Join the women's basketball team at Coach Insell's house Monday

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee women's basketball team is getting into the Halloween spirit by gathering together at head coach Rick Insell's house Monday night to pass out candy.

The Blue Raiders will welcome trick-or-treaters to the residence at 106 White Cloud Trail in the Indian Hills subdivision starting at 6 p.m. Monday.

Come join the team as it celebrates the holiday season and gets ready for the upcoming year.

Rutherford residents supporting the American Heart Association at this Sunday’s event

Nashville, TN - Hundreds of Rutherford County residents will take steps to beat the No. 1 killer this Sunday the 30^th at the American Heart Association’s Rutherford Heart Walk at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro, expected to be the largest one in the event’s history.

News2’s Dawn Davenport will emcee the event.

The Heart Walk nationwide is the biggest single fundraiser for the American Heart Association to fight heart disease and stroke, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers, and a leading killer of children. The Rutherford event is a non-competitive walk with teams of employees from many Rutherford County companies, community teams, and friends and family members of all ages. The walk raises money for vital research, education and community programs.

Walkers are invited to come dressed in their Halloween finest. Heart Walk festivities start at 1 p.m. and the walk itself starts at 3. To learn more, visit rutherfordheartwalk.org.

Funds raised for the Heart Walk help put up-to-the-minute research into doctors’ hands so they can better prevent and treat heart disease among patients; fund groundbreaking pediatric heart and stroke research; help hospitals establish best practice treatment guidelines; and get life-saving information to those who need it most, such as how make lifestyle choices to prevent cardiovascular disease, how to recognize the warning signs of heart attack or stroke, and how to talk to a doctor about critical health choices. Funds raised for research have helped lead to such critical treatment advances as stents and CPR. Funds also support public initiatives such as CPR classes for Murfreesboro school students, and healthy lunches and physical activity for all Tennessee schools. All of these programs are dependent on donations.

Rutherford Heart Walk sponsor is MTMC. This year’s honoree is Bart Walker of WGNS.

Festivities include more than a dozen tents and specialized areas, featuring:

• Kids’ Zone activity area
• Health screenings for free
• Fitness area
• Lifestyle Change area
• Nutrition area
• Red Cap area, where heart disease and stroke survivors can share their stories and get a Red Cap as a badge of honor
• Survivor tribute and memorial areas

There will be giveaways throughout the festival area. Dogs on leashes are welcome. Light snack food will be available before the Walk.

About My Heart. My Life.: My Heart. My Life. is the American Heart Association’s cause platform that helps individuals, families and communities achieve a healthy lifestyle through physical activity and good nutrition for adults and children. The Heart Walk is part of this cause. Cardiovascular disease is the nation’s No. 1 killer, accounting for 1 in 3 deaths, yet up to 80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable through healthy living.

My Heart. My Life. is sponsored nationally by SUBWAY^® Restaurants and sponsored in Rutherford County by Saint Thomas Heart at Middle Tennessee Medical Center. The Red Caps are sponsored by Wal-Mart. Local media sponsors of the Rutherford Heart Walk include WKRN News2 and WRVW The River 107.5. For more, visit www.heart.org or www.myheartmylife.org.

Ghouls and goblins will take over the night. But even scary creatures need to be safe and celebrate Halloween right. Halloween’s greatest hazards aren’t vampires and villains, but falls, costume mishaps and automobile collisions.  The Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross wants your family to have a safe Halloween so we’re providing these tips, the lucky 13:

• Map out the route that you plan to roam, so adults are assured you will find your way home!
• From the bravest of superheroes to the noblest of knights, everyone should remember to bring their flashlights!
• If you visit a house where a stranger resides, accept treats at the door and, please, don’t go inside.
• When you get ready to put on your disguise, use face paint instead of masks, which will cover your eyes.
• Always remember, before you embark, to wear light-colored clothing to be seen in the dark!  (And remember to use reflective tape, even on bikes, skateboards and brooms!)
• Whether you walk, slither or sneak, do it on the sidewalks and not in the street.
• As you roam through the neighborhood collecting your treats, please look both ways before crossing the street! (And cross from the corner!)
• Wigs, capes and costumes are flammable attire, so avoid open flames to prevent a fire!
• Use a glow stick instead of a candle so your jack-o-lantern isn’t a safety gamble!
• You may fly on a broom or a space ship from Mars, but please be on the lookout for drivers in cars! (And don’t hide between parked vehicles).
• Monsters and zombies should stay off the lawn, and only visit homes with their porch lights turned on!
• You may be dressed as a werewolf, a cat or a frog, but be cautious around strange animals, especially dogs.
• Have a grown-up inspect your candy when you’re done trick-or-treating to remove open packages and choking hazards before eating.

For additional information on how you and your family can be prepared for emergencies on Halloween or on any day of the year, please contact your local chapter or visit www.redcross.org.

Nashville, TN - If you’re looking for easy tricks for healthier Halloween treats, read on. There ARE healthier ways to give your little goblins their Halloween fun, and avoid a supersized sugar rush. Check the American Heart Association’s Halloween tips here!

- Remember to have a healthy meal BEFORE you go trick-or-treating. This reduces the temptation to “snack” while walking.

- Make this a fun family physical activity event. Set a goal of how many houses you will walk to and then stick to it!

- Think about a healthier version of treats to give out at your house: Mini-boxes of raisins, 100% juice juice-boxes, snack-sized pretzels, pre-packaged trail mixes and dried fruits, crayons, stickers, silly bands, tooth brushes, bubbles, plastic spiders, or coupons to local frozen yogurt stores. Avoid using toys that could be a choking hazard to little ones.

- Find the right-sized collection bag for your child. Smaller bags fill up faster. Steer clear of the pillow case method.

- Want to avoid candy and masses of kids? Dress your family up in their costumes and go see a movie, go to the toy store and have your child pick out their favorite toy, and see if local malls have trick-or-treat within the stores. Your local community may have one party for all. Local police and fire stations may offer this alternative as well.

- Avoid the urge to buy on-sale candy in the grocery stores after Halloween. Spend the money on fresh fruit to give kids a sweet snack alternative.

Let’s say you DO end up with an excess of candy lying around your house come November 1^st. How do you deal with it?

- Pick out enough candy for one piece a day for 5 days and put those in the fridge. When your child asks for a piece of candy, make sure to pair it with a healthy snack: an apple, a banana, some healthy nuts, or celery.

- “Buy back” the candy from your child with money or tokens they can trade in for a fun activity: a day at the zoo, an afternoon playing at a local park, going ice skating or other activity they like to do.

- Some dentist offices have been known to buy back the candy from their patients, so be on the lookout for that option!

For more on children’s health, visit heart.org/kids.

Trick or treaters ages 13 and under may collect candy safely at the free Trunk or Treat Halloween night sponsored by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office.

The event will be from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31 in front of the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center at 940 New Salem Highway.

Children will collect candy from trunks of sheriff’s cruisers, Rutherford County Fire and Rescue volunteer fire engines, a Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue fire engine, a Murfreesboro Police cruiser and an ambulance from Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services.

The sheriff’s office will also distribute safety clip on reflectors.

Sheriff Robert F. Arnold said the event will allow children to walk from truck to trunk of emergency vehicles rather than go door-to-door in neighborhoods.

“Trick or treating at the sheriff’s office will be a safe and fun environment for children,” Arnold said. “We appreciate the other public safety agencies joining with us so children can celebrate.”

The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office and the National Child Safety Council offered these tips for Halloween safety:

* Look both ways before crossing the street and always watch for traffic.

* Walk, never run, across yards. Use sidewalks whenever possible.

* Put reflective tape on all bags and costumes.

* Have an adult check your treats before you eat.

* Only go to homes of people you know and those who have the porch light on.

* Trick or treat in a group of four or five. Take along a trusted adult with a flashlight.

* Choose a safe, well-lit path in your neighborhood.

* Costumes should be flame-retardant, made of light or bright colored material and short enough not to trip children.

* Use face paint, not a full face mask, to see well.

MTSU’s Department of Theatre and Dance is ready to scare the community with its 2011-12 season opener, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” set for Oct. 5-8, 29 and 31 in the newly renovated Tucker Theatre.

The haunting tale of schoolmaster Ichabod Crane, based on Washington Irving’s short story, is directed by MTSU theatre and education professor Dr. Jette Halladay. It’s designed for a younger audience and also will be touring local schools in addition to its 7:30 p.m. performances on campus.

Although pitched as a children’s show, organizers say “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” will be fun for adults as well during this Halloween season.

“It really is a wonderful tale and told interactively through the actors onstage,” said Morgan Lamberth, a junior theatre major who’s appearing as Katrina Van Tassel in the production. “Almost everyone has at least heard of the ‘Sleepy Hollow’ story, so regardless of age, I believe that anyone can come enjoy our production.

“Working on a children’s show lends to a different type of creativity versus working on a large musical,” Lamberth continued. “We really don’t need a big set for this production, and we’ve been able to use our imaginations and make it work with a few props and our bodies.”

General-admission tickets for “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” are $10 for adults and $5 for children and may be purchased online at www.mtsu.edu/tuckertheatre via the “Purchase Tickets” button on the left toolbar. MTSU students will be admitted free with a valid student ID. Tickets also will be available at the door before each performance.

For more information, call 615-494-8810. An educational packet for teachers whose students will be seeing the performance is available for download at www.mtsu.edu/tuckertheatre/EdPacket2.pdf.

Yes, yes, we know these tips are easier said than done – but it’s good to have goals! Even if just a few of these suggestions get implemented, progress has been made.

Original of the article can be found here: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/HealthierKids/HowtoMakeaHealthyHome/How-to-Have-a-Heart-Healthy-Halloween_UCM_317432_Article.jsp

So how do you deal with the excess of candy lying around your house come November 1^st?

The Farm at Hollow Springs adds a bit of fright this Saturday night for visitors.  Beginning at dark on Saturday night until close, the hayride gets haunted.

Visitors can still enjoy all the farm activities including navigating the corn and hay maze, the play areas and finding a jack-o-lantern and then step aboard the hay ride for a screaming good time.

"The corn maze naturally gets a little spooky at night. Now the hayride will get a little creepy as well,” says Lisa Trail, co-owner.  “The haunted hayride is a one night only event. Be sure to wear comfortable, warm clothing.”

The Farm offers an exciting outdoor alternative for family fun. Public hours for The Farm are Fridays 5 -9 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sundays 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Additional information is available by calling 615-848-2822 or visiting www.hollowspringsfarm.com or www.facebook.com/hollowspringsfarm.

The Farm is located 30 miles outside of Murfreesboro, 15 miles from Woodbury or Manchester and Beech Grove, just off Highway 53. October Hours of operation: Friday 5 pm to 9 pm, Saturday 10am to 9 p.m.  Admission is $7 for ages 6 and older, $4 for ages two to five.  The farm closes in November.

The Farm at Hollow Springs is a proud member of the Tennessee Agri-tourism Association and Pick Tennessee Products.

MURFREESBORO, TN - When Halloween rolls around this year on Oct. 31, parents should be especially vigilant because of the increased number of trick-or-treaters on the street and the additional opportunity for accidents and other risks to children.

Halloween falls on Sunday this year and Murfreesboro is joining its sister cities LaVergne, Smyrna and Metro Nashville in opting not to set aside an alternate day for trick-or-treating, primarily because that is a decision best left to individual families.

Murfreesboro Main Street Revitalization will be promoting its downtown business district with trick-or-treating from 3 to 6 p.m. Participating businesses will display pumpkins.
“This even has grown into something major since we started,” said Kathleen Herzog, Main Street director. “We’re expecting hundreds of kids. It’s always a great time.”

Regardless of when kids trick-or-treat, there are several safety tips they should all follow:

• Always use common sense.
• Young children should always go trick-or-treating with an adult.
• Never trick-or-treat alone.
• Have at least two buddies go with you.
• Plan your entire route and make sure your family knows what it is.
• Make sure that you are wearing a flame retardant costume.
• Wait until you get home and your parents check your candy before you eat it.
• Be wary of strangers.
• Accept treats only in the doorway … never go inside a house.
• Be sure and say thank you for your treats.
• Don 't play near lit jack-o-lanterns.
• Visit only houses where the lights are on.
• Walk, Do not run. Walk on sidewalks and driveways.
• Cross the street at the corner or in a crosswalk and take a cellular phone and watch with you if possible.
• Carry a flashlight. Wear bright-colored costumes with reflective markings.
• Costumes should not drag the floor. Costumes should be made of flame-resistant material. Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be made of soft and flexible material.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises people expecting trick-or-treaters to remove anything that could be an obstacle from lawns, steps and porches. Candlelit jack-o’-lanterns should be kept away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame and ignite and indoor jack-o’-lanterns should be kept away from curtains, decorations and other furnishings that could be ignited.

Warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has carefully examined them for evidence of tampering, CPSC advises. When buying a costume, masks, beards, or wigs, look for the label Flame Resistant. Although this label does not mean these items won’t catch fire, it does indicate the items will resist burning and should extinguish quickly once removed from the ignition source.

To minimize the risk of contact with candles or other sources of ignition, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts, CPSC warns.

Finally, city officials ask everyone to observe safety rules to have a safe and enjoyable Halloween, 2010.