Oakland High School Greenhouse Helps Special Ed Grow

By Jacob Liddell

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn.-- Oakland High School built a 30 foot by 84 foot greenhouse in 2009 for its Cognitive Development Classroom to provide a positive workplace for handicapped students to learn, use real skills, and show their presence on campus.

            “It started as a need to have a vehicle to be able to generate a variety of extremely simple jobs and extremely complex jobs for the handicapped students so there could be an involvement in the whole spectrum of the disability population,” Special Education teacher Tim Coffey said. “We had the need to integrate our students with the Regular-Ed students, and the greenhouse fit that bill.”

            The Special-Ed students do whatever they can based on their skill levels. Higher functioning students can do things that require judgment like watering, planting or handling the plants. Lower functioning students can help as well with supervision. Everyone has something that they can do. Students can go with teachers individually, in groups, or even in the classroom thanks to the greenhouse being so close by.

            Plants raised in the greenhouse are sold to the community nearly every day, supporting the continual growth of the greenhouse and ensuring the students can continue learning and working in the greenhouse for years to come. Plants are sold at Oakland High School in the fall and spring.

“It’s fun.” one student said. “Sometimes I work by myself, but I can work with the others.”

The class sells everything from produce plants and flowers to shrubberies and ferns. Nearly everything grown is sold during the school year, and planting is done throughout the school year. Students plant the crops in a mixture of gardening soil and manure for both their greenhouse and hanging gardens situated just outside the classroom.

            “It’s been a great awareness of their capabilities of what they can do,” Special Education Teacher Paul Alumbaugh said. “I think its something that’s given an awakening to the student body because a lot of them didn’t realize the landscaping that was done was done by special education.”

            The students involved in the greenhouse enjoy the rich and fulfilling work, and parents are proud of the work their children have done. The fruits and vegetables grown make for delicious food, and the class has already enjoyed homemade food from their homegrown plants.

            Oakland High School is at 2225 Patriot Drive in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Student-grown plants are sold on-campus during school hours by appointment with Tim Coffey. Visit http://www.ohs.rcschools.net for more information.

MTSU Presents ‘Savoir Faire Fashion Show’

By Jasmine Liggins

                        MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Savior Faire, a modeling organization of Middle Tennessee State University hosted a fashion show inspired by the Greek Gods Monday night, April 22 to benefit Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital located in Memphis, Tenn.            

          According to the organization’s website, the organization’s objective is to “to raise awareness of issues pertaining to our community that may not be addressed by other less revolutionary organizations”. A young lady by the name of Kristen Dardin started this organization because of her passion of community service and modeling. She decided to connect these two passions and finally came up with MTSU’s Savior Faire. This organization is dedicated to helping others in their unique way.

            The fashion show was held on campus in the James Union Building. Its title was, “The Immortals: Godz of Fashion”. The opening act gave off a sense that you were in Greece, with the models dressed in elegant clothing from the past. The models displayed sparkling and popping colors with hair that matched ancient Greek paintings that you would usually see in history books. Even the scenes were all named after different Greek Gods to give an extra flair to the show.

            While watching the models walk down the runway, you could tell they worked hard on the routines. The models used dancing in most of the scenes to make the show even more entertaining and fun. They also made sure they interacted with the audience by having two great hosts who kept the crowd hyped before each scene. For instance, whenever the models took breaks between the scenes, the hosts would ask the audience questions about the university and the Greek Gods. If an audience member answered correctly, they were ensured VIP seating for the remainder of the show. During the intermission, the hosts held a walk-off between the models and the audience (my personal favorite part of the show) to make sure the crowd was having a great time.

            D’vonna Taylor, a student and a model in the fashion show, said that being in the show gave her more confidence and that she would without a doubt do it again.

“It was nerve wrecking, strenuous, and time-consuming but it was all worth it,” she said. 

Kia Pruitte, another model of Savior Faire and future president of the organization said that what she got from it was very special to her. She said she was able to use something she loved to benefit and help other people.

“ I learned the importance of a worthy cause,” she said.

For anyone interested in participating in this organization, they will be having early auditions in the fall semester of 2013. There will be advertising around the campus and also on twitter for the dates that are to be announced. Also, the organization’s website is on the MTSU’s Organizations page.

###

            

Nashville Predators Go Scoreless in Showdown with Detroit Red Wings

By Brittany Wesemann

                        NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Nashville Predators faced The Detroit Red Wings for their last divisional meetup at the Bridgestone Arena on April 14 and fell to their longtime rivals 3-0 in a shut out.

            The Predators hit the ice in Bridgestone Arena to a very loud soldout crowd of 17,331 hockey fans to end an era. The Predators were on a losing streak and had hoped to change that against their longtime rivals, The Detroit Red Wings. Due to the National Hockey League’s new realignment taking place in the 2013-2014 season, the Predators and the Red Wings will no longer be playing in the same conference. It was a rivalry The Predators had hoped to win one more conference game against them at home. Instead, the Predators went scoreless 3-0 only helping propel The Red Wings closer to a coveted NHL playoff spot.

 The Predators had lost six games in a row and were only four points away from being last in the Western Conference. As an NHL team that has made the playoffs the past seven of eight seasons, this is an unusual position to see the Predators in. They were just hoping to keep the Red Wings a few points further from the playoffs. The Predators are the team that ranks first in the number of shutouts against them in the NHL this season.

            The Red Wings had the advantage of an early lead when their Captain and center, Henrik Zetterberg, scored on Predators goalie Pekka Rinne in the second period, with 13:37 still remaining in the period. Two more goals were put up on the scoreboard by the Red Wings, and the Predators struggled to put the puck in the net. Nashville Predators Captain Shea Weber talked to the media after the game.

 “We have to find a way to score goals,” Weber said. “Same thing as we have been in the last however many games. Just have to find a way to do it.”

 The highlight of the game for many Predators fans might have been seeing newly acquired forward Filip Forsberg on the ice for the first time. Although Forsberg is the third youngest player to have ever hit the ice for the Predators, he went against some of the very best in the NHL.

“Obviously he is very nifty and good in small areas with the puck and made a couple of very good plays and almost scored in the second," said Shea Weber speaking highly of Forsberg."He is going to be a good player”.

Weber seems excited about the future of the Predators. For the Predators and the fans, although it is sad to see the division rivalry against the Red Wings go, many are excited about the prospects for new division rivalries and to see these shutouts put far behind the team.

            Some fans were sad to see Detroit leaving the Predators division.

                         “It’s too bad that the rivalry will be ending, said Middle Tennessee State University alumni Jason Kruse, a season ticket holder and loyal Predators fan. “One of the best things about that rivalry was that it was becoming so competitively balanced year after year. Now it will have to be replaced with either a better Chicago (Blackhawks) team or a worse Dallas (Stars) team.

             “The game was the end of one era, beginning of another," said Murfreesboro resident and fan favorite, The Predators in-house “paint up belly painting” guy Ben Butzbach.”If it were not for Wings fans moving to Nashville with the auto industry, we would not have gotten a team. But Detroit never saw it as a true rivalry. Not like Preds fans did. Preds always used Detroit as a measuring stick. After beating them in the playoffs last year, we knew we had measured up.”.

            Many fans feel like Butzbach, grateful for what the Red Wings rivalry did for us but as though The Predators had outgrown it.

            The Nashville Predators were established in 1997 and played their first season in 1998-1999. The Predators have far exceeded expectations and have done wonders for the popularity of hockey in the South. Defying the odds, Nashville has gone to the Stanley Cup playoffs nine of their 15 seasons as a hockey club. In 2011, the Predators advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time knocking out the Anaheim Ducks. In 2012, the Predators were defeated by the Phoenix Coyotes in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. In 2013, Nashville ended the season 27th in the National Hockey League and will be picking fourth in the 2013 NHL draft. More information can be found at www.NashvillePredators.com.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association Hosts 'Drive for the Cure Golf Tournament'

By Darcy Payne

            FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Country legend Vince Gill and sportscaster Rudy Kalis hosted the ALS Association’s "Drive For the Cure Golf Tournament" to defeat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis on April 19 at the Vanderbilt Legend’s Club.

            The Tennessee Chapter of the ALS Association sponsored the seventh annual golf tournament, which drew a determined crowd of dozens from around the state who braved the rain and cold to gather in support of the fundraiser and awareness event for this fatal disease. Ted Bleymaier of Nashville, who was diagnosed with ALS in March of 2012, was honored at the event as Family Chairman. The tournament raised crucial funds for the fight against ALS.

Commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, ALS is a fatal, progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leaving patients quadriplegic. There is an average life expectancy of two to five years for a person with ALS and an average cost of care being $200,000 per year. With no known cause or cure, ALS affects the lives of 30,000 Americans currently, with approximately 500 Tennessee patients currently. Every 90 minutes, ALS claims the life of someone in the United States alone.

Participation fees were $250 per golfer and $1,000 for a group of four. The event included a silent auction with signed Predators items, paintings, wine, and much more to support the fundraiser. Major sponsors of the event included UL Puresafety, Andrew’s Cadillac, Permobil, William Morris Endeavor, Mohawk Rubber Sales/Worthwhile Life Foundation, Thompson Machinery, and Robert W. Baird & Co. UL Puresafety CEO President Bill Grana co-chaired the event, along with active ALS patient Ted Bleymaier.

“I wouldn’t know about the ALS Association if it weren’t for my close friend and coworker who died of ALS,” said Grana.

Rudy Kalis also had a close friend diagnosed with ALS, which inspired him to support the association.

“I visited my friend every week for eight years,” said Kalis. “He was 53 pounds when he died. It’s not just a disease to me, this is something I have a deep feeling for.”

To volunteer with the ALS Association, contributing to the driving force behind the cure, there are sign-up opportunities for each chapter level online at http://www.alsa.org/fight-als/volunteer/volunteer-to-support.html, or individuals can contact the local chapter directly at the National Office at (818) 880-9007. Donations are also accepted to help the ALS Association support research to find a cure and provide services to patients and their families.

MTSU Jazz Ensembles Perform With Duffy Jackson

By Mika Sanders

            MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee State University performing arts students played two jazz ensembles with a special guest at 7:30 p.m. April 15 in the Hinton Music Hall at the Wright Music Building.

             Dynamic jazz drummer Duffy Jackson appeared as a guest performer to play alongside the university jazz students during both ensembles for the night. With his smooth style of playing, he complimented the rhythm of the other performers and their instruments. Not only does he have musical talent, but a sense of humor as well. Jackson offered his insight on the world of playing music and some very funny jokes. He looked to the crowd and thanked them for “exuding impeccable taste for music.”

            “It’s been a wonderful opportunity to come to MTSU to discuss jazz and music,” said Jackson.

 Ensemble I was directed by Assistant Professor Jamey Simmons in the School of Music, who is also in charge of the program. Ensemble I was comprised of the top, most experienced student players. Ensemble II was directed by his colleague, the Associate Professor of Saxophone Don Aliquo. These ensembles tour and perform throughout the region for yearly performances.

            The concert was a big success that went over well with the audience and was awarded with a standing ovation. The cost of the admission was $15 for the general public, and tickets could have been purchased at the door. Admission was free for students, faculty and staff members with valid IDs. Some of the music pieces that were played in the recital were original works that were created by the students who were also performing in the show, like “Horn Flakes” by MTSU student Jesus Santandreau. The concert also included classic pieces of music, such as Benny Goodman and Charlie Christian’s “Seven Come Eleven” and Sammy Nestico’s “How Sweet It Is”.

          In Jazz Ensemble I featured Jovan Quallo, Randy York, Jesus Santandreau, David Williford, and Triston Gordan on saxophone. Matt France, Kyle Smiley, Nick Haynes, and Katie Kelly played trumpet. Tanner Antonetti, Andrew Janes, Aaron King, and Philip Jones played trombone. Lastly, Hana Fujisaki, Joel Gage, Patterson Ford, and Tisha Simeral were in the rhythm section. Jazz Ensemble II presented Rick Mraz, Marimac Dyer, James Finger, Ashlin Harris and Nelson Moore on saxophone. Nick Haynes, Kevin Howard, Heath Lester, and Danny Ford played trumpet. Grant Haag, Elizaberth Enck, Cody Mayberry, and Chad Ator played trombone. Lastly, William Elmore, Jed Smith, and Nathan Deese played in the rhythm section.

          Simmons said there will be another performance coming up very soon. The MTSU Jazz Ensemble I will get to play at the Main Street Jazz Festival at 1 p.m. May 4. Students perform at this event annually with internationally acclaimed jazz artist. Past guests have included Phil Woods, Rufus Reid, and Bobby Shew.

           “And for that, we’re gonna play all students arranged and written by students and faculty, so It will be a special program,” Simmons said. It’s important for students to come out to the event in order to support MTSU’s rising stars in such an amazing opportunity.

         For information about MTSU’s jazz ensembles, please visit http://www.mtsu.edu/music/jazzpage.php. For more information on this and about other MTSU School of Music events, call (615) 898-2493 or visit www.mtsumusic.com and click on the "Concert Calendar" link.

-30-