Are you ready for the Vanderbilt Health Franklin Hot Air Balloon Festival on Saturday, May 14 at Westhaven? Mercy Community Healthcare is the wellness and nonprofit partner, and the event begins at 3:00 p.m. There will be music, food truck fare, crafts and a kids zone. When the sun sets, the balloons will launch. General admission is $15, and VIP admission is $60. To learn more visit www.franklinballoonfestival.com.
Locally owned, Simmons Ridge broke ground this morning! The new home development is located at 4408 South Carothers Road. Simmons Ridge Joint Venture is the developer and Hyde Park Homes is the building company. Franklin REALTORS is the exclusive marketing and sales broker for the development. The property will contain 408 units, including Townhomes and Single Family Homes.
The beautiful rolling hills acreage was purchased in 2003 and is expected to begin construction in the next couple of weeks. The homes in the first phase will range in size from 1,569 square feet to 1,950 square feet. “The homes have been well thought out with an eye for the details that will make owning a home in Simmons Ridge a great value”, said John Franks, member of the development and construction team.
The traditionally styled homes will be a modern interpretation of Southern living at its best. The homes will all have front porches keeping the socialization with neighbors easy and fun. Some models will also have screened back porches. All homes will have hardwood floors, granite in the kitchens and stainless steel appliances.
The healthy living neighborhood will have a series of parks and a great swimming facility. Walking trails will be throughout the new community. REALTOR, Marcia Franks, says, “The property is blessed with many huge century old trees that makes the property visually awesome”.
Franklin Tomorrow will take the temperature of our community on Tuesday, April 26, at the next Franklin Tomorrow Breakfast With the Mayors, presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners.
Breakfast service from Puckett’s Gro. & Restaurant and Royal Cup Coffee will begin at 7 a.m. with the program start set for 7:45 a.m.
To RSVP for the event, click here.
Franklin Mayor Ken Moore and Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson will be joined by Rick Johnson, CEO of the Governor’s Foundation for a Healthier Tennessee, and Leslie Meehan, Assistant Director of Primary Prevention at Tennessee Department of Health.
Their topic will be “It Takes a Community,” focusing on how communities can work together to improve the health of their citizens through initiatives as well as through the built environment.
Johnson will discuss his work with Healthier Tennessee, an initiative to improve the state’s health and in which Franklin Tomorrow has participated as a pilot community through its Get Fit Franklin Initiative.
Rick Johnson is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness, a non-profit corporation that is leading and directing a statewide initiative to improve health outcomes in Tennessee.
He was previously Special Assistant to Gov. Bill Haslam and prior to that was Executive Vice President of Provision Healthcare. Before joining Provision, he was President of Eastern Management, a planning and project management consultancy.
In her role at the state Department of Health, Meehan’s office focuses on determinants of health related to physical activity, the built environment and transportation, healthy foods and other factors that influence health outcomes. The Office concentrates on the Big 3 + 1 (Tobacco, Physical Inactivity, Obesity and Drug Abuse) which are the largest drivers of poor health in Tennessee. Of these four, physical activity is the primary prevention strategy for the Tennessee Department of Health to improve population health.
Breakfast With the Mayors is free to attend thanks to the generosity of our partners, which include Pinnacle Financial Partners, Williamson Medical Center, Tennessee Equine Hospital, Williamson County Association of Realtors, Patterson Hardee and Ballentine P.C., Puckett’s Gro. & Restaurant, Royal Cup Coffee, and the Williamson Herald.
Franklin Tomorrow has as its mission to engage the community, foster collaboration, and advocate for a shared vision for the future of Franklin. Through citizen interaction, surveys and events, the citizens have said they want Franklin to be a city with a vibrant economy, distinct character, great people, and robust neighborhoods. Learn more about the organization at www.franklintomorrow.org.
For more information, contact Franklin Tomorrow Executive Director Mindy Tate at (615) 794-0998 or by email at mindy@franklintomorrow.org.
Get in the swim! Join one of the five summer competitive swim teams offered through the Williamson County Parks and Recreation Department: Franklin F.A.S.T. Frogs, Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Rd.; Longview Sea Dragons, Longview Recreation Center at Spring Hill, 2909 Commonwealth Dr.;, Fairview Sharks, Fairview Recreation Complex, 2714 Fairview Blvd.; Brentwood Barracudas, Indoor Sports Complex, 920 Heritage Way; or Nolensville Mighty Hurricanes, Williamson County Recreation Complex at Nolensville, 7250 Nolensville Rd. All teams are managed by Excel Aquatics and are open to children ages 5 to 18. All new swimmers must attend a mandatory evaluation session, and regular practices begin the week of May 23.
Registration for all teams is available now only at www.excelaquatics.org and continues through May 31. The team fee is $140 per swimmer. There will be an extra charge for suits and t-shirts.
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 program registration, pass purchasing or additional information, visit www.wcparksandrec.com. You may also receive department information by “liking” Williamson County Parks and Recreation on Facebook; following us on Twitter at @wc_parksandrec or on Pinterest or YouTube.
Spring is back, and so is the Heritage Foundation’s Main Street Festival, presented by First Tennessee. The free popular spring celebration returns April 23-24, 2016, to downtown Franklin and is expected to draw a crowd of about 120,000 to historic Main Street for a fun-filled weekend of music, arts and crafts, food, and children’s activities.
“We’re very excited to present the 33rd annual Main Street Festival,” said Heritage Foundation Executive Director Mary Pearce. “Main Street Festival is one of Franklin’s favorite spring traditions and we’re thrilled to showcase our beautiful historic district and Main Street. We are so grateful to First Tennessee for their longstanding support of Main Street Festival. We would not be able to produce free street festivals in Franklin without the generous support of our sponsors.”
This year, live music will take place on two stages: The XFINITY Stage on the Public Square and The Guitar Center Stage on the corner of First Avenue and Main Street. A performance schedule is available on the Main Street Festival event page at HistoricFranklin.com. Franklin’s own Daphne and the Mystery Machines will headline a Saturday night performance on the Guitar Center Stage at 7 p.m. A lucky attendee will have a chance to win a $150 gift card to Guitar Center at the performance. Visit www.Facebook.com/ HistoricFranklin to enter this contest.
New to 2016, Centricity Music and WAY-FM will feature artists JJ Weeks and David Dunn leading worship for the first ever “Worship on the Square.” This event begins at 10:45 a.m. Sunday on the XFINITY Stage at the Public Square.
The King Arthur Bake Truck will make an appearance this year next to the XFINITY Stage at the Public Square handing out homemade cookies and collecting donations for the Heritage Foundation. “Who doesn’t love a chocolate chip cookie?” asked Pearce. “What better way to contribute to our organization than with the incentive of a fresh baked cookie in return?”
Three photo opportunities on the Public Square give attendees a chance to capture and share spring photos. Third Avenue South will offer a kids’ zone with a variety of inflatables, train and pony rides, a petting zoo and other activities for a small fee.
The centerpiece of Main Street Festival is the juried arts and crafts show featuring more than 150 artisans and crafters with handmade wares. Vendors will feature jewelry, pottery, furniture, woodworking, leatherwork, photography and more from First to Fifth Avenues.
No street festival is complete without food. This year, more than twenty-five vendors will offer an international assortment of food including original corn roast, barbeque, Greek food, Mexican cuisine, Italian ice and old fashioned soda located at two food courts on Third Avenue North and Fourth Avenue South. A French food truck and grass-fed organic food truck will join the lineup for the first time this year. And as always, kettle corn, hot dogs, and funnel cakes will be offered. Also, a beer garden located down Fourth Avenue South will feature a variety of beer and wine selections.
Offsite parking will be available at Church of the City and Harlinsdale Farm on Saturday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and at Franklin High School and Harlinsdale Farm on Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Shuttles will service each location for $1 each way/ each person.
Proceeds from the event benefit the Heritage Foundation of Franklin and Williamson County and its division, the Downtown Franklin Association, and their missions, respectively: to protect and preserve the architectural, geographical and cultural heritage of Franklin and Williamson County, and to promote the ongoing economic revitalization of Downtown Franklin in the context of historic preservation.
Main Street Festival activities will run Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday, April 24, 11 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
For more information on the event call 615-591-8500 or email Abby Williams at awilliams@historicfranklin.com.
Historic Franklin gets a crafty new addition!
Move over wine and paint night, there’s a new craft in town. Franklin’s Craft Love opened its doors on March 17th and is taking a whack at the DIY art industry. In their unique creative workshop, craft experts lead classes to make custom wood home décor and so much more.
Craft Love puts a new twist on a night out with friends, private parties, special occasions or corporate events by letting people explore their creative side and take home a personalized piece of art or home décor. They provide everything you need for your project: the wood, paint, stain, stencil and you even get to use a hammer and power drill!
Classes for the month of April are available for individuals or groups looking to book online. In addition, Craft Love is BYOB, making it perfect for private event rentals, baby showers, bridal showers, birthday parties, or team building events.
Craft Love is also the perfect place to get crafty for charity through their “Spread the LOVE” program. Craft Love works with groups looking to hold private fundraising events and they donate 25% of the group project cost back to the group’s charity.
A night out in Franklin just got craftier! Check out their gallery page for photos of past projects and classes and browse their workshop calendar to reserve your seat in an upcoming class. Keep an eye open for their next location in East Nashville.
For more information, please contact us at 615-447-8510 or via email at franklin@craftloveusa.com
High Hopes Development Center is hosting Professional and Family/Caregiver workshops by Rett University: “Closing the Learning Gap for Complex Children – All Engaged, All Communicate, All Learn!” at Brentwood Baptist Church on April 16 & 18.
Children with complex disabilities who are severely motor challenged or non-verbal can often be overlooked regarding communication and academic progress, due to the challenges faced by teachers, therapists, administrators, parents and caregivers. These informative workshops, given by experienced course director Susan Norwell, M.A. Special Education, are designed to help “Close the Learning Gap” by teaching specific methodologies for using AAC soft and high tech tools. Susan has worked with a wide array of students, including those with Rett Syndrome, Autism and multiple disabilities for the last 40 years. High Hopes is proud to present these offerings by Norwell, who has presented workshops worldwide and consults with various school districts on successful education of children with Rett Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and other complex needs, including those on the autism spectrum.
The April 16 Professional and April 18 Family/Caregiver workshops will equip attendees with strategies and methodologies for supporting even the most complex learners. The workshops will include robust videos and hands-on demonstrations of academic supports and strategies that aid the processes of learning to read and write, especially for students that often get left behind in these areas. Participants will learn methods to build better communication, support academic growth, and be empowered with a renewed confidence and belief in their child’s or student’s underlying abilities, regardless of their diagnosis! Speech-Language Pathologists, Physical and Occupational Therapists and assistants, teachers, special educators and administrators are strongly encouraged to attend the Professional workshop on April 16.
Workshops are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with lunch provided, and sponsored by Tobii Dynavox, Continuum Planning Partners and Therapy-in-a-Bin. Brentwood Baptist Church is located at 7777 Concord Road, Brentwood, TN. Space is limited to offer an optimal learning experience for attendees. For more information or reservations, please visit http://www.highhopesforkids.
High Hopes Development Center is a non-profit inclusive preschool and pediatric therapy clinic that loves, nurtures, and educates children from infancy through Pre-K with and without special needs in inclusive classrooms. A team of experienced teachers and pediatric therapists support the individual needs of each child in the classroom, and the outpatient therapy clinic meets the therapeutic challenges of infants to adolescents in the community. High Hopes is the only non-profit inclusive preschool in Williamson County with a preschool and therapy clinic under one roof. High Hopes is truly unique in the way that children with and without special needs such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other developmental delays play, learn, and grow together every day. The outpatient pediatric therapy clinic provides multiple therapies in one location: occupational, speech, physical, and feeding therapies. High Hopes gives children of all intellectual, physical and mental abilities the opportunity to learn and grow together in an environment that provides a strong foundation for future academic and social success.
For more information, visit www.highhopesforkids.org.
Oaklands Mansion is excited to welcome celebrated author, Georgia Author of the Year award winner, and former Middle Tennessee State University professor Dr. June Hall McCash on April 15, 2016, at 5:00pm and 6:00pm as she speaks about her latest historical fiction The Boys of Shiloh. A novel originally intended for younger readers, which holds a much more varied appeal to all audiences than Dr. McCash ever realized it would. We hope you will join us at the mansion to hear her read and discuss her new novel.
“This book, a work of fiction based on the actual battle of Shiloh in 1862, was conceived after a trip to Shiloh battlefield with one of my grandsons when he was about ten years old,” said author Dr. June Hall McCash. “He was a freshman in college by the time this book was published, which may give readers some idea of how long some of my books percolate before they become a reality.”
The Boys of Shiloh explores the Civil War through the eyes of two thirteen-year-old boys, who meet for the first time the day before a deadly, two-day battle in Tennessee and develop an unusual connection. In light of the theme of Dr. McCash’s book, Oaklands Mansion will also feature a special never before seen collection of artifacts pertaining to battles fought in Tennessee during the Civil War.
Please join us at Oaklands Mansion for this exciting event on Friday April 15th. Seatings will be held at 5:00pm and 6:00pm. Oaklands Mansion is located at 900 North Maney Avenue just off the historic Square in Murfreesboro. Space is limited, therefore reservations are required. Please call (615) 893-0022 to secure your spot today. Tickets are available for $15 per person which includes light refreshments.
Oaklands Mansion is nestled in Oaklands Park, a native tree arboretum and natural wetlands, which includes Maney Spring as well as heritage and native gardens. Oaklands Visitors Center houses a gift shop and Maney Reception Hall for special events and temporary exhibitions. Oaklands Mansion is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00AM – 4:00PM and Sundays 1:00PM – 4:00PM. For more information visit www.OaklandsMansion.org
There are egg hunts and bunnies all over Franklin, Williamson County and Nashville in anticipation of Easter on Sunday, March 27. Use this guide to find out where to catch the Easter Bunny for a photo and where to find the eggs. There are activities for children scattered throughout town, so check out one near you for some Easter fun!
Saturday, March 19
Sunday, March 20
Wednesday, March 23
Thursday, March 24
Saturday, March 26
Introduces Completion of Multi-Million Dollar Revitalization Project
Marriott International, Inc. proudly announces a fresh chapter in the life of Courtyard Franklin Cool Springs. The iconic hotel located at 2001 Meridian Boulevard is pleased to unveil its new look after a multi-million dollar transformation that includes extensive renovations to the guest rooms, guest bathrooms, corridors and meeting rooms plus a brand new lobby and dining area. The 126-room Courtyard Franklin Cool Springs operates as a Marriott franchise and is managed by Chartwell Hospitality.
The Courtyard Franklin Cool Springs hotel is ideally located between iconic Nashville and historic Franklin. This bedroom community to Nashville offers some of the best shopping and restaurants in the area and is only a short drive to all that Music City has to offer in Downtown Nashville.
“The revitalization of this hotel gives loyal Marriott guests a newly transformed option in the hub of Franklin,” said TJ Angeleno general manager, Courtyard Franklin Cool Springs. “Our prime location is close to many corporate offices, sports venues, shopping and restaurants.”
The hotel’s recent revitalization program presents a complete transformation of all of the hotel’s modern guestrooms. Brand-new wall coverings, window treatments, carpet, seating and decorative light fixtures have been installed. Sharp, contemporary design elements have been incorporated. Rejuvenated guest bathrooms include wall vinyl, fixtures and lighting.
The new, modern lobby has been completely redesigned. A signature element of the state-of-the-art lobby is the exclusive GoBoard® technology, a 55-inch LCD touch screen packed with local information, maps, weather, and news, business and sports headlines. Guests can navigate using the touch screen to find restaurants, local attractions and directions. Guests can connect to free WiFi and there are ample electrical outlets throughout the lobby to power digital devices. The
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
complimentary business library features two computer terminals, open ports for personal laptops and a print station.
Dining has been completely redesigned with The Bistro – Eat. Drink. Connect. which offers casual, flexible seating. Located on the first floor, The Bistro provides visitors with easier access to food and higher quality, healthier menu options for breakfast and dinner, including cocktails in the evening so guests can unwind. The Bistro also serves Starbucks coffee. Flexible seating options range from a communal table in the middle of the action, to more private media booths with high- definition televisions, to a more intimate, semi-enclosed lounge area. Suitable for hosting events for up to 40 people, the Courtyard Franklin Cool Springs has also upgraded its 630 square feet of meeting space.
Other onsite amenities at the Courtyard Franklin Cool Springs include a 24-hour fitness center, 24- hour business center, an indoor swimming pool, guest laundry and The Market, a 24/7 shop for snacks and beverages. For more information or reservations call the Courtyard Franklin Cool Springs hotel directly at 615-778-0080 or visit the website www.marriott.com/bnacc.
About Courtyard by Marriott
Courtyard by Marriott offers a refreshing environment that helps guests stay connected, productive and balanced. Intuitive services and design accommodate guests’ needs for choice and control. With more than 950 locations in 38 countries and territories, Courtyard hotels participate in the award-winning Marriott Rewards® frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay.
About Chartwell Hospitality
Chartwell Hospitality LLC is a fully integrated real estate company specializing in the acquisition, development and management of high-quality, branded, limited-service and full-service hotels. Our occupancy and market rates consistently surpass the competition, and we have a proven track record for maximizing the cash flow and returns on our investments. Our growth and success are based on our mission to be the best in the business, as well as a commitment to constantly exceed the expectations of our investors, partners, guests and associates. Chartwell Hospitality was founded in 2003 and is based in Nashville, Tennessee.