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December Events


December, 2008

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Daily Local Events Listed Below

Mon. (Dec. 1, 2008) 7:30PM The 38th season of the MIDDLE TENNESSEE CHORAL SOCIETY continues in MTSU’s Wright Music Hall of Handel’s Messiah. In addition, the Choral Society is joined by an elite orchestra…all under the baton of Dr. Raphael Bundage. Tickets at the door: $10 for adults; $9 for seniors age 65+; $8 for children under age 12; FREE for university students. Phone 898-2849 for more information.

Mon. (Dec. 1, 2008) 7:30PM The 38th season of the MIDDLE TENNESSEE CHORAL SOCIETY continues in MTSU’s Wright Music Hall of Handel’s Messiah.  In addition, the Choral Society is joined by an elite orchestra…all under the baton of Dr. Raphael Bundage.  Tickets at the door: $10 for adults; $9 for seniors age 65+; $8 for children under age 12; FREE for university students.  Phone 898-2849 for more information.

Tue. (Dec. 2, 2008) 7:30PM The public is invited to enjoy the MTSU Symphonic Band in the Hinton Music Hall of the James Union Building.  For more information, phone 898-2849.

Wed. (Dec. 3, 2008) 7:30PM The public is invited to enjoy the MTSU Commercial Music Ensemble in the Hinton Music Hall of the James Union Building.  For more information, phone 898-2849.

Thu. (Dec. 4, 2008) 7:30-9:00AM Get tickets now for the YMCA Humanitarian of the Year Breakfast at the Stones River Country Club. This year Dr. Liz Rhea will be honored. This benefits the work of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee.   Tables of 10 persons for $750. Sponsorships are available now: $10,000; Gold $5,000; Silver $2,500; Bronze $1,000. For more information, call Jan Berry at the Chamber of Commerce (893-6565).

Fri. (Dec. 5, 2008) 6-10pm Attention chocolate lovers, the ST. CLAIR STREET SENIOR CENTER (325 St. Clair Street) invites you to its FIRST ANNUAL CHOCOLATE DECADENCE FUNDRAISER. Tickets: $10. Enjoy an evening of delicious chocolate! For more information, phone 848-2550.

Sat. (Dec. 6, 2008) CHRISTMAS IN HISTORIC BELL BUCKLE enjoy the sights, sounds and aromas of an old fashioned Christmas including carolers and festive concerts.

PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY
Sunday, December 7, 2008
A day that will live in infamy. On this date in 1941 the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Its planes hit just before 8AM on 7 December. Within a short time five of eight battleships at Pearl Harbor were sunk or sinking, with the rest damaged. Several other ships and most Hawaii-based combat planes were also knocked out and over 2,400 Americans were dead. The picture at the left shows the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. It is that final resting place for many of the battleship’s 1,177 crew members who lost their lives on December 7, 1941.

Sun. (Dec. 7, 2008) 9-11am Oakland Park Seventh Day Adventist Church (711 North Maney Avenue) is giving away food to needy persons. This service to the community is offered twice each month by the church: 1st Sunday from 9-11am and the 3rd Thursday 5-7pm. If you have questions, phone 904-0344.

Sun. (Dec. 7, 2008) 4PM REMEMBRANCE SERVICE at Woodfin Memorial Chapel 1488 Lascassas Pike.  This non-denominational service is designed to honor and remember the saints in our life who have passed away.  Former interim minister of Murfreesboro’s First Presbyterian Church, Dr. John R. Todd, will offer the message.  This is open to the public, and you are encouraged to start a new tradition and bring your loved-ones to this event.  For more information, call Woodfin Funeral Chapel (893-5151).  Their website is www.woodfinchapel.com

e-mail your community events to the WGNS Good Neighbor Network

Tue. (Dec. 9, 2008) 7:30pm Your MURFREESBORO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA with a season of The Soundtrack of Your Life. All performances are at First United Methodist Church (265 West Thompson Lane). The acoustics in this specially designed sanctuary make all performances a feast for lovers of the aural arts. For ticket information call 898-1862 or go on-line to www.murfreesborosymphony.com (Note: phone ticket orders by credit cards only, and internet order use Pay Pal). This concert features Christmas favorites sung by Larnelle Harris, who was recently inducted into the Gospel Hall of Fame.

Rutherford County Christmas Parade

Sunday (Dec. 14, 2008) 1PM It starts on Middle Tennessee Boulevard (Bell Street Parking Lot). The parade goes down East Main, around the Historic Murfreesboro Square, onto West Main and then ends on Walnut Street. This will be the largest parade with bands, floats, and other special entries. This year’s theme is MIDDLE TENNESSEE CHRISTMAS and the grand marshall is Lightning, MTSU’s mascot. Again, make special note of the parade START TIME…due to the 4PM tipoff of the MTSU Lady Raiders vs Alabama basketball game at Murphy Center this afternoon, the parade will start at 1PM.

image Tue. (Dec. 16, 2008) 7PM MIDDLE TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE meets at Bradley Academy Historic Museum (415 S. Academy Street).    The local group meets every month on the THIRD TUESDAY at Bradley Academy. Membership: $15 per year for individuals; $20 for families.  Each meeting includes a CIVIL WAR SHOW AND TELL segment.  For more information, contact Jim Lewis at 615-243-6830 (call before 8PM) or by e-mail at mtcwrt@comcast.net.  Visit the Civil War Roundtable’s website mtcwrt@comcast.net.  Visit the Civil War Roundtable’s website www.mtswrt.org

Thu. (Dec. 18, 2008) 5-7pm Oakland Park Seventh Day Adventist Church (711 North Maney Avenue) is giving away food to needy persons. This service to the community is offered twice each month by the church: 1st Sunday from 9-11am and the 3rd Thursday 5-7pm. If you have questions, phone 904-0344.

Winter Solstice

Sunday, December 21, 2008

This day has the least amount of daylight hours! It is the start of Winter.

Hear weather related CLOSINGS first on WGNS (FM 100.5, FM 101.9, AM 1450, TV-11)

Fri.-Thu. (Dec. 26, 2008-Jan. 1, 2009) KWANZA begins! Kwanzaa is a week-long Pan-African festival primarily honoring African-American heritage. It is observed each year from December 26th through January 1st. This celebration is almost exclusively in the United States. It consists of seven days of celebration, featuring activities such as candle-lighting and pouring of libations , and culminating in a feast and gift-giving. It was created by Ron Karenga, and first celebrated from in 1966. Karenga calls Kwanzaa the African American branch of “first fruits” celebrations of classical African cultures.

RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE…don’t put it in the trash to take-up space in the landfill. Recycle those “cut” Christmas trees. It will be turned into mulch.
SMYRNA (Dec. 26 - Jan. __) Lee Victory Recreation Center (off Sam Ridley Pkway)
LaVERGNE (Dec. 26 - Jan.__ ) parking lot at Public Works Building (148 International Blvd.)
Murfreesboro (Dec. 26-Jan. __) Farmer’s Market shed at Cannonsburgh (Front Street)
If you have questions, call Recycle Rutherford (687-3497) or go to internet www.recyclerutherford.org

Fri.-Fri. (Dec. 26, 2008-Jan. 2, 2009) 146 years ago the history of Murfreesboro was changed. This small southern community saw its population explode with more than 80-thousand soldiers. Homes became hospitals, churches were destroyed and the bricks were used by Union Troops to build Fortress Rosecrans. Cannons were aimed at the historic courthouse and the citizens were held hostage psychologically and some physically. The battle began the last day of 1862 and was one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War. Ironically, relatives faced each other in battle…some fighting with Confederate troops and the other on the Union side. That dramatically played out on the cold, snowy night the day before the fighting started. The clear sky above was full of stars as each side’s bands played musical favorites. There was cheering and laughter in what is described as a Battle of the Bands. Then the night became totally quiet as one band started the favorite There’s No Place Like Home, and the other side joined-in. The National Park Service has special activities each day that will help to give you insight into what happened here 145-years ago. For more information, phone 893-9501 or visit their website www.nps.gov/stri

Sun. (Dec. 28, 2008) 1PM ROLLING THUNDER, INC. Tennessee Chapter 1 meets at the VFW Post 8422 (10157 Old Nashville Highway; Smyrna, TN). ROLLING THUNDER works for the return of the missing from wars and support for America’s veterans. Visit their website: www.rollingthundertn1.com or call Bob Ousley (615-513-5852) or Norm Hoffman (615-715-0523) for more information. Note: Rolling Thunder meets at 1PM on the 4th Sunday of each month at the VFW Post 8422 in Smyrna.

Wed. (Dec. 31, 2008) 10pm At this hour, 62-years ago WGNS radio signed-on the air to ring-in the New Year of 1947. Your Good Neighbor Station is Murfreesboro’s first radio station. THANK YOU for your support over the past 62-years! WGNS is on FM 100.5; FM 101.9; AM 1450; over-the-air TV channel 11.

Future and On-Going Events listed below

Hear weather related CLOSINGS first on WGNS (FM 100.5, FM 101.9, AM 1450, TV-11)

Blood Donors NeededNow Five Blood Drives Weekly
The Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross has renovated and enlarged its blood center at 836 Commercial Court (around the corner from UPS). The same local staff is now handling all of these new blood drives. In addition, Murfreesboro is now equipped to service platelet pheresis donations. If you are at least 17-years of age, weigh a minimum of 110-pounds, and in good health, you are encouraged to give the GIFT OF LIFE. Phone 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) for more information.
Monday and Thursday 10:30am-6:30pm
Fridays 9:30am-4:30pm
Saturdays and Sundays 7am-Noon
Note: In addition, there are regular Red Cross bloodmobiles at locations all around Rutherford County. Look at this WGNS calendar for exact times and locations.

The Cripple Creek Cloggers invite you to join them for fun every Tuesday night at 7PM.  They practice at The Vine (118 Vine Street, across from the Linebaugh Library/Murfreesboro City Hall).  Come visit and learn more about this local group of ambassadors who represent our community at local events as well festivals worldwide.  For more information, contact Steve Cates 615-896-2559 or e-mail appdancer@aol.com

Shop Local…It Matters!  When you shop in Rutherford County, your sales tax dollars build our schools and improve the roads.  When you shop locally, you make jobs available here.  Shopping local makes it easy on you, in the event you need servicing or repairs at a later date.  It’s even more important to shop with local FAMILY BUSINESSES.  Have you ever wondered what makes this community unique?  One advantage is a large  number of family operated businesses. Keep FAMILY BUSINESSES strong, patronize them!  Listen to the WGNS Good Neighbor Network (FM 100.5,  FM 101.9,  AM 1450,  and over-the-air TV-11) for information about this area’s vibrant local FAMILY BUSINESSES.

e-mail your community events to the WGNS Good Neighbor Network

Do you have a loved one who suffers from a mental illness? Learn about the regularly scheduled National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) meetings. This is a program for families, friends and primary caregivers of individuals suffering from mental illness. Call Lori Turek (896-6169) for details.

ABC News along with Paul Harvey on WGNS Good Neighbor Station
Morning News 7:30am, News & Commentary 12:05pm and The Rest of the Story 5:25pm

LaVergne’s Police Athletic League (PAL) invites area kids ages 7-17 to join this community group for fun, homework tutoring and more. There are PAL drama and theatre sessions, PAL boxing program, help with homework and tutoring, bowling, self-empowerment and motivational activities, racing and more. Phone 615-287-8730 for more information.

Local issues covered daily on Action Line (Monday-Friday mornings 8:10-9:00am)
Show from WGNS studios on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursday and Fridays. But every Wednesday morning “live” from City Cafe. Join us there for breakfast and share your opinions in person. Tune to your Good Neighbor Network: FM 100.5; FM 101.9; AM 1450; and over-the-air TV 11.

Get that special person on your gift list a HOLIDAY GOLF PRIVILEGE CARD and help the American Lung Association of Tennessee. Enjoy reduced rates at over 200 fine golf courses and practice facilities here in the Volunteer State. For more information, call the American Lung Association: 1-800-432-LUNG.

Wake-up with the all new WGNS Good Morning…M-F 5:00-9:00am
Includes news, sports, weather, traffic, obits, swap’n shop, guests!

SIGN LANGUAGE CHOIR FOR CHILDREN: River Rock Baptist Church (2248 Highway 99) has a “sign language” choir and music program made-up of children (kindergarten through 12th grade). They rehearse Wednesday evenings at 6:30. For more information, phone 898-1239 or check website www.rrbconline.com

LaVergne Library Events (5063 Murfreesboro Road)…phone 793-7303
Adult Education Classes: Tuesday and Thursday 9am-noon
ESOL Classes: Monday and Wednesday 9am-noon
Adult Literacy Tutoring: this is a Read To Succeed initiative 738-7323
Toddler Story Time: Tuesday and Wednesday 9:30am (ages 2 and 3)
Pre-School Story Time: Tuesday and Wednesday 11am
Home school Story Time: Monday 10am (kindergarten through 3rd grade)
Special programs for teenagers. For more information, visit website www.lavergneteens.bravehost.com

e-mail your community events to the WGNS Good Neighbor Network