ERIN EDGEMON, Post Columnist
Posted: Sunday, April 4, 2010 12:00 am

Some changes are about to happen at Goodness Gracious Café and Catering.

Owner Karen Ford said she has leased the former Front Porch Cafe location at 114 E. College St. Front Porch will be renamed Goodness Gracious Café and Catering.

“We are not sure at this point if we are going to run two locations or completely move over to that spot,” she said. Goodness Gracious is currently located at 352 W. Northfield Blvd.

It is a homecoming, of sorts, for Ford who operated the Front Porch Café for about eight years. She sold the restaurant in 2001.

“We are excited to have the building back,” Ford said. “It has always been a special place to me building-wise.

“We wanted a bigger spot for parties,” she said of why she decided to lease the building. “When the building became available the owners contacted me, and it was too good to be true.”

Ford said she is already encouraged by the decision to lease the former Front Porch space since several parties have already been booked.

Ford said the new restaurant should be open sometime in May.

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In response to last year’s devastating tornados that hit Rutherford County, the Rutherford County Homebuilders Association’s Certified Professional Builders/ Remodelers Council is partnering with the Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency to establish an all-volunteer disaster response team.

Local builders will be trained by the Emergency Management Agency to respond to disasters and help in the clean up and assess property damage. The all-day training session is set for Thursday, May 6 at the office of the Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency. Training is open to any local builder. Call the homebuilders association at 890-8224 to sign up.

“We want to show that the builders are not just there to build houses and make money,” said Jessica Brewington, office director of the Rutherford County Homebuilders Association. “They are here to support the community.”

The primary purpose of the disaster response team is to provide coordination of specialized construction equipment and manpower as logistical support to the RCEMA. In the event of a community disaster or emergency, the RCEMA will have the ability to call upon the trained volunteers of the disaster response team to respond quickly and professionally during the critical response phase to protect and preserve life and property.

The team will primarily assist in the delivery and operation of equipment and manpower generally for clearing obstructed roads and debris removal, including dump trucks, loaders, backhoes, chain saws, forklifts and trucks. Technical assistance may be needed in making emergency assessments of damaged buildings and infrastructure. All volunteers will report to and work under the supervision of the Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency.

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Want your new business to be featured in The Edge? Send an e-mail to Erin Edgemon at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.