SPOOKS & COUPES

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Williamson County Parks and Recreation presents Spooks and Coupes, a community Halloween event, on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at the Franklin Recreation Complex, 1120 Hillsboro Rd. This fun annual event will feature over 30 classic cars (coupes) with trunks full of treats! Families and kids alike are encouraged to wear their costumes as they trick-or-treat along the trail behind the recreation center. Then, visit with favorite Disney villains in the Haunted Forest, or make something ghoulish in the Halloween craft tent. There will be free entertainment throughout the evening, free face painting plus fun inflatables! If you get hungry, delicious food truck concessions will be for sale (additional cost).

 

Spooks & Coupes is one night only, Saturday, October 17 and from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This family event is open to the public, and admission is $6 per person (cash, at the gate). Children one year and younger are admitted free. Groups are welcome, and the trail area is wheelchair accessible. For more information, call the Franklin Recreation Complex at (615) 790-5719, ext. 2010.

 

Spooks & Coupes is sponsored by A.B.L.E. Youth, Maury Fence Co., Williams Medical Supply, C&I Design, CO-OP, True Value, Ready Steady Jump, Southern Events, Southern Athletic Fields, Signs First, The Print Authority and Buffalo Wild Wings. Candy sponsors are Appleton Learning Center, Stroud’s BBQ, Target, Franklin Pool and Spa, Walmart and Kroger.

 

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 registration and additional information, visit www.wcparksandrec.com, or call (615) 790-5719, ext. 2010. You may also receive department information by “liking” Williamson County Parks and Recreation on Facebook or following us on Twitter at @wc_parksandrec or on Pinterest.

National Blue Ribbon Schools

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Two more Williamson County schools are being recognized for overall academic excellence by the U.S. Department of Education.

The DOE announced September 29 that Clovercroft Elementary and Ravenwood High are 2015 National Blue Ribbon Schools.

“This is an incredible accomplishment,” said Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney. “I am proud of the hard work by our students and staff at Clovercroft and Ravenwood. As a district, we now have eight schools to reach this milestone.”

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either high-performing or have improved student achievement to high levels. The program sets a standard of excellence for all schools striving for the highest level of achievement.

Clovercroft Elementary Principal Dr. Laura LaChance says this would not have been possible without the commitment of all the students, staff and parents.

“It is so rewarding and affirming to be selected for an award like this,” said LaChance. “It’s nice to know that the joint effort between all of us has paid off and that other people have noticed just how amazing these kids are and how hard they’ve worked.”

Like LaChance, Ravenwood Principal Dr. Pam Vaden says this accomplishment is an example of what can happen when people work together toward a common goal.

“Ravenwood High School has demonstrated the incredible accomplishments that can be achieved when a school joins in a true partnership with its community,” said Vaden. “In its inaugural year, Ravenwood students and teachers hit the ground running and never stopped. The credit goes to them.”

Clovercroft and Ravenwood will be honored during a recognition ceremony on November 9-10 in Washington, D.C. Approximately 8,000 schools nationwide have received Blue Ribbon Awards in the program’s history.

Grassland Middle was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2004; Brentwood Middle received the award in 2006; Page High won the award in 2011; and Hillsboro, Kenrose and Trinity received the award in 2014.

Pumpkin Bread

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With a chill in the air, it is the perfect time to make some yummy pumpkin bread!  Check out this top notch recipe:

Makes: 2 loaves, 12 slices each
Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours (including cooling time)

What you need:

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole-wheat flour, preferably white whole-wheat (see Tip)
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 2 cups packed light brown sugar
  • 3 cups canned unseasoned pumpkin puree
  • 1/2 cup canola oil

PREPARATION
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray.
Stir all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Whisk eggs, egg whites, brown sugar, pumpkin and oil in another large bowl. Add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Scrape the batter into the prepared pans and smooth the tops.
Bake the loaves until the tops are golden brown and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Turn the loaves out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

NUTRITION
Per serving: 210 calories; 5 g fat (1 g sat, 3 g mono); 16 mg cholesterol; 38 g carbohydrates; 18 g added sugars; 4 g protein; 2 g fiber; 377 mg sodium; 125 mg potassium.
Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (96% daily value), Iron (15% dv)
Carbohydrate Servings: 2 1/2
Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 other carbohydrate, 1/2 vegetable, 1 fat

Here Comes the Bride

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Engagement Season is upon us.  Check out this fabulous lineup of events for every bride’s needs:
A Fall Bridal Show
Sunday, October 18
1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
I-Coordinate Events by Ramonda Presents “A Fall Bridal Show”
Hosted By: I-Coordinate Events by Ramonda
Hilton Garden Inn
2631 Highwood Blvd. Smyrna TN
Smyrna, TN 37167
Price: $10 per personEssense of Australia Trunk Show
Thursday, October 22 – Saturday, October 24
10:00 AM
(3 day event)
Essense of Australia Trunk Show
Hosted By: Essense of Australia
The White Room Too
517D Carson Lane
Murfreesboro, TN 37128Here Come The Brides Bridal Show
Sunday, October 25
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Here Come The Brides Bridal Show – The Factory at Franklin
Hosted By: Here Come The Brides Bridal Show
The Factory at Franklin Tennessee
230 Franklin Road
Franklin , TN 37064
Price: Get your first two tickets free by registering on our website. You can purchase more tickets on our web or the day of the show for $8.00 or $5.00 if you bring a non-expired canned good for the needy

Murfreesboro Pink Bridal Show
Sunday, November 8
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Murfreesboro Pink Bridal Show
Hosted By: The Pink Bride
Embassy Suites Murfreesboro
1200 Conference Center Blvd
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
Price: $10 online $12 at the door

Start Right – Stay Connected Pre-marital Seminar
Saturday, November 14
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Start Right – Stay Connected Pre-marital Seminar
Hosted By: Start Right – Stay Connected Pre-Marital Seminar
Pastoral Center for Healing
1024 Noelton Ave
Nashville, TN 37204
Price: $100.00, $60 of which will be deducted from cost of wedding license, for a net cost of $40.00 for the workshop.

PINK Bridal Show
Sunday, January 17
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
PINK Bridal Show – Nashville Vendor
Hosted By: The Pick Inn
Music City Center
201 5th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203
Price: 12.00 at the door, 10.00 in advance

Sumner County Bridal Show
Sunday, January 24
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Sumner County Bridal Show – Vendor
Hosted By: The Pick Inn
EPIC Event Center
392 West Main Street
Gallatin, TN 37066

Essense of Australia Trunk Show
Saturday, February 13
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Essense of Australia Trunk Show
Hosted By: Essense of Australia
The White Room Too
517D Cason Ln
Murfreesboro, TN 37128

Here Come The Brides Bridal Show
Sunday, February 14
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Here Come The Brides Bridal Show at Embassy Suites Franklin TN
Hosted By: Here Come The Brides Bridal Show
Embassy Suites
820 Crescent Centre Dr
Franklin, TN 37179
Price: Register on our website at herecomethebridesbridalshow.com for two free tickets. If you need more than two, you can purchase them on our website or at the door the day of the show for $8.00. If you bring a canned good for the needy, than your price is only $5.00

Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival, Franklin TN

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Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival Franklin TN 2015Pilgrimage is a music and cultural festival debuting in September 26-27, 2015 in Franklin, Tennessee.  Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival invites folks of all ages on a journey to experience a myriad of musical styles, a bevy of food and beverages, and the rich regional spirit of Franklin, TN.

Like most great ideas, Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival was inspired by friendship, history, and the desire to create a meaningful experience. Two years ago, Musician and Franklin, TN resident Kevin Griffin was on a September morning jog through The Park at Harlinsdale, a century-old horse farm recently purchased by the City of Franklin. Kevin was so taken by the rolling hills, natural amphitheaters, and breathtaking vistas of the 230-acre farm, he envisioned it as a natural fit for a music festival venue. Considering Franklin’s place, Kevin wanted people to understand the beauty and rustic quality of Middle Tennessee in the fall, and with the blessing of the City, began to dream up a music festival to do it justice.

Partnered with lifelong buddies W. Brandt Wood and Michael Whelan, the trio aspired to highlight the diversity and community spirit of the New Orleans Jazz Fest, tailoring the best elements to Franklin– a richly historic town just 20 minutes south of Nashville. Like Jazz Fest, Pilgrimage will take place during the day, and offer a diverse yet renowned lineup of rock and roll, alt-country, bluegrass, jazz, indie, gospel and more. Performing on patina-clad stages reflecting the area’s aesthetic, many bands will “crank it down” and give a partly acoustic set specifically tailored to the day. Moreover, the fest will boast “Pilgri-mashups,” pairing artists together for special one-time collaborations on stage. The Little Pilgrims Stage will be more than a kids’ play area; it will feature a line-up of talented young musicians in their own right, to inspire and entertain kids and adults alike.

The region’s best food and drink will be on display at the Kitchen and Sippin’ stages at scheduled times throughout the weekend, and carefully selected food and merchant vendors will be featured in the Bazaar. When performances wrap at 7:30pm each day, guests can conveniently head back into the heart of downtown Franklin, within walking distance from the Park at Harlinsdale, to imbibe the best of the town’s restaurants, shops, and great weekend lineup of nighttime shows.

Ultimately, Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival invites folks of all ages on a journey to experience a myriad of musical styles, a bevy of food and beverages, and the rich regional spirit of Franklin, TN.

For more information and to purchase tickets please visit Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival.

Franklin Tomorrow Chili Cook-Off

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2015 Chili Cook-off Oct. 24 on Third Avenue North during Pumpkinfest

Franklin Tomorrow’s 13th annual Chili Cook-off is set for Saturday, Oct. 24, on Third Avenue North between Bridge Street and the Franklin Public Square as part of the Downtown Franklin Association’s annual Pumpkinfest.  FirstBank for being our presenting sponsor in this year’s event.

Teams ready to compete for the coveted People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice Awards, as well as Best Booth Décor, include Granite City Food & Brewery; My Friend’s House; Franklin Noon Rotary BBQ Society; Puckett’s Gro. & Restaurant; Circa Grill of Thompson’s Station; Fountains of Franklin; Franklin Firefighters Association; Big Shake’s Hot Chicken; Brian Irvin’s Nailed it Chili; 101st Airborne, Franklin’s Adopted Sons Bulldog Chili; Corner Pub Franklin; Father-Son Bowl; Franklin City Club; and Culver’s of Franklin.

Serving will begin at 11 a.m. and continue until 3:30 p.m. or the chili runs out!

Each $10 tasting tray will contain two-ounce samplings from each of the teams. A ticket for voting accompanies every tray. Hot dogs will be available for sale, as well as drinks and chips.

If you would like to apply to enter a team, complete this 2015 Chili team registration form and send it to donna@franklintomorrow.org.

Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival

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Like most great ideas, Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival was inspired by friendship, history, and the desire to create a meaningful experience. Two years ago, Musician and Franklin, TN resident Kevin Griffin was on a September morning jog through The Park at Harlinsdale, a century-old horse farm recently purchased by the City of Franklin. Kevin was so taken by the rolling hills, natural amphitheaters, and breathtaking vistas of the 230-acre farm, he envisioned it as a natural fit for a music festival venue.
Considering Franklin’s place, Kevin wanted people to understand the beauty and rustic quality of Middle Tennessee in the fall, and with the blessing of the City, began to dream up a music festival to do it justice.Partnered with lifelong buddies and fellow New Orleanians W. Brandt Wood and Michael Whelan, the trio aspired to highlight the diversity and community spirit of the New Orleans Jazz Fest, tailoring the best elements to Franklin– a richly historic town just 30 minutes south of Nashville. Like Jazz Fest, Pilgrimage will take place during the day, and offer a diverse yet renowned lineup of rock and roll, alt-country, bluegrass, jazz, indie, gospel and more.
Performing on patina-clad stages reflecting the area’s aesthetic, many bands will “crank it down” and give a partly acoustic set specifically tailored to the day. Moreover, the fest will boast “Pilgri-mashups,” pairing artists together for special one-time collaborations on stage. The Little Pilgrims Stage will be more than a kids’ play area; it will feature a line-up of talented young musicians in their own right, to inspire and entertain kids and adults alike.The region’s best food and drink will be on display at the Kitchen and Sippin’ stages at scheduled times throughout the weekend, and carefully selected food and merchant vendors will be featured in the Bazaar.
When performances wrap at 7:30pm each day, guests can conveniently head back into the heart of downtown Franklin, within walking distance from the Park at Harlinsdale, to imbibe the best of the town’s restaurants, shops, and great weekend lineup of nighttime shows.Ultimately, Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival invites folks of all ages on a journey to experience a myriad of musical styles, a bevy of food and beverages, and the rich regional spirit of Franklin, TN.

Pilgrimage Traffic Plan

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Festival organizers have worked extensively with the City’s Police Department, Emergency Management, and Traffic Engineers to create the best traffic flow possible, while leaving residential and business access open.

 

During both days of the festival:

  • Southbound traffic only will be permitted from Harpeth Industrial Court to First Avenue;
  • The northbound lane will be reserved for pedestrians, bicycles, and festival shuttle service;
  • Two-way traffic flow will remain from Harpeth Industrial Court to Mack Hatcher but will be shifted slightly to accommodate pedestrian traffic along part of the route;
  • The roadway will open to regular travel patterns Sunday night at approximately 10 p.m.

 

Franklin Police Officers will direct traffic along Franklin Road and will assist those residents who need to exit or enter their driveways or affected streets.

 

The festival will be a great opportunity for the community.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit Friends of Franklin Parks and ticket-goers are encouraged to visit and shop in Downtown Franklin.

 

“Staff has worked diligently with festival organizers to come up with a plan that will allow both pedestrian and vehicle traffic flow and, hopefully, have the least amount of impact on our residents,” says City Administrator Eric Stuckey.  “We’ve managed to create a pedestrian/bike lane from downtown to Harlinsdale and hope that our visitors will take this time to explore our vibrant downtown area.”

 

A map of the traffic changes can be found at www.franklintn.gov/pilgrimagefestival.  Residents and visitors are encouraged to follow the City of Franklin on Facebook (facebook.com/cityoffranklin) and Twitter (@cityoffranklin) to get the latest traffic updates throughout the festival.

 

The festival will run from 10 a.m. unto 7:30 p.m. on both days and is anticipated to draw up to 10,000 residents and visitors per day.  For information on the festival, you can visit their website at www.pilgrimagefestival.com; e-mail info@pilgrimagefestival.com; or call 615-721-8111. Media inquiries for the Pilgrimage Festival should contact Ashley Lanaux at ashleyl@pressherepublicity.com.  Inquiries for the traffic plan should go to the City of Franklin, contact Milissa Reierson 615-550-6629.

Back to School Fair

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Williamson Parent Back to School Fair

Discover area after-school activities and enrichment opportunities, see the latest in fall fashion for kids, enjoy demonstrations from local arts programs, win prizes and more at CoolSprings Galleria.
FREE EVENT

GALLAGHER’S “JOKES ON YOU” COMEDY TOUR

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GALLAGHER’S “JOKES ON YOU” COMEDY TOUR FEATURING GALLAGHER, ARTIE FLETCHER, AND BOB NELSON on Tuesday, August 25th, 2015 at the Franklin Theatre.  The show starts at 8:00pm.  Doors open one hour before the show.

A Gallagher concert is an unforgettable experience. He is a keen and original observer of human nature and the American “scene”. “My humor makes people think,” Gallagher says. “I want people to look more closely at this country and their lives to see the humor and absurdity in it all …I don’t have to make it up, the truth is funny enough.”

For more information and tickets please visit The Franklin Theatre.