September 2021 Murfreesboro Pulse by The Murfreesboro Pulse

IN MUSIC

SOUL ASYLUM / JACKIE VENSON / PICKIN’ AT PUCKETT’S / DELYN CHRISTIAN / MSO GUILD / THE STOLEN FACES SEPTEMBER 2021 / VOL. 16, ISSUE 9 / FREE

Middle Tennessee’s Source for Art, Entertainment and Culture News

Empanada Sonata: Cuban Comfort Food on the Murfreesboro Square

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Contents

COVER COLLAGE: Works by artists participating in this month’s Greenway Art Festival, clockwise from top left: Pamela Mack, Cody Hale, Olivia Gum, Trinity Gregory, Amberly Clemons, Gréti Müller, Will Schumm, Crystal Duncan, Jana Rohlickova, Rachael Ogles, Justyna Kostkowska, Sarah Stringfellow

27 FEATURES

IN EVERY ISSUE

6 Events

MUSIC IN THE FIELD

Outdoor concert to raise funds for Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra.

NATURE NEWS

Hummingbirds prepare for their long journey south; set up feeding stations.

CALENDAR Friday Night Live, Under 1 Roof, Light Up The Night, 9/11 Heroes Run, Depot Days, Wings of Freedom

Sounds

MUSIC NOTES Delyn Christian Shares Songs of Prine Sept. 4

LONG HUNTER STATE PARK

All the hiking and biking, swimming and canoeing you can handle alongside Percy Priest Lake.

Live Music Showcase at Smyrna Depot Days

Jackie Venson Performs at Burlap Room in Smithville

New bakery aims to give those with employment barriers a chance.

Boro Fondo Returns

LIBERTY’S STATION

GREENWAY ART FEST

Pickin’ at Puckett’s to Benefit Journey Home

Art Director: Sarah Mayo Copy Editor: Steve Morley Publisher/Editor in Chief: Bracken Mayo

Advertising: Now Hiring

30 News

ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

BUSINESS BUZZ Slim Chickens, Chase Bank, B.B. Creations, Brohalla, and more

ALBUMS The Oi!Takus Sarah Taylor Young

34 Opinion

17 Reviews 26 Art

EXHIBITS Remembrance: Leroy and Barbara Hodges

RESTAURANT Empanada Sonata: Cuban food in the ’Boro

Contributors: Melissa Coker, Jennifer Durand, Delores Elliott, Bryce Harmon, Laura Lindsay, Blaine Little, Zach Maxfield, Ashleigh Newnes, Jason Pickle, Edwina Shannon, Jay Spight, Andrea Stockard

BUSINESS MOMENTUM Liberty Tax Service

POSITIVE PARENTING Overparenting could lead to lack of confidence.

MOVIE Ride the Eagle

28 Food

Stolen Faces at Hop Springs

Annual outdoor art gathering returns to Old Fort Park, Saturday, Sept. 18.

CONCERT CALENDAR Pulse Pick: Soul Asylum at Hop Springs

September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World Memorial

Midnight Riders at Burlap Room

FREE YOUR CHILDREN Parents are the experts. SPORTS TALK Titans open 2021 season Sept. 12. GARDENING Don’t give up yet. LIVE . . . WELL Spaces in Between HEALTH Legalize Cannabis

Copyright © 2021, The Murfreesboro Pulse, 714 W. Main St., #208, Murfreesboro, TN 37129. Proudly owned, operated and published the first Thursday of each month by the Mayo family; printed by Franklin Web Printing Co. The Pulse is a free publication funded by advertisers. Views expressed in the Pulse do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. ISSN: 1940-378X

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The Murfreesboro Pulse

GREETINGS PULSE READERS. A happy September to you! It has been another great month for the Mayos. We had some fun and managed to compile yet another edition of the Murfreesboro Pulse for the community. Local organizations have packed this month’s events calendar with all sorts of activities. Coming up this month the people of Middle Tennessee can check out the Greenway Art Fest, Smyrna Depot Days, an MTSU football game, Boro Fondo, Friday Night Live, Under 1 Roof at Notes, the Wings of Freedom Fish Fry, the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra Guild concert, 9/11 Heroes Run, the Light Up the Night fundraiser, Jeep Days at Big Creek Winery Tasting Room and at Bert Driver’s Burlap Room, Soul Asylum at Hop Springs, Business After Hours, Hammer Down for Habitat, the Old Timers Festival and many other live shows and art displays. I have long ago ceased trying to make sense of virusrelated matters. May your lives be filled with joy, peace, fulfillment, health and confidence in these “uncertain times” or “new normal” or whatever some want to call it. My life is great. I hope yours is too. Don’t wait for someone else to tell you your life is okay. We can have a wonderful day now! In this dire state of emergency, someone show me the number of COVID-related deaths in Rutherford County over the past six months and then try and justify everyone wearing a napkin on their face during everyday activities like it’s normal behavior. Other than the highly educated and powerloving individuals who control the local school system, most have given up trying to make that argument. My condolences for all who have lost loved ones. These deaths are people, not just statistics, who leave grieving family and friends behind. All lives matter, but many choose to risk catching a virus so they can continue gathering and socializing with their family and friends, attending church and events and concerts, markets, ball games and movies, and making their lives what they want them to be rather than to live in fear and isolation. I would very much like to have a long life, but, in general, I would opt for dying doing something enjoyable over living in forced confinement. One positive thing I have observed over the past year and a half is that this whole situation has caused more people to question the government, the healthcare machine, the educational system, the mainstream media, big tech and other such national monoliths. For those unsure before: NO, many of the individuals behind these organizations do not have your best interests in mind. Stand up for yourself and think for yourself. Raising skepticism about big healthcare and big government and big tech and big media and big compulsory schooling has gone from fringe conspiracy theory to mainstream conversation. I remain very aware of the drama and debates and even deaths in the world, but very consciously choose to spend my limited time and page space on empanadas and football and 5Ks and the music of the Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead and our local symphony and others, hummingbirds, hiking, art and encouragement—the finer things in life. Choose joy! 2 blessed 2 B stressed! Do some cartwheels, eat your vegetables, play some music and read the Pulse.

Peace, BRACKEN MAYO Publisher/Editor in Chief

EVENTS CALENDAR  SEPTEMBER 2021  BY ANDREA STOCKARD SEPT. 2 AND 10

ers or wheelchairs. Pets are not permitted. For more information, find the event on Eventbrite or visit nps.gov/stri.

FALL ARCHERY CLUB The Fall Archery Club for homeschool students meets once a month through December, culminating in a tournament. There are two different cohorts: the first meets the first Thursday of each month (Sept. 2) from 1–3 p.m. and the second meets the second Friday of each month (Sept. 10) from 10 a.m.–noon. Ages 8–14 are welcome; the cost is $50 per child. Select the cohort that works best for your schedule and register at murfreesboroparks.com (click online registration and then Outdoor Murfreesboro).

SEPT. 7 LITTLE NATURE YOGIS Meet in the Nature Play area outside the Wilderness Station (401 Volunteer Rd.) on Tuesday, Sept. 7, from 9:30–10 a.m. with your yoga mat, blanket or towel for your little one’s first yoga class. Move through simple and fun yoga poses—imagine animal poses like barking like a dog during downward dog. There may be the addition of music, art or an age-appropriate mindfulness exercise. Parents are required to stay; they can join in or simply assist children with the poses. For more information, contact 615-217-3017 or outdoormurfreesboro@murfreesborotn.gov, or visit murfreesboroparks.com.

SATURDAYS THROUGH SEPT. 18 SMYRNA DEPOT MARKET Carpe Artista hosts the Smyrna Depot Farmers Market in partnership with the Town of Smyrna. The season runs until Sept. 18 from 8 a.m.–noon each Saturday at the Historic Smyrna Front Street Depot District (98 Front St.). During cooking demonstrations, learn about kitchen skills and dishes throughout the season. The market manager, Nikki, sets up shop on the south end of the depot and cooks a meal with items gathered from the vendors present. The End of Season Celebration is the last market day, and the organization thanks the vendors and the community by providing grilled burgers, hot dogs and live music. For more information, call 615-984-4038 or visit carpeartista.com/farmers-market.

SEPT. 3 MAIN STREET FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE CONCERT SERIES Main Street presents the last of 2021’s Friday Night Live Concert Series on Friday, Sept. 3, with band Good Rockin’ Tonight. These, free, family-friendly concerts are from 6:30–9:30 p.m. on the Murfreesboro Public Square. Bring a chair and come early for dinner downtown, then sit back or dance your way through the night with these great bands performing on stage in front of the Rutherford County courthouse. For more information, call 615-895-1887 or visit mainstreetmurfreesboro.org.

The Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra Brass Quintet will play a free show at the Stones River National Battlefield at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4. Stones River National Battlefield is located at 3501 Old Nashville Hwy. For more information, email info@tnphil.org or visit tnphil.org.

12-year-old Abbey deals with being the new kid at school. Tennessee is her family’s latest stop in a series of moves due to her dad’s work in the Army. Written in gorgeous narrative verse, Abbey’s coming-of-age story portrays the military family experience during a tumultuous period in our history, Sept. 11. DuBois writes both poetry and prose and a mixture of the two. DuBois currently works as a literacy instructional coach and lives in Nashville with her singer-songwriter husband, with whom she’s co-written songs, and their two children. For more information, call 615-893-4131 or visit rclstn.org.

SEPT. 4

SEPT. 4 AND 15

DUBOIS BOOK SIGNING

ECO-PRINTING

Linebaugh Public Library (105 W. Vine St.) hosts local author Caroline DuBois for a book signing on Saturday, Sept. 4, from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. DuBois signs and sells copies of her third- to seventh-grade-level book The Places We Sleep, published in August 2020, for $10. In early September 2001,

Learn about a beautiful and unique artistic medium known as eco-printing Sept. 4 and 15 at 1 p.m. at the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (401 Volunteer Rd.). Use resources foraged from the forest to create a one-of-a-kind piece to take home and display. The cost is $3; ages

SEPT. 4 BRASS QUINTET CONCERT

6 * SEPTEMBER 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM

10 and up are welcome. Space is limited to 10 participants; registration is required by calling 615-217-3017. Find Outdoor Murfreesboro on Facebook.

SEPT. 4 AND 18 HALLOWED GROUND: A LANTERN TOUR OF STONES RIVER NATIONAL CEMETERY Join a park ranger for an hour-long walk by lantern light through Stones River National Cemetery (2552 Old Nashville Hwy.) Saturdays, Sept. 4 and 18, from 6:45–8 p.m. Visitors get a chance to appreciate the human stories housed within the cemetery by listening to soldiers and civilians share their experiences through the letters they wrote and received during the conflict. Reservations are required; no walk-ons are permitted. Cancellations must be made by calling 615-893-9501 by 10 a.m. on the day of the program; reservations are not transferable. This is not recommended for children under 10 years of age nor is it accessible for stroll-

SEPT. 8 NATURE JOURNALING Enjoy a relaxing time of nature journaling at the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (401 Volunteer Rd.) Wednesday, Sept. 8, at 1 p.m. Take a short hike to enjoy the changes of the autumn season. It’s a great time to capture observations and experiences while strengthening your connection with the natural world. Please bring a journal or notebook. Ages 12 and up are welcome. For more information, call 615-217-3017 or find Outdoor Murfreesboro on Facebook.

SEPT. 9 UNDER 1 ROOF Under 1 Roof is a 21-and-up quarterly event that celebrates and supports the live arts. Under 1 Roof prides itself on creativity, diversity and talent by bringing together musicians, poets and comedians. Come out to Notes Lounge (2349A South Church St.) from 7–10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, to relax and enjoy live entertainment. This one-of-akind night features artists such as Christina Hall, J. McNutt and Josh Lewis. Alongside live artists is a featured visual artist and a full kitchen and bar to purchase from. Find the event on Eventbrite for tickets ($15) and a full list of artists.

SEPT. 9 ALL ACCESS NIGHTS CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 All Access Nights are for special-needs families to enjoy the Discovery Center’s (502 SE Broad St.) exhibits in a sensory-friendly environment. All Access Nights Thursday nights from 5–8 p.m. and are free, but reservations are suggested. Enjoy a free meal from Chick-fil-A on Thursday, Sept. 9. All Access Nights to follow are Thursdays, Oct. 14 and Nov. 11. For more information, contact mpurcell@explorethedc.org or visit explorethedc.org/allaccess.

SEPT. 10 LIGHT UP THE NIGHT Dance under the stars, mix and mingle, and enjoy a beautiful summer evening that will benefit a great cause at the Child Advocacy Center’s fourth annual Light Up the Night Party to celebrate the end of summer on Friday, Sept. 10, from 6–9 p.m. at Oaklands Mansion. The party will include entertainment, dancing, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a silent auction. Guests are encouraged to wear white to light up the night. The Child Advocacy Center works with the Department of Children’s Services, law enforcement, and the district attorney’s office to respond to child abuse cases, investigate the crime, aggressively prosecute offenders, help children heal and help families rebuild their lives. For more information, contact Katie Enzor at kenzor@cacrutherford.org or 615-867-9000 or visit cacrutherford.org/events.

SEPT. 11 9/11 HEROES RUN The 9/11 Heroes Run unites communities internationally with the goal to never forget the sacrifices of the heroes of Sept. 11 and the wars since. Help raise awareness and honor veterans, first responders, civilians and military at Civic Plaza (111 W. Vine St.) on Saturday, Sept. 11, for the Murfreesboro 9/11 Heroes Run 5K race and one-mile fun run/walk through historic downtown Murfreesboro beginning at 8 a.m. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Travis Manion Foundation, which empowers veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations. The race series was inspired by Marine 1st Lt. Travis Manion, who was killed by a sniper in Iraq in April 2007. In its eighth year, the 9/11 Heroes Run national race series is now in more than 50 locations around the U.S. and the world. For more information, visit travismanion.org or contact 615-971-0175 or murfreesboro@911heroesrun.org.

SEPT. 11 STONES RIVER NATIONAL CEMETERY DAY OF SERVICE

SEPT. 10 MICKEY GWYN BOOK SIGNING Linebaugh Public Library (105 W. Vine St.) hosts local author James “Mickey” Gwyn for a book signing on Friday, Sept. 10, from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Gwyn signs and sells copies of his book, The rEVOLUTIONS of Michael Carson: Adapted from True Life Events, published in January 2020, for $15. The book, a fictionalized memoir, chronicles the twists and turns of a teen’s naive quest to organize a ragtag group of kids to correct what he perceived as a longstanding wrong. Gwyn is a debut writer who drew inspiration for his book from events of his senior year of high school. He is a retired member of the United States Air Force who obtained the highest enlisted rank, Chief Master Sergeant. Gwyn is now the host of The Soul of Warren County, which highlights significant African-American people and events tied to his hometown area. Plans are also being finalized for a podcast called Ol’ Fools Talking Ol’ School. For more information, call 615-893-4131 or visit rclstn.org. heroes while remembering those who perished and served on Sept. 11, 2001. The anniversary has become a National Day of Service and Remembrance. This small act of service is a powerful act of patriotism. Volunteers arrive at the park at 8:30 a.m. and park in overflow parking, a gravel lot adjacent to the visitor center parking lot (3501 Old Nashville Hwy.). Use the crosswalk to cross Old Nashville Highway to the

National Cemetery. Meet at the flagpole in the center of the cemetery for a brief orientation at 9 a.m. followed by the cleanings from 9:15–11:30 a.m. For more information, contact or shannon_rowe@partner.nps.gov or 615-907-9274.

SEPT. 11 FAMILY KAYAK FLOAT TO FANCHER FALLS

Join Outdoor Murfreesboro for a six-mile (round trip) kayak excursion to beautiful Fancher Falls on Center Hill Lake Saturday, Sept. 11, from 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. This intermediate level float takes the majority of the day. It can be a tough paddle, though rest periods are included in the schedule. Ages 12 and up are welcome; the cost is $15 per person. Transportation is provided from the Wilderness Station (401 Volunteer Rd.). Register at murfreesboroparks.com.

SEPT. 11 SMYRNA ROTARY WINGS OF FREEDOM FISH FRY The Wings of Freedom Fish Fry is the signature event of the Smyrna Rotary Club; its purpose is to honor local heroes and veterans as well as raise money to support local organizations in the community. This year, help honor First Responders on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 5–10 p.m., at Azure Corporate Flight Management (278 Doug Warpoole Rd.). Register to be an honored guest. Activities also include a classic car cruise-in and online auction. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Admission is $40 for adults and $20 for children ages 5–16. For more information, contact 615-948-5238 or visit wofsmyrna.com.

SEPT. 11 ARCHERY AT BARFIELD Visit the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (401 Volunteer Rd.) for an archery shooting session Saturday, Sept. 11, from 9:30–11:30 a.m. The NASP-certified archery instructor teaches parts of the bow and arrow, technique and then oversees the kids as they target-shoot. This program requires a two-mile round trip walk to the archery range in the woods. Parents can stay or drop-off. Registration is required by contacting hmeyer@murfreesborotn.gov or 615-217-3017. The cost is $3 per child; ages 8–14 are welcome. For more information, visit murfreesboroparks.com.

SEPT. 11, 18 AND 25 ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS

SEPT. 12 JEEP DAY Big Creek Winery Tasting Room (7027 Main St., Christiana) will hold a Jeep Day from 2–6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12. The event is open to Jeep owners, Jeep lovers, people who wish they owned Jeeps, people who have friends who own Jeeps, people who can spell Jeep . . . all are welcome. Fatty Matty’s Mobile Pizza Food Truck will be onsite and the event will also host an assortment of vendors.

Help clean headstones of the nation’s  Send community event information to CONTACT@BOROPULSE.COM

What is that crawling, slithering, sliding, flying and popping across the trail or even in your backyard? Each week explore the resident education animals for a minilesson on animals that call Tennessee home. Meet Saturdays, Sept. 11, 18 and 25 at 1:30 p.m. at the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (401 Volunteer Rd.). Admission is free for all ages. For more information, contact 615-217-3017 or outdoormurfreesboro@murfreesborotn.gov, or visit murfreesboroparks.com. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 BOROPULSE.COM

* SEPTEMBER 2021 * 7

for Habitat Poker Run, now for motorcycles, cars and runners, Saturday, Sept. 18, from 7 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Funds help build a Habitat house for a family in need at the new Legacy Pointe subdivision. The day includes a 95-mile motorcycle and car poker run through beautiful Tennessee countryside as well as a 26.2-mile Marathon Relay Run, both beginning at the Habitat office (850 Mercury Blvd.) and ending at Hop Springs Beer Park (6790 John Bragg Hwy.). End the day with poker prizes, lunch and entertainment by Unfinished Business. The special guest is Kevin Tetz, former host of DIY Network’s Classic Rides and Spike Network’s TRUCKS! and Power Nation. Tickets are $35 per rider/driver/runner, $25 per passenger, $140 for a four-person running team, $15 general admission (lunch & entertainment only) and $10 for children (12 and under). For more information, contact 615-6035395 or melissa@rchfh.org, or visit rchfh. org/hammer-down.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

SEPT. 11, 18 AND 25 BICYCLE TOUR OF STONES RIVER BATTLEFIELD Get some exercise while exploring Stones River National Battlefield (3501 Old Nashville Hwy.) Saturdays, Sept. 11, 18 and 25 from 9–11 a.m. Join a ranger for a bike ride through the park and along the Stones River Greenway with stops at several locations where some of the critical battle actions occurred. Visitors age 16 and under must wear helmets; all participants are encouraged to wear helmets and bring a water bottle. This is a five-mile-plus ride with a moderate pace and is not recommended for children under the age of 10. Reservations are required. Each tour is limited to 10 participants. For more information, find the event on Eventbrite or visit nps.gov/stri.

SEPT. 14 RUTHERFORD CABLE Join Rutherford Cable, Moving Women Forward, Tuesday, Sept. 14, for the September Breakfast Meeting at Stones River Country Club (1830 NW Broad St.) and via Zoom from 7:15–9 a.m. Victoria Eady Butler speaks about “Making the Best of a Second Career.” Butler walks us through her journey from working in law enforcement with the federal government for nearly 31 years to working as a master blender at Uncle Nearest Distillery. She is the great-greatgranddaughter of Nathan “Nearest” Green, Jack Daniel’s mentor and Jack Daniel’s Distillery’s first master distiller. Members and guests are welcome. Remember to bring plenty of business cards and grab a card from the basket on the way out to make additional connections. To register and for more information, contact yourrutherfordcable@gmail.com or visit rutherfordcable.org.

SEPT. 14 MORNING HIKE AT BARFIELD Hike Barfield Crescent Park (697 Veterans Pkwy.) and get to know the home park on Tuesday, Sept. 14, from 8–10:30 a.m. The hike is approximately three miles on rocky terrain with roots and light elevation change. The cost is $3 per person. Register by contacting 615-217-3017 or clipscomb@murfreesborotn.gov. For more information, visit murfreesboroparks.com.

SEPT. 16 FREEZING FOODS PROPERLY: FOOD PREPARATION CLASS Do you have a surplus of fresh fruits or veggies or are tired of wasting food? Meet with UT-TSU Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Shay Davis, at 8 * SEPTEMBER 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM

SEPT. 18 LAMBERT DILLARD 5K/10K

SEPT. 18 BANDS AT THE ROCK The Rockvale High School Band will host its first band competition and exhibition, Bands at the Rock, on Saturday, Sept. 18. Tickets are available for $15 for the full day. Bands from all over will be attending and competing. The Rockvale High School band is trying to raise money through this event to help fund its new band program. It is currently seeking sponsorships from local businesses and stakeholders to help make the contest a success. Rockvale High School is located at 6545 State Hwy. 99, Rockvale. For more information, email Alex Sears at searsa@rcschools.net. Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) on Thursday, Sept. 16, from 10–11 a.m., to learn how to properly prepare foods for the freezer. Reservations are open at 10 a.m. in the Lions Club Building at Cannonsburgh Village. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Save your seat by contacting mbnevills@murfreesborotn.gov or 615-8012606. Ages 12 and up are welcome.

SEPT. 16 THE CONNECTION 219 Mixed Cuisine will host the September 2021 installment of The Connection: An Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming from 5–7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs and professionals are welcome to attend this casual, free, no-obligation event, where they can meet other small business owners and tap into one another’s experience and energy. 219 Mixed Cuisine is located at 219 NW Broad St.

SEPT. 17 FIGHT AT THE FAIRGROUNDS Tri-Star Boxing Presents: Fights at the Fairgrounds 6 with live professional boxing at The Fairgrounds Nashville (500 Wedgewood Ave.) on Friday, Sept. 17, from 6–11 p.m. The main event features Rydell “Super” Mayes Jr. Local recording artist and producer James Payne takes on Nashville’s own bartender and boxing coach “I Am Veto.” Eduardo “Chachi” Aguilar looks for his eighth pro win, and Ryan Shaw looks to improve his record to 2–0 after an outstanding performance in his pro debut. For more information, find Tri-Star Boxing on Facebook, visit tristarelitepromotions. com and find the event on Eventbrite.

SEPT. 18 HAMMER DOWN FOR HABITAT The Rutherford County Area Habitat for Humanity presents the 13th Hammer Down

Join the North Rutherford Family YMCA on Saturday, Sept. 18, for the Lambert Dillard Memorial 5K/10K and Kids Fun Run 1K at Sharp Springs Park (1000 Espey Dr., Smyrna) to raise awareness for domestic violence and honor the lives of Angi Ross Lambert and Carla Dillard. The day is filled with games and activities for the whole family. Pre-packet pickup is Friday, Sept. 17, from 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m. at Academy Sports+Outdoors (1150 Genie Ln., Smyrna). The race-day packet pick-up/ walk-up registration takes place at 6–6:45 a.m. onsite. The Kids Fun Run starts at 7 a.m., the 10K at 7:30 a.m. and 5K at 7:45 a.m. Overall awards are based on gun time; age-group awards are based on chip time. The YMCA Race Series benefits the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. To register for the race, visit active.com.

SEPT. 18 GREENWAY ART FEST 2021 Celebrate hope at the Greenway Art Festival on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at Old Fort Park (1025 Old Fort Pkwy.) with over 70 artists as well as musical, spoken word and other performances. A kids’ tent invites children to try their hand at various arts and crafts. Take part in a collaborative art project for all participants and, as always, enjoy an array of food vendors. Admission is free. For more information, contact culturalarts@murfreesborotn. gov or 615-801-2467, or find Cultural Arts Murfreesboro on Facebook. CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

 Send community event information to CONTACT@BOROPULSE.COM

SEPT. 21 TENNESSEE TRAILS MEETING The Tennessee Trails Association’s monthly meeting of the Murfreesboro chapter is Tuesday, Sept. 21, from 7–8 p.m. at the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (401 Volunteer Road). For more information, call or text 615-971-8894, or visit tennesseetrails.org.

SEPT. 23 STORY BEHIND THE SMILES Story Behind the Smiles is a fundraising event for the patients of Interfaith Dental on Thursday, Sept. 23, from 5:30–8 p.m. at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.). The Chairs are Drs. Sherry and Russ Galloway. The mission of Interfaith Dental Clinic is to create a healthier community by providing transformational oral health care for those experiencing poverty. To learn more, contact mrussell@interfaithdental. com or visit interfaithdental.com/sbts.

SEPT. 24 AND 25 SMYRNA DEPOT DAYS Join thousands on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24 and 25, for the 14th annual Depot Days (98 Front St., Smyrna). Enjoy over 100 booths of vendors, a beer garden, local artisans, as well as live music on two stages. Inflatables are available for no charge, and train rides are only $1 alongside many other kid-friendly activities. Before Saturday’s festivities, head to the classic car cruise-in (hosted by Smyrna Parks & Rec) on Friday night, Sept. 24, from 5–9 p.m. and a wine tasting by Smyrna Divine Wine & Spirits from 6–9 p.m. On Sept. 25, Depot Days kicks off at 10 a.m. and the celebration goes until 4 p.m. For more information, contact info@simatn.org, visit simatn.org/depot-days or find the event on Facebook.

SEPT. 25 WOODWIND QUARTET CONCERT The Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra Woodwind Quartet will play a free show at the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25. Discovery Center is located at 502 SE Broad St. For more information, email info@ tnphil.org or visit tnphil.org.

SEPT. 25 NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY Saturday, Sept. 25, local volunteers join others across the nation to celebrate National Public Lands Day and perform service to care for America’s magnificent trail system. Volunteers help to clean up trash along three miles of the Stones River Greenway (2240 N. Thompson Ln.). Registration is required. Volunteers assemble at their assigned trailhead at 9 a.m. After a short orientation, teams walk their assigned section of the greenway, picking trash along the way. Each section requires about one mile of walking. Volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes and are encouraged to wear pants and bring a long-sleeved shirt. Bring a water bottle and work gloves if possible. For more information, call 615-2173017 or visit murfreesboroparks.com.

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ARROWHEAD BOYS RANCH’S BBQ FUNDRAISER The Arrowhead Boys Ranch (239 Cortner Mill Rd., Normandy) welcomes everyone to its annual BBQ and auction fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 25. Delicious BBQ platters are served as well as free hotdog meals to children under eight years old. The cost is $12 per plate when you order in advance and $15 at the gate. The silent auction begins at 4 p.m. with the live auction at 7 p.m. Enjoy a guided tour of the ranch, the scenic beauty, great fellowship, music, live auction and activities for kids such as face painting and bounce houses. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 BOROPULSE.COM

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Oaklands Mansion will host its seventhannual Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 3–7 p.m. The Knott Brothers band will take stage on the front porch of the mansion at 4 p.m. Several local food trucks will be onsite at the craft beer festival including FitzWilly’s and My Roots Curbside Culinary. Admission for craft beer drinkers is $40; non-drinkers age 17 and up are $20 and children under 16 are free. Find tickets and more information at oaklandsmansion.org.

The Old Timers Festival takes place Saturday, Sept. 18, at Veterans Memorial Park (115 Floyd Mayfield Dr., La Vergne), from 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. The annual festival has been held for over 35 years, blending old traditions with new ones and featuring crafts for sale from local and regional vendors. The parade begins at 10 a.m. at Bicentennial Park at City Hall and ends at Veterans Memorial Park, at which time opening remarks are given from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and Parks and Recreation staff. Then find booths, crafts and local vendors, great food, live music and fun for everyone. Admission is free. For more information, visit lavergnetn.gov.

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Proceeds directly benefit expenses such as housing, counseling, food, health care, transportation and activities for the boys at the ranch. The Arrowhead Boys Ranch is a nonprofit, long-term residential care facility for boys ages 10–16 years old who are dealing with conflict and misguided direction in their lives. For tickets, contact 931857-4000 or info@arrowheadranchtn.net, or visit arrowheadranchtn.net.

SEPT. 25 CAMPING 101 Camping 101 at the Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park (401 Volunteer Rd.) covers making pre-camping preparations like checklists, what to pack and setting yourself up for success. Learn the basics of necessary skills such as firebuilding and shelter positioning on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 1–3 p.m. Ages 8 and up are welcome; a parent or guardian must be present. To register, contact 615-2173017 or clipscomb@murfreesborotn.gov.

TUESDAYS & FRIDAYS RUTHERFORD COUNTY FARMERS MARKET The Rutherford County Farmers Mar-

ket is open Tuesdays and Fridays from 7 a.m.–noon until Oct. 29 at the Lane Agri-Park Community Center (315 John R. Rice Blvd.). The RCFM is the only 100 percent producer-only market in the county. Patrons can find produce that’s in season, freshly harvested vegetables, fruit, baked goods, jams, jellies, fruit butters and honey, along with flavorful beef, pork, chicken and eggs. Shoppers can purchase herbs, produce, flowers, shrubs and trees, or enjoy a beautiful bouquet to brighten your day. New this year are “Come & Go” informative sessions from 9–11 a.m. View the session schedule at rutherford.tennessee.edu/farmers-market.

WEDNESDAYS WILD THINGS Let the smallest among us (ages 1–4) get in touch with their wild side at the Wilderness Station (401 Volunteer Rd.) Wednesdays in September from 9:30–10:30 a.m. and 10:45–11:45 a.m. Sing songs, read a story, complete a craft and take a short walk. Each week has a different nature theme. The cost is $3 per child. Registration is required the day before by contacting 615-217-3017 or outdoormurfreesboro@murfreesborotn.gov.

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THURSDAYS

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Join Outdoor Murfreesboro to keep the Greenway system clean of trash Thursdays in September from 9–10 a.m. All equipment is provided. Locations: Sept. 2 – Southridge Sept. 9 – Central Valley Sept. 16 – Fortress Rosecrans Sept. 23 – Thompson Lane Sept. 30 – Cannonsburgh For more information on the program, visit murfreesboroparks.com.

Main Street Saturday Farmers Market takes place every Saturday until Oct. 30 from 8 a.m.–noon at the Murfreesboro Public Square. Shop from more than 50 food vendors offering fresh vegetables, fruits, homemade cakes and pies, beef, pork, chicken, farm-fresh eggs, honey, newly cut flowers, jams and jellies. Visit unique shops and restaurants on the Square. Enjoy special musical guests each week. For more information, call 615-895-1887 or visit mainstreetmurfreesboro.org.

THURSDAYS RAD DEFENSE TRAINING The Murfreesboro Police Department’s Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) basic physical defense class takes place Thursdays in September, Sept. 9–30, from 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. at the MPD (1004 N. Highland Ave.). The class is open to girls and women ages 14 and up and is free of charge. Participants should attend all four dates. Training is a total of 12 hours. For more information, contact 629-201-5580 or adenton@murfreesborotn.gov, or visit murfreesborotn. gov/816/rad-women.

SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS BATTLEFIELD CARAVAN TOUR Follow a ranger in your car for a tour of the Stones River Battlefield (3501 Old Nashville Hwy.) Saturdays (other than Sept. 4) and Sundays in September from 2–3:30 p.m. Stop at key battle locations as the ranger tells of one of the most important Union victories of the Civil War. Reservations are required. Group sizes are limited to 15 participants. Reservations may be made on the day of the program at the visitor center desk. For more information, find Battlefield Caravan Tour on Eventbrite or visit nps.gov/stri.

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Music in the Field Outdoor concert to raise funds for local symphony orchestra, Sept. 25 BY STEVE MORLEY WITH THE COMFORTABLE temperatures of fall still ahead of us, uncrowded outdoor options for live music are finding favor with many, including the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra Guild, who will host its first Music in the Field: Friends and Family Casual Concert in Lascassas on Saturday, Sept. 25. The late afternoon show, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., will be held at rural and historic Sitaspel Downe, the sprawling, scenic property of Guild president Ruth Taylor and her husband, Eddy. Attendees are encouraged to bring family members, snacks, beverages and blankets or portable chairs. According to longtime Guild member Linda Dansby, COVID-based restrictions have caused particular disappointment in regard to the Guild’s plans to heavily promote this year’s 40th anniversary season of the Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra. “Unfortunately, we were unable to even build a season,” laments Dansby, who says that the orchestra’s four currently scheduled concerts will be assessed a month at a time, depending 18 * SEPTEMBER 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM

on whether conditions are favorable for indoor performances (planned to begin at Murfreesboro’s Belle Aire Baptist Church on Nov. 12). The Tennessee Philharmonic is the formerly named Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra, a recent name change that Dansby says is intended to convey the professional status of the group, which started out in 1981 as a student and community group but has since evolved into a higher-level organization that pays its musicians and draws part of its membership from the Nashville pro music community. The former MSO and current TPO (different in name only) is one of several local recipients of financial support raised by the MSO Guild, an organization of about 50 members which was formed as a separate entity in 1981, also the orchestra’s inaugural year. Dansby says the Guild likes to “spread the joy,” distributing as much as $10,000 per year to help support the TPO, the Ethos Youth Ensembles and Rutherford County and MTSU students in need of tuition or other music-related assistance.

Traditionally, the Guild has hosted a trio of annual fundraising events, including the popular Jazz in January concert. It’s been common, too, for the MSO/TPO to present contemporary 20th-century music alongside the classics, so it’s fitting that the upcoming fundraising concert, a new addition to the Guild’s typical schedule, will span a variety of styles. The show will feature a headlining set from Nashville’s The WannaBeatles, and a guest appearance from members of the TPO (who will also augment selections by  THE WANNABEATLES), and will also include performances from The Bryan Cumming Swing Quartet featuring Kelli Cox, jazz vocalist Liz Johnson, Cajun-flavored Nashville favorite LES KERR , and Atlantabased Jonny Hibbert and the Sunliners, offering a mixture of vintage soul, R&B and Carolina-style “beach music.” The Guild tries to present various styles of music to the community, Dansby emphasizes. “Let’s just keep the music playing, any kind of music. We’re excited to be able to present this for the whole family,” she continues. “It’s music that everybody’s going to enjoy . . . to be able to have live music in a safe environment, where your children can come, it is a great opportunity.” This is also a great opportunity to help support your own 40-year-old Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra as well as the city’s youth orchestra and aspiring local music students, all of whom will share the proceeds. Individual tickets are $20, with single-price family admission set at $35. Tickets and additional information about Music in the Field: Friends and Family Casual Concert can be found at eventbrite.com. Sitaspel Downe is located at 3815 Cainsville Pk., Lascassas.

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SEPTEMBER IS PRIME TIME for hummingbird spotting in Tennessee. The only species that nests here, the ruby-throated hummingbird, can be seen searching for and sipping on nectar to pile on the weight for their annual long journey south in the fall. Keep your eyes peeled though, as their incredible speed makes them easy to miss. Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world, with some weighing less than a dime! Their gorgeous, iridescent feathers and tiny statures but mighty personalities are just some of the things that make the hummingbird one of the most loved birds. Bird watchers are kept on their toes trying to follow as they compete with each other for their favorite flower or preferred feeder. In direct flight, their wings beat 70 times per second and 200 times per second while diving (which is as fast as a honeybee)! Beginning in September, the hummingbirds are starting to prepare for their migration south and, if adequately fueled, they have no problem with flying 18–20 hours straight to cross the Gulf of Mexico. However, due to habitat loss and over-industrializa20 * SEPTEMBER 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM

tion, hummingbirds are having to compete for the nectar they need to make their trip. That’s where the humans come in. We can help these tiny creatures store enough fat to power their long journey. First, planting native nectar flowers in your yard is highly recommended. Hummingbirds are attracted to orange, red and sometimes purple flowers and they prefer a tubular and downward facing blossom which makes nectar extraction easier. Some examples of great native hummingbird flowers include bee balm, cardinal flower, orange jewelweed, coral honeysuckle and columbine. The most rewarding and easiest way to help the hummingbirds is to hang feeders in your yard or on your porch. Sugar water solution acts as a substitute for the nectar in plants. Not only are you taking part in the conservation of these tiny creatures, but the feeders also allow you to be just feet away from the hummingbirds and marvel at their beauty. If they know they can rely on your porch as the best spot in town for abundant sugar water flow, they will return. Making the solution is very easy—dissolve one cup of white cane sugar in four cups of water, served at room temperature. Don’t buy the red hummingbird food; the red dye is harmful to them.) Keep an eye on your feeder and make sure it’s full and cleaned regularly. Many believe the myth that if they do not take down their hummingbird feeders soon enough, the hummingbirds will not leave for their migration. The birds absolutely will leave and the goal is to keep the feeders up long enough to provide adequate fuel for their journey. Aim for the first frost to take feeders down and put them back up for the hummingbirds’ return the following March.

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Living

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STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO

ong Hunter State Park, a massive park that takes up a good portion of the eastern shore of Percy Priest Lake, offers 20 miles of hiking along the large lake that borders Rutherford, Davidson and Wilson counties, as well as nine more miles of mountain bike trails. Deer Trail, an easy, flat one-mile trail that travels from the park’s Visitor’s Center to the edge of the lake, offers a nice view of the Hobson Pike bridge going over Percy Priest. Signs along the trail emphasize the native sassafras trees—an aromatic plant long made into a tea for medicinal purposes— and the pollinators who visit them, and other plants. Across the highway, another section of the park offers some longer hiking trails, a four-mile loop trail called the Day Loop Trail and the five-and-a-half-mile, one-way Volunteer Trail. “Although shorter than the Volunteer Trail, I feel like Day Loop Trail was a bit tougher,” a recent park visitor, Felix Gomes said. Others point out that these trails do contain many exposed tree roots, so hikers 22 * SEPTEMBER 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM

should watch their footing, but otherwise these hiking areas stay fairly level for the most part and have only a few sections that would be considered a moderate level of difficulty. While the winding pathways offer great views of the lake, some report that they travel a little too close to the lake for those wanting a peaceful escape. “It would probably be better when it is not boating season. You have to deal with the constant noise of boats on the water and then the trail takes you by a boat party cove that is full of boats and various music,” a visitor said after a weekend visit. Others say it is quieter when visiting on days other than summer weekends. As with most hiking excursions, take your bug spray and hiking shoes, there can be some bugs and uneven, rocky or rooty terrain. While this network of trails does connect the entirety of Long Hunter State Park, the property contains various different sections and parking areas for easier travel between all of its features. At the Couchville Lake area, a paved two-

mile trail travels around Couchville Lake and goes over a footbridge over a narrow portion of this lake—a much smaller one in comparison to the huge, nearby Percy Priest Lake, but a scenic water surface of its own. The lake contains boat launch sites, a neat boardwalk that leads out to a pavilion over the water, paddle boards, canoes and kayaks for rent, and calm waters where beginning kayakers can learn the sport. Nearby the lake, the Reading Ranger Story Trail displays colorful storyboards along its brief walk, where families can read about the experience of a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. On the southern end of the park, not far from the Fate Sanders Marina outside of Smyrna, the Bryant Grove area of Long Hunter State Park features a small, sandy beach area where swimmers can access the lake. This area also has a few picnic tables, shelters and a small playground as a setting where geese roam and families splash in the water. Near the entrance of the Bryant Grove area, off of Couchville Pike, park visitors

can find the Jones Mill Mountain Bike Trailhead. From here, mountain bikers can embark on journeys ranging in distance from a little over two miles on the White Line trail up to the state park’s total of nearly nine miles of mountain bike trails. Down near the swimming area, a fourmile hiking trail connects this portion of Long Hunter to the portion off of Hobson Pike containing the visitor’s center and Couchville Lake, but for those who want to avoid that eight-mile round-trip journey on foot but still hit multiple park sections in a day, driving between the sites is easier. The park also offers a few back-country and group campsites for overnight stays. Note that the park does not allow dogs on the paved Couchville Lake or Reading Ranger Story trails, or within the Bryant Grove Recreational Area or Bryant Grove Trail, but welcomes leashed dogs on the other park trails. So, for a day of paddling, fishing, swimming or all of the hiking and biking most folks can handle, check out the 2,600-acre Long Hunter State Park, one of the many fine Tennessee State Parks and Natural Areas.

If You Go LONG HUNTER STATE PARK 2910 Hobson Pk., Hermitage, TN 615-885-2422 Day use, 7 a.m.–sunset tnstateparks.com

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Liberty’s Station & The Sweet Addiction Amelia’s Closet and Liberty’s Station founder Jody Powers

Giving those with employment barriers a chance at new facility BY LAURA LINDSAY JODY POWERS, FOUNDER OF THE nonprofit Amelia’s Closet, is starting a new venture that will create a workforce pipeline for employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and employees with other employment barriers. Liberty’s Station sits inside a 75,000 square-foot multipurpose venue, which will feature a coffeehouse and bakery, along with merchandise and event rental space. It is located at 850 NW Broad St., behind Toot’s restaurant in Murfreesboro. “We are hoping to open Liberty’s Station at the end of September or early October with stage one,” Powers said. “As soon as we open, we will start serving our grilled cheese out of the food truck that was donated by the Demos’. “We will also have soup and salad.” Powers said people have started to call 24 * SEPTEMBER 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM

about renting the cafe area and the garage space for events and meetings, and she is looking forward to making that space available. Partnering with Liberty’s Station is the nonprofit The Sweet Addiction, operated by Robin Housch. The Sweet Addiction will provide desserts at the bakery at Liberty’s Station. “Liberty’s Station will be selling our goodies in their cafe,” Housch said. “We will have proprietary pies and cakes, and our fried pies that you can only get at Liberty’s Station or online. “We have taken every pie Grandma ever made at the holidays, and we put it in a cupcake form. We call it ‘The Sweet Addiction’ because when people taste them, honestly, they get addicted.” The Sweet Addiction will also help train some of Liberty’s Station’s interns. “They will also be training our interns in the bakery field in a kitchen area at Liberty’s Station,” Powers said. “We will open the different employment fields in phases as we have a volunteer skilled staff in place, and funding for each phase. The food truck, bakery and space rental will be phase one. Then we will add retail where our paid interns can make things to sell here, and

hopefully this will encourage them to open their own businesses on Etsy or otherwise.” Powers said Liberty’s Station is under the umbrella of Amelia’s Closet, the local organization that helps women transitioning from hardship to the workforce. “We are merging with that so anyone with employment obstacles can apply to intern at Liberty’s Station,” Powers said. “The time people spend at Liberty’s Station may vary; but each will have a team behind them of job coaches, occupational therapists, residency students, social workers, special education teachers and so on—different people who can volunteer and help train, access and place our individuals in long-term employment in the community.” Those interested in interning need to have a referral and fill out an online application to apply. The program is for individuals who have a potential for success in the program. Liberty’s Station will intern people with all kinds of employment barriers like adults with disabilities, people recently incarcerated, veterans having a hard time adjusting to civilian life and foster teens who have graduated from high school and just need the extra help to build their résumé and get training, and help teach

them how to be good employees. Liberty’s Station will initially offer food service and hospitality training, then add baker training and baristas for the coffee shop area as well as custodial and secretarial training. They also hope to teach car detailing in the very back of the garage area of the building. Powers said they will have adaptive training for people to learn according to their skill level and ability. Liberty’s Station also offers adaptive uniforms, and aprons that Powers designed, which fit over the head without ties or Velcro. She said they are trying to make the whole facility user-friendly for their interns and customers, which includes widening doors and making other changes to the building. “We focus on people believing in themselves and giving back,” Housch said. “That’s what this is all about.” Liberty’s Station is a progressive workforce pipeline where 90 percent of the employees have intellectual and developmental disabilities, physical disabilities or other employment barriers. Employees are assessed and trained, and gain work experience to help them confidently acquire long-term employment. For information or to volunteer, call 615-5849029 or visit libertysstationtn.org. Amelia’s Closet provides professional apparel and hope to women who are re-entering the workforce by providing interview outfits, tips, makeovers and wardrobes. They provide a safe environment for adults experiencing employment obstacles to learn skills and gain experience for long-term employment. For information, to shop or to volunteer, call 615-584-9029 or visit ameliascloset.org. The Sweet Addiction works with local agencies to employ women who have been incarcerated, have been victims of human trafficking or domestic violence. The Sweet Addiction accepts financial donations on its website to purchase coats, hats, scarves, long underwear, sweaters, heaters, propane, blankets, bedding and food. Donations of fabric, elastic and thread are needed. Volunteer seamstresses are needed. For assistance, information or to volunteer, call 615-580-8001, email info@thesweetaddiction.com and visit thesweetaddiction.com.

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Art

 EXHIBIT

Clockwise from top left, artwork by: Alexander Shegelsky Molly Steen Chandler Williams Cartozzo Ben Becker

Old Fort Park Hosts Artists on Sept. 18 for Greenway Art Festival THE GREENWAY ART FESTIVAL, Murfreesboro’s outdoor celebration of regional artists, returns to Old Fort Park for 2021. All work shown at the festival, held Saturday, Sept. 18 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m., must be original art created by the displaying artist. The event includes all manner of fine art—painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, printmaking, fiber art and more—according to Lisa Browning, assistant cultural arts coordinator with Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation, which presents the annual event, and should include over 70 artist booths. Plus, community arts organizations such as Murfreesboro Art League, Smyrna Artist Cooperative, Rutherford Arts Alliance and MTSU Art and Design will each represent and display the work of numerous artists at their areas. “The theme for this year is Celebrating Hope,” Browning said. “The art of paper mosaics will be highlighted in the Kids Tent with a collaborative project to symbolize how coming together as a community has the potential of creating something beautiful.”

Remembrance Exhibits Work of Leroy and Barbara Hodges MURFREESBORO CITY HALL ROTUNDA will host Remembrance, a joint art exhibition of Murfreesboro-based artists Leroy and Barbara Hodges. This art exhibition embraces the extensive breadth of the artists’ diversified artistic works and showcases artwork spanning more than 20 years. Remembrance celebrates diverse life experiences and the preservation of cultural heritage, history and stories, offering a medley of subjects to appreciate and a wide sampling of different art styles. The artists exude technical mastery, skills and creativity and incorporate a variety of artistic styles, methods, materials and influences in the display, filled with a range of textures, colors, vibrancy and collage elements. The husband-wife team has painted together for a long time, but each has their own art style. Dr. Barbara Hodges says her mixed-media style “incorporates found 2D and 3D objects that are given new life” in her work. She aims to use materials ranging from bottle caps and papers to pieces of fabric to be an “artistic storyteller.” Much of Leroy’s art falls into two categories: experimentation with cubism or his “Blue Tones,” composed of different shades of blue. The Hodges want to unify numerous modernist stylistic references on canvas and for the exhibit to engage, inspire and empower the art audience while encouraging a vibrant community conversation. Remembrance runs through Oct. 14 at Murfreesboro City Hall Rotunda, 111 W. Vine St. Viewing is free and open to the public Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. A reception will be Friday, Oct. 8, 6–8 p.m. 26 * SEPTEMBER 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM

Additionally, the MTSU Department of Art and Design will share a mosaic installation from their campus, and department members “will be there to talk about art education as a career choice” as well as engaging with visitors through the art installation, Browning said. Take a stroll along the Murfreesboro Greenway at Old Fort Park, 1025 Old Fort Pkwy., Murfreesboro, on Saturday, Sept. 18, and view the work of dozens of talented visual artists. For more information on the Greenway Art Festival and Cultural Arts Murfreesboro, contact Lisa Browning at lbrowning@murfreesborotn.gov or 615-801-2467.

Lower Manhattan around 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, just minutes before a plane struck the ﬁrst tower

 EXHIBIT

LINEBAUGH PUBLIC LIBRARY will participate in September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World, an educational exhibition that presents the history of 9/11, its origins and its ongoing implications through the personal stories of those who witnessed and survived the attacks. Told across 14 posters, this exhibition includes archival photographs and images of artifacts from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum’s permanent collection. It explores the consequences of terrorism on individual lives and communities at the local, national and international levels, and encourages critical thinking about the legacies of 9/11. The exhibit will be on display at Linebaugh throughout the month of September. Twenty years after the attacks, with terrorism still a threat today, the events of 9/11

PHOTO BY DAVID MONDERER

September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World on Display 20 Years After 9/11

and its aftermath remind us that we may never be able to prevent all the actions of people intent on harming others, but we do have control over how we respond to such events, organizers of the exhibit say. Whether by volunteering in local communities, serving in the military, caring for the sick or through other efforts, all can help build the world in which we want to live. As we witness history unfolding in our own time, the ways we choose to respond—both large and small—can demonstrate the best of human

nature after even the worst of days. “During this 20th anniversary year, it is our privilege to share these lessons with a new generation, teach them about the ongoing repercussions of the 9/11 attacks, and inspire them with the idea that, even in the darkest of times, we can come together, support one another and find the strength to renew and rebuild,” said 9/11 Memorial & Museum President and CEO Alice M. Greenwald. Linebaugh branch manager Carol Ghat-

tas shared, “It is crucial for the events of 9/11 to be remembered by those who lived through them and shared with those who were born in the subsequent years. As a public space, the library is a good place for this exhibit to be shared with our community. I hope many will take the opportunity to visit the exhibit and reflect on that tragic time.” For more information on this exhibition and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, visit 911memorial.org.

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GREEN GARDEN SOAP & BATH CREATIONS Soaps made the traditional way in Smyrna, TN, using natural oils, butters, liquids, and food grade sodium hydroxide. (After the chemical process of soap making has been completed, there is no sodium hydroxide left in our soap). We also use skin safe essential oils, fragrances, natural clays and herbs that may add healing, aromatherapy, color, slip and exfoliating properties to our soaps.

✿ The main oils and butters we use in our soaps are:

Olive Oil for its moisturizing and conditioning properties. Coconut Oil for its lathering and cleansing properties. Palm Oil for its rich creamy lather. It also contributes to the hardness of the soap. Shea Butter for its moisturizing and healing properties.

Cocoa Butter for its creamy lather and its nourishing properties. Castor Oil for its ability to attract moisture to the skin. It also help with lathering. Vitamin E for its antioxidant properties.

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Goat Milk because it contains natural alpha hydroxyl acids which helps to remove dead skin cells. It is also high in minerals and vitamins which contribute to the moisturizing properties in our soaps. Yogurt because it contains lactic acid that can act an exfoliant on the skin. It also has antibacterial properties and a high fat content that help smooth and quench dry skin. Coconut Milk because it contains vitamins and minerals that may help to smooth out dry, flaky skin.

Food

The Dish  RESTAURANT

Empanada Sonata

Sofrito! Fine Cuban Comfort Food in Downtown Murfreesboro STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO

PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO

 Yuca Mash Croquetas de Jamon 

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RESTAURANT

Empanada Sonata

LOCATION nadas, such as Buffalo hether a 211 W. Main St. chicken or guava. MurfreesMurfreesboro “The crusts on these boro diner is PHONE empanadas . . . perfect!” familiar with the flavors 615-617-3781 a recent diner, Joe, said. of Cuba and craves a loHOURS “Nicely crisped and cal spot for empanadas, Thursday: 11 a.m.–8 p.m. slightly browned on tostones, vaca frita, picaFriday and Saturday the outside. My favorite dillo, ropa vieja, jibarito, 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. combination was the yuca and such, or if they chicken empanada with do not know what any of PRICES Empanada: $6 the sweet sriracha mayo those dishes are but are Picadillo: $12 sauce. These two flavors willing to try something Croquetas de jamon: $7 combined really well.” new, check out downCuban jibarito: $13 Empanada Sonata town Murfreesboro’s Vaca frita: $17 Tostones or maduros: $6 owner Marlyse Moran Empanada Sonata. The said her family used to spot serves up some fanONLINE orderempanadasonata.com make empanadas growtastic creations inspired ing up. Her grandfather by the island nation. came to the U.S. from Cuba, and although Traveling to Empanada Sonata makes she said she has “family in Cuba I have for a much easier journey than traveling to never met . . . and probably will never meet,” Cuba—but one must still pass through an she does have a passion for sharing some axe-throwing facility to get to the restaurant. of the dishes from the Cuban side of her Empanada Sonata moved into its brickCuban-Puerto Rican-Irish heritage. and-mortar home at 211 W. Main St. in She said the empanadas are not filled 2020, sharing the space with Murfreesboro and cooked until a customer orders them. Axe, which occupies the front portion of “We make them to order,” she said. the building. No sitting under a heat lamp for these The sounds of Santana and other beachcrispy, flaky things. appropriate music play in the restaurant. One man of Argentinian heritage, who has Steel drums and Cuban-style syncopated lived in Tennessee for over 40 years, said the piano promote positive vibes in the cool, empanadas brought tears to his eyes as they colorful and comfortable spot. The room offers lots to look at while you wait for your reminded him of his grandmother and all the memories growing up in Latin America. food. Ahuge photo of a Cuban street scene A couple of empanadas ($6 apiece) make a takes up an entire wall. filling meal, but Empanada Sonata has much For those unfamiliar with the crispy, more to explore. flaky pockets of meaty deliciousness, There’s a Cuban jibarito—a Cuban sandempanadas start with a circular piece of dough stuffed with fillings, folded over into wich of pulled pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard and pickle—served between two large a half-moon shape and fried. pieces of fried plantain rather than bread. Empanada Sonata serves beef, chicken, The mashed yuca, a root vegetable very spinach and mac ’n’ cheese empanadas every similar to a potato, is garlicky and tasty. day, along with various special daily empaMaduros and tostones both come from plantains, but one (maduros) is riper and sweeter, while the under-ripe tostones are more savory. The restaurant serves good collard greens with a bold, vinegary taste. The rellenos de papa—fried potato balls stuffed with the signature Empanada Sonataseasoned ground beef—are a beefy take on a mini-burger. And croquetas de jamon, breaded and fried béchamel fritters with ham, are another scrumptious fried appetizer. This place can fry some things. And the sauces are, in a word, “pow!” Customers can purchase the homemade sauces, the mojo, chimichurri, sriracha mayo, tropical jalapeño jam and others by

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the jar if they wish. Even the mac ’n’ cheese, made with four different cheeses, is just about perfect. So good, the mac ’n’ cheese empanada is a regular staple on the Empanada Sonata menu. If that sounds a little starch-heavy, the menu has lots of other plates to try, such as mojito lime shrimp, vaca frita (a marinated skirt steak dish) and picadillo, a fantastic combination of ground beef, olives, seasonings, potatoes and more, served over rice. Lots of flavors are going on within the picadillo; not spicy, but very full of flavor and personality, thanks in part to its secret ingredient: sofrito. This sauce, a staple of Cuban cooking, really is a secret. Not even the Empanada Sonata kitchen staff know what is in the homemade house sauce. “They call it the secret sauce,” said Moran, who supplies the staff with the sofrito to include in various dishes. Picadillo is a wonderful dish, very satisfying Cuban comfort food. Another diner found the Empanada So-

nata vaca frita to be “melt-in-your-mouth delicious.” “The ceviche was incredible,” Annie Cook said in a review. Others rave about the cocktails. “Everything we ordered was beautifully presented and delicious. The service was excellent and quick even with the restaurant full. Shrimp, empanadas, plantains, beans and rice and palomas (a drink of tequila and grapefruit soda) were all spot on,” another pleased customer, Melissa, stated, calling the drinks “works of art.” Empanada Sonata has earned some fans, though as of September 2021, the restaurant is only open Thursdays through Sundays. Though the restaurant now closes three days out of the week, it gives the team a chance to think about some creative dishes for the always-changing Sunday brunch menu—perhaps a Cinnabon French toast, a tater tot casserole or pulled pork stuffed arepas. Note: the Empanada Sonata will take a little break until Sept. 9 for vacation. BOROPULSE.COM

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Slim Chickens, Chase Bank, B.B. Creations, Turntable Medic, Goodness Gracious, Brohalla, Raven Initiative

website, and participates in a brief interview process. The program is funded entirely through the company’s GoFundMe page. “The brave men and women who serve in our military branches make great sacrifices to protect the freedoms which many of us take for granted. As a family, we have chosen to do our part in supporting those in uniform by creating the Raven Initiative,” Lembke said. Corax is located at 3242 Memorial Blvd. and offers in-person and online sessions for its clients, as well as a trial session for anyone interested but unsure about joining. For more information, visit coraxmurfreesboro. com or call 615-651-1408.

BY DELORES ELLIOTT SLIM CHICKENS has plans to open a fourth location in Tennessee. The chicken restaurant’s new location will be located at 380 W. Sam Ridley Pkwy. in Smyrna. The Memorial Boulevard lot that formerly contained a Jack in the Box will house a CHASE BANK branch. The banking company will also open a location on the corner of Broad Street and Mercury Boulevard. Construction has begun at both sites.

BEHIND THE LENS, a full-service photography studio, has opened at 507 NW Broad St. for photographers and clients. The space is equipped with rolling walls, a fireplace, backgrounds and props, an office, a working boudoir shower and more. Photographers can rent out the studio for shoots or to have a professional environment to meet with clients. Behind The Lens staff will also match those looking for a photographer with one to photograph them. The adjacent Behind The Scenes Professional Salon will get photo clients looking good before their shoot. The salon currently has booth space for rent. For more information, find Behind The Lens on Facebook or contact Taylor Alexander at 615-772-6228.

Local chef and culinary creator Bob Burford recently launched his own catering company called B.B. CREATIONS. B.B. Creations offers catering for events including weddings, private dinners, parties and other events. He hopes to specialize in higher-end events such as galas and fundraisers. Burford received his culinary degree from Le Cordon Bleu in Las Vegas in 2012 before moving to Nashville. The culinary professional has since worked for Peter D’s, The Alley on Main, and Dallas and Jane Restaurant. Regarding Burford’s experience in working at the aforementioned, respectively, for Peter Demos, Shawn Hackinson and Alex Belew, “I worked for Peter, Alex and Shawn and felt like I paid my dues. Now I get to create my own things,” he said. Burford operates out of a custom kitchen trailer, which is currently a work in progress. He plans to have it on the road and at events very soon. To book an event or to inquire about availability, contact Burford at 615-617-7801 or bbcreationstn@gmail.com.

radios, AM-FM stereos, console stereos, transistor radios and a variety of other electronics. In addition to his main location, Blizzard offers drop-off and pick-up locations around Middle Tennessee and surrounding areas including The Great Escape in Murfreesboro. Blizzard is also actively seeking to hire a part-time repair person with electronics and troubleshooting experience. For more information, call 615-331-9241 or visit turntablemedic.com.

Local turntable enthusiast Tom Blizzard, better known as the TURNTABLE MEDIC, recently moved his home-based business to a larger workshop location at 603 W. Burton St. in Murfreesboro. Blizzard specializes in bringing life back to vintage record players and turntables, as well as automatic record changers and tube or solid-state electronics. He also services

Eric and Nicole Ford, operators of GOODNESS GRACIOUS at the Mill, announced in August that they will relocate their restaurant to The Fountains at Gateway. “While we have deeply enjoyed our time in Readyville at The Readyville Mill, we are excited to expand our operational hours, increase our workforce and better serve our customers,” the Fords posted on social me-

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dia. “We are projecting the move to happen late fall.” The new location within Murfreesboro will allow for more parking and more openfor-business days. The restaurant is now seeking employees who can be trained at the mill and transition to the new location. CORAX STRENGTH AND PERFORMANCE is offering free training for military veterans and recruits through The Raven Initiative, which began in November of 2020. The program offers custom training opportunities that are designed to fit the needs of the military veterans and recruits who are interested in working with Corax. Clients will receive the highest level of training and support that the company is able to offer, according to Corax owner Jacob Lembke. This is completely free, and the only requirement is that the client applies via the Corax Strength and Performance

HYATT PLACE MURFREESBORO recently opened just down Medical Center Parkway from The Avenue at 2108 Lothric Way. Georgia real estate developer John Engler opened his newest Hyatt property in the bustling area. The Hyatt franchisee has also opened two Hyatts in Georgia. This new hotel offers an indoor gym and a pool, a bar and 116 rooms, including 14 suites with two different options. For more information about the location or booking a room, visit hyatt.com or call 615-995-7920. 219 MIXED CUISINE will host the September 2021 installment of The Connection: An Evening of Professional Networking and Business Brainstorming from 5–7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16. All Middle Tennessee entrepreneurs and professionals are welcome to attend this casual, free, noobligation event, where they can meet other small business owners and tap into one another’s experience and energy. 219 Mixed Cuisine is located at 219 NW Broad St. The Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce will host this month’s Business After Hours event at the FERGUSON ENTERPRISES location at 540 New Salem Rd. in Murfreesboro. The event will run from 4:30–6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 9. Business After Hours is an informal, social networking event designed to connect people with business professionals across Rutherford County. Registration for this event is not required. Admission for Chamber members is $10, and $20 for future members. For more information about this event, visit rutherfordchamber.org. CONTINUED ON PAGE 31

Donny Lester, owner and operator of L&L Contractors, will open BROHALLA directly next to his construction business office on the Murfreesboro Public Square. Brohalla, with a building front designed to look like the front of a viking ship, will be an upscale men’s consignment shop carrying items including sporting goods, clothing, hunting and fishing gear and motorcycles. HOLLOWAY ACCOUNTING SERVICES will host its fifth anniversary celebration on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. The celebration event will take place at the business’ 237 Castlewood Dr. location. Holloway offers tailored outsourced CFO, accounting, and operational and marketing solutions for small and mid-sized companies. They work directly with business owners to implement strategies designed to focus on generating revenue, expense savings and streamlining business processes. For more information on the business and what it offers, visit hollowayaccounting.com. MERIDIAN LAW will open a Rutherford County location to help meet the needs of its clients. The new location will be at 2656 Rideout Ln., Suite B, in Murfreesboro. The business already has a location in Brentwood. Meridian Law was founded in 2014 and represents individuals and businesses across Tennessee in various civil matters, including business, contract and employment litigation; non-competition and trade secret disputes; insurance defense; and estate planning and probate matters, according to information from director of marketing for Meridian Law Wendy Shumate. Attorney Robert Martin will manage

Meridian’s Murfreesboro office. “I grew up in Murfreesboro and graduated from Rutherford County public schools. I am excited to bring my practice and experience back to the community that played a crucial role in my upbringing. Murfreesboro has been growing for as long as I can remember, and I’m excited for Meridian Law to play a larger part in that growth,” Martin said. Meridian’s managing member Tom Shumate said Rutherford County’s fast growth led the firm to open a second office. “Meridian continues to serve more clients in Murfreesboro and Rutherford County,” Shumate said. “Opening a Murfreesboro office allows us to serve them better while providing high-quality, modern legal services efficiently and cost-effectively. Plus, it allows me to eat at Toot’s more often!” Local veteran sportswriter DANNY BREWER will join the WGNS Radio sports reporting team. During his years on the job, he has covered a variety of sports for many publications across Middle Tennessee including the Rutherford Review, Nashville Sports Weekly, Nashville Banner, Middle Tennessee Racing News and the Rutherford Reader. “To be a part of the largest radio station in one of the fastest-growing counties in the country is very exciting,” Brewer said. “I grew up listening to WGNS and to now have the opportunity to spread the word about local athletics and the fantastic sport of thoroughbred racing in my neck of the woods is just outstanding.” Brewer is a current member of the College Football Writers Association, College Basketball Writers Association, a voting member in the National Thoroughbred Racing Association poll and a member of the Turf Publicists of America. Brewer will bring knowledge about high school sports, the MTSU athletic department and thoroughbred horse racing. “Tune into WGNS Radio on Friday nights during football season to listen to Danny’s reports from area games,” said station manager Bryan Barrett. EMISSIONS TESTING ENDS IN RUTHERFORD COUNTY Rutherford County lawmakers announced in August that vehicle emissions testing will end for Rutherford County on Jan. 14. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation confirmed that the Environmental Protection Agency approved a revision to the state’s air quality plan, which activated a law passed by the General Assembly in 2018 that will remove requirements 120 days after ap-

proval, according to a press release. Rutherford County is one of five counties affected by this decision. “I am very pleased that Rutherford County residents will finally have relief from this burdensome requirement,” said State Sen. Dawn White. “It has taken years to get permission from the federal government to be able to end this requirement once and for all, and the federal government’s approval is long overdue.”

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BUSINESS MOMENTUM

BY BLAINE LITTLE

Nothing Is Certain Except Death and Taxes Dwight Dye ﬁnds job security with Liberty Tax A PROMINENT, PARAPHRASED QUOTE often attributed to Benjamin Franklin is “in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” It is hard to imagine anything more permanent. To this end, it is said morticians have job security. But what of tax preparers? When tax time rolls around, many of us need help beyond what a desktop software or an online site can provide. Dwight Dye with Liberty Tax is one of those professionals who can help. His parents were tax preparers, but he never had any intention of following in their footsteps. He earned a college degree, but after graduation still did not have a job lined up. So, he moved back in with his parents. After a week of lying on the sofa, Dwight was informed by his father that he would have to work at the office to earn his keep. Dads are funny that way. But work he did. In fact, Dwight took a liking to the family business. He also enjoyed the fact the business cycle was primarily four months out of the year, giving him time to invest in other endeavors. But he thought the tax industry, a segment of personal finance, could be so much more. Several years ago, Dye did leave the family business when his wife accepted a professorship with MTSU. He took a corporate job as an insurance adjuster, but his mind was still on advising people with their finances. Then one day, completely out of the blue, Dwight received a call from Liberty Tax asking if he would be interested in a franchise. There was no previous connection to his days with his parents’ office or a previous conversation at a networking luncheon, just a call from out of nowhere. Nothing was certain, but it did lead to a fruitful meeting with the company’s expansion team. He counts that call as divine providence as he made a decision to become an entrepreneur. Eight years ago, Dye purchased an existing Liberty Tax franchise on Nolensville Road in Nashville. But he saw a real growth opportunity with Liberty

beyond the one location. Three years ago, the Smyrna office became available and in July 2021 he purchased the Murfreesboro location as well. With three locations, his company was growing wide, but he knew even more could be done than just the old four-month tax model. At the first of the year, the three offices began offering life, health, home and auto insurance through major national carriers. Since then, he has added services for small businesses to include bookkeeping and payroll. But his vision doesn’t stop there. More opportunities to help his clientele in ways of financial services are on the horizon. Nothing in business is certain, but for those with the entrepreneurial spirit, opportunities are discovered or created. The owner attributes a lot of his success to his staff. As with most businesses right now, though, it is hard to find a full staff of employees. In October, he will begin his tax classes for those wishing to start a new career. This entrepreneur is inspired by the stories of other local business owners, yet he is surprised by the absence of tax guidance. “It’s amazing the lack of advice people receive, when I bring up a tax-saving strategy that I can provide, and yet sometimes their professional has never mentioned it to them,” Dye said. He also cautions against assuming good tax preparation simply because one receives a refund each year. There may be more going on. Look for the waving Lady Liberty outside of 1409 NW Broad St. this winter. It just might be Dwight Dye in the costume. He has donned the suit from time to time. But he won’t just be waving at cars, his mind will be thinking of new ways in which to expand his business and ways to save you money. Blaine Little is the founder and CEO of Momentum Seminars Training and Coaching. Learn more at momentumseminars.com. BOROPULSE.COM

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Opinion

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POSITIVE PARENTING BY REANNA SARIEH

Overparenting Could Lead to a Lack of Confidence and Self-Reliance HELICOPTER PARENTING. What is it and how do we avoid it when all we really want is the best for our kids? As a recovering helicopter parent myself, I can tell you that it is both exhausting and unnecessary. As parents, we hope that our children will have everything they need and will grow and develop into fully functioning adults. But what happens when our own well-intentioned parenting becomes a barrier to development and growth? How does unconditional love turn into hovering and hypervigilance when caring for our children? What toll does overparenting take on our own lives and happiness? The term “helicopter parent” was created as a way to describe what overparenting looks like and most likely feels like to a child. Recently, we had family in town that included my two nieces

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ages 6 and 10. These little girls are delightful, well-mannered and, well . . . completely overparented. Their parents are doting, loving, committed and consistent. Although their deep love for their children is apparent in all that they do, they simply are doing too much! The two girls are interrupted at every turn with one parent wanting to know what they are doing, wanting to help make the art projects that we were doing, seeing if they were hungry, cold, upset, sad, etc., etc., etc. They videotaped every single cute thing they did and said, and I quietly wondered if my precious nieces were going to learn to perform for the camera and what piece of their own authenticity would be lost in the process. One or both of their parents is constantly available and mindful to save the girls from any and every disappointment, mistake, and learning opportunity. EVERY. SINGLE.

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ONE. And in return, the girls are scared of everything and have a lack of confidence that is apparent despite the pure sweetness of their temperaments. Afraid to try new things. Afraid to meet new people. Afraid. Afraid. The more they are afraid, the more they are overparented, which in turns creates more fear. And it is easy to look back and see similar patterns in my own parenting journey, until we were at the brink of pure exhaustion and began to learn new ways of parenting. How many moments were wasted trying to micromanage my children’s development, when that time could have been spent experiencing more of the journey with them? Thankfully, we had teachers and administrators that helped guide us through positive discipline and thankfully we listened and trusted the process with all of the ups and downs that came with it. Despite the playful and lighthearted name, helicopter parenting is a serious and growing concern for educational professionals from the earliest preschool years all the way to the college admissions process. Helicopter parenting can contribute to a child’s inability to feel confident, capable and self-reliant. Not having the ability to make mistakes and learn from them, the constant pressure to overperform, and the nagging effects of the lack of autonomy from parents can lead to an increase in depression, anxiety, lower problem-solving skills and lower academic abilities. Depression in young children is at an all-time high. This is serious stuff we’re talking about here, because overparenting sends the message to a child that they are not capable or not safe unless a parent is nearby. I don’t know about you, but I want my children and students to approach adulthood feeling confident, capable, resilient and able to problem-solve. Overparenting is stepping in to help when it is not needed or asked for. It is offering unsolicited advice to the older teenager or adult child. It is hovering and trying to keep a child from ever feeling disappointed or ever making a mistake. Consider this: If a child is kept from every failure and they do not have the opportunity to discover their own resilience, they may approach life afraid of ever making a failure and this anxiety can be a defining thread in their lives. Sandi Schwartz, a researcher for the Gottman Institute, suggests the following: 34 * SEPTEMBER 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM

– Support your children’s growth and independence by listening to them, and not always pushing your desires on them. – Refrain from doing everything for your children (this includes homework!). Take steps to gradually teach them how to accomplish tasks on their own. – Don’t try to help your children escape consequences for their actions unless you believe those consequences are unfair or life-altering. – Don’t raise your child to expect to be treated differently than other children. – Encourage your children to solve their own problems by asking them to come up with creative solutions. – Teach your children to speak up for themselves in a respectful manner. – Understand and accept your children’s weaknesses and strengths and help them to use their strengths to achieve their own goals. In addition to these steps, it is important to remember that we must step aside sometimes and allow children to simply feel the natural consequences of an action and to experience disappointment from time to time so that they learn resilience. For example, if your child forgets their shin guards for soccer, it means not rescuing them. Not driving back to retrieve them. Allowing them to feel the consequences by sitting out of practice or the game. It means not rescuing them if they forgot to pack their homework or forgot their lunch. It means giving them the loving and supported space to figure things out on their own while continuing to receive parenting that is both kind and firm (The fundamental positive discipline concept). Allowing them the chance to figure out small things now will help them feel confident enough to figure out bigger things later. Reanna Sarieh is the founder and directress of Bambini Village Montessori school in Murfreesboro. She received a B.A. in anthropology from MTSU, a MAT in teaching and AMS certiﬁcation from Belmont University, and is a certiﬁed Positive Discipline facilitator. Currently, she is pursuing a doctorate degree in education administration. 17 years ago, she and her husband decided to incorporate the Positive Discipline philosophy into their family, and it made all the difference in the world!

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#FREE YOUR CHILDREN • BY TIFFANY BOYD

Parents Are the Experts

Take Charge of Your Children’s Education A TEACHER RECENTLY ASKED ME if I thought being a mother made me more educated in regard to children. My prompt retort was to ask them if they could explain to me the history of compulsory education. Many parents and educators are not familiar with the history of our educational system. This particular teacher’s question did not come as a surprise to me because, as a former educator, I have encountered this mindset on more than one occasion. I am fully aware that the system, as a whole, usurps parental authority. It is a common belief of many educators that they are the experts and they are better equipped at educating and even raising children. If we delve into history, we can clearly see where this ideology originated. During the 1900s, educational psychology appeared on the scene and the belief was adopted that “experts” were better equipped than parents. William Torrey Harris, U.S. Commissioner of Education 1889–1906, propagated the “radical” notion “regarding children as the absolute property of the political state,” according to author and educator John Taylor Gatto. This has been a recurring theme in education ever since. During my years as a classroom teacher, a common complaint was the presence of parents in the classroom. Educators felt their presence challenged their authority and caused behavioral issues. In order for educators to effectively maintain control, children must be submissive. At the top of the chain of command are the experts and the professionals, primarily the teachers and administrators. Children must be conditioned to recognize this hierarchy and

respond accordingly. The younger the child when this conditioning begins, the more effective the training. Subsequently, the push for pre-K instruction has raced to the forefront. New teachers enter the workforce every year trained in the aforementioned. Generations have been fed this propaganda and now parents have been conditioned to believe that they are not qualified to teach or raise their own children without the intervention of the experts. Involved parents have been reduced to catchphrases such as “helicopter” parents. Experts warn of the damage over-parenting causes, yet I would argue that we live in a society in which parents are more disengaged from their children’s lives than ever before. By design, the majority of children in our nation spend 40-plus hours a week in schools. The sheer amount of time spent away from their individual families results in someone other than their parents and family members having the most influence over their waking hours. Couple that with the fact that Americans are addicted to screens and spend a large portion of their day preoccupied with a device, and it is apparent that most children are grossly under-parented. Research proves the damaging effects of absent, disengaged parents. Instead of discouraging parental involvement by using derogatory terms, we should encourage parents to invest more time in their children and reclaim their God-given supreme authority in their lives. As a current home-school parent, I often hear educators question the ability of parents to educate their own children, perpetrating the narrative that only the experts BOROPULSE.COM

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can effectively educate the masses. Research proves there is no correlation between a parent’s education and their ability to home educate, according to the National Home Education Research Institute. Parents are the most invested in their own children. They know them and their educational needs better than anyone else. That makes parents the professionals and the experts. I unequivocally believe that being a parent makes one more educated in regard to their own children. I don’t believe handing one’s children over to strangers for the majority of their formative years is in the best interest of the child. Parents are more than equipped. This was a common, successful practice for hundreds of years before forced compulsory education was adopted. I believe that institutionalized schooling fragments the family, usurps parental authority and damages relationships between parents and children. I believe that parents can and should assume the responsibility of discipling and educating their own

children. For over a decade, I have encouraged parents to do just that through my work as a homeschooling advocate and with Free YOUR Children. The only hope for our nation is for parents to reclaim their rightful place in the lives of their children. For more on the history of compulsory education: Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher’s Journey Through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling by John Taylor Gatto Tiffany Boyd is the founder of Free YOUR Children, a homeschool advocate, consultant, speaker and the founder and administrator of Middle Tennessee Christian Homeschool Connection. She holds a B.S. degree in interdisciplinary studies from MTSU. She is a wife of 30 years and mother to ﬁve children, grandmother to two. She is a former tenured public school teacher. She and her husband have home educated for 18 years. Contact her at freeyourchildren@gmail.com.

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Titans Open Season Against Cardinals Sept. 12 A.J., Julio, Tannehill and the King Set to Blow up Defenses THE TRAIN DADDY IS BACK with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard! Where my Titans fans at? You better believe this is the year we “boom shaka laka” the opposition and take what is long deserved—the Lombardi trophy! Ha ha, alright, I got a little excited to start the article off, but why not? I mean, this Titans team has so much potential and so many beautiful storylines. We can start with the King! That’s right, the magnificent King Henry of Tennessee, a man of character, the stiff-arm beast who will attempt to lead the NFL in rushing yards for a third straight season. Henry will be destroying folks once again in 2021 with that beastly 6-foot 3-inch,

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240-pound frame. Fun fact: That’s the exact same size as President Trump. Beastly! I won’t get too political this time, but Joe Blow Biden, what a mess that buffoon has been. That’s all I will say! Back to football and beautiful storylines. The Tennessee Titans have an opportunity to blow up the NFL on offense in 2021. It’s not even a debate— the Tennessee Titans have the most talented duo of receivers in the entire league. The Julio Jones addition paired with A.J. Brown locks the Titans up with two top-10 overall receivers. If Julio stays healthy and gets into form, he gets back into that G.O.A.T. discussion for the 2021 season. It is a very exciting time to be a Titans fan.

I was sad to see Corey Davis and Jonnu Smith leave Tennessee even though it was probably the right move. They are two very good players who both received big-time contracts with other teams: Corey with the Jets and Jonnu with the Pats. I am very excited to see if Anthony Firkser can take over and become a star at tight end. I think he has real potential as a pass-catching tight end and so do many of his teammates. Tennessee legend Delanie Walker has stated as much. All in all, the Titans have retained an offense that honestly has the potential to push at breaking NFL records. Fun fact: Since Tannehill took over in 2019 no team has scored more touchdowns (93) than the Titans. That’s at least 10 more than any other team during that time. Sorry Packers, sorry Chiefs, Titan up! Don’t discredit the importance of Ryan Tannehill since taking over. Ryan accounted for 40 of those TDs last season and has been playing like a top 10 signal-caller since he landed in Tennessee. Having a back like Henry certainly helps, but—unlike Marcus Mariota—when Tannehill took over, this offense started clicking. This offense is deadly in the run, deadly in the play action, and will be extremely deadly on the edges now with wide receivers like Julio and A.J. If this team stays healthy it’s not even an overkill comment to say that very few teams in the NFL will be able to keep up regardless of how bad the defense is in 2021. On that point, let’s talk defense. Regarding the Titans’ 2020 defense, they were horrendous on third-down defense, last in the NFL, giving up the first-down conversion over 50 percent of the time. Another bad stat, the team had only 19 sacks in the regular season. That is an NFL record low for a team that somehow managed to make the post-season. The 2020 Titans couldn’t get to the QB and that made life very difficult for a secondary that needed a little help. Clowney and Vic Beasley were devastating mistakes for 2020’s Titans defense, but both are gone now. It blows my mind that we have many morons out there saying this Titans defense will be worse than last year’s. I don’t know how they rationalize that after 2020’s historically bad performance. But people here in Tennessee know what’s up. There is an air of excitement surrounding this new, revamped defense. Half of the starters will be new faces, and this group has been the story of training camp and preseason as the defense gave up only six points in the first two matches, prior to a strange finale versus the Bears. It’s only pre-season football with most of the starters benched, but they looked good.

My quick breakdown of this 2021 Titans defense goes like this. I believe up front this defense will be night-and-day better. I am thrilled to see how players like Big Jeff Simmons, Autry, Landry, Bud Dupree and one of the biggest steals in the off-season in Jayon Brown—one of the best coverage linebackers in the game and re-signed by the Titans at a discount—all mold together. How can you not be? These guys are destined to start hitting QBs and making noise. All of that should begin to make life much easier for the guys in the secondary. The haters point to the Titans’ secondary, specifically the cornerbacks, as to why this Titans defense will struggle. I won’t lie—I am most concerned myself with the cornerbacks—but I truly believe with pressure up front this group is good enough to make plays and be a middle-of-the-pack unit. The Titans are set at safety with Byard making a comeback (interception machine!) and upcoming star Hooker on the rise. Can the CBs keep up? It really comes down to Janoris Jenkins and Kristin Fulton leading the way on the edges. The Titans 2021 draft pick Elijah Molden has really impressed and could become a star in the slot. You might be asking yourself what about the Titans’ first-round draft pick, cornerback Caleb Farley? The good news is he is on the field working and making progress! The bad news is he hasn’t been progressing fast enough. Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen knows this, and they are letting Caleb take it slow. It doesn’t appear he will be in starting shape to kick the season off but it’s very feasible to expect him to be a plug-andplay player throughout the season who could become a very important and welcome addition to this defense as the season progresses and he gets in game shape. Farley is a very similar story to former first-round pick Big Jeff Simmons, and look at Simmons now, on his way to becoming one of the best in the NFL at his position. Alright, that’s it. I will be at the opening game Sept. 12 versus the Cardinals! That will be an amazing test for us at home. If the defense can shut down the mobile Kyler Murray, who has been struggling in the preseason, and if our offense can light it up against a Cardinals defense with some danger and a familiar face in J.J. Watt, a big victory in Week 1 would quickly put the Titans on the map and would build much-needed confidence prior to the Titans heading to Seattle for a tough Week 2 match on the road. I’m psyched! The Train is rolling into the station! Choo-choo!

Gardening Education Series BY EDWINA SHANNON

Don’t Give Up on Gardening Yet FALL IS THE PERFECT TIME for a few garden and yard chores. Liming comes immediately to mind. Lime neutralizes excess soil acids and increases the pH of the soil. Ideally, you want a pH between 6 and 7 for healthy plant growth. Start with a soil test which will alert you to the current acidity of the soil. As the acidity increases, the pH decreases which impacts production and health of plants. As the basic nutrients get used up from the soil, the acidity increases. Healthy soil is the key to healthy fruit. So, you want to keep a healthy soil (think compost) which can be assessed through soil tests. They are available at the Extension Office. Fall gardening, a time of cool-season vegetables has begun. Growing fall vegetables is a talent that all do not possess. If you have not already gotten those seeds in the ground, you are really running out of time. It may be hot but the plants need weeks to produce. Successful fall gardens need close attention. You are combating the weather, water conditions, established insect populations and already present diseases. Think leafy greens . . . all types of lettuce, spinach, arugula, turnip greens, parsley, green onions . . . these are just some plants that you can grow right now. Some root crops can go in the ground, start to grow and be there all winter, providing an early harvest next spring. Once, I did that with cabbage. They had small heads, but were edible. In Murfreesboro, the average date for the first frost is Oct 13. Cool-season crops have to be able to survive the first frost. However, it is possible to extend this date even further into the fall and get more from your fall crop. One way to do this and to combat the frosty nights is to build a cold frame. The cold frame is a simple structure that uses solar heat and sometimes insulation to extend the growing season. You have options. A cold frame’s purpose is to capture enough heat from the sun to allow the plants to continue to grow and produce. It protects them. They can be made from old glass doors and windows. A wall or a top cover should be

removable or vented as the inside could get hot enough during the day to bake the plants. I created a cold frame by throwing heavy clear plastic over two pieces of hog fence that were A-framed together. A small crop of peas was produced and eaten. Some people keep the freezing temperatures at bay by filling plastic bottles with water and then placing them near the plants within the cold frame. The sun will heat the water during the day and the warm water will radiate heat throughout the night. If you have raised beds, it is very easy to add a cold frame. They can be as simple or as involved as you want. Here, too, you do need to have the ability to let the bed vent during the day, as needed. I have topped a raised bed with an old storm window, then moved it slightly askew when venting was needed. You can build a frame and cover it with heavy clear plastic. Cold frames are the easiest and cheapest structure for extending the growing season. Dependent upon your interest, space and finances, there are great resources for building your own hothouse or greenhouse. Here are some traditional resources: – “Hobby Greenhouses in TN” PB1068 from UT Extension Service – “Home Greenhouses and Cold Frames” No. IP 822-34 from Penn State – The Hobby Greenhouse Association is a nonprofit organization of gardeners in hobby greenhouses, window greenhouses and other indoor areas – hortsoft.com/hga.html. – For a non-traditional approach, review ziptiedomes.com, a family venture out of Buffalo Valley. Their PVC kit makes a cool looking greenhouse. Also, be sure you have the tomatoes out of the garden before the first frost. The frost does change the tomato, for the worse. If you have the room, remove the whole plant from the garden and hang it upside down from the rafters of a garage or garden shed. The fruits do not continue to grow but do gradually ripen. You can also wrap the fruit in newspaper, where the unripened tomatoes will ripen. BOROPULSE.COM

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song called “The Spaces in Between,” written and recorded by Shaina Noll. I listened to it while I practiced a morning ritual using a horse stance posture. I needed to maintain the same pose for at least seven minutes. I liked other songs by this artist, so when I saw this one was just over seven minutes, I thought it would be perfect. As I listened to the words while holding my posture (not the easiest thing to do, but with focus you can do it for much longer) the insights that came from those simple words were like a little surprise treat. And I like little treats. Life is full of relationships, events, activities, action, situations, confrontations, conversations and things to handle. Then there are the spaces in between all of these stories. We like to create or attach ourselves to these stories or situations. In doing so we generate emotion, confusion, excitement, fear, trepidation, anxiousness, and the list goes on. But, in between these states of emotion and reaction is space. Sometimes we use this space to process, think or make choices. The kind of space that jumps out to me is the space in which we are simply part of existence, when a higher force or power shows us how to simply let go of all the “stuff ” and the “noise of our thoughts” and just be. That can happen only when we tune into the quiet within the space and let go of the clamoring. The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. — Ecclesiastes 9:17

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When we are solely with our thoughts we lack for nothing in that moment. You may have to dig a little deeper to really see the meaning here. Truth is always present. The truth of who we are, what we need to do or not do, is always present. It is up to us to see it, and to own it. How do we achieve that? If it were so easy, wouldn’t it just be that way? How can I change what is or how I feel? It’s simpler than you might have imagined. Unfathomable mind is expressed. The depth, breadth, height, might, majesty and glory of infinite 38 * SEPTEMBER 2021 * BOROPULSE.COM

love fill all space. That is enough! — Mary Baker Eddy Pause for a moment. Right now. Take a deep breath in and let it out slowly. As you exhale, allow your mind to empty. See the exhalation like a dam bursting and the water flowing out. Visualize the flow of that water like a wave, and allow the thoughts you have or are holding on to simply ride that wave right out of your “mind.” Bring your focus to the wave of breath washing out as you exhale. See yourself as though you were surfing on that wave. When you concentrate with that visual image being your only thought, you will see all other thoughts are paused or gone. When you capture the essence of this meditative exercise you will see how simple it is. Each time you feel you are welling up inside with emotion—no matter the type—you can use this simple practice to help you empty the vessel you call mind until you just see or feel the space in between your thoughts. In the quiet spaces in between all the thoughts and happenings, you can discover real truth emerging. As you stop attaching your thoughts, fears or emotions to a story you are believing to be true, you will see tension fade, love emerge, fear vanish and answers come. This is especially helpful if you are feeling conflicted, angry or in turmoil. Once you detach your emotions from a situation and breathe in the spaces in between, you will feel lighter, and you will begin to see more clearly. Be open to the answers that come. They are your genuine guide to the freedom you seek from your troubled thoughts. Look for the spaces in between your stories. Love will meet you there. The space between your thoughts is the window to the cosmic mind. — Deepak Chopra 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. PHOTO COURTESY OF BELLA WHITE/PEXELS

 HEALTH

Tennesseans Want to Legalize Cannabis— Just Ask Us Free The Plant Event Set for Oct. 9 BY JASON PICKLE CANNABIS AND TENNESSEE have a lengthy history. We’re basically family. Dating all the way back to the late 1790s when Tennessee joined the Union, hemp was already a staple for nearly every farmer. Hemp fiber was the original and primary use of the plant, something we are just beginning to unpack again in 2021. In the early 1900s large timber and paper companies fought against the plant, as it had a direct effect on their businesses. This trend moved through the entire century as large corporations that focused on paper production, timber, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and many other products fought against the dynamic plant’s

capacity for massive production with very little work. That’s a lot of pressure for one plant. Today, the pressure has built to a nearboiling point as states are legalizing cannabis in nearly every way. The data is clear. Legalization is guaranteed to open up more jobs, new industries, new farming opportunities, new medicines, new fuels and new building materials unlike any plant before. And that is just the start. Currently, the hemp farming trend is focusing primarily on cannabinoids like CBD, one of the powerful, medicinal-based ingredients found within the plant. Farmers are going after the most profitable part of the industry. But when regulations, or lack thereof, funnel every farmer down the same tunnel, the results are less than perfect. And therein lies the problem. Little to no regulations on a plant with such a negative stigma means little to no progress. Fear wins. Tennessee is one of the last states to make any major move with legalizing the plant. Why? Recent polling has shown as many as 88 percent of Tennesseans now support legalizing cannabis on some level. So, what is the holdup? Large scale industrial farms could focus

on farming for fiber, wood, building materials and plastics if Tennessee would help with the infrastructure. Smaller craft farmers would focus on the medicinal aspect of the plant. The system would build itself if there were a map and a clear path. Businesses would grow and farmers could once again thrive. Why would we cut down 80-year-old trees when we could cut down hemp that took four months to grow? Why would Tennessee worry about cannabis as medicine when we have one of the highest opioid addiction rates in the country? Why are we so concerned about a plant that has proven, time and time again, it is useful? Fear is one thing, but we now have enough data to know the fear is unfounded. What does a family do when they can’t agree on something? We sit around the table, drink a beer, air our grievances and find a solution. That’s exactly what we are doing on Saturday, Oct. 9, at Hop Springs Beer Park.

Volunteer Botanicals and the Tennessee Growers Coalition, a nonprofit political action committee, are hosting a Free the Plant Fundraiser Event to break down these stigmas surrounding this powerful plant. Legislators need to know how we feel, and we invite all legislators to be there. If you care, you’ll come. We have to push harder and make our voices known. If we don’t, nothing will ever change and the forces that have controlled this plant for the last 100 years will continue to keep its potential down. If you care about legalizing the plant, we need you now more than ever. Join us at Hop Springs on Oct. 9. If the legislators won’t do it, then maybe the 88 percent who want it can. Just like family, we can fix this. Jason Pickle is the co-founder of Volunteer Botanicals. For more information, contact Volunteer Botanicals at volunteerbotanicals.com or 1-833-CBD-TABS.

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The support you need to grow We offer administrative and bookkeeping services at an affordable rate, allowing you more time to focus on the growth of your business.

Call us today, consultations are always free. 107 W. Lytle St. | Murfreesboro | 615.893.8850

FIGHTING ADDICTION AND SUICIDE e urchas Every P urpose! Has a P

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YOUR PURCHASE! 845 MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLVD. SUITE C • MURFREESBORO Tuesday–Saturday 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday 12–5 p.m. • Closed Monday

MUST present this PULSE coupon. Valid through Sept. 30, 2021 Excludes jewelry. Cannot be combined with other weekly sales.

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903-A MERCURY BLVD. MURFREESBORO Tuesday–Saturday 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Closed Sunday & Monday

501C3 NONPROFIT 615-896-5730 STEEREDSTRAIGHTTHRIFTSTORE.ORG WE APPRECIATE YOU! OUR MISSION: TO PROVIDE YOUTH AND FAMILIES WITH POWERFUL PREVENTION EDUCATION FIGHTING ADDICTION AND SUICIDE