Certified Animal Welfare Administrator

3:10 am | Monday, Feb 1st
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Laura Chavarria, the director of Williamson County Animal Center (WCAC), has achieved the highest level professional designation for animal welfare professionals, having earned the Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) credential. She is one of only 100 shelter professionals to have this distinction.

Candidates must meet strict eligibility requirements in leadership, management and animal welfare experience and successfully pass a rigorous exam, developed to meet the highest competency standards. According to the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators (SAWA) which oversees the CAWA program, “the designation provides independent, third-party validation of the knowledge and skills necessary for competent practice as an animal welfare or animal control executive.”

 

An Ohio native, Chavarria is a graduate of the Ohio State University, where she was a biology and animal science major. She became director at WCAC in June 2013, and currently oversees all facility and field operations, as well as a staff of 20, including a full-time on-site veterinarian and three animal control officers She previously served as a quality assurance officer for East Tennessee Clinical Research, and as an animal care specialist, animal control officer and office manager for Lee County Domestic Animal Services in Ft. Myers, Fla.

Williamson County Animal Center is located at 106 Claude Yates Dr., next to Franklin High School, (615) 790-5590.  Adoptable animals can be viewed at www.adoptwcac.org or at the center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.     

Arbor Day

3:26 am | Sunday, Jan 31st
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Please join The Franklin Tree Commission and the City of Franklin Parks Department for tons of fun in the trees with opportunities in tree climbing,  kids’ activities, food, information and free tree saplings at Pinkerton Park in Franklin, TN from 10am-2pm on Saturday, April 16.

Master tree climbing instructor Tim Kovar, from Tree Climbing Planet will guide individuals into the crown of a tree for a public tree climb with several stations, all certified equipment will be provided during this annual family friendly event. Participants will ascend into the tree using the same rope-and-saddle method that canopy researchers use. “Getting up into a tree – being surrounded by the branches – is just a great way to explore nature,” said Tim Kovar. “Not only is it just plain fun, it connects us with the natural world in a way that not many people are exposed to.”

The tree climb is free and open to the public. Participants must be at least six years old and be wearing closed-toe shoes. For more information please email parksinfo@franklintn.gov

December Sales in Williamson County

3:36 am | Thursday, Jan 28th
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From the WCAR:

Sales volume of homes in Williamson County broke all preceding December records with 500 single-family residential and condominium closings. This represents a 25.6% increase over December 2014 at 398 closings, according to data from the Williamson County Association of REALTORS® (WCAR).

There were 1,266 closings in the 4th quarter, up 8.4% from the 1,168 closings in the 4th quarter of last year. Total closings for 2015 totaled 5,551, an increase of 11.7% over the 4968 closings in 2014.

Over 35,000 residential and condominium transactions closed in the 9-county Middle Tennessee area during 2015. Approximately 16.8% of those closings occurred in Williamson County. The total dollar volume of residential transactions for 2015 was over $7.9 billion, with $2.2 billion of that business being done in Williamson County. That represents 27.8% of the sales volume for the region.

“The real estate market in Williamson County throughout 2015 was very active all year long. The significantly higher number of closings in December suggests there may have been a logjam of closings that didn’t happen in November due to new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau compliance guidelines that went into effect in October,” said David Logan, 2016 WCAR President. “That might also explain why closings were down slightly in November.”

“Interestingly”, said Logan, “while gold, oil and the stock market showed a lackluster finish in December, residential real estate still proved to be a wise option for local investors.”

“Ending the year with an 11.7% increase is certainly good news for the real estate market and local economy,” Logan said. “Available inventory continues to be one of the key concerns for home sales. Properties that are priced correctly and in market-ready condition are continuing to be very attractive to buyers. The fact that Middle Tennessee in general and Williamson County in particular, are so popular nationally means that the real estate market is likely to sustain its momentum.”

Super Bowl Cooking Demos at McConnell House

6:00 pm | Thursday, Jan 21st
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Franklin, TN events

SUPER BOWL COOKING DEMO   1/21/16

Doors open at 6pm for themed cocktails and mingling, the demonstration starts at 6:30pm.

Sip wine while our chefs instruct. Take home both new skills as well as new recipes to impress friends and family.

$75/person – Includes Meal with Demonstrated Items & House Wine

$60/person – Includes Meal with Demonstrated Items

For tickets and more information please visit Super Bowl Cooking Demo at McConnell House.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. program and march set for Monday

9:38 pm | Friday, Jan 15th
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Carole Robinson • Senior Staff Writer

The public is invited to a celebration of the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the First Missionary Baptist Church, 113 Natchez St. on Monday, Jan. 18.

The program at the church begins at 11 a.m.

Read more at the Williamson Herald.

Free Computer Classes for Seniors

3:15 pm | Wednesday, Jan 13th
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The Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to team up with the Williamson County Public Library to offer four free computer classes for seniors (55+). Learn about iPhones & iPads, Ancestry.com, Facebook and Pinterest. Classes will be held at the main branch of the Williamson County Public Library, 1314 Columbia Ave. Students can pick the specific sessions they want to attend (see below), or choose to attend all four (reg. code #5792). All classes are Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Registration is required online at www.wcparksandrec.com.

  • February 26: i101 (iPhones & iPads). Registration deadline 2/23; registration code # 5793.
  • March 4: Intro to Ancestry.com. Registration deadline 3/1; registration code # 5794.
  • March 11: Facebook profiles. Registration deadline, 3/8; registration code # 5795.
  • March 18: Intro to Pinterest. Registration deadline, 3/15; registration code # 5796.

Williamson County Parks and Recreation is a public organization, here to benefit the community. Anyone may register for and participate in the department’s programs, teams, classes and events. For more information about the facilities and programs of the Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department, visit www.wcparksandrec.com, or call (615) 790-5719, ext. 2010. You can also receive up-to-date department information by “liking” us on Facebook or following us on Twitter at @wc_parksandrec or on Pinterest.

Mexican Manicotti

3:03 pm | Wednesday, Jan 13th
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The latest from JustAPinch.com, “Can’t decide if you want Mexican or Italian for dinner tonight? Why not both! Laura Yoder experimented in her kitchen and came up with this fun Mexican Manicotti My Way. It has all the taco flavors and ingredients you love (ground beef, cheese, beans, olives), stuffed inside manicotti shells. It’s delicious, easy and fun! See step-by-step photos of Laura’s recipe plus thousands more from home cooks nationwide at: www.justapinch.com. You’ll also find a meal planner, coupons and chances to win! Enjoy and remember, use just a pinch…

 

Ingredients

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 2 c mexican blend shredded cheese
  • 1 can(s)refried black beans (bush’s)
  • 1 pkg taco seasoning mix
  • 1 jar(s)16 oz. picante sauce
  • 2 c sour cream
  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • 1 small can(s)sliced black olives
  • 2 c water, warm
  • 1 box manicotti shells
  1. Mix raw ground beef with taco seasoning, 1 cup of cheese and 1 can refried black beans.
  2. Using the uncooked manicotti shells, stuff the meat mixture into the shells and place in a large baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
  3. Pour the jar of picante over the stuffed shells. Then pour in the 2 cups of warm water.
  4. Cover with foil and bake in 350 degree oven for 1 hr to 1 1/2 hrs.
  5. When shells are done and dish is bubbly top with sour cream, reserved cheese and olives.
  6. Put back in oven for 5-10 minutes.
  7. Remove from oven and top with green onions.
Serves: 6
Cook: 1 Hr 30 Min
Method: Bake

Love, Americana Style

2:41 pm | Wednesday, Jan 13th
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Love, Americana Style is a five-day themed celebration that takes place February 10-14, 2016 to commemorate Valentine’s Day, from break-up to make-up and everything in between. Whether it’s a candlelight dinner, live Jazz and a romantic stroll beneath the twinkling lights of Main Street or rejoicing in the single life with happy hour and a songwriters night, there is something for everyone during this holiday of love.

 

Wednesday, February 10th: Galentine’s Day

 

Thursday, February 11th: Puppy Love

Friday, February 12th: Stupid Cupid

 

Saturday, February 13th: Everlasting Love

 

Sunday, February 14th: Valentine’s Day

 

Retail Specials

Realtor Classes with the WCAR

4:10 am | Wednesday, Dec 30th
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This year enjoy fabulous courses offered by the WCAR. Williamson County Association of Realtors® offers a wide variety of courses to enhance your business in a state-of-the-art training facility. All of our instructors are experts in their field. To register or learn more about our upcoming course offerings, view the list below and click on the class. If you have any suggestions for courses or topics, please let us know. We are here to help!

Name Type Categories Provider Price When
TREC Core Course 2015/2016 TREC Credit Core WCAR Fee Thursday Jan 14th
at 9am – 3:30pm
Unethical or Bad Judgment – NAR Ethics Class TREC Credit General, Ethics WCAR Fee Tuesday Jan 19th
at 9am – 12pm
Building a Better Business TREC Credit General, REALTOR Academy WCAR Fee Wednesday Jan 20th
at 9am – 1pm
CRS 120: Converting Leads to Closings TREC Credit General, Other Other Fee Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Jan 26th
at 8:30am – 5pm
Contracts 101 TREC Credit General WCAR Fee Wednesday Jan 27th
at 9am – 12pm
Contracts 101 TREC Credit General, REALTOR Academy WCAR Fee Thursday Feb 4th
at 9am – 12pm
Contracts 101 TREC Credit General, REALTOR Academy WCAR Fee Tuesday Feb 9th
at 9am – 12pm
CRS 103: Managing Time To Achieve Your Goals TREC Credit General, Other WCAR Fee Thursday Feb 11th
at 8:30am – 5pm

Realtor Leaders in the Community

4:00 am | Wednesday, Dec 30th
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New leaders take the helm of the real estate industry after the Williamson County Association of REALTORS®(WCAR) installed the 2015-2016 Board of Directors during a ceremony at Homestead Manor. Over 175 association members attended this event, making it the largest Installation ceremony to date.
David Logan, SilverPointe Properties, takes over as president for the association. Other officers include Lisa Wurth, Benchmark Realty, as President-Elect and Matt Daniel, Daniel-Christian Real Estate, as Secretary/Treasurer. Thankfulness was the theme of Logan’s address, citing the upcoming holiday as an opportunity to reflect.
“Here is Middle Tennessee, and especially Williamson County, we have so much for which we can be thankful,” said Logan. “A strong economy, great schools, both public and private, outstanding elected officials who represent us so well, and a quality of life that is envied by many.”
Yet all of these blessings bring with them some challenges. Logan addressed the rising numbers of students in local schools and the issues related to transit and growth, noting, “These are the challenges of a community that is thriving.
“Our REALTOR® members are committed to helping our elected officials and community organizations face them head on. We want to be a part of the dialogue and contribute to the solutions.”
Three board members completed their terms of service in 2015 and were recognized at the event. Ann Skiera, Zeitlin & Company; Lisa Culp Taylor, Parks; and Jennifer Dunlap Stacey, Southland Title & Escrow rolled off the board. Debbie Chamberlain, Farmington Mortgage; Jordan Vaughn, RE/MAX Fine Homes; and Danny B. Wood, Parks, were elected as Directors to fill the vacated positions.
“We want to thank [Ann], [Lisa] and [Jennifer] for their dedicated service to our mission,” said Logan. “While we are excited about the addition of the new members, these three retiring Directors have left an indelible mark on our association and we will miss them.”
The following is a complete list of board members for 2015-2016:

*Board President: David Logan, SilverPointe Properties
*President-Elect: Lisa Wurth, Benchmark Realty
*Secretary/Treasurer: Matt Daniel, Daniel-Christian Real Estate, LLC
Past-President: Chip Kerr, Crye-Leike, REALTORS®
Director: Jennifer Bickerstaff, PARKS
Director: LeAnne Constantine, Reliant Realty, ERA Powered, Brentwood
Director: John Giffen, Benchmark Realty
Director: Kyle Shults, Keller Williams Realty
*Director: Jordan Vaughn, RE/MAX Fine Homes
Director: Tiffany White, Keller Williams Realty
*Director: Danny B. Wood, Signature Homes Realty, LLC
*Affiliate Director: Debbie Chamberlain, Farmington Mortgage

*Denotes newly elected officers and directors

Directors for WCAR are elected to three year terms, while officers are elected on an annual basis. WCAR is grateful for the services of the Officer and Directors whose terms expire at the end of 2015: Immediate Past President Lisa Culp Taylor, PARKS; Ann Skiera, Zeitlin REALTORS®; and Jennifer Dunlap Stacey, Southland Title & Escrow.

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