Look who's living in tree houses!

This summer, families can spend some quality time hanging out in the trees with a visit to the Discovery Center’s newest exhibit, Tree Houses. Tree Houses will open to the public on Saturday, May 26 and run through September 7, 2012.  This new hands-on exhibit is the second created by the Environmental Exhibit Collaborative.

The focus of this exhibit is in, around and even underneath trees. Tree Houses includes fun, hands-on ways to explore the important roles that trees play in providing homes for all sorts of wild things (including people!). Incorporating all of the senses, this popular exhibit engages forest explorers of all ages in indoor nature explorations and the ecology of sustainable harvesting of this important natural resource.

In this exhibit, families can:

• Look for signs of animal tree dwellers as they walk through an indoor tree house and across a wobbly connecting bridge
• Play a computerized forest game where they can harvest trees without harming wildlife
• Watch how a forest becomes house
• View the tree houses people have built around the world— even design and build their own
• See stereoscopic 3-D images of some of the smaller animals we can find living in New England’s trees
• Listen for animals inside the tree house and try to guess their sounds on an “animal dance floor”
• Peer down from inside a “crow’s nest” (and peer down at the folks “on the ground”)
• Revisit favorite fictional tree dwellers, from the Ewoks of Star Wars to Winnie the Pooh
• Wander through a “kitchen” to discover not-so-obvious tree connections in our own houses

The exhibit was produced by the Environmental Exhibit Collaborative (EcoTarium, Worcester, Massachusetts; ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington, Vermont; and the Children’s Museum of Maine, Portland, Maine) with major support from Jane's Trust. Additional support was provided by Cabot Family Charitable Trust and the Institute for Museum and Library Services. It will be at the Discovery Center through September 7.

MEMBERS-ONLY TREEHOUSES NIGHT

On Friday, May 25 from 5:30 - 7:00 PM, Discovery Center will be open for members only to explore TreeHouses and enjoy hands-on activities based on the exhibit.

The exhibit is included with museum admission. It is open Monday – Saturday from 10:00AM to 5:00PM, and on Sunday from 1:00PM to 5:00PM. Discovery Center is closed on Monday, May 28 and Wednesday, July 4 during this exhibit run. Admission is $6 per person; children younger than 2 are free. Members are always free and family memberships start at just $75. The museum is located at 502 SE Broad Street, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37130. For more information, call (615) 890-2300 or visit www.discoverycenteronline.org.

Celebrating 25 Years of Discovery...

Serving more than 130,000 children and families each year, the Discovery Center is a non-profit youth museum dedicated to inspiring exploration, enhancing learning, and building confidence through diverse programs and exhibits.

We are located at 502 SE Broad Street, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37130. Discovery Center is open Monday – Saturday from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Sunday from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM.  A nominal door fee of $6 is charged and annual memberships are available. For complete details, please call (615) 890-2300 or visit us online at www.discoverycenteronline.org.

What does it take to inspire a new generation of readers? For local literacy non-profit Read To Succeed, the effort begins at a young age, with programs that target toddlers, pre-K students, and their parents and grandparents.

Since 2003, Read To Succeed has connected MTSU education classes and community volunteers with families at Section 8 housing in Rutherford County as well as city and county schools to focus on literacy. Read To Succeed Executive Director Lisa Mitchell says that as our community continues to grow, focusing on family literacy becomes more and more important.

“Inter-generational illiteracy and poverty cannot be broken until the family as a whole begins to learn and realize the importance of education,” Mitchell says. “Many programs focus on just the adult or just the child. The value of Read To Succeed’s family literacy programs is its focus on the family as a whole.”

Each semester, Read To Succeed works with professors in MTSU’s education department to serve several in-need, local schools. In the past year alone, Read To Succeed has held programs at Mitchell Neilson Primary, Bradley Academy, Hobgood Elementary, John Coleman Elementary, Smyrna Primary, La Vergne Primary, Black Fox Elementary, and Buchanan Elementary, along with hosting monthly Imagination Stations for parents and their children who haven’t yet entered pre-school at Franklin Heights and Spring Valley in Murfreesboro. These programs provide reading time and supervised literacy activities for families, with MTSU education students or community volunteers creating and leading fun art, music, and literacy activities related to a carefully chosen book.

The goal of these programs is to foster the enjoyment of reading in Rutherford County families. The programs help parents feel more confident in sharing books with their children, model "active reading" for parents, and create a venue for family members to enjoy quality time together.

Parents are offered entrance into Read To Succeed’s one-on-one adult tutoring program or ESL classes throughout the county if they want to continue to progress their own literacy skills. Read To Succeed provides a meal for each participant and every family goes home with a new book, to keep, every week.

Murfreesboro’s Newk’s has donated several meals over the past two years. Newk’s local Marketing and Catering Director Mollie Ann Trollinger says that the restaurant gladly supports Read To Succeed’s mission of enhancing education in Rutherford County.

"It’s important to understand,” Trollinger says, “how literacy affects many aspects of one's life, including education and health.”

Several education professors work with their classes for weeks to prepare curriculum for families participating in Read To Succeed’s programs. And though the main goal is to serve these families, it benefits the MTSU students, as well.

“There is no better learning than active, hands-on service learning,” says Terri Tharp, an elementary and education professor who has worked with Read To Succeed for years. “The pre-service teachers' experiences with Read to Succeed and the local schools is service learning at its best. They are able to interact with the children, family members, school personnel, and Read to Succeed staff to advocate the importance of literacy. One of the best lessons that they learn is the importance of a strong home-school-community connection, and that they can be a part of the solution to address the literacy needs of our community.”

These professors—who’ve dedicated their careers to figuring out how to best educate our community’s children—help Read To Succeed improve its programs each semester.

Professor of Reading Education Joan Boulware says that Read To Succeed’s literacy initiative is the best she’s been involved in through her 30 years as an educator.

“Last year alone,” Boulware says, “seventy of my education students worked with underserved children and their families as a part of Families That Read, Succeed sponsored by Read to Succeed.”

Over the past nine years, Read To Succeed’s programs have evolved into a community-wide endeavor: each semester, hundreds of MTSU students work to help these families, countless volunteers show up to serve food and pass out books, funders like the Predators Foundation, Charity Circle, the Dollar General Foundation and Nissan Foundation generously support Read To Succeed’s programs, and local restaurants donate food and staff time. It is, truly, a group effort, and it’s an effort that keeps on growing.

People who want to adopt a duck pay $5 for one duck, $25 for a six-quack, $50 for a quacker’s dozen or $100 for a flock of 25 ducks, said Queen of the Quackers Kristin Demos. Each duck will be assigned a number.

About 10,000 numbered ducks will race down the Stones River beginning at 4:23 p.m. at the Sportsman’s Club at 1231 Medical Center Parkway. The person who adopted the winning duck will receive $5,000 bucks from presenting sponsor Sudsy’s Car Wash.

People who adopted the next 15 winning ducks will receive a total of about $18,000 in prizes.

Ducks may be adopted online at www.duckrace.com/murfreesboro or at Demos’ restaurant, Bell Jewelers on Northwest Broad Street, JoZoara’s at North Thompson Lane, Cox Family Martial Arts on South Church Street, Slick Pig on East Main Street, Lanes, Trains and Automobiles on Butler Drive, Top of the Block on Lokey Avenue, Sudsy’s Car wash on South Church Street, Murfreesboro Post on Rutherford Boulevard and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office on New Salem Highway.

CAC Executive Director Sharon De Boer said all proceeds go to the Child Advocacy Center of Rutherford and Cannon counties.

The Child Advocacy Center is a nonprofit agency that serves victims of child abuse, child sexual abuse, and drug-endangered children, along with their non-offending family members. In the last 12 years, the Child Protective Investigative Team consisting of the Child Advocacy Center, the Department of Children’s Services, law enforcement, mental health counselors, and the District Attorney’s Office have investigated and prosecuted over 7,500 child abuse cases in Rutherford and Cannon Counties.

“We have had amazing sponsors for the 2012 Duck Derby,” De Boer said.

Troy and Donna VanLier and Sudsy's Car Wash are the presenting sponsor. Many other businesses and organizations have supported the Child Advocacy Center for the last five duck races including Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority, Bell Jewelers, Demos', MidSouth Bank, Predators Foundation, Bob Parks Auction, Bridgestone, C & K Hardwood, Parman Energy, Murfreesboro Medical Clinic Pediatrics, Waldron, Fann, and Parsley, Sandra Benson, John and Sharon Sant Amour, Bill and Lucy Whitesell, and many others.

Other prizes include:

Second prize: A MOAB bicycle with accessories.

Third prize: A $500 gift certificate from Bell Jewelers.

Fourth prize: A $500 gift certificate from Demos’ restaurant.

Best of the Boro Fifth Prize: Gift certificates for Lanes, Trains and Automobiles, Discovery Center Children’s Museum, Cox Family Martial Arts, Champion’s Run Golf Course, Sam Davis Home, Chuy’s, Stones River Grille, Miller’s Grocery, Puleo’s Grill, Slick Pig, Sir Pizza, Hickory Falls and Five Senses restaurant.

Gatlinburg Getaway Sixth Prize: Two nights at Clarion Hotel, tickets to Dollywood, Rafting in the Smokies, Sweet Fannie Adams Theatre, Christ in the Smokies and Tip a Canoe Rental.

Romantic Nashville Getaway Seventh Prize: One night at Gaylord Opryland Hotel, tickets to the General Jackson showboat and breakfast at Pancake Pantry.

Memphis Blues Eighth Prize: Two nights at Holiday Inn Select Downtown, tickets to Graceland, Memphis Rock ’n south Mueseum, Belz Museum, Chucalissa Museum, Pink Place, Lichterman Nature Center, Sharpe Planetarium and dinner at Folks Folly Prime Steak House and Huey’s.

Hello Huntsville Ninth Prize: Two nights at Embassy Suites, massage at Spa Botanica and tickets to Burritt on the Mountain.

Let’s Get Pampered 10th Prize: Gift basket from Top of the Block and four one-hour massages from Bodyworks Massage and Tangerine facial, manicure and pedicure.

Nashville Elegance 11th Prize: One night at the Sheraton Music City, tickets to Cheekwood, Frist Museum, Nashville Symphony, Hermitage and dinner at Peter’s Sushi.

Nashville Family Fun 12th Prize: One night at Courtyard by Marriott, tickets to Adventure Science Museum, Centennial Sportsplex, Lane Motor Museum, Traveler’s Rest, Tennessee State Museum and dinner at Ginger Thai restaurant.

Lucky No. 13 “Honey, we’re going to Tunica” 13th Prize: Two nights at Bally’s Casino, two nights at Gold Strike Casino and dinner at Chicago Steak House.

Reelfoot Lake Fisherman’s Getaway 14th Prize: Two nights at Boyette’s Resort Cottage, Bo’s Landing fishing boat rental and dinner at Boyette’s Diner.

Chattanooga Day Trip 15th Prize: Ruby Falls, Tennessee Aquarium, Creative Discovery Museum, Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center, Hunter Museum, Tennessee Valley Railroad, Southern Belle Riverboat and dinner at English Rose.

Last Duck Standing All for a Year 16th Prize: Car washes at Sudsy’s Car Wash, Bowling at Lanes, Trains and Automobiles and Cox Family Martial Arts membership.

For more information, contact De Boer at 867-9000.

Murfreesboro, TN –  The Primary Care and Hope Clinic announces the addition of Julie Henderson, Family Nurse Practitioner.  Henderson will be responsible for general patient care including healthcare for chronic and acute illnesses, annual physical exams, immunizations, care for minor injuries and women’s health.

Henderson graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Master of Science in Nursing in 2011.   While at MTSU, Henderson gained more than 350 hours of clinical experience training under the supervision of Primary Care and Hope Clinic Nurse Practitioners.

Prior to joining the Primary Care and Hope Clinic team, Henderson worked as a Clinical and Administrative Nurse with MedManagement Inc. in Franklin where she provided patient care as well as offered clinical staff training for OSHA, HIPAA and BLS for the Healthcare Professional.

“We are thrilled to have Julie join our team,” states Lisa Terry, CEO, Primary Care and Hope Clinic.  “She possesses a dedication to providing quality, compassionate patient care which will make her an asset as we continue our mission of serving uninsured and underserved families in our community.”

The Primary Care and Hope Clinic is a not-for-profit healthcare clinic providing quality, affordable family health services to medically uninsured, underserved, Medicare and Medicaid families in Rutherford and Cannon Counties. The clinic operates on a sliding fee scale based on income and family size and has served the health care needs of uninsured families for the past twenty years.  Call 615-893-9390 to schedule an appointment or go to www.hopeclnc.org to learn more.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance provided 346 tax returns at no cost

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties and Greenhouse Ministries recently reported that its partnership to provide VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) sites produced 346 total returns with a total refund amount of $492,000.

The VITA partnership provided free tax filing services to qualifying local residents (annual household incomes of $50,000 or less) that assisted those individuals in claiming their tax refund dollars. Sites were available in both Rutherford County and Cannon County.

While Greenhouse Ministries provided financial education services to those receiving VITA services, local banks also partnered with the program to offer assistance with financial management and account services. Participating banks included SunTrust Bank, Regions Bank, F&M Bank, Wilson Bank & Trust, FirstBank, MidSouth Bank and First Tennessee Bank.

The 34 volunteers that participated in the program underwent an intense training process and served in capacities such as tax preparation, screening and greeting. Those volunteers were: Douglas Lukonen, Gia Cawthorn, Emily Ziadeh, Nathan Robertson, Tom Fix, Beverly Hancock, Ryan Kieffer, Annetta McGee, Christine Vanderweedt, Carolyn Willis, Teresa Erwin, Tyson Kimbrel, Scott Miller, Cindy Rhea, Gary Richmond, Jane Smith, Jana Lowe, Gloria Sanders, Gary Hunter, Betty Cox, Jan “Niki” Delk, Dawn DuBois, Sharif Ansari, Vicki Allen, Kristi Brockelsby, Szu Brown, Zehua “Casey” Li, Daniel Clanton, Christine Estes, Kirk Garrett, Christopher Hanvy, Jonathan Habart, Margarita Haag and Willie Gunter, Jr.

"I was honored to be a part of such a successful VITA site this year," said Beth Gill, Tax Consultant with the Internal Revenue Service. "Everyone involved played an incredible role in the success of this site and because of that success, Greenhouse Ministries received President Obama’s Martin Luther King Drum Major Award for Community Service."

The Drum Major Award honors outstanding contributions to community and society in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King's teachings and philosophy of love and nonviolence.

"We hope that our results reflect a dedication to Middle Tennessee's residents," commented Nathan Butturini, Site Coordinator for the VITA program.

The VITA program is expected to resume in January 2013. For more information, please visit www.greenhousemin.org or www.uwrutherford.org.

Murfreesboro, TN — Special Kids held its 13th Annual Golf Classic presented by Nissan and Kidz Zone Play Systems on Thursday at Indian Hills Golf course in Murfreesboro and raised $36,074.38 for the local nonprofit.

For the first year in the tournament’s history, the event offered both a morning and an afternoon session and grew to having over 240participants. Through the funds raised from registration fees and event sponsors, the event will help Special Kids to provide therapy and nursing services to over 200 in middle Tennessee.

“We were tremendously blessed by the beautiful day and wonderful turn out at Indian Hills yesterday,” says, Stephanie Folkmann, Director of Development at Special Kids. “It never would have been possible without all the help of our sponsors and wonderful volunteers. Thank you to Nissan and Kidz Zone for presenting this event for us. It sure was a great way to help our effort towards expansion.”

The morning session began at 7 a.m. with breakfast provided by Stones River Grill and started with Special Kids’ co-founder, Carrie Goodwin, expressing her appreciation for the golfers’ support of the organization. The morning tournament concluded with the Lorance Team in first place including, Marshall Lorance, Tony Switzer, BJ Bobo, and Jonathan Williamson.

Afternoon golfers enjoyed lunch provided by Slick Pig BBQ and teed off at 1 p.m. after Patrick and Amanda Nelson, whose son receives services at Special Kids, shared their family’s story and appreciation for the help they have received. The afternoon first place team was Jasey’s Team consisting of Jason Miller, Eric Smith Roger Farmer and Bradley Farmer.

Sponsors for the event included presenting sponsors Nissan and Kidz Zone Play Systems, ace sponsors OleSouth Properties and Tri-Star Title & Escrow, albatross sponsor Murfreesboro Magazine, grand slam sponsor Yates Services, eagle sponsor Aetna, birdie sponsors Newk’s Express Café, Ascend Federal Credit Union, Huddleston-Steele Engineering, and Mills Family Pharmacy, and several hole sponsors.

Special Kids is a Christian, nonprofit organization located in Murfreesboro, TN, that provides therapeutic rehabilitation and professional nursing services to children with special needs. Since 1998, Special Kids has served over 2,200 families from 11 counties in middle Tennessee. For more information on Special Kids, please visit specialkidstn.com or call 615.893.4892.

Awards recognize corporate citizenship and community impact

Local United Way corporate partners Publix Supermarkets, Bank of America and Wells Fargo were recently recognized in Nashville as Summit Award recipients during a dinner meeting at the United Way Community Leaders Conference. Publix Super Markets was highlighted for their success in community impact and philanthropic engagement, Bank of America for community impact and volunteer engagement and Wells Fargo for volunteer engagement.

Publix Super Markets raised $45.6 million nationwide for United Way in 2011 and its associates volunteered a total of 900,000 hours. Publix also promotes United Way on 220 million grocery bags and within its customer newsletters. The company ranks number one on the Corporate Social Responsibility Index in addition to being among Fortune's "Most Admired Companies" for 17 years.

Bank of America and its employees raised more than $35 million nationwide for United Way in 2011 and volunteered more than 1.5 million hours. The bank also supported free income tax assistance resulting in more than 530,000 completed tax returns and $800 million in total refunds.

Wells Fargo is United Way's top national campaign raising more than $56 million annually, and team members volunteered more than 1.5 million hours in 2011. The company also offers a unique Volunteer Leave Program that provides fully paid volunteer leave for up to four months for team members to work on a significant project impacting a non-profit organization or school. In 2011, Wells Fargo awarded volunteer leave to more than 26 team members representing more than 32.5 months of paid leave. Overall, the company gave $213.5 million to non-profits.

United Way also awarded Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Jr. with the inaugural United Way Lifetime Achievement Award. The United Way Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an individual whose contributions, sustained over a lifetime, have helped create opportunities for a better life for all and advance the common good in communities around the world.

Dr. Frist established the United Way Alexis de Tocqueville Society in 1981. The society helps celebrate and deepen relationships between United Way and community leaders. During its 30-year existence, the Alexis de Tocqueville Society has grown from ten communities recruited by Frist before 1984, to over 500 communities across the United States and around the world. Since 1981, Alexis de Tocqueville Society members have invested an average of about $600 million annually.  Society members include Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffet and more than 25,000 other families around the world.

“The impact of these Global Corporate Leaders as well as Dr. Frist is incredible,” commented Brian D. Hercules, President and CEO of the local United Way. “Without each of their efforts, United Way would not be what it is today. Our local community is greatly strengthened by their dedication and hard work."

Other Summit Award recipients included Deloitte, General Motors, Microsoft Corporation, and Illinois Tool Works. Proctor & Gamble received the Spirit of America award for philanthropy, volunteer efforts and community impact.

The Spirit of America and Summit Awards program, celebrating its 25th year, is United Way's highest national honor for a corporation, recognizing United Way Global Corporate Leaders with the most comprehensive commitments to strengthening communities.

For more information about United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties, please visit www.uwrutherford.org.

Signature event set for July 14.

The United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties will host its third annual Red, White, and Blues event on July 14, 2012, at the home of Ronnie and Donna Barrett.

Red, White, and Blues is United Way’s signature fundraising event. This outdoors, casual dinner is reminiscent of the southern coastal areas and associated with the 4th of July holiday. Five Senses Restaurant is set to cater this year's event.

Sponsorship opportunities are available through May 15. Click here to review sponsorship options. Tickets are $75 each. For more information, please contact Meagan Flippin at (615) 893-7303.

Murfreesboro, TN - Special Kids has been selected as a finalist in the State Farm Youth Advisory Board Cause An Effect program and has a chance to win $25,000.  Over 3,000 applications were submitted to the board that narrowed the list to 100 finalists.  The winners will be chosen by the community via voting on Facebook.  The top 40 organizations will each be awarded $25,000 to apply towards their cause. Any Facebook user can vote up to 10 times per day from now until May 17.

http://www.facebook.com/statefarm/app_376288832400015?app_data=Camp-Ability

Diners can enjoy Toot’s chicken wings Tuesday, May 8 and donate to pay expenses for 30 Rutherford County student athletes competing in the state Special Olympics.

Toot’s will collect funds all day but Sheriff Robert Arnold and school resource officers will collect donations from diners from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Broad Street restaurant during the “Wings and Rings” fund-raiser. Donations will pay for the Tennessee Special Olympics May 18-19 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

SRO Dick Peach will entertain by singing Elvis tunes on request. Other SROs will join him in singing “Happy Birthday” to customers celebrating the special day at the restaurant.

“They definitely have good food and fun at Toot’s,” Peach said.

Co-chair Lou Paschall of Area 16 Special Olympics said the competition gives students with disabilities a chance to compete in athletic events.

Co-chair John Harris said Rutherford County students at the state games will compete in swimming, power lifting, track and field and bocce.

“Winning and losing is not the purpose of Special Olympics,” Harris said. “The purpose is to participate and be involved.”

Board member Mack Barnett said the Wings and Rings event gives athletes a chance to compete.

“You can see the joy on their faces,” Barnett said. “Winning is not everything. It’s the idea participants do something they enjoy doing. You can’t put a price on that.”

Paschall said “Wings and Rings” is a great opportunity for people who can’t be involved in Special Olympics to support the athletes financially. She suggested people might want to eat out that night for a “girls’ night out” or teachers and their families.

“We can’t say enough about Toot’s and their support financially,” Paschall said. “They get people out there.”

Toot’s owner Wade Hays said Special Olympics is a cause that fits within the restaurant’s wheelhouse of helping youth in the community.

“We feel this is a sponsorship that we can wrap our arms around, along with the sheriff’s SROs, to benefit our local Special Olympics organization,” Hays said. “We are very proud and honored to partner with the sheriff’s office in these great events. Even if you cannot dine with us on Tuesday, please take a minute and stop by Toot’s on Broad Street and make a donation to Special Olympics. Any amount is greatly appreciated.”

SRO Capt. Barry Hendrixson thanked Hays and the Toot’s staff for sponsoring Wings and Rings.

“The SRO Division would not be able to help as much if it were not for Toot’s and their dedication to Rutherford County,” Hendrixson said. “SROs see these students on a daily basis and to be able to help them participate in the Special Olympics makes all the effort worthwhile.”