelise Werme, LMT, Wednesday, June 7, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. for $1/1 min. No reservation necessary. For more information, visit cultivatecoworking.com.
JUNE 5
JUNE 7
BEEKEEPERS CLUB
SHOPPING HEALTHY TOUR
Join the Rutherford County Beekeepers at the Lane Agri-Park (315 John R. Rice Blvd.)
Join Kroger (2449 Old Fort Pkwy.), on Wednesday, June 7, from noon–12:45
p.m. for pointers on how to determine which labels are actually worth buying, how buying healthy on a budget and buying organic are possible, that healthy snacks do not have to be boring and tasteless, what oils are the healthiest to cook with and other nutrition subjects. Learn how to speed up your shopping trip while picking up the best foods possible. For more information, call (615) 526-2495 or visit myrevolutionevents.com.
THROUGH JUNE 9 SPRING INTO SUMMER “Spring Into Summer” at the diverse art show currently on display in the Rotunda of the Murfreesboro City Hall (111 W. Vine St.) featuring the works of 12 artists from the Murfreesboro Art League. The Rotunda is open from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday, with a reception held in conjunction with the Boro Art Crawl from 6–9 p.m. Friday, June 9. For more information, call (615) 893-5210 or visit boroartcrawl.com.
JUNE 9 AARP GATHERING Learn about ways to stay healthy, avoid scams, drive safer and enjoy fellowship with other seniors with Murfreesboro AARP at the Patterson Community Center
Visit BOROPULSE.COM/EVENTS for more community events
(521 Mercury Blvd.) Friday, June 9 (and the second Friday of every month) from 10–11 a.m. For more information, contact (615) 848-2550.
benefit the Ivy Enrichment Foundation in providing scholarships for high school graduates pursuing secondary education. For more information, call (615) 962-7670.
JUNE 10
JUNE 10
RIDE 4 TAY
BETHEL UMC VBS KICKOFF AND FISH FRY
Coconut Bay Cafe hosts a benefit poker run for the Live 4 Tay Foundation on Saturday, June 10. Registration for the Ride 4 Tay Benefit Poker Run begins at 10:30 a.m. with kickstands up at noon. Proceeds from the event benefit local families who have children battling cancer. Coconut Bay is located at 210 Stones River Mall Blvd. For more information on the poker run and on the Live 4 Tay Foundation, visit live4tay.org.
JUNE 10 BIKE, CAR AND JEEP SHOW The Fifth Annual Bike, Car and Jeep Show at the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center (3400 Lebanon Rd.) will be held Saturday, June 10, from 9 a.m.–9 p.m. and includes a car show, Frank Ortegel and the Smoke Break Band performing live music, free children’s activities, raffles and giveaways. Each entry fee ($10) includes a complimentary lunch of a hot dog, chips and drink. Registration is from 9–11 a.m. in the parking lot of Building 8A. Bike staging is from 11 a.m.–noon with judging at noon. For more information, contact (615) 7528221 or tssweetpea@hotmail.com.
JUNE 10 KIDS CLOSET Get free clothing for children at Kids Closet at Riverdale Baptist Church (307 Warrior Dr.) June 10, from 9 a.m.–noon (and the second Saturday of every month). Recipients must register beforehand. For more information, contact (615) 6630427 or visit riverdalebaptistchurch.net.
JUNE 10 SMALL FRI TRI Old Fort Park (1025 Old Fort Pkwy., near Kid’s Castle) hosts the Small Fri Tri (a triathlon for preschoolers) on Saturday, June 10, from 10–11 a.m. For more information, contact (615) 893-2141. Pre-register at Patterson Community Center, Wilderness Station and Sports*com through June 8. For more information, call (615) 893-2141.
JUNE 10 TASTE OF AKA The 17th Annual Taste of AKA, held at Patterson Park Community Center, features entertainment, soul food and vendors Saturday, June 10, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m., to
Join the Bethel United Methodist Church (4286 Sulphur Springs Rd.) for its VBS Kickoff with bounce houses, a water slide, crafts, games and a fish-fry/chicken tender meal on Saturday, June 10, from 3–5 p.m. VBS is June 12–14 from 9 a.m.–noon for preschool–fifth grade. For more information, call (615) 893-2329.
JUNE 13 WGNS BLOOD DRIVE The Annual WGNS Good Neighbor Blood Drive invites everyone to support the Red Cross at an event held in the gym of the Patterson Community Center (521 Mercury Blvd.) Tuesday, June 13, from 8 a.m.–2 p.m. WGNS is broadcasting from there in the morning. Avoid the wait and visit redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor CODE: WGNS.
JUNE 16 THIRD FRIDAY CONCERT
Endure Athletics hosts Kids Run The Boro, a 2.62-mile mini marathon and the Little Dudes and Dads 1/2, on Saturday, June 17, from 8 a.m.–10 p.m. at Gateway Island Park (1875 W. College St.). For more information, find Kids Run The Boro on Facebook.
June 19–23, from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. each day. Scholarships available to families in need. No musical experience is necessary to participate. For more information, contact director@yeahrocks.org or (615) 849-8140, or visit yeahrocks.org.
JUNE 18
JUNE 24
MAGIC AT THE MANSION
DOUGHBOY CHALLENGE 5K
Oaklands Mansion (901 N. Maney Ave.) hosts a Father’s Day Magic in the Mansion show. The day also features Christie-Q BBQ’s food truck, games, music, cigars and free tours for fathers on Sunday, June 18, from 12–5 p.m. The Middle Tennessee Magic Club is the Sam Walkoff Ring, the Murfreesboro chapter (number 252) of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, the largest fraternal organization of magicians in the world. For more information, call (615) 893-0022.
The 2017 Doughboy Challenge for Charity 5K takes off from the Murfreesboro Civic Plaza (111 W. Vine St.) on Saturday, June 24, beginning at 7:30 a.m. supporting the Interfaith Dental Clinic, whose mission is to create a healthier community by providing oral health care for those experiencing poverty. For more information, visit doughboychallenge.com.
JUNE 19–23 ROCK CAMP Coordinated by the Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities (YEAH!), Tennessee Teens Rock Camp at Central Magnet High School (701 E. Main St.) returns for its fifteenth year Monday–Friday,
JUNE 24 RIDEJONAHRIDE After losing their 10-year-old Jonah to a pulmonary hypertension crisis in June 2015, Jonah’s parents have been raising support for pediatric research and treatment for the disease. RideJonahRide combines an all-day motorcycle ride followed by an after-ride party. Pick up your CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Come out for the Third Friday Night Food Truck and Concert Series at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) Friday, June 16, from 6–9 p.m.
JUNE 16 SENIOR RABIES CLINIC Take advantage of this rabies clinic for dogs and cats of senior citizens at the St. Clair Street Senior Center (325 St. Clair Street), sponsored by the Beesley Foundation, Friday, June 16. Dogs receive parvo/ distemper shots and a rabies vaccine. Cats receive their feline distemper and a rabies vaccine. Cats must be in carriers and dogs must be on a leash. Sign up in advance at the St. Clair center. A maximum of 75 shots are available (first-come basis). For more information, call (615) 848-2550.
JUNE 16 HUGH’S BREWS AND QUES GOLF TOURNAMENT Enjoy a round of golf at Cedar Crest Golf Club (7972 Mona Rd.) while sampling BBQ and brews from around the area in support of Project Heart’s CHD research on Friday, June 16, from 11:30 a.m.–7 p.m. For more information, find Hugh’s Brews & Ques: Memorial Golf Tournament on Facebook.
JUNE 17 KIDS RUN THE BORO BOROPULSE.COM
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packets at 9 a.m. at The Grove at Williamson Place (3250 Wilkinson Pl.) and begin the ride at 10:15 a.m. Enjoy stops including Bumpus Harley-Davidson of Murfreesboro, Nolen’s Place in Nolensville and 41 South Sports Bar and Grill in Manchester. Return to the Grove at 5:30 p.m. for a party with prizes, burgers and brats from Batey Farms, beer from Mill Creek Brewing Co. and live music by ’80s cover band Mixtape. The after-party is open to the public (Families welcomed, donations accepted). For more information, contact guiderrich@ bellsouth.net.
JUNE 24 BOAT DAY Stones River Watershed Association invites the public to Boat Day, a free day to learn boating basics in canoes and kayaks, launching at the Manson Pike Trailhead (1208 Searcy St.), Saturday, June 24, from 9 a.m.–noon. Paddles and personal flotation devices are provided. For more information, call (615) 893-2141.
JUNE 25 FREE CLOTHES AND FOOD Free food and clothes are given away at the Oakland Park Seventh-Day Adventist Church (711 N. Maney Ave.) Sunday, June 25, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. (and the fourth Sunday of every month). For more information, call (615) 410-7552.
JUNE 27 ARTIST NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM Join Bradley Academy (415 S. Academy St.), Tuesday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m., for an evening of different performances from dance, spoken word, song, oneperson shows and even artwork. Artist’s Night provides a safe space for performers to try new things, with light refreshments and a photo booth to create memories for guests. For more information, call (615) 962-8773.
WEDNESDAYS WET ’N’ WILD Enjoy Wet ’n’ Wild Wednesdays at the Cason Trail Greenway (1100 Cason Trail) every Wednesday in June to hear a story and then spend time wading in the beautiful West Fork of the Stones River. Rain boots or old shoes are needed. Registration begins at 9:15 a.m. with the program from 9:30–11 a.m. Preregistration is requested but admission is free. For more information, call (615) 907-3538 or (615) 542-4633.
TUESDAYS, FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS
Farmers Markets
The summer season is here, and along with it comes the farmers’ markets in Murfreesboro, one taking place on the Square and another on John R. Rice Boulevard.
THE MAIN STREET SATURDAY MARKET takes place on the Murfreesboro Public Square surrounding the Rutherford County Courthouse each Saturday morning. The Market’s main slogan is “Real Farmers. Real Food. Real Community.” According to Main Street Murfreesboro, the organization that organizes this market, the market’s vendors will be “offering fresh fruits, vegetables, breads, meats and flowers.” The market is open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon until October.
RUTHERFORD COUNTY FARMERS MARKET is located in the Community Center at Lane Agri-Park. RCFM started in 1975 and, as written on the Facebook page for the Market, its mission is “Supporting economically viable, producer-only farming operations in Middle Tennessee while also ensuring the availability of fresh produce, meats, eggs and other farm products to members of the Rutherford County community.” Vendors for the market come from more than 20 counties in Tennessee and sell a variety of seasonal produce, flowers, plants, meat, eggs, baked and canned goods. The Rutherford County Farmers Market takes place every Tuesday and Friday from 7 a.m. to noon at 315 John R. Rice Boulevard.
ENTERTAINMENT
DJ, BINGO, TRIVIA & KARAOKE NIGHTS MONDAYS AHART’S PIZZA GARDEN Trivia, 6:30 p.m. LEVEL III Trivia, 7 p.m. THE BORO Vinyl Spin with KM 9 p.m.
TUESDAYS COCONUT BAY Live Trivia, 7:30 p.m. HANDLEBARS Karaoke, 7 p.m. NACHO’S Trivia, 7 p.m. NOBODY'S Bingo, 7 p.m. OLD CHICAGO Trivia, 9 p.m. TGI FRIDAY’S Trivia, 9 p.m.
HANDLEBARS Karaoke, 7 p.m. LA SIESTA (GREENLAND) Trivia, 7 p.m. LEVEL III Trivia, 7 p.m. MELLOW MUSHROOM Trivia, 8 p.m. NOBODY’S Trivia, 7 and 9:30 p.m. SAM’S SPORTS GRILL Trivia, 8 p.m. STATION GRILL Trivia, 7 p.m. THE BORO Game Night, 8 p.m.
THURSDAYS BOB’S BBQ Trivia, 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAYS
CAMPUS PUB Trivia, 6:15 and 8:15 p.m.
CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m.
COCONUT BAY Karaoke, 8:00 p.m.
GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR Karaoke, 9 p.m.
HANDLEBARS Karaoke, 7 p.m.
NOBODY’S Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m. WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.
FRIDAYS GEORGIA’S SPORTS BAR Karaoke, 9 p.m. LIQUID SMOKE DJ Night, 10 p.m. MT BOTTLE Karaoke, 9 p.m.–3 a.m. WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.
SATURDAYS CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m. NACHOS Trivia, 7 p.m. NOBODY’S Karaoke, 9:15 p.m.–12:30 a.m. WHISKEY DIX DJ Cliffy D, 8 p.m.
SUNDAYS SAM’S SPORTS GRILL Trivia, 8 p.m.
CONCERTS THURS, 6/1
JAZZMATAZZ
Ivan Fleming
AUTOGRAPH REHEARSAL STUDIO
FRI, 6/2
COCONUT BAY CAFE
Karaoke with Hitman Walker
JAZZMATAZZ
Sam McCrary and the Mix
JAZZMATAZZ
Todd London Trio
PULSE
THURS, 6/8 JAZZMATAZZ
Ivan Fleming
PUCKETT’S GROCERY
Songwriter Night Hosted by Justin Johnson
Fans of the Murfreesboro Moose Lodge, 1831 NW Broad St., will have one last chance to hang out in the historic lodge building before the local Moose vacate the site for another location, making room for the soon-coming Ichiban Japanese Restaurant to move into the Broad Street building. The Sugar Daddies (and Mamas) bring a variety of classic rock tunes to the lodge on Saturday night, June 17. Sugar Daddies vocalist/guitarist Tony Lehew says his dad, Ralph Lehew, was a long-time Moose Lodge member and his family has shared many good times in the building. Lehew added that he felt honored to perform in the building’s final show at the Moose Lodge, which happens to fall the day before Father’s Day.
FRI, 6/9
COCONUT BAY CAFE
Zone Status
PUBLIC SQUARE
MAYDAY BREWERY
NOBODY’S
NOBODY’S
PUCKETT’S GROCERY
PUCKETT’S GROCERY
Casual Exchange
Jake Leg Stompers
Laura Vida
Alexis Taylor Escape
SAT, 6/3
JAZZMATAZZ
Reggie White and the Artful Noise
THE BORO
Ashes of Folly, The Verge
Stacia Watkins, Steve Dean, Mark Lonsway
THE BORO
1/2 Watt Astronaut, Adhere, Safe Secrets, Aye Mammoth, Murder Suicide
THE BORO
Twinspan, Giants at the Door
SAT, 6/10
COCONUT BAY CAFE
DJ Tru FX
JAZZMATAZZ
Dj Kidd Green
MAYDAY BREWERY
PUCKETT’S GROCERY
PUCKETT’S GROCERY
Beaker Street Blues Band
THE BORO
T.Rust, Thunderfrog, The Strumms, Justin & the Cosmics
Shannon Labrie
The Consoulers
SUN, 6/11
JAZZMATAZZ
Drew Sims, Tony Hartman
WED, 6/14
JAZZMATAZZ
Drew Sims
THURS, 6/15 JAZZMATAZZ
COCONUT BAY CAFE
Crossroads
JAZZMATAZZ
Ivan Fleming
NOBODY’S
Marshall Creek
SAT, 6/17 BIRD SONG STUDIO
FRI, 6/16
AUTOGRAPH REHEARSAL STUDIO
Fail to Decay, Battle Path, Exalted, Abated Mass of Flesh
Enfold Darkness, Invoking the Abstract, Cryptic Hymn, Iraconji
MAYDAY BREWERY
Mize and the Drive, Jake Leg Stompers
MOOSE LODGE
The Sugar Daddies
THE BORO
Bridges to Burn, Offset, Fate of Adam
THURS, 6/22 JAZZMATAZZ
Ivan Fleming
PUCKETT’S GROCERY
Lacey Canfield
THE BORO
Radical Arts presents Comedy Night
FRI, 6/23
DJ Mike
Sam McCrary and the Mix
The Allison Worley Band
THE BORO
Spacegrass (Clutch tribute)
SUN, 6/25
THE BORO
1/2 Watt Astronaut, Particles Collide
THURS, 6/29 JAZZMATAZZ
Ivan Fleming
FRI, 6/30
MAYDAY BREWERY
THE BORO
Zone Status
PUCKETT’S GROCERY
Brian Ashley Jones
Main Street Music 527 W. Main St. 615-440-2425 Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Hwy. 615-479-9722 MT Bottle 3940 Shelbyville Hwy. 615-962-9872 MTSU Wright Music Building 1439 Faulkinberry Dr. 615-898-2469 Nacho’s 2962 S. Rutherford Blvd. 615-907-2700
Patterson Park Community Center 521 Mercury Blvd. (615) 893-7439
JAZZMATAZZ
NOBODY’S
Jazzmatazz 1824 Old Fort Pkwy. 615-624-6944
TUES, 6/27
DJ Roco
JAZZMATAZZ
King Corduroy
Green Dragon 714 W. Main St. 615-801-7171
Nobody’s Grille & BBQ 2227 Old Fort Pkwy. 615-962-8019
COCONUT BAY CAFE
Crusty Veterans
Garage Bar 405 N. Front St. 615-934-7464
JAZZMATAZZ
COCONUT BAY CAFE
My July
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AUTOGRAPH REHEARSAL STUDIO
Brad Frazier and Company
MAYDAY BREWERY
Coconut Bay Café 210 Stones River Mall Blvd. 615-494-0504
Liquid Smoke #2 Public Square 615-217-7822
JAZZMATAZZ
JAZZMATAZZ
CJ’s 352 W. Northfield Blvd. 615-546-4164
SAT, 6/24
Statesboro Revival
DJ RDP
All-Star Jam Hosted by Justin Johnson
Carpe Artista 101 Front St., Smyrna 615-984-4038
Level 3 114 S. Maple St. 615-900-3754
COCONUT BAY CAFE
COCONUT BAY CAFE
Carmen’s Taqueria 206 W. Northfield Blvd. 615-848-9003
THE BORO
Sarah Potenza
First Fruit Jazz Project
THE BORO
MAYDAY BREWERY
The Smoothrays
SUGAR DADDIES
SATURDAY, 6/17 @ MURFREESBORO MOOSE LODGE
JAZZMATAZZ
The Pilots
PICK
The Hues
THE BORO
MAYDAY BREWERY
The Truehearts
Bonhoeffer’s 2022 E. Main St. 615-440-3794
The Radiomen, Verretta, Adam Searan, The Pleading, Rita Brooke
Radio Farm
Jake Beavers & the Stones River Rundown, HooDoo Men, Fischer’s Kitchen, Robbie Sieben’s Sidecar Sazerac
Autograph Rehearsal Studio 1400 W. College St. 615-686-6121
WED, 6/7
PUCKETT’S GROCERY THE BORO
IF YOU GO
Skipper Grace 1 Love
PADAMN! and friends
SAT, 7/1
MAYDAY BREWERY
Shannon Labrie
Phat Boyz Bar & Grill 4425 Woodbury Pk. 615-546-4526 Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant 114 N. Church St. 629-201-6916 Shangri-La 1208 S. Lowry St., Smyrna (629) 255-8296 Tempt 211 W. Main St. 615-225-7757 The Boro Bar & Grill 1211 Greenland Dr. 615-895-4800 Wall Street 121 N. Maple St. 615-867-9090
View the monthly concert schedule at BoroPulse.com/Concerts Send show listings to Listings@BoroPulse.com
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Murfreesboro music veterans Creature Comfort will take the stage at Bonnaroo 2017 STORY BY ELIZABETH TULLOS
B
efore they were the Nashville favorites that stole the show at this year’s Lightning 100 Road to Roo contest, the indie space pop quartet Creature Comfort was playing shows in living rooms and basements across Murfreesboro. Music-goers in Murfreesboro may recall hearing Creature Comfort’s alternative indie rock sound over the years in Murfreesboro’s various venues. From the Fortress of Solid Dudes and Wolfcastle to Three Brothers and Little Shop of Records, Creature Comfort has played them all. The indie experimental quartet joined other Murfreesboro favorites for the Murfreesboro Tour de Fun in 2012 and Boro Fondo in 2013 and 2014. Creature Comfort got its start as Paper Not Plastic in 2008 and played its first show at a high school graduation party in Tullahoma, Tenn. The band members moved to Murfreesboro to study at Middle Tennessee State University and continued their passion for music. The lineup at this time consisted of Jessey Clark on guitar and vocals, Nick Rose on bass and Zach Brattsveen on drums. These members saw the transformation in both sound and name from Paper Not Plas-
tic to Creature Comfort in 2011. After losing their previous lead guitarist at the start of 2011, the electrifying Nick Rose filled the vacancy, switching from bass to guitar, and Cole Bearden, another Tullahoma native, joined the team. “I was the only remaining founding member (of Paper Not Plastic) and the bandmates hated the name,” Clark said, “and our sound was different so we changed the name. The name actually came from Cole. He was having a hard time one night and his roommate’s dog hopped in his lap and told Cole to get some creature comfort and it stuck.” The lineup changed once more in 2012 when Brattsveen left the band and Taylor Cole of Chalaxy, another Murfreesboro favorite, became the band’s drummer. “Taylor’s first show was May 18, 2013, for our Fox Tales album release show,” Clark said. “He wasn’t even on the album but he played that show and he’s been a member ever since. We’ve actually known each other since we were five. His dad is still my doctor. We played T-ball together, hung out, drew dragons together and played Dragon Ball Z
PHOTO BY SHOTSBYP; AT TOP BY NATHAN ZUCKER
Road to Bonnaroo
together. Next, we’re going to play Bonnaroo together.” Following Fox Tales, Creature Comfort continued the process of writing, recording and playing as many house show gigs as possible. Between Frankie Avalon House, Trap House, Fortress of Solid Dudes and Wolfcastle many weekends, Creature Comfort became a regular in the Murfreesboro music scene. By 2013, the four-piece indie rock band scored their first Nashville show at The Attic. “The first actual show we played in Nashville, I just reached out and sent a blind Facebook message to Joe Clemons, the Native Magazine editor and the booking contact for The Attic,” Clark said. “Once we had that under our belt, Springwater was next. In 2013 we were playing shows at Springwater and still playing house shows in Murfreesboro. After that there was 8th off 8th at the High Watt and we played Tour de Fun in Nashville. That was the first time that we got to play The Five Spot.” After establishing themselves in Nashville, Creature Comfort released the EP Echoes and Relics in 2015 following on the
heels of their first tour. Last year, the band completed its second tour, this time in the northeast. Once they returned, they released another single, “Teeth for Days” which has become the trademark of the band’s sound. “We’ve been working really hard and just trying to grow,” Clark said. “When we put out this single after Echoes and Relics, it did really well on Spotify with 100,000 plays. It’s not very much in the grand scheme of things but we’re not signed to any label and we’ve just been working hard.” When Clark heard about the Lightning 100 Road to Roo contest, a battle of the bands opportunity to play a stage at Bonnaroo, he submitted “Teeth for Days” for the band’s entry, thinking it was a long shot. From that moment, Creature Comfort’s official Road to Roo began. Each round, Creature Comfort approached their sets as not a competition but an opportunity to play music and have a good time. “I never went up there and felt nervous, I went up there just feeling like I was about to have the best time of my life,” Clark said. After three elimination rounds and the state finals competition, Creature Comfort secured a spot on the Bonnaroo lineup April 5 at Acme Feed & Seed, a familiar stage for the Middle Tennessee natives. On Monday, June 5, Creature Comfort will release “Common John (Southern Shame)”, the band’s latest single before premiering it on the New Music On Tap Lounge Stage. Fans can listen to the politically charged, Anti-Trump track on Spotify and iTunes. Catch Creature Comfort’s first Bonnaroo appearance Saturday, June 10, at 2:45 p.m. on the New Music on Tap Lounge Stage. If you can’t find the stage, you can meet up with the band members just before their set at the fountain as they form a conga line leading to the show. BOROPULSE.COM
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JUST DRUM
T
he first day of summer is quickly approaching and for many that means it’s the literal “longest day ever.” For Ross Lester, however, it’s a day to invite the entire Rutherford County community to join forces and make music together. Wednesday, June 21, is Make Music Day, a worldwide celebration of music that started in France in 1982, which also coincides with the summer solstice. Ross Lester, the man behind Everybody Drum Some, uses this day to continue an idea started last year to encourage anyone and everyone to come out and join in a group percussion session, regardless of their experience. “It really is not at all about musical experience or talent or anything like that,” Lester said. “What’s fun about these kinds of community rhythm events is that people who have played drums a lot can really get in there and do their groove and jam, but people who are not as acquainted with it can just kind of tap along to the beat.” Lester specifically made the point that
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Murfreesboro drummers gather in Old Fort Park for Community Rhythm Event on Make Music Day, June 21. STORY BY DAKOTA GREEN
participants shouldn’t feel like they must be experienced or talented at drumming. Lester, a longtime drum instructor, started this idea of a Murfreesboro community rhythm event with Pulse editor Bracken Mayo as a way of bringing the community together to communicate through music. The drumming leader said he really enjoys “introducing people to this wonderful vehicle of recreational music making.” Through Everybody Drum Some, Lester and other drumming enthusiasts aim to start each season with a similar community rhythm event.
“We’re really trying to blow up these once-a-quarter events and invite the whole town out and just try to make it a big celebration,” Mayo explained. “We want everyone to come and join the rhythm.” “There are professional musicians there and there are people who have never been in a musical group ever . . . there are people who’ve played drums for 40 years and then kids who, it might be their first concert, become immersed in music like that for the first time,” he continued. While Lester has plenty of rhythmic ideas prior to each community drumming
session, each occurrence takes on a unique life and character of its own. “What’s amazing is that from the beginning of the evening to the end of the evening is the whole group really grows together in their ability to communicate musically,” Lester said. The Murfreesboro Community Rhythm Event will take place on Make Music Day, Wednesday, June 21, starting at 6:30 p.m. at Old Fort Park between the playground and outdoor tennis courts. It’s free to participate and everyone is invited to come join the session, or to spectate. Participants can bring drums, shakers, tambourines, wood blocks or percussive instruments of any type, but even those who have no instrument may come out and use one in the Everybody Drum Some collection. To learn more about Everybody Drum Some, visit everybodydrumsome.com.
ALBUMS
BY JOHN CONNOR COULSTON
BOOMSTICK
THE JEWEL MACHINE
Don’t let the cringeworthy title fool you, Boomstick’s Bull in a Vachina Shop is a one of the most solid and replayable local rock albums so far this year. The four-piece consists of Jacob Roberts (vocals), Mitch Allen (guitar), Alice Law (bass) and Shae McDaniel (drums, vocals), who came together after their respective bands (Backwoods Heathens, Blood Culprit and The Radio Symphonic) disbanded. Bull in a Vachina Shop is the band’s debut record and was recorded at Shed Recordings in Nashville. Overall, Boomstick gives you some solid grooves and sweet guitar licks with a growling edge. The song titles are laughably immature, but it’s all in good fun, so don’t let them deter you. The closest thing you’ll get to comedy is the cynical sarcasm on the trend-skewering “New J’s (Satan’s Baby)” and “Ann Coulter Has a Penis.” The latter of those takes down right-wing media culture with lyrics like My head is filled with the lies sold to me / Opinion bought by Koch Industries / Fox News, it consumes me. The band repeats similar sentiments about modern society in the album’s closer “Wyatt Herp.” It features lyrics slamming people catching Pokémon and worshipping Kardashians and ends on the sentiment What the f— is wrong with humanity? The album’s most divisive aspect is the singing. Roberts’ vocals have an interesting growl that sounds like a toned-down version of Disturbed vocalist David Draiman. While they give the record a unique sound, they’re a bit unpolished at points and occasionally pitchy. Most notably, the track “Boston Creme Pie” has great instrumental licks all around (especially the fuzz bass part), but the vocal parts falter at points. However, that’s not a big issue if you’re into the track’s grave style of delivery. Boomstick’s freshman rock effort, Bull in a Vachina Shop, is available on Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp, Amazon and CD Baby.
The Jewel Machine is the latest undertaking from singer/songwriter Terry McClain, perhaps Murfreesboro’s most prolific musician. This band consists of bassist/vocalist Ashlie Jewel and McClain, who contributes vocals, stringed instruments and percussion. Sammy Baker, Denny Presley and Vicky Kremer Plant also contribute instrumentation to this release. From There to Infinity, released in tandem with a show at the Boro Bar and Grill in April, is a five-song EP that mixes roots music with a modern songwriting approach. Perhaps the best example of this sound is “Too Much Silence,” boasting a killer banjo riff which leads into some pounding drums and a solid melody. “They Call Me by Your Name,” another highlight, is a depressingly beautiful country number that feels like the perfect slow song for a barn dance. McClain and Jewel’s voices here complement each other wonderfully, showing that pair’s chemistry. “Man Who Walks Alone” kicks off the EP with some grim imagery straight out of a classic country murder ballad: Deep in the Tennessee hollow right around the bend / Buried my own brother and killed my own best friend. A stripped-down duet reminiscent of “Man of Constant Sorrow,” this tune should appeal to those familiar with the revered O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. “Everyone,” a ’70s pop-rocker complete with some nice electronic background texture, strays the farthest from the group’s Americana sound. This song, a big, communal track, reveals one of the EP’s shortcomings: the mix just needs a little more live energy and “oomf.” Furthermore, the mix seems a bit off at some other points on the EP, leaving some of Jewel’s backing vocals too subdued. Overall, though, despite these minor mix issues, From There to Infinity is a high point in McClain’s ever-growing repertoire, and a worthwhile local Americana release, offering a taste of the band’s upcoming full-length album.
Bull in Vachina Shop
From There to Infinity
A CLASSIC OUTSTANDING
AVERAGE BELOW AVERAGE
AVOID AT ALL COSTS DEAD
Sounds
ANGELICA ROBINSON, LAUREN ASHLEY AUTREY, LIZA JANE, JAYSEN GOLD THIS MONTH ON THE JUSTIN REED SHOW
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MUSIC NOTES
WHERE DOES THE TIME GO? It seems like we were just starting out the new year and now we are in June! First, let me say a big “thank you” to every faithful listener; it truly makes doing The Justin Reed Show so much fun knowing that there are faithful listeners out there! June is always a busy month for the show and we have some great guests lined up (in addition to the great country music that we always play)!
JUNE 1: Episode 185 — Lauren Ashley Autrey will appear on the show at 7:30 a.m. Autrey has a story that is worth telling, from teaching herself how to play music, writing her own songs, helping friends deal with difficult situations and then winding up in “the worst place I have ever been in my life”; she now performs music to make people happy. She will drop by and make us happy by playing live. More information can be found at facebook.com/laurenashleyautrey. At 8 a.m. the show will welcome Angelica Robinson. A onetime Voice contestant, Robinson sold everything she had in 2014 to come to Nashville and she has not looked back since. A regular all over town, Robinson will drop by the show and play live. More information on her is at angelicarobinson.com.
35TH INTERNATIONAL FOLK FEST BEGINS JUNE 11
JUNE 8: Episode 186 — At 7:30 a.m., Liza Jane will drop by and make her debut on the show! Jane has been singing since she was 2 years old; 16 years later she is still singing and making music. Currently a student at Belmont University, Jane recorded an album at age 16 titled We Can Start a Fire. More information on her can be found at lizajanemusic.com.
Each year, the International Folkloric Society welcomes dancers and musicians from around the world to Murfreesboro for the International Folk Fest. The 35th annual International Folk Fest will present events in the area June 11–18. Throughout the week, groups from Mexico, Canada and Lithuania celebrate international dance, music and arts with performances for local schools, senior citizen organizations, civic organizations and everyone in the community. Along with international troupes, Middle Tennessee old-time band Uncle Shuffelo and His Haint Hollow Hootenanny will perform unique, spirited versions of historical tunes on Friday and Saturday. According to its website, the festival promises to be a week of “excitement and education with a mission to preserve international cultural heritage.” To learn more about the festival and the performing troupes, visit mborointernational-folkfest.org.
MTSU alum Jaysen Gold will make his debut on the show at 8 a.m. Gold currently works as a teacher; he has previously worked as a disc jockey, interviewing Randy Owen of Alabama fame among others. Gold, who has been nominated for numerous Josie Music awards, entertains all over the region. For more information, visit facebook.com/jaysengoldmusic.
2017 International Folk Fest Schedule TUESDAY JUNE 13 Linebaugh Public Library 105 W. Vine St. Murfreesboro Mexico – 10 a.m.
TUESDAY JUNE 13 Smyrna Senior Center 100 Raikes St. Smyrna Canada – 10 a.m.
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THURSDAY JUNE 15 Smyrna Public Library 400 Enon Springs Rd. W., Smyrna Lithuania – 10 a.m.
FRIDAY JUNE 16 Lebanon High School Auditorium 500 Blue Devil Blvd., Lebanon 7 p.m.
SATURDAY JUNE 17 Rutherford County Courthouse Square 8:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m.
JUNE 15 is a day off for the show; Justin will be on vacation! The lineup for the rest of June and July is still tentative as of the print date; however, the best way to find all the most up-to-date information is at thejustinreedshow.com, facebook.com/thejustinreedshow and @tjrs_wmts on Twitter. The Justin Reed Show will be doing some very special events at the upcoming 40th Annual Uncle Dave Macon Days on July 7 and 8; stay on the lookout for that. Justin will be hosting two special Dewdrop Jamboree shows each night, and you will not want to miss them! Peace, Love, and Ernest Tubb, — JUSTIN REED
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MUSIC NOTES THE BUMBS
MUSICTREE FEST RETURNS TO MANCHESTER PRIOR TO BONNAROO
EAGLEMANIACS TO HEADLINE JUNE 3 WARTRACE MUSICFEST It will be a night of Eagles music beneath the stars at the 13th annual Wartrace MusicFest on Saturday, June 3, as the Eaglemaniacs recreate the hits of the Eagles and Don Henley. The group of nine Nashville studio musicians is noted for its precise instrumental recreations and soaring vocal stylings of Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Timothy Schmit and Joe Walsh (and let’s not forget pivotal former guitarist Don Felder or founding former members Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner)—all of whom helped create a sound that has enthralled three generations of Eagles fans worldwide. Opening for the Eaglemaniacs on the main stage at 7 p.m. will be 17-year-old blues guitar sensation Chase Clanton and the Vintage Vibes plus The Buck Wild Band, delivering a high energy show of classic Southern rock and contemporary country music. A second stage with covered, cabaret-style table seating offers an afternoon hootenanny featuring single and small group acoustic musical acts playing continuous music beginning at 1 p.m. In addition to music, the family-friendly festival offers a broad range of CHASE CLANTON food vendors, purveyors of arts and crafts for sale, a supervised Kid’s Zone, the Chris Clark Bicycle Stunt Show, a raffle for a guitar donated by Stephen Gallagher, a classic car cruise-in, the MusicFest 5k Walk/Run in Memory of Amanda Floyd beginning at 9 a.m. and a professional fireworks show to close the evening. Admission to MusicFest is $7 with children under 12 admitted free. Free parking is available. Gates open at 9 a.m. with live music beginning at 1 p.m. MusicFest is presented by the Wartrace Chamber of Commerce to provide civic improvements for the town. Wartrace is located 10 miles off exit 97 on I-24, approximately halfway between Nashville and Chattanooga. For more information, call (931) 240-0300. 14 * JUNE 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM
Soak up some pre-Bonnaroo vibes at Musictree Fest, a five-day event honoring local music, art and barbecue, in Manchester, Tenn. Following a two-year hiatus, the festival kicks off this year on Friday, June 2, at Manchester’s Downtown Square with more than 20 artists on two stages. The 2017 lineup features Nashville-based artists like CAPPA, Tayls, the Bumbs and PONCÉ, along with Murfreesboro rock group the Hollows and Mize and the Drive. On Saturday night, Musictree is hosting an electronic after-party at The Church at 117 featuring regional EDM acts such as Comatosik, LuKo and others. The festival will continue on Monday and Tuesday with afternoon shows at various downtown venues. In addition to music, this year’s fest features the inaugural Musictree Festival BBQ Championship Competition, with the grand champion team receiving an opportunity to be a Bonnaroo vendor or caterer in 2018. Visit musictreefest.com or on Facebook at Musictree Fest for updates.
EXPERIENCE COMMUNITY HOSTS “NO OTHER NAME” NIGHT OF WORSHIP ON THE SQUARE, JUNE 9 Experience Community presents a night of worship on the Murfreesboro Public Square beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, June 9. The evening, billed as “No Other Name,” welcomes those from all churches, denominations and backgrounds as many Murfreesboro community members join together in worship on the Square that night. Organizers say the night of worship will include “Spirit-filled worship, strategic prayer and baptisms as we lift higher the name of Jesus Christ.” For more information, find a Facebook event page for No Other Name - Worship Night on the Square.
MUSIC NOTES RC AND MOONPIE FEST SET FOR JUNE 17 IN BELL BUCKLE Head to Bell Buckle on the third Saturday in June for the RC and MoonPie Festival. The annual celebration, which began in 1994, will feature performances by the Mid State Cloggers, comedy duo Davis and Dayle and the Valerie Smith Band, as well as a craft fair, 10-mile run and the cutting of the “World’s Largest MoonPie.” Beginning at 7 a.m. on Saturday, June 17, with the Bell Buckle Chamber RC—MoonPie 10 Mile Run, prepare to spend all day celebrating the 100th anniversary of the famous chocolate-marshmallow snack. For more information, visit bellbucklechamber.com.
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VALERIE SMITH
DAVIS AND DAYLE
Living Let us greet with a song of hope each day Though the moments be cloudy or fair Let us trust in our Savior always To keep us, every one, in His care Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side Keep on the sunny side of life . . . — From The Carter Family’s 1928 release “Keep on the Sunny Side,” composed by Blenkhorn/Entwisle By the time he was 7 years old, Cameron LeDuc had planted an idea. Like many ideas, it didn’t take root immediately. When it did, though, a family business began to sprout up that would change the lives of his parents, Scott and Jackie LeDuc—as well as the lives of many who would benefit from the eventual fruits of the family’s labors. Originally residing in Tampa, Fla., and seeking vacation property in Middle Tennessee, Scott and his wife opted instead to move to the McMinnville area in 2004 after his employer, Verizon, sold one of its divisions, leaving Scott jobless. “When we moved here from Florida, it was just on faith,” says Scott. “For some reason we knew this was going to be a spiritual growth thing when we moved to McMinnville,” he says, “because we went from a gated subdivision, and materialism, to 75 acres and a small cabin that was built in 1858. It was cool to live in, but it was supposed to be a vacation home. No heat or AC. Just a fireplace built in 1858,” he says as wife Jackie giggles in the background. “I would come home [from work] and chop wood in the dark; frozen wood, actually. So moving from Florida to there, it was a real experience, where you’ve got to ask yourself, ‘God, what in the world are we doing here?’” In time, the answer to that question would emerge. Putting beans on the family table using their musical talents, Scott and Jackie found opportunities in Christian music, eventually accepting full-time jobs as worship leaders at McMinnville’s Christ Family Church. In the meantime, their young son’s apparently God-given agricultural gifts were flowering—which likely wouldn’t have occurred in an upscale Tampa subdivision. “So there we were, the little city family on 75 acres living the Little House on the Prairie lifestyle, and Cameron at 3 years old was a natural,” says Jackie. “My son was just born loving plants and nature. We had neighbors that were into farming, and we’d take him and he would vaccinate cattle or go help do nursery work at a young age.” 18 * JUNE 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM
Area Family Business
Sunnyside Farms Grows in the Light of Faith BY STEVE MORLEY Not too long after Cameron began planting herbs, he decided to try selling his wares at a farmers market in McMinnville. The motivated youngster was also gaining experience as a part-time employee for an impressed local hydroponics farmer, who eventually realized he was training a worthy competitor. Set free with his former boss’s blessing, Cameron made his Murfreesboro market debut in 2013 at the Ag Center, gamely hauled there in the early morning hours by Mom. Having watched her son’s green-thumbed enthusiasm grow, Jackie dug a little deeper. “I started studying the herbs he was growing and became fascinated with all the medicinal benefits. The company actually originated
because of him,” says Jackie, whose first experiment was an almond-oil-based herbal rub containing anti-inflammatory, circulation-promoting and pain-relieving herbs. The LeDucs initially tested the concoction on their own sore spots, which included the painful foot condition plantar fasciitis. When they found relief, they believed their productÐnow christened Muscle RescueÐwas ready to be shared with others at Cameron’s farmers market booth. “People would buy it and come back with these crazy stories [of pain relief ]. After that our eyes were opened to God’s wonderful creation and the fact that His plants are medicine, so it just evolved into
making other lotions and soaps.” Sunnyside Farms was officially birthed in 2014 but had gestated over a few years while Jackie, who thrives on researching herbs and their therapeutic uses, began devising a menu of items that now ranges from teas and cooking spices to shampoos, body butters and men’s grooming products. One, an allnatural insect repellent called Fly Away, has proven effective on everything from chiggers to ants. Jackie’s particularly pleased to offer a chemical-free alternative to services and products that kill pests at the risk of exposure to toxins. It was Jackie’s goal from the outset, she says, “to create things where people could feel like they’re using products they’re used to, like Bath and Body Works and all that, but something that’s a much better choice that actually has health benefits.” Sunnyside Farms’ product line is always available at sunnysidefarms.us, but starting this month, the LeDucs will be onsite at the Main Street Saturday Market, which Jackie says has been Sunnyside’s home base since 2014. “Kathleen Herzog runs the market there, and she gave Cameron a chance to get in because she was fascinated with him,” explains
Jackie. “And then Kathleen and the customers began to fall in love with the products we make, and repeat customers have come back with great results, so we just love that. We’re excited to start there again this year.” The LeDucs’ daughter, Claire, completes the four-member family business, having taken on the role of marketing and branding specialist for Sunnyside Farms. Currently a film and media student at the University of Tampa, she’s designed a company logo and, according to her mom, is “developing the social face for the company.” Scott mentions that Claire began demonstrating an interest in film at age 12, teaching herself how to use the Apple video-editing software Final Cut Express. In addition to marketing, Claire handles some farmers marketing to boot, giving Sunnyside Farms an additional presence in the Tampa area. Like their parents, Claire and brother Cameron sing, write and play music (“probably better than we do,” says Scott with a laugh), making a family band yet another possibility. Cameron, now 17, also has a budding landscaping business. The younger LeDucs’ early and still-accelerating selfdiscovery processes, figures Scott, are the result of his and Jackie’s parental emphasis on the notion of personal calling and destiny. “I think probably the [kids’] entrepreneurial spirit comes from ‘what are you made to do?’ We encouraged our kids to find out what they like,” says Scott, “and then let them do it and see if that’s what they’re made to be doing.” While the couple continues to keep a hand in the music and ministry they themselves feel called to do, their Sunnyside venture now affords them an opportunity to build up their children’s innate talents and bless folks in a different, perhaps more hands-on manner. “Scott and I always wanted to do something that helped people,” Jackie says. “I love the fact that we make it, we package it, we tie the twine on it . . . and then deliver it to the consumer. And you’re helping them.” That fact, as confirmed by feedback from satisfied customers, is music to all the LeDucs’ ears.
Living
I
t is a joyous time of the year for gardeners. The vegetables are in the ground. Those who planted a spring garden are already reaping the rewards. Those who want pumpkins in the fall are sowing now. As the season moves along, the quality of the soil in which your plants are growing will be the basis of the continuing success of your garden. You want soil that is rich in organic matter. That allows for improved water infiltration and water holding capacity, improved drainage, with improved nutrient holding capacity. How can you make good, supportive soil? For the homeowner and apartment dweller to get started, recognize that what comes from the earth can return to the earth. No need to throw garbage into the landfill. Vegetable and fruit peelings, damaged produce, old bakery items, coffee grinds and tea are everyday candidates from the kitchen. From the yard, add leaves and untreated grass clippings. Voila, you are composting. According to the EPA, up to 30 percent of waste in our landfills is compostable. Composting is a natural process of turning organic matter into useable humus. Composting benefits the soil, helps to reduce pests, reduces the need for chemical fertilizers as it encourages and supports microbial development, beneficial bacteria and fungi. It is a cycle of life. The key to the success is to balance “greens” with “browns” and supply moisture. Greens are grass clippings, discarded fruit, vegetables, coffee grinds. Browns are dried leaves, straw and newspapers. Stay away from meat and dairy and domestic pet poop. Also avoid adding weed seeds and treated grass clippings to the pile. There are some simple and involved styles to composting bins. Some will have a turnable composting barrel; others have one pile that has decomposed product removed from the bottom. Ideally, there is a three-bin system that expedites the decomposition process. The University of California pdf file #118303 entitled Composting 101 gives a detailed strategy on using the system. The three-bin composting system will consist of one bin with yard waste being composted; one bin empty, to or from which the compost is turned; and one bin containing finished, or nearly finished, compost. There is an example of this technique at the Master Gardener’s Demo Gardens located near the pavilion on the UT Extension campus at 315 John R. Rice Blvd.
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Farmers Market Education Series BY EDWINA SHANNON
JUNE 9 Raised Beds Linda Lindquist, Certified Master Gardener Learn to garden without digging by using raised beds.
JUNE 13 Using Pesticides Safely Mitchell Mote, Extension Agent Maximizing damage to pests while minimizing risks to you!
Composting and Vermicomposting As composting works best when the decomposing materials are moist, there is nothing wrong with having a compost pile in the shade. Larger pieces need to be chopped or shredded. Fruit and vegetables can be dug into the compost, rather than laid on top. Compost piles should not smell. The decomposition of the mound will create heat. You also have the option to create an indoor composting bin. The process is called vermicomposting and it is setting up and maintaining an ideal environment for worms to process organic matter into nutrient enriched humus. The humus can then be used as a sidedressing on indoor or outdoor plants or used to create a compost tea. It is a productive, pet project of some local avid gardeners. The Soil Club from MTSU had vermicomposting as their featured project at this year’s Boro Garden Party. “My three granddaughters love the worms,” says Master Gardener Barbara Donnell. Barbara has had success with vermicomposting for three years. For beginners, she recommends starting with a dark plastic container with a lid, approximately 24” x 16” x 16”. Some go larger with old coolers; others chose a plastic coffee container. There will need to be both air holes in the top and drainage holes in the bottom. Some will choose a wire-formed sink drain or a piece of screen. A bedding of up to 4” of newspaper, peat moss or coconut coir should be on the bottom. Add Red Wiggler worms (not night crawlers) to the bed. Add food for the worms, a.k.a. garbage to us. Worms can eat up to half their body weight each day. Start
with small pieces. Stay away from oils, nuts, meat and dairy. Add crumbled egg shells for grit. Anytime you see the compost look dry, sprinkle some water. Do not overwater though, as worms can drown. Worms migrate to the top to feed. Protect them from heat and cold; the ideal temperature is between 55 and 77 degrees. Black gold will be ready for harvesting in approximately three months. There are some easy recipes for Compost Tea on the web. The RC Farmer Market YouTube channel also has some classes from Mark Murphy and Reggie Reeves on composting and organic gardening.
June Market Classes Held at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays at the Lane-Agri Park Community Center, 315 John R. Rice Blvd.
JUNE 2
JUNE 16 Cultural Arts, Family Community Educators Carol Wrather and Eunice Sorrell Come out to see our FCE Club members exhibit their creations of needlework, painting, pottery, quilts and more!
JUNE 20 Native Plants Richard Lee, Certified Master Gardener Learn how to use native plants to maximize diversity in your landscape.
JUNE 23 Cooking with Kids Tiffany Schmidt, Extension Agent Introduce young ones to healthy eating.
JUNE 27 Canning Tomatoes Pam Sites, Master Family and Consumer Sciences Learn the best technique to can tomatoes.
JUNE 30 Gardens to Attract Hummingbirds Linda Lindquist, Certified Master Gardener Learn techniques to bring beautiful hummingbirds to your garden.
Home Water Conservation: Making the Most of It! Katie Peay, Rutherford County Planning & Engineering As a homeowner, making conscience decisions on lowering your carbon footprint and conserving water can be difficult. Learn easy ways to make your home more green!
JUNE 6 Organic Pest Control Options for the Lawn & Landscape Mitchell Mote, Extension Agent Learn how to employ effective methods and naturally derived weaponry against pests.
For more information, call (615) 898-7710.
Art
BOOK THEATER
Center for the Arts Hosts Legally Blonde The Musical The Center for the Arts in Murfreesboro presents Legally Blonde The Musical June 9–25. The work is an inspiring story wrapped up in a perfect pink production based on Amanda Brown’s 2001 novel and its film version. College sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods can handle anything. So, when her boyfriend, Warner, dumps her for someone “serious” she decides to follow him to Harvard Law School and win him back. Case closed. With some help from newfound friends and her Chihuahua Bruiser, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style. “I have a personal connection to this production,” says codirector Denise Parton, whose directing partner is her daughter, Brittany Griffin. “People think of this as a pink, fluffy musical but it has a valuable message: you can achieve what you put your mind to. This mentality is reflective of myself, our volunteer cast and The Center as a whole. Often, other people in our lives can see past the superficial and help you see your true potential.” To help spread this positive message, The Center will present a free show for the media along with 50-some clients from the local nonprofit Greenhouse Ministries and several Gold Star wives and volunteers from the nonprofit A Soldier’s Child. This special showing is June 8 at 6 p.m., the night before the official show opening. The show stars Cayla Solsberg as Elle Woods, with Lydia
MLT Presents Dark Comedy Arsenic and Old Lace This June Murfreesboro Little Theatre is proud to present Joseph Kesselring’s dark comedy Arsenic and Old Lace this June. Sisters Abby and Martha Brewster are happy in their quiet Brooklyn home near the cemetery, the serenity only interrupted by their delusional nephew’s antics as Teddy Roosevelt. As they busy themselves with many “charities,” their other nephew, Mortimer, decides to come back home. Mortimer is a dramatic critic who wants nothing more than to marry the minister’s daughter and return to the world of real estate. But before he can settle into suburban bliss, he 22 * JUNE 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM
McLaurin as understudy and substitute for three shows. Michaela Ziparo is cast as the prestigeseeking Vivienne, Elle’s nemesis. Portraying Paulette Bonafonte, the beautician who encourages Elle to be true to herself and her natural hair color, is Kelly Lynn Sekuterski. Greg Henry plays the handsome but self-centered Warner, Elle’s college boyfriend, with Caleb Mitchell appearing as Emmett, the Harvard teaching assistant who sees Elle’s true potential. Stephen Belk serves in the role of the formidable Professor Callahan, while Jasmine Rose whips characters into shape as the fitness queen, Brooke Wyndom. As Pilar, Margo and Serena, respectively, the melodic voices of Hannah Mansfield, Autumn Plunk, and Mileah Milstead will harmonize as Elle’s’ trusted muses. Supporting roles will be filled by Jet Thurmond, Aaron Nicholas, Donny Clay, Corrina Andress, Jared Taylor, Jacob Sloan, Dakota Green, Bethany True, Sarah Tuverson, Cal Burks, Zach Bergh, Cheryl Restel, Lauren Belk, Alyssa Clayton and Jacob Denny. Also cast are an ensemble of high-energy dancers and singers who will blow The Center’s audiences away. Last, but not “leashed,” two precious pups—Khloe as Bruiser Woods, and Grunt as Rufus—round out the cast. For tickets or more information, call (615) 904-2787 or visit boroarts.org. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday evenings and 2 p.m. on Sundays, June 9–25. Saturday matinees will also be shown on June 17 and 24 at 2 p.m.
discovers a corpse in the window seat and begins to wonder which member of his family is a killer. As Mortimer attempts to sort this out, his criminally insane brother Jonathan joins the family reunion, bringing along his personal plastic surgeon . . . and another body! Directed by Melvin Springs, Arsenic and Old Lace stars Jessica Wells, Tyson Pate, Thomas Esson, Lisa Fisher, RJ Polito, Jess Townsend, Sean Richardson, Russell Richardson, Perry Poston, John Mark Redding, RJ Palhegy and Josh Jennings. Arsenic and Old Lace opens Friday, June 2, and runs through June 11. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7 p.m., with an additional Thursday showing on June 8. Sunday matinees begin at 2 p.m. MLT is located at 702 Ewing Blvd. For reservations and more information, visit mltarts .com or call (615) 893-9825.
Edwin McKnight Releases Children’s Book, Caius and the Great Troll Adventure Murfreesboro author and business owner Edwin McKnight has recently released his first published children’s book, Caius and the Great Troll Adventure. “There are amazing, enchanting experiences for those who develop a love of reading,” said McKnight. “My hope is that this book becomes a treasured part of a child’s library, that it brings the child and parent together in a way that promotes a great family experience.” Caius and the Great Troll Adventure chronicles a young boy’s adventures as he leads his family through a series of encounters in his quest to discover trolls. “After dark days when evil beings roamed the land, the great trolls grew fewer in number” and now only live in the tales told around the fireplace at night. Caius wonders if the fantastic creatures still roam the earth and sets out on his adventure to solve the mystery. The book is set in “The Fair Country,” a fanciful interpretation of McKnight’s community of Halls Hill, Tenn. The central character, Caius, received his name from McKnight’s 6-year-old grandson, who inspired the story on a Sunday afternoon hike with his family. The book is dedicated to McKnight’s mother, who encouraged him to pursue writing. “I believe this book would have brought her happiness,” McKnight said. McKnight, a Rutherford County native, owns a local benefits, insurance and financial services company and is a member of North Boulevard Church of Christ. Caius and the Great Troll Adventure is available on Amazon in hardcover or paperback.
ďƒ¨ DISPLAY
CHINA LIGHTS
THE NASHVILLE FAIRGROUNDS HOSTS China Lights, a spectacular celebration of light displays, through June 11. This tribute to the rich art, history and culture of China resembles lantern festivals in China that date back to more than 4,000 years ago. Featuring exquisite lantern sculptures, traditional stage performances, beautiful art and delicious cuisine, the magical, vibrant display is fun for the entire family. The China Lights exhibit includes hand-painted lanterns that were created exclusively for the festival, with some displays up to 300 feet long and over two stories tall. A nightly mini-dragon parade allows audience participation, and colorful lantern sculptures include pandas, safari animals, fish, a massive
Vibrant China Lights display illuminates Fairgrounds Nashville
dragon, birds and even dinosaurs. Enjoy archways filled with flower lanterns and walkways with giant tulips. Visitors can see incredible feats including jar balancing, martial arts, umbrella juggling and an impressive face-changing artist. China Lights will illuminate the through June 11. The festival opens at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays (closed Mondays); a kick-off parade launches each night at 6:15 p.m. and stage performances are at 6:30 and 8 p.m., with an additional performance Fridays through Sundays at 9 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit chinalightstn.com.
SubacuĂĄtico
Local Photographer Explores Underwater Caribbean Community BY SCOTT WALKER Slowly we sunk into the depth of the aqua-colored sea descending about 28 feet for the first sculpture. As I swam north towards Isla Mujeres I came upon what looked to be a group of people frozen in time. My scuba tank supplied my air, and as I exhaled it almost gave life to some of the statues as bubbles of oxygen swarmed around the heads of the sculptures before me. English sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor constructed over 500 life-sized statues that were later lowered into the Caribbean Sea to demonstrate the interaction between art and environment. Last month I got the opportunity to experience and photograph the exhibit, located between the coast of Cancun and Isla Mujeres in Mexico. Read more at smalltownbigworld.com. 24 * JUNE 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM
Art DISPLAY
Boro Art Crawl is back on the Murfreesboro Square, June 9 Community Painters Come Together to Create Huge Mural on the Greenway work, which were labeled using a paintby-numbers system. The city provided the paint and brushes, artists of all ages donated their time and, soon, vibrant oranges and greens adorned the oncegrey wall. The huge work of art brings some color to the underpass, which allows those on foot or bike to cross under busy Broad Street while avoiding the vehicular traffic.
MURAL PHOTOS BY JIM DAVIS/MURFREESBORO PARKS ADN REC
The wall next to the walking trail that travels under Broad Street (in between Cannonsburgh Village and Dodge’s Chicken) now hosts a large colorful mural depicting various recreational activities that take place along the Murfreesboro Greenway system. Cultural Arts Murfreesboro sponsored the Greenway mural project and invited volunteer painters to come out one day last month and fill in sections of the
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The June Boro Art Crawl will feature the works of a wide range of creators, from thirdgeneration artists to some who have just stared exploring their talent. The Crawl takes place one night every other month in businesses near the Murfreesboro Public Square, from Mayday Brewery to Dreamingincolor. Art Crawl organizers invite the whole community to explore what local artists have to offer on the June 9 from 6–9 p.m. Leah Boorse says that she loves to draw people because she’s capturing more than just the image in front of her. She strives to make their emotions, thoughts and feelings come to life on paper. “Since I’m a third-generation artist,” said Boorse, “art is something I have been exposed to from a very early age and [it is] my passion. My mother was my first art teacher, and always encouraged me to be creative. She is an amazing artist, and my biggest inspiration.” Other artists who will be showing their work during the Crawl include Artwork by Larry Kinney Larry Kinney, who paints lions and tigers; William Slinkard, who creates abstracts; and Anna Wise, who will be donating the proceeds from her Peter Max-inspired paintings to Compassion International. Moxie Art Supply and Gallery will feature the work of Pam Mack. Laura Neal will be showing her work at Mayday Brewery. Both the Center for the Arts and the Murfreesboro City Hall Rotunda will again feature local artists; this month, members of the Murfreesboro Art League will be showing their art in the Rotunda. Other locations include Simply Pure Sweets, Bella’s Boutique, Liquid Smoke, Sugaree’s and many others. For more information visit boroartcrawl.com. View the June Art Crawl Map
FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 2017 / EVENT MAP / ART / MUSIC / POETRY / LOCAL q
The Green Dragon Public House 714-F W. Main St.
The Boutique at StudioC 201 W. Main St., Ste. 206
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Dreamingincolor 504 N. Maney Ave.
Vibe Nutrition 208 W. Main St.
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Quinn’s Mercantile 301 N. Spring St.
Simply Pure Sweets 118 N. Walnut St.
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Center for the Arts 110 W. College St.
Moxie Gallery 302 W. Vine St.
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GREEN: Curated by Art Crawl organizers with art for all ages
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Liquid Smoke 2 N. Public Square
City Hall Rotunda 111 W. Vine St.
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Let’s Make Wine 109 E. Main St.
Sugaree’s 122 S. Maple St.
u The Write Impression
RED: 21+ June display more mature art
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Bella’s Boutique 109 S. Church St.
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Trendy Pieces 111 S. Church St.
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Two-Tone Art Gallery 17 S. Public Square
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PURPLE: Self-curated galleries
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The Earth Experience 816 Old Salem Rd.
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120 S. Maple St. 118 S. Maple St.
25 S. Public Square
Art Crawl Aug.xlsx
Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Rd.
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The Murfreesboro Art League will be at the City Hall Rotunda!
SPECIAL SECTION
Get Bark to Work!
Take Your Dog to Work Day is June 23 BY LUCAS JAMES STEPP WITH LESLIE RUSSELL-YOST FRIDAY, JUNE 23, marks this year’s celebration of the annual workplace holiday of Take Your Dog to Work Day. Pet Sitters International promotes Take Your Dog to Work Day to demonstrate the unique bond between workers and their pets, all in an effort to help non-pet owners consider adopting a pet of their own. Here in Murfreesboro this year, Cultivate Coworking will host a special event that will include a photo booth with pet photos being taken by Cynthia Jones, treats donated by various local companies and the presence of staff from Beesley Animal Foundation—offering information and accepting
donations—and other area animal related organizations. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 23, at Cultivate Coworking, 107 W. Lytle St. Organizers invite any local pet owners who cannot make the event to post photos of their pets in the workplace on social media using the #cowoofing and #TYDTWDay hashtags. For more information on Pet Sitters International, plus the history of the holiday, visit petsit.com. Here, the Pulse celebrates just a few of the loyal shop animals that you may see around town on Take Your Dog to Work Day and throughout the year.
MIKEY
Rutherford County Fire and Rescue Rutherford County Fire and Rescue recently added a new investigator. What’s different about this new staff member is that he’s got four legs and a wet nose! K9 Mikey and his handler, Rutherford County Fire and Rescue team member John Wauchek, graduated from the three-week State Farm Arson Dog Training Program in New Hampshire. Mikey is a 1-year-old male black Labrador retriever. Fire Investigator Wauchek and his new canine partner will investigate fires throughout Rutherford County and the surrounding area. State Farm has been a sponsor of the Arson Dog Program since 1993 with more than 380 teams being trained for law enforcement agencies across the country. The program provides an invaluable tool and resource for arson investigators and their departments. When Mikey is not on duty, he lives with Wauchek and his family, which includes two Chihuahuas. He’s the second arson dog provided by State Farms Arson Dog Program in Tennessee (the other is in Putnam County). For more on the program, visit arsondog.org.
MARLEY
Parker Brothers Window Tinting Dylan Parker of Parker Brothers Window Tinting and his dog, Marley, share a very special bond. Marley was diagnosed with megaesophagus when he was born two years ago. Since Parker adopted Marley about two years ago, they have been inseparable. Marley is an Australian Shepard who has to use a special high chair to eat while standing. Marley also requires higher end food to eat, which is usually Wellness Core brand dog food. When Parker adopted Marley, doctors told him that he probably wouldn’t make it, but he did. “He used to throw up every day, but now he can go 2–3 months only throwing up once,” said Parker. Marley acts like a normal dog outside of his box, however, and is very protective of Parker. This protective instinct applies to both man and dog; Parker says he has to keep an eye on Marley at all times.
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ATTICUS & BIZNESS Media Rerun
Media Rerun is workplace to floor manager Atticus, a 12-year-old black Lab-ish dog. He’s ready to greet the first customer of the day, then he’s ready for dinner! Atticus and his human, Media Rerun owner John Judkins, share an April 10 birthday. Atticus started coming to work with John after he was diagnosed with canine diabetes, to make it easier for John to keep up with Atticus’ feeding and medication schedule. Bizness was adopted from the Nashville Humane Association. When she’s cute, she’s Biz; when she’s a handful, she’s Bizness. Atticus used to hate cats, but after about an hour of spending time with Bizness, he was okay with her. They have a great working relationship! Visit Atticus, Bizness and John at Media Rerun, 2820 S. Rutherford Blvd. in Murfreesboro.
GUS | VNTG Gus is a 2-year-old German Shepherd, He’s one of the most recognizable dogs in downtown Murfreesboro. He can be found overseeing production at VNTG with his dad, TJ. Gus is also a registered emotional support dog. Last year Gus had an ultrasound to pinpoint exactly what was making him so sick, and the resulting discovery was a liver shunt, a condition he was born with. Gus’s liver couldn’t filter his blood and his blood poisons himself almost to the point of death. Thanks to a loving family and a generous community, Gus received the surgery he needed to live a normal, healthy life at full expectancy. You can thank Gus’s love of treats for the Gus Treats, available next door to VNTG at Simply Pure Sweets.
ROXY
Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra Roxy, a 10-year-old Pomeranian, is the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra ambassador and office dog. She comes to work with her mom, Fran Campbell, regularly and helps with tasks such as delivery of Symphony posters! Roxy’s biggest adjustment has been getting accustomed to Fran’s granddaughter, Adi. Roxy has an older sister, Bella, who’s retired and spends her days at home. Roxy is quite the celebrity— she was recently featured as WSMV Channel 4’s Dog of the Day.
DUDLEY | Dreamingincolor Dudley is a 5-year-old (mostly) flat-coated retriever. Dudley works at Dreamingincolor with his mom, Deneen Glidwell. He was adopted from Rutherford County Pet Adoption & Welfare Services (PAWS). Black dogs (and cats) are difficult to get adopted, and Dudley was sick as a dog when Deneen adopted him, but she knew he was her dog! Deneen’s love for rescuing dogs comes from her father. She said they’ve always adopted their pets and always will. Dudley is pictured in front of a cupboard painted in “Dudley’s Bandana,” a Dreamingincolor custom color.
Second Murfreesboro Bark Park Gives Pups a Place to Play Outdoors For those looking for a dog-friendly outdoor spot to let their furry family member burn off some energy, Murfreesboro now contains two separate dog parks. The original park is located at 1540 W. College St., near the General Bragg Trailhead. The park opened in the fall of 2006 and has remained a canine-friendly place that offers areas for both larger and smaller breeds of dogs. The park is open from sunrise to a half hour before sunset. The new park opened at the Cason Lane Trailhead earlier this year. For more on Murfreesboro City Parks, visit murfreesborotn.gov.
Take Your Dog to Dinner Dog-Friendly Restaurants in Murfreesboro Many Murfreesboro-area eateries have an outdoor seating area where well-mannered pets may keep their humans company. The Alley on Main Blue Coast Burrito The Boro Bar & Grill The Boulevard Cheddar’s Dairy Queen (Pup Cup available in drive-thru only) First Watch Frozen Treats From Mars (Free doggie ice cream— sweet vanilla in a cone!) Jason’s Deli 30 * JUNE 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM
Karin’s Kustard and Hamburgers (Offers pupcones) Liquid Smoke (Welcome inside, ask for dog water bowl!) Mayday Brewery Mellow Mushroom Slim Chickens Smashburger (They have a pup burger!) Sonic Drive-In Starbucks (Ask for a “Puppaccino,” whipped cream in a small cup)
Movies
progresses and he’s asked to be more than just charming and charismatic, he really falters. And what happens to him in the final act? Terrible casting choice. Almost as bad as asking us to believe a 61-year-old Ian McDiarmid could take on four Jedi, including Samuel L. Jackson, in Revenge of the Sith, no problem. Then there’s the pacing. Holy crap, the pacing in this film is terrible. Seriously! Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 drags its way to the third act with some absolutely meaningless setup. I found myself just straight-up impatient and wanting this film to just get on with it! It comes in at 136 minutes, but it
could’ve easily shaved 30 minutes off its run time. The pacing is really a product of another big problem with this film—the overall story is really not all that compelling. Like the original, this film is all about the moments (which are great), and in the process of this the overarching story suffers. Oh! And can we please get other Marvel characters to acknowledge this crap? I mean, I know they’re going to an Infinity War, but there were, what, five post-credit scenes here and not one of them was like Iron Man or someone from the Avengers investigating the damage the Guardians did! C’mon! Five post-credit scenes and literally none of them added anything to the film. You probably think I hated the film. I really didn’t! It’s fine and it’s fun, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I just hate how a film like this gets a free pass. We groan about unnecessary sequels and reboots, but crowds flock to every Marvel film in existence and think they’re the best things ever, even when they do the exact things we always groan about. But all of this does not take away from the fact that this is a fun movie. It is the definition of a mindless popcorn flick. And that doesn’t change the fact that it is more of the same. — JOSEPH KATHMANN
orally impregnates a human, or sometimes dog, followed by the chest-bursting birth of said alien. What this movie presupposes is: maybe they can come from spores? In the ill-wrought vein of Prometheus, Alien: Covenant picks up the mantle of injecting half-baked pseudo-philosophy into what used to be a pretty damn good series of space monster movies. And it would’ve worked too, if it hadn’t been for those pesky writers! See, Covenant is the name of the colony ship making its way through space to colonize a well-vetted and well-studied habitable planet. When the emergency repair crew is woken early, they discover a transmission beaming from an unknown planet in which Danny McBride’s lazily named Tennessee can just barely make out the dulcet tones of John Denver. So, naturally, they change the course of the Covenant, which still harbors thousands of future colonists in cryosleep, and go check it out. Next thing, they’re traipsing through the gorgeous jungle mountains of a completely alien world without any sort of protective masks
or space suits (remember the spores?), splitting up willy-nilly, just asking for it. The film looks amazing, but don’t be fooled. Ridley Scott can still make $100 million shine on screen; he just doesn’t know how (or care) to make sense from it anymore. Katherine Waterston, probably good in other films, fills the obligatory role of a Ripley replacement in brunette-boycut only. Danny McBride is annoyingly not annoying enough. Billy Crudup’s character is only there to be the idiotic driving force behind the plot who leads everyone, footloose and fancy-free, into danger—or, as the film sees it, action. But the real standout fail of Alien: Covenant involves Michael Fassbender’s paranoid android. Fassbender is characteristically great, a monumental feat given what his character is tasked to say and do (especially do). But like every character in this beautiful stinker, his motivations are baffling at best and lead to some of the weirdest and craziest scenes in the franchise. — JAY SPIGHT
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 DIRECTOR James Gunn STARRING Chris Pratt, Vin Diesel,
Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Michael Rooker, Kurt Russell RATED PG-13
Let’s not beat around the bush on this one: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is more of the same. It is nearly a carbon copy of the original film. Now, is that a bad thing? No. To me that is not a bad thing. I have seen so many sequels try and reinvent the wheel on their second go and fall flat in the process; I have no issue with a film taking an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” kind of mentality. Like the first Guardians film, Vol. 2 is all about the “moments” versus the overall plot. The overall plot here is fine, but it’s these moments that we all look back on and smile about. Except for the obvious one—Baby Groot—I think Rocket once again steals
the show. Bradley Cooper just plays this character so freaking well. Pratt and Saldana are great together, and there’s some good interludes between Dave Bautista and newcomer Pom Klementieff as well. Once again Elizabeth Debicki is a great villain. Also, the effects are great! Mostly. There were a few times where the CGI was overwhelming, but for the most part they were great. Especially on Ego’s planet! That place is freaking beautiful and that’s thanks 100% to the effects. Touching on Kurt Russell . . . well, I didn’t think he was all that good. Look, things start well enough with him, but as the film
ALIEN: COVENANT DIRECTOR Ridley Scott STARRING Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup RATED PG-13
A CLASSIC
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Cov·e·nant: n, an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified. In other words, it’s a cool-sounding word that has nothing to do with the movie it is subtitling. If anything, the “covenant” could be referring to the agreement made between filmmaker and audience in the first four movies, which this film (and Prometheus before it) casually breaks. Everyone knows that aliens are made when a facehugger OUTSTANDING
AVERAGE
BELOW AVERAGE
AVOID AT ALL COSTS
DEAD
LIVING ROOM CINEMA column by NORBERT THIEMANN
facebook.com/livingroomcinema
Representation These selections reveal some unique perspectives about rock bands and their representation from the sources themselves. Each film features a mentor who helped navigate the careers of popular musicians from as early as the 1960s onward.
24 Hour Party People (2002) is directed by Michael Winterbottom. This stylish film is about Tony Wilson, who helped usher in a wave of punk and post-punk bands after his profound experience of seeing the Sex Pistols live. Most notable for Wilson was Joy Division, which he signed to his Factory Records label in Manchester, England. 24 Hour Party People has all of the sensibilities of a great rock film, and on that level is very enjoyable. Danny Says (2015) is a documentary directed by Brendan Toller. Danny Fields migrated to Greenwich Village in the 1960s and soon discovered his love for the art and music taking place there. Following his jobs as a teen magazine editor and a radio personality, he was hired to scout and represent bands like MC5 and The Stooges for Elektra Records. Danny Says references a song that The Ramones wrote about him. Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon (2013) is a documentary directed by Beth Aala and Mike Myers. Shep Gordon found himself immersed in the music culture from his unforeseen encounters with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin at a Hollywood hotel. From that endorsement he started representing Alice Cooper, followed by several others in the worlds of music, film and television.
News
NAVIGATING THE SYSTEM SERIES BY BRYCE HARMON
PART 11
Packed DUI and Suspended License Dockets DUI/IMPLIED CONSENT The General Sessions Criminal Court dockets (posted at rutherfordcountytn.gov) for the first half of 2013 show DUI day, which usually fell on Friday mornings, averaged nearly a full page of DUI charges and DUI-related charges. After a person is charged with a crime, that charge becomes a case (or cases) to be seen by a General Sessions Criminal Court judge once it’s booked and scheduled for a court date. Their information—defendant’s name, charges, misdemeanor or felony, who pressed the charges against them and if they have a lawyer—are compiled into an alphabetical list of names with the corresponding charge(s) to create a collective list of recent crimes allegedly committed within Rutherford County. That collection of what appears to be a randomly assembled list of crimes—ranging anywhere from unlawful possession of a firearm to failure to give aid, from rape to incest, from hunting violations to prostitution, from falsifying a drug screen to child neglect, from the occasional TBI investigation’s growing-operation sting or drug-ring bust to a murder charge listed once in a blue moon or even PAWS-based charges such as animal cruelty, failure to register a pet or animals at large—is known as a docket. Every morning that court is in session, a judge calls the names of the defendants on their dockets to appear before them in order to begin the defendant’s formal due process for the charge(s) brought against them. One page of the judge’s daily court docket lists 50 cases to be seen by the judge (at least for a time, each page contained 50 names; the format changes occasionally). Dockets can be up to 10 pages long. While both felony and misdemeanor cases are present on the General Sessions Criminal Court dockets, and sometimes in overabundance (which can create a fire hazard in the judicial building) a vast majority of these cases are misdemeanors, far outnumbering the felony charges going through the General Sessions Criminal Court. When the dockets are seemingly assembled at random, they are referred to as all-chargesencompassed dockets. The most prevalent charges seen throughout all-charges-encom34 * JUNE 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM
passed dockets posted on rutherfordcountytn. gov were marijuana and drug-related charges, alcohol-related charges, theft, violation of probation, domestic assault charges and driving on suspended or revoked license charges. Some charges occur more than others in Rutherford County so much so that those who schedule court dates—be it the Rutherford County Sheriff ’s Office, the clerk’s office or the judges themselves—organize similar, prevalent cases into its own docket, so it’s just a docket full of different people with the same charge to be dealt with in a single day. Since the end of October 2011, when the Circuit Court Clerk’s office began posting the judge’s daily dockets on the county website, charges prevalent enough in Rutherford County General Sessions Criminal Court to merit their own day once a week include violation of probation (VOP) charges, domestic assault charges, driving on suspended or revoked license charges and DUI/DUI-related charges. VOP and domestic assault charges have always had their own day once (sometimes twice) a week during the almost six-year span the online dockets cover. DUI and DUI-related charges, as well as driving on suspended/revoked license charges have made a rise in the dockets since 2011, gradually taking on their own day. The number of DUI and DUI-related cases for the first half of 2013 is lower compared to the previous year, when DUI day dockets averaged around a page and a half, with the highest 2012 total being nearly three pages in April. DUI day was skipped every few weeks in 2012, though, before it steadied out and became a common weekly workload for the judges in the beginning of 2013. If there wasn’t a DUI day on a Friday in 2013, it’s probably because Judge McFarlin worked an extensive caseload on Tuesday and Wednesday, and first-offense DUIs could be a heavy presence on those days. The highest total caseload of DUI charges were handled in the third week of June 2013, when Judge Loughry moved through six pages of DUI charges that Thursday and finished up the last half-page of them the next day. There were eight court dates for the DUI/ implied consent charges brought against
me. Six of them occurred in the June 6, 2013, through Feb. 3, 2014, time frame. The first two hearings were continuances. Then I missed the third court date. A capias (order of arrest) was released, an arrest warrant activated, and a notification from the sheriff ’s office that a warrant had been issued for my arrest came in the mail about a week later. Mid-warrant service, I ran to the judicial building to find anyone able to explain it to me. The judge’s deputy assistant, Jake Flatt, listened to my questions and advised me to go to the jail. During my questions-turned-explanation, though, he told me we could listen to court records of the previous court date (the second continuance) on Aug. 1, 2013, and showed me a big CD binder behind the deputy assistant’s desk where we could find a miscommunication, if any existed, between Judge Loughry and me. I emphatically agreed. Flatt quickly replied, “We don’t have that one.” I then asked to speak with a judge, a request he denied: “You can’t speak to a judge.” I turned my head to the neighboring deputy assistant’s desk, where Judge McFarlin sat watching that whole conversation go down. “They’re not here to help you, man,” I said to myself walking out of the judicial building. Attorneys around the area specializing in DUI cases advertise to those arrested for DUI charges by mailing them their information when the daily public arrest records are released by law enforcement offices. After my capias incident, I hired one of those attorneys, who would represent me for the next three court dates (another two of which were more continuances) as I worked to pay his attorney costs by the Feb. 3, 2014, court date, when the attorney was paid in full and my case was settled in court for the first time. Driving Under the Influence is considered a Class A misdemeanor in the state of Tennessee, according to Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) law; penalties for a Class A misdemeanor can be found in TCA 55-10-403. The DUI attorney negotiated a deal with the district attorney’s office while I waited in the first-floor hallway. When he returned, he explained what had just happened in the D.A.’s office, advised me and checked to see if it was okay to proceed with the guilty plea deal. He stood beside me in court, where I only spoke as I pleaded guilty to the DUI/implied consent charges, meaning I would serve seven days in 940 within a month of pleading guilty, pay a $525 fine, complete an alcohol/drug safety school class and a victim impact panel class, stay away from illegal drug activity or associate
with anyone using illegal drugs, and have good and lawful conduct throughout and comply with all conditions of an 11-month and 29-day probationary period under the supervision and management of PCC. The bill of cost filled out by the circuit court clerk’s office is broken down to $65 clerk’s fee, $6 judicial commission, $40 arrest charge, $525 fine, $2 sheriff/Workhouse mittimus (a document relating to the holding and/or transfer of a convicted felon), $29.50 state tax, $26.50 county tax, $10 booking fee, $10 bond fee, $10 for restitution fund, $15 penalty tax (for not paying that day), $1 for CLRF, $35 continuance fee for the extensions, $82 serving capias fee for the missed court date and arrest warrant issued, a $12 scire facias fee (which is like the arrest warrant issuance fee, but sent to the bail bondsman who bonded me out of jail), $65.85 for county litigation, $12.50 to the public defender fund, $45 to the victim assistance assessment fund, $25 for court security, $3 for the victim notification fund, and $5 ARC—totaling $1,025.35. No one who knows what the abbreviated/acronym-labeled fees are could be found at the clerk’s office at the times I checked.
DRIVING ON SUSPENDED LICENSE On Jan. 31, 2014, four days before my Feb. 3, 2014, DUI/implied consent court date, an MTSU Police Department officer pulled me over next to campus for expired license plate tags while I was on the way to work. My license had been suspended for excessive tickets, and they set the court date for a driving on suspended license charge five months out on June 10, 2014, on Judge McFarlin’s docket. A driving on suspended license charge is a Class B misdemeanor, according to T.C.A 55-50-504, which carries a penalty of “not greater than six (6) months [imprisonment] or a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars (500), or both,” according to T.C.A. 40-35-111, which specifies misdemeanor penalties. Assistant D.A. Sheila Freeze wrote the deal to send back to Judge McFarlin to have me state I understand what it meant and that I pleaded guilty. Under this charge, the plea deal agreed upon was six months at 940 suspended and substituted with a six-month probationary period at PCC, to pay a $50 fine, lose my license for six months, “as Dept. of Safety will allow,” according to the judgment form for this case, stay away from illegal drug activity or associate with anyone using illegal drugs, and have good and lawful conduct throughout CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43
AROUND TOWN ’BORO BUSINESS BUZZ
Ichiban, Champy’s restaurants to open; Old Fort picnic shelters torn down; Roll the Dice to close
Chattanooga favorite CHAMPY’S FAMOUS FRIED CHICKEN is spreading its wings and flying into Murfreesboro. The Chattanooga-based chain restaurant will take over the building formerly occupied by Hooters on NW Broad Street. The outparcel is in front of the old KMart. The Murfreesboro location, the company’s seventh, is slated to open by the end of the summer. Samantha Goonon will bring Champy’s “Fortys and Foul” to town as the franchise owner with her brother TJ Goonon. Goonon started with the restaurant as a server while she was a student at University of Tennessee in Chattanooga and moved up the ranks to become a district manager. According to the company’s website, Champy’s was opened in June 2009 by Seth and Crissy Champion, who created a chicken mini-empire with an old family recipe. The made-to-order menu includes fried chicken, handrolled tamales, fresh sides and desserts. Champy’s currently has six locations in Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia.
BY MICHELLE WILLARD It’s no secret that Murfreesboro loves to eat, and at least two regional names are making new homes in the ’Boro. First, downtown Nashville staple ICHIBAN JAPANESE RESTAURANT
is picking up and moving to Murfreesboro. After more than two decades on Second Avenue, Ichiban is relocating to the old Moose Lodge building on NW Broad Street. Restaurant spokeswoman Becky Kounlavong told the media the restaurant experienced a fire in January and the owners, not surprisingly, couldn’t find an affordable place in Nashville. Kounlavong said renovations to the building should be completed by late summer. The restaurant will feature authentic Japanese food, a sushi bar and a banquet hall. THE MOOSE LODGE is relocating to 1507 W. College St. If you’re looking for something more adventurous, a new concept to Mufreesboro recently opened near the MTSU campus. CUP POP brings the tastes of the Korean peninsula to the ’Boro with Korean barbecue in a cup. Chef Sook Carter serves up native classics like bulgogi, katsu and gyoza, all in the convenience of a cup. Cup Pop can be found at 3832 Middle Tennessee Blvd., in the shopping center with Beat the Bookstore and located behind The Boro Bar & Grill. Still have a hole in your heart left by the dearly departed Little Shop of Records? Let HEART OF VINYL fill what’s missing. The mobile record shop is the brainchild of Riverdale grad Justin Frazier, who wants to share his love of vinyl with the world. “I love music and vinyl and I want to bring that love of music to others who enjoy it as well. I’ve spent my life collecting records and digging through dusty crates,” Frazier said about the mobile record shop that he runs through his social media pages. He will deliver music to your doorstep in Rutherford County for a $15 minimum purchase, in Nashville for a $30 minimum and ship to anywhere in the U.S. 36 * JUNE 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM
“I deal with new and second-hand albums but I spend lots of time making sure that the second-hand albums are in good condition. If I wouldn’t purchase a record and play it then it doesn’t go into my shop,” he said. Visit facebook.com/heartofvinyl to see his latest offerings. ROLL THE DICE at 211 Robert Rose Dr. will close to business in July after seven years of serving the tabletop gaming, collectable and roleplaying community, the store announced in a post on Facebook. “We are so grateful for all of the kindness and support you have shown us over the years,” the post said. The store will close July 30, but it will continue to host its full calendar of events through July 23, including a MTG pre-release on July 8 and 9, Pokémon pre-release July 22 and 23, and MTG PPTQ and Pokémon League Cup. “We will also be continuing to bring in new products, while slowly clearing out our inventory,” the post said, adding they will also sell their fixtures and promotional items. Customers are devastated by the news. Richard Nosnhoj said the people involved
with the store that sells board games, roleplaying games, collectible card games and puzzles has become like a family to many. “Many hearts will be broken and many gamers will be lost without this wonderful and iconic shop,” he said. One customer, Zach Coulter of Murfreesboro, has even launched a GoFundMe to attract investors for him to buy the store. “I have a large group of friends that I’ve made in my couple years of going to this store, all of whom were deeply saddened by the news of the potential closing. I spoke to the owner about the business and asked if he would be willing to sell the store, to which he agreed,” Coulter said on his Save Roll the Dice GoFundMe page. THE LAW OFFICE OF W. SCOTT KIMBERLY (107 N. Maple St.) announces the
addition of Hunter Fowler as an associate attorney with the firm. Fowler will focus his practice on criminal defense, family law and civil litigation. Fowler is a 2016 graduate of the Nashville School of Law; for more on the law office, visit murfreesborolawyer.com.
PICNIC SHELTERS REMOVED AT OLD FORT PARK In early May, the city of Murfreesboro razed shelters No. 1 and 2 at Old Fort Park as part of improvements at the park, said Mike Browning, spokesman for the city. The removal was expedited because one of the shelter’s restrooms was damaged in April. “A shelter restroom was severely vandalized: toilets, sinks and stall doors were destroyed . . .
Conservative costs for repairs are more than $5,000,” he said. “Rather than make those repairs, an operational decision was made to proceed with planned demolition.” Mayor Shane McFarland told WGNS the city deemed the facilities were unsafe and needed to be torn down. The 50-acre park still contains a pavilion near Kid’s Castle. Browning added the removal has been planned for some time and the city stopped taking reservations for the pavilions in January. But homeless advocates are still upset by the loss of the pavilions where they have served food and fellowship to the city’s homeless population for the past seven years. “It has been one of the most consistent reprieves from life,” Amber Hampton said about how the homeless community viewed the shelters. Browning said the city plans to replace the shelters, which were donated to the city by the Murfreesboro Rotary Club in 1980. The park’s master plan, which is only a draft and not binding, calls for a new maintenance shed to be built behind the pavilions as well as three new pavilions on the site. It also includes improvements to the entrance at the intersection of Old Fort Parkway and New Salem Pike, Browning said. These investments in the east side of the park will complement improvements made to the west side, like the Greenway extension, a playground, the Adams Tennis Complex, new lighting, and stream restoration. According to the city’s annual report on the Parks & Rec Department, the Old Fort Park pavilions saw 221 reservations in 2015, which generated more than $10,000 in revenue.
News SAVE THE WETLANDS Proposed downtown townhome development sparks petition.
F
STORY BY JUSTIN STOKES
or some, the value of a piece of land can be directly measured by a dollar amount. For others, its worth comes from the positive effect the land might have on an area. In Murfreesboro, two particular downtown areas are being eyed for development that will accommodate the ongoing growth in the city (which the United States Census Bureau says is America’s tenth fastest growing city). Those areas are the Historic Murfreesboro Bottoms and the North Highland Avenue areas, both subjects of recent Murfreesboro Planning Commission studies that make the case for their use as areas that can accommodate new retail and housing opportunities. One proposed development, on property near the Oaklands Park Wetland, raises some concerns for some residents. The property is currently scheduled to accommodate between 70 and 91 townhouses. And though this proposed construction isn’t on the wetland area, the potential for making a negative impact on the area has caused a stir among worried residents; a change.org petition titled “Save Oaklands Park Wetland from 91 townhouse development” has been circulating within the community, created with the intent of persuading Murfreesboro City Council members to action after other attempts at starting a civic dialog failed to deter the development. Drafter of the petition Justyna Kostkowska elaborated on the importance of the petition. One of the “80-plus area resident homeowners who live in the closest proximity to Oaklands Park Wetland,” Kostkowska says that those adjacent to the property stand to lose the most with the loss of the “large neighborhood wooded area” and a traffic surge. “The response has been overwhelm-
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ing,” says Kostkowska. “We collected 700 signatures in four days. Over 95 percent of the signatories are area residents. We have formed a Save the Oaklands Wetland [Facebook] group which has attracted over a hundred [130] members in two days. People care about this unique place and do not want it destroyed. We hope to get our voices heard and for the city elected officials to listen to the needs of their citizens. This is the only big green area left in the heart of the city. We who live here need it for our quality of life.” Kostkowska says that pollution of the creek would affect “the longest wildlife corridor in the heart of the city with 131 species of birds documented there, deer, wild turkeys and amphibians,” and shares that “endangered plants like Blue Water-Speedwell” would be at risk. She also says that Native American artifacts found nearby add an anthropological significance to the area, and that residents are still concerned about the potential for flooding with the development. Issues like heavy traffic along North Highland are anticipated by protesters to clog nearby roads affect police response time; as
Kostkowska states, “A traffic impact study was not done to determine if the area can accommodate this much more congestion.” She also raises concerns about the runoff from the houses affecting the neighboring wetlands, and the association between apartment complexes and the string of recent shootings in the city. “This development is presented as a revitalizing project to the area, but all it is is a short-term boost to the developers and real estate agents,” she adds. “What will be gained is a fraction of the value of the quality of life of the citizens that will be irretrievably lost.” Local real estate broker Bill Jakes—known by many as the administrator of the Facebook group “Downtown Dwellers”—represents eight family members of the late Dr. Alvah White, who are the sellers of the property in question. He says that the family is concerned about the effect the property’s sale will have on the environment, and that they’ve already donated seven acres of land for wetlands preservation. It should also be noted that, according to Jakes, he served on the board of the Oaklands Mansion as the chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, and that
efforts to sell the property for preservation efforts fell apart. Jakes shares that he’s no longer serving the Oaklands Mansion board, citing his responsibilities to the property owners. Speaking to the Pulse, Jakes explains what he sees as an untruthful campaign caused by the protesters. “I have respectfully taken issue with the change.org petition and its creator,” he says “based on what seem like deceptive tactics to upset the public.” Jakes claims the original picture used by the petition was one depicting Maney Spring. He also says that the name “Oaklands Park Wetlands” is misleading. Nevertheless, Jakes still commends people for being concerned about the happenings of their community. “The main issue that seems to be overlooked by most is that this property has been studied at length and has already been granted approval for development,” Jakes said. “I have in my possession a previous wetland study that states ‘there may exist areas, which may be considered as wetlands at the subject property. As a general description, however, owing to the absence of hydrophytic vegetation in most of the areas of the subject property, the areas which may be considered to exhibit all three of the criteria defining wetlands are limited and exist as relatively isolated pockets within the subject property.’” Jakes shares that the 2.5 acres of “justifiable wetlands” was already among the seven acres donated as a gift to the city. For anyone who wants to have their opinion heard by the City Council, the final public hearing for the rezoning of the property near Oaklands Park is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at Murfreesboro City Hall.
Food
Read more about local restaurants at
BoroPulse.com/Category/Food
Down on the Bayou Jazzmatazz brings New Orleans-inspired cuisine with jazzy atmosphere. STORY BY DYLAN SKYE AYCOCK
W
ith the bustling city of New Orleans more than 500 miles away, locals can find Louisiana flair and flavor just down the street at Jazzmatazz Lounge and Restaurant. Jazzmatazz, locally owned and operated by Murfreesboro native Leo Hathaway and wife DeAnne, opened last May at its Old Fort Parkway location. The couple has since debuted several made-to-order, creole-inspired dishes, including a weekend brunch menu that lends a Cajun spin to traditional breakfast items. Upon entering, the faint aroma of Cajun spices permeates the open dining area. For an early dinner, slide into one of the booths or tables; at night, grab a seat at the bar or at a high-top in front of the band. If you want to catch a sporting event, such as a Preds game or the Super Bowl, Jazzmatazz has several large-screen televisions for that occasion. According to Leo, the restaurant’s most popular dishes include Fish Delight (his personal favorite), which comes with a serving of creole-seasoned grouper filets atop a bed of seasonal vegetables and steamed rice;
Bang Pasta; Shrimp and Grits, with andouille and tasso sauce served atop creamy grits; and Jambalaya, a blend of chicken, andouille and fresh herbs served on a bed of rice. Other than a handful of items, the menu remains almost entirely faithful to New Orleans-inspired flavors. If you’re not in the mood for Cajun spices, though, try the Navy Chief Burger, a 100 percent Angus beef burger with all the fixings, a watermelon salad or one of the appetizers. The three-cheese mac and cheese is served as a side or appetizer, but I recommend adding either chicken, shrimp or crawfish to make it a meal. Despite all the current menu items, there’s been one item missing for the past year: alligator. Although it’s not an official Jazzmatazz menu item at the moment, the eatery’s most recent chef ’s special features alligator ribs, a dish Leo says has been in high demand. “We’re trying to get the alligator ribs out there and see what people have to say about it,” Leo says. “We’ve had a lot of people asking for it for awhile, so we hope to add it to the menu in the future.” While the food takes you down to the bayou, it’s the restaurant’s live music schedule, particularly performers of the jazz variety, that makes the New Orleans ambiance come alive. On any given night, a local jazz artist is likely to arrive with a saxophone, but the Hathaways don’t exclusively book jazz artists. Thursday nights are reserved for country music while weekends usually bring
from 4–7 p.m. during the week. in soul, R&B and rock artists. Jazzmatazz offers a brunch menu from 10 Once live music begins, Jazzmatazz is a.m.—3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday with transformed into to a lively nightspot. Deitems like Nola Eggs Benedict (biscuits, potato pending on the mood, couples can be seen hash, cheese grits and variswaying on the dance ous meats can be added to floor or chatting on the your brunch order), Red plush red couches and Beans Rancheros (three high-top tables. If you’d fried eggs, red beans, like to pair a cocktail with NAME: Jazzmatazz tortillas, sausage and dinner, there are several Lounge and Restaurant cilantro crema) and Vegan unique varieties, such as LOCATION: Hash (home fries, roasted the Jazzmatten, Louisi1824 Old Fort Pkwy. tomatoes, peppers, onions ana Tea or a spicy Dark HOURS: 4–11 p.m. and kale). Don’t forget Storm, in addition to Monday–Thursday; the endless mimosas or a other popular drinks. 4 p.m.–1 a.m. Friday; bloody mary. A few things to know 10 a.m.–2 a.m. Saturday; Hathaway says he hopes before you go: 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Sunday to add an open-air patio Jazzmatazz primarPHONE: 615-624-6944 in the future, as well as ily caters to adults, but PRICES: Appetizers more comfortable lounge families are welcome (Mac and cheese, seating and new booths. to dine in. Because the Buffalo shrimp, New Orleans Nachos)—$6–10 The Jazzmatazz website is restaurant opens at 4 updated frequently with p.m. on most days and Entrees (red beans and rice, fish delight, daily specials and includes closes late, it’s designed jambalaya, shrimp and a live music calendar. for adult patrons looking grits)—$9–16; Keep up with new menu for a relaxing atmosphere Po Boy (fish, shrimp, items and upcoming or an exotic cocktail. With crawfish)—$8–10; events on the restaurant’s more than 10 specialty Beignet—$8 Facebook page. drinks and a happy hour Cocktails (Jazzmatten,
THE DISH
Jazzy Alexander)—$8–10
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RECIPE
Summer Salad of Prosciutto, Melon, Roasted Stone Fruit, Arugula, Balsamic Reduction BY KEVIN McDANIEL SUMMERTIME, FOR ME, IS A TIME OF THE YEAR IN THE SOUTH THAT DEFINES A SOUTHERNER; it is a time of full sensory engagement: the oppressive heat, the smell of the water across the hot asphalt, fresh-cut grass, the cicada invasions, the smell and taste of summer fruits and vegetables, salads, grilled meats and relaxing outside. To this day, my mom, Toni McDaniel, and my dad, Scott McDaniel, go the market on Saturday and buy honeydew and cantaloupe, bring it home and wedge it up. This salad, for me, is summer on a plate. It combines, my favorite elements of flavor—the salty prosciutto, the ripe melons, the sweet roasted peaches and apricots, the tart vinegar and the peppery arugula. So, I hope this brings some simple happiness to a hot oppressive weekend day, outside with your family. Also, if you see my parents around town, tell them thanks for the salad. Enjoy!
SALAD WITH ROASTED FRUIT MELON & BALSAMIC INGREDIENTS 2 c. balsamic vinegar ½ c. apricot, sliced ½ c. peach, sliced 1 tbsp. powdered sugar 1 c. honeydew melon 1 c. cantaloupe, sliced 3 ounces prosciutto, sliced into strips ½ c. arugula
DIRECTIONS Slice all fruit into bite-size pieces, or use a melon baller for the melons. For balsamic reduction: Heat 2 cups balsamic vinegar over medium heat until reduced by about 50 percent. You want the reduction to coat the back of a spoon. This will take approximately 20 minutes. Allow to cool completely before use. 42 * JUNE 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM
(If you do not want to make the reduction it is available at most grocery stores.) Lightly sprinkle the peaches and apricots with powdered sugar, making sure to remove any extra sugar. Roast under the broiler for 6–8 minutes. (You want the fruit to be slightly caramelized and soft. Be careful not to roast them into mush). Layer each plate with the prosciutto, gently twisting the pieces so they give a little height to the plate. Scatter the roasted peaches and apricots and the melon over the prosciutto. Drizzle the reduction, very lightly, over the whole salad. Finally, layer with as much arugula as you wish and finish with another very light dressing of the reduction and pinch of salt.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34 and comply with all conditions of a six-month probationary period under the supervision and management of PCC. In this case, I unknowingly represented myself, “Pro Se.” When signing up for PCC, defendants are asked if they are currently on PCC, to which I replied “yes.” The Bill of Cost receipt from the general sessions court clerk’s office states I paid $4 judicial commission, $70 clerk’s fee, $25 county officers fee, $10 county fine, $50 fine stated on the judgment form, $29.50 state tax, $15 penalty tax for not paying it the day of court, $1 CLRF, $65.85 county litigation, $12.50 to the public defender fund, $15 office fee, and $47 other—totaling $344.85. No PCC supervision fees or monetary costs accumulated on this case because I went into the abyss before that could happen. I had at that point officially experienced all three classes of misdemeanors, (A, B and C) under Tennessee state law through the Rutherford County criminal court system. Driving on suspended and revoked license charges became such a trend, reaching an average of a page of charges in total daily caseloads, that Judge Barry Tidwell turned Wednesdays into driving on suspended/revoked (Susp./Rev.) license day by December 2015 and on through February 2016 until he sourced Susp./Rev. license charges to Judge Toby Gilley from general session civil, who stepped in on March 3, 2016, to host susp./rev. license day on Thursdays, on top of Judge Tidwell’s susp./rev. license Wednesday, so Judge Tidwell could mind the all-charges-encompassed docket on Thursdays and Judge McFarlin could get back to his weekly domestic assault day docket on Thursdays. Judge Tidwell’s susp./rev. license docket on Wednesdays averaged around a page in 2016 while Judge Gilley’s docket on Thursdays averaged one-and-a-third pages of susp./ rev. license charges throughout 2016. Currently both of their susp./rev. license days have increasing averages. When there is a two-page susp./ rev. license docket, that’s around 100 extra people in the judicial building on top of the other two judges’ dockets, with a daily caseload average of 275 through 2017 so far.
To be continued . . .
Opinion Trump, Russia and the Media; Another Arnold Supporter Fired From Sheriff’s Office The
STOCKARD REPORT BY SAM STOCKARD
I went home with the waitress the way I always do / How was I to know she was with the Russians, too? — Warren Zevon “Lawyers, Guns and Money,” 1978 The difference between the late Warren Zevon and President Donald Trump—besides the obvious fact that Zevon was a really cool musician—is that our president knew he was talking to the Russians. So did former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn. But in the world of our president, it’s all fake news. What’s a little information sharing (even if it’s classified) when we’re both out to kill ISIS? If you’re Vladimir Putin, though, it’s great, because it gives you some leverage over the president of the United States. Less than five months into this presidency, a special counsel is already needed to delve into the Trump connection to the Russians, something once unheard of in American politics. Even Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, who was nearly Trump’s Secretary of State and appeared to cheer his every move, tweeted that the situation was “spiraling” out of control. On the flip side, Congressman Scott DesJarlais, the first to jump on the Trump bandwagon in 2016, is backing him to the hilt, calling news coverage of the president “complete and utter nonsense” during the recent Republican Reagan Day Dinner. DesJarlais, who represents Rutherford County in the 4th Congressional District, told the GOP crowd, “We’ve always known about the bias lean of the news, but since President Trump’s election, these folks are really not even trying to be neutral and partial anymore.” It must be pointed out the president allowed Russian media into the Oval Office the day he opened his big mouth, telling his Russian buddies, “I get great intel” and then giving them the intelligence, accord44 * JUNE 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM
ing to reports. Of course, U.S. reporters weren’t allowed in because Trump hates them and, clearly, because if they’d been in there when he said that stuff they would have gone through the ceiling. Trump’s been trying to control the media since he started campaigning. As a result, he’s gotten more coverage, whether positive or negative, than any candidate or president in history. So what the heck is he complaining about? Calling the daily stories of the world’s toughest press people “fake news” is no way to win over the media. Answering their questions, even cracking a few jokes here and there, is the best way to get on the good side of the media. These people have been in the business for decades. They’re paid to be cynical, and they can smell a rat a mile away. If he can’t take the heat, he needs to get out of the kitchen.
THE ARNOLD CONNECTION
Having Trump as president is about like having now-convicted felon Robert Arnold as sheriff. It’s just one thing after another. At the federal court sentencing hearing for Arnold, after prosecutors played a TV reporter’s interview in which she pointedly asked Arnold about the connection between him, RUSSELL his wife and former administrative deputy Joe Russell to the JailCigs operation at the county jail, Arnold’s own attorney said the video showed he was “ill-suited” for the job. Arnold finally admitted everything he said in the interview was a lie. He told so many lies he couldn’t remember which ones he told and when he told them. Without replaying the entire case, it must be noted Arnold finally acknowledged what he did was wrong when he ran the e-cigarettes operation out of the jail. Now all he wants is for his children to someday accept him as their father. He has about three more years in a
federal pen to think about this hard lesson. The fact he is showing contrition is a big step, and maybe someday he and his children can reunite under better circumstances. The kids sure deserve it.
HEADS STILL ROLLING
The fallout continues, though, from Arnold’s reign at the sheriff ’s office. About five months after replacing Arnold, Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh fired Capt. Nathan Pagel in late May when a TBI investigation showed he ran background checks on top county ofPAGEL ficials during the height of the FBI-TBI probe of corruption at the sheriff ’s office. More or less, he was trying to dig up dirt on Arnold’s political enemies so he could take them down with him. If he was trying to find information on County Mayor Ernest Burgess, he could have found an easier target. Burgess probably doesn’t even jaywalk. The investigation found Pagel committed misdemeanor perjury by lying about the use of a criminal database when he checked the terms and conditions. He was using it to do Arnold’s dirty work instead of for real law enforcement purposes, authorities say. Luckily for Pagel, the statute of limitations had run out and District Attorney Jennings Jones opted not to prosecute. Ultimately, Fitzhugh probably got what he wanted, a good reason to get rid of an Arnold crony. But the question remains: How many other Arnold supporters will be released from the sheriff ’s office? A lot of people there were at his beck and call trying to protect their jobs, even when they knew what they were doing was wrong or even illegal.
LET OUR CHILDREN GO
The latest bombshell over the treatment of Rutherford County children shows they’ve been under an “always arrest” policy and a questionable “filter system” used to determine whether they should stay in juvenile detention for days before getting a hearing. In other words, arrest first and ask questions later. Or, arrest first and don’t ask questions later. Just tell them to sit down and shut up.
A U.S. District Court judge (you know, one of those people who violates Trump law) in mid-May ordered Rutherford County to stop detaining children accused of minor violations such as breaking curfew or skipping school. In many cases, the county has been jailing these kids for up to 72 hours and longer if a weekend is involved. The ruling stems from lawsuits brought over the arrest of children at Hobgood Elementary School who were supposedly involved in a neighborhood fight (two of whom weren’t even at the scene of the fight, which really wasn’t even a fight) and the treatment of a couple of other juveniles, one of whom was arrested and detained for getting into a fight. The “always arrest” rule is based on a 2003 order by Juvenile Court Judge Donna Davenport, one the sheriff ’s office and Murfreesboro Police, until last DAVENPORT December, interpreted as ordering all juveniles to be taken into custody whenever a summons was issued for them, the same way as an adult would be treated. Attorneys for the plaintiffs call it a clear violation of state law, which allows authorities to write citations and summons for children, instead of arresting and detaining. But let’s face it, we’ve got to get to the root of the problem, and how better than to start slapping the bracelets on these kids at an early age to prepare them for that joyous day when they’ll graduate from juvenile detention to 940 New Salem (the county jail). It’s little wonder so many of our young people are gunning each other down, apparently over drug deals gone bad. (We’ve had three murders in the past month.) We talk a good game about trying to provide children the education they need to excel in a tough world. Then, when they get into a little trouble we toss them in jail for a few days to teach them a lesson. Not only is this unconstitutional, it’s morally wrong. The juvenile detention center is for hard cases, not young people who make bad decisions. But heck, when you live in a police state, what else can you expect? Sam Stockard can be reached at sstockard44@gmail.com
Investigators Believe Murder Victim Seth Rich Was Source for Wikileaks
I
f you’ve even heard of the Seth Rich story, it’s probably as some wild conspiracy theory. You may have heard that Fox News pulled its recent story about him. That much is true, but that doesn’t change the mysterious facts around the case, which carry much more weight than any Trump/Russia collusion.
Seth Rich was a DNC computer expert who was murdered in the wee hours of July 10, 2016. Authorities have called it a botched robbery but nothing was taken. Not his wallet, not his money, not his cellphone. Nothing. The family calls it a botched robbery because they say there were signs of a struggle. The curious thing is, Rich died from two gunshot VIEWS OF A wounds to the back. That doesn’t sound like someone who died trying to fend off robbers. COLUMN BY CNN released a piece titled “Seth Rich and PHIL VALENTINE the Myth Behind the Unsolved Murder Case,” philvalentine.com yet in the piece they did nothing to dispel the myth other than state the Rich family doesn’t want Seth’s name associated with a conspiracy. But too much evidence points to Rich as being the leaker behind the Wikileaks emails. Rod Wheeler is a former D.C. homicide detective turned private investigator. He was hired by someone associated with the Rich family to help find the killer. However, when he uncovered that Seth Rich could very well have been the Wikileaks leaker of the DNC emails, the family suddenly distanced themselves from him. Detractors in the mainstream media have spread the lie that Wheeler’s only clue that Rich was the leaker came from a Fox News reporter. The truth is Mr. Wheeler claims to get his information from a federal investigator who told him he’s seen Seth Rich’s computer and case file and he believes Rich is the source of the leaks. Wheeler calls this federal investigator very credible. A man by the name of Kim Dotcom has sparked new interest in the Seth Rich case by claiming to be the go-between for Seth Rich and Julian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks. Dotcom’s not his real name, obviously, and someone as flamboyant as Dotcom needs to be approached with caution. However, Dotcom isn’t the glue that holds this theory together. We now know that Seth Rich was a huge Bernie Sanders fan. He tweeted and posted anonymously in rants against the Democrat establishment and corporate-monied interests. He certainly had the motivation to expose the corrupt Democrat machine that is now widely known to have fixed the primaries for Hillary. Being a computer expert within the DNC, he also had the opportunity. What’s more, Julian Assange, who guards his sources very closely, has all but said that Seth Rich was his source for the DNC emails. He has offered a $20,000 reward leading to the conviction of Seth Rich’s killer. Now ask yourself what possible interest Julian Assange would have in a low-level DNC staffer unless he had a serious connection to him. I have friends who are neck-deep in this investigation and they tell me they’re getting huge “brush-back.” Wheeler, the private investigator, says Donna Brazile, the former acting DNC chairman, called the police and the Rich family demanding to know why a private investigator was snooping around this story. If this were really some conspiracy theory like space aliens at Area 51 or the chupacabra then why are the Democrats so concerned? It’s because they know that the Trump/Russia story is a dry well. The conservatives may have stumbled upon a gusher.
CONSERVATIVE
“We now know that Seth Rich was a huge Bernie Sanders fan. He tweeted and posted anonymously in rants against the Democrat establishment and corporatemonied interests.”
Phil Valentine is an author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host with Westwood One. For more of his commentary and articles, visit philvalentine.com.
Opinion THE MONEY PULSE
BY KATHY CRANMER
Bankruptcy and Home Financing
T
he buying season is upon us, and we have received several inquiries regarding what criteria lenders use to qualify customers that have had a previous bankruptcy. There are several types of bankruptcies, but the most common are a Chapter 13 and a Chapter 7. A Chapter 13 is similar to a debt consolidation loan that provides you with legal protection from the creditors. The debts are put into a plan and a monthly payment is established based on your income, enabling you to pay your debts (or a set percentage of the total) over a 36- to 60-month period. If you already own a home and are past due on mortgage payments, there is also a way to have the past due amount added into the consolidation. In most cases, you must begin making your regularly scheduled mortgage payments outside of the plan, and must make them on time every month, in addition to following the requirements of the new bankruptcy plan payment. Under this scenario, you would be eligible for an FHA or VA mortgage loan after you have made 12 on-time monthly payments into the Chapter 13 plan. If you are still in the Chapter 13, the court will have to approve the purchase of the home. In most cases, if your new home payment is less than what you are presently paying, the bankruptcy court will approve the purchase. For a conventional loan, there is a 24-month waiting period that starts from the discharge (or completion) date of the Chapter 13. You must also adhere to industry standard credit score guidelines. A Chapter 7 is a total liquidation of all assets and liabilities. All unsecured debts are satisfied (meaning you no longer have to 46 * JUNE 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM
pay them) upon the Chapter 7 confirmation and discharge. In most cases, a Chapter 7 does give you the ability to retain (and continue to pay) secured liabilities. An example of this would be your home. If you wish to keep your home, automobile, etc, you or your attorney must file a motion and obtain approval from the court, and from the creditor that holds the lien to the property. There are many different scenarios that can vary the approval or stipulations by the court or creditor, so the advice of proper counsel is recommended. Under a Chapter 7 scenario, the time frame to be eligible for FHA or VA financing is 24 months from the discharge date. You must also have reestablished a few credit accounts and your credit scores have to adhere to industry guidelines. To qualify for a conventional loan, the Chapter 7 must have been discharged a minimum of 48 months. Again, there are many variables and statutes to bankruptcy laws. Before doing anything, be sure to seek advice from an attorney who is well-versed in bankruptcy law. When it is time to purchase or refinance your home, your lender can guide you through the requirements, in addition to the basic waiting periods mentioned above (which are given here to offer a general understanding of the time that must elapse after filing one of the bankruptcies mentioned, and are not comprehensive of all of the requirements that must be met to obtain a mortgage). Kathy Cranmer is a Senior Loan Officer with Guaranty Trust; for any questions related to borrowing and credit, contact her at (678) 469-4426, (615) 907-2667 or kathy.cranmer@guarantytrust.com.
Live Exceptionally...Well!
Y
BY JENNIFER DURAND
Staycation
ou’ve heard the term before. To most it means to “stay” local instead of travel for vacation, to take time off from work and normal life activities and be a tourist right in your own backyard or nearby towns. I am suggesting a different kind of staycation—one that gives you the sense of being on vacation in your everyday life. Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are. (Chinese Proverb) During a recent trip to Daytona Beach, Fla., I marveled at the thousands and thousands of hotel rooms that lined the coast, along with the number of homes for rent or nearby condos and other destination establishments. I wondered what it was that brings so many people to this particular area (and other such destination spots). Think about all the planning, packing, preparing, organizing and traveling it takes just for a respite lasting anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The objective is ultimately to escape, even if briefly, from our normal routine of daily living. We hope to breathe fresh, new life into our beings and help make life more enjoyable for a brief time until we return to the “bump and grind” or roller-coaster style life we lead. In my profession, it is my aim to help individuals have this same sense of relief, calm, peace and balance in their everyday experience, finding ways to create this type of space mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. One of the best ways to do this when you are on vacation is to really pay close attention to the details of what is happening around you. When you witness the ocean with all its depth, force, majesty, musicality, consistency, flow and reliability, you can capture the sound it makes as you feel it calm you, resonating with the significant amount of water you have in your own body. Likeness attracts, and the sound and feel of the water are already a part of you. It’s like “coming home” when you meet a larger body of water in this way. The feel and texture of the waves are energizing. As you race to chase or “catch” the waves, you can feel the strength this takes to meet the ocean’s force. Laying on a float you can feel and hear the musicality in the water. This brings comfort. You also know, as large as the ocean is, that you can count on it flowing in and out every day. It never disappears. You can rely on the feeling this brings.
The flow is steady and consistent. Other things to note are activities such as walking, bike riding, playing, eating, napping, sunbathing, exploring and shopping. These are all excellent practices to bring to your everyday life (not all of them every day, but integrated into your lifestyle). What can you do daily or weekly in your own backyard or home that will bring the same feeling you get when you are on vacation? It might require a little planning, packing, preparing, organizing and even mild traveling (by bicycle, motorcycle or roller skates), but the outcome will be the same feeling you get when you are on vacation. Step out of your day to day “life” on occasion and breathe in the anticipation, excitement, fun and relaxation. So many people feel they need a vacation after their vacation because there is so much that goes into a planned trip that it can be exhausting. Avoid this by imbibing vacation principles while maintaining a staycation attitude. When you pay close attention to details in this way you can recreate the feeling of refreshment, whenever you desire and wherever you are. You can listen to the sound of the ocean from your music library or on a CD. You can feel the sun on your face simply by being outside. You can create a special spot in the yard, on your porch or even in a small corner of a room in the house. Use props that remind you of your time away and what memories it brings up. Most of all, it’s about making time for yourself or with a family member or friend. Let go of all the things that are pulling at you to be done— you’re on vacation, after all—and take a night or afternoon off to just be. Remember, your imagination is very powerful and can create memories without having to leave home. Don’t forget to breathe, exhale and repeat. Happy stay travels. The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it. – Sydney J. Harris 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, body work and somatic integration. Let her help you find your personal “ahh . . .” factor by visiting nurturenook .com or facebook.com/nurturenookdayspa or by calling (615) 896-7110.
SPORTS
TALK
COLUMN BY “Z-TRAIN”
titanman1984@gmail.com
YOUR PREDATORS HAVE MADE IT TO THE STANLEY CUP FINALS! THE TRAIN DADDY IS BACK, folks, bringing sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk to all the sexy people of Middle Tennessee. I want to start on a very personal level this issue. I was abused! That’s right, friends, it’s true. Granted, some people attempt to discredit my story, me being 6 feet tall and weighing 240 pounds. They say, “How can such a strong, healthy, good-looking man be abused?” My answer was simple: “Women aren’t the only victims; we men have feelings as well.” I was fingered! That’s right, I was fingered against my will. I know it sounds awful, but I was at a Predators game a while back and got lost trying to find my way. I ended up in the infamous section Cell Block 303, and they had me. Someone hollered out, “That’s the Train Daddy, get him!” Next thing you know I was Fang-Fingered. Years have gone by and I remained quiet, but with the success of the 2017 Predators, I felt it was time to share my story. Some say I am in this for the money, others the
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James Neal, Ryan Ellis and the Predators are trying to bring the Cup to Nashville
fame, but I just hope my story influences others like me. If you have attended a game at Bridgestone arena and left having been Fang-Fingered against your will, you’re not alone—share your story! Ha ha, enough of this nonsense, the Train’s out the station. All aboard! Let’s break it down, Predator style! The Nashville Predator mascot is Gnash, a blue, saber-toothed stuntman and gentleman. Some say that he sleeps atop the Batman building in Nashville, while others say he’s an alcoholic named Steve. Either way, he’s awesome! The Predators joined the league in the 1998–99 season, finishing 28–47–7—depressing, you would think, but with a huge win over the twotime defending champion Red Wings, the fans were hooked from the beginning. In the early years we rednecks didn’t have a clue what was going on. We just knew that in NASCAR you cheer and holler for the wrecks, and in hockey you do the same for the fights! The Predators’ front office was tasked with educating the fans in those first years.
The city embraced the Preds early on, yet many fans were new to hockey. Former team captain Kimmo Timonen, a rookie back in 1998, recalls the early days. “There was a guy with a microphone explaining the rules. ‘That was icing. That was offside,’” Timonen said. “Then there was a couple fights and he would say, ‘That’s normal, they fight, don’t worry about it.’” In the old days Pete Weber, “the voice behind the Preds,” and my man Terry Crisp did an outstanding job teaching new fans the rules and history behind the game. The Predators’ front office did considerable outreach into the community and surrounding area. Hockey in the South, baby! It’s been an incredible journey, from the fans being taught the rules to becoming the loudest and most passionate fan base in the NHL reaching unheardof decibel levels. Smashville has over the years become the home of the loudest arena in the league, a place where chants and traditions have blossomed. Take the catfish, for example. Throwing a slimy, giant catfish on the ice is a tradition that is said to have started in 2003. Those dirty Red Wing fans are known for throwing octopus on the ice dating back to the 1950s. Well, in Tennessee we have no octopi, but we have catfish! So tradition is born, as loyal fans stuff 20-pound catfish down their pants, get past security and throw it over the boards to raucous cheers. Even the Tennessee Titans’ offensive linemen are getting in on the tradition, as Taylor Lewan somehow got a 30-pound catfish inside the arena and over the boards vs. Anaheim. In case you missed it, they also chugged beers on the big screen for all to see. Don’t worry, Titans fans, the responsible leader Marcus Mariota was there as a babysitter just smiling and waving. This is a politically incorrect article, right? So, I have to call out racism when I see it, and the fish people of Pittsburgh, they’re racist! Wholey’s Fish Market in Pittsburgh has taken so-called precautions and are refusing to sell the good people of Tennessee catfish during the Stanley Cup Final as Nashville faces Pittsburgh. “You have to show ID if you want to buy catfish here,” co-owner Jim Wholey told the
Pittsburgh Tribune. “If you’re from Tennessee, we’re not selling it to you.” This may constitute a hate crime in Pittsburgh. It’s textbook racist; all legal American citizens shall never be denied fish. Enough of this fishy nonsense! I haven’t even talked about the current 2017 Nashville Predators. How did they get to the Stanley Cup Finals? Captain Mike Fisher has been banged up through these playoffs and many believed Nashville was doomed after losing Kevin Fiala and Ryan Johansen, but they persevered, thanks to depth in the ranks. They blew out the favorite, Chicago, they spanked the sad Blues and they proved the Mighty Ducks aren’t so mighty. One reason for this success tops all the others, more so than depth or offensively minded defensemen, PEKKA, PEKKA, PEKKA! The best goalie in the league, the 24-year-old Finnish goalie Pekka Rinne, has been MVP of the playoffs—a special player! One of my favorite moves was the shocking trade to start this season. Shea Weber, the former Predator captain, was traded straight-up for P.K. Subban, the anchor of the Montreal Canadians’ defense. Many still debate the logic of the trade, both players went on to have great 2017 seasons, but Subban brought something new to the locker room: some serious comedy and a promise to Nashville that they were one step closer to a Stanley Cup signing him. He was right! As of press time, the Predators and Pittsburgh were still battling for the Stanley Cup, with the Preds down a game. I have faith in this team. It really is something special to watch. They have an extra gear no one else seems to have. Nashville, the best defensive team in the league, takes on two of the best offensive players in the league, Sid “the Kid” Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. I predict a sevengame series, with Nashville bringing the cup home and ultimately winning it in Pittsburgh. “Let’s go Preds, FANG FINGERS!” The NBA sucks. It’s predictable. Three straight Cavs vs. Warriors Finals, seven straight finals featuring LeBron James, there’s no flavor, other than LeBron flavor, but it tastes bitter. Let’s go, Predators! Choo-choo!
Sports
BLUE RAIDER SPORTS
Cutrer, Mathers Earn Shot with Jaguars as Free Agents
MIRACLES HAPPEN New Murfreesboro Miracle Field gives all the opportunity to play ball.
P
roject One Four and City of Murfreesboro held a grand opening ceremony of the Murfreesboro Miracle Field at Sports*Com in McKnight Park, on May 6. The special event included three one-inning games between the new Miracle League’s first six teams. Miracle Field is a custom-designed, specially rubberized baseball field built for children and adults with special needs, and accommodates wheelchairs and other assistive devices. Fundraising for the $3.2 million project was spearheaded by Project One Four, a David Price Foundation. Murfreesboro native and Boston Red Sox pitcher David Price donated $300,000 at the groundbreaking ceremony in February 2016. Price, a standout pitcher for Blackman High School and Vanderbilt University, became a Cy Young Award winner in 2012 for Tampa Bay. In Tampa, he first experienced the joys of pitching in the Miracle League. Price participated with the league on Saturday mornings in Tampa and enjoyed seeing the excitement of the children and their parents. The Miracle League removes the barriers that keep children with mental and physical disabilities off the baseball field and lets them experience the joy of America’s pastime. Since the main barriers for these adults arise from the natural grass fields used in conventional leagues, Miracle 50 * JUNE 2017 * BOROPULSE.COM
League’s rubberized turf accommodates wheelchairs and other devices while helping to prevent injuries. “We are extremely grateful for the work of the Project One Four Foundation in partnering with the City of Murfreesboro and support from organizations such as the Christy Houston Foundation, to bring Miracle Field to our community,” said Mayor Shane McFarland. “We encourage everyone with a heart for children and adults with physical and mental challenges to continue to join us in building this field of dreams in Murfreesboro.” Project One Four continues to engage the community for sponsorships and is also offering a Paver Program. Information is available at project14.org. “We are excited to be able to partner with the City of Murfreesboro on this much-needed baseball field and playground for the special needs children in our community. It will be so rewarding for not only the special needs children but also the ‘buddies’ who will be there to help in any way they can,” said Debbie Price, David’s mom and board member of Project One Four. Miracle Field is about more than just playing a game, organizers say. The Miracle League is about making new friends and building self-esteem. To help the athletes, the Miracle League uses a “buddy” system—pairing each player with an ablebodied peer. The Miracle League serves children and adults who suffer from any physical or mental disabilities that cause them to be excluded, intentionally or not, from conventional baseball leagues. The Murfreesboro Miracle Field complex also includes a special playground.
Inclusive playgrounds benefit all children by exploring the four defined areas of developmental skills when at play: sensory, motor, cognitive and social. Playground features include a wheelchair-accessible glider, an OmniSpin spinner, outdoor musical instruments, ziplines and more. The Miracle Field itself includes a covered seating area, restroom building and concession building. The PebbleFlex safety surfacing allows easy access for individuals using mobility devices. The complex has a main plaza with a central kugel ball fountain, representative of a baseball with Price’s signature). The project was constructed by locally owned Trinity Builders, led by project manager Russ Morrow. Lose and Associates of Nashville provided professional architectural, engineering and design services, and the initiative was coordinated by Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation Athletic Superintendent Thomas Laird. For more information on the Murfreesboro Miracle League, contact Laird at miracleleague@murfreesborotn.gov or (615) 907-2251.
NFL Draft weekend can be a very different experience for players looking to extend their playing career. Some wait only a couple hours to hear their name called. Others wait a day or two. For some, their name is never called, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road for them. A handful of Blue Raiders fell into the latter category this year. Heading into the draft there was speculation that Blue Raiders Jeremy Cutrer and I’Tavious Mathers may get drafted, but that never came to fruition. However, both those players did land on the same team as undrafted free agents. The Jacksonville Jaguars inked the two Blue Raiders after the draft ended Saturday, April 29, and each looks to have his work cut out for him to make the 53-man roster. Cutrer came to Middle Tennessee State University in 2015 as a junior college transfer. As a junior, Cutrer drew consistent praise from former teammate and current Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard. As a senior, Cutrer was named first-team All-Conference USA. The Jaguars currently have eight other cornerbacks on their roster, including seventh-round pick Jalen Myrick. A native of Murfreesboro, Mathers spent his first three collegiate seasons at Ole Miss, where he was under-utilized, never receiving more than 105 touches in a season. As a Blue Raider, Mathers shattered seemingly every single-season rushing milestone in MTSU football history and received numerous post-season honors. He will be competing against six other running backs to make the 53-man roster, including 2017 number four pick Leonard Fournette and veterans T.J. Yeldon and Chris Ivory. Chris Hale and Steven Rhodes each received invites to participate in mini-camps. Hale was a mainstay on the defensive line from 2013 to 2016, amassing 76 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. He will hope to parlay his invite into a roster spot with the Packers. Steven Rhodes will join Byard at the Titans mini-camp this year. Rhodes registered 110 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks in his career, with the bulk of his production coming over the last two seasons. More important than his production has been his presence in the locker room, as he has garnered a reputation as the quintessential team leader. — GREG CRITTENDEN