March 2019 Murfreesboro Pulse by The Murfreesboro Pulse

IN MUSIC

CLIFFY D / EYE ON THE SKY / BOWIE CELEBRATION / THE BUSKS / TIM DAVIS BAND / WALNUT HOUSE / MTSU JAZZ FEST MARCH 2019 / VOL. 14, ISSUE 3 / FREE

U.S. Navy Concert Band Comes to Town March 16

HONKY TONKIN'

Hankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Honky Tonk brings a little downtown Nashville, delicious food and live music to Murfreesboro ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

BORO YOGA FEST / INNOVATIVE TARGETS / STUDIO S POTTERY

Everybody Drum Some at Mayday, March 29

Mindful Care Serves Locals With Dementia

Contents

I USED THIS SPACE LAST EDITION TO SPOTLIGHT

22 FEATURES

IN EVERY ISSUE

4 Events

EVERYBODY DRUM SOME

Mayday Brewery to host March 29 Community Rhythm Event.

A BOWIE CELEBRATION

A Spider from Mars and fellow musicians keep Ziggy’s music alive.

REACHING CLOUD NINE

Tim Lake moves from high school to high altitudes after pilot training.

MINDFUL CARE

Program offers day care service for Murfreesboro adults with dementia.

CALENDAR Special Kids Race, Bald in the Boro, Exotic Pet Expo, Green Tie Affair, Bridal Expos

8 Sounds

MUSIC NOTES Walnut House, Navy Band, DJ Cliffy D, Illinois Jacquet Jazz Fest CONCERTS The Busks, Rubiks Groove, Sarah Martin ALBUM REVIEWS Eye on the Sky; Tim Davis Band

16 Living

GARDENING Save rain for use later.

INNOVATIVE METALS

Metalworker Jason Agee produces steel targets for shooting contests.

BORO YOGA FEST Day of yoga March 16

22 Food

STUDIO S POTTERY

Lewis Snyder offers pottery classes.

RESTAURANT Hank’s Honky Tonk

Advertising: Don Clark, Leslie Russell-Yost Art Director: Sarah Mayo Publisher/Editor in Chief: Bracken Mayo

Copy Editor: Steve Morley

24 Art

SE-YA MTSU hosts three-day young adult book event. THEATER Voices From the Shore; Calendar Girls POETRY Poetry in the Boro at MLT on March 10 ROLANDA Author encourages all to find their purpose.

32 Movies REVIEWS Roma; Fighting With My Family

NEW RELEASES Captain Marvel, Hotel Mumbai, The Mustang, Wonder Park and more!

34 News

BUSINESS BUZZ Remington Room, RockBox, Cali’s, Waffle House, Two J’s,

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

Hook1, Best Buy, Linen & Rust PERIODICAL TAX Tennessee General Assembly considers exempting monthly newsprint periodicals from sales tax.

Opinion PHIL VALENTINE Eliminating Senate filibuster would keep the minority from holding government hostage. SPIRITUAL MATTERS

Incomprehensible

40 Sports SPORTS TALK Pacman lands in trouble again; Michael Jordan is the greatest.

MTSU SPORTS C-USA basketball tournaments begin March 13 in Texas.

Copyright © 2019, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 10 N. Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN 37130. Proudly owned, operated and published the first Thursday of each month by the Mayo family; printed by Franklin Web Printing Co. The Pulse is a free publication funded by advertisers. Views expressed in the Pulse do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. ISSN: 1940-378X

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some of our fine supporters, but the list was so long, I didn’t have room to give them all a shout-out last month, so let’s pick it back up. This paper is free for you, thanks to our great group of sponsors. Go and see these guys! Bring your business to those who support local culture and invest back into the community. I am not personally a student at Bill Taylor’s Bushido School of Karate, but I do get a kick observing Bracken Jr. and all of the other hardworking young students spar and run their katas. If you need a home, ask Kelly Gafford about the StoneBridge community; if you need a spot for your business, let the Sims Realtors team help you. Or, if your business is not ready to purchase a piece of land or a warehouse, join the many local independent professionals who work out of Cultivate Coworking. Visit Frog Brigade Farmacy, Gen 1:29, Enchanted Planet or MNC Hemp for CBD products. Looking for something fun to do during a night out? Check out Premiere Six Theater, the Paws and Pearls fundraiser coming up, the Center for the Arts, Boro Art Crawl, Nashville Symphony, Murfreesboro Little Theatre, Blue Raider athletics or activities at the MTSU Center for Chinese Music and Culture. Find plenty of bands and beer at The Boro, or pay a visit to Wall Street or Campus Pub for a drink and a game of pool. Call the good folks at CNB Plumbing with any problems with your pipes, or to have a faucet or new water heater installed. If you are in a band, Ridenour Rehearsal Studios offers some beautiful, quality rehearsal space, and the Hillfolk crew will help you book some shows. So-Cali Taco Shop is the newest taco sponsor of the Pulse; turn the pages and find a BOGO breakfast burrito. I feel right at home cooking up brats or pork chops from Batey Farms while listing to some tunes on vinyl from Century 21, perhaps as our Lionel train from Thor’s puffs down its track. Fine stuff! These businesses have become a big part of my family’s life over the years. Check a new one out and you may discover something of value to you. And we’re always accepting more supporters! Join the cause. We hear it often: “My business doesn’t advertise, we reach our customers on Facebook.” Well, if you are reaching all of the people you need to via Facebook, carry on. However, if you choose to place an ad in the Pulse (in addition to, or in lieu of your social media ad purchases), I assure you, we won’t eavesdrop on your personal conversations, track your location or gather data on your personal interests and on those in your network. We’ll get your ad into racks, locations and consumers’ hands all over town, without requiring the reader to have sufficient battery life or internet connection. And we’ll invest back into the Middle Tennessee economy and give the wealth a better shot to stay in the community. Shop local, right? Peace, BRACKEN MAYO Publisher/Editor in Chief

Events

CALENDAR / MARCH 2019

BY ANDREA STOCKARD

MARCH 2, APRIL 6

freesboro will stage a special 2019–20 season reveal prior to the Saturday and Sunday shows. For more information, call 615-893-7439 ext. 6104.

MASTER GARDENER CLASSES Linebaugh Public Library proudly welcomes The Rutherford County Master Gardeners for a series of classes the first Saturday of each month through November, at 9 a.m., in the library board room on the second floor (105 W. Vine St.). The series is free and open to the public, and registration is appreciated at the Linebaugh front desk or rclstn.org/calendar. Classes are intended for the beginning gardener. For more information, call 615893-4131 or visit rclstn.org.

MARCH 9 YOGA AT THE ISLAND Yoga is a great way to wind down, especially outdoors in nature. Meet for a community yoga session the second Saturday in March (March 9), April and May at the beautiful Gateway Island (1875 W. College St.) at 9 a.m. Yoga focuses on improving your balance and flexibility, while at the same time reducing stress. For beginner and intermediate levels. Park at the West College Street parking lot. Admission is free. For more information, call 615-890-5333.

MARCH 6 AND 27 BUSINESS FOR ARTISTS Cultural Arts offers a new “Business for Artists” workshop series at Patterson Park Community Center (521 Mercury Blvd.). Session one, “How to Price Your Artwork,” gives artists insight into various strategies and methods for pricing their artwork for sale. Guided by an industry professional familiar with selling and exhibiting artwork for sale, learn the various pricing models used for different mediums, commercial settings and for all levels of art expertise on Wednesday, March 6, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. At session two, “Marketing Strategies for Artists,” artists learn to implement a marketing plan that’s both measurable and effective, without compromising their creative intent. Identify the audience, set goals and plan a marketing campaign on Wednesday, March 27, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. Contact 615-893-7439, ext. 6108 or amolloy@murfreesborotn.gov for more information.

MARCH 6–9 TSSAA GIRLS’ BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Experience the excitement of the girls’ high school state championship tournament at the MTSU Murphy Center March 6–9. Visit tssaasports.com/basketball for more information or purchase tickets in advance at gofan.co/app/school/tssaa.

MARCH 7 SOCIAL SECURITY WORKSHOP Patterson Park Community Center (521 Mercury Blvd.) hosts a free, educational workshop on Thursday, March 7, at 6:30 4 * MARCH 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

MARCH 9

SPECIAL KIDS RACE Join this family-friendly event presented by Murfreesboro Medical Clinic (MMC) to benefit children with special needs who are served at Special Kids Therapy and Nursing Center. Approximately 3,000 walkers and runners will participate in races of four different distances (15K, 10K, 5K, 1 mile) on Saturday, March 9. Start times are between 6:50 and 8:30 a.m. depending on the race. Beginning at MMC (1272 Garrison Dr.), the 15K, 10K and 5K courses travel through Stones River Battlefield, and the 1-mile distance loops behind MMC to Old Nashville Highway and back to the start/finish line. For more information, visit specialkidsrace.org. p.m., to help you understand how Social Security works. Learn how to make informed decisions about Social Security and understand how the elections you make affect your monthly benefits. For more information, call 615-893-7439.

MARCH 7–10 WINNIE THE POOH KIDS Disney’s Winnie the Pooh KIDS, a delight-

ful show based on the beloved characters of A.A. Milne and the 2011 Disney animated feature film, will feature favorite songs from the film, as well as new hits by the Academy Award-winning Robert and Kristen Lopez (Frozen). Showtimes are Thursday–Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. March 7–10 at The Washington Theater, Patterson Park Community Center (521 Mercury Blvd.). Perform Mur-

MARCH 7 LINEBAUGH LIBRARY HOSTS AUTHOR KELLY JONES Linebaugh Public Library (105 W. Vine St.). welcomes author Kelly Jones for a book signing Thursday, March 7, from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Jones features her children’s book, God Loves Me, about God’s unconditional love and how we can count on God’s love to be consistent. Jones is a college student at MTSU and recently had her first child. She loves kids and has enjoyed working with them for the past four years. Signed copies are $5 each (cash and checks accepted). For more information, call 615893-4131 or visit rclstn.org.

BOTOX AND BUBBLY Join Elite Medical Aesthetics and Wand and Willow Day Spa for a luxury-filled evening at Salons by JC (760 N. Thompson Ln.) Saturday, March 9, from 5–8 p.m. Get Botox and Dysport at great prices, IV hydration and nutrient therapy, massages and other spa services. Relax with a glass of champagne after a fabulous arm and hand massage while hanging out in the Liquivida IV lounge before taking advantage of Botox at just $10 per unit and Dysport at $3 per unit. For more information, call 615-917-3277 or visit salonsbyjc.com.

MARCH 9 GREEN TIE AFFAIR Join the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra for its annual fundraiser at the 2019 Green Tie Affair and Casino Night on Saturday, March 9, from 7–11 p.m. at the Stones River Country Club (1830 NW Broad St.). Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, a DJ, wine pull fundraiser, silent auction and gambling tables. Tickets start at $65 per person and $110 for couples; purchase a table for eight people for $750. For more information, call 615-898-1862 or visit murfreesborosymphony.com.

MARCH 10 DELTA BETA SIGMA FASHION SHOW The DBS sorority senior girls model clothes from local boutiques at the Stones

River Country Club ballroom to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, the sorority’s national philanthropy partner, on Sunday, March 10, at 2 p.m. Cost per ticket is $10 and event is open to the public. For more information, call 615-896-4431.

is $25 and includes your meal for the evening. Childcare is not provided. For more information, visit experiencecc.com.

MARCH 15 ST. PATRICK’S DAY GET-AWAY Join Murfreesboro Parks & Rec. at Patterson Indoor Water Park (521 Mercury Blvd.) on Friday, March 15, from 6–9 p.m. for swimming, games and a fun craft to celebrate the day of the Irish. Dinner is provided along with an Irish sweet treat. Keep your eyes open for the missing pot of gold! Preregistration is preferred, as space is limited. For ages 7–13. For more information, contact 615-893-7439 or cstafford@murfreesborotn.gov.

MARCH 10 ENTREPRENEUR EXPO Unite, support and network with your fellow sisters at the Women’s Entrepreneur Expo Sunday, March 10, from 3–5 p.m. at Patterson Park Community Center (521 Mercury Blvd.). This is free to the public. For more information, contact 615-6319120 or echomove2018@gmail.com.

MARCH 12

MARCH 15–17

“PEACE OF MIND” This rare exhibit focuses on the Chinese qin, a seven-string fretless zither. The qin was studied and formed by literati for introspection and personal advancement. The exhibit features instruments, displays or demonstrations of instrument-making, calligraphy, the tea ceremony, sung poetry and go (chess). The exhibition is accompanied by a live performance of Zheng Yi, Huang Zhilu, and Wang Xiqian, three qin artists from the Longren Guqin Culture Village in China, on Tuesday, March 12, from 5-6 p.m. at the MTSU Center for Chinese Music and Culture (503A Bell St. #1600). The exhibit will remain on display through March 17. For more information, visit mtsu.edu/chinesemusic.

MARCH 12 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce will present its March Business After Hours event at City Auto from 5–7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12. Bring plenty of business cards to this informal socialnetworking event designed to connect you with business professionals from across Rutherford County. City Auto is located at 1023 Bridge Ave. Admission is $10 for members and $20 for future members.

MARCH 12 SAFE HAVEN FUNDRAISER Stepping Stones Safe Haven, a local nonprofit ministry serving homeless women and children of Rutherford County, has a day shelter in Murfreesboro located at 720 Old Salem Road that provides women and children a place to go during the day to shower, wash clothes and receive mentoring to move from homelessness to housing. The service also provides nightly emergency sheltering. Stepping Stones Safe Haven will hold its spring fundraising event

STARPOWER

MARCH 15 BALD IN THE BORO Join the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for 9th Annual Bald in the Boro at Lanes, Trains and Automobiles Entertainment Depot (450 Butler Dr.) on Friday, March 15, from 4–8 p.m., to benefit children with cancer. Whether you decide to shave your head, volunteer, donate or be a supporter or spectator, you can help give hope to infants, children, teens and young adults. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-powered charity that funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government. Donate by calling 888-899-2253. Special thanks to Murfreesboro Medical Clinic for sponsoring it. For more information, visit stbaldricks.org, baldintheboro.com or the Bald in the Boro Facebook page.

on Tuesday, March 12, at The Grove in Murfreesboro. The event features a silent auction, an interactive, dramatic jewelry heist performed by local theater group Grimprov, as well as dinner catered by The Alley on Main. Funds raised will cover operational and programmatic expenses for The Haven, ensuring homeless women and children can continue to be served within our community. For more information, email steppingstonessafehaven@gmail.com or visit steppingstonestn.org.

MARCH 13 SPREAD THE POSITIVE NETWORK LAUNCH Join Spread the Positive at Puckett’s Grocery (114 N. Church St.) on Wednesday, March 13, from 6–9 p.m. Guests from the Spread the Positive podcast speak about their new concept to be launched, “The Network,” with a live podcast that day. For more information on the podcast and event, find Spread The Positive on Facebook or visit spreadthepositive.net.

MARCH 13–16 TSSAA BOYS’ STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS Experience the excitement of the 2019

 Send community event information to CONTACT@BOROPULSE.COM

boys’ high school state championship tournament at the MTSU Murphy Center, March 13–16. Purchase tickets in advance at gofan.co/app/school/TSSAA or visit tssaasports.com/basketball.

MARCH 14 AND 28 OLD TIME JAM The bi-weekly installment of the Murfreesboro Old Time Jam returns from 6–8 p.m. at Mayday Brewery (521 Old Salem Rd.) on the second and fourth Thursday of every month. All ages and playing levels are welcome. Acoustic, string instruments only (fiddle, banjo, guitar, etc.); no drums. The focus is on pre-bluegrass-era string band music. Spectators are welcome and admission is always free. A food truck is always onsite, as well as tasty craft brews from Mayday Brewery. For more information, visit maydaybrewery.com.

MARCH 15 WOMEN’S SUMMIT Join the Experience Community (521 Old Salem Rd.) for the 2019 Women’s Summit as they welcome women to “Come to the Table” for an evening filled with laughter, food, worship and community, on Friday, March 15, from 6–9:30 p.m. Admission

Starpower is the stage where performers of all ages and levels across the globe showcase their talent. More than 30 years of experience has shaped this unique competition. Every year, studio owners, teachers, performers and their families and friends participate in over 80 creative and energy packed competitions in cities across the globe. Come out to the MTSU Tucker Theater, March 15–17, from 4–10 p.m. each day for the Murfreesboro event. Visit starpowertalent.com or contact staci@starpowertalent.com for more information on the show.

MARCH 16 WRITING ABOUT YOUR ARTWORK In this open-studio session, students learn essential methods for writing a concise and accurate artist statement, biography and mission statement about their arts practice. Walk away with well-written and professional texts for gallery submissions, publications, professional website, callsto-entry and to clarify your creative intent. For ages 17 and up, the group will meet in the lobby at The Washington Theater at Patterson Park (521 Mercury Blvd.) on Saturday, March 16, from 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Contact 615-893-7439, ext. 6108 or amolloy@murfreesborotn.gov for more information.

MARCH 16 UNVEILED BRIDAL SHOW DoubleTree by Hilton (1850 Old Fort Pkwy.) hosts Unveiled, The Bridal Show, on Saturday, March 16, from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Discover some of Murfreesboro’s best boutiques, bakeries and photographers as well as a mimosa cash bar, light hors d’oeuvres CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

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* MARCH 2019 * 5

and raffle giveaways. Tickets include a signature cocktail. Admission is $5. For more information, contact 615-396-1018 or kbailey@cooperhotels.com.

Spring Wetland at the Discovery Center (502 SE Broad St.) on Saturday, March 23, from 10–11 a.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 615-217-3017 or visit explorethedc.org.

MARCH 16

MARCH 23

SPRING MARKETPLACE

BORROWED AND BLUE BRIDAL SHOW

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Enjoy a day of shopping more than 50 vendor booths at the first annual Spring Marketplace hosted by MOPS Murfreesboro at Lane Agri-Park Community Center (315 John Rice Blvd.) on Saturday, March 16, from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Admission is free. MOPS stands for mothers of preschoolers. Established in fall 2018, around 70 local moms meet twice a month to spend time together, build the community and hear from speakers on different parenting topics related to preschoolers. Their community involvement includes various missions, such as helping local homeless women and children at Stepping Stones and providing diapers for teen moms or those in need. Donations help them continue meeting and supporting the community. For vendor information, contact mopsmurfreesboro@gmail.com.

MARCH 16 BORO YOGA FEST Join Murfreesboro’s annual all-day yoga festival, featuring area yoga instructors leading diverse classes for yogis of all levels at Main Street Music (527 W. Main St.) from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. This year’s proceeds benefit Yoga Foster. Yoga Foster’s Mission is to “empower educators with yoga and mindfulness training, curriculum, self-care resources and yoga mats to create healthier, happier classrooms.” Tickets are $39. For more information, visit boroyogafest.com or facebook.com/boroyogafest.

MARCH 16 GATSBY PARTY Party the night away at the inaugural charity event in the newly constructed View at Fountains with stunning city views and all of the trappings that make the 6th Annual Gatsby Party of Rutherford County one of the best events of the year. Tickets include hors d’oeuvres, wine, custom cocktails, brews, a silent auction, charity black jack, selfie booths and dancing. Proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. Dress to impress in ’20s attire; strictly 21 and over. Find tickets on EventBrite.

MARCH 16–18 SOUTHLAND QUARTER HORSE CIRCUIT 6 * MARCH 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

The Grove at Williamson Place (3250 Wilkinson Pk.) features its first bridal show on Saturday, March 23, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. welcoming local Rutherford County vendors and caterers, photographers, wedding coordinators, bakeries, florists and hair and makeup artists. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased in advance or at the door. For more information, call 615-995-6682 or visit borobridalshow.com.

MARCH 16 AND 17 EXOTIC BIRD AND PET EXPO See and shop for exotic birds, toys, cages, supplies, food, treats, breeding supplies, manzanita play stands and gifts at the largest bird event in the state of Tennessee at the Tennessee Livestock Center (1720 Greenland Dr.) March 16 and 17. Witness small and furry exotics such as hedgehogs, sugar gliders, rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs and monkeys as well. Admission is free. For more information, call 615-739-0631. The Southland Circuit is composed of five sets of points as exhibitors show to five judges March 16–18 at the Tennessee Miller Coliseum (304 W. Thompson Ln.) Friday from 2–5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission is free for spectators. For more information, visit peak-equine.com/circuit-of-the-southland or call 615-962-3655.

MARCH 18 HOMESCHOOL INFORMATION MEETING If you are looking for a homeschool community or are interested in homeschooling, join Village Co-op to answer your general homeschool questions at the Technology Engagement Center (306 Minerva Dr.) on Monday, March 18, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. The Director of the Satellite Campuses Program at The Farm School joins to help answer registration and umbrella school questions. For more information, visit villagecooptn.com.

MARCH 19 MTCS LIVING LEGACY SPEAKER Middle Tennessee Christian School proudly presents the 2019 Living Legacy Speaker on Tuesday, March 19 at 9:30 a.m. in the Varsity Gym. This year’s Living Legacy Speaker is World War II Navajo Code Talker Peter McDonald Sr. The assembly is free and open to the public. Reserve seats

by emailing livinglegacy@mtcscougars.org or by calling 615-893-0601.

MARCH 21 THE CONNECTION Local small business owners will gather for The Connection: An Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming from 5–7 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, at The Warehouse, 730 Middle Tennessee Blvd., #14. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs and professionals are welcome to attend this casual, free, no-obligation event, where they can meet other small business owners and tap into one another’s experience and energy. A discussion will encourage participation from those in attendance, asking them to articulate their vision for their business and calling for examples of some of the business challenges and solutions they are experiencing. The March installment of The Connection will feature a special Itex vendors segment, where local businesses who are members of the Itex bartering network and accept the digital currency will present information on their services. The series will continue the third Thursday of each month.

MARCH 23 WETLAND HIKE A naturalist will introduce children to the bountiful diversity that abounds in Middle Tennessee with a different wetland at each hike. March’s Wetland Hike is Murfree

MARCH 26 TECH COUNCIL MEETING Join the Murfreesboro Tech Council at its March meeting for “Demystifying Home and Small Business Networks” on Tuesday, March 26, at 6 p.m. at the Technology Engagement Center (306 Minerva Dr.). The Murfreesboro Technology Council focuses on economic development in the Rutherford County area in order to bring technology companies to the area. For more information, call 615-545-2789, email info@murfreesborotechnology.com or visit murfreesborotechnology.com.

MARCH 30 SHABBY LANE SPRING EMPORIUM Join the Shabby Lane Spring Emporium for its fabulous shopping and food with over 90 vendors at Lane Agri-Park (315 John Rice Blvd. #101) on Saturday, March 30, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission and sweet tea are free. Kids can play in the free bounce houses. For more information, visit shabbylaneshoppingevents.com.

APRIL 1 DOMINION FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ANNIVERSARY Join Dominion Financial Management for an evening of food, fellowship, music and prizes to “thank the Lord for His help over the past 20 years and catch His vision for 2019 and beyond” at Lane Agri-Park Community Center on Monday, April 1, from 6–7:30 p.m. This 20th anniversary celebration is free to the public; a ticket is required. A love offering is collected, and donations kick off the company’s scholarship fund to provide coaching services for low-income households free of charge.

For more information on Dominion Financial Management and the event, visit dominionﬁnancial.org/celebrate.

APRIL 2 EQUALI-TEA AT MTSU Equali-Tea at the MTSU Miller Education Center (503 E Bell St.) is a high tea honoring equal rights for women on Tuesday, April 2, at 4:30 p.m. The Tempest Award honoree is MTSU’s associate athletic director, Diane Turnham, who has fought to ensure women athletes have the same opportunities as their male counterparts. For more information, visit equali-tea.org.

ONGOING ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings weekly at 435 S. Molloy Ave. (off of Bridge Ave.). Meeting times include 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sundays; 6:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; and noon on Saturdays. For more information, contact 270-293-5201.

APRIL 4 CELEBRITY WAITERS DINNER The Exchange Club of Murfreesboro will hold its annual Celebrity Waiters Dinner on Thursday, April 4, at Stones River Country Club starting at 6 p.m. with live entertainment, dinner a silent auction and a live auction. Various Grand Ole Opry performers will be present as well as local notables. Funds raised from this event support the various programs of The Exchange Club of Murfreesboro including Americanism, youth activities, community service and the prevention of child abuse. For more information, contact Ronnie Gandy at 615-289-2161 or ronniegandy@ woodﬁnchapel.net or John Hood at 615-494-7970 or jdhood31@comcast.net.

MONDAYS ONGOING FITNESS CLASS Sports*Com (2310 Memorial Blvd.) hosts ongoing (New Year) New You Class classes on Mondays from 10:15–11:15 a.m. By the end of the year, your body should be balanced, strong, flexible, and better than ever. All classes may include mat/floor work, stretching, body weight exercises, light weights, bands, foam rollers and massage balls. Topics include back health in April, May and June; foot health in July, August and September; and myofascial release in October, November and December. For more information, contact 615-895-5040 or adavidson@murfreesborotn.gov. Admission is $4 or free with facility pass.

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

WEDNESDAYS BORO2SQUARE RUNNERS Boro2Square Runners is a running group

for individuals interested in running and socializing with other runners. Weekly runs begin at 6 p.m. each Wednesday, starting from the Boulevard Bar and Grill, 2154 Middle Tennessee Blvd. Distances covered are 3–5 miles, with runners of all paces welcome to participate. For more information, visit facebook.com/boro2square.

WEDNESDAYS WRITERS GROUP The Murfreesboro Writers Group, comprised of local writers who seek to improve their work through mutual critique, meets every Wednesday at Linebaugh Library (105 W. Vine St.) from 6–8 p.m. You might hear science fiction, poetry, alternate reality, memoir, fantasy, mystery, literary fiction, or more. For more information, find Murfreesboro Writers Group on Facebook, call 615-893-4131, email sayhello@murfreesborowritersgroup.com or visit rclstn.org.

WEDNESDAYS WILD THINGS – WELCOME TO THE WILDERNESS! Ages 1–4 (with adult) are invited to Welcome to the Wilderness! at the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (697 Veterans Pkwy.) from 9:30–10 a.m. Intro-

 Send community event information to CONTACT@BOROPULSE.COM

duce your child to the wonders of nature in this fun-filled class starting each week with unique songs and a discussion about the animal of the week. Reinforce each topic with a simple craft and a nature hike or fun activity while learning about the wonderful, wacky wildlife that lives in Tennessee. Registration is required. Call the Tuesday before class to register at 615-217-3017, or for more information contact outdoormurfreesboro@ murfreesborotn.gov. Cost is $3 per person.

THURSDAYS STROLLERCOASTERS Walk the Greenway for an hour each week with your child and stroller Thursdays from 9–10 a.m., and then stay and play at the Old Fort Park Kids’ Castle (1024 Golf Ln.). Meet other parents and caregivers while getting in shape, exploring the Greenway and spending time with your child. Anyone can join at any time; no membership or registration is necessary. For all ages. For more information, contact 615-217-3017 or outdoormurfreesboro@murfreesborotn.gov.

THURSDAYS CHESS CLUB The Murfreesboro Chess Club meets each Thursday at 6 p.m. at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 907 E. Main St.

Chess players of all levels are invited to come meet and play against other local chess enthusiasts. For more information, email murfreesborochess@gmail.com or call 615-713-9256.

FRIDAYS TODDLER TIME WITH THOMAS Toddlers love to play, and that’s what they do while learning to wait their turn, follow directions and work together to accomplish simple goals at Sports*Com (2310 Memorial Blvd.) on Fridays from 10–10:45 a.m. The focus is on body part recognition, cognitive skill development and fun. For more information, contact 615-895-5040 or athletics@murfreesborotn.gov. Admission is $3 per visit.

SATURDAYS HISTORICAL SOCIETY OPENS RANSOM SCHOOL The Rutherford County Historical Society invites everyone to visit Ransom School (717 N. Academy St.) Saturday mornings from 9 a.m.–noon to discuss history while enjoying a cup of coffee. Bring old photos and memorabilia, and leave with a better understanding of, and appreciation for, your past. Volunteers needed. For more information, visit rutherfordtnhistory.org.

BOROPULSE.COM

* MARCH 2019 * 7

Sounds

Read more about local music at

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THE SECRET COMMONWEALTH

Ricky Martini Brings Back Walnut House Recording Studio and Concert Venue THE WALNUT HOUSE has entered its next chapter. Its future is now in the hands of Ricky Martini, an experienced tour production manager who is in the process of turning the building into an event venue. Martini’s vision to breathe new life into Murfreesboro’s music scene will continue throughout the month of March with an exciting series of concerts. Martini, who has 35 years of professional touring experience, now focuses his energy closer to home. Cutting-edge projection mapping, an Apogee speaker rig, a Midas mixing console and a versatile lighting system are just a few of the new additions he installed at The Walnut House. Martini settles for nothing short of superb when it comes to securing the best equipment for the job. Local event organizers looking for the complete package won’t need to look far. The Walnut House pairs high-end production equipment with a comfortable atmosphere, all conveniently located in downtown Murfreesboro. The Walnut House began as a small appliance store and later grew into a premier Murfreesboro concert venue and recording studio. The owners of the appliance company sold the building to the father of an MTSU student who helped transform it into a recording studio that would later feature multiple studio rooms. The outfitted recording studio would later fall under the ownership of Nathan Adam, a MTSU recording professor at that time who invested into further developing the building. With Adam at the helm, the building 8 * MARCH 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

housed a slate of concerts and was rented out to churches, events and nonprofits on a regular basis. During this period, The Walnut House played an important role in Murfreesboro’s flourishing music scene, not only hosting live concerts, but also giving many MTSU recording students valuable off-campus, in-studio experience. Martini determines to bring the music alive at The Walnut House again. He says he has been waiting for the perfect time to push things, and activity at the venue will snowball over the coming months. Big plans are booked for this month. The Walnut House will host a certain popular local Celtic band known as The Secret Commonwealth to bask in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, as the band celebrates its 26th anniversary on Sunday, March 17. Prior to that show, join The Walnut House for a couple of MTSU Jazz Improv nights scheduled on Thursdays March 7 and 14. This is just the beginning. Organizers are in the process of getting a concert series set in motion for the following months. Aside from concerts, The Walnut House also remains available for weddings and corporate events. The modular setup allows for many different arrangement and design options. The building’s new sophisticated visual projection technology can offer event planners just about any virtual backdrop to create their unique unforgettable experience. “If someone wants a backdrop of the Atlantic, we can make it happen,” Martini said regarding the advanced visual effects. Murfreesboro will surely benefit from the rebirth of The Walnut House and the focused passion for the music industry and live entertainment that Martini is investing into this local property. To learn more, visit walnuthousemurfreesboro.com. —JORDAN HALL

 THE BUSKS

SAT. 3/16 @ HOP SPRINGS

The Busks, the project of Woodbury brothers Dylan and Jacob Miller, will perform at Hop Springs on Saturday, March 16. The band plays an easygoing, jangly, melodic style of rock, a groovy throwback to the original pioneers of pop-rock in the 1960s, peppered with a bit of modern/alternative/indie-folk vibe. Hop Springs, located at 6790 John Bragg Hwy., has big things planned for this year now that its brewery, venue and disc golf course are open to the public. The show kicks off at 7 p.m.

MARCH 2019 CONCERT CALENDAR WED, 3/6 THE GROVE

Bluebird in the Boro

THURS, 3/7 CAMPUS PUB

Blues Jam w/ Joey Fletcher

HANDLEBAR

World Famous Thursday Night Blues Jam

HANK’S

Jordan Carter

The O’Donnells HOP SPRINGS

Americana Sunday Jam, Roland Justice

MAYDAY BREWERY

Jackson Harrison

MEDIA RERUN

Hit Like a Girl, SOS, 1995, Dreaded Laramie

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Music City Brass Ensemble

MAYDAY BREWERY

MON, 3/11

MEDIA RERUN

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Jackson Harrison

Modern Color, No Sun, Karate Chad, Weathertalk

PUCKETT’S GROCERY

Britney Monroe

WALNUT HOUSE

Jazz Jam

Michael Triplett; Morgan Pope

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Come Together

TUES, 3/12

LIVE MUSIC IN THE ’BORO

PUCKETT’S GROCERY

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

THURS, 3/28

SMYRNA VFW 8422

CARPE CAFE

CAMPUS PUB

Olivia Faye

Shane and the Money Makers

THE ASCENT

WMTS benefit

SAT, 3/16 CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

The Ebensbergers

CJ’S

Drew Sims

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Zone Status

HANK’S

Blake Esse, Willie Traywick

COCONUT BAY CAFE

HOP SPRINGS

HANK’S

MAYDAY BREWERY

HOP SPRINGS

MEDIA RERUN

MAYDAY BREWERY

MILANO II

MEDIA RERUN

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Stranger Than Fiction

Colleen Lloy, Crosstown The Busks

The Cosmic Collective Some Kind of Nightmare, Dos Cobros, Skeetzo N' Krysis, and more

Southern Ground The Lilliston Effect Colour Design Jack Popek Opera Theater: Iolanthe

FRI, 3/8

BURGER BAR

HANK’S

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

SMYRNA SENIOR CENTER

SMYRNA VFW 8422

COCONUT BAY CAFE

WED, 3/13

THE BORO

HANK’S

Kyle and Jimmy Joe West

CARPE CAFE

Allison Hatfield

CJ’S

Drew Sims

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Escape Band

HANK’S

Bailey Rose, Jack Finley Band

HOP SPRINGS

Triple Threat

Sarah Martin Don Mealer

Alan Fletcher

Shane Douglas

MEDIA RERUN

Bear Bones, Castle Black, Year of October

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Ashley Landers

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

MTSU Jazz Artist Series: Uptown Country Band Rockin Country

Radical Arts presents The Vagina Monologues

THE WHEEL

Shane and the Money Makers

SUN, 3/17

MAYDAY BREWERY

THURS, 3/14

CJ’S

MEDIA RERUN

HANDLEBAR

HANK’S

Stephen Simmons

Body Thief, Ambrose, Little Raven, Sandra Bullets, Cheer Up

MILANO II

Jack Popek

PUCKETT’S GROCERY

McCoy

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Shane and the Money Makers

SAT, 3/9 CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Mike DizIll

HANDLEBAR

Shane and the Money Makers

HANK’S

The Revenue Man Glenn Brown, Joe Hooper

HOP SPRINGS

She Wears the Pants

MAYDAY BREWERY

Mize and the Drive

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Tony and the Attitude Band

THE BORO

Nashville Non-Prophets, Los Swamp Monsters, Cliff Wheeler Band

SUN, 3/10 CJ’S

Lana Mason

HANK’S

World Famous Thursday Night Blues Jam

HANK’S

Zac Edington

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

MTSU Jazz Artist Series: saxophonist Larry Panella

THE BORO

Radical Arts Open Mic Comedy Night

Lana Mason Bill Feathers, Preston Ary, George Dunn

HOP SPRINGS

Americana Sunday Jam

MAYDAY BREWERY

Jackson Harrison

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Grace Woodworth and Richard Blumenthal; Shane Burgess

WALNUT HOUSE

RIDENOUR STUDIOS

FRI, 3/15

WALNUT HOUSE

Jazz Jam

BURGER BAR

Kyle and Jimmy

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

CARPE CAFE

Anna Gibby

CJ’S

Drew Sims

COCONUT BAY CAFE

DJ Ceiz

HANK’S

Sara Simmons, Derek Crider & Heather Heather

HOP SPRINGS

Jack Finley Band

Open Mic Night

Secret Commonwealth

MON, 3/18 SMYRNA VFW 8422

Come Together

TUES, 3/19 BURGER BAR

Sarah Martin

HANK’S

Kyle Mercer

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Shane Douglas

THURS, 3/21

MAIN STREET MUSIC

HANDLEBAR

MEDIA RERUN

HANK’S

Appetite for Destruction Christopher Fulmer, Smith+Paddock, Bad Hats, Page McKenzie

MILANO II

Jack Popek

Blues Jam

Alexis Taylor

FRI, 3/22 BURGER BAR

Kyle and Jimmy

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

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Shane and the Money Makers

SAT, 3/23 CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West DJ RDP

JD Myers, George Dunn

HOP SPRINGS

Triple Threat

MEDIA RERUN

Vamptones, Vladopus 9, Spirits Republic, Iraconji

MAYDAY BREWERY

Justice & Jackson

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Alice Judy; MTSU Opera Theater: Iolanthe

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Nick Matthews Band

SUN, 3/24 CJ’S

Lana Mason

HANK’S

Karree J Philips

HOP SPRINGS

Americana Sunday Jam, Effron White

MAYDAY BREWERY

Jackson Harrison

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Jack Marlow; Grant Keel

MON, 3/25 MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Stones River Chamber Players

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Come Together

IF YOU GO Burger Bar 1850 Old Fort Pkwy. 615-895-5555

Blues Jam w/ Joey Fletcher

HANDLEBAR

World Famous Thursday Night Blues Jam

HANK’S

Bailey Rose

Campus Pub 903 Gunnerson Ave. 616-867-9893 Carpe Cafe 115 Front St., Smyrna 615-984-4040

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

CJ’s 352 W. Northfield Blvd. 615-546-4164

THE BORO

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

MTSU Schola Cantorum Radical Arts Comedy

WHISKEY DIX

DJ Cliffy D’s Birthday Bash with Rehab, DJ vs. Drums, Chief Greenbud, Carly Rogers, Chucky Velvet

Coconut Bay Café 210 Stones River Mall Blvd. 615-494-0504 Green Dragon 714 W. Main St. 615-801-7171

FRI, 3/29 BURGER BAR

Kyle and Jimmy

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

CARPE CAFE

Handlebars 2601 E. Main St. 615-890-5661 Hank’s 2341 Memorial Blvd. 615-410-7747

Jaysen Gold

CJ’S

Drew Sims

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Crossroads Band

HANK’S

Alan Crist, Cherry Avenue

MAIN STREET MUSIC

Rubiks Groove

MAYDAY BREWERY

Billy Plant

MILANO II

Jack Popek

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Keyboard Artist Series: Jon Nakamatsu

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Shane and the Money Makers

Hop Springs 6790 John Bragg Hwy. 615-628-8776 Main Street Music 527 W. Main St. 615-440-2425 Mayday Brewery 521 Old Salem Hwy. 615-479-9722 Media Rerun 2820 S. Rutherford Blvd., 615-907-0901 Milano II 114 E. College St. 615-624-7390 MTSU Wright Music 1439 Faulkinberry Dr. 615-898-2469

THE BORO

Open-Deck DJ Night

SAT, 3/30 CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

COCONUT BAY CAFE

Elecoustic Soul

HANK’S

Pontiac Alley, Lee Gibson

HOP SPRINGS

Average Americans

MEDIA RERUN

Neptune the Mystic, Nuclear Bubble Wrap, Aye Mammoth, Wrong Eagle

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

Piano Day; Christine Barham

SMYRNA VFW 8422

Shane and the Money Makers

Nacho’s 2962 S. Rutherford Blvd. 615-907-2700 Puckett’s Grocery 114 N. Church St. 629-201-6916 Ridenour Studios 1203 Park Ave. 615-956-7413 Smyrna VFW 8422 10157 Old Nashville Hwy., Smyrna 615-459-9832 The Ascent 831 Park Ave. 615-796-6545 The Boro Bar & Grill 1211 Greenland Dr. 615-895-4800

TUES, 3/26

SUN, 3/31

BURGER BAR

CJ’S

HANK’S

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING

HOP SPRINGS

Walnut House 116 N. Walnut St. 615-705-7897

SMYRNA VFW 8422

MAYDAY BREWERY

Whiskey Dix 302 W. Main St. 615-809-2091

Sarah Martin

Delyn Christian MTSU Jazz Ensemble I Shane Douglas

The Wheel 534 SE Broad St. 615-295-2862

Lana Mason Ben Owens Americana Sunday Jam, Palmer Anthony Jackson Harrison

BOROPULSE.COM

* MARCH 2019 * 9

Sounds

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Bring the Beat Everybody Drum Some invites everyone to drum at Mayday on March 29 BY BRACKEN MAYO

EVERYBODY DRUM SOME, the local percussion collective led by drum instructor Ross Lester, will present its spring Murfreesboro Community Rhythm Event at Mayday Brewery on Friday, March 29. The collaborative drumming will kick off at 6 p.m. and Lester will lead the community drum ensemble in a celebratory session of rhythmic music making until 7:30 p.m. As always, he invites everyone who would like to drum to join the group, and there is no charge to participate. “Come join the community; come on and drum,” Lester says. And for people who are curious about how a community rhythm ensemble operates, the event is also “open to people who just want to be there and see it.” The March 29 event, held in Mayday’s large brewery room, is all-ages and family friendly. Lester and his drum disciples have made a habit of observing the rhythm of the changing seasons, and this late-March drumming installment will help ring in the arrival of spring with an original piece of music being created with friends, family, neighbors and other residents of Murfreesboro.

10 * MARCH 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

Participants can bring drums, shakers, tambourines, woodblocks or percussive instruments of any type, but even those who have no instrument may come out and use one from the extensive Everybody Drum Some collection. No prior musical experience is required for folks who wish to join in. Past drumming events have represented a wide variety of demographics in the community, with families, seasoned musicians, MTSU students, business professionals, grandparents, high school band members,

military veterans and folks playing music together, as Lester conducts the jam. While these group drumming sessions do allow for plenty of personal expression and various interpretations of the beat, Lester says the events are not so much a time for skilled drummers to put on a concert and impress others with their licks. Rather, they’re provided as an opportunity for participants to raise their percussive voices in unison with the group and to encourage musical participation from newcomers. “It really is not at all about musical experi-

ence or talent or anything like that,” Lester said. “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.” Many participants have enjoyed creating music and feeling the beat at previous Everybody Drum Some events, and organizers would like even more people to experience this community musical endeavor. Mayday Brewery is located at 521 Old Salem Rd., Murfreesboro. Everybody Drum Some will also participate in the Saturday, April 27, community Earth Day celebration on the Murfreesboro Public Square. Additionally, the local percussion collective leads drum sessions at the VA, nursing homes, schools and churches. “We’ll come to you,” Lester says. For more information on Everybody Drum Some, upcoming community rhythm events and options for having the group at private engagements and organizations, visit everybodydrumsome.com of ﬁnd Everybody Drum Some on Facebook.

AMERICA’S NAVY IS COMING TO MURFREESBORO—one of 25 cities set to host a performance by the United States Navy Band during its 2019 tour. The concert by the U.S. Navy Concert Band, one of the signature outreach programs of the U.S. Navy, is scheduled for Saturday, March 16, at 7 p.m. at the Blackman High School gymnasium. The Navy Concert Band, the premier wind ensemble of the U.S. Navy, presents a wide array of marches, patriotic selections, orchestral transcriptions and modern wind ensemble repertoire. As the original ensemble of the Navy Band, the Concert Band has been performing public concerts and participating in high-profile events for more than 90 years. One of the U.S. Navy Band’s primary responsibilities involves touring the country. All of the band’s primary performing units embark each year on concert tours throughout specified regions, allowing the band to reach out to audiences in many areas of the country. The concerts are family-friendly events, meant to be entertaining to veterans, families, individuals and those interested in joining the Navy. All Navy Band performances are free and open to the public. “Today, we have sailors performing around the world, improving relations with our allies abroad as well as telling the Navy story here at home,” said Capt. Kenneth Collins, U.S. Navy Band commanding officer. In addition to the Concert Band, other Navy performing ensembles include the Ceremonial Band, Sea Chanters chorus, Commodores jazz ensemble, Country Current country/bluegrass ensemble and the Cruisers popular-music group. Sailors in the Navy Band are full-time professional musicians who are enlisted in the U.S. Navy, most of whom have undergraduate degrees in music.

BAND PHOTO BY BRIAN P. BOWMAN; OTHERS BY ADAM GRIMM

U.S. Navy Band to Perform at Blackman High Gym in Murfreesboro on March 16

For more information on the U.S. Navy Band, visit navyband.navy.mil.

SUMMER SCHOOL ISN’T SO BAD

Your Nashville Symphony

Live at the Schermerhorn

Kids love our summer program. It’s a great way for them to stay active and teaches skills and discipline in a safe, fun-filled environment. With two locations in Murfreesboro we have classes from 8am til 8pm and half a day on Saturday. Enroll now and see why kids love our summer school!

R E G I S T E R E A R LY A N D S AV E !

ONLY

FOR ONLY

march 10

march 14 to 17

Not to be combined with other special offers.

N E W ST U D E N TS O N LY

THE MUSIC OF

Ask how to get the entire Summer Program for FREE!

TCHAIKOVSKY’S FOURTH

SUMMER CLASSES

JUNE 1 - JULY 31

NORTH MURFREESBORO | 1820 NW Broad Street | 615-893-6003 SOUTH MURFREESBORO | 1911 Business Campus Drive | 615-890-6755

B S KO N L I N E . C O M

March 26

615.687.6400 NashvilleSymphony.org

Experience Hendrix presented without orchestra.

April 11 to 13 WITH SUPPORT FROM

Sounds

MUSIC NOTES

Read more about local music at

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REHAB, Kidd, Chucky Velvet, Chief Greenbud, Carly Rogers Join DJ Cliffy D’s Annual Birthday Celebration

CARLY ROGERS

again join Cliffy for another installment of DJ vs Drumz. Nashville singer/songwriter Carly Rogers will shake things up at the bash, along with a performance from the eccentric Chief Greenbud. Fans can expect a “full production; we have all kinds of lights coming in,” Cliffy said. The bash (for ages 21 and up) runs from 8 p.m.– 2:30 a.m. at Whiskey Dix, 302 W. Main St., on March 28. Only 140 special lanyard passes will be sold exclusively at Whiskey Dix. Grab them before they’re gone! For more information, visit facebook.com/djcliffyd/events.

TRIVIA, KARAOKE & BINGO NIGHTS SAM’S SPORTS GRILL Trivia, 8 p.m.

 MONDAYS AHART’S PIZZA Trivia, 7 p.m. HANK’S Open Mic, 6–9 p.m. LEVEL III Trivia, 7 p.m. JACK BROWN’S Trivia Night 7 p.m. MT BOTTLE Bingo 7 p.m.

OLD CHICAGO Trivia, 8:30 p.m.

 WEDNESDAYS CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m. GEORGIA'S Karaoke, 8 p.m.–12 a.m. HANK’S Karaoke, 7–10 p.m. LEVEL III Trivia, 7 p.m. MELLOW MUSHROOM Trivia, 8 p.m.

 TUESDAYS

SAM’S SPORTS GRILL Trivia, 8 p.m.

COCONUT BAY Live Trivia, 7:30 p.m.

STATION GRILL Trivia, 7 p.m.

NACHO’S Trivia, 7 p.m.

THE BOULEVARD Trivia, 8 p.m.

 FRIDAYS GEORGIA’S Karaoke, 9 p.m.–1 a.m. LIQUID SMOKE DJ Night, 10 p.m. MT BOTTLE Karaoke, 9 p.m.–3 a.m. LA SIESTA (Greenland) Trivia, 7 p.m.

 SATURDAYS CAMPUS PUB Karaoke, 10 p.m.–2:30 a.m. GEORGIA’S Karaoke, 9 p.m.–1 a.m. MT BOTTLE Karaoke 9 p.m.–3 a.m. NACHOS Trivia, 7 p.m.

Send karaoke, trivia and entertainment info to listings@boropulse.com 12 * MARCH 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

CLIFFY D

MTSU Illinois Jacquet Jazz Festival Brings in Roland Barber, Tain Watts, Larry Panella

 ENTERTAINMENT

 SUNDAYS

CLIFFY D PHOTO BY MINTYPICS.COM

Thursday, March 28, marks the 13th annual DJ Cliffy D Birthday Bash, this year featuring REHAB, southern veterans of alternative country and hip-hop known for their popular “Bartender Song.” The cast of must-see entertainers that Cliffy assembled for the occasion also includes Jason “Kidd” Peterson, Chief Greenbud, Chucky Velvet and Carly Rogers. The bass is going to rattle Whiskey Dix Saloon and things might get a little wild at another unforgettable live experience with DJ Cliffy D. Cliffy formerly served as house DJ at Whiskey Dix, but spent 2018 touring with Upchurch the Redneck. “That kid changed my life,” Cliffy said. “I’m about to turn 37, and I’m doing what I love. . . . I guess it paid off buying those turntables way back.” The rhythmic prodigy Kidd, who also plays drums for Upchurch’s touring band, will once

DRUMMER JEFF “TAIN” WATTS, saxophonist Larry Panella, trombon-

ist Roland Barber and MTSU jazz faculty will present clinics and concerts as a part of the MTSU Illinois Jacquet Jazz Festival coming up March 14–16 in the MTSU School of Music. Concerts scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Hinton Hall of the Wright Music Building—one on Thursday, March 14, and one on Saturday, March 16, are part of the MTSU Jazz Artist Series. Panella will headline the March 14 concert and Watts will headline the March 16 concert. Panella, director of jazz studies at the University of Southern Mississippi, will bring his unique approach to contemporary jazz standards. Multi-Grammy-Award-winning drummer Watts was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2017. Several Watts compositions will be featured March 16. Watts will be joined by area trombonist Roland Barber, a mainstay of the Nashville jazz scene, as well as by the MTSU Faculty Jazztet and students in the MTSU Jazz Ensemble. MTSU students and area high school jazz students will participate in concerts and clinics throughout the day led by faculty members and guests. Watts will host a free clinic at 2:10 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, in Hinton Hall. Barber will perform at noon that day in Wright Music Building Room 173 with MTSU Jazz Ensemble II, directed by Aliquo. The MTSU Illinois Jacquet Jazz Festival honors the memory of tenor saxophone innovator Jean-Baptiste “Illinois” Jacquet. Tickets for the evening concerts on March 14 and 16 are $10 for the public and free for MTSU students, faculty and staff. For reserved tickets, call 615-898-2724 or email james.simmons@mtsu.edu. For more information about the festival, visit mtsu.edu/music/jazzfest.php.

ALBUMS

BY JORDAN HALL

EYE ON THE SKY

TIM DAVIS BAND

Prepare for things to get a little rough. Sludgemetal band Eye on the Sky released its no-nonsense project The Red Mist in December 2018. Though only a three-piece band, Eye on the Sky—Heath Overbey (bass/vocals), Matt “Seven” Jones (guitar/vocals) and Alex O’Neill (drums/ vocals)—sure knows how to pack a punch. The Red Mist came, the door fell down, and we think the whole foundation crumbled with it. One of the first things to note is how full the band sounds on the recording. It’s incredible what just three musicians can accomplish. Most of Red Mist is covered by plenty of sharp edges in the form of erratic lead guitars, thundering drum clamor and sinister gang vocals. Overall, this is a pretty great record. Instrumentally, it’s a wicked ride to oblivion. The songs sound violent, but The Red Mist is easy enough on the ears for sludge-metal. The persistent drill of heavily distorted guitars are a necessity when it comes to this genre. Rhythmically, a whole arsenal of drum fills and splashes get better and better as the album progresses. The drum groove the band captured here keeps things tight and interesting. The vocals are unsurprisingly pretty ruthless, but they sit in the mix well. Things really shine on the final song, “Let Them Fall,” as Joseph Lampley joins in to lay down some vocal tracks. Dueling gang vocals often get too overpowering, but in this case, the vocals are tastefully done. Eye on the Sky created some really interesting soundscapes to open certain tracks. “Will of Stone” opens with a mosaic of dissonant synth patches, followed by a blistering carpet bomb of a drum fill, the kind of sonic excitement that rockers thirst for. Creative decisions like these help set Eye on the Sky apart from the rest of the pack. Find The Red Mist at eyeonthesky.bandcamp.com.

Tim Davis’ “music with a message” is alive and well. Listen to his album Short Ride to follow the blistering vigor of his voice and the steady thump of his soul. The indie/folk rocker is a wildcard, wielding shards of country, blues, contemporary Christian and progressive rock ’n’ roll. Above all, Davis relies on his Christian faith to keep him from slipping off track. Short Ride was written and recorded by a man who prefers to teach life lessons with a guitar around his neck. Tim Davis is a strong songwriter, who has a warm touch of lyrical potency and can evoke emotions without being overly cryptic or poetic. And the blending of harmonica-driven blues and worship music with mainstream country helps give his style a distinct sound. His band enters full force on the opening song of the album, and Davis gets right down to business. It’s the kind of grit you can feel in the chest. Honestly, that style of rawness isn’t common in Christian music. Davis puts up a tough exterior, but lyrically his songs are tender to the core. He writes honest music that just about anybody could appreciate to some degree. More than any single musical characteristic that defines the album, Davis sells it all on his own. Short Ride is heavily inﬂuenced by Davis’ connection with the fundamentals of his Christian lifestyle. The Tim Davis Band is a truly talented group of musicians who sound committed to the vision of its frontman. The band’s devotion bleeds through the edges of the speakers from all of the recordings on the album and is a pleasure to listen to. Davis stands out notably from the crowd of Christian rock groups with his edgy, blues grit; however, there may not be enough uniqueness to keep him from being mixed in with all of the other quality bands in Middle Tennessee. Nevertheless, Tim Davis is a noteworthy local Christian artist. Keep your eyes open to see where he heads next. Visit timdavisband.com to learn more.

The Red Mist

A CLASSIC OUTSTANDING

Short RIde

AVERAGE BELOW AVERAGE

AVOID AT ALL COSTS DEAD

Sounds

14 * MARCH 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

boropulse.com/category/music

Celebration of

Stardust

Ziggy’s piano man leads touring tribute to David Bowie BY STEVE MORLEY

(Above) Mike Garson; (center) longtime Bowie guitarist Earl Slick with other touring Bowie Celebration musicians

honor of the fallen superstar. From there, Garson explains, a limited series of shows were staged featuring a core team of Bowie musicians and guest artists ranging from Sting and Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell to Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott. Ultimately, Bowie’s own alumni decided “they wanted to be the essence of it, finding the best possible singers to represent David’s music,” Garson says. The traveling

troupe, anchored by key Bowie personnel Garson on piano, guitarist Earl Slick and bassist Carmine Rojas, will bring longtime Rolling Stones support vocalist Bernard Fowler and Living Colour singer Corey Glover with them when they hit the stage of Nashville’s Polk Theater at TPAC on Wednesday, March 13. Garson promises a mixture of hits and deep cuts, noting that the band is prepared

PHOTOS BY STEVE ROSE

When the kids had killed the man, I had to break up the band . . . (“Ziggy Stardust,” 1972) Ziggy Stardust wasn’t killed by his fans. He was put to death by his creator, David Bowie. Bowie’s breakthrough 1972 album, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, was centered around its titular fictional character, an outrageously garbed and coiffed androgynous rock guitar god destined for destruction. What made Ziggy all the more compelling was the fact that, for a time, Ziggy was Bowie, and Bowie was Ziggy. Between early 1972 and mid-1973, as Bowie embarked on European, Japanese and American tours and recorded the final official Spiders From Mars-backed album, Aladdin Sane, the line separating the creator and the created seemed a thin one to be sure. Perhaps the only sure way for Bowie to escape Ziggy’s grip was to retire the character and dismantle his band, which he announced his intention to do at their final show—unbeknowst to the band members themselves—onstage at London’s Hammersmith Odeon. The untimely demise of the Spiders From Mars was a major loss for ’70s rock, and yet Bowie was quite likely right in thinking he’d painted himself into a too-tight corner inside the Stardust persona. As an artist, he had an uncanny instinct about when to make the next move, no matter how sudden or drastic a move it might seem to his fans. This was how David Bowie rolled, according to pianist and longtime Bowie associate Mike Garson, who joined the Spiders midway through the legendary Ziggy Stardust tours and went on to play and record with Bowie later in his career. “It was never personal with musicians he fired, or changed,” Garson says. “He always had something in his mind that he wanted to do to keep himself creative and fresh, and, you know, honoring how he heard things in his head.” Garson spoke with the Pulse last month from Denver, Colorado, where he and a band comprised primarily of Bowie studio and touring musicians stopped on their extended A Bowie Celebration tour. A month after David Bowie succumbed to cancer in January, 2016, Garson and others who’d played on the final Bowie tour were called in to back young New Zealand singer Lorde at the Brits Awards, which presented a multimedia tribute in

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(Right) Vocalist Bernard Fowler will sing the works of David Bowie at TPAC on March 13

to play 40-odd Bowie numbers but that the shows only have room for roughly half of those. This keeps the set list ﬂuid and the shows from becoming too routine, a practice that Bowie himself favored in order to avoid predictability. Bowie’s manyhued, rapidly evolving body of work itself underwent perhaps a half-dozen stylistic shifts in its first decade or so. “I’m just trying to follow David’s spirit [in the shows], because he did that with us,” Garson recalls. “We’d be onstage and he’d call [a different] tune, in the middle of a very big tour. I think that’s what it’s like when you’re an artist and feeling things based on many factors that are bigger than us. His creative process and mine were somewhat similar in that we’d get bored fairly quickly,” Garson offers, noting that he alone survived the dismissal of five different sets of musicians between 1972 and 1974. Garson credits that to his broad training and diverse tastes, which not only allowed him to follow Bowie’s string of ch-ch-ch-changes but, in some respects, helped the restless artist to pursue his evolution as a stylist and songwriter. Without its namesake’s immense charisma onstage, A Bowie Celebration is essentially a showcase for Bowie the songwriter, offering a small but potent overview of his sprawling catalog. “What we have are great songs, and it’s my job to make them sound great,” Garson says. Crediting his fellow musicians, he adds, “It feels authentic . . . it sounds like what I remember it sounding like with David.” Tickets for the March 13 Middle Tennessee stop of A Bowie Celebration can be purchased at tpac.org or by calling 615-782-4040.

Living

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boropulse.com/category/living

Mindful Care Program provides mental stimulation, day care service for individuals with dementia BY LAURA LINDSAY AUSTIN EUGENE MANIRE, known as “Doc” for most of his life, is a veteran of World War II who started showing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is 2007. That year, Doc’s family started noticing that his behavior was changing, and he was showing signs of dementia. “He is happy when he is at Mindful Care,” said Manire’s step-daughter and caregiver Pat Bolin. “At the end of a day there, he told me he didn’t talk to a single person. But when I pulled up and looked through the window one day, he was talking to two of the ladies and having a great time.” Since Bolin found Mindful Care, Doc attends two days a week, and, as his caregiver, Bolin can get some rest and attend to her other needs and responsibilities. Mindful Care is an adult day program that meets in donated space at New Vision Baptist Church in Murfreesboro. The program was started 11 years ago by former executive director Tina O’Brien, who recently retired. Keneshia Sweet is the program director for Mindful Care, a program for adults ages 55 and up who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. 20 * MARCH 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

The program currently has openings Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the most availability on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mindful Care, which costs $40 a day or $30 for a half day, acts as a social group. “Everybody looks forward to talking to and seeing each other,” Sweet said. “The program is really to keep them active. We want them to be as active as they can be while they go through Alzheimer’s or dementia so they don’t decline in their memory loss.” The group spends their day doing a lot of mind-stimulating activities like a trivia game, Jeopardy and a big crossword puzzle they put on the wall; program attendees spend other time playing games, doing crafts and exercising. “We try to do as many activities as we can a day where they are learning something, or have to remember something, and the chair exercises are to keep them physically active,” Sweet said. Mindful Care does not have a wait list. To get a loved one into the program, the family

just calls and then comes in for a trial run. “Everyone is on a different level,” Sweet said. “To see where that is, we have them come in and we include them in an activity that is already on the schedule. This will give us an idea of what level they are on, be it not much memory loss or that their time frame is one to five minutes where we will say something and then they ask the question again.” Payment to attend is by the month to secure the participants’ spots. They can attend any number of days in the week or every day. It is asked that they participate on a consistent level, like every certain Monday or Tuesday of the month or a consistent day of each week. That way when some one wants to attend, they will know there is a spot available. “Also, when it fits the need, we pair them on the day they fit in best,” Sweet said. “Our Monday/Wednesday/Friday group is lower functioning and our Tuesday/Thursday group is much higher.” Mindful Care is funded partially by its

participants and mostly by grants. The organization is in the process of trying to get more grants and their biggest hope is to expand their service and move into their own building. “We want to grow,” Swift said. “I want as many people as can to join the program and benefit from it. My goal is to make the caregivers happy, make the participants happy and I want good things to happen. I don’t want anyone to decline in this disease because they don’t have all the support they can around them. Being around people like them also shows them that they are not alone, and they can have fun even though they are going through this. I want to help as many people as I can.” Mindful Care has been huge for us, said Angie Dean, whose father and father-in-law both attend the program. “When I’m working at home, I can be one-hundred percent focused,” she said. “But the nicest thing about the program is how much both of them enjoy it. We would not feel good about having them go to a program if they didn’t have a great time while they were there.” For more information about Mindful Care Adult Day Services, call 615-5424371 to set up an appointment or visit mindful-care.org.

Food

The Dish RESTAURANT

Hank’s Honky Tonk LOCATION

2341 Memorial Blvd. PHONE

615-410-7747 HOURS

Mon.–Thurs.: 12 p.m.–12 a.m.; Fri.–Sat.: 12 p.m.–1 a.m.; Sun.: 10 a.m.–10 p.m. PRICES

Shrimp Po Boy: $9.99; Pulled pork tacos (2): $6.99; Flat iron steak: $14.99; Tenderloin sandwich: $9.99; Honky tonk burger: $10.99; Grilled chicken with two sides: $10.99 (Above) Pulled pork tacos; (below) a sampling of wings and chicken bites; (left) wedge salad

ONLINE

hankshonkytonk.com

❤ This Bar

Hank’s Honky Tonk serves delicious tacos, tenderloin, wings, po boys, salads and steaks in addition to country music STORY BY LIANE OJITO / PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO

f you are looking for great food and music in a honky-tonk atmosphere and don’t want to drive to Nashville, head to Hank’s Honky Tonk on Memorial Boulevard. With live music seven days a week, happy hour specials, a variety of delicious food, a full bar, friendly service and regular patrons, Hank’s will wet your whistle and satisfy your appetite for excellence in food and song. Upon stepping inside this intimate, charming, impeccably clean space, you’ll find a small stage, several spacious, hightop tables and a well-stocked bar that runs the length of the restaurant. Images of popular country musicians are backlit, shining light on legends along the main wall. Sometimes the word “honky-tonk” conjures ideas of greasy, frozen bar food, but not here. Hank’s smells great and the food is delectable. This is a place worth coming

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to just for the food quality alone. Boasting an extensive menu filled with unique creations, the only trouble you’ll have is deciding what to try. The dishes I tried were not only flavorful and well-prepared, they were also visually pleasing. Kitchen manager and chef Gage Estes has created an innovative menu with creations such as Nashville hot fries: french fries tossed in hot rub and topped with blue cheese; pulled pork tacos with kale and Hank’s crema; and build your own nachos, a dish that offers a choice of tortilla chips, fries, pork rinds or Hank’s potato chips as a base, topped with beer cheese, pulled pork, chili, cheddar cheese, ground beef, bacon, blue cheese, jalapeños or fresh veggies. I had the pleasure of dining with a local newspaper publishing couple and their vibrant 9-year-old son. He was so impressed by the fried chicken’s tenderness,

the freshly fried pork rinds and his double bacon cheeseburger, that he gave Hank’s a ranking of “150 stars.” (If it’s child-approved, it’s got to be good.) First we sampled a mixture of appetizers: Chicken bites: hand-cut and lightly breaded fried chicken Lemon-pepper chicken wings: delectably dry-rubbed and full of flavor ’Boro hot chicken wings: a special creation of Estes’ combining a traditional Nashville dry hot rub with honey, fiercely flavorful and balanced Fresh fried pork rinds: golden, crisp, warm and fresh Every piece was devoured and the various sauces added to the satisfaction. Hank’s sauce is a chipotle-spiced mayo made inhouse, and their peach BBQ sauce is Middle Tennessee sourced from Captain Rodney’s

Private Reserve, perfect for dipping. The chicken bites were tender and juicy but not at all greasy. Same with the wings; they have a mouth-watering clean and crisp texture. Ordinarily, I avoid eating Nashville Hot in order to preserve my taste buds, but the special ’Boro hot was a balanced flavorexplosion, with sweet to add to the heat, more like a firework than a fire bomb. We then shared in our praises for the pulled-pork tacos’ combination of texture and flavor. The fried pork tenderloin was lightly breaded with a nice dry finish. The local newspaper publisher “highly recommend[s] eating it with the Peach BBQ sauce.” My chicken slider stood tall and tasted divine, a lightly-breaded, satisfying portion of non-greasy fried-chicken in an adorable brioche bun. I added Hank’s sauce to mine.

(Above) Fried pork tenderloin with grilled zucchini; (below) Honky Tonk burger and pork rinds

Ken and Gina Strode opened Hank’s Honky Tonk in 2017 and named it after Ken’s grandfather, Hank—a “dream come true” once the location became available. “We love going to Nashville to eat and listen to live music, but the drive back and forth became tiring. We decided to bring the best of Nashville right here. It’s a place we can enjoy, close to home,” explained Gina. “See the people at the bar? They have been visiting since the first day we opened!” she said with a broad smile.

“We fell in love with the honky-tonks in downtown Nashville,” Ken said. Living in Murfreesboro since 2005, he wanted one of his own, and here it is.

Other than Ken insisting on the inclusion of the fried pork tenderloin, flat-iron steak and a Chicago-style dog, Estes has a lot of creative freedom with the menu. Ken likes the beer cheese poured over the pork rinds. Gina enjoys the occasional wedge salad. One recent Murfreesboro diner said the Shrimp Po Boy was excellent and that he would be returning. Estes likes giving people good food and choices. I’ll definitely go back. Hank’s has recently opened for Sunday brunch, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Sundays, and a new menu will come soon. For the upcoming music schedule and to view the menu, visit hankshonkytonk.com. Next time you are hungry or thirsty, want some good food, a drink or live music, you know where to go: Hank’s Honky Tonk. I’d love to hear your thoughts and see what you ate. Please share your experience with us.

Art

 PROFILE

Innovative Metals and Innovative Targets owner Jason Agee in his Middle Tennessee workshop.

STAYING ON TARGET Jason Agee produces popular steel targets in Rutherford County BY BRACKEN MAYO Jason Agee, the founder, owner and operator of Innovative Metal Solutions and Innovative Targets in rural Rutherford County, has developed his brand into a player in the steel target industry. His company produces a variety of target styles for firing ranges, shooting competitions and for the individual gun enthusiast, as well as a wide variety of other metal components. He has worked on hot rod parts, swinging gates, the large lanterns at World Outreach Church, pieces for Cannonsburgh Village, wheelchair lifts, the skylight and bar fittings at NashHouse Southern Spoon & Saloon, wall hangings and all manner of other steel pieces over the past few years. Agee decided in 2011 to end his daily commute from Lascassas to the Ford Glass plant in west Nashville and try his own thing. Innovative Metal Solutions seems like a precise description of his company—Agee 24 * MARCH 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

takes pride in being innovative, metal is his medium, and he wants those with a challenge to see if he can create a solution. “I have a way of looking at things and finding solutions,” he said. “Sometimes, I’m not the right solution,” he added. But if he can, within his customer’s budget, he’ll take ideas and make them metal. He started out producing some artwork commissions, and he worked with Cannonsburgh Village on some pieces. Word of his skill set began to spread, and more and more individuals in search of a particular metal piece came to Agee for a solution. He continued to develop his CAD (computer aided design) knowledge, and gave his plasma table all sorts of coded instructions.

Now, Agee has carved out a niche in the steel firearm target manufacturing sector. Aware of Agee’s metalworking skills, some friends encouraged him to make a target in his shop. The metalworker produced his first target, featuring a spring-loaded mechanism to automatically reset the steel plate back to its original position after taking a bullet. He reports that friends visiting him one Memorial Day “had a blast shooting at it.” He made 10 more, a task that took him two weeks, but his efforts paid off; Agee sold eight of those targets at a gun show he attended. He continued building the target component of his business, and today the Innovative Targets division comprises about 75 percent of Agee’s metal business, he esti-

mates. In Murfreesboro, Bullseye Gun, Gear & Pawn carries the products. Agee’s Dueling Tree design, which features six steel plate targets that pivot from side to side on a steel post, won the 2018 Firearm Industry Choice Award—“The Grammys of the firearms industry,” Agee says—for Target of the Year. This creative design can offer a target shooting game for two or more shooters. Innovative Targets makes the six plates orange on one side, white on the other. When a bullet strikes a white target on the right side, it swings behind the post, and the orange side appears on the left, and vice versa. This setup retails at around $500, but for only $15 a target-shooting enthusiast can purchase the Knockover, a simple 5-inch steel plate welded to a small base that falls over upon impact. For around $100, a shooter can acquire a gong setup, which yields a pleasing report when struck. A big part of Agee’s marketing plan, and his recreation as well, is his growing involvement in competitive shooting events. He serves as a range operator and a contestant in various target shooting competitions, and provides sponsorship and targets through Innovative Targets. The metalworker is organizing his own event as a competition director—the RockAuto Submachine Gun Championship, coming up in May 2019 in Park City, Kentucky. Agee welcomes a good challenge, and uses each one to build his knowledge, skills and company. And he had a big one a couple of years ago when his metal shop burned down. That was a blow, but the insurance money shook out as hoped and allowed Agee

a plasma table and started teaching myself CAD—and finally said, “I’ve had enough” [of corporate employment]. The target thing fell into my lap. I’m not the only steel target manufacturer, but I’m trying to do it better for a more affordable acquisition price, and all of our targets are my own design. What’s your favorite part of running your business?

Being out there welding; putting my signature on something. What’s your least favorite part?

Paying bills, office work. I’d rather be out there in the shop. What businesses and people were a help

to build an even better shop. Agee’s right-hand man, Daniel Napier, had to leave the company for a time, but since the rebuild, Napier moved closer to the Innovative Metal Solutions shop and came back to work for the business, so now both crew members have a very easy commute to work each day. Agee discussed the growth of his business with the Pulse. How did you develop the idea for Innovative Metals and Innovative Targets,

and how did the business get its start?

You don’t learn something like welding and metal fabrication totally on your own, but I started by teaching myself, as a hobby. I was working for Ford Glass as a mechanic, and they needed more welders. They knew I did a little metal work, so I was one of 12 who was put into a welding training program. After six weeks of shielded metal arc welding training, I was the one who got the job as a welder. I grew my business on the side—I bought

and inspiration for you?

First Tennessee Bank was key. There were some people there who helped get me the accounts, credit and things that a business needs. I work with some other local metal workers: Bryan, Bart, Johnny. Sometimes I’m not the right solution for someone, and I’ll send them to someone else. They’ll refer jobs to me too. I still watch some other guys on YouTube to learn more, and listen to welding podcasts. For more information on the business and to order targets, visit innovativemetals.net and innovativetargets.net. Find targets at Bullseye Gun, Gear & Pawn, 130 Shelby St.

 ARTIST PROFILE

Studio S Murfreesboro potter Lewis Snyder enriches local art community, passes on clay knowledge to next generation BY ANDREW WIGDOR PHOTOS BY JOSH RISH WITH A SOFT VOICE and a warm smile, Lewis Snyder has run his family business in Murfreesboro for almost 50 years, finetuning his craft and passing artistic wisdom onto the next generation of the city. “In undergraduate school, I majored in social and political science. I had to have some electives, and I took an art class and ended up taking all the art courses they had. I went on to graduate school in clay and sculpture and haven’t looked back since,” Snyder said. As one quickly discovers when conversing with Snyder, he’s as much of an educator as he is an artist, and this shows when examining the foundation of Studio S Pottery, the business he’s run for decades. In 1962, Snyder moved to Murfreesboro to establish the three-dimensional art department at Middle Tennessee State University. Once the program was established, Snyder wished to have a place where he could perfect his own work. He sought out property and came across the Murfreesboro dairy barn that now houses the Studio S gallery and workshop. It took 10 years for Snyder and his family to develop the barn into Studio S. Snyder was also appointed as the state crafts director of Tennessee by Gov. Winfield Dunn, who served as the state’s governor from 1971 to 1975. While serving in that position, Snyder developed several statewide art programs. In 1977, he quit and returned to working on his own projects. Snyder specializes in form and color; he develops his own glazes and clays and builds his own equipment. Under his direction, Studio S provides four to six classes per session for those who want to learn the 26 * MARCH 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

craft of clay, with four sessions per year. The current session is focused on raku firing, a Japanese pottery firing technique, and pit firing, the oldest known method for pottery firing. “I have [students] from 8 years old to 90,” Snyder said. “. . . I normally have a lot more students in clay than the university does.” It’s not just Snyder running the show, however. Studio S is a family business and has stayed in business for all these years

with the help of Snyder’s sons, Lewis Paul Snyder and Eric Snyder. When asked why he decided to become involved in the business, Lewis Paul Snyder chuckled. “I was here and available,” he said. “It’s just what we did.” Eric, who received a broadcast degree from MTSU, is now the gallery coordinator for the MTSU Department of Art and Design. Before that, Eric worked with his father at Studio S full-time for 20 years and

still contributes art to the gallery. Lewis Paul Snyder, who worked in marketing for years, moved back to Murfreesboro about five years ago and has been running much of the operations side of the business for his father. Lewis Snyder said that, while the climate for art appreciation in the city has improved, much work has been put in to build up the art community in Murfreesboro since Studio S’s establishment. “When we came to Murfreesboro, you couldn’t give a piece of art away on the square,” Snyder said. “Every time we went out anywhere we can show, we had to take the potter’s wheel out and demonstrate. And, as a result, we’ve built up a strong following, not just in Tennessee. I have interns all over the United States that I’ve trained.” Sydner’s work has had a long reach through his years at Studio S. Snyder said he’s been creating pieces for every sitting president, give or take a couple, since Nixon, and he has pieces that have been shown all over the world. He recalled crafting dinnerware for former U.S. President Jimmy Carter as being one of the most daunting tasks he’s undertaken. Lewis Paul Snyder attributes the studio’s success to the fact that it is, through and through, a family business. While Snyder has been working in pottery for a long time, he’s still looking at the work with a pair of fresh eyes, and he’s still experimenting. “I’d like to experiment more with color atmospheres because it’s truly my belief that there’s a spectrum of color that man has not seen yet. I’m not physicist enough to keep from blowing myself up trying, but I think it’s possible.” Studio S Pottery is located at 1426 Avon Rd., Murfreesboro. The gallery is open to the public Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information on classes, visit studiospottery.com.

Art

SE-YA Book Fest Brings Young Adult Authors to MTSU

 THEATER

Voices From the Shore, presented by AcTEEng and directed by Jamie Leigh Stevens, will play in March at Murfreesboro Little Theatre. Ryen Lawing stars as Joel. As Joel’s anxiety about his future rises during his senior year of high school, the audience begins to understand that he is hearing voices. Constantly tormenting Joel, these voices ultimately land him in an adolescent psychiatric hospital. There, Joel meets other youths who are struggling with their journeys and changing worlds. Each character faces their imminent future and the possibilities and opportunities their new worlds provide. Told with humor, but directness, Voices From the Shore embraces the anxieties and obstacles overcome by young adults as they come of age. The production also stars Seraphim Sherman, Madison Titshaw, Emily Lewis, Jatara Odom, Sarah Sexton, Malcolm Bryant, Carlos Diaz, Olivia Hollandsworth, Daevlynne Lambert, Rachel Hortert, Molly Womack, Logan Elkins, Abby Jackson, Becca Hawkins and Erica Kelty. Showtimes are 7 p.m. on March 8, 9, 15 and 16; and at 2 p.m. on March 10 and 17. Murfreesboro Little Theatre is located at 702 Ewing Blvd. For ticket reservations and more information, visit mltarts.com.

MLT PHOTO BY JOHN GASSLER

Voices From the Shore, Dealing With Voices in Teen’s Head, Plays at MLT

AUTHORS AND FANS of young adult books will gather at the bookstore in the Student Union Building on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University from March 7–9. Students and writers interested in attending the first two days of the Southeastern Young Adult (SE-YA) Book Festival must register in advance, though the last day of the festival, Saturday, March 9, is free and open to the community. Barb Collie, who serves on the SE-YA executive board, says that this is the fourth year for the book fest and that the primary goal, and mission statement, of the festival is to encourage and develop literacy in young adults by connecting them with authors, thereby advancing education in the community. The event will also place teens and the writers of the books they love in a setting involving panels with the authors, meet-and-greets, writing workshops and other activities and experiences. Workshop topics will include Writing Emotionally Authentic Characters with Katie McGarry, Writing for Justice: The Power of Nonfiction with Andrew Maraniss, Turning an Idea Into a Book with Mark Oshiro, Novel Ideas with Kat Zhang, and Poetry Palooza: Bringing Poems to Life on the Page and on the Stage with Allan Wolf. Readers will also have opportunities to get their books signed by the authors. For more information on the 2019 SE-YA Book Fest, registration, schedules and more, visit seyabookfest.com.

Calendar Girls Take Over Center for the Arts Stage in March Calendar Girls, a comedic stage play based on a true story, follows six women as they pose partially nude for a calendar created to raise money for leukemia research. The play opens at the Center for the Arts on March 1 and runs two weekends. This hilarious show, also told in the 2003 Miramax film featuring Helen Mirren as the lead character, takes place in England. “This play is all about women supporting one another in the later stages of life,” says director Vickie Bailey. “There is no full nudity, just suggestive poses with inanimate objects like a tea set and pastries—it’s hilarious and fast-paced and sure to be a hit!” The play tells of Annie (Connie Downer) and Chris (Denise Parton), who after the passing of Annie’s husband, John (Ryan Green), decide to raise money to buy a new, comfortable settee in the hospital waiting room. Together, they recruit four other women: Celia (Leah Williams), Cora (Wendy Travis), Ruth (Debbie Kraski) and Jessie (Layne Sasser), along with amateur photographer Lawrence (Mark David Williams) to create an “alternative” calendar, in order to raise the money. News soon spreads of the ladies’ endeavor, and their small village is flooded with press, eager to get the scoop. This tale of friendship, fame and learning to love yourself will take center stage in March. The Center has partnered with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to raise awareness of their programs. Calendar Girls plays at the Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays March 1 and 8, Saturdays March 2 and 9, and at 2 p.m. on Sundays, March 3 and 10. Center for the Arts is located at 110 W. College St., Murfreesboro. For tickets or more information, visit boroarts.org or call 615-904-ARTS (2787).

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UPCOMING: ONLINE LAND AUCTION

FIRM 3875

LIC 1214

 POETRY IN THE BORO BY KORY WELLS

BY LADIAH MARCHE THOMAS

Poet and Cervical Cancer Activist Navita Gunter to Participate in March 10 Poetry in the Boro AFTER RECORD RAINS HERE in February, March and the entrance of spring will perhaps be more “mud- / luscious” and “puddle-wonderful” than usual, as E.E. Cummings wrote in his poem “[inJust-].” As creation bursts into bloom, don’t overlook the following local ways to enjoy human creativity—and nurture your own—in poetry and prose writing.

SUNDAY, MAR. 10 Poetry in the Boro at Murfreesboro Little Theatre presents poet Navita Gunter and, back by popular demand, a short feature of MLT actors reading poems. An hour of open mic will follow. Gunter arrived on the Nashville poetry scene several years ago as the host of a weekly open mic at Kijiji’s, the coffee shop on Jefferson Street. These days, she is a Murfreesboro resident and a regular at Poetry in the Boro. Locally, she’s also performed her poetry at the Boro Art Crawl. She’s soon launching her first-ever book of poetry, N2Words. A cervical cancer survivor and founder of the Cervical Cancer Coalition of Tennessee, Gunter is also the author of the book The Day My Vagina Tried to Kill Me. She is the recipient of numerous community service awards, including a 2017 Unity Award presented by MTSU. The features begin at 7 p.m. Open mic time follows. For more details, including this month’s word challenge, see Poetry in the Boro on Facebook.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9 The Southeastern Young Adult Book Festival, held at MTSU, is free and open to the public. (March 7 and 8 are for ticketed school groups only). Writing workshops, most open to all ages, are also offered, although pre-registration is required. See seyabookfest.com for a full schedule of author appearances and workshop details.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16 MTSU Write offers one of its Spring Saturday installments, a free memoir 30 * MARCH 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

 BOOK

master class with Dorin Shumacher at MT Center. Schumacher is the author of Gatsby’s Child: Coming of Age in East Egg, and her writing appears in The New York Times, PANK Magazine, Quiet Lunch and other publications.

SATURDAY, APRIL 6 MTSU Write offers another of its Spring Saturday installments, a free fiction master class with Jennie Fields. Fields is the author of four novels, most recently Age of Desire, based on the life of American writer Edith Wharton. For details on these classes, see the Events page at mtsu.edu/write. Poet Mike James recently moved to Murfreesboro with his family. “This One Songwriter” is a prose poem that appears in his most recent book, FirstHand Accounts From Made-Up Places, available from publisher Stubborn Mule Press, Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Learn more about James at mikejamespoetry.com.

This One Songwriter by Mike James Centered his work on obscurity. There was the song about James Buchanan’s love life. And the one about Candy Darling’s passion for limburger cheese. There was the one his mother liked about the many purposes of Mr. Spock’s ears. And his own favorite about the woman he took out for coffee who left while he was pouring sugar. Sometimes he forgot the lyrics and just hummed as he picked and poked at his taped up guitar. He was never very good at guitar tuning. Easily distracted, he often imagined guitar strings as Rapunzel’s golden hair.

Tennessee Author Rolanda Holman Encourages Others to Find Their Purpose and Be Positioned for Greatness MURFREESBORO AUTHOR AND MTSU ALUM ROLANDA Y. HOLMAN has written a book called Living the Good Life on Purpose: You are Predestined, Prepared, and Positioned for Greatness. The synopsis of this faith-based work, released in 2018, says that the book “will encourage you to examine your life and prepare for your purpose. Don’t let your purpose die. Don’t be defined by the giant strongholds that have hindered you.” The book makes a really good read for anyone needing inspiration or motivation. Holman proclaims on her website that her mission in life “is to help others encounter their purpose, walk it out, and live a fulfilled life.” The first chapter of the book starts off with the word “yes” and relates that to purpose—purpose that goes into changing your time, missed opportunities, wasted energy and “nos” into “yesses,” which bring you opportunities to help you find your purpose in life and fulfill it. Do not pass on an opportunity because you don’t feel ready or the funds aren’t available, Holman suggests. Once you understand what your purpose is, then God “would restore the time lost.” It is never too late. The author then goes into the actual idea of being prepared and ready for opportunities to elevate your purpose. “The anxiety left me because I was focused and prepared,” Holman writes. In life, organize your goals, aspirations and dreams in order for you to stay on track with what you want to do in life. Holman says that praying and listening to God’s word is the best way to prepare to get ahead in life. However, Holman points out that a few obstacles and behaviors can hinder you from your purpose, such as procrastination. Procrastination can have a number of different meanings. Either a person lacks ambition or could just be putting something off until they know they can do the best job possible. Fear (of both failure and success) can also prevent living life to its fullest. Fear drives many away from their purpose, and being scared and avoiding risks won’t get anyone very far. Holman also writes of laziness. “Lazy people lack drive and have no aspiration,” she writes. And disobedience (of God’s word) can bring “less than desired outcomes.” However, learning how to get over these behaviors will make living the good life a little easier and fulfilling. Holman aims to teach others about how to find their purpose in life, and to spread the word of God, because she wholeheartedly believes that people can live life to their fullest potential with His word and their passion, she says. “When you answer ‘yes’ and get in motion, purpose will be the best discovery you will ever encounter in your life,” Holman says. Find Living the Good Life on Purpose on Amazon, or visit roonpurpose.com for more information on Rolanda Holman.

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Movies

REVIEWS

actually filming the scenes (including the unforgettable emotional climax of the film). Cuarón was very secretive about the script. The entire film was shot sequentially (fairly unusual in filmmaking) with the director often not even giving the actors the script for an individual scene until the day that scene was to be shot. It’s mesmerizing to see this cast have as much chemistry with each other as they do with such an incredible level of authenticity. Cuarón captures so many nuanced details

in every frame: so many extras, creatures and natural occurrences unfold in his dizzying array of grand (and I mean grand) one-shots it will take your breath away. It’s all held together by some of the most amazing cinematography I’ve ever seen and the stunning 65mm black and white aesthetic of the film. The camera is always calm but confident, with a lot of slow, poignant pans from side to side. You are immersed with the sounds of Mexico City from shopkeepers to Mariachi bands. This film is a masterpiece, beautiful in both its emotional intimacy and grandiose scale. It’ll capture you within the first few moments and not let you go until the final plane soars overhead. Roma is a wonderful reminder of why I am in love with the world of cinema, and is an absolute must-see for all. It’s also a wonderful foray into the world of foreign film: if you’ve been intimidated at the idea of having to read the dialogue unfolding in front of you, (I was for a long time) this is a fantastic place to start. Catch Roma on Netﬂix now. — JOSEPH KATHMANN

Norwich England. Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead, Hott Fuzz) looks great with a mohawk as Ricky, the ex con-turned-amateur wrestler patriarch of the bunch. His wife, Julia (Lena Headey, Game of Thrones, Dread) is his partner in life and in the ring, matching him jab for jab both physically and verbally. Together they make an unapologetically crass couple and are all the more lovable for it. Their children, Zak and Saraya, were born into the wrestling life, and as young adults have become the stars

of the family company’s World Association of Wrestling local events, as well as trainers to other young riff-raff with dreams of stardom in spandex. When WWE Smackdown comes to the O2 in London, holding tryouts before the main event, Zak and Saraya hop in the WAW van to chase their collective dreams of becoming wrestling royalty. Wrestling fans may already know the rest of the story, but for others, it’s best to go in fresh. Director Stephen Merchant’s comedy background permeates the entire film, but the resulting drama and, dare I admit, visceral triumph of that fateful night at the O2 are stirring. Vince Vaughan brings a believable aura of exhausted-by-experience as the no-nonsense coach Hutch, while Jack Lowden and Florence Pugh are both nearperfect as brother and sister Zak and Saraya. For what is superficially a very typical sports movie (underdog overcomes adversity via montage, emerges victorious), the standout performances, writing, and inspiring source material make Fighting With My Family a hilarious and moving example of why clichés become clichés in the first place: because when they work, there’s nothing better. — JAY SPIGHT

ROMA DIRECTOR Alfonso Cuarón STARRING Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Nancy Garcia, Jorge Antonio Guerrero, Daniela Demesa RATED R

Director Alfonso Cuarón returns for his eighth feature film with Roma, set almost entirely in Mexico City in the early ’70s. The acclaimed director also wrote the screenplay, and produced, edited and shot the film. In short, Roma is Cuarón’s baby, and it is undoubtedly his best work yet, which is high praise given that his previous film, Gravity, was my number-one film of 2013. The film has a simple, intimate, yet emotionally powerful story surrounding the housekeeper Cleo (played by first-time actress Yalitza Aparicio) and her relationship to the family she cares for. That’s it. This one is a far cry from the technical achievement that was Cu-

arón’s previous film, and yet this film feels every bit as epic as Gravity did. The entire cast, outside of Sofía (Marina de Tavira) are first-time actors. Cleo is the center of the story, and Aparicio’s intimate, human, genuine portrayal of this character is one of the best of the year. She displays an immense range of emotions, and the genuineness of these emotions were increased thanks to the bold decision of Cuarón to hold back key plot details from the actress until

FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY DIRECTOR Stephen Merchant STARRING Florence Pugh, Jack Lowden, Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Dwayne Johnson RATED PG-13

Fighting With My Family is a strange beast: a comedy drama biopic made by and for British comedy nerds and pro wrestling nerds. It sounds like a match made in studio committee hell (“John Cena’s funny, let’s make him the next Mr. Bean!”), but is instead an endearing passion project for all involved. And did I mention Dwayne Johnson plays himself, as well as his semi-retired wrestling persona, “The Rock?” I’d like to say at the outset that I came to this movie from the British comedy nerd angle. I had never even heard of the wrestling star Paige, and I’m sure there was a Marvel movie’s worth of WWE Easter eggs that ﬂew

right over my head (this is a WWE Studios production, after all). I haven’t watched wrestling since it was the WWF, and yes, I have been guilty of sliding my thick glasses up the bridge of the nose I was looking down to decry another person’s idea of “fun” because I had so little of it in my life at the time. But I digress. This movie is a ton of fun. Frequent Ricky Gervais collaborator Stephen Merchant wrote and directed this true story of outcast wrestling family the Knights of

A CLASSIC

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OUTSTANDING

AVERAGE

BELOW AVERAGE

AVOID AT ALL COSTS

DEAD

OPENING IN MARCH

PLAYING THIS MONTH

MARCH 1 Tyler Perryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A Madea Family Funeral

MARCH 8 Captain Marvel Wonder Park

MARCH 15 The Mustang

MARCH 29 Hotel Mumbai The Beach Bum Us

AROUND TOWN

’BORO BUSINESS BUZZ

Remington Room, RockBox, Cali’s, Waffle House, Two J’s, Hook1, Best Buy, Linen & Rust BY MICHELLE WILLARD Smyrna’s newest event space, THE REMINGTON ROOM, will expand this spring. Only six months after its opening in September 2018, the venue will add an additional 1,275 square feet of rentable space called The Beauregard Room. “We quickly learned that there is a great need for what we do in this area,” owner Becky Lanham said. “When we learned that adjacent real estate was coming available, it was a no-brainer.” Lanham said that the additional room will allow a space more suitable for smaller meetings and events while also creating more options for larger parties as an add-on area. The Remington Room, named after Lanham’s dog, Sir Remington Beauregard (IG @ sir_remington_beauregard) is located at 8014 Safari Dr. in Smyrna and is currently being used for everything from meetings of 10 attendees to wedding receptions with up to 100 guests. Learn more at theremingtonroom.com. Rumor has it that AMERICAN SIGNATURE is remodeling the old Toys R Us building off Old Fort Parkway in Murfreesboro. Just what we need, another furniture store. Another store filling an empty spot is HOOK1 OUTFITTERS, evidently a fishing and boating supply store that has opened in the strip mall at 1956 Old Fort Parkway. Based out of Hendersonville, the two-store chain sells supplies for fishing and paddling. Learn more about the company at kayakfishinggear.com. For some reason, BEST BUY plans to create an empty storefront and build a new standalone location within The Avenue. Slated to open in summer 2020, the new 42,226-square-foot store will be constructed next to Michaels and take over space where a David’s Bridal shop would be torn down, according to recent reports. Best Buy’s current location near Dick’s Sporting Goods opened in 2007 and measures 30,000 square feet. The Best Buy Corporate office said part of the reason for the 34 * MARCH 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

Find a new place to get in shape at ROCKBOX FITNESS, a new fitness franchise that combines boxing, kickboxing and functional training into high-energy group workouts. Craig and Wendy Lee Capurso opened a franchise of RockBox at Stones River Town Centre (the mall), 1720 Old Fort Pkwy. The larger building is to add a two-bay garage, so they can install more car stereos. Speaking of moving, LINEN & RUST, a boutique home furnishing store is relocating from Arrington to downtown Murfreesboro, according to a Facebook post. The owner cited a road project on Highway 96 as the reason for the move, as they expect the construction from the widening to impact the business. The shop should be open in April in the ’Boro. Keller Williams agent Janelle Holst has taken her home-staging skills and transformed them into a home-furnishings boutique in Eagleville. Called ALL THINGS HOME, the shop offers furniture, home furnishings and many locally made items on Main Street in Eagleville. Tired of chores? LAUNDRY LAD is a new local service that will mark one chore off your to-do list. The laundry service will pick up, clean, dry, fold and drop off your laundry at an affordable price, according to its website. If you actually like washing your own clothes, Laundry Lad has developed its own soap. Once completed it will be for sale at thelaundrylads.com, Harvest Local Foods in Manchester and Strongbody Nutrition. FOOD NEWS The Boro’s seventh WAFFLE HOUSE has been announced, destination Joe B. Jackson Parkway. The diner (Unit #2326) is currently hiring at mywafflehouse.com.

5,000-square-foot studio will be equipped with top-of-the-line surround-sound system, mood-altering lights and will be the first RockBox studio that will have a day care center attached so that parents can get fit while their kids play. To learn more, visit facebook.com/rockboxmurfreesboro.

NICK NEWTON’S & SPINELLI’S MURFREESBORO has finally passed its codes inspection and opened for business on West Main Street (in the space formerly known as Tempt). The dual-concept will serve food from two different menus in the same space.

It seems like Rutherford County has a case of Crab Fever. The former Shoney’s on Lowery Street in Smyrna also has a CRAB FEVER banner, similar to the one hung recently at Stones River Mall. The California-based restaurant serves low-country boil staples like shrimp, crawfish, clams, mussels, corn on the cob, potatoes and sausage alongside a raw bar, crab legs, oysters, sliders, salads and desserts. BIG BOBBY’S BBQ will take over the space on Memorial Boulevard formerly home to Rocket Shirts, according to the business’s sign.

The owners of The Boulevard Bar & Grille plan to open TWO J’S GRILLE in late summer. The new restaurant will be built on the east side of Memorial Boulevard between Osborne and Compton. Another banner has sprung up at the former Your Pie location on Medical Center Parkway. This one is promoting BROTHERS NOODLE BAR. The Rutherford County HOT CHICKEN AND ART SHOW, curated by crafttrap.

com and Taiisha Bradley, will take place from 6–10 p.m. Friday, April 12, at the MidTN Expo Center in Murfreesboro. The highly anticipated event is expected to feature a diverse roster of talented artists, artisans, crafters, vendors, organizations, and independent musicians. There will also be a battle for the title of “Hot Chicken Boss” of Middle Tennessee. On Sunday, April 14, local food trucks and artisans will gather at COUSINS MAINE LOBSTER’S ANNUAL FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL. Last year, the festival drew more than 3,000 hungry people. #CMLNASHBASH3 is slated for 11 a.m.–6 p.m. April 14 at 1932 Almaville Rd. in Smyrna. So far Cousins Maine Lobster, Chivanada, Music City Brisket, and The Kamasouptruck have confirmed they will be serving food at the bash. REAL ESTATE NEWS A few notable commercial transactions in January in north Rutherford County: On Jan. 2, limited liability company CAPREF Smyrna sold eight lots in Smyrna’s Colonial Town Park, 803 Industrial Blvd. Smyrna’s Colonial Town Park covers 66 acres and contains 415,000 square feet of retail space. It is anchored by Target, Kohl’s, Petsmart and other large retailers. Developed under a joint venture with Colonial REIT, the shopping center is located at the intersection of Sam Ridley Parkway and I-24. The lots in Colonial Town Park sold for $27.4 million.

CLOSINGS CORNER On Feb. 23, Jason and Jodie Bailey, the owners of CALI’S COFFEE & CREAMERY in Smyrna, announced the restaurant was closing immediately and permanently. After being open for a little more than a year, TACO GARAGE closed on Feb. 22. The restaurant opened December 2017 in the building that once housed Pei Wei, at a time when many other taco shops also opened in Murfreesboro’s already crowded market. Competitor Fuzzy’s Tacos has already closed. Sadly, the Square’s one and only tattoo shop shuttered at the end of February. TwoTone owner Todd Wilson will now be inking people out of BRIGHT IDEAS, at the intersection of East Main Street and Rutherford Boulevard. Downtown Murfreesboro shop MOXIE ART SUPPLY closed permanently in February, and Sims Commercial Realtors and Auctioneers liquidated the store’s contents via online auction. SMOKE & MIRRORS VAPOR HOUSE, 2136 Middle Tennessee Blvd., has closed after five years. The owners went out with a bang by throwing a goingaway party with music, food, beer, games and fun. AUTOGRAPH REHEARSAL STUDIO is also closing. Owner Shania Blake announced the venue will be closed at the end of February. She held a threeday benefit show “to help send the place off in style.” She’s also entertaining offers, if anyone wants to take over the studio.

AROUND TOWN

’BORO BUSINESS BUZZ

Tennessee Considers Exempting Monthly Periodicals From State Sales Tax Obligation BY BRACKEN MAYO TENNESSEE LAWMAKERS MAY make it more affordable and fair for small print media outlets to have a voice as the Tennessee General Assembly considers expanding a state law that reduces the tax burden on periodicals this year. Currently, businesses in Tennessee who print and distribute a monthly newsprint publication (such as the Murfreesboro Pulse) must pay sales tax when they pay a printer to print each edition. However, according to Tennessee Code Annotated 67-6-329, “periodicals printed entirely on newsprint or bond paper and regularly distributed twice monthly, or on a biweekly or more frequent basis” do not have to pay sales tax.

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“The daily and weekly newspapers have been tax exempt for many years,” according to Rep. Mike Sparks of Smyrna, who introduced the 2019 bill that would expand the tax exemption to monthly periodicals as well. “This bill will help the ﬂedgling newspaper industry, which has been cutting journalists’ jobs nationwide. The local newspaper reporter serves a great purpose in our democracy. We need local reporters to cover our school boards, county commissions, the state capitol, school sports and hold elected officials accountable. We certainly can’t look to CNN or Fox News to cover these issues.” Sen. Bo Watson of Hixson sponsored the bill’s counterpart in the state senate. Supporters of free expression, particu-

larly those involved in monthly printed that proponents of expanding the Tennespublications, applaud the measure and say see sales tax exemption do “have an arguthat a law speaking to the frequency of a able case on Constitutional grounds.” periodical clearly creates an uneven playing And the owner of a Tennessee print shop field among various publications, showing said that he supported the idea of more of favor to more established operations that his customers being granted tax-exempt staare able to print on a more frequent basis. tus, and that the Printing Industry Associa“Placing a tax on some, but not all, of tion of the South will lobby on behalf of the those who want to get their voice out into the printing industry in favor of the measure. marketplace of ideas makes it easier for some The owners of the Murfreesboro Pulse voices and ideas to gain access to the public strongly support the idea of exempting discourse,” one periodical publisher said. “A monthly newsprint periodicals from state publication that prints every three weeks, evsales tax, and said that if their family ery month or every year should have the right business earned a couple thousand dollars to the same tax privileges that those who in additional profit each year it would print every day or every be directed toward week benefit from.” growing the edito“Differential treatment Constitutionbudget used to . . . suggests that the goal rial ally speaking, the U.S. pay freelance writers, of the regulation is not Supreme Court has or be reinvested into previously ruled that unrelated to suppression other small businesses publications should the community, of expression, and such in not be taxed differentTennessee attractions a goal is presumptively ly from one another. and otherwise into the “There is substantial state’s economy. unconstitutional.” evidence that differen“Many of these lesstial taxation of the press would have troubled frequent periodicals are purchasing paper, the Framers of the First Amendment,” Justice ink and printing services and then giving Sandra Day O’Connor wrote in her opinion their product out for free for the public siding with Minneapolis Star and Tribune good,” said Murfreesboro Pulse publisher Company vs. Minnesota Commissioner of Bracken Mayo. “I advocate for exempting all Revenue, which struck down a Minnesota publications from state sales tax in the interstate law that gave certain tax privileges to est of healthy public discourse and to not some, but not all, periodicals in the state. discourage a small operation from printing “Differential treatment . . . suggests that the at whatever frequency they may be able.” goal of the regulation is not unrelated to suppression of expression, and such a goal is For more information on this measure presumptively unconstitutional.” (Tennessee HB 0899, and SB 0925) A representative of the Freedom Forum and other business before the Tennessee Initiative’s First Amendment Center said General Assembly, visit capitol.tn.gov.

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* MARCH 2019 * 37

Opinion

Eliminating the Senate Filibuster Would Prevent the Minority From Holding the Government Hostage

f you want to know how deep the moral rot is on the left in America, you need look no further than the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Act. The bill would do just what its name says. It protects babies that are born alive during a botched abortion and gives them the same consideration of life that any other human being is given. But all but three Democrats in the Senate voted against this bill, keeping it from reaching that magic number of 60 votes to pass. We got a glimpse into the heart of the American left recently when the state of New York passed a bill allowing abortions up to and including the day of delivery. A bishop from Tyler, Texas, described the jubilant signing ceremony with Governor Cuomo as “the chattering of demons.” It was right after that event that Governor Northam of Virginia pushed to modify that state’s abortion law to allow third-trimester abortions if the mother’s mental or physical health is threatened, as determined by just one doctor instead of the three required at present. The bill’s sponsor acknowledged that it would technically allow abortion up until the point of birth. The “mental health” provision could be interpreted by a doctor as practically anything, including the opinion that the mother just wasn’t emotionally equipped to take care of a baby. Northam, who supported the bill, was asked what would happen to a baby born after a failed attempt to abort. “The infant would be resuscitated, if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.” Wait a minute. The baby would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother wanted? So, if she didn’t want the baby she could have it killed? And if it was resuscitated, then the mother and doctor would decide if they would kill it?

VIEWS OF A

CONSERVATIVE

BY PHIL VALENTINE PHILVALENTINE.COM This is why the Senate bill was needed—and the Democrats killed it. But the blame is not just on the 44 Democrats who voted against it. It’s also on Mitch McConnell and the Republicans who allow this ridiculous charade called the filibuster to continue. CBS News blatantly lied to the readers of its website in 2017 by saying of the 60-vote rule “that that’s what the Founders intended.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The truth is the filibuster and its 60-vote rule came about by accident when presiding officer Vice President Aaron Burr pushed to eliminate the “previous question motion” arguing that it was redundant. The Senate voted to eliminate the previous question rule and unwittingly left a void in terminating debate. It wasn’t until 1837 that the first filibuster was actually used, some 50 years after the first U.S. Senate. The truth is the Founding Fathers intended for bills to pass with a simple majority. The only things they required a supermajority for were issues like impeachment convictions, overriding presidential vetoes and ratifying treaties. They never envisioned the minority party holding Washington hostage with the 60-vote rule. It should never have come into existence and it should be eliminated immediately, yet Mitch McConnell is too spineless to push for it. These days a filibuster is not even required. Used to be that a senator had to hold the ﬂoor in order to gum up the works. Nowadays the lazy bums just have to threaten a filibuster and the 60-vote rule is invoked. The House once allowed the idiotic filibuster but wisely chose to eliminate it long ago. It’s time the Senate does the same, before another innocent child dies.

“The Founding Fathers intended for bills to pass with a simple majority. . . . They never envisioned the minority party holding Washington hostage with the 60-vote rule.”

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.

Incomprehensible “WHY DON’T YOU UNDERsomewhere between the realms STAND? It’s not rocket science.” of the finite and the infinite. We We have all heard it. It’s a decan identify with God in some rogatory statement about another respects because He made us to person’s inability to grasp somebe a reflection of His image. But thing which they should be able to that reflection is dim and limited, understand. Rocket science is used because it is contained within the in this statement as a metaphor for boundaries of our human frailty. something that is beyond normal Therefore, the boundless dimencomprehension. If it is not rocket sions of God exist beyond our science, you should be able to capacity. The only one who can figure it out, even if you truly comprehend God is God Himself. The are not brilliant. Rocket science is Apostle Paul reflects difficult and comupon this truth at plex, so it requires the end of the elevsomeone with a enth chapter of his much higher IQ letter to the church BY RICK MALONE at Rome. than most. There are things a rocket scientist “Oh, the depth of can comprehend that would the riches and wisdom and dumbfound the normal intelknowledge of God! How unsearchlect. No matter how hard we try, able are his judgments and how inwe get lost somewhere between scrutable his ways! . . . For from him the realms of astrophysics and and through him and to him are all aerodynamics and thermodynamthings” (Romans 11:33 and 36). ics, and other big words which God is transcendent, not only we don’t really . . . comprehend. in His Divine being but in His I have a friend at church who involvement in this universe. Even is, believe it or not, one of these this statement sounds paradoxical rocket scientists. I appreciate his to us. We struggle to contemplate friendship very much. He is a kind how God can be transcendent and thoughtful person who has no over this natural realm and yet intellectual airs about him, yet I at the same time be involved in am certain I possess only a small this realm. The One who exists fraction of his mental capacity. outside of creation not only shows Comprehending is much more up in the affairs of this world than knowing. It is the ability to from time to time but is said by encompass all the knowledge in the Apostle Paul to be intimately a particular arena. This is why connected with every second of theologians tell us that God is history that passes. “For from him incomprehensible to us. We can and through him and to him are never fully grasp who He is. As all things.” And this same Apostle we try to comprehend the depths tells us that God is at work in of God, we find ourselves lost everything, bringing about His

SPIRITUAL

MATTERS

perfect will in this world. For He “works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Ephesians 1:11). Jesus reﬂects upon this truth as He tells His disciples that every hair on our head is numbered and not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of the Father in heaven (Matthew 10:29–30). This is incomprehensible to us. We fail to fully grasp even the basic idea of God’s earthly involvement, let alone understand “how” God is involved in this natural realm. The third chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith states that “God from all eternity did by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby neither is God the author of sin; nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures, nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.” Now this is a mouthful. But the point the framers of this confession seek to communicate is that God is God over everything; that in His incomprehensibility, He orchestrates even the smallest things that come to pass. It is important to recognize God’s sovereign authority even when we cannot understand how He orchestrates all things. There is something very humbling and yet comforting about God being beyond our comprehension. It is humbling because we desire to be smart enough to figure God out, but we are not. I have heard it said that for us to comprehend God would be like a bird comprehending the air in which it ﬂies, or a fish comprehending the water in which it swims. And while these analogies point us in the right direction, even they fall short. In our ignorance, the only way we can bring God under our comprehension is to reduce our concept of God to things our limited minds can understand. We end up clothing the infinite person of God with finite attributes of man. In doing this, we form an inadequate concept of a God made in our own image. We view God as a Santa Claus or grandfather figure in the clouds doling out rewards or

punishments dependent upon how happy He is with us. Such a picture fails to grasp God’s unfathomable transcendence. God is incomprehensible to us, and we are not to rob Him of that incomprehensibility, or we woefully miss what Paul calls the “depth of His riches.” The incomprehensibility of God is comforting for the same reasons it is humbling. Life itself is beyond our control. And to have the assurance that there is One for whom nothing is ever out of control gives us a place of rest in our turmoil. This is a rest not easily learned. We are all nearsighted when it comes to our pain and struggles. Our prayers are often focused on the relief we desire instead of the perfect work that struggle is meant to accomplish, for the incomprehensibility of God assures us that even our sufferings are not without purpose. It is often in those sufferings that God accomplishes much more in us than when we do not suffer. God’s ways are not our ways, and the more we understand that our God is not created in our image, the more we appreciate that He is watching over our perceived uncontrollable situations in life. The more we realize He is involved, not with one hand tied behind His back, but with the unlimited power of His being, the more we find solace in His sovereignty. The more we come to our rope’s end, in which we know not what to do, the more we hunger after the incomprehensibility of God. And the more we taste His goodness in the midst of our trials and turmoil, the more we desire His unfathomable depths. For in those depths we find “the wisdom and knowledge of God.” Yes, it is true that we cannot comprehend God. But this does not mean we cannot know God. We can know Him in the most intimate way, especially when we recognize that He is incomprehensible. To know God is not to simply have a cognitive acknowledgement of a divine being. When we speak of knowing someone there is a great difference between knowing “of ” someone and “knowing” someone. I know “of ” many historical people whom I have never even met. But I do not “know” them. I “know” my wife. I “know” my children. I “know” those with whom I have a relationship. In the midst of

God’s incomprehensibility, we can know Him. We can be in an intimate relationship with our Creator, for this is the purpose of our existence. It does us no good to know “of ” God, if we do not know God, and we come to know God through the incomprehensible depths of the relationship He brings us into. And we grow into an even deeper knowledge of Him through the depths of His incomprehensibility. The infinite God is involved in our finite lives. He knows us. He doesn’t just know “of ” us, He knows us! And in this unsearchable and inscrutable truth, He brings us into a relationship of knowing Him. Paul speaks of this miraculous change in us in his letter to the church in Galatia: “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world” (Galatians 4:8–9). And in his first letter to the church at Corinth he says: “But if anyone loves God, he is known by God” (I Corinthians 8:3). The incomprehensible God has not only known us, He has made Himself knowable to us. I said earlier that in order to conceive of God we are forced in our mind to clothe the infinite with finite attributes. But in the incomprehensible truth of the riches of God’s grace, the infinite God has clothed Himself with finite humanity in order that we may not just know of Him, but know Him in Christ. For as Paul tells us: “there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all” (I Timothy 2:5–6). As the depths of God are incomprehensible, the depths of His gospel are also incomprehensible. The older I get, the more I realize that I have a greater amount of the gospel yet to learn than I currently comprehend. And I, who possess only a small fraction of “the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God,” will spend my life growing in the knowledge of how great that gospel is.

Reach Rick Malone at myspiritualmatters@gmail.com BOROPULSE.COM

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Sports

SPORTS

TALK

COLUMN BY “Z-TRAIN”

titanman1984@gmail.com

Jordan Is the Greatest and Pacman’s in Trouble Again THE TRAIN DADDY IS BACK with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard! Spring is in the air and summer is just around the corner. This life is amazing! My way of living brings a man peace. A man who follows the true Train Daddy motto of the 5 F’s—FAITH, FAMILY, FOOTBALL, FOOD and FRIENDS—that’s a man walking a righteous path. A sexy man like myself! So, what shall we discuss this issue? Staying away from strippers is a good idea. The Madness of March is upon us, so we will give a shout-out to the greatest playoff format in the world, the bracket! Once again Pacman Jones is making it rain. We’ll discuss the greatest NBA player of all-time and we’ll bash the Pittsburgh Steelers while they are down. Who is the greatest of all-time: Michael “Air” Jordan, or LeBron, the self-proclaimed GOAT? With the help of Bugs Bunny, Bill Murray and the Toon Squad, the great Michael Jordan defeated the Monstars, ultimately saving the world and giving Charles Barkley, Ewing and Muggsy Bogues back their stolen basketball talents. In the real world Jordan was perfect, playing in six NBA championships and winning six, as well as being named MVP all six times. 40 * MARCH 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

His legendary status started in 1982 when he hit the game-winning jump-shot, securing a national championship for North Carolina. After college Jordan led the NBA 10 times in scoring, was a 14-time all-star and averaged an insane 30.1 career points per game. That’s all I need to say, argument made, Jordan is the best basketball player to ever play the game. What made Jordan great was his compulsive need to win. Jordan demanded that he personally would defend the best player on any opposing team. LeBron James would never do that. Jordan was a better defender and a much fiercer competitor. Jordan didn’t

blame teammates and coaches when things went wrong. LeBron is a diva superstar who constantly throws others under the bus, never taking real responsibility for any problem. LeBron is 3–6 in the finals! LeBron is aging. He won’t catch up to Jordan, and while he still is a superstar top-five player, he isn’t even the greatest player in the NBA right now. The Lakers probably won’t make the playoffs this season, and you watch, LeBron will blame everyone else and have multiple players and coaches fired after this season wraps up. LeBron James is a great player, one of the greatest ever, it’s true. But he will never be better than Jordan. It’s a pointless argument. It’s laughable. It’s hard to compare players from different eras, yet this comparison is extremely easy. Jordan kept to himself, he was quiet off the court and has remained silent regarding social and political rhetoric. LeBron James on the other hand has made many ridiculous, race-baiting statements. Jordan is the GOAT and LeBron could learn a lesson from Tom Brady, true GOATs don’t gloat. Let’s give a quick shout-out to March Madness, the greatest playoff format in the world. This is March Madness 101 for my simpler readers. March Madness is a single-elimination tournament of 68 teams that compete in seven rounds until only one team is left standing as champion. The 32 Division 1 conferences all award the winner of their post-season conference tournament an automatic bid or as I call it, “a ticket to the dance.” A selection committee then decides the fate of the remaining 36 spots. There isn’t a set formula—a 10-member committee debates and decides what college programs deserve a spot, and it’s that simple. Once the 68 teams are de-

cided, those teams are ranked 1–68 by the committee. Four of those teams get knocked out in the opening round, called the First 4. Then you’re left with 64 teams, split into four regions of 16 teams each, with every team being ranked and seeded 1–16. Higherseeded teams are rewarded for their regular season success, pitting the top team in the region vs. the bottom-seeded team, then the next highest vs. next lowest and so on. Selection Sunday is live on CBS on March 17, and the tournament begins March 19 in Ohio and ends Monday April 8 in Minneapolis. I am pumped to watch the University of Tennessee play in this tourney; it was an amazing regular season for Big Orange. The Southeastern conference has some real contenders with Tennessee, LSU and Kentucky all in the mix. March Madness is a time when everyone fills out a bracket and gambling should be mandatory. Enjoy it! “PACMAN” PROBLEMS We must end this article bashing the Steelers, but first let’s talk about the legendary Adam “Pacman” Jones. The speedy cornerback had me cheering back in the day when he was in a Titans uniform, and he was so agile and so fast. Adam has been arrested numerous times since being drafted in 2005 as the Titans’ 6th overall pick. The Titans were able to determine he was a trashy thug and thankfully released him. Since those early days he has been punching women, slapping strippers, making it rain, being involved in a shooting that left a man paralyzed, committing theft and vandalism . . . all while still being allowed to play in the NFL. Recently the free agent was arrested at an Indiana casino for threatening to kill a gaming officer, striking a public safety official, cheating at gambling, attempted theft, disorderly conduct and two counts of resisting law enforcement. He has pleaded not guilty to those seven charges, three of them being felonies. Pacman was a successful player as a Bengal for eight seasons. The one-time Pro Bowler was most recently released from the Broncos and may have finally jeopardized any chance at a return to the NFL. Alright, let’s wrap this article up—the Pittsburgh Steelers. I have been to numerous Steelers games and I have never been around such an annoyingly rude and obnoxious set of fans. CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

Story and photos courtesy of GoBlueRaiders.com

C-USA Basketball Tournament Tips Off March 13; Blue Raiders Send Off Seniors WITH JUST ONE GAME LEFT TO go before the C-USA tournament tips off in Frisco, Texas, on March 13, the MTSU Lady Raiders hold a 20–8 record on the season. The team rolled to its 20th win on the season against Florida Atlantic on Senior Night, March 2, in Murfreesboro. MTSU defeated the Owls 74–48, posting their 24th win in the 25-game series alltime against FAU. After the contest, six MT seniors were honored: Alex Johnson, Katie Collier, Jess Louro, Jordan Majors, LaSonja Edwards and A’Queen Hayes. “I’d recruit every one of them again. We’ve had some ups, some downs, some wins and some devastating losses. But, I’d do it all over again,” MT head coach Rick Insell said. “I love all six [of the seniors] and I couldn’t have had a better group.” Johnson, Collier, Louro and Majors have all spent the past four years at MTSU. “They’re like my sisters,” Collier said. “The bond we have and the relationship we have off the court is something we’ll have for the rest of our lives. The four of us have lived together for four years . . . I’m really going to miss it.” The four-year quartet has been a part of 84 wins, including a 50–16 record in C-USA games. They were members of the 2016 NCAA Tournament team that won a C-USA Tournament title. Hayes came to Middle Tennessee this year as a graduate transfer from Eastern Kentucky. She currently leads the team in

points (15.6 per game), rebounds (7.4 per game) and assists (86). Edwards transferred to MT in 2017 after winning back-to-back NJCAA national titles with Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida. While March 2 was a night to celebrate the seniors’ accomplishments, two freshmen ignited the Lady Raiders early on. Freshmen Taylor Sutton and Alexis Whittington caught fire from deep. They combined to hit five straight treys, helping MT end the second quarter on a 16–0 run. “We just really wanted to get this win for our seniors,” Sutton said. “We knew it was a big night for the team going into the tournament.” Sutton finished the game with a teamhigh 14 points, and Hayes posted another double-double. Johnson, a Murfreesboro native, had 13 points in possibly her last game in her hometown. “I actually kept it together more than I thought I was going to [after the game],” Johnson said. “I enjoyed every single moment with each and every one of the seniors and my other teammates.” Middle Tennessee has a single game left in the regular season, a match-up at rival WKU on March 7. The Lady Raiders have already clinched a first-round conference tournament bye. “We know we still have a championship to go win,” Johnson said. “We have a lot more goals we want to accomplish.”

THE MTSU MEN’S TEAM OPENED Conference USA Bonus Play, which will decide conference tournament seeding, with a convincing win against the Charlotte 49ers. The Blue Raiders cruised to an 86–67 win in the Murphy Center. “I was really pleased with the way we played almost the entire night,” Middle Tennessee head coach Nick McDevitt said. “I thought we were locked in for the majority of the night.” The Blue Raiders had five players in double-figure scoring. Senior Antonio Green, who was honored pregame for breaking the program’s single-season 3-point record, led the way with 21 points. Sophomore Donovan Sims (20), seniors James Hawthorne (12) and Karl Gamble (10) and junior Reggie Scurry (11) were also in double figures. “We were doing what we were supposed to do, moving the ball from side to side and getting midline crosses,” Green said. “Once we move the ball side to side a lot, our percentages go up.” After starting 5-for-10 from the ﬂoor, MTSU’s hot shooting started in the middle of the first half. “When that ball’s moving side to side, you just get open looks,” McDevitt said. “We moved the ball well tonight.” Following the Charlotte win, McDevitt said he wanted his team to conclude the season with “enough energy in the tank to go play as hard as you saw tonight.” However, the Blue Raiders followed that victory with a March 3 loss against Rice to bring the season record to 9–20 in Coach McDevitt’s first year at the helm. The team will end the regular season with two games against UTEP, the second of which, set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 9, in Murfreesboro will be Senior Day for the men’s team, before it heads to the C-USA Tournament on March 13. Among the Blue Raider seniors who will soon wrap up their college careers is James “Tookie” Hawthorne, who came to MTSU

after his time at Southwest Mississippi Community College, a member of Kermit Davis’ final recruiting class at MT. Davis’ departure for Ole Miss last year called for a new coaching staff at MTSU this season, though Tookie said it has been great playing within McDevitt’s more uptempo style of game. Tookie says he plans to pursue basketball at the next level after the MTSU season, likely overseas. Lawrence Mosley, a senior walk-on playing his only season for the blue and white, has been a boost for the team off the bench. “Whatever the team needs me to do or whatever Coach asks me to do, I’m just trying to help the team win,” the guard said. He originally chose to attend ArkansasPine Bluff on a football scholarship, and later moved to Dyersburg State Community College to play basketball. He had to miss the first half of his first season after suffering a concussion. “The doctors told me they didn’t want me playing basketball or football anymore, but I needed to hoop,” he said. With two years of junior college under his belt, Mosley said MTSU’s Concrete Industry Management program helped draw him to Murfreesboro. “My father owns a construction company, so I want to help expand it,” Mosley said. “I want to get a master’s degree in computer engineering before I leave here, too.” Mosley has seen action in 19 games, exceeding even the expectations he placed on himself before the season started. “Lawrence has been the perfect addition to this year’s basketball team,” McDevitt said. “His maturity level, effort and energy are all things that have had a positive impact on our program.” “I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything,” Mosley said. For more information on MTSU Blue Raider athletics, visit goblueraiders.com.

James “Tookie” Hawthorne

BOROPULSE.COM

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That’s why I take great joy in watching the implosion of this franchise. Antonio Brown is known as the greatest receiver in the league and he has been using every platform available recently to bash quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and coach Mike Tomlin. The Steelers also have disputes with Le’Veon Bell, known as the best running back in the league. Bell decided to sit the entirety of the 2018 season due to contract disputes.

42 * MARCH 2019 * BOROPULSE.COM

He wanted paid, and the Steelers said no. I think it’s an easy argument to make that the 9–6–1 Steelers would have made the playoffs had they paid Bell in 2018. The Steelers better be ready to say bye-bye to their two best players, Brown and Bell, for the 2019 season. Aside from all that, you have the mostcontroversial NFL quarterback in Big Ben, who has been accused of multiple sexual assault allegations over the years and was most recently brought up in porn star Stormy

Daniels’ book. The famous adult actress known for her allegations against President Trump claims she was terrified of Ben when, in 2006, Trump introduced her to him at a nightclub. Stormy claims Ben walked her to her hotel room, tried to kiss her and then banged on her door for many minutes wanting more than a kiss. Nothing illegal even if it is true, but since he is a Pittsburgh Steeler, I have no sympathy for him. This is all Coach Tomlin’s fault. He is the

captain of this ship, and it’s sinking. I pray it sinks to the bottom of the NFL depths and all those obnoxious Steelers fans mourn what they have lost. That’s it. The Train is rolling into the station! If you have learned anything reading all this, it should be: learn from Pacman Jones, Big Ben and President Donald Trump, and stay away from strippers! Always stay away from strippers—nothing but trouble! Choo-choo!

JOIN US FOR THE TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF BENEFITING THE BEESLEY ANIMAL FOUNDATION SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2019 from 6 pm-10 pm

The Grove at Williamson Place 3250 Wilkinson Pike, Murfreesboro, TN

Reservations are $75 per person & $15 for well-behaved leashed canines. https://pawsandpearls2019.eventbrite.com

Whine Time starts at six o'clock with The Pinkertons and Friends. Appetizers will be served from Applebee's, O'Charley's, Pampered Chef- Katie Peachey, Slick Pig, Tasty Table, The Blue Porch, The Hamery, The Juice Bar, and UMedi Spa at MMC. Refreshments from JoJo's Fruit Tea, Kroger, Murfreesboro Pure Milk, Murfreesboro Wine and Spirits, Short Mountain Distillery, and Tennessee Craft Distributors w ill be poured by Julie's Bartending. Goodness Gracious at The Mill is preparing a delicious dinner. Licker and Whine will have dinner for our canine quests. Keith Strain and Friends will hold our Live Auction while a Silent Auction runs throughout the evening. We'll have our Whine & Licker Pull too. Desserts and coffee from The Dapper Doughnut- Opry Mills, DoubleTree Hotel, Sam's Club, and Southern S unday Coffee will be served while you dance the night away to music from The Pilots! For Reservations https://pawsandpearls2019.eventbrite.com or call 615-217-1030. #PawsandPearls2019

GREAT DANE EVENING SPONSORS Adams Family Foundation Nancy & Clarence Releford Patricia Bloomfield & Wayne Irvin

LABRADOR RED CARPET SPONSORS Barb Ford & Tony Zahorik