November 2022 Murfreesboro Pulse

FEATURES IN EVERY ISSUE

6 Events

Reviews

DAWN

Boot-stompin’ country artist

CALENDAR

STONE DOOR

South Cumberland State Park

of Tennessee

DEPLOYED WITH MY MOTHER

Murfreesboro

Boro Art Crawl, Fall Harvest Hayride, The Black Barn Market & Craft Sale, The Connection and more 12 Sounds

MUSIC NOTES

Jake Hoot Kings of Queen Chris Knight

Dewdrop Jamboree Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra: Salute to Veterans

ALBUM Aye Mammoth MOVIE Halloween

Living NATURE NEWS Canada Geese:

30 News

BUSINESS BUZZ Outreach Thrift, Bonchon, Fat Guy Barbecue, The Happy Book Stack, White Branch, Golfix, Marco’s Pizza and more

BUSINESS MOMENTUM

Modern diversity training can harm a team.

34 Opinion

THE PULSE HAS LOST ONE OF ITS LOYAL SPONSORS. Harry Ballard, our local Melaleuca representative, passed away at the age of 91 in September.

Harry was quite inspiring to me. He was a very active networker throughout his 80s, seemingly not because he had to have a job, but because he was not one to sit still and “retire,” and because he really wanted others to know about the Melaleuca products and their health and wellness benefits. He encouraged others to move themselves and their households to more natural products—essential oils, cleaning and laundry products, vitamins, foods and other nature-inspired, non-toxic items—and away from harmful chemicals and addictive pharmaceuticals.

I shared with his wife Joanne that I hope I can remain as involved in business and as active as he was as I approach my 90s. He enjoyed traveling and boating, skied up until his late 80s and then took up pickleball later in life.

The Pulse and the Mayos offer prayers and condolences for Harry’s wife, family, and other numerous friends and business associates.

May we all love our families, serve God and others, see the world, remain enthusiastic and active, and use the natural resources that God has blessed the world with to our benefit and the benefit of others in a healthy and responsible way! Ask me about the Melaleuca lifestyle if you want to know more.

Wait, you’re using this man’s death to sign people up to a multi-level marketing outfit?

Yes, yes, that’s how Harry would have wanted it. Never miss an opportunity to welcome someone into the Melaleuca family!

Get into our Events section for the month for enough fall festivals, vendor and craft fairs, holiday markets and other activities to make your head spin.

Make the most of your month, and your life. Seize the day.

THEATER Soon, My Love Mr. Popper’s Penguns Elf Jr.

FREE YOUR CHILDREN

Be aware of what school counselors tell your children.

A DRAG

events following “all ages” striptease

CONCERT CALENDAR

Robyn Taylor, The Bon Jovi Experience, Middle TN Songwriters Festival, 2Country 4Nashville and more

RESTAURANT Cooper’s at the Mill brings new life to old historic landmark.

MR. MURFREESBORO Why I am thankful SPORTS TALK Tennessee Vols and Titans continue to win.

LIVE . . . WELL The Ripple Effect

If you have ever wished that you could spend all day in a bar watching a NASCAR race followed by a performance of the music of Queen (I think we have all wanted that at some point), you will get your chance on Nov. 6 at Seasons of Murfreesboro. That establishment will host a watch party for the NASCAR championship race followed by the Kings of Queen onstage.

Murfreesboro Nissan again conducts its holiday toy drive this season. If you would like to contribute to a local child’s Christmas, drop toys by the dealership or find the team on the Murfreesboro Public Square for the Dec. 2 Christmas tree lighting.

See you around! Let me know how I can help you and your organization.

Stay grateful. I love Thanksgiving time. It’s a holiday based not on consumerism—well, okay, I guess the consumption of all of the delicious cakes and pies and casseroles that your family makes is traditionally a big part of it—but ultimately, it is all about giving thanks for what you have, the blessings in your life, the experiences over the past year, the people around you, and the game of football.

ONLINE:

Keeping this small business going has been quite challenging. I am thankful for that challenge! I am thankful for my family and the people in my life and for health, and am often just overcome with joy and thankfulness for where I am and what today may deliver.

What a wonderful world!

BRACKEN MAYO

Publisher/Editor in Chief

@BoroPulse

/BoroPulse

The Murfreesboro Pulse@BoroPulse@BoroPulse

NOV. 4

BORO ART CRAWL

The Boro Art Crawl returns to the Murfreesboro Public Square for its next event on Friday, Nov. 4. From 5–8 p.m., downtown Murfreesboro businesses will host local artists and their artwork. Locations include Quinn’s Mercantile, M&J Home, The Abbey Public House, Center for the Arts, Church Street Gallery, Liquid Smoke, Hattie Jane’s Creamery, Henry’s Florist, Jensen Quality Homes, Doodles Kitchen and Bakery, Joanie’s, L&L Contractors, Funtiques, Sugaree’s, Domenico’s Italian Deli, KDGI Architects, Murfreesboro Axe, Vibe Nutrition, Music City Tea, OverFlow Brews and Bakes, The Walnut House and Nurture Nook. For more information, call 615-542-6368 or visit theboroartcrawl.com

NOV. 4

SIP, SHOP & STROLL

Kick off the holiday season with Main Street Murfreesboro at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 4. Bring the family, discover new stores and visit familiar staples of the historic town as you shop locally. This festive holiday event is full of hot chocolate, small bites, trunk shows and lots of shopping. Some stores will offer demos, holiday gift ideas, stocking stuffers and limited-time specials. Grab food or purchase a gift card from a variety of eateries around Main Street. For more information, find the Holiday Sip, Shop & Stroll event on Facebook.

NOV. 4

TENNESSEE MAMMALS

With the help of biofacts found across Tennessee, learn which mammals call our great state home. Visit the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (401 Volunteer Rd.) on Friday, Nov. 4, from 10–11 a.m. Feel the weight of the fur from black bears in the Smoky Mountains, see the structure of an opossum skull and experience the thrill of finding animal prints in the soil. All ages are welcome. It is free to join. For more information, call 615-217-3017 or email challwalker@murfreesborotn.gov

NOV. 4

FALL HARVEST HAYRIDE

Listen to live music while toasting marsh-

NOV 5

2022 COOKIN’ TO BUILD

The 15th Annual Cookin’ To Build to support the Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity features all-you-can-eat chili, soup and gumbo, desserts, entertainment, a tote bag and a custom bowl to keep. This event raises money to build affordable houses in Rutherford County and offers financial literacy and homeowner education for future homeowners. The day features over 30 food vendors from groups, churches, companies and restaurants. The $30 fee covers all-you-caneat food plus entertainment and prizes. A $10 child’s ticket for a Styrofoam cup is available. Come out to the historic Murfreesboro Square on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. with proceeds helping raise money to build more affordable homes for low-to-moderate income families. Tickets are available at the Habitat ReStore or on Eventbrite under 2022 Cookin’ To Build. For more information, visit rchfh.org/cookin-to-build or email melissa@rchfh.org.

mallows and eating s’mores around the campfire at General Bragg Trailhead (1540 W. College St.) on Friday, Nov. 4, from 6–8 p.m. An old-fashioned hayride along the Greenway is great fun for the whole family. The price includes a hayride and one s’mores package: graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate. Hot drinks will be available. All ages are welcome. The cost to join is $3. For more information, email jfogel@murfreesborotn.gov or call 615-217-3017

NOV. 5

VETERANS CENTER CAR SHOW

The mission of the Rutherford County Veterans Center is to create fellowship opportunities for Veterans by providing gath-

ering spaces for organizations, facilitating community engagement and increasing communications. Community events and donations for the center allow operations to continue. On Saturday, Nov. 5, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m., join the RCVCC for its first car show at LifePoint Church (506 Legacy Dr., Smyrna). Local businesses can set up a booth to advertise their services, talk to the community and help support the center. For more information, call 615624-7197, visit rutherfordvetcenter.com or email info@rutherfordvetcenter.com.

NOV. 5

TURKEY TEE OFF!

The Child Advocacy Center invites you and your team to the 12th Annual Turkey

Tee Off golf tournament at Indian Hills Golf Course (405 Calumet Trace) on Saturday, Nov. 5, beginning at 8 a.m. with a complimentary breakfast from Chickfil-A before teeing off at 9 a.m. Lunch is provided by Slick Pig BBQ at 1 p.m. Have your team picture taken, put your putting skills to the test, bid on items in the silent auction and aim for a chance to win the $10,000 hole-in-one contest. Registration includes breakfast, lunch and 18 holes of golf. All proceeds provide services for child abuse victims. The Child Advocacy Center works as a multidisciplinary team with the Department of Children’s Services, law enforcement, and the district attorney’s office to respond to child abuse cases. The tournament fee is $125 per golfer (team of 4 golfers is $500). To register, visit cacrutherford.org/events and click on the turkey. For more information, call 615-8679000 or email kenzor@cacrutherford.org.

NOV. 5

HARVEST MARKETPLACE

The 4th Annual Harvest Marketplace is Saturday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at Smyrna First United Methodist Church (301 Sam Davis Road, Smyrna). Admission and parking are free. Booths feature artisans, home decor, homemade baked goods, handmade jewelry, a food truck and much more. Booths will be inside and outside. All booth rental fees go directly to missions supporting women and children.

NOV. 6

JEEP PLATE CRUISE IN

The Tennessee Jeep Plate Cruise In returns to Sharp Springs Park (311 Jefferson Pk., Smyrna) on Sunday, Nov. 6, from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Last year’s event brought over 235 Jeeps and even more people. Since then, a special Tennessee Jeep license plate has been approved, and part of the proceeds will benefit A Soldier’s Child Foundation. The Nov. 6 event will include vendors, food trucks, raffles, an RTI ramp, bounce houses and more. For more information, contact Wendy Lloyd at tnjeepplate@gmail.com.

NOV. 8

RUTHERFORD CABLE

The topic for the Rutherford Cable Novem-

BY ANDREA STOCKARD

ber Breakfast Meeting is “The Art of Storytelling & Perfecting Your Pitch.” This topic teaches founders and PR professionals how to develop their personal brand story. Brittney Oliver from Lemons 2 Lemonade is a career and lifestyle freelance writer and content strategist based in greater Nashville. Her platform is known for its networking mixers, which have brought over 2,700 professionals, entrepreneurs and creatives together to turn life’s lemons into lemonade. Join the meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 7:15–9 a.m. at The Fountains at Gateway (1500 Medical Center Pkwy.). Remember to bring plenty of business cards and grab a card from the basket on the way out to make an additional connection. For more information, email yourrutherfordcable@gmail.com or visit rutherfordcable.org.

NOV. 8

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce holds its November Business After Hours at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8, at Reliant Realty (640 Broadmor Blvd., Suite 100, just off of Broad Street). This is an informal social networking event designed to connect business professionals from across Rutherford County. Bring plenty of business cards. Admission is $10 for Chamber members and $20 for future members. No registration is required. For more information on Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cuttings and other events, visit rutherfordchamber.org.

NOV. 8

TENNESSEE TRAILS ASSOCIATION MEETING

The Tennessee Trails Association’s monthly meeting of its Murfreesboro chapter is Tuesday, Nov. 8, from 7–8 p.m. at the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (401 Volunteer Road). For more information, visit tennesseetrails.org or call or text 615-971-8894.

NOV. 10

RECOVERY COURT CHILI COOK-OFF

The Rutherford County Recovery Court Support Foundation (525 N. University St.) hosts a chili cook-off fundraiser on Thursday, Nov. 10, from 4–6 p.m. Have some chili and tour the facility where lives are changed. All proceeds benefit the Rutherford County Recovery Court Program. A $10 ticket includes all-youcan-eat chili plus a drink and dessert. For more information, find Rutherford County

NOV. 12

RAPPELLING AT STONE DOOR

Rappel off the side of the Stone Door on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m. A group will meet at the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (401 Volunteer Rd.) and travel to the park. The Stone Door offers amazing views of the Cumberland Plateau. The rappel is a little more than 80 feet and has breathtaking views the whole way down. Eat lunch on top of the stone door before rappelling. Gear and transportation is provided. Registration is required at murfreesborotn. gov/calendar. Ages 13 and up are welcome. The cost is $15 per person. For more information, call 615-217-3017 or email jfogel@murfreesborotn.gov.

Recovery Court Foundation on Facebook, email rcfoundationsecretary@gmail.com or call 615-217-7124

NOV. 10

TURTLE TALK

There are many types of turtles that call our local ponds and rivers home. These creatures are unique since they carry their homes on their back and can live well over 50 years. Come to the Wilderness Station for a meet-and-greet with the resident Eastern Box Turtles and learn amazing facts using turtle biofacts at the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (401 Volunteer Rd.) on Thursday, Nov. 10, from 2–3 p.m. All ages are welcome. There is no cost to join. For more information, email challwalker@murfreesborotn.gov or call 615-217-3017

NOV. 10

HIKE ALL OF BARFIELD TRAILS

Meet at the Wilderness Station (697 Veterans Pkwy.) to hike all the trails of

Barfield Crescent Park on Thursday, Nov. 10, from 4–6 p.m. Hike the Red trail into the White trail, then into the Blue trail, and then finish back on the Red trail. The total hike will be about 5 miles long and the trail difficulty is moderate to strenuous. The cost to join is $3. For more information, email jfogel@murfreesborotn.gov or call 615-217-3017. Registration is required at murfreesborotn.gov/calendar.

NOV. 12

JOURNEY HOME PANCAKE BREAKFAST

The Journey Home Annual Pancake Breakfast is Saturday, Nov. 12, in the Middle Tennessee Christian School cafeteria (100 E. MTCS Rd.). Talented volunteers serve hot pancakes from 7–10 a.m. Juice, milk, and coffee are available alongside yummy pancakes and delicious toppings. Donations are appreciated and all proceeds benefit The Journey Home’s programs and services. For more information, call 615-809-2644 or visit lovegodservepeople.org. Please RSVP in advance at

journeyhome-bloom.kindful.com/e/pancakebreakfast. Admission is by donation, and donations are accepted at the door.

NOV. 12

MARK McCLISH BOOK SIGNING

Linebaugh Public Library (105 W. Vine St.) hosts local author Mark Alexander McClish for a book signing on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. McClish signs and sells copies of his book Adhara’s Sonder, published in December 2021. In Adhara’s Sonder we follow Cyrus, a young inventor who meets Adhara, a time-traveling cyborg from the future who brings a message of destruction. Together, they work in their community to prevent catastrophe and the end of the world. McClish is a graphic designer operating out of Murfreesboro. He works from home as a freelance graphic designer on the same computer that he used to write his first novella, Stirling Sky His latest book, Adhara’s Sonder is a classic tale with a futuristic sci-fi twist of fate and destiny versus personal choice and the consequences both bring, and it is a finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in Science Fiction. Paperback and hardback copies of the book are for sale. For more information, visit rclstn.org or call 615-893-4131.

NOV. 12

THE BLACK BARN MARKET & CRAFT SALE

The Black Barn Market & Craft Sale is going to be a day of fun for the whole family from 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at Events at East 96 (9901 Lascassas Pk.). Shop over 50 vendors while listening to live music by 2Country 4Nashville who will be performing from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Enjoy giveaways and live chainsaw carvings happening onsite. Food trucks are onsite and there will be plenty of sweets around. Children can have fun with the bounce house, face painting and the one and only mobile insect and reptile petting zoo. Admission and parking are free.

NOV. 12

BORO ART AND CRAFT FESTIVAL

More than 50 vendors, artisans, and craftspeople will showcase their work at the Boro Art and Craft Festival held from 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, on the Murfreesboro Public Square. Visitors can shop and experience unique local and regional crafts, products, food and gifts. For more information, contact Beth Harker at 423503-2705 or boroartandcraft@gmail.com.

NOV. 14

NIGHT HIKE WITH CAMPFIRE

Come out to the Wilderness Station (401 Volunteer Rd.) on Monday, Nov. 14, from 5–7 p.m. for a 1-mile hike to the campground within Barfi eld Crescent Park and then enjoy a nice night around the campfi re. S’mores are provided. All ages are welcome. Registration is required at murfreesborotn.gov/calendar and the cost to join is $5. For more information, email jfogel@murfreesborotn.gov or call 615-217-3017

NOV. 15

NATURE JOURNALING

Enjoy a relaxing morning of nature journaling at the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (401 Volunteer Rd.) on Tuesday, Nov. 15, from 9–10 a.m. Take a short hike to enjoy the changes of the season. This is a time to slow down and capture an observation through drawing, painting or your choice of artistic expression. This is a beginner’s class. Please bring a notebook or journal. Ages 18 and up are welcome and there is no cost to join, though registration is required. For more information, call 615-217-3017 or email lrosser@murfreesborotn.gov

NOV. 17

THE CONNECTION AT CHAMPY’S

Champy’s World Famous Fried Chicken will host the November 2022 installment of The Connection: An Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming from 5–7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs and professionals are welcome to attend this casual, free, noobligation networking event, where they can meet other small business owners and tap into one another’s experience and energy. Champy’s is located at 1290 NW Broad St.

NOV. 18

HIKE THE GREENWAY

Hike part of the amazing greenway system that goes through all of Murfreesboro on Friday, Nov. 18, from 4–5:30 p.m. Meet at the Thompson Lane Trailhead (2240 N. Thompson Ln.) and hike to the Broad Street Trailhead and back. The total trip will be around 2 miles. Registration is required at murfreesborotn.gov/calendar. All ages are welcome. Admission is $3. For more information, call 615-217-3017 or email jfogel@murfreesborotn.gov

NOV. 19

FERRELL HOLLOW FARM FALL OPEN HOUSE

Ferrell Hollow Farm Senior Horse & Cat Sanctuary cares for senior horses and senior cats that would be considered at risk of neglect or abuse if left in their current situation. Most often, they will be considered as special needs animals and will require a great deal of time and resources to care for. Come out for fall fun and meet the horses, see the cats, shop for unique merchandise, stroll the property and visit the Memorial Gardens. The Open House is Saturday, Nov. 19, from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at the Sanctuary (5323 Ferrell Hollow Rd.). There is free admission and guided tours. Public donations are needed to continue helping the senior animals. Please donate and consider bringing Wish List items. For more information, find Ferrell Hollow Farm-Senior Horse & Cat Sanctuary on Facebook, visit ferrellhollowfarm. org, or email info@ferrellhollowfarm.org

NOV. 18

EVERYBODY DRUM SOME COMMUNITY RHYTHM EVENT

Everybody Drum Some founder Ross Lester continues the third Friday community rhythm event series. For those who would like to join their neighbors in some drumming, the next session kicks off at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, in the fellowship hall of St Patrick’s Anglican Church (7103 Baker Rd.). There is no cost to participate in the community rhythm sessions, and people of all ages are invited to join the drumming or to spectate. Participants may bring drums, shakers, tambourines, woodblocks or percussive instruments of any type, but instruments will be available for use from the extensive Everybody Drum Some collection. To learn more about Everybody Drum Some, visit everybodydrumsome.com or call 615-631-7458.

NOV. 19

SHABBY LANE AND LILLIE B’S HOLIDAY MARKET

The Shabby Lane and Lillie B’s Shopping Events & Holiday Gift Market is Saturday, Nov. 19 at Lane Agri-Park Community Center (315 John R. Rice Blvd.). Admis-

sion is free. Shopping is from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Enjoy free cookies and popcorn, free pictures with Santa from noon–3 p.m. (with your camera), a princess party meetand-greet from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. and live music from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Shop over 90 local small businesses and artisans in two buildings, Shabby Lane’s biggest event of the year. Free gifts are provided to the first 200 adult shoppers. For more information, visit shabbylaneshoppingevents.com.

NOV. 19

3RD SATURDAY OPEN STUDIOS

Acorn Haven Studios (8265 Lascassas Pk.) and Dawna Magliacano host the next 3rd Saturday Open Studio featuring 10 local artists on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Shop handmade gifts and seasonal baked yummies, and sip hot spiced cider in an eclectic art studio setting. Magliacano has revamped her home studios in Lascassas, carving out enough room for a few other artists to have space to create. For more information, find 3rd Saturday Open Studio on Facebook.

NOV. 19

ECLECTIC ROAD GRAND OPENING

The Eclectic Road–A World Boutique (1404 Hazelwood Dr., Smyrna) continues its grand opening festivities on Saturday, Nov. 19, from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. The new boutique offers a variety of products, including handmade clothing from India and Nepal, stones and crystals, incense, gemstone earrings, pendants and rings from India, handmade quilts and towels, candles from Burning Embers, woodworking products and other items from local artists. For more information, visit theeclecticroad.com or call 615-462-5156.

NOV. 26

WARTRACE CHRISTMAS MARKETPLACE

Shop holiday-themed items from local artisans and crafters setup in the square alongside food trucks, a fire pit with s’mores and boutique shops at the Christmas Marketplace on National Small Business Saturday on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. at Downtown Wartrace Square (29 Main St. E., Wartrace). More vendors are welcome. The event is free with free parking areas around the square. For more information, visit wartracechamber.org or call 931-240-0300.

MONDAYS

CONNECT MURFREESBORO

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

meeting is reserved for members to set up one-on-ones and socialize. For more info, visit connectnashvillenetworking.com/events

WEDNESDAYS

CORN HOLE TOURNAMENT

Cedar Glade Brews (906 Ridgely Rd.) hosts a corn hole tournament every Wednesday starting at 6 p.m. There is a $5 buy-in per person. No advance registration is required; show up, network, make new friends and play some corn hole. For more information, visit cedargladebrews.com or find Cedar Glade Brews on Facebook.

THURSDAYS

SHOP. COOK. EAT. WITHIN YOUR BUDGET

Learn about quick, low-cost recipes and tips to help you build balanced meals while shopping smart and reducing food waste. This online class is free and will be held on Thursday nights, Nov. 3, 10 and 17 and Dec. 1 and 8 from 6–7 p.m. If you attend all sessions, you will receive a certificate along with a thermal bag full of free items to help you plan and prepare meals including meat and refrigerator thermometers, a lunch container, a can strainer and more. To register or for more information on this class, email bsatinov@tnstate.edu

FRIDAYS

MUDROCK4X4 JEEP & TRUCK MEET

Each Friday night, Mudrock4x4 (1022 Samsonite Blvd.) hosts a Jeep & Truck Meetand-Greet from 6 p.m.–midnight. Spend the night alongside a bonfire, play corn hole or barrel toss, enjoy barbecue (guests can bring their own food and cook it onsite) and engage in great conversations about Jeeps, trucks and anything 4×4 related. It is free to attend. All people and vehicles are welcome. For more information, visit mudrock4x4.com or mudrockrentals.com

NOV. 19 AND 20

ART STUDIO TOUR

The Stones River Craft Association invites everyone to the 28th Annual Art Studio Tour on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 19 and 20, from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Established in 1993, the Art Studio Tour gives visitors a glimpse into the working studios of local artisans and craftsmen. Mastering various elements, the artists produce oneof-a-kind treasures. Each year, the talent grows and develops, like the area. Visit the studios and see where and how artwork is designed and made. The tour is a free community event. 2022 locations include Popcorn Pottery (2031 Nelson Ln., Murfreesboro), Hickerson Woodworks (4172 Betty Ford Rd., Murfreesboro), Red Oak Pottery (2925 Spain Hill Rd., Lascassas) and Blue Pony Studio (88 Hoyt Knox Rd., Readyville). Visitors can drop by any of those locations during the tour hours. For more information, visit artstudiotour.org/about

ALL MONTH

TOY DRIVE AT BORO NISSAN

Murfreesboro Nissan will again conduct a toy drive this holiday season. Those who would like to donate can drop off toys at the dealership (814 Memorial Blvd.) any time during November. The Murfreesboro Nissan team will also be on the Square with a truck for donations on Friday, Dec. 2 for the Christmas tree lighting. All toys go to the Child Advocacy Center here in Murfreesboro. For more information on the Child Advocacy Center, visit cacrutherford.org.

ALL MONTH

ADOPT A FAMILY

Sponsor a family for Christmas through The Journey Home. Last year, The Journey Home rehoused 225 households, with many of them managing on a very tight budget. Individuals or businesses can adopt a family that is being served by the organization. The families’ wish lists will be available on Wednesday, Nov. 16. The adopter will receive a copy of the family’s wish list, and then will shop for the gifts and deliver them to The Journey Home by Monday, Dec. 12 (308 W. Castle St.). Gifts may be dropped off Monday–Friday between 8–11 a.m. (other times are available by appointment only). It is asked that each individual receives $50 worth of

gifts, per person. Consider providing wrapping supplies so the gifts can be wrapped by the parents or you can wrap them. It is estimated about 20 families are to be adopted. For more information, call 615809-2644, visit lovegodservepeople.org or email bbourque@lovegodservepeople. org. Monetary donations can be made at journeyhome-bloom.kindful.com.

DEC. 3

HOTCAKES AND HOLLY PANCAKE BREAKFAST

After a two-year hiatus, the Rotary Club of Murfreesboro brings back its annual Hotcakes and Holly Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 8–11 a.m. at Middle Tennessee Christian School (100 E. MTCS Rd.). This is the 18th year. A new addition this year is an online auction. Auction items are placed online for bidding about a week before the event and will end a few days after. Auction items are needed. A long-term group of Rotary friends have served as the grill team for many years flipping pancakes, cooking sausages and baking cinnamon rolls. Included with the $15 ticket price is breakfast, live entertainment and a visit from Santa Claus. Proceeds benefit club community projects. For more information, visit murfreesbororotary.com or find Murfreesboro Rotary on Facebook.

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Find out why a career with us is like no other.

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Contact me today for an interview.

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Nedrah C Stagner cell: 859 409 8684

ncstagner@woodmen.org

Nedrah C. Stagner, FICF 859-409-8684

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

JAKE HOOT JOINS COUNTRY ARTISTS FOR OPERATION SONG BENEFIT SHOW NOV. 5

OPERATION SONG, which pairs hit songwriters with veterans dealing with PTSD to help tell their stories through music, will hold a Veteran’s Day fundraiser on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 4–10 p.m. at Tru by Hilton in Mt. Juliet. It will feature performances by Jake Hoot—season 17 winner of The Voice—as well as Lee Thomas Miller, Jamie Floyd, Jimmy Thow, In God We Trust, James Hambrick and others.

All money raised goes to support veteran programming. Grammy-nominated songwriter Bob Regan founded Operation Song in 2012. Since its inception, the organization has helped veterans write and record more than 1,000 songs.

Food is included with admission to the Nov. 5 event and the evening will also include a silent auction and cash bar.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door and kids under 12 are free.

Tru by Hilton Mt. Juliet is located at 1977 Providence Pkwy., Mt. Juliet.

Find tickets to the 2nd Annual Voices 4 Veterans Fundraiser Concert on Eventbrite. Learn more about the Operation Song mission at operationsong.org.

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA: KINGS OF QUEEN TO MAKE TOUR STOP AT SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO

KINGS OF QUEEN brings the music of Queen to Seasons of Murfreesboro on Sunday, Nov. 6. Generations have sung along with the innovative rock music of Queen—the prolific British group that released “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “We Are the Champions,” “Somebody to Love,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Fat Bottomed Girls,” “Another One Bites the Dust” and much other material of various styles in the 1970s and early ’80s.

The Kings of Queen—Emo Alaeddin, Matthew Garbacz, Ted Morton and Lance Turner—prides itself in performing “Bohemian Rhapsody” with all vocal parts performed live. Alaeddin channels not only the songs of Freddie Mercury, but has also crafted a vocal tone, range, visual appearance and stage performance similar to the late frontman. In addition to the Murfreesboro date, The Kings of Queen plays Nov. 5 in McMinnville, Nov. 10 in Knoxville, Nov. 11 in Columbia, Nov. 12 in Chattanooga, and Nov. 13 in Nashville. Seasons of Murfreesboro is located at 2227 Old Fort Pkwy., Murfreesboro (inside the Clarion Inn). Find more on the tribute band at thekingsofqueen.com; find tickets to The Kings of Queen in Murfreesboro on Eventbrite.

MUSIC NOTES

AMERICANA SINGER-SONGWRITER CHRIS KNIGHT PLAYS HOP SPRINGS

AFTER 23 YEARS as a recording artist, singer-songwriter Chris Knight remains boldly empowered to make music that delivers the unflinching truth. The Kentucky-born artist uses a simple, direct barometer to regularly check his muse: “If I can’t believe myself, I won’t sing the song.”

That honest, no-frills philosophy fits his Americana-fueled, backwoodsgrown merger of folk, country and rock. It’s been at the backbone of nine studio albums, including a 1998 self-titled debut, 2001’s A Pretty Good Guy and 2003’s The Jealous Kind, two demo-styled discs (2007’s The Trailer Tapes and 2009’s Trailer II), and the recent, electric guitarfortified Almost Daylight.

Knight will hit the highlights of his career in concert on Dec. 2 at Hop Springs Beer Park in Murfreesboro.

Knight’s music has always sat outside of the mainstream, though onstage is where his searing tales of rural characters, fringe survivors and tumultuous small-town existence find a captivated audience—edgy tracks such as “It Ain’t Easy Being Me,” “Carla Came Home,” “I’m William Callahan” and “Everybody’s Lonely Now,” the latter two from Almost Daylight

Knight writes about what he knows. He was raised in mining country, earned a degree in agriculture from Western Kentucky University and then worked as a mine reclamation inspector and consultant. But eventually his passion for writing songs and playing guitar, both inspired by his musical hero, John Prine, led him to chronicle his surroundings in words and music.

“I came from a big family and grew up in the woods six miles from two small towns, so there were a lot of stories,” he says. “There were always a lot of ideas to write about.”

Those ideas have earned Knight praise from The New York Times (“the last of a dying breed . . . a taciturn loner with an acoustic guitar and a college degree”) and USA Today (“a storyteller in the best traditions of Mellencamp and Springsteen”), to name a few. Like his beloved Prine, with whom Knight duets on Prine’s “Mexican Home,” the cut that closes Almost Daylight, Knight fits comfortably in Texas honky-tonks, downtown Nashville venues, and cool Manhattan rock clubs—or the woods.

Over the years Knight has scraped together a reputation as an uncompromising and respected singer-songwriter, minus fanfare and artifice. The native son of Slaughters, Kentucky (population: 238) only sings songs he believes and only speaks when he has a message.

Chris Knight performs an all-ages show at Hop Springs, 6790 John Bragg Hwy., on Friday, Dec. 2, at 8 p.m.

Find tickets, starting at $25, on Ticketweb.

— MARIO TARRADELL

JAMBOREE again brings pickers, singers and dancers to the Washington Theatre at Patterson Park for its next installment, set for Saturday, Nov. 5.

A new fan favorite, 12-year-old musician Chloe Penny, will get another opportunity to perform with the Fabulous Dewdrops—the seasoned and talented group of country players who serve as the house band for the series. Sisters Wade Revival will take the stage at the Nov. 5 concert, and the Rocky Top Revue square dance team will return to Dewdrop Jamboree as well.

Other artists on the bill for the final show of 2022 include Diane Austin, Dean Holman, Larry Martin, Teresa Camp, Bobby Howard, Rhonda Tenpenny, Anthony Lee and Ralph Curtis.

The show kicks off at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids. Patterson Park Community Center is located at 521 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. For more information on the Dewdrop Jamboree, visit amagroup.org.

TENNESSEE PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA PRESENTS PATRIOTIC PROGRAM ON NOV. 10

THE TENNESSEE PHILHARMONIC Orchestra will honor veterans with patriotic music as it presents its second concert of this Season of Stories. Titled “Invincible,” the Thursday, Nov. 10 program pays tribute to U.S. military veterans from past to present, celebrating the courage and commitment of the bravest among us.

Conductor Robin Fountain, professor of conducting at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music, will lead an expanded orchestra for this performance.

The program will include “Stars and Stripes Forever,” the national march of the U.S.A., as well as other works by John Philip Sousa; “Liberty Fanfare,” a celebratory piece John Williams wrote for the centennial of the Statue of Liberty; a special arrangement of the service songs of branches of the armed forces; and “Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman,” a piece by Joan Tower with a particularly lengthy inventory of percussion instruments, among other pieces.

The Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra also invites local music fans to listen to its Spotify playlist featuring the works performed at TPO shows.

Find tickets to the Nov. 10 performance, scheduled for 7 p.m. at Belle Aire Baptist Church (1307 N. Rutherford Blvd.), on Eventbrite; for more information about the Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra, visit tnphil.org.

ROCKY TOP REVUE

Sounds

Ashley Dawn

BY BRACKEN MAYO

They say, my country accent’s too thick / Where’s my boots? I’m about to get up and get . . . boot-stompin’ local country music artist Ashley Dawn sings on her countrified tune “Back to My Roots Agin.”

A newcomer to Middle Tennessee by way of New Mexico, Ashley Dawn has a passion for country music and for helping others. If she can use her country music to help others, even better.

She appears to genuinely love playing music, writing music and talking about music—often seemingly not able to stop smiling radiantly while performing—and also loves meeting people and making connections.

“I love country music, ’cause it feeeeels good!” she said.

According to her bio, “Her presence scatters unhappy emotions the way dawn

dispels the gloom of night.”

Her enthusiastic twang and style channels Dolly, Reba, Garth and the popular country heroes of the ’90s. Ashley Dawn has recently been releasing slide- and fiddle-drenched singles on Spotify in preparation for a full album release soon.

“Anybody ever live in a trailer?” she asks the audience during a recent performance. “I did!” she says with a laugh, before launching into her song “Trailer in the Woods.”

It’s a dream come true, living in a trailer in the woods with you, she sings.

Since arriving in Murfreesboro, Ashley Dawn has played Hank’s Honky Tonk, the Bluebird Cafe, Station Inn, Hop Springs and other area venues.

At an October appearance at Gallagher Unplugged, she provided some more details on her own story and her vision for helping others.

She has been through plenty of tough times herself. Following the emotional low point of her mother’s death, she experienced a financial low point of being a single mother struggling to provide for herself and three children.

But the people in her life encouraged her; not just to continue on the path of songwriting and playing music, but, she elaborated, “This group of individuals continued supporting me financially.”

“Someone gave me that truck out there! They paid the rent, fed my kids. Someone gave me a vacuum . . . a nice vacuum,” she said. “I just had my faith and my children to work very, very hard for. Some people really encouraged me.”

After getting married and relocating to Middle Tennessee, Ashley Dawn wants to be that force in the lives of others now, not only by teaching music to those who want to learn and encouraging young songwriters to hone their craft, but she intends for her music management and promotional business, the W. Stonewall Group, to purchase music catalogs, and to build catalogs of locally written tunes from up-andcoming performers, and use the royalties

When wondering and seeking what direction to go in life, she said her Bible fell open to Isaiah 1:17, reminding her to “do right; seek justice, defend the oppressed, take up the cause of the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

“If that’s not a clear sign, I don’t know what is,” said Ashley, a producer, writer, engineer, motivational speaker, brand director, mental health advocate and mother.

Her songs from the heart touch on motherhood, heartbreak, living in a trailer in the woods and getting back to one’s roots. With these songs, along with her powerful voice and instrumental creativity—she does some interesting things on guitar—Ashley Dawn travels from folk-rock territory to Spanishflavored jazziness to her signature “bootstompin’ country.” Look for much more from Ashley Dawn in Murfreesboro and online over the coming months, or maybe catch her riding her steel horse around town.

She’s fire and she knows it . . .

Find music from Ashley Dawn on Spotify and check ashleydawn.com for updates on releases, shows and livestreams.

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

to benefit orphans, widows, teachers, the homeless and others in their hour of need.

Boot-Stompin’ country artist

Dawn wants to light a fi re under local music scene

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CONCERTS LIVE MUSIC IN THE

THURS, 11/3

HANDLEBARS

World Famous Blues Jam

HANK’S HONKY TONK Jesse Black MTSU MURPHY CENTER

Wynonna Judd; Ashley McBryde; Brandi Carlile; Kelsea Ballerini; Little Big Town; Martina McBride

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING Oboe Studio Recital; Ryan Brown

FRI, 11/4

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA Joe West

CEDAR GLADE BREWS Vagabond Train GALLAGHER UNPLUGGED JP Cormier

HANK’S HONKY TONK Delyn Christian; Bill Ashmore & The Last Stand HARVESTER EVENT CENTER Austin Grimm JACK’S PLACE Tony Castellanos MAYDAY BREWERY Miguel Dakota PANTHER CREEK BREWS Tom Davison PUCKETT’S GROCERY The Deltaz SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO Cooter River Band WALNUT HOUSE West End Ave

SAT, 11/5

BUDDY’S PLACE AT CEDAR SPRINGS RANCH

Janelle Arthur; Ryan Larkins; Jacob Rice CARMEN’S TAQUERIA Joe West

CEDAR GLADE BREWS That 70s Band GALLAGHER UNPLUGGED Ryan Coleman with Jamie Christian

HANK’S HONKY TONK Jessica Alvarado; Zach Neil HOP SPRINGS Gimme Gimme Disco MAYDAY BREWERY BooM

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING High School Honors Orchestra Concert

PUCKETT’S GROCERY Larysa WASHINGTON THEATRE Dewdrop Jamboree

THE BORO BAR & GRILL Rabid Tooth; Like Daggers; Freebase Masons

SUN, 11/6

HANK’S HONKY TONK Crosstown HOP SPRINGS Americana Sunday Jam MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING String Studio Recital SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO Kings of Queen (Queen tribute)

MON, 11/7

HANK’S HONKY TONK Open Mic Night MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING Jazz Ensemble I

TUES, 11/8

HANK’S HONKY TONK Sir Anthony MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING Keyboard Series, Sun Min Kim

WED, 11/9

HANK’S HONKY TONK Robyn Taylor MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING Cameron Wilson; Guitar Studio Ensemble

THURS, 11/10

BELLE AIRE BAPTIST CHURCH Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra: A Salute to Our Veterans

HANDLEBARS World Famous Blues Jam HANK’S HONKY TONK Cary Watson MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING Vaughn Lemond; Jazz Combos; Abigail Jackson WALNUT HOUSE Kara Kemp’s Bloom Stage featuring Bill Steber

FRI, 11/11

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA Joe West

CEDAR GLADE BREWS Jaysen Gold

HANK’S HONKY TONK Bailey Rose; Jack Finley Band

HARVESTER EVENT CENTER Jordan Morack Jazz Trio HOP SPRINGS Shot Thru the Heart The Bon Jovi Experience JACK’S PLACE Tony Castellanos MAYDAY BREWERY Sarah Lightman

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING Elijah Gilmore; Lionheart Orchestra; Kate Alward PANTHER CREEK BREWS Roland Justice PUCKETT’S GROCERY Arbor North WALNUT HOUSE Lisa Law and the Suspects

SAT, 11/12

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

CEDAR GLADE BREWS Vagabond Train EVENTS AT EAST 96 2Country 4Nashville

GALLAGHER UNPLUGGED

Mala Patterson

HANK’S HONKY TONK Dirt Road Daisies; Phil Valdez HOTSHOTZ Shane and the Money Makers HOP SPRINGS Gasolina Party MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING MTSU Chamber Orchestra PUCKETT’S GROCERY The Road Crew SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO Sleep Nation; Rewind This

SUN, 11/13

HANK’S HONKY TONK The O’Donnells HOP SPRINGS Americana Sunday Jam MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING String Studio Recital; Halle Simmons; Brass Chamber

MON, 11/14

HANK’S HONKY TONK Open Mic Night MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING Jazz Ensemble II

TUES, 11/5

HANK’S HONKY TONK Krystal King

WED, 11/6

HANK’S HONKY TONK Gray Daniels

THURS, 11/17

HANDLEBARS

World Famous Blues Jam HANK’S HONKY TONK Will King MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING MTSU Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band WALNUT HOUSE Middle TN Songwriters Festival

FRI, 11/18

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA Joe West

CEDAR GLADE BREWS Phil Valdez

HANK’S HONKY TONK Sara Simmons; Jeff Caron Band HARVESTER EVENT CENTER Sounds Like Harmony JACK’S PLACE Tony Castellanos MAYDAY BREWERY Roland Justice MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING Steel Drum Concert; Melody Kinney; Chinese Music Ensemble PANTHER CREEK BREWS Sal Gonzalez PUCKETT’S GROCERY The Jolly String Quartet SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO Escape Band

SAT, 11/19

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA

Joe West

CEDAR GLADE BREWS Haunted Like Human HANK’S HONKY TONK The Hammonds; Cooter River Band HOTSHOTZ VeeVerse

MAYDAY BREWERY Joey Fletcher; Tony Hartman MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING Angel Soto; MTSU Symphony Orchestra PANTHER CREEK Jason Saitta

PUCKETT’S GROCERY Runaway Home THE BORO BAR & GRILL Eye On the Sky; Sons of Our Fathers; Summon The Moon

SUN, 11/20

HANK’S HONKY TONK Emily Miller HOP SPRINGS Americana Sunday Jam MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING Chorale Concert

MON, 11/21

HANK’S HONKY TONK Open Mic Night

TUES, 11/22

HANK’S HONKY TONK Delyn Christian MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING MTSU Singers

ONLINE AT

WED, 11/23

HANK’S HONKY TONK Phil Valdez

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING Studio String Recital

FRI, 11/25

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA Joe West

CEDAR GLADE BREWS Flyin Hot Saucers

HANK’S HONKY TONK Alexis Taylor; Justin Dukes JACK’S PLACE Tony Castellanos PUCKETT’S GROCERY The Deltaz SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO Harper’s Garden

SAT, 11/26

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA Joe West CEDAR GLADE BREWS Kevin Wolf HANK’S HONKY TONK Joe Hooper; Whiskey Smoke MAYDAY BREWERY Apache Jericho SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO James House Party THE BORO BAR & GRILL State of Bliss

SUN, 11/27

HANK’S HONKY TONK John Eason HOP SPRINGS Local H

MON, 11/28

HANK’S HONKY TONK Open Mic Night MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING SCHOLA - The Messiah; Strings and Friends

TUES, 11/29

HANK’S HONKY TONK Jesse Black MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING MTSU Salsa Band Concert

WED, 11/30

HANK’S HONKY TONK Kristen Budde MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING Commercial Music Showcase

THURS, 12/1

BELLE AIRE BAPTIST CHURCH Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra Christmas HANDLEBARS World Famous Blues Jam

If You Go

BUDDY’S PLACE AT CEDAR SPRINGS RANCH 9638 Rocky Hill Rd., Lascassas

CARMEN’S TAQUERIA 206 W. Northfield Blvd. 615-848-9003

CEDAR GLADE BREWS 906 Ridgely Rd. 615-900-3707

EVENTS AT EAST 96 9901 Lascassas Pk. 615-412-9901

GALLAGHER UNPLUGGED 118 N. Walnut St. 615-624-4196

HANK’S HONKY TONK 2341 Memorial Blvd. 615-410-7747

HARVESTER 206 W Main St., Smithville 615-597-2000

HOP SPRINGS 6670 John Bragg Hwy. 615-450-1907

HOTSHOTZ 1208 S Lowry St., Smyrna

JACK’S PLACE 114 E. College St. 615-624-7390

MAYDAY BREWERY 521 Old Salen Rd. 615-603-7699

MTSU MURPHY CENTER 2650 Middle Tennessee Blvd.

MTSU WRIGHT MUSIC BUILDING 1439 Faulkinberry Dr. 615-898-2469

PANTHER CREEK 714 W. Main St. 615-203-5089

PUCKETT’S GROCERY 114 N. Church St. 629-201-6916

SEASONS OF MURFREESBORO 2227 Old Fort Pkwy. 615-895-5471

THE BORO BAR & GRILL 1211 Greenland Dr. 615-895-4800

WALNUT HOUSE 116 N. Walnut St. 615-707-7897

WASHINGTON THEATER 521 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 615-893-7439

ALBUM MOVIE

AYE MAMMOTH

As intended by the mighty mammoths of the Pliocene epoch, Murfreesboro’s doom-metal-stoner rock trio Aye Mammoth continues its annual tradition of a new release each year, releasing its 10th annual local EP, Eternal, earlier in 2022. This not only validates rumors of Aye Mammoth’s metal endurance in the area, but canonizes the ancestral mammoth spirit in the annals of Murfreesboro tradition.

Thrashing Motörhead-style guitar riffage emerges from the very beginning, briefly joined by what sounds like a Univox synthesizer melody (it’s the bass or guitar through an effects pedal, likely), along with some stealthily placed reverb, and Aye Mammoth ramps up another hell of an entrance. Vocalist/guitarist Micah Loyed guides the fantastic, conquer-journey with determinedly ominous vocals, capable of punctuating Mammoth’s thrash with “Part the Skies/ Eternal Light/Fires of Creation Rise.” Rise!

The second half of the introductory track utilizes an instrumental roll call as Mammoth drummer Phil Stem digs in to support the two re-introductory solos. Loyed dusts off those high-register fingers, probably looking up to the heavens with metal-pains, for several measures . . . Rise!

. . . leaving second-year Aye Mammoth bassist, Patrick Johnson (of PJ and the Bear), choosing not to respond with matching, fancy metal bass fingering, but, instead, shaking the freak’n walls off my

house with the bump of a seasoned, teamplayer bassist well trained to achieve such fitting seismic dissonance with a metal band. Good God. It was playing on a phone the first time, too.

In lyric, our protagonist stands on the distant precipice, overlooking the land, rightfully his own.

“Chase the Blood” parodies a partying dance-punk feel in a metal kind of way before Loyed and Johnson duel fancy-finger solos. Our protagonist goes into kill mode at the kingdom’s throne, making “Locus Doom” an awesomely metal-ized number that inflects the universal constant: All that’s good battle all that’s evil

Ultimately, there is victory for our protagonist amongst Loyed’s agonizing moans of down, down, down in the Supermegagraviton trilogy, a three-act Mammothmetal suite encompassing tracks 4, 5 and 6, telling of our victorious protagonist’s new realm won, ramping up composition as Loyed’s vocals lean more towards a more gothic Layne Staley, late of Alice in Chains. “Supermegagraviton Act One: Event Horizon,” Pantera-thrashes a perspective on our protagonist’s accomplishments within the realm, a newly forming black hole, as gravity begins to pull down.

“Supermegagraviton Act Two: Gravity Well” channels the slightly faster thrash of Anthrax, furthering the next steps of implosion as Loyed seemingly sings into a fan. Johnson provides some nice bass work (suggestive of Tool’s Justin Chancellor) on “Act Three,” while, through the sludge metal, the hero becomes massless/weightless/lifeless/deathless, a blackening notion moving towards the absolute nothingness.

Finally, Eternal’s closing, “A Last Bastion,” casts a vivid soundscape, floating around that whole scene with a stellar, calming, instrumental with Loyed’s guitar work ranging from linear solos (in the style of Funkadelic’s “Maggot Brain”) to some peaceful picking (God Speed You Black Emperor-influenced, perhaps).

Aye Mammoth’s 10th annual Murfreesboro metal EP, Eternal, can be found on Spotify, iHeart and Apple Music and at ayemammoth.bandcamp.com, along with the group’s other nine journeys since 2013.

— BRYCE HARMON

The third and final chapter in director David Gordon Green’s and co-writer Danny McBride’s once-promising Halloween revival claims to finally end the decades-long rivalry between The Shape, the unstoppable manifestation of pure evil, and Laurie Strode, the babysitter that got away. This is the same thing promised in Halloween (2018), and then Halloween Kills, not to mention Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, and definitely not to mention Halloween: Resurrection.

What Green and McBride brought to the table seemed to be a true love of the franchise and established comedic bona fides (as two of this year’s best horror films have proven, comedy and horror are not so dissimilar after all). Instead, Halloween (2018) and Halloween Kills ended up being dour depictions of the effects of trauma on an individual and societal level.

It’s an admirable goal, attempting to inject the staid slasher genre with some real-life ramifications, but the grief cloud hanging over those films drained the thrills out of what made Halloween (1978) so terrifying in the first place. Michael Myers is the unstoppable unknown. Green and McBride have made him a mundane metaphor whose main purpose seems to be serving up ‘memberberries disguised as homage, and delivering more inventive and gorier kills that are meant to thrill (you know, the slasher flick bread and butter) while the movie conversely tells us, no, this is traumatizing, it must be taken seriously.

All that buildup to say that Halloween Ends suffers the same self-seriousness and same incongruity in tone and plot, with one main difference: Halloween Ends is not a Halloween movie. Or rather, it’s not a Michael Myers movie. Many critics have said Halloween Ends takes a big swing, and many seem to like that big swing, but if “big swing” is a reference to baseball, then Halloween Ends is playing soccer. Halloween Ends has more in common with another John Carpenter movie than it does with Halloween (1978). In fact, when the film is following that plotline, completely unrecognizable as a film in the Halloween franchise, it comes to life in a way that the rest of the trilogy never does. Free from the self-inflicted burden of the Michael Myers/Laurie Strode saga, Halloween Ends almost becomes an interesting and enjoyable movie.

It’s not for lack of trying that Green and McBride fail here, and again, that’s admirable. This third installment explores, albeit in not-so-subtle terms, not just trauma but the idea of evil itself, how it can be born but also nurtured. Laurie Strode is unevenly written (an unsuccessful attempt at complexity), but Curtis almost always delivers, memorably saying anger can be “addictive” and calling evil an “infection.” These are the themes of the real movie, shoehorned into a Michael Myers movie— or rather, Michael Myers/The Shape is re-appropriated as the personification of those themes, resulting in a brand-new story about a brand-new character Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell). It’s a strange choice to sideline the main characters in the culmination of a trilogy, the irony being that I think the Strode/Myers story gets in the way of the Cunningham story rather than the other way around. In that way, I liked Ends better than 2018 and Kills, but that’s not saying much.

— JAY SPIGHT

DIRECTOR David Gordon Green

STARRING Jamie Lee Curtis, Andi Matichak, Rohan Campbell RATED R

HALLOWEEN ENDS

Stone Door Hiking trail offers spectacular

STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO

PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO

The Great Stone Door Trail, part of the expansive South Cumberland State Park in southern Middle Tennessee, provides some spectacular views of heavily wooded Tennessee hills and valleys.

Find the trailhead off of Tennessee Highway 56 in the Beersheba Springs community, between McMinnville and Altamont. Paved for the first portion, of a quarter mile or so, wheelchairs and strollers can make it along the trail to the first overlook, which provides quite a vista. From this overlook, visitors can look across to another hillside and see the Great Stone Door feature, a narrow opening between two rocky cliffs that resembles an open doorway.

Continuing on the trail, although the pavement ends, the path remains fairly level for most of the journey, though it does contain lots of large roots to watch out for. The total

distance from the parking area to the Stone Door is under a mile in length.

Arriving at the main feature, hikers can step onto a large, flat rock and take in a fantastic expanse of Tennessee wilderness in front and to both sides. And in the fall, the colors that can be seen make a sight to behold! The scene explodes with oranges and yellows from this overlook.

Some viewers marvel at the incredible panorama looking upon the treetops so far below this high vantage point. This rock is a pretty special place to be, looking out into the wooded expanse—an incredible view of the landscape.

While this view alone makes the one-mile walk well worth it, the rock formation offers much more to explore. A very interesting rock staircase leads down between the two large cliffs on each side. Stone Door presents some pretty wild rock-climbing possibilities, for those so inclined.

Climbing back up the staircase is probably the most difficult part of the Stone Door Trail experience; it probably contains a hundred steps. On the way back, a hiking party considers that mid-autumn may just be the absolute best time to come to the park, with the colorful leaves spilling forth gloriously all around.

The park offers some campsites and the other amenities near the large parking area are pretty ample as far as some trailheads go, with restrooms, water fountains, quite a few picnic tables, a ranger station and maps.

For more hiking, a different trail from the parking area leads to Laurel Falls. Reportedly, though the falls is less than 300 yards away from the parking area, the ascent back is a bit steep. Laurel Falls makes a good reason to return to the site in the future and explore that area and complete the Stone Door Trail again.

For one of the many scenic pieces of the great state of Tennessee, definitely walk to the Great Stone Door. As one visitor put it, referencing the trail’s moderate degree of difficulty yet spectacular vistas, the trail won’t take your breath away, but the views will.

You Go

Stone Door

of

SINCE DAVID WEILL PURCHASED the Murfreesboro location of Steak ’n Shake he has seemingly made it his mission to get to know everyone in town.

Weill has been very active networking and forming alliances with other local businesses, getting involved in church ministries, contributing to local charities, and letting local consumers know that although the Steak ’n Shake chain is a global brand, the owner is present in the store and involved in the community, trying to make his establishment a place where families want to come and eat and a positive place for its employees to work.

Decades ago, Weill had a much different mission. He served, as many young men did, in the U.S. Army during the time of Operation Desert Storm in the early 1990s. Unlike many of those in the service, however, Weill brought along his mom to war, both family members serving in the 912th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) Unit.

He has documented this unique story in an upcoming book to be released in early 2023, Deployed With My Mother, not only as a way to share the family military tales but to also provide hope to others “when things don’t go according to plan,” Weill said.

“I wrote this book to give my perspective on what it was like to go to war with my mother and to share personal struggles, add a little humor and pass along some hope and encouragement,” Weill said in an author’s statement. “The stories in this book are snapshots of what happened during the time I was in the desert with my mom, and how God used each detour to lead me to a relationship of hope and peace with Him.”

Just a few of the stories from the book involving Weill and his mother, Angela Birdsong (Capt. Doyle at the time of her deployment):

I learned that they let “old” people in the Army if they have advanced medical training. Since my mom was a nurse and at the ripe “old” age of forty, I said “Hey, Mom, they let old people in the Army. They have a special boot camp for you. Want to join?” The conversation lasted a little less than thirty seconds, and you probably already know what she said. Since then, my perspective has changed greatly. In my fifties now, I am thinking that she was the perfect age, and I was too young. So many things change with perspective. Many times, a change of perspective can take something negative and make it positive just by

looking at it from a different point of view. Had I seen my mom as the capable medical personnel she was, maybe I wouldn’t have seen her as “old.” Now I can see that she had experiences and training that made her more mature and prepared for being deployed.

While at Fort Bragg, we were told that once we hit the desert overseas there was no more practice. Scud alarms would be the real deal. It was live ammunition, and there was no replay button like the video games I had played so many times as a kid. We practiced relentlessly sealing our protective gas masks and mentally preparing for war. We were told to be prepared for anything. Mom learned these lessons the hard way. We were ordered to move out for training at a new destination and we needed to bring our field jackets. It was warm where we were, so Mom in her wisdom, packed light, and she left her field jacket back at the barracks, because she didn’t think she would need it (even though we were told to bring it). Later that day, we had been transported to a thirty-degree climate change. Guess who froze? Me, because I could not let her go without a jacket, so I gave her my field jacket and I spent the training days freezing. I kept thinking over and over again, “What was I thinking asking Mom to sign up for this?” People think it is neat that my mom and I served together, and it is, but it was also very scary at times. All my growing up years, she had protected and provided for me, and now I felt it was my turn to protect her. I would learn the hard way that life was not going to give me any kind of shelter, and I was going to have to find

a way to make sure Mom was prepared, or we might not make it out of this thing together.

It wasn’t too long before we were met with our second desert reality. I kept a journal during our unit’s deployment, and on January 17th, I wrote: “Woken up at 0100 hours. Told US is dropping first bomb at 0200 and we were expecting nerve gas.” I remember Our First Sergeant walked up the steps to the barrack/ warehouse, took out a Pre-nerve Agent tablet and consumed one. In an instant this communicated to all of us that we were about to start this war and we were anticipating a chemical gas response. I took my first nerve agent pill with shaking hands. According to my journal, we took our second nerve agent pill at 0900. Things were getting very real.

After my mom, and the majority of my unit, left for the States, I stayed behind with about 60 other soldiers to finish our mission as the rear detachment, a small group left behind to close down operations. Mom had seen the ravages that the war caused in the MASH unit, and while she was glad to be home, she knew I was still there. We were able to talk on the phone, and one particular call left my mother in complete fear. As I was talking with her on the phone about 11 a.m. on July 11, 1991, I heard a loud explosion, walls trembled and glass started shattering. The last thing I said was, “Holy ***” and hung up the phone. Can you imagine my mother’s reaction when she heard the explosion and my response? She wrote in her journal that she immediately wondered if I was okay. Was I

still alive or had one of her worst nightmares come true? She was worried sick.

I ran outside the warehouse, there were explosions and smoke everywhere. We were under attack! It was raining shrapnel and stuff is on fire everywhere. My heart is racing and I can not find my unit. What is my next step? I needed to get to safety, but where should I go? How did a poor kid, who had signed up to be a cook for a reserve unit in the hills of Tennessee—just so he could get some money to pay for college—wind up running through the desert, surrounded by black smoke as he tried to make his way to safety? After what seemed like an eternity, I found a safety zone with another unit of random people I did not know, and I stayed with them for several hours while the explosions kept going on, and on.

We finally got word that we are not under attack, but that the munition dump had ignited. Vehicles, tanks and even weapons had caught fire and were exploding, and there was no safe route out for a while. Hours later, we finally got the all clear. I finally located my unit and went in the building. I started seeing familiar faces and something strange happened. Guys slapped me on the back, gave me high fives and pushed me toward the middle of the group. I was stunned at their reaction—why the big welcome back? Why were people so excited to see me? Why were they acting like I was some celebrity to be paraded into camp? Apparently, it’s a big deal when you make it back to camp when you are MIA: missing in action. I didn’t even know I was considered missing! The unit had done a head count after the munition dump had exploded, communication gear had gone silent—the phone call with my mom had gone dead for that reason—and I was detoured to wait it out. That detour took me eight hours, and when the unit hadn’t been able to find me after the initial explosion, I was labeled MIA.

Check out the upcoming book for more. Drop by Steak ’n Shake, 2091 Old Fort Pkwy., for all of your cheeseburger and milkshake needs and you may catch Weill there; purchase a copy of his book and he will autograph it for you. Weill is not the only military connection with the burger joint. In fact, Gus Belt, who founded Steak ’n Shake in the 1930s, was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran himself. Sign up to be notified of Deployed With My Mother’s release at worthweill.hellocard.me

“What I really enjoy doing is coming out and speaking to groups,” Weill said. To contact him about speaking opportunities, email worthweill77@gmail.com.

Upcoming book tells of Murfreesboro businessman’s experiences serving in the military alongside his mom

Deployed With My Mother

Living NATURE NEWS The Basics of Backyard Bird Feeding

Canada Geese

STORY/PHOTO BY ASHLEIGH NEWNES

WHEN YOU HEAR THE HONK OF the Canada geese, you know it’s time to start thinking about unearthing all the hats, scarves and gloves for the upcoming change in season.

Groups of these three-feet-long waterfowl, with their five-foot wingspan, are a common skyward sight this time of year. In V-formation, the Canada geese migrate south to overwinter and many geese will follow the same route year after year.

The V-shape serves two purposes. It conserves their energy; each bird flies slightly above the next bird in front of them resulting in a reduction of wind resistance. The birds take turns being in the front and falling back when they get tired. This means the group can fly for long periods of time without stopping for rests. Another benefit to flying in a V-shape is the ease of tracking the other birds in the group. Flying in formation assists with the communication and coordination within the group. Fighter pilots often use this formation for the same reason.

Geese are fairly commonly spotted especially in the summer, swimming in open water, resting near shore, or grazing on lawns or farm fields, but the V-formation in the sky is always a sight to behold. Find geese in lakes, ponds, bays, marshes and fields. They have adapted well to civilization and urbanization and can also be found nesting around park ponds or golf courses. There is a family of geese at Murfree Spring on Southeast Broad Street and spectators have enjoyed watching the hatchlings grow this year.

Primarily herbivores, geese forage mostly by grazing while walking on land, but they

also feed in water by submerging their head and neck. Serrated edges along their bills enable them to tear up plant matter. They eat stems and shoots of grasses and sedges, aquatic plants, seeds, berries, and cultivated grains, occasionally eating insects, mollusks, crustaceans and small fish.

Canada geese usually mate for life and the pair maintains a strong bond. Ganders (males) become aggressive in breeding territories and it’s this behavior that has caused the geese to get a bad rap from humans. He defends his territory with displays including hissing and lowering his head almost to the ground with his bill slightly raised and open.

The nest site is chosen by the female and is usually on slightly elevated dry ground near water. The female will usually come back to the same nesting site year after year. Females lay anywhere from 2–11 large white eggs. She then incubates the eggs for 25–28 days while the male stands guard. A Canada geese family unit has a strong and tight bond with excellent parenting and teaching from the adults, and fast learning and adaptability from the younglings. Parents lead the young away from the nest just 1–2 days after hatching. In just 7–9 weeks, the hatchlings are ready for their first flight.

This time of year is a busy time for the animal kingdom. Aside from providing birdhouses, the easiest way to assist our animal friends is to leave your garden and yard undisturbed during winter. Piles of leaves or brushwood can provide a perfect place for animals where they can hide, rest and hibernate.

DURING DIFFICULT ECONOMIC times, more Americans are enjoying their time off while traveling less. Creating a birdfriendly backyard habitat is one way to enjoy the outdoors while staying close to home.

The average backyard may be visited regularly by 10 to 15 different bird species. However, a bird-friendly yard can attract up to 50 or more different species. To attract the greatest number of bird species, provide at least one of each of these habitat elements: food, water, cover and a place for birds to raise their young.

FOOD

“Attracting a variety of birds requires a variety of foods,” said Joann Royer, co-owner of the Murfreesboro Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop. “Offering a fresh seed blend is the best way to entice birds to your yard.”

Providing an easy-to-find source of food not only gives birds nourishment, but it also gives them more time to find mates, build nests, raise their young and perform other duties that are key to their survival.

WATER

Birds need water just as much as they need food. Their high metabolic rate and respiratory system drains moisture from their bodies quickly. However, birds use

water for more than just a thirst quencher; they also use it for bathing and preening their feathers. Clean feathers are important for birds’ health and optimum flying ability.

COVER

Birds need protective cover for times of rest, social interaction and as a retreat from foul weather and predators. Plants that are native to our soil and climate provide the best overall food sources for wildlife and support from 10 to 50 times more native wildlife than exotic (or non-native) plants.

A PLACE TO RAISE THEIR YOUNG

The same plantings that provide shelter can provide safe areas for many bird species to mate, build nests and raise their families. But with the increased loss of natural habitat, cavity-nesting birds lack appropriate sites to nest. By providing bird houses, you will encourage birds to raise their young in your backyard.

Wild Birds Unlimited specializes in bringing people and nature together with bird feeding and nature products, expert advice and educational events. For lots more information on birds and to shop online visit wbu.com/murfreesboro. Call the Murfreesboro store at 615-869-7975.

Art

Mr. Popper Brings His Penguins to Arts Center of Cannon County, Weekday Morning Programs Presented for School Groups

ARTS CENTER OF CANNON COUNTY introduces its School Matinee Series production of Mr. Popper’s Pen guins, running Nov. 2–12.

Based on the book of the same name, this charming tale touches the heart, with lots of laughs along the way. It is hard enough for Mr. Popper, a simple painter, to support himself and his family. The addition of 12 penguins makes it impossible to make ends meet—until Mr. Popper has a

Soon, My Love, Original Work by Malinda Morgan, Debuts at Mills-Pate

CONSIDER THIS THEATER COMPANY presents Soon, My Love, an original play by Malinda Morgan, this November.

In the play, two days after Mark passes away, his family has to reconcile with his death and Charlotte’s dementia. Charlotte tells stories of her life until she walks into the memories she is talking about. Follow Charlotte on her journey as she says goodbye to her family and decides if she would do everything the same all over again. If given a second chance, would she make the same choices?

The cast for Soon, My Love includes Jessica Wells, Sarah Wells, Dawn Schock, Danny Wells, Mahayla Shirley, Storm Sloan, Juliana Romano, Corrine Byrd, Tyson Pate and Andrew Gateley.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 11, 12, 18 and 19, and at 2 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 13 and 20 at the MillsPate Arts Center, 7120 Old Nashville Hwy. A talk-back with the playwright will follow each performance.

For tickets, visit considerthisinc.com/shoppe.

Elf Jr. the Musical at Washington Theatre, Nov 17–20

Make plans to catch a performance of Elf Jr. the Musical at The Washington Theater at Patterson Park (521 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Blvd.) Nov. 17–19 from 7–9 p.m. and Nov. 20 from 2–4 p.m. All ages are welcome. Tickets are $10 per person. For more information, visit murfreesborotn.gov/1474/Perform-Murfreesboro, call 615-8937439 ext. 6130 or email shicks@murfreesborotn.gov.

Center for the Arts Presents Upbeat Musical Comedy, Sister Act, November 4–20

SISTER ACT, THE FEELGOOD MUSICAL COMEDY based on the hit 1992 film, plays at the Murfreesboro Center for the Arts Nov. 4–20.

splendid idea. He will turn the talented penguins into a trav eling vaudeville act! And that’s exactly what he does.

Come see the adventures of Mr. Popper and his perform ing friends. Mr. Popper’s Penguins will run Nov. 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 and 10 at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. for school groups and homeschoolers. To learn more about field trips, visit artscenterof cc.com/schools. Public performances will be held Saturdays, Nov. 5 and 12, at 2 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 615-563-2787 or visiting artscenterofcc.com/tickets.

In the show, one which should get audiences jumping to their feet, disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder and is put in protec tive custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be found: a convent. Using her unique dance moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, Deloris breathes new life into the church and community.

Tickets for Sister Act are $18 for adults; $16 for seniors, students and military; and $14 for children. Rated PG.

Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays, Nov. 6, 13 and 20 at 2 p.m.

For tickets and more information, visit boroarts.org.

New Life at Historic Landmark

The Dish

RESTAURANT Cooper’s at the Mill

LOCATION 5418 Murfreesboro Rd., Readyville, TN PHONE 615-563-4645

HOURS

Friday and Saturday 9 a.m.–3 p.m., 5–8 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

PRICES

Country fried steak or chicken breast with gravy, two eggs and one side: $14.95; 4 biscuits with butter, preserves and honey: $8; Fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese and remoulade: $11.95; Colorado style pork green chili: $5.95; Southern poutine: $11.95

ONLINE coopersatthemill.com

The latest incarnation of the restaurant at the Readyville Mill site has the pancakes and breakfast dishes that diners may expect, along with some new creations from Chef Cooper Brunk.

Now known as Cooper’s at the Mill, the restaurant serves some huge light and fluffy biscuits, so airy and flaky, accompanied with whipped butter, honey and preserves—biscuits done right.

Enjoy some perfectly fried okra, very crisp, at Cooper’s, or a jalapeño corn pudding—sweet and sugary yet quite spicy and pepper-laced all at once—along with entrees including catfish, pulled pork and country fried steak or chicken with gravy.

“The steak dinner was phenomenal; the apple pie and Oreo cheesecake were amazing,” Sarah Martinez said.

Another recent Cooper’s diner said he was impressed by the generous portion of meatloaf, displaying a tasty, herb-seasoned flavor. Brunk said he was going for something different than the standard ketchup-covered meatloaf and uses some thyme and rosemary in the dish.

For a rich and flavorful creation, try an order of the Southern poutine—hand-cut fries smothered with white gravy and topped

with bits of smoked sausage and cheese.

Something about the smokiness of the sausage along with the fallen leaves rustling in the breeze outside the window at the historic property just gave a strong impression of Tennessee in the fall.

If fried foods, pancakes, poutine, pie and biscuits sound a little heavy for one’s dietary objectives, a delicious cranberry balsamic along with candied pecans, apples and grapes make eating some spinach a very sweet and fruity affair within the Fruity Nutty Salad.

Brunk took over operations at the restaurant space in June 2022. A chef for 25 years, Brunk grew up in Murfreesboro, attending Riverdale High School, but had been living in

Colorado before returning to Middle Tennessee to launch Cooper’s at the Mill and leave his signature on the historic property.

“I never thought I would be living out here again,” Brunk said.

But now he seems excited to head the kitchen at the historic space and provide good food in the unique setting.

Colonel Charles Ready constructed a mill at the site in 1812. That mill later burned down, but in the 1870s Robert Carter built another mill building, the one that still stands today; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

“Great piece of Americana and very good food!” Angela Butler said following a din-

ing experience at Cooper’s at the Mill.

As a fun little feature, kids can color on a Readyville Mill coloring page as they await their food, while the mill itself sits right out the window. That’s a unique touch.

In addition to the grist mill, the property also contains a granary, an icehouse, a cabin and a smokehouse. Visitors can walk the grounds and the creek bank before or after a meal for photo ops and in a natural setting.

“Such a cool atmosphere! This is a fun place to come with great food,” Gina Cantwell Bondurant said. “The grits are out of this world.”

Although the mill had fallen into disrepair over recent years and is not currently operat-

Cooper’s at the Mill brings pancakes and poutine, gravy and grits to Readyville Mill

STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO

ing, Brunk said that he and the property owners are “trying to get the mill up and going again. It needed a lot of work.”

The Ford family has run its restau rant, known as Goodness Gracious, at the Readyville Mill property before moving their operation to the Fountains at Gateway in Murfreesboro in 2022. Some will miss Goodness Gracious and that establishment’s delicious offerings, but Cooper now gets to share some of his dishes while aiming to continue the traditions of tasty food, a his toric setting and memorable experiences.

The restaurant is currently open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Most of the cars in the parking area on a recent Friday were from outside of Cannon and Rutherford counties. Friday seems to be the travel day, when folks come from all over, some coming as groups on vans and buses; more locals have been coming out on Saturdays and Sundays, Brunk said, and he desires to continue reaching the local population.

Cooper’s offers dinner service on Friday and Saturday and also offers some canned

beers, features never before offered at the Readyville Mill restaurant space.

Breakfast fans can order from the full breakfast menu until 3 p.m.

“The country fried steak was excellent, as were the apple jack pancakes,” reported Matt Rutherford. These special apple pancakes are made with apple cider and topped with apple butter, candied pecans and caramel.

Definitely try some gravy on something, whether it’s fried chicken, biscuits or fries, and come take in this notable local restau rant on a site that can teach the younger generations about food production in centuries gone by while offering great meals in the present day.

Tammy Jacobs Garner complimented Cooper’s at the Mill’s service, decor and ar ray of menu choices after a meal.

“Cooked to perfection. The fried foods were crisp and not greasy, the beans weren’t overcooked and the buttermilk pie was like I had baked it myself,” she commented. “It’s a much needed restaurant in the area.”

STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO

One Murfreesboro City Council member says that city officials need to be more involved in making sure activities held on city property follow the agreed upon permit issued.

“If a permit is issued for a ‘family friend ly’ event, it should be such,” Murfreesboro councilman Shawn Wright said.

to make the event 18-and-up, according to NBC News.

“By agreeing to the restrictions, they have effectively acknowledged that what they were promoting was way out of line,” Todd said.

AS DRAG QUEEN STORY HOURS

and the marketing of cross-dressing and gender-switching to children have increased on a national level over the past years, the debate on minors attending stage shows that feature men dancing in lingerie has come to Murfreesboro.

Following September’s Boro Pride event held at Cannonsburgh, a Murfreesboro city park, a video of the drag show has generated some controversy and resulted in irate parents and the city banning the sponsoring organiza tion, the Tennessee Equality Project, from holding any future events on city property.

Posted to Facebook by conservative activist and commentator Robby Starbuck, the video from the outdoor event captures “adults gyrating and humping the floor” with kids in the audience, as Starbuck says.

At one point, a young audience member gave a cash tip to one of the scantily clad, gyrating performers.

“This is disgusting! Sad how perver sion like this is acceptable today,” said one observer in response to the video.

Starbuck says he wants to see children legally protected from “hormone therapy, gender mutilation and wildly inappropriate drag shows in public.”

While he and many other concerned par ents say they do not want to interfere with what adults choose to do in adult settings, “this is about protecting the innocence of children.”

Hundreds of parents commented on the drag show activities, an event billed as “fam ily friendly,” with many calling it “disgust ing,” “not appropriate,” “demonic,” “awful” and “child abuse.”

“Why not just take [children] to a strip club?” another concerned American com mented sarcastically.

Although the Boro Pride festival has pre sented these types of drag shows in previous years, the outcry following the 2022 festival

got the attention of city officials.

In a letter addressed to Tennessee Equal ity Project, Murfreesboro City Manager Craig Tindall made it clear that such shows are “unacceptable and inconsistent with the use of City property.”

The display within Cannonsburgh in September contrasted so drastically with the promises of a “family friendly,” “all ages” day at the park that TEP promoted, that Tindall said the group would not enter into further rental agreements with the Mur freesboro Parks and Recreation Department.

“These promotional descriptions were misleading and your application submitted to the City contained material misrepresen tation,” Tindall wrote. “The event contained conduct and speech of an explicitly sexual nature, which is a clear violation of the terms of the permit issued to your organiza tion as it violates Murfreesboro City Code. More offensively, your event intentionally exposed young children to this conduct, a clear violation of Tennessee statute and Murfreesboro City Code.

“As a result, I will deny future special event permits submitted by your organization.”

Others point out that the show appeared to violate another Tennessee law in addition to the one Tindall referenced. TN Code 7-51-1407 states that an “adult cabaret shall not locate within one thousand feet of . . . a public park” (nor a child care facility, school, family recre ation center, residence, or place of worship).

Tennessee State Rep. Bryan Terry said he expects the general assembly to consider stricter regulations limiting the attendance of sexualized dance performances to adults.

“There will likely be legislation sur rounding this issue in the coming session,” Terry said. “At the minimum, there are at least two issues at hand. First is the inap propriateness of lewd activity on public property under a permit, and the inappro priateness of having minors attend.”

“That show seems to violate existing state laws regarding lewd acts,” he said regarding the Boro Pride drag show at Cannonsburgh. “Celebrating love and inclusion is one thing, but I have talked to people with kids who were there, people without kids who were there and people who were not there, all saying what happened was not appropriate. I don’t think anyone can see that and think that it is appropriate for children, whether it’s someone in drag doing it or a natural-born woman up there doing the same thing. I just don’t think that this is ‘family friendly’.”

Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project, pointed out that the drag show “has been a part of our pride celebration and other pride celebra tions for many years.”

“Drag performances have been a part of it since 2016 and they have been enjoyed by the spectrum of people from youth and their parents to seniors,” Sanders said. “What has changed this year is the deter mination of some to cast the event as some kind of threat.”

The TEP director added that the group opposes “any effort to categorize all drag performances as inherently only appropri ate for 18 and up.”

Shows elsewhere in Tennessee have recently sparked similar debates. Jackson Pride agreed to make the drag show por tion of its pride celebration an 18-and-up activity, following pressure from State Rep. Chris Todd and other residents.

Todd cited the same state law prohibit ing adult cabarets in parks as a way to keep Jackson Pride from having a drag event in a public park.

“I intend to see that the law is upheld!” Todd said.

Even after a change of plans with the in tention of holding the show indoors, Todd and others filed a legal complaint that the indoor location for the “outrageous adult performance” was still within 1,000 feet of a house of worship (the Jackson First United Methodist Church).

However, they went on to drop that com plaint after drag show organizers agreed

In Memphis in September, the Museum of Science & History made a last-minute decision to cancel its Memphis Proud Drag Show and Dance Party.

Protesters showed up at the event, another one billed as “family friendly.”

“It’s child abuse. I don’t care who does it, it’s wrong,” one of the protestors, Susan Gray, told Action News 5, “this is nudity, sex acts, and simulated sex acts, and it’s wrong.”

The Museum of Science & History issued a statement saying it “made the decision to cancel all programming Friday evening due to the presence of armed protesters.”

Another drag show at Tennessee Tech University resulted in the university president issuing a public apology and canceling other activities of the involved student organiza tions after a video of these festivities garnered much outrage. Here, a striptease artist caressing him/her/themself performed and accepted cash from minors in attendance.

“If these were straight kids watching straight strippers, they would be shut down so fast,” Dawn Miller noted.

Videos from events in Maryville, Tennes see, also show barely clothed performers interacting with children, while pride activi ties in Chattanooga included youngsters— preschool-age children, it appears—touching the crotch area of an individual in a mer maid costume and watching as other burly performers spread their legs and displayed their barely-covered genital regions.

“Parents shouldn’t take kids to drag shows and business owners shouldn’t host drag shows aimed at children,” Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp posted.

In Chattanooga, the Hamilton County Conservatives have begun collecting sig natures “petitioning our state legislators to pass a law stipulating that all drag shows or events featuring drag performers must be for persons 18 years and older only.”

Robby Starbuck, along with his wife, Landon, continue to post videos of children attending drag shows and encourage par ents and voters to get involved.

“We can’t allow this to continue,” Starbuck posted. “In Tennessee there will be no safe space to be sexually inappropriate with kids.”

City of Murfreesboro bars Tennessee Equality Project from holding future events following “all ages” striptease show, some want adult cabaret performances 18 and up

WHAT A DRAG

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AROUND TOWN

’BORO BUSINESS BUZZ

Outreach Thrift, Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken, Fat Guy Barbecue, The Happy Book Stack, White Branch, Golfi x, Marco’s Pizza

BY DELORES ELLIOTT

OUTREACH THRIFT STORE has opened its new and improved location at 338 SE Broad St. after renovating the building, the former home of Murfreesboro Pawn and Gold, just down the street from the Discovery Center. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The business moved to its new location from its previous site near the Publix at the corner of Broad and Rutherford.

Outreach Thrift started in 1992 as a way to provide emergency clothing to those in need. Every purchase and donation aids in supporting the business’ goal, and provides well-maintained clothing, dishes, books and more at affordable prices, and accepts donations of these items. For more information, visit outreachmurfreesboro.org.

After 101 years in business, the owners of the local and family-owned HAYNES HARDWARE have decided to step away from the business. The Elder family, which operates Ace Hardware locations in Georgia and East Tennessee and has been in business for 103 years, has taken over the hardware store at 1807 Memorial Blvd., now known as ELDER’S ACE HARDWARE OF MURFREESBORO

“After 101 years as a local family-owned business, we have decided to step away from ownership of the hardware store. We would like to express our sincere and deep gratitude to our loyal customers and wonderful community,” according to a statement from Haynes Hardware.

EL CUBILETE MEXICAN will open another location at 1668 Memorial Blvd., just a few buildings down from Climb Murfreesboro.

MARCO’S PIZZA has opened a new location on Memorial Boulevard near Two J’s Grille, but has closed its East Northfield Boulevard location. The new location is at

Bonchon chicken is cooked to order The restaurant serves a variety of chicken options including double-fried wings, drumsticks, boneless and bone-in wings, and strips. It also offers signature sauces, as well as potstickers, seafood, sliders, tacos, soups, salads, mochi and more. For more information, visit bonchon.com

a new shopping center at 3266 Memorial Blvd., which also includes additional locations of Gateway Urgent Care, another UPS Store and other businesses.

THE HAPPY BOOK STACK has opened in Murfreesboro at 1411 Mark Allen Ln. The Happy Book Stack is a local, family-owned bookstore that offers used books, video games, DVDs, comic books, art and vinyl,

and specializes in kids’ and Christian books. The bookstore also offers cash and store credit for these items.

“We look forward to being an integral part of the Murfreesboro community and believe that reading for education and personal leisure makes us all better people,” The Happy Book Stack posted online. Those interested can trade up to four boxes of books or media at a time, and one

box of vinyl at a time. For larger trades, customers can bring up to 10 boxes that can be sorted overnight, and will be applied as trade to a personal account or set for cash pickup later on.

“We look forward to being a warm environment for the Murfreesboro community and beyond to shop and hang out!”

Hours are from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, and closed Monday through Wednesday.

FAT GUY BARBECUE has announced that a new location will open soon at 6854 Lascassas Pk., in addition to the current location at 904 NW Broad St. within the Kwik Sak. The opening date for the new location has not yet been released.

A new concept called STRETCHLAB has come to Murfreesboro, located at 451 N. Thompson Ln. StretchLab specializes in helping others to achieve a deep stretch. StretchLab’s team of trained flexologists assist with one-on-one stretching and flexibility training sessions, which can last between 25 and 50 minutes, and consist of a series of stretches custom-designed for specific needs. In addition to one-on-one stretch sessions, the StretchLab offers group stretches, a program that welcomes people regardless of their level of fitness.

Benefits of the StretchLab include higher sports performance, a decrease in joint pain, higher flexibility, improved posture, decreased stress, better mental and physical health, improved mental clarity, and improved blood and oxygen flow.

The new 7 BREW COFFEE at 217 N. Thompson Ln. celebrated its grand opening on Oct. 29. The new drive-through is open from 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and is currently hiring crew members. Drink options include coffee and decaf coffee, energy drinks, shakes, smoothies, teas and sodas. For more information, visit 7brew.com.

Stretches offered include the standard 50-minute stretch, the maintenance 25-minute stretch and the group stretch, as well as monthly membership options that include either 4, 8, or 12 sessions ranging from 25 to 50 minutes. The business does not have an age requirement, although a parent or guardian will be required to sign a waiver for those under 18. For more information, visit stretchlab.com.

A new golf shop called GOLFIX is coming to Murfreesboro in December. It is expected to open on Dec. 1, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 16. It is located at 531 N. Thompson Ln. near Tandoor Indian Restaurant and the Chop House, and will offer lessons, clubs and club repair, Vessel golf bags and accessories, as well as other well-known brands, golf simulators and other products.

BONCHON KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN is opening its first Tennessee location at the former Pizza Hut building at 1718 Memorial Blvd. The Korean fried-chicken franchise currently covers 24 states—now 25 including Tennessee—and 8 countries, with at least 100 locations internationally, according to the restaurant’s website.

REPUBLIC SERVICES and ARCHAEA ENERGY recently announced a renewable gas project at Middle Point Landfill, to be developed through the company’s Lightning Renewables LLC joint venture. The development will convert the gas that naturally occurs as waste decomposes into pipeline-quality natural gas, utilizing the landfill gas as a low-carbon fuel alternative to fossil fuels.

The Middle Point Landfill gas-to-RNG project should create clean energy resources, further control for the potential for offsite odor, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing directly to Republic Services’ long-term sustainability goal and bring meaningful environmental benefits to the local community, according to Area President of Republic Services Jamey Amick.

Archaea operates 13 RNG facilities across the U.S. and has a robust backlog of approximately 90 projects, which it plans to develop and construct over the next several years. Plans include development of 39 new RNG projects at landfills owned or operated by Republic Services across the country.

Renewable gas can be used as a transportation fuel; today, RNG powers 21% of Republic’s fleet. For more information, visit republicservices.com/sustainability.

MTSU recently celebrated the MURPHY CENTER’s 50th anniversary event and unveiled future facility upgrades and improvements. The renovation project will cost roughly $6 million, and will provide a more modernized look for “The Glass House.” Renovations include 33,000 square feet of SageGlass smart windows, which will automatically tint and clear in response to the sun, which helps to remove glare and ensure that the building’s interior is cool and comfortable for fans and students alike. More sunlight can be let in the building in the winter, and the windows can darken to allow less light in during the heat of the summer. It marks the largest installation of dynamic glass in higher education in the United States, according to MTSU.

President McPhee also unveiled samples of 17 large, timeline panels featuring vintage photos that will be installed around Murphy Center’s concourse track that provide fans with a self-guided nostalgic look-back on the five decades of Murphy Center history.

MTSU Athletics officials will produce a new basketball court design, and retro uniforms that will be worn by the men’s team during a special anniversary game on Dec. 15.

WHITE BRANCH, located within Jensen Quality Homes near the Murfreesboro Public Square and owned and operated by Chris and Marybeth Jensen, is doing some neat things with virtual reality technology. White Branch starts with someone’s basic house plan to create an immersive, built-to-scale, decorated house that they put on a VR headset. Homebuyers and builders can walk through each room of the house virtually to get a feel for the space and to design how families will place furniture.

Additionally, White Branch plans to partner with the Boro Art Crawl, coming up next on Friday, Nov. 4, to allow visitors to walk through some virtual art galleries using its VR headsets. Find White Branch and Jensen Quality Homes at 109 E. Main St. Visit whitebranchtech.com for more information.

DALAMAR HOMES, a custom home builder in Kentucky and Middle Tennessee, recently celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of its new Hamlet South Home Community. The new community of custom homes is located in La Vergne and features tree-lined views, walking trails, retail shops and quick access to I-24.

Every home features granite countertops throughout, 10-foot ceilings on the first floor, bull-nose corners, and more!” For more information, visit dalamarhomes.com.

FOUNDRY COMMERCIAL recently broke ground at Creekside Logistics for its first Nashville area development containing three large buildings in Smyrna. This project will take place on 42.9 acres, where one building will total 88,400 square feet and a 105-car parking lot, one will include 147,290 square feet and a 138-car parking lot, and the third will be 135,200 square feet and a 155-car lot.

Foundry’s partner for the project is Principal Financial Group. Foundry Commercial is a commercial real estate service and investment company. Foundry is sustained by 2,000 associates operating from 11 markets, providing leasing and management on more that 62 million square feet and over 3,000 seniors housing units, typically executing over $1.6 billion in leasing, tenant rep, and investment sale transactions annually. For more information, visit foundrycommercial.com

MIDDLE TENNESSEE ELECTRIC plans to expand its main campus on New Salem Highway by adding new facilities to accommodate the relocation of personnel and equipment from the cooperative’s downtown office on North Walnut Street, which will be empty next year.

The expansion of the cooperative’s corporate office will provide a new space for its member services department, including a new drive-thru for members. The corporate expansion will also offer multi-purpose meeting rooms to host employee training classes and large group meetings.

Another building will be located at the rear of the main campus. It will include functional spaces for the operations crews and line trucks, warehouse, metering and engineering teams.

“We’re confident the project will be completed by fall of 2023,” said P.D. Mynatt, MTE’s assistant general manager. “The two new facilities have been designed for the comfort and convenience of both MTE members and employees. We can’t wait for everyone to see them.”

In addition to MTE’s construction around the main campus, work remains underway by the Tennessee Department of Transportation to expand New Salem Highway. Parking at MTE’s main campus is still available for members in the front of the building. To avoid traffic congestion due to the construction, MTE’s Saint Andrews and downtown locations offer members alternative options for paying their bills.

Founded in 1936, MTE is the largest electric cooperative in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) region and the second largest in the United States, serving more than 750,000 Tennesseans via 325,000-plus accounts covering 11 Middle Tennessee counties. MTE employs 520 people in seven local offices and its Murfreesboro corporate headquarters.

Additionally, several Middle Tennessee Electric linemen took home awards at the 38th Annual International Lineman’s Rodeo & Expo held Oct. 12–15 in Overland Park, Kansas. The International Lineman’s Rodeo attracts the best linemen from around the world to compete in events based on traditional lineman skills and tasks.

Nolan Farris placed first in the Apprentice Insulator and Armor Rod Replacement category and third in Apprentice Hurtman Rescue. MTE’s Josh Fuller, Tommy Kirkland and Chase Patterson placed fourth in the 4kV Insulator and Tie Replacement category. The group also finished fifth overall in the Journeyman Team from a Co-Op Division category. Keith Davenport, Bo Asbury and Mike Diggs earned second place in the Journeyman Seniors Division.

“MTE is proud to have linemen who are dedicated to their craft and honing their skills, and they always represent us and our membership so well,” said MTE President and CEO Chris Jones.

BUSINESS MOMENTUM

BY BLAINE LITTLE

Diversity and Its Fallacy

HUNDREDS OF BOOKS

have been written, terabytes of videos have been uploaded and thousands of hours have been presented on the topic of diver sity training in the workplace— more specifically, diversity, equity and inclusion, or “DEI”. The one thing all these types of programs have in common is the money made on the material.

There’s nothing wrong with a product or service making money so long as it legitimately solves a problem, and a com pany gets what it paid for. But many of these programs are ever-changing, with something new every year. One has to ask: if these concepts keep changing and being constantly revised, was there ever a solid founda tion for them in the first place?

But sometimes, these fuzzy ideas do more harm than good when there was no problem at all to begin with. It really is a game of semantics. And for some, it truly is a game to say one thing and yet allow some to think they mean something else. Consider it marketing, a trick of the mind, or just plain propaganda.

Whatever you call it, it’s not necessarily the whole truth. Whatever the team looks like, there is never quite enough diversity, equity or inclusion. It’s a game of “heads I win, tails you lose.” There are a lot of hyper sensitive trainers and resource managers out there who actually do more harm than good.

In 2021, Christopher Rufo, a writer for the City Journal, ex posed training for a prominent American defense contractor. In his article, Rufo highlights how a handbook entitled Stronger Together contains a list of what to say, what not to say, and how to identify one’s own biases. But

this pessimistic view assumes all people are critically flawed.

And that’s not a one-off experience. Another contractor held a “re-education camp” for white males so they may expose their culture as a privilege. An entertainment company “chal lenges” its employees to fill out a checklist of private and uncomfortable questions. And a beverage company provided online training which tells its employees to “be less white.”

I’m not opposed to diversity training in and of itself. After all, I conduct workshops on the topic. It’s just one portion of my teambuilding curriculum, though.

Of course there should be di versity! A team which is diverse in age, culture and viewpoints is better equipped for success, because any challenge which may arise is no longer viewed from just one perspective. This true diversity almost ensures the inspiration of new techniques and systems. It spawns synergy.

Differences need not be viewed as obstacles, but rather as un tapped resources. Former HewlettPackard CEO Carly Fiorina once said, “The highest calling of lead ership is to unlock the potential in others.” Find what is unique about each member of a team that could be used as an advantage.

Of course there should be equity! If by that term, we mean providing fair opportunities for each employee to progress.

Sadly, even this word has been compromised. Pundits have latched onto “equity” to mean something quite the opposite of what is discussed here.

There is often confusion be tween the terms equality and eq uity. They certainly sound alike. Many times, these words are used almost interchangeably, but they

are not synonymous. One de scribes sameness, while the other describes what is fair or just. It is better for a business owner or manager to invest in the personal excellence of the individuals.

Excellence is not perfection; rather, it is the achievement of individual greatness. It is when someone is doing the very best he or she can do. And how many times have we seen someone not even try to live up to their best? That’s where a good leader can come into play.

Vince Lombardi famously stated, “Perfection is not attain able, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” Consid ered to be one of the best football coaches in history, Lombardi knew how to get the most out of his men. He understood each athlete’s talents as well as his limitations. He had confidence in his players, and they trusted him. Of course there should be in clusion! Inclusiveness is a main function of management. Every employee should feel safe, re spected and welcome. And trust is a very big part of inclusion. Diversity brings us innova tion, or the pursuit of new ideas. Equity brings us excellence or high performance. But inclusion brings us collaboration. Collabo ration is the process of people working together to achieve a common goal. It’s teamwork. In novation and personal excellence mean nothing if they are not brought together.

However, the recent corporate training of diversity, equity and inclusion can do more damage than good to an organization. The words sound nice, but what is actually being taught? In some cases, the curriculum fosters division and creates re sentment among employees.

When such training is not facili tated correctly, some employees can feel as though they are under a micro scope, or tokenized. Meanwhile, oth ers could feel marginalized or pushed out simply because they showed up to work that day. This division is hardly what could be called “team building.”

A wise man once said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their char acter.” Martin Luther King Jr. knew

there was more that united people than separated them. Perhaps it’s time we get back to that ideal. Let’s stop pi geonholing people into categories and just accept them for who they are.

Blaine Little is founder and CEO of Momentum Seminars Training and Coaching, helping companies remain profitable by investing in their people. Learn more at momen tumseminars.com. Find his book Managerial Mistakes, Missteps & Misunderstandings on Amazon.

Modern diversity, equity and inclusion training often causes more division than positive team building

THIS MONTH I HAVE BEEN BUSY working with individuals across the nation to take a close look at school counselors and their associations with the American School Counselor Association.

In September, I located some information of concern directly on the ASCA website. The association stated that it isn’t required to obtain informed consent from parents—a statement which has subsequently been removed from the website. Fortunately, I was able to grab screenshots before it was removed from ASCA’s site.

ASCA PROPAGATES ITS AGENDA IN ALL 50 STATES

PHOTO COURTESY RODNAE PRODUCTIONS/PEXELS

ing school counselors and other professionals serving students all over the U.S.

Some parents are asking their school districts hard questions about the ASCA and its affiliation with them and they aren’t getting answers. Why are school systems avoiding this discussion?

Let’s take a look at who and what the ASCA really is.

to the gender of which they identify.

“national standards from school counseling professional organizations,” the site states that it has changed its name, been removed, or is not available. Interestingly, ASCA appears to be in the web address, though.

It does indeed appear that Tennessee schools are aligned with ASCA. It is also worth noting that the Tennessee School Counselor Association is an affiliated charter of the American School Counselor Association.

#FREE YOUR CHILDREN

BY TIFFANY BOYD

This made me question which counselors currently employed by our local school systems are affiliated with the ASCA. On the Tennessee Department of Education website, there is a Tennessee Comprehensive School Counseling Model listed. Oddly, when you click on the link to

There is no doubt that Tennessee schools have employed ASCA-affiliated teachers and counselors within its systems.

After perusing the ASCA Facebook page, I noticed that they have posted “now hiring ads” for Tennessee school districts.

The ASCA has division charters in all 50 states and appears to be setting the standards, offering training and actively recruit-

Directly from its website (before it was removed), the ASCA stated it provides Culturally Responsive Instruction, appraisal and advisement to students. Its 2022 Annual Conference hosted sessions (including, but not limited to) titled: AntiRacism Starts With Us, Become an LGBTQ Inclusive School, Legal and Ethical Considerations-Student Surveys, Equity in Action Through Systemic Change, Support Transgender and Gender Expansive Students, Anti Racism Perspectives, and Build and Repair Relationships with Restorative Justice.

“School counselors need to continue to enhance knowledge and awareness of prejudice, power and various forms of oppression and utilize culturally responsive skills to support ever-changing student needs,” according to the 2022 ASCA Ethical Standards. In support of students, school counselors implement “equitable academic, career and social/emotional developmental opportunities for all students.”

It is an “expectation, not the exception” for school counselors to integrate multiculturalism and social justice perspectives into their work as advocates and leaders, the School Counselor and Cultural Diversity section of the ASCA Position Statements continues.

Furthermore, the ASCA also believes that parents do not have a right to the knowledge of their child’s preferred gender identity.

“This right to privacy and prohibition of disclosing students’ gender identity extends to students’ parents/guardians, with whom schools should work collaboratively, directed by students’ comfort about what and with whom to share their confidential information.”

The organization says that students can use restrooms and locker rooms according

“Students have the right to use restrooms and locker rooms matching their gender identity,” according to The School Counselor and Transgender and Nonbinary Youth position statement. “Transgender and nonbinary students have a FERPA-protected right to privacy; this extends to students’ gender identity, birth name, sex assigned at birth and medical history. Schools must make every effort to only reveal information about students’ gender identity when others have a legitimate educational purpose, which does not include mitigating the possible discomfort of others.”

The ASCA clearly seeks to usurp the authority of parents.

The ASCA has also teamed up with organizations including the National Education Association to endorse legislation that will help them to increase their numbers of school counselors, social workers and psychologists in all 50 states. Who would be footing the bill? Taxpayers, of course, will tote the note to help them spread their ideology.

The organizations aim to secure funding for mental health services providers to achieve the recommended student-tostaff ratios for school counselors, psychologists and social workers in all 50 states.

If you are a parent who is concerned with the agenda the ASCA is pushing on our nation’s children, I encourage you to first, remove your children from government schools, and secondly, expose what is going on and start demanding action. I urge parents across the nation to stop and consider what in loco parentis means.

Tiffany Boyd is a former tenured public school teacher, the founder of Free YOUR Children and the founder of Middle Tennessee Christian Homeschool Connection. She holds a B.S. degree in interdisciplinary studies from MTSU. She and her husband have home educated for 18 years. She has appeared as a guest on Homeschool Loft podcast, on the Schoolhouse Rocked podcast and on The Sentinel Report with Alex Newman. To learn more about homeschooling, contact Tiffany at freeyourchildren@gmail.com.

Be aware of what school counselors tell your children

“It is an ‘expectation, not the exception’ for school counselors to integrate multiculturalism and social justice perspectives into their work as advocates and leaders, the School Counselor and Cultural Diversity section of the ASCA Position Statements continues.”

Why I Am Thankful

SINCE NOVEMBER IS A TIME WHEN we should all be thankful, I decided to do a story on what I am thankful for. Let me start by saying I am thankful to the good Lord for waking me up this morning and for having some walking around.

We all have trials and tribulations in our lives, and I’ve had my share of them. There are typically three things that affect me, and probably affect you as well; in no particular order those three things are finances, romances (relationships) and health. I always have to reflect and ask myself how is my job going? How are my relationships with my partner or relatives or society as a whole? How is my health?

There have been times in my life when I was not employable or had no money, therefore, not even a bank account. However, the good Lord has a way of always showing up. During the downturn of a 2008 real estate market I was flat broke with five children and a wife. The father of four of those children quit paying child support and, to be honest, if it wasn’t for my family and friends in church I would’ve been living under a bridge somewhere. Pride and ego sometimes keep us from asking for help. We all know that shame and guilt go along with pride and ego. Back to the story. I was on my way to being evicted out of our home that we were living in at the time. I go to our mailbox and sure enough I received a check in the mail. I had worked for General Electric here in Murfreesboro back in the day and for some reason I received a check for dividends of some stock I had in the GE company. It was the answer to prayers I’d prayed to stay afloat, to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table.

job and being able to pay bills and live life the way the good Lord intended!

Romances, and relationships, can be summed up in the idea the good Lord wants us not only to be in a relationship with Him, but he wants us to also have relationships with each other. We were not meant to be alone; at least I know that I am not supposed to be alone. We are to have people in our lives to help guide us and have our backs.

The

Minute

by BILL WILSON

I’ve been blessed with many relationships along the way. Someone said it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it took an army to raise me. What I’ve come to realize is I’m still growing up at the age of 56. So today I am so thankful for all the teachers, family members, attorneys, police officers, preachers, therapists, authority figures, and especially my partner, Meredith Thomas, and my son, William Wilson, for keeping me on my toes and helping me stay honest with myself. I have found that life is not about me, it’s about serving others.

Remember, faith without works is dead. I am thankful most of all for the good Lord’s grace and mercy he has shown me because I should’ve been rotten and forgotten a long time ago.

Did I mention how thankful I am to live in a city where I get to live where I want, eat where I want, hang out with whom I want, drive down the road if I want . . . you get the picture.

We all have so much to be thankful for. Let’s all be grateful! Let us all go thank somebody today!

I’ve usually had a good job and done well because of the good Lord giving me the gift of gab. So during those times I was very thankful for having a

Tune into WGNS at 100.5 FM or 1450 AM each Sunday at 9 p.m. for The Mr. Murfreesboro Show. Call Mr. Murfreesboro, a.k.a. Bill Wilson, for all of your local real estate needs at 615-406-5872.

The good Lord, the people in our lives and Murfreesboro provide lots to be grateful for

BY “Z-TRAIN” titanman1984@gmail.com

Vols Roll Into Georgia Undefeated

Titans Continue to Win With the King

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

Fall is in the air, and it doesn’t get more beautiful than a state like Tennessee! I have family and friends who recently traveled to this great state, and they all say the same thing—Tennessee is the most beautiful state they have ever had the pleasure to lay eyes upon. I am very thankful to call this state home—my roots are set, and I never plan on leaving. It’s not even up for debate, Tennessee is the best state in America!

Let’s jump right into the topic, football time in Tennessee! The Vols and the Titans are rocking. The Volunteers have created madness in Knoxville. Let’s be honest, they have created madness nationally. I have said it before and I will say it again, the haters hate Tennessee because they know the fanbase is elite. It doesn’t matter if the team sucks! Twenty-plus years of heartbreak and the fanbase has never wavered. The loyalty and passion for the brand is unmatched and fact is Tennessee being on top is good for college football.

It truly is impressive how insane the fandom is and has always been for Vol Nation.

For 38 years I’ve been in this beautiful state, and I feel like I have seen every emotion possible as a lifelong Volunteer fan.

 Hendon Hooker is that dude! I was thrilled to see the so-called NFL-ready QB in Will Levis have a horrible game after all that nonsense the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator spewed. It’s like he was purposely trying to create this narrative that Hooker won’t make it in the NFL, but his dude Will has “all the traits.” I won’t even quote what he said, it was just nonsense about Will being taught all the correct things while insinuating Hendon Hooker isn’t ready.

Just remember, Rich Scangarello was an absolute disaster as offensive coordinator for the Broncos for that single season before being fired and just called one of the worst offensive games I’ve witnessed for Kentucky in the ass-beating Tennessee handed them. Hendon Hooker is generating Heisman buzz for good reason while Will Levis is creating more questions than answers. Hooker is a smart QB throwing very accurate footballs on quick reads. Hooker has a strong arm and has led this Vols team to something it hasn’t seen in decades.

I know one thing, if I were leading an

NFL team I would without question trust Hooker to run my offense over Will Levis. Call me biased? You would probably be correct, but I doubt it’s just Tennessee fans that feel that way these days!

The old head way of thinking that these elite college QBs must be trained a certain way to make it in the pros just isn’t the case anymore. Hendon Hooker is getting first-round buzz for good reason. Put respect on my homie’s name!

Jalin Hyatt: Who Knew?

UT receiver Cedric Tillman goes down with an injury and Lawd have mercy, you blew up, Jalin—they even have T-shirts with your face on them going around these days! The speedy receiver is one of my favorite stories of the season and he damn near seems impossible to guard.

Let me shout out one more name—the most important one, Vols head coach Josh Heupel. Nobody believed in him when he took the job. Heupel built this team from a ragtag group of believers. Coach Heupel’s offensive concepts have turned this program around and this so-called gimmick offense is one of the most feared in the country. Heading into the huge match with Georgia, the Vols lead the country in scoring (49.4 points per game) and passing (353.4 yards per game). Some amazing moments have come so far this season on the road at Pitt followed up by victories over Florida, LSU, Alabama and Kentucky. Tennessee is in a tough yet glorious spot on the road the first weekend of November where it all comes down to No. 1-ranked Georgia. The winner more than likely represents the East in the SEC Championship and the loser more than likely will be left out with one loss.

Tennessee will be atop the football world if that offense pulls into Athens and comes out victorious. It’s the biggest game of the entire college football season. Regardless of what happens next weekend this season has already been a success, but anyone with eyes realizes this Vols team has the potential to potentially win it all.

My Homies in the Pros

The 5–2 Tennessee Titans come off a strange victory where King Henry just blasted the Texans for a fourth consecutive 200-plus rushing yard game against the team and is now your franchise leader in TDs, surpassing first Earl Campbell and now Eddie George with 75 total TDs for King Henry. Hall of Fame-type stuff, bro!

I’ll be honest about the Titans—under Coach Vrabel, the Titans, in the regular season, just win. It sometimes isn’t pretty,

but I saw a stat that showed since Tannehill took over in 2019 only four teams have won more games than the Titans; in order it’s the Chiefs, Packers, Bills and Ravens. The Titans led the NFL in injuries last year, followed by a team right now that, unfortunately, is in the same situation. Yet, like last year, they continue to win.

The Titans appear to have bought into what Coach Vrabel is selling, and I commend last season’s Coach of the Year for it. This team hasn’t had a losing season since freaking 2015. I know what many of you are thinking. I too wish all that success translated into playoff wins! You won’t get an argument from me, but I also enjoy the regular-season success.

2022 Titans Team

This team is tough, runs the ball well and has a defense led by Big Jeff and numerous stars that have been playing great football and continue to get better. The team is great up front even if the Titans have some issues in the secondary. However, this team has nobody who lines up at receiver that any defense fears, and that’s a big problem later down the road, I believe. It kills me seeing A.J. Brown light the scoreboard up! Can we make just one move before the trade deadline, please? The prospect of a receiver would be spectacular. Yet with that said, the receivers at hand have been doing a great job buying into this tough-guy football squad and helping block for this run game led by King. I just don’t think it’s enough when you play teams like the Bills, obviously, or the Chiefs, Eagles, and some of the more explosive teams in the league. Ryan Tannehill hasn’t been lighting it up, but his leadership and poise are huge reasons why this team is 5–2 and, after seeing Malik Willis against the Texans, I don’t think anyone is ready to hand him the keys. It’s imperative this Titans team creates some danger through the air and creates deep ball opportunities, and the play action has to be gold. That was the recipe in 2019 when the Titans made it to the AFC Championship with a strong running game and a bend-don’t-break defense. I’m worried we don’t have the pieces on offense. Time will tell.

What I do know is this team is in good hands with Coach Vrabel on the sidelines and King Henry in the backfield. With those two men at their best, this team will always have a fighter’s chance to win.

Alright, Vol Nation, Titan Nation, I love you all and I ride with you no matter the day! Yee-yee, Tennessee for life. The Train is rolling into the station. Choo-choo!

make it in the NFL, but his dude as

Live Exceptionally...Well!

BY JENNIFER DURAND

on without having a bad frame of mind over the resulting loss, knowing that compassion and care have longer-term positive ripple effects. This stops a negative attitude from spilling over into other conversations and activities later in the day.

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

— Mother Theresa

I was walking my dogs and happened to be deep in thought. All of a sudden I heard uproarious laughter coming from the other side of the tree line. It shopped me in my tracks, and I was immediately out of my head and caught in the moment.

WHERE DOES IT START? Where does it end?

Does it end? Is it ongoing? How we act, what we say, our presence, what we do or don’t do—it has a chain reaction, or ripple effect. Many times we will never know the impact made by a gesture, whether small or grand. Attitudes are contagious. Your smile, frown, inclusion or exclusion of participation have an effect on others, either direct or indirect.

While I am a firm believer in being responsible for your own thoughts and actions, I have witnessed and experienced the ripple effects of my own attitude towards a situation or others. I have also been on the receiving end of kindness as well as meanness. The moment you realize the impact of your words and actions to others is the moment of truth to care or not to care about the ripple effect.

“You have no idea of the countless lives you touch in the course of your lifetime.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach

Recently a client missed an appointment. They just didn’t show up. The person tending to them was affected in several ways. They left a loved one receiving an important medical treatment to keep the appointment for the client. When the client didn’t show, this affected the income of the worker and establishment, which affected the people on the wait list that were in need of services but now couldn’t get in, which could affect the attitude of the worker. There was a fee assessed for the missed appointment, which the client agreed to pay.

Then came an email with harsh words from the client who had been in a crisis situation, which they did not mention when on the phone agreeing to the missed appointment fee, and felt like they’d been treated unfairly. This is the moment of truth. You can defend your position to hold to the fee (knowing all of the just reasons to keep it), or you can understand the client’s predicament and extend grace. The ripple effect toward the client can either end the anxiety over the missed appointment and allow them to carry on with handling their situation, or add to the burden. The service provider and establishment can continue

I realized I started to smile. Then I felt myself laughing, for no reason at all except to find joy in the fact that something made someone laugh with such gusto. It instantly reminded me of times in my life when I’ve felt such laughter. What a ripple-effect moment. That neighbor will never know they had a part in making someone else laugh. I realized it is truly that simple to contribute to cause and effect in the world.

“You think you’re just a drop in the ocean . . . but look at the ripple effect one drop can make!”

— Unknown

One of my favorite movies is Amazing Grace and Chuck. The story is about how a young boy stood for something he believed in. In this case it was to end nuclear weapons from existing, as he saw the ramifications should they ever be used. He chose to give up something he was really good at until this changed. That happened to be baseball. Someone wrote an article about it. That caught the attention of a famous basketball player, who had lost his only son. That led to them meeting and talking about this action. The parents just wanted their son back to being a normal kid who plays baseball. But the boy couldn’t be convinced to go back to life as usual without assurance that he nuclear weapons wouldn’t exist anymore. The story evolved to the point the boy stopped speaking. Then children all across the world stopped speaking. The point of sharing this is the ripple effect of just one thought taking action. This is how change happens. Being true to who you are, standing up for what you believe is right, is how others begin to take notice.

“The assumption that change has to start at the top is wrong. Start where you are.” — Jesse Lyn Stoner

Jennifer Durand is the owner of The Nurture Nook, a certified qigong and breath empowerment instructor and is licensed in massage therapy, body work and somatic integration. For more on finding your personal “ahh . . .”, visit nurturenook.com or call 615-896-7110.