Cool Aid Program COOL AID PROGRAM gets fans and air conditioners to needy individuals. On hot, hot days and nights, this ministry saves lives. If you need a fan or air conditioner, contact Dwight Ogleton at 615-818-2459 or 615-895-8555. If you would donate an air conditioner or fan, contact Dwight Ogleton (same phone numbers). If you wish to make a financial contribution to the COOL AID PROGRAM, go by FirstBank (615 Memorial Blvd.) and tell them you have a gift for COOL AID. READ MORE »
Dan Whittle photo exhibit at Arts Center of Cannon County May 25-June 30, 2012 Dan Whittle's photo art is on display at the Arts Center of Cannon County (1424 John Bragg Highway in neighboring Woodbury). Admission is free to the Marly Berger Gallery. This well known journalist-photographer-author has creative nature photos and captures life in action through the lens of his camera. In addition to the exhibit, the public is invited to a reception honoring Mr. Whittle on Friday, May 25, 2012, from 5-7PM at the Cannon County Arts Center. For more information, phone 615-563-ARTS (2787).READ MORE »
Dance Camp Mon-Fri (July 9-13, 2012) Summer Dance Camp at the Springhouse Worship and Arts Center (14119 Old Nashville Highway; Smyrna, TN; same as Lamplighters Theatre). Fee is $150 per student, if you register before July 2nd. ($170 after that date). On site registration is also available. Phone 615-852-8499 for more information.READ MORE »
Greenway 100 (walk 100 miles in 1-year) any day (between now May 19, 2013) sunrise-sunsetGREENWAY 100 with a walk, run, bike, hop or crawl the Greenway Get a cool T-shirt and more by walking 100-miles in one-year. This year long campaign is created to help you get fit. There is a $10 application fee. Phone 615-893-2141.READ MORE »
International FolkFest Sun-Sun (June 10-17, 2012) INTERNATIONAL FOLKFEST as our own Cripple Creek Cloggers and founder Steve Cates welcome dance groups from around the world to Murfreesboro and the mid-state area. This year Martinique, Belgium, Austria, and the Czech Republic will be in the Heart of Tennessee. There are numerous volunteer opportunities. See the FolkFest website: http://www.mboro-international-folkfest.org7PM Wed. (6/13) at Central Christian Church 404 E. Main St., Murfreesboro); 7PM Thu. (6/14) at Manchester Arts Center (128 E. Main. St., Manchester) admission $10; 7PM Fri. (6/14) at Patterson Center (521 Mercury Blvd., Murfreesboro) $5 admission; Sat. (6/15) 8:30AM-1PM stage on the east side of historic Murfreesboro square, free performance, opportunity to talk with visitors and learn about their country. READ MORE »
Middle Half Marathon Sat. (Oct. 13, 2012) 7AM6th Annual Middle Half Marathon and Murph's Fun Run. The 13.1-mile course starts and stops at MTSU's Dean Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium and the course is around the beautiful flat and tree-lined Murfreesboro historic district. The Murfreesboro Half Marathon course has been certified as accurate in measurement according to the standards adopted by the USATF Road Running Technical Council. Remember, last years 2,500 max was reached in 11 days. NOTICE: Registration begins 8AM on June 1st (nothing before that). Go to www.themiddlehalf.com.READ MORE »
Nikki Giovanni: "Life in the Bottoms" Tue (May 29, 2012) 5:30PM Renowned social activist and poet Nikki Giovanni will speak at New Vision Baptist Church (1750 N. Thompson Lane). "Life In The Bottoms" is the final part of MTSU's 2012 local history series. The evening begins with a barbecue dinner at 5:30PM. Then at 6:30PM oral history reports from the field school will be presented. At 7:30PM Giovanni will present her talk, “Something called progress killed my grandmother: Urban Renewal and African American Neighborhoods.” Tickets are $25 and available at the Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center. Phone 615-867-2633.READ MORE »
Phone "811" Before You Dig Reminder, before you dig--phone811. With one phone call to 811, someone will come to your property and mark all burried phone lines, cables, pipes at NO CHARGE. Please allow 2-3 business days. READ MORE »
The Primary Care & Hope Clinic serve the healthcare needs of uninsured and under-served persons in our community. During this organization's 20th annversary year, there are two upcoming major events in which sponsorships are available. Sat. (June 16, 2012) 6PM20th Anniversary Luau at the Stones River Country Club. Sat. (Aug. 25, 2012) 4-8PMTaste of Stones River at the Avenue of Murfreesboro. For more information, contact Bette McFarland (phone 615-893-3930, extension 207) or e-mail her at bette.mcfarland@hopeclnc.org
Ready Family Reunion (ENTIRE community welcome) Sat. (Aug. 11, 2012)READY FAMILY REUNION at the Woodbury Senior Citizen Center. THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS INVITED. Activities will include a social on Friday night at the Cannon Inn. On Saturday there will be breakfast at the Readyville Mill, a family history exchange and the reunion that evening with live entertainment, all you can eat buffet, drawings and prizes. You and those interested (local non family residents are invited) can contact Larry Ready (10th generation from Richard Ready) at the address above or at ReadyFamily@webtv.net or phone at: 256-303-2380.READ MORE »
Red and Black Reunion Fri. (May 25, 2012) 7PM "Red and Black Ball" with the Jimmy Church Band at the Embassy Suites. Alumni and friends of historic Bradley Academy come home to share memories and preserve local history with the weekend of "Red and Black" reunion activities. One of those includes a luncheon presentation on Saturday (May 26) of the musical "The Color Purple" at the Murfreesboro Center for the Arts. READ MORE »
Southern Girls of Rock'n Roll Camp Mon-Sat (July 23-28, 2012) 8:30AM-5:30PM 10th Anniversary of YEAH's Southern Girls of Rock'n Roll Camp. This is a summer day camp for girls ages 10-17. It is held at MTSU's Wright Music Building. Camp tuition is $300 (scholarships are available along with monthly payment plans). For information or to register, go to their website: www.sgrrc.comREAD MORE »
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(CHICAGO) -- An extra who was severely injured while working on the most recent Transformers movie will receive an $18.5 million settlement, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Gabriella Cedillo was involved in an accident while driving a car during production in 2010 of Transformers: Dark of the Moon in Hammond, Ind. A cable pulling a stunt car snapped loose and crashed through the windshield of her car.
Cedillo, who is now 26-years-old, suffered a head injury that left her brain permanently impaired.
Multiple lawsuits were later filed on Cedillo's behalf.
ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Jim Parsons has officially come out of the closet in a New York Times profile of The Big Bang Theory star.
The Emmy-winning actor, who plays Sheldon on the CBS comedy, isn't actually quoted discussing his sexual preference in the article. Instead, the author casually mentions it in reference to Parsons' performance last year in a Broadway production of The Normal Heart, about gay men dying of AIDS.
The author writes, "The Normal Heart resonated with him on a few levels: Mr. Parsons is gay and in a 10-year relationship, and working with an ensemble again onstage was like nourishment, he said."
Parsons returns to Broadway this summer in another revival, Harvey, a play made famous by Jimmy Stewart.
Warner Bros. Pictures(NEW YORK) -- Director Baz Luhrmann recently released a visually stimulating teaser of The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan, in opulent, swanky 1920s glamour.
The highly anticipated film, which will be released in 3-D this Christmas, is an adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic.
Luhrmann has experience transforming classic texts into cinematic gold. He directed Romeo and Juliet with DiCaprio in 1996. This time around, the 37-year-old actor is set to portray Jay Gatsby, a war hero turned millionaire desperate to join high society.
The two-minute teaser shows lavish party scenes and dark, dramatic scenes similar to Luhrmann's Oscar-nominated Moulin Rouge. With Jay-Z, Kanye West and Frank Ocean's "No Church in the Wild" thumping as the teaser opens, the song is an oddly fitting track for the dramatic scenes to come. The trailer closes with U2's cover of "Love is Blindness."
AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The watchdog group Judicial Watch has revealed a trove of information gleaned from Freedom of Information Requests concerning director Katherine Bigalow and her Hurt Locker screenwriter Mark Boal's upcoming movie about the raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
Specifically, in an effort to help shape "talking points" approved by the White House, the Defense Department granted Bigelow and Boal access to a normally secret, "Operator and Commander of SEAL Team Six," and a top-secret CIA facility called The Vault from which the bin Laden raid was launched. The filmmakers were also allowed access to other information the Defense Department didn't want leaked to the public or the media.
The 153 pages of records uncovered by the group includes emails from Department of Defense and White House officials, showing a close cooperation on the movie's narrative, and how it can best project the Obama White House.
The watchdog group concluded, "It is both ironic and hypocritical that the Obama administration stonewalled Judicial Watch’s pursuit of the bin Laden death photos, citing national security concerns, yet seemed willing to share intimate details regarding the raid to help Hollywood filmmakers release a movie" that could, "give 'a home-stretch boost' to the Obama campaign."
The filmmakers insisted the Sony Pictures-produced film was in the works before President Obama took office and its motivations aren't political. The movie, which has yet to be officially titled, was to be released before the November election. Its release date has since been bumped to December.
Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi will be the proud parent of a baby boy later this year.
The Jersey Shore star reveals the gender of her unborn child in the new issue of In Touch magazine.
She says, “Everyone said I was going to have a boy, and they were right!”
Snooki says she was hoping for a girl, but she's still excited to become a mom. She says she and her fiancé, Jionni LaValle, will name the boy either Lorenzo or Jionni Jr.
Michael Becker / FOX(LOS ANGELES) -- Phillip Phillips was crowned the season 11 American Idol champion on Wednesday night's results show. More than 132 million votes came in after Tuesday's performance show -- a new Idol record. Jessica Sanchez is this season's runner up. Phillip was overcome with emotion performing his winner's song "Home" as the show ended.
Before the results were revealed, Jessica and Phillip sang the Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes duet "Up Where We Belong."
The top 12, minus Jessica and Phillip, opened the show with a group performance of Bruno Mars' "Runaway Baby." Phillip teamed up with John Fogerty to sing Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Have You Ever Seen the Rain," which he performed earlier in the season. They followed it up with the CCR staple "Bad Moon Rising."
Jessica later revisited Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You," the song she first made a big impact with earlier in the season. She returned for a real show-stopping performance of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from Dreamgirls with the woman who sang it originally on Broadway, Jennifer Holliday.
Joshua Ledet teamed up with Fantasia for a duet on the early Elton John song "Take Me to the Pilot." Joshua was called "Mantasia" for most of the season, so this duet was a big moment for Idol fans.
The ladies of the top 12 sang Chaka Khan's "Ain't Nobody" and "Through the Fire" before Chaka joined them on "I'm Every Woman." The guys of the top 12 sang Neil Diamond's "America," "Cracklin' Rosie" and "I'm a Believer" before Neil joined them for "Sweet Caroline."
The top 12 also poked fun at judge Randy Jackson's overused phrase about good singers being able to sing the phone book by actually singing the phone book in a funny skit.
In tribute to the late Robin Gibb, the top 12 guys sang a Bee Gees medley that included "Words," "How Deep Is Your Love," "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" and "To Love Somebody."
Rihanna emerged out of a box onto a smoke-filled stage to perform "Where Have You Been." It was a high production number with dancers and lasers accentuating Rihanna's latest hit.
Skylar Laine teamed up with country icon Reba for a collaboration on her #1 hit "Turn Up the Radio." Hollie Cavanagh was joined by Jordin Sparks for a duet on the show tune "You'll Never Walk Alone."
Judge Jennifer Lopez turned in a performance of "Goin' In" from the upcoming movie Step Up Revolution and "Follow the Leader" featuring Wishin & Yandel. Of course, Jennifer was backed up by a big team of dancers.
Judge Steven Tyler performed with Aerosmith towards the end of the night too. They sang their new song "Legendary Child" before going into "Walk this Way."
As part of the show, Ford presented new Escapes to Phillip's musical mentor, his brother-in-law Ben Neil and Jessica's mentor Robert Talon. Phillip and Jessica also got new 2013 Ford Fusions too.
Several stars were spotted in the crowd, including former Idol champ Carrie Underwood and Jane Lynch of Glee. Lauren Alaina and Taylor Hicks were there too.
Idol alums and real-life couple Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo actually got engaged on the show. Ace dropped to one kneeand presented her the ring, and Diana nodded yes before they shared a big kiss. Ryan held the ring's box as Ace slipped it on Diana's finger.
Preparations for American Idol's 12th season are already underway. Auditions for next season start in Los Angeles at Dodgers Stadium on June 7.
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage(WASHINGTON) -- The Library of Congress Wednesday tapped 25 recordings, from spoken-word pieces to Donna Summer‘s 1977 hit “I Feel Love” and an album from A Charlie Brown Christmas, to be inducted into its National Recording Registry in its 10th year.
To be considered for selection, the recordings had to be “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” and at least 10 years old.
The recordings -- which now total 350 with Wednesday’s additions -- will be located in the library’s Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation in Culpeper, Va.
The Edison Talking Doll cylinder, created in 1888, was the registry’s oldest selection. It was found in 1967 in the desk of Thomas Edison’s assistant and had been made to allow children’s dolls to “talk.” It plays a recording of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” but had been considered unplayable because of the cylinder’s poor condition. In 2011, its surface was scanned in 3-D with digital mapping tools.
The most contemporary pick was Prince and the Revolution’s Purple Rain from 1984. In a first for Prince, this album -- his sixth -- consisted of a band, not simply the artist playing several instruments to create his unique sound. According to the Library of Congress, portions of the album were recorded in his hometown of Minneapolis.
Below is a complete list of the registry’s picks.
Edison Talking Doll cylinder (1888)
“Come Down Ma Evenin’ Star,” Lillian Russell (1912)
“Ten Cents a Dance,” Ruth Etting (1930)
“Voices from the Days of Slavery,” Various speakers (1932-1941 interviews; 2002 compilation)
“I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart,” Patsy Montana (1935)
“Fascinating Rhythm,” Sol Hoopii and his Novelty Five (1938)
“Artistry in Rhythm,” Stan Kenton & and his Orchestra (1943)
Debut performance with the New York Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein (Nov. 14, 1943)
International Sweethearts of Rhythm: Hottest Women’s Band of the 1940s (1944-1946)
“The Indians for Indians Hour” (March 25, 1947)
“Hula Medley,” Gabby Pahinui (1947)
“I Can Hear It Now,” Fred W. Friendly and Edward R. Murrow (1948)
“Let’s Go Out to the Programs,” The Dixie Hummingbirds (1953)
“Also Sprach Zarathustra,” Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (1954, 1958)
“Bo Diddley” and “I’m a Man,” Bo Diddley (1955)
“Green Onions,” Booker T. & the M.G.’s (1962)
“Forever Changes,” Love (1967)
“The Continental Harmony: Music of William Billings,” Gregg Smith Singers (1969)
“A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Vince Guaraldi Trio (1970)
“Coat of Many Colors,” Dolly Parton (1971)
“Mothership Connection,” Parliament (1975)
Barton Hall concert by the Grateful Dead (May 8, 1977)
Paul Warner/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- After some heated bickering from both sides, Melissa Etheridge and her former spouse, Tammy Lynn Michaels, have reached an agreement in their custody battle.
TMZ.com reports that the ex-couple will share joint custody of their five-year-old twins. Michaels will also earn an unspecified increase in partner and child support; she’d been getting $23,000 per month prior to this settlement.
In separate court filings last month, Michaels claimed Etheridge taught their twins to treat her poorly, while the musician alleged Michaels is an “angry and vindictive” woman.
Michael Tran/FilmMagic(LOS ANGELES) -- Sharon Stone’s former nanny is suing her, claiming the Basic Instinct actress used racially derogatory comments around her and violated labor laws.
Erlinda T. Elemen, a Filipino woman who worked as Stone’s live-in housekeeper and nanny for five years, filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court describing Stone’s various offenses. Elemen claims she was asked not to speak to Stone’s children because Stone did not want them to pick up her Filipino accent. Elemen also says Stone criticized her for attending church and at one point forbade her to read the Bible in the house.
Elemen claims that Stone withheld overtime payment from her. When Elemen brought it up, she claims Stone paid her the wages but accused her of stealing, berated her in front of guests, and eventually fired her for accepting the overtime pay.
The nanny is seeking an unspecified amount of unpaid wages, damages and penalties. Representatives for Stone did not immediately respond to ABC News' requests for comment.
Last year, Stone was sued by a man who slipped and fell 15 feet while working on her house. She was ordered to pay him $232,000.
Michael Becker/Fox(LOS ANGELES) -- AmericanIdol's big finale Wednesday night will feature the usual mix of legendary artists and current pop stars, as well as several tributes to the big names in music we've lost recently.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the female finalists will pay tribute to the late Donna Summer with help from R&B and disco icons Gloria Gaynor, Thelma Houston and Gladys Knight, as well as Nelly Furtado, Sheila E., Jennifer Holliday and Kristin Chenoweth, the latter of whom will sing the Barbra Streisand/Donna Summer duet "Enough Is Enough" with Jessica Sanchez. The girls will also perform with Chaka Khan later in the show.
The male finalists will perform songs from the Bee Gees, in honor of the late Robin Gibb, who died on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Creedence Clearwater Revival rocker John Fogerty -- two of whose songs were performed this season -- will duet with Phillip Phillips, while country icon Reba McEntire will sing with Skylar Laine. Joshua Ledet will perform with former Idol champ Fantasia, creating the long-awaited "Mantasia" mash-up. Another former American Idol champ, Jordin Sparks, will duet with Hollie Cavanagh on a Broadway show tune.
In addition, legendary crooner Neil Diamond will perform a group number with the boys, and Jessica will join Jennifer Holliday for another round of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," which Holliday originated in the stage musical version of Dreamgirls.
As previously reported, Aerosmith and Rihanna will also entertain during the blowout finale, which will see either Jessica or Phillip crowned the American Idol champ.
Jim Spellman/WireImage(NEW YORK) -- Not Michael McKean! The beloved comic actor was hit by a car in Manhattan on Tuesday and admitted to a hospital in critical condition. He has since stabilized, his rep told E! News, and is recovering from a broken leg, cuts, and bruises.
McKean was walking through the Upper West Side of New York City on Tuesday afternoon when he was hit. His wife, actress Annette O’Toole, is flying in from Los Angeles to be with him, according to Us Weekly.
The 64-year-old actor memorably starred in Laverne & Shirley, This Is Spinal Tap and Best in Show. His many recent TV credits include appearances on Saturday Night Live, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Happy Endings and Homeland.
Craig Barritt/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Snooki won't be sharing a house with her Jersey Shore co-stars next season.
E! Online reports that due to her pregnancy, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi will live in a home not far from the cast's Seaside Heights, N.J., abode. MTV would not comment on the decision to E! Online.
Earlier this week, Snooki indicated to E! News that she would consider living in the Jersey Shore home, but added, "I'm definitely taking this pregnancy seriously and with all the bacteria and everyone having sex in the smoosh room it's just not where a pregnant person or a baby should be."
Snooki is expecting her first child with boyfriend Jionni LaValle.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage via ABC(LOS ANGELES) -- There was at least one disappointment for American Idol’s grand finale performance edition on Wednesday.
It was rumored that Miley Cyrus had been invited to appear on the show for a “surprise” guest appearance with fourth place finalist, Hollie Cavanagh.
But E! reports it became too difficult to coordinate rehearsal times between Cyrus and Cavanagh, who is just one year younger than the former Hannah Montana Star.
A rep for Cyrus told E! News, “It’s not happening.”
JB Lacroix/WireImage(NEW YORK) -- When Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino went to rehab earlier this year, rumors abounded as to why. In a new interview with MTV, a straight-and-narrow Sitch tries to set the record straight.
"My addiction was prescription painkillers," he says. "At first, I thought it might have given me energy, I thought it helped me...because you're not tired anymore. Being in this business is not easy...I for sure made a mistake by picking a substance over what I previously chose, which is fitness."
Sorrentino insisted alcohol was never a problem.
"Even though on Jersey Shore...people have seen me with a drink in my hand, but I was never drunk. I was the guy who was the ladies man. You can't get girls if you can't speak to them," he laughed.
And while a pregnant Snooki will reportedly be shying away from the nightlife on the upcoming sixth season of Jersey Shore, Sitch says he'll be back at the clubs.
C Flanigan/FilmMagic/Jamie McCarthy/WireImage(NEW YORK) -- Saturday Night Live said goodbye to longtime cast member Kristen Wiig over the weekend. SNL creator Lorne Michaels isn't sure whether any of Wiig's co-stars, namely Andy Samberg and Jason Sudeikis, will take a cue from her and also leave the NBC series.
It's been rumored for a while that Samberg and Sudeikis will move on.
When asked by TheWrap.com whether the two will remain on SNL, Michaels answered, "You never know," then added, "I think everyone gets through the season and just the level of fatigue by the end is just overwhelming, and it's a very emotional time. I've had a rule since the second season, which is to not make any decisions in June. We'll see in July."
Michaels can count on Fred Armisen returning for another season. Though he's been more busy than usual the past two years due to his work on his IFC comedy Portlandia, Armisen tells TheWrap.com he wants to continue with SNL.
He says, "I hope things keep going. I don't take anything for granted."
