Support Local With Christmas Trees or Gifts
Between now and Christmas, there’s no better place for an outing than a nearby Christmas tree farm. Even if you already have your tree, tree farms offer all sorts of options from wagon rides and hot chocolate to wreath-making classes and visits from Santa.
In Rutherford County, you can pick out your tree at Country Cove Christmas Tree Farm, 1189 Cutoff Rd., outside of Murfreesboro.
Natural trees from local tree farms are completely renewable, recyclable, 100 percent biodegradable and are close to home, leaving a negligible carbon footprint.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases and emit fresh oxygen as they grow. Christmas trees are often grown in soil that doesn’t support other crops. Their root systems help stabilize soil, protect area water quality and provide refuge for wildlife. Grown on farms just like any other crop, one to three new seedlings are planted for every tree harvested to ensure a constant supply.
Not to make you feel guilty about the artificial trees, but they are made from petroleum plastic and various metals, including lead, which is an ingredient in PVC (polyvinyl chloride) plastic. About 85 percent of artificial trees start in China, leaving a huge carbon footprint on their way to retail stores. Plastic trees don’t biodegrade, so they end up sitting in American landfills for centuries.
If you don’t need a tree but you need something for your mother-in-law, you can get a Taste of Tennessee gift basket from shopmadeintn.com or a local winery. Find a local source at picktnproducts.org/store.
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Closings Corner
Say goodbye to the best milkshakes in town. Reeves-Sain Drug Store is closing Dec. 4.
In October, Walgreens and Fred’s (which owns Reeves-Sain) announced they have entered into an agreement for Walgreens to buy pharmacy patient prescription files and related pharmacy inventory of 185 Fred’s stores located across 10 Southeastern states.
On Dec. 5, all Reeves-Sain prescriptions will be sent to nearby Walgreen’s at 106 W. Northfield Blvd.
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Sears announced it is closing 40 more Sears and Kmart stores, including its Murfreesboro Sears location. The Sears has been an anchor at Stones River Mall since it opened in the early 1990s. The store will close to business in February 2019.
In doughnut and frozen custard news, both Project Donut on Church Street and Rita’s on Medical Center Parkway closed shop in November.
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Dental Not-So-Excellent
It’s not exactly a closing, but it sure makes for good TV.
Murfreesboro dentist Dr. Richard “Nate” Schott, 51, of Murfreesboro, and Kendra L. Glenn, 43, of Hartwell, Georgia (and formerly of Murfreesboro), are facing federal health care fraud charges for operating a scheme to defraud healthcare benefit programs, U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee announced Nov. 19.
Schott surrendered to U.S. Marshals in Nashville in mid-November and Glenn was arrested at her home in Georgia by FBI agents. Schott, who formerly served as the head of the Rutherford County Republican Party, resigned his seat on the Rutherford County Industrial Development Board following the indictment.
Schott, who owns and operates Dental Excellence locations in Murfreesboro and Lebanon, is charged with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and Glenn is facing seven counts of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy.
According to the charging documents, Schott and Glenn allegedly filed between November 2013 and January 2018 fraudulent claims to health care benefit programs, including Delta Dental, Cigna, TennCare and DentaQuest, TennCare’s dental benefits program administrator.
The charges further allege that Schott and Glenn tried to conceal the fraud by discouraging employees from questioning billing practices, instructing employees to lie if questioned by insurance companies and disciplining, and even firing, employees who questioned the legality of the billing practices. They then reportedly used the proceeds from the scheme for their own personal benefit and Glenn was paid bonuses based on the amount of money collected from the scheme. If convicted, Schott and Glenn face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count.
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Winterfest Returns
As the holiday season approaches, the second annual Winterfest at Fountains at Gateway brings outdoor ice skating and holiday activities to Fountains Plaza, announced developer Scott Graby, president of Hearthstone Properties.
Winterfest features one of the few outdoor ice skating rinks in the Middle Tennessee area. The festival offers ice skating for all ages in addition to concerts, themed skate nights, Christmas caroling and pictures with Santa. Festive lights and holiday decorations adorn the central plaza to create a magical experience for all ages.
Hours of operation, a schedule of activities and venue rental information can be found at fountainswinterfest.com.
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Food News
Simply Pure Sweets has expanded its menu and its family. In October, the Boss Lady Chantell Kennedy-Shehan married the Bread Man Matthew Joseph. And now that she’s hitched, the owner of downtown Murfreesboro’s only French-inspired bakery is letting her hubby bake his breads during the week and not just for the Saturday Market.
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The Murfreesboro community is invited to celebrate the arrival of Metro Diner during special pre-opening charity events before the doors officially open Dec. 11.
On Saturday, Dec. 8, all donations will benefit The Journey Home Project, whose mission is to connect donors to veterans’ organizations in Middle Tennessee. On Sunday, Dec. 9, all donations will benefit Operation Song, whose mission is to empower veterans, active duty military and their families to tell their stories through the process of songwriting.
Guests who provide a donation will receive a sneak peek of the new eatery and enjoy Metro Diner favorites. Reservations can be made for the fundraisers by calling 615-956-2903.
The 4,308-square-foot eatery will open at 711 N. Thompson Lane featuring a menu of everyone’s favorite diner classics. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner all day, the diner will indulge the taste buds with new twists on traditional dishes as well as beer, wine, mimosas and bloody marys.
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In other food news, McAlister’s Deli celebrated its second Murfreesboro location with a ribbon cutting on Monday, Nov. 12. The new restaurant is located in the former Peter D’s at 2537 Medical Center Pkwy. in Murfreesboro.
Now the people in that area don’t have to drive across town for a giant baked potato.
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Puckett’s Grocery in downtown Murfreesboro played host to the first in a series of trivia nights last month. With a rotating sponsorship from the Discovery Center at Murfree Spring and Brainblast Entertainment, the Puckett’s trivia events will take place on a monthly basis. Each night will take on a different theme. Other monthly trivia nights are scheduled from 7–9 p.m. on Dec. 18, Jan. 15, Feb. 19, March 19, April 16 and May 21.
Trivia night attendees are encouraged to make reservations by calling the restaurant at 629-201-6916.
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Other News
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt broke ground Oct. 29 on a new 37,500-square-foot facility that will significantly expand pediatric specialty care, outpatient surgery and imaging services to children in Rutherford and surrounding counties.
The $27.2 million construction project, which is estimated to open in late 2019, will be a single-story facility on Garrison Drive in Murfreesboro featuring 22 multispecialty clinic rooms, after-hours/urgent care services, a suite of operating rooms, imaging capabilities such as MRI, CT and X-ray, audiology booths for hearing tests and procedural areas.
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Reox Automotive Repair has reopened at 1602 Bradyville Pike.
The family-owned business closed its doors on Broad Street in October because of an increase in rent and the loss of a key investor.
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Nutrition Faktory has expanded its footprint with a location in Smyrna, which means four locations in one year.
Joining the Murfreesboro, Nashville and Hendersonville locations, the nutrition store opened a location at 303 Sam Ridley Pkwy W. in Smyrna. There are also plans in the works for additional stores in Cool Springs and Cookeville.
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On Oct. 30, Murfreesboro Auto Repair announced a partnership with Kee’s Auto Repair.
“Murfreesboro Auto Repair is working to help Kee & Gail’s customers with all their auto repair needs. They are currently dealing with family health issues and have to be closed for an undetermined amount of time,” MAR posted on Facebook.
To help with the transition, Murfreesboro Auto Repair has purchased some of Kee’s equipment and phone number.
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Great Escape Comes to Murfreesboro
The Great Escape is finally coming to Murfreesboro. The Nashville staple has been the place for music and collectibles of all kinds since 1977. And now it’s opening a location in Jackson Heights Plaza (in the former home of Loco Larry’s).
Owner Rob Baker confirmed he and his wife, Candace, are planning a soft opening in January. The exact date is yet to be determined. For more, visit thegreatescapeonline.com.
