Wilderness Walk Saturday

From the Smyrna parks and recreation department.

Smyrna Parks would like to welcome you to the Wilderness Walk that will take place tomorrow, Saturday, November 10, from 10am-12pm, Sharp Springs Park, Smyrna.

Enter through the Jefferson Pike entrance and we will be set up at the O’Connor Shelter.

Activity agenda is as follows:

10:00am – 10:30am:  TRPA Fish Presentation and Wildlife Demo Rachel Singer
10:30am – 10:50am:  Wilderness Walk (stroller friendly)
10:50am – 11:10am:  TRPA Fish Release
11:15am – 12:00pm:  Crafts & Lunch Provided

Bring your family out and enjoy! 

Local Boy Scout Fundraiser

A local scout troop is hosting a fund raiser this coming Saturday for the local VFW lodge to assist veterans with disabilities and other needs.

In observance of Veteran's Day, the Scouts that are sponsored by Smyrna VFW Post 8422 will again distribute the "Buddy Poppy" at local stores.  On the morning (9-12) of Saturday, November 10, Cub Scouts and Webelos from Pack 842 will hand out poppies for everyone to wear.  That afternoon, (1-4), the Boy Scouts of Troop 422 will also give out these patriotic reminders.  All donations received will go to the VFW, for assisting local disabled and in-need Veterans and their families.

Smyrna locations are as follows:
Big Lots, Advanced Auto Parts, Kroger-Sam Ridley, Lowes, PX-Smyrna Base, Tractor Supply.

The use of poppies as a remembrance of war and veterans goes back to World War 1 and a poem entitled "In Flanders Field".

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
      Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved and were loved, and now we lie
         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.

Bean Dinner this Friday

The Smyrna Lions Club and the Smyrna Senior Citizens are hosting a Bean Dinner this Friday, November 2nd from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Lifepoint Church (formerly First Baptist Church) at 506 Legacy Drive in Smyrna. Tickets may be purchased at the door and are $6.00 each. That will get you homemade White Beans with Country Ham, Cole Slaw, Cornbread, Assorted Desserts and Tea or Coffee. Carry-outs are available. Please support these two groups and come out for a delicious lunch. For more info, please call Ed Garner at 615-415-2595.

Missing dog

A reader has had their dog run off and could use your help to find this fine looking animal.

Her name is Abby and she ran off from home on Monday. I live near the Stewarts Creek schools, near seminary, rocky fork and Almaville road. I really don't know how far she might have gone, it's been over 24 hours since she was last seen. 

Abby is a 15 month old chocolate lab, about 60 pounds. She is a little skittish around people but is not mean at all, and will probably run away from anyone getting too close.

Here she is on the left side.

Steve's email is(steve@smyrnaweather.net) and his cell phone is 615 - 579 - 1187 if you think you have seen her.

Today

Reminder for the 27th - Halloween in the Park

Smyrna Parks and Recreation Presents Halloween in the Park Sponsored by Smyrna Gas Department Saturday, October 27th 3pm - 8:30pm Sharp Springs Natural Area Costume Contest Hayrides ($1 fee) Games & Food Pumpkin Carving Contest 70+ Vendors

Fall Festival event Friday

I received this email from the director of the local Le Petite Academy here in Smyrna. The La Petite Academy is a large supporter of the Make-A-Wish foundation, and there corporation and individual locations have raised over 7 million dollars to help this great cause. If you have time please drop by, and remember that 100% of the proceeds go to Make-A-Wish.

we are having our annual fall festival to support the Make-A-Wish foundation at La Petite Academy, 1212 Hazelwood Dr.Smyrna this Friday night, October 19th from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. Entry to the fall festival is completely donation based (meaning families can donate any amount they wish to gain entry to the fall festival). We will have games, prizes, and of course a LOT of fun! We also will be serving chili at the fall festival for $3 for an adult and $2 for a child. We are asking for prepackaged baked goods to be donated to our cake walk, those donations can be made at La Petite Academy any time on Friday. 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the middle TN chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Thank you for your time and attention!

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY

From the Parks and Recreation Department of the Town of Smyrna.

Join us this Thursday, October 18th, for CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY at Town Centre Fitness Center. We appreciate your patience during our locker room renovations and want to Thank You with fun, food, and door prizes throughout the day. See attachment for more details.

A bit of the old ultra-violence

Outside of the grocery store, church, and the occasional trip to a restaurant, most people do not take the time to find the fullness of Smyrna. There is so much more to our humble community then being a bedroom town and a historical site.

A good example is violence....yes I said that correctly. Smyrna is the site of a small gathering of fighters and if you make plans, you can go and see people kick the crap out of each other....legally. On the south side of town heading towards Murfreesboro is Hoopstown. Known for the site of amateur basketball and good health, it also was recently the site of a Mixed Martial Arts fight night, and another is planned for early next year. Last year the Murfreesboro Post did an article on the MMA fights that were planned. I missed those fights and this years fights.

Tirado likes to call himself a “hybrid” fighter, in which he could end the fight in many different ways including knocking them out by striking with the feet, knees, elbows or punches or using the ground game to put a submission move and making his opponent tap out. 

He will join several of his teammates from Nemesis Gym as part of the MMA fight card that will take place Saturday night at Hooptown USA in Smyrna. 

This years fight happened in September, and here are two videos from that night. I would warn you that the videos shows violent acts, but the subject matter should already imply that fact already.





The fights are put on by Rival Cage Fights and they already have another date scheduled for next year in February. I know that I will try to make it out there. Smyrna has a lot to offer people and this is just one facet of a rich community.

Violence in Smyrna

This morning the Smyrna Police Department released the following statement.

On October 13th, 2012 at approximately 6:41am the Smyrna Police Department received a call from a neighbor of 1224 Bolton Drive that an eight year old child had come to their home carrying a handgun and informing the residents that his parents were dead. The neighbor secured the weapon and officers on the scene took possession of the weapon when they arrived. Investigation has revealed the parents are Sharon Forbes, DOB 05-04-1978, and Adytia Ramotar, DOB 01-17-1975. (Adytia is pronounced Ah-did-tee-ah.) Detectives have concluded that Mr. Ramotar murdered Ms. Forbes and then turned the weapon on himself. Mr. Ramotar and Ms. Forbes had been married at one point in their lives, had divorced, and then were attempting to reconcile. Two children in the home were of the ages of 8 and 6 and were the biological children of Ms. Forbes and Mr. Ramotar. Another child in the home was a 2 year old nephew that was living in the home with his mother which is the sister of Ms. Forbes. The mother of the 2 year old was not home at the time of this incident. Mr. Ramotar and Ms. Forbes were natives of the country Guyana but were legal residents of this country. The Smyrna Police Department has never had any prior contact with either Ms. Forbes or Mr. Ramotar. The children are in the custody of the Department of Children’s Services and are being prepared to be handed over to family. Our investigation so far reveals the children did not witness the violent act in the home. 

As we were on the scene this morning numerous neighbors came forward showing support and concern for the family and the children. If any additional details come forward I will notify you as soon as I have them. Thank you. 

Right now our thoughts and well wishes should be with the care of the little ones.

Debate online with local people

This is from the Digital Director of the DNJ

Hey, Just wanted to let you know that we’re trying something new tonight on dnj.com. Underneath the livestream of the vice presidential debate, we’ll be live chatting. You can jump in and join the conversation. We’ll start at about 7:45. If you’ve got time tonight and you’re watching the debate anyway, please join in. It’s really easy and it will mean I’m not talking to an empty room.

Drop by and join the conversation.

Beginning of Fall on Stewart Creek

Beginning of Fall on Stewart Creek, a photo by susanc59 on Flickr.

Landing Before Last Light

Landing Before Last Light, a photo by Tom C. Frundle on Flickr.

Taken here in Smyrna according to one of its tags

Halloween in the Park...start making your costumes.

Smyrna Parks and Recreation Presents Halloween in the Park Sponsored by Smyrna Gas Department Saturday, October 27th 3pm - 8:30pm Sharp Springs Natural Area Costume Contest Hayrides ($1 fee) Games & Food Pumpkin Carving Contest 70+ Vendors

Smyrna Fire Department Open House

The Smyrna Fire Department is also hosting events this coming week for Fire Prevention Week.

Fire Prevention Week is October 7th - 13th, and The Smyrna Fire Department is joining forces with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) in promoting “Have Two Ways Out!” as the theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign. 

The Smyrna Fire Department is hosting an Open House Sunday, October 14th, at Station #1, 401 West Enon Springs Road, from 1p.m. until 5 p.m. Join us for educational, family-oriented activities. Residents can learn more about the power of prevention and available technologies to protect their own families from fire.

Free is good, and can keep you safe

It is about to be Fire Prevention Week and a local business wishes to help you be safer...on their dime.

In collaboration with fire prevention week we are having the Enon Springs dept send a truck over to the Batteries Plus location on Sam Ridley where we will be giving out free 9 volt batteries to everyone who comes by. It is also going to be a celebration for our one year anniversary as a store and we are going to be doing free laptop battery analysis and possibly a free CFL light bulb give away to coincide with the battery give away. We plan on having snacks and beverages available 

The date is October 6th from 1-4pm 

Batteries Plus Light Bulbs   

I plan on taking them up on the laptop battery annalysis as I have an issue with one right now. Free services like this is a great way for businesses to draw in new customers, while performing a service for the community. I'm wishing them well this coming Saturday.

Take a moment and push the little button on your fire/smoke alarm, and if it does not wail at you, you have problems. A free battery can save a life...yours!

Tilting at windmills

The Lamplighter’s Theatre Company will be performing for the next two weekends the classic "Man of LaMancha"

LAMPLIGHTER’S THEATRE COMPANY REPRISES MAN OF LaMANCHA FOR ITS 2012-2013 SEASON OPENER

Smyrna, Tennessee-based Lamplighter’s Theatre Company’s presented Man of LaMancha for its very first major musical in 2005. The show met with enthusiastic applause, prompting one theater-goer to respond, “The impossible dream is seeing community theatre this good!”

Seven years later, Lamplighter’s Theatre Company opens its 2012-13 A Journey of Discovery season with the return of the beloved musical. Roonie Meek and Nathan Owen are back to reprise their 2005 roles as Don Quixote and Sancho Panza respectively, and veteran director Greg Wilson is back to helm the production once more.

In 2005 our audience was only starting to discover Lamplighter’s Theatre,” Wilson mused. “Those who were there are delighted at the prospect of seeing Man of LaMancha again. Some of the most moving and powerful music ever written for the American stage combines with the timeless wit and inspiration of the story of Don Quixote to create an unforgettable evening at the theatre.”

Man of LaMancha runs September 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 &16, 2012.

This show contains mature themes revolving around the excesses of the Spanish Inquisition. Parents may wish to consider whether young children should attend.

Lamplighter’s Theatre is located on the campus of Springhouse Worship & Arts Center at 14119 Old Nashville Highway, Smyrna, TN. Tickets are available at www.ticketsnashville.com. For more information contact Lamplighters Theatre Company at (615) 852-8499

Here is a performance of the song "the Impossible Dream" by Peter o'Toole in a the 1972 movie of "Man of LaMancha"

Disaster Preparedness Seminar

Smyrna suffered one heck of a flood in May 2010. It devastated the central area of Tennessee and dislocated many Smyrna residents. It also caught a lot of locals unprepared as few knew how quick things can change from the normal to the chaotic. Stonecrest Hospital is offering to you the chance to get some education on being prepared and it is at no cost to you...free.

Disaster Preparedness Seminar 

Date: 9/13/2012 

Time: 1:30 PM TO 3:00 PM 

200 Stonecrest Blvd Smyrna, Tn 37167 

Phone: 615-342-1919 

Event Description: Smyrna, TN, August 30, 2012 — In recognition of National Preparedness Month, TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center is offering a free disaster preparedness training class on September 13th at 1:30 p.m. September is designated as National Preparedness Month, which was founded after 9/11 to increase awareness and encourage action for emergency preparedness nationwide. The theme for this year is “Pledge to Prepare.” This free training class will help attendees be better prepared for disasters by instructing them on how to develop a family disaster plan, create disaster kits, and the types of disasters that may affect them. The class will be led by T.J. Burke, emergency preparedness coordinator and emergency department RN at TriStar StoneCrest Medical Center. T.J. assisted in disaster relief during hurricane Katrina and in establishing a relief station at the Smyrna/Rutherford County Airport. Registration is required. Call TriStar MedLine at 615-342-1919 or visit TriStarHealth.com for more information or to make reservations. 

Directions: TriStar StoneCrest is located at , 200 StoneCrest Boulevard Smyrna, TN. The seminar will be held in the Medical office classroom

Movies in the Park - Friday

Don't flush...seriously

A fact most people do not know is that while our water is tested for many things, it normally is not tested for drugs. In America over the counter drugs and illegal drugs are starting to show in our water supply.

A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows. 

To be sure, the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, measured in quantities of parts per billion or trillion, far below the levels of a medical dose. Also, utilities insist their water is safe. 

But the presence of so many prescription drugs — and over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen — in so much of our drinking water is heightening worries among scientists of long-term consequences to human health.

Most people throw away drugs or worse, flush them to keep animals or kids from coming across them, but here in Smyrna the police department has an alternative that is safe, and anonymous ( for those odd pills you found that you really don't want to know what they are).

Drug Collection Box Available Smyrna Justice Center, 400 Enon Springs Road, East 

The Smyrna Police Department would like to announce the recent addition of a Drug Collection Box within the lobby at the Smyrna Justice Center. In an effort to provide medication disposal options for our citizens, this collection box has been installed so these medications may be properly disposed of without causing potential harm to the environment. 

“We encourage our citizens to come by the Smyrna Police Department and bring their unwanted or expired medications for proper disposal” said Sergeant Bobby Gibson. “Items that may be collected are non-narcotics, narcotics, over the counter medications, herbals, veterinary medicines and illegal drugs” added Gibson. Items that will not be accepted at this location include bio-hazard materials, items in liquid form or needles/sharps, unless they are in appropriate containers. 

The Smyrna Police Department would like to thank CADCOR (Community Anti-Drug Coalition of Rutherford County), the Cardinal Health Foundation and the Recovery Support Foundation for providing us with this important tool for medication disposal.